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UPDATE: Made it home

  • <i class="fa--xf fal fa-check "><svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" role="img" aria-hidden="true" ><use href="/data/local/icons/light.svg?v=1758297946#check"></use></svg></i> Discussion starter Discussion starter Red64
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Lots of great riding in Northern NJ; especially, where it borders PA and NY. I live right off of the Palisades Parkway, which is a direct shot up to Bear Mountain and Seven Lakes Drive..

Below is a quick 2+ hr. ride to clear my head

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Tim's R18FE said:
sooooo.... How's she ride???
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Well that is not so easy to answer.
First very different to my previous ride. Obviously stepping from a k1200S to this is a big step. But as I have not ridden in a while so that is also something to take into account. Smooth once into the right rev range. Will be a nice long distance bike.
I need to adjust the rear shock. Set too light. First up step in the morning.
Floor boards are nice but the shifter is in the wrong position. Second item to adjust. Have ordered the wunderlich extension pieces for both heel and toe. Toe is too high and heel is tough to find. Finding neutral is a challenge.
Power is amazing but still struggling a bit to get off the line. Need to better match the revs.
Was surprised at the lack of feeling with the brakes. Used to the hand brake activity both front and rear from the K12. But just not as aggressive as used to. Will take some time to sort it out. And will play with the lever adjustment. That will not change braking but the distance from the bars. Or at least that is my understanding.
Would like to adjust the position of the foot brake pedal as well so need to investigate that. Like to use both as it gives a better feeling of control.
Tomorrow I will take a longer ride to Bayreuth to visit a friend and will use calimoto app to navigate. It is an 85km ( 50 miles approx)approx 1 ½ hour ride on country roads. May come back via the autobahn and compare.

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Then in the afternoon Looking to take another ride in the local area with a friend who has a crotch rocket.
Already scraped the floorboards turning into my street. Hopefully don’t bottom out too much tomorrow.
Was not able to ride today as had an overseas visitor and had some meetings I needed to attend.
Overall first impressions. Good. Hoping to lift that to great with a few simple adjustments.
 
with adjustments to the gear shift. When my bike was new to me I was having exactly the same problems. After a few days they started to feel just about right for me and my size 10 feet.
The rear shock is something definitely worth doing. There is a guide returning how many turns, both in the handbook, and on here if you do a search.
Wishing you every success with the bike. I have had mine three years now and still very much enjoy.
 

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Thanks Cheshire Cat
Just noticed your sign up date to the forum. Exactly the same date as the first registration date on my new ride!
I see you have a short pipe. Like the look of the short pipe but want to keep the bags on the classic so will be staying long.
 
Red64 said:
Thanks Cheshire Cat
Just noticed your sign up date to the forum. Exactly the same date as the first registration date on my new ride!
I see you have a short pipe. Like the look of the short pipe but want to keep the bags on the classic so will be staying long.
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Good to hear from you. I am very fond of NJ having spent some of my youth, visiting relatives in Teaneck, Barnegat, and Mountain Lakes.
At 16 years old I wanted to join the US Navy but eventually ended up in the Royal Navy.
I always change back to the long pipes when touring. Only takes 30 mins or so to change out. Both long and short pipes sound great in my opinion.
My HD had very loud Vance & Hines slash cut exhaust. The BMW is much more subtle but still pleasurable.
Enjoy the ride. :-)
 
Cheshire Cat said:
Good to hear from you. I am very fond of NJ having spent some of my youth, visiting relatives in Teaneck, Barnegat, and Mountain Lakes.
At 16 years old I wanted to join the US Navy but eventually ended up in the Royal Navy.
I always change back to the long pipes when touring. Only takes 30 mins or so to change out. Both long and short pipes sound great in my opinion.
My HD had very loud Vance & Hines slash cut exhaust. The BMW is much more subtle but still pleasurable.
Enjoy the ride. :-)
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Just completed the first longer ride.
Adjusted the rebound before heading out and made a big difference. Very comfortable ride.
Still getting used to it which will take a few more rides.
Very happy with the decision to go for the change.
Knees are good and the backside held up well.
Overall great ride and will take the autobahn back and see how it handles the higher speed.
Some unlimited sections so will open her up!
Report a bit later
 
When you need aggressive braking use the rear brake also.
I found that the linked ABS is very light on the rear brake.
So lets say you’re coming to a stop, using the front brake (and knowing it is also applying rear brake) but you want a bit more bite, then just apply more rear brake with the pedal.
 
