BMW R1200R Final Video

First Off, so this doesn't get taken down: Music is "Motorcycle Drive By" performed by Third Eye Blind. I do not own this music and I will make zero profit by using it in this video. Let's hope YouTube let's it stay up!

Description:

This is the last video I'll post concerning my 2009 Alpine Weiss BMW R1200R (maybe, hehe). I was involved in an accident on April 15, 2010. A minivan turned in front of me, failing to yield. My view of the van was obstructed by another vehicle and I had zero time to react. I struck the van at approximately 40 miles per hour, and suffered a broken leg, two broken arms, and a severely shattered elbow.

I made this video/slide show mostly for myself. I doubt very many people will take anything from it. The R1200R was a wonderful motorcycle, sadly taken from me in a way more violent than I could ever have imagined. This was my first motorcycle, I bought it with the intention to ride to work and back. Soon after the purchase however, I found myself looking to explore a little bit.

My first trip was from Las Vegas, Nevada to Zion park, in Utah. Very memorable experience that I was lucky to share with a couple of work friends. On the way back to Vegas the temp gauge on the bike was showing 118F! It felt as if you were riding directly into an oven! I think we covered about 300 miles that day.

My first solo trip was a day excursion to Hermosa Beach in Los Angeles, California, also originating in Las Vegas, Nevada. This was definitely a day of firsts. This was my first long-distance trip, at over 600 miles in the summer desert (round trip). It was also my first time lane-splitting, as I found out it is necessary in order to keep your machine from overheating. I even had a gentleman in a black Ferrari 355 Compliment the bike, didn't see that coming!

My first long solo cross country came in September, 2009. I decided to go see a riding friend in Albuquerque, New Mexico, once again starting in Las Vegas, NV. This was a very interesting day of riding... 630 miles in one day, including temperatures near freezing, rain, hail, and fog! I of course had a blast!

In December 2009 I accepted a job in Missouri, so I had to leave the bike in Las Vegas for a couple of months in order to let the snow melt! This drove me almost insane. I had finally found something that I had a true passion for, and I had to take a two month break! The only advantage to this break was that I had time to properly plan the ride. I decided to go all the way to Omaha, NE so I could see my parents for a few days before I had to go back to work. The trip from Las Vegas, NV to Omaha, NE was for me, truly EPIC!

One day I hope to get back on a motorbike, and seek new adventures. I'm four months out from my accident and finally able to live on my own again. I spent 20 days in some sort of care facility, and the rest of the time with my parents in Nebraska. The pain medication was great, I don't remember a lot from the first two months of recovery. If you're thinking of getting a motorcycle, know that there are inherent risks involved. I did everything I could to avoid an accident, down to wearing full riding gear and buying one of the safest and most advanced motorbikes on the market. I'm a helicopter pilot by profession, so I pay very close attention to what is going on around me, and I STILL got completely blindsided. Hopped on the bike to run a quick errand, and woke up being put in the back of an ambulance. But hey, at least I totaled the minivan too!!!

So there's my essay, go ride and have fun! RIP R1200R

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• BMW
• R1200R
• Crash
• Akrapovic
• Motorcycle
• Motorbike
• USWG01
• BK24601
• RIP

[BMWBiker2]

I just bought a RED R1200R - I'm a female rider and been riding over 25 years and love the R1200R. I am partially disabled and doubt I will ever tour. I envy anyone who can take a bike, pack and drive all over the place. I think the music properly sums up riding an R1200R - if you're gonna live life to the fullest - get a BMW! Hope you get another soon - best regards. Jo from Reisterstown, MD

[uswg01]

@BMWBiker2 - Thank you so much for watching and sharing! PLEASE! give it a shot one day, pack the bike up and just GO. You don't have to do 600 miles a day, or 300, or even 100. I'm so happy for you, and we have never even met!! You are going to love your new bike! Ride as much as you can! My best memories are from the worst days on my bike, rain, sleet, hail, cold... Loved every minute of it :) I'm so excited for you! You will tour someday! Though don't forget the heated jacket and gloves ;)

[LacosTacosPacos]

If you do ride again, please consider a helmet in a color other than black. White is good, or any primary color, or day-glow green/yellow if you are serious about being seen. You have to give them something to pick out of the urban environment, so stay away from black, silver, gray, etc. May not have made any difference, but then again… very nice video, I'm considering the R1200R right now.

[uswg01]

@LacosTacosPacos - The R1200R is amazing, if you have the money definitely get it! I have ridden a bit since the accident, mostly on a Honda 650 dirt bike, trying to build up strength again. I did get a new helmet, same model, but solid white this time! I'll take every advantage I can get the second time around. Thanks for the advice, ride safe!

[edzaslow]

Terrible crash! Thank G-d, you survived. Your bike had ABS, no? Were you not able to slow down some before the impact?

[uswg01]

@edzaslow - Yes it had ABS. I never saw it coming, the people I talked to who saw it happen said they didn't think I even hit the brakes. I don't remember any of it though, maybe a good thing haha.

[ammiles43]

Beautiful bike. Hope you mend well.

[TheRottenPear]

My dream bike

[mikefitzman]

Really great video mate, sorry about the crash and you really must get a bike again soon (if you haven't already!). I can tell how much you loved that thing, I feel the same about my bike, By the way, I have visited some of the same places you have when I was in the USA in '07. Totally awesome time exploring California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Utah. Ah, I wanna come back!!! All the best, Mike , Perth, Australia (ZX12R, maybe R1200R soon...)

[loris199]

hey mate, sometimes i come back again to hear the sound of the Boxer and to ask you if you are ok =)

hope it goes all ok overthere

cheers from Italy mate! =)

Loris, BMW 1150 Rockster

[fastrabbit22]

Glad to see you're ok, great video. I'm a paramedic and a rider, hope to see you on the road again soon.

[cowmilky]

I am sorry for your loss. Looks like an amazing bike!