Tombstone picking up a GoldWing project bike got me thinking that for how much 2-up I'm now riding. https://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?threads/project-bike.32125/
The Tenere IS my bike and no plans to sell it but I have NBS - New Bike Syndrome - plus my tall lady wants to ride more and gets cramped back there on longer rides. What I would REALLY like is the new (2018+) Wings but can't justify dropping that much money on a bike I only use for 2-up. Mentioned this to some of my Maryland friends and one pointed out that Bobs BMW has a 2012 K1600GTL project bike for only $4,500. What are friends for, but to spend the money of other friends, right?
Bobs is a half hour from my place and less than 2 miles from a visit to my 2 y.o. grand daughter so off I went the next morning after an evening on the K1600 forum to do research.
The bike is pretty and appearance-wise in great shape with the usual wear of being 10 years old. The 90,000 miles really isn't bad for a bike that spends most of its time on interstates and this one is long past the water pump and other teething problems these things had. They are expensive maintenance hogs if letting the dealer do the work and valve checks are a big deal but being semi-retired and having the Tenere to ride I wasn't too worried. The reason it is a project is that it needs the front ball joints, rear shock rebuilt, tires, brake pads and a rotor. Absolutely beyond what it would be worth to have the dealer do the work.
Hmmmm - I could handle those. Things were going well until . . .
[drum roll please]
I sat on it.
Ever have one of those bikes where you instantly KNEW it just was't meant for you? This was one of those with the long tank sloping away, the swept back cruiser bars, and how sitting on it just wasn't "me."
Oh well - If anybody else is interested, here's the ad for it. https://www.bobsbmw.com/motorcycle-inventory/pre-owned-motorcycles/2012-bmw-k1600gtl-project-bike/
The Tenere IS my bike and no plans to sell it but I have NBS - New Bike Syndrome - plus my tall lady wants to ride more and gets cramped back there on longer rides. What I would REALLY like is the new (2018+) Wings but can't justify dropping that much money on a bike I only use for 2-up. Mentioned this to some of my Maryland friends and one pointed out that Bobs BMW has a 2012 K1600GTL project bike for only $4,500. What are friends for, but to spend the money of other friends, right?
Bobs is a half hour from my place and less than 2 miles from a visit to my 2 y.o. grand daughter so off I went the next morning after an evening on the K1600 forum to do research.
The bike is pretty and appearance-wise in great shape with the usual wear of being 10 years old. The 90,000 miles really isn't bad for a bike that spends most of its time on interstates and this one is long past the water pump and other teething problems these things had. They are expensive maintenance hogs if letting the dealer do the work and valve checks are a big deal but being semi-retired and having the Tenere to ride I wasn't too worried. The reason it is a project is that it needs the front ball joints, rear shock rebuilt, tires, brake pads and a rotor. Absolutely beyond what it would be worth to have the dealer do the work.
Hmmmm - I could handle those. Things were going well until . . .
[drum roll please]
I sat on it.
Ever have one of those bikes where you instantly KNEW it just was't meant for you? This was one of those with the long tank sloping away, the swept back cruiser bars, and how sitting on it just wasn't "me."
Oh well - If anybody else is interested, here's the ad for it. https://www.bobsbmw.com/motorcycle-inventory/pre-owned-motorcycles/2012-bmw-k1600gtl-project-bike/