EuroKClub

Welcome to the BMW K1200 K1300 K1600 Forum => I'll show you mine if you show me yours! => Who's Who? => fjtwelve's Bikes => Topic started by: fjtwelve on June 21, 2016, 06:37:25 pm

Title: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 21, 2016, 06:37:25 pm
This is what it looked like when I got it, out for a bimble on the B3306
(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt360/fjtwelve/20150118%20K1200S%20on%20B3306_zpspth1p43b.jpg) (http://s627.photobucket.com/user/fjtwelve/media/20150118%20K1200S%20on%20B3306_zpspth1p43b.jpg.html)

(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt360/fjtwelve/20150330_143131%20K12%20with%20standard%20silencer_zpsyemvodhv.jpg) (http://s627.photobucket.com/user/fjtwelve/media/20150330_143131%20K12%20with%20standard%20silencer_zpsyemvodhv.jpg.html)

Then I did the Akrapovic thing

(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt360/fjtwelve/20150401%20K12%20with%20Akrapovic_zpsnap52ppc.jpg) (http://s627.photobucket.com/user/fjtwelve/media/20150401%20K12%20with%20Akrapovic_zpsnap52ppc.jpg.html)

They have given me the following fatsos while its been in for servicing but I have not been atall tempted

(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt360/fjtwelve/20151030%20demonstrator%20for%20the%20day_zpsmsdmqskg.jpg) (http://s627.photobucket.com/user/fjtwelve/media/20151030%20demonstrator%20for%20the%20day_zpsmsdmqskg.jpg.html)

(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt360/fjtwelve/21051030%20%20demonstrator%20for%20the%20day_zps5xla1tyw.jpg) (http://s627.photobucket.com/user/fjtwelve/media/21051030%20%20demonstrator%20for%20the%20day_zps5xla1tyw.jpg.html)

(http://i627.photobucket.com/albums/tt360/fjtwelve/20150523%20demonstrator%20for%20the%20day_zpsxromqeho.jpg) (http://s627.photobucket.com/user/fjtwelve/media/20150523%20demonstrator%20for%20the%20day_zpsxromqeho.jpg.html)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 24, 2017, 07:13:59 pm
Hopefully this is a more acceptable location for bikelife events with my K12. Promise to copy tech posts and similar to other boards if requested.... :-[

Managed to christen the lefthand footpeg today. No idea why, a corner on the A39 I have been around a few times in the last few months, suddenly it was there scraping away. Wasn't even trying to go quick or posing. Not off the edge of the tyre either, so maybe these angel gts are a different shape.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on July 24, 2017, 07:43:10 pm
Good man, it makes sense to have good content where people can find it.
I have a post in the Tech section about photo hosting as the photos are not showing, Photobucket have wreaked havoc with internet forums  >:(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 26, 2017, 07:26:18 pm
This one crept up on me yesterday while I was busy in traffic and I only noticed in the evening.
I am not a number...well 3 will do it as that's what I missed by - 64003

(https://preview.ibb.co/dj2p9k/20170725_214230.jpg) (https://ibb.co/iOXBN5)

Bike was flying last night, fastest I've ever been and without any apparent effort. Remarkable

So what happens on a wet day in Somerset? The boys can't use their big toys

(https://preview.ibb.co/nMHzAQ/WP_20170726_09_53_09_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jtxzAQ)

(https://preview.ibb.co/cWopAQ/WP_20170726_09_52_49_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k63d4k)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 27, 2017, 01:45:02 pm
I think that's the end of the bmw oversuit. Wet midriff again and leaking over the shoulders and down the back. Faced with 2 days and maybe 600 miles in the rain  coming up, went to bridgwater (riders) and bought an alpine stars one piece as it was all they had. Also the ixs gloves I bought earlier this year have been sponges for a couple off months, only surviving due to relatively dry weather, so I bought a pair of merlin gloves. Will report back
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on July 28, 2017, 06:51:03 pm
I will be interested to see what you think of Merlin as a brand.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on July 28, 2017, 09:36:18 pm
I think that's the end of the bmw oversuit. Wet midriff again and leaking over the shoulders and down the back. Faced with 2 days and maybe 600 miles in the rain  coming up, went to bridgwater (riders) and bought an alpine stars one piece as it was all they had. Also the ixs gloves I bought earlier this year have been sponges for a couple off months, only surviving due to relatively dry weather, so I bought a pair of merlin gloves. Will report back

Excellent. A long term test of kit. In 6 weeks.  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 01, 2017, 11:38:52 pm
So a couple of times in the last few weeks my fuel cap was airlocked. Then I noticed the range to zero was dropping off. Then I noticed I was getting less fuel in when I stopped. So tonight I figured that the fuel gauge was having an off day so cruised past zero range. 4.3 miles later I was pushing it to the petrol station where I managed to get 19.8 litres in. So why is my tank 1 litre smaller than it was?

Anyway here's a picture of the front wheel and radiator graveyard otherwise known as the A370. 65,000 and counting

(https://preview.ibb.co/cwrMfQ/WP_20170801_23_09_30_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hCDpZk)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 02, 2017, 11:24:59 am
Never mind your magically shrinking fuel tank, I want to know how the hell you manage to push the K to a fuel station 💪
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 02, 2017, 11:30:48 am
Bridgewater is very flat, and it was only 0.4 miles. Definitely something weird going on, fuel economy is about 10% worse too.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on August 02, 2017, 11:53:32 am
If the bike is made after 3/2008 should have the new floating sensor , but if it's older then the strip line sensor inside the tank creates issues and might need replacement.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 02, 2017, 11:59:59 am
January 2008 manufactured
Had the fuel strip replaced just after I bought the bike. After last night I think the fuel gauge is pretty accurate ie only 4 miles after it said zero I ran out. Its the missing litre I'm interested in. Another service next week, will ask them to investigate
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on August 03, 2017, 01:06:48 pm
Well the missing litre might be easily explained by the way you handle throttle. As I personally found . Not to mention the quick throttle gadget ones installed was the cause of missing couple of litres.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 11, 2017, 04:44:17 pm
The bike clocked up 66000miles last night . Fortunately I was passing a BMW Motorrad dealer at the time
(https://preview.ibb.co/dimSWa/WP_20170810_21_43_01_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jdikHF)
(https://preview.ibb.co/nEX1ra/WP_20170810_21_43_49_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ijTKcF)

so I popped in this morning. Hopefully they have fixed the fuel problem (possibly a kinked pipe) and swapped me bent wheel over so I'm going two-tone for a bit not to mention the new front discs and pads.

I also restarted my Merlin glove test today after the liners in the first pair came out of the glove with my hands on Tuesday. Instantly replaced by Riders of Bridgwater, although they had none in they got their Bristol store to post me a replacement set, ta very much as its going to piss down on Monday morning.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 11, 2017, 09:04:47 pm
I'll be thinking of you as I snuggle under the duvet with the blinds tightly closed to keep out the moonlight! Not!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 26, 2017, 03:52:01 pm
67000 last night, top of Countisbury Hill before you drop at 1 in 4 into Lynmouth. Glorious evening for riding, bike smooth as custard and very quick, no chicken strips left and the left peg scraping. I obviously like lefthand bends as the right peg is still untouched

(https://preview.ibb.co/gFWsE5/20170825_top_of_countisbury_hill_67000.jpg) (https://ibb.co/excXE5)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 26, 2017, 04:06:30 pm
So the kinked fuel pipe has fixed the missing litre problem, and I can get 20,7 litres in again. How do I know? I ran out again and pushed it again, 1.4 miles this time, with 3 miles range showing on the computer. So the fuel gauge is doing something funny and unpredictable having been very stable for 18 months. Having got to the garage I found I'd left my wallet at work so having persuaded the (foreign) fuel attendant I would come back, left my name address phone number reg no, rode back to site, persuaded security to let me in then couldn't get out because they wanted to talk about my bike, and back to the garage. Motorcycling. Every trip is a little adventure.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on August 27, 2017, 07:15:12 pm
Nice story , lesson learned do not trust gauge after less than 10 miles left.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 28, 2017, 12:56:14 am
Which pipe was the kinked one Martin? The only pipe I can think of that would cause the low fill would be the breather pipe.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 28, 2017, 08:49:42 am
Correct
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 30, 2017, 12:37:15 am
I'm surprised, especially as you have the filler mod iirc. Just shows how finicky bike tanks are to fill.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 11, 2017, 08:04:21 pm
68000 this morning. No pic as it was very weather warning windy, very wet, very dark and I was trying very hard not to be late for my 0730 meeting by using the A30 and M5 without being caught. I think the days of scratching up and down the A39 may be over for 2017. :-[

So here's a picture of our "new" Dalmatian and a Harley I found in the car park at work instead
(https://preview.ibb.co/cXwweF/WP_20170902_15_38_21_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cGV06v)

(https://preview.ibb.co/hNJgDa/WP_20170829_20_50_19_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/c6wCKF)

I found another Harley at the petrol station (2.4mile push this time) that someone had reversed into. I had to kick his sidestand straight for him as it had bent . Fortunately it had fallen away from the side with the turbo on  :o. Had twisted the forks in the yokes so he was in for an interesting ride home methinks
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Eyore on September 11, 2017, 08:07:20 pm
I think I prefer the dog. :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on September 11, 2017, 08:37:23 pm
I think I prefer the dog. :)

Which one?

Ho

Ho

Ho
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Eyore on September 11, 2017, 09:47:45 pm
To avoid any confusion . The canine spotty one. ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 12, 2017, 09:30:32 am
There is no confusion, both dogs...

So, Martin, is this pushing lark in lieu of joining a gym or are you just getting senile in your advancing years.

Time you bought a spare fuel bottle like wot I use, when I remember 🙄
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 10, 2017, 07:47:53 pm
So well past 69000 miles now. I did take some nice pictures at JHS Racing where they changed my Pirellis for some PR3s at 69060, but managed to delete them from my phone during a small IT saga involving a PC 2 laptops and 3 phones. The Pirellis lasted 6259miles and may have gone further had I not changed to using the A30/M5 due to the deteriorating weather and having to be here at 730 on a Monday morning. 160 miles up the A39 in the dark and wet with added leaves did not appeal any more than getting up at 4am did either. The motorway squared off the last bit of the tyre and the handling went a bit weird, but up to that point I was very happy with them, preferred to the Roadtec01. A very good summer tyre, but not quite as glued to the road in the wet as the PR3 so, as its mostly wet now rather than mostly dry, I went back to the tried and tested.
The Merlin gloves have so far been dry, but weirdly feel wet sometimes, the inner liner is a bit like a neoprene wetsuit material. They can be a bit of a faff to put on but I'm getting used to that. Think I might have been better with a size that fitted a bit more loosely. They are not especially warm (unless its warm when they are too hot) , but I'm waiting for winter to bite a bit harder to get the full range of performance and then i'll stick a report in the relevant board.
The Alpine Stars oversuit so far is good, no marathon wet trips yet to get the proper performance assessed. Occasionally get a damp neck but cannot work out why as high collar same as BMW suit.
So knocking on the door of 70k miles now and into year 10, the bike is still in good enough nick to attract comment. However I am starting to see signs of wear and tear, there's paint bubbling, the paintwork is starting to show little marks and nicks. Everything is still solid though. I rode to work without earplugs this morning and there's nothing rattling or squeaking or loose that I can hear or see. Keep plugging a way with the ACF50, GT85, MucOff and turtlewax and I think it'll last for a while yet. Especially if the nice policeman who stopped me in his unmarked X5 in the dark at 0545 on a deserted A30 last Monday decides 87 is too fast. Fully electronic nick, no paper involved, hasn't given me anything no producer no ticket nothing. Is this the way it works now?

Update. Found the photos. Don't ask
(https://preview.ibb.co/gjpocm/WP_20170929_14_53_39_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cWviA6)

(https://preview.ibb.co/c07Vq6/WP_20170929_16_26_03_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hPCwV6)

(https://preview.ibb.co/fV05OR/WP_20170929_14_53_07_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hnAiA6)

Always fancied a 1000 Katana but probably too late now
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 10, 2017, 09:26:35 pm
Lovely diary update Martin, just lovely!

Glad to see you are back on the PR's seeing as summer went so quickly, was it something that you said...

Despite the punctures, the head races and the awful, awful fuelling, once you got it sorted it does seem to have been one of the good ones, doesn't it?

So, were you nicked, nicked, or just told off, nicked?

The big problem with the 'modern' world is that the nicker gets to see your record before he decides to nick you. In the good old days, you wouldn't have shown your licence, well, not your licence anyway, and the copper might have given you the benefit of the doubt and let you off with a gypsies nod!

These days he knows you are a bad, bad boy before he even pulls you over and that just don't seem fair, do it?

Brian (who wonders if the old girl is going to get ridden into the sunset or sold off to the highest bidder before she starts to lose her pulling power....💃🏿
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 14, 2017, 05:44:56 pm
70001 . Unfortunately going to be spending lots of time on the a30 and m5 in the next few months

(https://thumb.ibb.co/dfZObG/WP_20171013_18_54_46_Smart.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dfZObG)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on October 16, 2017, 06:00:28 pm
Nice narration.  Sorry about he x5 man .
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 21, 2017, 12:18:13 pm
Following my 05.51 in the dark on a deserted dual carriageway conversation with 2 uniformed gentleman in a bmw x5 with special blue light option, I have been invited on an educational course -RIDE - which despite the name is a classroom course by devon and cornwall police.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 21, 2017, 01:32:08 pm
As I always say, if you can see 'them', even if they are unmarked, then they can see you.

How slow were you going this time? Obviously slow enough for an X5 to catch you...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on October 21, 2017, 01:32:38 pm
Not a bad outcome for 87 MPH.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 21, 2017, 07:11:47 pm
302 tanks
52342 miles although I seem to have lost some somewhere compared to the odometer
Average £1.25/litre nearly all Shell Vpower
£6890.09 on fuel or 13p/mile
5552.36 litres
43.06mpg computer says 46.22 or 7% optimistic
Average speed 53.39mph
Other costs (servicing, parts, accessories, speeding fines) £6890.09
Total £16323.97
31.19p a mile
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 24, 2017, 09:17:27 pm
The RIDE in a classroom course. £125. With the option being £100 and 3 points, or court. What was that about differential pricing again? Not even any bread and water either. Man up.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 24, 2017, 11:12:01 pm
(https://preview.ibb.co/ikYngR/WP_20171024_22_39_55_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/maJyo6)
71016. As seen in its natural habitat
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 12, 2017, 07:43:20 pm
72000. Bike in ocean over weekend for mot and service

(https://thumb.ibb.co/mmnjyG/WP_20171110_13_36_38_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mmnjyG)

That's not very pretty so here's one of my digs at dawn

(https://preview.ibb.co/mDn6Cb/WP_20171108_06_50_44_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dEOPyG)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 13, 2017, 08:46:36 am
Have now clocked 54000 on the bike and my little spreadsheet tells me I have averaged 53.4mph so that's 1000 hours in the saddle.  :o
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 13, 2017, 06:30:26 pm
So the service said the uj in the shaft drive has 2 very stiff bearings. Also the plastic airbox over the plugs started to crack when they tried to get it off so they didn't so no spark plug change. So back in in a couple of weeks to sort it all out. They say they will give me a loan bike for a week.....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 13, 2017, 07:39:48 pm
Have you told them how many miles it will do in a week?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on November 13, 2017, 11:00:27 pm
So the service said the uj in the shaft drive has 2 very stiff bearings. Also the plastic airbox over the plugs started to crack when they tried to get it off so they didn't so no spark plug change. So back in in a couple of weeks to sort it all out. They say they will give me a loan bike for a week.....
I think that they are talking about the plastic pipework for the breather system. Delicate at the best of times and has to be removed with care to get at the sparkplugs.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 27, 2017, 06:00:06 pm
They have given me a new (512miles) R1200 RS for the week. I have discovered this morning that there is not as much weather protection as the K12. It absolutely chucked it down for 90 miles over Bodmin and Dartmoor and tried pretty hard for the remaining 60 as well. The dip beam is better spread than the K but full beam is worse, as I found because it was dark as well as raining. Fuel economy is much better though, around 55mpg on the computer. When you can read the display that is, because the characters are small and the screen gets covered in water. Don't think its going to be on the replacement list when the K12 pops her clogs. Just need to wait until the K13s get affordable....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 27, 2017, 06:56:13 pm
I applaud the lengths to which you go (literally) on our behalf in an effort to find the next bike that might replace the K  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 04, 2017, 07:23:08 pm
73000 this morning in the dark and rain, not much of a photo opportunity. Bike fitted with new plugs and the secondary air feed, and the new UJ in the shaft drive, another £921.52 thankyou very much. Plus a new visor and pinlock rounds it up to a grand this month and I haven't bought any petrol yet. The bike sounds quite aggressive at tickover, the Akra spitting out shots of gas, or maybe its because I've had captain civilized puttering away inoffensively for a week and forgotten. I had to re-train my thumbs to go back to indicators on the left again last week, after taking 3 years to remove the habit of the previous 37 years. Hence my signaling and lights was all over the place this morning. And watch out for pump 12 at Exeter services, varies between biblical flood rate and off in a nanometer of trigger movement, and yes it did splash all over the tank harness.

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 06, 2017, 01:51:29 pm
Quick 350 mile blip to london and back. I mean what elsecdo you do on a wednesday afternoon?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 06, 2017, 02:14:27 pm
Make bacon and lentil soup...
Finish off cabling for Hi-Fi...
Fill bird feeders...
Write overseas Xmas cards...
Go to Post Office...
Buy rest of Xmas cards...
Pour large Scotch...
Turn heating up...

You get the general idea  ;D

Good luck with M3/M4, whichever  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 07, 2017, 06:47:39 am
I left Holborn on the A40 and the overhead signs said m4 j1-3 closed. So I went up the m40 and round the m25 to the m4. Where the sign said m4 j14-15 closed. So a wee jaunt around the a4 via Marlborough where it rained on a road I don't know which was stuffed with hgvs, with some car that sat right up my chuff but wouldn't overtake for about 5 miles til I lost him in traffic. Needless to say the wind was against me. That was a long haul back. Was glad to see my bed. The rain has just started to pour as I eat my breakfast, and the forecast says there could be snow showers later. There are days when biking has less appeal...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 07, 2017, 01:04:40 pm
Take care out there Martin. We value your insights too much to have you lost in the Wiltshire Wilds up to your tank cap in muck and bullets and sinking fast...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 11, 2017, 04:30:08 pm
Jet wash it
Muc off it
Wash it again
(https://preview.ibb.co/eCdPXw/20171211_141451.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dY4beb)
(https://preview.ibb.co/dZkosw/20171211_141407.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mHhZXw)
I was wearing my oversuit while washing it in order to wash the mud and crap off that as well. Caught it on the pebble dash of the corner of the house and cut a little hole by the right shoulder. Wife has super glued it. We shall see in the morning. Will be disappointed if it doesn't mend as the suit has proved itself over the last 5 months
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 11, 2017, 07:49:44 pm
Wossit made of?

If it is vinyl then use some vinyl adhesive and a patch over a patch. Places like Woolies (or whatever they became), often stock repair patches for vinyl stuff. Here is one for pennies on eBay...

https://www.poolpro.co.uk/intex-vinyl-repair-kit.html?fee=1&fep=963&gclid=EAIaIQobChMItof5-tyC2AIV5p3tCh0fogFPEAQYASABEgI0kfD_BwE

I doubt it is a heavy duty stuff if it snagged on pebble dash so go get a patch kit.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on December 11, 2017, 10:16:48 pm
If you fitted a rear mudguard it wouldn't get so dirty.

BMW part No. 46627675424  about £20
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 11, 2017, 10:29:26 pm
The mud stretched from the front wheel to the number plate and from the belly pan to my helmet. I have to clean my helmet (insert joke here) every day at the moment. I should have taken a before photo as well.  A rear mudguard would have limited effect I'm afraid. 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 12, 2017, 09:41:54 am
Not true Martin!

The rear mudguard will keep the number plate clean. I should have taken a picture at the time but never thought.

My K12S and a mate on his K13S had ridden exactly the same filthy few miles when we stopped for fuel and when we came out of the kiosk, with the bikes parked side by side, the difference was alarming.

Neither of us knew about the rear mudguard thingy; I didn't know mine had one and he didn't know his didn't. We were well confused and as I had been following, I would have expected my bike to be muckier in the turbulent air but not so.

The back of my bike was virtually spotless and his was so bad you couldn't read his plate.

It was only on closer inspection that we spotted the small plastic infill panel and that was that.

Obviously, doing your mileage it ain't going to be perfect, but it might keep you alive in the filthy dark and for only £20 or so and easy to fit in your case as you don't have the Sport Case frame to contend with.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on December 12, 2017, 09:59:54 am
Not true Martin!

The rear mudguard will keep the number plate clean. I should have taken a picture at the time but never thought.

My K12S and a mate on his K13S had ridden exactly the same filthy few miles when we stopped for fuel and when we came out of the kiosk, with the bikes parked side by side, the difference was alarming.

Neither of us knew about the rear mudguard thingy; I didn't know mine had one and he didn't know his didn't. We were well confused and as I had been following, I would have expected my bike to be muckier in the turbulent air but not so.

The back of my bike was virtually spotless and his was so bad you couldn't read his plate.

It was only on closer inspection that we spotted the small plastic infill panel and that was that.

Obviously, doing your mileage it ain't going to be perfect, but it might keep you alive in the filthy dark and for only £20 or so and easy to fit in your case as you don't have the Sport Case frame to contend with.

So a speed safety camera could read your number but couldn't read your friends number?  :) Sorry, but I'm struggling to see the advantage of the mudguard!  ;)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 12, 2017, 02:58:59 pm
As you well know, the software on those film readers can read a number plate that the human eye can't.

And anyway, you know I never exceed the speed limit. Honest!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 16, 2017, 10:59:16 am
74000 last night on a cold dark  A30. Seem to be doing all my riding in the dark these days.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 16, 2017, 02:15:12 pm
Get a cheap HID kit and start riding in the daylight...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on December 17, 2017, 08:10:21 am
Get a cheap HID kit and start riding in the daylight...

Definitely this! Cheap car kit - one in dipped beam, one in high beam.

Get a kit with slim ballasts and they'll "just" fit inside the headlight shell.

The best money you'll spend this winter.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 31, 2017, 08:00:02 pm
Last Thursday travelled down fro Shropshire back to Cornwall.
(https://thumb.ibb.co/mDbt2G/WP_20171228_09_44_15_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mDbt2G)

(https://thumb.ibb.co/j2Cpbb/WP_20171228_09_44_41_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/j2Cpbb)


First petrol stop fuel cap frozen, key wouldn't go in, barrel wouldn't turn, 50 mins later tank bag harness off, whole tank cover off, filler cap removed, deiced,  all reassembled. Which is why I carry a leatherman with all the drive heads. So 3 hours at below 5C squinting into the sun wiping the sh1te off the visor every 10 secs, followed by 2 hours in the rain and home for a late Christmas and birthday dinner. And why do I ride a bike in this weather? Despite the frozen fuel cap giving Libby nearly an hours start I got home nearly an hour before her and I wasn't caning it in this weather. Gotta love traffic

And 26750 miles for the calendar year by the way
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on December 31, 2017, 11:19:05 pm
Good on you fjtwelve.

Can't for the life of me understand why your fuel cap should freeze up?

(https://i.imgur.com/zLpUBx1.jpg?2)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 31, 2017, 11:34:58 pm
Rain in the lock! Needs a squirt of WD every so often in the winter. Car door locks always used to freeze before they started fitting lock heaters.

I used to have a battery operated un-freezer, a long blade that went into the lock and got hot. Used to work a treat till I forgot it was the heater in the lock and after clearing the screen I tried to open the lock with the hot blade, thinking it was the key and it snapped off in the lock  ::)

Congrats on the mileage and the perseverance  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 01, 2018, 12:20:39 am
Plenty of rain followed by hard frost. The cap and lock is treated to plenty of acf50 or wd40 but the bike had stood in the rain for several days which had obviously been just too much.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 01, 2018, 09:52:00 am
WD does evaporate off fairly rapidly  >:(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 03, 2018, 10:18:05 pm
Kicking the year off with passing 75000 this evening. Got stopped by a biker in frankley services who was looking at getting a k12 or 13 to replace his cb1300 as he was getting fed up with having to adjust his chain every 500mile week. See its not just me
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 04, 2018, 12:11:58 am
And what did you say to him one wonders?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on January 04, 2018, 08:40:38 am
You know what I would have said to him Brian  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on January 04, 2018, 10:18:36 am
Very similar yo me I expect. Don't touch a K1200 with a barge pole. Choose your K1300 carefully and take out an extended warranty (plus start a savings account for the occasional large bill) but the bike will reward in a way that makes it all worth while!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on January 04, 2018, 10:57:45 am
Not quite David, I'd have told him to get an FJR  ;D ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on January 04, 2018, 11:22:41 am
:D

... but he may have been the sort of person who enjoys riding! ;)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on January 04, 2018, 11:38:46 am
He may have also been the sort of person that liked riding and not having the bike in the dealers every five minutes to fix the myriad of problems that can occur.  ???
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 04, 2018, 04:51:46 pm
On all your advice told him to get a K13, which probably seemed a bit odd after I told him I'd just clocked up 75000 miles on a K12 without much going wrong, and told him to look up EuroKclub. He was thinking about an R he said.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 04, 2018, 08:55:26 pm
My wife and son both sent me this

https://www.bmwgroupretailcareers.co.uk/job/falmouth/sales-executive/18386/6084786

Not rushing back south just yet so feel free to jump the queue in front of me....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 04, 2018, 11:03:54 pm
Me

Hayzoos! I might be way off the mark, but I doubt either of them think that you would be getting a pay hike. Unless, that is, you tell them you are an ice cream salesman. Working in Iceland!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 11, 2018, 02:09:38 pm
(https://preview.ibb.co/gtFQE6/Stuff_everything.png) (https://ibb.co/kGbAgm)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 11, 2018, 02:30:32 pm
Apropos anything at all Martin?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 11, 2018, 02:39:55 pm
Christmas wasn't great with ill elderly parents, sorting out care is not happening, between jobs so sat in the middle of nowhere on a diddy little cock up of a job, could do with a little sunshine and a massive piss up
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 11, 2018, 03:00:54 pm
Pity you're not closer. Can't do much about the sunshine but the pub over the road is a good'un  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on January 11, 2018, 03:01:17 pm
I can't help with sunshine but hey I'm available for everything else  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 11, 2018, 03:09:26 pm
I'm in Romsey now so convenient for Newbury but a bit of a trek to Ledbury
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 11, 2018, 03:51:33 pm
Why'd you think I moved  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 13, 2018, 01:08:15 pm
Keep thinking about all that weather protection - last nights 4 hour greasy plod home left me opaque with salt - and then thinking about all the filtering I couldn't do

(https://preview.ibb.co/n86CxR/C_Data_Users_Def_Apps_App_Data_INTERNETEXPLORER_Temp_Saved_Images_26230016_1704195149603209_2431214503529218760_n.jpg) (https://ibb.co/iPLGP6)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 13, 2018, 01:28:58 pm
What is the width difference in real terms?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 15, 2018, 06:29:51 pm
Nice day for a bike ride
(https://preview.ibb.co/d4rsGm/WP_20180115_18_25_57_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fbRRbm)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 15, 2018, 06:44:38 pm
What is the width difference in real terms?

95mm
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 16, 2018, 10:18:10 am
Happy birthday to you dear K12S happy birthday to you. 10 years old in January haven't got exact day so halfway through month will do.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 16, 2018, 11:24:53 am
Almost run in then Martin.

As to the better weather protection, looking at how much clearance most riders leave to traffic when they filter, 95mm will easily fit; unless of course you filter like wot I duz.

Brian (who thanks the god of little things for those little plastic things on the side of the sport cases  8) )
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on January 16, 2018, 04:56:44 pm
Almost run in then Martin.

As to the better weather protection, looking at how much clearance most riders leave to traffic when they filter, 95mm will easily fit; unless of course you filter like wot I duz.

Brian (who thanks the god of little things for those little plastic things on the side of the sport cases  8) )
They are prone to changing colour after a filtering session.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TurboBevy on January 16, 2018, 07:25:58 pm
Sport cases = liferafts?

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 20, 2018, 10:32:56 am
That dimension is the width of the mirrors. I find I have to fold my mirrors in now when it gets a bit of a squeeze, it's the other more solid stuff that concerns me and I can't find dimensions for that. Oh and wriggling that extra 100 kg too. Anyway its just idle speculation, suspect it'll be a while before this one gets run into the ground, despite it being more than tad parky running up to north Shropshire last night. Next week looks like Shropshire Romsey  Sutton Coldfield Romsey Essex Romsey Falmouth.  Think I might apply to the iron butt association, or was it the frozen one?
I dream of buying sport cases, if anybody sees them on eBay before I do let me know. It was my throw over panniers that stopped me getting my legs hurt in my one and only collision to date that terminated my last fj.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on January 20, 2018, 11:44:55 am
A left:
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-K-1200-S-K12S-Suitcase-Left-Shad-Sport-Side-Case/152862074089?hash=item23974a24e9:g:~~oAAOSwCMtaVfGr

and a right:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-Sport-Case-K1200-1300-R-S-K40-K43/142583514877?hash=item2132a3c6fd:g:ZOkAAOSwYVlaDWTI

£370 once you factor in post. (Normal price is £480.)

Or sod it and just buy this 32k mileage one fully loaded with panniers, topbox, Ilmberger hugger, centre stand - even a bloody Garmin:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bmw-k1200s-sports-tourer-fully-loaded-sat-nav-luggage-esa-exceptional-condition/232630509620?hash=item3629dbe034:g:aVkAAOSwFMdaW4Vm

Tempting just to buy and strip the bits off  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 20, 2018, 08:15:54 pm
Well spotted, but unfortunately the last of the Christmas money and what I didn't spend on the 535d insurance and tax because I sold it has just gone on (after reading all the comments on here) an MRA Vario touring screen in an attempt to get the salty crap blown over my head, and a new pair of Daytona Road Stars to keep the water out of my feet after my 5 years old and something around 75000 mile including saving my feet in a collision Daytona Gators starting letting in water. Oh and a new Arai visor after the last one got trashed in about 3 months. Reminds me the Arai is 5 years old now so will need replacing too, and I was thinking of a set of textiles, oh and the thumb screen wipe is coming unstitched on those Merlin gloves so that'll be another set soon. Retirement? Hah thought I couldn't stop till the mortgage was paid but ....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: gibbo on January 21, 2018, 09:45:26 am
Well spotted, but unfortunately the last of the Christmas money and what I didn't spend on the 535d insurance and tax because I sold it has just gone on (after reading all the comments on here) an MRA Vario touring screen in an attempt to get the salty crap blown over my head, and a new pair of Daytona Road Stars to keep the water out of my feet after my 5 years old and something around 75000 mile including saving my feet in a collision Daytona Gators starting letting in water. Oh and a new Arai visor after the last one got trashed in about 3 months. Reminds me the Arai is 5 years old now so will need replacing too, and I was thinking of a set of textiles, oh and the thumb screen wipe is coming unstitched on those Merlin gloves so that'll be another set soon. Retirement? Hah thought I couldn't stop till the mortgage was paid but ....

Ah yes, the good old thumb screen wipe. Who's great idea was that I wonder. I sliced mine off with a Stanley knife as it kept flicking on the hazards. Useless!   :-\
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 22, 2018, 01:33:53 pm
Never managed to catch the screenwipe myself, and its kept me seeing where I'm going the last few months
Anyway, 76002 on a bleak M40 at Banbury this morning. I realized the funny colour in my mirrors was blue sky behind me, its a funny sensation riding in daylight, and eventually on the streaming wet and spray bound roads South of Newbury, the sun came out. Roll on Spring
(https://preview.ibb.co/hcGW3b/20180122_76002_0n_a_bleak_M40_at_Banbury.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d9wW3b)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 22, 2018, 02:31:05 pm
You should have turned round when you saw the blue sky behind you...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 22, 2018, 02:43:22 pm
I nearly did, but I have to earn enough to pay for all these gizmos
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 25, 2018, 09:29:17 pm
Whilst returning from a blip over to Essex for work I decided to take the south side of the m25, not to enjoy the miles of obligatory filtering but so I could go and look at motolegends near Guildford. Spent couple of hours with very helpful staff and got to £2500 of stuff. Of course you can do this interest free over 3 year etc.  Now having a lie down and trying to decide what I really need. Regardless of what I actually buy I now know my size in various clothing and things, and my head is shoei shaped not Schuberth, and my daytonas are beyond repair. Definitely worth the visit.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 26, 2018, 09:39:44 am
The lengths some folks go to, the M bloody 25. Mind, they have a cracking reputation and are very good to deal with in person as well as on the interweb thingy.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 27, 2018, 12:03:12 am
Christmas finally arrived

(https://preview.ibb.co/nsPHYb/WP_20180126_23_44_42_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/i9dNzG)

Oh and my visor boots and screen #unwrappingfrenzy
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 27, 2018, 03:04:37 pm
We expect a cartoon a week for the next whatever... ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 27, 2018, 03:39:10 pm
There's about 450, we could be here a while

(https://preview.ibb.co/b3KzWw/WP_20180127_15_36_28_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dNCKWw)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on January 27, 2018, 04:05:24 pm
Quite a rare book. V nice.
I went to try and buy one - it's not obvious how, since they've sold out.
I think they're printing 'standard' edition.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 29, 2018, 07:27:19 pm
Baptism of fire for new boots and screen today, 378 miles. Except it didn't really rain, just a smattering in London. Roads still covered in crap mind
(https://preview.ibb.co/i7X3eR/WP_20180128_14_58_17_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/is6766)

(https://preview.ibb.co/hja0R6/WP_20180128_14_56_45_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bKVZm6)

Still fiddling with best position. Bigger screen definitely make a difference, but its noisy. Tried the aerofoil in every position but not sure of best compromise. It was also very windy today which made it a little more difficult to judge
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: OxMan on January 29, 2018, 08:26:58 pm
I’m sure someone here said they use the aerofoil ‘upside down ‘....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 29, 2018, 08:30:28 pm
I was about to say...

Don't know if it was the same screen though.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: OxMan on January 29, 2018, 08:33:31 pm
Pretty sure  it was this MRA screen - given the curvature upside down would be feasible but not inside out!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 01, 2018, 08:09:27 am
77000 and a blood red blue super moon. Wonder if i'll still be riding when the next one arrives
(https://preview.ibb.co/nusSTm/20180201_77000_with_supermoon.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kaz7Tm)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 01, 2018, 01:05:22 pm
I just love the scenic shots you take. The skips, containers and security fencing is just so romantic...

I missed the first half hour of the moon-rise thanks to the ever-reliable cloud cover so didn't get the optical illusion at the instant of rising but it was still pretty impressive and pretty to boot.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 02, 2018, 12:56:09 am
Just in after a quick blip to Paddington for a drink with some old mates (and we are getting old). Those of you who have looked out today may have noticed the distinct lack of precipitation. So I eagerly got out my sparkly new EDZ shell and popped it over the other 2 layers to try it out and see if i could get away with just leathers for a change. On the way up it was around 7C and I was very comfortable. On the way back it was down to 1.5C and haring down the M3 my legs were getting so cold despite the leggings under the leathers I nearly stopped to put my oversuit on. My top half was still comfortable. Have to say I'm impressed, 90 motorway miles at 1-3C and still comfortably warm is very good.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 02, 2018, 11:23:31 pm
617 miles in 24 hours. Squared off the tyres completely and the front has worn in a very weird way. Just as dry weather appears. Sigh. Its like trying to wrestle big daddy round the corners. And it needs a service too. :-\
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on February 03, 2018, 03:07:00 pm
617 miles in 24 hours. Squared off the tyres completely and the front has worn in a very weird way. Just as dry weather appears. Sigh. Its like trying to wrestle big daddy round the corners. And it needs a service too. :-\

Front worn on the right side more than the left - down to the marks but the left side is quite fresh?
If so, that's what I get. Always put it down to camber. Or I'm a bit of a cautious on left handers?
If not, ignore me  ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 03, 2018, 10:08:50 pm
I think you'll find that Tom, who isn't at all cautious on either hand, had the same dumb-ass wear pattern in Espan'a a year or so ago.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 05, 2018, 08:28:45 pm
Not more on left or right, front to back in areas of tread between sipes, I think its something to do with suspension. If the shocks are worn out, and is getting very bumpy unless I add 30kg of luggage, going to living on beans for a while.
Suffering K withdrawal symptoms today as drove wife's tt to Bristol last night and flew to Amsterdam today, new job. Apart from pilot evacuating plane as he thought steam from hot nav lights evaporating the deicer was fire and smoke very quiet
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 05, 2018, 09:45:27 pm
Can't remember if yours is ESA Martin. If it isn't going after-market is the way forward.

If it is ESA then I can heartily recommend MCT in Stowmarket for complete and affordable rebuilds.

I can also heartily NOT recommend Firefox Racing who charged me twice as much and did virtually nothing I asked for.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 18, 2018, 10:40:25 am
(https://preview.ibb.co/i0MYan/WP_20180217_15_56_05_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kKFtan)

Out on the annual early doors run up th B3306 and completely failed to outrun the wet weather so got soaked as had left waterproofs at home. Stupid boy
Bike into Ocean for its 78k service. Book has run out of spaces for stamps...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on February 18, 2018, 12:31:58 pm
This must be why the extended warranty runs out at 80,000 miles  ;)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 18, 2018, 02:18:28 pm
Nice piccie but no sympathy. Ride more than 100yards from home in UK without waterproofs and you deserve all you get...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on February 18, 2018, 02:41:10 pm
(https://preview.ibb.co/i0MYan/WP_20180217_15_56_05_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kKFtan)

Out on the annual early doors run up th B3306 and completely failed to outrun the wet weather so got soaked as had left waterproofs at home. Stupid boy
Bike into Ocean for its 78k service. Book has run out of spaces for stamps...

Haha! I read that and after seeing "Land's End" I briefly thought 'oh he's ridden it into the sea?!'

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 19, 2018, 06:11:08 pm
Service inspection says ball joint worn. After 78000 miles I reckon that's not too bad after reading about everyone else's horror stories. Head bearing seems fine. I am obviously not abusing my gear box enough as discussed elsewhere recently as my front pads are worn out and one of the discs has warped after 14000 miles, and the front tyre is u/s after about 8500.

So as the whole of the front end is coming to bits I have asked them to check the shock to see if its OK. Anything else I should replace while its in bits?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on February 19, 2018, 07:40:00 pm
Dealers normally recommend replacing both ball joints.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 19, 2018, 08:13:17 pm
Definitely both joints.

If your bike is ESA shod, make sure they double check the wiring loom to the shock. It follows a serious bend from the frame to the shock and every turn of the bars adds to the stress. On a bike with your miles it would make sense to get it checked carefully. If it fails, it doesn't throw a fault code and the system shows the shock changing mode perfectly normally as it is an open-loop system. But it doesn't change. They probaly won't know this, but they sell a repair loom for replacing the wiring from the plug on the frame to within about an inch of where it enters the shock; a simple crimp and solder job. It is all in the RepROM...

If it is non-ESA, forget it.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 23, 2018, 02:31:56 pm
Brace! Brace! Brace!
If only it were a crash landing. Bracing myself for tomorrows bill as we crash through a total running cost of £20k over the last 3 years and 60k miles, excluding buying it in the first place. Both ball joints worn and replaced with rubber gaiter. Shock appears fine (the ESA loom has been replaced once already). New front tyre and new pads and a service. Hope it all feels back to normal. Unlike my bank account... :-\
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: gibbo on February 24, 2018, 09:19:07 am
I can feel a four figure sum being extracted from your bank account fj.  :(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 24, 2018, 09:34:58 am
Just think of the cost of the running repairs as the pemium for not spending half your life sitting in queues of cars, suffocating on carbon and nitrogen and it won't seem half so bad  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on February 24, 2018, 11:04:37 am

... total running cost of £20k over the last 3 years and 60k miles, excluding buying it in the first place.


33p per mile.

I'll have a cheeky guess at a £6k outlay when you bought it, and maybe £2.5k if you sold it now, so that would push it up to 39p / mile.
For a performance vehicle, that's OK in my book.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 28, 2018, 12:03:24 pm
Almost black and white in Cornwall
(https://image.ibb.co/jcC8ax/V_0B34.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ezQTax)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 28, 2018, 01:32:18 pm
Courtesy of Motolegends latest mail shot, I find out that if its 0C outside, and you're doing 60mph yer onner, the wind-chill brings that down to a very fresh -33C. No wonder I've had to roll my sleeves down recently.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 01, 2018, 02:42:00 pm
 ;D ;D ;D So, any colder and it's winter drawers on then?

PS I love that piccie. The only things missing are tyre tracks leading up to it and a snowman in the saddle  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Ian Jay on March 03, 2018, 07:00:41 am
Reading this fascinating blog reminded me of years ago when I married and in the military and because of living apart using my Norton Commando for long trips home. Yes, it was a bit hungry for rear tyres, chains, and sprockets, but generally was an inexpensive and reliable machine.  Albeit, taking in account of inflation, the running costs of these modern superbikes seems to have skyrocketed. 

My recent return to motorcycling after 30 years in the wilderness is seen by many as a late-life crisis, but they have never been a motorcyclist, so what do they know?  I suppose the difference between then and now is that the bike is not so much a form of transport, but an indulgence to polish and oil and admire.  It may be a loud beast to the neighbours, but a cathartic therapy for me.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on March 03, 2018, 11:03:09 am
Much cheaper nowadays to run a car.

Why would modern youth ever consider getting a motorcycle?

Big boys toys really. We come from an era when a motorcycle was the next step up from a push bike. When we grew up and earned more we generally graduated to a car.

Problem for us was that the seed was sown. We knew how much more exciting it was to ride a bike than drive a car. When we could afford it we treated ourselves to our big boy's toys.

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Ian Jay on March 03, 2018, 12:29:57 pm

I believe that my passion for motorcycles began when I was about 12, and when walking home from school had to pass "Ross's Motorcycles", which had a huge showroom full of rows of second-hand Vincents.  What marvelous pieces of British ingenuity and craftsmanship, that could be for bought for as little as 250 quid!  Mind you, this was in 1962 when the average wage was about 20 ponds?

Much cheaper nowadays to run a car.

Why would modern youth ever consider getting a motorcycle?

Big boys toys really. We come from an era when a motorcycle was the next step up from a push bike. When we grew up and earned more we generally graduated to a car.

Problem for us was that the seed was sown. We knew how much more exciting it was to ride a bike than drive a car. When we could afford it we treated ourselves to our big boy's toys.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 03, 2018, 01:03:38 pm
I joined the RAF in 1964 and when asked about ambition, I clearly remember saying I wanted to progress so that I earned £1,000 a year  8)

Them were'tdays!

There is a huge gulf between the post-war baby-boomers and those who went before who nearly had bikes or scooters or combos and the generations who followed who mostly never bothered with bikes unless their dad did.

A friend bought new'ish cars for her grandchildren when they passed their tests. Just small, low mileage Toyota thingies but they will go on forever, have lots of the toys that hadn't been invented when I passed my test and they love 'em to bits. Tail pipe fell off one of them the other day and the lad tied it back up with his shoe lace...then a tie-wrap when the lace burned through and eventually gave in after the tie-wrap melted and took it to the garage. All for the sake of a new mount and a couple of nuts and bolts. I'd have been laughed out of the house if I'd done that.

Imagine him trying to keep on top of an old BSA or Norton but he is the sort who would take his K back to the dealer to get it cleaned  ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Ian Jay on March 03, 2018, 02:31:16 pm

I did 9 years, 1968-77, in the RAF as a medic (poultice walloper).  Went to Uni when I was 33 and ended up spending 9 years there'
Happy days in the RAF, because we had places to go and being on the aeromed team took me to most of them. :)

I joined the RAF in 1964 and when asked about ambition, I clearly remember saying I wanted to progress so that I earned £1,000 a year  8)

Them were'tdays!

There is a huge gulf between the post-war baby-boomers and those who went before who nearly had bikes or scooters or combos and the generations who followed who mostly never bothered with bikes unless their dad did.

A friend bought new'ish cars for her grandchildren when they passed their tests. Just small, low mileage Toyota thingies but they will go on forever, have lots of the toys that hadn't been invented when I passed my test and they love 'em to bits. Tail pipe fell off one of them the other day and the lad tied it back up with his shoe lace...then a tie-wrap when the lace burned through and eventually gave in after the tie-wrap melted and took it to the garage. All for the sake of a new mount and a couple of nuts and bolts. I'd have been laughed out of the house if I'd done that.

Imagine him trying to keep on top of an old BSA or Norton but he is the sort who would take his K back to the dealer to get it cleaned  ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 03, 2018, 05:20:30 pm
we had places to go and being on the aeromed team took me to most of them. :)

Hmm! My two overseas posting were Marham in Norfolk and Lyneham in Wilts  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Ian Jay on March 03, 2018, 06:21:43 pm
We had a house in Calne from 77-90.  If God was to give Wiltshire an enema, it's where he would insert the tube ;)

we had places to go and being on the aeromed team took me to most of them. :)

Hmm! My two overseas posting were Marham in Norfolk and Lyneham in Wilts  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: gibbo on March 04, 2018, 09:07:16 am
Hey!!!! Less of the mickey taking about Wiltshire.  :) One of the finest counties in the UK. Ten times as many people work here than live here so it's given them a decent living. A veritable industrial powerhouse with a small p.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Ian Jay on March 04, 2018, 10:00:19 am

Where men are men, and the sheep are nervous.   ;D

They make a very pleasant pint of 6X in Devizes, I will give you that ...

Hey!!!! Less of the mickey taking about Wiltshire.  :) One of the finest counties in the UK. Ten times as many people work here than live here so it's given them a decent living. A veritable industrial powerhouse with a small p.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on March 04, 2018, 12:07:35 pm
Hey!!!! Less of the mickey taking about Wiltshire.  :) One of the finest counties in the UK. Ten times as many people work here than live here so it's given them a decent living. A veritable industrial powerhouse with a small p.

Hmmm. Here are the Wiltshire population and census figures:
- 293k empoyable peeps
- 248k in employment

That's 84% employed, compared to the UK in general at 78%.

So higher than average, but not 10 times. Maybe you meant 10%?

Source:
http://www.nomisweb.co.uk/reports/lmp/la/1946157357/printable.aspx

Those figs don't allow for 'migration' across county borders, but I'm assuming Wiltshire people working outside Wiltshire and non-Wiltshire foreigners coming in will roughly balance. Big employment hot spots like Swindon (inside) and Bristol (outside) might cause some imbalance.

Mr Pedantic-Logic signing off. Snow is now melting, so I'll be able to get out soon, and get a life...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 04, 2018, 02:03:22 pm
For three years in the late '60's I thought Wiltshire was God's country. Cold war era so no nasty postings to worry about, weekends off (because no one starts a war at the weekend) to drink the Wadworth brewery to a standstill and more lonely wives on the married patch than us singlies could handle  8)

Made the BIG mistake of marrying a sweet young thing from Calne about which I concur immensely although Harris's pie factory did keep me in part-time beer money until I got a better part-time job making carburretors for trees for a local outfit  ???

Those were the days before the madness of the Irish troubles crept over the seas when anyone could come and go through the main gate or even the footpath past the church to the village. Happy days indeed.

Swindon is still an arse of a town but it has just about the lowest unemployment figures in the country and it is really weird how life takes you round in circles. Left Lyneham in '70, left the sweet young thing in '75, left the mob in '78 and ended up back in the old stomping ground living in a cottage on the edge of the Plain with pongo's tanks rattling past the kitchen windows at all hours of the night. They kindly brought my cattle collie back in a landrover after she jumped on a tank and was last heard barking her head off as it clattered over the main road and disappeared in a hole full of mud. They had even washed and fed her  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 11, 2018, 08:34:10 pm
So got back from the flatlands this weekend with severe k withdrawal symptoms. My plan to take advantage of the dry weather on Saturday was interrupted by a flat battery, which is a first. Never been let down before. Borrowed the sons jump leads as mine have mysteriously disappeared and the wife hairdressing car and got started. Many strange things on the dash . Went for a jaunt up to indian queens to see what there was to see in damarells and came back clutching a tin of liquid gold. Otherwise known as acf 50 but the price they charge they must be adding gold to it. Anyway, couldn't turn ignition off so battery went flat again overnight. Dash was showing an ESA fault message, and very briefly a service code 11-18 whatever than means.  So its back in at ocean for them to have a farkle this week. Where the ignition did turn off. Think either the ignition key barrel is knacked or they've trapped the esa wires when they put it back together at the last service.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: sudolea on March 11, 2018, 09:33:19 pm
Low battery and failing ESA makes me think ...

I once had been charging my battery. As I don't have a typical BMW charger, and as I am reluctant of charging the battery while it remains connected to the bike, I always disconnect the (plus pole of the) battery. Now after the battery was fully charged, I hadn't reconnected the battery to the bike right away, but only after a couple of months (it was the first winter I didn't use it any longer for going to work).

When I then reconnected the battery to the bike after that long time, my ESA didn't work any more. It looked as if my ESA switch button was broken : pressing it resulted in no ESA reaction whatsoever. The dealer saw it, didn't look very carefully at the diagnostics, made the shortcut-assumption that it was the button : "they use to break quite often in these models, I'll order one, you won't have to pay anything because that's a flaw of this bike, I'll put it under warranty".

