Hello from La La Land

[awb229]

Name:   Logan
Location:   Los Angeles, CA
Bike(s):    '08 BMW R 1200GS Adventure
      '12 Ducati Monster 1100 Evo

Threw a leg over my first bike in '97, but I've only been riding seriously for the past 4 years. I just pulled the trigger on a new Monster after admiring them for ages.  The decision was made after lots of lurking/research here on the DMF, so thanks.  Looking forward to gaining more insight and knowledge on these forums, and counterbalancing my Utilitarian German with the Sexy Italian!  Cheers.

[Curmudgeon]

  La-La Land indeed!

Welcome! Guess we know which bike will be getting the seat time. 

You must be a tall guy with both a GS and 990 in your history. If you haven't already, consider a 14T sprocket up front to make it a bit more user-friendly in traffic and keep it suborbital.  A Sargent seat might be more comfortable as well. If you feed the need, a 38mm riser will fit with the existing cables and lines. Might take a bit of rearranging.

Coming from an R, I'll wager you'll grow to love the gentle L-Twin throb! Send me some of your sunny, 70+ F weather, please.

[Slim1899]

Congrats on the new bike!  Which color did you get?  I've always liked the BMW GS.  How are you liking the Evo?

[awb229]

Thanks guys.

Curmudgeon:  You are correct, I'm 6'3".  I like and I'm following your advice on the 14T front sprocket.  I've already gone ahead with the Termi carbon exhaust and it sounds like the 14T is a smart initial move as well.  After a decent amount of mileage I'll start thinking about the ergonomics.

Slim1899:  I went with the Black.  And I'm liking it as much as I can through a computer screen!  I've been on travel for five months now so I figured I "needed" a Christmas gift waiting for me when I return in Dec.  Order placed, money down, just need to pick it up when I get home.  I'll put some pics up shortly thereafter.  I can't say enough about the BMW GSA.  I love it.  It is the most capable and utilitarian beast imaginable.  The huge tank makes life easy, very reliable (20K+ miles and nothing but tires and standard service), ergos are so good for me that sleep becomes the issue as opposed to comfort on 12+ hour rides, refined and powerful and totally ridable in stock condition.  And it's surprisingly good in the canyons if you put some trust in it.  Not to be blasphemous on a Ducati forum…  But if you could own only one bike, and your riding style covered the spectrum (with the exception of the track), the GS is very tough to beat.  That being said, I'm like a giddy little girl thinking about my Monster!

[Slim1899]

That is quite an endorsement for the GS.  I plan on adding another bike when the Evo is paid off.  You just threw a wrench in my plans. gonna have to consider it.  I too have the Black and want the Carbon Termi's.  I'll look forward to seeing the pictures as I haven't seen a Black Evo with Carbon Termi's on it yet!

I worked some contract just to buy the Termi's however my wife pointed out some very common sense things....I don't have cold weather riding gear.  She said if I got the Termi's before the gear I'd just be making motorcycle noises in the garage all winter.  I of course responded "well, they would be the coolest motorcycle noises you ever heard."  Hahahaha

[bikepilot]

Welcome!  There's nothing quite like a 90-deg twin, this is just how motos were meant to be 

[awb229]

Monster 1100 Evo w/ Termis & 14T front countershaft sprocket (and some EvoTech bits)...

Awesome!  Took the new bike for the first real ride yesterday.  Extremely happy.


Monster right by awb229, on Flickr


Monster back by awb229, on Flickr

[Wolfboy]

Nice! I think the Monster & the GS is THE perfect set up -with apologies to any Multi guys.