Tonya and PQBON's WebLog
In 2002, I was talking to my friend tooch at a pho restaurant. I knew he had a new BMW motorcycle and I've always loved bikes so we started talking. I asked about his bike and how he liked it. I casually mentioned I was looking at the BMW single cylinder dual sport as my motorcycle re-entry vehicle. He immediately lit up with a smile.
"Cathy has one of those", he teasingly says.
I proceed to question him about the vibration and how it handles.
"She loves it. I can have her bring it by some time during the week so you can take it out for a spin", he teases.
I said, "That sounds like fun. Let me know."
I expected nothing to come of it. Two days later I get a phone call at my desk. It was tooch. Cathy was in the parking lot with her bike and riding gear for me. I had free run to go and have some fun.
I went for a ride and loved it. Tooch sent me to Cal BMW Triumph. He said to tell them that I was his friend and he sent me (he bought two bikes from them...) I did and I went on a test ride of a bone stock non-abs F650GS in January of 2002.
For those of you who may have forgotten, Jan '02 was accompanied by very very cold weather. That was the year there was snow in the hills on both sides of the bay. Woodside had snow! I was given directions on a route to take to get a taste of the bike. Me, being the moron I am, missed on of the crucial turns and wound up riding into the hills on Page Mill road. Up and up I road waiting to find the turn for Arastidaro Rd. Up I went till there were no houses around, then I was above the tree farms. Finally I was near the top of the hill. I had been riding up hill through snow and ice and drippings off the trees in work gloves, sneakers, and jeans. I was freezing and lost. Eventually I was stopped by a utility worker who was holding traffic. A car had hit some ice and spun out sliding down the hill about 20' or so. I took this time to find out how lost I was.
When the guy told me I was WAY past Arastidaro I decided to turn around and go back down. (This is where the no-abs comes in!) I slowly descended down the hill dragging my feet through a few corners that were really icy or snowy. Eventually I made it back to Cal BMW where I returned a much dirtier demo bike.
Needless to say, I was sold on the F650GS at that point. Any bike that could get me up and down a frozen pagemill was perfect in my book. John Herara sold me an '02 Red F650GS w/ ABS. It was the second bike I've owned and the first new one I'd bought.
Since then I have done much on that bike. I've modified it, ridden it 8000 miles, modified it some more, ridden on and off road, and done a track day. I've done 500+ mile days on the two pass ride, days at hollister, and even days at clear creek.
Over this time I needed more. First, it was my ill-fated 2003 R1100S BXR, then my 2002 YZ250F for dirt, then my 2002 Triumph Daytona 955i, and finally my new 2004 R1150GS. Thats right folks. I traded my F650GS in for an R1150GS.
Some will ask why, some will ponder if it is an upgrade or a down grade. It was simple. I now have a very very wonderful woman in my life who is happy to accompany me on the back of my motorcycle (even with the fate of the R1100S known to her). The problem was thus: The F650GS didn't have enough engine or brakes for easy two up riding, the Daytona didn't have a comfortable enough passenger experience (experience because the seat wasn't the main problem, it was mostly the leg position with the passenger pegs and the back position). The R1150GS fixes all of that. It allows Tonya to be comfortable on back. It has enough power (not tons but enough) and great ABS linked brakes. Kari, my pusher, I mean dealer, was having a special on R1150GS in yellow since yellow wasn't selling well and R1200GS is coming in a few months. For free we got: a new exhaust, large BMW saddle bags, and a base autocom communication system. Tonya hates the color but likes the bike. We are thinking of repainting it, but not sure when or what color.
I'm very very very sad to have said good bye to my F650GS. It was a GREAT bike. It really really did it all and allowed me to re-enter motorcycling at the same time. I will miss you brat!
That is two BMWs down: my R1100S and my F650GS. They are both missed, both missed very much. One good thing is Kari the owner of Cal BMW may be using my old F650GS as his new dirtbike. At least then I know it is in good hands.
Posted by pqbon at March 15, 2004 2:34 AM | TrackBack