Tools. Guys gotta have their tools, right?
OK, we're talkin' travel tools here, folks. What were you gals smirking at?
Those of you who follow ol' John's motorcycling exploits know that John is a big believer in traveling whenever possible, and the undoubted #1 preferred method of travel is by motorcycle.
But you can't just hop on any old motorcycle and expect to ride 500 miles in a day and have enough energy left to tell tales at rider friendly bars that night. It takes a special bike, and even then that special bike has to be "just right."
And that's not to diss folks that ride but who don't see things the same way that ol' John sees things. Riders need to stick together. We are all out here trying to have some fun. If someone's idea of a good time is to ride to the beach, then that's fine with me. But for what I do, the requirements are simply different. Not better or not worse. Just different.
John is partial to, but not wed to, BMW motorcycles. At the moment I've got five of the buggers sitting around the homestead in one stage of repair or the other. BMW has been good to me but I confess to having a roving eye, and I get tempted by other manufacturers' bikes every so often. Still, the siren song of BMW motorcycles always reminds me that I need to go home and keep things in the family, as it were.
Right now BMW is completely revamping their entire lineup. A lot of us old timers who remember when the K-bikes and airheads were produced for 20 years with only minor changes and we are currently asking ourselves "what the fawk?"
First of all, a quick bit of history on modern BMW bikes. There are three distinct lines being made during the last few years: The F-series, which are pretty much marketed as the entry level bikes (and that is unfortunate because, in many ways, the F-series are more functional than the larger and heavier bikes), and the R-series which are the traditional boxer, or horizontally opposed engined models (and the R-series includes John's beloved R1100GS and R1150GS on/off-road bikes). Finally we have the K-series, which are water cooled inline motors and while more than competent these bikes have never gelled with many traditionalists.
Today, if you notice the photo at the top of this blog, we've got an intertaining spy photo of what sure looks like new F-series bikes on test somewhere in Europe. These suckers have old-style F-650 fenders on them, bags for luggage from the new and not even released yet K-series, and a completely different motor from the old F-650 that sure looks like an inline twin cylinder powerplant (the F-650's have had a complex, fuel injected, multi-valve engine that was, nevertheless, a single-cyclinder motor just like your lawn mower). Also of interest is that one bike clearly has a belt drive rather than a chain or a driveshaft. It's worth noting as well that one bike has two front disk brakes while the other one only has one disk - perhaps there are two models on test here?
F-650's have been fine bikes. Yours Truly owned one briefly when, in those glorious days WIHM (When I Had Money), I bought one for a spousal unit (actually girlfriend at the time). She promptly dropped it, breaking her leg, but thankfully without damaging the bike a bit (yes, one has to have the proper priorities). It was a great, nimble bike with adequate power for highway touring but Yours Truly simply prefers the larger R-series "GS" bikes. After all, an R1100GS or R1150GS has more power and can carry more weight. Some people believe in traveling light; ol' John just prefers to get a larger bike and carry more stuff when he travels.
But seriously, the F-series has proven to be an excellent touring bike with good highway manners yet better off-road abilities than the big GS's, mostly by virtue of being lighter and more maneuverable. A twin-cylinder F-series, presumably with a bit more power and displacement (the speculation is that this twin engine is half of the four-cylinder engine that will be in the new K-series bikes) would seem to clearly be a step in the right direction towards creating an even better tool for motorcycle touring.
Watch the blog if you are interested in the new BMW bikes. Photos of the new R-series and the new K-series will be posted here in a few days.
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