BMW Owners News January 2017

BMW OWNERS NEWS – A PUBLICATION OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA

JANUARY 2017

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JANUARY 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS www.bmwmoa.org

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Inside features

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The Best of 2016 Before we fully embrace the new year, we look back at some of BMW Owners News most significant stories, news and images of 2016. From a daughter riding with her daddy, a motorcycle of the future and Jack the Riepe, to Wisconsin, Birmingham and the Land of Loud Pipes, each month our members share stories of humor, adventure and accomplishment.

Cape Cod - When the Coast is Clear

By Brian Rathjen #92108 You don’t need a GPS, map or sign to let you know when you are riding onto Cape Cod. You can smell it. You can feel it, and you can see it. Things immediately take on a more nautical Cape Cod feel.

ON THE COVER: BMW recently announced updates to several 2017 models including the K 1600 series. See page 32 for more information.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2017

The BMW MOA and MOATM are trademarks of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America.

the club 4 Owners News Contributors 8 Headlight Resolutions, by Bill Wiegand 10 President's Column Happy New Year, by Wes Fitzer 12 Picture This Twisties 14 Rider to Rider Letters from our Members Member tested/ product news 18 Sidi Crossfire 2 boots, Forcefield Pro Shirt X-V, BestRest CyclePump Expedition

28 Touratech’s Heat Control Comfort Seat, Explore Puerto Rico with Motorcycle Tours Puerto Rico, Screaming Banshee Shockwave horn, Olympia’s X Moto 2 jacket, AeroFlow Aeroscreen, AeroWing and headlight cover, new BMW models for 2017, BMW updates for 2017, Brandon Wainwright wins the custom S1000 XR, start your planning for The Crossroads of the West rally

tech 38 Keep ‘em Flying Clutch cables and Movie Sets,

by Matthew Parkhouse

40 Nicht Uber Max Questions and Answers,

by George Mangicaro

discovery 44 Adventure Log The Tour without a Voice,

by Shawn Thomas

48 Long Distance Style Unleash your Inner Moto-Beast,

by Deb Gasque

skills 70 Ask a Pro Knowing when to Hang it Up, by Lee Parks 72 Foundation News Preparing new Riders with GEARS lifestyle 74 Mileage Slaves I Can't make this Stuff Up,

by Dave Cwi

76 High Mileage Congratulations High Mileage Riders,

by Jim Heberling

events 80 2017 BMW MOA International Rally See you in Salt Lake City this Summer

82 From the Board BMW MOA Board of Directors meeting minutes

90 When and Where 95 Advertiser Index 96 Talelight

the club

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CONTRIBUTORS 1 . J im Bean, #107701, lives in Pegram, Tennessee, and has been a rider for more than 35 years. His favorite type of riding takes him off the beaten path on his R 1200 GS Adventure to the mountains of Colorado and Utah, though his favorite ride so far took him to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. With a passion for photography, Jim’s spectacular images from his travels regularly find their way to the pages of Owners News where he hopes to inspire others to venture down a new dirt road or trail. Jim is also responsible for March Moto Madness and the GS Giants Trails events at ADV Ribfest.

4. P rofessional travel writer/photographer and motojournalist Christopher P. Baker has contributed to more than 200 publications worldwide, from Conde Nast publications, National Geographic Traveler and Playboy to most major motorcycle magazines. His books include Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba, plus numerous guidebooks to California and countries throughout the Caribbean and Latin America. A National Geographic Resident Expert and Cuba specialist, he leads motorcycle tours of Cuba and promotes himself through his website, www.christopherbaker.com.

2. Greg Feeler got his first BMW in 1972 at the age of five and hasn’t been without one since. He took his first honeymoon on an R75/5, but still has the bike. Last July he completed 14 years of service on the BMW MOA Board of Directors, including four-and-a-half years as president. He has been a technology manager for over 20 years specializing in herding cats which qualified him for his present BMW MOA assignment as Rally Chair for the 2017 BMW MOA International Rally in Salt Lake City, Utah.

5. Jim Heberling hails from the Land of Lincoln. He started riding his dirt bike in the old gravel pits there in the 60’s and rode various brand cycles for 25 years.

When Jim retired a couple years ago he purchased his first BMW, a 2013 R 1200 GSA and now enjoys traveling to rallies and volunteering wherever he can.

As High Mileage Coordinator he has the opportunity to speak with members across the country and share their riding experiences while helping MOA members navigate to the High Mileage Application on the BMW MOA website.

3. A longtime member of the MOA, Brian Rathjen has manned the helm of the northeast regional motorcycle tour magazine Backroads for the last 22 years from his home at northwestern edge of New Jersey. A motorcyclist for more than 40 years, Rathjen has ridden in more than 35 countries around the planet—mostly on various BMWs—and says he occasionally scribbles down his thoughts and comments with mixed results. When he grows up he wants to be just like Jack Riepe.

You can find Backroads at www.backroadsusa.com.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

6. Deb Gasque, also known as “The Fashionista,” has been a licensed motorcyclist for 6 years and has embraced every aspect of the long distance motorcycling lifestyle, including earning a membership into the Iron Butt Association. Deb recently joined the ranks of motojournalism and enjoys sharing her passion for two-wheeled adventures through published articles and her blog page at www.TheFashionistaHasAnIronButt.com.

www.michelinmotorcycle.com

The Last Frontier

While riding in Alaska with my wife last summer we found ourselves surrounded by the breathtaking scenery of Hutchinson Canyon just before arriving in Valdez.

Photo by Paul LaramĂŠe #208229

January 2017  BMW OWNERS NEWS

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headlight Magazine of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America MANAGING EDITOR

Bill Wiegand bill@bmwmoa.org

Resolutions

By Bill Wiegand #180584

ASSOCIATE EDITORS

Ron Davis • Wes Fleming • Joe Tatulli ART DIRECTOR

Karin Halker karin@bmwmoa.org CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

David Cwi • Marven Ewen • Deb Gasque Lee Parks • Matthew Parkhouse Jack Riepe • Shawn Thomas ADVERTISING

Advertising materials, including chartered club rally display advertising, should be sent to our Advertising Office. Please contact Chris Hughes for display rates, sizes and terms.

Chris Hughes chris@bmwmoa.org 11030 North Forker Road, Spokane, WA 99217 509-921-2713 (p) 509-921-2713 (f ) BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA

640 S. Main Street, Ste. 201 Greenville, SC 29601 864-438-0962 (p) 864-250-0038 (f )

Submissions should be sent to the BMW MOA office or editor@bmwmoa.org. Submissions accepted only from current members of the BMW MOA and assume granting of first serial publication rights within and on the BMW MOA website and use in any future compendium of articles. No payments will be made and submissions will not be returned. The BMW MOA reserves the right to refuse, edit or modify submissions.

Opinions and positions stated in materials/articles herein are those of the authors and not by the fact of publication necessarily those of BMW MOA; publication of advertising material is not an endorsement by BMW MOA of the advertised product or service. The material is presented as information for the reader. BMW MOA does not perform independent research on submitted articles or advertising.

Change of address notification and membership inquiries should be made to the BMW MOA office or membership@bmwmoa.org. BMW MOA membership is $40/yr. and includes the BMW Owners News, which is not available separately. Each additional family member is $10 without a subscription.

Canadian members add $12 for postal surcharge.

The BMW MOA and MOA™ are trademarks of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America.

OUR MISSION

To foster communication and a sense of family among BMW motorcycle enthusiasts

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

I KNEW JUDY, MY WIFE, HAD AN APPOINTMENT WITH THE DOCTOR

that day, but I didn’t know why. Routine, I assumed. Her mother lived well into her 90s, and we often joke about how lucky she is to have been blessed with her mom’s good genes. She never gets sick or misses a day of work and never hesitates to let me know that when I’m feeling less than 100 percent.

I was in the checkout line at the grocery store, staring at the latest headlines detailing the Brad Pitt/Angelina Jolie divorce when I heard my phone chime in my pocket. The text messages she sent from the doctor’s office proved her mortality: “Biopsy came back positive for melanoma.” “Scheduled for surgery on the 8th.” “DO NOT SHARE WITH ANYONE, including the girls.” (Our two daughters) Judy’s next text proved her sense of humor while providing a bit of relief: “Don’t start looking at motorcycles yet,” and then, “Not that severe according to the doctor.”

I can’t think of any other word in the English language that carries with it the same gutwrenching impact as “cancer.” In Judy’s case, her melanoma was caught early and appears to be treatable. We know that isn’t the case for many of our friends and relatives whose doctor’s diagnosis is cancer. We are lucky and count our blessings.

Later that day while reading her text messages again, I was struck by her jokingly telling me not to think about buying another motorcycle. I’ll admit that while the thought did cross my mind, it wasn’t because I was thinking of cashing in a huge insurance policy. I thought of motorcycles because of all of the things I enjoy in life, right up there with sharing new experiences with my family is riding motorcycles to places I’ve not yet seen on bikes I don’t yet own.

Each January we get the opportunity to wipe the slates clean and reset our personal goal odometers. Kind of a personal oil change and tune up with a new set of tires I guess, but that time is here. There’s really no reason we couldn’t do this on the first day of April or October, but the first day of the new year always seems like the best time for personal resolutions.

In his monthly column, MOA President Wes Fitzer says that over the years, like many of us, he’s resolved to lose weight, eat better or work less (or more); however, what he’s always really wanted to do was see more of the country aboard his motorcycle. What he says he always forgot to do was to actually plan those trips, believing it was something he could do tomorrow. Well, despite what Annie says, though tomorrow may only be a day away, for some things it may be years.

Deb Gasque’s column carries a similar message: “While it’s certainly good to be nicer, healthier and thriftier in the new year, I’m actually encouraging my fellow riders to reach inside and pull out their inner Moto-Beast, it’s within all of us that ride.”

I’m not going to reveal any more of either article. They both offer a simple message, and if your resolutions include losing weight, eating better, working more or working less, please call Wes Fitzer and he will personally tell you why spending more time riding your motorcycle is always the better choice!

Happy New Year! May all your motorcycle adventures in 2017 be great!

BMW Motorrad USA

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BMW Service stands for quality and precision in every detail, with specially trained technicians who use only Original BMW Parts and approved equipment. From oil changes to annual checkups and more, an authorized BMW Motorrad dealer will bring you peace of mind – so you can concentrate on enjoying the ride ahead. Find an authorized BMW Motorrad dealer at bmwmotorcycles.com.

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The Ultimate Riding Machine™

PRESIDENTSCOLUMN

Happy New Year BMW MOA OFFICERS

Wes Fitzer, President 918-441-2114; jwfitzer@yahoo.com

By Wes Fitzer # 170126

Jackie Hughes, Vice President 509-928-3261; jhughes@bmwmoa.org Reece Mullins, Secretary 334-470-7770; rangerreece@mac.com Jean Excell, Treasurer 719-650-6215; jeanexcell@bmwmoa.org BMW MOA DIRECTORS

Sam Garst 414-704-7767: guanocave@gmail.com Stan Herman 719-250-4358; hermanhaus1@msn.com Lisa Malachowsky 925-759-4360; lisa.malachowsky@gmail.com Marc Souliere 613-828-1798; beemer1@sympatico.ca BMW MOA VOLUNTEER STAFF

Steve Brunner, Mileage Contest Coordinator 910-822-4368; steveb@bmwmoa.org Jim Heberling, High Mileage Coordinator 309-530-1951; jheberling@bmwmoa.org David Swider, Ambassador Liaison 415-479-8075; teamkbasa@comcast.net Lee Woodring, Consumer Liaison 770-331-2419; lwoodring@hotmail.com Joe Leung, Consumer Liaison 403-689-9939; joe.leung@bmwmoa.org Greg Feeler, Pat Carol and Brian Burdette 2017 BMW MOA Rally Chairs 2017rallychair@bmwmoa.org BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA

640 640 S. Main Street, Ste. 201 Greenville, SC 29601

Robert C. Aldridge, Executive Director bob@bmwmoa.org Ted Moyer, Director of Membership & Marketing tedm@bmwmoa.org Ken Engelman, Director of Business Development ken@bmwmoa.org Bill Wiegand, BMW Owners News Managing Editor bill@bmwmoa.org Karin Halker, Art Director karin@bmwmoa.org Ray Tubbs, Digital Marketing Manager ray@bmwmoa.org

HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM YOUR MOA FAMILY!

Like many of you, each year I make New Year’s resolutions devoted to losing weight, eating better, working more, working less and so on, but one constant has always been the desire to ride more and see more of the country aboard my R 1200 GS Adventure.

Like many, my biggest hurdle to putting on more miles each year is simply having someplace to go. Without a plan, a clear destination and the needed time taken away work, I usually take short rides close to home and commute to work—not that there’s anything wrong with either of those. My problem is that I can usually find something to do around the house, and this always seem to trump even my short day trips.

Just like the old adage brokers use, “He didn’t plan to fail, he just failed to plan,” I’ve found the best way to boost both my yearly mileage and riding enjoyment is to plan time away from work and home, make the necessary plans/reservations, and then just pack the bike and leave.

Last November, I attended the Marble Falls Getaway in central Texas. What a great event! The weather was fabulous, the riding even better and most importantly, the new friends I made will last a lifetime. What always amazes me since we started these events is the number of attendees who have never been to an MOA or Chartered Club event. In Marble Falls, at least 50 percent of the attendees were attending their first organized event.

This is fantastic because this is exactly why we began the Getaway program—to get passionate BMW riders together for a weekend to share their love of motorcycling. With this goal in mind, we’ve increased the number of Getaways every year, believing that anytime we can help our members make new friends or have a new riding experience, we’ve given our members a reason to ride to new places.

In the coming months you’ll see a list of the MOA Getaways planned for 2017. We’ve added a few new locations and will revisit some of our old favorites while keeping those that have always been popular. If you’ve never been to an MOA Getaway, I would encourage you to take a close look at the list, choose a couple that seem interesting and make plans to join us in experiencing these great events.

I can tell you from my personal experience, if you’ve never attended a Getaway before, don’t worry. I promise that you’ll enjoy making new friends and experiencing a new riding area at a “low investment” event. Marble Falls was the fourth Getaway I attended last year, and I can honestly say I’ve enjoyed and made new friends at each and every one.

I hope everyone had a great 2016 and has resolved to have a better 2017. If some of your New Year’s resolutions are to ride more, make new friends and see parts of the country you’ve never seen before, I hope you’ll take a look at the MOA Getaway event series and include one or two in your 2017 travel schedule.

If your resolutions include losing weight, eating better, working more or working less, give me a call and I’ll tell you why spending more time riding your motorcycle is the better choice.

Wes

Wes Fleming, Associate Editor Digital wfleming@bmwmoa.org Lesa Howard, Membership Services lesa@bmwmoa.org

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

Fitzer

www.motorcycleshows.com

Picturethis 1

We asked MOA members to submit their photos showing

Twisties 1. M orocco’s Dadès Gorge, photographed from the café/restaurant Timizzillite Chez Mohamed.

Brant Miller #196373 Novato, California

2. I photographed this curve while headed to the town of Venaco on the island of Corsica. While the fog sometimes ruins the view, it does provide a totally different experience to the ride.

Mike Knott #195427 Thunder Bay, Ontario 2

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3. W ashington State BMW Riders enjoy the annual "Rain Run" to the Oregon Coast, riding the Necanicum Highway.

Steve Irby #83237 Napavine, Washington

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4. Utah’s Highway 12.

Mark Gardner #183494 Friday Harbor, Washington

5. A pair of riders on an RT photographed near Vista Point on the Beartooth Highway south of Red Lodge, Montana.

Kim Lemke #15230 Missoula, Montana

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6. R iding in Badlands National Park, returning home from the 2015 BMW MOA International rally in Billings, Montana.

Terence Hamill #14629 Lansdale, Pennsylvania

For April, our Picture This theme is Spectacular Views. One photo may be submitted per member and the best selected for publication in the BMW Owners News. Send your high resolution image, image description and member number to editor@bmwmoa.org.

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January 2017  BMW OWNERS NEWS

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RIDERTORIDER Send your letters and comments to: editor@bmwmoa.org

Three-wheeled fun

David Cwi’s article in the November issue of BMW Owners News titled, “Time to Pack in in…or Not,” caught my attention as I was facing the same decision a couple of years ago.

I was walking on a dark and snowy Colorado night when I slipped and fell hard, cracking my hip and fracturing my pelvis.

After two and a half hours of surgery and a lot of titanium, I spent the next two months healing and in rehabilitation.

When I finally felt okay to ride my beloved K 1600 GTL again, at 72-years-old I just didn’t have the confidence I had before the fall. Additionally, my wife was reluctant to ride with me, and my balance and reaction time weren’t what they were 30 years previously. I grew up riding bikes in the UK and I wondered if it was time to reluctantly pack it in!

Then I got an idea. I asked my wife, since she won’t ride on two wheels, would she ride on three?”

“Oh yes!” was her answer.

So I contacted Hannigan Motorsports who, along with NECE Trikes in Windsor, Colorado, would be able to complete the conversion. Parting with my two-wheeled K 16 was an emotional event, but after about a week I picked it up and began to learn how to ride a trike. I get asked frequently, “Is that a BMW trike?”

Riding the trike is a lot of fun, and I’m still on my K16. It will never be the same as swinging into a curve on two wheels, but I’ve ridden it to the top of Pike’s Peak and enjoyed it.

David Rapley #83144 Franktown, Colorado

Unpaved roads

Just a couple of days after reading David Cwi's Mileage Slave column in the November issue of BMW Owners News titled, “Time to pack it in...or not,” I came across a

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

Will Roger's quote that seemed to fit.

Cwi's article posed the question, “How old is too old to keep riding motorcycles?”

Will Rogers, in giving advice on growing older, said, "Some people try to turn back their odometers. Not me. I want people to know 'why' I look this way. I've traveled a long way and some of the roads weren't paved."

Jim Auckley #148105 Ballwin, Missouri

Watch out for the Roos

First, thanks for a great magazine. My first issue arrived in the mail the other day, and I have nearly read it cover to cover already.

It was really interesting to read, among other items, the article about Lisa and Simon Thomas and their odyssey. My wife and I have done some motorcycle touring in Australia and have enjoyed it immensely, but we simply can’t imagine being away for such a long period of time and not having a base to return to.

I was also interested in the letter from Chip Colwell about “deercidents.” We live in regional Australia, about 250 km (157 miles) south of Sydney where the greatest risk to life and limb for motorcyclists, apart from car drivers, is the kangaroo. Our area has thousands (it’s almost a plague) and wombats, a large marsupial which resembles a sizeable rock about 20 inches long and about 12 to 14 inches in diameter with short legs. A collision with either of these animals will usually result in serious damage to the bike and rider. If hit when driving a car, there is usually radiator and front suspension damage along with panel damage.

Kangaroos are able to change direction by 90 degrees almost instantly. They will hop along the side of the road for a half mile or so, then, without warning, change direction and hop across in front of

vehicles, often with disastrous results.

They almost always travel in groups (“mobs” as they are called), and once one decides to go across the road, the others will usually follow.

I once had a situation where about 10 suddenly crossed the road in front of me just as I was leaving a small town and starting to accelerate. One of them was quite close to me and suddenly changed direction toward me, losing it’s footing on the bitumen and almost sliding under my front wheel.

Fortunately we both avoided a collision on that occasion.

Reg Gosper Mount Fairy NSW, Australia

Sick and tired!

Most think the MOA magazine is wonderful. I used to. However, I've noticed there are a lot of Wrench Head articles on how to do an oil change or lubricate splines or change tires, etc. I can't hammer a screw in correctly, so those articles are beyond me and waste pages!

Another thing, those trip tales to Newfoundland or Mexico or some other ungodly place tell about the roads and mountains, rivers, breakdowns, road-side fixes and the like! Ho-Hum....

I think many of us in MOA are being disenfranchised! I don't use wrenches, torque stuff, lifts or grease. I also don't take long rides of thousands of miles through snake- or tiger-infested lands.

So, I have a Proposal: I want to form a new group! Let's initially call it THE BUTTER BUTT BRIGADE!!!

Some suggested guidelines: 1. No Rules 2. No riding more than 200 miles a day 3. Any trips must include at least two meals with critiques of the food service, ambiance, menu, website, etc, and routes if you have to.

4. One rider must carry doughnuts and/or pastries 5. Only one rider allowed to carry tools, just in case 6. No discussion of mechanical stuff or Diets or health food, including vegan or intolerances.

7. Reports of best dining spots and specialties with sub categories for Pizza, Burgers, BBQ, Fast Food, fine dining, breakfast, Chinese, diners, truck stops and especially Buffets!

I have more suggestions, but have to go to lunch, Bon Appetite, Bill Boylan #178102 Titusville, Florida

Preserving places to ride

For those of us that seek out the roads, trails, and paths beyond the tarmac on our favorite motorcycle, snow machine, ORV, mountain bike, horse, or even foot, I have one question for you: “What are you doing to ensure your continued access to these public lands so they remain accessible to your children and grandchildren?”

Have you ever been on forest service road or trail only to find it closed for no apparent reason? Are there public areas you used to ride in your younger years that are now closed for use by any type of motorized or recreational use? Are you in a state where public riding areas have shrunk to postage stamp sized lots, forcing riders into private clubs on private land? Have you ever wondered who stands up for our rights to access public lands for public use?

