donaldb
Well-known member
Took my wife to this rally Saturday, just for the day. The event started Friday, 3/31 and concluded 4/2. It was held at a place called Askews Landing located in Edwards, MS. Hebert's Cycle, the closest BMW dealership was there and they had brought up the new 06 1200 Adventure. It was available for test rides. Thought I would take it for a spin. My impression was that the bike is really, I mean really high. Unless you are a minimum 6' w/good flexability, your gonna need a step ladder to get on this thing. Once going, it is a very smooth running bike and does very, very well on off road gravel. It is however still a 2 cylinder bike. It has the BMW putter sound from the exhaust. The rip roaring FJR type inline 4 sport is just not there. But it does have LOTS of power. I didn't ride the bike for a very long time as there was a waiting line, but it was still a bit rough for road use as far as I am concerned, but for those who have the $ to burn it is a very nice duel purpose bike, probably the best I have ever ridden. They had this bike optioned up pretty good. I'm not sure of the price but I had heard it was close 20k. Nice little windscreen, it is adjustable but it is not electric, it requires taking off and repositioning, but it is not gonna keep much weather off to rider(s)--upper body. Askews landing had avout 3/4 mile gravel road into the camp and we all know how the feejer is when it comes to riding on gravel--especially when 2 up. The BMW handled it as if you were on asphault, no shake no shimmy. All in all it was really a comfortable bike, but like I said, you better be tall to handle this bike. I am not sure how much lowering you could do to it, but I am sure there is some adjustability available. I would just have to pay a whole bunch x-tra to lower this bike after spending bookoo cash just to buy it.
What I really enjoyed more than anything was spending some time w/Iron Butt Champ Shane Smith from McComb, MS Shane won on a Honda ST1300. He told me that he had no plans to enter another Iron Butt tourney, so I guess that means some of you now have a better chance at the next event!! I wish I had more time to spend w/Shane and hear some of his stories and get some advice w/respect to long distance traveling. I am not sure how many of you have ever had the opportunity to meet and talk w/Shane, he's a super nice guy. I guess once you've won the Iron Butt there really aint that much else to conquer. Shane was there as part of the program as he was to have a question and answer session but it wasn't until after dark and we needed to get home. So I did not attend his part of the program. I would like to have been there for that. I parked my feejer next to Shane and he talked very highly of it and said it was a excellent choice for long distant riding, easy to operate, and the easier the better after a long day after day of riding. One of the most important things is to not have to worry about your bike (equipment) and not have to concentrate on riding, and what I mean by that is a easy to operate motorcycle. These two things take a lot off your mind in the mental fatigue associated w/such an event. While Shane fell short of personally recommending the FJR for the Iron Butt event, he did admit that it had a very respectable showing, has proven to hold up well in the event. Those of you who have met Shane know he wears a wide brim leather hat and he looks kinda like-- :cownoy: I hope I get to see Shane again, he has attended a few local events, but this was the first time I really got to spend some time w/him and talk one on one. Again, my favorite joke about Shane is still how he was able to win (he participated in 4 Iron Butt events)--he's a pharmacist!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:
What I really enjoyed more than anything was spending some time w/Iron Butt Champ Shane Smith from McComb, MS Shane won on a Honda ST1300. He told me that he had no plans to enter another Iron Butt tourney, so I guess that means some of you now have a better chance at the next event!! I wish I had more time to spend w/Shane and hear some of his stories and get some advice w/respect to long distance traveling. I am not sure how many of you have ever had the opportunity to meet and talk w/Shane, he's a super nice guy. I guess once you've won the Iron Butt there really aint that much else to conquer. Shane was there as part of the program as he was to have a question and answer session but it wasn't until after dark and we needed to get home. So I did not attend his part of the program. I would like to have been there for that. I parked my feejer next to Shane and he talked very highly of it and said it was a excellent choice for long distant riding, easy to operate, and the easier the better after a long day after day of riding. One of the most important things is to not have to worry about your bike (equipment) and not have to concentrate on riding, and what I mean by that is a easy to operate motorcycle. These two things take a lot off your mind in the mental fatigue associated w/such an event. While Shane fell short of personally recommending the FJR for the Iron Butt event, he did admit that it had a very respectable showing, has proven to hold up well in the event. Those of you who have met Shane know he wears a wide brim leather hat and he looks kinda like-- :cownoy: I hope I get to see Shane again, he has attended a few local events, but this was the first time I really got to spend some time w/him and talk one on one. Again, my favorite joke about Shane is still how he was able to win (he participated in 4 Iron Butt events)--he's a pharmacist!!!!!!!!!!!! :lol:
