Saturday, March 31, 2007
Taking care of business
News flash! After nearly 21 years of riding I am now legal. This morning I visited my local DMV and got my endorsement. I'm happy to report I received 100% on both the written and practical tests, but that's not saying much because the tests are pretty easy. So at least the State of Washington thinks I'm qualified to operate a motorcycle.
I've been meaning to get this done for a long time but I kept putting it off. Truthfully the only reason I did it today is because I had a service appointment for the GT and the dealership wouldn't give me a loaner bike unless I held an endorsement.
So after the DMV I drove down to South Sound BMW and dropped the GT off. They gave me a R 1150 R Rockster edition to putt around on. At first glance I thought "this is going to be a lot of fun". I hadn't ridden a naked bike since Mark's K12R, and that was scary fast. After 5 seconds on the Rockster I knew how wrong I was.
Two words describe it best: Slow & uncomfortable. I must be spoiled by the GT because I found that bike annoying in almost every way. It's underpowered - only 83 hp to move 482 lbs. Compared with the GT's 152 hp / 549 lbs that made the Rockster seem pretty damn slow. I'm told that the new boxer engines have counterweights to reduce the vibration. That's a good thing for owners of R bikes, because after 5 miles at freeway speeds my butt was about numb. The aerodynamics are poor too. It has a lame little fairing on the front which does nothing but direct the wind into the riders chest, so at 70 mph I was hanging on for dear life. On the plus side I think the styling is great; it definately looks cool. Needless to say I was stoked to get the GT back at the end of the day.
One final note: I've recently started riding with earplugs and they make a huge difference for me with respect to fatigue. They probably cut out about 15-25 decibels so almost all of the medium and high-range of the wind noise is chopped, leaving a low "thunder" sound. I know riders have mixed feelings on the use of plugs, citing important points like "an inability to hear the cars around you". I was dismissive of these arguments until my ride today. On my way home I was riding in the HOV lane and spacing out. I was awakened from my daydream by the sound of a police siren - right behind me. I must not have been checking my mirrors, because the Trooper was riding my ass. Great, I thought, I'm getting pulled over (I was doing 70). I pulled off but he sped around me. I wondered how long he'd been behind me with his lights flashing before he fired up the siren...maybe the plugs aren't such a great idea.
I've been meaning to get this done for a long time but I kept putting it off. Truthfully the only reason I did it today is because I had a service appointment for the GT and the dealership wouldn't give me a loaner bike unless I held an endorsement.
So after the DMV I drove down to South Sound BMW and dropped the GT off. They gave me a R 1150 R Rockster edition to putt around on. At first glance I thought "this is going to be a lot of fun". I hadn't ridden a naked bike since Mark's K12R, and that was scary fast. After 5 seconds on the Rockster I knew how wrong I was.
Two words describe it best: Slow & uncomfortable. I must be spoiled by the GT because I found that bike annoying in almost every way. It's underpowered - only 83 hp to move 482 lbs. Compared with the GT's 152 hp / 549 lbs that made the Rockster seem pretty damn slow. I'm told that the new boxer engines have counterweights to reduce the vibration. That's a good thing for owners of R bikes, because after 5 miles at freeway speeds my butt was about numb. The aerodynamics are poor too. It has a lame little fairing on the front which does nothing but direct the wind into the riders chest, so at 70 mph I was hanging on for dear life. On the plus side I think the styling is great; it definately looks cool. Needless to say I was stoked to get the GT back at the end of the day.
One final note: I've recently started riding with earplugs and they make a huge difference for me with respect to fatigue. They probably cut out about 15-25 decibels so almost all of the medium and high-range of the wind noise is chopped, leaving a low "thunder" sound. I know riders have mixed feelings on the use of plugs, citing important points like "an inability to hear the cars around you". I was dismissive of these arguments until my ride today. On my way home I was riding in the HOV lane and spacing out. I was awakened from my daydream by the sound of a police siren - right behind me. I must not have been checking my mirrors, because the Trooper was riding my ass. Great, I thought, I'm getting pulled over (I was doing 70). I pulled off but he sped around me. I wondered how long he'd been behind me with his lights flashing before he fired up the siren...maybe the plugs aren't such a great idea.
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Congratulations on your legal status!
That's pretty funny that they put you on what was my first BMW. I loved that bike, but there's just no way I'd go back to riding one after being spoiled by the K bike. You're absolutely right about the wind directed into your chest and the uncomfortable seat.
Did you use the foam or wax earplug? I do like them as well if I am not listening to my iPod. It would've been a funny story if you got pulled over the day of receiving your endorsement.
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That's pretty funny that they put you on what was my first BMW. I loved that bike, but there's just no way I'd go back to riding one after being spoiled by the K bike. You're absolutely right about the wind directed into your chest and the uncomfortable seat.
Did you use the foam or wax earplug? I do like them as well if I am not listening to my iPod. It would've been a funny story if you got pulled over the day of receiving your endorsement.
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