The GT is presently offline while I complete an annual maintenance ritual. I find my RT to be the best bike for winter riding due to the superior wind protection. There's really no "off season" in Atlanta, unless we get a rare winter snowstorm which usually clears up in a few days, maybe a week at most. So when it is time to change fluids and filters on the GT I just ride the RT more.
As much as I love the aerodynamic styling of the BMW bikes, it can be a pain in the butt to complete some routine tasks that require the removal of the so called "tupperware". That refers to the plastic body panels that wrap both the GT and RT. Beautiful to look at but it seems like 40 or more screws to remove and it's easy to miss one or two that may be hidden behind a mirror or under a belly pan.
The first task I tackled was a potentially serious problem. The GT has fuel disconnects that were a known to be sub-par from the factory. When I bought the bike, the mileage was pretty low and everything worked fine so I figured I would just replace the disconnects at the next service interval. Bad call. I should have just jumped in and replaced them day one. I was returning from a long ride and I stopped for gas and after filling up I smelled gas fumes. My first thought was that I overfilled the tank or got careless with the nozzle. When I got home and put the bike in the garage I noticed that my leather pants smelled of gasoline as well. Hmm...did I leak that much gasoline that it spilled on my pants? I wasn't thinking of the possibility of the fuel disconnects leaking.
The next morning when I started up the bike I noticed a fog of white smoke on the right side. Holy crap! It wasn't smoke it was finely vaporized gas from the fuel disconnects. I shut the bike off and thanked my lucky stars that I was not a smoker or parked near any open flames. It's possible that I had been riding that way ever since my last fill-up. Cruising along at 70 mph trailing a fine mist of gas vapors.
Replacing the fuel disconnects requires removal of all the body panels. Some guy posted that he was able to replace the disconnects through the opening on the side of the engine. Very hard to believe. There isn't enough slack and even someone with superhuman hand strength would have a hard time removing the old disconnects and properly attaching the new ones. It's not easy and would be a total knucklebuster to try via his claimed method.
I picked up the replacements at Beemer Boneyard. The entire kit was not that expensive and everything works great now. Since I already had the skins off, I decided to do some other needed work. I'll walk through that in a future post. Oil and gas filters, drive lubrication and ABS system bleed will be next.
Tuesday, February 26, 2013
Saturday, August 18, 2012
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Waffle House Breakfast RIde
We'll be heading up to the mountains this Saturday, August 11th. 9:30 AM departure. We will meet at the Waffle House off 400 on Holcombe Bridge Road at Old Alabama and ride up to the mountains. Since there is a waffle house on virtually every street corner in Georgia, here's a a map of the specific one you'll be looking for. It's circled in RED below.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
August on the Blue Ridge
BMW Motorcycle Owners of Georgia organized a ride and camping expedition to the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Campground in Cruso, NC. This was my first organized event with the BMW MOGA and it ended up being an excellent time for everyone.
The ride was organized by Randy Miller, and we all met at the Rabbittown Cafe in Gainesville. The Rabbittown cafe offers good old Georgia country cooking with cafeteria style service. Great way to fuel up for the ride. The riders who started at the cafe included myself, Bill, Frank, David, Randy (ride leader) and first timers Alejandro and Monique. Naturally, everyone was riding a Beemer. The riders and rides were:
Me- R1150RT (Sienna Red)
David- R1150RT (Silver)
Alejandro & Monique -R1150RT (Black)
Randy-R1200RT (Silver)
Frank- K75
Bill-R65
We then rode to Toccoa where we met Paul on his R1150R in the same Sienna Red as my R1150RT.
En route, the weather was crappy. Grey skies, drizzling rain and fog suggested that we'd end up putting up our tents in a downpour. We stopped at the Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company for lunch. Nice restaurant overlooking the golf course. Several of us tried the fish and chips, but Alejandro was feeling ambitious and ordered the pizza. He felt that the 7" personal pizza was too small so he opted for the 24" truck tire sized pizza with 8 lbs of cheese and 4 lbs of tomatoes. He'll be featured on a future episode of Man vs Food. For a slim guy he's got quite the appetite!
We left the restaurant and headed for the BRP. As usual, the BRP was socked in with fog and for most of the route you could barely see past your visor. Along the way we stopped to try to get in one last phone call or text message before entering the area of poor cell phone reception.
Here's a picture of Bill taking a picture of me and my bike (foreground) while Alejandro and Monique try to get a few text messages off from a spot near the summit. Unfortunately, nobody had much luck getting a signal. Below is a picture of Randy also trying to send a text.
We rode on through the drizzly, overcast fog and as we entered the campground the sun started to poke through and we were lucky to be able to setup our camp sites without a torrential downpour.
