Motorcycles

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Ron's 2005 BMW R1200RT

Carrie's 2007 BMW R1200RT

Manufacturer	BMW Motorrad, Munich, Germany
Engine	1170 cc 2-cylinder boxer, air/oil cooled Bore x stroke: 101 mm x 73 mm Compression ratio: 12.0:1
Power	110 bhp (81 kW) @ 7500 rpm
Torque	85 ft·lbf (115 Nm) @ 6000 rpm
Transmission	6-speed, shaft drive
Suspension	Front: BMW Telelever Rear: BMW Paralever
Brakes	BMW Motorrad Integral ABS (part-integral) Front: 4-piston EVO calipers with floating 320 mm discs Rear: 2-piston floating caliper with single 265 mm disc
Tires	Front: 120/70ZR17 on 3.50 x 17 rim Rear: 180/55ZR17 on 5.50 x 17 rim Cast aluminium wheels
Rake, Trail	63.4°, 4.3 inches (110 mm)
Wheelbase	1.48 m, 58.3 in
Dimensions	L 2.23 m, 87.8 in W 0.90 m, 35.6 in H 1.43 m, 56.3 in
Seat height	Adjustable 820/840 mm (32.3/33.0 in)
Weight	229 kg (505 lb) (dry), 259 kg (571 lb) (wet)
Fuel capacity	7.1 US gallons, 27 liters

Performance / fuel consumption

Maximum speed — Greater than 125 mph (200 km/h)
Fuel consumption over 62 mile course at a constant 56 mph — 65 mpg
Fuel consumption over 62 mile course at a constant 75 mph — 49 mpg

Electrical system

Alternator — 720 watts 60 amperes three-phase alternator

Power transmission

Clutch — Single-disc dry clutch, hydraulically operated
Gearbox — Constant mesh 6-speed gearbox with helical gearing

Chassis

Frame — Three-section frame consisting of front and rear section, load bearing engine-gearbox unit
Front wheel location / suspension — BMW Motorrad Telelever; stanchion diameter 35 mm, central spring strut, rebound damping electronically adjustable with standard ESA
Rear wheel location / suspension — Die-cast aluminium single-sided swinging arm with BMW Motorrad EVO-Paralever; spring pre-load hydraulically adjustable to continuously variable levels by means of electronically adjustable ESA, rebound damping with standard ESA
Travel front/rear — 4.72 in / 5.31 in

Ron's 2003 Suzuki DR650

After seeing most of the country by road, we've decided to start getting more off road. These new to us DR650's are comfortable enough to get us places and light enough to take the road less traveled.

Modifications to both include: Dynojet, Corbin Seats, IMS 5gallon tanks, Slipstreamer Spitfire S06 windshields, Arcebis hand guards, Dirt Bagz Rangers, skid plate, Mefo Explorer tires, and GPS.

Click the Thumbnails to enlarge

Carrie's 1997 Suzuki DR650

In addition to the same accesories as Ron's, Carrie's is lowered 1-5/8inches and sports a Moose shifter

Suzuki DR650 specs:

ITEM	Suzuki DR650SE
Drivetrain
Engine	644cc
Counterbalancer	Single
Spark Plugs	2
Carburation	Mikuni 40mm
Valve Adjustment	Screw-type
Camshaft	Single
Cooling	Air/Oil
Exhaust	Stainless Steel
Horsepower	43hp benched/37.4hp rear tire (6.4k rpm)
Torque	39.8 ft-lbs (4.6k)
Final Drive/Chain	#525 110 links
Chain Adjustment	Cam-type
Sprockets Front/Rear	15/42 (14tooth front for trails)
Gearing	Low - 2.416 (29/12)
	2nd - 1.625 (26/16)
	3rd - 1.238 (26/21)
	4th - 1.000 (21/21)
	5th - 0.826 (19/23)
Dimensions
Weight	324 lbs
Ground Clearance	10.4"
Overall Width	34.1"
Overall Height	47"
Seat Height	34.8"
Front Fork	43mm
Suspension Travel	10.2"
Rake	28° 30'
Trail	4.37"
Wheelbase	58.7"
Miscellaneous
Instrumentation	Speedometer, Turn signal, Neutral, highbeam
Windscreen	Slipstreamer Spitfire S06
Luggage Rack	Stock Suzuki
Front Brake Rotor	295mm
Front Brake Caliper	Dual Piston
Battery	Maintenance free
Footpegs	Aluminum
Fuel Tank	4.9 gal
Headlight	Handlebar Movable
Tires	Mefo 99 Explorer

Past Motorcycles

Ron's 2002 Honda GL1800 Goldwing

Fuel Cell Construction

Ron's road a 2002 Honda GL1800 for 101,000 miles. This is the redesigned for 2001 Goldwing. The handling and power of this motorcycle is amazing. Providing you get over the visuals of such a large motorcycle, the size disappears as soon as its off the side stand. The low center of gravity really inspires confidence. The motor is incredibly smooth and torquey with power on tap in any gear at any rpm. The handling is very light and responsive even with a passenger! Amazing for such a large motorcycle. The only hindrance is ground clearance. The pegs give you a good warning your touching down and are ground down to nothing in a hurry.

