SHIVA
1999 K 1200 RS
New York, NY
Member since: Oct 02, 2006
Profile views: 9505
Homepage: http://www.ShahramShiva.com
ABOUT ME
I began riding bikes at 12, with 2 of my buddies all the same age. We used to rent 80cc 2-stroke Yamahas from a bike repair shop with questionable credentials. His specialty was to rent bikes to kids my age and a little older. Obviously no credit cards back then, so we used to leave our gold chains as collateral. I had my fair share of crashes, I went down I think 2 times, once pretty serious, to the bike but with no injuries to the rider.
Since childhood I was a pretty active bicycle rider, and the motorized versions wheren’t too hard to figure. I bought my first motorcycle in 1987 in NY from Ghost Motorcycles on Long Island. I bought a Moto Guzzi V50III (500cc). I used it to primarily commute within NYC. I liked that bike, it was very light and bullet proof. Those Guzzi’s were made to take abuse.
My first experience with BMW bikes and cars was also in the early ‘70s. My brother who was much older than I bought a Cherry Red BMW 2002. What a beaut! Our next door neighbor had a Racing Green 2.8 CSI that he cleaned and polished religiously every weekend. I was best buddies with his brother in-law. Another neighbor a few doors down had a Daytona Orange BMW R90S. That was the first time that I had seen a BMW motorcycle. Compare to the ubiquitous Honda 750-4 the R90S looked like a UFO. It was so sophisticated.
I remember really liking the BMW “K” bikes when they were first introduced. They seemed smart, sharp, fast and modern. Very clean styling. I specially liked the K100RS in the Blue/White trim and subtle pin stripes in the late 80s. So, I got my first Beemer, a super clean, heated-garage kept with low miles, 1993, K1100RS, Graphite with ABS. I bought that K bike, in January of 1999, from Joel at BMWNY on Long Island (not there any more). Loved the styling of that bike. It was the last of the old school German designs: very linear, angular, stately and refined.
Well it was refined in styling, but not in performance, after 9 months and 9,000 miles I swapped it for a 1999 K1200RS. I had the bike painted BMW Night Black before I took delivery and called it “Nandi.” With “Nandi” my love affair with BMW bikes started again. I love this bike. I picked it up in Nov of 1999, basically “Nandi” should be a 2000 model, however this bike was so popular back then that I couldn’t find any in stuck, so Steve Sergi who used to work in Valley Stream, LI at Precision Motorcycles, managed to find a new Red one in California. I was so happy to find one, I didn’t care whether it was 99 or 00. So, “Nandi” started her life as a redhead and now she is a brunette.
After a short few months and only 1000 miles on the odo (remember I picked it up in November and it was a real brutal winter that year) in March 2000 I organized the first ever K1200RS only rally in CT. That idea became popular and I organized a few more after that, such as one in VT and another in a Vineyard in NY State.
My coverage of that first rally made it on the cover of BMW ON. A few years ago I launched K12RS.com, as means of documenting some travel videos, photography, accessory reports and so on.
And three years ago, in June 2004, I launched BMWK1200S.COM Internet Community which later became BMW-K.COM. BMW-K.COM is an online web site and discussion forum for BMW’s latest “K” bikes: K1200S, K1200R, K1200R-Sport and K1200GT. I also am a freelance motorcycle journalist, editor and photographer.
SHIVA has not created any rides yet.
02/12/07 - Nandi 2.0 - MY fully customized K1200RS
Nandi 2.0 is the latest incarnation of my own black K1200RS. This baby is a very spoiled K12RS, with a built date of 5/1999, and delivery of 11/1999 and ridden in early 2000. It currently has over 54,000 miles. Its name is Nandi, named after the famed whit ... Read more
02/09/07 - I'm honored to be in a BMW ad
BMW is featuring Xplor members in their latest national ad campaign and they are using my profile for the hot new K1200R-Sport machine. This is quite exciting indeed. I've added an image of the ad in my profile and here's a direct link to the K1200R-Spor ... Read more
View all of Shiva's blog posts
12/20/08 - BMW eNewsletter for December '08
The December issue of BMW Motorrad USA eNewsletter is out. Please click here to see it.
11/25/08 - Re: BMW Concept Bike: the LO Rider
Hi Guys, BMW is running an online questionnaire on the new concept bike, now called BCC for BMW Custom Concept.
Please visit the link below to make your voices heard about this concept from BMW. Do you think BMW should build this, what should they change if they do?
Pls visit:
11/19/08 - Want to Be in the New K1300 Series Ad Campaign?
This is just in from BMW Motorrad USA:
Do You Want to Be in the New K1300 Series Advertising
Campaign?
BMW Motorrad USA is looking for
active K bike riders to appear in a new K1300 series advertising
campaign to be shot in the week of December 8 (location still to be
determined, but most likely in Colorado). We’re looking for
serious K bike enthusiasts and ambassadors who are ...
11/05/08 - Re: Comments needed for BMWXPLOR.com updates (Feb '08)
not dead. in the works for the not too distant future. I'll keep you guys posted. thanks, S
11/05/08 - Re: BMW Concept Bike: the LO Rider
This is a heck of a good idea. Which one do you want?