After setting up camp, we met the others who had travelled separately to the site and proceeded to get the grill heated up and cook a few burgers and dogs. We had an excellent dinner and then downed a few beers. While getting set up a woman came around and asked our names for a door prize drawing. It turned out that the Moto Guzzi guys were holding their own event and they decided to open the drawing to anyone that showed up at the camp site. That was a nice gesture, but it turned out that the BMW riders kept getting their names pulled. In fact, one of the guys from BMW MOGA was the first name drawn and therefore had the pick of the best prices on the table -including a new modular helmet. Wisely, he chose a crappy lawn chair since he needed a lawn chair, and also because it is well know that Guzzi riders travel with guns and hunting dogs. Had he picked the grand prize, I'm pretty sure there would have been a R1200 GS laying on its side in the morning!
Anyway, it seemed like at least half of the BMW MOGA contingent won a prize ( I took home a Givi baseball cap) and the Guzzisti had the pleasure of our company until the prizes were all handed out.
The Guzzisti had hired a live band to play at the campground. The band did a great job of playing a number of completely unrecognizable tunes. As one person noted, the band actually sounded better as you walked further away from them . I was about 3 miles down the road when I thought they actually might win a grammy.
Fortunately, they stopped playing at 10:30 PM. Since most Beemer owners are grouchy old men, it was not so bad to have to stay up past the normal 9:15 bedtime.
The next morning we packed up camp and grabbed a quick breakfast before hitting the road. The campground was fairly packed -mostly with Guzzis but there were some of the other usual suspects as well. Everyone drooled over a perfectly restored BMW Toaster /5. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me when we saw it.
At breakfast, Alejandro ordered another gut-buster. The pancakes at the campground are huge. Roughly the size of a hub cab from a 65 Chrysler, and about as thick. The poor boy barely made a dent in the 6 lbs of pancake batter used to make the whopping cakes. After the prior days lunch and this breakfast, Alejandro had to reset his suspension and pump up his rear tire to 44 PSI.
On the way back we tried again to reestablish communications from the highest point on the BRP. The reason I point this out is to provide documentary evidence of numerous attempts to call for my wife who thinks I spent Saturday night at a strip club or something since I wasn't able to call.
At various points along the way riders peeled off to set their own course home. I rode with Bill through some really insane roads, including the "Goat Path", a road that was barely 6 feet wide and cut right past a goat farm. After about a mile or two on this road, which would barely have allowed a motorcycle and car to go in opposite directions, we see a sign that says "Narrow Road Ahead". You're kidding me, I think- The road actually gets MORE narrow? During this section of the ride I'm thinking -man, this looks like it's going to turn into a motorcycle version of Deliverance. At the first sound of banjo music I was gonna just ride across any open field I could find.
Eventually, we caught up with highway 400 and made our way back to Atlanta. Great riding and a fun trip.
The ride was organized by Randy Miller, and we all met at the Rabbittown Cafe in Gainesville. The Rabbittown cafe offers good old Georgia country cooking with cafeteria style service. Great way to fuel up for the ride. The riders who started at the cafe included myself, Bill, Frank, David, Randy (ride leader) and first timers Alejandro and Monique. Naturally, everyone was riding a Beemer. The riders and rides were:
Me- R1150RT (Sienna Red)
David- R1150RT (Silver)
Alejandro & Monique -R1150RT (Black)
Randy-R1200RT (Silver)
Frank- K75
Bill-R65
We then rode to Toccoa where we met Paul on his R1150R in the same Sienna Red as my R1150RT.
En route, the weather was crappy. Grey skies, drizzling rain and fog suggested that we'd end up putting up our tents in a downpour. We stopped at the Sapphire Mountain Brewing Company for lunch. Nice restaurant overlooking the golf course. Several of us tried the fish and chips, but Alejandro was feeling ambitious and ordered the pizza. He felt that the 7" personal pizza was too small so he opted for the 24" truck tire sized pizza with 8 lbs of cheese and 4 lbs of tomatoes. He'll be featured on a future episode of Man vs Food. For a slim guy he's got quite the appetite!
We left the restaurant and headed for the BRP. As usual, the BRP was socked in with fog and for most of the route you could barely see past your visor. Along the way we stopped to try to get in one last phone call or text message before entering the area of poor cell phone reception.
Here's a picture of Bill taking a picture of me and my bike (foreground) while Alejandro and Monique try to get a few text messages off from a spot near the summit. Unfortunately, nobody had much luck getting a signal. Below is a picture of Randy also trying to send a text.
We rode on through the drizzly, overcast fog and as we entered the campground the sun started to poke through and we were lucky to be able to setup our camp sites without a torrential downpour.
