BMW S 1000 R
THIS MONTH I HAVE MOSTLY BEEN… “Riding like a nut.”
While last month saw me bumbling around like Miss Daisy getting used to the Beamer, this month the bike hasn’t seen any other setting than full on hooligan mode. We’re all led to believe and are constantly having it rammed down our throats that excess and over indulgence is bad for us. What a load of crap!
Firstly, I’ll have nothing rammed down my throat thank you very much; secondly, riding like a proper headcase all month couldn’t have made me happier. Ragging the bike for 1400 miles north of the border in the land of haggis and kilts has been awesome. I like to pack light so throwing a tail pack and tank bag on the bike seemed like an easy option. Last minute prep and the Kriega US10 tailpack was a doddle to fit, nestling perfectly on the passenger seat, but like a plonker I tried fitting my old magnetic tankbag to the plastic tank! After an hour of fecking around I finally had the job sussed… A ball ache I could have done without. If you’ve got any suggestions for future luggage options, drop me a line, please.
The jaunt’s initial 300 mile ride up to the biking mecca of Dumfries and Galloway really put me and the bike to the test. Two hours in, a quick fill up at Scotch Corner helped to break the effortless journey up before smashing the final couple of hours that led us to Moffat. Despite being a naked bike, wind blast was kept to a minimum thanks to the MRA touring screen I’ve recently fitted, even when the speedo crept deep into triple figures – sorry officer. I wouldn’t claim it cut the wind down to a fairy’s fart, but it certainly did an amazing job considering it’s only a smidge over 300mm tall. The quality and fit is spot on and with next day delivery from HPS I had nothing to grumble about, which is a rarity for me. Five days of scratching around and generally behaving badly on some of Scotland’s immaculate roads highlighted the capabilities of the Beamer. From the easily changed power modes to the dynamic damping control suspension, everything worked seamlessly. Our last morning in Scotland saw us have some sanity for breakfast but it didn’t last long! Every day the riding had been mental and the journey home was no different. My only negative this month is a vibration I’ve become more aware of between 6,000-7,000rpm. I just hope it’s not like the spot you notice on your missus’ face; the more you try to ignore it the worse it seems to get.
Reading the manual last month put me in good stead for thumbing the naughty button otherwise known as TC (traction control). One press of that magic button and I seem to turn into a wannabe version of Gary Rothwell, popping little wheelies and pulling off dirty fat burnouts. Needless to say I’ve spanked the back tyre so a set of Dunlop SportSmart2Max rubber’s heading my way, ready for next month’s shenanigans. Can’t bloody wait!