So return trip on the autobahn. some thoughts.
High speed vibrations, stability and head shake.
120-140KM/H (75-85 MPH) Mirrors vibrating stability good no head shake
140-160KM/H (85-100 MPH) Mirrors basically blurred, Stabilty and head shake increased but still manageable
180 KM/H (110 MPH) not really looking at the mirrors except to make sure no one is trying to overtake. Head shake pronounced and stability deminished.
Top speed was approx 185 indicated.

Using the Calimoto app there is an increased descripency between indicated speed and the speed shown on the app using GPS. 185 indicated is shown as 165-170 in the app. Recorded trip shows max speed168 km/h

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At lower speeds of 50 KM/H the discrepency is approx 5 KM/H Either BMW accuracy is horrible above 140 or the GPS is not picking up a good signal.

Not sure if others use the app. But so fare impressed with it.

Cheers
 
Persevere with the heel & toe, it’s was the first and only time I’ve ever had it on any bike. Now, +600 miles later I love it. At first I was just the same as you, it felt a bit clumsy, a bit odd. I find a more comfortable shoe/boot helps a lot. Bulky and stiff footwear IMHO robs you of feeling at the lever, only a light ‘tap’ is required on my bike (at least). It took me a good 350 miles or so to start enjoying it and developing the muscle memory where I didn’t have to occasionally physically look down at my left foot.
 
If the speedos are anything like their cars, i have heard that they are deliberately about 5% low. I read something about it being a liability issue if someone got pulled over for speeding and it was determined the speedo was reading high, so all the cars read a bit low. That could be complete bs that I read on the internet though.
 
Rufus said:
Persevere with the heel & toe, it’s was the first and only time I’ve ever had it on any bike. Now, +600 miles later I love it. At first I was just the same as you, it felt a bit clumsy, a bit odd. I find a more comfortable shoe/boot helps a lot. Bulky and stiff footwear IMHO robs you of feeling at the lever, only a light ‘tap’ is required on my bike (at least). It took me a good 350 miles or so to start enjoying it and developing the muscle memory where I didn’t have to occasionally physically look down at my left foot.
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Thanks for the advice.
I have the wunderlich extensions I am going to put on. Also the front can be adjusted for shoe size. I think mine I set for a longer foot. I am reaching forward a lot. So will adjust when I install the extensions. Saturday task.
 
Tim's R18FE said:
If the speedos are anything like their cars, i have heard that they are deliberately about 5% low. I read something about it being a liability issue if someone got pulled over for speeding and it was determined the speedo was reading high, so all the cars read a bit low. That could be complete bs that I read on the internet though.
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I have had BMW cars for the last 20+ years and they are not that inaccurate. Have occasionally hit the electronic speed limiter in my cars. 255 km/h so just shy of 160mph. And in Germany they can be pretty vocal if you don’t hit the actual speed. So I find about 5 km/h across the range. If it was 5% then at 180 it should be max 9 out but it was more like 15 discrepancy.

The good news is I can ask the question and no one will say anything. 😳
 
I've got a 328 myself, and it does read a bit low but I never got anywhere near the speed limiter lol, nor did I ever do the math to figure out how low it was, just saw that t was a bit different than the roadside radar signs said I was going.
 
Tim's R18FE said:
I've got a 328 myself, and it does read a bit low but I never got anywhere near the speed limiter lol, nor did I ever do the math to figure out how low it was, just saw that t was a bit different than the roadside radar signs said I was going.
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The wife has a 540i and in the past I had a 530d. Bit worrisome first time you hit the electronic speed limiter especially if it is still pulling.
When I did the European delivery on my 330i back when I was living in NJ I thought I killed it first time it happened just after I hit the magic mileage when I could rev it more.

Today I did hit the rev limiter on the R18 as I pulled onto the autobahn. Had to pull around a slow van and get up to speed in a hurry. It was still pulling and first time I had really got on it.
 
Red64 said:
The wife has a 540i and in the past I had a 530d. Bit worrisome first time you hit the electronic speed limiter especially if it is still pulling.
When I did the European delivery on my 330i back when I was living in NJ I thought I killed it first time it happened just after I hit the magic mileage when I could rev it more.

Today I did hit the rev limiter on the R18 as I pulled onto the autobahn. Had to pull around a slow van and get up to speed in a hurry. It was still pulling and first time I had really got on it.
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Bren tune.....
 
In my experience, this bike is only meant to be ridden comfortably at a max speed of 80 MPH.
My maximum enjoyment comes in at around 60 - 80
I know that in the States, this can be too slow for traffic flow, but most of my riding done on A roads and not motorways (Interstate)
My biggest disappointment has been engine overheating warning light when in very slow moving traffic for any significant time. It wasn't even that hot of a day!
 
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