BMW Delivered

About an hour ago.

Photos here:

http://www.italiancar.co.uk/bikes/index2.html

Also spent all yesterday afternoon cleaning the Ducati:

http://www.italiancar.co.uk/bikes/index1.html

Just need to get them to my lockup now.

 

That's what I call a proper bike, well, had it been in gunmetal /
silver and sporting a towbar. ;-)

T i m

 

If I were you I'd find some corners to scrub the edges of the tyres on
your Ducati before you put it away again.

 

Is it just here or should that have been:

http://www.italiancar.co.uk/bikes/index.html

T i m

 

Yes, you're right.

 

Does anyone else think that fairing looks ugly.

 

Not half as ugly as this:

http://www.motorbike-search-engine.co.uk/classic_bikes/1971_velocette_le
..jpg

I'd keep your mouth shut if I were you.

 

Well I don't (obviously as I own one) but I think it's an acquired
taste. I think it's quite good in that it is just a basic fairing
rather than the integrated plastics as found on later models.

Too bleedin hot in the summer though. I did look into removing the
fairing but got the CB Two Fifty instead. ;-)

I've yet to see what the GPZ550 feels like on a hot day (reminded of
that when tripping over the folk legs in the workshop yesterday).

T i m

 

Hey, looks good. I've got one of those.


--
Jeweller
R100RT
Formerly: James Captain, A10, C15, B25, Dnepr M16 solo,
R80/7, R100RT (green!)
www.davidhowardjeweller.co.uk

 

<snip>

Nice classic that Steve.

--
Steve Parry
BMW R80RS, BMW R45, 03 BMW R1100S Boxercup, 07 K1200GT SE
95 BMW F650, 87 Yamaha FS1, Sukida SK90PY, 91 Kawasaki AR50,
BMW 330Ci
www.gwynfryn.co.uk

 

Steve Parry wibbled...

Interesting that the only people who've said they like it are people who own
other SOBMWs

I think its definitely a slippers and pipe bike. Mobility scooter next?

 

Yep, just got it, Yamaha Majesty 250. ;-)

T i m

 

A mate of mine from way back called round this afternoon as he was in
the area. If it wasn't that I have a bad back (from working on the GFR
on Friday) we would have passed each other going in opposite directions,
but he caught me at home.

He still has a R100RT that he bought when his R75/6 (which was preceded
by a Trident T150 and Ducati 750GT) finally got too past it to commute
every day on. He reckons it goes better now than when it was new.

Not a slow rider, he was a vintage racing champion in his day. He has
also had a TDM and a Pan[1] (and he has a Norton Atlas engined Matchless
in the garage). Today he turned up on a new Guzzi California so perhaps
you have a point.

[1] One of the very first. It suffered so badly from carb icing being
ridden all through the winter that they gave him his money back
apparently.


--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

Granted.
I'll have to give it some spit and polish before BOSM

Damn it!

We're not in the country that weekend, off to Geneva
(Divonne les Bains) to put up some shelves for a friend.

Come the EOSM I shall have my bike clean and shiney.

--
Jeweller
R100RT
Formerly: James Captain, A10, C15, B25, Dnepr M16 solo,
R80/7, R100RT (green!)
www.davidhowardjeweller.co.uk

 

Pete Fisher wibbled...

Damn! You'll see him coming next time and hide?

Blimey, motorbike dealer in decent aftersales service shocker. (ok, most
of the remaining ones now must be ok, but I can't imagine many dealers
stumping up a refund for that reason)

 

Damn! You'll see him coming next time and hide?
[/QUOTE]

Heh, TBF he did phone first.

This was in the early 90's. He is a very persistent type and took it up
with Honda UK after it caused several embarrassing moments pulling out
in to traffic. Apparently he was initially supplied with free isopropyl
alcohol for it. He got the impression very few Pans were being ridden
through the winter at that time.

He obviously should have tried paraffin.


--
+----------------------------------------------------------------+
| Pete Fisher at Home: |
| Voxan Roadster Gilera Nordwest * 2 Yamaha WR250Z |
| Gilera GFR * 2 Moto Morini 2C/375 Morini 350 "Forgotten Error" |
+----------------------------------------------------------------+

 

If my taste ever acquires that level of, umm, baditude, I'll be making a
call to Dignitas.

 

;-)

I wanted a comfortable bike that was economical, easy to maintain and
some decent weather protection (enter the fairing) and the R100RT is
the best of what I've tried (and could afford) so far.

It's also been my most unreliable bike, ever. Cracked coils > killing
ignition amp and at 34k from new (with full dealer SH?) stripped it's
clutch / gearbox i/p splines. It also happens to be the bike I've
worked the hardest dragging a pillion, full touring cases and a
trailer round several ~2k mile camping holidays.

Borrowed a 900 Divi for a week but it was just boring as **** and
looked and sounded the same as most other bikes of that type (and
offered less weather protection than the RT).

Nope, wouldn't swap the RT for anything else, especially yours. ;-)

 

That was my impression when I owned one. Reliable and cheap to run, but
as flavoursome as a glass of distilled water.

 

Yup, which is a shame because I believe they are very workmanlike
unburstable machines.

From the little I rode it (in spite of having it a week) it was better
planted, batter braked, better powered than the RT but completely
lacking the character of the old BM, something I'm not sure you would
even get from a K, F or Oilhead either (although they are probably all
much better bikes).

The Mrs rode the RT once (with me on the back) and I had to tap her on
the shoulder after about 20 seconds and point at the speedo (it was a
70 limit and she was already overtaking stuff). She had no idea in
spite of still having her visor up, something she would have to close
above 10 mph on her XV750 or risk losing her contact lenses. But in
spite of that, the XV750 suits her a lot. Not because of it's looks
or image (I'm the only one who bothers to clean it etc) but the riding
position and low seat height suit her bad back and knees. That plus it
being a 'gentle' machine with very light controls (arthritic hands /
fingers) means she's able to ride it in relative comfort.

In a similar way the MZ/rat suits the Arb apprentice daughter. ;-)

Cheers, T i m