If any of this sounds familiar, there is an organization fighting for your rights to maintain access to public lands for all forms of recreational uses: The Blue Ribbon Coalition. With the support of its members, local and state clubs, and supporting companies, the BRC defends our rights at the state and national level for all of us who like to leave the pavement by whatever means.

If this is an area of interest for you, then I recommend checking out www.sharetrails.org and see for yourself what they are doing for the larger community. You can support them directly through a

membership or even by purchasing your gear and equipment through partner vendors who support their efforts.

As a newly minted grandfather, I want to do all I can to ensure my grandkids have access to the same amazing areas I had access to. If you feel the same, please see the Blue Ribbon Coalition site www. sharetrails.org to see how you can help.

Brian Dutcher #160860 West Des Moines, Iowa

Love the photography

The photographs in the November 2016 issue of BMW Owners News were even more outstanding than usual.

The cover photo by Bill Wiegand is fantastic, making me to want to ride that curving ribbon of asphalt through the beautiful fall foliage.

The next outstanding photo was by Michael Martin in the two-page spread showing the beauty and contrasts of the desert—another “Aha! moment” of wanting to be there and ride across that desert scene. Another outstanding photo that has caused me to add to my bucket list of places to visit is in the two-page spread by Allen Phelps: Sunset at Roanoke River Light House.

Thanks to the photographers and to BMW Owners News for the great eye candy and the dreams and visions of new places to ride and visit.

Bob Goodman #29063 Vancouver Washington

We're in a golden age

I am 63 years old, and, along with my other bikes, I ride an S 1000 R. Although interesting to look at, I don't really give much of a hoot about old airheads. I spent too much of my youth wrenching on old, used stuff—not interested anymore. I totally love the new tech.

And I understand the difficulty in trying to make both older and younger folks happy. I spent many years with that juggling act during my years in the British car scene, both on local and national levels.

But geez, I am turned off and had my fill of retro grouches who pine away for the old days. Yes, I rode and drove junk, broke

down too often and had to carry boxes of spares just to get to the grocery store. I don't miss those days at all. I know some do, the world is a big place.

To me, this is a golden age for motorcycles, and not just BMWs. So many wonderful bikes to choose from, so much tech, so well built and engineered, and so many brands to choose from. Even the most low end entry level bike is much better than bikes from even ten years ago.

Where would BMW as a company or we as a club be if they/we only had old airheads in our quiver?

Thanks for letting me rant. I want a club that makes me feel wanted and included.

There is nothing unique and special about riding an S 1000 R OR an old airhead, but there is something special about being a motorcyclist.

See you at the rally!

Herbert Hummer #140014 Toledo, Ohio

Thanks Bentonville BMW

I was recently on my way home on my 2007 R 1200 GSA when my rear brake went out in northern Texas. I discovered my rear drive was leaking oil on it, and in a panic I called Bentonville BMW in Arkansas, as it was on my way north.

Bentonville BMW recommended I not ride the bike and look for a closer dealer.

Telling them I thought it was just a seal and was adding oil, they asked me to try to feel if there was any play or notching when I moved the wheel. There was not.

Well, I can be pig-headed and proceeded to ride in a rain storm with no rear brakes for 600 miles to their dealership where they took me in right away.

We found I was missing three balls in the bearing and was very lucky to have made it. While waiting, I was able to take a bike or two out for test rides on a great 40 mile loop. Everyone at the dealership made me feel at home and had me on my way in no time.

It’s dealers like this that make me keep buying BMW motorcycles. I just want to thank them all again.

Glenn DiNicola #31637 Wadsworth, Illinois

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2017

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Sidi Crossfire 2 boots

By Christopher P. Baker #126077 NEVER PURCHASE A WEAR ITEM

by mail-order on the eve of a major trip! I know, I know…but logic be damned. Two years ago I took a shine to Forma’s ruggedly handsome Adventure boot and ordered a pair online mere days before setting out to learn badass off-road techniques at California’s Rawhyde Academy. Now, I’m no “Dog Star” when it comes to math, but I do know that the 45 Eurosize boots that arrived at my door were no 10.5 U.S. equivalents. In fact, they were big enough to fit a Sasquatch.

“Send ‘em back, Baker!” said the left side of my brain. “Nothing a double pair of ski socks can’t cure,” replied my dominant right side, signing off on two years in which I clodhopped around like Herman Munster. Other than that, I adored ‘em.

The rally in Hamburg proved an inspirational place and time to upgrade. I tried on half a dozen marques and types before easing into an eye-catching pair of Sidi Crossfire 2s. If there could be a motorcyclist’s equivalent of Cinderella’s slipper, this was it. They were as snug and formfittingly comfy as a pair of sneakers.

With a major off-road trip to Baja California coming up, this newest evolution of Italian company Sidi’s top-of-the-line off-road boot had me sold. I ordered a pair from Motonation, the company that represents Sidi in the USA. The Crossfire is intended as a serious off-road/adventure boot designed, above all, for maximum protection and comfort. But trust the Italians to conjure such sophisticated Lamborghini-like styling. Imagine

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

BMW’s GS Adventure boot crossed to Stormtrooper footwear on steroids.

With enough armor plating to stop a rhino, the boots aren’t light, though not heavy, mind you. Right out the box you get a sense that this is top quality, don’t-messwith-me footwear in a league of its own.

Stitching (double-stitched in stress areas), for example, is superbly done and the adjustable screw-on plastic protectors match seamlessly. Plus the anatomical fit is as near perfect as I could imagine. I wear a 10.5 U.S. My 44 Euro Sidis were true to size.

The sole is slim, and proved perfectly proportional to my foot shape. Even though I wear a pair of knee-length ski socks inside my boot, my toes weren’t scrunched. After my first ride—a full nine-hour jaunt to the Horizons Unlimited Travelers Meeting, in Yosemite, California—my feet felt as fresh and comfortable as the moment I eased into the boots. The Crossfire TA version is a tad wider, but riders with wide feet might also consider going up a size; the boot is available in sizes 7-13. I’ve worn some nice fitting boots in my time, but nothing quite like this. Did I mention the soft inner lining of Cambrelle?

I also appreciated the inch-deep, elasticized, softly padded top gaiter seal, which wraps snugly above the calf muscle just below the knee and is lined with Teflon mesh that Sidi claims will prevent absorption of water and sweat. The boots aren’t waterproof, but darn near. Snaking up into the Sierra Nevada, I hit prolonged showers.

Nothing heavy, but enough to get a sense that the Crossfire will resist a good dousing.

The entire “base material” appears to be supple leather. Actually, it’s synthetic. Sidi uses its own proprietary material called Technomicro. This composite micro fiber is made from strands less than one-thousand the thickness of silk, bonded with special resins to produce a kind of Cyborg leather. Lighter. Softer. Stronger. And, Sidi claims, “water-repellant, quick-drying, breathable and permeable to water vapor… abrasion- and mildew-resistant” and “easier to clean than leather.” Wow! If this were

a real Cyborg I’d date her.

The Techmicro base—white in my case (the Crossfire comes in ten different color combinations)—seals at the top and midsection with two broad Velcro flaps that draw closed to the boot’s outer side. The base is encased by a flexible injectionmolded plastic wrap affixed and hinged to the ankles, and to which are attached three thicker, rigid plastic protectors for ankles, shin and calfs. The calf and shin plates can be adjusted for a wider diameter (22 inches is the maximum) to accommodate fatter legs or knee braces, or to wear your pants inside your boots. The entire leg is thus protected, all-around.

Additional hard plastic shells protect the entire foot area, including a rigid, anatomically shaped, shock-resistant heel and a toe guard extending up to the metatarsal the full width of the boot. The toe guard thickens on the inner top side at the shift and brake lever points. The toe of the molded, anti-skid sole is guarded by a screw-in metal plate. Plus, the inner arch features a thick heat-resistant changeable pad affixed by screws atop a larger plastic plate that gives rigidity to the lower boot.

The protective covers draw close with a four-strap cam-lock buckle system that locks to the outer side. Even when wearing gloves, the four metal hasps were easy to mate into their plastic cam-lock buckles, which snapped shut securely. The hasps attach to plastic straps that can be adjusted—shorter or longer—for a perfect fit. I’d read that adjusting the straps is easy.

Not! I was flummoxed by what visually seemed like a simple task. I told you… I’m no Dog Star! Fortunately, I didn’t need to adjust the straps. The factory default was perfect.

The real beauty of the Crossfires is that the boots flex. The hinged ankle and flexible vamp (no plate covers the upper midsole) let the boot pivot forward, assisted by a smaller hinge further up the calf. The boot is designed so you don’t overdo it. I reckon the maximum flex at about 20 degrees from vertical, giving the boot on the foot a nice “broken-in” feel straight out

the box. A week later, riding off-road in Baja California, the flex proved super handy when standing on the pegs in the rough stuff. I began to understand why many a motocross champ swears by Sidi Crossfires.

And yet…while the Crossfire toe profile is svelte and low-slung, getting under my 1200 GSA’s shifter in first and second gear wasn’t easy. The sole and toe box have virtually no flex at all, and the ankle is rigid, too, so I couldn’t “flip” my foot. In fact, it’s hard to feel any contact with the shift and brake pedals. When standing on the pegs the forward flex helped get under the shifter. But when seated, I frequently missed a gear. I even began to shift using the sole lip, lifting the shifter up from the side by raising my leg (after a couple of hours I got muscle ache). I understand all the stiffness is a compromise for better protection, but for bikers who aren’t going to do much off-roading, the lack of flex and sensitivity are major negatives. Plus, Nancy Sinatra surely wasn’t thinking of Crossfires when she sang “These Boots are Made for Walking.” For that, even my Munster-sized Formas proved perfect.

All the plate components are replaceable and, like the Techmicro base, are available in a variety of color combos for the fashion-conscious. The SRS model also features a bolt-on sole so that more aggressive riders can swap worn soles, while others can configure their boot for enduro, supermoto, etc. Interestingly the Crossfire lacks a steel shank; strength is provided by a reinforced and removable nylon insole.

Verdict? A superb, feature-packed highend boot for serious off-road adventure riders who don’t plan on going urban.

You’ll shell out just south of $600, for which you get über comfort and ultra-protection in a boot that many motocross champs acclaim as the best in class. For offroad riding I’m grinning, but maybe I need to invest in another pair of (correctlysized) Forma Adventures for less demanding terrain. (In September 2016 Sidi introduced a Crossfire 3 motocross version.)

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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member teste 20

PRoductreviews

Forcefield Pro Shirt X-V

By Christopher P. Baker #126077 IN OCTOBER 2015, WHILE ON A

Rawhyde Adventures off-road trip in the Mojave Desert, I dumped in sand and went down hard. I’d fallen on a Rawhyde training course the prior year. On both occasions I damaged my ribs. The falls taught me the imperative of protecting my thorax. Like the majority of motorcycle jackets, my BMW AirShell lacked chest protection. It was time to upgrade or add to my wardrobe.

My first consideration was a roost protector. I tried a few, but their hard shell structures made me look like a Star Wars Stormtrooper. I felt like a medieval knight trapped in plate armor. So, unseen, I purchased a Forcefield Elite chest protector to strap over the sternum. It didn’t live up to its billing. It was uncomfortable, too bulky, and the adjustable straps proved to be anything but.

I wanted something lightweight and flexible. Bingo!

After a thorough perusal of options, the skin-hugging Forcefield Pro Shirt X-V seemed just the ticket. The long-sleeved, single-piece garment resembles a cyclist’s shirt with pliable chest, back, elbow and shoulder armour strategically built into pockets. I hadn’t seen anything else quite like it. It looked both comfy and sexy. Forcefield Body Armour is a British company. Its U.S. distributor, MotoNation, sent me a sample.

The pewter-coloured shirt is made of the company’s patented, ultra-soft, super-stretchy, anti-bacterial BeCool

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

fabric (a blend of Polyamide, Polypropylene, and Elastide) and is intended to be worn next to the skin. Eyeing the stitching and flat seams suggested top-quality

manufacture.

Eager to try it on, I attempted to slip it over my head like a T-shirt. Wrong! I was soon stuck like a cat with its head in a can.

Wriggling free, I noted the side zipper that arcs from the neckline around the chest protector to the waist. Duh! You don the shirt like a zip-up jacket or wet-suit. Wow! It felt like a second skin.

The elastic-like, body-fitting fabric let me

adjust the sleeve length so that the molded elbow (lower forearm) and shoulder pads seated perfectly, even if I’d had Orangutan arms. The extra-long sleeve cuffs also feature built-in thumb holes to keep the sleeves from rolling up your arms when you slip on a jacket. I found the BeCool material clingy enough that the holes seem superfluous.

The Pro Shirt comes in X-Small, Small, Medium, Large, X-Large, and XX-Large. I’m 5’ 11” tall, weigh 175 pounds, and work out.

The Medium fit me to a tee with plenty of leeway for more fat or muscle, fulfilling Forcefield’s claim that the “ergonomic design ensures the optimum in fit and comfort whatever your body shape.” Still, I suspect pumped-up Schwarzeneggers might find the Pro-Shirt, er, a bit of a stretch.

The armour pads are extremely flexible and remove from their pockets with ease. The elbow and shoulder pads are made of supple, lightweight “Nitec Evo” armor (a specialized polymer from Nitrile rubber), providing CE (Certified European) Level 1 protection. The CE Level 2 chest and neck-to-coccyx back protectors comprise four Nitec Evo layers for maximum high-energy absorption (the material is slightly spongy when squeezed, but stiffens on impact).

The chest protector covered the frontal rib cage, but I would feel more secure if the pad extended an extra inch or two around the flanks and similarly below the sternum.

Forcefield claims that the Nitec Evo will mold to the body in response to heat. Forcefield also asserts that its BeCool fabric offers “industry leading levels” of breathability and comfort. The fiber is designed to wick away sweat and body heat, assisted by spe-

Supremely comfortable, the Pro Shirt felt snug and secure.

cial zones that allow increased air flow.

It was time to find out. The following day I donned the shirt, strapped on a Camelbak, and set off on a 400-mile ride to Mariposa for the Horizons Unlimited Travellers Meeting. I left Palm Springs with the air temperature at 99 degrees Fahrenheit. I loved it right out the gate!

The Pro Shirt felt snug as a Spiderman suit. I barely knew I was wearing it. And, yes, the airflow—even as I rode across the baking desert—felt peppermint cool.

(Sweating is, um, no sweat: The high-wicking, fast-drying shirt can be machinewashed to maintain hygiene.) Still, I was aware that I was probably perspiring like crazy, so sucked Powerade through my Camelbak every few minutes.

The protective pads felt perfectly positioned, with zero motion. Wither my arms went, went the shirt. Still, my sense of security was edged with a niggling doubt. If I took a high-speed get-off, would the armour stay in place? Would the thin and stretchy BeCool fabric tear if I took a prolonged slide down the highway? Nothing in the Forcefield literature spoke of the fabric’s tensile strength. Hmmm… maybe this is better worn under a jacket? Surely a Kevlar or Cordura mesh could be integrated into the BeCool base layer without compromising comfort or thermal capacity.

By sundown I was arcing up into the Sierra Nevadas with the mercury falling.

Time for another layer. I removed the armour from my AirShell jacket and slipped it over the Pro Shirt. The Airshell felt eminently more comfortable without its armour. I felt much lighter and less encumbered. When the thermometer dropped below 65 I stopped to add a fleece-lined Port Authority Enhanced Visibility Challenger jacket (boy, do I love that for its warmth). I still wasn’t physically aware of the body-hugging armour beneath. Thanks to the Pro Shirt, I had foresworn the slightly uncomfortable sensation of moving hardware associated with the loose-fitting AirShell’s own armour.

I hadn’t anticipated testing the Pro Shirt in a get-off. But @#$% happens. Fast forward one week to Baja California. Again, I go down hard on a mountain trail in Parque Nacional Constitución de 1859. I’m wearing my Pro-Shirt under my AirShell. I don’t feel a thing!

The Forcefield Body Armour Pro Shirt is a supremely comfortable and user-friendly protective garment that provides just about all the real-deal Euro-spec armour you could want in a get-off, with none of the uncomfortable awkwardness of strap-on roost protectors or in-jacket armour. For more information, visit forcefieldbodyarmour.com or motonation.com.

www.re-psycle.com 11

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www.epmwilbers.com

Professional travel writer/photographer and motojournalist Christopher P. Baker (www. christopherpbaker.com) has written and photographed for more than 200 publications worldwide, from BMW ON to National Geographic Traveler and Playboy. His more than 20 guidebooks include Back Roads California: 24 Leisurely Drives plus five titles in the National Geographic Traveler series. A Cuba specialist, he has written and photographed six books on Cuba, including Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro’s Cuba (National Geographic Adventure Press). He leads motorcycle tours of Cuba on behalf of Cross Cultural Journeys, MotoDiscovery, and RTW Moto Tours (www. cubamotorcycletours.com).

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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www.alaskaleather.com

member teste 22

PRoductreviews

BestRest CyclePump EXPEDITION

By Bill Wiegand #180584 I LEARNED THE HARD WAY THAT

regardless of how much you need to pack, the first things you absolutely must toss in your panniers are a tire patch kit and an air pump.

On a beautiful Wisconsin weekend last June, I rode to Road America for the MotoAmerica series on a nearly new set of Continental Sport Attack 3 tires. It had been a long time since I had experienced a flat tire when traveling, and guess I fell into a false sense of security, thinking the inevitable wouldn’t happen to me. Well, it did. I rolled the dice and lost.

Thankfully, friends were able to bail me out and I know I got lucky.

I’m pretty anal about my motorcycle maintenance, especially my tires, and check pressure and condition before every ride. If there was something that fell through the cracks and wasn’t given the attention it deserved that day, it was the air pump I neglected to pack.

Though it was a hand-me-down from the friend of a friend, my old pump did work as long as the duct tape held and I positioned the chuck just right. I knew I needed to upgrade, but it seemed there were always better ways to spend my money. Unable to shake the memory of my flat once I made it home, a new motorcycle tire pump was pushed to the top of my needs list.

Surfing the interwebs and talking to other riders offered many good options. I guess I’m a sucker for marketing and just like golf equipment that promises longer and straighter,

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

add a word like “Expedition” to a product description and I’ve got to have it. The pump I finally ended up ordering was the BestRest CyclePump EXPEDITION model.

Available at bestrestproducts.com, the CyclePump Expedition model uses a 2” x 4” x 6” aluminum case to house and protect the motor and compressor inside. Rubber bumpers at both ends of the case offer some

protection against drops and rough use as do two nylon bushings on either side of the on/off switch. Also coming from the case is an eight-foot power cord and an 18-inch air hose.

Buyers of the CyclePump have the option of either a straight or 90-degree clip-on chuck. I chose the straight chuck. To connect the pump to your bike’s battery, both an automotive-style cigarette lighter adapter and a fused set of alligator clips are included, with both connecting to the pump’s power cord via SAE 2-prong power plugs. If you’ve already got an SAE lead connected to your battery for heated gear or other 12-volt accessories, you’re ahead of the game and ready to go. Finally, the included red canvas pouch keeps everything together when traveling.

A direct battery connection is mandatory on CANbus controlled BMWs as the

CyclePump requires between 7 and 10 amps to operate effectively, and the CANbus controlled outlets only allows 5 amps.

To test the capacity of the CyclePump, I fully deflated the front tire on my BMW 1000 XR. Beginning with a zero air pressure reading on my MotionPro air gauge, I connected the alligator clips to my battery, connected the SAE connector, the chuck to the valve stem and switched on the CyclePump. After running the CyclePump for one minute, I switched it off, disconnected the chuck and read 20 lbs. of air pressure. Another minute of pumping gave me 30 lbs. of tire pressure, and after one more minute, I received a 40 lbs. air pressure reading and using the bleed button took the pressure back down to the prescribed 36 lbs. While traveling, it takes just minutes to check and adjust tire pressure, and once again I’m riding with the confidence of knowing my tires are inflated to their prescribed pressures.

While I still prefer to use my six-gallon compressor when I’m at home in my garage, I’m very pleased with my purchase of the BestRest CyclePump. With an MSRP of $115. the CyclePump offers peace of mind, knowing a flat tire won’t strand me. For more information, visit bestrestproducts. com PROS:

Easy and secure connection Fast Durable CONS:

More expensive than others No built-in gauge, though BestRest sells one

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January 2017  BMW OWNERS NEWS

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

www.progressive.com

new

PRoductnews Relief for cold weather rides

Those who ride beyond the end of summer know how cold weather can suck the joy out of even the best ride. To help bring the joy back to your cold weather rides, Touratech now offers their Heat Control Comfort Seat to help keep backsides warm while only drawing a quarter of the power needed by other heated seats on the market.

Touratech’s Heat Control Comfort Seat uses a glove-friendly control button integrated into the side of the seat, which eliminates the need for messy wires or switches on the handlebars. When the button is pressed, the seat produces a quick vibration to signal the new heat setting to the rider, and the heat modes can easily be toggled between high, medium and off.

