What's new in the K1200RS/GT News...aka.. the No Wheel-Spin Zone

1. I have some of the latest pics of the K1200S in our photo gallery ... including a pic of an optional centerstand. It was furnished by Shiva over at http://www.bmwk1200s.com/ Guess the Germans weren't as stupid as I thought.. Quite smart, really... How many buyers do YOU think will purchase the "optional" stand? I'd guess about 80%.. I look for it as standard in year #2.. but ONLY if the 1st year buyers appropriately raise hell about having to pay extra for something that should be standard equipment. Also just found out that apparently it’s the first big BMW with a gear lever that can be easily reversed for a race set-up and... an optional lower seat ...putting your butt at only 790 mm (31.1") off the ground.. That's a full 1" lower than the current KRS and 2" lower than the GT.

After seeing the new pics, me thinks it's a damn good looking machine..Still will wait until year two before I take the plunge now matter how good it is.. .Lastly.... Reliable sources say the Germans will be offering a NAKED version soon after Sept release.

2. and speaking of S bikes... I have no idea how true it is (and can get no confirmation) but I heard from a dealer who will be attending the S bike release in Sept that there will be a 750cc version S bike......!! Wouldn't THAT be tasty?

3. There's a new product on the market called Bug Guards for Beemers from a fellow rider, Gene Sweeney at 410.608.4972. I think he's advertising at http://www.bmwlt.net/ It's a kit containing two mesh metal screens that attach directly to the radiator of your K1200RS/GT/LT via velcro to protect from bugs and debris. Rather than directly against the radiator, his kit attaches about 1/4-1/2" out in front of the fins as to not obstruct air flow.. I received a sample of the material.. looks cool, no pun intended.These screens come in aluminum or black at between $40/$45. Quality looks first rate... Would welcome any opinions...Looks like a good way to protect our life giving cooling fins..

4. The #1 German K1200RS/GT Chat site ...the evil twin ..er..counterpart of http://www.i-bmw.com/, now has an international section for those of us who speak only English. It's still a challenge to figure out login procedure and which buttons mean reply, post, or "lets attack the French" are still in German, but the moderators are very helpful and these guys sure have different perspectives on these bikes.. and us.. Sprechen Sie Deutsches?.

5. There will be a US made Short Shift Kit on the market any day now. Well.. that's what they told us a month ago... Cost will be an estimated $160 with no core charges or modifications necessary. Just bolt on on and shift like the best Japanese bikes. .. Much less than what www.Verholen.de charges. There will be two versions.. One for the 97-2001 models and the other for the 2002+ models. If you have one of these kits on your bike (like I do) you know how big a difference it makes..My K12 now shifts quicker than my MV Agusta F4! Details to come..

6. I don't know if you receive Rider Magazine or not. FYI, every month, religiously, CBT Imports Inc.(the lone importer in the US of Staintune Exhaust Systems) has an ad in Rider's "Marketplace" section of their own. Not this month...there is no CBT ad that I can find, however, Staintune themselves ran a full page (inside back page) beautiful color ad with their website address www.staintune.com.au listed and not a mention of the sex offenders..er..importers from California. Do you think Staintune has figured out the American consumer can only have their ass stretched out so far until we're fed-up?

If you'll peer back into the past..(picture here the wavy lines from Wayne's World...) more specifically at our May 2004 Newsletter I prophesied thusly...
" We have pulled the K1200RS'GT Staintune Exhausts from our product line due to price gouging from the lone importer, CBT Imports. They claim that the new pricing is due to the strong Euro, but we believe this is b%#@*t.. We called Staintune directly and asked about the increase and they admitted the problem was solely CBT and they were NOT happy at all. The problem is, CBT has a contract for exclusivity in importing the Staintunes to the US.... but not for much longer... Things are about to change as Staintune is trying to get out of the contract (or it's about to expire) and are looking for a handful of vendors to retail them in the US..."

Hmm.. sounds to me like Staintune has made a move..or have they? I'll be contacting them this next week to see if they'll let Pirates Lair handle their systems directly... Stay tuned!

2. We are still waiting for our first shipment of Carbon Fiber Front Fenders . The Austrian import has a perfect pattern match for the Pyramid Huggers we import from the UK which is cool. Weighing in at just a few ounces, these are as light as mountain air and a perfect fit for every model year K1200RS, the K1200GT, and the R1150R. First order is in transit.. apparently via the Jamaican rowing team..

3. We have a new backrest in production... the R1100R Stealth. They should be on the menu in about 4 weeks... and the new R1200GS Stealth Backrest is not far behind.. Look for the GS version by fall..

