I've had bikes more or less since the mid 1970's (give or take a few years when the kids were small) mostly Jap - my brother was in the trade so it seemed silly not to!
I got my first Beemer in about 87, it was a 76 R100RS which cost me a fortune when I discovered the gearbox was buggered, but once I managed to iron out the problems it was a great bike, which sadly eventually made way for a deposit on a house.
About 10 years ago I managed to get hold of a very clean US spec K100 naked in pretty good condition, but made the mistake of riding an R1100S when they were launched, and have lusted after one ever since...
I finally managed a few weeks ago to persuade her indoors to let me bid for a Phoenix Grey S spec 2003 model which came up on Ebay (very dangerous, I know) which I won for a very good price - sight unseen - reasoning that if it was that bad I could flog it on without making a loss.
I still have it, it's an absolute pleasure to ride, but it has a few issues, like an annoying misfire, cruddy engine casings and small bits of corrsion here and there.
The build quality is not in the same town as the K, but since I've had the R I don't really enjoy riding the K any more...
I am planning (when I get some funds together) to get a set of progressive fork springs, some stiffer fork oil and a brace, and a set of wider bars for the old girl, and then maybe she'll handle less than 1000 miles away from my new baby boxer...
