'nuf said.
http://videos.streetfire.net/video/...fdc967b8311.htm

WOW...!!!..What great video. The on bike video is fantastic. Those are all LT's right ??

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PROUD FATHER OF A MILITARY DAUGHTER !.
She's for sale SOLD 7-19-08 [url]

There are those who ride BMW's.. and those who wish they did.

Ron's R11/1 Vergasser's - 1st Wingman

Sophmore : BMWLT - University of Luxury Touring Education

2000 K1200LTC Champagne SOLD 7-08
2006 KLR 650 - RED- The fast dual sport color !
2002 TW 200 - White/Blue - #1,The wife's CRF replacement.
2002 TW 200 - WhiteBlue - #2, My matching toy
2001 XT 225 - White/Blue - Sold 7/08
92 K75S Red and fast (sadly gone)
Yamaha YZ 250 for the dirt ( still good use for a smokin' 2-stroke !) In critical care 4/08
Honda CRF 230F - Wifey's dirt fun. (Sold)
Many Honda 750 F's (May they Rest In Peace)

I think with the wind we've been having that I've drifted my GT a few times in the last couple of days.

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-=grif=-
Grok this!

Yep, 'nuff said.

Speed Thrills

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Lee
O7 Biarritz Blue Metallic LT
BMW MOA #135959

I do not want to do it but that was cool to watch the front wheel off the ground on a curve.

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"BONES" <///><
2002 K1200LTC--- Belle

Hey, Bill! LT's? now there's a thought.. an "LT TRACK DAY".. hmmm.... I wonder if the BMW guys out East would open their track to us? I'd ride it. Heck, we might even get them to loan us some of their "off road" bikes for some Bark Bustin'!!!!

Yup, all they need is that front preload adjusting shock and they are good to go!

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Neil '00 K1200LT '08 KLR
"Far away, is far away... Only if you don't go!!!"

I'm in luck I can always escape the speed limit by riding throgh Germany. That's how I know there is no notch at the end of the speedometre.

Here's an old article about the connection (there isn't any?) between accidents, driving and speeding...
January 23, 2003 -- Remember when traffic enforcement was all about safety? When cops made an art of hiding behind bushes and billboards and sneaking up behind people to clock them? When they correctly concentrated on bagging the fastest, most careless, most dangerous offenders?
Then, for a short while during the 1973 fuel crisis, speed limits and enforcement shifted focus from saving lives to saving fuel. The Feds passed a 55-mph National Maximum Speed Limit and blackmailed the states into compliance by threatening to withhold Federal highway funds-money generated by state gas taxes paid by you and me.

The folly of posting 55-mph limits on freeways designed for 75 mph soon became clear to all but the most idealistic, who naively believed that motorists would comply with posted limits no matter how ridiculously low. Or that rigorous enforcement would compel them to.

But most of us continued to travel at safe and prudent speeds that were often well above this ludicrous limit, trading off the ticket risk with the need to get where we were going in reasonable time. We proved once again that while responsible Americans will happily abide by laws that make sense, we will just as happily ignore those that don't. To avoid being ticketed, we became more vigilant and fed a new multimillion-dollar radar detector industry.

This ill-considered experiment in social engineering, which lingered for two decades until the National Motorists Association (NMA) finally convinced Congress to repeal it, created a nation of lawbreakers and diminished respect for speed limits and enforcement in general. It also clearly demonstrated--to states, counties, cities, and every tiny town with enough budget for a radar gun and a sheriff to point it--the enormous revenue potential of speed enforcement, especially when limits are set much lower than necessary for traffic and road conditions. And so it gave birth to another multimillion-dollar industry in speed enforcement and changed the focus forever from safety to revenue generation.

Ask your town or county how much of its revenue comes from traffic courts and what the effect would be if ticket revenue were reduced. Note that traffic fines often run $100 or more for even the most minor offenses. Note that authorities couch periodic enforcement binges in terms of safety--and that the compliant popular press typically praises and rarely questions them--yet offer only increased ticket and revenue numbers to demonstrate their effectiveness. Try asking for statistics on how much such campaigns actually reduce accident and fatality rates. You won't get any, because they don't.

Myth #1 - Speed Is a Major Cause of Accidents and Fatalities. NHTSA says 30% of fatal accidents are "speed related," meaning at least one vehicle was "assumed" to be exceeding the posted limit or traveling too fast for conditions. But such assumptions are meaningless when most traffic is 5-10 mph over limits set unnecessarily low.

A decade ago, authorities in Florida commissioned research to determine where best to concentrate enforcement resources to maximize their safety benefit. Statewide, this 1993 study found "Speed Too Fast" placed a distant fifth on the list of accident causes at just 2.2 percent. A 1994 follow-up study in Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties found 1.5 percent of accidents and seven percent of fatalities "caused by speed." Of nearly 23,000 accidents investigated in Palm Beach Country, approximately 13,000 were attributed to "careless driving," 7,000 to "failure to yield," 2,000 to "improper lane changes," and only 650 to "speed."

