Hi all

[db9987]

Just arrived here, a K1300GT owning 'oldie', had several bikes since restarting in 1989 with a Harley (don't laugh, I was working in US) then R100RS, K100RS, K1, K1100RS, a Triumph Trophy, a Blackbird then back with an ex-demo K1200RS which I sold last year after 19 years and replaced with the 1300GT and also up till recently a GS too, usually do a couple of Euro tours each year and commute to my boat in Southern Brittany from Isle of Wight.

[Phmode]

Hi Ken and welcome to the madhouse that is EuroKClub!

Sounds like lots of BM experience in the mix and the boat to boot. It always seems like a big restriction owning a touring bike on the IoW. At least the IoM has great roads if not many of them.

Look forward to hearing of your adventures.

[Lotus26R]

Hi Ken - 19 years with a K12 - there's hope for me yet then. Did you manage that time without any major issues?

[raesewell]

I think you are confusing the Brick with the Slant 4 the current K12 has only been about since 2006.

[gibbo]

Welcome Ken to the forum. I'm going to give you 9/10 for a most informative introduction from a newbie. You obviously have impeccable manners. 

[Lotus26R]

I think you are confusing the Brick with the Slant 4 the current K12 has only been about since 2006.

Guilty as charged - I suppose it was early for a Sunday (I know, poor excuse)

[Phmode]

I should have kept my 'unique' K12S, it was a 2004...

[raesewell]

I should have kept my 'unique' K12S, it was a 2004...

I think yours must have been a prototype Brian 

[Costas]

Hello and welcome .

[Phmode]

I should have kept my 'unique' K12S, it was a 2004...

I think yours must have been a prototype Brian 

All K1200's were prototypes! Mine was either a press bike or a BMW staff bike (but was 'owned' by BMW as the first keeper) and was registered in Oct 2004. Bearing in mind that the original launch was scheduled for September 2004, right up to the point when Kevin Ash tested it in July, told BMW and the rest of the world exactly what he thought about it (unlike most of the other rags and journos) and they quietly cancelled the release date and smuggled all the press bikes back to Germany for a massive rethink. All except mine which never left this country and wasn't fettled until I did it in 2011.

For those who haven't been there, you can read Kev's 'appraisal' hear...

http://www.ashonbikes.com/bmwk1300s

Nothing more was heard till March 2005 when the 'fettled' bikes appeared in dealers and were released to the paying punters. The rest, as they say, is history!

[db9987]

My fondly remembered K1200RS was a '98 yellow and silver chequered model, 55K on the clock when sold and all original (except for one replacement side fairing panel from James Sherlock - "sorry, I didn't see you mate") just regular servicing,mostly at Bahnstomer, tyres and batteries.
 Definitely restricting owning a big touring bike on the IOW, had the GS too when I moved here 5 years ago, it's hard to justify owning one bike let alone two (well, at my age I suppose I don't need to justify anything anymore...) In truth, I don't ride a lot on the Island (the car driving standard here is appalling) but am lucky enough to get off regularly - couple of tours, a few runs down to the boat, relatives near Loomies on the A32 and in Bristol too. Got back from 1200 miles around Spanish and French Pyrenees a month ago, bike is on SORN now

[richtea]

...it's hard to justify owning one bike let alone two (well, at my age I suppose I don't need to justify anything anymore...)

I think that probably makes you justified and ancient.
You like fishing too? In the rivers of life?   

[db9987]

That's me - apart from the fishing thing... (why would anyone go fishing when there are bikes to be ridden and boats to be sailed !)