She's Finally Home.. 3-30-13

So about after  month of having no bike. I finally get her back. After the insurance looked over the bike and came back with a total of damages. We came to a number of $6,627. Sadly the bike really wasn't that bad but cosmetically it was all scratched up on the right side. And of course you put the BMW logo on a part and magically the part prices pretty much double. As far as any major damages. The only large items that were hurt were the front left fork, front wheel and the right side crash bar.  All the rest was just cosmetic. So for my excitement and getting back on the road. I decided to take a tour of the OBX of NC that very next day. Got a late start on getting out of bed. I didn't hear the alarm go off. So I hit the road anyways. on the road by 8:50 I take off east down 64 to Kitty Hawk. Weather was warm but it had a cool breeze. Kinda refreshing but it helped it feel more like spring. Not aware of what the roads were going to be like or how far I was going to be able to make it. I didn't seem to care. I figured I had the right bike to tackle whatever the OBX terrain would throw at me. Once I hit the OBX the temp went up and it hit 60. After a long winter anything over 32 felt good. cruising a long I was going to take a detour onto the beach but then forgot that you need a permit and bikes are no longer allowed on the beach. Kinda a bummer but maybe next time. I made it to the Okracoke ferry and by surprise the roads were all pretty much drive-able  They did a good job cleaning up after all the hurricanes coming through. You can still see a lot of damage but the roads were all very clean. I only hit one small spot of sand that came across the whole road. If only I had a the song downloaded. I would have played "I'm on a boat". Ferry ride number one. 1 hour and 15 minutes. to Okracoke Island. Once I hit Okracoke it's nothing but a long straight line of sand and cars. kinda boring but a pretty view if you can see over the dunes. As I cruised around Orkacoke and looked around I went to go check the next ferry schedule. As I rolled up the last car was loading for the last ferry of the day. Next ferry was to leave at 7am the next day. Damn. If I was prepared for an overnight stay then I would have just stayed, so I hurried and paid the man and jumped on. Ferry ride number two. 2 hours and 15 minutes. At least the weather was still warm. Last man on the boat. I set up the bike once again and Were off. Came across a couple riding their Harley. Pretty much for the whole ride we chatted. Wife slept but I don't blame her. Her husband and I talked about bikes the whole time. Typical guy talk. Maybe I convinced him into a BMW bike next but we shall see. They say once you go BMW you don't go back. HA HA. But I'll admit I liked his bike and if I had it. I'd be doing the same thing and be riding the crap out of it too. He's done everything I would have done to it. Blacking it out and taking away the damn Chrome it was a good looking Harley. Only thing I would have added is a windshield for long trips.  But you have to love owning a bike. it's a cult and no matter where you are or what you ride. You make friends everywhere you go. After hitting dry land and headed back east. I take a few more detours through some small towns and after 3 1/2 hours later I'm finally home. For some reason I passed some town and I smelled burgers. For over an hour my mouth started to water and all I could think about was getting a burger. I tried to rush home for a burger but Tribeca Tavern was already closed. (Best burgers around btw). I settled for a burger at a local grill but I regretted it later. Never again. Anyways I clocked around 447 miles on the bike yesterday. Not to bad for a day ride. Gotta start slow and work your way up right. Don't want to rush into things to fast.

Finally back home.. 

From Hatteras Island to Okracoke Island NC

Out-n-about OBX NC

3-6-13 First accident Hit by a car..