This was not welcome news to Florida enforcers, who (like everyone else) continue to focus resources on "speeding" because radar makes it easy and because (as Clyde Barrow once said about banks), that's where the money is. Those other far more significant causes are more difficult to witness, ticket, and prove in court. This is why such studies are seldom undertaken and even more rarely released, which leads us to Myth #2.

Myth #2 - Speed Enforcement Increases Safety. In 1995, the Feds gave Connecticut nearly $750,000 to intensify speed enforcement on 55-mph highways. Over that Memorial Day weekend, scores of extra troopers, airplanes, and unmarked cars armed with radar and laser were dispatched with the stated objective of reducing accidents and fatalities. Compared to the previous Labor Day weekend, speeding tickets were up an impressive 33 percent, seatbelt tickets were up a dramatic 51 percent and DWI (driving while intoxicated) tickets increased 22 percent. Yet accidents on those targeted highways increased a breathtaking 66 percent, proving (again) that there is no correlation between enforcement effort (numbers of tickets) and actual highway safety.

Research shows that if authorities truly want to reduce average speeds, the most effective way is through highly visible police presence. People naturally drive more safely and pay more attention to their speed when the enforcement is easily seen. Conversely, "stealth" enforcement (unmarked and hidden cars, airplanes, instant-on radar) is highly effective at generating tickets and revenue but not at decreasing speeds or accidents.

Myth # 3 - Slower Is Always Safer. Despite the oft-repeated mantra that "Speed Kills," Federal and state studies consistently have shown that the drivers most likely to get into accidents in traffic are those traveling significantly below the average speed. Compared to keeping with the prevailing "pace," those driving 10 mph slower are statistically six times as likely--and those 20 mph slower are ten times as likely--to be involved in an accident. They get hit from behind or caught up in collisions caused by faster-moving vehicles suddenly braking and swerving to get around.

Since freeway "pace" is often well above posted limits, drivers are faced with the uncomfortable choice of legal speed or the higher, yet safer, prevailing speed. Actually, the drivers statistically least likely to be involved in accidents-perhaps because they are more alert--are those traveling 5-10 mph above the prevailing speed. Guess who gets the tickets.

Myth #4 - Use of Radar Detectors Increases Speeds and Accidents. Every time someone sets out to prove this popular presumption - and there have been many, many studies by enforcement authorities and others with a vested interest in banning detectors--they end up disproving it. One respected 1988 Yankelovich Clancy Shulman study showed that detector users actually had 23 percent fewer accidents per mile than nonusers.

What do detector users do when their dashboard defenders sound off? They quickly check and (if necessary) adjust their speed and increase their awareness. Scanning for police, they may instead see a dangerous condition or impending accident in time to avoid it. This is why police and (unmanned) "drone" radar senders are often used at accident, construction, and reduced visibility (dust, fog, snow) sites -- because traffic speeds and accidents decrease when detector users slow and pay closer attention, influencing others to do the same.

Myth #5 - The Federal 55-mph Limit Saved Thousands of Lives. Because it was established during the 1973 fuel crisis, people naturally drove less and slower to preserve precious fuel, which caused a brief downward blip in fatalities. Once fuel availability returned to normal, so did driving miles and speeds. And the highway death rate quickly snapped back to its (already downward) trend line.

Myth #6 - Speed Enforcement is Driven by Safety Concern. Though vigorously pursued in the name of safety to assure public and media support, it's been mostly about money for almost three decades. A recent feature in my local paper stated this clearly: "Citations rise to 6-year high," trumpeted the subhead. "The tickets are expected to pump a much-needed $1.5 million into the city's general fund." While public safety was the stated reason, no data was offered to show that our streets and highways are any safer as a result.

Myth #7 - Lower Speed Limits Reduce Average Speeds and Accidents. Multiple studies have shown that drivers adjust their speeds primarily to road, weather and traffic conditions. Setting limits at the "85th percentile" speed, where 85 percent are at or below (and only about 5 percent are significantly above), always results in maximum compliance and fewest accidents. Posting limits well below this 85th percentile speed (common practice) naturally increases the number of speeders -- and therefore potential ticket revenue -- but does not slow traffic any more than posting speeds well above it makes everyone drive too fast.

Check the NMA's excellent web site (www.motorists.org) for information on this and other motorist issues. They'll show you how and why our speed enforcement system is increasingly corrupt and out of control. They'll tell you to go to court and fight every ticket -- even ones you think you deserve, because you may not deserve the next one -- and they'll show you how to do that effectively.

