Great week with a reality check

[Scottfree]

I live 1400 km from my boat on Vancouver Island. Karen and I fly out and use her often and will do so until I retire. I took last week off and met my wife, daughter and our two grandson at the boat to relax and go boating. You see I have other interests too, I ride motorcycles! I rode out on my latest bike a BMW R1200RT. I've been riding 35 years and have owned them all. Amazing machine, nothing compares. Anyway had a great week on the boat, did some maintenance, did some boating, bbq and drank some wine, life is good! We all left Saturday morning, me on my bike and the Gaggle of woman and Grandchildren in the truck. They headed safely to Kelowna BC, I headed north to Edmonton, on my bike. About half way home I'm held in traffic due to a motor vehicle accident. I got there as they had just opened the highway after five hours of clean up. Apparently a mid thirties man new to biking tried to pass a semi on a curve and hit an oncoming car head on. The result was obviously a fatality. The accident scene was graphic and I literally drove over asphalt stained from the accident. I'm not sure why the accident happened, poor judgement, inexperience or just bad luck. I had another eight hours in the saddle to think how quickly things can change. Motorcycles and boats, really? Actually I think they have amazing similarities. Safety. Boating fatalities and motorcycle fatalities happen quickly.

I realized you can't be prepared enough for the unexpected and I am going to again review all the safety equipment and procedures on my boat, my bike, my shop, work and .....

Be safe, it only takes a second to be wrong.

 

[Sterellie]

I share your experience being a BMW bike owner for more years than I can remember. Driving across South Africa a double semi took out my riding partner (not his fault). I have lost some friends along the way, but the rides have been fantastic. Now approaching 80, the boat takes more of my time and will continue to do so until I plan for the second half of my life.

 

[walldog]

Our next to last bike was a R1100RT, loved that bike. We have owned BMW's since the early 60's. Lost a few friends over the years to motorcycle accidents, had few close calls ourselves, but cannot say that we lost more motorcycle buddies than other types of friends. Our constant watch was the other vehicles, expecting them to not see us, even the ones looking us in the eye. We toured places we would never have without our motorcycles. Our last trip was on our K1200LT touring the beautiful Ouachita Mountains in Southern Missouri and North Arkansas. About mid-way back to Texas, Willie and I both came to the conclusion that we were working harder to have less fun. So we sold "Das Tier". However, I have been unable to part with our Sidi boots and a couple of helmets, just in case I may need them again.

You have the right attitude, keep yourself and your equipment in shape and stay safe, but have fun.

 

[rt11002003]

Can't remember all the BMW motorcycles I've owned. 😳 Bought the first one in Germany in 1970, my last one was a RT1150, had 5 of the RT11XX series, starting with their first year. Also had affairs with two of the R1100S's. :shock: Due to lumbar issues can't get left leg over the saddle anymore. 🙁 I, too, keep boots, helmet, ear plugs and Aero Roadcrafter suit ready, just in case!!! Boats, sports cars, airplanes and motorcycles make life interesting. Kept me from being a home body and allowed me to see a lot of the world.

gene

 

[JamesTXSD]

The wife and I have owned 25 motorcycles over the years: Harleys, Goldwings, BMWs, and others.

For RT10002003: I'm not as flexible as I used to be, and found tossing a leg over a V-Strom (relatively tall bike) was taking more effort; I was about ready to be done riding. Last year, my wife said, "Let's get a couple small scooters." I scoffed... really, an actual scoff. :lol:

I did some research, and we bought a pair of Honda PCX 150s. They aren't flat floor scooters, but do have a step over to get on. I wasn't expecting to enjoy the experience, but find it an absolute delight! The scoots are lightweight, comfortable, peppy, and just plain fun! My only regret is I wish we would have done this sooner.

Kinda like the change from sailing to powercruising: I wasn't sure, but the result turned out to be even better than I thought. Neither of us have any interest in eating up highway miles anymore; these fun scoots will do 65 mph if necessary, but are more fun around town or running through the twisties. Thought I'd miss shifting - I was wrong. Thought it would feel underpowered - I was wrong. Turns out, I have come "full circle": my first motorcycle was a Honda 150 Dream that I bought when I was 14. I am having just as much fun with these scooters as I did with that first bike when I was a kid.

Just tossing out another option - one that turned out to be a great option for us.

