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BRADFORDBENN
Slowpoke & Proud of It!
KBasa said:He had a TwinStar Honda CM400 with a purple windjammer.
I think I am more scared that you knew that then the idea of you being a Prince impersonator
R
rocketman
Guest
Take one of these and call me in the morning you should be "cured" by then!
My fav. line from this is
"Harley's fastest motorcycle, the Sportster, isn't anywhere near deserving of its name. There is no "sport" to the Sportster, and with a 883cc engine pushing out a meager forty seven horsepower, you have all the makings for a Black Angus set in motion by a mouse fart. "
RM
My fav. line from this is
"Harley's fastest motorcycle, the Sportster, isn't anywhere near deserving of its name. There is no "sport" to the Sportster, and with a 883cc engine pushing out a meager forty seven horsepower, you have all the makings for a Black Angus set in motion by a mouse fart. "
RM
L
lcarlson
Guest
Hmmmm... Whoever composed the rant on that link is quite a headcase.
braddog
Minnesota Nice!
New ones are better..
Translation of that whole piece:
"I can't afford one, so I'm gonna whine."
Harleys are what they are. They also sell a helluva lot of motorcycles, so you can't argue with success.
You can pretty easily boost the new 1200R Sportie to 75 hp. True, it's heavy, but that ain't too bad.rocketman said:Take one of these and call me in the morning you should be "cured" by then!
My fav. line from this is
"Harley's fastest motorcycle, the Sportster, isn't anywhere near deserving of its name. There is no "sport" to the Sportster, and with a 883cc engine pushing out a meager forty seven horsepower, you have all the makings for a Black Angus set in motion by a mouse fart. "
RM
Translation of that whole piece:
"I can't afford one, so I'm gonna whine."
Harleys are what they are. They also sell a helluva lot of motorcycles, so you can't argue with success.
bikerfish1100
New member
A cruiser, BMW or otherwise, is a nice bike IF
you enjoy: going (relatively) slowly in the twisties. stopping more frequently for stretch breaks because your legs and low back are getting tired. smelling the flowers as you roll by, enjoying the sights on the side of the road. being passed by me (and others). sharing conversations with grey beards who can't help but strike up conversations beginning with "i had me one of them thangs back in '53". feeling like a sail in the wind at anything over 70. polishing chrome when you could be riding. wondering when that hill became so steep and long. wondering when that corner got made tighter. wondering when the road was moved closer to your feet.
for me- a cruiser is sort of like golf. it might be a nice thing to retire to, but i've still got way too much life in me to go there now.
however, as in most things, YMMV.
you enjoy: going (relatively) slowly in the twisties. stopping more frequently for stretch breaks because your legs and low back are getting tired. smelling the flowers as you roll by, enjoying the sights on the side of the road. being passed by me (and others). sharing conversations with grey beards who can't help but strike up conversations beginning with "i had me one of them thangs back in '53". feeling like a sail in the wind at anything over 70. polishing chrome when you could be riding. wondering when that hill became so steep and long. wondering when that corner got made tighter. wondering when the road was moved closer to your feet.
for me- a cruiser is sort of like golf. it might be a nice thing to retire to, but i've still got way too much life in me to go there now.
however, as in most things, YMMV.
C
CRUISIN
Guest
Mark11LT said:
1.) "heard its anemic on power" HP is rated at 61 torque is rated at 71 lb/ft that is only one less than the 1100RT and a dressed out curiser is about 40 lbs lighter than the RT. HP may be important at high revs and high speeds, but torque is what you need to consider for real-world speeds say 70mph up and down hills, into the wind and accelerating to pass.
2.) "seating and touring comfort" On my first BMW cruiser, I logged days in the 700 to 800 mile range on a regular basis. That was with a cutom built Sergent seat made firmer for longer rides. On the 2000 model I now have, I rode from Fritch, TX to Bella Vista, AR by way of the twistiest roads I could find last fall for a 655 mile day on the stock seat; all in total comfort. Also just finished a ride to and from the Texas Hill Country a week ago. 2063 miles in 6 days on a seat I built; again in total comfort.
3.) "wind protection" with the tall (22") BMW windscreen it is about what you would expect from a cruiser style bike--feels like a motorcycle not a convertable sports car. Maybe that is why I ride my cruiser 50% more miles each year than I do my RT; I like to feel like I am on a motorcycle.