Some days later, after the piece had arrived, the switch was replaced, the bike was started ... just to show the same behaviour. The dealer starts looking at the diagnostics more carefully now, and sees that the ESA had lost its calibration point (or whatever it was called). So he runs the job to recalibrate the ESA ... and there the ESA was working as expected again !

Now to make this long story short : if the battery has been flat enough, or flat for enough a time, I would certainly not exclude the possibility that the ESA has "just" lost its calibration point.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 12, 2018, 11:51:01 am
Every day's a schoolday. Never heard of such a thing before.

I mean, of flat batteries, I am the king, but recalibrating the ESA? Who knew?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: sudolea on March 12, 2018, 01:04:28 pm
Every day's a schoolday. Never heard of such a thing before.

I mean, of flat batteries, I am the king, but recalibrating the ESA? Who knew?

I won't say that has been the 100% sure cause. But I made it from it, as nothing before had been wrong, and disconnecting the battery (for an uncommonly long time) was the only thing I had done. Apart from the ESA recalibration (and of course also, but without effect, changing the switch), nothing else had happened to repair the bike. Hence ...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 13, 2018, 08:41:07 pm
Ok they are on the ball with that. New ignition switch on the way....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 18, 2018, 08:29:48 am
New ignition switch fitted, ESA (rear) re-calibrated, Triggers Broom is all back to normal
Except the warped front brake disc
Never has so much money been spent and so few miles covered
Did manage about 40 miles yesterday before it variously tried to snow and rain on me. To think I moved South because I thought there was more sunshine
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: sudolea on March 18, 2018, 08:30:51 pm
New ignition switch fitted, ESA (rear) re-calibrated, Triggers Broom is all back to normal
...

I would be happy for you if only I wouldn't suspect the switch change has been unnecessary ... in my case the switch change was unnecessary (as a new switch had shown no improvement whatsoever). I was just a little more lucky : I hadn't had to pay for it, as the "broken" switch had been considered as a warranty case...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 18, 2018, 08:58:54 pm
My left hand switchgear was replaced last year (twice) and there is no problem with the EMAIL button. It's my ignition key switch that has been replaced. As it's been getting increasingly notchy and reluctant to engage the steering lock I'm not too unhappy.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 19, 2018, 01:20:47 pm
Why haven't I got an EMAIL switch? That would be just so convenient  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 19, 2018, 01:44:28 pm
Feckin auto correct  >:(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 19, 2018, 03:03:21 pm
 ;D ;D ;D ;D

...but, you have to admit  :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 30, 2018, 06:38:49 pm
And now I have the 7000rpm tickover problem. What causes that again? Apart from standing for most of the last 6 weeks  >:(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on March 30, 2018, 08:54:00 pm
Throttle bodies.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 30, 2018, 10:47:44 pm
And now I have the 7000rpm tickover problem. What causes that again? Apart from standing for most of the last 6 weeks  >:(

Bugger Martin,

My guess is the dreaded sticking butterfly plates in the throttle bodies.

Try this...

1 With the engine off, fully open the twistgrip and then let go of it so that the twistgrip (and therefore the throttle plates) snap shut...

2 Without touching the twistgrip, start the engine and see what the idle is. Mine, when I did this, was a normal 1100 rpm...

3a If the idle is 'normal', try opening the twistgrip just as if you were taking off normally and then release it; if the idle shoots up to 7,000, go to 4 below...

3b If the idle shoots up to 7,000 when you start the engine then ignore nos. 4 and 5 below, your throttle plates (butterfly plates in the throttle bodies) are sticking and in all probability you need a new/secondhand set of throttle bodies.

4 Turn off the engine (doh, obviously). Open the throttle fully and then, without releasing it, gently close it fully and slowly, then...

5 Without touching the twistgrip, start the engine (this was the killer test for my K12) and see what the idle is. Mine, when I did this, went straight up to, in my case 11,000rpm. If yours goes up to 7,000 then see 3b above.

The rationale, in my case, was that opening the twistgrip and letting it snap shut, also let the plates snap shut and the idle, when the engine was started was normal. However, opening the throttle and then closing it caused the idle to stick at the hight point, 11,/7,000, whatever.

Opening the teistgrip and closing it gently allowed the throttle plates to stick at, in my case, 4% ooen so when the engine was started the idle went high immediately.

I bought a set of throttle bodies off a 4,000 mile 2007 K12 from James Sherlock off ebay for £99. Perfect and no more problems. They are about £1,000 new from BM.

For the rest of you with K12's, take note, this is the single biggest killer of the K12...

When I stripped mine I found no obvious cause of the sticking but it was repeatable even with the 'carbs' sitting on the bench. There is no adjustment, no fix. Neither BM nor Bing (who make the bloody things) can adjust, strip, re-work nor fix them. A well-equipped engineering shop with full press capability 'might' be able to get the, working for less than the cost of new ones but I wouln't bank on it.

On the other hand, Dusty had exactly the same problem years ago and his cleared itself with no intervention apart from taking it to the dealers (several times) on a trailer, where it promptly didn't do it...

Good luck and if you need any more, call me. Brian
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 31, 2018, 09:25:23 am
Thanks
Is this a diy plug and play replacement, or is it going to explode like a Jack in the box and requires tricky setting up ?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 07, 2018, 08:51:25 am
So after 7 weeks of almost no miles this is why my trousers don't fit anymore

http://calorielab.com/burned/?mo=ac&ac=16030&ti=Riding+motor+scooter+or+motorcycle&q=&wt=100&un=kg&kg=100
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 07, 2018, 12:04:58 pm
Thanks
Is this a diy plug and play replacement, or is it going to explode like a Jack in the box and requires tricky setting up ?

Dunno why his post didn't show up in my unread folder...

If you mean the throttle bodies, it's a straight swap. It's tedious because you have to remove tank panels, fuel tank and airbox which is fiddly but not overly complicated for the average DiY'er.

The naughty bit is the rubber manifold connections from airbox to throttles and throttles to inlet stubs. These are very fiddly to get off and refit and need special tools or some imagination, in my case I found a set of crimp pliers to be the perfect tool, but then again mine were off and on like a sex worker's underwear while I was diagnosing the issue. I lost count after eleven removals and refits...

The alternative, if you are not of the anal persuasion, is to cut the buggers off and use worm drive hose clips when you refit, which the RepROM allows - kind of it I know.

Setting up consists of re-setting the throttle position sensor the same as you do after a battery disconnect, simple and straightforward with no tooling required and the set I bought came with the TPS fitted as well as the fuel rails and fuel pressure regulator.

The big change on the early K12s is if you fit/need the later airbox and ICV which then needs an ECU update to take advantage of the better fuelling. You, however, have the after-market re-flash so either already have the later kit installed or don't need it. It cost me £20 to have mine flashed at NOG but made no discernible difference as the new airbox and ICV worked perfectly both before and after the re-flash.

Either way, both early and later airboxes fit to both early and later types of throttle bodies. What I don't know is if you can run a K12S on K13S throttle bodies...

If you need more, give me a shout.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 08, 2018, 03:48:50 pm
After starting up idles at 1200 fine. Lots of very noisy blipping naughty flames and bangs without a problem. However when the temperature gets up to 2 blocks the idle speed starts to stick higher and higher. Very vigourous twisting of the throttle gets it back. Cautious small throttle opening just sticks at whatever speed you open it to. So buggered then
 Ironically traditional easter emptying of the shed 3 trips to the tip means the bike is now in the shed for the first time in over a year. Just as the bloody sun comes out  >:(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 09, 2018, 04:42:39 pm
This might be a wonky Idle Control Valve Martin.

This thing bleeds air from the airbox past the throttle butterflies into the inlets so allowing the idle to be tweaked by the ECU.

It is a stepper motor controlled piston that rises or falls according to the ECU data. However, it is an open-circuit system with no feedback to the ECU to tell it where it actually is.

The ECU 'thinks' it is where it was last time it told it to move but it could be anywhere and with the resultant confusion caused by high/low idle the ECU has a coronary trying to correct the system. In theory, the piston is re-set to zero every time the ignition is turned on.

It is possible to re-set the ICV with a GS-911 if you have a member with one near you. Obviously the dealer can do this too.

The telling thing is to monitor the TPS (throttle position sensor) with a GS-911 when the idle is high to see if it is the throttle plates sticking open (which mine were by 4%) or are fully closed, in which case it is probably the ICV.

If blipping the throttle changes the idle it might suggest it is the ICV either sticking or on the way out. You can remove them and clean the innards but be aware of the long, extremely small-diameter spring which will end up in the Western Approaches if you don't work inside a plastic bag  :(

They are cheap enough and easy to fit if a little fiddly. If you have the original, old style airbox and ICV I'm not even sure if the ICV is still available to replace. The new ICV only fits the new airbox and vice-versa and the airbox/ICV kit costs about £400 iirc.

Gimme a call if you need more.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 09, 2018, 10:10:36 pm
Fink I'm gonna wimp out and take it to ocean. They've almost got enough off me for that holiday in the maldives so I may as well make their final payment...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on April 09, 2018, 10:39:08 pm
Not sure if you can clamp off the ICV hose if you susppect that it could be sticking open and holding the revs.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 09, 2018, 10:55:26 pm
It's four hoses, one for each cylinder. It's easier to pull them off and stick blu-tac in the open ends of the pipes.

If you have the later airbox I have a spare, new ICV I can loan you to test the system if you want to save a shed-load of cash.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 10, 2018, 05:15:39 pm
OK I will take it to bits at the weekend and see what I can see. One of the problems of working away is you can't farkle in the evenings when you are 500 miles away
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 10, 2018, 06:52:04 pm
OK. Sense might save money here  ;D I realise you are an overpaid navvy but even so....

If you haven't been in there before and don't have the RepROM, this is all you need to do...

Remove seat
Remove tank side panels (bolts at base and rear, then pull each panel rearwards till it disengages)
Remove seat securing posts/tank rear mounting bolts
Lift tank up and rearward a little to gain access to front face of tank (obviously easier if tank is low on fuel, knowing you it will have been brimmed 4 miles ago  ::) ) and long, thin multi-jointed fingers are a great asset here  :o
Pull off rubber breather pipe, noting routing
Disengage quick-release, dry-break fuel pipe connector
Disengage electrical plug
You can now lift tank clear

You will now need an inspection mirror to peer up under the rear edge of the airbox where you will see the ICV manifold, (a black plastic doofangle adjacent to the bottom face of the airbox with four black rubber pipes coming from it and disappearing down past the throttle bodies and inlets) and, attached to the bottom of that, the motor unit which is a black metal cylinder with two lugs (through which two bolts hold the motor unit and the manifold to the airbox) and an electrical connector.

Items 1A, 1B and 2 in the parts view here...

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=0581-EUR-09-2006-K40-BMW-K_1200_S_0581,0591_&diagId=13_1302

You will notice the manifold has FIVE stubs (on the later type of airbox/ICV), four of which have the rubber air-bleed pipes attached. The fifth (in the centre iirc) has a blanking cover and is only used for the US market breather/idle system. Earlier K12 ICV manifolds have only four stubs.

One of the first things to check is that none of the pipes, nor the blanking cap are detached, cracked, split or perished. Air bleeding into here will confuse the hell out of the ECU and result in lousy idle. Also make sure the electrical connection is sound.

That's the simple stuff done with. If you find damaged or disconnected pipes then you have your answer, possibly.

If you need to go further, remove the electrical plug, then the two screws holding the motor unit to the manifold MAKING SURE YOU HOLD IT UP TIGHT TO THE MANIFOLD UNTIL YOU ARE READY TO EASE IT DOWNWARD AS THE SPRING AND PISTON WILL FALL OUT WITH IT, OR IMMEDIATELY AFTER IT!!!

If you are really lucky the piston with its threaded shaft will still be screwed into the motor unit, together with the brass sleeve and the spring intact.

The piston/shaft movement is only about 3mm from fully in to fully out and the brass collar will go in either way but MUST only go into the motor unit with the lipped end first such that the spring then fits inside the brass collar followed by the piston/shaft assy.

The piston with its shaft should be free to screw in and out of the gubbins. If it isn't then you need to apply easing fluid etc. as it is this threading in and out that facilitates the piston rising and falling which controls the air bleed in the manifold into the pipes and thence the manifolds. If it isn't free, free'ing it may be all that is needed. Even my spare has slight corrosion on the shaft so one in-situ may have more. New, they come with a light grease covering the threaded shaft.

As you will see from the parts listing (linked above), the idle control system is far greater than just the ICV and associated pipework.

From memory you have already had one perished rubber pipe on the fuel system and so hopefully either a sticking piston shaft in the motor unit or a damaged pipe/s is what is causing your grief.

If you need help, gimme a shout  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 10, 2018, 08:25:03 pm
Overpaid navvy with boiler makers fingers
Thanks I think. If its nice weather at the weekend you could always take an all expenses paid day out in Falmouth.....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 10, 2018, 10:03:07 pm
I'd be there in a flash except weekends are off-limits. Of course, weekdays are free but you insist on working to pay my pension  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 17, 2018, 08:57:40 pm
So as we emptied the shed the previous weekend I got the K inside last Saturday and spread jack in the box spring loaded widget catching underlay everywhere. This is the first time I have taken all the fairings off, nothing has ever caused me to do so and all servicing has been at BMW to date. So with an ever increasing line of old yoghurt pots labelled up with what ever assortment of screws was inside it I got the all the fairing off.  I really appreciate the notes above and would have been wary taking the tank out otherwise, boilermakers fingers not withstanding. 2 pipes and 2 electrical connections (which appear to have been in place forever)? Strewth the old FJ was turn the fuel tap off, remove pipe, 2 bolts and off. Anyway got the tank off (yes almost brimmed as predicted) and saw this
(https://preview.ibb.co/hBtCWn/20180414_fuel_tank_removed.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jN4aj7)
And spent quite a while cleaning the throttle return sping assembly and lubing the throttle cable. The throttle snapped back quite well. Cleaned and hoovered a lot of crap out of the whole area I could get at as well. The only problem with bunging in ACF 50 for 3 years is a sticky residue of dirty crap build up.
(https://preview.ibb.co/fBRXWn/20180414_throttle_return_spring.jpg) (https://ibb.co/emZxxS)
So while I had everything off I thought I would clean all that up too. Here is the right hand airfilter and intake
(https://preview.ibb.co/nECHxS/20180414_right_hand_airfilter.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b3uVHS)
(https://preview.ibb.co/cKNT47/20180414_righthand_air_intake.jpg) (https://ibb.co/f98eBn)
That's not from the beach, that's the crap in the lanes down around Michelmersh in January
Then I looked at the left hand one
(https://preview.ibb.co/kEXjcS/20180414_lefthand_air_intake_and_filter.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dviqHS)
(https://preview.ibb.co/iwQgP7/20180414_lefthand_air_filter_dirt.jpg) (https://ibb.co/e5wo47)
I don't remember swallowing a bird anywhere, but this could have been a while ago
(https://preview.ibb.co/mMtCWn/20180414_lefthand_air_filter.jpg) (https://ibb.co/f3o1P7)
So I bought the bike in January 2015 at 18000 miles and its now at about 76000, so we are talking about 8 services since this filter was made. How confident am I that this was just an old one they found last year and popped it in. Not. Bit disappointed to be honest
Anyway retired hurt for dinner and most of a bottle of red, and after a suitable interval went out, liberally applied WD40,  screwed it all back together and pressed the starter.
As usual after all that work absolutely bugger all difference. So on Sunday I called in to Ocean and left it there for them to investigate the ICV and if that's not the problem then I suppose we are at throttle bodies. Not expecting any "goodwill" on behalf of unchanged air filters to cover that cost
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 17, 2018, 11:16:47 pm
Joy! Oh, Joy  8)

Congratulations on getting it all apart.

Greater congratulations on getting it back together.

Commiserations on it making no difference  :(

Hope the red was a good one...

Sue the bastards over the filter. Bet they forgot that it wasn't an R (which only has a right hand filter    >:( )

The test (on mine) for the sticky throttles was not that the cables and twistgrip 'snapped back' when released, rather that they didn't fully close when the twistgrip was rolled off gently.

The ICV pipes look OK. It also looks like you have the original 4 port ICV manifold.

Very interesting about the left-over gunge from the ACF50. Tom and others have posited this possible downside of ACF for some time.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 18, 2018, 04:26:06 pm
Speechless of Holland types

Ocean report that the problem is not a lottery win melting set of throttle bodies, but that I had worn grooves into the throttle mechanism on the handlebar which was causing the mechanism to stick when turned slowly or partially opened.

TFFT

Happy (solvent) person  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 18, 2018, 10:38:50 pm
Hmmm! So, what was the solution?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 21, 2018, 02:51:05 pm
New part of the throttle assembly. Reset throttle and tickover. Been out for my first trouble free run for two months. Suns out too.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on April 21, 2018, 03:34:50 pm
Excellent news! I'm glad things are sorted.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 21, 2018, 03:36:39 pm
Good result  8)

Do we know exactly which part was changed?

When you say 'throttle assembly' do you really mean 'twistgrip assembly' as nothing on the 'throttles' is replaceable apart from the throttle position sensor on the end of the throttle plate shaft?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 21, 2018, 04:39:41 pm
Twistgrip
Invoice says
P C61.31.7.708.286     N/STK 500762/H/GRIP

If anyone would care to translate
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 22, 2018, 10:32:50 am
It's the complete right-hand heated grip assembly with throttle cable actuation etc....

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=0581-EUR-06-2005-K40-BMW-K_1200_S_0581,0591_&diagId=32_1982

...shows it at item 4.

Neat solution to what could have been a very expensive issue.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 23, 2018, 05:33:03 pm
2 weeks of no bike now. And I missed the US motogp as I was travelling (npo spoilers or i'll be requesting a ban). However Eurotunnel booked for 7th may and the bike will be on tour in Europe for the foreseeable. Except when I'm at work of course. Obviously  ;D.  And if easyjet carry on like last Friday (3 hour delay compensated by a free tea and kitkat) and the previous Fridays (varying delays with no compensation) I will be riding back and forth as well. Ocean suggested the solution to my last problem was time to get a new bike. See if I can wear this one out first. Although the mechanic has apparently expressed interest in acquiring mine when the time comes
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 23, 2018, 06:51:42 pm
I think I would rip his arm off, NOW! Let's face it, you'll have a clear conscience  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on April 23, 2018, 08:50:32 pm
Part-ex it for a low mileage K1300S - you know, below 40k miles.
I have one if you fancy it...  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 24, 2018, 11:15:22 am
Interesting! So, to which marque are you heading then Richard?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on April 24, 2018, 11:34:45 am
Same again, just a little younger.
The shininess got me. I always said I'd resist sparkly things. What utter drivel I spout sometimes.  ;D ;D ;D
Anyway, deposit paid.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 24, 2018, 12:22:21 pm
Ooooooo! Nice! Spec?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on April 24, 2018, 01:13:31 pm
Ooooooo! Nice! Spec?

Spec on this thread - just to save disturbing this one:
http://eurokclub.bike/index.php?topic=3031.0 (http://eurokclub.bike/index.php?topic=3031.0)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 24, 2018, 02:13:05 pm
Whilst sitting in airports and planes am wondering where to go for next bike. K1300S/GT or K16? There again FJR13 is always an option and have wanted a go on a KTM1190 or similar ever since I sat on one at the NEC 3 or 4 years ago. Haven't ridden any of them. Its all pie in the sky as there's no funds right now and I have an ambition to get to 100k on this one anyway, and won't be far off next year. This one cost me £5500 with 18k miles on at 7 years old and the plan is to do much the same again. Unfortunately I  like sparkly things too....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 24, 2018, 04:49:11 pm
A can of chrome paint from Halfrauds is much, much cheaper in both the short term as well as the looooooooooooooong run  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 26, 2018, 09:45:48 am
So which diet are you going on? ???
http://calorielab.com/burned/?mo=ac&ac=16030&ti=Riding+motor+scooter+or+motorcycle&q&wt=150&un=lb&kg=68 (http://calorielab.com/burned/?mo=ac&ac=16030&ti=Riding+motor+scooter+or+motorcycle&q&wt=150&un=lb&kg=68)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 26, 2018, 12:05:09 pm
Smelly cheese and strong red wine has always worked for me  ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 30, 2018, 10:49:31 pm
http://mininch.com/#!/portfolio/wrenchit

Anyone got one?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on April 30, 2018, 11:03:03 pm
Looks a waste of space to me.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 01, 2018, 11:41:12 am
Seems OK for getting tje fairing off....not much else I guess.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on May 01, 2018, 12:12:02 pm
I could see it being useful for holding difficult to get at nuts while the bolt is done up/released. Other than that, I wouldn't want to depend on it to get me out of trouble.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on May 01, 2018, 05:42:35 pm
Can't imagine a difficult to hold nut that this spanner would fit. Viewed as a hexagon, the space for this spanner is huge.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 07, 2018, 12:04:39 pm
So
Turns over doesn't fire
Immobiliser is working on off
Kill switch is working on off
In gear cut out is working on off
5 litres of clean fuel made no difference
Battery went flat trying
Jump starting made no difference
No smell of fuel at exhaust
Tank off
Fuel dribble when took quick release off
No visible problem anywhere
I was supposed to be on the euro tunnel this afternoon haven't left house yet
All suggestions welcome
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 07, 2018, 01:30:29 pm
Make alternative travel arrangements Martin  8)

A hot and very sunny Bank Holiday is the wrong time to be seeking advice from bikers...

Assuming it doesn't even cough and there is no smell of fuel:

Fuel pump (easy to get to, probably expensive to fix..)
Fuel pressure regulator (probably cheap to fix, a bugger to get to; buried under the airbox in front of the 'carb' stubs..)

If it smelled of fuel, coughed occasionally or spat then it would point to electrics.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 07, 2018, 02:30:08 pm
Yep going for alternative travel adds another level to the already byzantine complexity
We suspect fuel pump. Had not thought of pressure regulator. Anyways up the bike is back off the road for another 2 weeks.
Wish I'd started commuting to Holland immediately. All these problems started after it stood for 2 months.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 07, 2018, 06:24:37 pm
Hmm? You'd have been stuffed in Holland instead of in UK.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 07, 2018, 07:07:49 pm
It's only been going wrong sInce it stood. And I have found a dealer in Amsterdam.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 08, 2018, 06:50:05 pm
Just to rub it in, have just spent half a day in Bristol airport waiting for sleezyjet, and have landed in Schiphol to blazing hot sunshine. Consoling myself (badly) by telling myself I would obviously be far too hot in my leathers as i never got the cash  together for the textile vented suit.
K currently in use as a (clean and shiny but immobile) garden ornament
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 08, 2018, 06:57:08 pm
The run from the tunnel to Holland is the worst road on earth. I envy you the comfort of cattle class....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 15, 2018, 04:59:26 pm
OOH 3500 views 8). Its about time I wrote something interesting with some pictures then. Not just yet though.

Ocean think it may be the crank position sensor, they say its stripped down (a lot, have asked for a picccie) and the computer says no signal from sensor. God knows why it suddenly decided to die, we shall see.

With luck I will be on the Eurotunnel next Monday, and be able to send pictures of the worst road on earth...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 15, 2018, 07:03:00 pm
Oh well, even with main stealer prices the bill shouldn't be tooooooo steep.

Good to know it may be well again.

Strange there was no petrol smell. Wonder if it knows it isn't about to fire (cos it doesn't know where the pistons are and therefore when to fire) and doesn't let fuel in?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 15, 2018, 07:23:13 pm
No idea. Anyway in anticipation of being mobile again have just splashed out on Shoei Neotec and comms system from Motolegends to replace 5 and a bit year old Arai Quantum. Have to wait til next week til Shoei comms packs arrives. First ever flip front and comms. Looking forward to a quieter ride.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 16, 2018, 05:01:22 pm
Apparently its fixed according to phone message left on home phone. Details and bill at the weekend
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 16, 2018, 09:32:22 pm
Fingers and toes crossed all round then...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 22, 2018, 01:33:44 am
649 miles the day. Dry all the way. If it hadn't been for them shutting the a30 at Exeter forcing me the long motorway round and eurotunnels train breaking it would have been nigh on perfect. Bikes running a bit hot assume radiator needs better cleaning. 3 months off I am so unfit
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 22, 2018, 06:23:50 pm
78000 passed in a blur on the a30, and there are enough photos of that already, so these pictures aren't exactly where I was at the time, but a flavour of the day. Glorious isolation on the Eurotunnel train #2, standard insect carnage, Schiphol in the evening.

(https://preview.ibb.co/iY2Hvo/WP_20180516_21_12_42_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dHgo1T)
(https://preview.ibb.co/hZTPao/WP_20180521_19_32_22_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/f0981T)
(https://preview.ibb.co/chrz88/IMG_20180521_WA0001.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hyCT1T)
(https://preview.ibb.co/gtUfFo/WP_20180521_19_59_52_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/eMt7vo)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on May 22, 2018, 06:40:44 pm
Excellent photos. And not a bin in sight.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 22, 2018, 09:25:05 pm
God Martin, you look sooooo old in that last piccie. Maybe it is the Eurotunnel, the poor light, the Dutch and Belgian motorway system...

Or, it could just be you getting old  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: gibbo on May 23, 2018, 06:17:12 am
God Martin, you look sooooo old in that last piccie. Maybe it is the Eurotunnel, the poor light, the Dutch and Belgian motorway system...

Or, it could just be you getting old  ;D

Mind you, he still has his hair which is more than can be said for some of us.  :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 23, 2018, 07:02:01 am
At least my age still starts with a 5 (for another year or so yet)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on May 23, 2018, 10:28:43 am
At least my age still starts with a 5 (for another year or so yet)

Touché!
Brian's turn  ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 23, 2018, 10:18:45 pm
So does mine....5+65  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 30, 2018, 08:00:17 pm
Ok so who's going to own up
(https://image.ibb.co/m2MUcd/FB_20180530_20_57_21_Saved_Picture.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kG4hxd)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 04, 2018, 06:57:55 pm
Sitting there in all its Shoei neotec flip front sena comm Bluetooth newness. The bloody instruction books for the sena is bigger than the book for the bike. Have got it talking to both my phones,including the sat navigation app on my Nokia.  Volume is a bit quiet. Done a whole 15 miles in it so far but riding 600 miles home on Friday and we'll see how that goes.
(https://preview.ibb.co/iJnbyT/20180604_195036.jpg) (https://ibb.co/duh9JT)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 04, 2018, 10:26:38 pm
Very nice! Money's good on this job then  8)

My Sena volume fluctuates annoyingly. My old Autocom was spot on at all times  :(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 10, 2018, 08:38:19 pm
79000 on Friday on the way back from Amsterdam
Company on the tunnel train
(https://image.ibb.co/bGTedT/IMG_20180608_WA0001.jpg)
Promised myself a half decent meal but services were closed for refurbished so meal deal and a pee in the bushes.
(https://image.ibb.co/jg36Q8/WP_20180608_18_41_50_Pro.jpg)
Final leg from Exeter was a traffic free blast almost zen in places. I've been wasting time on this bike., as an very high speed cruiser it comes into its own. After 450 or so miles down, the final 100 plus got polished off in an hour more comfortably than the preceding couple of hours.
(https://image.ibb.co/gFD6Q8/IMG_20180608_WA0002.jpg)
Have sorted my Sena volume issue after a tip from my son but need to practice a bit more
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 10, 2018, 08:47:50 pm
Was the tip, turn the volume up?  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 10, 2018, 08:56:08 pm
There was a volume setting in the app that I had missed to maximise the increase in volume as background noise increased.  Also a setting in Google maps on my phone to allow the spoken directions volume max "may damage your hearing" that I hadn't found
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 10, 2018, 09:10:58 pm
So basically the answer was, yes  ;D ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: S BMW on June 11, 2018, 12:40:50 am
If it was a buzzin noise it may just have being those fly’s  ;D ;D ;D holy mother of god that’s quite a collection 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 11, 2018, 08:13:55 pm
Love it Martin. Simply love it....

And as for the surreptitious selfie over the shoulder. Just side-splitting.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 14, 2018, 05:56:48 pm
Been catching up on the record spreadsheet this week. I'm on holiday and have misplaced a few receipts at home, but it appears that the new MRA Vario screen is adding a couple of mpg to the fuel economy on the motorway (2500miles ave mpg +2 ave speed +3mph compared to 3 year average). I recorded my best ever figure doing an M5 M4 M25 M20 trundle to Holland a few weeks ago - a freakish 54.83mpg. This was a Good Thing , because in the same period I also recorded the highest ever price I have paid for petrol - £1.64 a litre in Holland, and £1.55 a litre at Exeter services.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 16, 2018, 11:58:26 am
Bilkin is the answer to the pee takers at that price...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 19, 2018, 11:46:36 am
80000 up

(https://preview.ibb.co/jWaNKd/WP_20180618_22_20_39_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nDdbed)

(https://preview.ibb.co/gqvdsy/WP_20180618_22_20_48_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cUJbed)

On the road from hell somewhere near Gent

After knocking off the 300 miles up from Falmouth to my parents in shropshire on sunday evening, 520 miles from parents in north Shropshire to Haarlem in 8h14m plus an hour in Eurotunnel and petrol stations according to google maps spy in the cab yesterday afternoon.
 I now have a nippy Normans extension lead from the power socket to a ciggie lighter socket and can now plug my personal samsung phone in as a sat nav. However it seems to choose when it wants to talk to me resulting in a few roadside checks of the piece of paper.
The Sena headset will Bluetooth to both my phones which is also handy as most people have my work number.
 I have also invested in a valve extender which makes checking tyre pressures a doddle.
 The new screen works badly in strong crosswinds (M40) well in low position at vaguely legal speeds in calm still air with little traffic turbulence, and well at illegal speeds with blade extended out but still paralell to main screen.The european roads were very quiet last night, most heavies park up, (apart from one arseh*le who tried to tailgate me in a restricted speed section at Antwerp. I nearly tore his mirror off, was a bit annoyed) so cool still air was a pleasure. Screen definitely boosting fuel economy.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on June 19, 2018, 12:25:10 pm
Hmmm, that average speed is a bit of a give away. Tricky to get much beyond 50mph average or so on UK roads.
Or is it purely dual carriageway/M'way work?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 19, 2018, 12:35:44 pm
A53/M54/M6/M42/M40/M25/M20/E15/E40/E17/E34A12/A4/A29/A15/A4  ::)
The only corners I saw all day was when I was frightening the locals around those tight radius junction bends the Dutch and Belgians seem to like. And they have a 130kph limit (here and there officer)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: S BMW on June 19, 2018, 02:45:05 pm
Hi fj,
Have just read your biography in full excellent , you are some man for one man👍🏼
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 19, 2018, 02:47:51 pm
There's another earlier thread that got closed  :o called coincidences and the weather. More of same drivel.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 19, 2018, 07:01:07 pm
No soft furry animals were hurt in the preparation of the following numbers, but for those of a nervous disposition look away now :o.

Mileage 61455.3    (I'm missing a few miles, think I lost a couple of receipts, had 18000 give or take a couple when I bought it, hence at 80k now. Either that or the mechanic had it away at a weekend without me noticing...)
Average petrol price per litre £1.27 (astonishing when you see how it has shot up since November, almost all Shell V Power or equivalent)
Total fuel bill £8190.71
Fuel cost per mile 13p
Total litres used    6490.77
MPG calculated 43.23
Bike computer MPG 46.40
Difference 7%
Average speed 53.60mph
Total cost of servicing tyres fines spares accessories helmet clothing £14000.80
Total cost £22,191.51
Overall 36.11pence per mile

Barring unforeseen issues the next 4000 miles before the next service will knock a couple of pence off that.

No depreciation included
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 19, 2018, 08:52:56 pm
Of all those figures Martin, the one that scares me the most is 13p for every mile we ride...

My car costs more though  ???
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: gibbo on June 20, 2018, 06:50:35 am
Hello Martin.

This valve extension you mention in a previous post. Is it fixed permanently to your existing tyre valve or do you just use it when checking?

A photo of said object would be nice.

Jon
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 20, 2018, 08:11:37 am
Jon, Nippy Norman sells a screw on right angle vale extender which you put on and take off once you have finished with it. A little air escapes upon removal. I always, at the first tyre change on a new (to me) bike have one of these fitted.
(https://preview.ibb.co/fjLoaG/20140516_091919_zpsdf1b12d4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dCjEFG)

They are about 7 to 8 quid and save a lot of faffing. They come in various coulours to match your wheels.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 20, 2018, 09:47:40 am
Had one of the right angle things similar to the one in Rae's pic on my rear wheel, it broke off.

This is what I bought https://www.nippynormans.com/f650gs-08-on/forecourt-valve-conversion-tool

It makes accessing the rear wheel valve easier, but also solves the problem I more often have which is that the very short front wheel valve stem is not long enough to allow the pin in worn forecourt air hose fittings to be fully depressed, thus letting the tyre down but not allowing air out of the airline.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 20, 2018, 09:57:13 am
That surprises me Martin, I've never heard of a right angle valve snapping before. I have had them for several years now and some 70,000 miles so I think you either had a duff one of it got damaged somehow.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 20, 2018, 10:17:31 am
I posted these on another thread "stranded" a while back.

(https://preview.ibb.co/nwGJSy/FOT885_B_zps6jxnbnmm.jpg) (https://ibb.co/me7gfJ)
(https://image.ibb.co/eiDySy/WP_20161127_12_40_42_Pro_zpskddzehen.jpg) (https://ibb.co/d5d9Zd)
(https://preview.ibb.co/k8H8Sy/WP_20160620_21_25_39_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/npbeZd)

The 90 degree bit had disappeared, bending the valve pin as it went. I thought someone had ripped it off  but Brian phmode thought at the time that eventually the eccentric load on the 90 degree element fatigued it until it broke. Maybe a tyre fitter damaged it. Who knows. I have an ordinary valve now
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 20, 2018, 10:34:10 am
The one that Rae has looks much fatter and stubbier and I doubt that would break by itself...

Where's it from Rae?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 20, 2018, 10:52:32 am
The one that Rae has looks much fatter and stubbier and I doubt that would break by itself...

Where's it from Rae?
I got it fitted by my regular tyre fitter (Bike Tyres Leeds) so don't know really. I'll do a bit of investigating and get back to you.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 20, 2018, 10:53:47 am
Here
https://biketyresleeds.com/accessories-c-17.html?sesid=i5i8re8omh48muts2j2uiop401

£6.50
The picture is of the K GT with the silver wheels, I have black ones on the FJR. I think they make things so much easier and I can't see them breaking ant time soon, as you say short and stubby.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 20, 2018, 07:34:02 pm
Dutch land

(https://preview.ibb.co/kPAPZd/20180620_194016.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nLvrEd)

(https://preview.ibb.co/jXhoud/20180620_193853.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cwSz0J)

(https://preview.ibb.co/dMcz0J/20180620_194108.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bYaV7y)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: gibbo on June 21, 2018, 06:03:57 am
Jon, Nippy Norman sells a screw on right angle vale extender which you put on and take off once you have finished with it. A little air escapes upon removal. I always, at the first tyre change on a new (to me) bike have one of these fitted.
(https://preview.ibb.co/fjLoaG/20140516_091919_zpsdf1b12d4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dCjEFG)

They are about 7 to 8 quid and save a lot of faffing. They come in various coulours to match your wheels.



Thanks for the photo Rae. Looks a very neat job. And, thanks for your photos of the duff one fj.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 26, 2018, 08:30:33 pm
My first Motogp in over 20years this weekend at Assen. Taking the train so I can partake in the occasional beer....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on June 26, 2018, 10:01:20 pm
My first Motogp in over 20years this weekend at Assen. Taking the train so I can partake in the occasional beer....

Excellent. Only been once, but it was fabulous.

Ooo ooo - pictures. Don't forget pictures!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 27, 2018, 07:41:43 am
Great advert but not my kind of bike

https://www.facebook.com/martin.sanders.1029/videos/2091834204194974/ (https://www.facebook.com/martin.sanders.1029/videos/2091834204194974/)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 27, 2018, 08:18:24 pm
I like the principle though  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 01, 2018, 10:26:09 pm
My first Motogp in over 20years this weekend at Assen. Taking the train so I can partake in the occasional beer....

Excellent. Only been once, but it was fabulous.

Ooo ooo - pictures. Don't forget pictures!

Scorchio. And that was without the racing. Piccies to follow
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 02, 2018, 05:49:14 pm
Panoramic view from where we sat

(https://preview.ibb.co/g1Dvzy/20180701_120900.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kWHcCJ)

It was packed, struggled to find a place

(https://preview.ibb.co/m7vVXJ/20180701_121010.jpg) (https://ibb.co/iQtHCJ)

MotoGP was like Moto3 the whole way through, never seen the like

(https://preview.ibb.co/c4nYmd/20180701_141345_6.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ibaxCJ)

Marquez did some amazing stuff where we couldn't see, I wish i'd been further up the track but you couldn't move. We could see them going into the home straight on the far side of the track. He went out of sight 4th, and by the time he got to us he was first. I am hoping that the recorder at home did its stuff and I can see the whole thing at the weekend

(https://preview.ibb.co/hZ2Ney/20180701_144338.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cJgtmd)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 02, 2018, 06:02:52 pm
Not sure if this will work , not done it before, links to videos on Google drive
Moto2 boys on the rev limiters
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1C4d9jV6g3Tr6S6GNThBrtFqUdKK0gf1Z/view?usp=sharing

MotoGP warm up lap
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1NJfdmPZUARfF0VVGRRMZKHSFWpLEvhm3/view?usp=sharing

MotoGP lap1
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fH9QuW-B0_elMsD6AgakBrBN0D_ZfHTz/view?usp=sharing
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on July 02, 2018, 06:23:33 pm
Working perfectly!
And the noise is accurate. What an atmosphere. And a fabulous race - best of the year.

Thanks fj!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: sudolea on July 02, 2018, 07:08:24 pm
It surely was the best race since a long time !
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 07, 2018, 07:52:16 am
81000

(https://preview.ibb.co/kUAwWd/WP_20180706_21_13_46_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/j4HMxJ)

Exeter services. Oh the exotic places I go.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 07, 2018, 10:19:41 am
Lovely location, sooo jealous  ::)

Nice inclusion of a yellow grit bin, always useful in a heat-wave  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 07, 2018, 11:03:06 am
Price of the petrol in there it'll be diamonds not grit  >:(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 07, 2018, 11:57:06 am
 ;D ;D :D :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 10, 2018, 10:58:57 am
le weekend

(https://preview.ibb.co/bsuYZ8/le_weekend.jpg) (https://ibb.co/g8G2ST)

This week I will mostly be lying face down. Not the weather for leathers...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 10, 2018, 08:25:55 pm
Eek!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on July 10, 2018, 11:27:15 pm
You need a light aircraft. Would work well with our recent weather.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on July 11, 2018, 12:01:39 am
You need a light aircraft. Would work well with our recent weather.

Winged panniers.
And a thin vertical sort of top box for control.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 11, 2018, 12:48:48 pm
Where are those bloody flying cars and motorcycles that the nice Mr William Woollard kept promising us?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 12, 2018, 08:22:46 pm
Dunno about the flying cars but 1984 is on its way although slightly late

https://www.bikerandbike.co.uk/new-dash-cam-evidence-website-launched-for-police-forces/
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 12, 2018, 09:26:57 pm
They are gonna be swamped with eejits round here complaining about me doing 45 in a 50 and 'overtaking like a lunatic'  ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 13, 2018, 02:40:27 pm
82000

(https://preview.ibb.co/cE02j8/20180713_073755.jpg) (https://ibb.co/kgXtro)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 13, 2018, 05:21:09 pm
We need more of a clue to where...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on July 13, 2018, 07:15:42 pm
This is so great to see!

I'm always feeling a bit worried about longevity whenever I visit BMW (today it was front suspension bushes, but not coming out or something so some new surrounding part or parts and goodwill plus warranty) but this makes me want to keep the bike for ever, and actually think I stand a chance!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 13, 2018, 07:54:43 pm
We need more of a clue to where...

Well its either Holland or Falmouth. Hint: Cornwall is quite hilly
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 13, 2018, 09:31:58 pm
This is so great to see!

I'm always feeling a bit worried about longevity whenever I visit BMW (today it was front suspension bushes, but not coming out or something so some new surrounding part or parts and goodwill plus warranty) but this makes me want to keep the bike for ever, and actually think I stand a chance!

So that will be new front wheel carrier then (front forks to you and me); £400 8 years ago. It's either:

a) because they didn't heat the wheel carrier to 100 deg C before removing the ball joints and stripped the aluminium threads while taking out the steel joint carrier,

OR

b) because they did heat the wheel carrier to 100 deg C before removing the ball joints and stripped the aluminium threads while taking out the steel joint carrier, take your pick.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on July 14, 2018, 09:43:31 am
We'll that's the second new front wheel carrier on this one now!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 18, 2018, 06:07:55 pm
One of the Dutch guys at work has given me a TomTom Go mobile program which I have loaded on my phone and having purchased an SD card now have downloaded the whole of western Europe in my phone. Awesome on paper, well on the phone, to have so much information in just in a handset. Still to see how I get on with it on the road. Have a weekend in Holland coming up so may go exploring. Requests for pics on a postcard to the usual address

Popped about 250cc of liquid gold (otherwise known as oil in a bottle with a BMW sticker on it) in last night. No oil light on but the sight pipe showed it was at the low end. Smoothed things out a bit or maybe its my imagination. Only the second time I have put oil in between services but I guess the constant high speed running in the hot weather has evaporated some.

Starting to wonder if I have used up my clutch as there seems to be a switch fitted to the left bar now with about 5mm between on and off, the lever is coming right back nearly to the bar.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 18, 2018, 11:23:57 pm
That clutch sounds expensive mate  :-\
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 19, 2018, 07:16:35 pm
Changing my gear change technique to suit. That extra drop of oil and cooler weather is making it run sweet as  ;D
The nice lady at tomtom has started talking to me as well
Life could be worse
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on July 19, 2018, 08:00:06 pm
 :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 19, 2018, 09:58:37 pm
I found that the 12 responded very well to clutchless up-shifts.

Not so well to clutchless down-shifts until you become an expert at heelin an toein   ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 23, 2018, 06:00:14 pm
So this is the exciting kind of stuff I do on Saturday mornings.
Check the bin just for you guys (and avoid the thunderbox which is kind of ripe in this weather, Dutch site welfare standards are not what they are in the UK)

(https://preview.ibb.co/kV54Jd/20180721_113533.jpg) (https://ibb.co/h2k4Jd)

The site is nearly 4m below sea level so its very sandy, and more like the beach when its this dry

(https://preview.ibb.co/gdVh4J/20180721_113554.jpg) (https://ibb.co/eEc6Wy)

(https://preview.ibb.co/nF60ry/20180721_113547.jpg) (https://ibb.co/i8BByd)

Bit of lift and shift going on

(https://preview.ibb.co/i0Yryd/20180721_113607.jpg) (https://ibb.co/koZLry)

I moved into a room in a shared flat this weekend so stayed over. After going back and doing the domestics we went out for a bit to eat and drink

(https://preview.ibb.co/n3jOdd/WP_20180721_20_50_48_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hYgfPJ)

(https://preview.ibb.co/nqhyBy/WP_20180721_20_50_53_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k9OS4J)

(https://preview.ibb.co/jcZBWy/WP_20180721_20_51_17_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dqMrWy)

The black door is the entrance to Anne franks house

(https://preview.ibb.co/czQJBy/WP_20180721_20_59_40_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hGnn4J)

(https://preview.ibb.co/fRDidd/WP_20180721_20_50_44_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/h6WEjJ)

And then when you realise you survived being on the lash until 4am and don't have a hangover you stick "winding route" into your new Tom Tom app and go for a very slow ride to Arnhem. Have no idea where I went but I averaged about 35, didn't hit any of the thousands of cyclists, didn't fall off 2 ferries, found a hill, had a very cold beer and hot Schnitzel and eventually got to see the bridge that replaced the one Market Garden tried to save but then we bombed the crap out of it anyway.

(https://preview.ibb.co/bCXqry/WP_20180722_15_13_35_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jonejJ)

(https://preview.ibb.co/gHdfry/WP_20180722_15_22_28_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fbK9jJ)

(https://preview.ibb.co/mU2ZJd/WP_20180722_16_15_51_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hiYwWy)

(https://preview.ibb.co/eaNjJd/WP_20180722_17_08_29_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fGfFPJ)

I think there are some decent roads to be had down in the SE of the country, Arnhem - Appledorn kind of area, with a bit of luck will be able to find some before the summer runs out.

Does any of the IT experts out there know why I can get a "medium" BB code when I upload pictures, but can only get "full size" or "thumbnail" thereafter?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 26, 2018, 07:27:36 pm
Came out of the office tonight in air conditioned cooled leathers and almost chewed the air. The bike thermometer said 23c but the temp guage had one block up before I started the engine. Really only 23? A mile later it snapped to 36.5C. Radiator is really struggling.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on July 26, 2018, 07:37:45 pm
Came out of the office tonight in air conditioned cooled leathers and almost chewed the air. The bike thermometer said 23c but the temp guage had one block up before I started the engine. Really only 23? A mile later it snapped to 36.5C. Radiator is really struggling.

That's high! I had 31.5C in the UK this afternoon, which I thought was bad.
Went for a rainman ride - I ride, it rains. Seems to happen most times, and thunderstorms were predicted. 20 spots of rain. That was it for ~3 hours. Didn't work. Gently chided by Ms Mohair for failing to revive the garden. I did my best  ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 31, 2018, 11:22:04 am
(https://preview.ibb.co/jUf74T/WP_20180730_20_32_49_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/c18Gyo)

Keep worrying I am going to drop my keys in the canal
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 02, 2018, 11:30:22 am
A sudden stutter on the way home last night, warning lights come on, then die down and left with red "brake failure" light. Gasped a bit when starting this morning, and red light still there. Otherwise running fine. I assume my ABS just died or a wire fell out?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 02, 2018, 08:42:01 pm
Don't ride too close behind those big trucks on the Dutch motorways then Martin  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 02, 2018, 09:46:40 pm
Fat chance of me riding close behind anything
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 05, 2018, 06:10:43 pm
Meanwhile in other news

https://video-ams3-1.xx.fbcdn.net/v/t42.9040-2/38298116_1008544199315251_5428834139543437312_n.mp4?_nc_cat=0&efg=eyJ2ZW5jb2RlX3RhZyI6InN2ZV9zZCJ9&oh=97b113b039b38e9e35d8ca1b52acb78a&oe=5B675A5D

Been out for a run round Holland the last couple days, piccies to follow
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 05, 2018, 07:15:52 pm
Meanwhile in other news

I'll see your Fal-Mouth, and raise you a Bal-Ham:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6ewUOSlRDkk
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 05, 2018, 09:33:32 pm

Saturdays jaunt to Arnhem

(https://preview.ibb.co/jhjV1K/Screenshot_2018_08_04_19_33_40.png) (https://ibb.co/bEDeve)

Sundays run up to the North

(https://preview.ibb.co/mfPxgK/Screenshot_2018_08_05_21_08_20.png) (https://ibb.co/fP2Toz)

Somewhere near Hardwijke. After weeks of heat is was deliciously cool.
(https://preview.ibb.co/mfHToz/WP_20180805_11_31_57_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hLfRae)

(https://preview.ibb.co/eyH6ae/WP_20180805_11_32_29_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cRgXFe)

Tree lined roads for a lot of the morning

(https://preview.ibb.co/gcePTz/WP_20180805_11_08_01_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mPtjTz)

Minor obstacle.

(https://preview.ibb.co/cKWA1K/WP_20180805_12_16_56_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fm7Toz)

Miles of dead straight road and canal

(https://preview.ibb.co/ecS6ae/WP_20180805_12_37_37_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gwLRae)

(https://preview.ibb.co/gDKxgK/WP_20180805_12_38_01_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/foRM8z)

(https://preview.ibb.co/k5Z8oz/WP_20180805_12_38_22_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cVKKve)

Next 1000 coming up shortly

(https://preview.ibb.co/h2wcgK/WP_20180805_12_38_32_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/iK5ETz)

Where else would you park it? Den Helder.

(https://preview.ibb.co/eV0sFe/WP_20180805_16_51_41_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/iEmooz)

More straight roads and canal plus windmills  but no trees and loads of slow traffic on the way back down the coast to Haarlem

(https://preview.ibb.co/iO1M8z/WP_20180805_17_16_16_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hEag8z)


(https://preview.ibb.co/jBsiMK/WP_20180805_17_28_53_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cbcuTz)

Tierneys in Haarlem keep a good pint of Guinness

(https://preview.ibb.co/e4X6ae/WP_20180805_18_15_44_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/iw1zve)

Still experimenting with Tom Tom. Winding routes got a bit of a pain, it'll take you through backstreets, tried avoiding motorways which put me on bypasses, shortest routes has you up farm tracks. Having said that ,finding winding routes in square grid Holland is difficult.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 06, 2018, 07:43:39 am
83000

Missed my turning off the motorway on the to work this morning and spent an unhappy 20mins trying to find my way back. Lost in France Schiphol. This is when you realise the complete lack of landmarks, and the spaghetti junction style of motorway intersections over here

(https://preview.ibb.co/gCWiMK/WP_20180806_07_45_06_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bw9ETz)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on August 06, 2018, 08:36:27 am
My sat nav would have found the alternative route before I'd even got as far as the on-ramp of the missed junction.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 06, 2018, 08:38:00 am
Would help if it was on...I thought I had learned the route, but hey its Monday morning.. :-\
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on August 06, 2018, 09:00:53 am
I learned from such "mistakes" some time ago. Now, sat nav is always on as it manages my phone as well, but real time route re-planning happens automatically.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 08, 2018, 05:50:14 pm
Them aliens are coming. Quick! Hide behind that old lump of metal, Harleys will block death rays

(https://preview.ibb.co/b1Kq6K/WP_20180808_07_27_00_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gQOHmK)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 08, 2018, 10:29:02 pm
 ;D ;D ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 09, 2018, 05:32:56 pm
First rain for months coming tomorrow
By coincidence I am riding back to the midlands tomorrow :(
Oh and the wind will be against me as well >:(
Suppose I should just be thankful the temperature has dropped :-\
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 09, 2018, 11:17:34 pm
We should all be careful for what we wish.

