Lotsa questions!

[enduro]

Hi allfrom sunny but getting cold RSA.

Thanks Snoopy for the directions to the site!!

I have a 2002 R bought in November last year and already done 22000km on him!! Absolutely love the bike and the Boxer motor but have some questions as I am mechanically challenged.
1. Do the "tank wings" type of fairing really help with the air flow off the tank? I have found the air comes off the tank and hits me on the chest and under the chin! Not pleasant in winter and I am developing a neck like a body builder trying to keep my head from being buffeted at high speeeds. I do have an aftermarket higher screen on but not helping for that tank flow!
2. Also need hand guards cos the wind is cold even with the heated grips on. BMW make or what should I go for?
3. Riding with panniers on at anything above 180km/h makes the front end very unstable in any form of air turbulance- especially cross winds! What is that and what do I need to do to fix?
4. I need to adjust the suspension- I think! The bike seems to bounce and not grip on back tyre on bumpy roads.
If I set it too soft we wallow in corners but too hard and we bounce. Anyone know the right setting for a plus minus 54kg load? (that's just me - no luggage!) And when I do this I need precise instructions on both settings please. If you haven't figured this out yet its cos I am a women and also vertically challenged so the lower setting does help for the feet to reach the ground but not nice on the twisties at high speed!

OK- now I have given you all LOTS to think about!! thanks all in advance

[riceburner]

Hi enduro.

1) no idea, I've been on naked or semi-naked bikes all my life so it doesn't actually bother me anymore That air flow helps to support you at speed - lean into it

2) BMW R1150GS handguards are an (almost) perfect fit - reasonably easy to put on - see the threads in the R1150R section of the forum.

3) Yes - this happens - you need to wind up your preload to almost max, it helps enormously. OR what might also help is putting on a shorter Paralever arm (the arm that hangs under the swingarm) a R1150GS one will fit - the downside is that the seat height is raised by an inch or two.

4) I'm no expert - but increasing the damping a touch may help (may also help with the pannier weave).

welcome.

[rdsmith3]

Hi allfrom sunny but getting cold RSA.

Thanks Snoopy for the directions to the site!!

I have a 2002 R bought in November last year and already done 22000km on him!! Absolutely love the bike and the Boxer motor but have some questions as I am mechanically challenged.
1. Do the "tank wings" type of fairing really help with the air flow off the tank? I have found the air comes off the tank and hits me on the chest and under the chin! Not pleasant in winter and I am developing a neck like a body builder trying to keep my head from being buffeted at high speeeds. I do have an aftermarket higher screen on but not helping for that tank flow!
2. Also need hand guards cos the wind is cold even with the heated grips on. BMW make or what should I go for?
3. Riding with panniers on at anything above 180km/h makes the front end very unstable in any form of air turbulance- especially cross winds! What is that and what do I need to do to fix?
4. I need to adjust the suspension- I think! The bike seems to bounce and not grip on back tyre on bumpy roads.
If I set it too soft we wallow in corners but too hard and we bounce. Anyone know the right setting for a plus minus 54kg load? (that's just me - no luggage!) And when I do this I need precise instructions on both settings please. If you haven't figured this out yet its cos I am a women and also vertically challenged so the lower setting does help for the feet to reach the ground but not nice on the twisties at high speed!

OK- now I have given you all LOTS to think about!! thanks all in advance

Welcome.

1 - don't know
2 - hand guards from a R1150GS will definitely work. I use them on my '02, and so do many others on this board.
3 - Are you using the BMW system cases, or something else? I have been up to the equivalent of 170 km/h for brief periods, and I did not notice instability. Where do you ride for sustained periods at that speed?
4 - others can give you better advice on this one than I can. It depends on the type of riding you do and your weight, also.

Enjoy your new bike.

[mcollect]

First Welcome aboard!
1. The wings do a great job if you have a fairing. Without one they are not helpful.
2. As stated the GS are great and easy to put on, just a little grinding to allow the fast idle to activate
3. I use the city case lids and find no problems. The big ones cause me to hit things with them
4. Depending on milage the BMW shocks may be toast. Wilbers makes great shocks, I use them as my bike with 27000 miles hopped through turns on uneven roads, and they can set them up for the vertically challanged. Aftermarket shocks are not cheap but improve the handling like you wouldn't believe!

[enduro]

Thanks guys!
Will contact the dealer regarding the handshields!
The fairing - well will have to look at that- had a faired bike before this so am finding the wind a problem but don't want to really add to the weight too much!
The shocks might be bad - never thought about that but the roads here are not the best and we have done some serious mileage - sitting on52000km now so they might well need replacing.
will play with suspension settings some more but first have shocks tested.
As for the front instabilty - it can get quite bad and might have something to do with the big boxes and all the weight being on the back. Don't get it at higher speeds without the boxes so might well be a combination of shocks and weight and air drag.

