BMW Owners News January 2018

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

JANUARY 2018

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JANUARY 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS www.bmwmoa.org

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Inside features

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the best of 2017 Before stepping into 2018, we pause to look back at some of the most significant stories, news and images published in BMW Owners News over the past year. From a new Bagger and an "affair with the poor sister," to tales of personal discovery and epic rides in motorcycle heaven, each month BMW Owners News shares the humor, adventures and accomplishments of BMW MOA members.

rebuilding a first year r 100 rs, part 3

By Brook Reams #114474 In the final installment of Brook's trilogy, he prepares for his cross-country ride aboard his newly restored motorcycle to the R 100 RS 40th anniversary rally and a chance to meet Hans Muth, the famed designer of not only the RS, but the R 90 S, RT, R 80 G/S and R 65..

ON THE COVER: C rossing the Middle River in Pammel State Park, southwest of Winterset, Iowa. Photo by Bill Wiegand #180584

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

the club 4 Owners News Contributors 8 Headlight Looking Forward, by Bill Wiegand 10 President's Column Tis the Season, by Wes Fitzer 12 Postcards from the Road 14 Rider to Rider Letters from our Members Member tested/ product news 16 Oxford Montreal 2 textile adventure suit, The Art of Riding Smooth

skills 72 Foundation News My Paul B. Scholarship Training Experience, by Barry Downing

74 Ride Well Dealing with Migraines, by Marven Ewen lifestyle 76 Jack the Riepe Brittany Berling Rides Again,

by Jack Riepe

80 Final Journeys 82 2016 Winter Mileage Contest results,

by Steve Brunner

by Jim Ford, Touratech Adventure Mirrors.

24 Giant Loop’s quick release soft luggage mounts, BMW unveils a

new mid-size scooter, BMW redesigns its middleweight GS models, BMW expands the K 1600 platform with the introduction of the Grand America, Two MOA women capture spots on the BMW GS Trophy team, MOA Foundation to raffle R 90 S, Icon t-shirts available, New podcasts coming, Michelin's new Road 5.

tech 36 Keep ‘em Flying Working on Slash 5s, by Matthew Parkhouse 42 All I needed was a clutch, Part one by Wes Fleming

BMW MOA RALLY 86 2018 MOA Rally See you in Des Moines next summer, by Brian Hinton

87 Meet the 2018 Rally Team events 92 When and Where Places to Ride and Things to See 95 Advertiser Index 96 Talelight

discovery 48 Tales from the Road Moving Past the Fear of Giving,

by Ken Decroo

January 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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the club

CONTRIBUTORS 1. Professional 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. Marven Ewen has been riding motorcycles since 1986 and has been an MOA member since 2007. He currently rides an R 1200 RT and a Triumph Street Triple. He is a Family Physician in Minnesota with more than 20 years of experience, including emergency medicine, and is also medical director of Allied Medical Training, an EMT training school.

3. Dawn Hein has been riding motorcycles since 2001, but REALLY started riding when she got her 650 GS in 2010. After taking RawHyde's Intro class with her husband, she was hooked on dirt. While always working on being on a better rider, Dawn travels on and offroad about 10,000 miles a year on one of her trusty BMW 650 singles (X-Challenge, Dakar, and GS). She and her husband Michael live in New Paltz, New York, with their many motorcycles.

4. Ron Davis has been a rider, off and on, for about 40 years. Over that period, he’s also squeezed in a full time career teaching high school and university classes in writing, photography, and publishing while also working as a social media writer for the tourism industry in northwest Ontario and Associate Editor for BMW Owners News. His writing has been featured by BMW Owners News, BMW Motorcycle Magazine and The National Writing Project, and his essays, sometimes on motorcycling, can be heard regularly on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life.” His recently completed novel for young adults, Sachem Summer, is about love, trout fishing and a BMW R50/2.

5. Brian Hinton As a musician and a purveyor of upscale instruments, Brian Hinton has high expectations for quality. That is why in 2005 when he got his first BMW motorcycle, he felt an immediate connection. Since that fateful day, Brian has managed to gather a small collection of BMW brand motorcycles, using them to travel over thousands of miles each year.

It is these motorcycles that have fueled his constant need for adventure—and he couldn’t be happier.

6. W es Fleming tried being a rock star for 25 years, but gave all that up to focus on motorcycles. His mother still hasn’t forgiven him. The first new motorcycle he ever bought got run over by a car – with him still in the saddle. He discovered BMWs thanks to a friend in 2001 and has been riding trendy, not-so-trendy and sidecar-equipped BMWs ever since.

Wes currently holds down multiple jobs, including motorcycle shop office boy and history professor, and when he’s not helping his teenage daughter with her homework, they’re out somewhere in their sidecar rig.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

www.michelinmotorcycle.com

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2018

Natural Beauty

While heading home from a perfect day of riding in northern Arkansas, Drew Miska #214159, photographed his R 1200 RT at the Hodgson Water Mill near Ozark County Missouri.

headlight Magazine of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America MANAGING EDITOR

Bill Wiegand bill@bmwmoa.org

Looking forward

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 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 2018

JANUARY HAS ALWAYS BEEN THE MONTH I DREAD THE MOST EACH

year. The days are short, the holidays are behind us and it’ll be months before my bike leaves the garage again.

Through our annual BMW Owners News “Best of ” issue, January also gives us the chance to acknowledge some of the members who make the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and Owners News great.

From sharing stunning photographs and passionate stories of epic journeys in distant lands to soul-baring accounts of personal discovery, whimsical stories of their adventures and descriptive reviews of products they use, MOA volunteer contributors are the fuel that keeps both Owners News and our organization humming along.

I know all of us have stories and images worth sharing and encourage anyone with an interest in contributing to Owners News to please contact us. We would be happy to help you with the process. You can reach out by emailing submissions@bmwmoa.org.

Looking forward to the year ahead gives all MOA members a lot be excited about and many opportunities for great images and stories.

Our annual get-together slated for July 12 – 15 at the Iowa State Fairgrounds promises to be another great MOA event. While Des Moines may lack the mountains or curvy roads found in other parts of the country, the area offers much to BMW motorcyclists and welcomes our members with open arms and Midwestern hospitality.

On the MOA website, William Groh echoed this sentiment by saying, “The reason most of us started going to rallies was to visit with friends that we only see at rallies. The ride to the rally or after is the adventure, but the rally is a time to get off the bike and enjoy people, vendors and events. I ride about 30,000 miles a year a see many great sites, but when I go to a National it is fun to park the bike and sit and enjoy stories, lies and the laughs we share with each other for a few days.”

Randy Mattran expressed similar thought and believes Des Moines is actually a pretty smart pick and that the state fairgrounds “have to be the most developed and largest site of its kind in the country with lots of shade, grass and air-conditioned buildings while the city is big enough to have good lodging close to the site.” True, there is not interesting local riding, so people will focus on rally site activities. However, the potential for great riding to and from Des Moines is endless, with the Black Hills and Rocky Mountains to the west, Ozarks to the south, Lake Superior to the north and the Mississippi River to the east.

Jerry Johnson advised MOA rally-goers to “Rent the movie Bridges of Madison County.

There are six covered bridges in the county on gravel roads. We did it when attending the Iowa Rally. It’s a short ride from the rally and a lot of fun.”

In addition to the 2018 season of MOA Getaways and Adventure Series events soon to be announced, the next motorcycle raffle sponsored by the MOA Foundation could just be the best yet.

Unlike motorcycles given away in the past, to offer something really special for this raffle the Foundation has worked with legendary MOA member Chris Canterbury, owner of Boxer Metal in Chico, California. Chris has found and restored to its original luster and beauty a 1974 R 90 S in Silver Smoke. I’ve seen the bike and it honestly looks like it just rolled off the assembly line.

Come on spring!

www.bobsbmw.com

PRESIDENTSCOLUMN

Happy New Year!

BMW MOA OFFICERS

Wes Fitzer, President 918-441-2114; wes.fitzer@bmwmoa.org Jean Excell, Vice President 719-650-6215; jean.excell@bmwmoa.org Reece Mullins, Secretary 334-470-7770; reece.mullins@bmwmoa.org Sam Garst, Treasurer 414-704-7767; sam.garst@bmwmoa.org BMW MOA DIRECTORS

Deb Lower 719-510-9452; deb.lower@bmwmoa.org Tracy McCarty 913-238-3182; tracy.mccarty@bmwmoa.org Marc Souliere 613-828-1798; marc.souliere@bmwmoa.org Roger Trendowski 732-671-0514; roger.trendowski@bmwmoa.org Chad Warner 614-735-8558; chad.warner@bmwmoa.org BMW MOA VOLUNTEER STAFF

Steve Brunner, Mileage Contest Coordinator 910-822-4369; steveb@bmwmoa.org Jim Heberling, High Mileage Coordinator 309-530-1951; jheberling@bmwmoa.org Sue Rihn, Ambassador Liaison 262-424-2617; sue@beemerhill.com Lee Woodring, Consumer Liaison 770-331-2419; lee.woodring@bmwmoa.org Joe Leung, Consumer Liaison 403-689-9939; joe.leung@bmwmoa.org Brian Hinton, 2018 BMW MOA Rally Chair 2018rallychair@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, Associate Executive Director tedm@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 Wes Fleming, Associate Editor Digital wfleming@bmwmoa.org Lesa Howard, Membership Services lesa@bmwmoa.org Shannon Bossana, Membership Services shannon@bmwmoa.org

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

By Wes Fitzer #170126 IN YEARS PAST I’VE WRITTEN ABOUT NEW YEAR’S RESOLU-

tions—riding more, working less, etc. This year I’d like to talk a little about tax preparation. Right now you’re probably thinking you’ve accidentally grabbed your copy of Money, Forbes, Kiplingers or some other financial planning magazine. Rest assured, this is BMW Owners News.

According to my wife, my degree in accounting and business administration prohibits me from having our tax return prepared by another accountant. Without fail, each year as I gather our documents, receipts and tax forms, I always end up thinking that I should have donated a little more money to charity. All of us have our own reasons for donating our money. For some, it’s religious reasons. For others, worthwhile organizations include those working to end hunger, clothe the needy or provide shelter for animals. These causes, along with many others, are all worthy of our consideration. As a rider, an option I want to talk to you about is our own BMW MOA Foundation.

The common thread binding all of us together as members of the MOA is our passion for motorcycles. As a passionate motorcyclist myself, I can’t think of a more deserving organization (okay, that’s a personal opinion) to give a tax-deductible donation to than one that supports our addiction, the MOA Foundation.

The MOA Foundation is the organization that funds the Paul B. Scholarship, which provides all current MOA members with up to $250 for the training of their choice at a time of their choosing. How cool is that?! God willing and the crick don’t rise, you will soon see additional training opportunities and styles this coming year that I believe everyone will be excited about.

Not only does the Foundation fund training for our members, but they’ve also provided financial support to the Motorcycle Relief Project. I have a great deal of respect for all men and women in all branches of service, and it makes me proud to think that my donations are helping these young men and women. As many of you know, the MRP uses motorcycles to help veterans suffering from PTSD return to a normal life You may be thinking, “Okay Wes, I hear you. How can I donate?” Well, that’s the great thing, as there are several ways you can do this. Let me outline a few. How many of you shop at Amazon? By shopping at smile.amazon.com and entering the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America MOA Foundation as your charity, with every purchase you make Amazon will make a donation in your name to the MOA Foundation. Please note that choosing to shop at smile.amazon.com DOES NOT change the price of your item nor any of the deliverables. It really can’t get much easier than that.

What about my tax deduction? It’s easy to make a fully deductible cash donation to the MOA Foundation. Simply contact MOA Foundation Executive Director Ted Moyer at tmoyer@bmwmoaf.org, and he can give you information on donating to the MOA Foundation. You can also visit their website, bmwmoaf.org.

Yet another option involves end-of-life giving and estate planning. To understand these opportunities, I would suggest you consult your estate planning professional.

I know the subject matter I’ve mentioned here is a bit different than my typical column, but I believe it was important. In my travels through MOA land I’m always astonished at the number of people who aren’t aware of what the MOA Foundation does. With a smile, I’ll always respond by saying, “They pay for us to be safer on the streets.”

Ride safe (Foundation style) and Happy New Year!

Wes

Fitzer

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Postcardsfromtheroad

Each month we publish great images sent in by BMW MOA members captured as they tour the globe. Send us your best images and you could have your work published in our Postcards from the Road pages as well. Email your high resolution images, image description and contact information to editor@bmwmoa.org.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2018

1. A view seen along the northern portion of the Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route.

Wayne Zerr #189206 Columbia Heights, Minnesota 2. A mural found in St. Louis, Missouri, south of the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial along the riverfront flood wall.

Ken Heyer #195135 Wildwood, Missouri 3. A GoPro image captured from my K 1200 S as Kevin, Joe and I headed east across Nevada toward Salt Lake City and the 2017 BMW MOA Rally.

Eric Deyerl #158472 Culver City, California 4. An early October departure.

J. Todd Berg #179893 Eau Claire, Wisconsin 5. A photo taken in Wilson, Michigan, during a July 2017 road trip from New Hampshire to Wisconsin and around the Great Lakes.

Andrew Phillips #136760 Nottingham, New Hampshire

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6. The Devil’s Whip along the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Paul LaramĂŠe #208229 Sainte-Anne-des-Lacs, Quebec

7. Just east of Caldwell, Texas, on Highway 21.

Ken Bowman #2012387 College Station, Texas 8. A sidehack on the Silverado Trail shot last fall in Napa Valley.

Chris Goodfellow #63301 Santa Rosa, California 7

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

Thank you MOA

I have been a BMW MOA member since 2007 and have really enjoyed being a part of what I think is the best motorcycle organization.

I think the magazine I receive each month and its variety of content on products, trips and safety tips is an excellent publication, and the MOA Getaways are truly awesome. If you have not attended one, you should put it on your bucket list.

However, what I really appreciate the most is the MOA’s continued emphasis on safety and training which brings me to the most unique benefit of being an MOA: the Paul B Scholarship and its financial support for members wanting to improve their motorcycle skills with additional training.

I have used the Paul B Scholarship three times over the past four years and attended various California Superbike School events around the country. After every event I come home a better and more aware rider.

This past August I attended the Superbike School at VIR in Alton, Virginia. It was an excellent learning experience, and even after riding motorcycles for more than 55 years, I can say you are never too old to improve, no matter how long you have been riding.

Thank you again BMW MOA Foundation for the Paul B. Scholarship and for your support of members and their safe and enjoyable motorcycle riding experience!

Albert Jones #133399 Moneta, Virginia

Thanks for overhearing

Gosh, but I enjoy the BMW Owners News magazine.

I don’t normally write to a magazine, but the October issue had a one-page story that was so true, so brief, and so

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

male that I just had to let you know how much I enjoyed it.

Member Stephen C. Weston penned “Conversations Overheard in Salt Lake” showing he is a true observer of gender differences and social connections while still able to weave his own brand of brief into his story.

He did a fine job in his writing.

Hilarious!

Bobi Allard #200639 Billings, Montana

Issues with quality

It is with interest that I read James Cron’s Rider to Rider letter titled "Issues with Quality" in the October issue of Owners News. BMW Airhead owners will know what it is to ride a bike of quality, as so many of them are still around and being cherished.

I have a 2009 GS Adventure with the high quality fuel strip which costs me time for replacement each year and which I am sure will leave me high and dry on the freeway once again due to the issues its causes. No real fix, just free replacements.

Then we have the rear end issues on some bikes and the fork stanchions on the GSs. Among all this is frame rust and people changing brands for a basic issue that sounds like 70's cars.

Come on BMW, go back to your roots, stop charging more for bolting on more and concentrate on what you were good at: QUALITY. I am looking more and more to other brands; my childhood dream was always BMW. How many others are saying the same? Stop the rot before you become another lesson in history.

David Baristow #166467 Leicester, North Carolina

I can say nice things, too

Since I’ve been known to criticize on occasion and sometimes send in what I believe to be a correction, it is only fair that I should commend and say thank you to Wes Fitzer for his excellent, thought-provoking President’s Column in the November 2017 issue of BMW Owners News.

Randall Beecham #52893 Bellville, Ohio

Another viewpoint

I enjoyed Wes Fitzer's President’s Column last month (November). I salute his patriotism. Patriotism is an important virtue, something all citizens should have and share.

Still patriotism, based as it is on pride in country, can be problematic and can lead to hubris. Take this sentence; the United States "enjoy(s) the greatest freedom of any industrialized country in the world."

Members will read this and believe it.

Yet it's not true. The USA does not even make the top ten according to the Cato Institute in Washington, DC. They measure individual freedoms in individual countries and keep a tabs on these things.

In 2016 the USA was number 23 on the list.

As Wes so aptly points out, there is so much we should be thankful for. Yet national jingoism and hubris has no place in an organization that purports to be international in nature. Or maybe I've got that wrong.

I'd rather we just stick to motorcycles.

Gordin Warner #173062 Victoria, British Columbia

Tire protection works

Just a little note about the MOA’s tire hazard/roadside assistant program. It was a Tuesday afternoon, and I was just out for a little ride when all of a sudden, the

dreaded red triangle on the dash was flashing. Immediately I slowed and looked to figure out what wasn't going on and saw the TPM showing 29 psi!