After setting up camp, we met the others who had travelled separately to the site and proceeded to get the grill heated up and cook a few burgers and dogs. We had an excellent dinner and then downed a few beers. While getting set up a woman came around and asked our names for a door prize drawing. It turned out that the Moto Guzzi guys were holding their own event and they decided to open the drawing to anyone that showed up at the camp site. That was a nice gesture, but it turned out that the BMW riders kept getting their names pulled. In fact, one of the guys from BMW MOGA was the first name drawn and therefore had the pick of the best prices on the table -including a new modular helmet. Wisely, he chose a crappy lawn chair since he needed a lawn chair, and also because it is well know that Guzzi riders travel with guns and hunting dogs. Had he picked the grand prize, I'm pretty sure there would have been a R1200 GS laying on its side in the morning!
Anyway, it seemed like at least half of the BMW MOGA contingent won a prize ( I took home a Givi baseball cap) and the Guzzisti had the pleasure of our company until the prizes were all handed out.
The Guzzisti had hired a live band to play at the campground. The band did a great job of playing a number of completely unrecognizable tunes. As one person noted, the band actually sounded better as you walked further away from them . I was about 3 miles down the road when I thought they actually might win a grammy.
Fortunately, they stopped playing at 10:30 PM. Since most Beemer owners are grouchy old men, it was not so bad to have to stay up past the normal 9:15 bedtime.
The next morning we packed up camp and grabbed a quick breakfast before hitting the road. The campground was fairly packed -mostly with Guzzis but there were some of the other usual suspects as well. Everyone drooled over a perfectly restored BMW Toaster /5. Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me when we saw it.
At breakfast, Alejandro ordered another gut-buster. The pancakes at the campground are huge. Roughly the size of a hub cab from a 65 Chrysler, and about as thick. The poor boy barely made a dent in the 6 lbs of pancake batter used to make the whopping cakes. After the prior days lunch and this breakfast, Alejandro had to reset his suspension and pump up his rear tire to 44 PSI.
At various points along the way riders peeled off to set their own course home. I rode with Bill through some really insane roads, including the "Goat Path", a road that was barely 6 feet wide and cut right past a goat farm. After about a mile or two on this road, which would barely have allowed a motorcycle and car to go in opposite directions, we see a sign that says "Narrow Road Ahead". You're kidding me, I think- The road actually gets MORE narrow? During this section of the ride I'm thinking -man, this looks like it's going to turn into a motorcycle version of Deliverance. At the first sound of banjo music I was gonna just ride across any open field I could find.
Eventually, we caught up with highway 400 and made our way back to Atlanta. Great riding and a fun trip.
Saturday, July 14, 2012
Talking Rock GA Loop
Just thought I'd document several of the interesting motorcycle roads in North Georgia for riders living in Atlanta. I did a early Sunday morning loop from my home in Sandy Springs through Talking Rock and east to 400 and then south back to Sandy Springs.
First off, this is a pretty easy route, and usually trouble free ride if you start early in the morning. In July and August I try to get my rides started before 8AM so I can wrap up before noon. It's just not all that comfortable riding with ATGATT in Atlanta at 2 PM.
I get on 285 and head west to I-75 North and then I get off onto I-575 towards Canton. I suspect most riders like to avoid the slab altogether but often if I am riding for just a few hours I will take the highway to get out of Atlanta faster. 575 is an easy ride with limited access points between Canton and Jasper.
North of Jasper I turn at the little sign to Talking Rock. It's easy to miss so be attentive. The road makes a very turns as you head inot the busling metropolis of Talking Rock. This is a small little town with a country store and a train as the focal points of a little downtown with maybe 20 buildings. Follow 136 thru town all the way to 400. Take 400 south back to ATL. If you'd like less slab riding you can also take highway 9 south, and it becomes Roswell road. As you get closer to Atlanta you'll hit numerous traffic lights if you pick the latter route.
First off, this is a pretty easy route, and usually trouble free ride if you start early in the morning. In July and August I try to get my rides started before 8AM so I can wrap up before noon. It's just not all that comfortable riding with ATGATT in Atlanta at 2 PM.
I get on 285 and head west to I-75 North and then I get off onto I-575 towards Canton. I suspect most riders like to avoid the slab altogether but often if I am riding for just a few hours I will take the highway to get out of Atlanta faster. 575 is an easy ride with limited access points between Canton and Jasper.
North of Jasper I turn at the little sign to Talking Rock. It's easy to miss so be attentive. The road makes a very turns as you head inot the busling metropolis of Talking Rock. This is a small little town with a country store and a train as the focal points of a little downtown with maybe 20 buildings. Follow 136 thru town all the way to 400. Take 400 south back to ATL. If you'd like less slab riding you can also take highway 9 south, and it becomes Roswell road. As you get closer to Atlanta you'll hit numerous traffic lights if you pick the latter route.
 |
| Sandy Springs to Talking Rock to 400S back to Sandy Springs |
Riding Blood Mountain
Friday, July 6, 2012
New Brick in the Stable
Well, I guess I'll have to change the title of the blog. I have a new to me 2004 K1200GT. Love it. Here it is with my RT.
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