Hello, Old Friend!

"Charlie Zulu" (VeniVidiHooni)
02/02/2016 at 16:36 • Filed to: Lanesplitter, motorcycle, bmw, k100rs, k-bike, flying brick, Robert Pirsig

About 16 years ago I parted ways with my first two-wheeled love. The K100 RS (aka: Flying Brick) three-quarter dresser touring bike. I’d put up to a thousand miles per day on this beast during the big rides. I’d also DD this all over Phoenix in all weather conditions.

Last week I saw her. Parked. Right there in the middle of San Francisco. I will never forget the crack in the fairing I added to the body styling (pictured). The only time the machine went down...pretty much in slow motion.

This was my starter bike. I know, not really a great choice for that. And heavy as all get out. I rode it with white-knuckled fear to the rider safety course on a Friday and again on Saturday. Two days of training. That Sunday I set off with a new friend from the training course for my, and our, first ride. It was supposed to just be a little putt-putt through the Arizona landscape east of the Phoenix metro area.

Alas, a series of small miscalculations later, it was: double back and do two hours of night riding, or brave a 20-mile section of unpaved road to Tortilla Flat. We took the latter route. It took a long time. I learned how to float with both feet out through deep sand, ride around pot holes and through small canyons in the road. And those ruts. The ruts that firmly embrace your riding track the way a little boy embraces his daddy after a long business trip.

The rider training and subsequent field training by fire were the perfect places to have my limitations get to know the limitations of the bike. There was also probably a good bit of luck in there that neither rider nor bike went down a cliff. I’ll take it.

This was also the bike that taught me the Pirsigian sweet spot between the classic and romantic aspects of motorcycleness. Both in riding and in care for the bike. After that first big weekend on the bike, I took it very nearly completely apart and learned the tension of every bolt, and fit of every bit I could manipulate. Pure joy.

So cheers, old friend! It looks like someone still loves you and rides you the way you were meant to be loved and ridden.

DISCUSSION (13)

duurtlang > Charlie Zulu
02/02/2016 at 16:45

My dad bought a K75, so basically the same bike but with one less cylinder, as his starting bike. After he turned 60. Comfy and durable bike, I’m told.

For Sweden > Charlie Zulu
02/02/2016 at 17:02

How many weather conditions are there in Phoenix?

atfsgeoff > Charlie Zulu
02/02/2016 at 17:04

I’d have left a note on the bike for the current owner.

“This bike was mine a time ago, and I’m glad she’s still giving a smile to someone’s face.” -previous owner

Charlie Zulu > For Sweden
02/02/2016 at 17:11

1. Absolutely perfect (6 months)

2. Too hot (2 weeks)

3. Holy shit, way too hot (whatever is left to make 12 months) [math here]

4. A little hotter than 3. (2 weeks)

5. Apocalyptic monsoon storms (1 week)

Note: not necessarily in order of occurrence.

Charlie Zulu > atfsgeoff
02/02/2016 at 17:12

Yeah, I thought about that. But I was on the run to catch a ferry *and* it was raining. Would have smudged my already illegible calligraphy.

Charlie Zulu > duurtlang
02/02/2016 at 17:15

The three-cylinder version(s) of this bike are said to run much smoother/rounder than their four-cylindered cousins. I only know of this from anecdotal evidence, however. My heart is set on a GS these days. One with those big, boxy touring bags for the long hauls.

Algimantas > Charlie Zulu
02/02/2016 at 17:24

How reliable are these today? I kinda want one.

Charlie Zulu > Algimantas
02/02/2016 at 17:47

Well, the one I rode is clearly still on the road. I think it was a ‘92. Like MPGs, reliability is in large part a function of the owner and their maintenance and care for the machine. The only thing that sticks in my mind: the ABS. This was one of the first bikes with ABS, and it had issues every now and then. The warning light would flash and you were back to regular braking. Everything else was great.

leicester > Charlie Zulu
02/02/2016 at 18:06

Likewise, I found my first ride (Yamaha XJ600) in a random parking lot one evening. A bit rashed up, held together with a few more zipties and tape, but still on the road.

I suspected it had also survived a couple more first-time riders.

shop-teacher > Charlie Zulu
02/02/2016 at 18:25

Very cool!

Liam Farrell > Charlie Zulu
02/03/2016 at 01:06

I think my dads friend owns that one or one very similar.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Charlie Zulu
02/03/2016 at 05:23

did you check the mileage on it?

Charlie Zulu > pip bip - choose Corrour
02/03/2016 at 15:55

Yep. Numbers make sense. I rode it more. The crack in the fairing is the real tell. You never forget once you’ve put it there and cleaned the fairing 1,000 times.