1000 Miles on First BMW - More Random Thoughts on my R1150R

[Bluehenrider]

I drove my 2002 R1150R from Wilmington to Rehoboth Beach and back this weekend. Thunderstorms were forecasted across Delaware, but I lucked out and missed them in both directions. The trip door to door was 90 miles each way and I know that is probably a short distance for most of you, but was the longest ride I have made since I started riding 10 years ago.

Bike performed flawlessly and made the 90 miles go by so quickly I started wishing the trip was longer.

Observations:

1. Hearing protection someone suggested on this board and that was a good call. Reduced the wind noise and seemed to build up your confidence.
2. I started getting a stiff right hand after 50 or 60 miles. It was not that cold out, but I think the constant speed highway driving caused me to cramp up a bit. The grip heaters seemed to make it a bit better.
3. Wind was noticeably better heading North than South.
4. When you ride fast it makes you never want so slow down. After a while 50 MPH seems like you are walking.
5. Two types of cars I never trust: BMWs and Minivans. (This opinion I have had for a while. You can add bright yellow Hummers to that list as well.)
6. The Tokyo Steak House and Sushi Bar on route 1 was worth a drive by for the amazing smell there. Some other Delaware beach smells included barbeque, salt air and 1 truck fire.
7. MPG was over 40 MPG on the highway. 92 miles with 1.9 gallons of gas. Can that be right?

[NoRRmad]

1. Hearing protection -- good.
2. A "Throttle Rocker" is a good cheap way to reduce hand-cramps.
7. Yup.

Have fun!

[Ol' Jeffers]

Yup! I get cramp/stiff hand which results in, on a long trip, the twist grip gradually closing
as it slips through my glove. I tried this a couple of years ago : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Uyo5NxbMW0

It's a simple, inexpensive solution that works. There are two models. The type shown in the video for normal size
hands and a wider type for people with small hands (me). With this fitted I can control the throttle with my fingers
extended just using the heel of my hand.

[ron prior]

1.9 gal in 92 miles is 48 mpg...that's terrific

[swamper]

What about the O-Ring trick?

[Ol' Jeffers]

What about the O-Ring trick?

????

[Bluehenrider]

Cramp buster!!! Awesome. I will have to try and get one.

[swamper]

1 1/8" X 3/16 O-Ring between the throttle grip and the end weight,IE: in the crack holds it in position, cruise control.

[Buckster]

I use the throttle rocker and the O-ring. Works great! Actually I used a black hair elastic instead of the O-ring.

[Ol' Jeffers]

Cramp buster!!! Awesome. I will have to try and get one.

The Cramp Buster is very cheap solution (around $10). I think I may have a standard size one kicking around
in my garage if you want it I'll send it to you for the price of the shipping and packaging. PM me.

[bookman]

Crampbuster mod:

On journeys over 250 miles or so the vibes were feeding through to the heel of my hand so a small piece of sealed foam (camping mat offcut ) glued to the tab/lever made a big difference. also it's good to wind it forwards out of the way when mainly in town then your hand heel won't interfere with finer throttle control.( or maybe that's my general incompetence ).

[Bluehenrider]

I called my local BMW parts guy and he is sending me a cramp buster for $9.99. Thanks for the suggestion. He is also sending me front brake rotor washers and I will be all set for my next long drive. I am looking for an Olympia Viper jacket.

[drPete]

Comments to your random thoughts after 102,000 on my 2004 R1150R.

1. Audible book or favorite podcast. Used to do hearing protection and recommend it, but I'm > 50 and used to sell explosives. At this stage of life I'm choosing to enjoy what's left rather that protect what I'm loosing. Flip-up full face helmets are noisiest. Unless of course you drive by a Harley.

2. Must have, not cheap, used since bike was new. Style and performance is suitable for a classy bike like the R1150R -> Bob's BMW: http://store.bobsbmw.com/product/wrist- ... ated-grips. It works great even with GS hand guards spliced on to the R.

3. In WV - more wind headed west than east.

4. Indicated 80 mph (78 actual) is the sweet spot.

5. I have seen the woman in a minivan on her cell phone with kids that will kill me one day when I'm not paying attention. Always pay attention, don't get mad, simply put her behind you and watch for the next minivan.

6. You are in the country when you smell deer that have been hit and make it off the highway before they die. A sensory stimulus rarely available to the cager.