Built using a proprietary, high-density foam, the ergonomic shape and stretch foam have made Touratech seats a top choice for travel and distance riding. For more information on the Touratech Heat Control Comfort seat, visit touratech-usa.com

Screaming Banshee Shockwave horn Explore Puerto Rico

Motorcycle Tours Puerto Rico believes touring their country on a BMW motorcycle is one of the experiences that all riders should have.

Motorcycle Tours Puerto Rico offers self-guided tours of varying lengths allowing riders to experience the sites and beaches of the country on their own, and guided tours for single or multiple days providing quick escapes to the island’s ocean fun roads, through Forest Reserves and Rain Forest twisties, to the Bioluminescent Bay, to the Country Mountain Region, to the Caribbean Sea and to stunning wilderness areas. Whichever option is chosen, riders will experience all the great food and wonderful people the island has to offer.

BMW MOA members receive a 10 percent discount, and for more information, visit motorcycletourspr.com.

It’s no secret that motorcycles are at a disadvantage on the road and easily become lost in a sea of cars. To help level the playing field, the Screaming Banshee Shockwave horn is the loudest motorcycle horn available.

Built using a compact design with an integrated flashing headlight feature, the 123+ decibel Screaming Banshee’s blast is sure to get a driver’s attention out on the road.

Offering two levels of volume, the Screaming Banshee is easy to use. Simply tap your horn button for a friendly "beep" or hold for 0.15 seconds to deliver a pulsating blast of the Banshee's air horn accompanied by flashing high beam headlights.

The Screaming Banshee horn sells for $89.99 and includes all necessary mounting hardware and wiring. For more information, visit screaming-banshee.com or call 727-744-6808.

Olympia's X Moto 2 jacket

Built to endure harsh terrain and the most demanding riding conditions, the Olympia X Moto 2 jacket delivers ultimate performance using Olympia’s exclusive three-layer system.

The outer shell is constructed using rugged 500D and 2000D Cordura and incorporates Olympia’s Mega Vent Panel System. The second layer consists of a fully functional rain jacket able to be worn over or under the main shell, while the innermost layer consists of a full-sleeve thermal layer of Thermolite insulation designed to be zipped into the main outer shell or rain jacket as needed.

Olympia’s X Moto 2 all season jacket carries an MSRP of $479.99. For more information or to find a retailer in your area, visit olympiamotosports.com

New from AeroFlow

AeroFlow’s AeroScreens for late model R 1200 RTs have been designed to create a turbulence-free envelope of protection for both riders and passengers.

By reshaping the Aeroscreen’s top and bottom edges and changing its width, the new windscreens create a smooth, over-the-helmet airflow while still allowing the rider to see over the windscreen. For additional air turbulence reduction, AeroFlow’s “AeroWings” divert turbulent air to further expand the envelope of protection.

AeroFlow Aeroscreens are available without tint in three heights, while the AeroWings are available in both tinted and untinted versions.

Headlight protection is also offered by AeroFlow’s HLC covers. Made from impact-modified acrylic, the headlight covers are said to offer eight times the impact resistance of other covers.

For more information, visit aeroflowscreens.com January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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news

news

New BMW models for 2017 G 310 GS BMW Motorrad has already announced a number of new bikes that will hit the streets in 2017 – three R nineT variations (Scrambler, Pure, Racer), the Concept 101-derived K 1600 B, the made-in-India G 310 R. When they announced even more new models at the massive EICMA trade show in Milan, Italy in early November, Beemer riders took to the internet with comments and speculation galore.

When the G 310 R was announced some time ago, speculation immediately kicked up about when BMW would be unveiling a GS version of the new thumper. The wait seemed interminably long, but the spy photos proved accurate, and the baby GS is a reality and will hopefully see showrooms in 2017.

Like its sister, the G3GS will come off the production line in Bangalore, India, produced by BMW Motorrad’s partner there, TVS Motor Company.

TVS Motor Co. is one of 90 companies making up the TVS group and is India’s third largest motorcycle manufacturer, putting 2.5 million vehicles a year on the streets. Utilizing proven modern manufacturing techniques, TVS Group also produces many of the components that make up the G 310 motorcycles, keeping things nicely vertically integrated, which saves time and speeds production.

The G 310 GS will be produced in space dedicade to BMW in the TVS MoCo factory. The production line is based on the flagship BMW Motorrad production facility in BerlinSpandau, with all-new, cutting-edge German-made machine tools being used to produce the engines. Air locks separate the assembly area from

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

G 310 GS

the rest of the factory, ensuring that an absolutely dirt-free environment gives these bikes a smart start. BMW assures riders that quality control is the same for the Indian factory as it is for any other plant in the family.

The specs for the baby GS show few differences from the standard R model, which also features the innovative, efficiency-oriented backward-tilted cylinder with its cylinder head rotated 180 degrees from traditional designs. Displacement and power are the same (313cc and 34 horsepower), as both bikes feature the same liquid-cooled single-cylinder engine. Dual overhead cams actuate all four valves, and the whole thing is controlled by BMW’s BMS-E2 engine management system. The alternator puts out a respectable 330 watts, enough to power a GPS and perhaps some heated grips along with the standard H4 60/55 headlight bulb.

Power gets to the road through a wet clutch, constant-mesh 6-speed transmission and chain final drive. Suspension up front is a non-adjustable upside-down

41mm fork that gives 7” of travel. The rear single shock with adjustable spring preload gives the same amount of travel.

User-defeatable antilock brakes are standard, and braking is done with a single disc on each end. You won’t have any trouble finding tires for the wheels; the tire sizes are 110/80 R 19 for the front and 150/70 R 17 for the rear – same as all the air/oil-cooled R 1100, 1150 and 1200 GS motorcycles.

Using these more-or-less standard tire sizes means that riders will be able to find a wide variety of on- and off-road tires suitable for any type of riding.

You would expect a single-cylinder bike – even a GS – to be light, and the G3GS delivers with its fully fueled, ready to ride curb weight coming in just under 374 pounds. The bike is rated for a whopping 415-pound load, ensuring that you and your gear can get anywhere this bike can.

You’ll be able to get far, too, as the bike’s 2.9-gallon fuel tank can take you about 205 miles at BMW’s claimed 70.6 miles per gallon!

Just before Thanksgiving, BMW

R nineT

announced that the G 310 R will retail at $4,995 (including freight charges!) and will be available in the USA starting sometime in the third quarter. Expect the GS version to be slightly more expensive than the R, but still within reach of any rider interested in an entry-level BMW GS motorcycle – at least the tall ones, as seat height remains firmly planted in typical GS territory at nearly 33 inches. The G 310 GS will be available in Cosmic Black with matte Titanium Gray/Dime Silver accents, Racing Red with matte Dime Silver accents, and metallic Pearl White with Gloss Black accents.

overly ruggedized for a street bike, while being big, heavy and long for a dirt bike.

BMW proved to be visionaries, though, as that first G/S spawned a legacy that now drives motorcycle sales for the company and consistently tops the list of bikes sold around the world.

From that first R 80 G/S, BMW’s on/offroad world tourer has gotten ever larger and more technologically sophisticated.

First was a bump to 1000 cc, then to 1100 and the addition of fuel injection and ABS. The bump to 1150 cc engines brought on a hydraulic clutch and power-assisted brakes.

The early 1200s refined everything, and then of course the GS platform was where BMW debuted the fantastic new liquidcooled boxer and upgraded everything.

Other manufacturers have struggled – and at times, succeeded – to keep up with BMW, but the R 1200 GS remains the flagship of the adventure bike fleet.

Still, many GS riders reflect with nostalgia on the simplicity (and size) of the first on/off-road bike BMW produced, and that’s where the new Urban G/S comes in.

The first R nineT came out in 2013 and its classic simplicity appeal grew slowly.

The modular, customizable nature of the bike proved a hit and sales were brisk in the first two years of its availability. BMW Motorrad captured the eye of Beemer fans that love the retro look and are showing their commitment to the retro market with the introduction of the Urban G/S. The Urban shares its basic platform with

R nineT Urban G/S When it comes to the GS line, BMW Motorrad isn’t resting on its laurels. Perhaps BMW feels pressure as the progenitor of the adventure bike genre to continue moving forward, but that certainly hasn’t prevented them from looking slightly backwards to maintain that forward momentum.

In the December 2016 issue we told you all about two new R nineT variations expanding Motorrad’s Heritage line; this month we bring you news about the longrumored GS variant, the R nineT Urban G/S. It’s unfair to say the 1980 R 80 G/S shook the motorcycling world, because it didn’t.

People considered it an oddity, and many an ugly one to boot. It was tall, gangly and

R nineT Urban G/S

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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the other 9T models, but is obviously steered towards that on/off-road sensibility. The air/oil-cooled engine remains at 1170 cc and 110 horsepower; the 6-speed transmission and dry clutch similarly remain the same.

Another similarity across the 9T line is the four-component frame, made up of the front and rear main frames – both attached to the engine – and the removable passenger and end frame sections.

The 9T G/S comes standard with cast alloy wheels, but spoked wheels are available as an option. The front wheel is controlled by a traditional 43 mm telescopic fork (complete with gaiters) and slowed by dual four-piston brake calipers and ABS. The rear wheel gets a single shock for its timeproven Paralever and a two-piston

HP4 RACE

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

caliper tied into the ABS system. Suspension travel is 4.9 inches up front and 5.5 inches in the rear. While these suspension specs are a little higher than the other 9T variants, they’re down quite a bit compared to the original R 80 G/S specs of 7.8 inches (front) and 6.6 inches (rear).

Steel-wrapped brake lines complete the braking system, and Automatic Stability Control (ASC) is an option to allow a higher level of technology in the suspension system. Tire sizes (120/70 R 19 up front and 170/60 R 17 for the rear) match the sizes of the current iteration of the R 1200 GS, ensuring wide availability of tires to match the owner’s preferred riding and/or cosmetic style.

BMW made subtle tweaks to the geometry of the Urban G/S to improve its enduro specs, including lengthening the wheelbase by about a third of an inch and reducing

the steering head angle slightly compared to the standard R nineT. The G/S fuel tank is a quarter-gallon smaller than the standard 9T at 4.5 gallons, and BMW estimates that riders should expect about 44 miles per gallon. Assuming riders don’t spend too much time near the bike’s top speed of 125 mph, you should be able to get nearly 200 miles on a tank of premium (95-98 RON) gasoline.

Color schemes available for the Urban G/S obviously look back to the 1980s, and the white non-metallic tank is set off by the two-tone blue accents and red two-piece seat. The retro-G/S look is completed with the two-piece front mudguard and colormatched headlight shroud. Pricing hasn’t been announced and it’s unlikely Americans will see this motorcycle on showroom floors until at least the second quarter, if not the third.

www.tourbikes.com

HP4 RACE Speculation ran rampant for months about the two new GS models. Between Photoshopped mock-ups and spy photos, we had a pretty good idea what these bikes would look like if they ever hit the street. No doubt the buzz helped BMW decide to move forward with them. Compared to the GS models, the new HP4 Race came completely out of the blue, without rumor or conjecture to hype its introduction.

BMW hasn’t done much to fuel rumors about the HP4 Race, releasing a 30-second video and a few photos of an advanced prototype. They are calling it their “most exclusive model,” though, and BMW’s statement that the HP4 Race will feature a full carbon fiber main frame and carbon fiber wheels has racers and race fans excited for more news, which BMW says they will reveal in the spring.

It may be hard to imagine what a hand-made sport bike available only as an exclusive limited edition will cost, but I think we can all imagine what the performance characteristics of this motorcycle will be like.

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news

2017 BMW model updates F 800 R/GT The F 800 R and GT models are getting refreshed for 2017, adding a little more panache to BMW Motorrad’s midsized roadster and sport touring models.

As with all the new models, all updated models will conform to EU4 emissions standards; that is, twowheel motorcycles (with or without sidecar) that can travel in excess of 130 kph (80 mph) must emit (after a cold start) less than 1.14 g/km of carbon monoxide (CO), less than 0.17 g/ km of total hydrocarbons (THC), less

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

than 0.09 g/km of nitrogen oxides (NOx), and must emit no particulate matter (PM) at all.

There aren’t any revolutionary updates here, just technological refinements and new color schemes. The ride-by-wire system has been tweaked to improve response and controllability, which should eliminate most of the low-throttle-opening issues some riders have complained about in the last couple of years. Rain and Road modes come with the standard package, and Dynamic mode is available as an option for a sportier, more aggressive response. The instrument cluster gets new dials and a new riding mode display to keep the rider

informed of what’s going on with the motorcycle at any time. The parallel twin engine stays at 798 cc and 90 horsepower despite the ever-tightening emissions standards.

The F 800 R will be available in three color schemes: Racing Red non-metallic, Blackstorm metallic (which BMW calls “masculine”), and BMW Motorsport (Light White non-metallic with Lupine Blue metallic and Racing Red non-metallic highlights). The GT color schemes are Gravity Blue metallic matte, Light White non-metallic, and Blackstorm metallic.

New logos will also adorn each motorcycle.

K 1600 GTL You might think BMW doesn’t have anywhere to go with their luxury touring platform, but they found room for improvement with the 2017 K 1600 GTL. New catalytic converters help the bike meet EU4 standards, but power stays at 160 horsepower for the big inline six.

BMW focused on ergonomics and appearance with this update, improving wind and weather protection by enlarging the slipstream deflectors and tweaking the placement of side panels. Seating position remains more relaxed and upright than the GT model, and Dynamic ESA remains standard on this model. A new reverse assist is available as an option, as are Shift Assist Pro and Intelligent Emergency Calling; this latter option will only be available

R 1200 GS With so much attention being garnered by the new G 310 GS and R nineT Urban G/S, it might be easy to put off any changes to the flagship R 1200 GS for a year or two, but clearly BMW Motorrad isn’t satisfied to let that happen.

As the line extends past 35 years on the roads and trails of the world, the big liquidcooled GS remains true to its character, and BMW expects it to continue dominating the sector from a sales and performance standpoint. Updates for EU4 emissions compliance don’t affect power output, which remains at 125 horsepower.

Refinements for 2017 include a judder damper on the transmission output shaft and revisions to the shift drum actuator and transmission shafts. The Dynamic ESA suspension system gets an update to feature fully automatic self-levelling, and riders who prefer a tighter suspension response for off-road riding have the option of picking up their R 12 GS with the Rallye package. The Rallye package also includes a harder suspension overall, longer shocks and extra ground clearance. Other options include Riding Modes Pro, which adds

in European markets that support BMW’s ConnectedDrive technology.

Standard equipment includes ABS Pro, Dynamic Traction Control (DTC), xenon headlights, grip and seat heaters, three riding modes, cruise control, and other features K16 riders have come to expect from

BMW’s top-of-the-line touring bike.

For color schemes, BMW is going with a classic Thunder Gray metallic as well as a Light White non-metallic and Ebony metallic with Blackstorm metallic highlights. Chrome accents add to the overall look.

DTC, Hill Start Control and four riding modes: Dynamic, Dynamic Pro, Enduro and Enduro Pro. Cosmetic changes round out the update, with new tank trim panels and other new styling cues. The Rallye package includes a Lupine Blue metallic color scheme set off with BMW Motorsport colors, a Cordoba

Blue frame and a blacked-out drivetrain.

The R 1200 GS Exclusive package has Monolith metallic matte tank panels, a front wheel splash guard and an Iced Chocolate metallic center tank panel to set off the Agate Gray metallic matte frame. A blacked-out drivetrain and gold brake calipers complete the Exclusive look.

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

33

news

news

Brandon Wainwright wins Twisted Throttle's custom S 1000 XR BRANDON WAINWRIGHT ISN’T SURE HOW MANY

tickets he bought last fall for the Twisted Throttle Custom S 1000 XR raffle, but he knows he had the right one.

On a Friday afternoon last October, Wainwright got the call everyone who bought a ticket wanted. He was the winner.

“Incredible,” is how the Port Byron, Illinois, orthodontist described how he felt when he received the call from Ted Moyer of the BMW MOA Foundation.

According to Moyer, this most recent raffle raised about $50,000 for the MOA Foundation’s commitment to advancing rider safety, education and training.

info@motorelief.org

34

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

www.remus.com

news

news

The Crossroads of the West!

By Greg Feeler #2241 WINTERS CAN BE ESPECIALLY

long for those of us who ride motorcycles, and in some areas of the country riders are painstakingly forced to endure up to six months of Parked Motorcycle Syndrome.

While we can’t push winter aside and fast forward to spring, having something exciting to look forward to and plan for can help make our suffering less painful. To help take your mind off of the cold and snow, I’d like you to begin thinking warm thoughts about the 45th BMW MOA International Rally scheduled for July 13-16 in Salt Lake City, Utah!

January is our traditional start for promotion of our annual rally, and there is much to be excited about this year in Salt Lake City.

The site is beautiful, and Utah offers some of the best motorcycle roads anywhere. Additionally, we are planning some things to make the rally experience different, better and more fun in many ways!

This year, along with Co-Chairs Brian Burdette and Pat Carol, we want to get you excited and keep you informed, but in a more compact and focused way. This year, rally information will be presented in a two-page spread in each issue of Owners News with additional articles as needed. Much of the traditional information and FAQs can be found on the MOA’s rally web page at www.bmwmoa.org/page/

36

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

rally2017.

Additionally, we intend to have a much larger social media presence than we have before and expect rally discussions on both the MOA and the Rally Facebook pages and on Instagram and Twitter. We’re also planning to have some fun

and engaging member activities before the rally beginning later this spring. Even if you’re not active on social media, we’re also planning activities for the readers of Owners News. Even if you can’t make it to Salt Lake City this summer, you won’t miss out on all the fun, and even though our rally is an annual high point for thousands of us, we think there should be a buzz within the MOA surrounding summer, riding and having fun!

In this issue and over the coming

months you’ll see two logos. “Crossroads of the West” is our official rally logo and will be used to brand our rally, while the other, “Find Your Crossroads,” speaks to something larger, something bigger than the rally and even bigger than the MOA itself. “Find Your Crossroads” speaks to the adventure of motorcycle riding and the passion and experiences all riders share. We’ll be using this theme in all our media, especially social media, to stimulate great rider-to-rider conversations and to let people know just what a great thing we have had going here for the last 45 years!

Brian, Pat and I consider it a great honor and privilege to be given the opportunity to organize the largest BMW club motorcycle rally in the world and the planning of a party for 6,000 or so of our closest friends. However, the people you really want to thank are the dozens of volunteer Committee Chairs and Co-Chairs and their hundreds of volunteers. These are your fellow members who make the rally possible, and we can’t thank them too much or too soon. If you’ve ever wondered why people do this year after year, I suggest you plan now to volunteer yourself. You’ll find it greatly enhances your rally experience. There will soon be links on our web site to sign up, so don’t forget!

I ask you to plan now to attend the “Crossroads of the West.” By doing that, you may well find your own crossroads!

Ride well and often!

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keepemflying

Tales of clutch cables and movie sets

By Matthew Parkhouse #13272 THE FALL REMAINS

nice for riding (in the mid-day, at least). We have received zero rain or snow in the last two months. Temperatures have been

above normal.

We have had one glitch in the neighborhood, however. Netflix is filming a feature-length movie based on the novel “Our Souls at Night” and picked our block for the houses of the main characters. The story, written by Colorado author Kent

Haruf, is about a widow (Jane Fonda) and a widower (Robert Redford) who live on the same block and get together. The operation involves a crew of around 70 folks, and they have taken over the neighborhood. When they are working, we can’t park in front of the house or on the side street. At one point, they actually came into our house to set up back-lighting for the front windows for a night scene. The crew consists of pretty nice people, and they are paying us for the inconvenience they are causing the neighborhood residents. Now they have mostly left, and the place is quiet again.

During the final days of filming, I got a call from a rider who was up in the

mountains. He was “on the last couple of strands” of his clutch cable. Coming a couple of weeks after I rescued the K-bike rider at the BMW MOA Weekend Getaway from a similar problem, at least this time I had the proper cable for a 1978 R 100 RS. Upon hearing that I had the part, he said, “I’ll be right there.” About 45 minutes later, just as the movie crew was breaking for lunch, a procession of four airheads and two oilheads rode down my street and lined up in front of the house. A number of the production crew, being electricians, equipment operators and the like, were very interested in the old BMWs. The riders and film folks had a nice visit while I fitted the

I'm replacing a clutch cable on the gold R 100 RS while the other riders hang out and visit with the film crew. The apparatus behind us will be used to create a serious rain storm for a scene being filmed across the street.

Working on airheads seems to have new cable to the RS. while waiting for the “right” part. During slowed down in the last couple of months, Just read an article this morning saying my next-to-last trip into Mexico, the horn which gives me some time to read in front that Mr. Redford, at age 80 or so, has retired function went away on the Slash Five. I of the fire. Other than helping a local fellow from acting; apparently, we saw him make found a kind of large, clunky horn button get a R 80 ST back on the road after a long his last movie. Jane Fonda, at 78, looks in a Mexican Auto Zone, taped it to the period of inactivity, the airhead repair great. She was walking down the street, met handlebar and wired it into the horn circuit scene has been very quiet here.

