By Carl Saccoccio
This is Part 2 of a three part history of my journey to 300,000 miles on BMW motorcycles. CS
Having received my 100,000-mile award in October 1995 it was time to reflect on the past and look ahead to the future. Would I do another 100,000 miles in the next 10 to 15 years? That was the question. I was only 46 years old, still working two jobs at a high energy level, and riding has been my life; so there was no problem thinking I could do it in less time than the first 100,000 miles. Time will tell.
My main riding was done on my 1977 RS, my favorite motorcycle of all times. My 1972 R60/5 was basically a parade and show bike for me. I would enter it in bike shows around New England and use it for Sunday rides to the beach or to the Bean; and I kept it in its original condition since I planned to keep it forever. In fact I still own that motorcycle today. In my garage was also a collection of British motorcycles. I had a red ’69 BSA Thunderbolt, all original, and I also had a black ’69 BSA Thunderbolt with a sidecar so I could take my kids out for rides with me. I also had a ’72 Norton Commando and a ’72 Triumph Bonneville. All these bikes could be classified as antiques that I rode sparingly just like my R60/5.
So for the next two riding seasons my RS was carrying me all over the East Coast and Mid-America and she never failed me. So I said why not try something totally different from the airheads I have been riding for 20 years. At that time a lot of my riding buddies in the YB had K75 or K100 BMWs. As luck would have it one Saturday while hanging around Razee there was a beautiful all black 1987 K75S in mint condition. It was there on consignment and I knew who owned it so Gordon told me to deal with him directly and I ended up buying the bike from Teddy Freiberger who I knew quite well and I also knew he was a fanatic about taking care of his motorcycles so I was happy to buy one of his bikes.
The K75 was my 6th BMW and was all set up for touring with side cases, a tank bag, windshield, etc. and all I had to do was put a small trunk on the back carrier. It was time for different means of travel that was totally foreign to me (as far as the sound of a motorcycle) when I was riding it, so I alternated between the K bike and the RS for the next two years. The K bike was smooth and had nice sound (if you like a sewing machine), but for me it had no soul. It wasn’t an airhead, and I could not get used to it. Maybe I was just used to the sound and feel of an opposed twin engine. So after two years of owning it and riding it about 11,962 miles I decided it was time to sell. That June my mechanic, at the time, Gary V in MA, had someone interested in it and the bike was gone. After it was gone, I realized I never gave it a name like I do most of my motorcycles.
So in the fall of 1998 my 77 RS was still my main ride. I had just returned from the BMW national rally in Missoula, MT in July riding cross country by myself, this bike was flawless. There was a lot going on in my life at that time I had just started divorce proceedings, and I was living at different locations where I had no choice but to store my motorcycles for the winter. In the spring of 1999 I started riding a lot. I went to the national rally In Rhinebeck, NY and it was my 50th birthday at that rally. My girlfriend Tammy, who is now my wife, had just gotten her motorcycle license and she attended the rally with me. It was her first national. It was a great way to celebrate half-a-century on this earth. I knew there would not be any motorcycle purchases anytime soon since I needed to get my finances in order after very expensive divorce.
After two years of working full time at Rhode Island College as the Carpenter supervisor and still maintaining my construction job of remodeling and building new homes (which I could do since my son was now working for me), I decided it was time to treat myself. I went down to see Gordon (Razee) and told him I was interested in a R1150R Roadster that had just come out, and could he find one for me in blue. Well, he did find me one and I ended up buying it and the cost was $9,900.
My 7th BMW was the brand new 2002 R1150R midnight blue with 0 miles on it. This was my second new motorcycle purchase. The last one was my 1980RT that I bought in 1981. This bike was a naked bike, and it was up to me to set it up for touring the way I wanted. The first thing I did was buy a much taller seat, then I lowered the foot pegs, put on engine guards, side cases, rear rack, tall windshield, the famous soundbomb horn, and also a tank bag. So I was ready to get back on the open road. Attending rallies and blasting around the country which I did with the YB members and the friends from OSBMWR club.
So the roadster was my main ride for the next 11 years and I put 66,464 Miles on it. It only failed me once and that was coming back from the BMW rally in Redmond, OR in July 2010 with the OSBMWR crew. That bike failure is well known and the details do not need repeating. You might even say it has become a legend. In May 2012 I bought a 2006 R 1200 GS. This would be my new ride for the future. So, in August 2012 I sold my roadster and it was time to begin a new chapter on a dual sport.
Part 3: The road to 300,000 miles will be featured next month for your reading enjoyment.