So the other day I was out after work enjoying the clear skies and took a ride out to downtown Raleigh to just sit back and relax. Grab a coffee but just wanted to get out of the house. Weather was nice. around 45 degrees. I was in Downtown on Wilmington Street. As I sat in traffic the truck in front of me decided to back up and attempt to parallel park. He was driving a 2010 Toyota Tacoma black with a Camper shell. He pops it in reverse and hits the gas. When your on a 600lbs bike you can't just pick it up and move. He started backing up and I didn't see it. He hits my front tire and front left fork with his bumper which pushed me to the right. Still having control of the bike I'm still up. The driver continues to back up till he hits my front left fog light and side crash bars. That impact I couldn't control. Bike is pushed back and pushed to the right and down I do. Since there was no way I was going to or even could catch the weight of the bike as I fell. I jumped and landed in the lane next to me. Luckily no cars were there or I could have been seriously hurt. This was a slow speed hit. But enough to do some damage.
On his car I took out his right rear tail light and put a few scratches in his paint but nothing major. On my bike. The damage That I could tell was a broken front left fog light, possibly bent or twisted forks, and scuff marks on the front left crash bars. On the right side the mirror was scratched and possibly bent. The handle bar ends are scratched and possibly bent. The right side crash bars and engine cars were scratched pretty good and the right rear side case is not bent and does not close as nicely as it used to. The bike is at the dealer awaiting for a full estimate on what exactly is damaged.

I guess the Adventure to the concrete jungle wasn't a good idea..

New Upgrades. and update on K60 tires installed.

Added some new upgrades to the bike. These aren't fancy but just good functional useful things. First I added a Touratech Head light guard. They guard isn't much but it is a nice add on for off road use or if rocks get kicked up from cars in front of me. A 2000 headlight assembly isn't fun to have to go buy a new one just because the glass isn't exchangeable.

The second addition to the BMW is a rear extended mud guard flap. The bike originally comes with a small one covering the main area under the rear. To me I think it should come down further and cover more of the important stuff. The rear shock, paint and other small sensors around that area are still very exposed to rocks and mud. Plus it looks cool.


So after a while of having the Heidenau K60 tires installed I've been very pleased. For a fair warning I would recommend a 1000 mile break in period. After that do at least a mile or 2 of off road just to get them dirty for
good looks. ha ha. I rode the bike down to Phoenix City Alabama. It was about a 700 mile ride there. When I finally made it home I had put a little over 1500 miles on the bike that week. I was fully loaded and was averaging 41.2 mpg. The tires would grip well and rode fairly smooth. For a meaty tire it's not as bad as you would think. Nothing like the TK80 tires made my Continental. For those who have seen the tires installed on a bike and you look closely at the front tread. Yes it does look backwards. Yes it is installed correctly as far as the manufacturer suggests. Also on a close note for those who really enjoy the twisty roads. I'm not 100% confident yet on how well it grips when you lean. I feel like it wants to slide out from under me but it seems to hold. I haven't leaned over that far yet. I've been waiting for the front tire to break in some more before I do anything to crazy. For the back tire. Now I know just like myself that solid strip really makes you wounder when it comes to water or slick surfaces. I haven't had any issues yet. It grips well when needed. It corners well but you do feel the tread pattern change when you lean to far over. I don't notice any sliding and feel confident that it has a good grip and won't slide out from under me. I've ridden so far on Ice, snow, rain, mud, clay, and gravel and I seem to get around just fine with no issues. Now for the ice and snow. This isn't the northern Snow storms your seeing on TV. This is the NC weather. When it rains I was expecting to slid or loose traction when I hit painted lines or smooth surfaces on the road. I didn't notice any difference. I'm sure if I had to ride in the heavy rain storm. My ability to ride and see would be the worry. As for the tires holding up to the conditions I wouldn't second guess. They would do well. If going off road I would pry let some air out of the tires. bring the tread pattern a little flatter but I got around just fine. No problem on turns or wondering will that puddle take me out. If anyone is looking for a all round tire they want to put miles on I would recommend this tire. But here's your fair warning. Put at least 1000 miles on them to break them in before you go do anything crazy.

Heidenau K60 Tires tested on in the snow ice storm Coming home from Atlanta GA. 

Head Light before

Head Light After Headlight Guard Installed from Touratech-USA

Before Mudguard 

After Mud Guard installed from Touratech-USA