Susanna and wanted to know if she was while Susanna sat on the curb in the parkWinter will surely arrive, but we are Irish, which it turns out (thanks to Ancesing lot, waiting. When I returned home, I planning what could be a couple of months try.com) she is (23%). It was fun, we got to ordered a smaller, nicer button from an of riding (and driving) around the South“hang out with the stars” and it’ll help fund electronic surplus company and installed it west. The itinerary is shaping up. We’ll first the trip we’re planning this winter. very close to the original (but dead) horn drive to Las Vegas with our friends Helene The research for other-than-$30-a-botswitch. It worked just fine on the last trip and Ralph to watch the Bonhams and tle BMW fork oil continues. Wes Fleming down to Merida (and you really DO use Mecum motorcycle auctions in late Janu(an Associate Editor of ON) sent me a couyour horn in Mexico!). ary. We’ll also do side trips to Zion and ple of quarts of Motul 7.5-weight fork oil to The Slash Five looks a bit like it belongs Death Valley National Parks. We visited try out. I used a bit for the annual fork seron the Joad family Dodge, but this is the Zion at the same time last vice on the Slash Five front year, and it happened to end of my electric threehave snowed a bit. The wheeler, and after a couple snow on the rocks was of weeks, I can report it is beautiful. If you get the working well. Better than chance, this is a must-see well, actually. A couple of park, AND during the months ago, I acquired a winter you can drive pair of Chevy Volt lithiumthrough the park. During ion batteries from an eBay tourist season, you have to vendor. After re-welding the take a tram. battery carrier, I pulled out We’ll return home and the four HEAVY lead-acid head south a week or so deep cycle batteries (280 later with the two airheads pounds for the set!) and on the trailer. We’ll drop installed two 40-pound batthe car and trailer either teries. Yup, the vehicle with Susanna’s sister in cenbecame 200 pounds lighter tral Arizona or at our while gaining a bit in stored friend’s place in Tucson. power! I haven’t worked We plan on riding to variwith one of those lithiumion “pocket jump starting” My replacement horn button. I ordered it from an electronic surplus suppy house and cut ous points in Arizona, up an old Colorado license plate to get the mounting part. It works as it should and, after southern California and batteries, but I’ve talked with a brief learning period, my thumb falls right to it when I need to make some noise.

Nevada. The Airhead club folks who have. They do is holding their 25th Death Valley Rally, so seem to work. I’m just absolutely amazed at Mexico Bike. It was purchased and put on that is one stop over President’s Day weekhow much power can be carried in those the road for around $700 back in the late end in February. After that, I will drop things. Of course, that’s why they can cause 1980s, with the idea being that if it is Susanna off at her sister’s, while I ride to fires and explosions in cell phones and wrecked or stolen, it won’t be a huge loss.

Joshua Tree National Monument in Calicomputers. I don’t worry about that risk Eleven trips later, that remains part of the fornia. Eight or nine of my classmates from too much; the seriously higher cost of the spirit of the vehicle. Someone else’s K 1100 the Midland School, Class of ’68, are camplithium units is the big barrier for me LT? I’d use this sort of bodge to get it back ing there for three days. Should be a grand In the November ON “Rider To Rider” on the road, but replace the switch as soon reunion! section , I read of Gary H’s troubles in getas possible. When I was working in a real After the Boise trip in August, both bikes ting a replacement ignition/headlamp shop, I did this sort of make-do work a few are pretty much ready to go on this ride, switch for his 22-year-old K 1100 LT. I can times, usually gratis, while we hunted and we are both excited to be on the road, see a delay in sourcing such an item, but down the parts to affect a proper repair away from the cold of a Colorado winter. there’s really no reason to sideline the bike (that we would charge for).

We just have to get over the mountains, for an entire riding season for a parts issue I was ordering some parts to replace which is always an unknown. Snow or like that one. If I were confronted with this what I’d used in the last few months. Just clear? Even off the bikes and pulling the sort of problem, I would cut into the existfor grins, I put in the part number for that trailer, it can be a challenge, as we have dising switch wiring and add a toggle or pushswitch. Bike Bandit has it in stock, $129.51. covered a number of times. button switch to get the bike functional Give BikeBandit.com a try.

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

39

TEC

nichtubermax

Digging deeper into brake issues

By George Mangicaro #136221

Q:

My father and I have been working on a problem with the front brake system on his 1996 R 1100 RT. The system will pressurize with no input of the brake lever to the point that the bike is immobilized and brake fluid seeps from the master cylinder. I'm sure if you would let the bike run after it clamps the front wheel it would blow the cover off the master cylinder. We have at this point replaced all lines with braided stainless, rebuilt the master cylinder, blown out ABS module, and fully rebuilt the Brembo calipers, but it’s still not working properly and the bike is indefinitely sidelined. –Doug W. via Facebook

could have been slightly misadjusted or misaligned. This could partially block the return port for the brake fluid. Effectively this would keep the brake pressurized and the caliper clamped tight to the disc. This would result in the brake fluid heating up and you might see fluid seeping from the master cylinder cover as the pressure and heat cause the fluid to expand and move forcibly.

Third (but least likely) is that you have a problem with your hard steel brake lines. If they are filling up with plaque— not unlike an old man’s arteries do-then this would create the kind of pressure you’re seeing (as well as excess heat while riding) and cause the brakes to always drag and refuse to release.

Upgrading your rubber brake lines to the stainless steel braided Let’s begin with ones, while a good upgrade, the assumption would not solve this problem. The that you are not pressure generated by applying over the maximum mark for the brakes is subject to the princifilling the brake fluid reserples of hydraulics in that if you voir on the handlebar. It’s squeeze fluid from a large hose important to stay at or below the max mark (remember – There’s a reason BMW puts red paint on the piston moved by the brake into a smaller hose and that NICHT UBER MAX!) lever – they don’t want you to adjust it! If it’s not in precisely the right smaller hose is partially blocked position, it can cause other internal components to block the fluid return with goo, the fluid will move one because that allows expan- hole and prevent brake fluid from flowing away from the calipers. direction more easily than the sion room for the fluid as it other. So what you could be seeing here is bore was not anodized, which can promote heats up under normal use. fluid that flows to the calipers goes through corrosion and scoring and lead to blockOn some older Ducatis, the rear the hard lines just fine, but because of posages. It’s possible when the master cylinder brake line was routed so close to the sible blockages, that fluid cannot flow back was rebuilt that the bore wasn’t checked or exhaust pipe that it would heat up the through the hard lines because there is very properly cleaned. If there’s debris in there fluid, causing it to expand enough to little pressure moving the fluid in that blocking the bore, it would prevent fluid clamp the rear brake tight. This was direction. If you want to look up the prinfrom returning to the master cylinder, thus made worse if the pedal wasn’t propciples of hydraulic multiplication of force, keeping the calipers clamped down. erly adjusted, but it was a problem that may explain this concept in more The second thing it could be is the brake either way. Since you don’t have a depth. lever piston adjustment. If the brake lever Ducati, though, this probably isn’t was replaced or damaged and subsequently what’s going on. Thinking about not adjusted to spec, then this could be those Ducatis, though, you said “run keeping the system pressurized, much as if the bike.” With the Ducatis, this was Have questions for Nicht Uber Max? Send you were constantly riding the brake. When an issue at idle after the bike was them to TechQuestions@bmwmoa.org. you rebuilt the master cylinder, the piston warmed up. Do you really mean “ride

A:

40

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

the bike,” as in this happens while you’re riding or is it happening at idle?

Since fluid is coming out the master cylinder, this gives me three ideas: the master cylinder itself, the piston that connects the brake lever to the master cylinder and your hard brake lines.

The first thing to do is check what you’ve already done, and in this instance my initial suspicion is the master cylinder rebuild, especially given that it’s an 1100. In early 1100s such as yours, the master cylinder

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

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discover 44

adventurelog

The Adventure Brothers and The Tour without a Voice

By Shawn Thomas #91122 “I

HAVE

A

BIG

support truck and assist as needed. But not anymore. “Adventures begin when well laid plans go awry,” I thought. Usually this sort of ‘adventure’ revealed itself on the trail, with a mechanical failure or other unforeseen shenanigans. I had tools and experience for these things. But this, I never saw coming.

I called my brother Lance and explained

problem,” he said, the words rolling around a thick accent. “A big problem.”

I stared back through the computer monitor. I always spoke to Eric via video chat, the visual aid helping me better understand his French-infused English. The conversations were usually fun; Eric was a textbook extrovert, brimming with positive energy and excitement. But not today. Staring back at me Eric looked ragged and sleepless, his hand rubbing the wrinkles on his forehead.

It was his mother, he explained. She was sick, and the prognosis was not good.

She could go any day. “If she dies and I am away, I could Despite language barriers, smiles tell the tale. not forgive myself. I must be with my mom.” the situation. “It looks like I will be leading I offered my sympathies and underthis tour,” I explained. “Do you think you standing. “I’ll make it work,” I assured could drive the support truck?” Lance him. “Go be with your Mom and keep readily agreed. We had run tours together me posted, okay?” The call complete, before, and he knew how the operation I leaned back in my chair and took in worked. We set to planning a strategy. The the situation. For months, Eric and I basics were handled. Bikes and a support had been planning a motorcycle tour truck had been reserved though Motothrough the California and Nevada Quest, a motorcycle touring powerhouse in backcountry. His business, a French their own right. The route was all sorted adventure company called T-3, led out, and hotels were booked. The biggest tours on bikes and in cars to nearly challenge, we determined, was the lanevery corner of the world. In only a guage barrier. We had Germans coming on few days time, a plane of French and the tour whom we had already met; they German riders would arrive in San spoke fluent English and the rapport was Francisco to begin the tour. Eric was strong. The French customers were another slated to lead; I would drive the matter. I had only spoken to one of them

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

via Skype, and we could barely communicate.

Hopefully another in the group would know at least a little English and could translate. As a backup, Lance and I added translator applications to our smartphones and began rehearsing basic French. We considered bringing in a human translator to stay with us for the first few days of the tour, but the cost was prohibitive.

We would just need to sort it out with the tools we had.

Days later Lance and I found ourselves at San Francisco International Airport, awaiting arrival of our customers. We were easy to find, clad in motorcycle-centric apparel and holding a sign that read “T3 GS Tour.” Soon we were shaking hands with a group of weary travelers. “Please speak slowly,” one said after our greeting.

“Our English, not so good.” Uh-oh.

We collected luggage and made our way to the hotel.

That evening we set to offering a ride briefing, providing expectations and helping everyone understand the plan. It was immensely challenging; our detailed list of objectives all but lost in the difficulties of translation. We learned quickly, truncating and simplifying our words for easier digestion. Soon everyone was nodding in approval, though a tension collected like fog in the air.

“We just need to get though a day of riding,” Lance said in my ear. “Once everyone has some fun on the bikes, the tour will smooth out.” I nodded in agreement, suppressing my worries. He was right, I hoped.

I touched my watch, holding up seven fingers. “7 a.m. for breakfast, okay? We will meet again at 7 a.m.” The group nodded and headed off to bed.

The next morning greeted us with firm handshakes and nervous riders. We collected at a table, marveling over the choices for breakfast. “Aye! So much food,” one said as plates of eggs, bacon and hash browns arrived. I suppressed a witty comment, opting to avoid the risk of miscommunication.

Instead I smiled and pointed, calling attention to the platter of pancakes, biscuits and gravy heading our way. Lance and I set to work on our mounds of food, our guests following suit. One joked in French with another, the words lost to my ears but the message clear nonetheless: There would be diets in their future.

We collected by the motorcycles and prepared to head out. I entered simple words into my translator and walked to each rider, pausing to share the message: Ride behind me, stay close, be safe, have fun! I received collective nods, and we headed out, leaving the city via remote, twisty backroads along the Santa Cruz Mountains. I cruised easily, keeping it slow and getting a feel for rider skill. These Europeans knew their way around motorcycles, it was clear. Everyone

showed excellent ride etiquette and skill.

We weaved through the local redwoods, stopping at the largest for rest and some photos.

“Wow Wow WOW!” Rémi said, marveling at the massive trees. At 29, he was by far the youngest rider in our group. His wife, Camille, had contacted me months before and shared her desire to send him on a U.S. adventure. “He has watched your YouTube videos and loves you,” she had said. “I very much want him to experience the United States with you.” I smiled as Rémi collected the group around his selfie- stick for a photo, the enthusiasm palpable. “One happy customer, hopefully the first of many,” I said to Lance.

We spent lunch at a local hamburger joint, enjoying some old fashion American food. Lance and I marveled at how little the language barrier seemed to matter. Already the group was picking up bits of English and had begun mimicking the “awesome” and “rock on” comments they heard Lance and I say. In less than 24 hours the group was acting more like old friends than

Amelie plays in the water.

strangers on a tour. “That’s motorcycle riding,” Lance marveled. “Brings people together.”

We ended our day in Monterey near Pebble Beach. Beer and wine were hastily purchased, with all manner of European and American toasts shared humorously to clinks of glasses. “This is badass,” Rémi told

Impressive scenery and the right camera angle produce spectacular images.

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

45

discovery

adventurelog

me, proudly sharing his newly acquired English words. “Rock on!”

I laughed. “Rock on indeed, my friend! Merci bo-coou,” I replied, matching his attempt at a new language. His eyes widened, and he yelped a hearty laugh. Later in the tour as his English improved, Rémi would explain that my French pronunciation of “thank you very much” sounded more like, “Thank you, nice butt.” Oops.

Bolstered by a newfound camaraderie, our tour became easier and more fun with each passing day. A rhythm set in, as each morning we greeted each other with firm handshakes and a briefing. We would ride, stopping for photographs, food and fuel as needed. Our evenings were spent sampling local cuisine and enjoying the nightlife of Los Angeles, the Mojave Desert, Las Vegas and Yosemite, to name a few. As the ride routes became more challenging, we helped each other navigate both on and off the pavement. Gilles, a retired businessman living in Normandie, opted to ride on the back of my bike during the off-road sections. “Easier to see and enjoy the views,” he explained through labored English.

Death Valley offered one of the best ride days. As we entered Titus Canyon, with its stunning views and

The Trona Pinnacles.

Playing in the wind.

massive rock faces, it was clear that there was no equal to be found in all of Europe.

“It is amazing, just amazing,” Amelie marveled. A native of Munich, Amelie was the lone female on our tour, and one of the best riders. “I never knew a place like this existed.”

What first seemed a long, two-week tour ended all too quickly. Our final day of riding was solemn, the trek back to San Francisco hindered by the inevitable goodbyes that would follow. The group of strangers in a foreign land had vanished, replaced by newfound friends sharing a comradery only found in motorcycling. “I will never forget this experience,” Rémi told the group at our final dinner. “There will never be a better tour.”

We ferried everyone to the airport, saying our goodbyes with hugs and steadfast promises to remain in touch. “I can’t believe that went as well as it did,” Lance said as we returned home. “The language barrier was really no problem. It was almost fun!”

“I know, I’m shocked it went so well,” I replied. One flat tire and a few tip-overs were all we contended with; the tour had otherwise been incident free. While we agreed that the language barrier remained the one issue most in need of improvement, the experience as a whole was to be celebrated.

Motorcycling—and Adventure Riding in particular—brings people together in a rare and special way. Why this is the case is anyone’s guess, though I tend to think the challenges—and fear that comes from facing those challenges—result in a connection between individuals that transcends race, gender, and language. It is a cornerstone of why we love the sport and people that engage in it.

The next GS California Tour is on the calendar for October, 2017. Join Lance, Shawn and the T3 team for the ride of a lifetime!

Email shawn@stromoto.com for details.

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January 2017  BMW OWNERS NEWS

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discover

Longdistancestyle

Unleash your inner Moto-Beast!

By Deb Gasque #182082 STOP

JUST

A

moment…seriously, just pause, close your eyes and take a breath. Now, while you’re body and soul is still and relaxed, think through your wildest dreams and goals. Think about the same dreams and goals that reach out to you on a consistent basis…but in your current situation, just don’t seem possible. (I promise, this is not a clever prelude luring you to some sordid, expensive, self-help seminar.) Seriously. Just try the exercise. Think about the things that emerge from within your being that are calling out to you, but yet, you suppress because your brain says, “You can’t.” Happy January!!! Yes, it’s RESOLUTION TIME! Like it or growl about it, why not jump on the annual bandwagon and set goals for yourself that take your personal bar higher this year? While it’s certainly good to be nicer, healthier and thriftier in the new year, I’m actually encouraging my fellow riders to reach inside and pull out their inner Moto-Beast…yes, “MotoBeast.” It’s within all of us that ride.

We secretly desire a higher level of

riding in some way, shape or form. Some of us want to conquer a bigger bike, more annual mileage, a special “expert-level” road, an extreme long-distance journey, super-sharp curves…or even a first ride on our own motorcycle. The journey is personal, and it belongs to YOU…so rock your “Moto-Beast!”

I realize that discovering your own Moto-Beast might not come so naturally or be easy, but as you recite your “moto-goals" to yourself and to the world, even scribbling them down and sticking them to your refrigerator door, those goals can become easily achievable. You can do it! Typical New Year’s resolutions dissipate by about March…maybe April? This year, give yourself the gift of doable goals that are truly within your reach. Want to scoot forward from the pillion seat and take the controls?

You can! Have a burning desire to conquer the Dragon? Absolutely, you can! Is it time to move up to a bigger motorcycle? Well, then DO IT! The philosophy that has gotten me through many a struggle in life, big and small, is “Where there’s a WILL, there’s a WAY.” It works!

This is your time to dream. It’s January, and most of us are grounded and fantasizing about the riding season to come…at least, that’s what I do. In fact, during this time of “grounding” and reflection, I let my inner Moto-Beast take over and dream and

scheme about the fun and adventurous possibilities of the upcoming riding season. Let me be the first to put my personal “Moto-Beast” out there and be accountable for some goals that are important to me: • Accomplish an Iron Butt Association 50CC - (Coast-to-Coast in 50 hours) • Ride at least 15,000 miles during our BMW MOA spring/summer mileage contest (April-October) • Ride across the Mackinac Bridge TWICE! (I’m highly phobic of heights, and“Big Mac” is all grated, offering a peek of what’s below. It’s also the longest suspension bridge between anchorages in the Western Hemisphere. That’s superscary stuff for me!!!)

• Test ride ALL the new BMW motorcycle launches from 2016-2017 Another goal that I would like to accomplish in 2017 is hearing from all of YOU, and what your Moto-Beasts are shouting out to your souls. There is nothing more encouraging than being inspired by your fellow compadres. So bring it! Give it!

Share it! Let’s make it OUR year to go out and dream, ride, explore, and unleash our inner Moto-Beasts!

HAPPY NEW YEAR 2017!

www.bmca.com/moa

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www.corbin.com

www.motoelekt.com

www.bohnriderprotection.com

www.captialcycle.com www.adriaticmototours.com

Photo by John Herrmann Photo by Mark Janda

Photo by Bill Wiegand

BEST THE

Photo by Scott Moseman

OF 2016

Photo by Ken Frick

Photo by Jim Bean Photo by Reid Dalland

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Photo by John Wetli Photo by Bill Wiegand

Before we fully embrace the new year, we pause to look back at some of BMW Owners News most significant stories, news and images of the last year. From a daughter riding with her daddy, a motorcycle of the future and Jack the Riepe, to Wisconsin, Birmingham and the Land of Loud Pipes, each month we share our stories of humor, adventure and accomplishment.

We present some of the best of BMW Owners News.

BMW MOA Member Benefits, Multiple issues 2016

MOA staff are constantly looking for ways to improve the members’ return on investment for their annual dues dollars.

One of the new benefits introduced in 2016 was the KOA Value Kard Rewards program, which any MOA member could join for a free one-year trial membership.

The Kard gave a discount at any of KOA’s facilities in North America and represents just one of the many benefits of MOA membership on an annual basis.

Cuba redux, November 2016

Christopher Baker paints the picture right off, writing, “Nothing epitomizes the ‘New Cuba’ emerging before my eyes so much as Ernesto roaring off on his sleek new Harley tourer.” A Harley? CUBA? Ever since the relaxing of trade restrictions and other embargos placed on the Caribbean nation by the United States in the 1950s, Cuba has remained a taboo destination for Americans. Now you can get flights to Havana daily from a number of locations, and as a tour group put together by Bob Henig discovered, you can ride around the island on BMWs as well. Relations between Cuba and the United States aren’t normalized yet, but the new “people to people” educational license from the U.S. government makes travel to Cuba easier than it has been since the heady days of the early Cold War. Riders can experience the post-Fidel atmosphere of Cuba for themselves as the country works to figure out its place in the world, and they can do so in cities as yet unsullied by the presence of American fast food franchises.

Riding with Hailey, August 2016

“Daddy? Can we go for a motorcycle ride? Pleeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaase?” Who can resist that request? Certainly not Shawn Thomas, and certainly not when it’s issued by his daughter. Shawn’s August entry in his regular column chronicled Hailey’s journey from getting gear to packing up their campsite to ride home. It’s hard to resist kids who wants to ride, but as Shawn showed us, it’s important to appreciate their expectations—and what they can expect from their parents as well.