After I found a wide spot in the road, I pulled over to find that a nail had found its way into my nearly new Dunlop Roadsmart III rear tire! With the bike still under warranty, I called BMW and they set up a tow and also called the local dealer, Gateway BMW in St. Louis.

Shannon told me it would take a while for the towing service to get the bike to him as it was already two in the afternoon.

So instead of waiting, I pulled out my plug kit and compressor, removed the nail, and plugged and inflated the tire. After I called BMW to cancel the tow, I was on my way to Gateway and showed up at their shop around 3 p.m.

Even with their busy shop schedule, Shannon and Ryan hustled me in and began to work on the bike so I called the MOA office to make my tire claim and handed the phone to the service guys who provided all of the information needed.

I was on my way in about an hour and a half with new shoes front and back! I checked on the claim the following Monday and lo and behold my reimbursement check for $250 was at the house already!

Way to go, MOA! In this day and age, it's nice to know sometimes it's worth paying a little extra for service like this! I can't say enough about the guys at the shop either, thank you for squeezing me in!

David Pauline #162257 Maryville, Illinois

Thank you Brook

Thanks Brook for part one of your story on the R 100 RS rebuild.

As a mechanical engineer in a sales role, I understand the desire to have a hobby opposed to the demands of the workplace. I'd love to make the time to start a project like this. In the meantime, I'll be looking forward to seeing this story continue here and on your site.

Jared Foley #200315 Manayunk, Pennsylvania

Avoiding an impending crash

In his Street Strategies article titled The Root Cause of Motorcycle Crashes published in the November 2017 issue of BMW Owners News, Roger Wiles described a crash scenario involving two riders approaching a blind, left-hand curve and an oncoming car drifting into their lane.

After describing the crash and injuries of those involved, Wiles described some possible causes and risk factors leading up to the event along with potential options that might have minimized the risks of all involved. Concluding the article, Wiles asked readers to offer opinions on how to improve our attentiveness and avoid similarly dangerous situations. Below are a couple responses.

I found the article extremely interesting. In describing an accident involving two riders, I was reminded of my days as a flight safety officer in the USAF when I participated on a number of mishap boards where aircraft were lost.

When the facts had been gathered, the board recreated the incident and listed their findings in chronological sentences describing the mishap and then tried to determine which findings were causal.

Air Force Instruction 91-204 states “A cause is a deficiency, which if corrected, eliminated, or avoided, would likely have prevented or mitigated the mishap damage or injury. Cause does not imply blame.

Based solely on the facts presented in his article, failure of the auto driver to maintain control of her automobile in the confines of her designated lane is a finding I would label as “causal”. The fact that her power steering was out prior to the accident was definitely a finding, as were several other factors mentioned in the article.

Whether Ty’s position and inattention was causal or not is debatable because we really don’t know if Clarence could have avoided the accident even if Ty had still been in proper position behind Clarence.

However, it seems obvious given the facts presented in the article that Ty could have been a better “wingman” as not only was he not paying attention to his principle responsibility (he was looking at the scenery), his equipment was not up to par, he was not wearing proper gear and the gear he had on was not properly secured since his helmet came off.

Notwithstanding, I believe the point of Roger’s article is whether or not the accident might have been avoided given the exact same timing and conditions. The short answer is “I don’t know,“ and depends on a number of unanswered questions including the amount of pavement to the right, whether the car was continuing to steer at Clarence, etc.

It seems to me that driving a motorcycle is not unlike flying a jet with potential danger lurking around every corner. However, when I was cruising at 25,000 feet, I did not pay the same attention as flying 600 mph at 200 feet. The same applies to motorcycling.

When I’m on my fabulous K 1600 GTL riding a curvy, mountainous road, I’m definitely slowing my pace and upping my alertness, particularly if I can’t see around corners. If I’m in “formation” I am even more alert, as now I need to not only operate my own motorcycle safely, I need to pay attention to my position with respect to the motorcycle(s) in front of me.

Like Roger says in the article, keep your brain “on task” when on a bike. Like flying high performance military jets, anytime you ride, there’s danger; not paying increased attention in an even higher risk environment such as a mountainous road is inexcusable.

Doug Jackson #210509 Lt Col USAF (Retired) Woodway, Texas

Sure the lady crossing the line caused the crash, but it was probably preventable. I’ve been riding for more than 50 years and have spent my share of time on the ground. In retrospect, most of my get-offs can be chalked up to a split second of inattention or a misunderstanding of a threat to my right-of-way. In the scenario Wiles presented, Clarence shouldn’t have been so close to the center line of the left-hand curve. Other factors leading to the crash include Ty following too closely on bald tires while watching the scenery.

I also think Clarence likely target-fixated on the car, and Clarence should have motioned for Ty to give him more space and not crowd him and worn a better helmet and body armor.

Joel Parks #49182 Yonkers New York January 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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member teste 16

PRoductreviews

Oxford Montreal 2 textile adventure suit

By Christopher P. Baker #126077 ONE OF THE BEAUTIES OF TRAVEL

is discovering name brands that don’t have a strong U.S. presence. On a recent visit to Britain I chanced upon Oxford Products, a moto-gear name I wasn’t familiar with. Its vast range of products includes a jaw-droppingly handsome black-and-fluorescent yellow ADV jacket—the Montreal 2.0. It seemed to leap off the sales rack.

Close inspection suggested a quality product with desirable bells and whistles and more. I did a doubletake! Was the low price tag—£149.99 (about $165)—an error? Why hadn’t I seen this in the U.S.?

Turns out the 46-year-old Oxfordshire-based company is a British success story with a U.S. subsidiary, Oxford Products USA. I promptly ordered a suit. A month later I returned home and eagerly opened the package. The jacket didn’t quite have the Brad Pitt looks I remembered, but I couldn’t put my finger on why I wasn’t quite so visibly moved.

The confusion was solved by a Google search, which pulled up two versions of the Montreal 2 fluo jacket.

One with (and one without) eyecatching highlights—company logos, stylized reflector patches, and thin red plastic bands sealing the upper arm protective zone joints—that really make this beauty sing.

“Prior to bringing the new jacket range into the U.S., we gathered feedback from our retail dealers and among other changes, they unanimously told us that they didn’t want obvious logos, so we toned down the Montreal and have a U.S. spec jacket,” explained Eric McFarlane, President

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

of Oxford Products USA. More’s the pity, say I. Maybe I had seen a U.S. version. It just hadn’t caught my eye.

Jacket

Straight up, this is a tremendous ADV jacket with a practical, no-nonsense (even inspired) design and sturdy construction that includes bar-tacked reinforced stitching. About my only gripe is that some of the stitching runs off straight; that, and the unevenly cut collar fabric on my jacket is

dismayingly frayed.

The outer shell is comprised of ripstop polyester and 600D Cordura with ruggedly reinforced abrasion-resistant Nylon impact zones. Neon-yellow fluo fabric—nicely understated yet large enough to get drivers’ attention—runs down the front of the arms, atop and around the shoulders and collar, and atop the back pocket. A hockey-stick shaped fluo strip also runs down the back.

The only other highlight carrying over from the UK version is the rust-colored

Neoprene-edged synthetic suede inner collar. This doubles as a zippered pouch for a soft under-helmet rain-hood with waterproof neck. Nice! Want to keep the Velcrosealed collar open? A left-side popper stud lets you draw back and secure the collar on hot days.

The Montreal comes in eight sizes from Small to 6XL. I feared that the Large (which Oxford claims suits a 42-inch chest) would be too large, but the fit is comfortable, with just the right space around the armpits.

Multiple adjusters (elasticized for extra flex) at waist and hip and on the arms at both bicep and forearm let me tailor the jacket for a satisfying Savile Row bespoke fit. A major plus, concertina sections above the elbow pads and around the dorsals provide extra flexibility and stretch when you shift your body while adventure riding.

The slider on the large VKK Vislon zipper that seals the jacket features a two-inchlong, rubber-tipped string to make it easier to grab while riding (with zipper closed fully, a press-stud flap stops the pull flailing around). A large Velcro-secured flap at the waist overrides the zipper, which runs slightly diagonal from waist to the right side pectoral and functions as a double zip storm-flap system with the removable liner.

Unfortunately, the zipper isn't aquasealed, as is the case for the twin eight-inch vents that run diagonally across the chest. Their great placement shovels air nicely under the armpits. A 10-inch-wide vent also runs atop the back. Additionally, double-zippered aquaseal vents run from wrist to elbow atop the forearm. All vents feature press-stud flaps for “lock open ventilation.”

The Montreal’s soft, flexi-joint CE-1 Level elbow and shoulder pads and sponge back pad don’t impress, but are no surprise at this price point. Better to upgrade to CE-2s

or ditch the pads for a Forcefield Pro-Shirt undergarment with built-in body armor (see review in BMW ON January 2017). If, like me, you’re no fan of internal Velcro-seal protector pockets, you’ll appreciate the Montreal’s external zippers, which make it easier to insert and remove the pads. I’m disappointed, however, that the U.K. version’s overt reflectors have been replaced with almost imperceptible “popper reflectors” on the U.S. jacket. (Some of the descriptive text on the company’s U.S. website—eg “Lots of reflective detailing for enhanced visibility at night”—is a carryover from the U.K. product and no longer applies.)

On the plus side, the Montreal has plenty of pocket space. Twin waterproof toploader waist pockets sealed with Velcrosecured flaps feature pendant rubber grips for an easy grab while riding. Hand-warmer pockets beneath are not fleeced, alas the

rear pocket is large enough to stuff the liner.

There’s a dandy waterproof Napoleon pocket on the inner side of the main zipper, and sewn into the mesh-liner are a large waterproof inner pocket on the left and touch-screen compatible smartphone pocket on the left. The latter is sewn rather flimsily to the loose mesh liner (not the shell body) and seems like it could easily tear when tugging the rubber pull to part the ever-so-firm Velcro seal.

Waterproof Liner

The U.S. jacket does away with the U.K. version’s thermal liner, and the built-in, laminated waterproof membrane for the Brits is ditched in favor of a detachable, 3-layer waterproof Hipora liner. I’m told that’s another request by U.S. dealers. The rainproof liner (which lacks an interior pocket) zippers to the shell and secures loosely to the collar by a loop and press-stud. (A

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zipper liner at the collar base would create a far more integrated feel, as would an elasticated waist band.) The arms also attach by loops and studs, thoughtfully color-coded red and black so you don’t twist the liner arm inside the shell. Elasticated wrists provide a good seal.

The liner is supposedly “breathable.” I’ve yet to find one on the market that truly feels it. Like others, this one needs to be worn with a longsleeved undergarment to prevent sweating against your skin. Otherwise it does the job.

Pants

Oxford offers the handsome pants ($159.95) in three lengths. I ordered the all-black Medium with 34-inch leg. I liked that I could get my entire hand through the long pull-cords to yank up the pants and that the waist band secures firmly by a hook-clasp and press-stud. Plus, they fit snugly, without need to use the removable (and much appreciated) built-in suspenders secured by Velcro loops.

The pants come with sealed foldflap fly, adjustable storm-flap leg closures and a built-in waterproof membrane that’s double-layered in the knees, crotch and seat. The reinforced knees host CE-1 level jointed protector pads, although the hip pads are merely soft sponge. Again, I like that the knee pad zone is topped by an elasticated concertina, which repeats across the small of the back, allowing a significant amount of vertical flex.

In the saddle, these really do enhance comfort.

Hand-warmer pockets below the waist band are a nice touch but, as with the jacket, would be enhanced by fleece lining. Below, eight-inchdeep waterproof thigh pockets are adorned with tiny reflector strips.

The pockets overlay meager fourinch vents. It’s a strange location that smothers air flow, although the vents pull open and lock with press-stud

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

flaps to the sides.

Despite these niggly details, Oxford has otherwise thought things through.

For example, a raised rear hem prevents damage from your boot heel.

Inner leg panels get a heat-resistant laminate. A synthetic leather grip over the reinforced crotch and derrière prevents slipping around in the saddle and the excellent calf-length thermal insert easily attaches by a waist zipper and twin color-coded loops-and-studs below the knee.

Verdict

This comfortable, good-looking suit offered in three color options—allblack, black/fluorescent, and black/ sand—is brimming with thoughtful details and has an unbelievably low price, delivering massive bang for the buck at a quality level way beyond its budget demographic.

Professional travel writer/photographer and motojournalist Christopher P. Baker (www.motojournalist.com) has written and photographed for publications from BMW Owners News to National Geographic Traveler and Playboy. His many guidebooks include Back Roads California: 24 Leisurely Drives plus five titles in the National Geographic Traveler series. A Cuba specialist, he wrote the award-winning Mi Moto Fidel: Motorcycling Through Castro’s Cuba and leads motorcycle tours for Edelweiss Bike Travel (www.cubamotorcycletours.com). He regularly reviews products for BMW Owners News.

Skin protection from the first mile to the last.

LDComfort’s Dual Layer fabric keeps you drier.

Undergarments for serious riders.

View our full line of undergarments at

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For the fun of it: The Art of Riding Smooth

By Ron Davis #111820 THERE ARE LOTS OF GOOD BOOKS

out there about riding motorcycles. In fact, author Jim Ford admits he had misgivings over what he could contribute to the body of knowledge already in print when friends urged him to write his own book. However, after reading The Art of Riding Smooth, I think most riders would find this book an excellent step toward upgrading their skills and enhancing their experience on two wheels.

Ford certainly has all the credentials to qualify him as an authority on riding well. He has ridden nearly 600,000 miles (98 percent of those on the twisting “invisible roads” through the Blue Ridge and Appalachian Mountains) and has been conducting two-day tours and riding workshops on mountain roads that have garnered countless enthusiastic testimonials for more than 10 years. In addition, Ford is an instrument-certified pilot with over 20 years of experience which enhances his insight into the sport some call “the closest thing to flying.”

Like most riding authorities, Ford puts great emphasis on safety in his book; however, one of his main premises is that riding safely is just one component of what he feels is the preeminent goal of riders, to have fun doing it! As a rider coach following his clients through serpentine back roads across the Appalachians, Ford has had a rich opportunity to diagnose the typical weaknesses riders may have that create dangerous scenarios. Not only has this given him compelling anecdotes to share with his readers, but it has also allowed

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

him to create a collection of time-tested strategies to help riders stay out of trouble.

Though Ford’s general riding philosophy (his license reads “ZEN”) becomes clearer with each chapter of The Art of Riding Smooth, for me the real meat of the book is his breakdown and explanation of riding technique.

As other readers have commented, Ford’s discussions on factors like “vanishing points,” acceleration, braking, up and downshifting, counter-steering and lean are clear and reinforced with captivating anecdotes. Though the book is easy reading, I found myself often pausing after a few pages to absorb a fresh take on technique, sometimes going back to reread sections in hopes of integrating a tip into my own riding.

The only problem was I read this as the riding season here in Wisconsin was ending— I’m dying to try some of this stuff out!

A bonus feature of The Art of Riding Smooth is the final section called “The Magical Mountainous Tour.” This 60-page section is an invaluable guide to specific, little-trafficked “invisible roads” through the Appalachians guaranteed to put Ford’s techniques to the test and put wide grins on any rider’s face. Ford also includes tips on points of interest to visit, historical background and even directions to some of the best places to eat or stay.

Again, for Jim Ford, simply riding safely and incorporating good technique, though

vitally important, are only pathways to the destination we all covet, enjoying the ride to the utmost. The love he conveys for confidently riding smoothly is infectious; reading his book will help any rider elevate both his or her skill and enjoyment.

A signed copy of The Art of Riding Smooth (190 pages, paperback) can be ordered through www.ridersworkshop.com ($25 including shipping) and Amazon.com ($20 for “prime” members).

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Touratech Adventure Mirrors: Perfect for off-road riding

By Dawn S. Hein #169208 and Michael Hein #172440 AT THE GS TROPHY QUALIFIER, AS

ON editor Bill Wiegand helped me reattach one stock mirror and remove the remains of another brand foldable mirror, it struck him as a perfect opportunity to have Michael and I test the Touratech Adjustable Folding Mirrors. The following week a pack-

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

age arrived, and it was so light that we were surprised to find it contained a set of mirrors. With the arms made of molded plastic with reinforcements, they feel sturdier than they look.

Installing them on the 2014 R 1200 GS was as easy as screwing them in where the stock mirror base attaches (just keep track

of the washers). Other mirror bases are different sizes, so be sure to order the correct ones for your model bike.

Initially, the mirrors were very stiff and hard to adjust, but after a day of wet, muddy woods trails and hill climbs at the MAX BMW GS event, the mirrors were broken in enough to adjust more easily. On the ride home, Michael commented that the mirrors are solid and don’t vibrate even riding with knobby tires at speed. The next weekend I rode the bike, also noting that the field of vision was better than the stock mirrors or other adjustable mirrors that we’ve tried.

Touratech added another off-road riding feature, allowing the mirror to rotate in toward the center of the bike to stay out of harm’s way if you prefer. The arm of the mirror has full 180 degree rotation with stop points along the way that register as clicks. Once clicked into place, it remains firmly where you left it but is easy enough to adjust back up.

In one more durability test (rider and bike were not hurt in the process, but don’t try this at home), a patch of wet leaves on a mossy old back road bridge put the bike way over on its side for a long slide. The down side mirror, being plastic, might have been vulnerable, but it stayed in place and only sustained scratches on the housing.

