caratz
2006 K 1200 GT
Member since: Dec 20, 2006
Profile views: 657
ABOUT ME
Born and bred in Antwerp, Belgium. I am riding bikes since the age of 16. Started on a Honda 50 CC with five gears, and upgraded soon after for the more sporty six gear version of it. At the age of 18 I got a Suzuki 380 CC. That was quite a jump, and it almost killed me. I started riding BMW’s at the age of 22. My first experience was on a R 80 RT. Since then, the BMW bug hasn’t left me.
There was a loooong interruption in my riding when I got married. My wife put me in front of a painful choice. Either her or motorcycling. I managed to stay off bike for 12 years. In 1993 a friend of mine told me he’d bought a bike. He’d fallen in love at first sight with a HD Springer Softail. I asked him wether he’d ever ridden a bike before. The answer was no, but he’s following a course. I told him to register me as well. I went with him, and the bug bit with all its might. Ten days later I asked my wife what would happen if I should purchase a bike. She told me she’d dump me point blank. I told her we have a small problem, since I’d just signed a contract for the purchase of a Honda XLV, known in this part of the world as the Transalp. I kept it for 4 months and 4300 KM.
Subsequently I decided to turn it in for the R 1100 RS that still is in my possession. It came in May 1994. I am deeply in love with that machine, and there is nothing that could make me sell it. At the end of last year, my wife granted me the purchase of a new bike. (As you’ll have noticed, we’re still happily married after almost 26 years, motorcycle or not.) I was going to go for the R 1200 RT.
However I’d always dreamt of having more power and a Telelever, but the K 1200 RS didn’t do it for me, the GT was too heavy and the LT… When the new GT came out, I knew that was going to be the realization of my dream. I actually rode a K 1200 S to have an idea of the engine’s performance, and got shocked. Pleasantly so. I decided there and then that I was going to order the GT at the Brussels motor show. It came in May 2006.
A typical day’s ride for my friends and myself involves about 6 to 800 km in the Ardennes region or elsewhere. Two Vosges trips, one to Switzerland, and another to Croatia have totalled almost 12000 KM so far.
caratz has not created any photo galleries.
caratz has not created any rides yet.
02/11/07 - Summer 2002 tour
This is a tour I took with some friends of mine in 2002, my first poor attempt at creating a web page. http://www.rocteur.com/~caratz/summerride2002/summer%20ride%202002report.htm ... Read more
02/11/07 - Praying for forgiveness.
I have never done this before so forgive me if I make mistakes. I see I'm still the only rider here from accross the Pond, is there any particular reason for that ? ... Read more
View all of Caratz's blog posts
12/22/06 - Re: Global Touring online resource suggestions
Hey Court, it's been a looooooooooooooong time !!!! Since my IBMWR days.
12/22/06 - Re: Euro & Alps Maps List
For US riders, try Knopff in Heidelberg. He has a few US licensed bikes for rent. I'll try and find his URL. It's probably one of the best deals you can get. Incidentally, he also ships bikes for the US to Europe and vice versa. If you take your own bike over, don't forget to get a European Green Card, meaning the European insurance form as well as the European accident declaration form.
12/21/06 - Re: Comments anyone?
Hey Shiva, fancy meeting you here. A bit early for me to make comments. I think that for the moment, I'm the only Yurpean here. Should I go trolling for more ?
