Free rides...
Here in SE Michigan, Detroit BMW allows test rides once or twice per year during Open House events. According to them, it takes so much paper work to get a bike from BMW marked as a "test ride vehicle" that they want to make sure more than one person rides it before it gets sold. Gauging by the turn out at the Open House and the number of bikes missing from the show room the next day, I'd guess they weren't fibbing.
As to the R1150R, it is indeed a sweet bike. Last year I got to ride it, the R1150RT, 1800 GoldWind, and Valk in my own little touring bike comparison. I'd have to say the BMW's are definately the thing to have at this point in life. The perfect, commuter/tourer/weekend fun bike I've ever ridden.
Note to Mr. Burns. You don't work for that magazine any more. We get it. Now stop bringing it up and just keep turning out pieces like you have been.
Note to MO subscription department. Either something is radically different in the online publishing business or you need to get your act together. I have not gotten one notice yet letting me know my subscription is about to expire and I can't have more than 10 or 11 months left. What's up with that?