Best wishes,
Jim B.

The software on this forum isn't allowing me to post an image, but you can click on this to see the scoots...

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z44 ... b3d26b.jpg

 

[Bruce Moore]

The software on this forum isn't allowing me to post an image, but you can click on this to see the scoots...

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/z44 ... b3d26b.jpg

There are two ways to embed images in your posts.

If the picture you want to include is in one of your gallery folders (on Tugnuts), click on the g2Img button. That will open another window which will allow you to browse your galleries and select a picture.

If the picture isn't in your gallery, perhaps something you've seen elsewhere on the web, or in another personal web collection (i.e. flickr, picassa, etc.) then you click the Img button.

This will create the following string (minus url) in your posting window -

- then you copy and paste the URL (http://whatever...jpg) of the desired image in the middle, between the ][ brackets. The trick here is to determine the direct URL of the image. Various image hosting sites show it in different ways. Sometimes it's right up in the address bar. Other times it's listed under "Share This Image", etc. Image size can not exceed 700 x 700 pixels.

You can determine if you have the correct URL by hitting the Preview button. If it displays, you're good to go. If it's not correct, the form will give you some kind of clue so you can go back and dig around. You'll only have to figure it out once for each host.

Cheers,

Bruce

 

[walldog]

 

[JamesTXSD]

The image size was less than 700x700, but I was still getting that message. I downsized the image to less than 500 on the long side, and still got that message. I've posted plenty of images here. Rather than argue with the software, I just posted the link and moved on. Cute scoots, huh? 😉 Great size and fun for those of us who still want to ride on two, but don't need a heavy bike.

 

[curt]

Although I am not a Zen type person, it seem like something is happening here. My early years involved Suzuki 150 two stroke and Honda 350 Sramblers and later Trail 90's. Boats became (beside various outboards and ski boats) Westwright Potters and wonderful wooden Trojan Lapstrake cruisers. Now at 77 yrs I truly embrace the "simpler is better" philosophy. My 21EC is perfect for SF Delta and Bay cruising with NO problems; my Vespa ET150 scooter keeps me happy around town with NO problems. Enjoy the simple life.

 

[Sterellie]

Great knowing many of you have the appreciation for quality cycles as well as in tugs. Wish I had never sold my BMW R27 or the R60. Great rides and wonderful adventures.

 

[berniefiedler]

I taught the motorcycle safety course for many years and spent just as many on Ducati's, mainly ST4's (with a small aberration of total infatuation with a Kawasaki IL Hwy Patrol Police Bike🙂 until I sold them all at the urging of my family. The old" If you respect me." from the wife. But, I also had a strong urge for fast cars and owned examples from the Porsche Turbo to the Audi RS6 Twin Turbo.
Now, we both enjoy a 1930 Model A Convertible Pickup and R27 Tug. And yes, I still drive a fairly hot Mini Cooper to work, but that's a different story. Tastes change, but the enjoyment of good engineering remains!

Bernie

 

[Adagio]

Boats and bikes. . . Another senior citizen here ( age 75) who travels on both a Ranger Tug 25 (named Adagio, "Slow and Easy") and a BMW R1200 GS Adventure (named Allegro, "Fast and Lively"). Spent ten weeks on Adagio last spring going through through the NC Dismal Swamp Canal, then to Norfolk and up the Chesapeake, and a week recently in the Pensacola area. In three days I leave on a three week ride on Allegro visiting Western US and Canadian Rockies national parks.

Life is good. . .

Adagio

 

[cowdoc87]

Boats and bikes. . . Another senior citizen here ( age 75) who travels on both a Ranger Tug 25 (named Adagio, "Slow and Easy") and a BMW R1200 GS Adventure (named Allegro, "Fast and Lively"). Spent ten weeks on Adagio last spring going through through the NC Dismal Swamp Canal, then to Norfolk and up the Chesapeake, and a week recently in the Pensacola area. In three days I leave on a three week ride on Allegro visiting Western US and Canadian Rockies national parks.

Life is good. . .

Adagio

1200 GSA hands down the sweetest ride I ever owned.Alas,my wife's a chronic worrier,and I must admit,passing so many folks texting while driving is terrifying on a bike. I pledged to stay on 4 wheels,but the R25 helps ease the loss! 6 knots isnt exactly hair-on-fire, but I love it.