Long distance touring is the real mission of the GL. With the integrated stereo system, cruise control, and weather protection its hard to beat. Buffeting behind the stock windshield can be a problem in dirty air. Its been replaced with a Firecreek Windbender and I'm 100% happy. (prays for an electric windbender in the future). Fuel range could be better since that 1800 just loves fuel and it hard to be light on the wrist with so much power. I recently had an updated ECM put in to combat a overheating problem I never had. My gas mileage has went up to 40-45mpg vs 35-40mpg on the old ECM.

The GL1800 has been outfitted with a CB, Garmin Street Pilot III with VP Accessories mount and voice directions piped into the auxiliary audio, integrated garage door opener, front fender extender, Electrical Connections Driving lights, PIAA 1100X driving lights, rear spoiler, Ipod MP3 player, heated grips, and Gerbing Heat control. A 4 gallon Jaz fuel cell was also added to a custom mount for extended range. The stock G707 Bridgestone tires were replaced with Metzeler ME880s at 12,000 miles with extreme wear. The Metzeler ME880s were great but were out of round. New Bridgestone the new G709 front tire were put on at 20k and did very well for 13k and probably could have went farther. Avon Venoms were put on at 33k and they were good for 12k before a puncture. I went back to the Avons since they ride softer than the Bridgestones.

I've had many problems with feeling slightly out of round tires through the steering. I go hands free more than I should also. I switch the ball bearings in the steering head to roller bearings and it has eliminated all problems.

Motorcycle

Measured hp (hp. @ rpm)

Measured torque (ft.-lb. @ rpm)

Corrected best 1/4 mi.* (sec. @ mph)

Roll-ons 60-80 mph* (sec.)

Wet weight (lb.)

BMW K1200LT ('00)

83.0 @ 6750

75.7@ 5000

13.83 @ 98.7

9.42

866

Honda Gold Wing ('01)

104.1 @ 5500

109.9 @ 4250

12.78 @ 103.3

5.90

898

Yamaha Royal Star Venture ('99)

81.7 @ 6000

79.7 @ 4500

13.66 @ 93.6

8.74

890

PERFORMANCE:

103 rear wheel HP at 5,600 RPM
109.9 pounds-ft of torque at 4,300 RPM
1/4 Mile, 12.34s @ 105.84MPH
0 to 60 MPH, 4.14 seconds.
0 to 30 MPH, 1.22 seconds.
Top gear roll on, 40 to 60 MPH, 4.59 seconds.
60 to 80 MPH, 5.42 seconds.
Braking, 60 MPH to 0 with ABS, 149.4 ft.
Braking, 60 MPH to 0 without ABS, 143.5 ft.
Braking, 30 MPH to 0 with ABS, 30.6 ft.
Braking, 30 MPH to 0 without ABS, 31.4 ft.

ENGINE

Engine Type

1832cc liquid-cooled horizontally opposed six-cylinder

	Horsepower	118HP at crank, 104HP at Rear wheel
	Torque	125(lbft) at crank, 110(lbft) at rear wheel
	Bore and Stroke	74.0mm x 71.0mm

Compression Ratio

9.8:1

Valve Train

SOHC; two valves per cylinder

Carburetion

Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) with automatic choke

Ignition

Computer-controlled digital with three-dimensional mapping

DRIVE TRAIN

Transmission

Five-speed including overdrive, plus electric reverse

Final Drive

Shaft

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION / BRAKES

Front Suspension

45mm fork with anti-dive system, 5.5-inch travel

Rear Suspension

Pro-Arm single-sided swingarm with Pro-Link single shock with electronically controlled spring-preload adjustment with two memory presets; 4.1-inch travel

Front Brakes

Dual full-floating 296mm discs with LBS three-piston calipers

Rear Brake

Single ventilated 316mm disc with LBS three-piston caliper

Front Tire

130/70R-18

Rear Tire

180/60R-16

DIMENSIONS

Rake

29.25 degrees

Trail

109mm (4.3 inches)