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Jack the Riepe, Multiple issues 2016

The people who don’t turn to “Keep ‘Em Flying” no doubt first turn to “Jack the Riepe” instead to enjoy the trials, tribulations and ex-wives of K-bike aficionado Jack Riepe. We came damn close to losing Riepe in 2016 thanks to uncontrolled trench foot (or some such other kidney- or liver-related condition), and we’re all glad he regained enough of his health to at least keep writing his monthly column. Be sure to join the Secret K Bike Club (K bike riders only, naturally) and pick up a copy (when it’s available) of Jack’s book, “Conversations with a Motorcycle.”

An Expat Returns, April 2016

When you take a motorcycle-loving Brit and transplant him to the USA, there’s no telling what will happen. When it’s Neale Bayly though, you can guarantee the stories about that process will be entertaining and informative. Neale returned to the land of his birth for a long-awaited motorcycle journey, and in the process delivered his 12-year-old son into the arms of his ancestral homeland’s people. Patrick absorbs England’s atmosphere and gains wisdom from a long-time family friend who rides along with them.

2017 Rally site announced, June 2016

Before 2016’s DAS RALLY! had even taken place, MOA members learned the location of the 2017 rally: Salt Lake City, Utah. Make your plans now to visit the Crossroads of the West and “Find Your Crossroads” on your way to the rally from wherever you may start your journey.

Photo by Jeff Dean

Discover Wisconsin, September 2016

Between Ron Davis and Sue Rihn, you’d think Wisconsin was just two doors down from the Pearly Gates, and the more you read about their journeys through the 30th State, the more you expect them to sit down in a random diner and notice St. Peter himself sitting at the next table.

Rolling hills and stunning scenery are the highlights of this entry in the Discovery series, and it’s not hard to see why so many people flock to Wisconsin for vacations and expeditions. “Rural Wisconsin has a beauty of her own,” Rihn writes, “with majestic red barns against green corn and golden wheat.”

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Keep ‘Em Flying – What I carry on tour, February 2016

Many of us turn to Matt Parkhouse’s airhead maintenance column, “Keep ‘Em Flying,” before reading anything else in Owners News. It’s not just for the technical expertise and instruction, but also for his stories about his trips to Mexico and how he overcomes obstacles along the way—including 11 flat tires in one trip!

Honoring a Son, February 2016

Carl Reese Rides America, July 2016

Everybody knows a Carl Reese. That man or woman who isn’t satisfied with routine and can’t seem to ever stop planning or sit still. The actual Carl Reese did a stint in the Army, then settled in California and raised both a family and a business from the ground up. When he regained his dormant passion for riding, he did so in an epic fashion—by setting the world record for crossing the U.S. from Los Angeles to New York City. After a single demo ride on a K 1600 GT, he knew that was the bike to use for his record-setting attempt, and eight weeks of hard training led up to his ride. Meticulous planning wasn’t enough to achieve his goal, but through hard decisions and perseverance, Reese set the record, riding from LA to NYC in 38 hours and 49 minutes.

We all ride for different reasons. Margorie White got into riding as a way to connect with the legacy of her son, who loved riding his Ducati Monster and was killed on it by an inattentive driver. She decided to learn to ride herself, journey cross country from her home in Maryland to where her son died in California, and work to make drivers more aware of motorcyclists—all to honor her son.

Alphabet Soup, May 2016

To historians, “alphabet soup” invokes the myriad agencies created during Franklin Roosevelt’s first administration as he strove to implement his New Deal policies. To Jim Auckley, alphabet soup refers to roads called OO, Y, HH, N and more that lead to and fro in the Ozark Mountains and along the paths of the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers.

Lee Harrelson, a Member Profile, August 2016

When we first met Lee Harrelson, he was zipping along the roads outside Birmingham, Alabama, in formation with his brothers Vance and Rob. As the family’s youngest son, he was used to taking his cues from his brothers, but that didn’t stop him from forging his own way as a rider and as a photographer. As an MOA member, Lee has been involved in wrangling the musical entertainment for a number of International Rallies, culminating in the Hamburg Rally in 2016. Lee’s passions blur the boundaries of photography, motorcycling and music, incorporating each into a rich journey through life.

Wunderlich R 100 Custom, May – September 2016

The sun brings out strange critters near the Badlands in South Dakota. Photo by Ken Frick.

BMW MOA Regional Coordinators, May 2016

There are many volunteers that make the MOA the fantastic experience that it is.

Because many of us only interact with the volunteers at the International Rally, the MOA decided to introduce the Regional Coordinators, a new set of volunteers helping to bring together the members, their local clubs and the BMW Motorrad dealership network to create a more complete experience. Head over to bmwmoa.org to find more information on the RC program and who your Regional Coordinator is.

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What started life in 1983 as a plain R 100 RT found itself transformed by Ed and Bill Plam of Wunderlich America into a true California Custom Classic. Though the May Owners News cover featuring the bike generated a lot of…discussion, nobody could deny the appeal of the classy café conversion that was raffled off by the MOA Foundation and given away to its new owner at the height of the International Rally in Hamburg, New York, in July.

Catching a Trade Wind to Eden, November 2016

A pair of looming heavy weather systems wasn’t enough to discourage Deb “The Fashionista” Gasque from quoting Mark Twain and setting out on a journey across North Carolina to a town called Edenton. Her trip to the Outer Banks was filled with beautiful roads, delicious food, quaint inns, a ferry ride and a string of historical and otherwise interesting stops along the way. One highlight was the ride through Cape Hatteras National Seashore along US 64, a storied road that starts in Monteo, North Carolina, on the Outer Banks and ends in Arizona near the Four Corners Monument in Mesa Verdeo National Park.

BMW R 1200 RT, The Two-Wheeled Rocket Ship, August 2016

The August issue saw a rare double feature, with both Steve Hall and Wes Fleming detailing their experiences with the liquidcooled R 1200 RT, and in Steve’s case, a number of other RTs as well. The verdict: BMW’s RT platform is not just for old men!

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I Just Needed an Oil Change, March – September 2016

My 1971 R 75/5 photographed on a recent ride at the exact location the odometer turned from 100,000 to zero.

Photo by Terence Hamill.

BMW Motorrad VISION NEXT 100, December 2016

What happens when your bike breaks down just ahead of one of your regular maintenance intervals? If you’re Wes Fleming, somehow that leads you into taking the cylinders off your boxer and meticulously scraping carbon deposits from the faces of the pistons, finding somebody to rebuild your drive shaft, and writing a six-part series detailing every aspect of the two-steps-forward-onestep-back process.

There are motorcycles… and then there are MOTORCYCLES. BMW Motorrad threw down the gauntlet for the next generation of motorcycles, when drive trains go electric and the human-motorcycle integrative experience rises by a factor of 100. By combining elements from iconic BMW motorcycles from the R 32 to modern boxers, BMW Motorrad showed its commitment to advancing not just the future of motorcycling, but the future of sustainable power as well.

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A 1973 R 75 Slash 5 at rest near Lake Groton in Groton, Vermont.

Photo by Adam King.

A Grandfather’s Legacy, February 2016

John Letteney remembers “The Day,” the day, that is, his parents agreed to let him ride a motorcycle. He spent years riding with his father up and down the upper Atlantic coast, first on the back seat and then on his own bike. His father’s love of riding passed through him and down to his own three sons, one of whom is also an MOA member.

BMW celebrated their 100th birthday last August and MOA members got all the presents! As another benefit of BMW MOA membership, MOA members who bought a new BMW motorcycle during the month instantly received a $500 voucher good for BMW accessories on top of any BMW purchase incentives already in place.

MOA Getaways, February 2016

From April through November—with a notable gap around the dates of the International Rally in Hamburg, New York—MOA members met up at various locations across North America to eat, talk and RIDE. The Weekend Getaways spanned from east to west and included events in North Carolina, Ontario, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, Utah, Wisconsin and Texas. Smaller and more intimate than the annual rally, the Getaways proved to be a big success and will return in 2017.

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Discover Birmingham, May 2016

This year saw the emergence of the Discovery series in the pages of Owners News, and an exploration of the Birmingham, Alabama, region came first. Vance, Lee and Rob Harrelson led the way as the riders explored the highways and byways of central Alabama. Four major interstate highways meet in Birmingham, and though the city itself might be smaller than its more famous neighbor, Atlanta, Birmingham remains a major crossroads of the southeast United States. No trip to the south is complete without stops at barbecue joints, and the riders do not disappoint in this respect. A quick tour of the University of Alabama and a look at the history of the city tops off this first installment of the Discovery series.

A Rider’s First Aid Kit, March 2016

The Adventure Brothers Take on Dual-Sport Helmets, April 2016

If you’ve never heard of the Adventure Brothers—Shawn Thomas and his big brother, Lance— suffice to say that all the crazy shenanigans you’re sure BMW riders are never guilty of in the light of day are exactly what these two grown men actively seek out and enjoy. One of their first contributions to Owners News as a team was this comparison of three of the top dual sport helmets on the market.

Marven Ewen is a doctor, but not one of those doctors that looks frowningly upon riders and calls their bikes “donor cycles.” No, he is a rider himself, piloting his BMW wherever his moods take him in-between on-call rotations. His recommendation for what to include in a motorcyclist’s portable first aid kit was one of the highlights of his regular “Riding Well” column.

After spending much of the last day of Das Rally! at the GS Giants track, Joe had just finished dinner by his tent. On the other side of the Rally grounds, a drawing was held announcing Joe Skaggs the winner of the BMW MOA Foundation’s R 100 Custom raffle bike. Thirty minutes later, an exhuberant Skaggs found his way to the stage and his new bike.

Racing, American style, September 2016

In the U.S., the closest thing there is to mass-appeal racing is NASCAR. To be sure, “go that way and turn left” has its excitement, but little compares to the level of intensity and skill required to pilot a 1000cc superbike through a series of S-curves or over a hill into a blind, decreasing radius left-hander. All across the USA, men and women race motorcycles, and the introduction of MotoAmerica in 2015 brought a premier circuit to wider attention in this country. With television coverage on beIN Sports in 2016, anybody with cable could watch two S 1000 RRs dice it up on the best American tracks around. Jeremy Cook and Steve Rapp hold the BMW banner high, and you’ll be able to see them race again in 2017. Wes Fleming turned in this brief examination of the goings-on on a typical MotoAmerica race weekend, and we expect to see more coverage of the circuit from him in 2017.

Voyage to the Sea of Loud Pipes, May 2016

When she’s not exploring North Carolina or writing product reviews highlighting gear for women, Deb Gasque spends her time riding around, looking for adventure. In the May issue, the Fashionista regaled us with the tale of her expedition to Daytona during the 75th Annual Bike Week celebration.

New friends capturing a selfie during closing ceremonies at the BMW MOA Rally in Hamburg, New York.

Shiny Side Up, Multiple issues 2016

Ron Davis works behind the scenes as an Associate Editor for Owners News, but he pulls back the curtain every month with his “Shiny Side Up” column. Humorous, yes, but also informative—where else can you learn the hand signal for “I’m begging you, please hang the &$#?@ up and drive!”?

Twisted Throttle and MOA Foundation S 1000 XR, February – October 2016

When Ted Moyer of the BMW MOA Foundation and Jessica Prokup, MOA member and marketing manager for Twisted Throttle, first came up with the idea to outfit and bling out an S 1000 XR for the annual race to the top of Pikes Peak, people no doubt thought they were more than a little crazy. When they saw the gleaming, golden motorcycle, the questions about their sanity got a bit more pointed. Even though the Twisted Team wasn’t drawn in the annual race’s participation lottery, the bike attracted attention all year long and was finally given away to an orthodontist from Iowa as a raffle prize. All proceeds benefitted the MOA Foundation, which promotes and funds rider training efforts, primarily for MOA members.

My Therapist’s Initials are GS, March 2016

Tom Larson’s Motorcycle Relief Project tackles the issue of posttraumatic stress disorder, which affects tens of thousands of veterans of the wars in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere, by putting veterans on BMW adventure motorcycles and leading them through the countryside. The MRP extends the camaraderie felt by soldiers in a combat zone to the shared experience of riding motorcycles, and when they bivouac at night, the veterans participating in each ride know they’re among kindred spirits. They can relax and let down their guard a little, perhaps even opening up and expressing their feelings and frustrations to people they know understand what they’ve been through, both far afield and at home as they work to reintegrate into daily life.

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Monterey Getaway/100th Anniversary, June 2016

Finding solitude under a tree at the BMW MOA Rally in Hamburg, New York.

It’s not every year that a company turns 100 years old, but 2016 saw that happen for BMW. The “mother ship” celebrated their centenary with a big party in Monterey, California, and the MOA decided to invite as many of its members as could come to begin the celebration with a Getaway gathering. The Monterey Tides Hotel hosted the members who came, and BMW Motorrad added to the celebration by announcing a $500 voucher would be given to any MOA member who bought a new BMW motorcycle, plus $1,500 worth of accessories. Dealerships across the country hosted 100th Anniversary events as well, spreading the celebration of BMW’s milestone achievement around for all to enjoy.

MOA Consumer Liaisons named, November 2016

Along with the Regional Coordinators, mentioned above, the MOA brought back the Consumer Liaison position and appointed two members to share this key volunteer position. Lee Woodring hails from Atlanta, Georgia, and Joe Leung is from Calgary, Alberta. Both are longtime riders and have lengthy stints as MOA members as well. Members can reach them by email for assistance at consumerliaison@bmwmoa.org.

Paul Thorn entertains the crowd at the BMW MOA Rally in Hamburg, New York.

It Took a Community, June 2016

When Marcia McGuire hopped aboard her G 650 GS to set out on her first long-distance motorcycle trip, she already had more than a little riding experience. Still, she persisted in short practice trips and took training classes to improve her skills and prepare her for the journey. Two years after her BRC, she embarked on a 23-day camping trip that covered over 4,000 miles and included the Canadian Rockies. Along the way, she met riders—and MOA members—who chatted with, helped, inspired and accompanied her. By the time she returned to her home in the Pacific Northwest, she realized that inspiration flows in multiple directions and discovered that others can rely on her the way she relied on others during her trip.

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Cape Cod

When the Coast is Clear

By Brian Rathjen #92108 You do not need a GPS, map or sign to let you know when you are riding onto Cape Cod. You can smell it. You can feel it, and you can see it. Things immediately take on a more nautical Cape Cod feel.

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W

e planned well for the post Labor Day traffic, and although still crowded in spots, things moved along smoothly as we headed around the arm that is this Cape. The geologic history of Cape Cod mostly involves the advance and retreat of the last continental ice sheet (named the Laurentide, after the Laurentian region of Canada where it first formed) and the rise in sea level that followed the retreat of the Ice Age. The entire Cape is made of glacial moraine and sand, and the geography here changes with the sea, storms and time, although man tries his best not to let it change too much.

Along the main US 6 (the same US 6 that crosses the NY/NJ/PA region on its way cross country) you will find salt ponds and tidal streams, and if you are my wife Shira, you will find Hallet’s Homemade Ice Cream.

They have been making and serving ice cream here since 1889, possibly making it one of the oldest ice cream parlors Shira has yet found, and I will tell you this: It was the thickest and creamiest I have had in a long time…and we eat a lot of ice cream. Hey, everyone needs a vice! You could point bricks with this stuff.

We did actually have a plan this day and that was to find a certain U.S. Coast Guard Boat, Motor Lifeboat CG36500. On the night of February 18, 1952, during a raging 70-knot nor’easter snowstorm, four Coast Guardsmen (coxswain Bernard C. “Bernie” Webber, Andrew Fitzgerald, Ervin Maske

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and Richard Livesey) set out on the 36500 to rescue crewmen on the tanker Pendleton which had broken apart in a storm. Incredibly, they returned to the Chatham Life Saving Station with 32 survivors—on a boat designed to carry half that number safely. All the “Coasties” received the Gold Life Saving Medal for their bravery under these almost impossible conditions.

The film The Finest Hours was a spectacular telling of these brave men and that fearful night.

I had heard that the boat was at the Orleans Historical Society, but although they had plenty of memorabilia of the boat and tales of that night in 1952, the 36500 would be found a few miles away, thankfully once again in the water at Rock Harbor.

To see the 36500 restored to her former glory and to think of what it and these men did nearly 65 years ago brought forth quite a feeling. If you

have never heard of this story, or the film The Finest Hours, do yourself a favor and just watch the trailer; that should lead you right to watching the film. Hey, the new Captain Kirk is in it, so you have that, if nothing else.

Continuing on towards Wellfleet, we spent some time at the Marconi Beach. It was here that Guglielmo Marconi broadcast the first transatlantic wireless communication between the United States and Europe in 1903, changing communications for the planet forevermore. Today the first Marconi station is all but gone, with just remnants of the foundation left by the ever-changing coast and powerful Atlantic.

Still, it was the coast and cape that we came for, and the coast and cape does not get any prettier than here at Marconi Beach.

Well, we came for that and some real seafood too! Wellfleet is known for its oystas, its lobstas, and its chowdas, and we found all of that harbor-side in Wellfleet at Mac’s Seafood, right on the wadda’.

While we were gorging…I mean dining…we could see deep and darkening skies rushing in from the west, and the earlier talk we had heard of a severe front coming through played true as we beat it back to the main road and the Wellfleet Motel (always squeaky clean!) just in time to grab a room and cover the tank bags before the deluge. Timing is everything, they say.

The strong front that rolled through at dusk the previous night had left the atmosphere dry, crisp and cool; perfect riding weather in my book. I was up at dawn and strolling towards the motor inn’s café in search of that morning cup of Colombian go-go juice when I spotted an odd, small tar snake on the otherwise pristine blacktop of the lot.

It looked oddly out of place and had a yellow band on one end. It was no bigger than my index finger. Not a tar snake, but a baby ringneck snake, a very common and just slightly venomous coastal snake. I thought maybe the parking lot, that was soon to become very busy, was not the best place for a diminutive black snake so I prodded him a bit and got him squirming into the nearby grass. Good deed for the day done, it was time for coffee.

The plan from the very beginning of this sojourn was to avoid the crowds and heavy traffic of the summer on Cape Cod, but still it seems that folks here drive in a different rhythm, and pulling out into or crossing main roads to stay on the smaller country lanes was sometimes a challenge when dealing with Cape Codians. And I thought Rome or the Dominican Republic was tough!

We particularly chose small roads that followed, more or less, the general direction towards Provincetown, or P-Town as it is known locally. This allowed us almost totally clear and twisty roads that would run along the coast, bay and the small salt streams and ponds that dot the cape. In an hour we were hugging the huge dunes that line Route 6 near the end of Cape Cod., We parked the bikes along the tiny road to Race Point and spent some time at land’s end.

Dropping into P-Town, we hoped to grab a spot and bit of waterside breakfast. We made a quick stop at the Pilgrims Monument. The tall tower stands like a sentinel above the town and was built between 1907 and 1910 to commemorate the first landfall of the Pilgrims in 1620 and the signing in

Provincetown Harbor of the Mayflower Compact.

For years Provincetown stood as a working fishing village, populated with mostly fisherman and their families, but in the last few decades its charm has morphed into “le tourist entrapment” and what is now P-Town. Full of over-priced shops and far too touristy for us, we still made the attempt for a landing and breakfast, but parking is almost non-existent here, and the lots that were open wanted $20 per bike to park.

We took one quick lap of the town, and I could feel my blood pressure begin to rise as “Entitled Pedestrians” walked out in front of the bikes, texting or listening to

their iPhones and oblivious to the world. As pretty as they once might have been, I have no use for “make believe villages” like P-Town these days—let the tourists have it.

We rode back out to Route 6 and stopped at something of real note: a sign right outside Provincetown that reads “US 6 West Bishop, CA 3,205 miles / Long Beach CA 3,652 1953 Alignment.” This is the start of US 6, which you can ride from Cape Cod to California, and I wondered how the road would change as it winds its way from the Atlantic to the Pacific.

We did finally find breakfast back in Truro, before heading back to the Atlantic side of the Cape and the Nauset Lighthouse.

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The small structure has been doing duty since 1838, but was almost taken back by the sea due to the constant erosion and changing Cape Cod coast. The Nauset Light was to be dismantled by the Coast Guard, but a private trust raised the funds to save it, and it was moved some 300 feet in 1996 to its present location and still serves ships at sea today. It is considered one of the most photographed lighthouses in the northeast, and looking at the images you can see why.

The day before, when we had searched out the Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat CG36500, we learned that the rescue happened out of the Chatham Coast Guard Station, and so we began to meander down towards that coastal town.

Cape Cod has an unusual terrain.

We have said that it is mostly a left over from the Ice Age, but the unusual thing is that it is mainly crushed rock from those thousands of years ago and lacks almost any glacial erratic boulders from this epoch. Except for one big one—the Doane Rock. Our route just happened to pass near by it, so I pushed for a short detour to stop by and see the Doane Rock for ourselves. Shira brings me to art museums and lighthouses; I bring her to ancient psychiatric hospitals and big rocks. Doane Rock, an “erratic” is the largest exposed boulder on Cape Cod. It stands 18 feet high and extends below the ground an estimated 12 feet. Harriman State Park is full of these and some are far greater, but when you are the only girl in town you get noticed.

Crossing back and forth along the Cape we rode by the Eastham Windmill. This looked like another digital moment, so we stopped and by doing so learned that this windmill is the oldest on the Cape and was built back in 1680. It has been moved a number of times since then and seems happy and content in the park in the Eastham historic district where it was added to the National Registry of Historic Places in 1999.