4. Our latest offering...the Marc Parnes K12RS/GT Wheel Balance Kit Some of us choose to mount and balance our own tires.. Why? Because we hate to pay the local extortionist.. er.. dealer $60a tire to mount, scratch, and balance our tires when we can mount, scratch, and balance our own tires. Of all the balance kits on the market, this is the one I own and use. Become one with your bike.. Ahhhummmmmm..

5. We now have Lite Blazers License Plate Frames on the menu in our lighting accessory section. FYI.. this is a black license plate frame that has 3 rows of LED's along the bottom. The outer two rows of lights will be solid red running lights .. When the brakes are applied, the built in flasher causes the outer clusters to flash 6 – 7 times and then go solid, so you do not piss off the bubba/ex-SEAL/Postal employee sitting behind you. These are made my the same people who manufacture both Lite Buddy's and Run-N-Lites so I expect similar world class quality AND excellent customer service. For a Video MPG of the Lite Blazer in Action... Click HERE

6. The new Pirates' Lair Hats are almost ready...We have approved the final design.. waiting for the first shipment. Wearing one of the new hats will guarantee that you will have longer, spine tingling sex or your money back...Note: Guarantee does not apply to married men.

7. Our new K12RS/GT Headlight Protector Kits are now available! Have you ever priced a K12 headlight? Be afraid. Unlike the other kits on the market that are hard plastic attached via Velcro, our kit is an adhesive backed vinyl with a laminated acrylic coating. We are assured that it will withstand a pellet rifle shot from 20 feet with absolutely no damage to the lens! However, I will NOT be testing this advertised claim. Our kit is optically clear, treated not to yellow, and pre-cut to fit your K12RS or GT. Spray positioning liquid is included. Absolutely invisible when on the bike.. as it should be. Web page is in the works. If you can't wait, just call Amber at 828.628.7093EST and order directly.. on the telephone.. like our forefathers did.

8. While a shift lever lowering block is included with every peg lowering kit we sell, now and then we get requests for them from people with canoes for feet. For years we simply referred people to Bob's BMW, but in yet another purely capitalistic effort to pad our coffers even further...we have decided to carry these as well.. it's a simple bolt on item that lowers the shift lever pedal exactly 1" See.. we're looking out for your needs...

9. I have been road testing the Visual Alert from Marc Parnes Products with my V1 for the last few days. Works great, but before I order a quantity, I need some KRS opinions as to one issue.. The Visual Alert comes standard with a 12" cable... IMHO.. that doesn't give you/us much length to play with .. and I know how many of you would prefer a few more inches... My question to you, my quasi-esteemed brothers and sisters.. what do you think the correct length of the cord on the Visual Alert should be? Remember it plugs into the V1's Audio Accessory unit NOT the V1 itself and the Visual Alert must be in your line of sight. I think 24" should work for most of us no matter where we have it mounted.. Is 12" enough? What say ye?

10. We now have the Ohlins K1200RS/GT/LT Steering Damper Kit on the menu.... nad yes... it's another Pirates' Lair Exclusive! Most people don't realize that their factory steering damper wears out just like the shocks. At 25-30K, it's spent.. gone.... good for nothing more than deviant sexual toy or paperweight. If you haven't noticed, it's only because you have gotten used to it, like a nagging wife. Our complete damper and bracket kit comes with one Ohlin Damper, mounting bracket, all necessary mounting hardware, and instructions. Fits ALL K1200's. RS/GT/LT and is a direct bolt on with every model. You deserve the best.. or do you?

Rally News/Info: Down The Road: 2004 /

The 5th Annual Deals Gap K12 Rally will again be at the Tapoco Lodge on Sep 30th - Oct 3rd, 2004. As we did in 2003, Fontana Village and the Microtel Inn will be able to handle overflow. When contacting Tapoco about lodging mention K12RS BMW, or they may say they are full when actually it's reserved for "us". 828.498.2435 or 800.822.5083. Also.. you can try the San Ran Motel in Robbinsville at 828.479.3256. It's a mom & pop operation right next door to the Wendys. Clean and bike friendly. This will be the last K12 Rally of the year and probably the biggest... be there!! Amber and I will.

BTW.... As we did at the last Texas Hill Country Rally... Pirates Lair will bestow a FREE Pirates' Lair Hat to anyone who receives a speeding ticket while attending the rally or on the way to the rally....Why? Because we're Pirates!...and in our world.. some bad behavior is rewarded.. Arrrrrrgg.

The 2005 Hill Country Rally has already been scheduled for the following dates... April 7-10 No other information is available at this time, but I would surmise that it will be in the aging...er.. skillful hands of our friend and majority shareholder of San Fransico's newest biz.. Purple Hearts Same-Sex Wedding License Laminating Service, Inc ... Barry Gibbs. Stay tuned..

If you'd like to help others by contributing a How-To-Survive.. First... check out the tips we already have and if you have something new... just send to me and I'll add it on.. Remember.. we're all in this together.. so use deodorant.