The New Toy

Last Saturday SJ BMW sold my F800GS and today I picked up the replacement: a brand spanking new white R1200GS. It's a gorgeous bike, I like the (non) color: alpine white. Like the 30th anniversary edition, just without the blue / red labeling. It was the last 2010 R1200GS San BMW had and it comes with pretty much everything:

• ABS Brakes
• ASC (Automatic Stability Control)
• ESA II - Electronic Suspension Adjustment
• Cross Spoke Wheels
• Hand Protectors
• Heated Grips
• Saddle Bag Mounts
• On Board Computer
• TPM - Tire Pressure Monitor (quite cool actually)

It's only missing the Anti-Theft Alarm.

Of course I had to go on a test ride tonight and went to Alice's Restaurant on Skyline Blvd for a hot chocolate via my favorite route: Page Mill Road. The R12 is absolutely fantastic. Very planted, easy to ride, really powerful, and loads of fun. One small thing that needs to be rectified at the first service (at 600 miles): it vibrates quite a bit, probably either valves or out of sync throttle bodies, as I heard quite common for a new bike that is still in the break-in phase.

And yes, I hate myself for not picking up that napkin ...

And I already installed the first optional item:

The large handguard spoilers that are also not ugly grey but black like the rest of the plastic parts and they look much better. I had them here from my F800GS where I had the same handguards, and of course I kept the spoilers.