Don't worry littleade; here is the story: Once in one of these beer-stupored-nights in my favourite pub there was one of those XT500 guys next to me who lectured me about how stupid a Road King was in the Alps (yeah, OK) and how much better a GS can be manoeuvred on narrow switchback-roads... He claimed that if the going got too tough on a narrow gravel-path, he (the XT-man) would drop his GS on one cylinder, then turn it around by 180 degrees, straighten it up again and simply drive back the way he came. No question! THIS is what you might instinctively have tried to accomplish at the Stelvio! So only the GS was missing at the time. There are always heroes close by! We just have to open our eyes!
Welcome Gavin. All the best picking up the new purchase. And very much looking forward to seeing the pictures; -)
For a mini Stelvio Pass try Rosedale Chimney bank on the road between Hutton le Hole and Rosedale Abbey (N.Yorks Moors). Shorter? Oh yes. Steeper? Undoubtedly. Narrower road? Breathe in. Fewer hairpin bends? Obviously. Tighter hairpin bends? Come and clench your buttocks here. All this plus added sheep. BUT these are no ordinary sheep, these are rare breed N.Yorks Moors Kamikaze sheep. Even more buttock clenching exercises for you delectation!! Enjoy! N.B. There may be alternative suggestions from others.
Welcome to the forum and enjoy your new bike. Some of the passes up in the Lake District are good fun
I really thought he was talking schnickschnack since he also is a hobby-brewer and the beer bottles keep exploding in his fridge... Well now I learned what a boxer is for! I am really impressed with these Germans Soon l'll open a very philosophical thread with the topic: Why on Earth did I never buy a BMW bike!? (Oh, I just remember one reason: When you shuffle out of your alpine resort and have the key to your bike in your hand, I wanted to be able to identify it NOT ONLY by the number-plate )
I had a BMW R80 thirty odd years ago. I am sure it had a Diesel engine in it. Slow and laborious, It would do 100mph uphill, downhill and on the flat. Shins used to bang into the carbs, couldn't lean it, longest fork travel in the world. No, not for me I'm afraid.
I learned biking on the first GS... The one with the orange seat (they retro it now). And Mick, I agree: My shins looked as they did when I was eight
Kyffhauser bends South East Harz Mountains, absolutely brilliant road. Impressed on how easy it is to up load photo's to site, lot easier than most forums. User name comes from surname (Hobbs), Keeping K1300 as I have thought of changing but there is no other bike out there that i like, when it comes to a 2 up tourer, looked at most R1200's Triumph Trophy etc.
Oh I agree and for our German Afficionados: "Sturzgefahr" means: You are going too slow! (Sturz is your first name, ge means go, fahr means quicker driving; the first name changes with every biker! Cool, huh!?)
Picked bike up yesterday, here are a couple of photos, just motorway riding at 3 deg, need heated grips.
Wow! The blue is a real neckbreaker! (and I mean it!) Reminds me of some of the colours the Bavarians have for their M cars... Think one is called Le Mans Blue. Enjoy. It is definitely one of my favorite 'street-fighters'. Once had this little beast: Check out the (standard) exhaust-pipes....
