Are the new one's reliable? How do they compare to the Japanese?

I'm interested in the K1200R.

http://www.motorcyclistonline.com/roadtests/122_0507_bmw_k1200r/index.html

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

I don't know anything about liquid cooled BMWs. If I wanted to go faster, I would probably just buy a Ducati.

+1,000,000 I love Ducatis. However I have basically zero motorcycle riding experience, so I think I'll start with a Japanese 250 when I get back from the sandbox next year. After I get good with a 250, (and can afford it) then I might start looking at Ducatis.

Back to topic: People with more knowledge than me have stated BMW makes better motorcycles than cars.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

BMW motorcycles are fairly bulletproof, given the proper care & feeding. That being said, the new ones have complex systems on them, like ABS, fuel injection, etc. K bikes are very capable.

I agree, I would start by buying a small ricer; you can probably find a used one for a good price, especially in the fall.

Skippy, try looking at the Kawasaki Ninja 250 for a great starter bike. Good size, economy, insurance costs are low and there is a decent market for resale.

I suggest taking a MSF rider safety course also....helps you be a better rider and most insurance companies will give you discounts for completing this.

I'm back in grad school until next winter and my commute is 100 r.t. -- 4x week.

Half the trip is 65 and 70 mph posted 35W interstate, the rest is a U.S. highway drive through the country and around north country-like lakes.

I sold my S600 and bought a Honda Civic for a commuter. It's dependable, but I don't like driving it much. I thought a bike would be slick for the warmer months...

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'07 Yukon 2500
'13 Subaru Outback 3.6R
'13 Orbea Carpe 9-speed

Currently Benzless
Formerly: 300TD, S600, E55, 560SEL

---= The forest breathes, listen.
-Native American elder

when I lived in Stockholm, WI, I had a friend who rode only a motorcycle year round. But it was a Ural with a sidecar that had a driven wheel. He'd dress in a snowmobile suit, plug in his lectric undies and off he went!

There is a stupidly large internet community of BMW riders.

I am sold on them - their high cost of entry pays you back for the good experiences. I demo rode a K1200rs back in 2001 and wow....slick, smooth, powerful, refined....all that engineering complexity (they had ABS on bikes in the 80's) adds up to a great machine.

the downside- a technological thing like that needs expensive maintenance. Unless you buy an old airhead (pre-1985?) - then you can do everything with a leatherman =)


-John

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2009 Kia Sedona
2009 Honda Odyssey EX-L
12006 Jetta Pumpe Duse
(insert Mercedes here)

Husband, Father, sometimes friend =)

I used to have an r60/5 back in the day. Loved it. Bulletproof.

My only knowledge of the newer ones is that a fellow who rents from me whose last job before coming to PU was the head of a snowmobile companies test team (they basically ran them til they broke) just bought a newish beemer boxer set up for dual purpose. It's pretty cool looking.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

That's one of the models I've been considering. I've also been considering the Honda Rebel and Nighthawk 250. One of the considerations is that I'm really short and want to start with something I can flatfoot.

Absolutely. The local community college offers them pretty regularly in the warmer months.

Sorry for the hijack.

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

If you're man enough for the sandbox, a 250 cc motorcycle will be joke for you when you get home. (Not to mention having your buddies smirking at you) Take a basic riders course. Shoot they give you a 125 or 250 cc bike to learn on. After that, I'd start at 500 or 600 cc with a used JAP bike. If you like motorcycling after you get your feet wet, you will go ....soon....say your second riding season.... to a 1000cc+ bike. Don't invest too much in your first bike. It and you will probably get a little road rash.
Are you a big man in size/weight? (I assume you are a man, not a woman)

Girl told me once: "You don't get laid on a Honda"
Good luck with your trip.

I had an instructor at an MSF course a while back who's only transportation was a Honda Pacifica. I don't recall how big that engine was, but it had a small fairing and hard shell bags. Nice commuter I suppose. with heater leathers for February riding.

Then this morning I get this email from a friend:

"Folks,

I went to therapy this morning!!! The therapician(new word) of choice this
morning was the Road King! It had more gas! The snow covered fields never
looked more beautiful than from perched atop a motorcycle. Of course it
took a lot longer to get to work this morning due to caution and a longer
route.. I'm feeling MUCH better now because of the ride and knowing that
I'll be seeing many of my HOG friends this evening!"

It was probably in the mid 20's up where he lives.

Don't be a wimp. Buy the big bike first.