I had a doc's appointment yesterday and got the wee Honda out and me togs on to enjoy the 5 miles of twisty stuff.

The sky was suddenly black and my Dark Sky app said light rain for the nect twenty minutes. Good thought I, the garden needs it, but I tucked the bike away and went in the car. Big sploshes of rain fell before I was off the drive and within a minute the road was awash and I could hardly see the bonnet.

Light rain indeed; if I'd been on the bike I would have drowned in my Airflow jacket. The cloudburst lasted right up to the doc's car park but needless to say, when I got home the ground was as dry as a bone!!!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 10, 2018, 11:25:31 pm
Careful scrutiny of the rain radar and a delayed departure gave me a dry run  from Amsterdam to Calais. However I missed my train by 10 minutes and unusually the buggers made me wait 2 hours before giving me a place. Humph.
Gotta love an English summer though, 10C and p*ssing down as I got off the chunnel. Fortunately the rain stayed in Kent and I had a smooth run up to Shropshire, if a little brisk. At least I didn't have to keep checking the temperature gauge.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 11, 2018, 04:57:14 pm
the buggers made me wait 2 hours before giving me a place. Humph.

Brexit dividend mate, Brexit dividend!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 11, 2018, 06:56:40 pm
Here's another one
Just totted up my receipts and translated them into GBP. One pound sixty seven a litre at the local garage by my Dutch office.
Seriously?!!?

1.39 in Belgium and 1.40 in UK, all for 98 grade.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on August 11, 2018, 07:34:35 pm
It's only money, you can't take it with you  ;)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 13, 2018, 04:37:07 pm
Just dropped the bike into Ocean Falmouth for the 84000 service and some bits and bobs. They have a 2013 K13R with 1600 miles for sale for 7495 on behalf of a customer.  If anyone's interested it has carbon hugger and lots of other bits, hp rearsets, a slightly  larger screen, crash bobbins, a TomTom, brackets for panniers and i forget what else. Appears to have been inside someone's house except when it came out for MOTs the last 3or 4 years. Needless to say its very clean.  Oh and the number plate starts K13...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: sudolea on August 13, 2018, 06:04:34 pm
... However I missed my train by 10 minutes and unusually the buggers made me wait 2 hours before giving me a place. Humph....

What makes you take the A11 (I think you do, considering you had a tank stop in Wachtebeke). First take the A11, then arrive 10 minutes too late in Calais? I would never ever considered it to go from Antwerpen to Brugge. Not quicker (than the E17/E40- combination). And it doesn't have the best reputation regarding accidents.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 13, 2018, 10:09:11 pm
I'm a tom tom virgin. I realised it was taking me a way I had never been before but wasn't really bothered, maybe there were traffic hold ups on the usual route. I wasn't bothered I was late because you have a 2 hour window and  Eurotunnel have always put me on the next trains anyway. I could see signs towards the E17 now and again so wasn't worried.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 21, 2018, 06:41:05 pm
So last week we had the 84,000 service and a few bits and bobs. The nasty flashing red "brake failure"  light turned out to be the front ABS sensor (£70 odd). The clutch was agreed to be finished and I asked for a quote, hinting heavily that a 1300 one might be better. They pondered if it was running a bit rich after the test ride, maybe the lambda sensor needs a clean. Oil and filter, bevel oil change, and a new tyre (£135 ish plus fitting), that'll be £511 sir thank you.

 I'd asked for another PR3, but arrived to find a tractor tyre had been fitted, on closer inspection when I got it home it turned out to be a Road 5 as they apparently couldn't get a PR3.

(https://preview.ibb.co/eNc9Ce/WP_20180817_17_16_55_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/guDhXe)

Anyway I spent half of Saturday and most of Sunday grovelling inside the labyrinthine interior cleaning out muck and bullets from places that hadn't been reached before. I think the repeated ACF 50 application had just cemented several layers on. Thought it looked a bit like an SV650 without the sides on

(https://preview.ibb.co/iUJGse/WP_20180818_16_53_53_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jsS9Ce)

I discovered as the grime came off that I have acquired a few scratches up both sides of the belly pan. I assume I have been getting too enthusiastic without turning up the preload. So I turned it up yesterday but was getting bounced about by crappy roads too much so turned it down again.

(https://preview.ibb.co/dEi5kz/WP_20180819_16_59_39_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jtDSyK)

I finally got around to replacing the 2 fairing bolts either side of the radiator that screw into a threaded tube inside a rubber grommet, one each side of the radiator. This has stiffened  up the whole fairing quite noticeably, and the MRA screen is not deflecting as much in motorway turbulence now.

(https://preview.ibb.co/hbthXe/WP_20180819_17_00_05_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/f3H9Ce)

I didn't get all the tank covers off to do everything under there, time and SWIMBO (who had been remarkably tolerant) began to press, but I did brush on ACF 50 everywhere I had cleaned and for once it had time to dry off before being wheeled out into the shite weather. I tried the lambda sensor but the nut was not for turning and I didn't want to knacker it, so left it. All the plastic got a good coat of polish on too, so at  the end it was clean and looked it, and I was filthy, very filthy. Not often I see the bike without the tank harness on

(https://preview.ibb.co/fLGfJK/WP_20180819_17_04_05_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cVVUCe)

So yesterday morning off we set to Amsterdam, and within half an hour we were all covered in shite again due to the not rain but 99% humidity / mist / low cloud turned all the dust to a nasty shitty spray, as you can see from the crystal clear screen below as another 1000 mile rolled past. And that 24 range turned out to be 23 and a 1.7 mile push. I was already aching from the contortions required to reach inside the inner parts the previous two days. Mondays. Gotta love 'em

(https://preview.ibb.co/hwdudK/WP_20180820_07_45_26_Pro.jpg) (https://ibb.co/eqSnyK)

The only upside was that the whole bike felt very smooth with all the new oil, and the Road 5 appears to be quite a nice tyre, although I am reserving judgement as I've only done 600 miles on a nice round tyre after several thousand on an increasingly square one. In other news SWIMBO saw a K16 at the showroom and hated the look of it, so looks like a K13 is in the frame for when this one gets to that time.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 21, 2018, 10:30:28 pm
I had a car tyre on my rally car that had gurt holes in the tread just like that 5. It exploded within 5 miles...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 27, 2018, 02:04:15 pm
So as ever on this forum, help pops up from all sorts of places, clutch men you know who you are, thank you

It appears I may have the oldest surviving original K12 clutch in the known universe

I have contacted John Sykes the clutch doctor referred to on various clutch related posts on here, and a very long string on I-bmw, http://www.i-bmw.com/showthread.php?t=51004 (http://www.i-bmw.com/showthread.php?t=51004) where John uses fourhundred4 as a forum name, and he has recommended that he rebuilds and modifies a secondhand low mileage K12 clutch for me, substantially cheaper than getting all the K13 parts and mods required to fit a K12. I am waiting for the Ocean BMW quote, but think once I get it, it will be telephone numbers, and I will be asking them to fit one of Mr Sykes' specials.

john.sykes01@btinternet.com
john@vibefreev.com
John Sykes 32 Epsom Way Kirkheaton Huddersfield HD5 0LE United Kingdom
T: + 44 (0)1484 435084
M: +44 (0)7770 772456
www.vibefreev.com 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 27, 2018, 06:48:35 pm
A useful telephone number for all sorts of emergencies is 112.

So if it's a £112 you're quids in  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 28, 2018, 08:39:34 pm
This little fella rode home with me tonIght in between the screen and adjustable blade. I didn't notice him til I was doing 80 down the motorway but slowed down and he hung on til I got back to the flat
(https://preview.ibb.co/iYnf2p/20180828_195721.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cNPShp)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 28, 2018, 08:48:52 pm
A lucky cricket!

Was your ride home like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wjvHcXjAPxI
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 28, 2018, 08:57:28 pm
Am quite liking this,but not the price
https://approvedused.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/UK/detail.cshtml?on=381947#
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on August 28, 2018, 08:59:42 pm
How much?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 28, 2018, 09:00:11 pm
A lucky cricket!

Was your ride home like this?
https://www.youtube.com/watrch?v=wjvHcXjAPxI

No but I have a friend in Vietnam who does this regularly on her 125
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 28, 2018, 09:00:56 pm
Eleven grand
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on August 28, 2018, 09:01:40 pm
Yes I know, "How Much" is the Yorkshire war cry.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 28, 2018, 09:09:22 pm
Yeah understand, my shout of disappointment had a few more war cry expletives. Nice bike right mileage but really for a 7 year old bike? I'll probably be weighing mine in for scrap at the end but I only started at 5500.  11k is a serious investment.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 28, 2018, 09:20:56 pm
That is too way high. At £11k you should expect:
- 2014-2015
- Motorsport level of equipment
- 8-10k miles

I know, I looked very hard for mine.

That bike is too old, and mileage should be lower for £11k.

This is much better value, I'd say - younger, cheaper, 1 less owner, & closer to you!:
https://approvedused.bmw-motorrad.co.uk/UK/detail.cshtml?on=386040
Its missing the pannier rails compared to the blue one, but that's about it.

However, if you're looking for a halfway house, my 'spare' K1300S is on eBay, and could do with another bid:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/192630116552

I sincerely hope it makes a bit more than that, though.  :o :o :o
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 31, 2018, 07:35:39 pm
Flight ams to brs delayed from 1920 to 0120. Why do I bother? And Easyjet offer €4.50 for every 2 hours. Beer is 6.50 a pint.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 31, 2018, 07:43:52 pm
Drink Scotch, it's probably cheaper in duty free...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on August 31, 2018, 07:45:18 pm
He wont get a pint of scotch for less that 6.50  ;)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 31, 2018, 07:53:55 pm
I'd drink everything but I have a 3 hour drive from bristol
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: stevel on September 01, 2018, 08:31:50 am
Flight ams to brs delayed from 1920 to 0120. Why do I bother? And Easyjet offer €4.50 for every 2 hours. Beer is 6.50 a pint.

Why was it delayed? Are you entitled to compensation? I actually managed to get a couple of hundred out of Easyjet a while ago for a delayed flight. Worth a go if it's the airlines's fault, rather than weather etc.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 04, 2018, 11:32:51 am
Easy jet claim in (thank you for the assistance people)

Rebuilt clutch ordered from John Sykes, just watching while he haggles on eBay with a Lithuanian over the price of a second-hand K13 clutch to modify and rebuild. Should be with me in time for my week off in October when I bring the bike back over and Ocean have agreed they will install it for me.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 05, 2018, 11:28:09 am
EasyJet say they are going to pay me £223.68 which is English for 250 euros, thank you very much Stevel, beers and pies on me when ever we meet  :)

And the second-hand clutch has just been bought by Mr Sykes for £165 inc delivery.

And I just got wet for the first time in months, caught out by a cloudburst halfway to work. Drying out in air conditioned office. That has to be the longest period of sustained dry riding I have ever experienced
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 05, 2018, 04:10:39 pm
But then again, EasyJet said they were going to get you to Brizzle on time... ;D

Result on both counts. Apart from the getting wet bit.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 13, 2018, 05:57:17 pm
And Holland joins that exclusive club of authorities to issue me with a ticket. Unmarked again. Fine in the post...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on September 13, 2018, 06:25:42 pm
Is it possible to be banned if you mount up European-wide fines? Or is the tot-up per country?

Asking for a friend.  ;)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on September 13, 2018, 06:33:36 pm
There are no points on your license for speeding abroad. As I found out in Luxembourg after a very reasonable €47 fine.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on September 13, 2018, 08:32:09 pm
Thanks Rae. Here's a very good summary, inc Luxembourg:

http://www.speedingeurope.com/
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on September 13, 2018, 08:53:35 pm
Yes, it may well have been €49 but still a bargain  ;)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 13, 2018, 10:30:33 pm
Its just going to be very expensive ok?
And there's this
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-in-the-eu-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/driving-in-the-eu-if-theres-no-brexit-deal
That's all clear then. Possibly
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on September 14, 2018, 08:15:42 am
Its just going to be very expensive ok?
And there's this
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-in-the-eu-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/driving-in-the-eu-if-theres-no-brexit-deal
That's all clear then. Possibly

Extract:
"For two years, the government has been implementing a significant programme of work to ensure the UK will be ready from day 1 in all scenarios, including a potential ‘no deal’ outcome in March 2019."

Google translation:
"For two years, the government has been implementing a significant programme of work bickering with itself to ensure the UK will be ready disadvantaged from day 1 in all scenarios, including a potential ‘no deal’ outcome in March 2019."

You will be our Euro-riding litmus test, fjtwelve. Well, er, volunteered.  :-\
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 14, 2018, 11:51:04 am
https://www.facebook.com/InTheKnowInnovationAOL/posts/300107194104605/

Not sure if this is an old April Fool joke or not
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 14, 2018, 09:11:20 pm
Its just going to be very expensive ok?
And there's this
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/driving-in-the-eu-if-theres-no-brexit-deal/driving-in-the-eu-if-theres-no-brexit-deal
That's all clear then. Possibly

Perfectly clear...

...and a snippet on last night's 'Question Time'. The government has placed a contract for potaloos every kilometer along the M20 as from next year...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on September 14, 2018, 10:54:49 pm

...and a snippet on last night's 'Question Time'. The government has placed a contract for potaloos every kilometer along the M20 as from next year...

Every kilometer?! You naughty boy. Brits will only pee in miles.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 15, 2018, 10:55:15 am
Then they are all stuffed cos the markers are every 100 mwtres...

Anyway, it is for all the wine-swigging Euro truck drivers smuggling British cheese and beer abroad.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 24, 2018, 09:36:52 am
But then again, EasyJet said they were going to get you to Brizzle on time... ;D

Result on both counts. Apart from the getting wet bit.

Good Grief. Easy Jet just coughed up the money
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 24, 2018, 06:57:03 pm
Beers all round than. I'll drink to that  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 26, 2018, 09:15:16 pm
84999
(https://preview.ibb.co/eoQ4U9/20180926_212621.jpg) (https://ibb.co/g7JPU9)
Wasn't very scenic tonight and a bit late and dark,so here's last night sunset

(https://preview.ibb.co/eQg02U/20180925_195655.jpg) (https://ibb.co/em6B99)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 26, 2018, 09:35:35 pm
I have a lifetime's memories of just missing the next milestone on the mileometer.

How on earth do you manage to 'almost' always catch them?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 28, 2018, 11:39:04 am
Very sad lifestyle
Anal approach to recording numbers
Insert your own ideas here

I did miss 111,111 on the wife's TT on Monday though

Anyway, glimmer of excitement on the horizon, the "new" clutch rebuild is in progress. Was riding along last night trying to remember what it was like being able to slip the clutch
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 28, 2018, 07:20:57 pm
You do know that slipping the clutch is what causes it to fail... ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 03, 2018, 05:38:51 pm
Update on clutch progress
"Have now completed the re engineering of the clutch basket and hub/pressure plate. Ready for de greasing and assembly once its dried off. The new pack of clutch plates arrived today so if all runs to plan I'm hoping it will be assembled by the end of the week."

Royal Mail and Ocean Falmouth willing it should be in the bike in w/c 15 October. I am really looking forward to getting back to a normal clutch instead of this on / off switch, and keen to see if any of the other vibes and noises off disappear too
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 09, 2018, 05:45:24 pm
Clutch rebuilt and paid for, awaiting the courier. Bike booked into Ocean next week for the switchover.

John says

"Basket is rebuilt using new main load springs and idle control spring, other new internal parts and with the 1200 engines oil pump drive. The hub (lamellar pack) has all new faces for the friction plates on the flange and pressure plate with a complete new set of friction and steel plates. I have also incorporated the the 1300 engines type of anti chatter spring withing the plate pack as hoped."
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on October 10, 2018, 09:56:40 am
Excellent photos thanks for sharing.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 10, 2018, 10:02:14 am
I assume you are talking about the sunset etc. I will put piccies of the new clutch and what's left of the old one up as they come available.  If its in a fit state to rebuild I'll hold on to the old clutch for anyone who wants to do the same thing as me (exchanged for a suitable quantity of drinking vouchers).
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on October 10, 2018, 12:59:00 pm
Clutch pic at sunset.

All angles covered!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 10, 2018, 01:30:27 pm
My Chinese administrator Ho Lee Fuk has just given me the Hollandish speeding fine as mentioned above. :o :o I know they couldn't catch me until I got to the 80km/h ring road, and they didn't have a recorded speed for me but were doing 1** to catch me up so I'm not going to argue, but strewth. You can forget about the algorithms on the website, the prosecutor can use their discretion. At least they didn't add on a victim charge (thank you Bodmin for that one).
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 10, 2018, 04:08:08 pm
Moving swiftly on, busy day today, a last note on the clutch

“The clutch is assembled dry (no oil other than needed for assembly) with the two main parts ready to fit. Both basket and particularly the hub with its new plates only need a further small amount of oil pouring into their centres to wet everything all over. All this talk of leaving to soak overnight immersed in oil is not required. Perhaps wishful thinking by folk who know their clutch is in poor condition.

I have also included a separate steel plate and a separate friction plate in the box. They are 0.2 and 0.8 mm thicker than those in the rebuilt hub pack. These could come in handy to save the clutch if exchanged for their thinner equivalents to restore the original thickness if there is any sign of slip due to lining wear in the distant future. Perhaps pass on to future owners just in case so that there is maximum life to be had out of the clutch and bike.

The bikes original thrust washer between basket and hub along with release bearing and hub nut need transferring to be used again. Please encourage the workshop to fit the hub without dismantling. Some try to remove the six hexagon socket head screws that compress the pressure spring as they don't have the correct large socket for the hub nut. They need a thin wall socket to fit through the release bearing carrier to tighten the main hub nut. Even new hubs have been fitted at BMW shops by dismantling first. Problem is the alignment can be disturbed and the bike kangaroos off the line the second the second it starts to move forwards.”
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on October 10, 2018, 05:34:00 pm
Excellent report on clutch repairs.
Do the admin gurus think - believe as I  that all clutch related posts should be removed and merged together on technical section? To me the updates provide extremely useful info . Tks
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on October 10, 2018, 06:29:36 pm
I have always agreed with this policy Costas, some good technical information gets lost in long running threads. It is met with resistance.
So you might want to pick out the relevant bits and copy and paste them into a new thread.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on October 10, 2018, 06:34:55 pm
Will try my best asap
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on October 11, 2018, 12:11:32 am
Moving swiftly on, busy day today, a last note on the clutch

“The clutch is assembled dry (no oil other than needed for assembly) with the two main parts ready to fit. Both basket and particularly the hub with its new plates only need a further small amount of oil pouring into their centres to wet everything all over. All this talk of leaving to soak overnight immersed in oil is not required. Perhaps wishful thinking by folk who know their clutch is in poor condition.

I have also included a separate steel plate and a separate friction plate in the box. They are 0.2 and 0.8 mm thicker than those in the rebuilt hub pack. These could come in handy to save the clutch if exchanged for their thinner equivalents to restore the original thickness if there is any sign of slip due to lining wear in the distant future. Perhaps pass on to future owners just in case so that there is maximum life to be had out of the clutch and bike.

The bikes original thrust washer between basket and hub along with release bearing and hub nut need transferring to be used again. Please encourage the workshop to fit the hub without dismantling. Some try to remove the six hexagon socket head screws that compress the pressure spring as they don't have the correct large socket for the hub nut. They need a thin wall socket to fit through the release bearing carrier to tighten the main hub nut. Even new hubs have been fitted at BMW shops by dismantling first. Problem is the alignment can be disturbed and the bike kangaroos off the line the second the second it starts to move forwards.”
I used a standard 1/2" drive impact socket to remove my clutch. There is no problem if the if the six hexagon socket screws are fitted after the main hub nut is fitted.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 12, 2018, 04:14:31 pm
224 dry miles to the Chunnel. Have this feeling that's not going to last...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 12, 2018, 06:45:31 pm
It's the leaves you need to watch out for and all that yeuky emulsion they produce when pounded into the tarmac by trucks and cars...very, very slippery indeed with a little water thrown into the mix.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 13, 2018, 12:05:01 am
Luckily 400 dry but breezy miles, unluckily 150 unpleasantly wet and windy ones. The upside is I found I quite like the pr5 on the back , its planted in the wet, no unexpected movements. Found myself riding almost as if it were dry after a while. Think my neck will be letting me know tomorrow about the 20mph headwind I had all afternoon, it was very gusty too even the Dutch had turned their windmills off.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 13, 2018, 12:16:59 pm
Man knows how to pack it courier proof

(https://preview.ibb.co/dqzKzU/20181013-093308.jpg) (https://ibb.co/j84V69)
(https://preview.ibb.co/eM2Hm9/20181013-093235.jpg) (https://ibb.co/doSiR9)
(https://preview.ibb.co/ddQsKU/20181013-093222.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dXRcm9)
(https://preview.ibb.co/egvsKU/20181013-093134.jpg) (https://ibb.co/c1bMDp)
(https://preview.ibb.co/k3wA69/20181013-093119.jpg) (https://ibb.co/daPKzU)
(https://preview.ibb.co/fgBcm9/20181013-093029.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cbzV69)
(https://preview.ibb.co/eCrMDp/20181013-092954.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fEa3R9)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 13, 2018, 02:46:17 pm
11/10 gold house point...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on October 13, 2018, 03:40:06 pm
This great information will be lost with the passage of time in this thread.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 18, 2018, 05:23:56 pm
Here's the old clutch. Available to anyone else who might want to go the same route.  Also my fronthe brake pads that were replaced to get through the MOT. Sticky pistons or dodgy pad - 1 out of 4 down to the metal?
(https://preview.ibb.co/i5VHwL/20181018-085406.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dgRqGL)
(https://preview.ibb.co/k6osVf/20181018-085429.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cVY4bL)
(https://preview.ibb.co/i2Q6qf/20181018-085455.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jCsmqf)
(https://preview.ibb.co/hfw1O0/20181018-091319.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ipOgO0)
(https://preview.ibb.co/esVjbL/20181018-091339.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ishai0)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 19, 2018, 07:41:08 pm
Sorry, forgot to tell you the cost. Ocean charged me £124 + VAT to fit the clutch, labour new gasket and 18 new screws. I missed the screws first time round as I was still grappling with the cost of the brake pads. And only now read there were 18 of them. Anyhow have ridden it around the block and no nasty noises or kangarooing. Going for a run over the weekend
John charged me £620 to rebuild the clutch, and £10 for the courier
The second-hand clutch was £165 which John bought off ebay
Total £944.
Its been an expensive month...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 21, 2018, 06:35:07 pm
Went out for a 150 mile blip around Cornwall today with son#2 on his Fireblade. 86000 up.

(https://preview.ibb.co/fbT6d0/20181021-143012.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cJamd0)

Rather than just sticking it in 6th and droning along as much of my recent riding has been, we had a good old thrape along the A39 up to Bude, cross country to Liskeard and back along the A38. The clutch is much smoother and so is the bike. The enormous crash into 1st gear seems to have mostly disappeared. Pulling away its possible to feather the clutch, we now have a fader instead of an on/off switch. Clutchless changes especially down shifts are much easier. Getting it into neutral while the engine is running is now easily possible. Below 7000 there are a lot less vibes, in the largely still air today it was just so smooth, apart from there's a rough patch around 7000, and above that, well, I found the rev limiter again.
Just like having a clutch really  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 23, 2018, 08:39:48 am
John Sykes said "Changes without clutch better as there is no free play in the basket damping so much more positive."
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on October 23, 2018, 01:34:51 pm
It is strange that the springs in the BMW basket do not take up the free play.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 23, 2018, 01:48:11 pm
I don't know enough about the clutch construction I'm afraid. The rebuilt clutch does include the K13 anti chatter springs and new set of springs and plates so should be nice and tight. With a worn out clutch is there opportunity for the clutch internals to move about/bounce on the springs?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 23, 2018, 01:55:29 pm
It is my considered opinion that clutch design is more of an art than a science, especially multi-plate bike clutch systems.

If you had the problems inherent in even a 'good' K clutch (and I think both my K12 and K13 are 'good' ones) in a BMW car, the dealer would be whipping it out and binning it; clunking and lurching into first, what's all that about?

Other marques of bike manage to have some civility in their clutches, why are ours so gawd awful?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 23, 2018, 01:59:26 pm
Its called "character" I think, a term often used by the bike press and marque aficionados to describe some god-awful problem a bike has. As opposed to "bland" where everything works and hardly ever breaks.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on October 23, 2018, 02:01:46 pm
Give me bland every time  ;)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 23, 2018, 02:02:51 pm
Correct!

I now have a bland Honda sitting alongside my characterful K13 and I fully expect it to run as sweetly and as faultlessly as a very expensive Swiss watch.

As opposed to the Swiss cheese analogy of the K...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on October 23, 2018, 04:40:45 pm
Strangely the six springs shown on your image are loose in a new clutch basket.
(https://preview.ibb.co/i5VHwL/20181018-085406.jpg)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 23, 2018, 05:47:13 pm
Correct!

I now have a bland Honda sitting alongside my characterful K13 and I fully expect it to run as sweetly and as faultlessly as a very expensive Swiss watch.

As opposed to the Swiss cheese analogy of the K...

And then again...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 28, 2018, 12:13:53 pm
...it may not!!

Went out to go to the gym straight after posting the previous comments about the Swiss watch reliability of the Honda...dead as a dodo.

When I got this I needed a sat nav mount and decided that I would investigate the TomTom route as well as the Garmin. So, with both a Garmin mount and a TomTom mount on the beast I started a not very scientific comparison of the two.

The K only has a Garmin mount and the 660 lives on it as a rule. The TomTom therefore lives on the Honda and this is where familiarity of one device breeds contempt for another. Although I turned the TomTom off the last time I 'used' the bike, I had turned the ignition on (by mistake) when I moved it in the garage. This wakes the TomTom up and because it is mounted straight across the battery, said battery is now dead.

No big deal I hear you say; you've got that power pack jump start thingy. And herein lies the tale.

To get to the battery on the K, two Torx screws and Bob's your wotsit.

To get to the battery on the Honda (which you will never need to do because they run like Swiss watches) you have to remove the side panel. Two bolts and pull it off, once the seat is removed.

To remove the seat, you first have to remove two seat monting bolts. No problem...except they are two of the four bolts securing my rear rack. So, off with the top box and unbolt the rack. Remove the seat. Remove the side panel.

By now I have forgotten why I was doing all this in the first place and anyway, how the hell would you manage all this on a dark wet night up a muddy lane?

So, the first thing is to buy an Optimate fly-lead so I don't need to do all of this to keep the battery topped up. Done!

Next, if I ever do need to jump the thing I'll need something more than an Optimate fly-lead so I opt for a 500mm Anderson SB175 170Amp fly-lead as well, together with a pair of Anderson genderless plug/sockets to adapt the Hilka Jump Starter for use with the croc clips for the K or the Anderson fly-lead for the Honda. Done!

At this point I get carried away and plump for another Optimate so I can keep both bikes topped up in the winter.  A new Optimate4 comes wih the fly-lead I've already bought so that's a waste of money but I find one cheap on eBay which only has the BMW CanBus charging lead. I make a cheeky offer and it is on its way. Job done!

For anyone who is following this and is remotely ( 8) ) interested, I'll post up the part numbers once I have tested it all.

So much for bland and Swiss-watch like  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 29, 2018, 06:20:16 pm
After son#2 moved home prior to leaving for Australia, he worked hard to pack all his stuff into the garage and make room for his blade which is being laid up for the duration. I opened the garage door yesterday and to cut a long sweary story short by lunchtime had rearranged it again so I could find everything. I came across a large mystery cardboard package and Lo! Finally TomL's fairings have finally made it home
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on October 29, 2018, 10:48:08 pm
Good to hear ;)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 05, 2018, 05:16:31 pm
Mailshot from Motolegends - Halvarssons sale started, from the look of it discounts in excess of 20%

https://www.motolegends.com/sale?Brand=Halvarssons

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 11, 2018, 06:12:23 pm
Run up the north coast to Bude to treat the withdrawal symptoms.  First cold fingers of the season.

(https://thumb.ibb.co/dwU3OV/20181111-125922.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dwU3OV)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 12, 2018, 12:11:51 pm
You need some Barkbuster Storms my friend.. :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 12, 2018, 12:37:21 pm
Need to get out more and toughen up after the summer.
Lucky day for me. Going home gave it the beans down an empty stretch of the A30, let the engine stretch its legs to where you really really shouldn't really go. Pulled in for a cuppa. Pulled back out, blipped to about 90 and then rolled back to 75 ish for what reason I can't remember and noticed a rapidly approaching set of lights. Past they went in an unmarked X5 and a quick twinkle of the blues in the rear window. Ooohhhhhh shiiiit here we go again I thought, and waited for the arm out of the window pointing at the next layby. Off went the lights, we settled down to 70. He indicated off at the next junction, I waited for the follow me/ stop /sign/ arm out of window and nothing. I pulled alongside as he slowed on the slip road and gave him a thankyou very very much wave.
I tootled along the A30 to where I got off feeling that for once I got lucky
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on November 12, 2018, 02:07:45 pm
Courteous riding is definitely worth something. Not just with policemen, of course.
Your wave may save one of us a ticket down that way another year. Good work!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Swindon Andy on November 12, 2018, 05:14:09 pm
I'm with you on the courteous thoughts. I've had similar in the car - I'm a bit naughty with speed but do tame things when it gets busy and at all times like to think I'm courteous. Twice I've had the blue light twinkle with no further effect.
Once got stopped for a chat/warning, but think he really wanted to look over the car. 90 on the M4 is normal for commuters, but I couldn't tell him that on a Saturday lunchtime, could I?

My pal was a speed cop, he tells me he wouldn't book anyone under 90mph unless they were driving like a cock.

By the way, another pal is ex police, he now mans a speed camera van. He says there are cameras all round, so the front facing camera gets your speed, the rear facing camera your bike plate. Unless it's raining, the plate camera might be obscured by water on the windscreen.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 12, 2018, 06:41:28 pm
So, where did he come from Martin?

I never venture outside my local 'comfort zone' without the reassurance of my Garmin yelping at me about speed camera sites. The £20 a year and the user sourced weekly updates have saved me time and time again.

I'm fairly religious about 20, 30 and 40 limits, at least during the day, treat 50's with the contempt they deserve and ignore the rest just as religeously.

However, the number of high-end, top-of-the-range cars from the obvious marques with one or two smart occupants are far outnumbered by the run-of-the-mill stuff and I treat all of the former with suspicion until my hackles calm down. So far, so good.

Of course, I could stay within the limits!

Nah, be reasonable... ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on November 12, 2018, 08:17:05 pm

Of course, I could stay within the limits!

Nah, be reasonable... ::)

If you stay within the limits, you'll fall alseep Brian. I definitely 'detune' in a car, compared to a bike - hopefully not that much, but still a little.

Going a little over the limit* on a bike keeps me alert.
But going way over and it's tunnel vision territory. Well, for me, anyway. Which means the info is coming in too quick. And time to slow down.


*your limit may vary  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 12, 2018, 10:12:28 pm
I wouldn't give me a licence...I fall asleep at anything approachimg a reasonable speed.

Having changed the big A6 diesel quattro for a much smaller and almost frighteningly rapid S3 quattro I am now reliving my youth on four wheels as well as two.

I'll probably die of a heart attack from the frustration of having the entire population of Herefordshire driving around at 35 mph in national speed limit areas and while this bothers me not a jot on the BM it results in kamikaze overtakes in the car, which accelerates almost as rapidly as the bike but is slightly more difficult to 'land'  :o

My 'relaxation' motoring is now aboard the little Honda which will overtake. With enough advance warning   ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 29, 2018, 05:01:56 pm
Been a bit quiet on here recently. Work and family issues getting in the way of getting on the bike. Went out for a bimble today weathere was a bit shit but I was getting severe withdrawal symptoms. Bike started first time after standing nearly 8 weeks outside.  Exhaust has blown a hole somewhere under the engine. Throttle was sticking again by the time I got back.  Insurance renewal hysterically high. Just about to open drinks cabinet.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 29, 2018, 08:16:12 pm
I know the feeling about the exhaust.

If it is coming from the front of the belly pan it will either be the 'Y' junction where 1 and 4 meet or the 'Y' junction where 2 and 3 meet.

If the blow is coming from the rear, more likely, then it will be the 'Y' where 1+4 and 2+3 meet. This is the easiest to get welded as it is a much wider inclusive angle in the 'Y'. However, the idiot who welded mine (who claimed 'I used to make exhaust manifolds for a living') didn't bother to make up a template to bolt the header flanges to so it warped like buggery when he hit it with the gun...scrap!

I bought one second hand from Germany, leaked in the same place...scrap!

I spent £600 on the pukka thing and forgot all about it. Then sold the bike!!

Crappy Histmas Martin  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on December 29, 2018, 08:28:39 pm
eBay has several secondhand ones below £200.

Examples at £149 inc P&P:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-K1200S-K1200-S-K1300-3-05-Downpipes-exhaust-manifold-Krummer/323496110841?hash=item4b51deeaf9:g:d4MAAOSwfEdbwI87:rk:20:pf:0
and
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/BMW-K1200-S-K1200S-2-07-Downpipes-exhaust-manifold-Krummer/322907059885?hash=item4b2ec2b6ad:g:MHEAAOSwbkVaHADg:rk:5:pf:0
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 30, 2018, 10:56:30 am
Read my cautionary tale above about the perils of buying second-hand... :(

And it came from a German breaker, not a private seller who had bought new and was selling off his test failure...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on December 30, 2018, 07:19:39 pm
It was the £600 new that stuck in my mind when I replied. Sorry Brian!
Motorworks would be a reliable source at a halfway price:

https://www.motorworks.co.uk/vlive/Shop/Parts.php?T=4&NU=10&M=50&Ct=IA

Part-ex the existing ones for them to fix, maybe?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 31, 2018, 11:34:50 pm
I agree. At least with Motoworks you can have a moan and get your money back... :o
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 01, 2019, 12:23:27 am
Found a full akrapovic system online and can't not think about it. Euro slush fund in serious peril. Took a run out today and wandered around Ocean Plymouth.  Far too much temptation.  Interestingly the massive poster on the wall outside is of 2 k1300s chasing along the road. None for sale inside like....Happy New year by the way
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 01, 2019, 10:54:54 am
Listen up dumb-ass...

Go back to Ocean and buy the poster, take it home and paste it on your bedroom wall and stare lovingly at it...

Keep Euro slush-fund for upgrade to next bike  8)

Simples!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 01, 2019, 12:07:19 pm
Only cos you haven't got one :D
Throttle has cured itself I hope, lack of use. Have bought a Oxford Stormex cover to keep it out of the worst of the weather, still can't get in shed, but prodigal son has returned and already job hunting so another couple of months she'll be be back indoors. Oh and some new EDZ merino boot socks seeing as nobody bought me any.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 02, 2019, 01:28:40 pm
Found these Dutch guys, they may be of use to others.

https://www.boonstraparts.com/en/parts/mke=BMW/mdl=K%201200%20S%20(K1200S)/ (https://www.boonstraparts.com/en/parts/mke=BMW/mdl=K%201200%20S%20(K1200S)/)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 03, 2019, 09:45:00 am
Motolegends just mailed me, you may be interested  - Half-price helmet Sale, Saturday 12th January

"A half-price helmet Sale is pretty much unheard of. And that’s because buying a helmet at half the recommended retail price means that you’re buying it at less than the retailer paid for it. In other words, the retailer is losing money. That’s why its uncommon.

But we have probably a couple of hundred helmets here in the Guildford warehouse that, for one reason or another, we won’t be marketing in the future.

We’d like to move them on and, in our experience, when something brand new is being sold for half its actual price, a lot of people want it.

Now, all these helmets are brand new and in boxes, untouched and unworn.

But, and here’s the catch, we’re going to be offering them as ‘used’ items without a warranty.

If we’re going to lose money on a helmet, we cannot afford to get involved in issues that may or may not develop in the future.

The helmets will need to be paid for by cash. There won’t be a record of the transaction on our mail-order system, and we’ll be keeping the boxes.

There’s nothing suspicious or dodgy going on. It’s merely that these helmets are taking up space. We want them gone, and we’re prepared to take a hit to get rid of them.

You have to decide whether you’re prepared to take this risk. A premium helmet from one of the major brands at a price you’ll never see again. In all probability, you’ll never have an issue, because there’s really not that much than can go wrong with a helmet. But if it does, the problem is yours; not ours.

See you on Saturday 12th. Bring your own box!"


Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on January 03, 2019, 01:43:02 pm
Ooh thanks for sharing! I did just buy a GT Air but if they've got a nice Arai my cheap January is going to be scuppered. It might help me decide what bike is next too, to at least not clash with colours :p
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 03, 2019, 03:13:38 pm
Nice ones Martin... 8)

Did you win the lottery and not tell us Matt?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: sudolea on January 03, 2019, 05:43:32 pm
...

Did you win the lottery and not tell us Matt?

Whenever his ashtray is full, Matt changes cars, didn't you know that, Brian ?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on January 03, 2019, 06:17:42 pm
...

Did you win the lottery and not tell us Matt?

Whenever his ashtray is full, Matt changes cars, didn't you know that, Brian ?

Question is: what's Matt smoking?  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 03, 2019, 08:17:22 pm
If it's anything like what he is drinking we are all doooomed I tell you. Doooomed!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on January 04, 2019, 10:28:49 am
...

Did you win the lottery and not tell us Matt?

Whenever his ashtray is full, Matt changes cars, didn't you know that, Brian ?

Haha it's full of change for the car park!

My K is at 28,000 miles and I feel like I need to try something new or else I will have the same bike/brand for ever!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on January 04, 2019, 01:32:52 pm

My K is at 28,000 miles and I feel like I need to try something new or else I will have the same bike/brand for ever!

Good point - just be prepared to come back to Ks.  8)

Although, I have to say, if KTM wrapped their Super Duke GT in something that wasn't quite so upright, I would be tempted.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on January 04, 2019, 02:58:43 pm

My K is at 28,000 miles and I feel like I need to try something new or else I will have the same bike/brand for ever!

Good point - just be prepared to come back to Ks.  8)

Although, I have to say, if KTM wrapped their Super Duke GT in something that wasn't quite so upright, I would be tempted.

The KTM SD GT is VERY adjustable.  Are you there's not an adjustment to fit? :D

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on January 04, 2019, 06:52:42 pm
Being 6'5"ish, a bike with bars coming backwards means I sit almost upright, in the wind. At least with the K I get to lean into the wind a little.

See here:
http://cycle-ergo.com/

Compare K1300s v Super Duke GT (and set it up for 6'5" + 36" legs).

I may well go towards a more upright bike as I get less flexibile, but for the moment the K fits nicely.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: sudolea on January 05, 2019, 11:46:25 am
Being 6'5"ish, a bike with bars coming backwards means I sit almost upright, in the wind. At least with the K I get to lean into the wind a little.

See here:
http://cycle-ergo.com/

Compare K1300s v Super Duke GT (and set it up for 6'5" + 36" legs).
...

Interesting. I came along this (or something simiular if not exactly this) a while ago. Remarkable how much my current bike (VFR800F) and my old K1300S are similar in forward lean indeed. Of course, Richard, your numbers are rather uncommon.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 07, 2019, 05:01:57 pm
I popped the Stormex cover on this weekend. I bought a medium and it fits very snugly even with my larger/higher MRA Vario screen. The screen lifts the cover very slightly but the bottom of the cover still tucks low enough on the front wheel to keep it down. The cover tucks nicely low on the rear tyre, and nice strong elastic around the bottom of the cover plus a strap under the bellypan keeps the cover down. Comes in a decent bag about the size of my tankbag to keep it in. We'll see how durable it is.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 08, 2019, 12:04:18 am
Long term it doesn't like exposure to the elephants, especially the sun. I think it needs a cover of some sort...

Mine is a few years old now and was the model with the stupid 'nostril' air vents above the pillion seat which, with the wind and rain coming from the rear, just funnelled gallons of water into the cover  :-\
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on January 08, 2019, 06:14:45 pm
Long term it doesn't like exposure to the elephants, especially the sun. I think it needs a cover of some sort...

Mine is a few years old now and was the model with the stupid 'nostril' air vents above the pillion seat which, with the wind and rain coming from the rear, just funnelled gallons of water into the cover  :-\
You could super glue the air vents shut.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 08, 2019, 06:46:42 pm
The vents on mine are under the ears for the mirrors so should be better.  Will post any problems
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 09, 2019, 07:58:45 pm
You'd be doing well with superglue Tom. Mine were stitched open and reinforced. Rivetting might have worked.

Mine also had the ears by the mirrors. Just nostrils over the pillion seat too. Rubbish!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 10, 2019, 12:11:56 pm
https://www.petrolprices.com/news/collisions-due-slow-drivers-soar-recent-years/

Obviously nobody will have an opinion on this.....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on January 10, 2019, 03:24:39 pm
No problem when I'm on the bike but a PITA when in the car/van.

I love it when they see my van coming down the road and then turn out in front of me and don't put their foot down. >:(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 10, 2019, 08:07:19 pm
So maybe it isn't just me in my dusty little corner of the Welsh Marches after all...

Interesting that nowhere in the article did it mention the obvious solution of....wait for it....dramatic drum-roll....overtaking  8)

My very wise (not to mention brave, fearless, patient, saintly and very rapid) driving instructor explained to me that it was not the person at the front of the inevitable queue I always ended up at the back of who was causing the queue. It was the second person in the queue who was causing it.

This was the same driving instructor who used a wooden ruler to smack pupils across the knuckles every time they were driving too slow or too fast for either the conditions or the limit. I learned very quickly.

The punishment for not telling him every time you spotted a potential overtake makes me shudder every time I think about it...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on January 11, 2019, 12:50:47 am
Misssed overtakes!  ::)

Should be a law against it. >:(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Coully on January 11, 2019, 10:43:41 am
I perhaps err on the side of caution in my approach to overtaking but aye, if the 1st person is driving too slow, then its 2nd place that's the issue.
People complain about the A96 (aberdeen-inverness) up here and granted its not brilliant in places but where they can , there are crawler lanes etc. Adequate opportunities exist on it in other places but you can't legislate for the person driving 45 on a 60 in good conditions , nor the poor , ahem, unfortunate that cant seem to overtake ANYWHERE  >:( . And if its nae slow driving its hesitation at junctions ,......that really grinds my gears
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 11, 2019, 11:40:29 am
There are way too many folk on the roads who are content to follow the car, or worse, the TRUCK in front and then they instantly go into baby elephant mode and latch onto the safety blanket in front with never a thought to drive at their own speed.

I will always overtake as soon as I can unless it is rush hour with a gazillion things in front and I'm only going a couple of miles. Even then I will always overtake what I can if I'm on the bike.

For me it is the principle of driving at my pace, not someone else's and planning and executing an overtake keeps my pea-like brain active for when I need it.

Am I 'becoming' grumpy or what?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Coully on January 11, 2019, 01:36:49 pm
I wouldna say that, ... If the person in front is on or around my intended speed then i'll follow, certainly at night
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on January 11, 2019, 03:27:46 pm
Likewise, I'm not sure that it's always clear what is and what isn't an overtaking opportunity. I know that in my previous car (a 3cyl 980xx Toyota Aygo) overtaking opportunities were very few and far between, especially if there was more than 1 person in the car. I'm sure Brian's "ballistic" Audi would fly past in a number of situations where the Aygo had only managed to add another 2mph!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on January 11, 2019, 04:22:03 pm
I don't like ridiing behind anything and prefer a clear road ahead. Also if you are riding quickly there is less chance that someone is on your back wheel, therefore I like to ride in a gap rather than a convoy, daylight or night time.

When driving the van through the lanes I like a fast vehicle in front with a 5 second gap and use their brake lights for advance info on traffic coming the other way.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 11, 2019, 11:04:22 pm
There are no valid reasons for following another vehicle which is going slower than you would otherwise go for more than the shortest of distances on the open road if you have the ability to overtake.

Among the many reasons to not follow are:

Target fixation
Not being able to see hazards ahead and, therefore
Relying on the driver in front to see hazards and take appropriate action
Dozing off
Ending up parked on someone else's drive in a strange town miles from home.

David. Quite correct about the little monster. It will overtake almost as fast as the bike. The BIG problem is I keep having to remind myself that it needs a slightly larger landing site than the bike  :o

Oh, and filtering in the car is VERY embarrassing  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Swindon Andy on January 12, 2019, 12:05:29 am
I reckon there's a fair few people who wrongly think the limit on single carriageway is 50. It was for a time many years ago. I have had to follow at dead on 50 for miles on many occasions.
Yes I overtake often, on bike and in my quick car. Nice of the overtakee to flash their headlamps after my move to thank me.
 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 12, 2019, 11:05:17 am
I reckon there's a fair few people who wrongly think the limit on single carriageway is 50. It was for a time many years ago. I have had to follow at dead on 50 for miles on many occasions.
Yes I overtake often, on bike and in my quick car. Nice of the overtakee to flash their headlamps after my move to thank me.

I agree Andy, and if you were 'following' in your even bigger beast of a car then I would be most disppointed  8)

There is this odd thing in the car world where some of the fastest cars are driven the slowest; I have never seen a Porsche, of any stripe, going over the speed limit. Audi R8/10's keep getting in my way.

And, even when I wake someone up and they start to press on, they tend to give up after a few miles, missing overtakes, panic-braking for bends etc.

We have, in this country, bred a whole series of generations who have not a single clue about how their car or bike works, what its capabilities are in terms of engine, chassis or tyre performance nor how really, really good almost every modern car and bike is. A Triumph TR2 (with 4A engine and gearbox and clapped-out rear lever arm dampers) on Michelin X's anyone?

Ee, them were't days lad... :o
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 13, 2019, 01:11:43 pm
So insurance renewal with Highway through Bennetts, lands at £562 inc £350 xs, legal, breakdown, personal and helmet & leathers cover. After a lot of dicking about through the MCN comparison site, I end up with a Highway policy through Bennetts including £350xs, 15k miles, personal and helmet & leathers cover, for £325. Even allowing that the legal and recovery cost was £43 last year, that's £200 cheaper. And I have recovery and travel insurance through my bank account anyway.
Robbin' illegitmates
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 13, 2019, 03:40:02 pm
...and have you noticed how all renewal quotes now come with a caution...

'You have been a valued and loyal customer for over 300 years now and so you will find better insurance for less money elsewhere!'
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 05, 2019, 06:06:58 pm
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ride5000miles/permalink/2097804000314426/

Just came across this snippet. Well known on FJR's if not cared for but was t aware it was common on  Ks

Eurotunnel ticket booked for the end of the month. AA recovery to sort tomorrow. IDP at the weekend I hope. God knows what I'll need at the end of March.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 05, 2019, 08:13:48 pm
Not a very friendly link when you have to be a faceache member to view, Martin  ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 05, 2019, 08:22:49 pm
Sorry forgot i was still a youngster
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 05, 2019, 08:33:44 pm
(https://i.ibb.co/y09C99q/Screenshot-2019-02-05-21-29-01.png) (http://[url=https://ibb.co/CBcyccQ)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 05, 2019, 09:28:30 pm
Hmmm?

That looks like it has had a loose connection, for some time, at the break-out point! The hole is elongated.

I suggest you get the bearings in your dog-bone link checked VERY carefully as there is a history and a recall on these parts. Was yours recalled and re-worked?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 05, 2019, 09:34:03 pm
The comments on fb indicate the bike had been nowhere but bmw dealers and despite (?) this the dogbone bolt had seized beyond anything he could do to remove it. Think he's off to have words with his dealer.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on February 06, 2019, 05:27:02 pm
I have posted elsewhere on this site about the fact that BMW do not include lubrication of the doglink bearings in any of their services.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 06, 2019, 08:46:32 pm
Thank you for that. Will be asking. The Yamaha problem is that it is in the service schedule but isn't done. At 86k and counting I am hoping it has been inspected.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 06, 2019, 10:51:28 pm
Just had the dogbone link off my 70mph, 24 bhp Honda and the bearings, 300 miles from the factory, were as dry as a buzzards crutch!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on February 07, 2019, 05:33:05 pm
Out of sight out of mind. Same like headstock bearings.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 07, 2019, 09:25:27 pm
...and I fitted a grease nipple to the Honda's headstock to boot. Cost five pence for the Zerk and £20 for a new grease gun 'cos I threw my old one out two year's ago 'cos nothing I owned had a nipple or needed a grease gun... 8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 09, 2019, 02:00:23 pm
https://i.ibb.co/FDLZz3h/20190209-135036.jpg[/img]](https://i.ibb.co/FDLZz3h/20190209-135036.jpg) (http://[img)[/url]
Licenced for the post brexit apocalypse
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 09, 2019, 03:30:36 pm
Methinks you are overthinking this...