We do long trips at least once a month - back roads - and trying to keep up with an RT and GT does mean speeds of 190 to 210 km/h for long periods ;-( Never got over the 210 mark though and that was on a 1350km trip in one day- the rest is highway and town riding and lots of twisties where we excell on this bike!

[MikeCam]

Suspension setting Front - damping only. On the left side at the bottom of the shock is a screw adjustment marked
S (curved arrow) H

Gently turn clockwise all the way to full hard. Count back in 1/2 turn increments to 1 3/4 turns off full hard (for 54 kg solo weight. From there, determine how much harder or softer you wish the front to be. If it is skitterish, more hard. If it is too firm and harsh, more soft. You are aiming for a smooth response after hitting bumps and while deep into leaned over corners. Best determined after a spirited ride over regular roads in your area.

Rear settings. Damping. Same as front except try 2 full turns off full hard initially. The rear adjustment is based predominately on the bounce of the wheel over rough road surfaces. Too much bounce? Make it harder. Pre-load - find the adjuster knob (left side between seat and rear foot peg). Read the markings on the side between Normal and High. Turn the knob to set the reading at Normal. Get a feel for the clicks (at about 1/2 turn increments). From dead on Normal, go down one line (2-4 clicks) on the scale. See how that feels. If you want a softer ride, go up past Normal toward the higher marks. For a firmer ride, go down closer to High. Riders in the 150-180 pound range (70-80 kg) tend to go closer to full hard here.

The system cases on the Roadster are tested to 80 mph (130 kmph) for stability. Above that, no expectation of smooth riding exists.

[CycleRob]

Hi all from sunny but getting cold RSA.

OK, I have just 1 question and 9 pages of Google results were no help.

Where/What is RSA?
Rural South Africa?

.

[cruiser]

Hi all from sunny but getting cold RSA.

OK, I have just 1 question and 9 pages of Google results were no help.

Where/What is RSA?
Rural South Africa?

.

Close... Republic of South Africa

[riceburner]

Thanks guys!
Will contact the dealer regarding the handshields!

do NOT let them confuse you by telling you they won't fit, and do NOT let them order the R1200GS handguards because they won't fit (this happen to Beanie). The BMW dealer won't know that they fit, and BMW "don't approve" of doing this - but it's a perfectly good use of the parts.

F
2. As stated the GS are great and easy to put on, just a little grinding to allow the fast idle to activate

You're confusing the handguards with the K12RS mirrors - the handguards may need a little off to clear the brake hose on the right, but they won't affect the fast idle at all.

[riceburner]

Hi all from sunny but getting cold RSA.

OK, I have just 1 question and 9 pages of Google results were no help.

Where/What is RSA?
Rural South Africa?

.

Close... Republic of South Africa

It used to be "Royal" South Africa didn't it?

[enduro]

Yup- Royal SA - back in 1910! all the questions very useless now since the bike was STOLEN this morning!! Got to wait 4 weeks hoping they either recover it or pay out so can buy something else So give me some ideas - has to be a Beemer naturally Was considering the R1200R or maybe the 1200 GS now- BUT remember very short and not so sure if want to go for the naked thing again- but GS nice for the horrible state of roads and can then do some off roading too. Can they lower them?? It is about time BMW looked at lower bikes for ladies - but also if we want to go faster- and don't mention anything under 1000 - like the 800 - NOT interested !!! Want some speed here!

[riceburner]

Yup- Royal SA - back in 1910! all the questions very useless now since the bike was STOLEN this morning!! Got to wait 4 weeks hoping they either recover it or pay out so can buy something else So give me some ideas - has to be a Beemer naturally Was considering the R1200R or maybe the 1200 GS now- BUT remember very short and not so sure if want to go for the naked thing again- but GS nice for the horrible state of roads and can then do some off roading too. Can they lower them?? It is about time BMW looked at lower bikes for ladies - but also if we want to go faster- and don't mention anything under 1000 - like the 800 - NOT interested !!! Want some speed here!

ARRRGH, really sorry to hear it.


F800S/ST is as fast as the R1150R in a straight line, and debatably, is faster in twisties (due to light weight, and a sportier bias to riding position and suspension).

Try one. I've ridden the F800S and F650GS (the new 800cc twin). The S is very nice indeed, if a little "characterless" compared to a Rockster, and the F650GS was also very good (I couldn't get it over 110mph though).

Otherwise - K1200R?? (Like my wife... )