A warning to BMW owners

If he landed on a '99 R1100S his wish would have come true.  He would have died.

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While driving home on Friday on the Taconic State Parkway (New York) a kid on a hot bike passed me--I was going 75--and he did it while on a wheelie which he maintained until he was out of sight.  I estimate he was doing 80 mph +.  On one wheel--is that the equivalent of doing 160 on two?

 
That's not far off from mine, just missing the saddlebags, bar risers, and passenger backrest.

What I love the most about my 11S is that it's just as comfy to tour with as it is to carve up canyons, and it certainly doesn't look like a 23 year old bike.  Not as comfy as the GS, but still plenty capable.

And yes, if anyone landed on that from any height, it would be unpleasant, for sure.
 
With saddlebags and what looks like about a 2" handlebar rise. 
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I had an early Ducati 750--probably a 1992.  It had Weber carbs and it did not like to be ignored.  If I rode it every day it would start up easily.  If I left it for a week, I better have a battery charger.  Impossible to start.  I finally stopped using the "choke" which they called an "enrichening" setting. I started it like race car drivers do.  I cranked open the carb about 12 or 15 times and then with a medium setting I would hit the starter.  I usually would start right up. 

Handling-wise a big step up from my Kawasaki "chopper".  (But the Kawasaki always started up easily.)

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Currently 08 K12 gt, 72 R60/5 toaster,
74 cb360
always looking for another cb, cbx - should have never sold it
got an itch for an old Guzzi lately, would love to find a 900 Eliminator that isn't beat to crap
 
Packard said:
While driving home on Friday on the Taconic State Parkway (New York) a kid on a hot bike passed me--I was going 75--and he did it while on a wheelie which he maintained until he was out of sight.  I estimate he was doing 80 mph +.  On one wheel--is that the equivalent of doing 160 on two?
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80 or 160, it won't matter all that much when he packs into a deer of which there are many grazing along the edges of the Taconic. Plenty of them doing unpredictable things this time of year.
 
One of our employees crashed his car when a wild turkey flew into his windshield.  I would imagine that would work as well as a deer for that cyclist. 

I've also been seeing some coyotes further north (Putnam and Dutchess county).  Plenty of opportunities to get killed.
 
I've actually seen them as far south as 20th & Ave C in Manhattan. There was also a wild turkey named Zelda that lived in Battery Park.
 
Holzhacker said:
...got an itch for an old Guzzi lately, would love to find a 900 Eliminator that isn't beat to junk
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Interestingly enough, I was working with my neighbor today trying to find an oil leak on his 850 Le Mans III...what a sweet old school bike.

I'm not familiar with the 900 Eliminator...is that old or current? Am famliar with the El Dorado.
 
Now that I have access to the files...

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900 Eliminator is a Kawasaki from 85 & 86. If I remember right they only made the 900 for two years. They made a 1000 and 600 after that. Think they even made a 250. The 1000 just didn't have the look. The 600 was underpowered. It was a quick response from Kaw to get a fast street cruiser in the market as response to what Honda had put out. Pretty sure it was supposed to be a response to the Honda Magna's. Those were quick bikes. Never owned one but rode a couple.
Its a cruiser, basic cool Friday night cruise the strip kind of bike. The fame for this bike though is that Kaw bascially took their Ninja 900 engine at the time and stuck it in a cruiser. Between the style and brutal speed its pretty bad ass. Always wanted one since taking one for a ride. Has that neck snapping kind of appeal like an old Chevelle.
 
https://www.ultimatespecs.com/motorcycles-specs/kawasaki/kawasaki-zl-900-eliminator-1985

105 horsepower in a motorcycle is going to be pretty quick.  Visually, it does not quite work for me.  It has all the right elements, but doesn't seem quite put together, though I cannot put my finger on why that is.  It is certainly going to be quicker than a Harley.

Addendum:  Looking at the photos again, perhaps it is the big gap under the rear fender.  (It apparently has a real suspension, unlike the Harleys.)

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