The Latest Cheesy K12 Pirates' Lair Newsletter

To "S" or Not to "S"..? That is the Question

I've gotten more than a few e-mails complaining about how much wordage I've been dedicating to new K1200S and R bike products in our last few newsletters .. A few curmudgeons even asked for their money back!! Doh!.. Well.. my whining brethren.. here's the deal.. I don't create the news.. I just report what's going on out there in the real world. I have NOT abandoned my K12RS clientele .. It's just that virtually every company on earth seems determined to get a leg up (and p#@) on every other vendor on the market with their new S or R widget and there's simply an explosion of product activity. An explosion that we NEVER saw with the RS or GT's. On the other side of that coin... with the advent of the new bikes, any new or potentially creative R or GT products seems to have fallen on the wayside like Eric Estrada's career.
For what it's worth... I've ridden the new "S" bike and it is impressive.. It's not perfect but it's pretty damn close for a first year bike. BMW seems to have actually been listening as they have addressed virtually every complaint we RS people have been spewing forth for the last 6 years.. more power.. less weight... better mirrors... wider wheels.. lower seat... firm pouting young breasts, etc, etc..
Do I have any plans on selling my 98 K1200RS to upgrade to the new bikes? Nope..I'm still in love with my RS... While Amber is pushing me to purchase the "S" for biz reasons..(yes.. I do have an amazing wife and No.. I will NOT sell her DNA for cloning) .. IMHO.. that's not a good enough reason to purchase a motorcycle. It should be a "spiritual" need and at present.. the spirit hasn't moved me. However.. the more I see of the bike.. (and the R).. the more I like them. except, of course for that abomination of a tail light. For now.. I just report da news..Get used to it, my friends.. I don't see the situation changing any time soon.. nor will I stop seeking out goodies for our beloved RS's or GT's. If you want your name off our newsletter list.. I won't be offended..

Singing the Praises of http://www.i-bmw.com/

These days it seems like my fellow dinosaurs (you know who you are) rarely post or even show up at the I-BMW.com .. the #1 chat site for all things K1200RS/GT/S/R. Why? Probably lots of reasons. Time restrictions.. apathy.... tired of seeing the same questions posted over and over... nothing more to say...dead.. lack of nudity or a combination of all of the aforementioned. It's been years since Dread-master V Salemme started this wonderful site and geezus how things have changed. It was through I-BMW.com that we actually sold our first BMW product years ago.

What an interesting time that was.. before Osama... before Ipods.. before reality TV. The site used to go down like a well paid porn star ....almost weekly.. then monthly.. Things got better.. the visuals and hardware changed .. presidents came and went... dresses were stained., but it's always been a cyber-oasis for us K12'ers and the supreme source of K12 knowledge.

It's a fact that BMW designers frequent the site to see what WE are saying.. good and bad.. and believe me.. they have been listening. Who needs CNN and Fox news to know what's going on in the world when you have a site like Vic's? While most of the original suspects seem to be missing for the most part, it appears that new members are joining virtually on a daily basis. Vic's "you're an adult... act like one and we're cool" format is still a breath of fresh air when compared to any other chat site I've seen including the few that have tried and have failed to compete directly with I-BMW. Like a bar where everyone knows your name ..it's a place where you can leave your job behind and just relax. I still love the site.

If you haven't been there in a while, or posted in a while, or never logged on.. You should. Good guys.. great moderators.. so much valuable information. You'll laugh.. you'll cry.. you'll meet like-minded people.. (but don't let that scare you away)...and you'll learn something about these bikes..
and BTW.. No.. I have no vested interest in the site as Vic keeps it "vendor-free". I just visit like everyone else.. hoping to say something clever now and then so people will not realize I'm socially challenged. My personal thanks to Vic and all the moderators for what they are doing. A mostly thankless job, no doubt. and don't forget friends.. Vic and the guys take donations via Paypal...If you'd like to contribute to the cause... simply use the Paypal button at the bottom of the page at their website or go to http://www.paypal.com/ and send directly to vsalemme@earthlink.net These chat type sites don't just miraculously sprout on the www like some juicy psilocybin 'shrooms.. ..there is a team somewhere deep in the "jeffries tubes" working on it... and unpaid team.

The Best BMW K1200RS Photos You'll Ever See!!

About 8 months ago, I posted in both our cheesy newsletter and at http://www.i-bmw.com/ that Amber was requesting our friends and reader's very best BMW K1200RS photos' for the purpose of producing a professional grade calendar. We received some absolutely stunning shots... As a matter of fact, there were so many world class shots that we couldn't even choose only 12 plus a front and back cover. We had decided we'd have to break precedence and produce an 18 month calendar... Well..here's the follow up.. and the weepy part of the story.. We spoke with and interviewed a dozen different printing place reps... none could come in under $4000!! Some were as high as $30K for a minimum run. As Amber did NOT want to make a half-assed calendar... (via Pip or Kinko).. she has just decided to bail on the project.. Very sad as we had story-boarded the entire project.. picked the best 20 shots...dumped hours into the project.. damaged or destroyed zillions of productive brain cells.