7. I get 42-43 mpg at the sweet spot. A remarkable feat for any naked machine with its big twin cylinders flying in the breeze.

You have a great bike. Someone asked me what I was going to purchase now that I had 100k. Can't think of a better machine. Going for 200k.

Treat it well.

[wncbmw]

I hate the Cramp Buster and all variants of it. The rotation never seems to be in the right location for the speed I am going.

I use the rubber O-ring trick, with about half of it in the crack and the rest on the throttle. Gives me about 5 or 6 seconds of free hand to wipe the face shield, scratch or whatever, then a gradual roll off of the throttle. A light touch on the throttle will maintain speed. Cheap too. Always have a couple of spares in the tank bag.

I can get around 50 mpg on interstate runs traveling. More like about 40 on mountain runs with enthusiastic throttle use!

And you will be doing more mileage soon. Heck, I've done 180 miles to meet someone for breakfast! Enjoy!

[grwrockster]

Best mileage I've ever got was 54.5mpg (riding home from France in 2010. Filled up in Maidstone Services and got all the way back to Bridgend, S.Wales on a tank. 227 miles with in theory a litre and a bit of fuel left in the tank). That was cruising on the M4 Motorway at 85-95mph clock fib speeds with full luggage riding solo. I have a Rockster with the shorter 6th gear (No OD like RT's and some of the R's I think?), so I thought that was pretty good going. In US Gallon terms, that works out to be approx. 45.4mpg (Imperial Gallon being 4.54609 Litres, and a US Gallon being 3.7854 Litres). Normally I don't do as well as that (mid-low 40's depending on roads and how enthusiastic I'm being, which is about 35mpg US).

I think it's probably possible to better that by riding like a nun, but probably not with me at the controls. If you kept the bike at 70mph or less and used gentle acceleration (short-shifting with small throttle openings and not revving it) and not much start-stop on cross country runs maybe close to 13 mile/litre (59mpg UK or 49mpg US) is do-able?

I always go on the low fuel light and reset the trip-meter every fill-up. Then I can allow myself 40 miles to get fuel once it comes on (makes sure you avoid having to push the thing!). If you get to 160 miles before the light comes on then you know you can run to a range of 200miles without risk of running dry.

[grwrockster]

I can get around 50 mpg on interstate runs traveling. More like about 40 on mountain runs with enthusiastic throttle use!

wncbmw. Wow - that's 13.2 Miles/Litre, so in Imperial UK gallon terms that's 60mpg! Seriously frugal!

Given that some new bikes (like the much less powerful Honda NC700 thing) can get about 16.5mpL / 75mpg UK (62.5mpg US) I'd say that the 1150 does pretty well for itself then! The difference in purchase cost of a used 'R' or Rockster over one of these new bikes (or a new F800 BMW as another frugal option) means our bikes can still compete on running costs with the new kit.

[wncbmw]

50 MPG is not my normal, since I only do interstate highway runs to get to different mountain roads where my RPM range and right hand yield a more normal 38-40 mpg!

[gregor]

Still do not understand the need for a cramp buster. Just the weight of my hand holds open the throttle steady and I can wiggle my fingers should the need arise.

The idea of an 'O' ring jamming the throttle open gives me the willies. Seems a bit 'Set the controls for the heart of the sun' (Pink Floyd) if something happens to go wrong.

[Ol' Jeffers]

Still do not understand the need for a cramp buster. Just the weight of my hand holds open the throttle steady and I can wiggle my fingers should the need arise....

But you would if you suffered from Reynaud's syndrome, commonly known as 'white finger'. I'm knocking on now and despite a new heart valve being fitted, still get circulatory problems
off and on. So rather than risk an attack of Reynaud's, on a long run, I use the Crampbuster which on the motorway at least allows me to have my right flat with the fingers stretched
out over the brake lever. Horses for courses methinks.

[wncbmw]

The idea of an 'O' ring jamming the throttle open gives me the willies. Seems a bit 'Set the controls for the heart of the sun' (Pink Floyd) if something happens to go wrong.

Although the Pink Floyd reference is cool, no worries on the O ring. Like I said, I only put it is about 1/2 of the available space, which give just enough friction for the right hand to have a few seconds for something else. If I somehow fell off the bike, it would start slowing down almost immediately until gravity made if fall over or an obstacle made it crash! I have used this for the entire 10 years I have ridden this bike with no problems.