Continuing along anything but US 6, we headed towards the Cape Cod town of Chatham. Echoing our stop the previous day at

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Marconi Beach, we visited the famous Chatham Marconi Site. Although today the Cape is known for summer vacations, the wonderful coast and great seafood, in the late 19th and early 20th century, Cape Cod was also a center for communication technology, and it is good to know that, in our age of instantaneous communication and the internet, that worldwide communications really began here. The Chatham Marconi/RCA wireless facility changed the world, made maritime communications a reality, and during wartime, helped the U.S. and its allies to defeat the Nazis. Today the

buildings house a marvelous museum, and the folks there were very helpful and knowledgeable on the history of the facility. We thought we’d stop in for a short bit, but spent a good hour exploring and learning about how this place saved lives, beat the Germans and changed the world.

Our second stop in Chatham would be the U.S. Coast Guard Life Boat Station. It was here on February 18, 1952, where the SOS came in from the freighter Pendleton, split in half off the Cape Cod coast and sinking. The brave Coast Guard men took out Motor Lifeboat CG36500 from here and

made history as well. After reading the books and seeing the film it was wonderful to see where all this actually occurred, although our late summer day of blue skies and 70 degrees was far different from that deadly mid-winter storm in Cape Cod years ago.

By this time it was getting towards midafternoon, and we tried our best to stay on small roads back down and off the Cape, stopping for coffee and ice cream in Osterville, a cute little town that was home to its share of famous folks such as David Hartman (Good Morning America), Gene Rayburn (The Match Game), Lee Remick, This Old Houses’ Bob Villa, author Kurt Vonnegut and Andrea Still. Who knew?

Once again the atmosphere changed as we rode off the Cape with the salty tang of the air and the distinct Cape Cod feel giving way to the southern sprawl of Boston. Still, we managed to continue along, recapturing the Rhode Island and Newport coast vibe as we tried to hug the coast. We took a place outside of Newport for the night and in the morning made one last stop at Twisted Throttle in Exeter, Rhode Island. Twisted is like a superstore for riders, and they have quite the set-up there, especially if you are a serious and traveling motorcyclist.

Shopping done, we swung inland and away from our coastal adventure, quickly riding into Connecticut and then along the smallest and most curvaceous roads we could find, heading in the general direction of the Hudson River at Bear Mountain. By early evening we were crossing back into the New Jersey Skylands region and our home.

The Cape Cod region offers a unique blend of American and maritime history.

Although beyond crowded and almost unrideable during the summer (especially weekends), the fall and spring allow riders to enjoy what most of the locals know: Cape Cod is a beautiful part of the U.S. and has roots deep in history, its people and the sea.

It is well worth exploring at the right time of the year.

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www.ayresadventures.com Brian Rathjen is the publisher of Backroads Motorcycle Tour Magazine, a northeast regional, and is a long time MOA member.

For more information, visit www.backroadsusa.com.

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skills

askapro

Knowing when to hang it up

By Lee Parks #162125

Q:

Hi Lee, I look forward to reading your monthly articles in BMW ON. My brother-in-law and I were talking about his friend in his 70s who had a knee replacement gone bad and was left with chronic infection. He now can only ride a highway-capable scooter because he can no longer lift his leg over a conventional motorcycle. My brother-in-law wondered out loud, how do you know when you should no longer be riding a motorcycle? He surmised that if your motorcycle topples over and you can no longer pick it up, then it might be time to consider retiring from riding.

My question is this: are there ANY state regulations that you know of that screen specifically for motorcycle riding capability as one advances in age? I cannot recall having ever seen or heard of motorcycle specific testing for riding proficiency other than getting your initial license. Do you have any thoughts on the matter? —Pete Giarratano

A:

That’s a great question, Pete.

Unfortunately, as far as I know there are no motorcycle-specific regulations that address riding capability once you’ve earned your endorsement. This is especially disconcerting with re-entry riders, or riders who come back to the sport after a significant hiatus.

I spend a lot of time training military riders, some of whom are amputees or have other serious physical and emotional disabilities we have to accommodate, so this issue has a lot of personal significance to me. What

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

our instructors have found is that attitude is as important as ability when it comes to deciding what is a manageable risk. This is because so many accidents result from a lack of situational awareness or from riders getting surprised by unforeseen circumstances where they freeze or panic. This is part of why we spend so much time on fear, concentration and attitude in our classes.

This happened to me while teaching one of our Supermoto Clinics to GS riders during the national rally in Sedalia, Missouri, a few years ago. One of the students, who was in his mid-50s, had just jumped his R 1200 GS about 15 feet coming from the dirt section to the pavement section. He accidently nailed the throttle when his weight shifted backwards from a rear-wheel-first landing.

I literally saw my teaching career flash before my eyes as the student began quickly accelerating with his front tire four feet off the ground—heading directly for a tall cinderblock building.

To my amazement, about 25 feet before the collision the student tapped the rear brake to bring down the front wheel, and showed all of us how good the Beemer’s braking/ABS system could work in an emergency. Needless to say, I was as white as a ghost after observing one of the scariest teaching moments in my life. Perhaps more surprising was the fact that this seemingly near-death experience didn’t seem to faze the rider in the least.

Being both relieved and concerned, I asked him how he kept his wits about him during this particular misadventure. He looked at me like I was green when he asked me, “What do you mean?”

I said, “I mean, you almost got yourself killed out there.”

He replied, “Really? There had to be at least 25 feet between me and the building.

That wasn’t very close.”

Clearly the two of us had a very different interpretation of the event that had just

occurred.

At this point, morbid curiosity led me to ask him, “Do you mind if I ask what you do for a living?”

“I work for the government,” he said.

“Er…okay, what specifically do you do for the government?” I followed up.

“I train people to do their job,” he said.

Clearly I was getting nowhere with this line of questioning. “Well, what did you do previously?” I tried again.

“I was in Special Operations in the army,” he said quietly.

A quick look on Wikipedia yielded this definition: “Special Operations (S.O.) are military operations that are ‘special’ or unconventional and carried out by dedicated special forces and other special operations forces units using unconventional methods and resources. Special Operations may be performed independently of or in conjunction with, conventional military operations. The primary goal is to achieve a political or military objective where a conventional force requirement does not exist or might adversely affect the overall strategic outcome. Special Operations are usually conducted in a low-profile manner that aims to achieve the advantages of speed, surprise and violence of action against an unsuspecting target. Special ops are typically carried out with limited numbers of highly trained personnel that are adaptable, self-reliant, able to operate in all environments, and able to use unconventional combat skills and equipment. Special operations are usually implemented through specific, tailored intelligence.”

Aha! This was a highly trained, albeit quasi-aloof, gentleman who knows not to panic and simply to accomplish the task at hand. Although I probably screamed like a little girl during the incident (my memory is blurred, but my doctor says I’m “winning” in therapy), he never felt like he was in imminent danger because he was able to

GOT BENT?

keep his cool.

The moral of this story is that a skilled, safe rider is someone who has superior decision-making skills as much as physical ones. In our classes we say that an expert rider is someone who uses expert judgement to avoid having to use expert skills. Of course, it’s best to have both in spades. Put another way, I strive to always have slightly more skills than stupidity.

Getting back to your original question, I think this issue has been most effectively dealt with in the aviation community. Pilots are required to pass tests and demonstrate continued proficiency based on the aircraft they are piloting. In other words, if you pass your test flying a single-engine Cessna, you are certified to fly only that type of aircraft for a finite amount of time. To keep flying you need to demonstrate that you are still safe to an experienced evaluator. Want to fly twin-engine Beechcraft? You’ll need additional training and testing to be licenced and much more.

We don’t need to have the law of the land be our only guide. Every rider has a sense of when he or she is willing and/or able to manage the risks of riding to an acceptable degree. Riding will never be safe, but it can be fun and rewarding. Every time you throw a leg over your machine (or through, for you scooter folks), you must decide if the risk is worth the reward.

Lee Parks (#162125) has been riding and racing motorcycles for well over 33 years. He has been the editor of both consumer and trade motorcycle magazines, manufacturers his own line of motorcycle gloves, and is a WERA national endurance champion. His riding skills book Total Control has sold over 100,000 copies in five languages around the world. Lee’s Total Control Training company manages—and is the curriculum vendor for—the California Motorcyclist Safety Program as well as several large military contracts. If you have a question you’d like to him to answer in this column, send him an email at lee@totalcontroltraining.net.

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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skills 72

foundationnews

Preparing new riders with GEARS GAINING EARLY ADVANCED RID-

ing Skills (GEARS) is the BMW MOA Foundation’s premier program used to teach teens to ride. At Das Rally last summer, 16 riders, including five female and 11 males from across the U.S. and Canada with differing experience levels, all learned new riding skills.

With bikes provided by DirtBike Tech and two courses laid out over the rolling grassy fields of the Hamburg fairgrounds, the program was an outstanding success. Riders were

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

introduced to the bikes and learned about the controls, the importance of body position and the joy of riding safely through a building-block learning process. Good riding gear and bike maintenance were also part of the class curriculum.

In the classroom were opportunities to experience on-road training using the SMARTrainer, and the students had many choices of computer-generated “rides” including city streets and even open roads.

Each student learned and progressed well as they “rode” more and more on the SMARTrainer where making dangerous

mistakes caused nothing more than a low score.

Also in the classroom were multi-million mile riders Paul and Voni Glaves, who generously shared their invaluable experiences, including everything from camping and living on the road to general maintenance, chain and tire care, proper riding gear and the real life challenges they face.

The Glaves have been instructors for GEARS since the program’s inception and offer a wealth of information to new riders wanting more than simply knowing how to use the clutch and brake controls.

Steven Griffith, a certified Accident Scene Management Instructor, introduced the new riders to the importance of understanding what to do if they come upon an accident. Using the PACT protocol, participants learned to Prevent further injuries, Assess the situation by understanding different types of injuries, Contact emergency medical services with the proper information, and Treat the injured with life sustaining care, including the basics of CPR. Griffith also provided videos, equipment and hands-on training for basic first aid skills.

To better enjoy the different components of GEARS, groups of four were divided between the riding range and classroom, and by the end of the session, all GEARS students were traversing the GS Giants hill and learning to make turns on inclines, as well as getting stalled bikes restarted. All students progressed well and earned certificates from the MSF dirt bike course, Accident Scene Management and the MOA Foundation GEARS program.

Additionally, MOA Board member Bill Hooykaas shared his 30-minute video of his adventure ride across Europe from London to Vladivostok, Russia, through the ‘Stans and along the northern edge of the Himalayas and China, an eye-opener to even the experienced riders in the room!

If you have children or grandchildren who you believe might like to participate in next summer’s GEARS program, the next session will be offered at the BMW MOA Internation Rally in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Young riders are, in part, the future of our MOA so let’s help restore the excitement, youth and energy of our club by adding more young, well-trained members to ensure the vitality and the existence of the BMW MOA for many years to come.

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73

lifestyle 74

mileageslaves

I can’t make this stuff up

By David Cwi #28490 LOOK, I GET IT.

You’re getting jaded. Perhaps you even think I make this stuff up. Well, if that’s your frame of mind, then enjoy the ride this month.

As far as you’re concerned its all BS. Yep, the pictures are fake, the stories baloney. Of course, you also believe the moon landing was a staged event at a Hollywood studio. Face it, come to grips with it. Some of us are just sick puppies to whom wacko stuff happens. But I digress. What else is new?

I’m going at it this way because, well, because when I look back on 2016, I have a hard time accepting it myself. I’ll just take you along for one ride. You’ll get what I mean as we drop in on a trifecta of magic moments. You ready?

So let’s imagine you were on the way back from Hyder, Alaska, the 2016 ride in question. We decided to blast to Hyder as a long day ride out of Smithers, British Columbia, intending to go there for a photo op and then swing back through Smithers, roll to Prince George, park it for the night, and then get going again to rumble the Ice Fields Parkway through Banff to Medicine Hat. There are a lot of great roads. Route 37A on the way to Stewart and Hyder is right up there, not because of the crank and the turn, but because of the way you are transported to the unexpected.

Moments of the unexpected defined those two days. To wit: The road runs along the Bear River, and before you know it, you are transfixed by two events. First off, you

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

become aware that the river is fast moving, narrow where you are, and quite literally RIGHT NEXT TO the highway. You wonder if it is going to push out of its bed and onto the road. Then, from open territory all of a sudden you are transported to a Jurassic Park rain forest with low, rocky mountains close enough to seemingly walk to. Water falls are gushing out their sides as if glaciers were melting behind them, and there is no sun. Who’d a thunk it? And did we mention that you soon turn a corner to confront a blue glacier that just rolls up to the road and then stops? It’s you, your buddies along for the ride and that’s it. And that’s it. Video at the Raider Sport Touring YouTube Channel. It’s worth the dash north out of Vancouver to Smithers just to ride the Glacier Highway to Hyder.

Once there, you too can torment the Canadian Customs Officials. You see you are going from Canada-BC into the USAAlaska, but you do need to come back.

Complicating matters of course is that between you and the customs building is this great sign over the highway: “Welcome To Hyder, Alaska” and on a pole, “Entering Alaska.” Naturally, we wanted a photo op, but the only way to get a photo op is to set our bikes in the middle of the road with all this great signage above and behind us.

Picture if you will a stalwart member of the Canadian Customs Officialdom waving at you as you do this. Okay, wave back and go about your business setting up that great photo. At some point in this process, she gets a bit hard to ignore as she jumps up and down and waves even harder, apparently wanting you to come her way. Best to send one of the guys over to tell her it’s okay, you’ll be there in a minute once you are done blocking the only highway into Alaska and Canada. Apparently this has her nose very much out of joint, or so reports the Raider sent over to give her

assurance.

Try to imagine your aunt dressing you down for failing to clean your room and living as if in a pigsty. A mashup of “Who do you think you are?” and “Who raised you?” and “Why did you do that when I clearly indicated you should not?” followed by “Give me your passports.” Oh my! I think she had a gun.

Since we had apparently ticked her off but not broken any laws giving her reason to send us back to Hyder, we were soon enough on our way after she handed back our passport deliberately, I believe, creating her revenge. You see, she gave me Clyde’s passport, and he got mine. Hold that thought. Let me add this reality to your giddiness: Eventually we both had to reenter the USA and show our passports. We did that, but we were not together. Now you’re REALLY curious. As I said, I can’t make this stuff up.

Did I mention the other women we met in those two days? Did I mention the mashup of Flag Girl and Baywatch Girl guarding that construction zone and making sure you came to a stop so traffic could alternate on the available paved lane?

Admit it: Canadians are cool. That’s why, while stopped, they provide something really cool to look at.

You see the Raiders have a Raider known as “Flag Girl.” But Darla at the time was involved in roadway and bridge inspection, not stopping traffic, so Flag Girl is a bit of a tease, and she’s a good sport. But stopped in BC, we for sure were ready to recruit this Canadian for-real Flag Girl.

There she was, a Baywatch mermaid wrapped in canvas clothing that in turn was wrapped in reflective tape. With her streaming auburn hair covered in a hard hat, her smile showed the most amazing white teeth against her perfect tan, mirrored in her bronze wire-framed, mirrored sunglasses. STOP and then SLOW were on

the two sides of her sign from which hung a stuffed monkey doll. I am not making this up.

“Hey girl!” I yelled, since I was at the head of the stopped line. She turned and smiled.

“You boys from around here?” she asked.

“Nope,” I replied. “Do you ride a motorcycle?” I asked valiantly, hoping to recruit our next Flag Girl, the first one in Canada.

I heard laughter behind me from the guys.

What was DD up to? “Girl, we can’t hear a word you’re saying, but we sure love the way you say it. You are rockin’ that outfit!”

“I used to ride a dirt bike” was all I heard, and with a smile and sideways comment into a walkie-talkie, her sign turned to SLOW and we were off.

Should have waved her over and given her a Smurf Card. Since we are a mere six people away from everyone else in the world, if you know this flag girl, give me a shout. That is especially true for our next tale where I am hoping you know someone who took a cell phone video.

Try to imagine that you want to make time as you carefully slog down the beautiful Ice Fields Parkway on the way to Banff.

This is a Canadian Parks road, and the speeds are regulated, lots of foreigners in rental cars, all sightseeing/rubber necking, and yes, they have guys standing around with radar guns. But it is late afternoon, and you are of a mind to push on to Medicine Hat. Beautiful scenery for sure as you and this traffic approach a bridge over a canyon, all of us coming to a stuttering stop. Did I mention that at the Vancouver BMW where we stopped for an oil change and new tires they found that my ABS had a low voltage fault? Really, just cannot make this stuff up.

Why the stop? Here it gets interesting. I peer down the road and see a bridge. Cars coming at us are stopped on the FAR side of the bridge. Meaning, nobody is on the bridge. And then I see some sort of animal in the distance moving up and out of a

ravine or canyon and just standing there.

Well now, we have to see this. Zoom we go in the oncoming lane down to the head of the line, and what a sight we see.

If you’re a goat you are apparently NOT stupid. What’s the quickest way to get across this canyon or river or whatever the heck this bridge traverses? Go up and cross over using the bridge. It seems you’ve also learned that the traffic will stop as soon as they see you. But it gets worse or better depending on your point of view. This herd is not in a hurry to cross the bridge but is moseying along at barely a walking pace.

At the risk of PETA or some Park Ranger attacking me, what’s a rider to do? Why, herd goats, of course. So I get on the bridge, get behind this herd and Varoom Varoom, the throttle and I am close enough to just about touch them. Varoom. Tail goes up, slightly faster movement. Varoom Varoom.

They cross the bridge and jump onto the other side embankment, and off we go.

SURELY you know someone who has a video of this on their cell phone. I mean, this is the modern age. I am betting that there is a social media site in Japan or Hong Kong where those tourists posted it.

Thankfully, Brian Diver was along taking great shots the whole trip, and a bunch of his, including one goat and flag girl, are part of this article.

I know you are curious about that passport story. Well, catch up to me LIVE in person, and you will hear it, though you can as well bring me into your studio and create a virtual Dave and I’ll relay it that way. I mean, I’m ready for the future. I’ll embrace it, not fight it, as story telling might even work better that way versus live.

You know, I should have called this piece “Dave The Goat Herder.” What’s next among the unexpected? Well, you’ll just have to join up on a ride to find out. So do that and I’ll see you down the road.

www.scenicwheels.com.au

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www.m4motorcycles.com January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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lifestyle

highmileage

Congratulations high mileage riders

By Jim Heberling #191926 Happy New Year!

I hope everyone had a great time with family and friends over the holidays and everyone has resolved to get out and ride their BMWs more in the coming year. In my role as High Mileage Coordinator, there are three questions that I’m continually asked, so I thought I’d provide the answers here: 1. Where can I find the High Mileage application?

The High Mileage application resides in .pdf form on the BMW MOA website. To get there, go to www.bmwmoa.org and click on the CONNECT button near the top of the page. Scroll down a bit and click on 20 Million Miles+ and then click on “Download The High Mileage Award Form.” Once you’ve downloaded and printed the form, complete all three sections, including information about the motorcycles you’ve ridden to reach your new plateau, your personal information and information from your dealer. Then mail the completed form to me at the address listed at the bottom.

2. Can I email the application to you?

Absolutely! To do that, simply scan the document and save it as a .pdf and then email me the .pdf. Whether you choose to mail or email the High Mileage application, please make sure it is filled out completely and readable.

3. My BMW has more than 100,000 miles on it; do they all count toward my High Mileage recognition?

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

100,000 miles Don Eilenberger Ron Hanford Kevin Roark Laurie Heisey Tom Daugherty Daniel Ruffner John G. Camp Bryan Bebout Brian Dutcher Dominique Rambie Andrew Clark

Julie Smith - CoPilot

200,000 miles Ron Allen Roland Quintero Robert Knittle Daniel Maki

300,000 miles

400,000 miles Dean Mickelson Frank Heitmuller

500,000 miles Nancee Musto

800,000 miles Ken O’Malley

Jim Mitton Gerry Dockum Christopher Ross

The miles applicable toward your High Mileage Award are the miles that YOU’VE ridden. So, if you’ve bought a used bike with 90,000 miles and it just turned over 100,000, only 10,000 of those are yours. If you bought a new bike with a big donut on the odometer and only you have ridden it, all of those miles are yours!

Thanks again to all of our members participating in our High Mileage Award program, and congratulations to Ken O’Malley for reaching his 800,000 mile plateau!

Bryan Bebout #145729 Concord, North Carolina 100,000 Miles

My favorite bike was my R 1200 C, and I was sad when it was totaled in a rear end collision. Luckily, I escaped without a scratch. I replaced the C in 2009 with a 1999 RT which has carried me over 90,000 miles.

While the naked C was sexy, the RT is all business, whether it’s eating the twisties or cruising down the highway with the radio blasting. I’ve never had more fun on any bike than my RT. One of my most memorable rides recently was when I had a few days of vacation to use or lose and a brand new

passport. From my home, I rode through Kentucky, West Virginia and Ohio to Buffalo, New York, to cross the Peace Bridge into Ontario and receive my first stamp in my new passport. It was 85 degrees when I left North Carolina, and by the time I got to Buffalo that night, I had to put on the three shirts I brought along to try to stay warm.