Wheelbase

66.6 inches

Seat Height

29.1 inches

Dry Weight

792.0 pounds

Fuel Capacity

6.6 gallons

Carrie's BMW 1999 R1100RT

Fuel Cell Construction

Carrie's current ride is a 1999 BMW R1100RT. This is a sport touring motorcycle that's a jack of all trades. It has a comfortable seating position, good weather protection, and excellent fuel range for the long rides, and quick handling and generous lean angles for sporty rides. Its not as smooth or as powerful as the GL1800, but outfitted properly it can match the comfort and convenience. We've outfitted it with many accessories you can see in the pictures below. For communication we put on a cyclecomm CB mounted on a RAM mount. A sony MP30 cd/mp3 car stereo sits in the glove box and is integrated with the CB. (Should someone talk on the CB, the radio mutes) A sony marine remote is installed on the dash for remote operation. A garage door opener was wired into the dash as well. Stock lighting is inadequate so PIAA 1100X driving lights were installed from cyclegadgets.com. 3M reflector tape on the saddlebags provides extra rear and side visibility. The stock electric windscreen and ABS brakes rocks. A 4 gallon Jaz fuel cell was also added to a custom mount for extended range, heated grips and Gerbing Heat Control.

PERFORMANCE:

1/4 Mile, 12.75s @ 103.75MPH
0 to 60 MPH, 4.52 seconds.
Braking, 60 MPH to 0 with ABS, 126.6 ft.

ENGINE

Engine Type

1085 cc combined air/oil cooled Flat twin

	Horsepower	90HP at crank, 79.3HP at Rear wheel
	Torque	69(lbft) at crank, 65.6(lbft) at rear wheel
	Bore and Stroke	99 mm x 70.5 mm

Compression Ratio

10.7:1

Valve Train

DOHC; four valves per cylinder

Carburetion

Fuel Injection

Ignition

electronic ignition MA 2.2

DRIVE TRAIN

Transmission

Five-speed including overdrive,

Final Drive

Shaft

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION / BRAKES

Front Suspension

Front Telelever, 4.72inches of travel

Rear Suspension

BMW Paralever swingarm, 5.3in of travel

Front Brakes

Dual full-floating 12 discs with four-piston calipers

Rear Brake

Single ventilated 11.2mm disc with two-piston caliper

Front Tire

120/70R-17

Rear Tire

160/60R-18

DIMENSIONS

Wheelbase

58.4 inches

Seat Height

30.7 / 31.5 / 32.2 inches

Dry Weight

563.0 pounds

Fuel Capacity

6.6 gallons

1994 Kawasaki ZX-6E

The Kawasaki Ninja ZX-6E was our 2nd motorcycle. It really is the best tour worthy 600 out there. With a relaxed riding position, smooth motor and good wind protection for 500+mile days. They still sell it as of 2002 with only minor differences including adjustable forks and a clock compared to the 1994.
The motors have great midrange power and will smoothly pull any gear above 2500rpm. It feels more like a 750+. We outfitted this one with 1 tooth extra on the front sprocket for taller gearing, Givi bar risers, Nelson-Riggs soft luggage, Throttlemiester throttle lock and a Cyclecomm CB for touring. I put 12,000miles on it the first year and Carrie logged about 4000 miles in less than a week of total riding time. All those miles were put on set of Bridgestone BT-56ss tires. The stickiest tire Bridgestone makes and they still look good. Amazing. Gas mileage averaged around 55mpg for commuting and touring.

ENGINE:
Type: Liquid-cooled, four-stroke inline-Four
Valve arrangement: DOHC, 4 valves/cylinder, shim adjustment
Displacement: 599 cc
Bore x stroke: 64.0 x 46.6 mm
Compression ratio: 12.0:1
Carburation: Four 36mm Keihin
Transmission:

CHASSIS:
Front suspension: 4.7 in. travel; no adjustments
Rear suspension: 5.1 in. travel; adjustments for spring preload
Front brake:
Rear brake:
Front wheel:
Rear wheel:
Front tire: 120/60ZR17 Michelin A59X
Rear tire: 160/60ZR17 Michelin M59X
Rake/trail: 24.5 deg./3.8 in.
Wheelbase: 56.3 in.
Seat height: 30.0 in.
Fuel capacity: 4.7 gal.
Fuel consumption (Hi/Low/Ave): 48/35/40 mi.
Avg. range inc. reserve: 188 mi.
Weight: 469 lb. dry; 497 lb. wet

PERFORMANCE:
Quarter mile: 11.32 @ 120.96 mph
0-30 mph: 1.3 sec.
0-60 mph: 3.1 sec.
0-90 mph: 6.1 sec.
0-100 mph: 7.4 sec.
Top gear time 40-60 mph: 4.00 sec.
Top gear time 60-80 mph: 4.10 sec.
Top gear time 80-100 mph: 0.00 sec.
Measured top speed: 151.00 mph
Engine speed at 60 mph: rpm
Breaking from 30 mph: 28.0 ft.
Breaking from 60 mph: 120.0 ft.

Click the Thumbnails to enlarge