Done for the year...

[glwilson]

Well... haven't ridden much in the last 10 days... and cannot ride this weekend between the rain, cold weather, and another obligation.

I am taking the bike in next week for servicing that needs done, and a replacement of the front fender (had a fairly major dent in the tin of the fender).

After that, it doesn't look good for any more riding for me this year... :(

Now it is just a long wait until next spring... which will never get here soon enough for me. :(" title="" border="0"/>

I will do a little bit of snowmobiling and take my one annual snowmobiling trip to the UP of Michigan -- which will help a little.

I've got to move out of the Midwest!!!

[tombstone]

What???

[Cajunrider]

Move down here Greg......you only want to leave it in the garage in July and August.

[usranger74]

Have a good winter and let's hope spring comes early :)

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by Cajunrider

Move down here Greg......you only want to leave it in the garage in July and August.

Don't tempt me!!

Really... seriously... in about 8-10 weeks the wind will be blowing frozen snow, and the wind-chill will be anywhere from 0 degrees to -20 below.

It sucks to live here. I feel for those living north of me by a long distance.

[AlabamaNomadRider]

Yep, you could move south and make less money. But you can ride a lot longer each year, like 12 months each year. Don't wait until you retire to move south. By then it will be too late. Global warming will have turned Illinois into a much warmer state.

[cactusjack]

Come down here, Greg. You can ride every week of the year. Little rain, no snow, seldom gets down to freezing.

[Loafer]

But you have black widows, scorpions, rattle snakes and gila monsters [ whatever that is].

[ponch]

California is the place you ought to be, so pack up your truck... As far as bike riding goes. Depending on where you live, never gets hot, never gets cold, other than that, they can keep it.

I was done two months ago. Haven't been out to look at bikes. I really like the new BMW coming out, but when I heard through the crap line what the MSRP will be, I nearly had a stroke. It's more like what I have eliminated than what I have found.

[blowndodge]

Originally Posted by ponch

California is the place you ought to be, so pack up your truck... As far as bike riding goes. Depending on where you live, never gets hot, never gets cold.

Now that's a very smart idea

Geeee Greg, Taking a harley in for service and then not riding it for months is a very familiar story in California. Just ask Dave!

[ponch]

Test rode a Voyager today. I have to say that it seems that Kawasaki tried to make it more like an Ultra. It's not like the 1600 at all. Tighter ergonomics, handles better, engine doesn't seem as smooth as the 1600, transmission really clunks. I didn't hear the whine some complain about. Considering it's a 1700, I didn't feel a lot of difference from an ultra or the 1600. A little torquier, but not HP, at least from the feeling of the seat of my pants and watch the tach and speedo.

On the plus side, I think it handles better, the seat is much better than either the stock or mustang I had on the 1600.

Brakes were ok, but not incredible. It was the ABS version and had the optional backrest too.

If I had to chose between the Voyager and they Ultra. I might buy the Voyager and pocket the money I'd save, but there are other choices. I'd still like to check out a Cross Country and some of the BMW rides. May the GW, may be not. It's always fun to test ride bikes and cars. If there's any advice I could give Kawasaki it is they should have gone with the 2000 engine or throw some of that tech that went to the ninjas at the 1700. The transmission is even more disappointing. The 1600 shifts a lot smoother. Better yet, they should have made the Voyager a full boat tourer based on the C14, but increase the displacement a little. Oh well, it is what it is.

[glwilson]

Originally Posted by Blowndodge "Darksider"

Now that's a very smart idea

Geeee Greg, Taking a harley in for service and then not riding it for months is a very familiar story in California. Just ask Dave!

BD; why do you think I waited until the last of the season?!! LOL!

Ponch... I never did see the asking price for the new BMW. What did it come-in at? ???

CJ... I am seriously thinking about Arizona. I have several family members living in AZ. With my job, I just about can work anywhere; as long as my partner doesn't have a problem with it. ;)

[ponch]

BMW hasn't come out with a price yet. Some people on a BMW board have said their dealers said 29-30K. When I was at a BMW dealer yesterday, I asked and he said BMW hasn't released a price, but in the conversation later he said 30K is a lot of money for that bike. So who knows. If it is that high, I am priced out of it.

I took my two older girls with me to the dealers (12 and 14). My 14 year old rides with me and she liked the R1200GSA best with the R1200RT next. She didn't like the Vision at all, said it was a car. She liked the G650GS though. I better get ready for two bikes, she wants to ride. :)

I've heard that Chicago BMW is very competitive price wise. Do you know anything about them greg? I think the same dealer sells HD too. They have a fly and ride program. they will pick you up from the airport and give you lunch too. Someone I know bought their R1200GSA there are paid 4K less than they would have here. Dealers here just don't like to haggle so much. They think they have a captive audience. At some point, the internet will teach them a lesson.

Originally Posted by glwilson

BD; why do you think I waited until the last of the season?!! LOL!

Ponch... I never did see the asking price for the new BMW. What did it come-in at? ???

CJ... I am seriously thinking about Arizona. I have several family members living in AZ. With my job, I just about can work anywhere; as long as my partner doesn't have a problem with it. ;)

[glwilson]

30k is getting up there pretty high for a motorcycle but you should see all the advanced features and technology you're getting with it.

Ck-out Jay Leno looking at the new bike.

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the...l-unveiling-1/

Don't know anything about the Chicago BMW dealer. The local HD dealer used to be a HD and BMW dealer several years ago, but dropped it finally.

It seems that most businesses in and around the Chicago-area are willing to "deal". That is just the "big-city nature" of them. They want to move as much product as possible and don't care whose toes they step-on doing it. So, I would suspect what you have heard is likely true. The only problem would be any back-lash you might get when getting serviced locally. Some dealers (including car dealers) get a little p!ssy when you buy a vehicle elsewhere and bring it to them for service. I am not sure why since they likey will make more money off servicing the bike overtime than they would have made on the initial sale.

Not sure if Madison, Wisconsin has a BMW dealer or not, but I would check it out if they do.

All in all, I would look high and low for the best deal you can find and make it a one or two-day event/ride to pick it up.

[ponch]

I am going to test ride the R1200RT next. If I like it, the shopping is on. Also, the BMW site has a link to Chicago HD and they both are part of BADMC.com or something like that. I think they are affiliated if not the same. Their prices on used Ultras were a couple thousand less than here. They must have a lot of rentals/demos.

Originally Posted by glwilson

30k is getting up there pretty high for a motorcycle but you should see all the advanced features and technology you're getting with it.

Ck-out Jay Leno looking at the new bike.

http://www.jaylenosgarage.com/at-the...l-unveiling-1/

Don't know anything about the Chicago BMW dealer. The local HD dealer used to be a HD and BMW dealer several years ago, but dropped it finally.

It seems that most businesses in and around the Chicago-area are willing to "deal". That is just the "big-city nature" of them. They want to move as much product as possible and don't care whose toes they step-on doing it. So, I would suspect what you have heard is likely true. The only problem would be any back-lash you might get when getting serviced locally. Some dealers (including car dealers) get a little p!ssy when you buy a vehicle elsewhere and bring it to them for service. I am not sure why since they likey will make more money off servicing the bike overtime than they would have made on the initial sale.

Not sure if Madison, Wisconsin has a BMW dealer or not, but I would check it out if they do.

All in all, I would look high and low for the best deal you can find and make it a one or two-day event/ride to pick it up.