Back in 1985 I did the 4-Corners Tour plus an additional 5000 miles through the Arizona/Utah canyons on a Suzuki GS650G, the little brother of the legendary GS850G. Those bikes were accurately described by a name every manufacturer fears to use now--standards. Comfortable, natural riding position, air-cooled 4-cylinder, triple-disk brakes, shaft-drive, 17" wheels front and back. Suzuki was famous for providing comfortable stock seats. I added a Rifle bar-mount fairing (similar to the Parabellum Scout), a sheepskin cover for the saddle, Krauser hard bags and rear rack, and Gold Belt grips. Camera, rain gear, maps and various tools rode in a Eureka tank bag, and camping gear was stuffed in a waterproof bag and bungied to the back. Then, as now, I traveled with a full-face helmet, full rain gear, and an electric vest. Suzukis were justly reknowned for their durability and reliability, and not once did it ever occur to me that my bike was insufficient for such a tour. I had a great time, saw the continent the right way, and didn't experience a single mechanical malfunction the entire trip. The "little" 4 usually left my hands tingling by the end of a 12-hour day, but that's the only complaint I ever had (and the primary reason I bought a big twin this time).crashfaster wrote:I'm going to go ahead with the rest of my planned touring mods (Sargent seat, engine protection, driving lights, top box).
I'm going to relax and have faith that this amazing machine will get me where I want to go.
If the manufacturers would stop calling these extraordinary machines, which are the very essence of motorcycling, "naked", maybe we could get on with equipping them the way we want without having to be so concerned with appearance and propriety. Perhaps you could ask a question about windshields on this forum without having the usual chest-thumpers proclaiming that fully "naked" was some sort of divine proclamation and that wanting a little weather protection was the converse confirmation of sissyhood.
That said, after I got over the funky-looking Telelever and beak combo, it eventually dawned on me that my silver RR is quite possibly the best looking motorcycle I've ever seen. After unkinking my knees and completely removing butt pain as an excuse for quitting early with the addition of a Sargent saddle, slowing the wind blast with a Givi minifairing, and securely stowing my gear with the excellent BMW side luggage, the R has become, without a doubt, the most comfortable and functional bike I've ever ridden (and there aren't many I haven't ridden, including Gold Wings, Harleys, and Ducatis)--and, oh, what I wouldn't have given for those miraculous heated hand grips on the old Suzuki. I've been on two long tours so far (including a few 700-mile days) and I have a 3000-mile trip scheduled for the coming summer. I'm going to be adding a Parabellum Scout to knock back the wind a bit more and a big Hepco-Becker TC50 to carry the camera gear and hold the riding jacket for stops. What more would I want in a motorcycle? Even with all the additions, the bike still looks good and carries the visual and actual weight of its adornments with class. It's supremely comfortable, handles like a sport bike when I ask it to, or cruises at 80 mph all day long on the Interstate when I have no other choice.
The only real problem I ever had with comfort on the mid-weight Suzuki during my 4-Corners blast was the extreme heat I faced crossing the south from Southern Cal to Florida and during the desert-canyon tour on the way home, and full-fairing weather protection would only have made that worse. Sure, when it's raining buckets or struggling to stay above freezing, that protection is welcome, but there's something to be said for a "naked" bike in extreme heat, and providing the cold-weather protection with clothing is--for me--a better option. These days, we're blessed with mesh riding gear that didn't exist in the early '80's as well as truly multi-functional textile riding gear that is usefully vented, armored and abrasion protected, and waterproof. Add the heated grips and an electric vest, and weather versatility greatly exceeds that of a large, dedicated tourer like a Gold Wing. If you'll notice, those folks typically deal with the heat by shedding their protective riding gear; not considered an option at this house.
In short, the BMW R1150R is, in my opinion, a perfect MOTORCYCLE, and that is something the manufacturers in general and the motorcycle press in particular have completely forgotten in their relentless pursuit of niche marketing. I ride my bike everywhere, all the time, for errands, recreational weekend rides in the mountains, and, yes, for LD touring. The more journalists drive motorcycling into niches, the more trivial it becomes, and the less able the average rider will be to resist the marketing foolishness that tells him a liter bike is "mid-size" and a standard configuration is too boring and generally competent to handle the "specialized" rigors of touring. Bull. How many cars do you need to do everything you routinely do in a car? Why shouldn't one motorcycle be just as sufficient?
You got a great bike. Frankly, looking ahead to doing another 4-Corner Tour with my wife along on her own bike is precisely why I bought two R1150Rs. I can't imagine riding anything else.