As you can tell, I am a big fan of the R1200C and truly wish BMW would reconsider discontinuing one of the finest and most beautiful bikes they have ever produced. These bikes corner more like a sport-tourer than a heavy cruiser and are comfortable enough to ride all day or just toodle around town.
case-in-point--my now fully customized 2000 R1200C
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MarkF
New member
Jay Leno (who owns a warehouse full of bikes) was asked which is his favorite. He said his HD Electra Glide Ultra. He called it the Buick Roadmaster of motorcycles. If I had a bunch of cash I night buy one, or a Road Glide. But it would be my two-up weekender or Sat/Sun afternoon cruiser. I still would want something like a R1150RT or R1200ST for touring and zooming. And maybe a Ducati ST4S or S4R.
R
rocketman
Guest
I personally have nothing against HD other than I have no desire to own one, but that holds true for most machines out there.Braddog said:
I do think HD sells an image as much, if not more, than bikes, but again so do many other companies or models such as squid bikes. If you go into some of the new HD dealers around my neck of the woods, there is way more floor space devoted to gear than to the bikes themselves. Now, what does that tell you? Yeah the guy spent WAY too much time on that rant, but it was pretty funny none the less if just for the waste of effort he put into it! Got nothing against cruisers either, heck my SO rides one with so much chrome I have wear dark glasses whenever I enter the garage!
But I still go riding with her whenever we can, so......
RM
"A cruiser, BMW or otherwise, is a nice bike IF you enjoy: going (relatively) slowly in the twisties. stopping more frequently for stretch breaks because your legs and low back are getting tired. smelling the flowers as you roll by, enjoying the sights on the side of the road. being passed by me (and others). "
That reminds of one of the many trips to Lochsa Lodge, over Lolo Pass (it's a Wed night burger thing for about twenty of us). The couple on the ST1300 fell in line behind me and when we got to the top they complained, "We thought we'd ride behind you because you would go slow, we had no idea you rode that thing like a sport bike." Guess the Ducati crowd is teaching me bad habits!
That reminds of one of the many trips to Lochsa Lodge, over Lolo Pass (it's a Wed night burger thing for about twenty of us). The couple on the ST1300 fell in line behind me and when we got to the top they complained, "We thought we'd ride behind you because you would go slow, we had no idea you rode that thing like a sport bike." Guess the Ducati crowd is teaching me bad habits!
nplenzick
New member
Well I have a 03 clc and a new 05 GS. I thought when I bought the GS I wouldn't ride the clc much but that hasn't been the case. Love both bikes, the GS is great fun in the twistes and gravel roads, but for comfort and crusing the interstate at 75 mph you just can't beat the clc- even more so when two up.
jdcoffman
New member
Whatever twists your grip...If I had the dough I would have a crusier also. I would also add a Dual purpose bike R1200GS. The crusiers may be underpowered but compared to what, years ago when the biggest bike BMW made was a 750 that had plenty of power for whatever you would want in a bike unless your pulling a pop-up camper...even then it probalby could be done. Get one, If later you want somethine else you won't have any problem getting rid of it. 
J
James.A
Guest
An under-dressed motorcycle, black with white pinstripes, gets me every time. That's how I remember the R1200C when it first came out. I never had a chance to ride one, but the aesthetic is modern vintage in my mind. Maybe some day, but it has to be black and white, and euro bars.
redbeemer
Boxer, paint shaker
And with a Ural even...
My '71 /5 had no problem pulling my pop-up trailer, and one day I pulled the trailer when I had the Ural sidecar hooked up to the bike, no fuss, no muss. The PRESS is the one saying the R1200C is underpowered, a H-D Evo with a hop-up kit makes what, 7 hp more?
jdcoffman said:Whatever twists your grip...If I had the dough I would have a crusier also. I would also add a Dual purpose bike R1200GS. The crusiers may be underpowered but compared to what, years ago when the biggest bike BMW made was a 750 that had plenty of power for whatever you would want in a bike unless your pulling a pop-up camper...even then it probalby could be done. Get one, If later you want somethine else you won't
have any problem getting rid of it.
My '71 /5 had no problem pulling my pop-up trailer, and one day I pulled the trailer when I had the Ural sidecar hooked up to the bike, no fuss, no muss. The PRESS is the one saying the R1200C is underpowered, a H-D Evo with a hop-up kit makes what, 7 hp more?
offroadcruiser
New member
Cruising on a Cruiser - R1200C
Interesting to read posts about my bike from people who (probably) don't own one. I like the looks Cruiser but I do not like polishing the chrome and I don't have a windshield.