In summary, these mirrors have a lot of great features, are durable and very functional for both on and off road riding. Plus, at 42 percent of the price of new stock R 1200 GS mirrors, they are an affordable alternative, and they will definitely end up on some of our other bikes. Heading to the garage now to check the mirror thread pitch and diameter on the R 75/5!

For more information, visit touratechusa.com/Store/Touratech-Adjustable-Folding-Mirror.

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www.wfmcgovern.com (781) 790-3473 BMW MOA Member # 67916

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January 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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new

PRoductnews Next MOA Foundation Raffle announced

The BMW MOA Foundation revealed its next raffle motorcycle this month, a 1974 BMW R 90 S in Silver Smoke.

The vintage motorcycle was expertly restored by long-time MOA member Chris Canterbury of Boxer Metal in Chico, California. Canterbury sourced the R 90 S and oversaw the complete restoration of the bike to near perfection. Raffle tickets and information about the build will be available at bmwmoaf.org, with tickets available for $25 each and available for purchase between February 1 and March 31, 2018.

The winning ticket will be drawn at the MOA Getaway in Fontana, North Carolina, in April. Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the MOA Foundation to advance rider safety, education and training.

Michelin's new Road 5

Michelin newest motorcycle tire, the Road 5, has been designed specifically to provide sport touring riders with enhanced grip, comfort and wet-weather stability.

The tires incorporate Michelin’s XST Evo siping and ACT+ technologies for added confidence in both wet and dry conditions over the life of the tire. According to Michelin, even after 3,000 miles the Michelin Road 5 tires stop as short as new set of Michelin Pilot Road 4 tires when braking in wet conditions thanks to the XST Evo water drop sipes which grow wider mile after mile. In 2011, Michelin patented their SXT sipe design which was improved in 2014 with the Pilot Road 4.

Better dry road grip has been achieved through new tread compounds and Michelin’s ACT+ adaptive casing technology, incorporating high angles and overlapping cross plies which allow for improved cornering and straight-line stability.

See your local dealer or visit moto.michelin.com for more information.

Giant Loop quick release soft luggage mounts

Giant Loop’s new ultralight, rugged and quick-release Pannier Mounts for motorcycle soft luggage and gear is constructed of aluminum with a black powder-coated finish, stainless steel hardware and a key lock mechanism.

Weighing only 3.6 pounds per pair, the GL Pannier Mounts feature just two moving parts, an anchor clasp and a lock, both accessible without having to reach inside motorcycle luggage. They are compatible with most side luggage rack designs featuring flat, vertical hoops constructed of 18mm round tubing, including Touratech and the BMW R 1200 GS pannier racks.

Although designed for Giant Loop’s rack-mounted motorcycle soft luggage, Round The World Panniers and MotoTrekk Panniers, GL Pannier Mounts will also work with RotoPax® gas cans, water cans and accessories, and strap slots enable attachment of virtually any other gear, tools or bags.

MSRP for the GL Pannier Mounts is $299. For more information, visit giantloopmoto.com

Icon t-shirts now available

THE HO G IN

wm

Chasing the Horizon - BMW MOA's podcast by, for and about motorcyclists - continues to grow. December's episodes featured Harold Cecil (Giant Loop) and Randy Richardson (Michelin), with January's episodes serving up Paul Guillien (Touratech USA) and world-travelling author Sam Manicom. Join us every other Monday through the end of March for new episodes that explore every aspect of motorcycling and people who ride - some to the corner for milk and bread, others to the farthest reaches of the Earth.

Search for Chasing the Horizon in iTunes, or download directly from the web page, bmwmoa.org/podcast.

as

t

bm

New Podcasts available

N ZO RI

CHA S

The BMW MOA Foundation has introduced a new line of t-shirts featuring vintage and classic BMW motorcycles. The initial shirt design featuring BMW’s first production motorcycle, a 1923 R32, was created by graphic designer and long-time BMW MOA member, Paul Lycett of Seattle, Washington.

Shirts can be purchased for $20 at bmwmoaf.org and are available in a variety of sizes. All proceeds from the sale of Icon shirts will benefit the BMW MOA Foundation to advance rider safety, education and training.

The Icons series will be available for purchase by MOA members beginning in January.

o a.org

c /p od

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news

BMW unveils a new mid-size scooter THE NEW BMW C 400 X IS THE

dynamic BMW Motorrad mid-size scooter for maximum riding fun in an urban setting.

BMW Motorrad established its new product category in 2011 with the debut of the BMW C 600 Sport and the BMW C 650 GT in the maxi scooter segment. Now BMW Motorrad presents the new BMW C 400 X for the mid-size scooter segment.

In terms of drive technology, the BMW C 400 X uses a newly developed efficiency-optimized single-cylinder engine with an output of 34 hp.

A Continuously Variable Transmission gearbox moves the scooter and Automatic Stability Control ASC ensures increased safety during acceleration, especially on slippery

BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2018

surfaces.

BMW C 400 X sports a rugged tubular steel frame while a telescopic fork at the front and two spring struts at the rear smooth the ride. The set-up and spring travel were selected to ensure that a sporty, dynamic ride is combined with a high level of comfort. Twin disc brakes in the front and a single disc brake at the rear, along with ABS as standard.

In addition to standard LED lighting, the new BMW C 400 X also offers a range connectivity new to the scooter segment, including a multifunctional instrument cluster with 6.5-inch full-color TFT screen available as an ex-works option. In conjunction with the further advanced BMW Motorrad Multi-Controller, a rider can access vehicle and connectivity functions quickly and without being distracted from

the road.

In terms of its styling, the new BMW C 400 X is easily identified as part of the BMW Motorrad C family with its modern, future oriented and functional appearance.

From the front, the dominant feature is its LED headlight with distinctive fiber optic daytime riding light design (optional).

With excellent wind and weather protection, a storage concept utilizing two integrated compartments and a Flexcase under the comfortable, single-section seat provides significant storage options and gives the new mid-size scooter both everyday practicality and touring suitability.

Two paint finishes are available including Zenith Blue metallic or red-black and Alpine White nonmetallic. The contrasting single seats in grey-black or red-black highlight the scooter’s dynamic appearance.

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NEWS

BMW redesigns its middlewe SINCE THEIR DEBUT IN 2007, F

series GS models have featured BMW Motorrad quality in the middleweight Adventure segment, offering the perfect riding companion for discovering remote corners of the world, sport-oriented road riding, or touring. After more than ten years of consistent model development, BMW Motorrad has fully redesigned and reengineered its middle-weight GS models to create an even more capable motorcycle.

The F 750 GS has been redesigned for riders who prefer an enduro motorcycle offering a low seat height,

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abundant power and cost-effectiveness.

The new F 850 GS, offers more power and torque along with additional features improving both its off-road ability and touring characteristics.

Displacement has been increased to 853 cc and provides 77 hp at 7,500 rpm for the F 750 GS and 95 hp at 8,250 rpm for the F 850 GS. The throaty exhaust note was created by a crankshaft built with a 90-degree journal offset and a 270/450 degree firing interval. Two counterbalance shafts minimize vibration. A new anti-hopping wet clutch eases clutch lever pull and power moves to the rear wheel through a six-speed gearbox and a chain now positioned on the left side

of the motorcycle.

Riding modes “Road” and “Rain” plus ABS and Automatic Stability Control are standard with Pro riding modes Dynamic, Enduro and Enduro Pro available as optional upgrades (Enduro Pro only available in the F 850 GS). Options include Dynamic Traction Control, Dynamic ESA and ABS Pro. Additional options include LED headlight with LED daytime running light, 6.5 inch TFT multi-function instrument cluster, Keyless Ride, Gear shift assistant Pro, eCall, Connectivity and more.

In addition to the basic version, the new F models are also available in an Exclusive style with a Rallye style variant exclusive to

eight GS models the new F 850 GS, placing emphasis on its off-road capabilities.

Additional changes to the F series GS models include a new steel bridge frame incorporating the engine as a supporting element. Unlike previous models using a tubular steel spaceframe, the new innovative frame has a monocoque construction resulting in increased torsional rigidity and a repositioning of the fuel tank. While the fuel tank in the previous models was located beneath the seat, the new 15-liter tank of the new GSs now sits between the seat and the steering head to improve balance and makes the rear end of the motorcycle narrower.

In addition to the modification of the

wheelbase, the new F 750 GS and F 850 GS also use a flatter steering head angle and greater wheel castor values compared with the previous models.

Front end suspension includes an updated, 41mm traditional telescopic fork offering 5.9 inches of travel in the F 750 GS, while the 43mm, upside-down fork of the F 850 GS offers slightly more than eight inches of travel.

A double-sided aluminum swing arm and a direct link spring strut offers adjustable rebound damping and 6.1 inches of travel in the F 750 GS and 8.6 inches of travel in the new F 850 GS. The F 750 GS uses tubeless tires mounted on die-cast

aluminum wheels of 2.50 x 19 inches in the front and 4.25 x 17 at the rear. The F 850 GS uses also uses tubeless tires mounted on cross-spoke wheels and aluminum rims of 2.15 x 21 in front and 4.25 x 17 at the rear.

Dual disc brakes are mounted on the front wheel with a two-piston floating calipers, and a single disc is fit to the rear wheel with a single-piston floating caliper.

Colors for the F 750 GS include Light white, Austin yellow and Stereo metallic matte while the F 850 GS is available in Racing red, Pollux metallic matte and Light white with Lupin blue and Racing red accents. Please visit your local BMW Motorrad dealer for availability and pricing.

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NEWS

BMW expands the K 1600 platform BMW’S NEW K 1600 GRAND AMER-

ica expands BMW Motorrad’s fulldresser lineup with a new model designed for comfortably traveling American highways.

Expanding on the styling of the BMW K 1600 B, the Grand America adds several distinctive features including a top case with integrated passenger backrest and LED brake light.

The standard BMW K 1600 Grand America is finished in Blackstorm metallic with an optional two-color paint finish of Blackstorm metallic and Austin Yellow metallic with chrome applications on the front wheel trim available.

The latest version of the K 1600, sixcylinder engine delivers 160 hp at 7,750 rpm while generating a maximum torque of 175 Nm at 5,250 rpm. In the standard "Road" setting, Dynamic ESA provides fully automated damper adaptation for comfort and excellent traction on virtually all surfaces, and "Cruise" mode can be activated for a softer damper set-up and additional comfort.

Reverse assist, also a standard feature, facilitates easy maneuvering and is activated by pressing a button on the lefthand handlebar panel.

Footboards are standard and allow a foot forward riding posture with passenger footboards available as an option.

Additional standard features include engine protection bars, ABS Pro, Dynamic Traction Control DTC, xenon headlight, heated grips, heated seat, Multi-Controller, three riding modes (Rain, Road, Dynamic), cruise control and an audio system with navigation preparation.

Optional equipment includes Shift Assistant Pro, Comfort Package, Safety Package, various seat heights, forged handlebars and more.

See your local dealer for availability and pricing.

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

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NEWS

Two MOA women capture spots on BMW GS Trophy team

From left, Sonia Barbot (France), Julia Maguire (Australia), Zelda van Jaarsveld (South Africa), Linda Steyn (South Africa) and United States BMW MOA members Jocelin Snow #210823 and Bettina Nedel #211892 have won places on the female BMW Motorrad GS Trophy team.

FOLLOWING 13 QUALIFIER COMPETI-

tions taking place in South Africa, Australia, France, USA, Germany, UK, Malaysia, Japan, Canada, Mexico, Colombia, China and Thailand, 23 women competed over four days for the opportunity to move on to the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy to be held in Mongolia next June.

The competition began shortly after the riders arrived at the Country Trax Off Road Riding Academy near Amersfoort in South

Africa with a timed challenge that included pitching their tents and changing into riding gear. From there, other first day challenges included a 50-yard run, an uphill trials stop, a balance test (walking around a freestanding GS twice and keeping the bike upright using only one hand) and a riding test where blindfolded riders rode to a distant target.

Day two began early with timed challenges on a slalom course of deep sand, as

well as a cross-country course beginning with a Le Mans start where riders ran to the bike, climbed on, started the bike and completed the course.

That evening, after trimming the field to 14, the remaining participants were grouped into teams and sent out for a 31-mile night navigation challenge with the additional mid-course challenge of repairing a punctured tire.

Another mechanical test opened day

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three as the riders were challenged to remove the rear wheel from their GS, run with it for 50 yards and then remount it within a four minute window using only a T-bar. That event was followed by a slow race and then two technical riding challenges. These were made more difficult by the constant rain that turned the clay soil to ice, which further tested each rider’s throttle and clutch control. An additional day three challenge tested the riders’ ability to maneuver their GSs through a route including slick, steep off-camber trails. Day three ended with the elimination of five more riders.

The final day of competition began with a ride through a straw bale maze with an energy- draining backwards push of the GS to the finish line. The day ended with a lap

through an obstacle course calling on a wide range of riding skills. It included a teeter-totter, balance beam, lock to lock turns and the straddling of the GS along a fallen pole in a maneuver called “the log grind.”

In the end, six women were chosen for the GS Trophy Female Team which includes Ezelda van Jaarsveld and Linda Steyn of South Africa, Julia Maguire of Australia, Sonia Barbot of France and BMW MOA members Jocelin Snow and Bettina Nedel of the United States.

After the event, Jocelin Snow said, “That was shocking, because the talent in this little area here is huge. These women are so very skilled and to be here now, a winner, is incredible and more importantly than going to Mongolia, more importantly than

A group of riders depart for a 31-mile night navigation challenge.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

making the team, I really want this to inspire other women out there. Just to get one more female to take a ride, one more female to take a risk, to step up and do it, not let anyone say you can’t do it. If that happens then that’s a win.”

Bettina Nedel expressed a similar sentiment, saying, “This is epic for me, priceless and all of the greatest words can’t describe this feeling. It was very emotional the whole way, and at the end when they announced the winners, that too was a roller coaster. But then to hear you’re going after all, and to be going with Jocelin, my American team-mate, was just so amazing.

You know, the camaraderie between all the riders has been amazing, but it has grown exponentially between Jocelin and I.”

Above left, First day challenges included a blindfolded ride across an open field. Above, The constant rain which fell during the competition made the clay soil tricky to maneuver. Below, Negotiating the obstacle course. Left, A group of riders repair a punctured tire.

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TECH

keepemflying

Working on Slash Fives

By Matthew Parkhouse #13272 THE LAST MONTH

has been one of working on Slash Five BMWs. After around 40 hours on the local Slash Five and perhaps 60 hours on the R 60/5 that arrived on a truck from Florida after an eBay win, the pair are more or less ready for Europe. I have from now until early January to ride them around town and fine-tune any problems that surface.

To keep things rolling, I picked up a long-stored R 60/5 from the Boulder area. Don, one of the Denver-area airheads, decided he had too many projects and told me about it. It had actually been prepped for storage with the carbs and tank drained.

Unfortunately, there had been a fire in the storage area and melted roofing tar dripped over the rear half of the bike. I can see why being tarred and feathered would be an unpleasant experience! That tar is sticky, dirty and gets on everything so easily. I’ve been scraping and cleaning, using carb cleaner, paper towels and heat from a torch on the metal parts. I’ve also been trying to avoid tracking it anywhere in the house.

The owner, a young man who is departing for New Zealand shortly, told me of some of the details of the bike. It is fairly high mileage, for one thing. Oak Oklesen replaced the drive splines of the rear wheel.

I did that one time to my Slash Five at around the 300,000-mile mark. The work appears to be done well. The rear drive had a Hansen’s BMW repair of the matching drive splines. The gearbox appears to have the limp shifting issue caused by an internal

On the right is the present Slash Five charging system. It puts out around 180 watts. That is BARELY enough to power what the bike was built with. A few years ago, I ran an experiment on a 100-mile trip. My Slash Five had been equipped with heated grips. I had installed a voltmeter to keep track of how the electrics were functioning. I found that I could either run the headlamp (65 watts) or the heated grips (about 35-40 watts) but NOT both. Turning both on would cause a voltage drop below what would keep the battery healthy. That is why I installed the system on the left. It is an early Slash Six system that will bolt right up on the front of a Slash Five engine. The field coil support has a label: “Bosch # 0 120 340 002”. It is from a 1974 or early 1975 bike. It put out 280 watts, a huge improvement over the Slash Five unit. You can also use a field coil with the Bosch # ending in 003, but it is from the R 90 S of the same period and puts out 240 watts, a bit less. You also need to exchange the rotor and the diode board as well.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

As part of the stretching a bike from short wheel base to long wheel base, the brake rod has to be replaced with the longer,aces post-1973 1/2 one.

I've done this about a half dozen times over the years, so I have a handful of the shorter brake rods. Rather than getting one via eBay, I pulled the long rod off the Mexico Bike for the conversion of the R 60/5 that will go to Europe and cut and weld a pair of the surplus shorter brake rods and use that on the Mexico Bike.

That's the Spirit of the Mexico Bike: the nice part goes on another bike and a patchedup but utilitarian part replaces it. The 1972 Slash Five keeps looking rattier but keeps running strong and smoothly.

• The shorter rod from a SWB airhead • The made-up longer LWB rod • A standard LWB rod, from the Mexico Bike.

• The foot pedal and associated mounting/pivot hardware

broken spring. I wrote about this a couple of months ago; the spring is unchanged from 1948 on. This one I purchased for $900 and is my winter project. I plan on selling it in the spring. All of a sudden, I own six Slash Fives if you include the Priapus, my electric conversion done ten years ago.