Rather than hoard the shots that were generously contributed.. I have just posted them in our Pirates' Lair Photo Gallery It's in the first (newest) photo album cleverly entitled.. K1200RS: The Best Shots Be prepared to be blown away. FYI.. Virtually ALL the shots we uploaded are Hi-rez...

Amber and I would like to personally thank everyone for contributing to the project and analogize for not getting it done.. Simply would have lost serious money on it. Money that could have been better spent on very sticky tires and track days...er.. I mean the grand kids..

New Robbinsville Resort: Blue Waters Mountain Lodge

For all you Tail of the Dragon or Cherohala Skyway riders looking for a little more upscale accommodations than the Microtel and/or San Ran while in or near Robbinsville...check out this waaay cool bike-friendly place..http://www.bluewatersmtnl.com/ It's located just a couple of blocks off the main drag.. We were just contacted by the owners with this info for our quasi-esteemed readers...

"Blue Waters Mountain Lodge has been designed in the classic style of a 1920’s alpine retreat. Porches and decks complement the natural environment combining colors that echo the tradition of the original grand homes built in the Smoky Mountains at the turn of the last century. The Lodge’s grand hall boasts handcrafted woodworking, creating a cozy setting amid the warmth of two-story stone fireplace, rustic furnishings and high ceilings. A recreation room adjoins the dining room and lobby of the Lodge, where you will find billiards, cards, darts, a reading library, cable television and a variety of indoor games. "
The Lodge features nine guest rooms, most of which offer panoramic lake and mountain views. Each guest room has been decorated with natural pine, rustic woods, and antique furnishings that reflect the mountain setting with autumn colors of moss, brick red and wheat. Each room has a king or queen bed, private bath, and cable television. If we can be of any assistance planning a getaway, please do not hesitate to call us at 888-828-3978 or visit our website at www.BlueWatersMtnL.com. We look forward to hearing from you soon!"
Sincerely,... Mike and Maury Stewart

Video from a Motorcycle: Direct to Disk vs Tape.. Which Is Best?

I recently bought my first ever video camera with the sole intention of doing bike videos. I've been doing lots of track days lately and I almost live at Deals Gap and I have always wanted to record my moto-heroics before I'm too old to ride competently... After seeking sage advice from videophiles, fellow riders, and of course. the infallible Koran (Doh!).. I decided that direct to disk was the way to go and after reading reviews from 4 or 5 sources, the new Sony 5.1 dcrdvd 403 seemed to be the best on the market. Coughed up the $1000, bought one of our own SportBikeCam Mount's, a handful of the mini CD's and hit the road for some video shoots.. Immediate Problems!! After a dozen runs and not ONE watchable video I came to this conclusion....The technology for these new direct to disk formats is simply too new for the brutal environment of a sport bike. It appears that if you hit any bump the recording would simply cut off.. or with high RPM vibration. Remember when CD players were first installed in cars and when you hit any bump they'd skip?? Same principle. Would a rider on a Goldwing or K1200LT have this problem?? I have ZERO idea and my testing is NOT scientific. I am no expert. I just have a keyboard and a venue to bloviate.

Rather than leave you hanging in white knuckle'd suspense.... I returned the Sony 403 and swapped it for the cheaper Sony DCR-HC32 (pic at right) which records direct to those mini-tapes.. works like a charm. Took the camera to Barber Motorsports Park the day after I bought it and I made 7 videos.. virtually all perfect...Check out my first on-bike video by clicking Here.. if you dare.

Insurance Companies: Motorcycle Friendly? or Money Hungry Demons From Hell?

We see them in most of the motorcycle magazines.. Claiming they understand our needs/wants/desires... claiming they ride motorcycles... claiming to have the lowest rates ... Most are lying liars with only one question on their minds.. "What's in your wallet?"..... IMHO.. one step above lawyers on the slime scale... Here's one to avoid if you are thinking about buying an MV Agusta 1000.... Dairyland Insurance. I have had insurance with them for a few years .. Always seemed nice enough..quiet.. keeps to themselves. The last bike I insured with Dairyland was my MV Agusta F4 750 for a quasi-reasonable $620 a year...Almost twice what my K1200RS is insured for, but the F4 is an exotic..

Called for a quote on the new MV 1000cc F4 on 8/5 and was quoted $3500. After I came to and changed my soiled underwear, I asked how the rate could be so high as I'll be 50 in 2 months.... have NEVER had an accident in 35 years of riding... . have a certification from the MSF school.....have only one minor ticket on my record in the last 5 years..and I have a personal relationship with God's younger brother, Scotty.. They said.. "that's why the quote is ONLY $3500.. it goes UP from there!!! " Extortion.. plain and simple!! Companies that set rates like this should NOT go unpunished/unchallenged. Show your outrage next time you are thinking abut your coverage by going elsewhere...or giving them a piece 'o your mind. Ask for the person in charge... The peons that sell the policies don't make the policies..

BTW.. I also called http://www.bike-line.com/.. the company that insures my BMW K1200RS for only $480 a year... The same people that ONLY insure motorcycles.. ALL motorcycles.. The company run by motorcyclists for motorcyclists. They had never heard of an MV Agusta. They told me that sometimes rates aren't available with new makes/brands. I had to inform them that MV has been making bikes for 30 YEARS!. Doh! Rant over... wish I felt better.

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