Comments on: Decisions: The 1988 BMW R100 GS

By: Poppawheelie

Poppawheelie — Mon, 18 Apr 2011 15:09:21 +0000

No need for a bigger bike. You may already be familiar with this site: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=201349. Bigger is not always better. I’ve read that Moped Trip (to Alaska) over and over.
Reminder, I met you at the MotoQuest symposium. If you need something to put you to sleep, here’s my Alaska trip story: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=618407
~Robert~

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 04:10:03 +0000

Conchscooter: Thanks for the wise words. They run head on to my desire to own that motorcycle despite me being perfectly aware of how unsuitable it would be.

Some good has come from this consternation -- starting to get rid of unused stuff. On the block will be the seldom used Bell Angler canoe and perhaps my Leica M6 to start.

Keeping things simple...

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 04:09:30 +0000

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Sat, 16 Apr 2011 04:03:55 +0000

Dear Mr. Riepe: Your exotic reverse psychology won't work on me. I've consumed the Kool-Aid and it has me thinking that Vespa is best for me today. That could change in the future. Take heart that I don't ride a pink Genuine Buddy scooter.

I can't imagine what you could possibly write about me that would be of interest to the readers of the BMWMOA.

Please don't do anything that will cause them to revoke my membership!

By: Conchscooter

Conchscooter — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 12:08:56 +0000

People find the oddest excuses not to ride, perhaps it's raining, or threatening to rain, traffic is heavy, they simply don't feel like it. You've ridden in all weathers all the time and put in your mileage and the Vespa, as you say, works for you.I suspect flash low mileage superbikes don't actually work for their owners.But they need the self image boost of a motorcycle that feeds the rfgo not the ride.
I'm not wedded to brands or naming a lump of machinery. I just like to ride and for someone to have owned a superb motorcycle and put 60 thousand miles in twenty years seems like the bike isn't so easy to ride after all. Else why does it have such low mileage?
People swap bikes with absurdly low mileage on them and there are thousands of motorcycles out there with cute personal names and a history of sitting in a garage not being ridden. They all come up for sale sooner or later.
Take pride in knowing yourself so well. You should be pleased, not sad.

By: Jack Riepe

Jack Riepe — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 07:51:37 +0000

Dear Steve:

You did the right thing in walking away from the Beemer, again. First of all, the GS would only encourage you to ride farther, faster, and with a useless sense of elan. And you're right in that the bike will be more cumbersome to pull over and park. The new parking process would undoubtedly take you minutes to master. Furthermore, you would then discover you could pull over into any field without regard for the road surface.

I fully agree that it would just sit in the garage 90% of the time, unless of course, the Vespa ended up sitting there 90 % of the time. And then there is that 8 mile commute. I guess there is a law in your part of the country that says you can't get up up an hour earlier and add 60 miles to that commute... Or that you can't come home the long way, via West Virginia.

Who the hell wants a faster, more powerful motorcycle anyway. Especially a stupid German one that would accommodate all of your photography gear in three huge bins, amd satill have room for six bags of groceries.

And that's another thing... Can you imagine the shortsightedness of owning a bike that made it practical to do 10 days worth of grocery shopping? What a waste of time, riding a bike like that to the big supermarket 60 miles away, or to the post office three towns over, just to get better tasting stamps.

It probably will be gone anyway. And don't worry, I won't tell you again about the one posted on the Mac-Pac list. The one with less mileage, better brakes, and lighting that would give deer a tan.

My July story in the BMW MOA magazine will be dedicated to you

Fondest regards,
Jack • Reep • Toad
Twisted Roads

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:54:42 +0000

VCS: You sound like the voice of reason here. Can't argue with you. Now I feel better.

At least until I look at the pictures again...

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:53:25 +0000

bobskoot: A lot of shaming has been coming my way but years of riding a Vespa, and a pink bike before that, has made me immune.

Spare bike? You only need those when your machines are breaking down. The Vespa keeps on running.

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:51:22 +0000

Craig: Please don't post again until you can tell me it's sold or you're inquiring about my birthday.

Sure is a nice bike. Some guys on the Adventure Rider site have inquired about it. Can't imagine it sitting around long.

If you can't get rid of it I can store it at my house if space is an issue.

Isn't it about time for us to compare notes on the Diavel?

By: Steve Williams

Steve Williams — Fri, 15 Apr 2011 01:49:10 +0000

Rogier: One flaw in your thinking. Walking to work is no fun. Riding the Vespa, or the BMW, is fun.

So don't look for me to rationalize in the direction though it might be something to think about at times -- walk more and ride less. My doctor would agree.