As I did in 2005, I’m trying to make the two Europe bikes look as similar as possible. Both have low bars and have been converted to the longer wheel base found in post-1973 airheads. Doing that modification allowed me to add the post-1979 Cushdrive drive shafts to the bikes. Besides the swing arm and drive shaft, other parts required to do this stretching of an airhead include a ’74 to ’84 subframe, a post-1973 brake rod and a longer seat. One seat I purchased new from a German eBay vender, Alteteile2003, for about $380, including shipping from Europe. They have good reproduction seats for a number of airhead models, along with other airhead stuff. I have one on Strider, my original Slash Five that has many years of service on it. Same for the Mexico Bike. The other seat was an eBay auction item that needed a bit of patching before it was mounted.

Other matching alterations include voltmeters, an early Slash Six alternator, later diode board and heated hand grips for each bike. Accessory outlets have been added for other electrical clothing. Low bars went on both bikes along with appropriate mirrors. I reworked the headlights to take H4 halogen bulbs, along with heavy wiring and relays to maximize the light output. The heated grips are powered through a relay as well. I wanted to wire the grip heaters so that when the bike is off, they are off. It just seemed it would be very easy for an airhead such as myself to leave them on as I left the bike.

There is a tiny green LED to indicate ON, but it is very easy to miss in daylight.

Getting the pair of bikes to Europe will be an adventure in itself. As we did in 2006, we are using the services of Stefan Knoff of Knofftours. He is based in Heidelberg, Germany, and has a motorcycle oriented bed and breakfast inn, a warehouse to store bikes for travelers, and leads tours in Europe and other spots of the globe. He usually has

The R 60/5 arrives from Florida! This company has a fleet of around 40 trucks and does nothing except move bikes around the country. There are usually a few of these trucks seen at Daytona and Sturgis.

The second of the pair of Europe Bikes, the R 60/5, torn down to the rear of the main frame. I have already installed an updated Slash Six clutch pack to replace the worn out existing /5 clutch set. After a fair amount of cleaning, sanding, rust-treating, and painting; I'll start building out the bike as a long wheel base vehicle. While up on the lift, it will get a pair of fuses, after 47 years of being without protection.

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The British Isles, Italy and Sicily, or just a small booth at the MOA National found a fellow who sort of specializes in touring around Germany and France top Rally, too. Every February, he brings repairing and improving the center stands our list of possibilities at the moment. In the over a container full of European of the early 1980s BMW airheads. Thormeantime, we will ride the pair of restored bikes for folks who want to attend oughbred Cycles in Wisconsin rebuilds and Slash Fives on errands around town to Daytona Bike Week. Every year, a few strengthens worn stands and powder coats shake out any problems before we actually of the European riders remain in the them. They also do earlier stands from the begin the adventure. I took the R 60/5 out New World for longer than a week or Slash Five and later airheads. I bought one for some paint at the hardware store just two, so there are places for American for the RT and was pleased at how it bikes to get to Europe on the deployed and retracted. Still not as return trip. nice as the 1970s-era bikes, but We will ride from here to manageable at least. Not cheap, but Orlando, Florida, where Steat least the RT now has a useable fan's freight forwarder is center stand. BMW really did blow located. In 2006, we rode it with those early 1980s center and from our home in Colorado side stands.

Springs to Florida. That trip This week, I had the opportunity was pretty rugged. The roads to help with repairing a pulling-out were clear but there were engine cylinder stud on a 1989 foot-high snow banks along GSPD. The late 1980s and early the interstate in Colorado.

1990s airheads had a real problem Fortunately, our friend Jeff with the engine cylinder studs pullEcker has offered to take us to ing out; it is almost always the upper El Paso, Texas, to get started studs that do this. This complicates on the journey. After dropthe repair because the oil for the ping us off for our run east, rocker assembly travels along the he will go to Tucson, drop off upper two studs. This is one reason his truck and ride into Mexto go easy on the torque on the ico with friend for his first rocker arm nuts. Twenty-four foottime south of our border. We pounds is it; no more. People go will ride along the southern higher than that, often in attempts edge of the U.S. to get to Florto control oil leakage at the cylinder ida. We will be guests of the base. It doesn’t help and in the vulWinter Rally at Camp Blandnerable 1000cc models, can lead to ing at Starke, Florida, near this problem. My local friend Mark Gainesville. We’ll leave the has an R 100 GS, and we’ve had a Rally on Sunday, ride the 135 real saga keeping it going with the miles to Orlando, find some In my shop with one of the Europe-bound Slash Fives. I have torn off all cylinder studs. I installed a HeliCoil motel to overnight in, drop parts from the engine back. After a good cleanup, rust-treating and when the problem began. The stud the bikes off on Monday some paint; I’ll start bolting on the parts to turn it into a long wheel base and the HeliCoil began to pull out (LWB) bike. I spent about 40 hours with the one I purchased locally. The morning, and catch a taxi to eBay R 60/5 took around 60 hours to sort out. They are now, other than again. Then I nested two different the airport.

HeliCoils to correct the pulling out. final shake down riding, ready to take back east for shipment overseas.

Both bikes have similar After a few months, that also started BMW saddle bags, and we to fail. now—LOVE that “thunk, thunk, thunk" of will fill them with items we will want By now, Mark and I were talking about the small-pistoned, big flywheel-equipped in Europe. No camping this time. I’ll finding another engine block for the bike. I engine! try to duplicate my black bag of parts offered to use JB Weld in a final Hail Mary Other tasks came my way this month as and tools to send along with the effort. It went in, we waited overnight well. I finished up the R 100 RT job by bikes. Our actual arrival in Europe, before firing up the bike and you know, that installing a proper center stand. If you flying into Frankfurt, will be in late repair has held up for a couple of years now! remember, I mentioned that the one time I summer or early fall. We haven’t I’ve used JB Weld to fix cracked rocker covemployed the ride-off stand on the bike, I made up our minds exactly where we ers, oil pans with holes and once, in Mazatneeded a floor jack to get it off the stand. I will go for our six weeks of riding. lán, to fix a hole in my gas tank, hammered

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

in the underside on really bad roads in Mexico. The owner of the bike had purchased a set of guides and fixtures from High Precision Devices in Boulder. You remove the head and cylinder and attach

the fixture to the side of the engine using the remaining three studs. It guides your drilling and tapping with hard steel guides that attach to the fixture. It worked pretty well, although we did encounter a problem

When the snow flies outside, part of the tire changing routine is warming up the new tire, along with the old, mounted one, by the wood stove! Warm rubber is a LOT easier to work with.

with one drill guide being too small to accept the drill bit that the kit provided.

This was toward the end of the job, as we were attempting to drill the oil passage into the insert we had just installed in the engine

As part of the tire change, I spent a few minutes cleaning off the interior of the rims. I used light sandpaper to clean off several decades of stuck-on rubber from who knows how many tires. Just might make it a little easier for mounting and dismounting.

Part of the herd. The pair of Europe bikes are in the back. My project R 60/5 is on the left. Somehow, in a couple of months, I now own six Slash Fives!

January 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

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block. I finally got the hole done by removing the guide and fixture and drilling the oil hole from a sharper angle into the insert.

The insert appears to be stout, and I have confidence that it will stay in place. The folks that make this kit run a high-tech aerospace type of place.

The kit is sort of a labor of love, done by a BMW-riding member of the team. Availability seems to come and go. Wayne, the owner of the GS, bought his kit and was told, “We’re making five more sets.” They cost around $500 (it IS a collection of finely crafted bits and pieces). Wayne said he was going to add a few extra inserts and make the kit available to me if anyone else comes by with a problem cylinder stud.

It's been a good month, spending all this time with the three Slash Fives. These motorcycles, incredibly robust and perhaps a bit under-powered (and under-stressed), have virtually endless life spans if cared for.

Strider, my ’72 R 75/5, purchased upon my return from Vietnam, has 429,000 miles and recently took me on a 630-mile ride to observe the recent eclipse. Just about all parts remain available; many of the unavailable parts are now being made as reproductions. The seats I get from Germany are a good example of that; almost every style of airhead seat is available from this vendor. As electrical parts drop out of the supply line (or become insanely expensive), places like EuroMotoElectric are constantly adding to their line of airhead electrics.

Aftermarket airhead mufflers and exhaust headers are made by several outfits. There are a number of parts makers in Germany that can help keep things going. Should we run into some sort of problem while in Europe, the British firms of MotoBins and Motorworks have a large range of new and used airhead parts.

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

The upper, forward cylinder stud is double-nutted and being extracted from the engine bolt. It had pulled out about five millimeters before we started.

We are tapping the hole we have already drilled in the engine block. The green aluminum fixture accepts several hard steel guides for stages of the repair procedure. Once tapped and cleaned, a machined sleeve is screwed into the engine block and secured with LocTite.

Shipping would only be a couple of days, as we aren’t going to more exotic places like Morocco or Tunisia. People like me are passionate about them, so there is a network of mechanics who love to work on them.

While writing this over the last couple of days, I’ve been working on the R 60/5 that I bought last week. It’s now back together but

far from done. I installed a battery and tried the controls. The starter circuit is nonfunctional, the headlights are out, the turn signals are intermittent and one carb really runs gasoline. Fixing that and repairing the transmission that I pulled out of the bike will be my next bit of wrenching.

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All I needed was a clutch – Part one

By Wes Fleming #87301 ONCE UPON A TIME IN LATE 2015,

my bike died while I rode north on US 29 near Gainesville, Virginia. It was a beautiful, sunny day and the world passed under my tires effortlessly at 60 miles per hour until – cough, cough, sputter, sputter – my 2005 R 1200 GS just shut off.

I was able to restart it, but at any speed above about 10 mph, the engine coughed, sputtered and quit. I found a safe place to pull off the highway and called for help. “Oh, well,” I figured, “I need an oil change anyway.”

Several weeks and a six-part series of articles (Owners News, March through August 2016) later, my GS not only got its oil change, but it had a new alternator belt, all sorts of carbon scoring scraped off the faces of the pistons, a rebuilt drive shaft, a new fuel pump controller (the problem causing the initial road failure) and enough cleaned components to choke a mule.

During that maintenance cycle, my boss (George Mangicaro of Beemers Uber Alles, who writes the answers to the questions you see in Nicht Uber Max) noticed the clutch slave cylinder was leaking oil. This is what mechanics commonly refer to as “bad,” so I replaced the unit and got on with my life.

In the following months, I rode and forgot all about the slave cylinder going bad. There are many reasons why the slave cylinder would fail, but since there wasn’t any fluid on the clutch pushrod, I wasn’t concerned the leakage had affected my clutch functions.

In June 2017, as I pulled up to a friend at the airport to deliver her car keys, I pulled in the clutch lever and applied the brakes only to have the bike buck, stutter and stall right in

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

front of her. Embarrassing to say the least, but it happens. I noticed as I rode home, though, that it was difficult to shift down through the gears, neutral got tricky to find and every time I came to a complete stop, the bike stalled.

The following weekend, I had my GS up on the lift at Beemers Uber Alles and, under George’s direction, removed the slave cylin-

City anyway.

In late September, gainfully employed full-time again, I dug into the bike to determine what parts I needed to replace the clutch. Examining the clutch master cylinder turned up a partially clogged port and what looked to be bits of rubber in the fluid – a sign the inside of the clutch fluid line was deteriorating – which meant I needed

My 2005 R 1200 GS up on the lift before disassembly.

der – it was bad, even with fewer than 3,000 miles on it – and pulled the starter. Measuring the thickness of the clutch components showed them to be barely within specs, so my clutch problem seemed to be a simple matter of the friction material on the relevant disc wearing down over the course of the bike’s 83,045-mile life. Easy enough to solve, but I lacked a full-time job in June, and therefore didn’t have the money needed to buy the parts. I cancelled the insurance on the bike, turned the plate in to the DMV and headed to the MOA Rally in Salt Lake

to replace the costly handlebar unit and the line. I saved some money by purchasing a Spiegler braided stainless-steel-wrapped hose; we’re a Spiegler dealer and I regularly recommend their products to our customers, so I didn’t hesitate one bit to put one of their hoses on my bike. I even had them make it blue with black banjo bolts to match the color scheme of my bike and saved myself $150 in the process. (this would be a sweet spot for a photo set, before and after, if you have them) Of course the slave cylinder ($232.88)

This rat's nest of wiring made things troublesome in the disassembly process. We disconnected, cleaned up and rerouted most of this during reassembly.

Leaving the rear wheel attached to the final drive allows for easy maneuvering of the entire rear section once it's disconnected.

With the back half of the bike removed, it's possible to get at the transmission mounting bolts.

would need replaced – standard practice for any clutch job as far as I’m concerned.

Along with the clutch control assembly ($450.58), the most expensive parts were the housing cover ($248.29), friction disc (aka clutch plate, $245.39) and pressure plate ($446.04). I also needed a new pushrod ($63.21) and some other various parts, bringing my bill for parts to just over $1,700.

That eye-watering figure forced me to evaluate the value of my motorcycle. A 12-yearold GS with 83,000 miles on it is not a collector’s item. I’ve got it set up as a touring bike, so I don’t force hard, off-road riding on it, but commuting on a motorcycle – as I did on this one nearly every work day for more than five years – is just as hard on the bike (and especially the clutch, what with stop-and-go traffic in the Washington, D.C. area, where I lived until last year) as dedicated off-road riding.

I decided the bike was worth enough to me to put the money, time and effort into it – but because of the expense of the parts, I was going to have to do the work myself as much as possible. George was amenable to coaching me through a clutch replacement, but his schedule was busy enough to delay my work for another month, until mid-November.

We chose a day when we were stuck waiting for parts to arrive for customers' bikes and got going. Not really having my head wrapped around what lay in front of me, I started disassembling the motorcycle according to BMW's instructions. I was fine until it got to be time to start undoing the wiring. Unfortunately, BMW didn't think to put something like a multi-pin connector under the seat, and wires run from the main wiring harness all the way back to the tail light. Throw my sloppy accessory wiring practices on top and just getting the fender and tail light assembly disconnected proved to be quite the hassle.

Taking an early hexhead apart far enough to get to the clutch isn't that difficult a job, it turns out. Sure, I had to pay attention, and being methodical never hurts, but all in all, it's straightforward. Remove (or at least disconnect) the crash bars (if present); get the body panels and fuel tank off; disconnect the wiring to the back of the bike; disconnect the throttle bodies; disconnect the rear brake line from the ABS pump; and finally, move everything out of the way.

With everything detached, it was just a

January 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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matter of removing seven bolts, popping the drive shaft off the transmission and rolling the back half of the motorcycle out of the way. It sounds a lot harder than it is, I know, but for the most part – wiring aside – I was able to accomplish the initial disassembly on my own, with just a bit of supervision and a few suggestions from the expert on hand.

Disconnecting the transmission isn't a huge deal, either. I already had the starter off (two bolts and some electrical connections, plus one screw for the plastic cover). The clutch cover is heavy-duty plastic and comes off after removing three small bolts.

The transmission is held on with just three bolts as well – though they are much sturdier than the clutch cover bolts.

This is where things started to go a bit sideways. Coming off the engine is the flywheel – which BMW calls a "clutch housing." It's secured to the engine with five sturdy bolts. Six smaller bolts attach the actual clutch components to the flywheel; those are the pressure plate, clutch plate/friction disc and housing cover. The splines on the clutch plate marry up to the splines on the transmission's input shaft, which BMW calls the drive shaft – although, confusingly, one of the seals protecting it is called an input shaft seal.

The pushrod goes through the input shaft, effectively connecting the "output cylinder, clutch" (aka clutch slave cylinder) to the pressure plate.

Squeezing the clutch lever forces fluid through the line and into the slave cylinder. The piston inside the slave cylinder moves the pushrod against the pressure plate, compressing the springs on the pressure plate and allowing the clutch plate to spin freely. This is what enables shifting the transmission into another gear.

Release the clutch lever and the strength of those springs on the pressure plate moves the pushrod back towards the slave cylinder, forcing the fluid back up through the line and off you go down the road.

My problem – which we didn't know until we finally wiggled the

The transmission is dirt – dirtier than it should be, especially on top of the housing. This is an early indicator there may be problems inside the case. Note the pushrod extending from the top left of the transmission. The splined shaft at the bottom right of the housing is where the drive shaft connects to the final drive.

My first look at the rusted clutch components. While a certain amount of corrosion and wear – and possibly a bit of rust as well – is to be expected, this much rust is indicative of some hard water crossings during the bike's life.

The rusty splines of the old clutch plate (aka friction disc).

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

Rust on the transmission input shaft splines.

The rusty clutch spring plate that's part of the pressure plate assembly, which engages with the teeth of the starter motor. The protruding pins near the teeth are rivets that hold flat springs onto the other side of the assembly.

Engine oil being forced past the counterbalance shaft seal created a slimy, gloppy mess inside the space between the engine and the transmission.

transmission off – was rusty, stuck together splines. It shouldn't take much force to separate the transmission from the clutch assembly, but in my case it took two grown men wiggling the transmission and grunting with effort to separate them.

At this point, we realized it wasn't the clutch components being worn to the bottom of the spec range destroying my slave cylinders – it was the rusty splines making the slave cylinder work harder than it's supposed to. I could have kept replacing those $232 slave cylinders until the clutch components really were too thin and it wouldn't have fixed the problem.

Since I had to replace the clutch plate anyway, there was no point in cleaning the splines on the female end of the assembly.