I doubt you will ever be allowed to cross the channel so you won't need the permit  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on February 09, 2019, 04:02:03 pm
Common after 30 years are we going back to that , this is progress?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 09, 2019, 04:58:58 pm
Methinks you are overthinking this...

I doubt you will ever be allowed to cross the channel so you won't need the permit  8)

Getting there ok, Eurotunnel booked 4th March, not getting arrested and riding home after B day is the issue. Not a squeak out of the insurers, or my employers for that matter, on guidance on how it's  going to work
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on February 09, 2019, 07:11:43 pm
Brexit - the gift that keeps on giving.
One bit of good news is the EHIC cards will continue to be valid. I just renewed mine.
Oh: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-44850972

Looks like that's f***ed too, if it's a no deal.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 09, 2019, 07:18:05 pm
Knew about that, I have private medical insurance in Holland through my employer. Has just occurred to me today I do not know what happens elsewhere. Need to check the travel insurance.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on February 09, 2019, 07:41:28 pm
We have health/travel insurance with Axa
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 09, 2019, 10:21:55 pm
So far you do... 8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on February 10, 2019, 09:51:23 am
Rae will be fine:
https://www.axaglobalhealthcare.com/en/members/preparing-for-brexit/
> If you’re not an EU resident, including if you’re a UK resident, nothing will change.

Others may not be:
https://metro.co.uk/2019/01/29/travel-insurance-problem-no-deal-brexit-8407012/
> They asked them if they would be covered for any disruption to a holiday as a result of a no-deal Brexit.
Axa and Aviva said yes, cover would still be available while Legal & General said no, it would not. Zurich, More Than, Direct Line and Allianz said they were not sure what would happen to someone’s cover.
(I read that as you'll still be covered for normal insurance things, but not for the disruption part - like delays in travel. But if in doubt, ring them.)

Supposedly I am OK too with Virgin Travel Insurance (-> Insure & Go Insurance Services Ltd -> Mapfre Asistencia), but their way of describing 'OK' over the phone left a lot to be desired.

Axa themselves are sorted. - they're not a UK company, so they have sensibly scooted over the water. Good to see someone has a plan:
https://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/business/northern-ireland/axa-to-move-uk-staff-to-republic-due-to-brexit-37698781.html
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 10, 2019, 11:05:39 am
...although, from memory (never good in these circumstances) wasn't it Axa who got all arsy about 'proving you got on the ferry you were booked on' when spouse making a claim following a serious bike accident abroad? David will clarify.

I mean, short of videoing your entire journey, how the hell do you cope with unstated requirements like that after the event!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on February 10, 2019, 11:59:29 am
I had a claim last year through Axa when we had to cancel our holiday due to my Dad being very ill, the claim went through without a hitch and after a few questions over the phone got paid out in a couple of days with no other proof required. This was however our first ever claim. I think if we had had a few claims in the past they may have asked for proof.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 12, 2019, 07:45:30 pm
Now this
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-47215904

Maybe I need to start buying ferry tickets. It's the 1970s all over again
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 13, 2019, 05:17:34 pm
Inflatable belly pan and a set of paddles or a big knobbly on the rear wheel... 8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 19, 2019, 02:30:42 pm
Today we have a slightly different version from Eurotunnel:

Free cancellations up to 7 days before your trip
Your Brexit-proof holiday starts here
Do you want to get on and make holiday plans, but feel a little hesitant?
We want to take this opportunity to reassure you that we are Brexit-ready.
Our shuttles will be running as usual throughout the year, whatever form Brexit takes.
When travelling with Eurotunnel Le Shuttle, you already benefit from our flexible booking terms:
- You can amend your ticket free of charge up to 24 hours in advance (assuming it’s for the same direction of travel and we have space available)
- With our 24/7 service, if you’re running late, we’ll always get you on the next available crossing*
Now, to go a step further, we’re introducing our new Brexit-proof promise:
- Free cancellations up to 7 days before you travel**, giving you the confidence to plan that long weekend by the beach, or family adventure you’ve been dreaming about
Just book before 28th February for travel between 14th March and 30th September to enjoy this limited-time perk.
We hope this gives you the peace of mind to plan your next adventure with us and look forward to welcoming you on board again soon.
Travel worry-free!
PS Don’t forget to book early to enjoy the best prices!
        Terms and conditions
 Eurotunnel’s Ticket Terms and Conditions apply
**Brexit Offer Terms and Conditions apply


I checked my travel insurance through Lloyds says it will cover me for medical costs so not EHIC but at least its covered. Today at least. Just waiting for the last minute email from them to say oh sorry its not valid.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 19, 2019, 04:53:05 pm
...or the French to concrete over their end of the tunnel, after all, something like 85% of traffic is Brits 8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 25, 2019, 08:10:46 pm
(https://i.ibb.co/7JDXh9D/Screenshot-20190225-182631-Samsung-Internet.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BVJtk1J)
(https://i.ibb.co/BNyW9ts/20190225-164110.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QdPS4fm)
(https://i.ibb.co/bvbW7qD/96220190225-133853.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QHDbXzt)

Pinch me it's February.  16C sunshine no traffic. Run up the North coast. 1961 Norton freshly rebuilt outside Sainburys with freshly refreshed oil leaks...Experimenting with Spotwalla.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 04, 2019, 12:17:25 pm
https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=1cc4a5c7c257779ebd&hoursPast=0&showAll=yes

If you look at this link Falmouth to Amsterdam trip you should be able to follow today's progress. Started with a blown rear light bulb. Think it was original but blowing at 5am as i try to leave not great.

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on March 04, 2019, 01:02:32 pm
You'll have to let us know how to do that, Martin.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 04, 2019, 06:44:27 pm
If you open the link it should show you a map with a series of points on it. If you click on the point it should open a little splash screen message that contains various bits of information such as speed. If its taken you to a list of trips for some reason open Falmouth to Amsterdam.
I'm still learning how to use this. I have created an ID in Spotwalla.com. Once you've done this you can create trips. Each trip has a link which you can publish/send to your friends if you wish. The Spotwalla map draws gps info from a compatible app on my phone, Spotwalla gives you a few to choose from, I am using Bubbler GPS lite which is free - www.BubblerGPS.com.  There is an more sophisticated version that you need to pay for, but I don't need that (yet). The Bubbler app uploads a location every 15 minutes (or longer , you can set it) which is shown on the map. You can also upload "messages" in the form of icons like fuel stop/food stop etc in addition to the 15 minute uploads.
I'm still learning but its of use to me as I can send SWMBO a link and she can check I'm still moving and OK at any time, and its a bit of fun to see the trip. I also have some ideas of doing Iron Butt runs at some point and Spotwalla is a way of confirming/verifying your locations and times on the run. 591 miles in 10hr 40 inc a hour footling about at Euro Tunnel as they wouldn't let me on an earlier train so 1000 miles in a day looks feasible.


Today on the shuttle I was cuddling the heater to warm up, last time I was on it I had all my gear on the aircon trying to cool it down. Mind you sur le continent c'est beaucoup de soleil et le vent et behind moi
(https://i.ibb.co/8DJXm1D/15516998408984211459084625396127.jpg[\img]

[img]https://i.ibb.co/G3K9v8f/87000.jpg)

And we passed 87000 miles on the M3 somewhere near Fleet this morning. Yes I know I have a bulb out, its the front sidelight.
The rear light blew as I set off this morning, so I was learning how to change the bulb at 5am under a streetlight. Think it may have been the original, I've never changed it before.
(https://i.ibb.co/JFfqRGW/87000.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2YDS7C0)


Heres what the B3303 looked like in the sun last week. Did my best to round off the tyres again but the front PR3 is looking and feeling a bit square at 9500 miles
(https://i.ibb.co/C5r4Rdf/20190227-B3303-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ccmR45j)

(https://i.ibb.co/ch0vPQn/20190227-B3303-3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jkm5dDX)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 05, 2019, 11:50:43 am
Tip for uploading picture heavy posts. Don't try and do it from your phone on the train or Eurotunnel. Think I edited the above post 4 times whilst trying to upload pictures to imgbb and then copy links to the post. And when you pop out of Eurotunnel or into a train tunnel and lose your connection , you lose all your work.  >:(
Anyone know how to get the BB code for medium sized images other than when uploading?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Lotus26R on March 05, 2019, 12:51:58 pm
"Mind you sur le continent c'est beaucoup de soleil et le vent et behind moi"

Vous parlez Franglais très bien monsieur!

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 05, 2019, 02:10:37 pm
Neat stuff Martin. Boring as muck journey, but neat tracker.

What determines the interval between the way-points? Distance, time?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 05, 2019, 02:46:58 pm
The GPS app broadcasts at a fixed interval unless you do a manual upload. I can select down to a minimum interval of 15 minutes with the free version.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 05, 2019, 05:10:07 pm
Cool. I noticed you were spending long stretches at or just above the national speed limit. I realise you hsve form in this department so I understand your caution if that is what it was.

On the other hand, you never know who is perusing your posted data sets  :o
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 05, 2019, 05:21:22 pm
 :-X
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 11, 2019, 07:48:26 pm
Today I left home at 5. Arrived at Bristol to be told flight cancelled as wind in wrong direction at Schiphol. Was sent in taxi to Cardiff. Flight was delayed. Currently on train into Amsterdam so will get to flat after about 14.5hours. And I binned easy jet cos of the delays.....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on March 11, 2019, 07:55:53 pm
I am sure you wouldn't want them to take off if the conditions are dangerous.  :-\
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on March 11, 2019, 08:26:36 pm
Today I left home at 5. Arrived at Bristol to be told flight cancelled as wind in wrong direction at Schiphol. Was sent in taxi to Cardiff. Flight was delayed. Currently on train into Amsterdam so will get to flat after about 14.5hours. And I binned easy jet cos of the delays.....
Surprised that the wind could be in the wrong direction at Schipol. Last time I flew into Schipol there were thirteen runways.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 11, 2019, 08:55:04 pm
Yeah but only 1 they can use in (what I assume must have been strong) north westerlies. Same storm winds  that battered several panels of my fence over the weekend I guess , unusual for a storm to hit us badly from anything vaguely northerly
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 12, 2019, 12:38:36 pm
Today I left home at 5. Arrived at Bristol to be told flight cancelled as wind in wrong direction at Schiphol. Was sent in taxi to Cardiff. Flight was delayed. Currently on train into Amsterdam so will get to flat after about 14.5hours. And I binned easy jet cos of the delays.....
Surprised that the wind could be in the wrong direction at Schipol. Last time I flew into Schipol there were thirteen runways.

...but they all face in the same direction...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 27, 2019, 04:35:16 pm
Get in quick if you want one

http://ogri-book.co.uk/wp/2019/03/22/how-big-was-my-book/
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 27, 2019, 08:06:35 pm
Nice! But...

...somehow, Ogri should only ever be a weekly or monthly happening. If we are not careful we will end up electing him, or more likely Kickstart, as the next PM and then he'll be on the t.v. every minute of every day  ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 27, 2019, 08:20:24 pm
You me and several 100,000 others
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on March 27, 2019, 10:28:53 pm
Start the petition now!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 09, 2019, 06:42:45 am
Another milestone, and this is my Amsterdam parking spot not an arboreal incident :o

(https://i.ibb.co/gJLF2vn/20190409-070700-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6F7JMvd)

Munich Thursday afternoon, I'll put up a Spotwalla link. After BAUMA on Friday and Saturday there's a chance of the B500 on the way back on Sunday. We shall see
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 09, 2019, 12:02:07 pm
Who'da thought it possible from the early troubles Martin?

B500, now I've gone all goose-bumby...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on April 09, 2019, 12:45:30 pm
I spy an extended screen! Ok let me check your bio before I actually say "I spy..."
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 09, 2019, 12:48:11 pm
My bio sadly omits to mention this, but if you delve back a few pages you will find the installation and pictures well page 3 . I do write more drivel than I thought...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on April 09, 2019, 01:57:24 pm
My bio sadly omits to mention this, but if you delve back a few pages you will find the installation and pictures well page 3 . I do write more drivel than I thought...

But you do ride further than most of us. And I like the drivel.
Everything in moderation. Except mileage.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 11, 2019, 09:52:27 am
https://spotwalla.com/publicTrips.php?un=fjtwelve (https://spotwalla.com/publicTrips.php?un=fjtwelve)

Leaving around midday. Looks a bit fresh, Sunday looks cold and wet. If I get there B500 not going to be lovely then

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 11, 2019, 11:08:23 pm
9 hours give or take, nice sunny afternoon but cool when it went dark. Very busy, ridiculous amount of 100kph zones on Dutch motorways. Hit the derestricted autobahn and immediately the fuel light came on range 36 miles and at the same time I saw a sign saying next fuel 52km. So I started slipstreaming lorries at 60 mph and just made it with 750cc of fuel left. Many roadworks in Germany and very busy. Was filtering unconcernedly until i had a chat with a nice lady in a smart outfit with a bmw with lots of blue and orange lights on it. Only opportunity to cut and run other than in the odd burst was the last 50miles to the Munich ring, the average just clicked into 3 figures as I hit the speed limits. There are some very fast boys and girls out there,  I thought I was pretty good watching my mirrors but I still got bounced twice. More twaddle on Sunday
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 11, 2019, 11:14:13 pm
Oh and what i can only describe as a hot no start incident at the first fuel stop. Nice german bloke gave me a push and it bump started.  Spent the next 175 miles fretting about the battery and whether i would get there. However it started straightaway at the next fuel stop and smooth as silk tickover none of the normal giggety giggety stuff. It does like a bit of 100RON.   :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 12, 2019, 11:40:48 am
The K is the only bike I've had where I could tell when it had Tescos 99 in it.

The no-filtering nonsense in Chermany is a right pain. You were lucky that a) the smart lady was nice and b) you didn't get shot for it... :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 14, 2019, 09:48:53 pm
So, the return trip. The weather forecast said showers so I was thinking there won't be any heroics given the front tyre is 98% shot. What they didn't say was there would be snow  :o.
Anyway back safe and sound in Amsterdam. About 1150 miles for the weekend. Will put up a few pics tomorrow. Oh and by the way can confirm the recommended speed limit when using the large soft bag is conservative. Very. Even with a headwind. (Definition: there's so much wind I think my heads going to come off. )  Must stop baiting sports cars
 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 15, 2019, 06:52:43 pm
Ach so vere are zee picktuures?

Well here's the route by Spotwalla

(https://i.ibb.co/Tv7HSCX/57429708-2535707123141011-6963761189486592-o.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HFbrsJv)

When I left Munich the forecast for Baden Baden was about 7 or 8C and occasional showers. Nobody mentioned snow. So as I trundled up North , somewhere near south of Stuttgart I realised that the white stuff in the fields wasn't some sort of flower or clover but lying snow. I had another hot start problem at the first fuel stop and had to do another bump start. Thereafter I went and got a drink and a bite to eat at each stop, and left the bike to its own devices for 15-20 mins when it would start straightaway. Never had this before.

Temperature started dropping as I headed West towards the 500 so on went the waterproof suit and on went the heated grips. This shot was taken a few miles before I got to the turning. At least the roads are dry I thought, heaving the front wheel around which was not only on its last legs but also being squared off by 700 miles of Autobahn. 

(https://i.ibb.co/0hHBHS2/20190414-141115.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vZ0s0Gq)

(https://i.ibb.co/1XzRwNF/20190414-141024.jpg) (https://ibb.co/X5YFvPc)

Then when I got to the turning the roads were distinctly damp. So damp roads, temperature hovering around freezing, shagged front tyre, what's not to like? ???

(https://i.ibb.co/h7KQHz8/20190414-141618.jpg) (https://ibb.co/GxVYkSP)

Upwards and onwards then, wondering why 2 months previously I been whistling around Cornwall in sunny 16C dryness and warmth and now in "Spring " I was freezing my gonads off on slippery wet roads. Speed can be very deceptive and after so long on the autobahn my head was dialled into going fairly fast. So thinking I was bimbling carefully I looked down to find myself doing 60 or 70 several times on a road that had mist hazing over it mostly wet with some dry patches and temperatures doing there best to get above zero. The higher I got the worse it got. The first bit is fairly open, but the Northern end and the descent into Baden Baden is a lot twistier and I certainly wasn't doing 60 down there. There are some definitely naughty corners going down the hill and the scrape marks in the road show that a few people get caught out. I was leaning over and off a lot more than I wanted too, squeaky bum wasn't in it. Just goes to show tyres are better than you think. I saw one other bike from leaving the autobahn to arriving in BB. The road through BB is in a tunnel where the temperature promptly shot up to 16C. Must be all the hot baths...

Emerging from the tunnel I was following TomTom and keeping the sun to the left when I saw a sign for Paris. Paris? WTF? Seconds later the roundabout sign said "Cedez le passage" and I realised I'd crossed the border. Sure enough there was a sign up the road saying France and a speed camera. Ok there wasn't a camera but adding France to the list of countries where I've been done for speeding wasn't on my to-do list for the day. Oh, wait, its already on the list, but that's another story.

Anyway I was soon back in Germany and tanking it up the autobahn as fast as I could, traffic was a lot lighter than Thursday. The Varioscreen takes a lot of windblast away but dumps a lot of air on my shoulders. This causes a lot of noise despite the earplugs. I discovered this when I was busy groping to do up a zip with left hand and twisted my shoulder right down. The effect on the noise was dramatic. The noise levels also vary with how stuffed/expanded my tankbag is, it affects the windflow behind the screen and how much I can lower my head and shoulders. So all I need to do is ride with my arms crossed and that'll solve it...

Continuous cruising at 110 or more causes the engine to start running hot, even in cool i.e. less than 10C, conditions. Roll back to 90-100 the gauge drops back again. I assume the radiator has partially blocked again.

So why did I go? The biggest show of construction equipment in the world, once every three years. Here's the hook of one of the cranes, I couldn't fit the whole thing into a picture.

(https://i.ibb.co/CtNQgJB/20190412-134900.jpg) (https://ibb.co/b3qXTH1)

Anyway all the excitement's over. Just totting up fuel receipts . €1.949 a litre anyone? Quick blip back to Falmouth on Thursday where a service and new front tyre awaits.

Oh, nearly forgot, 89,000 up. Just keeping up with the traffic officer  8)

(https://i.ibb.co/pvMsVsz/20190414-175227-rotate.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wNPbGbW)


Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 15, 2019, 07:38:29 pm
So, no playing on the B500 then...

At the current rate of use, when should we book the NEC for the BMW K1200 100,000 mile EuroKClub party?

Or is that tempting fate a little too much Martin?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on April 15, 2019, 09:26:18 pm
So, no playing on the B500 then...

At the current rate of use, when should we book the NEC for the BMW K1200 100,000 mile EuroKClub party?

Or is that tempting fate a little too much Martin?

That would be a fun meeting. Not at the NEC though.
Maybe somewhere classy between, well, Falmouth and Holland. Haynes Museum, Fleet Air Arm Museum?

Or better still, a ride out and we ALL stop and take the 100k photo on whatever A-road we're on.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 15, 2019, 11:52:57 pm
Well 90k should turn up in the next week. I'll have a look at the next few months and see what's likely. If the weather improves I will be taking off for a run in the evenings after work. And there's a couple of to an fro to the uk. 100k towards the end of the year I suspect. Then you can all club together and get me a k13 as you all say it's better than the 12....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on April 16, 2019, 09:30:26 am
Hey Martin, that's a lovely looking crane!

All this construction equipment, was there anything in the way of Smart Tools? i.e. longevity management, wear & tear monitoring, performance & consumption tracking of consumable components?

Perhaps they won't be widespread until 5G comes along properly, but without needing to stream 4k video of shearing bolts I'd hope it's still happening!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 17, 2019, 09:22:03 am
Most machines are fully electronically monitored for maintenance and servicing. Using the available data depends largely on the owner, his local dealer and project requirements. Some companies I have worked with take full advantage of the data available and use it, some just operate til it breaks then keep operating til it dies.
I was disappointed at the lack of innovation this year, but robots, AI, and electric machines are coming.  25 years ago hydraulics and electronics were replacing mechanical items, the technology to make the next jump is available but first manufacturers have to work put how to apply it, then convince buyers it's worth it, and wait until this generation of machines wears out. And the current generation of plant managers retire....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 17, 2019, 09:32:53 am
And the current generation of plant managers retire....

I was with you right up to that point... :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 18, 2019, 05:19:20 pm
So this is Thursday. Frying my gonads in 26C in Belgium.  Bloody weather.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 19, 2019, 10:26:01 am
Supposed to be 23C jere all weekend, so slightly less intense.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 27, 2019, 07:22:23 pm
So the 90,000 mile service happened. Ocean Motorrad manager #4 Martijn (half Dutch by way of coincidence) has now taken the chair but James the mechanic is still there. The day before I stripped the bike back and gave it a good clean for the first time in too long. As the air filter on the lefthand side had mysteriously not been replaced for over 3 years I highlighted this to Ocean and thought I'd take a picture of it for posterity.

(https://i.ibb.co/N6ZsHwV/20190422-135340.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JR5KMXB)

The bike is in reasonably good nick considering its now 11 years old. There are several areas of bubbling paintwork on the front forks and the shaft drive, and some of the bolts on the front brakes are now rusty. Inside the fairing its remarkably clean. A lot of paint has come off the engine block but its hardly important and you cant see it with the fairings on. There's no significant corrosion

(https://i.ibb.co/bdMqMyd/20190422-170241.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zfTjTLf)

I was able to clean the fairings properly inside and out and got rid of a lot of road dirt. I discovered a lot of scratches up the LHS of the belly pan so as previously mentioned somewhere I seem to like left hand bends more than right hand bends.

(https://i.ibb.co/0Dz6nyh/20190422-170310.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8KQfmg6)

I was short of a bolt for the belly pan under the rear end so was quite pleased when I found a bolt dropped inside by the battery box. Reassembling everything from the assembled yoghurt pots of carefully husbanded bits I was very annoyed to find that as I assembled the battery cover I was not only still a bolt short but also that a bolt was missing from the battery clamp, and I had managed to lose the bolt retaining clip from one side of the battery cover somewhere during my enthusiastic cleaning and polishing.  >:(

(https://i.ibb.co/FxpSrsD/20190422-170347.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LkKLFQZ)

So anyway the freshly polished bike went down to Ocean to get taken to bits. I had asked for the radiator back after they took it off so that I could take it home to give it a good clean because of the hot running in the long run down to Munich and back. When I went in to get it I had a good chat with James the technician and a good look at the top end. There is the first indication of wear on the tip of the exhaust cam lobe on the LH cylinder, and one other , may have been the cam lobe at the opposite end.

(https://i.ibb.co/SmLRvLb/20190424-141424.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wQvM6vV)

All of the valve clearances were in tolerance nothing needed altered

(https://i.ibb.co/6XVkgJm/20190424-141327.jpg) (https://ibb.co/8YTH640)

The general condition of the engine is not bad, you can see the hose clips starting to rust now

(https://i.ibb.co/k0ZZLtK/20190424-141455.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Bjkkh9L)

The unexpected replacement of the service was the coil packs. The plastic heads with the lugs for removal by the special tool have not got many lugs left and were difficult to get off. Also the connections inside which are tiny were full of that blue green shyte that grows on electrical connectors. Anyway new ones are in there now. The plugs all looked good and evenly coloured but my god what tiny electrodes! Hopefully this will help the odd hot start issue I'd been having recently

(https://i.ibb.co/9q7YtTj/20190424-141736.jpg) (https://ibb.co/WcLKty1)

The object below is apparently the radiator. After 4 hours work it looked a bit more like a radiator in that water could actually pass through it from front to back. Estimated 30-40% blocked solid. I cleaned a lot of road dirt out of it. I tried the pin poking from the back but the dirt was so well welded in that I was breaking the fins so stopped. Wife refused to go out as she knew it would be straight in the dishwasher as soon as she pulled out of the drive... ::)
It became apparent that there were 2 lines of particularly well glued blockages and it occurred to me that I was looking at brake dust and rubber in line from the front discs. Discovering my brake cleaner had mysteriously been used up I went out the next day and bought some. Emptied the entire bottle and it was beginning to make a difference but I ran out of time. Maybe an overnight soak in cleaner would have been more effective. Anyhow its much better than it was, we shall see on Monday if its made much difference.

(https://i.ibb.co/XX8X5K5/20190424-141750.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZdmdgFg)

(https://i.ibb.co/HxhvpHP/20190424-141800.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LJNwhZg)

Had a new PR5 fitted to the front to match the rear fitted at the last service which has been doing rather well. So the preceding PR3 did 12200 miles, albeit well illegal after the nearly 2000 miles I did in the last 2 weeks (Amsterdam Munich Amsterdam Falmouth with the B500, a bit of commuting and trips to Rotterdam thrown in)

(https://i.ibb.co/3z62xCv/20190427-112044-rotated.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cLf0Wrw)

There been a bit of discussion over grip puppies elsewhere. Just thought I'd throw in a picture of the original LH grip and the RH grip that was replaced 12000 miles ago.
(https://i.ibb.co/LJpk1fh/20190427-171149.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BrszBRK)

(https://i.ibb.co/MBf2Zng/20190427-171156.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cYwgkJy)

And so to the courtesy bike, a GS1250. Frustratingly due to being busy all week (some holiday with financial advisors, solicitors, opticians, fixing both sons cars, replanting trees and other gardening) it stood in the drive for most of the 3 days I had it. This was more of a shame because when I finally got out on it I found for the first time I actually liked a GS. I've had 2 1200's before and did not get on with them. This one had low seat and also adjustable suspension. With it lowered I could get both feet on the ground with my 31 inch inside leg. With those huge wide bars I found it easier to paddle around in the drive than the K, and pushing it about on garage forecourts etc was pretty easy.
The instant punch from the engine is great, keeping it below 30 in town is very difficult. Very easy to ride slow and filter too. Initially it was in Road mode which proved more than enough in the lanes and pottering around. Over 50mpg on the dash readout (which for one of these fully electronic jobs is pretty simple) in this use. Other switchgear was OK except the nasty little indicator switch. The keyless ignition was easy enough to get on with, although this is the second time I've used it. I was still getting used to the dive at the front end when I gave it back, you forget how flat the K stays under hard braking. After a petrol stop I put it in Dynamic mode and the plush feel of the ride became more K like. It accelerates very rapidly to 70 or so in either mode, and 90 is not long coming up.
The wind protection is surprisingly good and quieter than my current screen (as I mentioned in an earlier post). Sitting bolt upright was initially literally a pain in the arse. I found that the seat slopes forward and you gradually grind your gonads into the tank or find your trews getting very tight as you slowly slide forward. I got used to it after a bit of shuffling about. Those high bars need moving around a lot more as you start doing some proper cornering, I felt like I had clip ons when I got back on the K, but I think I'd get used to it. If I was given one I would keep it , but at 17500 drinking vouchers I'll not be rushing out to buy a new one. There was a very clean K1300S 30th Anniversary edition on the ramp next to mine in the workshop (Mr Grey who ever you are - nice bike) and I think I'd be on a second-hand one of those at less than half the price in jig time.

(https://i.ibb.co/yhzjZzy/20190423-145516-rotated.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Q8WwTWN)

So £1039.43 later we are ready to roll. My retirement planning budget has been altered accordingly.....hopefully will be joining you retired layabouts within the next 12 months
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on April 27, 2019, 07:42:44 pm
New members always welcome in the layabouts club  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 28, 2019, 11:42:08 am
Lovely write-up Martin.

I'm really pleased your high-miler is holding up and I find the two stripes of shite up the radiator to be quite amazing. I don't think anyone has ever mentioned this before. I would be keeping a few beer tokens to one side just in case the seals on the radiator let go, that's where mine went.

Also good news about the impending retirement. Grab the money while you are (just about) young enough to enjoy it  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 29, 2019, 10:39:35 am
(https://i.ibb.co/sV188Sp/20190429-054713.jpg) (https://ibb.co/BC600DH)

And there we have it at 90k. A damp misty, and shortly after this was taken, wet, Monday morning. You can see the radiator is now behaving itself having been given a good long thrash . Currently wasting time at Folkestone waiting for a train to Calais after getting here from Falmouth in just over 5 hours.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 29, 2019, 11:08:48 am
And yet another 10,000 milestone! At this rate, it might just last you into retirement... ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 30, 2019, 09:11:23 am
One of the guys walking in caught me at the traffic lights as we arrived for a meeting in Rotterdam. I had realised everything I had including the bike was black, but not quite as black as this...

(https://i.ibb.co/Xz351JR/IMG-8427.jpg) (https://ibb.co/y8Yktsj)
(https://i.ibb.co/4gz8XwV/IMG-8428.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2YxvC0k)
(https://i.ibb.co/kx3cHRm/IMG-8429.jpg) (https://ibb.co/W6DKxbV)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on April 30, 2019, 11:29:48 am
Battery?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 30, 2019, 11:31:59 am
Que?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on April 30, 2019, 08:39:47 pm
Are the lines up the radiator not in line with the edges of the mud flap which fits to the front of the radiator?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 30, 2019, 08:52:39 pm
No they are outside that
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 14, 2019, 10:07:26 pm
(https://i.ibb.co/7QXGLNX/20190514-224755.jpg) (https://ibb.co/PMN50zN)

91000. And one.  On the Amsterdam ring road after a late night at the office trying to understand pension investments. Now for a burger and wine....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 15, 2019, 10:05:07 am
I'm very disappointed in the 'And one'!

If you do ever get your head round pension investment, you could make a living out of it 'cos no one else understands it...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on May 15, 2019, 11:26:40 am
I'm very disappointed in the 'And one'!

If you do ever get your head round pension investment, you could make a living out of it 'cos no one else understands it...

Pension investment is easy to understand. You start with what you think is quite a lot of money that you then give to a financial institution. They then charge you a hefty sum for you giving them your money and give yo a small amount back. If there are any funds caught between the charge and the small amount you get back then the government take that to pay for the people who didn't save for a pension but instead enjoyed their income when they were earning! :(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on May 15, 2019, 06:13:15 pm

91000. And one.  On the Amsterdam ring road after a late night at the office trying to understand pension investments. Now for a burger and wine....

Snap! My retirement planning centres around being able to afford burgers and wine in Amsterdam and anywhere else!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 16, 2019, 03:28:39 pm
https://m.youtube.com/watch?feature=youtu.be&v=PRvFxehwe8E

1000 miles in 24 hours on an electric bike. Wot range anxiety?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 22, 2019, 10:17:19 am
Glanced at the rear tyre (PR5) yesterday and thought "ooh looks a bit worn" for the first time (there's still plenty of tread left). Just checked - 7250 miles so far. Have to say I am quite liking it, and the front PR5 is doing nicely too. Good feel, feels very stable, not the glued to the road of the PR3 but just quietly confident and very nice rolling from one side to the other. The shoulders are scrubbing/orange peeling up very nicely, although there's still a few mm of chicken strip left. And yes like others have said, my speedo and the GPS speed match now. Was slightly alarmed by the front TPS alarming red lights with no pressure but it transpires that the sensor is probably dying as its now happening daily, often I get no signal at all,  and I have ceased to dash to the nearest air pump. I'm pretty sure its the original, the rear one was replaced at about 47k, so considering I've bent 2 front wheels it's survived pretty well.

By the way - why has the handy "unread messages since last visit " disappeared off the front page?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 22, 2019, 11:19:02 am
By the way - why has the handy "unread messages since last visit " disappeared off the front page?

Depends which front page you are on about... 8)

On my iPad, the 'Show unread posts since last visit.' Bit is still there at top left under my name and next to my profile pic.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 22, 2019, 05:12:24 pm
Ah there it is. There's a wee grey arrow against the pale blue background in the top right-hand corner that shrinks the header. Clicked it and lo! all is revealed. How I clicked that to start with I have no idea ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 22, 2019, 05:49:12 pm
Well, you live and learn and every day is a schoolday  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 04, 2019, 10:32:57 pm
In the interest of keeping the numbers straight  heres 11111 views of this torrid thread
(https://i.ibb.co/mBqFRHn/Screenshot-20190604-232613-Samsung-Internet.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZJ81fhQ)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 04, 2019, 10:52:19 pm
You need to get a hobby Martin  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 04, 2019, 11:06:18 pm
Be careful what you wish for. Retirement the first instalment is underway , and Retirement the final countdown could see me causing a lot of bother from September onwards...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 11, 2019, 08:02:49 pm
Have had a small cut in the side of the seat for a while. Must have rained hard here last weekend, the seat has got a lot of water inside now. And I discovered another split in the other side now. Ho hum the wear and tear adding up I suppose  , heading for 2000hours in the saddle now assuming the previous owner had a similar average speed.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 12, 2019, 01:21:10 pm
Vinyl repair patch kits are cheap enough and will hardly be noticed.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 12, 2019, 03:46:44 pm
There are seat covers on Ebay for about £50
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 13, 2019, 06:59:02 pm
So having just pushed the bike 500m to the petrol station to fill up (that'll learn me to rag it up the (insert name of any local town) Amsterdam by pass every night) I just paid my 10,000th pound for fuel. Here's a few other stats to bore the wossnames off you:
72861.5miles since I bought it at 18,000 miles. I've lost a few receipts somewhere or the mechanic had it away with out my noticing,  but maybe <1% of the total
Total paid for petrol £10,010.41   
£1.31 per litre average, highest just a couple of weeks ago here in Holland an eyewatering wallet crimping £1.70
Cost per mile for fuel 13.739p
Total litres used 7636.24   
Average mpg 43.27
Average mpg according to computer   46.36
Difference   7%   optimistic
Average speed according to computer   53.75mph
Total paid for servicing spares tyres repairs accessories clothing speeding fines tax insurance etc   Â£17136.03            
Total for everything £27146.44      
37.25758973   pence per mile   

And for the record the amount put in the tank after running dry has been 20.73 / 20.77 /20.76. I have recorded 20.83 once and hadn't run out. Yes I have done the holes in the tank filler mod but I still brim it rock it about and get some more in.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 13, 2019, 07:13:05 pm
Just to satisfy my curiosity Martin, what do you do with this information once you have it. Does it help with a decision making process?
Will it change what you do in the future? It must take some time and effort to collect and collate this data.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 13, 2019, 07:59:37 pm
I started monitoring fuel consumption and mileage many years ago partly for financial reasons. I had to keep records for expenses anyway. I finally started a spreadsheet for this bike instead of logging bits of paper,  and as my work has become increasing mobile it was handy to have things in one place. And the " how many miles did the tyres do" and " when did I last top up the oil" and " I'm sure I fixed replaced that before " questions were easy to answer. As far as being a lot of work is concerned it takes a couple of minutes for each receipt. I haven't transposed the details of every individual item and labour cost from service,
just noted the total and key items of work.  And like any assembled data it gets interesting to play with while I'm having a coffee or comparing it to other bikes figures. When I was doing serious mileage a couple of years ago I was using it to predict service dates or tyre replacement  for which I would often have to take a day off and budget for. It helped me decide on tyres. It tells me if I am making or losing money on my allowances/expenses.
    I have stopped doing it with the cars because they both belong to my wife and have found mildly irritating not knowing. 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 13, 2019, 08:43:32 pm
Well, as long as it keeps you happy and gives you something to do while having a coffee it’s all good.
Me, I just fill up when empty change tyres when they wear out and enjoy the riding.
That said, I do try to get the mileage to align with the servicing and tyre changes while I’m still in the UK.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 13, 2019, 09:06:38 pm
And it's a data bank to answer questions from other members.  If anyone wants the spreadsheet I can email it to them.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 13, 2019, 09:27:22 pm
I use to collect mileage and tyre data. Now all that concerns me is how far I can go on a full tank. My current bike gets 270 miles full to empty.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 13, 2019, 09:41:29 pm
Martin, apart from a EuroKClub treasure, you are a treasure trove of data. This is what major project managers do between breaths and blinks!

However, you are also a lunatic. Go to Cotswold, GoOutdoors or wherever and spnd a tenner on a litre fuel bottle, stick a few €'s of Tesco best in it and stow it in a Sport Case, Tank Bag or wherever. I doubt I could push my bike 50m, let alone 500! I'd have to call out the breakdown service to tow me to the pumps  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 02, 2019, 06:02:27 pm
I want to complain. Its just not good enough. They should be better quality the price they charge. Things breaking when you need them. And really they should last longer. Its only done 11 years and 91000 miles. Bloody indicator bulbs.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 02, 2019, 07:09:19 pm
I'd contact BMW customer complaints Martin and ask if they would like it back to put in their black museum!

I mean, I got a free box of biscuits from McVities once. You may get a new bike... 8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 10, 2019, 09:19:45 pm
Ah all forgiven . While I was still in the" I'm sure I've got a bulb in the bag somewhere" mode,  it's started working again now.
However
It's done a swap with the front tps which has now gone AWOL  >:(

And in other news I will be joining the professional layabouts in early October after 39 years of training to see if all this guff about "I'm so busy I have no idea how I found time to go to work" is faintly true.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on July 10, 2019, 09:34:49 pm

And in other news I will be joining the professional layabouts in early October after 39 years of training to see if all this guff about "I'm so busy I have no idea how I found time to go to work" is faintly true.


"The amount of time that one has to perform a task is the amount of time it will take to complete the task."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parkinson%27s_law (as a generalisation of)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on July 14, 2019, 09:26:45 am
Top 5 , not bad fot a foreigner.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 20, 2019, 09:59:29 am
(https://i.ibb.co/sgpPkkr/20190719-071237.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QJ7czzG)

92000. Slowly slowly this year. Spending most of my time playing Dodgems on this bit of road between Amsterdam and schiphol
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 31, 2019, 12:21:40 pm
So came back from holland on Friday night, 37.5C Betty swallocks  in amsterdam, 13C where did I put my extra layers on Bodmin moor, 570 miles with a wobbly front wheel and funny
front end, and soggy  brakes. So in to ocean today and diagnosed unbalanced front wheel, one side of the pads down to the metal, and the front shock is buggered. It only went into have the front TPS replaced.
In an attempt to get me to buy something new I have been given this for a couple of days, R1250RS Sport 136hp. Apparently not on sale yet, and a snip at £16250. Hmm. Will report back later.

(https://i.ibb.co/ctp90WS/20190731-114928.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FJf12QL)

(https://i.ibb.co/3zj94GN/20190731-114848.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5FSgGt8)

(https://i.ibb.co/b2QqkGh/20190731-114901.jpg) (https://ibb.co/61rVkqh)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on July 31, 2019, 12:32:42 pm
Mustard! What sort of foul colour is that?
It looks underwhelming. And 1970s, in a bad way. But hipsters get want hipsters want, eh.

If they try and sell you one in that colour, ask for a discount.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 01, 2019, 08:59:40 am
Quick blip to lands end along through penzance and then back along the B3306 and A30. Have to say I quite like this bike. Going out again before I have to give it back tonight

(https://i.ibb.co/Zxj2YjQ/20190731-203329.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sqfW6fT)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on August 01, 2019, 04:35:12 pm
Mustard! What sort of foul colour is that?
It looks underwhelming. And 1970s, in a bad way. But hipsters get want hipsters want, eh.

If they try and sell you one in that colour, ask for a discount.

There's also a brown one! Or stardust or something. They're channeling the... 70s is it? :P. We should expect vinyl roofs.

I rode the 1200 variety a couple months ago and quite liked it. Missenden Flyer fella says the 1250 is even less boxery, so I look forward to your thoughts.

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 02, 2019, 10:39:20 am
So it's my 60th today
So Ocean wanted the RS back and mine's not ready
So they brought this round as a swapsie

(https://i.ibb.co/MpMKyB8/20190802-103527.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rM4qKdb)

Might go out for a ride later
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 02, 2019, 11:09:29 am
Whoppeee! Max speed and joint pain all in one compact package.

If I wasn't so tall & creaky, I'd probably buy one. I couldn't do it justice, but I'd certainly be prepared to give it a go.  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on August 02, 2019, 11:30:54 am
Nice! :D

I found them the be less uncomfortable than I expected (although just as ballistically fast as I expected!). Having the opportunity to ride the R1250RS and the S1000RR within a day of each other see if this question comes into your head:

Why haven't BMW put the S1000RR engine into a bike with the R12500RS fairing/seating/luggage?

Such a bike would, for me, be the logical successor to the K1?00S. 200bhp, decent torque, light (for a sports tourer) weight and luggage!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 02, 2019, 12:02:22 pm
I already asked myself this as my K does most of both. Just need a k13s and an fjr over the weekend, oh and a 1290gt.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 02, 2019, 12:09:04 pm

Why haven't BMW put the S1000RR engine into a bike with the R12500RS fairing/seating/luggage?


Isn't that a X 1000 XR Sport SE with Panniers Touring Cases and ESA? (I had to look that bunch of letters up.)
Getting close to a K at 162 BHP. Throw some panniers cases in and ESA and it's £17k. Suddenly makes a K look OK value.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 06, 2019, 07:44:40 pm
And so to the R1250RS Sport. That's Austin Yellow to you sir, none of this mustard thank you. Judging from the website and the value on the day insurance, it appears to have been a base model with lots of accessories. Its easy enough to swing a leg over, bit lower than the 1250GS I had a while back. Side stand irritatingly under the NS cylinder but I was getting used to groping for it after a couple of hours. LH switchgear as all standard in the RS and GS range. I find the Japanese style indicator button annoyingly small, I'm sure my old jap bike buttons were bigger. It would be nice if the array of buttons was backlit as thumbing the right button in the dark is difficult, I suppose you would learn eventually. The dash screen is nice although some of the font is pretty small, too small to take in in a glance, but the important stuff is clear enough. I like the rev counter display, and it gradually moves the red line up the range as the engine warms up.
Having fiddled about with everything I finally got out of the drive. Instant drive from the engine like the 1250GS , very easy and smooth to ride straight away. First junction nearly disappeared over the bars, the fork dive is dramatic, I do forget how little the K moves. The brakes are really good, very light to operate and powerful, reinforcing there is something not quite right with my K brakes. It was in road mode when I got it but as with the GS I did not like it, and it was into Dynamic very quickly.  Gave it the beans out of town and boy does it pull hard from very low down, a real shove up the backside in all gears. Overtaking is easy enough in roll on without shifting gears. However I sometimes got this weird feeling of surging/galloping which could be the active suspension.  Generally smooth without any noticeable vibration anywhere in the rev range that I can remember.  Cornering is fine but different to the K but quickly got used to it. Chucking it about on the B3306 at relatively low speeds was easy enough. Coming back up the A30 at speed I found the windscreen worked better in the low position and gave good protection well into 3 figures. Whether the protection in the wet is better then the old R1200RS was is difficult to say. The headlight is much better than the old one. I was very comfortable, the seat is nice, and the bars are a bit higher than the K and narrower than the GS, just comfortable, tank is easy to grip and slide around. The dash was saying 55mpg when I got home, and I had not been riding for economy.
Definite contender for a K replacement, but the model list and options definitely bears some investigation, its bloody complicated, but the other models come in less garish colours. The price of buying a new bike is a killer when you can get a second-hand K13 for 50-60% of the price though.

Of course the S1000RR is total different. First thing that struck me was the clutch adjuster that looked like something off my old SR500. Then I tried to get on it and nearly cricked something, may be I wasn't warmed up as it got easier later. Seat is a bit high and I felt perched on top of it, I was worried on our uneven drive I was going to tip it over. So light though compared with K, RS or GS. The bars are way lower than the K so initially I felt very awkward. The dash is smart but the text is very small, I eventually realised the funny squiggles in the middle were a lean angle indicator and G force indicator.
Mode was Rain, Sport or Track so I chose Sport and wobbled up the rooad. Having successfully got out of town I gassed it up the hill. I literally had to check at the next roundabout if the speedo was set to mph not kph. Off again having established those were miles not km I ran through the gears but found at low revs it was very buzzy/vibrating generally, so started to stay n the lower gears. Frankly 3rd does all you need.  The acceleration is addictive but tiring, and certainly in Cornwall you never get enough space to let it rip, consequently its on the gas on the brakes fast slow fast.
After half an hour I was starting to get used to it but felt I was only tickling the bottom end of its capability. My feet being tucked up under my bum even more so than on my K with the low seat was getting uncomfortable. I was able to move around on the seat a bit, but found that I needed to grip the tank with my knees pretty hard most of the time to keep the weight off my wrists. It may have been easier if I was moving around more but finding a piece of road that I could get to lean more than 39degrees without worrying about going too fast for the surface and or oncoming traffic was not happening. The brakes are excellent needless to say. This has been the first bike that I have ever felt I was in danger of falling off the back of and having to hold on tight. It is sooo quick. However there is no way I would want to ride it to Holland.

I've ridden the 1000XR and found it too frantic and after a short while uncomfortable as I was wedged in position unable to shuffle my bum. Going back to where is our K replacement, I think if they can squeeze another 15bhp out of the boxer you'll be near enough there, the 1000 4s are too sportsbike/race bike oriented. I want to go to the TT not win it. A detuned 1000 engine with more at lower revs might make sense. Remember the first Fazer with the detuned R1 engine? Maybe that's a better route for the 1000.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 06, 2019, 10:03:00 pm
Fab review - had me laughing out loud 4 times:
> Having fiddled about with everything I finally got out of the drive.
> Then I tried to get on it and nearly cricked something...
> I literally had to check at the next roundabout if the speedo was set to mph not kph.
> I want to go to the TT not win it.
 ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 06, 2019, 10:18:43 pm
And just to an oy those more anal than I am we saw 93001 yesterday. My excuse is 93000 kicked up on the last roundabout before the tunnel and when I stopped to fill up being in a bit of a hurry it had clicked another mile.
(https://i.ibb.co/R6R7Mn5/20190805-100739.jpg) (https://ibb.co/z2qNLck)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: DouglasM on August 06, 2019, 10:34:39 pm
And just to an oy those more anal than I am we saw 93001 yesterday. My excuse is 93000 kicked up on the last roundabout before the tunnel and when I stopped to fill up being in a bit of a hurry it had clicked another mile.
(https://i.ibb.co/R6R7Mn5/20190805-100739.jpg) (https://ibb.co/z2qNLck)

Impressive  :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: S BMW on August 06, 2019, 10:56:38 pm
😀 superb must say I do miss those older BMer orange on/off  a solid type no mess,no second glances, no fumbling job done switches.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 07, 2019, 11:48:26 am
Why?

Does your accelerator/brake foot also have to cope with an inconvenient, weird and counter-intuitive right-turn indicator and cancel mechanism at the same time as controlling the engine revs and braking effort when you drive a car?

I wonder why that is?

Millions of Japanese and other European bike riders strangely have absolutely no problems at all with the convenient, tiny, fiddly, squishy, grey'ish and very intuitive controls on their bikes.

Who looks down at their switches before they use them? So why do the indicator and horn buttons need to be orange? There is a reason for the kill switch and hazard button being highlighted, but really, orange indicator switches... ;)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on August 07, 2019, 11:50:20 am
I think fabulous beats excellent. Still an excellent report, thanks.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 07, 2019, 12:05:59 pm
A couple of other notes I forgot as I was being hassled by security to leave the office last night.

The R1250 had shift assist which worked well all the way up the box if you were accelerating, but not so well down the box or if you were just changing up or down at more or less constant speed. I'm getting reasonably handy at clutchless shifts up and down the box on my K now, the shift assist is quicker when accelerating hard but otherwise I wouldn't miss it. The S1000 shifter is better up and down but as I said above you are rarely at a constant speed.

Compared with my K the throttle action on both bikes is very light, maybe my cables need lubricating

The mirrors on both bikes were pretty poor, style victims. Even though the RS are very slightly wider than the K, like 20mm, I struggled to adjust to see more than my arms, and when I could see behind they are slightly too small I think. Not that you need to see what's behind you on the RR...

The exhaust on the R1250 is an ugly lump. It never got in the way and you can hear it, but if there was an aftermarket one out there that had the same effect as the Akra on mine it would be first on my shopping list. The Akra option from BMW makes no difference to the power output apparently, just lighter and different sound. Whilst talking about looks the new bodywork is better than the old, and its growing on me, not too Transformer/scifi - ish like some of the bikes out there at the moment. The bike is fairly slim, apart of course from the bleedin' great pots sticking out at the sides

The ability to bluetooth the dash to a phone app sounds interesting, but I don't know how it works. My test bike was prepped for a satnav, but if you have your phone do you need a sat nav?

The RS had the fitting for the panniers on, neat and not very obtrusive, didn't get in the way

As for other replacement options, I met a guy on the Chunnel who reckoned while the 1290GT was very good, it vibrated a lot. He was with his mate on a Sprint for a quick tour of the Benelux and had an older RT at home for commuting, but not a boxer fan and did not like GSs. Thus having been around the houses he rides a Tiger 1200. Another bloke had a ZX10 and was on his way back from a week in the Alps. They all looked fine in my mirrors.....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 07, 2019, 12:11:36 pm
Why?

Does your accelerator/brake foot also have to cope with an inconvenient, weird and counter-intuitive right-turn indicator and cancel mechanism at the same time as controlling the engine revs and braking effort when you drive a car?

I wonder why that is?

Millions of Japanese and other European bike riders strangely have absolutely no problems at all with the convenient, tiny, fiddly, squishy, grey'ish and very intuitive controls on their bikes.

