Euro Carbon Fiber: Criminally Insane Pricing

When the discussion of Carbon Fiber crops up, there are usually 2 camps. Those that love it.. and those that think it's a foolish waste of good money. Personally.. I love the look of Carbon Fiber on a motorcycle as long as it's tastefully done. Like makeup on a beautiful woman.. too much just ruins the entire package. Just the right amount and you'll be buying her diamonds and proposing. I have no CF on my R1, a little (to add accent) on my K1200S, and a shitload on my Ducati.. Why? Because my inner demons tell me the bike "needs" it.

In case you haven't noticed, prices for European Carbon Fiber for our BMW's has gone through the roof in the last year or so as the Euro continues to kick the floundering US dollar's buttock. I have been watching this closely as we're one of the top suppliers of the stuff here in the US. As the Euro gets stronger, shipping charges keep going up (due to fuel costs,) and the actual cost of the parts going up.. out profit margin has vanished like tears in the rain.  Due to unalterable circumstances, I've made a business decision that will echo across the known universe.. or at least "the pond."

Rather than keep you on pins and needles.. I'll just spew... We're going to drop virtually the entire Pack Parts / Ilmberger Carbon Fiber Product Line from our menu.. Sucks, doncha think?

Just so you'll know where I'm coming from... some painful math from our last shipment..The total cost of the order to our door was just under $10,000.US..and that included $600 for shipping 2 coffin size boxes. If we sold every piece overnight we would make only $1238 profit BEFORE we box and ship each piece..and BEFORE we pay any customs duties at the end of the month. I'll prophesize that after all pieces are gone we will have just about broken even..or lost money.  Not good for a $10,000 investment....

BMW S1000RR Superbike Rider Signed : Ruben Xaus

BMW Motorrad Motorsport have announced that they have agreed to terms with Ruben Xaus and that he will ride their all-new BMW S1000RR in the Superbike World Championship in 2009. The contract between BMW Motorrad Motorsport and Ruben is for two years and is the first step in BMW Motorrad Motorsport’s entry into World Superbikes.

Ruben was born in Sant Cugat des Valles in Catalunya, Spain and now resides with his wife (Mariona) and daughter (Julia) in Andorra. He has been a WSBK regular since 1998 and has taken 34 podiums, including 10 victories. This guy is fast and has a lot of potential. BTW.. his last name is Spanish... and all the race announcers pronounce it "Zaus"... (like "house")...

Deep thoughts from Peter Mueller (Executive Vice President Development)... ""We know that the Superbike World Championship is a very hard and competitive series, but we are not entering it just to make up the numbers: we will be taking part because we want to win! Of course, we are starting with a brand new bike but, together with Ruben, we believe we can progress quickly and maybe surprise a few people along the way. Ruben is a strong and combative rider, full of enthusiasm and with a passion for racing. This fits our philosophy completely and together we will take on this new challenge."

Yamaha FJR1300 Stealth Backrest : World Release!

After a full year of research & development, countless spent brain cells, and real-world testing the FJR13 Stealth Backrest, the last backrest I'll ever design,will be on the menu this week. As per the holy prophesies, it has turned out, if I say so myself, to be a thing of beauty, simplicity, and comfort and.. a worthy addition to the Pirates' Lair line of specialty motorcycle products.

The all stainless steel stealth bracket bolts directly to the rear 2006-08 factory rack via 3 furnished bolts and blends perfectly with the lines of the bike. Production versions are covered with rich Corinthian leath...er.. I mean a black Rhino coating (the same rubberized spray material seen in pick-up truck beds) that is both visually unobtrusive no matter what color your bike is, but also serves to protect the finish of the 2006-2008 factory FJR 13 rack.

The backrest's polished stainless steel slide bar slides on and off the bike in under 10 seconds and.. without tools. Install of the FJR13 stealth rack takes a luded' out chimp all of 5 minutes. Tamper-proof mounting screws will be included to deter walk-by thieving bastages. Our cover material matches the black FJR factory seat perfectly and if you have an aftermarket leather seat, we have a material to match that as well. Soft T-Bag luggage is also available for this and all our other backrests. Note: The FJ13 Stealth backrest will fit the 2006-2008 FJ1300 Only.

1. Thousands of BMW Motorcycles Recalled: BMW has recalled all 2008 K1200GT and K1200S model motorcycles for brake issues. So much for "superior" German engineering. This recall is serious so don't f#@* around. Get 'r done. (see blurb in top section)

2. Speaking of "superior" German engineering and recalls.. Word from our Canadian friends is that there will also be a "technical campaign" (suit-speak for another recall) issued shortly that will address the worldwide EWS (Antennae Ring) issue so common on the new K bikes...This campaign will be performed through your authorized dealer and will cover a number of models each within a specific VIN.. This is NOT official yet.. most dealers don't even know about it yet... which isn't a surprise.. Will post follow-up info as it comes in...For now... this looks to be a bootleg list of bikes the not-yet-offcial recall will cover... Click Here..

3. Thinking about buying a motorcycle product but you'd like to hear what other people are saying before you plop down your hard earned doubloons? Of course you do... My good friend Wayne turned me on to www.webbikeworld.com/ which has thousands and thousands of motorcycle related product reviews.. Everything from helmets to jackets to cleaners and waxes to ear plugs to GPS's... All the latest products... written by fellow riders... A wealth of helpful information..