Regardless of the temperatures, it was a great ride.

In 2009, I moved to Concord, North Carolina, and to learn my way around the area, I would ride in a random direction and then use my GPS to get home. While I get great joy in planning three to four day rides, my favorite rides are the spontaneous daylong rides where I chose a town, landmark or attraction to visit and then go. Other than that, occasionally my wife and I will simply take a ride somewhere for lunch.

I’ve realized over the years that I was meant to ride alone and typically ride from fuel stop to fuel stop with almonds or apples in my pockets and water in my cup holder. I did ride a couple of years with the Patriot Guard Riders in North Carolina, which is one of the most fulfilling opportunities a veteran with a motorcycle could ever have.

If my bike is moving, I’m a happy man.

Dominique Rambié #101141 Mississauga, Ontario 100,000 miles

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Rambié said he has had a lot of fun riding many different BMW motorcycles. The one he’s liked the most and put the most miles on is his 2009 R 1200 GS with a factory lowering kit. Over the past 12 years he’s ridden the Trans-Labrador highway to the 2015 BMW MOA Rally in Billings, Montana. He then continued to Anchorage, Alaska, and has also ridden through the Canadian maritime provinces of Nova Scotia, Newfoundland, Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick.

His favorite and most memorable rides include the Million Dollar highway in Colorado, the Going To the Sun Road in Glacier National Park, the Beartooth Pass in Montana, the Top of the World highway to Chicken, Arkansas, and the Cabot Trail in Cape Breton, Canada. Other favorites include the Blue Ridge Parkway, Skyline Drive and the back roads of central and western Pennsylvania.

We have a saying in the BMW Motorcycle Club of Ontario: “The best motorcycle roads in Ontario are all in Pennsylvania.”

Retired, Rambié says he now has opportunities to take a few trips every summer.

His idea of a good time is a riding vacation anywhere the two-lane roads are as empty and as curvy as possible, especially during the spring and fall before the heat of the day doesn’t take away from the joy of riding a great road in a beautiful setting.

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

77

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highmileage

As a member of both a local BMW club and the MOA, Rambié occasionally rides in small groups, though most of his long trips have been with his good friend John from Oakville, Ontario.

Christopher Ross #130595 Wolfforth, Texas 300,000 miles

Ross says he’s had an amazing journey to 300,000 BMW miles!

While on his way to his milestone, Ross crashed his trusty R 1200 GSA in rural Wisconsin and broke several bones, totaling not only his bike but the car that caused the accident.

“Thanks to my riding addiction, I bought an identical R 1200 GSA from Sandia BMW, by phone from the Denver airport on my way home from Wisconsin.”

With a metal plate in his right wrist and with physical therapy finished, he made his first post-crash ride on

the new bike just five weeks after the accident. The next year year he competed in his first-ever long distance rally and rode to a bronze finish in the 2015 Iron Butt Rally on his replacement R 1200 GSA. Ross said the IBR was more challenging than he’d expected but also much more rewarding.

Aside from long distance riding, Ross says he’s the caretaker of two beautiful airheads, both 1975 R90/6 models, adding that wrenching on them is almost as much fun as riding them.

Last fall Ross loaded the airhead transmission of his daily rider onto the back of his GSA and took it to Colorado where Matt Parkhouse helped him rebuild it.

“I’ll never forget the conversation we shared and the experience of watching him work in his shop,” Ross said.

One of Ross’ most memorable rides was this past summer when he joined his buddy Upe to ride their airheads through the San Juan Mountains of Colorado and the Million Dollar Highway.

According to Ross, “What was initially a ride to visit an old colleague in the San Luis

Valley morphed into a ride of mountain passes, camping and great comradery.

Dean L. Mickelson #80636 Longmont, Colorado 400,000 miles

Mickelson’s first high mileage bike was a 1998 R 100 RT that carried him more than 221,000 miles while commuting 76 miles daily to work as well as on a countless number of long vacations trips during the summers. Over the years, Mickelson’s BMWs have always been either RTs or GSs. His current workhorse is a 2009 R 1200 GS Adventure which he rides over a mix of long trips through the United States and Canada. He also rides circle tours in the states surrounding Colorado, always looking for that “new” dirt road. Mickelson’s RT needs are fulfilled by a 2000 RT. His most memorable rides include several during the summer while working toward the Iron Butt Association’s National Parks Award. Riding through the United States and Canada, he found not just stunning views of seashores, lakeshores, fossil beds, plantations, parkways and Civil War battlefields.

Mickelson says he simply likes to ride, regardless of whether it’s to a destination or just exploring a new stretch of road. “Just being in the outdoors is how I like to spend my time,” he said.

“My distance rides will always find me solo,” he said, “I’m always pulling out paper maps and taking the scenic routes, so I think it would be hard to ride with anyone else.”

“Mark Weig, my only real riding buddy, lost his battle with cancer several years back, and he could never be replaced,” Mickelson said.

Nancee Musto #67296 Minneapolis, Minnesota 500,000 miles

Christopher Ross

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

According to Musto, “North, south, east or west, your direction of travel doesn’t matter as all roads lead to new adventures and new friends!”

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RALLY

2017 BMW MOA INTERNATIONAL Rally

See you in Utah this summer

By Greg Feeler #2241 2017 BMW MOA Rally Chair THIS ISSUE OF THE BMW OWNERS

News begins a series of monthly articles about our BMW MOA’s 45th annual International Rally to be held in Salt Lake City, Utah, beginning Thursday, July 13 and ending Sunday morning, July 16.

Even though most of you have seen promotions for previous MOA rallies, I’m still asked, “What is a rally like?” by riders who have never attended or those who want to know more about it before committing to go. What I think they are really asking is “What will I experience there?”

We all ride motorcycles for the experience which is often hard to describe to those who don’t ride, and I believe the rally experience is similar in many ways. Please bear with me while I try to describe the rally expe-

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rience itself.

First, the BMW MOA International Rally is the single largest BMW motorcycle gathering in the world outside of BMW’s factory-sponsored event held in Garmisch, Germany. At our rally, typically 5,500 to 10,000 attendees pass through the gates, and for many, it’s their first experience seeing so many BMW bikes and riders in one place. So many people and activities create an exciting atmosphere proclaiming, “This is where it’s happening!”

The bikes at the BMW MOA rally each year come in an amazing range of types, ages, colors and conditions—and so do their riders. It’s an experience in itself to simply walk the rally grounds and see bikes you may never have seen before, many whose odometers are well into the six digit range, attesting to the endurance of the marque.

You may well see the model you ride, but with an accessory you’ve not yet purchased, and quite possibly the owner is nearby and happy to tell you of his or her experience with it. In the process of learning more about that accessory, you’ll soon realize you’ve made a new friend. Then, there’s the Vintage Bike Display where you’ll see perfectly restored and ridable bikes with some dating to the beginning of BMW motorcycle production. Again, their owners will be there and happy to talk to you about them.

Feel like shopping? The MOA rally is the Grand Bazaar of the BMW bike world, with about 125 vendors with products you can see, touch, feel, try on and ask questions about. These are all of the accessories and gear you see in BMW Owners News each month or online. Remember to take comfortable walking shoes!

Interested in learning more about

motorcycle touring, camping, bike maintenance, staying healthy on the road, bike restoration, accessories, shooting photos and video, world touring, using your GPS, tires, lubrication and more? The MOA rally each year hosts more than one hundred seminars presented by experts in their fields or knowledgeable vendors—all there to expand your knowledge, enjoyment and safety of everything BMW Motorrad.

Thirsty? Feel free to drop by the Beer Garden for refreshments and enjoy quality entertainment. If you don’t know anyone there, don’t worry, feel free to join other members at a table and soon you’ll have several new friends. Our annual rally has become the MOA’s “family reunion” where your “relatives” will make you feel very welcome. Remember, everybody here already knows why you ride, so there’s no need to explain why you’re here. Remember, you’re

always surrounded by friends you just haven’t met yet.

Want to get more deeply involved and really own a piece of the club? Volunteer!

Beyond our small professional staff, the rally is dependent upon the work of hundreds of member volunteers. Spending a two or four-hour shift volunteering will be some of the most fun you’ll have, and you’re guaranteed to make new friends being part of the team making the rally happen!

Salt Lake City is surrounded by incredible roads, both on and off-road. Be sure to take a day ride or two to explore new roads and visit area landmarks. While you’re out there, try a new restaurant and experience local specialties.

Another option while at the rally is to participate in some of the “special activities” planned this year. Above all else, a rally is about having fun, and this year we’ve

planned some (secret for now) simple, but very fun things you just have to see and do!

Finally, there’s always the opportunity to win things! Every rally attendee is automatically entered into daily Door Prize drawings for many awesome and often expensive prizes, with the biggest of all being the Grand Prize bike given away at the Closing Ceremonies!

The annual BMW MOA rally promises an amazing, unique experience for everyone, regardless of what he or she chooses to do there. More than anything else, the BMW MOA rally is what you choose to make it. Bring yourself and your friends, and remember the rally is open to riders of all brands and to non-members. You are guaranteed to have a great time!

I look forward to seeing you in Salt Lake City!

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BMW MOA Board of Directors Meeting minutes Salt Lake City, Utah • October 8, 2016 LOCATION: Radisson Hotel Salt Lake City Airport, Utah. (Location in conjunction with 2017 National Rally site) BOARD MEMBERS PRESENT: President Wes Fitzer, Vice President Jackie Hughes, Treasurer Jean Excell, Secretary Reece Mullins, Directors Bill Hooykaas, Stan Herman, Marc Souliere, Lisa Malachowsky, Sam Garst.

STAFF MEMBERS PRESENT: Bob Aldridge, Executive Director, Ted Moyer Director of Membership & Marketing, Bill Weigand, BMW ON Managing Editor.

President Wes Fitzer calls the meeting to order at 13:04 MDT. Wes welcomes all the members present and calls for the introductions of the members in attendance. Greg Feeler, Pat Carol, Brian Burdette, Melissa Logan, Dutch Lammers, Kate Lammers, Karol Patzer, Deb Lower, Jude Rosenthal, Tracy Novich, Matt Novich, and Dan Stys.

Treasurer’s Report Jean Excell

The current balance of the investment account as of October 7, 2016 is $625,442.19 Which puts us in excess of our short term and long term liabilities.

Executive Director’s Report - Bob Aldridge

Bob presented the slides for the 2016 Annual Report of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, (To be published and distributed to all members

by November 2016). Bob took the

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time to explain the graphs and information presented and entertained any questions regarding the subjects contained in the presentation, concentrating heavily on membership and budget numbers.

Wes Fitzer pointed out how the slides reflect the cumulative effort of three years of hard work that was necessary to bring the MOA out of the red of the past two years and into the black this year.

Staff Presentations Ted Moyer

Chris Hughes our Advertising Director, has pulled in just over a million dollars thus far in 2016, up one percent over the previous year. To put that in perspective, our best year ever was 1.2 million; we have now broken a million in advertising revenue five straight years in a row. Ted continued the advertising briefing by highlighting the scorecard, hurdles, and coming attractions.

As the economy tightens up a bit every year during an election cycle, smaller businesses draw back a bit on their advertising dollars. Once the election shakes out, advertising dollars will pick back up again.

Outside of print, our main venues for advertising are online and social. These platforms are rapidly becoming a viable advertising medium. We obviously recognize the value of social networking in regards to advertising; however, advertising for us is still very print-centric. One million dollars each year is still coming from print advertising. Chris spends a lot of time analyzing those two sales statistics.

Moving on to Business Development, Ken Engelman is at INTERMOT in Cologne, Germany this week. A big piece of his responsibility is engaging with BMW Motorrad on behalf of the MOA. Ken just negotiated with BMW NA to reinitiate the

free one-year membership to the MOA with the purchase of a new BMW motorcycle from an authorized dealer. The dealerships and BMW NA took keen notice of the thirty-one new bikes that were sold at dealerships that participated in the 100-year anniversary celebration that was directly supported by the MOA and the Regional Coordinator program. Over five hundred MOA members came in to dealerships to get their free gift. Ken is deeply involved in the BMW demo-truck program, and the Sturgis co-branding program he put in place earlier this year. One of the things he hoped to achieve at INTERMOT was to get BMW to commit to provide the MOA with exclusive content from BMW Corporate and for them to share some of our content on their website. Our working relationship with BMW is better now than what it has been historically in the past.

Ken Engelman has worked hard to promote the unique concept of the BMW demo-truck photos. When participants of the demo-truck program ride the demo bikes, MOA members have their pictures taken. The pictures are then uploaded to our flicker account; additionally cards are given out to members after their test ride.

We had a similar set up at the 100th Year Anniversary Getaway in Monterey, Callifornia, which was also very successful. The demo-truck photo concept got back to BMW NA with very positive feedback. We consider this a unique benefit for our members.

The three-way co-branding partnership initiative between Sturgis, Rever, and the MOA mentioned earlier produced a Rever card that was on display at twenty-one different locations in the region.

•P artnerships: The MOA will have an ad appearing soon in the Touratech

American Made Deerskin Gloves Soft as silk, tough as nails. parts catalogue/magazine. RevZilla and Klim are partnering for the 2017 First Annual BMW MOA technical summit.

Sponsored by Klim, the details are currently being developed by Ken at • Intermot BMW MOA Member Celebrity Promotions: Kurt Yeager, MOA member, GS trophy host and celebrity on four television shows will be promoting and working with the MOA on future events. Rikki Rocket, the drummer of the rock band Poison, is an MOA member and may be working together with us. We have a Jay Leno interview currently in the works.

• Member Beniefits: We are now up to 81 member benefits. Ken is working diligently on an additional 20 to bring that number up to 100.

• Challenges We Are Encountering In The Marketing Department: Not all BMW dealers are supporting the MOA free oil offer. Regular communication with the dealer base is imperative if we want them to act on our behalf; this illustrates the importance of Regional Coordinators. We need to identify the appropriate level of promotion for member benefits. The provider will want something in return, often advertising space; this has to be balanced.

Communicating benefits to our members should be our number one priority.

Our membership mass has to increase in order to provide new business relationships.

Owners News Managing Editor - Bill Wiegand

Fresh off the plane in from New York City and the BMW RnineT press launch, Bill presented his first slide that highlighted the Media Scorecard. On the slide he articulates where we stand on the goals of pages per issue, add percentages and the delivery on time percentages from May to November.

Next, he gave the Open Session participants a sneak peak of the November cover shot,

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claiming it came from Bill and Ted’s great adventure from two weeks prior, collecting content for the ON Utah Discovery series. We found out the riding in this area is fantastic. He then turned to Greg Feeler, 2017 rally chair and jokingly hinted, “We should have a rally here.”

• Media Team Highlights: We are maintaining our on-time delivery percentages, we have responsible page counts, and we are very pleased with the results of the launch of the discover series, something we are very excited about. The great thing about the discovery series is that it takes us to our members; it plays on their local knowledge of the area. We’ve published “Discover Wisconsin” and “Discover Washington;” we’re now trying to pinpoint the demographics and make it a bit more specific.

The ON Dealer Supplement was recently launched, published and has been sent to dealers. It’s basically a sample of our magazine versus sending a whole magazine. This direction represents a huge savings on printing and shipping. We also anticipate the supplement having a longer shelf life, (stays at the dealer longer, less customers walking away with free magazines). This will allow us to plan on doing the supplement quarterly. We have seventy dealers we send supplements to. This represents a significant cost savings, and the RC’s are ensuring the dealerships are educated on how to display the products and that they are aware of how often and what products from the MOA to expect to receive.

We are working very hard to coordinate the social aspects of the print media of ON over digital platforms.

• Media Team Hurdles: Meeting the diverse interests of our readers, finding how to best serve our

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members, maintaining our dependency on traditional contributors are all challenges. In addition, we are working on re-evaluating ON’s focus to build upon the pillars of the BMW motorcycling community with features and member profiles, member-tested product reviews, and high quality technical writing.

• Media Team Coming Attractions: • Growth of discovery series.

• Broad subject areas need more specific focus.

• Member profiles.

•M ore frequent profiles of our members.

• Monthly “Me and My Bike” features highlighting members and their rides.

(Similar to ‘I am the MOA.) • Member-tested updates.

•A dditional supplements (will be used to hold the less colorful material of the magazine like mileage contests results) so as to not interfere with magazine content.

• The Salt Lake City Riders will be able to assist in rally promotion. Jeff Thurman, president of the Beehive Club of Salt Lake City. will detail ten rides in the area, which will be a great resource, providing great content that promotes the rally starting in the January issue.

Membership - Ted Moyer

“Before I get into the membership brief I just want to talk about what a great job Bill is doing and how difficult it is to adjust our thinking in terms of content strategy in the magazine. I have essentially turned his world upside down from a magazine content point of view, placing content as the number one priority in the magazine. The coordination of content is vital to success. A future national rally promotion video and its synchronization within the existing media structures currently present a fairly significant hurdle. We also have to find a way to effectively represent subgroups and their unique cultures. Bill is getting that magazine out the door, and on time, every

month.”

• Membership: Results of a recent exit survey was conducted on expired memberships. We are down just a little bit overall this year. We carefully analyzed and measured all of the data collected from our members whose memberships expired.

From the survey of everyone whose membership expired between the months of April and May… • 64% are no longer riding BMW motorcycles.

• 10% forgot or didn’t realize they expired • The remainder of the responses ran the gamut or reasons but most alluded to, not reading the magazine, not using the website, or did not using the benefits to save money.

Of those that left the MOA, four out of five rated the MOA as a good value. Over 10% of expirations had been members for over 20 years. Of the members surveyed, we are currently holding a 64% first year retention rate. The new motorcycle purchase program of one-year free membership sponsored by BMW is far below this rate.

These members got something for free; we have got to do a better job of engaging these members. We need to have their email address, currently, that’s not a requirement on the form. It’s very difficult to engage the new members if we don’t have the means of contacting them.

Ray Tubbs our digital marketing manager also wears a membership hat. These are some of the things Ray’s going to be working on that directly affect membership: • His winter project is to update the front end usability on the MOA home page.

•W e are going to refine the skin.

•M enu system update.

•E nhance ease of log in and renewal.

• Focus regional coordinators on leveraging local clubs/dealers.

• Improved communication between clubs.

• Facilitate Cross-flow of member data where appropriate.

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• A defined social media strategic plan.

• Improved new member communication plan.

• Membership Hurdles: We obviously have some low hanging fruit in member retention, as many of the people we called in the exit survey, simply forgot to renew their membership and did renew once we reached out to them.

There is a fractured market and product base. These different looks and feels of BMW bike culture provide a different thought process about how we incorporate this new and evolving market base. Numerous genres and subgenres of motorcycles serve to stratify the consumers social and club needs. We cannot and should not attempt to appeal to one type of rider or motorcycle any longer.

Operations Committee Report - Jean Excell

Not much to report on operations at this time. We have been working on the policy and procedures manual for some time. We’re hoping to have those changes incorporated by the January strategic planning meeting. The budget draft for 2017 is in place, and the rally budget has been approved for 2017.

Volunteers Committee Report - Bill Hooykaas

We are currently updating the gaps in the regional coordinator program. We just made a recommendation for approval for an MOA member from Montgomery, Alabama: Brian Hinton. There are currently 11 regional coodinators, with a target of between 11 and 15.

Events Committee Jackie Hughes

Five getaways have been held, and we had some additional ones on the

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calendar this year, such as the Monterey event in conjunction with the 100th Celebration, which presented itself as a special and unique premium event right on the beach at Monterey. All the events have been completed with the exception of one remaining in Marble Falls, Texas, in November. We have approved the schedule for 2017, adding a couple of new locations in Vermont, British Columbia, and Sedona, which should take us to 14 events next year in the getaway series.

The Motorcycle Relief Project, a 501c charity that involves connecting military veterans and motorcycles, is a great program, and by the end of this year we anticipate that we will be able to provide checks for them for about $10,000 dollars. The board approved a continued relationship with this program. We are working closely with founder and Executive Director Tom Larson in supporting this relationship. We are planning on doing something special at Salt Lake City with the MRP. We had twenty open houses at the dealerships that we supported through the International Council of Clubs (ICC) on August 20, facilitated through our RC (Regional Coordinator) program. This was a very successful effort and produced the effect that we wanted. Working closely with the BMW bike purchase incentive, $500 off with the purchase of a new motorcycle and $1500 in accessories, we expected the dealerships would sell 10 new bikes; they sold 31.

At BMW’s International Council of Cubs Meeting in Munich, we were asked to talk about specific things about our club. We talked about our membership numbers, bike sales, and how they relate to across the board sales. We showed the correlation of bike sales with membership sales and numbers. We talked about some of the promotions we are doing with BMW NA like our membership with the new bike purchase program, and the International Rally Demo-truck Rides. We also talked about our attendance numbers, and an overview of our national rally. Unlike other clubs in the world, the national rally would be considered our general meeting.

Bob Aldridge presented a slide show of a

collection of photos from Das Rally that was also presented in working group at the ICC conference. We are very unique in the ICC as we have individual members and charter clubs. Bob and Jackie continued with slides from the ICC council meeting, explaining how the meeting is organized and the MOA’s place within that structure.