Who looks down at their switches before they use them? So why do the indicator and horn buttons need to be orange? There is a reason for the kill switch and hazard button being highlighted, but really, orange indicator switches... ;)

After riding 3 totally different bikes, and driving the Q5, on both sides of the road in about 4 countries in the space of 2 days I'm surprised I didn't lose control of one of them at some point. Having spent 30 years using the left thumb for indicators it took me about 2 years to learn how go BMW, just in time for BMW to go Jap. Story of my life...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 07, 2019, 02:42:13 pm
Bit like the grief of trying to use the indicators on a right hand drive Euro car after decades in British and Japanese ones. (Despite this, I find driving on the right to be my 'natural' side and have no problems in Europe or US but have nearly killed myself or others at Heathrow and Dover by keeping on driving on the right when coming home, the one-way system from Heathrow's long-term car park was a particular nightmare, especially at night with little traffic around.)

The 'old' convention was that the indicators were always on the opposite side of the wheel to the gear change so you could do both at once, indicate and change down for a junction etc.

Japanese cars, being right hand drive didn't need modifying for the UK market but played hell with the odd European who kept flashing the wipers on the approach to junctions because the makers only moved the whole column from right to left so the indicators were now on the same side of the wheel as the gear lever, although I think Honda did swing the cluster over on some models.

Us Brits got the same problem with Euro cars where again, the makers only moved the whole cluster from left to right and this is still the way it is today, those whose native country drives on the right get better ergonomics in Euro cars than those who have to have the cars modified.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 07, 2019, 03:01:32 pm
The ability to bluetooth the dash to a phone app sounds interesting, but I don't know how it works. My test bike was prepped for a satnav, but if you have your phone do you need a sat nav?

Not really. Phone-based navigation is as good if not better than satnav, in my limited experience (Google v Garmin).
Google live traffic is almost sub-minute live, as is the re-routing. The Garmin seems to lag by 10-20 minutes.

However, you do relinquish your private data for those lovely maps on Android, Apple, etc. Such is the price of 'free'.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on August 07, 2019, 05:43:51 pm
Can't decide which I prefer at the moment. Am using TomTom most days lately, even though it currently tells me there's never a route home (road closed for roadworks and it isn't that clever to realise it's residential).
It also takes me down flipping single track gravel filled roads to get to a random pub!

Haven't got a clamp for the phone on bike, but it gets used in car... anyway this convo goes on for ever. I like rum.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on August 07, 2019, 06:03:47 pm
You need to change the settings on your Tomtom Matt. Do you have it paired to your phone for data?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 07, 2019, 07:26:58 pm
Haven't got a clamp for the phone on bike, but it gets used in car... anyway this convo goes on for ever. I like rum.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ram-Mounts-RAM-HOL-UN7BU-Universal-smartphone-black/dp/B0055PH0XA/ref=sr_1_2

Mildly ugly, but does the job up to er, xxx mph, and good value. Looks like it shouldn't hold on as tight as it does, but it's v good.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on August 07, 2019, 07:39:44 pm
Ta Rich. Might try it!

Rae: yeah Bluetooth hotspot is why it gets the traffic updates.

The single track was still a road and could just as easily happen with Google maps I suppose.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on August 07, 2019, 07:40:31 pm
I have an X-Grip but it interfered with the buttons on my S8.

Matt, set the Tomtom to avoid unpaved roads on all journeys.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 07, 2019, 08:44:10 pm
I have an X-Grip but it interfered with the buttons on my S8.

Make him an offer, Matt.  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on August 07, 2019, 09:31:04 pm
I have an X-Grip but it interfered with the buttons on my S8.

Make him an offer, Matt.  ;D
It might not interfere with my next phone  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 10, 2019, 10:47:03 pm
https://www.flipkart.com/toy-house-officially-licensed-bmw-k1300s-12v-rechargeable-kids-3-7-yrs-car-battery-operated-ride/p/itmevpwz2crfyyhr

That's the grandsons Christmas present sorted
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 11, 2019, 07:59:33 am
https://www.flipkart.com/toy-house-officially-licensed-bmw-k1300s-12v-rechargeable-kids-3-7-yrs-car-battery-operated-ride/p/itmevpwz2crfyyhr

That's the grandsons Christmas present sorted

According to some reviews, they've replicated some of the build quality issues too:
https://www.google.co.uk/shopping/product/16170740737896557136
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 11, 2019, 02:44:59 pm
I like the sound of a K13000. My kind of beast  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 12, 2019, 05:31:04 pm
And that's the French nation E45 better off, 109 in a 90 near Dunkerque. That'll teach me to let the phone battery run out so the speed camera alarm doesn't go off. Never seen an online payment happen so fast.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 14, 2019, 06:28:19 pm
Did it come through before you made the Tunnel?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 15, 2019, 12:27:26 am
No
But  before I went back
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on August 15, 2019, 08:56:25 am
Well, that'll have made the roads safer!  :(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 19, 2019, 04:01:00 pm
Does anybody know who's this was?

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/bmw/k1300s/

Looks almost to good to be true as a replacement for the current
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 19, 2019, 06:09:11 pm
Does anybody know who's this was?

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/bmw/k1300s/

Looks almost to good to be true as a replacement for the current

That's a link to all of the K1300S's for sale. Was it one of the low mileage ones? If so, they do seem to turn up regularly - 1 or 2 a month below 10k miles. But above that in £.  :o
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 19, 2019, 06:26:53 pm
...and you what they say about things that look too good to be true  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 19, 2019, 07:21:07 pm
Sorry it was that whit one at the top of the list. that's less miles and money than I paid for my K12 . Where's the catch?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 19, 2019, 09:13:50 pm
Sorry it was that whit one at the top of the list. that's less miles and money than I paid for my K12 . Where's the catch?

This one (£4989 from Superbike Factory)?:
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/bmw/k1300s/3634328/

I can vouch for their good pricing since that's where I bought mine from - and it was about £1.5k less than 'normal'.
I think they work purely on fast turnover of stock (and simple good photography).

I've had no tech problems with my bike that could be apportioned to them rather than BMW, but a single good/lucky purchase does not necessarily guarantee a good dealer.

Only one minor trick that they tried to pull - a charge for paperwork. The price on eBay/MCN doesn't mention any extra costs.
If you look at their actual web site, they will attempt to charge £298 paperwork:
https://www.superbikefactory.co.uk/search_page.php?make=8&model=5645&price=

I said that was illegal to charge extra without any mention, and they backed down, but if anyone is going for it, ring and ask the total cost in an email - then knock them back to, let's say, £5k all in. Oh, and don't forget it's probably due it's 18k service at £550 or so. Still reasonable if it has FSH.

There is another white bike with panniers at £5195 that might actually be better value - if you need panniers (£300-400 worth), and it's even got a centre stand, and only 20k miles:
https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bikes-for-sale/bmw/k1300s/3628017/

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: flatfour on August 20, 2019, 09:03:42 am
When I sold my Kawasaki Versys last year (to buy a bike with lower rear footrests in the future - the K1300GT as it turned out) I sold to the Superbike Factory. The supplying Kawasaki dealer was not buying bikes for stock due to the large volume of part - exchanges due in with the forthcoming registration change, and suggested that I contact the Superbike Factory as he had heard good reports of them.

In all, they were very impressive, offering a price that almost reached the part - exchange value, collecting promptly and paying in full at the time. They sold the bike very quickly for a modest profit.

The whole deal went very well, I was able to sell for a fair price, go off to Japan for our regular visit and, on my return look for a suitable replacement bike at the end of the season when prices dropped.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 10, 2019, 11:50:31 am
The old TT soldiers on

(https://i.ibb.co/1JDvqKc/20190909-060316-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Pz7mh4k)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 29, 2019, 08:35:09 pm
Its not true, I didn't fall in the canal

Sorry about the long break but stuff has been happening. The extended wet the grandbabys head celebrations that merged into birthday celebrations that merged into other peoples leaving dos that sloshed into my retirement dos all took their toll.

(https://i.ibb.co/3zfPgxx/20190920-092102.jpg) (https://ibb.co/L5QsVTT)

(https://i.ibb.co/472cpq1/20191003-083953.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vHhbkFX)

I finally pulled the pin on 4th October and rode back home on the 5th. 94000 came up on the way back

(https://i.ibb.co/SXWtwps/20191005-090546.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hRhBFv7)

We have been pottering about for a few weeks

(https://i.ibb.co/Rz3hRrF/20191019-120748.jpg) (https://ibb.co/t8qZVjG)

I much preferred Lands End in the early 80s when I was on a 4 points run and all that was here was this little hut with a jobbing artist inside, none of the tat that's there now. Anyway I then spent 2 weeks fighting Microsoft into submission and now have something similar to what I had at work , the only remaining problem being a 47GB pst file on Onedrive that loaded up fine but won't download, answers on a postcard to this address. Anyway as light relief from that I noticed there was a 50% off sale at Ocean last Saturday and legged it down the road to get some new waterproofs. Well the jacket was OK but as I'm still a fat bastard (retirement target #1 is lose a pound a week for the next year) they had no trousers my size.  So I bought the jacket and persuaded him to sell me a pair of trousers that weren't in the sale half price as well. There was a slight catch in that I had to buy this as well

(https://i.ibb.co/rwtNW9j/20191026-155907.jpg) (https://ibb.co/71zL9hf)

I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time and could raid the pension fund for cash, I think he could have sold it half a dozen times since Saturday. Its a 16 plate with 10k on the clock. Very clean, 2 years warranty etc. So I'll have to potter about here until next Saturday when I get my hands on it. Mind you there's a very big swell running on a Spring tide with a howling easterly behind it and its raining for 2 days so it doesn't look like this right now

(https://i.ibb.co/BB0YdnB/20191021-093310.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KWT8RKW)

So the K12 is up for sale, you can also get the Akrapovic, the original exhaust, the 2 spare wheels, the two fairing side panels that need painted if you are going to use them. Make me an offer I can't refuse. Otherwise I'll return it to standard and sell the rest separately. Meantime I'll get it fettled and run it for winter and keep the K13 tucked away for the better days. I have a London trip in about 3 weeks which will be a useful run in trip
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on October 29, 2019, 10:49:22 pm
Fabulous, and congratulations on many accounts!  8)
And a fine fine bike - you landed that one nicely.

Will be interested to hear your K1200 v K1300 thoughts.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on October 30, 2019, 10:09:45 am
Congratulations on the trousers! :D

Also, we're all going to be riding the same colour bike soon, may as well come to terms and sort out a 100 bike photoshoot!

Huge pst on OneDrive hmm... when you say it won't download, do you mean right click -> download or via the desktop 'app' when you ask it to sync things locally? That's about as much as I got, i.e. two ways to try and get it local. Otherwise I say retire... oh wait! :P
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 30, 2019, 10:12:54 am
It wont sync in the onedrive app. I'll try a separate download and see what happens
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 30, 2019, 11:23:10 am
It's at times like this that I wish we had membership fees Martin, because I would love to award you a lifetime's free membership for your bloody-minded persistence in doggedly stalking the mileage increments on the K12 and posting them up for one and all to marvel at. Well done. Just a pity we never got to the BIG ONE!

I like the discount arrangement on the trousers, looks nice. Shame it has no Sport Cases! Or are you riding naked now that paid employment has ceased?

As far as the weight loss regime is concerned, I can highly recommend the 5-2 diet/Fast Diet/whatever the latest name is.

Easy peasy and I managed 1Kg a week, 3 stone all in before I levelled out. Course, it doesn't work for everyone but it is well worth the try.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on October 30, 2019, 11:31:05 am
Best wishes in your retirement Martin.

The Motorsport should give you lots of fun. Especially using the quickshifter on overtakes.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Bruno on October 30, 2019, 11:40:50 am
Looks good Martin.  Enjoy it, and of course your retirement.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 30, 2019, 12:18:02 pm
Just a pity we never got to the BIG ONE!

I like the discount arrangement on the trousers, looks nice. Shame it has no Sport Cases! Or are you riding naked now that paid employment has ceased[/i]

The big one? Hmm let's see how long it takes to sell it....

Sports cases? Still thinking about it. Looked at Kriega the other day but felt I preferred the bigger stuff space of the bmw soft bag, which I intend to replace
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on October 30, 2019, 02:59:06 pm
Congratulations Martin on the retirement just don’t go thinking you’ll have heaps of time on your hands we are 10 months in and have had to buy a diary to fill in so we remember what we have Organised life is that busy Barnstable tomorrow via James Sherlock  :)

Re the 1200 i’d Be keeping it with currently 6 bikes I find the thought of just the one restricting at best aided by the fact the end can on yours probably has more value than the rest of the bike it’ll be just the job in bad weather no point in ruining a good’un.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on October 30, 2019, 07:05:58 pm
Congrats on retirement and the new bike. They should complement each other really well! :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: gibbo on October 31, 2019, 10:01:41 am
Please keep the 12 until you have the 100K up. You may be the only one who will ever achieve this feat.  :)

Oh! And congrats on your retirement and the new to you Motorsport.

Did they ever make 100+ Motorsports as Matt would like? Terrific photo if they did.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on October 31, 2019, 03:10:38 pm
Ok my assumptions being this:

1. They only made Motorsport editions in 2015 and 2016

Which is probably not true, howmanyleft.co.uk says:

2015: 193 new registrations
2016: 105 new registrations

Now every bike from 2015 on Autotrader is a Motorsport so maybe my ill-thought-out assumptions hold some water! :D

So yeah, we could do it!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on October 31, 2019, 03:27:05 pm
Ok my assumptions being this:

1. They only made Motorsport editions in 2015 and 2016

Which is probably not true, howmanyleft.co.uk says:

2015: 193 new registrations
2016: 105 new registrations

Now every bike from 2015 on Autotrader is a Motorsport so maybe my ill-thought-out assumptions hold some water! :D

So yeah, we could do it!

I'm not sure what the "assumption" is/was but I can say that when, in Sept'15, I was confirming the order for my MotorSport there were only 2 other K1300Ss in the BMW system. Both were Black Sports and a friend of mine got one of them. My understanding was that it was only MotorSports after that and that those with 16 plates were from an extra batch BMW UK managed to "acquire" that were originally destined for elsewhere in Europe.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on October 31, 2019, 04:34:25 pm
Sorry, badly worded. My assumption was that the only model made in those years was the Motorsport. But reading your post it sounds like there were normal ones too.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on October 31, 2019, 05:30:05 pm
Sorry, badly worded. My assumption was that the only model made in those years was the Motorsport. But reading your post it sounds like there were normal ones too.

Very very few, though. I looked hard for 2015/6 normal colour bikes when I was buying. I probably saw 1 for every 10 Motorsports. Hence my multicoloured purchase in the end.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 03, 2019, 04:59:05 pm
Getting a service (time related as only 10k in 3 years) and a new front tyre and an MOT even though it's not due. Collecting Monday due to a combination of this  the mechanics kidney stone and the slight adverse weather over the weekend. Omens? What omens? Better start another thread I suppose
 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on November 03, 2019, 06:14:59 pm
Better start another thread I suppose

Just let the next owner of your K1200 that he owes us a continuation of the story on this thread!
I mean - we all need to see the magic 100k.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on November 03, 2019, 06:48:58 pm
Ya wanna see high mileage bikes look here
https://www.fjrforum.com/topic/126374-fjr-mileage-milestones/
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on November 03, 2019, 07:53:18 pm
Haha but that's not as much of a challenge is it! :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: gibbo on November 04, 2019, 09:04:18 am
Ya wanna see high mileage bikes look here
https://www.fjrforum.com/topic/126374-fjr-mileage-milestones/


FJR's are brilliant mile munchers and built to last, but K bikes are not, hence the rarity value of Martin's 12 trying to reach the magic 100K.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 05, 2019, 07:25:21 pm
Planning to ride up to the NEC show on 19th. Anyone else going to be there that day? Theres an offer on a full Akrapovic system I need to be restrained from. Alternatively tell me i have to do it because you want my end can. Followed by London on 20th for a piss up in Paddington and home via Bournemouth on 21st.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 05, 2019, 11:07:05 pm
Just buy it but take a good Wolf Net with you to strap it on the back... :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: S BMW on November 11, 2019, 11:26:24 am
Congrats on your retirement Martin have a long and healthy one. Well wear with your new K if anyone deserves a new motorcycle you do!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 25, 2019, 04:12:16 pm
This is a bit picture heavy but anything to keep Brian happy...

Went to the NEC last week on the Tuesday. It was a bit parky on the way up, mostly below 5C all the way and flirting with 0C in places. I stopped at Gloucester services for fuel and a warm up, and was accosted by someone who wanted a K12 or similar as he was getting too creaky for his GSX-R and really liked the look of mine. Did the normal thing and said how mine was still going well at 90 odd thou but the K13 was generally acknowledged as a better bike.

Was able to leave my EnduroGuard jacket and my lid in the cloakroom at the NEC and was pleasantly surprised to find the trousers and my Daytona boots were comfy enough to walk around in all afternoon. Was impressed with the amount of race bikes on show, MotoGP, BSB, WSB. Yamaha put all three in a row which was great for a little bit of anorak detail spotting

(https://i.ibb.co/m8vRj8K/20191119-132240.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cLbyBL9)

(https://i.ibb.co/6DW6TxG/20191119-132505.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ygQLZ1K)

A little further along and with very few viewers were some historic Paris Dakar bikes. Built like tractors, 2 wheel drive, monsters. Paper road maps. Even the FZ750 engined one off was there.

 (https://i.ibb.co/LhMKbr5/20191119-132900.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vvb9ghY)

(https://i.ibb.co/tKWXZYv/20191119-132953.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DWSpGwv)

I wandered along to the BMW stand and saw the electric proposal but not particularly interested, that style is not my taste. Most of the bikes there I had already seen at Ocean here in Falmouth and even ridden most. A bit later when it was quieter I went back and sat on the new F900XR which felt quite comfortable, and also the 1000XR which still feels like being wedged in a bucket seat.

 (https://i.ibb.co/1r0ZtRG/20191119-141022.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fkXMzrd)

Unfortunately when I got to the KTM stand I was able to sit on the 1290GT and found I could now get both feet on the ground. Going to have to go for a test ride and put myself off, its no good.

 (https://i.ibb.co/NYrPfjL/20191119-142020.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YjXMJkt)

Kawasaki and Suzuki also had plenty of race tackle on display, and there were a load of BSB bike there too

 (https://i.ibb.co/QQvtSjb/20191119-142736.jpg) (https://ibb.co/V9Y5npj)

(https://i.ibb.co/rwgBQhj/20191119-142951.jpg) (https://ibb.co/S32k6gj)

(https://i.ibb.co/ZMKSCsM/20191119-145036.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bKLFnhK)

(https://i.ibb.co/3h5FMsS/20191119-145545.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zfW275P)

Overall I would say it was a better show than the last few times I've been, but that was partially due to the fact in mid week it wasn't mobbed - retirement benefits  ;D

Kipped at Meriden that evening and the next morning had time to kill so put "no motorways" in the Tomtom and was rewarded with a mostly traffic free trip down to Motolegends in Guildford. Hit 95000 as I was crossing the Oxfordshire border. Cold grey greasy day but I quite enjoyed it.

 (https://i.ibb.co/ZdwKXgR/20191120-094850.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gyXw9Wb)

(https://i.ibb.co/tpcNBxx/20191120-094904.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Kx7Q6LL)

(https://i.ibb.co/ZYW10kN/20191120-094930.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F0gqFjn)

After trying on a large number of gloves with the main problem being fighting the cuff on the EnduroGuard jacket I settled on a pair of Richa Ghent GTX size 3XL gloves, and a new visor and Pinlock, the latter pair being horribly expensive. Having checked on the net, what the hell has happened to visor prices jeez! My Merlin Titan gloves that I bought in July 2017 have now been pensioned off after 30,000miles. They have lasted pretty well, way too hot in the summer but good for the other 3 seasons. They look a bit tatty now but will do as a spare pair of dry gloves in the bag.

After a night on the piss in Paddington I again put no motorways in the Tomtom and, after a very long trip out of south London, but had a pleasant if damp thus feeling very cold spin across the A31 to Winchester before the long stretch of the A303 and A30. It absolutely pissed down from Exeter with the roads awash on the A30. I turned my heated grips off as I opted for cold and dry over warm and wet, but by the time I got home I couldn't tell either way (they were dry, tick in the box for Richa). The rain had got into my collar so I had got quite cold, confirming that as they say textiles are waterproof but not warm. The Enduroguard suit had kept me completely dry. The top windproof EDZ layer, which I added after the first day, makes a significant difference to the warmth inside. I'm still too fat to fit a down jacket inside, but I'm working on that.

SWMBO has allowed me to spend on a Bikertidy to hang all the clothing on so that's coming next week. I'm off up to Shropshire and back via South Wales so another milestone may roll around. Hopefully if the weather is OK I can take the slower road up the A49. Get the coffee on Brian....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on November 25, 2019, 05:55:07 pm
Martin i’m not Sure if you have my undying admiration  :) or you should get yourself ‘Comitted’ and send me the bil ;D.

Should have bell’d us for a nights kip and i’d Have dropped you off in your civvies went on the first Saturday had a cock up with some gloves went back Sunday all done in well under a hour with tricks of the trade and local knowledge.

Don’t ever see my GT doing 100k but it’s a great thing to ride,the Stand with the Sheen bikes what a conversation I had with the guy on there.......

And until either Triumph build a 1300 Tiger with a big 765 spec motor or Yamaha build a Tenere with the MT10 motor I won’t be buying anything.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: gibbo on November 26, 2019, 09:42:15 am
Nice piccies Martin and I enjoyed the read/report. Thanks for sharing.  :) 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 26, 2019, 11:25:23 am
Hey Martin, Phmode Barn is always open. Let me know when you are heading out or back and as long as it isn't a weekend the coffee is always on.

It is 16 miles east from the nearest point on the A49 (Hereford), but if you come off at Ross and do the cross country bit to Ledbury it is barely much further than the direct route north.

As far as the water getting down the collar, that is the one HUGE advantage of the BMW suit (no longer available) with the built in storm collar/hood combination. The storm collar is good and warm and tall and with the very thin hood (about as thick as a balaclava or EDZ helmet saver cap) to keep it up without getting in the way of the helmet fitting, you could go swimming without getting water down your neck. Not much use now they have stopped selling it.

Another great item I have in the bottom of the Sport Cases is a Buff WindStopper which, wearing the Buff as a hood and with the neck piece pulled over your waterproofs, does an excellent job of keeping out the cold and the wet.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 26, 2019, 09:04:00 pm
Sorry didn't see this in time. I had a late start and was already committed to the a49 and no time for a diversion when I saw it. And unfortunately returning saturday with no stopover time available.
I'll be back  as the man said

PS there is a hoodie thing in the collar of the enduroguard jacket I just haven't got around to trying it yet, still wearing a EDZ balaclava
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 07, 2019, 04:02:40 pm
So as you all said never so busy as when you stop work.
Last weeks journey up to Shropshire turned out to be a bit parky

(https://i.ibb.co/23RCwJV/20191130-081618.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jkqQdt0)

Having stood in the frost for 3 days the battery had decided to take a day off so I had to bump start it. Seeing as the frost was lying in the drive and the lane the back wheel was just sliding along. Fortunately there was a dry bit under a tree in the lane and it caught. After that it was fine and I was able to scoot down to South Wales fairly speedily and there was no problem with the restarts. Cruising home on the M5 in the dark 96000 passed by in the middle of a section where the hard shoulder was coned off so no picture stop. There was nothing to see anyway so heres a picture of Falmouth Bay at sunrise this week instead

 (https://i.ibb.co/h9zN0bX/20191205-074018.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pwFTqcW)

The next morning the bike was completely filthy so washing was required. Jet wash followed by MucOff rinsed off followed by Demon Foam Snow Foam and another rinse did the trick. ACF50 painted on all the metal bits and WD40 on the electrics. Lost a few more bits of paint off the front forks. Autoglym wheel cleaner did a remarkable job of shifting the brake dust stains off the front wheel. However I turns out I have lost a couple of the spring washers off the bobbins on the front brake discs somewhere so there's another job to do.][/url]

(https://i.ibb.co/GRwhyvn/20191201-102453.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hV5qbRL)

(https://i.ibb.co/tY0FHpd/20191201-112255.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5sQw1h7)

The sharp eyes amongst you will see I have the standard seat on. Have to say there's a bit more padding than the low seat which I have noticed on the recent long runs.

And then it went in for the 96k service. New air filters, oil change, oil filter, new rear brake pads, new rear PR5 (so 12235 miles on the last one with a bit of life left in in, maybe a 1000 or so, I just felt more comfortable in the sh1te weather with a full depth of tread). And by the way Ocean Motorrad are about to get another manager, Martijn has been tempted away to Bahnstormer at Maidenhead to be the new sales manager.

Beginning to get the feel of the EnduroGuard suit now, lost a bit of the stomach too, so its easier getting in and out of and seems not so stiff. Its still not warm though, even with 3 layers of the EDZ on I still needed a regular hot drink inside me while riding around at 5C and below.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 07, 2019, 05:57:07 pm
Nice one.

And I think your profile needs updating unless you still go nack to Schipol for old time's sake  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 07, 2019, 07:36:39 pm
Going back on thursday for the christmas do... ;D


Yes yes will update
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: flatfour on December 07, 2019, 07:44:38 pm
If Martin (Ocean) still lives at Lowestoft and commutes, I would imagine that a move closer to home would be welcome!

I have known him for a quite a few years (he was the DP at Lind Motorrad Norwich for some time) and always found him really good and fair to deal with. 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 07, 2019, 07:47:49 pm
Martijn ran the bmw mini operation at ocean for nearly 10 years and as far as I know has not been commuting from lowestoft. He is relocating to maidenhead with his hp4
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: flatfour on December 07, 2019, 07:53:43 pm
Probably not the same person then, I was thinking of Martin Pullen?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 07, 2019, 07:58:11 pm
Its Martijn Huddlestone I'm talking about. I think mr pullen is the head honcho at the plymouth ocean store  (sorry when I say ocean I am normally referring to the falmouth branch)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: flatfour on December 07, 2019, 08:03:27 pm
Yes, that fits - I think that he has probably been there for around five years now. Apologies for the confusion!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 07, 2020, 07:48:06 pm
Travelling to Shropshire via the Welsh borders  on Thursday if the #phmode coffee stop is open, and back via Warwick if #chriscanning is about.
Trickling towards the 97k...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on January 07, 2020, 08:20:07 pm
Hi Martin

Have pinged you an address if I haven’t before.

Chris
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 08, 2020, 02:24:22 pm
PM sent with details.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 08, 2020, 04:17:14 pm
Oh, and it is late apple harvest round my way and the tractors are turning the lanes around the village into death traps with bright red mud slicks all over the show...just sayin'  :(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 08, 2020, 04:20:18 pm
Yep just followed a large machine out of a field this morning and if he'd been trying to lay an even layer of mud lumps for a hundred yards he couldn't have done a better job. There are times I wish I had a dash cam
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 08, 2020, 06:11:51 pm
It wouldn't do you any good round here. I have spoken to the police with my dash-cam footage and they just shrug. The whole of Herefordshire, in fact the whole of the Welsh marches, depend on hops, apples and pears and itis of little concern if a few motorcyclists die in the cause...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 09, 2020, 07:05:40 pm
Really good to meet up again today Martin and despite the forecast and the scudding clouds it looks like you managed to beat the weather front.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 09, 2020, 07:08:55 pm
300 dry miles in January? Must keep taking those tablets.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 12, 2020, 06:44:50 pm
Trip home via tea and cream buns at the chriscanning motorcycle world exhibition, plus a demonstration of my unique K12 hot start issue,  was somewhat damper and a lot windier. I came back on the "no motorways" route which was great until Tomtom also took me to a garage that was closed when I didn't have any fuel left. However the AA set a new world record by getting 5 litres to me in under 25 minutes. Anyway, something over 600 miles for the weekend, not too bad, scrubbed the new rear in anyway.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on January 12, 2020, 07:17:17 pm
Hi Martin

Glad you home ok,a 1200 with a 1300 hot start issue is truly unique  :D I was betting good money it wasn’t going to start....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 08, 2020, 04:40:20 pm
97000 today, on the North coast somewhere between Hells Mouth and Portreath
(https://i.ibb.co/bspgSbd/20200208-130904.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v32x7Xz)
Last sunny day before storm Ciara give another workover
(https://i.ibb.co/NpkvnnF/20200208-130934.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2PL9YYF)
St Ives in the murky distance
(https://i.ibb.co/rwbV157/20200208-130952.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9rw7Cy8)
I have finally admitted defeat with the battery and will have to buy a new one. 6 bump starts yesterday and today, and despite 200 miles running around its not charged
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on February 08, 2020, 08:38:17 pm
<grandma_sucking_eggs>

Before buying the new battery, it's worth a quick check across the battery that it is actually being charged, if you haven't done that already.
As in 14V+ showing when running & revved - or thereabouts.

</grandma_sucking_eggs>
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on February 08, 2020, 10:12:02 pm
Just think Martin you could have had a good’un for nothing..... :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 10, 2020, 12:34:54 pm
I might be back up next weekend, watch out for freeloaders in the drive...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on February 10, 2020, 01:21:53 pm
You know we’re we are  :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 24, 2020, 04:31:16 pm
Yeah, so it was wet and it was dark and it was cold last week but what's 700 miles when there's a freebie on offer. Took the K13 and got it completely plastered in mud ostensibly to see my dad but in passing increase my debt to the chriscanning m/c emporium to 2 lunches and a battery. It stopped pelting down yesterday long enough to chisel all the mud off the K13 and wash both bikes. So I though I'd pop the freeloaded Motobatt into the K12 and luxuriate in the non-bumpstartedness of electrical power. You can probably guess there's a catch coming...

I checked that there was a full charge in the Motobatt and of course there was, lifted out the old and in with the new (fortunately there's a tool kit in the K13 as my son had "just borrowed some sockets to fix my mates car" which included all the star keys for some reason)

(https://i.ibb.co/d5KmbgT/20200223-replacement-battery-1.png) (https://ibb.co/qr1J05S)

Switch on, all the dash lights up, select run and press the button. Down in the far Southern reaches of the engine I could hear a faint groaning and faint click and that was it. The engine management light came on, presumably just to show me it was OK even if other things weren't.

(https://i.ibb.co/9tmmy65/20200223-replacement-battery-2.png) (https://ibb.co/FVkk82T)

Checked the battery which now said something like 7.6V. Muttered something and hoiked it out, found my battery charger and stuck it on charge. Dropped the old battery back in just for badness and checked the voltage which turned out to be 12.5V or thereabout. Cursing electrickery I poked the starter in disgust. Which promptly turned the engine. A little coaxing with the throttle and second go she started. Checked the charge while she was running and showing 14.25V ish. The Motobatt was showing 12. something within minutes on the charger. Answers on a postcard

So there you have it. In order to fix the K12 hot start issue and apparently knackered battery, just ride 700 miles through a Met Office named storm to get another battery with which to scare the sh1te out of the lazy battery, and Robert's your mothers' brother.

Bet the little b'stard doesn't start now >:(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on February 24, 2020, 05:54:25 pm
Oh Chris you live near where my dad used to live!

I may have to investigate these 'lunches' some time :D.

Oh yeah batteries, can't live with them, really shouldn't lick them. As they say.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on February 24, 2020, 08:25:01 pm
Blimey Matt so you dad had the same speech impediment  :) we are easy to find always say when folks are on the hard shoulder with a Conrod in the tarmac that Brummie lives around here....

Martin

Hmmm my money is on the starter motor because something is killing the battery,see there’s a guy in Church Stretton selling one the next your visiting your dad.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 25, 2020, 03:03:35 pm
Just so you don't feel too bad Martin, I decided late Saturday evening to take a ride out v. early Sunday morning. Nipped out to make sure there was still a K13 under the cover in the garage and took the key for some daft reason. Well, there it was, as filthy as the day it came back from its MoT in late December. Stuck the key in and nothing. Zilch. Nowt! Not even the dashboard...

Looked down at the Optimate lead and of course, 'someone' had forgotten to plug the Optimate in.

Hoiked bike out of the garage and stuck the lead in and left it till the morning for a quick getaway but checked the booster pack to make sure it was OK. Not been checked since last year's Wrinklies and still sitting at 99%. A-mazing!

7am and with all the kit on, went out and tried the bugger but it was having none of it on it's own battery. Dropped the booster on it and tried again. Turned over but not enough to start it and this with the magic box of amps (that started my 3litre diesel with its battery disconnected) in situ.

So, the mercy dash was performed in the car and I left the bike on the drive with the charger connected and the keys in the ignition in case anyone fancied it...

When I got back last night, unfortunately it was still there and the Optimate was showing the battery as heavily sulphated so I left it out as I can't push it in the garage with the engine off.

This morning all was well and it started on the button but there is still something not right with the year'ish old Yuasa. You asser...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 19, 2020, 12:13:25 pm
Something to watch if you're bored - Dutch tt 2018. I was there but first time I've seen the race video

https://www.motogp.com/en/news/2020/03/13/until-it-s-time-for-jerez-the-10-best-races-in-motogp/328170
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 19, 2020, 01:15:37 pm
Cool!

Another way to pass the time is to drive to the supermarket and watch the folks going in, coming out loaded up for the duration and going straight back in again with a different hat or coat on. Now that's what I call the true Blitz spirit. Glad to see we haven't lost it  ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 26, 2020, 10:42:46 am
Having anticipated the "no unnecessary journeys" rules coming up, I made a point of getting out on the bikes earlier this week. We had managed a 12 day  tour up as far as the Cairngorms and back in the Q5 having started before all the hoohah started, so had done almost no riding for a month for one reason or another. We were self isolating for a couple of weeks just in case we had caught something but I figured AGATT would be reasonable PPE. Given the bike hadn't moved for a month I expected it not to start but it did turn over but wouldn't fire. It bump starts instantly even from cold though. I got out twice and brought the total mileage for this year to 1275 so far. This could be heading for the lowest ever annual mileage.

In between I took out the K13 and riding them almost back to back I started to feel the differences more. Leave it a week or more and its not instantly apparent. The 12 definitely turns slower but the front tyre is almost shot, plus its a PR5 not a Metz sport that's not fully scrubbed in. The 12's mileage means its as smooth as cream compared to the K13 still somewhat harsh ggggggg feel. The suspension is very much softer and again I have started to wonder about replacing it. We are getting to that tipping point of do I sell or do I spend money. Given that the crisis has kicked the sh1t out of the pension slush fund maybe I need to go back to work as a consultant and sell the bike to my company. If I had one set up to sell it to....

Oh and not riding the bike regularly has surprisingly caused a loss of whatever miserable core strength I had, even though I've lost a stone, and consequently my wrists started hurting after a couple of hours. Thus aiming to do as much physical DIY works as possible, just staying on my feet as much as possible each day. With me and the wife both walking the dog up the hill , on the beach and over the rocks for around an hour every day the Dalmatian is going to look more like a whippet by the time this is  over
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on March 26, 2020, 12:44:13 pm
Taking that little tributary upstream a bit, on the topic of DIY, anybody built a mini... you know, those tiny greenhouses for growing potted things in. I have a load of 2x4 (well, the two nominal dimensions either side of that) from when I re-built the back of the garage, and I'm thinking i'll build a little growing thing for the many many vegetable seeds i've been hoarding for too long.

I'll probably draw a picture, that would be a better idea :D. Carry on!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 26, 2020, 01:09:21 pm
If you have 'lots' Matt, then a simple set of frames bolted to each other will suffice. Cover with HD polythene sheet (from ebay, not the local garden centre) and use roofing battens (when Travis Perkins reopens) to reinforce the plakky between the main 4x2's.

You can tear it down in winter so it doesn't become a hazard to Heathrow's flightpath and clutter your garage with it. Just sayin'  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on March 26, 2020, 02:21:51 pm
Martin

Think it would make for good spectator sport watching you trying to sell a 100,000 mile K1200  :D 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 26, 2020, 07:51:23 pm
Oh and the total costs excluding buying it in the first place just tiptoed past £30k....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 26, 2020, 08:24:55 pm
If the RTs feel like this imagine all the Ks..
https://www.facebook.com/1575427153/posts/10219192563236326/?extid=NKes8zcsppuD78XJ&d=null&vh=i
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on March 27, 2020, 08:11:35 am
Oh and the total costs excluding buying it in the first place just tiptoed past £30k....

It’s always relative... how much did you earn in that time  ;D ;D you certainly cannot say you have not had your monies worth out of it.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 27, 2020, 11:31:34 am
Somehow, running costs of 30p a mile doesn't sound too bad...

However, if the mileometer were calibrated to read in increments of 30p, blimey  :(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 13, 2020, 08:26:11 am
https://www.custommaderads.co.uk/

As I'm well into the life of radiator #2, I wonder if a radiator made by these guys would last as long as a BMW one? Even if they don't they might be cheaper...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on April 13, 2020, 08:33:07 am
Looks interesting, although from their gallery there seems to be no curved or V shaped radiators. It costs nothing to ask, go for it.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on April 13, 2020, 09:53:30 am
Here's another:
https://www.aaronradiator.co.uk/motorcycle/

'If it is beyond repair, all radiators can be recored.'

The idea of 're-coring' sounds intruiging. To a non-engineer.

[EDIT] And another:
http://westmerciaradiators.co.uk/motorbike_radiator_repairs.html
Article with curved radiator (and price about the same as BMW original - hey ho):
http://westmerciaradiators.co.uk/West_Mercia_Radiators_Practical_Sportsbikes_WEB.pdf

And one near you (what are the chances of that?):
https://www.radiator-repairs.co.uk/motorcycle-radiator-repair
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 13, 2020, 02:21:30 pm
Betcha they can't do a tapered, curved rad with the fiddly buillt-in crimps to hold the plastic side tanks complete with the unobtainable rubber seal that stops the water coming straight out  :)

When my 12 went there were no places would even look at it as a one off.

A place oop north said send us the old one and we'll take a look. Said they could make me one in copper...told 'em to chuck it in the bin  :(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 20, 2020, 10:14:44 pm
Found my bent  slate grey front wheel in the garage today and parcelled it up ready to send to moto liner. Then thought hmm wonder of they are open. Stuck some petrol in the car a couple of days ago and was gobsmacked at how petrol prices had dropped. Today us oil prices went negative,  anyone want to predict when we'll get paid to fill up?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on April 21, 2020, 01:33:49 pm
I've been turning off my drilling platforms in the north sea, but if you've got any spare Tupperware I could still use it for the excess.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 21, 2020, 05:25:42 pm
Heating oil was 36.6p per litre in July 2017 when I put 1,000 litres in the tank. Back at Xmas when the eejits who were supposed to be installing my log burner didn't, I had to put 500 litres in at 50p per litres.

Today, they've just delivered 750 litres at 32.4p per litre...ordered two weeks ago.

And don't tell me what it is now, I've stopped looking.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 16, 2020, 12:22:09 pm
(https://i.ibb.co/WVL5BZH/20200516-115930.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SfzyVb6)

Got the girls out of the shed/uncovered for the first time since March 22nd. The old k12 which has been outside  tried hard to start but despite still having 12V in the battery it wouldn't. So I think Chris Cannings' theory that there may be a starter motor problem will need to be checked out (it started hesitating a year ago and bump starts have become a regular feature). The k13 started first time. Neither of them have been on chargers so I was pleasantly surprised. Leaving going put for a run till next week so the tin can drivers will have got closer to normal levels of SMIDSY. At present they are having trouble seeing the Q5
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 16, 2020, 04:41:38 pm
(https://i.ibb.co/68Y4DzQ/20200516-163036.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bF1rNTt)

Well there you have it. As recommended the BMW extra splash guard , fitted to the K13 and the K12 still bare ass. Hopefully this will now prevent rain for the foreseeable future 🤔
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 16, 2020, 06:10:48 pm
 :D :D :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on May 16, 2020, 08:05:01 pm
Hi Martin

Did you ever put a battery on the 1200?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 16, 2020, 09:14:58 pm
Yep see above Feb 24th, I dropped in the Motobatt that you donated - and it didn't fix it. I still have intermittent starting and more frequent bump starts. I tried the Motobatt again today as a jump start, both batteries showing 11.5-12V. The engine was trying , turned over a few times, but wasn't going to spin. Plenty of clunks and groans. Ocean have reopened in Falmouth so I will drop in next week and see what they can do with it.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on May 16, 2020, 09:19:46 pm
Hmmmmm :(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 16, 2020, 09:28:44 pm
Well sometimes it starts perfectly eg outside your house. Then the next time its completely dead, often when hot. After 15 mins it will spin up no bother sometimes. The coil packs were recently replaced, plugs were new 7000 miles back. No error messages, no other electrical symptoms or poor running / lack of performance. Bump starts dead easy. I had wondered if there was a dodgy kill switch or side stand cut out, but think in that case it would be completely dead or fine, none of this reluctant straining to turn over. Pulling clutch in makes no difference.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on May 16, 2020, 10:36:45 pm
Then the next time its completely dead, often when hot. After 15 mins it will spin up no bother sometimes.

That's almost the 'hot start' issue.
But 'hot start' usually has some sort of noise (krunk, or just a click as it weakens) as it tries and fails miserably, to turn the crankshaft.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 16, 2020, 11:03:01 pm
Yeah well I did christen it the K12 hot start, but then it started to doing it from cold as well sooo….Mind you the cables are 12 years and 97k old so maybe that's part of the problem
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 19, 2020, 04:55:57 pm
Just ordered a new bobbin set for one of the front discs as a couple of the spring washers have mysteriously disappeared on one of the discs. These guys are apparently the UK Brembo importer

Bike Torque Racing
Unit 15 Handlemaker Road
Marston Trading Estate
Frome
Somerset
BA11 4RW

01373 464252

www.biketorqueracing.co.uk

And a new set of Brembo SA front brake pads as the BMW ones seem not to work as well on the Serie Oro discs I put on a while back. Well either that or I am going to find out that there is another problem with the brakes as they are definitely not what they were.
Oh and my dad sent me this today
(https://i.ibb.co/m4hyZmy/20200519-me-and-Jane-on-grandads-Yamaha-c1965.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HqGPw0P)
Judging from my and my sisters appearance, and the number plate, its circa 1965 so I will be about 6 or 7. So that's my Grandad, my dad, me and my son that all rode or ride bikes. My son who doesn't ride a bike just now wants his son to have a little dirt bike (not that I am encouraging him officer), but is encountering opposition from his partner. Well we have a little time yet as the grandson is only 9 months old and has just worked out how to stand up
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on May 19, 2020, 05:50:33 pm
Blimey shame you don’t still have the bike stuff like that now goes for telephone numbers,re the learning to ride a bike hmmmm,over the years i’ve Had no end of folk as me to tech e’m to ride a bike and and i’ve Always been reluctant,when i’m At the doctors the normal question...

Do you smoke

No I ride a motorcycle that’ll kill me quick enough.....

And as you know my mates little boy showed no interest what so ever in learning to ride a bike and look what happened to him  :D so yea it’s complicated..
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 20, 2020, 03:30:10 pm
Standing up is the first challenge of riding on the dirt so your gramdson is well on the way... :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 20, 2020, 10:38:38 pm
Getting very bored and the problem with that is money starts burning a hole in your pocket exponentially. Buy one thing and before you know it you need a loan.
So the efficient boys at BikeTorque landed the new bobbin kit and brake pads on my doorstep this afternoon. Unusually efficiently I had put the bike up on the stands ready to work, and been out to stock up on brake cleaner at the local B&Q. Consequently this turned out into a SWMBO supplies mission and I ended up with a bag of peat, 3 different kinds of plant food, a bottle of brick cleaning acid and a bottle of and stone cleaner for the jet wash. As you do I happened to pick up  tin of WD40 cos you can never have enough, a bottle of wheel cleaner and 2 Dremel wire brushes that I figured would come in handy top clean up the paint free areas on the forks. And no brake cleaner. So I had to go to Truro for that.

Having duly washed all the nasty Covid bugs off everything I'd bought in accordance with the SWMBO regulations,  I started to take things to bits. Off with the mudguard and on to the callipers. This was the front left. As you can see one pad is hardly worn. More of that later
(https://i.ibb.co/P53zz5m/20200520-130505.jpg) (https://ibb.co/D7sgg7V)
Front right was a bit more even but not great
(https://i.ibb.co/yfqMGVZ/20200520-130554.jpg) (https://ibb.co/p0dsGnM)
Then just for all those fretting about paint peeling off here and there here's the front right fork
(https://i.ibb.co/p1QTsd5/20200520-130603.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vchWrkR)
And the front left fork
(https://i.ibb.co/VW6m30T/20200520-130627.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z69mNRx)
I'll chip off the loose paint after washing all the crap off. I have some silver Hammerite in the shed and am wondering whether to put some of that on, or just leave them until I get the forks completely repainted at some point. Maybe.
I then started investigating the front right brake disc where some of the spring washers have sprung into another life somewhere. Tugging at the disc and looking to see which ones had gone I began to feel there was something awry. Firmly grasping the top and bottom of the wheel I gave a good shake and sure enough movement, so the bearings are buggered. So I thought well I have this fancy front stand, I can take the wheel out and get Ocean to do the bearings. Undid the right pinch bolt and could not move the spindle. Double joy.
So decided to take out the pads and clean up the calipers. Well I found out why the brakes have been feeling pathetic recently. RHS calliper one piston popped its head out, and over an hour later all 4 were grudgingly moving. Onto the LHS calliper and beginning to lose the will and run out of brake cleaner, I found again 1 happy piston and 3 stuck. 2 came free but the 4th is seized, hence the almost unworn pad above.
Anyway now I know why the front of the bike has been feeling a bit odd recently and the brakes have been needing a bigger and bigger handful over the last few rides
Just composed an email to Ocean saying I need to come in so they can look at the starting problem, the wheel bearing and free the piston. What the hell, maybe I'll get them to chuck on another front tyre while they're at it. Contemplating writing another email to Captain Sir Tom Moore seeing if he'll do some more laps to raise cash for the bill
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 20, 2020, 11:27:50 pm
Strange how you never really notice things going off...

But you've got no bloody excuse cos you've got a new'ish K13 to compare it with and the brakes on the K12 should be like a boat anchor compared to the 13...

Yer banned  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 21, 2020, 12:22:08 am
I think you'll find above that I started complaining about the brakes in july last year. I've just been getting round to fixing it dreckly
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on May 21, 2020, 09:58:38 am
I'll chip off the loose paint after washing all the crap off. I have some silver Hammerite in the shed and am wondering whether to put some of that on, or just leave them until I get the forks completely repainted at some point. Maybe.

To quote the up-coming Richtea's Lazfy* Book of Bike Maintenancetm:

- Aluminium corrosion is self-regulating - it creates a nice seal protecting the fresh aluminium underneath, so you can leave it as long as you like.

- Brakes don't adhere (ha!) to the same regime.  :o



*That's not just lazy, that's f in lazy.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 21, 2020, 11:12:31 am
 :D :D :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 21, 2020, 09:45:53 pm
Progress of a sort. Managed to free off the seized piston having left it to stew in its own juices/WD 40/ brake cleaner for 24 hours. Thus fitted the sparkly new Brembo SA sintered pads, and also replaced all the bobbins and washers.
Cracked off the spalled paint, tomorrows job is to clean that up and see if the Hammerite works. Planning to use the Special Metals Primer followed by Direct to Galvanised Metals paint which Hammerite list for amongst others aluminium. I'm priming as I read a review that said the paint doesn't stick too well to oxidised aluminium.
Unless anyone can tell me  this won't work...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 22, 2020, 06:21:51 pm
So heres what it looked like after I stripped off the loose paint and oxidation, and then got Mr Dremel and his wire brush attachment over everything

(https://i.ibb.co/XYjHPrd/20200522-154114.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z2G9rpw)
(https://i.ibb.co/tY4zGVf/20200522-154136.jpg) (https://ibb.co/JrKq1DL)

(https://i.ibb.co/kx82CpD/20200522-154146.jpg) (https://ibb.co/9NTH5J4)


Then I painted the Hanmerite primer on. Goes on very easily and evenly.

(https://i.ibb.co/dGFL6NP/20200522-164010.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SRbd0kt)
(https://i.ibb.co/DDdxZ3T/20200522-164019.jpg) (https://ibb.co/qM6tvbV)
(https://i.ibb.co/W6nLP8B/20200522-164027.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zrsz79P)

 Currently I'm just waiting for the first coat of the Hammerite silver to cure. Think I'll leave that overnight and see if it needs sanding back before a second coat. It is quite thick and if I do any more I will dilute the first coat with thinners.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 22, 2020, 07:36:05 pm
Now that is what I call flaking paint...

I just love the urban camo orange bits. You could start a trend here Martin  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on May 22, 2020, 09:11:00 pm
Keep buying the Hammerite, Akzo Nobel pay my pension.