We did, however, have to take a wire brush to the splines on the input shaft and make sure we got off as much rust as possible.

Why they were rusty escapes us both. I have, on occasion, stored the motorcycle outdoors for extended periods of time, but that shouldn't matter. The only thing either of us could come up with is that one of the bike's two previous owners must have undertaken a water crossing, somehow allowing water to get in there. Since I've had the bike since January 2011, I've never taken it through more than a couple of inches of water, so I'm sure it wasn't me. Standing in the shop with the transmission on the lift, it didn't matter what started the rust. We identified the source of my clutch woes and had the parts to address the problem... ...sort of. As we inspected the transmission and the back of the engine, George grimaced and said, "Well, that doesn't look right."

Such a pronouncement from my friend, mentor and occasional boss is something I've heard a number of times in the shop.

Usually it means somebody is going to have a higher repair bill than anticipated. Hearing it Thursday morning caught my breath and drove an icicle into my heart.

"Is it supposed to be that dirty in there?" I asked, after noting the grimy oil built up on both the back of the engine and inside the front of the transmission housing.

"No," George said, "No, it's not. I think you have a weepy seal."

I grabbed a rag and started wiping away as much of the grime as I could without resorting to any kind of chemical cleaner. A weepy seal isn't as bad as a seeping seal, and

January 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

45

both are quite a bit less concerning than a leaking seal, but when the weepy seal in question requires cracking the bike in half to repair, the prudent course of action is to replace it before moving any further.

That particular seal is what keeps the oil inside the engine from getting out around what BMW calls the compensating shaft.

Most of us would refer to it as the counterbalance shaft, because the counterbalance weight is bolted onto the end of it. After noting the failing seal on the counterbalance shaft, we studied the transmission more closely, wiping away a bit of the grime.

George decided he didn't like the looks of the seals on either end of the input shaft (aka drive shaft), and those would have to be replaced as well. The problem was, we didn't have any of those three seals in stock.

Transmission input shaft seals are a common item to replace during a clutch job, so normally we would have them, but George had done a clutch on a customer's R 1200 RT a few days before and hadn't had a chance to replace them yet. The seal on the counterbalance shaft doesn't commonly fail, so that was simply an unexpected thing

The flywheel – which BMW calls the clutch housing. It doesn't generally need replacement when installing a new clutch.

to find.

A quick call to the dealer closest to my house, Morton's BMW in Fredericksburg, Virginia, got the counterbalance seal on order with an overnight delivery. They had it waiting for me, along with the other two seals, as soon as they opened on Friday morning. I returned to the shop, faced

down my freshly scrubbed transmission, and set back to fixing my bike after the nearly 24-hour delay.

The work continues next month in Part Two! Visit the MOA's YouTube channel to watch a video of this clutch job – the link is tinyurl.com/R1200GSClutch.

www.cardosystems.com

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

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47

discovery

talesfromtheroad

Moving past the fear of giving

By Kenneth L. Decroo #178241 RECENTLY, A FRIEND OF MINE

gave me insight concerning the act of giving, or more importantly, the fact we sometimes don’t give because of our fear of giving to fake charities or con artists. Our discussion reminded me of an incident which happened on one of my adventures in Chiapas, Mexico. I felt compelled to share this story during this holiday season.

While riding through Mexico toward the Guatemala border, I came down with the famous intestinal malady know as Montezuma’s Revenge. I was incapacitated to say the least. I held up in a small motel slowly getting sicker. After several days the innkeeper, a kind lady, took pity on me and procured a doctor who sent me to a pharmacy down the street.

I was weak and shivering from chills despite the tropical heat. I paid little attention to my surroundings as I fixated on my goal of reaching the pharmacist and the medicine the doctor assured would put me right. After a brief wait and a few pesos, I had my medicine, and I slowly began my way back toward my room, unsure if I could negotiate the block or so on account of my light-headedness and

weakening body.

I had only made it a few steps when a campesino stopped me and asked for 38 pesos. My first reaction was to ignore him as I needed to quickly get back to my room, but there was something odd about him requesting the exact amount of 38 pesos.

Additionally, there seemed to be anxiousness in his voice that seemed urgent.

As I stopped to engage the man, I initially thought he was conning me and besides a few pesos, I was going to lose something else before reaching the toilet in my room.

He told me he lived on a rancho nearby and that his daughter had disenteria – dysentery. I decided even if he was making this up, he had taken the time to put together a proper story filled with emotion and even a few technical words. In short, I decided he had earned the 38 pesos, so I gave the man a 50-peso note. I was so intent on making it back to my room, I never noticed if he entered the pharmacy.

Over the next few days I was able to return to the world of solid foods and cold beer and finally felt ready to travel again, so I gassed up my bike and began packing. I had all but forgotten the man and his urgent request of a few days earlier. Just as I was getting ready to point my moto further south, the campesino came running down

the narrow cobblestone street waving something in his hand. I immediately thought he was going to put the touch on me again and readied myself for a quick escape.

Something quite amazing happened instead. The little man handed me the change from the 50 pesos and insisted that I go with him to the pharmacy, almost dragging me there. Once there and with his family waiting to greet me, I learned his daughter was improving and according to the pharmacist, the medicine had saved her life. I was stunned that the simple price of a lunch had saved a life.

I still have the picture of his family standing in front of a tiny thatched house beside the river and still carry the small medallion of Guadalupe his wife gave me.

I believe that with each holiday season it’s easy to forget who is truly deserving of our kindness. In many villages down south, there is the belief that people in need provide the more fortunate with the opportunity to follow Christ’s example that it is better to give than to receive, and giving will bring us good fortune as we have done His work.

I know, in my travels throughout the world, it has for me.

Happy Holidays!

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

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Photo by David Waters.

Photo by Bob Steinbrunn.

Photo by Dominque Rambie.

Photo by Steve Barnhill.

Photo by Jim Heberling.

BMW Owners News Presents

The Best of 2017 Before we fully embrace the new year, we pause to look back at some of BMW Owners News most significant stories and images of the last year. From three friends pondering the road in front of them, a father and daughter creating life-long memories on their Colombian adventure to a new rider dealing with the apprehension of buying his first motorcycle and going to his first rally, each month we share our stories of humor, adventure and accomplishment.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2018

Photo by Dean Mickelson.

Photo by Mark Janda.

Photo by David Eastly.

Photo by David Weier.

Photo by Brant Miller.

Photo by Terence Hamill.

January 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

Photo by Jim Nyffeler.

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The Mountains of Tenerife, June 2017 Words and Images Brian Rathjen #210553

Tenerife is as magical as Oz - and Brian Rathjen gave us a little peek behind the curtain describing his experience by writing, "the roads can be very narrow and feature many incredibly tight, blind corners. Some are carved into the sheer rock and can induce vertigo. Oncoming vehicles, especially big ones like buses, are a hazard and can easily end your trip in a split-second. You need to be focused constantly!"

Welcome to motorcycle heaven!

My affair with “the poor sister”, April 2017

By Ron Davis #11180

Ron Davis' ruminations on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness aboard a motorcycle have long entertained Owners News readers. His column about BMW's "poor sister" – his F 700 GS – took us on a tour of an oft-overlooked model in the BMW lineup. As he discovered, the quality and technology packed into the "entry level" GS makes it one of the best motorcycles around.

Photo by Kim Lemke.

BMW’s Heritage Boxer Time Machines, July 2017

By Will Guyan #56198

BMW's Heritage series – based around the R nineT platform – seems to be complete. Will Guyan attended the combined US launch of the Racer and the Pure from that line, rolling readers through the basics of each bike before taking us on a tour of what makes each of them stand out from the others. Will's words inspired us to check out these retro-styled bikes and give them a serious chance at making our own personal wish lists.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

The Little Crush Washer That Could, October 2017 Jack Riepe #116117

Dashiell Hammet. Ernest Hemingway. Hugh Hefner. All amateurs compared to Jack Riepe – or so he'd have you believe. Love him or hate him, Riepe turns a phrase like few others, and he's the only author around touting the benefits of finding love with the aid of a K 75. Jack's tale of the Little Crush Washer that Could explores deep into the psyche of the K-bike rider while plunging into the vast, dangerous domain of an ancient pharaoh.

Dealing with the apprehension of my first Rally, May 2017

By Keith Foster #209426

At 48 years old, Keith Foster had never owned a motorcycle. When a Facebook post reminded him that "life is short" and exhorting him to "buy the damn bike," it was just the push to get him over the ledge to motorcycle ownership. He dove straight into the deep end, taking his KLR thumper to the Wailin' Wayne Weekend, and soon found that "The nervousness I felt about sticking out as the newbie had vanished. I was simply one of the guys trying to make it through some tough terrain with the goal of making it to the end."

Female Motorcycle Relief Project: First Ride, February 2017

By Bex Becker #192550

The BMW MOA has gotten fully behind the Motorcycle Relief Project and its mission to help veterans dealing with PTSD by using off-road motorcycle trips to build camaraderie, not just between men, but between women who served in the US armed forces as well. Bex Becker accompanied some female vets on the MRP's first all-female ride, saying the ride was "living proof that our community of motorcyclists continues to grow not only in members, but more importantly, in its relevance to society."

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Photo by Paul Phillips.

Discover Washington, April 2017

By Bill Wiegand #180584

The Discovery series continues to grow, gathering more locales as it rides through the pages of Owners News. Paul Guillien of Touratech USA took Bill Wiegand and Ted Moyer on a back country fly-fishing through some of the most stunning scenery Washington has to offer, even going so far as promising his tag-alongs that the first day of the trip would be the worst as far as riding conditions went.

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Forecast: Cloudy to Sunny Old Florida, April 2017

By Deb Gasque #182082

It wouldn't be a best of without a taste of the Iron Butt Fashionista's stylings. Deb Gasque – who is, incidentally, one of the Co-Chairs for the 2018 Rally in Des Moines – took off for sunny Florida last February.

Seeking out Old Florida, she saw manatees, ate fried chicken, explored state parks and learned lessons not just about Florida, but about herself as well.

BMW’s Bagger: A First Look, October 2017

By Wes Fleming, #87301

With its clear callback to the Roland Sands-designed and builtConcept 101, the new K 1600 Bagger quickly polarized fans of BMW motorcycles. With its low-slung look but clear K 1600 power train, the Bagger promised to be a technology-packed entry into an archetypical American class of motorcycles. The MOA's Digital Editor Wes Fleming said he loves the way it looks, "because it doesn’t look like anything BMW has ever done before."

The Seventeen Year-Old Motorcycle Boy, August 2017

By Duncan Holaday #34622

Duncan Holaday's piece about his interaction with a 17-year-old motorcyclist who dreamed of a slick sport bike generated more discussion than perhaps any other article that appeared in the magazine or on the website in 2017. His frank discussion of his own crashes and struggles with alcohol combined with the young man's tale of his father's death came through in a philosophical ride that touched even the most jaded of those among us.r

Street Strategies: Speed!

Limits?, June 2017

By Roger Wiles #32797

In addition to forwarding an agenda of motorcycle skills and safety, the MOA Foundation provides a platform for people like Roger Wiles to impart some of their hard-earned motorcycling wisdom in the pages of the Owners News. "Speed kills, right?" Roger asks before going on to examine how our self-enforced speed limits can mean the difference between parking your bike in a your garage and finding yourself meeting the first responders at the scene of the crash.

Marriage and a new RT, June 2017

By Drew Griesel #210540

"As the sun set that day and just when I thought we were going to sit down for dinner, Kathryn grabbed me by the hand, insisting we head out front for some sunset pictures. I thought her request was a little odd since the sun was setting behind the house, but who was I to question my new wife? When I saw the brand-new BMW R 1200 RT in the driveway, I was dumbstruck and couldn’t speak. I believe she understood my love and appreciation, based on the drool all over my shirt."

Photo by Michael Martin.

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Photo by David Hampton.

My Favorite Ride, October 2017

By Colleen Sepulveda #108960

Colleen Sepulveda's favorite ride slices through the heart of the Santa Cruz Mountains. She wrote, "The San Francisco Bay Area is full of interesting towns, people and arts. Not far from the hustle, bustle and mind-numbing traffic of the area lies pristine and isolated jewels that beg for exploration by motorcycle." Many of us who have had the pleasure to visit or live in that area can attest to the truth of her statement.

LEGO Technic R 1200 GS Adventure, April 2017

By Wes Fleming #87301

People who don't understand why we ride often refer to motorcycles as "toys." When LEGO put out an actual toy motorcycle, BMW fans couldn't get ahold of them fast enough. The 603-piece kit formed two models, an R 1200 GS or a futuristic hover-cycle, and required nothing more than the author's teenage daughter and some beer to assemble correctly. (No teenagers were offered beer in the course of the article.)

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Breaking bones in Baja, September 2017

by Christopher P. Baker #126077

When a writer tells you the last time he went off-roading he broke three ribs and a foot, you know you're in for a ride! Christopher P. Baker related the tale of his mishapshortened Baja adventure. You knew you were in for a wild read when he wrote, "There was no point in trying to stand. I could feel my lower leg loosely detached inside the Sidi Crossfire boot."

Photo by Douglas Landin.

Photo by Bill Wiegand.

When Life Gets in the Way, December 2017

By Ken Frick #199204

Ken Frick's brother Chuck rides, and rides, and rides some more. They have for most of their lives. When Chuck was diagnosed with muscular dystrophy, their world changed significantly. For Chuck, three wheels replaced two, but the riding continued. For Ken, it meant a renewed focus on his and his brother's riding dreams and an alteration in thought processes about what it means to be a motorcyclist.

Keep ‘em Flying Multiple issues 2017

By Matt Parkhouse #13272 One thing we rely on Matt Parkhouse to do is regale us with tales of his exploits in Mexico while amazing us with the breadth and depths of his knowledge about 19701993 BMW motorcycles affectionately knowns as airheads. There probably isn't a two-valve Beemer within 500 miles of his home in Colorado that he hasn't at least seen, let alone worked on. Matt and his wife will be travelling to Europe in 2018 – so stay tuned!

Biography of a BMW Motorcycle, December 2017

By Marcia McGuire #206242

Marcia McGuire writes that we are all a product of our context: the social and political landscape we are born into, the resources available and the values held and practiced, both by our immediate world and by our parents. Together, those things are part of our biography, as well as the biography of our motorcycles and the stories of places we ride and explore on them.

Unburdened, Unbuffered, and Uncomplicated: My First Airhead, July 2017

By Dawn Hein #169208

Nine Days in Paradise, March 2017

By Geoffrey Smith #194955

We all make impulse buys. For the last few years, Dawn Hein has been thinking how cool it would be to own a bike manufactured the year she was born. While tooling the MAX BMW website actually looking for something for her husband, she saw a 1972 R 75/5 that was road worthy but not a cosmetic beauty. Bingo!

Better yet a two-fer, because I’d also always wanted a boxer! Dawn had her first Airhead.

Have you ever been to Iceland? If not, rely on Geoffrey Smith's article about his nine days riding there to give you a taste of a far-off destination that really isn't that far off at all. He explored the island nation's paved and unpaved roads, from the booming construction of Reykjavik to the desolate isolation of a volcanic wasteland.

The road he called "FU-26" will never be the same.

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Siebenrock: Building a better BMW, May 2017

By Kurtis Minder #141660

Siebenrock is not your typical hobby-turned-enterprise business. Kurtis Minder personally found that for those who appreciate motorcycles, pulling into the parking area of the Siebenrock facility evokes a vocal response.

Located in the small town of Wendlingen, a suburb of Stuttgart, Germany, Siebenrock’s modest, glass-fronted headquarters is crammed with an incredible collection of vintage bikes from the early days of motorcycling.

Colombia, March 2017

By Shawn Thomas #91122

Mileage Slaves, What are the Odds?

August 2017

By Dave Cwi #28490

Christopher Baker wasn't the only MOA member to venture beyond the USA's southernmost border in 2017. Shawn Thomas headed to Colombia – without the experience of a badly broken leg, but with more than just baggage along for the ride. His 10-year-old daughter Hailey took over the pillion, adding not just a heightened level of adventure, but a healthy dose of paternal pride to their journey.

Nuviz Heads Up Display, October 2017

By Phil Linsalata #207159

Imagine a crisp color display in the bottom right corner of your field of vision, tucked nicely out of the way but clearly showing critical data: where to turn next, your speed, your direction and the next bend in the road.

Imagination no longer needed.

Nuviz, the first-ever Heads Up Display, is now on the market.

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Dave Cwi has long been telling his stories his way in the pages of Owners News. He found himself exploring the odds of stopping with both tire valves perfectly positioned for putting air in the tires during the same trip where he learned that two of his riding buddies were scheduled for colonoscopies on the same day. What are the odds, indeed!

Wayne Rainey talks about MotoAmerica, February 2017

By Wes Fleming, #87301

No matter who you talk to, they'll tell you what a nice guy Wayne Rainey has always been. The champion former racer spends most of his time now running MotoAmerica, a racing circuit that used to be directly managed by the AMA. Wayne and his partners took it over in 2014 and have boosted attendance and attention every season since then. The ON's interview with him looked at the past, present and future of a true racing icon.

Photo by Michael McCrary.

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Gonzo all dressed up in his long-distance touring outfit.

Rebuilding a First Year

R 100 RS

Part 3: Riding to The 40th R 100 RS Anniversary Rally This the last of a three part series about how I rebuilt a 1977 R 100 RS and rode 3,400 miles to a 40th anniversary rally in Pennsylvania and back to meet the designer, Hans Muth.

By Brook Reams #114474 62

BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2018

AFTER FINISHING THE REBUILT 1977 R

100 RS on July 21, 2017, I had seven weeks before departing for the rally. I put 1,000 miles on the bike so I could find and correct any problems before the 3.400 mile trip to the rally. I corrected a number of problems and improved the ergonomics, and now it was time to get ready for the ride to the rally organized and hosted by Todd Trumbore where I got to meet Hans Muth. Muth left Ford in 1971 to join BMW and quickly moved to BMW Motorrad, where he designed the earlier R 90 S, then the RS followed by the RT, R80 G/S and R65.

Todd Trumbore organized a 40th anniversary rally for the R 90 S in 2014. He invited Hans along with notables from the Butler and Smith race team, including members of the 1976 team that won the first AMA Superbike race and the series on a highly modified R 90 S. The team included Udo Gietl, who built the bikes and managed the race team; Reg Pridmore, GaryFischer and Todd Schuster, who raced the bikes; and Tom Cutter, who worked for Udo and has earned a reputation as one of the most skilled and knowledgeable airhead mechanics in the country.

Hans encouraged Todd to organize another 40th anniversary rally for the R 100 RS. It first arrived in the 1977 model year which started in September, 1976. Technically 2016 was the 40th anniversary, but Todd decided to hold the rally in 2017, the 40th model year anniversary. And now, I was getting ready to ride my rebuilt 1977 RS to this rally to meet Hans, the other guests and mingle with a lot of RS airhead riders.

I like to name my bikes after Muppet characters. Two weeks before I left, I decided “Gonzo” was fitting for this bike.

He is known for unexpected, off-beat antics and the ability to land on his feet when disaster strikes. That persona seemed to fit what I experienced building it and, as you will soon see, it fit well with the adventures we had on my ride to the rally.

After putting 960 miles on Gonzo, I dressed him for touring by adding a wind deflector to the windscreen to increase the size of the quiet air pocket, my ancient Garmin 2610 GPS, a set of Hepco-Becker panniers I took off my 1975 R 75/6 and two Kathy’s Journey bags that mount on each side of the gas tank next to the inside of the fairing.

I planned to avoid the super-slap drone of the interstates as much as I could. I chose US-36 for my primary route east and US-50 for the west-bound return. It would be a five day ride each way, riding no more than seven hours in the saddle and 350–400 miles per day.

I pulled out of my driveway at 8:30 a.m. on a sunny Sunday morning, heading for US 36 not far from my house where it shares I-70 until about 30 miles east of Denver.

I-70 traffic was heavier than I expected for Sunday morning; it confirms Denver is now a destination for immigrants from both coasts who continue to swell our ranks. I exited at Byers where US 36 splits off onto a smooth, two lane road through rural eastern Colorado. I rode between corn, wheat and soybean fields and past the occasional cattle feed lot with an aroma announcing its presence a half mile before I rode pass it.

Traffic was minimal, and there was nothing to obstruct my view all the way to the horizon. The occasional on-coming semi or pickup truck enthusiastically returned my wave of recognition. Waving at passing semi’s and pickup trucks provides a reverse barometer of population density; the fewer

US 36 route to the Rally.

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the people, the more waves I receive in return.

I ended the day in Kansas where I chatted for a while with the owner of the restaurant who came over to see how I liked the meal.

The tempo was unhurried as we talked about his life raising cattle and horses, his visits each January to the Western National Stock Show in Denver, and the reason for my trip back east. Walking back to my room at the motel next door, there were two other bikes parked with the riders sitting outside enjoying adult beverages. They were heading west from St. Louis to ride Colorado mountain roads I know well, over Loveland pass, through Leadville, over Lizards Head pass and down the Million Dollar highway to the four corners. I told them I was riding the other way; “Are you the guy with that BMW over there?”…“What year is that?”…

“You rebuilt it?”...“How long did it take?”…

“Keep the rubber side down.” When touring motorcyclists chat, they share the same anticipation for the joy of riding “in the landscape” not through it, insulated in a climate controlled box.

The next day’s ride was shorter, ending in Hannibal, Missouri, to visit the Mark Twain museum. It takes up a city block with Samuel Clemens house on one side of the street next to a reproduction of the boyhood home of the archetype for Huck Finn, and across the street, his father’s Justice of the Peace office with Becky Thatcher’s home beside it. I thoroughly enjoyed wandering around as the tourist season was over, and I was not in a crowd being rushed.

I ordered a craft beer with dinner at the

Mark Twain brew pub, and my waiter proudly told me it was his first effort as an apprentice brew master. I told him where I was going and why; he talked about his grandfather who owned a /2 BMW for many years. Briefly slipping into a personal conversation with people you won’t see again helps each of us drop our guard and talk about important personal experiences.

Our short stories, shared in the moment, made dinner memorable. His beer was very good, so I ordered another.

The next morning, I crossed the Mississippi river into Missouri and ended the day on the northeastern edge of Indianapolis.

This is the old US 36 where the land pushes the road around making it conform to its contours. The traffic was light and waves got returned. But by late afternoon, US 36 was divided highway and the roles were reversed; the road punches through the land becoming a uniform slab like all the other slabs crossing the country. The returned waves disappeared, a sure sign folks are under the influence of a large city with no time for such frivolity.

In the morning after breakfast, I rode in a drizzle of rain mixed with spray from the traffic on a short section of I-69 before US 36 branched off. I rode away from the city, avoiding the zombie crawl of traffic plodding in the opposite direction.

At my late morning gas stop, I heard a noise from the transmission, and it wasn’t a happy sound. Something was not right. My heart sank as I considered the situation and my options. I decided to stay the course and ride to my hotel on the West Virginia,

Sunday morning on US 36 in eastern Colorado - Just me, the sky and the fields all around.

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Pennsylvania border. That put me about 350 miles from the rally and close to Tom Cutter’s Rubber Chicken Racing Garage. He was attending the rally and is one of the best airhead transmission rebuilders in the country.

Riding through Ohio, the drizzle was on and off most of the afternoon. I was hypersensitive to any change in handling, sound, or feel of the shift lever as I moved through the gears in each town I passed through.

The gloom, grey sky and knot in my stomach did not help my mood. And, my ancient GPS started freezing, refusing to update where I was on my route. I stopped to look at my paper map and jot notes on route changes bag so I could avoid Columbus, Ohio.

US 36 ends in Ulrichesville, Ohio. I got gas as the overcast started breaking up and the sun elbowed the gloom out of the way. I turned south on US 250 to intercept I-70 and the Pennsylvania turnpike. My mood improved and then, like a switch has flipped, it suddenly became a joy to ride in the sunny, late afternoon. The route this road takes is again dictated by the land, which is part of the hills and hollows of the Appalachian foothills. I forgot about the transmission and just enjoyed the roller coaster ride. Stress melted away as Gonzo and I glided up, down and around the hills, banking low into tight turns all the way down to Wheeling, West Virginia, where I briefly joined I-70 to reach my hotel in Triadelphia, West Virginia.

After checking in, I called Tom and describe the noise I was hearing from the

At the Riverfront Park in Hannibal, Missouri.

Statue of Mark Twain at the helm.

Samuel Clemens father’s Justice of the Peace office.

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transmission. I told him I’d bring the bike to him so he could fix whatever I did wrong when I replaced the bearings and seals. If I had to fly back home and then return, so be it. He interrupted me, “No need to worry about that. I’m bringing my trailer with two bikes to the rally. After the rally is over on Saturday, we will load yours in the trailer, and you can ride one of mine to the shop.

We’ll work on it Sunday and get you back on the road.” The gnawing anxiety in my stomach since the morning gas stop evaporated.

Tom wanted me to drain the transmission and check the magnetic drain plug to see if any metal is in the gear oil. I rode to an Auto Zone five miles away; I bought gear oil and an oil pan, unpacked my tools, and drained the gear box in the parking lot.

There was a circlip stuck to the magnetic drain plug; not good, but on the plus side, there were no metal pieces from a failed bearing. I take a picture with my cell phone and sent it to Tom. He replies it’s the circlip that holds the plastic roller that rides on the shift cam plate. That means the roller is off the pin and the gear dogs will not stay engaged so the dog gear will rub against the two gears it’s between. That’s the noise I heard. He didn’t not want me to continue riding to the rally if there is any way to avoid it.

Look what I found on the transmission drain plug

It was about 7 p.m., starting to drizzle, and the light was all but gone. Glumly, I packed up my tools, rode back to the hotel and got some dinner, my mind in high gear thinking about how to get the bike to the rally and in Tom’s hands. I decided to post a note to the news group used by everyone attending the rally to see if anyone is trailering their bike and has room for Gonzo and I. Then I went to bed, tired, but I didn’t get much sleep as the “what if ” scenarios were endlessly dancing in my head.

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Draining Gonzo’s gear box in an Auto Zone parking lot.

In the morning I saw a note from Duane Wilding in Annapolis, Maryland, who was willing to sacrifice his five hour ride to the rally to spend 11 hours driving his truck and trailer to deliver me to the rally. I didn’t see any other offers of help, so I called Duane to have him to detour to my hotel. He needed about an hour and a half to repack and get his trailer hooked up and asked me to call him if I got an offer from someone closer.

I started calling the hotels on my return trip to put my reservations on hold as more emails arrived from RS owners offering encouragement. All of a sudden I spotted an email from last night that I missed from Scott Mercer in Pittsburg, an hour and a half away. He had room in the van he rented, and he could pick me up. He didn’t provide his phone number so I quickly repled to his email with my phone number hoping he hadn’t left yet. Fifteen minutes later my phone rang; yes, he can come and pick me up. I immediately called Duane and told him to stand down, reaching him a few minutes before he was about to leave.

I get two more phone calls, one from Scott’s friend, Tom Gaiser, and the other from, Kevin O’Neal. Both tell me they will come to the hotel to help load Gonzo. Kevin has room on his trailer if my bike won’t fit

in Scott’s van. From famine to feast in 10 hours. What a relief.

Five hours after we strapped Gonzo in Scott’s van, we arrived at the rally hotel. In the dark, I parked Gonzo in a group of at least 40 RSs, thanked Scott and Tim and they continued to their hotel. I checked in, called my wife, and then met the RS owners in the bar. I was introduced to Mike Cecchini, who brought his R 90 S from D.C. in a trailer; he can take me to the rally in the morning when he drops off his bike.

The next morning at Todd’s home, sensory overload started and didn’t let up for the next two days. As I walked through the parking area, a row of 1977 RS bikes caught the sun in their silver-blue uniforms, standing at attention in front of Todd’s “Bavarian Bike Barn.”

Inside the open air meeting pavilion, adorned with three different rally logos, the first RS imported to the US, VIN 6810001, currently owned by, Jim Danhakl, is parked in front of the speaker’s podium.

Hans Muth made two presentations about how he designed the RS and shepherded it to market. In the first presentation he talked about how he came up with the design for the R 100 RS, which he calls his “Silver Daughter.”

The first RS and owned by Jim Danhakl . Photo courtesy of Andy Mueller, www.ampmphotos.com

He believes design is a competitive strategy, and BMW needed one to combat the Japanese onslaught that began in the 1960’s and made the Japanese a motorcycle juggernaut by the early 1970s.

How do you succeed as a motorcycle designer? “You have to feel the passion of the customer and realize that in a product.”

He focused on removing all impediments between a rider and his or her passion, riding. From this came four design principles for the RS project: protect the rider; remove distractions, create stability to remove concern for safety, and protect the rider from the elements. He supported these with a simple statement of design goal, “Function Meets Beauty”.

BMW had strong roots in racing, winning worldwide respect for their racing accomplishments. Hans notes that shape and then color is the order of attention when viewing an object. Since a fairing is associated with racing, the visual focus of the RS design is an innovative, integrated

fairing; it recalls racing success to generate passion for the RS. He focused his team on creating the iconic shape of a wind tunnel tested fairing.

Instead of the humdrum “Black mit White,” the industry joke about BMW’s idea of visual excitement, he chose a single, non-traditional color, silver-blue, for the bike with blue brake calipers, not the traditional black. The seat was a 1.5 seat (not a ¾ seat as it’s commonly called). And then he had to resist management’s objections to preserve his “one-two” punch of form and color to capture the passion of the buyer.

In the second presentation on Saturday, he talked about the challenges he faced ensuring his design survived the slings and arrows of uninformed opinion by the BMW corporate “suits,” and how he worked around the unassailable engineering decisions, all of which threatened to fatally compromise his vision. I loved his story about a critical design review meeting with the top brass. Several top managers were

impatiently waiting to ask their irrelevant questions to demonstrate their importance.

After they were finished, he was told to come back with a design that answered these “important concerns about your design, Herr Muth.” As he headed back to the design studio, he decided to do nothing to change his design. He would rearrange the presentation in a different order to draw attention to different details. But he needed to be sure it looked like he had worked hard on the changes. He stayed late that night and came in very early the next morning and then assembled the top brass for his briefing on the “improved design.” He was complimented for quickly fixing the deficiencies and got approval to hand off the RS design to engineering to build.

Then non-negotiable engineering changes arrived. There were minor pin holes in the fairing panels that could be seen only with a magnifying glass, but this was unacceptable. To prevent changing the fabrication process, Hans used a matte

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Colorful sampling of RS models. Photo courtesy of Andy Mueller, www.ampmphotos.com.

An unusual detail on Karl Duffner’s 300,000+ mile R 9 0S. Photo courtesy of Andy Mueller, www. ampmphotos.com.

finish to hide these, abandoning the traditional gloss finish. Visually, edges between the faring’s nine panels looked smooth, enhancing the sense the faring was a single, flowing unit.

The unusual horizontal orange lines on the headlight lens were added when the engineers told him the lens had to be large so headlight beam propagation met legal standards. This “huge fish eye,” as Hans called it, drew the eye immediately, diminishing attention to the flowing lines of the bike. At home, he looked at the oven door of his stove and saw horizontal lines in the glass. They naturally drew his eye, minimizing attention on the large window in the

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Steve Bauer’s R 69 S ISDT replica.

oven door. He added orange lines to the headlight lens so the big, unblinking eye was no longer the center of attention. He knew this trick worked when he was asked what the lines were for and not why the lens was so big.

Confirmation he succeeded with the RS design came at the unveiling for the press with the obligatory press ride on brand new R 100 RS bikes. But that day, it was pouring rain, and there was talk of postponing the ride. The head of Motorrad would have

none of it, so the press suited up and rode off in the down pour. When the first journalist returned, he jubilantly shouted “I’m DRY!!!” Hans knew his design was a success.

Udl Gietl spoke about his experiences conducting the BMW race program at Butler and Smith. Udl went on to run Honda’s superbike race program. He lamented, “Everyone asks me about what it was like winning the first AMA superbike race and the Superbike championship in 1976. But that was only one year. No one asks me about winning the six championships for Honda!”

Ed Bach talked about why and how he spent five years riding in 100 countries on his R 1200 GSA. His original plan was to ride “for only six months,” but that left too much of the world unseen. He is now riding around the U.S. on the same bike, giving talks. As I listened to his story of adventures and hardships, it put my little predicament in perspective; I was in my own country, not far from one of the best airhead transmission builders who had answered my call for help without hesitation, and I wasn’t running out of money and wondering where I would sleep and how I was going to eat.

Mixed among the large collection of RS

Tom High's million-mile R 90 S. Photo courtesy of Andy Mueller, www.ampmphotos.com.

bikes was a replica of an R 69 S ISDT race bike built for Steve Bauer (you can read about that project here: http://www.turtlegarage.com/bmw-r69s-isdt-the-first-gs/); a highly customized R 90 S built by Karl Duffner now owned by Todd after Karl passed away, with over 300,000 miles on it; and a 1,000,000 mile 1977 R 100R S,

Gretchen, owned by Tom High, proprietor of Rennsport Motorrad in Deland, Florida.

It is a testament to Hans’ design and BMW Motorrad engineering, not to mention Tom’s addiction to riding his RS. Also in attendance was a rare Munch Below: A Munch Mammoth. Photo courtesy of Andy Mueller, www.ampmphotos.com.

Shaking hands with Hans Muth.

Mammoth owned by Klaus Huenecke. The motor is an NSU automobile engine; only about 500 were hand built starting in the mid-1960s and ending in the mid-1970s.

Saturday morning, Mike and I put Gonzo in his trailer. We unloaded the bike at the beginning of Todd’s driveway, I started it, slipped the transmission into first gear and rode up the drive to the parking area so I could truthfully say “I rode Gonzo to the rally.” I got a thumbs up from Andy Mueller, a professional photographer, who fittingly is the proud owner of the 40th RS he rode to the 40th anniversary rally. He directed me to park Gonzo in Saturday’s row of 1977 RS bikes. At last, Gonzo, my year-long project, was surrounded by his own kind as I stood there soaking it all in.

I finally got to talk with Hans and asked him to sign the factory inspection sticker

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Han’s autograph on Gonzo’s factory inspection sticker.

on Gonzo’s rear fender. It seemed a fitting place for the RS designer’s signature. When I shook his hand standing next to Gonzo thanking him for designing such a beautiful motorcycle, my voice caught in my throat as I realized where I was and who I was talking to as he rested his hand on my effort to rebuild one of his Silver Daughters.