Clubs were invited to attend the 100th Celebration portion of the meeting by having vehicles on display in Olympic Park in Munich. About 700 cars were on display and four motorcycles, demonstrating how car-centric the representation of the council is worldwide. Delegates and members had access to the entertainment and club area.

The second part of the ICC council was a work session, where work topics ranged from council structure to how internet clubs fit into that structure. China, and the Middle East are an emerging demographic for new clubs, with heavily stratified social and regional boundaries. Respecting existing regional boundaries of clubs is a continued discussion topic. There were interesting voting dynamics on the council this year.

The second work session we attended focused on worldwide major activities or events that can be organized once a year, similar to what the MOA already does. We brought up the concept of dealer open houses that on a regular basis include a number of free items that we could disseminate to our members. They gave us 60 boxes of promotional items to use in this manner.

BCCM (BMW Community Clubs Management) put a lot of money in the clubs for the 100th year anniversary celebration. Toward the end of the council meeting we were able to see the reveal of a brand new model that will be unveiled soon.

We also got to drive the new i3 and i8 electric cars on a track. Bob Aldridge mentioned, “That was fun.”

2016 National Rally Chair and Co-Chair Dutch and Kate Lammers

Das Rally officially started July 14 and ended on July 17. It says a lot about this club when you can organize this many people to run an event of this magnitude with

volunteers. We accepted the challenge to become National Rally Chairs and appreciated all the help we received. We want to thank Chuck Manley and the board for proposing and nominating us as rally chairs. I want to say I got to watch Kate work on this rally for a year and a half. Kate was super organized. She sent out all the emails, did all the communications… so organized, she managed access to all the emails in different folders; you can probably realize how much communication was required. I suggested to Kate that we create a standard answer for all the emails we received as they began to stack up, but she insisted on taking the time to answer every single email personally, I think she did a great job.

Kate: It was truly a team effort; we divided our duties based on personal strengths and personalities, I think it works well for any rally chairs to do this. Husband wife co-rally chairs worked out really well.

Dutch: The second thing, because we live so close to the site we were able to visit the site a lot, and the event staff got really excited about the upcoming event as our consistent presence kept it in the forefront of their minds. Building a relationship with the Hamburg event staff was very important and ultimately contributed to the success of the event. The third thing we can attribute to the success of the event was the positive effect Executive Director Bob Aldridge had on the overall outcome. We were really able to use his knowledge as an asset to give us all the different aspects of decisions that needed to be made, a very wise man. Bob is a great leader, he never told us what to do; he would lay out the different options and then support our decisions.

• Things That Went Well: Dedicated and devoted Committee Chairs who knew what they were doing took a huge load off of us. They all wanted to do the very best they could.

Volunteers made it happen. A few honorable mentions: our local clubs, the Niagara club, the Finger Lakes club, and the Ontario club, all stepped up and worked very hard. The GS Giant

event was a huge success for participants and spectators. We needed to fill a whole in the music line up and took a chance with a last minute addition, The Carnival Kids Steel Drum Orchestra.

They were very well received and sounded great. The lesson here, mix it up a little when planning for the national.

Having venders close to the beer garden worked out well for both. Each site presents its own unique requirements, and rally central became our focus.

Having the first-aid station collocated with the beer garden, turned out to be very convenient. It allowed rally goers the opportunity to hydrate and medicate at the same time.

• Challenges: Toward the beginning signage was a problem, but once the sign committee was fully ramped up, we were able to quickly flood the rally site with lots of signs directing rally goers.

You can never have enough signs.

• Navigation: The address to the fairgrounds was not the entrance to the fairgrounds, making for some confusion as people rolled in from a long trip.

• Uber taxi limo golf carts: There were not sufficient numbers of carts and volunteer drivers available. Sam Garst, golf cart chair, did an awesome job. We had a lot of really positive comments on the limo carts. One of the challenges we faced with transportation was that the wagons being pulled requires a very unique skill set to drive one safely on a crowded rally site. Future rally chairs might want to reconsider this as a nonviable transportation option. The porta-potties could have been serviced more often. Gate monitoring was a bit of a challenge this year. We seem to have trouble getting volunteers to monitor gates for the full block times necessary probably due to lack of shade or support facilities at the gates. This caused a problem with control of car access to the rally site and camping

area. Future security chairs may consider having gate guards pass out laminated cards with general rules to participants as they come through.

There needs to be a better plan for controlling rally access for early show times with people potentially showing up early before registration, setting up camp and not registering. Security volunteers controlling gates and registration volunteers may need to be set up early in order to accurately track all registered guests..

Bob Aldridge pointed out that we had four out of the last five rally chairs present in the room. Bob then presented a framed and signed photograph from the rally to Kate and Dutch.

Wes Fitzer presented Kate with a brown BMW women’s riding jacket and Dutch with a Black Leather BMW riding jacket in addition to their monogramed Kermit chairs. Wes Fitzer said, “Kate and Dutch handled everything with such grace and congeniality.”

2017 National Rally Chair Greg Feeler

The 45th BMW MOA International Rally will be at Salt Lake City, Utah, next year. Salt Lake City has long been known as the “Crossroads of the West.” Greg introduced Rally Co-Chairs Brian Burdette and Pat Carol.

There are three big pieces to next year’s rally. They are: 1 . Site Layout: This year we’re trying something new, a virtual site tour of nearly 400 photos organized by facility, utilization, and location. The virtual tours will be used in conjunction with GoToMeeting in order to greatly improve site planning. We believe this will help bring volunteers up to speed more efficiently. Much current planning is focused on traffic flow and vendor access. We have a great working relationship with the site staff, and we are making great progress. I believe the site’s close proximity to a wide variety of hotels will help to

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attract first-time rally goers who do not prefer camping.

2 . Volunteers: At this time our army of MOA volunteer committees has been nearly filled.

3 . Promotion: Branding includes graphical themes, colors, logo designs, and your messaging… and making use of these, all carefully orchestrated in conjunction with social media, the Owners News, and our web site. We will have a Facebook rally presence and hashtags for our topics and events, with cross posting to the MOA Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages.

Our web presence will be a coordinated effort, targeting markets for Rally Touring, Long Distance Riders, GS, Adventure Riders and those who have never been to a rally before. We hope to attract many “unchurched” BMW riders who are not members, in addition to the next generation of motorcycle riders found in the custom bike world. They have an absolute passion for the social aspects of riding that has not been tapped yet by the club. The custom bike and café culture are examples of the passionate young riders we are looking for.

Every rally has a title but it also needs a slogan. To reach the riders I’m talking about, the slogan must be a “call to action.” Sue Rihn’s slogan, “Be The Adventure” for the Billings rally had a very positive effect of reaching people.

What is ours? “Find Your Crossroads” This ties in nicely with the Salt Lake City location and rally title. We

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have a culture of long distance, day and night, wet and cold, riding. We should celebrate that culture. Everybody has a story to tell about their own personal crossroads.

We hope to create a social media campaign that encourages all riders, members and non-members to share their crossroads story. We will produce a page of stickers with the slogan that will be in an issue of the ON. We will have activities for the members to use these stickers to have more fun. The entire club should enjoy the rally spirit whether they are able to participate in the rally experience or not. Much more to come.

A member present asked the question, “What’s our plan to capture that café and custom bike culture?”

Greg Feeler: The fact that much of the café and custom bike culture was created by motorcycle enthusiasts in their twenties is very similarly to how the MOA was created.

The MOA today is a flexible structure; there are a lot of ways to leverage the structure we have. Our support and outreach to passionate riders serves to facilitate their culture. A perfect example would be a custom bike show on Saturday morning. The Harvest Classic is a rally I attended recently. The rally features all kinds of bikes. This particular rally I was attending had twenty-five people there from Austin, Texas. Their average age looked to be between 25 and 35 years old. At one point, they found themselves camped next to a couple of us that had pitched our tent close by. These were highly enthusiastic, young motorcycle riders. One had a Yamaha two-stroke

motorcycle that I used to ride in my youth.

We talked about the bike, and I was able to share a couple of pointers on the bike; enthusiasts coming together, that’s what this is all about. We need to develop that culture. We have some ideas for the national about how we are going to make this happen, of incorporating the custom bike culture. I can’t talk about all of those ideas right now but we’re very excited about what we have planned.

Additional questions and suggestions were fielded from members in attendance and directors involving plans for security volunteers, getting volunteers engaged with a purpose, promoting the needs of the volunteers, having the seminar schedule posted early so volunteers can reconcile their block times with the seminars they signed up for… potential solutions and ideas were discussed.

Pat Carol made an announcement, concerning the recent loss due to a motorcycle accident of long time MOA member Jerry Shaw from the Detroit charter club.

BMW MOA Foundation Director Karol Patzer

Foundation Director Peter Perrin and Greg Feeler have worked out the logistics for Camp Gears in 2017. One change from last year’s rally: Gears will run on the Wednesday and Thursday leading into the rally, instead of Monday and Tuesday. This schedule change should increase participation in the Gears program by better facilitating parents’ and grandparents’ schedules.

Secretary - Reece Mullins

The MOA’s next scheduled executive and open board meetings will be held January 19-21, 2017, in Atlanta, Georgia. President Wes Fitzer accepted motioned to adjourn the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 15:53 MDT.

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Map courtesy of

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2017

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January 1

1/6/2017 – 1/8/2017

Progressive International Motorcycle Show Washington DC Location: Washington Convention Center Contact: motorcycleshows.com It’s time to gear up for your exclusive pass to preview the new BMW vehicles before anyone else.

2

1/13/2017 – 1/15/2017

BMWNEF Winter Rally

Location: Northeast Florida Contact: lemeeker904@comcast.net 904-278-9262 Chill out at Camp Blanding on beautiful Kingsley Lake in Northeast Florida for the 34rd annual BMWNEF Winter Rally; Florida’s Coolest Rally!

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5

3

10

1/13/2017 – 1/15/2017

Progressive International Motorcycle Show Dallas Texas

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9

Location: Dallas, Texas Contact: motorcycleshows.com It’s time to gear up for your exclusive pass to preview the new BMW vehicles before anyone else.

1

4

1/27/2017 – 1/29/2017

Progressive International Motorcycle Show Cleveland Ohio

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Location: Cleveland, Ohio Contact: motorcycleshows.com It’s time to gear up for your exclusive pass to preview the new BMW vehicles before anyone else.

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Detailed information for all events is available online at: 2

bmwmoa.org

February 5

2/10/2017 – 2/12/2017

Progressive International Motorcycle Show Chicago Illinois Location: Rosemont, Illinois Contact: motorcycleshows.com It’s time to gear up for your exclusive pass to preview the new BMW vehicles before anyone else.

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2/16/2017 – 2/20/2017

Death Valley Rendezvous #25 Location: Death Valley National

Park

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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event

whenandwhere

Contact: Gary Jackson 619-559-0108 socalairmarshal@gmail.com This year marks the 25th anniversary of the “Oldest and Lowest” of all Airhead Rendezvouses, and, as in the previous 24 years, we will brave the unpredictable weather of February to gather at the Furnace Creek Campground in Death Valley National Park on President’s Day weekend.

April 7

4/7/2017 – 4/9/2017

Hill Country Hangout

Location: Kerrville, Texas Contact: Paul Mulhern 210-279-6074 pmulhern@swbell.net The best roads in Central Texas plus motorcycle museum, wineries, shopping, and more.

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4/29/2017 – 4/30/2017

32nd Annual BMW Motorcycle MotoExpo and Flea Market Location: Pecatonica, Illinois Contact: Earve Brauer/Steve Frank rockbmw2000@yahoo.com Until 8:00 PM 815-962-8911/ 815-761-0048 Huge indoor BMW MotoExpo and Flea Market, open both Saturday afternoon and Sunday! We welcome buyers, motorcycle and accessory dealers, vendors and enthusiastsellers.

May 9

5/5/2017 – 5/7/2017

3rd Hopewell Road Rally

Location: Logan, Ohio Contact: Sam Booth samrbooth@yahoo.com Join the Southeastern Ohio Beemers again for a weekend of early spring riding in the hills of southern Ohio.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2017

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5/5/2017 – 5/7/2017

The Original Mini-Rally, 45th Year

Location: Sturgis, Michigan Contact: Mike Hart 269-317-9951 bathartx46x@comcast.net Welcome spring with us in Sturgis, Michigan, at the Green Valley Campground, S/W of town on Fawn River Rd. There’s no need to preregister as $25 at the gate gets you non-stop coffee, tea, hot chocolate, donuts and popcorn.

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5/5/2017 – 5/7/2017

Georgia Mountain Rally

Location: Hiawassee, Georgia Contact: Geoff Maffett president@bmwmoga.org This is a great venue for both street and dual sport riding adventures. Your rally fee includes two nights camping, chili dinner, steak dinner and two pancake breakfasts.

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5/18/2017 – 5/21/2017

European Riders Rally

Location: Burkesville, Kentucky Contact: ridersrally@bmwmcon.org We’ll offer a weekend of great riding for both the street and dual sport enthusiast.

Explore the area on your own, or stay onsite and enjoy seminars, movies, motorcycle games and more.

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5/19/2017 – 5/22/2017

32nd ABC Rally

Location: Ontario, Canada Contact: Rich Stevenson johnnydundas@gmail.com The Forest City Motorrad Club of Southwestern Ontario (MOA #159) will be hosting its 32nd rally at the Springwater Conservation Area, in S.W. Ontario. Three nights of camping, showers, continuous coffee, campfire and prizes.

June 14

6/2/2017 – 6/4/2017

2017 Land of Oz Rally

Location: Atchinson, Kansas

Contact: Don Hamblin bmwscooter@gmail.com 256-479-5606 Treat yourself to a weekend the whole family can enjoy at beautiful Warnock Lake, Atchison, Kansas! In the heart of the “best kept secret” of the midwest, you can enjoy scenic touring roads, ADV riding with the GS Giants, Championship KC BBQ (with special kids meals), Field Events, an Old School Bike Show, Live Music, Door Prizes, Awards, 24 hour gourmet coffee or explore historic sites in the most haunted city in the state.

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6/23/2017 – 6/25/2017

The BMW Riders of Oregon Chief Joseph Rally Location: John Day, Oregon Contact: Doug Tewksbury 541-543-7320 rallymaster@gmail.com The fairgrounds has it all - green grass camping, hot showers, clean restroom facilities, a large pavilion building for meals, improved Wi-Fi connections and an RV park.

July 16

7/13/2017 – 7/16/2017

BMW MOA International Rally

Location: Salt Lake City, Utah Contact: Greg Feeler 2017rallychair@bmwmoa.org Utah is a rider’s wonderland with 21 national parks and monuments, 40 state parks, and seven national forests. Easy day rides from the Fairpark will take you into the mountains to Park City, the Utah Olympic Park, and the year-round resorts of Alta, Solitude, and Snowbird.

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7/20/2017 – 7/23/2017

46th Annual Top O’ The Rockies Rally

Location: Paonia, Colorado Contact: Matt Baroody matthewbaroody@msn.com The Paonia area boasts some of Colorado’s best riding, both on and off road. Your rally fee includes three nights shaded camping, Saturday meal and two nights live entertainment. Great place to stop after the M.O.A rally!

August 18

Contact: Carl Thomte 303-753-662 rcarloski@msn.com Ride enough mountain passes in a day to equal 100,000 ft.! This ride can go from 300500 miles depending on the final route.

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8/17/2017 - 8/20/2017

Nakusp Hotsprings Rally

Location: Nakusp, British Columbia, Canada Contact: Grant Fengstad nakupsrally@beeceebeemers.com The areas around Nakusp, BC boasts some of the best riding roads in all of British Columbia. Whether you come for the workshops, talks, camaraderie, riding or to relax in this picturesque location you will not regret your visit.

8/17/2017 - 8/20/2017

20 19th Beartooth Rendezvous Location: Red Lodge, Montana Contact: Charlie Greear/Carla Tooth registrar@beartoothbeemers.org (208) 661-5639/(406) 696-2114 You can’t ask for a better view! Join us at the Lions Camp located 10 miles south of Red Lodge, Montana. Ample camping space is available in and around the camp and there’s even a mountain stream nearby. If you are not into camping there are cabins with built in bunks, just bring your sleeping bag.

8/5/2017

18th Annual 100,000 Ft. Ride

Location: Lakewood, Colorado

www.sargentcycle.com

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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www.parabellum.com

www.motomachines.com

www.globalrescue.com/partner/bmwmoa

advertiserindex Action Stations/Bohn Armor................. 49 Adriatic Moto Tours................................... 49 Adventure Designs.................................... 83 Adventure New Zealand Tours............. 47 AeroFlow....................................................... 16 Aerostich-RiderWearHouse.................... 23 Alaska Leather............................................. 21 Alaska Motorcycle Adventures............. 23 Ayres Adventures....................................... 67 Beach’s Motorcycle Adventures........... 48 Beemer Boneyard...................................... 85 Beemer Shop, The...................................... 73 Best Rest Products..................................... 77 Bing Agency................................................. 67 BMW Motorrad.......................................9, 43 BMW of Pensacola..................................... 47 BMW of Southeast Michigan................. 79 BMW Performance Center...................... 16 Bombar’s Beemers..................................... 42 Boxer Works Service.................................. 47 Brian Jones............................................ 17, 71 BullRack......................................................... 41 California Motorcycle Rental................. 71 Capital Cycle................................................ 49 Cardo Systems............................................. 42 Cee Baileys Aircraft Plastic............... 24, 69 Colorado Motorcycle Adventures....... 73 Colorado Tourbike Rentals..................... 31 Corbin Pacific............................................... 49 Cyclenutz....................................................... 42 DMC Sidecars............................................... 41

Dubbelju Motorcycle Rentals................ 42 Edelweiss Bike Travel................................ 47 EPM Hyper Pro..................................... 17, 31 Euro Moto Electrics................................... 73 First Gear......................................................IBC Geza Gear...................................................... 42 GS-911 Diagnostic Tool............................ 24 Global Rescue.............................................. 94 GSM Motorent............................................. 23 Helmet Sun Blocker................................... 41 HEX-ezCAN................................................... 41 Ilium Works................................................... 85 IMTBIKE TOURS................................... 31, 37 International Motorcycle Shows.......... 11 Kermit Chair Company............................. 23 Lee Parks Design........................................ 83 Legal Speeding Enterprises................... 24 M4Motorcycles.................................... 75, 79 MachineartMoto........................................ 31 MC Wheel Repair........................................ 71 Michelin Tire....................................................5 MOA Gear Shop.......................................... 68 MOA Member Benefits............................ 89 Morton’s BMW Motorcycles................... 23 Moto Aventura............................................ 17 Moto-Bins...................................................... 24 Moto Machines........................................... 94 MotoDiscovery............................................ 79 Motonation..................................................BC Motorcycle Releif Project - psa............. 34 Motorcycle Travel Network.................... 42

Motorrad Elektrik....................................... 49 Motoskiveez................................................. 71 Mountain Master Truck Equipment...... 77 MTA Distributing/Olympia Moto Sports..IFC Overseas Speedometer........................... 23 Palo Alto Speedometer............................ 41 Pandora’s European Motorsports......... 37 Parabellum................................................... 94 Progressive Insurance.............................. 25 Ray Atwood Cycles.................................... 42 Redverz.......................................................... 79 Remus USA................................................... 35 Re-Psycle BMW Parts................................ 21 Rider Magazine............................................ 83 RoadRUNNER Magazine.......................... 85 Russel Cycle Products............................... 75 Sargent Cycle Products............................ 93 Scenic Wheels Motorcycle Tours.......... 75 Spiegler.......................................................... 41 Stop ‘n Go...................................................... 77 Street Eagle Motorcycle Rentals............. 41 Suburban Machinery................................ 23 TecMate......................................................... 77 Total Control Training............................... 31 Touratech.........................................................1 Touring Sport BMW................................... 37 Venture Heat................................................ 17 Wilbers USA........................................... 21, 71 Wolfman Luggage..................................... 17 Ztechnik......................................................... 37

BMW ON (ISSN:1080-5729) (USPS: 735-590) (BMW Owners News) is published monthly by BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Inc., 640 S. Main Street, Suite 201, Greenville, SC 29601. Periodicals postage paid at Pewaukee, Wisconsin and additional mailing offices. Opinions and positions stated in materials/articles herein are those of the authors and not by the fact of publication necessarily those of BMW MOA; publication of advertising material is not an endorsement by BMW MOA of the advertised product or service. The material is presented as information for the reader. BMW MOA does not perform independent research on submitted articles or advertising.

POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO BMW ON, 640 S. Main Street, Suite 201, Greenville, SC 29601 © 2017 by BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Inc. All information furnished herein is provided by and for the members of BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, Inc. Unless otherwise stated, none of the information (including technical material) printed herein necessarily bears endorsement or approval by BMW MOA, BMW NA, the factory or the editors. The editors and publisher cannot be held liable for its accuracy. Printed in the USA. Volume 47, Number 1.

January 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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talelight

Curves Ahead

Chad Warner #202143 and Larry Reed #206748 explore a trail near California Pass while riding the San Juan Mountains of Colorado.

Photo by Jim Bean #107701

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2017

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BMW OWNERS NEWS – A PUBLICATION OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA

JANUARY 2017

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JANUARY 2017 BMW OWNERS NEWS www.bmwmoa.org