Tip: leave it a couple of days before rubbing it down. Hammerite is a slow drying paint but once fully cured it's very tough. What were you thinking of thinning it down with?
White spirit would be your best bet.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 22, 2020, 10:40:16 pm
I was going to use some Hammerite thinners (your pension fund got a significant boost this morning) can also use white spirit if you think that's  better.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on May 23, 2020, 07:01:38 am
No martin, use the Hammerite thinners that you have bought, most people don't have enough fore thought to buy the thinners.
Although I must admit I use white spirit, which is ok as long as you don't get to saturation point.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 23, 2020, 08:51:47 pm

Used about 10% dilution of the hammerite and a softer brush and got a smoother finish. I tried sanding the first coat  but it was marking the original paint without having much effect on the hammerite. It was never going to be a good looking job as I as working around the stand and couldn't get the wheel out and use bigger tools, feather all ithe original paint edges in etc, but I hope its sealed it all up for a while. It's not a bad colour match so if you were just touching up chips and small areas it wouldn't look bad

(https://i.ibb.co/VxNG8cb/20200523-143601.jpg) (https://ibb.co/T1TG5xJ)

(https://i.ibb.co/T40LVZP/20200523-143608.jpg) (https://ibb.co/y6kSwDg)

(https://i.ibb.co/tz3pk1q/20200523-143613.jpg) (https://ibb.co/xY3qPr1)

Tomorrow I'm going to try out some foaming cleaner for air con coil cleaning on the radiator.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on May 23, 2020, 09:18:20 pm
Now you know it's a decent match Martin you can make a better job of feathering the edges, or just leave it and look at it with your eyes shut  ;D

I would leave it about two weeks before touching it again.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on May 23, 2020, 10:15:29 pm
It looks to me like it would be best to strip it off completely and then paint.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 23, 2020, 10:25:09 pm
Yeah correct but I lack the space skill and tools to do that at the moment. Once I get past 100k I will think about some serious recon
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: rdryder on May 24, 2020, 01:21:28 pm
My k1200s was badly pitted.Now this was about  8 years ago.When Bmw had it in for a service I got them to strip the forks and I took them away to be stripped and powdercoated. Colour was very close.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 24, 2020, 01:25:23 pm
Yes was thinking along those lines.  Also thinking about doing the same with the rear. And the front wheel needs doing. Oh and replace the suspension while it's all in bits.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 24, 2020, 01:34:55 pm
Tried this stuff out this morning. The foam didnt come out full of gunk that I could see, although discoloured in places. Reapplied several times till the tin ran out from front and back, used a paint brush to work it in and found an old part from the washing machine plumbing to get an angled head on the hose. Theres water coming through from back to front now. All the dirts disappeared but I think I will get some more brake cleaner  as there are fins clogged with brake dust and rubber.

(https://i.ibb.co/mcLcZ2j/20200524-115822.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YLzLn1C)


(https://i.ibb.co/6mzbryV/20200524-120010.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Y3m8PNY)


(https://i.ibb.co/QpdnDhs/20200524-131948.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hLfHYrp)


(https://i.ibb.co/LQpfcHT/20200524-132652.jpg) (https://ibb.co/M8NLtQz)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 24, 2020, 11:12:53 pm
Here's a couple of pictures to give you an idea of the general condition of the bike under the fairings

(https://i.ibb.co/stz7z05/20200524-170610.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N7bRb81)

Having the front stand makes it immeasurably easier to get the front wheel cleaned, and even better with the mudguard off and the fairings off. Autoglym wheel cleaner is very good. Wouldn't want to be doing it every week though. Which is why I haven't...

While I had the radiator guard off I took the opportunity to give that a good clean. Having used an old paintbrush to get in and clean all the little openings it occurred to me I could use a paintbrush to get some rubber bumper gel in there after cleaning and considerably improve the appearance. That worked. Annoyingly the guard would not fit snugly back into the top of the radiator, maybe it had expanded slightly in the sun as its a pretty snug fit, or maybe it didn't fit anyway and I just didn't notice during dismantling.

(https://i.ibb.co/5Wj3BKc/20200524-170914-edit.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Z6grW2T)

Starting to lose paint around the odd bolt hole. Also losing the lacquer here and there off things like the front mudguard and the belly pan

(https://i.ibb.co/RTNx42K/20200524-204821.jpg) (https://ibb.co/r23Cfkh)

This is the worst bit, on the inside of the front right fairing for some reason. Might be a dodgy paint job, the piece on the lefthand side is fine.

(https://i.ibb.co/VWRkdLR/20200524-205636.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ns9KTw9)

No bolts or fixings were harmed or lost during the making of this post, surprisingly. Would like to know which bit of precision design and production engineering caused some of the fairing fixings to be T25 and some T27. When I came in SWMBO condemned the clothes I was wearing and said they are going in the bin. Bike must be properly clean then....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 25, 2020, 03:16:36 pm
I agree about the T25/27 nonsense, especially as the only bit missing from my set is T27.

It probably stuck in the bolt and came out of the end of the driver after a re-fit and is now firmly embedded in someone's rear tyre.

It is the German 'discipline' of insisting on the 'correct' size for the job whereas the Japanese make things like the axle nut a different size from the head of the bolt so you don't need to have two spanners of the same size...far too illogical for the Germans.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 02, 2020, 03:07:29 pm
So after emailing, phoning (message with car department not passed on obv), filling in the online form, I finally got through to Ocean to book in. Eva says COVID 19 working practices have put her in a glass box with do not feed on the outside, there's a new manager in residence who I have yet to meet, but horror James the tech is leaving. James has looked after my bike for most of the last 5 years so we have just manged to squeeze in for tracing this starting fault/wheel bearing /tyre before he leaves.
To mend busses in Newquay, which is a better paid job apparently  ???
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 11, 2020, 04:14:32 pm
So after they fully charged the battery overnight it starts cold warm hot. So why when I do the same does this not work? And before you ask my battery charger does work, we just charged up the audo tt battery with it. The bearing had to be drifted out so it wasn't just my cack handed mechaniccing. And the abs light - looks like the pump is on the way out. And the new front tyre from Delticom alias mytyres is "delayed" because of Covid. Other than that it's been a grand day
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on June 11, 2020, 04:49:53 pm
The dealer must have premium electricity and you Martin must be running 3 star electricity.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on June 11, 2020, 04:53:02 pm
I've started adding 10% ethanol to my electricity supply to make sure I'm ready for Euro 6.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 11, 2020, 05:26:30 pm
So after they fully charged the battery overnight it starts cold warm hot. So why when I do the same does this not work?

It depends if they are using that grefat charger on a trolley cos that can blow a gazillion amps through a battery...no, really  ;D

If your battery is taking the picturesque route to the recycling centre then maybe your charger can't bring it to full charge.

What charger are you using, just a transformer or an Optiwotsit?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 23, 2020, 04:11:07 pm
Bog standard charger for me, no trickling Optimised or otherwise

Anyway after nigh on 2 weeks, Delticom / mytyres / selectaname finally delivered my front tyre and Ocean put it on yesterday. And guess what the bike wouldn't start. So they now have what I've had off and on for 12 months. However what they don't have any more is James, and Richard the 20 years BMW car mechanic and nearly 2 weeks on BMW bikes mechanic is not sure where to look. I have suggested starter motor but ....
Anyway as I have the luxury of another bike to use and no essential journeys to work I've left it with them
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 09, 2020, 03:50:58 pm
Having sorted out the garage and uncovered my spare but bent front wheel I sent it off to Motoliner in Maidstone yesterday. They phoned this morning, job done, will be back tomorrow. Not bas eh?
So soon I will have the option of matching wheels again, if I get the bike back. I suspect they are going to fit a new battery and say they've fixed it.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 17, 2020, 12:16:57 pm
So with a new battery it does start every day. So I'll just take that and get on with it.

The other news is that the abs pump is electrically goosed. New one is £1300 ish. So I can run it without  ABS until MOT is due. Should get to the 100k without too much effort. Question is what do I do then. Is there any point at all going secondhand, or if anyone does it, reconditioning it?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on July 17, 2020, 01:06:39 pm
There is a guy out there that used to refurbish them for about 150 quid he used to advertise on Ebay.
Have a poke around there are several places that recondition ABS units these days.

Edit: found a couple of places
https://controlunits.co.uk/bmw-k1200s-motorcycle-abs-dsc-pump-ecu/?gclid=CjwKCAjwmMX4BRAAEiwA-zM4JoNOpGZnzKQf9a0UZG35gFyLgXB0-rgpB7221d-_haYF0dOrhBzu_BoCNrkQAvD_BwE

https://www.ecutesting.com/product-catalogue/bmw/k1200/abs-pump-ecumodule-combined/amc108473-a/?gclid=CjwKCAjwmMX4BRAAEiwA-zM4JisHNnNg7R109gJx7G-6CnKBfC-xRr_SjW7gFW2vMflU2GsyWneV3BoCFN0QAvD_BwE
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 17, 2020, 09:10:49 pm
We (I) came across a guy in the Roster and Wuss or Wester Ross or somewhere in that foreign country 'oop north from 'oop north.

This may be the same guy Rae speaks of.

He was happy to guarantee his work and did a week's turnaround from memory.

However, that is as far as my memory goes so not much use at all really...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 23, 2020, 07:53:17 pm
Flying trip to shropshire this week, 98000 on the completely non motorway without punctures trip back, somewhere on the good old A303. And my chicken strips are very much smaller as a result. She is shaking her head and chattering a bit when well cranked over, sometimes to the alarm of nearby tin box occupants and occasionally my sphincter, so I am wondering if the head bearing is on it's way again, or the shock is on the way out.  The vibration gets bad around 70 to 90 but lessens as you approach, er, terminal velocity ( rearrange the following numbers into a well known phrase or saying zero one six). Or maybe I was holding on a bit tighter.
You may think the A303 is a hell of a way off route but chasing the welsh borders then looping around east of Bristol overall it was only 16 miles longer than hogging the motorway.
(https://i.ibb.co/g9z3qWT/20200722-173433.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jfgT0wM)
The new battery has apparently cured the non starting issue so theres a flying visit to the Canning Motorbike World due to return the motobatt
I have contacted the abs repair man in Cullumpton who say he can fix the unit and will give a 5 year guarantee for about £250. I have had a look at the service manual and think I can remove the pump, but dont think I can do the reinstall. Mechanically reassembling and  bleeding the system is possible but reading around I think there will need to be some reprogramming of the electronics involved.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on July 23, 2020, 08:39:12 pm
Keep it for a rainy day mate,talking of batteries currently in a state of shock  :o,the VW van needs a new battery £250  :o :o :o,it appears cars with this stop start lark need keying in....,disbelieving phone around their.....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 28, 2020, 07:01:58 pm
Coffee time reading  ::)

So an update on the stats for you after 80,000 miles (I bought it with 18,000 miles on for those who have forgotten). I'm missing 406 miles from the records, which i have tracked down to a period in 2016 , but as i recently shredded the hundreds/thousands of receipts I kept for expenses when i was at work i think I'm not going to find those miles anywhere. So give or take 0.5% here's the numbers:

Fuel used 8400.73 litres (most ever put in 20.82 litres) in 456 tankfulls
Average price for petrol £1.32 per litre (most ever paid £1.70 - or the Euro equivalent in Holland) and almost all of it premium grade
Total spent on fuel £11,179.13
Average 14.02p a mile for fuel
Average mpg 43.05, computer says 46.05 so 7% optimistic. Have noticed that this is dropping off around 3mpg over the last 12 months, not sure why
Average speed 53.82mph (so 1481 hours and 16 mins in the saddle...)
Costs other than fuel £20,002.36 excluding buying it (akra can, remap, soft bag, tank bag and harness, paddock stands, bike cover, tyres, servicing, speeding fines, tax, MOT, insurance, European recovery insurance, rainsuits, boots, gloves, helmet, visors)
So total running cost 39.11p a mile

I vaguely remember Rae asking in the distant past what components had failed and when, rather than just the costs. The list of carnage excluding standard servicing is as follows:
24503 New steering head bearing, and rear wheel carrier (recall)
30630 New front wheel bearing
35172 Front brake pads, loom for front shock
47256 Rear brake pads, rear bevel seal, rear TPS
49656 New wheels after bending the front on the A39/around Somerset
55502 New front brake pads
60240 New radiator, LHS switchgear (twice as first replacement was faulty)
63731 New rear disc and brake pads
66004 New front discs and brake pads
72941 new secondary air pipe, shaft drive inc UJ
77706 New ball joints, rear brake pads
77790 New ignition switch
77844 New throttle assembly
78000 approx new crank position sensor
83903 New front ABS sensor
85845 new clutch, new front brake pads
88935 new coil packs
92262 new front TPS
96138 new rear brake pads
97349 new front wheel bearing, front brake pads, battery

Looking at this filtered list for the first time (I have a rather large spreadsheet) most bits have worn out rather than broken. The front end seems to get a battering. Still doesn't burn any oil though... 8)

Tyres lasted like this:
PR3 pair           10980
PR3 pair           11338
PR3 rear            6365 (puncture)
PR3 front           9338
PR3 front           7623
PR4GT rear       10598
Roadtec 01 pair  5522
Angel GT pair     6259
PR3 front           8646
PR3 rear          14843 (admittedly worn smooth)
PR3 front         12233
PR5 rear          12235
PR5 front           7414


Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on July 28, 2020, 09:57:00 pm
Fabulous detail! Well done for gathering it all for us, FJ. Much appreciated.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 28, 2020, 11:45:14 pm
Amazing Martin. I realise that this is what makes project managers tick but even so...

Some of those figures are very scary.

Your comment about most things wearing out rather than breaking is very interesting and speaks volumes. My 12 lost its ball-joints at 18,000 and again at 18,800 miles and the front ESA shock loom was broken when I bought it at 18,000 miles! You got great mileage out of your versions of those.

My radiator went at about 22,000 miles...

Years ago, Vines said that the K didn't like being stood still, that it fared better if it was always moving. I think your figures tend to support that.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on July 29, 2020, 09:30:57 am
I see why you didn't stick with Angels - the Mich PRs lasted a very (VERY!) long time.
These were mainly motorway miles, I guess, with the average MPG being lower than the MPH?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 29, 2020, 09:40:28 am
Most of the miles have been in uber commuter mode, travelling to london/up country and holland. Not so much motorway but a lot of A road and dual carriageway. The Angel's and Roadtecs were  destroyed by the A39 while commuting to Hinkley Point along the north coast,  maybe lasted a bit longer if on the A roads and dual carriageway. Having said that the PRs lasted longer on the A39 as well. Now that i am actively trying to avoid motorways we'll see what that does to the PR life.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: armstrongracer on July 29, 2020, 10:31:58 am
Really interesting read. 

I've just got a 13's for uber commuting also.  I'm a freelance engineer so tend to work in 6-12 month chunks at  different places. Currently I've a daily 70 mile round trip that's mostly motorway but has 10 miles of cross-city thrown in. Joining this forum scared the crap out of me initially, thinking  I've just bought an expensive and unreliable lemon. Your posts have set my mind at ease a fair bit. My K1300 has 17K miles on the clock but as I don't know recent history I'm doing a service and oil change next weekend. I'm particular about oil in all my vehicles so not going with the recommended BMW stuff  :o. Question I have is about diff oil. Is there any preferred grade or brand, do additives help (like moly). Also, air filters. Is it worth putting a DNA one in? Had a DNAon my KTM and it made a difference to breathing.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 29, 2020, 10:39:25 am
The K12 has been serviced every 6000 miles using bmwvparts. As far as air filters are concerned just make sure they change them on time, and both of them
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on July 29, 2020, 10:49:48 am
I see why you didn't stick with Angels - the Mich PRs lasted a very (VERY!) long time.
These were mainly motorway miles, I guess, with the average MPG being lower than the MPH?

Wow that is indeed the most standout part of the whole post! And sad how exciting it is to me hahah. Although this has reignited my internal tyre debate which is a bit of a bugger! :P

Oh, @armstrongracer, there was a thread recently on oil, and we traditionalists balked at non-OEM being suggested, but then it was used, world didn't end, and I think even Chris said he's used non-OEM and Birmingham still exists (...must... resist... urge to show... regret... :P)

Hang on let me find the link as i'm a nice young man with a lot of potential... Oh (https://eurokclub.bike/index.php?topic=4210.0) you already posted in there. Good luck getting any more sense :P

Now, i'm off to nerd up on PR5.

EDIT: Silly me, not on a 19 inch front I don't! Although Road 5 Trail looks almost identical.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: armstrongracer on July 29, 2020, 11:46:33 am
In a previous life too long ago I was an automotive engineer and was actually involved in the start-up of a well known venture based in Hinkley  ;). The factory fill of oil was free, the kickback being a  recommendation for that manufacturers oil in the service book. That is how it works and I'm sure BMW is no different. The main thing with the clutch is avoiding oil with friction modifiers like moly, zinc and phosphorus, which is probably what BMW mean when they talk about special "additives", it's probably no additives in reality. For engine oil I'll stick with Motul or Silkolene, I've done many dyno runs in the past here they've outperformed more car-orientated brands.

Good stuff about the PR5's, they are on my radar.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Coully on July 30, 2020, 10:26:26 am
We (I) came across a guy in the Roster and Wuss or Wester Ross or somewhere in that foreign country 'oop north from 'oop north.

This may be the same guy Rae speaks of.

He was happy to guarantee his work and did a week's turnaround from memory.

However, that is as far as my memory goes so not much use at all really...

Any more info on this fella ? I'd damn near drive the part to him if he's in the north
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 30, 2020, 08:23:16 pm
No. I mailed the guy way back but the details were lost in the firestorm that was the original EuroKClub forum.

Get in touch with them. The guy I spoke to was confident in his work.

There are also some vids online about how to remove the motor from the unit.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 31, 2020, 04:29:58 pm
Just when you thought youd got every possible gadget....

https://www.colorddo.com/products/50-off-mini-helmet-wipers
https://www.facebook.com/103349014787147/posts/118806929908022/?extid=folsj66EoU2eYQ1N&d=null&vh=e

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on July 31, 2020, 04:58:40 pm
This looks like Rainpal under a different name, a scam if I'm not mistaken.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 31, 2020, 05:20:34 pm
Almost certainly dodgy as most facebook ads are, it was just the advert video was a bit of fun. I'll be continuing to use my gloves...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 31, 2020, 06:52:04 pm
What you need is a Turbo Visor... 8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on July 31, 2020, 07:44:45 pm
Just when you thought youd got every possible gadget....

https://www.colorddo.com/products/50-off-mini-helmet-wipers
https://www.facebook.com/103349014787147/posts/118806929908022/?extid=folsj66EoU2eYQ1N&d=null&vh=e

The website doesn't have a real physical address - ALERT.
It also references ijade.com, and that's got an incorrect cert. - ALERT

Lastly I have no confidence in a site that claims that you can:

(http://www.poqit.com/whit.png)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on July 31, 2020, 08:31:37 pm
Told ya  ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: MadMountainbike on August 04, 2020, 11:44:44 am
Flying trip to shropshire this week, 98000 on the completely non motorway without punctures trip back, somewhere on the good old A303. And my chicken strips are very much smaller as a result. She is shaking her head and chattering a bit when well cranked over, sometimes to the alarm of nearby tin box occupants and occasionally my sphincter, so I am wondering if the head bearing is on it's way again, or the shock is on the way out.  The vibration gets bad around 70 to 90 but lessens as you approach, er, terminal velocity ( rearrange the following numbers into a well known phrase or saying zero one six). Or maybe I was holding on a bit tighter.
You may think the A303 is a hell of a way off route but chasing the welsh borders then looping around east of Bristol overall it was only 16 miles longer than hogging the motorway.
(https://i.ibb.co/g9z3qWT/20200722-173433.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jfgT0wM)
The new battery has apparently cured the non starting issue so theres a flying visit to the Canning Motorbike World due to return the motobatt
I have contacted the abs repair man in Cullumpton who say he can fix the unit and will give a 5 year guarantee for about £250. I have had a look at the service manual and think I can remove the pump, but dont think I can do the reinstall. Mechanically reassembling and  bleeding the system is possible but reading around I think there will need to be some reprogramming of the electronics involved.

Did you get any further with the Cullumpton ABS chap? Looking to get mine sorted and trying to find someone who will do the work.
Cheers
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 07, 2020, 11:51:08 am
Not yet. Am riding til mot time and will then do it. Conflicting stories about reprogramming the unit  after reinstall just now. Need to study further.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 07, 2020, 11:53:09 am
Something I have been moaning about for a while. Apparently a German driver is facing a ban after crashing and the court decided the display was equivalent to using a mobile phone

https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-customer-campaigns/infotainment
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 07, 2020, 10:18:54 pm
I reckon using a hands-free mobile is not much different to chatting to a passenger in a car or shouting at the kids in the back.

Infotainment systems are simply lethal!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on August 08, 2020, 09:41:03 am
Something I have been moaning about for a while. Apparently a German driver is facing a ban after crashing and the court decided the display was equivalent to using a mobile phone

https://www.iamroadsmart.com/campaign-pages/end-customer-campaigns/infotainment

Even the SpaceX pod has a wrist rest because they realised it's impossible to accurately use a touch screen whilst bopping about or even when not bopping about, given the bopping is quite a short and auto-piloted period.

But even that in the cars isn't right. Until we have dynamic textured screens this stuff is dangerous. Every Tesla I've been in i marvel at how stupid a design that screen is. Never mind the OCD drivers crashing whilst hysterically trying to remove the finger prints!

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 13, 2020, 03:30:15 pm
Not sure what was going on last evening / night because I went out for a run which turned into 200 miles of fun on almost empty dry roads in hot sunshine. Everyone else seemed to have somewhere else to be. I found some new good roads and revisited a few others, and bagged Bodmin moor, Dartmoor and Exmoor with great views. Every now and again you get lucky I suppose. As opposed to another run I went on a couple of weeks ago which has been commemorated with a special letter from the Devon and Cornwall boys in blue. Obviously they took some time out from dealing with the 25% increase on crime figures and 999 calls to brush up on their photography skills. And my licence (which I had just cut in half and sent off for its 10 year update) had just achieved the almost forgotten status of nil pwan. Good days bad days
(https://i.ibb.co/Ny5Q3QP/IMG-20200812-WA0002.jpg) (https://ibb.co/YLmYWYM)
On bodmin moor baht at
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 13, 2020, 08:38:12 pm
Why didn't your sat nav squawk at you to tell you there was a notified camera site coming up?

Lemme guess...oh, that's right, you use maps  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 13, 2020, 08:40:37 pm
Sat navs dont mark bike coppers with a camera in a lay by afaik...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 13, 2020, 09:17:02 pm
Well, that depends on if it was a notified site and lots of lay-by's are. It's true that coppers can set up anywhere unlike camera vans.

I guess you were just unlucky that our one bike cop just happened to be in your county that day   ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 13, 2020, 09:28:20 pm
Will be up your way next weds/thurs if you have the kettle on
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 13, 2020, 09:32:48 pm
Cartainly will have. As a general rule, if it is day or night, weekday or weekend and warm or cool then the kettle will be on. Simples!

Lemme know when and I won't eat all the biscuits  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 13, 2020, 09:35:26 pm
Oh, and be warned, between last Friday evening and Monday midday, some idiot managed to transform the whole of Ledbury town into a 20mph zone.

I'm just saying, it being new and with your propensity for attracting the wrong arm of the law  :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on August 15, 2020, 08:58:33 am
Sindered is a huge (colosal) mistake on this bike . And as I remember you're a fast rider.
The battery issue on the other hand cannot understand when the symptom occur , with new battery after starting engine and after 20 miles? Or immediately empties the battery after 2  miles and stalls ?   
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 15, 2020, 11:55:30 am
I recall you saying that about sintered pads before but that is what was recommended by the brembo supplier when I replaced the discs. My dealer had put BMW pads in at service  without asking and there was a marked deterioration in performance.  Now on back on the sintered I'm getting more bite and the discs have cleaned up.
As for being a fast rider well we will find that out next month on the group run. Just  because I get caught more often doesn't make fast unfortunately...

A new battery has fixed the problem now.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 26, 2020, 07:21:26 pm
99,000 up somewhere less than scenic between Dartmoor and Bodmin Moor
(https://i.ibb.co/TmrhVMr/20200826-171959.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0hQJgyQ)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 26, 2020, 09:05:22 pm
Jeepers! Are you taking the 12 on the Wrinklies or the 13?

Talking of which, I suppose you are spending the Sunday night in Shropshire. Either way, fancy meeting up for the rest of the journey to the frozen Lakes?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 26, 2020, 09:20:44 pm
Planning to take the 12 and with a bit of pottering this week should see 100k somewhere on the wrinklies. Should have been on it up to Shropshire last week  but was persuaded to take the q5 in light of the weather forecast. Which was wrong.
Have not decided whether to break journey to wigton. Probably weather dependent. Will let you know.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 27, 2020, 10:59:30 am
Planning to take the 12 and with a bit of pottering this week should see 100k somewhere on the wrinklies.

Group photo around a speedo!

Hmm, socially distancing masked group photo pointing to a speedo somewhere nearby.


Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 27, 2020, 11:06:06 am
As for being a fast rider well we will find that out next month on the group run.

Ah - group rides are never fast. I say never, but it's pretty unusual, since 'fast' normally means someone gets left behind and ipso facto we're no longer a group!
You & Brian give us a head start and then catch us up. ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 27, 2020, 11:49:27 am
Can't say I've ridden with anyone let alone a group for years. Back in the day Fjowners club runs with doc hacker at the front were, er , brisk. Even when lorinda was on the back. Still, once you see my lines around corners you'll be keeping well clear either far in front or staying far behind....😱
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 27, 2020, 12:34:53 pm
Maybe I need to write an app that meshes us together, with feedback options to the leader:
- slower
- faster
- where are you?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 27, 2020, 05:21:01 pm
It is said that groups ride at the speed of the slowest rider.

If this is true, why do I rarely see any of you lot?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 02, 2020, 11:57:52 pm

Talking of which, I suppose you are spending the Sunday night in Shropshire. Either way, fancy meeting up for the rest of the journey to the frozen Lakes?

Will not be breaking the journey in Shropshire. If I get away between 7 and 8 could be with you between 11 and 12. If that's not too late then a quick slurp of tea and a biscuit I suppose we could be in wigton between 5 and 6 depending on which way/number of stops we travel north.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 03, 2020, 06:31:25 pm
Richard and I are currently in negotiation about meeting somewhere around J21 of the M6 and sticking with M6 till we get to J36 (so avoiding the Covid corridor of Blackburn, Bolton and Pendle, all with lovely roads around them) and then hiving off into the Lakes.

My wrists will dictate more or less what I can manage in terms of the extra-curricular activity off the motorway but I will want to be up at the hotel by about 3-4 to give them a rest and do a little socialising. So, I was planning on getting away from mine by about 10:30 - 11 and my Garmin, which never lies, says 4:15 to get to Wigton for fuel using the M6 to J36 and 5 hrs to get there avoiding the M/ways.

I could see if I can find the spare bed under all the clobber if you would like and you can get away on the Sunday and do a sleepover here. That way it means we all get a decent ride without breaking our necks. I know you are used to million mile dashes but I'm out of practice.

I'm away until Saturday evening but you can call me on 07973309131 at any time to discuss.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 03, 2020, 06:36:35 pm
Keep it simple. I'll just leg it from here. You can find out where I am here

See my real-time location on Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/@/data=!4m5!7m4!1m2!1s104083801988018716589!2sChZBeS1feWx3TmlDTDRnSUd0eXg3NU1REggHBa5sLTRepQ%3D%3D!2e2?hl=en

Which I have only just discovered last for 3 days. PM me an gmail address if you have one then I can share location. Failing that we could just talk on the phone....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 06, 2020, 07:21:23 pm
As you please.

Richard and I are meeting at Lymm services J20A of the M6 between 13:00 and 13:30.

Perhaps we'll see you there. You've got my phone number.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 15, 2020, 04:46:00 pm
So on the Wrinklies this happened

(https://i.ibb.co/VJpvFJF/20200909-K1200-S-100k-miles.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vVvJNVN)

(https://i.ibb.co/xhtS2kR/20200909-K1200-100k-miles.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wyFNdkx)

I had witnesses

(https://i.ibb.co/DWc4FNv/20200909-Richard-Glenn-Rae-eurokclub-wrinklies-run.jpg) (https://ibb.co/nmdryTY)

(https://i.ibb.co/GdLrCC9/20200909-rae-glenn-me-eurokclub-wrinklies-run.jpg) (https://ibb.co/rQSX553)

After 1250 miles in the 4 days its now washed and tucked up in the shed while I get some miles on the K13.

(https://i.ibb.co/WW75wNS/20200914-121046.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VWb9Z0X)

(https://i.ibb.co/gDMT0NV/20200914-121229.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MRDVzr6)

 Needs a new ABS unit and front shock. Debating whether to use Wilbers or OE. Need to send the wheels away for repainting too. And there's that nasty scratch on the RHS fairing to get painted.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 13, 2020, 11:17:21 pm
Had an email from Ride saying they might want to feature the K12 in a high mileage bike article. 15 mins of fame coming up ?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: S BMW on October 14, 2020, 03:32:03 pm
Congratulations Martin could happen to a nicer chap.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 14, 2020, 05:16:07 pm
Congratulations Martin could happen to a nicer chap.

Really?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on October 14, 2020, 06:03:52 pm
Excellent! Tell them how the forum was vital in keeping it running.
Well, that and a wad of dosh.  :P
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on October 14, 2020, 09:38:26 pm
Congratulations Martin could happen to a nicer chap.

Really?

Lionel Richie has a high miler and he's pretty nice.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 16, 2020, 03:07:57 pm
So I went and spoke to Revs Racing and spent half an hour looking at and talking about Wilbers. Yes all very nice , properly specified shocks to suit your weight / pillion / luggage. Recommended remote preload adjustment for rear, adjustable damping both ends. So its 10% off for all orders placed in October. So that's only £1100 then?

I had a look at James Sherlock a few days ago and there's a pair of ESA shocks on there off a 2007 bike with under 24k miles on for £250

So what to do ?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on October 16, 2020, 03:39:58 pm
Either:

1. Buy the Wilburs, and if it's fantastic, swap it to the 1300S and move the standard 1300S stuff over to the 1200S.*
or
2. Save the cash - it's done 100k, and putting fancy new suspension on just will show up some other weakness that needs spending on!


*I'm assuming the suspension spec is identical across the two bikes. I could be wrong.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 16, 2020, 08:47:04 pm
I doubt the 1300 ESA set up would play nicely with the K12 'tronics. Different hardware etc.

Dunno, anyone done it?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on October 16, 2020, 09:26:52 pm
I doubt the 1300 ESA set up would play nicely with the K12 'tronics. Different hardware etc.

Ah - v good point. I was thinking plain spring stuff. Silly me.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 16, 2020, 11:05:39 pm
The Wilbers is not electronic so it makes no difference on either bike, the ESA would get disconnected. Revs think its possible to turn off any ESA error message but weren't sure
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on October 17, 2020, 10:00:06 am
I realise that. Richard was suggesting putting the K13 ESA on the K12, hence my comment.

The front set up on the K12 never gives any fault code nor indicator light on the dash if it is disconnected. The cable to mine was broken in several places when I got the bike (at 18,000 miles) and had already been bodged at least twice. This meant it never changed the front set up even though I flicked the switches all day long and the indicator showed the relevant change I requested. It is a totally open circuit configuration i.e. no feedback loop.

I can't vouch for the rear and disconnecting it to find out is not a very simple procedure, unlike the front.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 02, 2020, 11:22:40 am
Decided I couldn't justify the Wilbers cost so have bought the second-hand set from Sherlock for £400. They are off a 2008 K1200S with 17845 miles on, so it should be back to like it was when I bought it with 18000 miles on I hope.
(https://i.ibb.co/Zxcx183/s-l1600-3.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dDkDJ2S)
(https://i.ibb.co/pbQQb3F/s-l1600-4.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Gn99nVS)
Just in time for Ocean to shut down for lockdown so not being fitted yet...
Awaiting Ocean to confirm the part number of the ABS unit that has failed  as I have found "BMW K40 K 1200 S K1300S ABS module unit modulator pump slave 7682002" for £400. Taken off a 2009 K1200S with 19k on the clock. Not sure what the K40 means, anyone know how I check it fits mine?
(https://i.ibb.co/yhXFX0n/s-l1600-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/M8sksnD)
(https://i.ibb.co/DVg4ry2/s-l1600-2.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Fxq6HMT)
(https://i.ibb.co/gzDXtsp/s-l1600.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5B5zsqy)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 02, 2020, 11:31:25 am
K40 is the K12/1300 S
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 02, 2020, 11:32:51 am
Ta very much
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on November 02, 2020, 03:28:19 pm
Martin

So long as you never ride a K with quality suspension you’ll be just fine cuz what you don’t know about won’t harm ya. :)

Says he who has had a decent thrash in today’s gale, thought I better do something about an MOT seeing how it ran out last April.......
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 02, 2020, 04:57:33 pm
Understand that but putting 1100 quid worth of suspension on a 100k mile bike that might be worth 1100 quid on a good day, plus the cost of fitting as I lack the wherewithal myself, on top of having to replace the abs unit was just too much. Maybe later on the k13 (not forgetting the 600 quid I'm half way through spending on that...) when the pension fund  is back in the black . Ho bleeding ho have a merry christmas on that one
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on November 02, 2020, 07:16:10 pm
Martin

Nothing to do with your old bike, just a comment on suspension per se, re spending 400 quid on your 100,000 miler phew your a braver man than me.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 02, 2020, 07:39:52 pm
Can't bring myself to scrap it. Vaguely planning to run it in the winter and the K13 in the summer. At least with newer suspension it'll go around corners again, and faster than some winter ratbike with unknown history that would cost about the same.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on November 03, 2020, 05:00:19 pm
Think my plan ‘A’ Martin would have been swapping the sus off your new K onto the old one,and putting some good stuff on the new’un, but I have to say i’ve Never read about anyone ditching the ESA...can one even buy the dongles to shut the system up???
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 17, 2020, 01:36:31 pm
The K12 went down to Ocean on Friday with a box of bits. Strip down started yesterday. Good news is that a combination of the old electronic unit and the secondhand pump has fixed the abs as it turned out it was the old pump was the problem. The less good news, although expected, is that most of the bearings in the front suspension are u/s. BMW only sell the bearings for the triangular links to the steering with the triangular links, at a cool £566. So they are pressing out the bearings and hopefully we can buy some suitable bearings separately. The ball joints are all ok.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on November 17, 2020, 02:45:29 pm
As above, you're a braver man than me in spending such money on a 100,000 mile bike.

I do think it's pretty poor on BMWs part that a bike designed for covering miles is in need of so many expensive replacements/repairs after less than 15 years and only 100,000 miles. That's less than 7000 miles a year so hardly what could be described as "over used".

We've had the discussion on this forum many times but I think that. while the build quality remains generally good on BMW bikes, the component quality is shocking. I have an original (not restored) 1983 R100CS in the shed and the component quality on that is vastly superior to any of my K1?00Ss, but especially the 1200.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 17, 2020, 03:17:13 pm
Great news about the ABS.

Not such great news about the bearings but BMW don't make them and SKF do. So, your nearest bearing supplier will see you right. I wonder if that was always the case ir if they are rationalising their parts supply now production has ceased?

I don't get parts supply policy sometimes. Whilst waiting for the K to be MoT'd (yes, of course it passed, even with the two HID kits fitted) I was amused by one of the techs having an up and down with the local Audi dealership. They had an A4 in with a failed pot-stirrer wotsit motor that swirls the inlet charge at start up, a bit like an EXUP valve at the other end of the gas tract. He had a spare in his hand that came off a Q7 and which he used as a known good item to test the system. Same item, identical part number etc. etc.

Now, had it been for a Q7, Audi would have happily sold him one, or even two of these motor assemblies, £70 each from memory. And they would have supplied a 2 year parts warranty on it/them.

However, because it was for an A4, they would only sell it as a complete unit with.......the whole inlet manifold. £(many hundreds)...

It seems that these things fail like crazy on Q7's so they have to sell just the motor. They 'never' fail on A4's so they only sell the whole assembly. Madness, sheer madness!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on November 17, 2020, 04:52:04 pm
That's good Martin, that's bad Brian.

One assumes a dealership will bend you over for an A4 one but a good indi will get the Q7 one. But how many are good hey.

Also it reenforces that the more we know about our cars/bikes and the various platform/part sharing, the better!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 17, 2020, 05:02:20 pm
The problem is Matt, this was an independent. But they have to get their parts from somewhere and although all the common parts are available in the after-market, weird things are not. The thermostat on the K is a great example. It's BMW or no-one.

The guy could simply have ordered one for a Q7, had it delivered next day with a 2 year warranty, fitted it and everyone would have been happy. Unless the part failed and the customer comes back and has a moan, as you do. The indi is then having to go back to Audi who will probably want to see the part as fitted. Even my local Audi dealer 'might' spot that the car is not a Q7.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 17, 2020, 05:57:25 pm
Had a phone message left  this afternoon. They pressed out the bearings, shopped  locally , and if I can believe my ears, paid £8 for the bearings. Think I may need to call to verify in the morning.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on November 17, 2020, 06:30:51 pm
That sounds about right to me Martin, bearings are pretty cheap, not the BMW ones obviously.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 17, 2020, 07:01:38 pm
I 'rescued'*a top of the range B&D hammer drill from the local tip. The guy had cut the mains lead off but that was easily fixed. First time I ran it it burst into smoke. Split the case and the rear bearing was partially seized and spinning in the rubber housing.

I called B&D service and they quoted me about £2 for the rubber bearing housing which was toast and almost £30 for the bearing. I nipped down to Berkshire Bearings, bearing the old bearing and the guy took one look, sucked his teeth, quoted a part number without even looking at it and asked if I wanted a cheap one or a good one...I thought if I was spending £2 on a new rubber housing then I might want the expensive one. 'That'll be £4 and I've got one here...' and he reached under the counter and produced one. 'Blimey, how cheap is the cheap one?' '95p but it won't be in stock till tomorrow...'

* The guy unloading the car next to me asked if he could 'buy' the door off my old washing machine I was binning. He really only wanted the glass 'bowl' thingummy from the door. Eyeing up his haul I offered to swap it for his drill. What's the chance of going to the tip and finding someone chucking away the same washing machine you have a need for a glass bowl for?

'Oh, we don't have a washing machine like this one. My wife makes tons of jam and that glass bowl is just the perfect thing for making it in.'

One man's muck is another man's money as my granddad used to say.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on November 17, 2020, 07:11:39 pm
I nipped down to Berkshire Bearings, bearing the old bearing ...
I see what you did there.
Do they have a Alaskan branch - Bering Bearings?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 20, 2020, 02:05:48 pm
An expensive month on the transportation front. The TT just blew the power steering hose and also needed a new battery. The less miles I do the more expensive it seems to become
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on November 20, 2020, 02:10:01 pm
Or maybe the miles you have done are catching up with you  :-\
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 20, 2020, 05:47:15 pm
What age is the TT?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 20, 2020, 05:48:30 pm
2005
125k miles and counting
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on November 20, 2020, 08:11:21 pm
That the 1.8 turbo?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 20, 2020, 08:17:21 pm
Yes
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 21, 2020, 12:50:53 pm
Great granddad of my S3...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 24, 2020, 03:02:50 pm
1 hour phone interview with Ride magazine about having a 100k bike, my 15mins of fame coming up sometime whenever
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 24, 2020, 04:40:29 pm
Nice one. I hope you were kind to the old girl.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on November 24, 2020, 08:09:09 pm
Oh great!




Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Bruno on November 25, 2020, 11:32:12 am
1 hour phone interview with Ride magazine about having a 100k bike, my 15mins of fame coming up sometime whenever

I look forward to reading it.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on November 25, 2020, 11:41:56 am
Well done and I look forward to reading it when published.

Nice one. I hope you were kind to the old girl.

I think I'd prefer open and honest over kind.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 25, 2020, 04:55:47 pm
I think you can be open and honest whilst still being kind, David, just like you can be open and honest and unkind. It's all in the way you say it, not what is said.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 03, 2020, 06:10:44 pm
Got the bike back today. Given the size of the bill we are pausing the expenditure and will return for the rest when the service is due in a couple of thousand miles.

So the front end is back to its original self. I could tell before I got out of the car park. No crashing over bumps, perceptible damping over the bumps, just smooth and controllable. So nice I went for a 40 mile run in the cold and rain to check it out. I have noticed that I am needing to put in counter steer to make it turn but I'm not sure if that's the bike or just the difference with the K13 which has always dropped into corners by comparison. Not the best day to push.
Oh, and no warning light and and the brakes are back. One or two finger braking again. The failed ABS unit was obviously having more of an effect than just the abs function. Oh yes. Happy bunny.

Cant say the same for the bank account but hey, if Id flogged it for spares and invested the cash I just spent on some secondhand bike, I would not have bought much and it would have an unknown history.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on December 03, 2020, 06:32:47 pm
I have noticed that I am needing to put in counter steer to make it turn but I'm not sure if that's the bike or just the difference with the K13 which has always dropped into corners by comparison.

I found the Motorsport turned slightly easier than my plain 1300S, and wondered if it was the lighter forged wheels. No proof, as ever, and by the time you've ridden one for a week or so, you forget. But like the Akra and footrests - better, but not £1k+ better. Whereas your fixes have had a much bigger effect!

In fact, Swindon Andy said exactly that:
https://eurokclub.bike/index.php?topic=3148.msg37823#msg37823
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 07, 2021, 08:59:17 pm
Went out for a run with son #2 and his Fireblade a couple of days ago. It was a bit parky out , I was only wearing the 5 layers and he was doing press ups in the layby to keep warm when we stopped for a photo.

(https://i.ibb.co/cQYyjLW/20210105-112437.jpg) (https://ibb.co/7KkSq43)

I sent the photo off for the RiDE article but they said his shadow was a problem so had to go out again and get some more  pictures done, this time with SWMBO. They said they preferred the one with the dogs arse in at first

(https://i.ibb.co/RQ4cQZ8/20210106-121718.jpg) (https://ibb.co/h21V2h0)

Sigh, the problems of being famous for 5 minutes

(https://i.ibb.co/VtT8Bgb/20210106-121441.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FKzt75c)

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Costas on January 09, 2021, 08:06:29 am
A well maintained bike puts smiles in your face amd miles on the bike .
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 21, 2021, 06:06:14 pm
Anybody know why the exhaust gas out of the end of my Akrapovic on this bike is so much cooler than that coming out of the Akrapovic on the K1300?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on January 21, 2021, 10:28:58 pm
The hotter one probably has a catalytic convertor in the forward end of the exhaust. Cats run extremely hot.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 22, 2021, 01:03:24 pm
The 13 has a bigger engine and bigger engines MUST run hotter with the same size exhaust...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 01, 2021, 09:24:53 pm
So have been an Ebay tart for the last week, and as a result I am now awaiting the arrival of a set of secondhand expanding panniers c/w bags, a secondhand  pannier rack and a new second set of bolts to join the new rack, bolts and RG crash bungs already sitting in the shed. If it ever stops raining then at some point next weekend both bikes should get some accessories fitted and I can chuck the panniers on whichever bike I fancy taking out. If I get jabbed (twice) and Boris ever lets us out again...

The guy that was selling the panniers and bags also had a rack, and a set of fixing bolts but they were up for £20. I asked if he'd do a deal for the lot, and was thinking £440. I said you can buy the bolts for about a tenner brand new. I know, he said, but I'm not doing a deal for the lot, I want to see what I can get. Fair enough. So I bid separately, got the panniers for £366 plus postage. I lost the rack by £2 which went for £67. Sometimes clouds have silver linings - I bid another one which I got for £42.50 but suspect a rattle can of black may be required.

Those bolts? Went for £51 so he was right...meanwhile I just bought a new set for £12.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on February 01, 2021, 11:05:50 pm
Here's hoping the captive nuts in the frame will remain fixed when you remove the fixing bolts.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 02, 2021, 01:42:58 am
Are those pigs I see taxying for take off?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on February 02, 2021, 09:20:33 am
Wasn't there a trick to getting the existing bolts out successfully - like heat?
Enquiring minds need to know...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 02, 2021, 03:32:54 pm
Well, heat certainly works on the thread lock but trying to get enough heat into the bolt without melting the hand grips is a wee problem. One of mine just sput up as soon as the socket moved it. I had to Dremel'alike the head off the bolt and 'twas a bugger to drill out the rivnut as it kept spinning in the frame...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 03, 2021, 10:55:55 am
Re-reading your earlier post Martin, have you also got the mushrooms and bolts fot the top (lock) mounting of the cases?

Also, can't remember if your bikes have the plastic rear mudguard wotsit fitted which is wayyyy better than a rear hugger at keeping the K's bottom spotless. It's just that the Sport Case rack must be removed to fit the mudguard so easier to fit the mudguard first if you need to.

Also, also, you might, probably will, need to adjust the mounting hooks on the back of the cases to stop the boxes rattling around once on the bike; be interesting to see how that works with two fitting systems.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 03, 2021, 05:57:04 pm
I have 1 set of the 2no mushrooms c/w M8 bolts  and am in the process of getting another set. For reasons best known to BMW they are not shown as part of the carrier frame set but come with it, and are not included in the 4no M6 bolt set that is not included in the frame set but they say you have to buy separately. I think my new friend at BMW has now found the part number as it isn't stated anywhere online as far as I could (be bothered) to look.

The plastic wotsit (or Mudguard rear 46627675424 as it is known to BMW) is already fitted to the K13. I may indulge in another for the K12, we'll see if there's any cash left at the end of the month

I am sure that, given my normal luck, the 2 bikes will conspire to be just sufficiently different to thwart my plan for effortlessly switching the cases between them
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 27, 2021, 08:09:29 pm
Yesterday whilst putting the sparkly new pannier mountings on the K13, I put a coat of Hammerite on the Ebay-special frame as it had the odd mark and rust spot.

(https://i.ibb.co/wSV62JM/20210226-143407-Copy.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tqgC1Z8)

Then today I put the painted frames on the K12. I think the previous owner of the K12 may have had panniers on as there were no rubber bungs on any of the bolt sockets. To give me a bit more working space I took the little fairing pieces around the seat off . I took several hours with GT85 and a bolt screwing in and out in and out to clean up all the threads. Odd touch of Hammerite around the the bolt holes where the paint was flaking. I used some ordinary allen head bolts and washers to fix the frame in instead of the remarkably expensive BMW ones. There was a momentary curse when I thought the pannier was not going to fit over the Akrapovic until I realised I was trying to put the wrong pannier on the wrong side

(https://i.ibb.co/SxHLdRM/20210227-150424.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wL8vwMP)

(https://i.ibb.co/j5MPG50/20210227-150444.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MhVxphw)

So success with this extra, interchangeable panniers between the 2 bikes, and as we all know the frame is remarkably inconspicuous when the panniers are not on.

Next job is the RG crash bungs
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 28, 2021, 06:03:18 pm
I have 1 set of the 2no mushrooms c/w M8 bolts  and am in the process of getting another set. For reasons best known to BMW they are not shown as part of the carrier frame set but come with it, and are not included in the 4no M6 bolt set that is not included in the frame set but they say you have to buy separately. I think my new friend at BMW has now found the part number as it isn't stated anywhere online as far as I could (be bothered) to look.

The plastic wotsit (or Mudguard rear 46627675424 as it is known to BMW) is already fitted to the K13. I may indulge in another for the K12, we'll see if there's any cash left at the end of the month

I am sure that, given my normal luck, the 2 bikes will conspire to be just sufficiently different to thwart my plan for effortlessly switching the cases between them

If you buy from the German supplier the whole kit and kaboodle is (was, for those of us who bought before the eejits voted us out of the EU) way cheaper than UK dealers and everything you need is clearly(ish) laid out on their website.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 28, 2021, 06:08:44 pm
Broke out the high tech tools to cut the hole in the fairing as I discovered I had a stack of hole cutters except the 27mm one i needed. I think this used to belong to my late father in law. Or my grandad.

(https://i.ibb.co/nDKp9pZ/20210228-152116.jpg) (https://ibb.co/LCsKmKb)

The nearside OE crash bung came out with no problems. Did the hole marking with the temporary spike mounted in the bolt and a rubber mallet to tap the fairing through a protective cloth. Clamped the fairing to the trusty Workmate and cut the hole with the brace and bit no problem, reassembled it all and torqued it up. Job done

(https://i.ibb.co/58pK9xt/20210228-151035.jpg) (https://ibb.co/G2YHJ3B)

However. You know there's a big however coming. When I got the offside fairing off and set about the engine mounting bolt spacer pinch bolt, I found it was seized. As many of you probably know unless you remove the banjo bolt immediately adjacent you can only get a 8mm ring spanner on the pinch bolt. Not sure why BMW designed this arrangement

(https://i.ibb.co/JsMNZTD/20210228-151051.jpg) (https://ibb.co/ZMk39rq)

After a couple of attempts that narrowly avoided the classic skinned knuckle and a bit of damage to the bolt head I decided that I would be better off asking Ocean to remove the banjo bolt with whatever procedure required to reassemble the associated pipework, and get the pinch bolt out

(https://i.ibb.co/HtWrXVP/20210228-151105.jpg) (https://ibb.co/pft3nxK)

Lets hope the K13 install goes better
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 28, 2021, 06:16:50 pm
Are both bikes the same? I don't recall that huge banjo bolt head on either of mine.

On the other hand, I just went and checked and I think your piccie just makes it look enormous.

