Time to try new things :-D

rainerb

rainerb

Joined
Jun 17, 2024
Messages
13
Location
Oulu, Finland
Bike
ST1100
Hellos,

I have a -94 ST1100, which I find absolutely great on long drives. I love it! Have done two iron butt SS1000s with it. The old lady now has ~135 000 km behind her.

A couple of weeks ago I went and bought a 2010 BMW R1200RT. The "Camhead" engine. Haven't sold the ST, though. First of all, it's late autumn here in Northern Finland, and nothing sells. That's why I got a good deal on the BMW :-D Second, there is not a lot of money there if I sell her. She is well taken care of and has a lot of goodies - Baehr custom seat, the wind deflectors for hands and legs, an adjustable rear shock from TFX suspension, a new clutch, a new alternator waiting to be installed, LED headlights, and so on. Nice stuff. So I might just keep her if I have the space.

The reasoning behind my new bike was that I am 60 years old. I have 10-15 years of long-distance riding ahead of me, if I am lucky. If I want to ride and experience new bikes, then NOW is the time. So I pulled the trigger on the BMW, it seemed like a good bike. First impressions in the autumn - about 500 km - are nice. REALLY easy to handle, a fuel injected injected engine (this is really good), comfortable, well designed luggage boxes etc. An ST1300 could have been an option, this time it went like this.

But there are more bikes waiting :-D Perhaps a Yamaha FJR? ST1300? BMW GSA? Goldwing? The search for the perfect touring bike - before I have to stop driving - is on!
 
Last edited:
Yes, I am very curious about the FJR! It's on my bucket list, one way or another. The engine maintenance is a bit intimidating, as I like to do my own maintenance. But how hard can it be?

However, as a fun comment, the previous owner of my new BMW owned both an ST1100 as well as an FJR, as well as a range of other bikes. He told me that after driving one of the more comfy bikes, the FJR "felt like sitting on a piece of 2x4" . So I guess a seat upgrade is advised :-D
 
Mophead said:
FJR requires a different seat and windshield. Maintenance is as easy as any bike I ever owned.
Click to expand...
especially changing the oil and filter ;)

I had no issue with my FJR seat (2018) or windshield that I recall, although I bought a spare and cut 4" off the top for summer use. Cruise and heated grips were nice. And it looked good without bags when I wasn't touring and felt even more sporty.

Uv1ExVN.jpg


rNJSL2d.jpg


When my wife quit riding double up in 2020, I sold the FJR and bought a 21 Honda NC 750X DCT. I was 71 at the time. Put 66,000 miles on it and just last week at 75yo I bought what I figure will be my last bike, another NC 750X DCT only this time with cruise and heated grips (and a bunch of other stuff). Kept the 21 DCT for riding in ugly weather lol.

Congrats on the Beemer. It's nice to try new things every once in a while. Especially motorcycles.
 
Nice comments, thanks! The thoughts on the FJR seat are comforting.

I have my 19-year-old daughter riding as a passenger on the St1100 with me for the time being. And the BMW next summer, I hope. It remains to see how long she is interested :-D The new BMW got her applause, as it has seat heating for the passenger!

Nice photos of the FJR! It is a fine-looking bike overall, as I think the ST1100 is. I must say I am very curious. And thumbs up on the mileage and the age you still are riding with your new bike. At 60 yo I obviously have hope :-D
 
Mophead said:
FJR requires a different seat and windshield. Maintenance is as easy as any bike I ever owned.
Click to expand...

Just out of curiosity: any recommendations on the seat? My old Africa Twin has a Corbin seat. Very good- did an iron butt on it. My ST1100 has a Baehr seat. at least as good, if not better. The BMW has a heated Wunderlich front seat. The jury is still out on that, as I only have like 500 km with it. Doesn't feel bad, initially.
 
I have owned a ST1100 for 10 years, a ST1300 for 12 years and now my FJR for 11 years. I also recently had a Versys 1000LT SE which I treaded for a NT1100. I was out of the Honda Ownership club for 11 years. I bought the NT to find out what all the fuss was about the DCT. As I WAS a Manual clutch all the way guy. Also I wanted to get back into the Honda world before I have to stop riding (76 Years old now) With all this said the FJR with a few ergo mods is the best of all the sport touring bikes I have had. It takes all the goods and put them into one bike and non of the bad. Also Yes, try different machines weather you keep them for years or just months. Variety is the spice of life.SAM_7675.JPG
 
Last edited:
the Ferret said:
Lol I like how you capitalized WAS for emphasis Chuck ;)

DCT is awfully nice isnt it?
Click to expand...
My view is the DCT is not better or worse than a manual clutch. It is just another way of shifting a motorcycle. It is different. Along those lines I did take my FJR out for a 140 mile ride in the foothills yesterday with lots of up and down shifting, many tight corners to navigate. When I woke up this morning my left hand was a bit stiff and sore until I had my morning coffee. Like I said, at our age Variety is the spice of life. Hope to get out later this week with the NT for another ride. Three bikes, I try to rotate riding them.
 
My 2014 pictured with Sargent seats in the high position. Had these seats on two different FJR's and about 150,000 miles on the seats. Still works for my boney butt.
If you look at Corbin seats beware, they only mount in the low position. I am fond of Corbin seats but did not want to give up the leg room.

IMG_1816.JPG
 
Congrats on your new to you BMW, I think that particular model is the best looking bike ever built with all that beautiful body panels. Good luck on your search for the perfect touring bike.
 
ChucksKLRST said:
I have owned a ST1100 for 10 years, a ST1300 for 12 years and now my FJR for 11 years. I also recently had a Versys 1000LT SE which I treaded for a NT1100. I was out of the Honda Ownership club for 11 years. I bought the NT to find out what all the fuss was about the DCT. As I WAS a Manual clutch all the way guy. Also I wanted to get back into the Honda world before I have to stop riding (76 Years old now) With all this said the FJR with a few ergo mods is the best of all the sport touring bikes I have had. It takes all the goods and put them into one bike and non of the bad. Also Yes, try different machines weather you keep them for years or just months. Variety is the spice of life.SAM_7675.JPG
Click to expand...
Is that a Steve Gowing seat?
 
at about 154 hp I think I'll have to get one of those; try it on, the ST lacks nothing; in my albeit limited experience I've wound it up / slipped the clutch under load and found the bike to make enough torque and hp to get everywhere I've imagined but...
my Silverado looks a little lonely and... needs a friend..
 
rainerb said:
The reasoning behind my new bike was that I am 60 years old. I have 10-15 years of long-distance riding ahead of me, if I am lucky. If I want to ride and experience new bikes, then NOW is the time.
Click to expand...
I felt the same way, so at 66yo I gulped hard -- and bought the '22 GSA.
But kept my 1300.
Despite my protestations, there will inevitably come a day when I cannot realistically handle a 600 or 700lb motorbike. (Perish the thought!) So, for the time being...
BMW makes some very nice machinery, and IMO it is a buyer's market for now.
It is interesting to compare different engine configurations, too... from 2-stroke triple, inline 4, big thumper, parallel twin, V-twin, V4, to boxer twin.
So now I know, and I can say with the utmost confidence and authority... I love them ALL!
I've long liked the look of the RT, as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom