WOW ... just found this thread. How cool is this ... 10 years. I found this site in 2000 when I was making my first move into the sport touring world and was trying to decide between a R1100RT and ST1100. Cary himself and the other regulars here provided lots of honest feedback and the rest as they say in history! I bought my first BMW in December 2000 ... a 1997 R1100RT. I am now on my 4th BMW and the person I bought that first RT from is now one of my best friends and riding buddies. I truly love the BMW ownership expereince. Someone should come up with a 10 year anniversary t-shirt!! What a great place! What a great country!

I wish I were 10 years old.. hee hee.

This place and you people changed my life. I met Ron B at a local Chicago hangout for riders in July of 01. After coming back from my first trip on my new RT he convinced me to post. I was amazed at the warmth and kindness of everyone here. I wasn't intimidated and didn't feel uncomfortable, as I did sometimes on other rider websites. But the number 1 thing I got was the humor. Word for word this place could crack me up every time I signed on.

I will never forget the rides, the people, the bike education or the memories. Too many people to name, but if you know me then you know you are one of those people for me.

I haven't been on much in recent years, but I'm grateful to see that you all - all you newer folks - are just like us "old farts". What a classy place to learn about bikes, life and to discover new friends.

Cary, David, Leslie and all the Moderators - you are very special people. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Then you couldn't ride, Kathy. There would be no "paper butt"!

Happy Anniversary from our newest newbie, Ole Ich... me. Long-time rider off and on through the years. Love my R1100R... beautiful handler!! Lots of great topics and people in this forum. Glad we're here!


Larry

R1100R, R100T

Great site. I've checked it out almost every day for years.

One question about your home page that has 11 photos on it (9 of which are of old 11RTs):

The R1200RT is now in its FIFTH model year and is by far BMW's best selling "Sport Tourer". I know lots of folks think it's kinda ugly, and I like the old 11RT's looks, but isn't it past time that you guys find a single photo of a 12RT for your home page??

Thanks, and keep up the good work!

Happy Birthday BMWSporttouring.com!

I am no speaker, don't join groups, okay, a loner here. Works good for a bowhunter, bass fishing, and motorcycling.

I like to do my own work, except A/C and septic tanks, call the pros. I can never live long enough to learn by trial and error nor have the money to waste, so I read a lot, internet is my knowledge database.

I lurk and soak up data on things I am interested in like a data sponge. Couple years ago, after making a trip to scout my elk unit in Cuba, N.M. on my trusty HD 2up, I met up with a couple on the way home. He was riding a new 2006 R12RT (with ironbutt license plate frame), his wife was on an HD. I could barely out run him on my hopped up Dyna 95".

A year goes by, I decided I wanted something more touring friendly, and began researching BMWs. I found this forum and began pouring over the possible mechanical problems I would be facing with the new bike along with the seemingly endless advice and fixes.

Go to the local BMW dealer, had never been there before, asked to ride the K1200GT and the C-14. Had neither, just sold both. Test rode the R1200RT, about the same specs HP wise as my HD (which I rode in on), but totally different feel, I likey. Now Jean loves the HD and thinks I have done gone off the deepend. So I call her at work and tell her to get down here on her lunch break, got to ride on the back of this RT.

She comes down to honor her wifely chores and humor me, borrows a helmet from the owners wife, we go for 15 minutes. I do everything I can do on a motorcycle with her on back, while adjusting the windshield and CC, trust me I touched everything!
She goes, not bad, but I like the HD.

I go back to the internet, find a used 07 GT in NC with only 2000 miles. Meanwhile Jamie is starting to talk about a Pied Piper run beginning in CA coming to Dallas and east for the Un-Rally in WV.

Somewhere in here I stumbled on Jacqueline's alaska thread and take 3 days to finish reading it. I was amazed, the bike, the woman, the preparation, the support, heartbreak, life changing endeavor.

Details escape me now, but suffice it to know I was on a tight schedule to get the new bike, settle in and hit the road. I had read all the problems the GT was having and felt prepared to tackle them if need be with the help of the k-bikes forum.

I do all my on servicing, GT has only been in shop for 2 warranty fixes.

As an ex IT Novel/Groupwise network adm, support specialist for a law firm, I thank the ones here that have kept this site up and running and civil.

Had to say that to show this, sold but not forgotten.

Just to clarify a bit...
Sold the bike. Didn't sell the lovely lady! (Which explains why Dave survives to this day!)

That is a given Michael, would be homeless and walking the streets without Jean. Course I picked her up out of the ditch and saved her from such a poor poor life.

Dave? (knock, knock, knock....) Dave??? You still alive???

Only temporarily.