Either way, I didn't have a problem. Which doesn't help you one little bit  :P
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Bruno on March 06, 2021, 10:58:24 am
The Spring edition of Ride (which arrived this morning) has our own Martin as the High-Mile Hero.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 06, 2021, 02:06:32 pm
The banjo bolt detail is the same on the k13. And not a peep from Ride, thought I might have been sent a copy
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 15, 2021, 02:42:23 pm
Everybody's famous for 15 minutes

(https://i.ibb.co/XDKdqgg/20210315-141838.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FXyfFMM)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 17, 2021, 11:23:01 pm
Think my credit card is going to be famous for 15 minutes soon. Took the K12 in to Ocean today for the rear end to be refreshed, You may remember that around Christmas I had the front end done, having found a set of shocks secondhand from a 18k mile bike. Gave the same brief i.e. strip it all down , if you find any other knackered bits let me know and we'll replace everything that's sensible. 4 hours later i get the call to come in. Heres the general picture

(https://i.ibb.co/LQrdDqW/20210517-163008.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wJ7hZbX)
 
Nothing too unexpected really. The triangular pieces and bolts are fine, a bit of scratching where the dog bone bearing had seized having moved slightly sideways

(https://i.ibb.co/XDRM9GR/20210517-163030.jpg) (https://ibb.co/vhnRbMn)

The drive shaft looks manky, its surface rust and I'm pretty sure that's as a result of the bike having stood outside  under an Oxford bike cover on the drive of the house which is on the seafront, salty condensation being left to brew up from January to May. Looks horrible but is not detrimental.  I think some of the front brake pistons have seized for the same reason so a job for when I haven't got anything else to do har bloody har

(https://i.ibb.co/GWSKYpm/20210517-163040.jpg) (https://ibb.co/v3n7yq9)

However the UJ was replaced at 73k and there is a little bit of play between the original shaft on the rear hub and the newer UJ. Apparently the shaft is not available as a spare, the whole unit comes as one. Start counting at £1500 so I think I'm not replacing that. There no perceptible slap in the transmission so I'm not bothered. Clean it all and put it back together

(https://i.ibb.co/8mB438W/20210517-163047.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fXSGR0h)

Have to say the BMW stand is a neat item

(https://i.ibb.co/ZTSNNxk/20210517-163057.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QmkXXM1)

The paintwork under and inside the overall assembly looks in reasonable condition. Going to replace the swinging arm bearings as they are a bit notchy

(https://i.ibb.co/7KN92xT/20210517-163123.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6FJdgcp)

Overall its not as bad as I had expected. The needle roller bearings move very little in most of the suspension, so some wear occurs in the most heavily loaded rollers as they grind back and forth rather than spin. I don't think we are going to replace many if any of the bearings at the local shop, its going to be a BMW priced repair unfortunately. However if the improvement in feel is comparable with the effect at the front I'll be happy.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on May 18, 2021, 09:01:37 am
Now that is love.  :-*
Well done for spending on it, and keeping it alive.

As the Ride article above says - wearing out, not breaking down.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 18, 2021, 03:47:35 pm
I thought Ocean was a main BMW dealer Martin.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 18, 2021, 11:56:02 pm
There is an Ocean in Plymouth for cars and bikes,  one in Falmouth for cars and bikes, and a bike shack in torquay or somewhere. Falmouth Motorrad definitely plays a poor 3rd to the car and mini facility, but regularly out sells Plymouth. The bike workshop is hidden in the back of the car workshop. Despite this Falmouth sales success the management regularly piss off the motorrad managers so they leave, theres another one there now I haven't met yet though for some reason am on good terms with after sales Eva and mechanic Richard. They have recently taken on an apprentice mech so maybe theres some hope
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on May 19, 2021, 08:19:37 am
Ah it's frustrating how much of a difference to quality of service a few new/lost heads make. Maidenhead went downhill steadily as they lost some service people, and even their front end booking process went from easy speak to one person to somehow speaking to two people. And their ability to spot a ridiculous paint job on the S1000rr was zero. And they also gave it back without repairing the steering lock! Then their new service guy gives me the stink eye when I send photos with "wtf" and an arrow pointing to the bleeding obvious on each photo.

So Alton if you're listening, treat staff well please, yours seem OK now!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 19, 2021, 12:29:07 pm
Move to NOG. Same distance if a somewhat boring ride.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 21, 2021, 06:17:33 pm
A short but card bending visit to Ocean as its all back together. There was a broken wire on the loom of the replacement shock which was diagnosed and cured, I can imagine that would have been a royal pain in the anus had i done it myself. A couple of rubber seals got time expired and replaced as it was all in bits so easy to do. So pick up the bike on Monday as my taxi driver is sick at the moment. Looking forward to it.

So I have the original shocks and ABS unit here. If anyone wants them as they fancy getting them rebuilt/repaired or spares then make me an offer as they are probably only going to gather dust in my shed.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on May 21, 2021, 09:02:59 pm
How long before we have enough parts between us to build another bike? :D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on May 22, 2021, 11:52:02 am
 :) :) :) :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 29, 2021, 11:32:04 am
Sing along all together
"I can breathe easy now the pipe has come..."
(https://i.ibb.co/x7vwZ8m/20210629-112806.jpg) (https://ibb.co/tJfnRPZ)

Expertly packed too
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on June 29, 2021, 12:46:23 pm
That is one lucky bike you have there Martin...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on June 29, 2021, 02:34:34 pm
If that's going on the 1200, you've signficantly increased increased the bike's value, by at least a 1/3rd... :o
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 29, 2021, 07:00:43 pm
Even though it was previously loved (by SCM) (and kept very clean) it's probably closer to a 50% increase...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on June 29, 2021, 07:18:31 pm
You and the bike will love that set up, manufacturers have to produce bikes to a set of rules from emissions to price and we don’t  :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on June 29, 2021, 07:20:54 pm
Thinking another visit to BSD may be in order
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on June 29, 2021, 07:29:00 pm
To get the best out of both bike and system you’ll have too, gone exactly the same route with my X/R and there’s a transition to be had if folks are prepared to expend cost and effort.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 23, 2021, 09:31:21 pm
Last weeks wee jaunt up to Shropshire saw 101k come up just as I was passing Ocean Falmouth.

(https://i.ibb.co/CKVpPC9/20210818-104820.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0yYps49)

(https://i.ibb.co/tJxw8yp/20210818-104834.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mcXr6Q5)

The sharp eyed amongst you will note a return to the paper based sat nav method, still exploring various routes around Bristol

(https://i.ibb.co/ZLfWg9q/20210818-104824.jpg) (https://ibb.co/f1X4NJj)

It was very apparent as soon as I left Falmouth what a difference the MRA screen makes. I'd forgotten how it takes the wind away having had it so long,  i suppose its because I've done more miles on the K13 this year where the wind blast is on my shoulders and chest. However after 300 nearly all non-motorway miles I found my shoulders were aching in a different place to when I do a similar distance on the K13. Not such an issue on the return trip but maybe i was just getting used to it. I need to get some tiny torx drivers and experiment with turning the Vario section upside down. The other thing I noticed was I thought I was having to put more effort  into the steering than on the K13, and then I remembered how I thought the K13 fell into corners when I first got it. Then i checked the tyre pressures, and the front was down 0.1 bar, and as i have said before the steering is very sensitive to tyre pressure.

On the return trip i joined the M5 at Gloucester as I was hauling about 20kgs of crockery in the soft bag and was hoping to end up without a bag full of shards. I was rewarded with about 23 or 24 miles of filtering in solid traffic, so will still be hunting that by pass route next time. However on the motorway I was able to use Comfort mode on the newly refreshed suspension to give the crockery an easier ride.

Oh and the fuel economy seems to have recovered a couple of mpg. Maybe having all the suspension bearings done and everything in line makes a difference.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on August 24, 2021, 08:08:40 am
Is turning the various section upside down a recognized approach to wind management? Or more to the point, does it enlarge the envelope of quiet? When I'm trundling on the GS I'll put the screen up high and it almost goes right over the top of my lid. Another bit of adjustment and it'd be perfect silence.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 24, 2021, 09:39:08 am
I have read on the Internet so it must be true that turning the Vario section upside down does make a difference. Having experimented with the position of mine (see above somewhere) I have ended up with the Vario section in its lowest position. At low speeds say less than 70 it makes a difference if it is raised, but: a) couldn't quite find an optimum position, and b) low speed? Also the stiffness of the support strut connections has diminished over the years and won't support the wind load at higher speeds. Anyway if I can get some tiny Torx I can experiment again.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 24, 2021, 10:15:52 am
Halfrauds do a set of 3/8" drive for £20...

https://www.halfords.com/tools/hand-tools/socket-sets/halfords-advanced-6-piece-torx-bit-socket-rail-3%2F8in-168419.html

...but that 'might' be a bit overkill for the vario thingy  ;D

Halfords are good tools with a lifetime guarantee. If you can find the receipt...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on August 24, 2021, 12:54:20 pm
Er, save a bit for beer by getting these:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B001JJLV6I/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
or eBay if you hate Bayzoss:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/112493135463?hash=item1a311d0667:g:mTAAAOSwuVdZdR2X

I have a set - they're good quality.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on August 24, 2021, 03:08:39 pm
I should get those too. But I just spent way too much on hops and grain so... next week!

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 24, 2021, 07:04:54 pm
This is my set...

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100-Piece-Security-Screwdriver-Tamperproof-Torx-Hex-Bit-Set-Chrome-Vanadium-/332921701350?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p2349624.m46890.l49286&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0

...well, obviously it isn't cos it's on ebay, but you get the point.

Dirt cheap and I've had my set for 10 years and the only thing wearing out is the plastic folding hinge on the plastic case.

And it was only last month that I discovered what the Y-shaped piece at the top was for... ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on August 24, 2021, 07:22:21 pm
Recalcitrant wing nuts?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 24, 2021, 08:17:37 pm
Have spent some time this afternoon sorting through various sets like this and working out I already had most of the parts. Trying to find a small torx size set that wasn't made out of chewing gum has been , erm, tedious. Not to mention I was also trying to buy an optical level with legs and staff, a toaster and and iron. Anyway nearly there. I think. What I was actually trying to do was sort out a large box of nails screws bolts I think I inherited from my father in law into some sort of order into 7 cases of little boxes. Oh and the bloke turned up to refit our downstairs loo. And the delivery of all the stuff he was fitting, with its fittings, arrived. Did I mention it was recycling collection day but Mrs fj now needs to collect cardboard , but only the non inked stuff, for the compost. Retirement? Pfft. And I also had to deal with an enquiry about intumescent paint of steel in Belgium - did I know somebody who could? And the recruitment consultant wanting  a project leader in London? Mate if the job had been anywhere else I might have bitten. Fink I need to go out on my bike. What was this forum about again?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on August 24, 2021, 08:48:42 pm
How picky do you get with project management roles? In my experience in a well run company it's an acceptable level of bum pain, but in the main, the majority of companies bungling along with no idea how to deliver, it's a massive pain!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 24, 2021, 09:05:02 pm
Working in construction since 1980, the culture was you went where you were sent. In later years I discovered I generally spent 6 months shitting myself I had no idea what was going on, 6 months head down no nonsense work, 6 months cruising, 6 months bored time to move. Thereafter I kept an eye open for projects I wanted to work on, and more importantly, teams I wanted to work with. So now  I'm very picky , either it's working with the good guys I know, an irresistible technical challenge or the money is too stupid to refuse. I aim for a role where I can resolve the technical and organisational issues ie make it happen, jfdi and similar, and with limited client contact. I know what works. Done more than a few jobs in the Red Adair role , or to misquote Kate Adie, if the Colonels arrived we must be in the shit
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 24, 2021, 10:46:37 pm
Recalcitrant wing nuts?

Matthew, you are SOOOO close!

Because I am an anal twat (when I left home at 16 and my 6 year old brother got his hands on my collection of Dinky and Matchbox models, they were all in their perfectly choreographed boxes, when I went back 3 months later, there was not even a sign of the cars, let alone the boxes) this bit set is still in its admittedly moth-eaten cardboard sleeve with pictures and descriptions front and back.

For some strange reason, last month I managed to refit the sleeve 'upside down' and there, on the 'bottom' was a set of different words, which, among other things explained that the Y shaped thingummy was in fact a 'Hook Driver'. As in, for screwing in things like cup hooks.

But, next time I have a recalcitrant wing nut, I'll remember to phone Matt and ask him what to use to remove it.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: armstrongracer on August 25, 2021, 11:25:04 am
Feel yer pain FJ, my baby brother is a construction PM, lives in just outside of Watford so his patch is London & SE. After years of leaving the house at 5.30am to avoid the M25 car park (he doesn't ride bikes) and massive stress from trying to deliver projects at profit that were underbid by his bosses he finally walked out last year. Got about 8 years till retirement , currently he's looking for jobs writing tenders that he can do from home. Had enough of life on the road.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 31, 2021, 08:52:51 pm
Anyway, after too much deliberation I bought these for £20.79

(https://i.ibb.co/G5p3hVz/20210831-165752.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bKmRfrc)

In other news whilst waiting for them I decided I'd just rip a hedge out and the adjacent garden wall so I could build a narrower hedge bed inside a new wall, give my existing shed to my son, and build a big boys proper shed that can accommodate 2 Ks plus my ever expanding tool collection. The 15 foot high hedge went through the shredder with little trouble, up went a temporary wooden fence,  and I just needed to dig the topsoil off the subsoil to find a solid foundation.
Yeah right.
Murphy has however been planning for me to do this since about 1902 and planted a few obstacles, cut them down and buried the evidence for me to find and prove his law. Again. This is the topsoil stockpile and 3rd stump, and I might be half way through...

(https://i.ibb.co/716MX3h/20210831-201323.jpg) (https://ibb.co/TgFjkQy)

(https://i.ibb.co/fMB0TgQ/20210831-201307.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5TtcJ02)

So I have now bought this as my sons shed needs block footing, and I am now looking at laying 6 or 700 blocks for the new shed

(https://i.ibb.co/7R7ddGj/241149585-4725351767509858-7030917441473997102-n.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mXQVVHb)

So it might be a while until i get to use my new screwdrivers to see if I can fiddle with the MRA screen...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 01, 2021, 10:25:43 am
Isn't retirement and lockdown a weird combination.

I assume that you intend to knock down that horrid grey block wall and use the blocks for the son's shed...

Oh, and I'll have that stump for my stumpery if you want to drop it off next time you come by... ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 01, 2021, 11:10:16 am
No that's next doors car park wall which I have to be careful doesn't fall down despite the big cracks in it. I am building a new retaining wall that will be more than one block thick  have a foundation that is more than a bit of mortar.
Not sure the stump will fit in the soft bag but will have a go
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on September 02, 2021, 11:04:05 am
  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 13, 2021, 10:06:09 pm
Ah so all quiet on the internet front. Been somewhat more involved in labouring than typing for a few months.  The stump got amputated with a chainsaw and mrs fj is using the bits as decoration in her garden display. About 12m3 of soil has been loaded away , the concrete footing is in, and the first 100 or so blocks are laid. Can recommend doing this by hand as a weight reducing activity...and pension fund reducing activity, although the following is better at that.

At the end of September we hit 102k somewhere North of Shrewsbury. Riding along on a nice day in the sun you would have no idea of the bikes mileage, it just goes and goes. Replacing the suspension has restored the feel of the bike, and the engine is just the same as it ever was.

(https://i.ibb.co/kK9gjqY/20210929-111302.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F60b28G)

(https://i.ibb.co/hsQpw7C/20210929-111208.jpg) (https://ibb.co/R2rLdv7)

(https://i.ibb.co/3MnKWKb/20210929-111327.jpg) (https://ibb.co/61kQbQS)

Not much happened after that until last week when I took the bike into Ocean for its 102k service, much to the astonishment of Jules the new Sarf Afrikaan Ocean Motorrad manager. I also gave them the Akra and asked them nicely to fit it for me to replace the leaky original. Jules was pretty keen on this as he recalled one of the first K12 he sold many moons ago to a "must have every extra" customer who propmptly fitted an Akra system, and he like the sound very much. Richard the mech probably started planning extensive sick leave due to impending mental stress...

Next day I retrieved the radiator so I could clean it. Over the next 3 days I used in no particular order and repeated applications: Muc off,  4 tins of brake cleaner, hot water, all purpose eco cleaner, soap, scrubbing brush, overnight soaking, scrubbing brush, even hotter water, toothbrush, scrubbing brush, a rinse in the dish washer and eventually gave up. By this time it was cleaner and I could see through more of it than when I started but there was still plenty of crud baked in there. I suppose if I had kept going it would get better but the amount I was removing each time was getting smaller and smaller. As a side note the heat shield on the back of the fan is getting a bit manky, but is not available as a BMW spare, only comes with the fan. If anyone knows what can be bought as a replacement I'd be interested, cutting the required shape out of a sheet would not be that difficult.

While I had been doing that Richard had been struggling with the 13 or 14 year old never been undone exhaust header bolts. When I got back with the cleaner radiator , the headers were off. He had resorted to heat after soaking repeatedly in penetrating fluid. We have a couple of broken studs but hopefully by welding nuts onto the studs he can get them out. He's just taking his time and we are hoping the penetrating fluid and heat will eventually do the job. Nuclear option is the engine will have to be dropped and sent off to the machine shop for the studs to be drilled out.

(https://i.ibb.co/k6Z4Sky/20211111-153550.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zHdX4j5)

Hopefully towards the end of this we can remove the previously mentioned coolant pipe that is obstructing the engine mounting bolt  that carries the RG crash bung on the offside, insert the RG bolt and mark the fairing for the crash bung hole.

The only remaining problem is trying to find somewhere to insert service records stamps in the handbook. We have now run out of pages to write on...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on November 14, 2021, 08:45:22 am
Lovely! Tell me, did you get any pushback on the dishwasher stage from your dishwasher stakeholders?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 14, 2021, 10:44:13 am
Ask no questions tell no lies
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 29, 2021, 10:16:51 am
Managed to get 5 bolts out and the mech needed a week off to recover. Before he left he took the front end off and while he was off a man that can came in and drilled & helicoiled the other 3 without having to drop the engine. This could be the most expensive akra ever coming up.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on November 29, 2021, 11:09:52 am
That's what a hundred thousand heat and cold cycles do for you in a British climate (despite the fact that half it's life was spent in Holland).

From memory, you can't even get nut-splitters in there effectively.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on November 29, 2021, 03:17:11 pm
Hi Steve

Cannot remember if your bike has a PC? If not...be interesting to see how it runs.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 29, 2021, 05:12:32 pm
I've been called many things (including old recently) but Steve is new.

This bike was remapped by BSD including disconnecting the lambda sensor when the Akra silencer was fitted but no Power Commander fitted. Yep will be interesting to see how it runs. When the silencer was fitted it ran lean- mpg went up about 10%- and better - much more responsive generally,  but the remap made even more difference, especially at the bottom end.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on November 29, 2021, 05:41:00 pm
Oh the joys of multi tasking 😂 but hey ho not much difference between Steve and Martin is there 😛

I’d forgotten the BSD trip..but that should be good enough, the X/R has Akra headers as well just a shame they don’t come stock...and I’d like some for the KTM.

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 01, 2021, 05:00:30 pm
Just bought tyres (Michelin PR5 again) for both bikes from blackcircles. They are not saying there's any issue with availability yet. The front tyres cost £6 less than 18 months ago but the rears about £12 more for the K12 but nearer £30 more for the K13. So you can all show off your internet shopping skills heres the prices
120/70 R17 W58 £111.54
190/50 R17 W75 £153.95
190/55 R17 W75 £177.90 ouch!
Oh and £12.50 to deliver
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on December 01, 2021, 05:19:32 pm
You’ve lost me...yea yea I know very easy...did you actually buy a 190? Or is that just a eg.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 01, 2021, 05:23:56 pm
Yes, 190 on both bikes, 190/50 on the K12 , 190/55 on the K13
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on December 01, 2021, 06:23:13 pm
Blimey 😳

Should have said...why not a 55 for the 1200 they need all the help they can get 😀
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 01, 2021, 10:27:51 pm
I think I did run a 55 once when a 50 wasn't available but it's so long ago I can't remember the effect. I suspect I was motorway bashing so it wasn't really noticeable. Maybe I can swap wheels around later to see. Hmm forged wheels on a k12 🤔
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 05, 2021, 05:47:55 pm
(https://i.ibb.co/xXGV95b/20211204-111706.jpg) (https://ibb.co/bQLpwdV)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 06, 2021, 01:00:27 pm
Just been told that the valves will need re-shimming. I cannot remember this being done before, need to check my records. Also not all the seals are immediately available , one is on the dreaded back order. Signs of spares becoming scarce for a model approaching obsolescence?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 09, 2021, 09:52:51 am
Popped into Ocean today with the k13 and tyres for fitting and found that back order has surpassed itself by supplying everything and the engine is all back together, the akra is on and it sounds crisper than a crisp that's just been crisped. All the other bits remain to be refitted and as he just had 3 RT blood bikes brought in for service it'll be a couple of days before the credit card goes into rehab. Richard has also put the widget bolt in the offside engine mount so I will be able to mark and drill for the other rg bung.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 09, 2021, 10:06:01 am
I'd have loved to have seen that, two tyres strapped to the back of a K13...or did you wear them round your middle a la the Michelin man?

Great news about the back-ordered bits, the warehouse must be getting rather depleted by now  :(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 09, 2021, 11:08:13 am
I have a q5 support vehicle and driver, doesn't everyone ? Just had to put 2 tyres on that as well. Never rains til it pours...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 09, 2021, 12:28:54 pm
Ah, silly me  ::)

Although I did ride to a mate's with a tyre round my waist but a) that was many years ago and b) I was much slimmer back then.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Swindon Andy on December 09, 2021, 01:29:31 pm
I had a new front tyre diagonally from my shoulder last month, only a few miles but not at all comfortable.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomK1300s on December 09, 2021, 02:37:20 pm
Ah, silly me  ::)

Although I did ride to a mate's with a tyre round my waist but a) that was many years ago and b) I was much slimmer back then.
Only two Brian, come on got to be a little more adventurous, got my three for the start of next year, two rear and one front.


(https://i.ibb.co/6JWCb6Y/20211209-142932-1.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6JWCb6Y)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 10, 2021, 09:19:12 pm
Passed the MOT today, another step. So that meant I could pay the road tax. This is becoming one long story about payments, and the real wallet breaker is yet to come. :( :'(
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 13, 2021, 08:08:17 pm
Collected the bike today, the bill began with a one which was a relief as I had been fearing it would start with a 2. The only visible difference is a silver silencer instead of black carbon. Complete set of new shims, new studs gaskets and nuts in addition to a full 18k service. Need some more brake pads...and I reckon the tyres might last 1000miles. Never stops
Starts cleanly without the noisy death rattle of the leaky exhaust. Engine is mechanically quieter , maybe those old shims were allowing more rattling. Went for a 20 mile run and filled with fuel. Engine temperature sitting at 3 blocks so hopefully the radiator cleaning marathon has helped. Occasional crackle from the can when shutting the throttle but the antisocial backfire caused by the old exhaust has gone. Have not had time to play to see if I get the nice little blue flame rom the tail that I used to.  Maybe do a video later.

So in the box in the garage I have the original downpipeswhich may appeal to an enthusiastic welder who is sure they can weld them up, the original silencer, and the Akra carbon end can. Think I need to have a garage sale
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on December 13, 2021, 09:15:29 pm
... a full 18k service...

118k service, shirley?

So in the box in the garage I have the original downpipeswhich may appeal to an enthusiastic welder who is sure they can weld them up, the original silencer, and the Akra carbon end can. Think I need to have a garage sale

You'll get a decent chunk of your spend back just on the Akra sale.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 13, 2021, 10:19:51 pm
As one who fell foul of a totally competent welder (who 'used to make exhaust systems mate') who did a grand job of sealing the leaks in the webs between the pipes but who failed to bolt the flanges to even a block of wood before incinerating it, I can only offer my best wishes to anyone who fancies sparking up the gas gun  :o
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on December 13, 2021, 10:26:35 pm
A bit random, but this bloke (and his kit) could probably fix it, and teach you how to do it properly too.
He did a talk for our IAM club last week - very impressive, and interested in passing his skills on, rather than trying to sting you:

https://the-machine-shop.co.uk/

"Our speaker is Bob Teahan the man behind 'The Machine Shop' the world's first self-service, open access engineering workshop. With a background in Irish road racing and years at Norton Motorcycles, Bob has a passion to pass on his skills to anyone who wants to learn."
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 14, 2021, 12:23:33 am
I remember seeing a splurge about him in a mag or on the haunted fish tank some time ago and it seemed very impressive.

I can (read 'used to be able to') hold my own with a welding gun on mild steel of a decent thickness as long as it isn't ever to be seen, but welding thin-wall stainless is a specialised art-form and I have a feeling that many dead systems would be required before a novice got a semi-decent result. Decades ago, a stunning fabricator/welder in the workshops at RAF Marham knocked me up a stainless 4-2-1 exhaust header for my rally car in about 7 hours and charged me a pack of 100 fags which I got duty free from a mate who was a fly-boy. I actually gave him 500 and a bottle of scotch, also duty-free.

The problem with the webs on the exhaust is the cramped area one is trying to weld in. I'm sure it would be easier and faster to cut the old system up and start over. I had two dead systems and couldn't find even superb welders and fabricators in engineering companies in the Thames Valley who were even tempted to have a go and most said the cost of £600 for a new system seemed like a bargain compared to their costs even if any of their welders fancied a go.

I'm afraid it is the same story as the radiator...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 24, 2021, 09:54:56 am
And now the insurance , £293 fully comp for both bikes inc NCD protection, legal expenses, RAC EU breakdown, personal accident cover, helmet and leathers cover. £60 less than last year as the number of speeding tickets and claims is down to 1 now...amazing how that happens when your annual mileage drops from 25k to 5k...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 24, 2021, 10:54:44 am
True. What also happens is that your paranoia also drops by a huge amount and then your attention drops and then you get speeding tickets. This is particularly true if most of your miles are done at night (mine are in the car) and then you suddenly find yourself doing journeys in broad daylight and discover things like camera vans lurking just where your sat nag is squawking at you and distracting your attention from the road  :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 27, 2021, 02:37:17 pm
The fan is making a nasty noise now. Sigh. Probably the over enthusiastic cleaning got water into it or something
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: NIBS on December 27, 2021, 03:21:15 pm
BEARING??
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 27, 2021, 03:41:15 pm
Yeah probably
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 28, 2021, 09:40:53 pm
Well there was a bit of up down and back and forth today. A 450 mile blip to see Matt and purchase his rear axle stand. The bike was faultless.  A long time ago when I was messing about with 2 strokes someone said to me that you could tell when it was properly tuned because it would sound like tearing calico. That's as close as I can describe it right  now. There seems to be little less torque at the bottom end, so pulling past traffic at low revs ie below 3k in top is not as instant. Get past 4k and even more noticeably at 5k it really wants to rev. It seems smoother but that could be the fact it's just had a full service. Fuel economy still seems to be lower,  not done the numbers yet. Theres a slight problem trying to keep it below 90 which won't be helping...I suspect I am going to be back at BSD. Radiator clean has done its job and the engine stayed at 3 blocks all day.
I thought I might see a bit of rain but have the wind behind me on the way, and have a dry run into the wind coming back. Wrong, damp and grey all day except at a sunny lunch break, and curiously not windy on the way home. Bloody christmas staycationers jammed the A303 in both directions, why do 45 in a 60 for mile after mile ? Bike is so dirty you cant tell there are different colour wheels on it and the akra is totally splattered.
I used my empty  large soft bag as a platform to strap the stand onto with bungees which can be very handily hooked onto the panniers mounting brackets. Solid the whole way home and no bother filtering either.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on December 28, 2021, 10:02:06 pm
450 miles at Christmas - a fine bit of riding! That's a full 450 miles more than I've managed.
Well done, that man.

> you could tell when it was properly tuned because it would sound like tearing calico.
Ripping silk, do you mind. BMW are classy like.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on December 29, 2021, 11:02:16 am
Good to see you Martin. Sorry about the weather! I do enjoy seeing well deployed bungees though :).
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 29, 2021, 11:25:58 am
Sorry it was a bit rushed ( mr google says 19 minutes), I should have set off earlier. Maybe we should arrange a half way meet up for a west country run round Devon and Dorset to see how the 1290 goes. And sorry about the car. My son is doing one up very slowly, I think they are becoming collectable.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on December 29, 2021, 12:56:18 pm
Sounds like the beginnings of a plan! We must visit the equivalent of the SAS home though OK :D.

Yeah, my local garage guy was only recently raising the appreciation point, though sadly mine was/is only the 2.5. The 3.0 has already started racing up, and I imagine the 2.5 will begrudgingly follow some way behind. If I had the 3.0 I'd likely try and recondition it but now I'm thinking I'll try something different :).
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 02, 2022, 11:33:23 am
Spent my Christmas present money on brake pads. I had to add a substantial amount to the presents jeez that was expensive. Serves me right for having 2 bikes. Decided to buy bmw ones as I seem to go through brembo ones at an indecent rate. Bought some brake cleaner too, this time with a suitable Wurth spray bottle and bulk liquid rather than aerosols hoping for long term savings. Apparently chlorinated stuff is best but that seems to come from 'murica and is horribly expensive.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 02, 2022, 11:15:55 pm
(https://i.ibb.co/pxK5s3Z/20220102-145523.jpg)

Video to follow if I can edit the size down to suit imgbb
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 02, 2022, 11:22:58 pm
Oh and I finally used my new torx drivers to dismantle the MRA Vario flip up and turn the blade upside down. I have only turned the blade not the whole assembly. This leaves very little adjustment to the angle. I will report back on any difference it makes. Once I've had a go with it I'll try turning the whole assembly upside down. Endless hours of fun.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 03, 2022, 06:09:25 pm
imgbb doesn't accept videos so try this. Its better in 1080HD setting

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1oxh_LRobK7riaWX4E4_hPpioUYrvYXWj/view?usp=sharing
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 06, 2022, 02:01:50 pm
Got myself a secondhand fan from James Sherlock off a bike that had only done 35k miles.


                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 06, 2022, 02:15:58 pm
Well done. He d'man  8)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 06, 2022, 03:10:32 pm
It's in good nick too.

Tha brake cleaner sprayer arrived too, proper Germanic bit of kit. Waiting for brake cleaner bottle and brake pads now

(https://i.ibb.co/XLVzL4f/20220106-150536.jpg)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 14, 2022, 09:13:00 pm
So what did we learn this week then?  Well first we re-learnt that big mileage in the mid winter of January is filthy. I got all the way up to Shropshire on the motorway, and 3 days of radiator cleaning was lost in the last mile of the Shropshire lane (I use the word loosely, its approaching track or RUPP standard these days thankyou Shropshire CC - not) to my dads house . I was able to find my dads hosepipe put away in the shed at the back of the garage (apparently they have these things called "frost" up there so turn off all the outside taps and put away their hoses so they don't freeze, I think I have finally gone native in Cornwall as I can't remember the last frost at home), get him to turn his stop tap on and by the light of a head torch sluice the slurry off the bike and myself. Fortunately he has had his garage cleared out recently and I was able to get the sopping K in there to avoid all the water freezing up over night.

On the way up i was busy experimenting with cruising speed versus fuel economy and comparing it with pre-Akrapovic numbers, and keeping an eye on the rapidly approaching 1000mile mark, when I suddenly noticed the rear tyre pressure had disappeared and a big flashing light came on. You are fecking joking, after all the palaver with the K13 last time, this cannot be happening again. I pulled up on the hard shoulder and got off. There was no feeling of a flat and I gave the rear tyre a hearty kick partly in disgust and partly to see if it was soft. It wasn't, and magically the sensor reading came back and the light went out.  Anyway thats why the background to the 103k picture is motorway. A friendly Triumph rider stopped to see if I was OK which was nice.

(https://i.ibb.co/WgGJ8vD/20220111-134250.jpg) (https://ibb.co/J5mJ6jx)

(https://i.ibb.co/bNBC6Bw/20220111-134255.jpg) (https://ibb.co/XFsKWs0)

As far as the numbers are concerned I am down 1 or 2 mpg on the pre Akra numbers at motorway speeds but it is very sensitive to rpm, At around 4500rpm there is a tipping point. Under that, say like the 450mile trip over to see Matt on A roads, I got 42.2mpg at an average speed of 51 which is close to the all time average of 43mpg. On my last 600 mile trip back from Holland all on motorways I averaged 42.6 at average 60 (there are very long stretches of speed limited sections in Holland and France and  construction speed limits in SE England, it was tedious). This weeks 600mile trip on almost entirely dual carriageway and motorway (you know, one of those when the sat nav lady says "continue for 162 miles " as you get on the M5) I got 39mpg at an average of 67mph. That starts dwindling pretty rapidly if you stray into 3 figure speeds - the last tankful was down to 38.7 for an average of 82. So I think its running a little rich, and the hot idle is a little wobbly sometimes,  so will have to find the time and cash for a trip to BSD

Next on the every days a school day list was the effect of turning the MRA Vario screen blade upside down. I am getting a much smoother and quieter airflow that's hitting me slightly lower, say armpit/shoulder level and that is staying consistent over a wide range of speeds. Remember I have the low seat and am a relative shortarse at 5ft9". There is a small amount of adjustment possible even though the geometry of the blade adjusters limits movement now the blade is inverted. Keeping the blade slightly raised and approximately parallel to the main screen is best at higher speeds. raising it slightly more is better a lower to middling speeds. Initially the feeling was similar to the K13 standard screen with the standard seat, but where the wind load steadily increase on that , the MRA Vario now makes that load consistent. At up to 70 it is very much quieter and smoother than before, after that the noise builds a bit but its still very smooth. Sometimes you can get a bubble that stays with you at any speed  which is great. There was next to no wind this week which may have helped, but turbulence in motorway traffic was noticeably less. The odd rain shower ran off my visor possibly better than before , that may be my imagination, but the salt splatter still stuck like shit to a blanket

(https://i.ibb.co/6wBK9FW/20220114-101619.jpg) (https://ibb.co/F3VQZzD)

I acquired some nice scratches while having to constantly wipe the visor on the way home in conditions including almost freezing fog, low bright sunshine right in my eyes for hours, being personally gritted (twice), fine shitty salt spray. The helmet even had salt spray all around the back which is new. Perhaps its the changed airflow. I also jet washed the panniers which were almost brown after their Salopian experience and scrubbed them off with MucOff. They look nice and clean now but I can confirm they are not jet wash waterproof. My Alpinestars all in one rainsuit is still doing a great job and keeps everything clean whilst being a doddle to wash off. I was wearing that over my Hein Gericke touring leathers and EDZ layers as its a warmer combination than the BMW Enduroguard textile suit when the temperatures never exceeded 8.5C, and in these conditions its on from leaving the house whether its raining or not, so no struggling into it at the roadside when rain appears. Planning your, er, comfort stops may be required though, and use the disabled loo there's more room

And finally in other news I had a nasty Brexit surprise waiting for me on my return home. My new brake pads for both bikes had disappeared into courier space for a week and i was beginning to think I was going to have to have to do some chasing. Nope, not courier space but import duty and VAT space. Because of not just buying a set of cheapo EBC pads, not getting full sintered Brembo pads as previously which on reviewing the records weren't lasting very long, I had tried to do the right thing and get original BMW pads sintered at the front and organic at the rear. Basically if your goods exceed £135 then you're going to cop for duty and VAT, in my case 5% and 20% respectively, plus a victim fee sorry clearance fee of another £12. Having already paid German VAT I was seriously pissed. Had I split the order for each bike I would have had 2 orders under the limit and paid nothing extra. Just another reason why my brain does a blue screen and I just spit out swear words in no particular order when I try to understand why the UK voted for Brexit. Anyway on the bright side I've got a nice new spindle spanner from Nippy Normans now and can take my own front wheels off now which will make changing the pads much easier

And finally just before you all fall asleep, I've fitted the offside RG crash bung that had been languishing in my toolbox due to a coolant pipe banjo bolt obstructing the engine mounting bolt the bung fits too. Richard at Ocean had fitted the RG bolt when the bike was in for its last service which included coolant replacement. I'd cleaned the bike again this afternoon so it was standing in a pool of cold dirty water . Recently I've boxed up the garage in preparation for storing it whilst sending the structure over to son#2 house and I build myself a bigger shed. Obviously the bung was in a box at the bottom of the pile behind sheets of plywood and the K13. Having retrieved that I found that Richard had tightened up the fairing screws around the radiator so tight I couldn't get them off without tearing the rubber washers. Got them off removed the fairing and then had to hose out another few hundred grams of Shropshire's finest shite slurry. Of course the sun has dipped now so I'm losing light and heat. Ahh the memories of lying in cold wet mud fixing up my bike when I were a lad all came flooding back as I lay in the cold wet mud fixing my bike, trying to make sure I got everything aligned to punch the hole centre in the side fairing by the light of my language. Anyway it's done now.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 14, 2022, 10:47:10 pm
Make sure you fasten a fluorescent thingy to your spindle spanner.

I bought one for the 12, used it when I took the shocks off to get rebuilt and then couldn't find it when I wanted to fit new wheel bearings about 5,000 miles later. Looked everywhere including behind the sheets of plywood etc.

Bought another one off fleabay and when I went outside to do the job I found the original; still inserted solidly in the spindle... ::)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on January 14, 2022, 11:02:06 pm
Excellent write-up Martin, thanks.

How does the MPG on the 1300 compare? I seem to get more than that quite easily - 46-50mpg at around 50mph average, but depending on route.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Swindon Andy on January 15, 2022, 12:08:43 am
I had tyre pressure failure that started occasional but ended up permanent. Dealer replacement of the wheel sensor cured it. My K1300S is usually around 51mpg touring dropping to maybe 46 average when going for it. Acro baffle in.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on January 15, 2022, 07:19:52 am
You know Martin when I read your posts...particularly at this time of year...not sure if you have my undieing admiration or your family should have you committed to a suitable institution...you know the ones where jackets have straps on the end of the arm 😂😂😂.

Re the scratched visor...surprised I see no tennis ball with sponge on the handle bars ?

Might even be able to stump up a pair of Road 5’s at an advantageous price, assuming you have time.....get them fitted as well...hmm re the visor 😀 sure that can be sorted as well...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on January 15, 2022, 09:23:48 am
Martin you've got me thinking I should get a K1300S as my winter bike now! Or next 1290 get Chris's colours so I don't have to see orange wheels looking so obviously horrid at this time of year.

Thanks for the update, always a nice read.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 15, 2022, 09:44:23 am
Rich
The K13 is averaging 48mpg with a best of 52 and a worst of 36, although that last figure was after the first lockdown standing for 4 months, a fairer in use figure would be 44

Andy
Yep I think that the sensor may be on the way out, its done 55k miles since it was replaced at 47k . The front one did 92k despite the bashing the front wheels have had

Chris
 nice offer thankyou. I was thinking about your tennis ball and sponge as i struggled to clear the visor as it happens. Might be time to try one of those Bob Heath visors we spoke about. Front tyre has done about 6k miles and the rear about 7k miles and there's tread left on both so not quite there yet. I have tyres sitting on the shed just now ready to go on when I need them, and I want to swap the rear grey wheel for the original silver so not quite as straightforward as ride in ride out,  so might come back to you later. As for the jacket with straps, well yes , you're not the only one to say similar
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on January 15, 2022, 11:07:54 am
Are your mpg figures from the on board computer or by measuring what goes into the tank? I think Hans Christian Andersen was on the BMW team designing the mpg calculation parts of the on board computer.

I'd also suggest that the mpg change at motorway speeds are going to be affected as much by the screen changes as by the can.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on January 15, 2022, 11:21:41 am
You know Martin when I read your posts...particularly at this time of year...not sure if you have my undieing admiration or your family should have you committed to a suitable institution...you know the ones where jackets have straps on the end of the arm 😂😂😂.

Nah, they're more pragmatic than that - they have life insurance on him.  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 15, 2022, 01:12:01 pm
As I have often written, the fuel gauge and the mpg figure is a work of fiction. The first day I had the K12 I ran out of fuel with the computer saying I had 47 miles left so that fuel gauge got replaced under the dealers warranty.

I soon started a spreadsheet to keep a record of the bikes history and realised that I was filling up well before the tank was empty. I kept pushing the distance I rode until on one occasion I did 38 miles after R=0. One extreme to the other. Hey, big UP! for German technology. The computer mpg number was averaging 8% optimistic.

Suddenly after almost exactly a year and weirdly coinciding with a tyre change, all things changed, I have no idea why. Fortunately I was doing a regular commute and had regular stops. Instead of being able to ride way past R=0, I noticed the spreadsheet was calculating that I'd be lucky if I got 5 miles.

Another 18 months and I was regularly riding until the range was below 10 miles and confident I had fuel left. I did the fuel tank filler neck mod (drilling air holes into the neck to more easily squeeze more fuel in). A couple of months later things went wonky again and I ran out of fuel a few time, fortunately I was working at Hinkley Point and its pretty flat around there so easy to push the bike. I say easy, that's in terms of meaning I could actually push the bike without expiring after a 100 yards. After a few weeks a kinked breather pipe was diagnosed. Basically from then on, if the range says zero, its zero.

Another year went by, no issues, computer 7% optimistic. Interestingly on a 1100 mile trip into Germany using the 100RON fuel the computer was accurate to 1 or 2%, and after that it stayed 3 or 4% accurate while I ran around Holland for a few more months on 99 RON.

In the first year or so of lockdown the accuracy was 6%. After I had all the work done on the suspension and replaced all the bearings etc, and in the second year of lockdown, its now at 4%. I don't know why its improving but I just know when I look at the computer data what the real numbers are. If anything my riding is much more varied than it used to be when commuting.

Moral of the story do not trust either your fuel gauge or the numbers in the computer. Work it out by keeping notes of your mileage and your fuel receipts, and try to completely fill your tank every time. My average fill up range over 478 tankfuls is 178 miles with a best of 219 (well I had just been banned for a fortnight and fined £LOTS so was trying to be a good boy), and the lifetime average is 43.02mpg.

Other exciting statistics: Average speed to date is 53.5mph over 84811 recorded miles so that's 1585 hours in the saddle. Cost is at 44.6p a mile, and that includes all the money I have spent recently on renewing suspension exhaust ABS pump panniers, so that number is now dropping again as the miles clock up again. If you include the purchase price its 51.5p a mile. Of those numbers fuel contributes 14.1p a mile.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: armstrongracer on January 18, 2022, 02:02:59 pm
Ah, some sensible figures at last, all these 50 mpg reports got me worried that there's something wrong with mine but I regularly get around 180-185 miles to a tank from full to empty.  Calculations give me 45-48 mpg averages.  My daily run to work is 1/3 city with a lot of traffic lights and 2/3 motorway, cruising at 80-90. Full Akro system & DNA but no re-map.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on January 18, 2022, 06:48:48 pm
Full Akro system & DNA but no re-map.

Really 😳😳😳😳 blimey are you in for a treat when you escape the poxy TUV
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on January 18, 2022, 10:10:17 pm
I get 10miles per litre and look for fuel at 190miles. I always brim the tank and expect to require 19litres at 190miles.

I don't take any notice of the computer mpg.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on January 19, 2022, 10:25:22 am
When I used to commute, I'd fill the tank to the brim (filler neck mod done) then do 153 mile round trip before re-filling the next working day. Most of the time the low fuel warning light had just come on but on some occasions it hadn't. Measuring what went into the tank I'd get between about 47 and 52 mpg. (just under to just over 11 miles per litre). Keeping my dual carriageway/motorway cruising speeds to just over 80 (er ... kph officer - honest! ;) ) returned the 52mpg value. Moving that cruising speed up to just under 95 moved the mpg figure to the 47mpg value.  My "normal" value was around 49mpg. No panniers, no god awful top box monstrosity, just a Baglux tank bag and rider in leathers.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 19, 2022, 10:32:11 am
TomL and black k1, are you talking about a k12or k13 ?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on January 19, 2022, 12:07:02 pm
K13 (two of)  from me.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 19, 2022, 12:25:41 pm
Ah that explains it
Armstrong racer if you are getting 48mpg then you have 219 mile range, filling up at 180 is pretty safe
Anyway this should be on the k13 thread. I'll put some numbers over there
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on January 19, 2022, 05:40:45 pm
TomL and black k1, are you talking about a k12or k13 ?
K12 and K13, both did about the same. 10miles/litre.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on January 19, 2022, 05:45:19 pm
Me too. K12 and K13 both averaged out at about 10mpl. On the K12 the fuel light was on by about 140-150. On the K13, between 145 and 155.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: armstrongracer on January 20, 2022, 01:01:29 pm
Full Akro system & DNA but no re-map.

Really 😳😳😳😳 blimey are you in for a treat when you escape the poxy TUV

Got it from breakers in USA with a Ti race can. looks like a normal Akkro hexacone but I had to rivet a DB killer in (no threaded holes). £300 all in, bit of a bargain (fedex missed a trick & didn't charge duty). Just a small amount of road rash to sort on the carbon end cap.  Black marker and some nail varnish fixed that. Can is much deeper sounding than the clip of the full system put up on the forum recently, it dosnt have that jet-taking-off rasp of the road Akkro, shame.

System and the DNA makes the delivery much smoother not sure if I need or can justify mapping or a PC.  Have developed a bit of an itch for a KTM RC8r
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 20, 2022, 05:14:48 pm
Yeah that was me (see at top of page). The exhaust note with the Akra end can only did sound deeper, not sure why. As far as I know all the innards are present in the current silencer. I have a full titanium system waiting to go on the K13 , we'll see what that sounds like later
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on January 20, 2022, 05:22:50 pm
I view the remap as a belt and bracers option to look after the motor fuel wise, never mind the difference in performance.

(https://i.ibb.co/vLkc7nc/2021-09-08-07-58-22.jpg)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: armstrongracer on January 20, 2022, 05:38:12 pm
Full Ti  8), gert lush, as they say in Brizzle.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on January 20, 2022, 07:25:21 pm
With a 1300 gearbox with an aftermarket QS which just about keeps it in the 21st century 😀
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 05, 2022, 07:03:49 pm
Another blip to Shropshire this week, another 666 mostly dry but fresh miles including a visit to see Brian, clocking up 104,000 miles and using up one of my 9 lives (although I reckon i'm probably up to about 15 by now)

(https://i.ibb.co/sJXn6J2/20220203-121654.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3YP2MY7)

Somewhere on the A417 near Trumpet not a million miles from phmode villas on the return trip

(https://i.ibb.co/vsYkNmT/20220203-121713.jpg) (https://ibb.co/wJs4nCP)

I took an exceptionally devious route on the way back, following the A417 after a brisk trip down the A49. I had intended to turn off South at Cirencester but was having such a blast in the sunshine that the 417 morphed into the 419. That is one fast bit of road. Straight across the M4 , past Marlborough and eventually the A303. Fortunately held up by traffic as I passed the only camera van of the day, I was on the dual carriageway approaching Exeter when I started to mutter to myself about some vibration at speed. Felt mechanical somewhere , sometimes varying with speed sometimes not. I wondered if a balance weight had come off the wheel as it felt a bit like that when it happened before. Can't be a bearing surely to god, I've had all of them replaced . What the hell is it?

Tooling around the M5 at Exeter I was trying to call Mrs fj to tell her how i was getting on but for some reason my phone wasn't talking to the Sena even though the Tom Tom was. Bloody IT. Got a bit blocked on that corner off the M5 onto the A30 , annoying when you know there are no corners for another 70 miles. Gassed it up the road, bloody vibration, bloody IT, sod it I'll stop in the layby make the call have a piss and crack on. Pulled in and started to fiddle with the phone. standing by the bike I suddenly noticed a metal bar wrapped around the swingarm/shock linkage/tyre. WTF?  Looking closer I realised the mounting frame for the panniers had fallen off. It was somehow jammed between the swingarm and torque arm on the nearside , around the tyre and into the dished off side of the wheel where a lot of the paint was missing where the end of the bar had been doing its best impression of a cutting tool on a lathe. Where it was wrapped around the tyre it had polished up the chicken strips to a shine.

I managed to pull it out, it suddenly came free. Looking at it , it didn't even seem bent or damaged. I managed to wedge it in the tank bag. Fortunately I had some bungees and strapped the nearside pannier on the pillion seat. This left the offside pannier hanging on the locking pin at the top. I hooked the bungees onto the carry handle.

Didn't take any pics of all this, wasn't top of the list. Maybe I should have, would have been interesting for the rest of you. I was more concerned about how to get home with my panniers. Made the call to Mrs FJ  without elaborating on possible consequences of  what had happened just that I would be later than I thought, had a piss without crapping myself in delayed shock, and pottered off at 50mph with much feeling around behind me to check everything was still in place and eventually got home without anything else falling off.

So instead of putting the grey wheels on at the rapidly approaching tyre change so the OE wheels could be painted, I will now be putting the silver ones on and getting the grey ones painted. Oh. and buying a job lot of threadlock. All 4 bolts fell out of the pannier frame. Thinking back to when I put the panniers on at my Dads, I noticed that the panniers weren't as tightly fitted as normal but it never occurred to me that the bolts were loose. I have never had anything come loose on the bike since I got it so my checks are getting sloppy in my old age.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on February 05, 2022, 07:47:11 pm
Bloody hell that's a scary occurrence! Always good to be reminded of both threadlock and checking an occasional bolt torque.

And whatever the marker paint is the garages tend to use. What's that called?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 06, 2022, 03:48:01 pm
Nail polish. Fuschia Blush in my case 8)

Crimes Martin. My once-over as you left mine didn't spot anything untoward so I blame your dad  :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Philip on February 07, 2022, 11:01:22 am
If you had wanted to remove those bolts as I have in the past, at least one of them would have been seized.

The captive nut inside the box section frame would then have spun & it would have had to be drilled out.