My son and I rode our 1998 R1200C Cruiser 2up to Sturgis and some touring in 2003 about 4000 miles in less than 2 weeks from S. Ontario, no problems at all including one 700 mile day, we had plenty of time so there was no need for higher mileage days but we could have kept riding.
Summer 2004 he rode a DRZ400S and I rode the Cruiser to the West coast from North Dakota including Oregon, N. California, Utah, Colorado etc. for 4 weeks and 9300 miles. with 9000 miles on side roads and gravel roads, my son had a learner permit then and was not allowed on the slab.
Most nights we camped off-road riding to the 'campsite' on a National Forest two lane trail, some high up in the mountains at 10,000 ft.
Some roads, like the 77 miles of curves in Western Montana, we rode twice because it was so much fun. Spent a week in Colorado just riding the mountains.
My other bike is a 1974 R90S so I am not experienced on modern bikes but the R1200C was excellent for this trip. Comfortable, we rode every day all day long except for too frequent stops for fuel, food in restaurants, swimming in rivers or lakes and not much else.
In town the torque is excellent but I miss a 5th gear ratio on the highway, the gap between 4th and top gear is too much.
You can ride it off road but you have limited ground clearance and the peg location does not allow standing on the pegs so you have to stay in first gear and ease the bike along but deep sand and rutted trails were no problem, the long wheelbase makes it very stable.
Like any bike it really depends on the rider more than the machine, you can ride the Cruiser at high(er) speeds, just wick it up. Certainly the sport bikes passed us in the curves but most touring riders let us pass. I find the lack of a tach to be an advantage once you get used to the engine and if you really want to go just shift before the rev limiter kicks in.
I don't mind getting the thumbs up sign at stoplights becaue others are admiring the looks of the Cruiser but I have never experienced 'trip interruptus' from boring conversations probably because I am a crusty old fart myself just don't spend much time talking.
So it really depends on your priorities, the Cruiser can be a comfortable ride if you are the correct size, 30" inseam myself, but it is a compromise and like all compromises does not excel at any one thing.
Carl
bikerfish1100 said:
Interesting to read posts about my bike from people who (probably) don't own one. I like the looks Cruiser but I do not like polishing the chrome and I don't have a windshield.
My son and I rode our 1998 R1200C Cruiser 2up to Sturgis and some touring in 2003 about 4000 miles in less than 2 weeks from S. Ontario, no problems at all including one 700 mile day, we had plenty of time so there was no need for higher mileage days but we could have kept riding.
Summer 2004 he rode a DRZ400S and I rode the Cruiser to the West coast from North Dakota including Oregon, N. California, Utah, Colorado etc. for 4 weeks and 9300 miles. with 9000 miles on side roads and gravel roads, my son had a learner permit then and was not allowed on the slab.
Most nights we camped off-road riding to the 'campsite' on a National Forest two lane trail, some high up in the mountains at 10,000 ft.
Some roads, like the 77 miles of curves in Western Montana, we rode twice because it was so much fun. Spent a week in Colorado just riding the mountains.
My other bike is a 1974 R90S so I am not experienced on modern bikes but the R1200C was excellent for this trip. Comfortable, we rode every day all day long except for too frequent stops for fuel, food in restaurants, swimming in rivers or lakes and not much else.
In town the torque is excellent but I miss a 5th gear ratio on the highway, the gap between 4th and top gear is too much.
You can ride it off road but you have limited ground clearance and the peg location does not allow standing on the pegs so you have to stay in first gear and ease the bike along but deep sand and rutted trails were no problem, the long wheelbase makes it very stable.
Like any bike it really depends on the rider more than the machine, you can ride the Cruiser at high(er) speeds, just wick it up. Certainly the sport bikes passed us in the curves but most touring riders let us pass. I find the lack of a tach to be an advantage once you get used to the engine and if you really want to go just shift before the rev limiter kicks in.
I don't mind getting the thumbs up sign at stoplights becaue others are admiring the looks of the Cruiser but I have never experienced 'trip interruptus' from boring conversations probably because I am a crusty old fart myself just don't spend much time talking.
So it really depends on your priorities, the Cruiser can be a comfortable ride if you are the correct size, 30" inseam myself, but it is a compromise and like all compromises does not excel at any one thing.
