my new beemer...

[placey]

thought you might like to see a couple of pics of my new toy. it's a bmw r1150r rockster. 1130cc twin making 70lb/ft of torque - that means ridiculously fat midrange for almost unbelievable acceleration in real world situations. it's awesome. i love it already and i've only had it a day....

anyways:


and


paul

[Simon13]

paul is that dirt on the tyre of your beema?!

I'm free next couple of weekends to pop down mate?!

How does the bike compare to other sports bikes?

[maxfield]

Looks nice mate.

[placey]

dirt you say? i'll get my cloth.

weekends are fine simon. i'm about but if that changes i'll let you know. this weekend i have to prepare a room for plastering - electrics and sunken lights and stuff so an hour or 2 away is no problem and next weekend i'll need a rest so as long as teresa doesn't wisk me away they are both looking good.

the rockster is a totally different proposition to japanese in-line 4s. it pulls with a huge amount of torque from the word go (as you'd expect from 2 665cc cylinders) but redlines fairly early at 7.5k. it's also very comfortable and composed and the telelever front means it doesn't dive under braking. the controls and overall feel of the bike is very robust - quality in fact - like bmw cars. jap sportsters force a lot of rider weight through wrists, more so under braking. allied with a slim pad for a seat this is uncomfortable for me after a few miles. 600 engines are realtively gutless untill revved past say 7k where they then spin like crazy and prepel one forward. 1000s have a much broader spread of torque but still have the upper rev range rush.

most important factor for me though is size - jap sport bikes are just too small for 6ft 2 me - the bmw is a big bike and tall and it fits. i don't have to fold my legs up and that's nice. it's a shame that beemers hold their value so well - it's quite an expensive toy.

paul

[Moofles]

nice! being unfamiliar with bikes, what kind of twin setup is that? it's not a V and it doesn't look parallel, is it some kind of boxer twin?

7.5k redline on a bike - wow that's like a car, lol!

[placey]

yep it's a boxer - horizontally opposed twin using fuel injection, 4 valves and twin plugs per head. 7.5k redline is all it needs - it pulls like a train from any revs at all. amazing. but today i have to do decorating so i can't play with it....

it's amazing how many people ask about the engine - i've had 1 person ask if it has 2 engines while we were stood discussing it.(?) and there's always someone who stops and says something too - i had no idea it would generate so much interest. opening question seems to be - 'what is it?'

paul

[Moofles]

it sounds fun, i should go get a test ride on one

pity you aren't closer to london, i might be going to ace's tomorrow on mine!

[fuzzy]

im not really a bike fan but thats a mighty bright pink e30 in the back ground

[placey]

tell you what moofles the bmw dealers are very generous with their bikes. turn up on 2 wheels and fiegn the remotest interest in one of their model range and they'll have you out on it before you've come to terms with being there. i've a hankering for a test on a k1200r - but wary as well as i might just end up signing on the line....

if you can find a rockster and someone with a key dangling for it don't refuse - they're different but utterly fantastic. only thing is you need to be fairly tall, anything shorter than a 32inch inside leg and you won't be putting feet flat on the ground for sure.

paul

[Moofles]

i might try that some time, haha - problem is i'm not that tall (5' 9") and the sv650s is pretty much just about the right height for me...sounds like the rockster might be a bit high, but i can always try it and see!

i quite fancy going round to dealers to try a sports bike, lol...