Saturday evening, Tom and I loaded Gonzo in his trailer. I would ride Tom’s beautiful R 100/7, aka his “Fake S,” painted in Motosport colors, to his shop. When I started his bike and flipped down my visor, “Don’t stall it. Don’t drop it.” kept streaming across my mind like the news ticker in Times Square.

As I rode behind his trailer on the Pennsylvania Turnpike for the next hour, I recorded all the sensations that come from riding a meticulously prepared R 100 airhead. Wow, this bike was a joy to ride! What a unique opportunity for me, and all because of a problem with a $2.95 part. Talk about falling in do-do and coming out smelling like a rose.

Tom started work at 9:30 a.m. Sunday morning. By 12:45 p.m., he had the transmission out of the bike, taken it apart, cleaned, inspected and put it back together except for measuring the clearance of the transmission shafts, shimming them to the proper endplay and putting the rear cover back on.

He found the problem. The circlip inside diameter was too large. It was a new part I bought from my BMW dealer who had to it shipped from a BMW parts depot. Parts are picked and packed by humans and humans make mistakes. I should have compared the new part to the old one to ensure it was the same size before installing it. Lesson learned.

As a fly on the wall in Tom’s shop, I watched a craftsman seamlessly do the work in a few hours that took me weeks to figure out. Robert Pirseg, author of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, wrote, “When you are joined completely … with, the work you are doing, or the ride you are experiencing, that is the definition of quality in your life.”

And then, we were off to lunch with Hans Muth, the Siebenrocks and a number of other luminaries who attended the rally.

After lunch, everyone went to Tom’s shop to kick tires until 5:30 p.m. Tom turned to me and said, “Well, let’s see how far we can get.”

By 7:00 p.m. we called it a day, with the transmission sitting on the work bench ready to

On the left, the too large incorrect circlip I installed and on the right, the correct size circlip.

go back into my bike.

My goal was to leave Monday no later than 2:00 p.m. so I was to reach my first day hotel and not ride in the dark. That morning, Tom put the bike back together and fixed a couple things I didn’t get right. By 2:05 p.m., I was riding down his driveway on my way back to Colorado.

The return on US 50 had stretches of the old two lane mixed with updated sections of divided highway. The GPS continued to stop working from time to time, but I put a slip of paper in the map pocket with key route changes, just as I used to do on my R 75/6 back in the 1970’s. It was my “vintage GPS” on my vintage RS. On I-70 west of Topeka, the temperature went up to 102 with a 25–30 mph cross wind. Unlike riding my R75/5 with the

Windjammer fairing, I barely had to lean Gonzo into the wind, and the bike hardly twitched when the gusts hit. Two hours at 80 mph with a cross wind proved Han’s RS fairing design removed stress and distraction.

Five days after turning right out of Tom’s driveway, I parked Gonzo in my shop and pulled the key from the ignition. I had ridden 3,300 miles, been trailered more than 400 miles by big hearted airhead owners, shaken the hand of Hans Muth and gotten his autograph, witnessed how an airhead craftsman takes apart and reassembles a transmission, and been immersed in the history of the R 100 RS for two days. What a marvelous capstone to this rebuild project.

I need to acknowledge some people who have helped me on all my projects with information, advice, expert mechanical services, special tools, and sometimes, hard to find parts.

• Tom Cutter, Rubber Chicken Racing Garage (www. rubberchickenracinggarage.com) • Robert Fleischer, aka, “Snowbum”, (bmwmotorcycletech.info/technical-articles-list.htm) • Clem Cykowski, retired, past owner of BMW of Denver • Matt Parkhouse, author of “Keep Em Flying” in the Owners News magazine.

• Anton Largiader, Virginia Motorrad Werkstatt (www.largiader.com/articles/circlip/) • Lloyd Provin, The Nickwackett Garage (www. TheNickwackettGarage.com) • Dan Neiner, Cycle Works (www.cycleworks.net) • Larry Stonestreet, Stoner’s Beemer Stash (Email: ca.stoner@yahoo.com ) • Randy Long, Long’s Mechanical Services • Matt Norman, Euro MotoElectrics (www.euromotoelectrics.com) I received advice, encouragement, and tips from many members of the airhead community, who are too numerous to mention here. You know who you are, and I thank you very much.

January 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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FOUNDATIONNEWS

FOUNDATION OUR MISSION

The BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Foundation is dedicated to supporting motorcycling and its rich heritage for BMW MOA members and the motorcycling public by funding programs that advance rider safety, education and training.

BMW MOA FOUNDATION OFFICERS

Chuck Manley, President cmanley@bmwmoaf.org Mark Austin, Vice President maustin@bmwmoaf.org Bex Becker, Treasurer bex@bmwmoaf.org Greg Straub, Secretary gstraub@bmwmoaf.org BMW MOA FOUNDATION DIRECTORS

Tom Gary tgary@bmwmoaf.org Vance Harrelson vance@bmwmoaf.org Randy Logan rlogan@bmwmoaf.org Will McHardy wmchardy@bmwmoaf.org Peter Perrin pperrin@bmwmoaf.org BMW MOA FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS

2539 John Hawkins Parkway Suite 101-111 Birmingham, AL 35244 866-865-1055 Ted Moyer, Executive Director tmoyer@bmwmoaf.org

My Paul B. Scholarship training experience

By Barry Downing #152220 I HAVE TO TAKE THE TIME TO THANK

the MOA Foundation for my Paul B Scholarship which I used to attend a RawHyde off-road training course.

I attended RawHyde’s Intro to Adventure Camp, which they say is “an introduction to dirt riding techniques.” Base Camp Alpha on Monday and Tuesday isn’t part of the formal training, but it was a great two days to put my newly learned skills to use.

The Camp started on Friday with “Intro to Nomenclature,” about a two-hour overview of the GS and GS Adventure electronic controls and systems. We learned how to set up the bike to fit each rider properly for height and weight, and how to change the programming for suspension and ride modes. I recommend this, as there are many tricks of the trade to learn that aren’t in the owner’s manual.

Following that, we did the “Pre-Training Clinic.” This four-hour session focused on throttle, clutch and brake control, with an afternoon spent working the motorcycle through its paces with multiple exercises like how to balance the motorcycle with one

hand, walking the motorcycle up a hill while standing beside it, and how to pick up the motorcycle. I rented one of RawHyde’s GS Adventures for the event, and it was an excellent time to get a feel for the bike and get it dialed in for me. I recommend this clinic because it’s a good opportunity to let the body clock adjust a bit and get to know the folks you’ll be riding with. It’s also a chance to get in some early work on skills.

The formal training took place on Saturday and Sunday. We did a lot of off road riding with hills, sand, figure-eights, whoops, mountain climbs to the cell tower, digging the bike out of the sand, and more.

The instructors were excellent--patient, friendly and very professional. The instructor/student ratio varied by the different stages, but there was usually one instructor for five or so students, and they were all excellent coaches. The staff is very friendly, accessible and professional. At the end of each training day we did a recap of what our highs and lows were and found most of the group faced similar challenges and accomplishments.

DMC Sidecars The facility created a great atmosphere of friendship and camaraderie, especially with the open bar after training to add to the atmosphere. First class refreshments and hors d’oeuvres were served as well as excellent meals, which were accompanied by some of Jim Hyde’s wine selections. Jim is a great host, and he and his team made us all feel part of the family. There was even Live entertainment provided by The E&O Medicine Show—two of the instructors with guitar and electric violin!

While I have been riding motorcycles for 40 years, I have no off-road experience, and, wanting to do some adventure riding, I picked up a 2014 GSA to complement my ’15 RT. I took the BMW road course training in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and wanted to get proper training for off-road riding. RawHyde exceeded my expectations for training, and I now have a great tool box to practice from to put the skills I learned to their proper use.

I unconditionally recommend RawHyde Adventures for anyone looking to learn how to properly ride off road or to just take a couple of days to play in the mountains. There are some things one cannot put a price tag on, and this training is one of them. It’s priceless to learn skills to keep my hide intact! That I could offset the cost of the training with the Foundation’s Paul B Scholarship is an added bonus to the whole thing.

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www.rockycreekdesigns.com January 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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RIDEWELL

Dealing with migraines

By Marven Ewen #150506 IF YOU ARE ONE

of the 37 million people in this country that suffer with migraines, you know how painful and debilitating this condition can be. If you don’t have migraines yourself, then chances are you live with someone who does.

Something as enjoyable as riding a motorcycle can be very unpleasant and downright painful during a migraine. You become hypersensitive to sound, light, and movement. That cool aftermarket exhaust is like a jackhammer in your head. Even thinking seems to hurt!

This condition is not completely understood, but we do know that perception of pain becomes heightened due to neurochemical changes in the brain along with constriction then dilation of blood vessels in the head. During the vessel constriction phase of a migraine, people sometimes experience visual auras or even stroke-like symptoms. In fact, frequent migraines lead to changes on brain MRIs that are consistent with scarring similar to small vessel ischemic disease.

Typically, the visual aura may be flashing lights, spots, or loss of a portion of a visual field. This usually lasts fewer than 20-30 minutes and is followed by onset of a headache, accompanied by nausea and light sensitivity. Most of the time the headache will be on one side and gradually onset over a few minutes.

The duration of these phases and severity can vary, depending on the

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

person.

Most people with a migraine just want to lie down in a quiet dark room. This usually provides at least some comfort and typically the pain gets better with sleep, but not in every case. Unfortunately, lying in a dark room is often not an option in our busy lives. We want to avoid getting these headaches in the first place, but also have an effective treatment if they can’t be prevented.

Fortunately, many migraines can be prevented. There are well-known triggers that make migraine patients susceptible to getting a migraine. These include red wine (or for some people all types of alcohol), chocolate, cheese, caffeine (too much or too little), skipping meals, dehydration, emotional stress, lack of sleep, excess salt, excess sugar, and artificial sweeteners such as aspartame.

Bright light, especially in the blue spectrum such as florescent lighting or computer screens, is a common trigger. For some people it takes a combination of triggers to result in a migraine attack. For example, if you got up earlier than normal, rode all day in the bright sunshine, didn’t drink much water, then enjoyed a beer before going to bed a little too late, it may be

no surprise you ended up with a migraine.

People prone to migraines seem to have more sensitive nervous systems. This would make sense as to why this trait has persisted through evolution. Maybe in prehistoric times it was the migraineur who avoided being eaten by the wild animal because they were the first ones to hear it. Or maybe they avoided eating something poisonous because of a keener sense of smell. Migraine patients must learn to live on an even keel— no dramatic changes in sleep or diet. If they drink coffee, I tell them not to skip coffee days. Also, it is important to learn to manage stress through regular exercise and meditation.

Recently, I have found that blue spectrum filter eyeglass lenses can help reduce migraine pain when working at a computer or in fluorescent lighting.

There is also some research to suggest that they may also prevent headaches.

Anyone prone to migraines should definitely be wearing sunglasses outside on bright days or a polarized tinted visor when riding.

Ibuprofen or Tylenol can sometimes be effective for migraine if it is taken during an aura. Unfortunately, many migraineurs don’t get auras, so by the time the headache starts it may be too late for over-the-counter painkillers. People who rely too much on OTC painkillers may get rebound headaches and a daily migraine phenomenon.

There are several prescription migraine medications for those that don’t benefit from over the counter treatments.

Finally, for people with frequent migraines in spite of trigger avoidance, there are preventative medications that can be taken daily. I would encourage anyone with migraine headaches to keep a headache journal. Learn what your triggers are and avoid them if possible. Get medical help if you can’t manage them on your own.

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jacktheriepe

Brittany Berlinga: Master of Corporate Espionage and “K” bike rider

By Jack Riepe #116117

Brittany Berlinga–Master of Corporate Espionage and “K” bike rider–accepted a $1.2-million contract to retrieve a steel box from a “mine” deep within a Brazilian Jungle. Despite the remote location, the mine was abandoned and the job seemed like a fairly simple “grab and go” opportunity for easy cash. The mine turned out to be an abandoned research facility and home to a mutant python.

Despite the odds, Brittany retrieved not one, but two, steel boxes, and was nearly home free, when she ran into an ambush by the thugs of Mombo, the talking monkey. Her bike wrecked…her body bruised…Brittany Berlinga was doused with a pheromone designed to attract giant centipedes and left dazed on the floor of an endless jungle.

“HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN SO

stupid?” thought Brittany. “Nobody pays $1.2 million for a simple grab and go.” She moved to sit upright, setting off a piercing pain her chest. She didn’t think her ribs were broken, but they were certainly bruised from where the cable had knocked her off the bike. She would rather have been shot than have bruised ribs. You can tie off a gunshot wound and drink enough rum to get around the pain.

But bruised ribs hurt whenever you moved and sometimes breathed.

She took a deep breath and winced again. It was bruised ribs all right.

She’d been tossed by a grenade in Beirut one year, and the diagnosis was bruised ribs. It took her six weeks to recover. She didn’t have six hours today, probably not even half that.

Her jacket was damp. Mombo had poured a clear, odorless liquid on her, claiming it was giant centipede pheromone. Four inches in circumference and three feet long, giant centipedes were vicious, voracious killers that moved through the duff of the rainforest floor, devouring tarantulas, lizards, and people too stupid to stay out of the jungle at night.

There was a legend of a pygmy tribe that hunted these arthropods

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

relentlessly. It was said that boys at the cusp of manhood would have to kill a giant centipede with their bare hands before knowing the love of a woman. Every civilization had its rites of passage.

Brittany realized she would have to stand up sooner or later, and now was as good a time as any. The pain in her chest dizzied her for a few seconds, but she could stand.

Her legs were not broken. After a bit, she tried a few steps, holding her breath. It hurt to breathe and walk at the same time. You couldn’t call staggering a few steps walking though. It was 20 feet to the bike and it seemed like a mile.

The bike was a mess. The cable had smashed the windscreen. The machine lay on its right side and the mirror, the turn signal, and the front brake lever were bent, broken or jammed into the ground. There was a slight smell of gas about the wreck and an LED warning light blinked on the dash. It was the ignition interrupt safety feature, something Brittany had devised herself. If the bike had stopped running, this interlock would switch off the power to the ignition, regardless of the key setting or the kill switch. She reset it by switching the key to the off position. Brittany held her breath, and switched the key to “on.” The dash lit up and the bike had juice. That was something.

How the hell would she get it upright? It

was easy enough to do without bruised ribs, but she didn’t think she could budge it an inch without collapsing. She’d need help for this. She hated needing help–and she hated needing it when there was no help to be had. Just getting this far had left her drenched with sweat–sweat that soaked her through–sweat that acted with the pheromone, increasing its allure to the despicable things that surged among the roots of the rain forest.

Brittany remembered the words of her old Marine Corps drill sergeant: “It is better to fall trying, than to sit like a stooge and wait for what is coming. You can never tell what might happen.”

She put her back against the seat and tried pushing with her feet. She moved it an inch before the pain in her chest caused her to drop it. But it had moved. She realized that the right side bag had detached and the bike was as flat to the ground as it could get.

She looked for the side bag. It was 20 feet behind the bike…another mile in the opposite direction.

Among other things, the bag held two bottles of water and a power bar. She drained one and ate the other. Scanning the area, she found a piece of wood about four inches thick and a foot long. Brittany carried it back to the bike and tried the lifting maneuver again. On the third try, she got the bike about five inches into the air, and

shoved the wood under it. Then she passed out.

The sun was lower when she came to, but the bike was four inches higher than it had been. Closer to the cinderblock buildings, she found an old wooden crate. This was almost more than she could manage, but it was nine inches high on one side.

Some piece of equipment had come in this.

She looked around for that equipment, but found nothing. The wooden crate was intact, but rotting. Once again it took multiple tries, but it was getting easier. She got

the bike up another five inches, and shoved the crate under it. The bike was now nine inches off the ground‌ Then the crate broke.

Brittany was dizzy, nauseous, wracked with pain, and pissed. She was also exhausted. That was when she heard the rustling in the trees. Specifically, the rustling came from the base of the trees, where the ground itself appeared to be moving.

She pulled off her jacket and sniffed it. She could detect nothing, but if she tossed the jacket aside, the centipedes might follow

the wrong target. She hobbled over to the broken side case and rummaged about inside. She found an armored riding shirt.

Not quite the same thing as a jacket, but better than nothing. Brittany switched gear, draping the coat over the side case.

How much pheromone did it take to attract a giant centipede? That was the question. The answer would have curdled her blood. One drop of the stuff could be detected by a giant male centipede in 12 billion parts of air. Mombo had doused her with enough pheromone to put giant

January 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

77

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jackthereipe

inflicted by this poison caused the centicentipedes as far away as New Jersey an invisible line of scent that led to Britpedes to shrink and wither. on the alert. She had more than a few tany. The first centipede was closer now, Not a single dart struck the centipede in drops on her hands and face, due to and rearing up with a menacing stance. the center, Slowly, it moved on Brittany. the sweating. She pulled a tee shirt Brittany prepared to light the torch. Her By the light of flaming torch, Brittany out of the top case, too. plan was to charge the first arthropod, and could see the clearing swarmed by little Back at the bike, she popped the beat it into submission with the flaming people–pygmy women, wearing grass cap on the gas tank, and soaked the stick. She’d have to play it by ear from there. shirts and tattoos–tattoos of giant centishirt in gasoline. This was the last of Then the third giant centipede undupedes. In the blink of an eye, one was her 94 octane vintage, but she only lated into the clearing. This one was a full standing between her and the fetid centineeded enough for a torch. She eight inches around and at least five feet pede. She wasn’t a woman actually, but found a stick and wrapped the shirt long. It stank like the bowels of Hell and more of a girl, and she had no tattoos. around it. Brittany Berlinga prepared hissed like steam exiting a pipe. It moved in She held a crude dagger in one hand, to meet her destiny over the carcass short, but lightning fast bursts of speed, more of stabbing stick actually, and a red of her K 1300. and drew the attention of the other two. frog wrapped in a broad leaf in the other.