Suggest anyone wanting to remove those bolts lends their bike to Martin for a few hours before attempting removal. ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: raesewell on February 07, 2022, 12:45:07 pm
I've heard the stories about Martin and his loose nuts  ;D
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 08, 2022, 06:54:11 pm
I've got a tool for fixing those...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 30, 2022, 08:55:33 pm
First day out for 6 weeks, popped up to Bude just because its there thinking it was a nice day. Left sunny Falmouth at 17C but by Padstow it was grey 8C and cloud down to road level past Wadebridge. But it's a good bit of road and the bike was oily smooth running on the local esso e5 99ron as I didn't have enough fuel left to get to superexpensive shell. I sometimes wonder why I keep this bike but there's nothing wrong with it, it goes like stink and I just enjoy riding it

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on March 31, 2022, 11:31:23 am
All sounds like very good reasons for keeping it!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 07, 2022, 01:02:37 pm
Another week another funeral, seem to be getting to that time of life. Bloody miserable weather for the trip too, my old original thread of coincidences and the weather still holds true. After a couple of weeks of nice sunny dry weather I spent 3 days in rain of varying intensities, usually the "just enough to smear you in sticky dirty wet road spray" variety without being heavy enough to wash off, cold and cloudy "its grim up north" stuff.

The cold weather caused another problem. Having previously painted the pannier support rail with Hammerite primer and paint and been pleased with the result, recoating the bit that had been wrapped around the rear wheel was less satisfactory. I think I just did not get the frame and the paint warm enough and the first coat looked more like sheepswool than glossy smooth. The second coat was better but its not pretty. Having found four 5mm allan bolts in my box of spare bolts i took nearly an hour of screwing them in and out of the mounting nuts in the subframe to get rid of all the shite in the threads. I then found the frame had bent slightly during its trip around the rear wheel but fortunately it allowed itself to be persuaded into position. Liberal application of Loctite medium thread-lock went with the very tight fitting bolts and the frame is back in place. Its stayed put for this weeks 6  or 700 mile jaunt

Arriving at the first fuel stop in Bodmin I discovered a queued out of the slip road Morrisons, a shut Asda and a Texaco that only sold E10. Unwilling to chance running out and getting stranded over the moor for once, I eventually filled with E10. Needless to say all the garages on the moor were open without queues as I passed. The E10 disappeared at just under 40mpg but that was probably more to do with the tank average of 81mph than 95RON rating. The 5-10% reduction in fuel economy since the Akra was fitted probably also contributed. I have not been able to justify or finance the cross country trip to BSD for a remap yet.

The next day I was chauffeuring my dad and sister on a 200 mile trip around the north west motorway network to get to the funeral in my dads S class. I do not like Mercedes. Its almost tolerable on the motorway but on country roads its a barge. Nor much fun on the crammed motorways around Manchester either.

The trip home was showery but after about 150 miles fighting my way into the teeth of a strong and wet SW wind I got pissed off and took to the A39. This proved to be a research trip to accumulate data on how slow people in North Somerset drive around. The Bridgewater to Minehead section is double white lined for most of its length as are most nice curvy bits of road around there so there are sweet FA overtaking opportunities. Not that I was going too fast as the top dressing (pour liquid asphalt and spread loose chippings then sweep up the ones that don't stick) laid during lockdown has mostly worn off, except for the lines where the asphalt nozzles dripped it onto the road. This makes many corners feel like either you have 2 flat tyres or getting your wheels stuck in different tram lines as the front and rear wheel track between different lines of chippings.. mmmm nice.. even better with a spread of mud from the local farmers to help the slip and slide . Eventually I stopped at Lynmouth for a bacon sarnie and tea. Riding up the gorge out of town was interesting. I know the road reasonably well after commuting to Hinkley Point a few years ago, but the overhanging rock and dodgy side walls of stone are now joined with some areas of road that are not just potholed but structurally failing. Wouldn't be surprised if it gets closed rather than repaired, won't be cheap.

The Morrisons in Bude only sells E10 fuel so carried on into town to find E5 at the other petrol station. A few miles later the 105,000 came up

(https://i.ibb.co/6s0LLn6/20220406-144439.jpg) (https://ibb.co/12GjjvH)

The bike was clean before I set off, honest. The last mile to my dads house up the lanes, and North Somerset roads fixed that.

(https://i.ibb.co/ZLf5Zjy/20220406-144518.jpg) (https://ibb.co/mDRkxjQ)

The "brake failure" light is on again so I assume there's an ABS fault somewhere. I can live without it.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on April 07, 2022, 02:08:13 pm
...

The next day I was chauffeuring my dad and sister on a 200 mile trip around the north west motorway network to get to the funeral in my dads S class. I do not like Mercedes. Its almost tolerable on the motorway but on country roads its a barge. Nor much fun on the crammed motorways around Manchester either.

...

Which year or shape S class is it? I do notice with my switch from the e46 to the Mercedes e coupe c207 thing it's less rewarding on those country roads. But then I did buy it for wafting and not making progress followed by getting annoyed by the 40mph brigade/majority.

I do like the look of the S but it is a big bugger.

I'm glad you managed to recover the bracket!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 08, 2022, 05:52:54 pm
S350 BlueTEC 254 bhp

As for the bracket, after cleaning the bike today i can see the panniers have taken some of the paint of the bracket so I will have to take it off and do it again.

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 12, 2022, 05:50:31 pm
Have you got the hooky thingies that go over the mounting rail correctly adjusted and made sure that the rubber cushion is still present? If they are not keeping the case rock solid then the vibration and movement can eat the paint once grit gets in there.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 27, 2022, 01:36:59 pm
AGATT

(https://i.ibb.co/k9sjkrP/20220424-121843.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0FRT8Wz)

However will not be wearing this on this weekends trip to scotland
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on July 09, 2022, 05:44:26 pm
A wee jaunt up to North Cornwall Motorcycles in Bude with son#2  on his Husky Svartpilen just to see if it all still works. Typically the tyre pressures were a bit low after standing for a couple of months. Local garage tyre pump blew up the rear ok and managed to let all almost the air out of the front without blowing it up. Wobbled around to my sons house a few hundred yards away at 0.6bar and blew it up with his compressor. That stupid valve stem on the front wheel still annoys me after all this time. Unless you have an unworn stem on the garage air pump it won't connect properly. Will have to buy another one of these https://www.nippynormans.com/f650gs-08-on/forecourt-valve-conversion-tool (https://www.nippynormans.com/f650gs-08-on/forecourt-valve-conversion-tool)

The NCMC shop has plenty of interesting bikes inside, Bimota, Ducati, old DT400 and DT175 in amongst about 70 bikes for sale. Plenty of people there sitting in the sun having breakfast from the café at the shop. Ideal place for a Saturday morning run in the sun. http://www.ncmc.co.uk/ (http://www.ncmc.co.uk/)

FJR1200 2006 6k miles for under 6k had to stop myself as new shed still at this stage (that breaker is an animal but it weighs 25kg and its transformer possibly more). The old shed has been dismantled and re-erected at son#2 house to enjoy a well earned sheltered retirement after 10 years being blasted by the seafront weather

(https://i.ibb.co/nRkk5ph/20220617-190711.jpg) (https://ibb.co/N7YYHRw)

(https://i.ibb.co/99Dghdh/20220707-122701.jpg) (https://ibb.co/svfRCXC)

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on July 09, 2022, 06:19:16 pm
Looking good Martin. That breaker might be a beast but it won't wreck your wrists like wot my little one did  :winkthumbs:
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 26, 2022, 02:48:51 pm
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=9iKt1ODRP3U

Went out for a run with a couple of the lads yesterday....this is the start, those with sharp eyes may pick me out at around 9mins 15secs on the left side of the outgoing flow.

This is the Martin Jennings Memorial run, remembering a local guy who died at the TT.  Started with a group of mates going for a ride in 1987. This is the 35th run.  I've seen it go by my house for the last 15 years so finally decided to join in. Very severe test of the old radiator to ride so far so slowly (110 miles at average 28mph) and it did finally hit the roof with all the temperature blocks filled in and a big flashing red light. Fortunately that coincided with one of the stops so it cooled down for 15mins. Saw one other K on the run, one going in the opposite direction at one point, and picked another out in a video later. Not common....
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on September 26, 2022, 03:00:27 pm
Not common....

I saw 4 (four!) yesterday on a round trip to Skeggy:
- Blue & white
- Silver
- Red & white
- Blue & white (possibly the first one again, but quite a few miles later)

Last chance to get a ride in? (if you do the Apr-Oct 'I don't ride in the winter' thing, and miss out on October and most of November being nice. But they're right about Dec,Jan,Feb and most of March!)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on September 26, 2022, 08:46:52 pm
I was there honest

(https://i.ibb.co/Y2pjcrY/facebook-1664221302612-6980250066434623234.jpg) (https://ibb.co/zsGfXkj)

Note to self - need to get some leathers that fit
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 06, 2022, 11:17:40 am
Finally got the bike in to change the tyres and swap out the badly scratched grey rear wheel from the falling off panniers rail incident. I have the original silver one to hand to be dropped in, as any well prepared K owner does, don't they?  A new rear TPS unit to replace the old I'll work when I want to unit. And the flashing brake failure light  is looking like the front wheel abs sensor needs replacing. All will be revealed tomorrow I hope.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on October 06, 2022, 03:36:33 pm
A new rear TPS unit to replace the old I'll work when I want to unit.

Hmm, I have one of those 'work when I want to' ones too, I think.
Mostly working, but it goes quiet every now and then for 5-10 mins. No error is thrown about a missing/faulty sensor though.
Is that the symptom you see?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 06, 2022, 04:29:32 pm
Yes very similar.  The first rear TPS lasted 47k, this one has lasted 58k and has been in and out of different wheels. The original front TPS lasted 92k miles despite the bashing it has had in several wheels, changed due to bent rims. The ABS sensor was replaced at 84k so the second one has only lasted 21k miles. Not so good. Use it or lose it.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on October 06, 2022, 08:02:49 pm
Hey ho. So it goes. Dare I ask the fix?
Maybe buy one (from 3rd party or BMW?) and take it along on the next tyre change?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 06, 2022, 08:42:48 pm
Somewhere on here I have read a post about replacing the battery but I do not have the electrical skills equipment and parts so will be getting a new BMW one.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on October 06, 2022, 10:26:25 pm
Fresh TPMS thread started here:
https://eurokclub.bike/index.php?topic=5045.0
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 07, 2022, 01:35:47 pm
The TPMS parts are listed as NLA no longer available. Bit of tinternet hunting coming up. And the abs sensor retaining bolt was seized in so need a new one of those as it hasn't survived the extraction process.
The current part number listed by BMW will provide a 2 piece (sensor and valve separate) kit. The original kit is in one piece and is not available from BMW. I have just sourced a one piece unit from Motorworks here https://www.motorworks.co.uk/tyre-pressure-sensor-and-valve-wha94420-4.html. Yeah, £ouch.

You can see the different types here https://shop.maxbmw.com/fiche/DiagramsMain.aspx?vid=51576&rnd=09082020
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 13, 2022, 08:27:28 pm
So the abs light has stopped flashing, the wheels match for the first time in ages and the tps works. Although its showing 3.3 bar so it's either faulty or they've put the wrong pressure in the new tyre. Hey ho just cant get the staff.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on October 20, 2022, 07:35:08 pm
These accidentally fell in the boot of the car as I passed near Swindon yesterday

(https://i.ibb.co/KjVSZrD/FB-IMG-1666229980877.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5WswDRk)

So I now have an almost complete spare set of body panels albeit not the right colour. However I'd rather only be looking for someone to spray panels glossy black than looking for the panels should I need to do so
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 26, 2022, 03:23:03 pm
So the week before last was a study in dodging the weather as I did 850 miles up as far as Barnoldswick via the Welsh borders, Shropshire, Staffs to see relatives, with a stop at Manchester Airport to see some old colleagues (well they're all younger than me but you get what I mean) thrown in.
The good bits were I did actually have quite a lot of enjoyable riding over 3 days, the Kahedo seat proved eminently comfortable on the long motorway drags, and the upside-down blade on the MRA screen really worked well.
The less good bits were: Manchester Airport coffee (I use the term loosely); getting a blown headlamp bulb in the dark and it starting to rain; dropping the black rubber seal for the headlamp cover on black tarmac under a black bike in a dark pub carpark; almost running out of fuel in that petrol station wilderness between Stoke and Crewe; and filling the radiator with Shropshire mud. Being well trained by the forum I had a spare bulb but had for reasons best known to karma had changed where I had packed my headlamp so couldn't find it.  The spare was an original 55W H7, and God how did I ever think these were good headlights.

It was grey up North, but I was happy as long as it stayed dry, and very glad the heated grips worked

(https://i.ibb.co/qMV8HD7/20221116-100352.jpg) (https://ibb.co/3yQbxT4)

On the way up I had passed phmode in his car (how very dare he) (I hasten to add he was going the other way otherwise how could I have passed him) after deciding very late on to dodge the rain by going up the A49 thus had not called in advance, so I dropped in on the way back. Shortly thereafter 106,000 popped up as I pulled in at Gloucester Services.

(https://i.ibb.co/tQWNCyL/20221117-135230.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2WfLKXZ)

The radiator blockage was causing me to go relatively slowly as anything sustained over 80 resulted in the temperature display making a bid for freedom. The rest of the bike wasn't exactly clean either

(https://i.ibb.co/XVJ6PTf/20221117-135255.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4JNCLxw)

Last week's weather hasn't exactly been conducive to working outside so it was Tuesday before I started cleaning. I got the worst off before getting driven back indoors. Next day I decided to pop the LEDs into the K12 ready for the next trip up. Silly mistake. The LEDs have a collar to suit the H7 fitting in the reflector. Butterfingers here managed to drop the collar in between the reflector and the surrounding housing. Fishing with a hooky bit of wire proved very frustrating as i could hook it, could see it at the front of the headlight, but couldn't pull it back through the gap it had fallen through. Sometime later I was mad (in both senses of the word) and decided to dismantle the front fairing to get the headlamp unit out and retrieve the little bar steward. Never done this before so starting in the dark at 7pm was obviously a great plan. so after a blur of torx driving later there was a large pile of fairing parts, a pot full of screws and a sealed headlamp unit. I say sealed because although it had originally been clipped together, after 14 years the plastic had decided it wasn't for bending and the first clip i undid snapped off. Also one of the the bolts in the indicator stalks on each side had been threadlocked in harder than the sleeve in the stalk had been threadlocked into the stalk, so the bolt and sleeve had come out as one. At this point i piled all the bits into the porch, covered up the bike, and went to the Coop for more wine.

Next day while the weather raged, I hunted on Amazon for either very bright H7s or LEDs without fitting collars. I ended up buying these

https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0BFHFXHVN/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

When the weather eased, I reassembled everything, finding more bolt holes than bolts. At some point in the dim and distant past someone had dismantled and reassembled the fairing without bothering to worry about the left-over parts. However, years ago Brian had given me a set of fairing screws that someone had ordered in a forum bulk order but never collected. So that solved the bolt problem.  While all the lower fairings were off, I started cleaning the radiator. It's in a pretty sorry state, some area will not pass any water through even after 2 days of cleaning and scrubbing with the usual concoction of cleaning agents. It'll be a while before it comes off for a major service and I can get it in the dishwasher, so I am going to have to start looking for a spare I suppose. The original radiator did 60k miles and this is at 46k so it might last a bit longer. That was another weather window gone so covered it all up again and hid from the weather again.

Day 3 started with the Amazon Prime delivery of the LEDs so we got those fitted straight away. Nicely made, no fan so less bulky, sensitive to +ve and -ve so you have to get the connector the right way around, no canbus issues, but occasionally a LAMPF signal. Haven't been out to see what they are like but will report back. Everything now back together and coated with WD40 and ACF 50, ready to do it all again in a couple of weeks. Must be bonkers. Reminds me, must take the LEDs out ready for the MOT next week...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 28, 2022, 09:58:03 am
Went out in the dark last night to see how the new LEDs are. It rained as well just to add to the testing programme. As expected on full beam they are excellent, but dip was disappointing. Lack of intensity and definition. Wet rainy road without a white line on the verge or cats eyes in the middle is not good. Basically you can tool along on full beam at any speed you like but suddenly find you have to drop well below 50 if you dip for oncoming traffic, and start searching for the hint of verge you can see in the oncoming headlights.  So tonight's exercise is to put the remaining original collared LED in the dip position  and see if that improves it. 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on November 28, 2022, 10:35:26 am
Went out in the dark last night to see how the new LEDs are. It rained as well just to add to the testing programme. As expected on full beam they are excellent, but dip was disappointing. Lack of intensity and definition. Wet rainy road without a white line on the verge or cats eyes in the middle is not good. Basically you can tool along on full beam at any speed you like but suddenly find you have to drop well below 50 if you dip for oncoming traffic, and start searching for the hint of verge you can see in the oncoming headlights.  So tonight's exercise is to put the remaining original collared LED in the dip position  and see if that improves it.

Have you tried an HID in the dip position? Trust me, it's superb. Buy a cheap H7 car kit off eBay. swap the dip and one high for HID and have a LED in the other high position. If you get the slim ballasts, they'll fit inside the headlight shell, so no housing issues and no cutting required. It really is "plug and play".
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 28, 2022, 03:12:03 pm
Not yet. Have discussed it but as I have what could be best described as boilermakers fingers the idea of manipulating ballast into the back of the reflector didn't appeal, LED seemed easier. If ballasts are now smaller I'll have a  look.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on November 28, 2022, 03:20:29 pm
As you have both the 1200 and the 1300, you could use the car kit across both bikes. The first ballast is dead easy to get in. It's the second that requires a little more dexterity.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on November 28, 2022, 03:32:35 pm
Just looking now. Theres some expensive kits out there. Any recommendations?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on November 28, 2022, 03:46:04 pm
The ones I used were just eBay specials. I think I went for the 50w versions on my 1300s but had the 35w on my 1200. I didn't really notice the difference. I had the 6000k one on the 1200 but found that a little blue. I preferred the 4300k units I put in the 1300s. they were closer in colour to the traditional halogen units but the 5000k units may be a good in-between?

I've just had a look on eBay and there's loads of kits around £30
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 03, 2022, 08:20:29 pm
Seeing as it was nigh on freezing today I went outside and fitted the Optimate trailing lead and socket I bought about a year ago. This is hard wired to the battery but has a connector halfway along which means I can break the lead and can use the Slime pump if I get a puncture.

(https://i.ibb.co/6FFVPxD/20221203-154255.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DQQsCyw)

(https://i.ibb.co/wYN2n5s/20221203-154326.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fQYT3jv)

The socket is a BMW bike sized one. I am thinking about swapping it for a USB socket if I can find one suitable then I can plug my phone into it without needing another lead with a car sized socket to take a USB adaptor, although there are a million and one different accessories that fit those. Electrics are not my strong point

Also gave the old girl a wash after the outing the other night. Comes up pretty well imho.

(https://i.ibb.co/RTZ68JS/20221203-154638.jpg) (https://ibb.co/k2kDZPy)

(https://i.ibb.co/2gCYvkk/20221203-154737.jpg) (https://ibb.co/MMt5cCC)

I also had a fiddle with the LEDs. I swapped the new LED I'd put in the dip reflector with the old, collared LED I had put in one of the mains, as I was sure it had been better with that type before. Waited til it went dark and went out for a run to Penzance. Immediate improvement although cut off still a bit fuzzy. Stopped at Helston and rotated the LED element in the collar so it was vertical, having set it horizontal to match the newer LEDs.  POW! normal service resumed. I got flashed once and was also having to hang back from cars to avoid dazzling their rear-view mirrors. Got to Penzance and altered the reflector to its lower setting. This seemed to fix the issue and I am now back to a proper spread of LED dip beam without annoying anyone, and 2 LED on main beam. 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 06, 2022, 08:31:10 pm
MOT day today. Thought i was going to be in and out in an hour. However my mate Murphy detected a loose ball joint and you know how easy those are to get at. Well if you don't- they aren't, and it's some stupid torque number required to boot. Anyway 3 hours later all done and no charge for  the fannying about. While I was waiting I looked up the mot rules on headlight bulbs. https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions/mot-special-notice-01-21-headlamp-conversions
That'll be the last time I switch out the LEDS  then
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 07, 2022, 11:55:08 am
Oooh! That's a coincidence. I thought I was the only numpty who would put up with slithering through frozen apple mush to get the bike to the MoT this afternoon. 0°C out there and no chance of an improvement before the off.

Why would I own a bike for almost 7 years and still not have bothered to change the MoT date to a balmy August afternoon?

And then, having popped the phone on the QuadLock Mount while I was moving it out of the garage, I couldn't get the bloody thing off again. Magnetic charging mount in the car, weatherproof charging mount on the bike. It just pops off the car mount but requires a shove on the mount behind the phone and then a 1/4 turn to release it from the bike. Who knew?

Well, Jessica at QuadLock knew. And now so do I  :)

Just checked all my HID's are blindingly operative, the mega twin-tone horn scared the neighbours half to death and even the side light bulb (the one in the middle of both sides) is working.

What could possibly go wrong?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 07, 2022, 03:37:18 pm
Clean bill of health. The bike too...and he only charges £20  :winkthumbs:

And, because Matt asked, I have just seen my way clear to pop into Specsavers and book a check-up for Monday to see about the rider's crouch induced double-vision. I think it was Specsavers, could have been the key-cutting service next door. Either of the key-cutting services really...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: andym2 on December 08, 2022, 09:46:01 am
My K1300S purchase was a result of wandering into a showroom while I had nothing better to between Christmas and New Year a few years ago, so it's MOT is due at the end of December. This year I thought I'd try the new BMW dealer in Warwick, as it's only 5 miles away. A phone call revealed they don't have a mechanic yet, but were happy to collect from home take it to Wolverhampton and bring it back the next day after service and MOT, for no extra charge.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on December 08, 2022, 01:36:38 pm
A phone call revealed they don't have a mechanic yet, but were happy to collect from home take it to Wolverhampton and bring it back the next day after service and MOT, for no extra charge.
A fine loss leader! And on a day like this, a bonus for you, all tucked up.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 08, 2022, 03:51:22 pm
Way back when, Cooper BMW in Reading used to accept bikes for service and MoT and then ship them over to North Oxford in a van. Whether they didn't have a tech or were over-stretched was never clear.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: andym2 on December 08, 2022, 03:53:24 pm
A phone call revealed they don't have a mechanic yet, but were happy to collect from home take it to Wolverhampton and bring it back the next day after service and MOT, for no extra charge.
A fine loss leader! And on a day like this, a bonus for you, all tucked up.
The alternative would have been Northampton, Oxford or 'Nam. It'll be good to have a local dealer though, even if it's just for parts.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on December 08, 2022, 05:48:40 pm
When Clark’s(Blade) shut up shop on top of the Licky Hills always thought that UK would railroad BM Solihull into opening a motorcycle side and never have, the amount of trade they must have lost over the years with no dealership in the UK’s second city must be mind boggling.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 08, 2022, 06:59:58 pm
In other news
https://motoridersuniverse.com/news/1255665-custom-bmw-k1200s-by-pan-speed-shop.html
Not my taste
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 09, 2022, 10:19:05 am
Hmm? A bit Mad Max for me but nice engineering.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on December 09, 2022, 11:01:12 am
I don't think it's for any of us even if there is someone who likes it!

It's strictly for short "racing snakes" or fit young ladies!  >:(

(https://motoridersuniverse.com/uploads/news/b8/22/720/86764862df12403b822.png)

Is there anyone on here who is less than 120lbs?  :-X
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on December 09, 2022, 06:38:47 pm
It worries me David that you actually bothered to read the specs  :)

And yes. I am (sure I once was) less than 120lbs...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 11, 2022, 10:10:19 pm
100,000 views   :o
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on January 18, 2023, 09:29:31 pm
I was looking at the "Crit'air" web page with a view to getting a ticket for the Old Gits tour just in case. This led to me wasting several hours trying to find out what the emission figures are for my K12 engine (and the K13). I can't find them anywhere. Not stated on V5. Anybody have any suggestions?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on January 18, 2023, 09:42:38 pm
Some hints here, but no solid evidence other than ask BMW:
https://eurokclub.bike/index.php?topic=4236.0

And please can I have a copy? :-)

[edit:] The crti'air website says Euro 3 two-wheelers = level 2:
https://www.certificat-air.gouv.fr/
The K1300S got canned for not meeting Euro 4 if I remember rightly. But again, I have no evidence. Yet.

[edit 2:] And the emissions list on Wikipedia gives the dates, which show a K1300 has to be Euro 3 (2006-2016):
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/European_emission_standards

(http://www.poqit.com/emissions.png)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 07, 2023, 11:08:06 am
And the reason  you have 2 bikes is

(https://i.ibb.co/FHdPM44/20230207-110304.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QDx5Rvv)

When you start the bikes after nearly 8 weeks and only one starts first time. Guess which one started first time? To be fair it's probably nearer 10 weeks for the k13
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on February 07, 2023, 07:22:49 pm
Eek! I turned my ignition on to check the voltage on the KTM last week and it was... at whatever voltage means 25% left. Because I'd been too lazy to put it on charge. So I've left it on charge now! Hoping for an Indian summer at the weekend so I can take it north.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 07, 2023, 07:38:55 pm
Dunno about Indian summer but will be taking a quick blip up to Shropshire tomorrow
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 13, 2023, 11:17:06 pm
600 miles in the sunshine mostly, and dry nearly all the way, the back roads in Shropshire and Staffordshire were dirty. Glad I had the heated grips though. The fuel economy isn't getting any better, and the engine is running hot at any sustained 80+ cruising. Maybe I can squeeze a bit more life out of the radiator with a dishwasher session next time it comes off for a major service. So mostly a law abiding trip but light traffic especially on the way up compensated. Taking a virtual weekend on Wednesday Thursdays makes for much less traffic.

A motorway bash, and restored my belief in motorway services ie they are nearly all shite. I stopped at Cribb's Causeway Morrisons for fuel due to a slight miscalculation on range, and there was nothing to be had to eat there. (They also have this stupid put your card in and authorise £120 before you fuel up and then credit you back later for what you don't use.) Thus also stopped at Michael Wood services for food, which has had a minor up date over the last year or so and I had thought wasn't so bad. All I wanted was a cup of tea and something hot to eat. Well Burger King was sold out of tea and the burger was horrifically expensive. On the way back I stopped at Hilton Park for fuel, where there was no hot food in the petrol station so I decided to move on. I also noticed the BP ultimate 97 was badged as 95 octane? Am I missing something?

Anyway moving on ended up being Bridgewater at the new Shell station just off J23. Toilets were blocked, no hot food in the fuel station despite the Subway, Greggs and Shell hot counters, no tea, and the drive thru Starbucks was shut. The old Shell station on the edge of Bridgewater used to be a reasonable stop but this isn't. I didnt have time to ride down the road to see if the old Shell is still there. The newish BP over the roundabout is not much better.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 14, 2023, 11:38:30 am
Good to see an independent and in-depth consumer report on the state of the motorway service industry.

I haven't been to France for almost a decade now but their motorway services were always way better than even the best in UK. Even those that had gone 'modern' still had great meals available and although asking for tea in France is worse than asking for credit, mostly they were happy to accommodate and we actually had fresh leaf tea in a pot on two occasions. Mind, times change.

I just don't understand the race to the bottom that has always been the British Motorway Service area. (Am I supposed to say Britain Motorway Service Area in this non-possessive world?)

Surprised you didn't pop in for tea, you don't have to bring your own biscuits you know...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 14, 2023, 11:47:44 am
Sorry was on a short sharp trip,will be a little more leisurely next month. See you then probably. Need to take cakes to Mr C and Mrs Canning also...

I took a picture of the BP pump with the odd badging

(https://i.ibb.co/khr80Ps/20230209-132806.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SK1n0Z4)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 14, 2023, 11:51:18 am
That's well weird. I never look past the headline on the labels so I might have been swindling myself all along.

Must pay more attention in future...
Must pay more attention in future...
Must pay more attention in future...
Must pay more attention in future...
Must pay more attention in future...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on February 14, 2023, 02:27:33 pm
That's concerning!

And yes, Brian, on my run through France in December we stopped a few times at services and each one was great. Compared to ours at least. Actually decent coffee machines, actually decent real coffee shops, and restaurant areas that at least looked like places to eat and not die after.

Also every single pump being pay at pump was a delight.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on February 14, 2023, 03:44:49 pm
..on my run through France in December we stopped a few times at services and each one was great. Compared to ours at least. Actually decent coffee machines, actually decent real coffee shops, and restaurant areas that at least looked like places to eat and not die after.

"You are what you eat" as an old French aquaintance used to say.








Large in my case.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 14, 2023, 05:23:08 pm
And a garlic-flavoured escargot patissiere in his/hers/theirs/thems case/s...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 09, 2023, 10:22:10 am
Knocked off 107k this week at the price of the bike being resprayed shite brown with a soupcon  of salt. Was a bit cold on Tuesday as well, only the 6 layers on. I had to add layer 6 as it rained halfway up the m5.

(https://i.ibb.co/JqfpyYC/20230307-091636.jpg) (https://ibb.co/KDMsLtm)

Anyway it's given up raining and we now have this white shite that being in Cornwall for the last 15 years I've only seen about 3 times. Just waiting for it to go off in the next hour before setting off south. Just the day for a 300 mile blip eh guys?

(https://i.ibb.co/CsckNQB/IMG-20230309-WA0001.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2Y9Dmdq)

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on March 09, 2023, 10:35:56 am
Sorry was on a short sharp trip,will be a little more leisurely next month. See you then probably. Need to take cakes to Mr C and Mrs Canning also...

I took a picture of the BP pump with the odd badging

(https://i.ibb.co/khr80Ps/20230209-132806.jpg) (https://ibb.co/SK1n0Z4)

I can only assume that the pump has been mislabeled. If two grades are offered, one will be E10 95 and the other E5 97+

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/e10-petrol-explained#:~:text=E10%20is%20the%20standard%20grade,(97%2B%20octane)%20petrol.

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: TomL on March 09, 2023, 01:05:05 pm
The R1250GS doesn't run too well on diesel. Don't ask me how I know.

My mates K1600 didn't run very well at all on diesel. He filled it up and then took it up the motorway getting into three figures before it stopped. Cost him a very expensive engine rebuild.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 10, 2023, 08:47:13 pm
Well that was unpleasant.
After sitting fully leathered up watching the met office website for 2 hours, I left while it was snowing and 0C, but that only lasted 7 or 8 miles bar the odd flurry. Steady Eddie at 40 to 50 avoiding the slush. By Birmingham it was sleet/rain and 2C. It stopped raining by Worcester and the temperature struggled to 5C by Bristol. I'd had the heated grips on 2 dots and was beginning to wonder if what feeling I had left was cold or wet hands. In 5 miles somewhere between Weston and Bridgwater the temperature soared from 5C to 14C so I pulled in at Bridgwater (the original Shell station in town, not the one I described above) for a warm, tea and fuel. Turned out my BMW Enduroguard gloves had wet out, I suspect because the heated grips reversed the temperature gradient in the glove thus pushing moisture the other way. Plus I had RSI in my left arm from using the visor wipe on my left hand as a windscreen wiper for most of the 156 miles so the glove was very wet. The right glove was dry but you can see the salt stain here

(https://i.ibb.co/SKj0394/20230310-095753.jpg) (https://ibb.co/0f7ZGdR)

The old Alpinestars oversuit performed faultlessly, not a drop shall pass. Apart from my feet I wasn't particularly cold given I was wearing underwear, 3 layers of EDZ, and Hein Gericke leather with liners in the trousers under the Alpinestars. Ambient high temperature sent the radiator into relapse after it had been loving the deep freeze, so I had to reduce cruising speed, but the temperature steadily dropped back to 7 or 8C as I got into Cornwall. By Okehampton the wind was against me but apart from a couple of showers I managed to get home just as the next weather front arrived. I saw 6 bikes the whole day, nothing North of Worcester and the first one was a police RT going the other way. 627 miles for the week.
Just punched the numbers into the spreadsheet and found that my fill up on Tuesday was the 500th tankful. And VPower is 5 or 6 pence cheaper in the Midlands than Cornwall. Again.
As far as motorway service stations go, I think its better to go into the filling station than the services. In Michael Wood there are a couple of tables where you can have your tea and a munch and a warm. Foods not great but its more convenient than the services.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on March 10, 2023, 08:57:42 pm
You are more unhinged a braver man than me. Well done for surviving.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 13, 2023, 08:41:18 pm
Just bought a pair of tyres - Michelin PR5 - from TyreTec, front £109 and rear £155 plus £7.50 delivery. However that was his last front and he said he'd tried Michelin and they didn't have any. He had no rears for the K13. Anyway he's very promptly refunded the money for the K13 tyres.

Next best price for a front I found was The Visor Shop but they have none left. After that it was Black Circles so I just paid £129.80, and I got a rear for the K13 from MyTyres for £165.39 including delivery.

These prices are about £6 a pair more than December 21 when I bought my last  sets

I looked at PR 6 as they seem more available, but they are basically £25 more expensive than the PR 5 wherever you buy them in whatever size.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 10, 2023, 09:01:18 pm
Gave the bike a clean today after a mucky trip to Newton Ferrers yesterday - it rained all the way home in the dark and I found that one of my original LEDs had gone pop on one side of the double sided filament which didn't help in the back lanes before the A38. Mind you on the way there in the afternoon the bike was flying, the Akra lets it rip as you get to 5000rpm. You don't get that instant torque low down like the K13, but it revs more easily

I have long suspected there was some sort of adjustment in the clutch lever and spent a bit of time today while we had some bright sunshine really cleaning out the lever assembly. Sure enough there is a little allen key grub screw so I tried twiddling it. You can see it just to the right of the bronze coloured cam in the photo.

(https://i.ibb.co/6m6nzfX/20230410-170043.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Tkzv6FW)

What I wanted to do was screw it in a little to try to get the clutch bite point further away from the bar. However the screw screws in only so far then pops back, and it was already in as far as it would go. Anybody adjusted this before, or replaced the screw? I also think the bearing surfaces between the lever and the cams in the lever mechanism are now worn which is probably contributing to the bite point moving closer to the bar.

I replaced the LED and then dismantled the broken one to see if any of the parts were replaceable (the latest set I bought came with a set of  spare LED elements) but not possible in this case, well certainly for my ham fisted electronic abilities.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 11, 2023, 02:50:38 pm
From fading memory I am sure 'someone', 'somewhere' said that it was written that that grub-screw should NEVER be twiddled on pain of death.

It might even have been in the RepROM...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on April 11, 2023, 03:06:47 pm
I twiddled with a grub screw and look what happened to me!

#morecambeandwise
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 11, 2023, 08:50:08 pm
I am considering buying an ultrasonic cleaning tank. Looking at a 36 litre one that would be big enough to hang the radiator in (L510mm x W300mm x H250mm) (not deep enough to do in one go, have to do half then turn it up the other way and do the other half).

Anyone got one of these? any recommendations? any do's and don'ts?

If I do get it will be happy to offer a cleaning service for radiators and anything else to those who want it. Beer tokens may exchange hands....

 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 11, 2023, 10:12:43 pm
Did you get caught putting it in the dishwasher then?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 17, 2023, 09:12:34 pm
The number of views on this thread is almost the same as the number of miles on the bike. Better get doing some miles...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: andym2 on April 18, 2023, 09:11:27 am
I am considering buying an ultrasonic cleaning tank. Looking at a 36 litre one that would be big enough to hang the radiator in (L510mm x W300mm x H250mm) (not deep enough to do in one go, have to do half then turn it up the other way and do the other half).

Anyone got one of these? any recommendations? any do's and don'ts?

If I do get it will be happy to offer a cleaning service for radiators and anything else to those who want it. Beer tokens may exchange hands....

I've got a 'carb size' one for, well, de-gunking carbs. It works pretty well, but takes a while and isn't particularly interesting to watch. The dirt doesn't fall off like you see in the ads, more a case that it rinses off easily after an hour or so in the tank. A far more interesting restoration technique is electrolysis for the inside of rusty fuel tanks, but K's have plastic tanks so no need for that.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on April 22, 2023, 10:28:20 pm
Another run up to Shropshire. The weather was a bit better than the last run, to put it mildly. 108k came up on the way a few miles South of Gloucester on the M5. I was having to keep the speed down as the radiator definitely was not enjoying the warmer weather as you can see from the temperature gauge. However it was really quiet traffic wise and my average speed was still pretty healthy. The fuel economy perked up too, all in all not too bad despite the monotony

(https://i.ibb.co/mCrtkzq/20230418-122030.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HDLY6gz)

(https://i.ibb.co/D7HvWc6/20230418-122052.jpg) (https://ibb.co/4jnXtvD)

After a day with my Dad sauntering around the Peak District after he'd had another Covid booster, where the sun always seemed to be shining where we'd been instead of where we were going, Thursday looked like being a good day so decided to make a day of it on the way home. Shrewsbury, Welshpool and a fuel stop at Tesco in Newtown where the 99 octane Momentum was as cheap as ordinary crap down in Cornwall. The A483 from then on was like having my own private racetrack. God what a road . Sun, warmth, grip, no traffic. Feckin glorius. I set out of Builth Wells still on the 483 and would have probably arrived in Llandovery except I realised after a bit that I was heading West and should be going South. After a bit of internal debate I thought I'd head South and if I had time in hand later, I'd go down the A39 instead of the A30. I turned South at Garth and went down the B4519. These pics are somewhere near the top of the hill on the firing range. It was pretty windy up there. Views were great.

(https://i.ibb.co/845Nkr9/20230420-113600.jpg) (https://ibb.co/QjNp0PM)

(https://i.ibb.co/T12rX1c/20230420-113618.jpg) (https://ibb.co/FX3nvX6)

(https://i.ibb.co/4TQC1fh/20230420-113640.jpg) (https://ibb.co/fpcZDSj)

Another romp down to Brecon followed, fortunately I was at sensible speed when I waved to the 3 RT mounted coppers being trained  8) and eventually to Abergavenny. Not so great down here, bit of a trundle to Chepstow but I managed to turn off onto the B4235 which was nice. Then a temperature controlled M5 run to Bridgewater and I turned off, intending to run around the back of Taunton and follow the A358 up to Minehead and then the A39. Not sure what happened around Taunton, seemed to spend half a day there with a very angry temperature gauge and a lot of traffic and god awful road surfaces. You could not get more different  than surface in mid Wales and those in North Somerset. Its not just bad its dangerous, especially when you throw in light and shade from trees and loose gravel in the corners. At one point the Volvo in front of me slowed to a stop , couldn't see why. Oncoming traffic passed, Volvo pulls out and around a pothole so big it had its own cone and sign. Wouldn't want to be down there in the dark and rain for sure.

I abandoned the aim of the A39 and went for across Exmoor instead. Well, sort of, there are few petrol stations in the villages so in the end I was forced into Tiverton to find fuel. I then struck out towards Bude and down some very tiny roads along a very wriggly route. Wasn't scrubbing any chicken strips off down there for sure. The roads slowly got wider and the closer you get to Bude the faster you can go. The A39 from Bude going South is very quick  and I was fighting the temperature gauge again. Not too exciting for me as I've travelled it many times, but better than the A30. Last thrash of the day from Indian Queens to Tresilian before threading through the commuters in Truro and home.

(https://i.ibb.co/5TDSsv2/2023-04-22.png) (https://ibb.co/K6ZfV7m)

Google reckons that day was 357 miles, I didn't clock it myself. First proper ride of the year and much needed. I might have done 3500 miles this year, but most of that has been motorway and I really needed to get my eye in again. Lots of bits hurt at various points but adrenaline and endorphins sorted that, by the end of the day I was just tired. I'm a long way off but much better than I was. One of these runs a week for the next 7 weeks and I might be fit for the Old Gits

The bike will be getting booked in for the 108k service which was going to be a little one, but I'm going to have to get the radiator off for a clean.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on April 23, 2023, 06:09:40 pm
Nice trip Martin.

And the next time you call for a ride out, I'll try not to have Covid  :)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on May 13, 2023, 08:52:59 pm
So in for a service 108k and a bit. Radiator off, multiple sink hot washed plus brake cleaner, detergent, and an overnight soak and three runs in the dishwasher. Followed by partial removal of the dishwasher rails to clean out all the shite. I can see through the radiator now in places but think that this may be the last time and next time it will be replacement (bought a large makita mitre saw to assist with shed construction instead of an ultrasonic bath). Front brake discs under the thickness limit but have new ones ready. Brake piston seal replacement kits on the front. New pads all round.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on May 14, 2023, 04:24:19 pm
(bought a large makita mitre saw to assist with shed construction instead of an ultrasonic bath).

Shed is for ultrasonic bath, right?

That's OK then. Purchase approved.  :winkthumbs:
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on May 14, 2023, 04:48:05 pm
I'm looking forward to the opening ceremony for the shed now I've seen the work in progress!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 03, 2023, 10:25:36 pm
All ready for pouring the concrete slab in the morning.

And this

(https://i.ibb.co/84fTNJ0/20230803-112259.jpg) (https://ibb.co/CsYNmqz)

Can you tell what it is yet? Happy birthday to me. Agonised over buying a new Neotec 2 in last weekends heavily discounted motolegends sale and eventually wimped out on the basis there are more important things required , that is, as far as I know my existing helmet is fine  but there are other things on the verge of failure. Insert joke of your choosing about 64 year old parts here
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on August 03, 2023, 10:28:41 pm
Hot damn! Or, cold damn overall. Of all the forms of heat transfer this was my favourite in GCSE level science classes.

Also god damn it, Motolegends sale?!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 04, 2023, 10:10:00 am
Whatever it is I'd check it over carefully cos it looks like it has been run over, what with that tyre mark and all...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 04, 2023, 10:56:34 am
Looks good to me

(https://i.ibb.co/sw9bY8B/20230803-112403.jpg) (https://ibb.co/6P0rCjd)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 04, 2023, 04:16:31 pm
And for the price I could have had another 4 radiators...

(https://i.ibb.co/wJgrNb5/20230804-073314.jpg) (https://ibb.co/28hY7LG)

(https://i.ibb.co/7KSP7n5/20230804-081204.jpg) (https://ibb.co/2dFxXvQ)

(https://i.ibb.co/p2jYjRg/20230804-081832.jpg) (https://ibb.co/5Thbhnd)

(https://i.ibb.co/T1DdJHw/20230804-083752.jpg) (https://ibb.co/1MYjB90)

(https://i.ibb.co/Cnwx1nY/20230804-091457.jpg) (https://ibb.co/VvLXjvz)

(https://i.ibb.co/R30Dt8f/20230804-152125.jpg) (https://ibb.co/dP25XZF)

But 4 radiators would only make a very small shed
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on August 04, 2023, 05:39:05 pm
Woo! Awesome! Very satisfying to have a nice new base! What's the brick island for?
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on August 05, 2023, 09:13:11 am
Its on the cover of the inspection chamber for the water connection so the concrete finisher could lay a plank to it to get to the corner without touching the top of the concrete. I suppose he could have been dangled by his ankles from the top of the wall but the safety elf wasn't strong enough
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on August 05, 2023, 09:33:10 am
I think we definitely need a ride out for the topping off ceremony!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 07, 2023, 02:16:09 pm
No posts on this topic for 120 days? The time they are a changing
Well today was MOT day, and passed. 108726 miles, and the lowest annual mileage bar covid times. Think its only been out twice in the last 6 months but still started on the button.
Althought the shed is structurally complete it still needs doors and windows, and the roof felt is only half done. Trying to get dry weather and 10C for the adhesive  is very difficult. I tried yesterday and the wind just blew everything everywhere. I do have a mostly dry shelter now but last nights wind and rain has got inside the only opening and its all damp again now. Not ready for bikes yet

(https://i.ibb.co/bHrg4Lm/20231117-154039.jpg) (https://ibb.co/hXKRGH9)

(https://i.ibb.co/RBc226S/20231117-154133.jpg) (https://ibb.co/Yyh22dW)

(https://i.ibb.co/mTbW5x6/20231117-154157.jpg) (https://ibb.co/DWz2fq5)

(https://i.ibb.co/2dSQWjh/20231127-165522.jpg) (https://ibb.co/sqCGbFR)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on December 07, 2023, 02:42:00 pm
The shed is looking good Martin.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on December 07, 2023, 04:39:49 pm
Hurrah! Looks great!

What's the bare roof material in the first photo, ply? Is it epoxied or something or are you expecting damage from the rain?

This whole stage of building always confuses me, as regards that bit between watertight and not watertight where there's wood and stuff exposed that will expand/get messed up.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on December 07, 2023, 05:14:53 pm
The ply is now covered in felt underlay and I'm starting to put the felt on top. Hence the frustration about needing dry weather at 10C. And encasing wet wood is not something I'm keen on either. It will dry out- eventually.  But I don't want the water blowing its way out next summer
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on December 10, 2023, 09:27:30 am
Ah I understand now thank you :).

Apparently next Thursday you'll have a couple days decent weather! :D

Will the whole thing be sealed up enough to be able to use a dehumidifier? As you may recall i've got one in my garage, although even with all my work to weather seal the garage I still find I'm spending a fair whack on the dehumidifier running :(. Also it's flippiung humid in NZ so not sure I can win any time soon!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on December 10, 2023, 05:31:51 pm
Never mind the shed Martin just make sure 2024 resolutions is when coming up to see your dad steady as you go through the M5/M6 interchange cuz there’s a camera that works and is waiting for you 😄
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on February 10, 2024, 05:40:07 pm
Not an email that I expected to receive....

Dear Mr Martin Sanders

Policy Number: *********

Important information about your renewal premium

It has come to our attention that, following one of our regular routine quality checks we undertake on all policies, the renewal premium quoted in your renewal documents this year wasn’t right.

The correct annual renewal premium should have been £269.37.

What happens now?

There’s nothing you need to do.

We’ve reduced your premium by £6.32, and this will be refunded via cheque to you, within 7-10 working days.

Here to help

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused. Should you have any questions about this, please call us on 0344 412 2171 where one of our friendly team will be on hand to help.

Kind Regards
Caroline Fennell
You can find our current contact centre opening hours at bennetts.co.uk/contact-us.

 
 
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on February 10, 2024, 09:22:29 pm
A-may-zing!

Swimbo's car policy went up by 40%. Taking me off her policy (with the same LV who insures me) reduced it by £170...

Then my policy renewal came in at £701 compared to £468 last year.

Off to see the Meerkat...

The cheapest cheap policy was £769'ish. Six providers down the list and we up to £2,700.

Decided it was cheaper to drive without insurance. They can only lock me up once and there's limitless free sex inside...
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: black-k1 on February 10, 2024, 10:00:06 pm
Not an email that I expected to receive....

Dear Mr Martin Sanders

Policy Number: *********

Important information about your renewal premium

It has come to our attention that, following one of our regular routine quality checks we undertake on all policies, the renewal premium quoted in your renewal documents this year wasn’t right.

The correct annual renewal premium should have been £269.37.

What happens now?

There’s nothing you need to do.

We’ve reduced your premium by £6.32, and this will be refunded via cheque to you, within 7-10 working days.

Here to help

Please accept our apologies for any inconvenience caused. Should you have any questions about this, please call us on 0344 412 2171 where one of our friendly team will be on hand to help.

Kind Regards
Caroline Fennell
You can find our current contact centre opening hours at bennetts.co.uk/contact-us.

 
 

... just send us your bank details so we know where to pay the money!  :evil:

It's not often insurance companies to such things. Enjoy it!

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 09, 2024, 03:37:39 pm
Just parted with 31 quid for the debatable privilege of watching motogp for a month. Think I should get myself a vpn if I could figure it out
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on March 09, 2024, 10:02:59 pm
Now TV (aka Sky without a long contract) would be cheaper, but they've removed MotoGP.
You only get dull-as-ditch-water F1 ("My tyres are going off, and he touched me in that corner, boo hoo"):
https://www.nowtv.com/sports-purchase#ib-section-section-2

So if you find you enjoy it either go full-on BT/TNT (i.e. a 24 month broadband contract) or gen up on VPNs, which will be something like a fiver a month. (And no - I couldn't be arsed either since I already have BT.)
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: fjtwelve on March 27, 2024, 03:28:53 pm
Finally out of the sleet and rain. The good old k12 started after 3 months but the throttle cable is jammed so that the first job. K13 turned but it wouldn't fire so going on charge.
No windows yet and not fully insulated and on an extension lead, but will be able to work in there whilst storm Nelson batters the crap out of us. Again

(https://i.ibb.co/72ynWtV/IMG-20240320-WA0000.jpg) (https://ibb.co/cDT6Fht)
(https://i.ibb.co/Y85w31h/IMG-20240320-WA0004.jpg) (https://ibb.co/S0kGPMB)
(https://i.ibb.co/Y3xtZyL/IMG-20240320-WA0005.jpg) (https://ibb.co/jTSLRWr)

(https://i.ibb.co/TYv48d4/Screenshot-20240327-151514-Whats-App.jpg) (https://ibb.co/HBFtz3t)

(https://i.ibb.co/cNY8nFp/20240327-150954.jpg) (https://ibb.co/gD4WKTX)

Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Phmode on March 27, 2024, 09:35:27 pm
Nice and comfy with plenty of room to swing a cat... :thumbsup:
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on March 27, 2024, 10:10:24 pm
Looks nice and roomy. Plenty of space for another bike or two!
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: chriscanning on March 28, 2024, 07:02:07 am
Def needs some fitted carpet 😊
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: Matt on March 28, 2024, 04:00:15 pm
And a sofa/chaise. That's the next thing I want. My current solution is a tall Kallax on its side and a cushion or two :D.

Oh and auto turrets. That's a want, not a have.
Title: Re: K1200S
Post by: richtea on March 28, 2024, 08:21:05 pm
And a sofa/chaise.

Deckchairs and a parasol on the roof.

And a BBQ.

'How did the garage burn down?'