Two Wheel Fix - View Single Post

No Worries · 04-10-2010, 12:04 AM

I went down to Foothills BMW at 1:00 and a bunch of demo bikes were just heading out. I signed up for the 2:00 ride and walked around the dealership. I met a couple who had GS1150's with cavernous metal saddlebags. I started talking to them and the guy pulled everything out of his saddlebags to show me what he had.

This guy could have ridden the Road of Bones in Russia and would have been prepared for any mishap. Everything was organized in clear bags and boxes. His tire patch kit was in an old VHS tape box. He could have repaired 50 flat tires. He had an electric air pump and a bicycle pump. He made his own jumper cables, but the neatest thing was a patch he bought at a truck stop to repair sidewall blowouts. I didn't even know they made such a thing.

So I signed up for a S1000RR demo. The leader explained the different modes (I kept it in Sport Mode), that I could shift up without the clutch and with the throttle on, and that the brake warning light would come on at the beginning. I was on a red, white, and blue one, right behind the leader. So I started it up, shifted into first and the bike stalled. I had the kickstand down.

I started again and put my feet on the pegs. They were positioned about where the passenger pegs are located on my bike. So at the first light, I stall it at the green. At the next light, I make sure to give it more throttle and I rev it so high the shift light comes on. We've gone about an eighth of a mile and I'm not doing too good.

We accelerate onto a freeway and I look down at the speedo-85 mph. Holy crap this thing moves. We exit at a cloverleaf. The stubby clip-ons are harder for me to instigate a turn, but once leaned over, the bike was in it's groove. I accelerate like a demon and come up to another light. The guy behind me on a GS pulls up and tells me that my bike has unbelievable acceleration. I nod, grinning ear to ear.

And the brakes were like anchors. I'm used to four finger braking and I was stopping well behind the lead rider and had to move up at the lights. We went on another highway, a backroad, the interstate, and a major street. I didn't look down at the speedo, but we went fast. When we exited the interstate, I saw that a Highway Patrol had just pulled over a car. Lucky for us.

Just when I was getting the feel for the clutch, brakes, shifter, throttle, and handling, the ride came to an end. It was over 40 minutes, but my wrists didn't hurt. My knees and ankles were a little stiff from the angle, but it was a great ride and a great bike. When I got on my old Suzuki, the handlebars felt like ape-hangers. I had a great time and highly recommend the S1000RR for a demo ride.

04-10-2010, 12:04 AM	#43
No Worries Keyboard Racer Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Mile High City Moto: Old Superbikes Posts: 1,016	I went down to Foothills BMW at 1:00 and a bunch of demo bikes were just heading out. I signed up for the 2:00 ride and walked around the dealership. I met a couple who had GS1150's with cavernous metal saddlebags. I started talking to them and the guy pulled everything out of his saddlebags to show me what he had. This guy could have ridden the Road of Bones in Russia and would have been prepared for any mishap. Everything was organized in clear bags and boxes. His tire patch kit was in an old VHS tape box. He could have repaired 50 flat tires. He had an electric air pump and a bicycle pump. He made his own jumper cables, but the neatest thing was a patch he bought at a truck stop to repair sidewall blowouts. I didn't even know they made such a thing. So I signed up for a S1000RR demo. The leader explained the different modes (I kept it in Sport Mode), that I could shift up without the clutch and with the throttle on, and that the brake warning light would come on at the beginning. I was on a red, white, and blue one, right behind the leader. So I started it up, shifted into first and the bike stalled. I had the kickstand down. I started again and put my feet on the pegs. They were positioned about where the passenger pegs are located on my bike. So at the first light, I stall it at the green. At the next light, I make sure to give it more throttle and I rev it so high the shift light comes on. We've gone about an eighth of a mile and I'm not doing too good. We accelerate onto a freeway and I look down at the speedo-85 mph. Holy crap this thing moves. We exit at a cloverleaf. The stubby clip-ons are harder for me to instigate a turn, but once leaned over, the bike was in it's groove. I accelerate like a demon and come up to another light. The guy behind me on a GS pulls up and tells me that my bike has unbelievable acceleration. I nod, grinning ear to ear. And the brakes were like anchors. I'm used to four finger braking and I was stopping well behind the lead rider and had to move up at the lights. We went on another highway, a backroad, the interstate, and a major street. I didn't look down at the speedo, but we went fast. When we exited the interstate, I saw that a Highway Patrol had just pulled over a car. Lucky for us. Just when I was getting the feel for the clutch, brakes, shifter, throttle, and handling, the ride came to an end. It was over 40 minutes, but my wrists didn't hurt. My knees and ankles were a little stiff from the angle, but it was a great ride and a great bike. When I got on my old Suzuki, the handlebars felt like ape-hangers. I had a great time and highly recommend the S1000RR for a demo ride.