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Motorcycles

How To: Lowering Your BMW S1000XR

Even though I am 190cm (6 ft 3 in) tall, I found myself on my tippy toes at stop lights. Shorter riders necessarily are in a worse position, ergonomically. For many reasons, the S1000XR is a fantastic bike both on the highway and off road. However, virtually all riders will have a better riding experience if you lower the height of the S1000XR from the original design. This article by Jerry Skene explains how to do so using an adjustable lowering link kit from Soupy’s Performance. Continue reading How To: Lowering Your BMW S1000XR

Jerry Skene
Motorcycles

How To: LED Lighting on the BMW K1300S Motorcycle

On my old K1200S, I upgraded the halogen lights to HID lights by DDM Tuning. These were relatively expensive at the time and required that we create a custom bracket to hold the three ballasts. The light output on the DDM HIDs was impressive though the lamps threw the occasional LAMPF error, particularly when I used the high beams. (This was due to the difference between the resistance of the halogen v the HID lamps). Given the advancement in LED technology in the past eight years, I wanted to install LED and not HID lighting on my K1300S. The advantages of the LED lights include: longer life, lower cost, lower energy consumption, immediate full light output, and smaller ballasts. Continue reading How To: LED Lighting on the BMW K1300S Motorcycle

Mike Connelly
Motorcycles

How To: Modifying the BMW K1300S Motorcycle for a Tall Rider

The BMW K1300S, like the K1200S before it, is a big bike. The seat is a bit higher off the ground than other sports bikes. By sports bike standards, it is a heavy bike overall, at 569 lb. So, it naturally attracts taller riders. However, the ergonomics aren’t best suited for a tall rider. The handlebars require the rider to lean forward, potentially creating back and neck cramps. The default position of the foot pegs may be uncomfortable for longer legged riders. Fortunately, these can all be addressed with some minor modifications to the handlebars, foot pegs, gear shift lever, and brake lever. Continue reading How To: Modifying the BMW K1300S Motorcycle for a Tall Rider

Mike Connelly