Hi,
Just joined the forum and noticed this post. The reply is a bit long, but it is Sunday afternoon and I've done all the weekend jobs....
Myself (R1200RT) and another BM rider (R1200GS) are going, and friend is joining us on his Trumpy Thunderbird as we head south.
The route we are taking is Innaloo - Bunbury - east to Nyabing via Dumbleyung - west to Pemberton via Kojonup and Bridgetown - lunch in Pemberton with the FarRiders - then west to Margaret River via Karridale - Donnybrook - Collie - Bunbury - Perth. About 1270kms.
We're meeting at BP Innaloo (Scarborough Beach Road) at around 3.30am for a 3.45am start. Otherwise we're heading down the Freeway/Bunbury Highway and will be at Australind Shell Roadhouse just outside Bunbury around 5.20 - 5.40am. Our plan is to get to Pemberton somewhere between 12.00 and 12.30, stay for lunch, then head back at around 1.15pm to be home by around 8.00 - 8.30pm.
You're welcome to join us if you want.
I've done seven 1,000km+ rides now, including a Border Run and an Iron Butt SS1600 (Perth to Nullarbor Roadhouse in 24 hours). If you've looked at the FarRider website you'll already know there is a whole bunch of info available on long distance riding - it's worth reading.
As for your K1200S, I met a guy in Hyden on the Hopetoun Far Ride last year on a new K1300S. One tip - if you haven't got a cruise control, you might want to think about getting something like the thumb operated throttle lock type I've seen on other bikes. A lot of the Far Rider guys I've spoken to have some form of relatively easily controlled form of throttle lock so they can rest their throttle hand occasionally. And, I rode from Three Ways to Darwin with a guy who was on a K1200S and had ridden from Melbourne (he'd done 100,000kms distance riding in 4 years on the thing).
Some observations from my own experience - they suit me and may not suit others, and each person needs to make up their own mind on what suits them and is safe :
1. plan your route - do your itinerary well beforehand
2. make sure you're all packed and ready to leave the night before
3. get at least 3 hours sleep before midnight and a good night's sleep (no alcohol)
4. up and at 'em early to the start point with plenty of time to fill up and check tyres
5. start at the planned start time, don't take longer than planned stops
6. steady riding and stick to your ride plan - overall average speed (including stops, town speed limits, etc) through the southwest it is unlikely to be more than 85 - 87km/hr with a moving average of around 100 - 105 km/hr - this is going reasonably well but not pushing speed or safety boundaries
7. stop around sunrise for a good road brekky and coffee and water (roadhouse bacon and egg sangers may not be hi quality but they fill a gap and have protein and salt)
8. plan your fuel stops and bum breaks (if you get a bit of numb bum) by distance - distance between stops is a personal and fuel capacity thing, the RT can do 400 - 550 km on a tank (dependent of speed and conditions) so comfort is the defining factor in planning stops for me and they vary anywhere from 100km to 250km
9. if you haven't done a lot of distance riding, and don't already have a seat comfort enhancer, consider getting a piece of sheep skin - some swear by Air Hawk cushions, some by sheepskin - I've tried both and sheepskin suits me, it doesn't stop discomfort but does reduce it and help manage it to reasonable levels
10. stay well hydrated without sugar - I drink about 350ml of water a stop, sometimes more - it's better to stop for a leak than lose concentration and increase weariness due to dehydration
11. do a longer distance early in the day and a shorter distance on the way home - we're doing around 720km in the morning and about 520km on the way home
12. be in a positive frame of mind
13. dress for weather and comfort and use earplugs (if you don't already) - discomfort either from the weather or from wind noise reduces your stamina and distracts you
Most importantly, ride within your own limits and safely - stop if you feel at all unsafe - but be ready to enjoy yourself and be warned - if you catch the bug it's entirely your own fault!
It's a personal thing long distance riding, as you may have found from the FarRider website forum - there is a small but vibrant community in Oz. Some love it, but it's not for everyone. It's not new, and I suspect there's lots of Beemer Club guys who have been at it for years. For me it is a mix of mental stamina, concentration, and meditation - and there is so much to see out there if you can move from one moment to the next without getting bored, a passing smell here, and bird there, a landform not noticed before, the people you meet, the sounds of a country town roadhouse, the colours of our country, the sunrise, the sunset, and pulling into the drive safely at the end of the ride. It may be a tired old cliche but it's still relevant nonetheless - the sense of being on the road, the freedom, and the common interest among riders, is what seems to be common in those I've bumped into doing it.
Here's some thoughts from the Sandstone ride last year if you're interested
http://farriders.com/forum/index.php?topic=2658.0.
regards,
Guy
ps: if you are interested in a serious ride, and can get the time to do it, have a look here
http://www.freewebs.com/longride2010/ - I did this ride last year (although it was to Darwin, not Sydney) and it was fantastic