Carl
C
CRUISIN
Guest
Nice post Carl, but you are beating your head against the proverbial brick wall.
I have been trying to convince others (mostly other BMW riders) of the merits of the R1200C for five years now. They just do not want to accept the fact that a cruiser can do so much more than they have learned to expect from other brands of cruisers (ignorance is bliss ya know). Besides, if we keep this our little secret 
that will mean plenty of low mileage used ones available at dirt cheap prices in a few years in the event we want to get a little newer one or just have a spare. In fact, I had to take advantage of those low resale values last fall when my '99 was totaled. I bought a 2000, then fully customized it and after selling a few of the original accessories that I did not want and a couple of spare RT items, I am still $200.00 ahead after the insurance settlement. So I got a fully customized bike (22 modifications) that is a year newer with 60K fewer miles and had money to spare. With that said, I'm sort of beginning to appreciate the disdain that other BMW riders have for my bike. I just wish the corporate morons at BMW would realize the quality, value, and overall greatness of the R1200C and continue making them. But that is sort of wishing for that bridge to Hawaii or the complete manual for understanding women--neither one is ever going to become reality. I toast the engineer who had the cojones to design and build the R1200C. 
But think those who made the decision to stop it have been 
a little too much or are just plain stupid. One of the biggest and most frequent complaints against the R1200C is that it is so "underpowered" but like I have said numerous times before, it is only 1lb-ft different in mid-range torque from the fabled R1100RT and wieghs about 40 pounds less. But what about the horse power? Important at the top end, yes, but mid-range power-torque, is what 99.99% of us need for real-world applications in everyday driving. I'll step down off the soap box now and wait my turn for another great deal on a cruiser so that I can have the SO on the same quality ride that I enjoy more than any other I have ever owned, including the RT. 
tata. 
I have been trying to convince others (mostly other BMW riders) of the merits of the R1200C for five years now. They just do not want to accept the fact that a cruiser can do so much more than they have learned to expect from other brands of cruisers (ignorance is bliss ya know). Besides, if we keep this our little secret that will mean plenty of low mileage used ones available at dirt cheap prices in a few years in the event we want to get a little newer one or just have a spare. In fact, I had to take advantage of those low resale values last fall when my '99 was totaled. I bought a 2000, then fully customized it and after selling a few of the original accessories that I did not want and a couple of spare RT items, I am still $200.00 ahead after the insurance settlement. So I got a fully customized bike (22 modifications) that is a year newer with 60K fewer miles and had money to spare. With that said, I'm sort of beginning to appreciate the disdain that other BMW riders have for my bike. I just wish the corporate morons at BMW would realize the quality, value, and overall greatness of the R1200C and continue making them. But that is sort of wishing for that bridge to Hawaii or the complete manual for understanding women--neither one is ever going to become reality. I toast the engineer who had the cojones to design and build the R1200C. But think those who made the decision to stop it have been a little too much or are just plain stupid. One of the biggest and most frequent complaints against the R1200C is that it is so "underpowered" but like I have said numerous times before, it is only 1lb-ft different in mid-range torque from the fabled R1100RT and wieghs about 40 pounds less. But what about the horse power? Important at the top end, yes, but mid-range power-torque, is what 99.99% of us need for real-world applications in everyday driving. I'll step down off the soap box now and wait my turn for another great deal on a cruiser so that I can have the SO on the same quality ride that I enjoy more than any other I have ever owned, including the RT. tata. 
vetsurginc
New member
Had one and enjoyed it for a year. Problem was where to put my legs on longer rides? Got the engine guard/leg rests which was better, but then my heels keep catching the front axle 
A
aso215kd
Guest
Cruisers Underpowered?
I have one of those new Triumph Rocket III's. Definitely a cruiser. Definitely not underpowered. Feet are forward. I put a backrest on it and its like riding down the road on a 140HP recliner. However, I grew up leaning forward. After 2500 miles on the the Rocket, I always look forward to getting on my Norton cafe racer (relatively underpowered).
I have one of those new Triumph Rocket III's. Definitely a cruiser. Definitely not underpowered. Feet are forward. I put a backrest on it and its like riding down the road on a 140HP recliner. However, I grew up leaning forward. After 2500 miles on the the Rocket, I always look forward to getting on my Norton cafe racer (relatively underpowered).
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