4. ZTechnik has dropped the pricing on their K1200S and K1200S Slip-On Exhausts by about $20 or so...That's the good news..

5. The bad news is ..ZTechnik has officially dropped their Full K1200RS Exhaust systems from their product line..I heard the reason was lack of sales..There are no more to be had.

6. and you K1200RS owners are not gonna believe this..Two Brothers Racing Exhausts has officially dropped their Full K1200RS Exhaust systems from their product line, too. The reason.. lack of parts. No more will be produced..

7. According to Motociclismo magazine in Spain, the Spanish Ducati superbike pilot Ruben Xaus will be switching over to BMW for the 2009 Superbike season riding the upcoming BMW S1000RR .

8. Looking for more wind/weather/nuclear blast protection on your new K1200GT and looks aren't hign on your list? Aeroflow has a couple of new windshields for the bike. Two versions, in fact. Standard Height AeroScreen: $369.95 Tall Height AeroScreen: $384.95

1. As per the blurb in the top section.. (you might want to re-read if you suffer from ADD)... Pirates Lair is going to drop the entire Pack Parts / Ilmberger Carbon Fiber product line from our menu after our current stock and backordered pieces are gone.. .. As the Euro gets stronger, shipping charges going up (due to fuel costs) and the actual cost of the parts going up.. out profit margin has vanished like tears in the rain.  IMHO, our prices are already painfully out of line with what other companies sell CF for. Bottom line.. I refuse to raise the prices any higher and now and then you have to draw your pistols or whistle dixie ...I'd suggest that if you have been wanting some Carbon Fiber for your K1200S, K1200R, or K1200GT... this may be the last chance you can get it from us... Consider yourself forewarned... No pressure..

There is good news....I am in talks with one US Carbon Fiber parts manufacturer about producing some of the same BMW pieces at lower cost. We have tentatively agreed on pricing on at least two items. I have requested samples of his work for evaluation...

2. WooHoo!! We just got a long awaited shipment of K1200GT Headlight Protectors from Australia. These will fit the 2006 and later models...Have you priced the cost of a replacement headlight on that bike?" The horror... the horror..".

3. Speaking of headlight protectors... We just started carrying the Cee Bailey K1200S Headlight Protectors which are made here in the good ol' USA. Priced a K1200S or GT headlight lately? Are you sitting down? Are you bent over with a bottle of AstroGlide handy? Call any dealer and you'll be quoted a criminally insane $474! and that doesn't include labor or foreplay.. Ouch!! The question is.. "Do you feel lucky? Well.. do ya punk?"

4. We now have Clear REAR Blinker Lenses from Clear Alternatives for the K1200S, K1200R, BMW R1200R, R1200GS, 2005 K1200RS/GT, 04-05 R1150R. and yes.. of course we will now offer a package deal on a front and rear kit...

5. We have dropped the pricing on the ZTechnik K1200S and K1200R Slip-On Exhausts by about $20 or so...That's the good news..

6. The bad news is ..ZTechnik has officially dropped the ZTechnik Full K1200RS Exhaust systems from our product line..

7. We've been selling CSC Linear Hyperpro Steering Dampers for the K1200RS, 03-05GT, and LT for a few years now..Well.. I have both lowered the price by a lofty $10 for the "linear" version (which we've been selling) and picked up their RSC "Progressive" Damping version as well.. mainly because we're going to be selling them to the Ducati guys and their needs are different than the BMW guys. The RSC version sells for $15 more.. If you're thinking about buying a damper and you're not sure which to choose.. Just ask and I can probably provide clue you in..

8. Yamaha FJR1300 Stealth Backrest Update: Drum Roll Please!! These should be on the menu this week. WooHoo! (see blurb in top section)

9. In last months cheesy newsletter we mentioned we had been having some serious problems with Paypal.... They seemed to have resolved all the issues and things are back to normal.. Again.. we're sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused our quasi-esteemed customers... The carnage has now been cleared. Nothing to see here, folks.. Move along now..

10. Due to global warming and George Bush's failed domestic policies...we have been forced into raising the price on the GIVI Soft SaddleBags from $155- $170. Deal with it.

How-To-Survive On A Motorcycle

We have 3 new contributions this month.. WooHoo!! ?? Check out # 134, 135, & 136 contributed by Peter Warren of Orange County, CA .!!! Thx mate!!

Could these tips save your life? Dare you NOT look?

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

Pirates Lair Sacred Archives

We get a lot of requests for specific articles and/or reviews I've written in the past. Rather than fry my aging brain trying to remember where they are on our multi-thousand page website.. I have decided to list the "worthy" ones here. Most of the links are to past newsletters.. Some are to full web articles. Remember, I'm no expert on anything except perhaps cunnilingus so the opinions within the archives are only my own. Saavy?

BMW How-To Section

Our last contribution??...contributed by Sir Rich Edwards.. He documented his '07 K1200GT Oil Change in pictures. It's the first listing on the page. Thx, Rich.

Picture at right Courtesy of Sports Illustrated photographer Walter Iooss, Jr. / Model: Ms Melissa Haro