And if you want to take issue with them (or me) on any of this, do some research and get your facts straight first. Don't believe what the vested-interest authorities, insurance companies (who take enormous advantage through increased premiums for even minor offenses), and the ignorant popular media tell you. Most people have strong emotion and opinions on these issues, but they don't have the facts. If you find yourself disbelieving and disagreeing with solid, research-based facts, you are probably reacting with emotion and opinion alone. Or maybe your job depends on this lucrative speed enforcement business.

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Miles of smiles of miles of smiles of...
The hardest thing to do on a K1200LT is riding it home.

Vic
Booze Brother #1
Gandalf Grau
The Netherlands

I'm a product of my generation I guess. That cheesy music always gets me going.

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Tate
Cory's Cup Holder
02 Mauve - my 'Light Truck'
Wyoming Immigration Officer, Cyberhiway tour guide and Penguin farmer.

Seek freedom and become captive of your desires. Seek discipline and find your liberty.

Hey Chan LoneStar sponsors a track day a few times a year over around Collage Station. We have a few HCBMWR members that go.

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Steve Shreeve
2000 K1200LTI "Lola"
2007 Bushtec Turbo+2 "Mae" (play)
2003 Baxley (work)
BMWMOA # 124148

CCR'07 CCR'08 CCR'09
CCR 2010 Are We There Yet ?!?!?

ASAP Motorcycle Service

Been there, done that. It sure teaches you about the limits of the bike, and your own limits, too. I can't wait to do a track day on the GT.

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Ken
SoCal
'07 Dark Graphite GT
'02 Mauve LTC
BMWLT#145, IBA# 366, MOA# 111996, SCMA# 24032

Surely, the Nickelback main attraction isn't "your generation"

That's why "Animal" is part of my riding tunes, makes me feel a little younger anyway.


Ahhhh, what do you guys think the MSF would say about dropping down 2 gears mid-corner?

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John

2004 - LT - Anthracite

That it's great fun?

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-=grif=-
Grok this!

Some days you couldn't get the students moving fast enough to pick up their feet... once they did and hit SECOND gear, the smiles widened, they relaxed more and started having FUN!!!!

I see students from time to time.... and the first thing they do is give me the hand signal for "speed up" and "Turn your HEAD!!!"

Now, a Lonestar Track Day sounds Fabulous... I've seen the bulletin board but never been able to attend....

Is the track a "Nascar" or "Road" style or both?

Be kind of a hoot blazin' past the stands with the Stereo blastin' out some Vivalde....................cool;

B-Safe; Jim

For a track day try Roebling Road http://www.roeblingroad.com/ The guys over at I-BMW did one there and are planning on going back. It is a private track (you rent it) and happens to be about 1.5 miles from my house .

I cry bull on this one. I fill out those reports and can tell you that most officer do not have the expertise to come to a crash scene and determine if it is speed related crash. They can not testify to skid marks, crush damage, or any other physical evidence that would determined speed. That would take an crash reconstructionist.

Then if there is not a speed problem, how come that the number one complain in our department is citizens calling in and complaining about speeding vehicles in there neighborhood??

I also after 16 years of being called as traffic homicide investigator that if I get called out on a Friday or Saturday night it will be speed/alcohol related.

Just wondering.

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John
Florida
1999 K1200LT (off duty)
2008 R1200RT (hers) ya right
Contact me 4 motor training 1&1
Expert witness in motorcycle crash reconstruction (Contact me)

"(as Clyde Barrow once said about banks), that's where the money is."

I believe it was Willie Sutton, not Clyde Barrow. And, although not necessarily contributing to less accidents, lower speeds tend to result in less damage and injury.
I resent officialdom waving the "safety flag" everytime they want to try out some new concept in enforcement. It's the driver/operator that is radically outside the bounds of the rest of the herd that usually causes the problem whether too fast or slow.

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2002 R1150GS Adventure (current)
2000 K1200RS
1999 K1200LT (current)
1998 R1100RT
1985 Suzuki GS1150E
1985 Kawasaki Ninja 900
1983 Honda V65
1979 Yamaha XS1100
1977 Honda CB750
1963 Harley Duo Glide
1965 Honda 305
1962 Honda Cub 50
1960 Cushman scooter

Was I being naughty...officer?

I wanna do it...and I wanna do it bad!

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Jack Homesley
Cornelius, NC USA
'07 K1200GT - "bluebyu"
Too many others to name!

www.CCCHuntersville.com

GO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I agree, except for the sliding, tumbling and rolling on the ground part!

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Dick Wood
2008 Aventurin Silver Metallic K1200GT
Previous 2002 Toscana Green LTE
Previous 1995 HD FXDL
IBA #7393

But that IS doing it bad.

Go for it. Quite a rush.

I've had the rear tire hazing on the Bandit many times. T'was scary the first couple times, pure fun now.

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2005 K1200LT
2000 Suzuki Bandit 1200s