A giant centipede came out of the They became hesitant in the presence of Drums slowly began to beat, and girl began trees and into the clearing with a tentrue evil. This was one of the legendary a strange, but hypnotic dance. She was like tative, side-to-side shuffle. It stopped rain forest devils that took goats from the a mongoose flirting with a cobra. She every few feet and seemed to sniff paddock, barking dogs from farms, and moved in and out around the air, waving the giant centipede that was ghastly feelers and THE LEGENDARY PYGMY TRIBE WAS NOT A drunk on pheromone, and mandibles around SOCIETY OF MEN, BUT A MATERNALLY-DRIVEN enraged on this intrusion of like whips. It was the most disgusting of CIVILIZATION OF WOMEN, WHERE A YOUNG GIRL its mating.

The girl got within a foot God’s creatures, and KILLED A GIANT CENTIPEDE FOR THE RIGHT of the centipede, whirling Brittany had to stifle around it, jabbing it with a scream. It also TO CHOOSE A HUSBAND. the stick, enraging it fursmelled vile. The ther. Then she stumbled, approaching the overwhelming power of the densely children from their cradles as they slept. disgusting arthropod head-on, and it concentrated pheromone left it conThe cold cluster of its eyes focused on wrapped its antennae around her throat fused. It detected the jacket on the Brittany. before spiraling around the poor girl’s top case, but kept swinging back in “I was better off back in the mine with body. In that split second, the girl shoved Brittany’s direction, where the pherthe snake,” thought Brittany. But the mine the red frog into its snapping mandibles, omone was diluted by girl sweat— door was closed and that wasn’t an option. while keeping it at bay with the pointed the most powerful pheromone on There was not a doubt in her mind that stick. The centipede writhed and thrashed, earth. these would be her last seconds on earth. and died by the torchlight.

“He’s not so giant,” thought BritEven so, she glanced around for a weapon, “I have to find out where they get these tany. “He’s three feet of disgusting or an opportunity, or an exit. This was her red frogs,” thought Brittany. “I wonder how vacuum cleaner hose. I can deal with training and her style. Finding none, she lit they work on monkeys?” this.” the torch, as the sun was about to set. The The legendary pygmy tribe was not a That was when the second centigas-soaked shirt exploded into flame. Britsociety of men, but a maternally-driven pede entered the clearing. It was a tany thought this might give her an edge, civilization of women, where a young girl carbon copy of the first. It too moved but the three centipedes merely froze for an killed a giant centipede for the right to tentatively, then bolted to the jacket instant, with the flames reflected in their choose a husband. The life-threatening at about 40 miles per hour. It shredmultiple eyes. centipede dance was known as “mumded the jacket in mad passion. The The air was filled with a sudden hissing. boogah ecto,” which roughly translated jacket could withstand a slide of 300 Not the hissing of giant centipedes, but the into “deadly engagement.” feet on a buzz saw. It lasted less than sound of blow gun darts coming from “Some things are the same all over,” a second with the centipede. everywhere at once. The arthropods on the thought Brittany.

The jacket was not what the secright and left fell, writhing in their death The tribal leader, Oophaga Pumilio, ond centipede was expecting. Not throes. The darts were laced with the poiwhose daughter had just killed the largest only was it disappointed, it was mad, son of the red frog, which is like acid to the centipede they had seen in a generation, and it started sniffing the ground in nervous systems of centipedes. The pain

BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

thought Brittany was a kind of goddess, capable of attracting huge arthropods on demand. They communicated through the daughter, who understood a smattering of Portuguese taught to her by a missionary, before he tasted the red frog. She insisted Brittany accompany them to the village, some miles away. Brittany thought this was a good idea, for the moment, as the pheromone-soaked shirt was still open to the air.

She had a plastic bag on the bike and sealed the jacket up tight.

Twenty of the pygmy warriors picked up the motorcycle and dragged it off into the jungle. They covered it with vegetation and fronds. Brittany hung a scrap of the jacket from a branch above the K 1300. There would be no better guards than giant centipedes. Brittany would be living with the tribe for now.

Mombo and his thugs were less than 100 miles away, in another jungle-based laboratory owned by the world’s largest cosmetics company. They opened both steel boxes to find two nearly identical formulas, neither with an explanation. One would forever change the cosmetics industry. The other was a formula for turning politicians into mindless zombies. Both relied on collecting the venom from a giant python.

“I may have been too quick to dispose of Brittany Berlinga,” said Mombo to his thugs. “Take the helicopter back there and get her before the centipedes do.”

To be continued…

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This is the second installment in the Brittany Berlinga K 1300 series. She has cheated death again, but for how long? Did you like this story? Write a note to the editor. Are you a Brittany Berlinga type of rider? Didn’t get what you want for Christmas? Order a Brittany Berlinga tee shirt in full color. Want the famous Brittany Berlinga poster for your garage? We’ve got those, too. Visit www. jackriepe.com.

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79

finaljourney

William Robertson #3946

By Benjamin Robertson #205057

William Ronald Robertson of Glen Ellyn, Illinois, passed away in his home on July 19, 2014. Born December 13, 1941, Bill joined the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America in 1974 and was also active in the Chicago Region BMW club (CRBMW) since the early 1970s.

Bill graduated from Glenbard West High School and from Chicago’s North Park College in 1972 with a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and minors in German Studies and English. His charismatic personality allowed Bill make friends everywhere he went. He was known as one who could never pass up a good deal and was guaranteed to make you laugh. While Bill was a jack of all trades, HVAC was his trade of choice.

Bill’s love of motorcycles started early in life, and his first BMW was a 1967 R 50/2 that he bought in 1969 and is still in the family.

That bike was followed by various Slash 5 and Slash 6 models and BMWs were his passion.

Bill was married for 38 years to Carolyn Robertson, who sadly lost her battle to breast cancer in 2005. He is survived by sons Benjamin, Joshua, John, four grandchildren and three siblings.

I miss you dad.

Glen Mack Sanders #1461

Glen Mack Sanders died Tuesday, October 14, 2014, in Rocklin, California, after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.

Born on May 7, 1933, in Rocky, Oklahoma, to Dr. Oral Malvin and Oma Marie Sanders, Glen was raised in Ada, Oklahoma, and graduated from Webb School in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, in 1951.

Glen was discharged from the U.S. Army in 1955 after serving at Fort Ord and in Japan. On September 1, 1956, he married Jean Arlene Jarvi. After initially living in Oklahoma, in 1963 they settled in the San Francisco Bay area where Glen remained an avid Oklahoma Sooner fan.

Glen had a long career with American Airlines, where he rose from crew scheduler to director of marketing of the Pacific Division to general manager. Upon his retirement, he moved to the other side of the terminal and worked on behalf of Sacramento County.

While Glen loved airplanes, his passion was motorcycles. He and Jean were members of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and rode more than 200,000 miles together, attending rallies and simply enjoying the vast and diverse beauty of the country.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

John Brooks #85814

John Brooks was born on February 3, 1947, and passed away on June 28, 2017. Described as a wonderful, fun-loving man, John’s passion was riding his BMW motorcycle. John rode more than 400,000 miles during his lifetime.

John was preparing for a ride to the 2017 BMW MOA International Rally in Utah when he was tragically hit and killed by a distracted driver while on his motorcycle about two miles from home.

He leaves behind Vickie, his soulmate and riding partner of 30 years, as well as his children, brother and many dear friends who all love and miss him dearly.

He will remain in our hearts forever.

Ronnie Fry #709

Ronnie Fry was born in Sweetwater, Texas, on July 19, 1941, and raised in Roscoe, Texas, as a Roscoe Plowboy.

Over his life, Ronnie worked for RS&P Railroad, Xerox, Aim Insurance and the Texas Cotton Ginners Trust. Additionally, Ronnie and Jim Davidson passionately owned a BMW motorcycle dealership for 10 years. He was a member of the Aggies Century Club, as well as an avid model train and BMW motorcycle enthusiast.

With his wife Jan, Ronnie enjoyed travelling across the U.S. by BMW motorcycle.

A well-respected friend and colleague, Ronnie will be missed by all who knew him.

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mileagecontest Proud sponsor of the BMW MOA Mileage contest

2016 Winter Mileage Contest Results

By Steve Brunner #84292 THE ONLY THING THAT REMAINS

constant in life is change. The change in the MOA Mileage Contests along with personal and professional challenges over the past year hampered the posting of the Winter and Annual Mileage Contests. For this, I greatly apologize.

To compound the trials and tribulations in running three contests, a few buttons were pushed out of sequence and some numbers were tabulated by hand. The maiden voyage of the Winter Contest was the biggest casualty.

Thirty-four riders completed our initial Winter Contest, with the states with the most participation including Michigan, Califor-

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

nia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin.

See you on the road.

Miguel Mendonca #127868 First Place Male I live outside of Napa, California, near Lake Berryessa, and in 2001 I rode a motorcycle for the first time. Two years later, I purchased my first BMW, a 2002 K 1200 LT. Since then, I haven’t had a second vehicle.

So far I have owned three K 1200 LTs and am currently on my second K 1600 GTL. Most of my mileage comes from my 100mile daily commute to Concord, California, where I work as a paramedic. Each summer I travel throughout the country and usually put on about 40,000 miles each year.

Miquel Mendonca’s K 1600 GTL.

I enjoy riding with the Central California BMW Riders, and thank you to A&S BMW for the same day service and keeping me on my motorcycle.

Stay safe and see you out there.

Dave Peters #201985 Second Place Male I’m retired and live a rather nomadic livestyle, living in a toy hauler half the year in Wisconsin and the other half in the Texas Hill Country, but I have been thinking of Colorado and New Mexico for the future.

I have my RT with me when I travel, and I usually ride alone nearly every day. Right now I am sitting in the VA hospital in Milwaukee instead of Texas! I recently had surgery to remove cancer in my neck and once radiation is complete, I’ll be on the road again.

Jack Dannenbert #157644 Third Place Male I am 73 years old, retired and loving life with Linda, my wife of 51 years. Although Linda does not go with me on every ride, she is my favorite riding partner.

Linda and I have ridden in all 50 states, and though we used to camp, lately we’ve been enjoying the comfort of motel rooms and restaurants.

I ride alone about as often as I ride with my friends and belong to an informal Albuquerque riding group known as Lunch with Dave. Although the name would imply a ride-to-eat group, it really isn’t. We ride all over the United States and Canada, plus a couple of overseas trips.

I average about 30,000 miles each year and enjoy riding Grand Tours such as those put on by Team Strange, as well as contests put on by the local BMW club and shorter rallies of 12, 24, 36 and 54 hours. I also have done several IBA certificate rides and have one more, the Three Flags in 24 hours ride, remaining on my bucket list.

I usually have several bikes in the garage but like dual sport models best since, except for the height, the ergonomics fit me well.

See you out there.

Paul Parsons #189927 Average Male Rider I live in rural Vail, Arizona, with my wife and six-month-old daughter. Our house sits on five acres surrounded by rugged roads and mountains. This past winter, much of my riding consisted of a 70-mile round trip to work at UPS where I unload and shift trailers in the early morning hours.

Wintertime at UPS is the busiest, and most nights I’m there by midnight, and even though this is Arizona, some of the overnights can get into the 30s.

I am originally from Northeast Ohio, so the cold is not the biggest issue. What becomes challenging each night is driving in pitch black while still being alert for wildlife. I have crossed paths with mule deer, jack rabbits, skunks, javelinas, coyotes, rattlesnakes and the occasional Gila monster while riding my BMW.

My BMW riding began in 2012 after reading Ghost Rider by Neil Peart. I just had to have his exact bike which seemed so reliable on his long journeys, so I purchased a 1995 R 1100 GS I found on eBay. That weekend I drove my truck 1,400 miles roundtrip to bring it home. Since then, I’ve never looked back, riding whenever I can.

My most memorable trip was a solo ride that took me from Cleveland to the Redwoods, down the California coast and east to Tucson. Another memorable trip was my honeymoon when I spent a week with my new wife touring Colorado.

This winter I’ll once again be making those cold, dark rides to UPS. But this time, I’m hoping to complete in a SaddleSore 1,000 and receive the coveted license plate cover of the Iron Butt Association.

Top 25 Male Finishers

MOA # Name State Year

127868 Miguel Mendonca CA 2013 201985 Dave Peters WI 2012 157644 Jack Dannenbert NM 2011 89428 Wayne Doherty FL 2009 11223 Josh Ascher NY 2009 72768 David Anderson MO 2015 45061 Michael Brown TX 2002 153965 Richard Gruber TN 2009 115301 Charles Fridy SC 2014 83834 Maurice Kornreich GA 2012 148120 John Churico PA 2016 189927 Paul Parsons AZ 1995 156002 John Simonds MA 2008 207557 Lester Allen MI 2016 88980 Michael Harper WV 2003 135581 Brian Lamborn PA 2005 59757 Roy Barnes WA 2009 110373 Tim Papinchak PA 2015 126705 Cliff McEwen ON 2008 161723 Jim Trotter WA 2010 158163 Don Strand CA 2014 39316 Rhys B. Blair MI 2009 106908 Phillip Thick MI 2006 84629 Charles Dorrel FL 1995 129629 William Lopez-Hertan CA 2005

Bike #1 Model Year

Bike #2 Model

TOTAL MILES

K1600GTL 2016 K1600GTLE R1200RT R1200GS G650GS R1200R 2000 R1150GS R1200GSA R1150GS 1998 K1200RS K1200LT R1200RT R650GS R1200GS 2009 K1200LT R1100GS R1200GSA R1200R R1150RT F650CSA 1988 R100RT F650GS R1200GSWC R1200R R1200GSA K1600GT K1200LTC 2013 K1600GTL K1200LT 2013 K1600GTL R1100R R1150R

January 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

18,420 14,062 11,046 7,293 6,970 6,862 6,504 6,384 6,241 5,084 4,980 4,457 2,577 2,511 2,397 1,630 1,281 1,183 852 816 611 489 425 283 237

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mileagecontest

Charlene McLauchlan #108765 First Place Female I bought my first motorcycle when I was in veterinary school at the University of Wisconsin after taking an MSF class. I had never ridden before and soon after found a Suzuki 450 in the classifieds being sold by a man whose wife just had a baby.

I soon found out it wasn’t much fun commuting through Wisconsin’s weather, so during my senior year I sold the bike and bought a small pickup. That was the end of my motorcycling for a time.

Ten years later, after caring for

Charlene McLauchlan

many cows and a few horses in northeastern Wisconsin, I moved to Minneapolis to work in the Agriculture industry. With my school loans paid, I was able to indulge again and found a used Kawasaki 750 Vulcan. A year later, I moved to Fresno, California, excited at the opportunity to ride all year.

Once there, I started exploring the Sierra Mountains every free moment I had, but was frustrated because the gas tank was small and there aren’t many gas stations in the mountains.

About that time, I noticed the California State Police all had BMWs, so I started looking and soon found a used R 1200 RT. It is now 18 years later, and during that time I have owned an R 1200 GS, K 1300 GT, R 1200 C and now an F

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

800 GS, and altogether I have ridden more than 75,000 miles. I usually ride alone, and some of my favorite trips have been to Colorado, the Pacific northwest and Zion National Park.

I always have grand plans when I submit my mileage at the start of each contest, but work keeps getting in the way of many of my trips. I’ll be 66 and retiring in a few months and am excited about developing a new career that includes riding motorcycles, traveling and coaching people. Look for me to be a much higher miler in the future!

Tracy Anderson #200845 Second Place Female My goal is to ride almost every weekend with the St. Louis Gateway Riders or the Jack’s Pack where there are usually five to 15 riders riding challenging backroads on our way to breakfast or lunch.

I’m thankful for Lee Parks’ response in the October 2017 issue about training bucket lists. In my second year of riding my F 650 GS, I was trying to get in those miles to help with that fear management skill and practice all of skills learned through books, classes and videos. Despite feeling like I’ve been thrown into the deep end with the challenging group rides I’ve taken, I feel the support and encouragement I’ve received has been invaluable.

Last year was a relatively mild winter, but a couple rides still stand out. The first was with my Dave, where we were the only ones to ride to the Gateway Riders Christmas dinner. It was 30 degrees on the way home, and my hands nearly turned to ice. A few days later, I definitely appreciated the electric warmth on our New Year’s Day ride when it was 20 degrees on our ride to Pere Marquette Lodge along the Illinois River.

On that return trip home, Al Schroer led us back via the route less travelled which included two ferry rides and riding through islands. Although Al passed away recently, he is remembered by so many as an amazing family man, friend, and Gateway officer who had a quick wit and wisdom that he shared freely.

We are all blessed by all the opportunities to grow as riders through our local and national clubs and through the rallies, classes and friendships made with likeminded souls.

Thank you to Dave for encouraging and supporting me to make the transition from a back-seat rider and to John Malnor, MOA Regional Coordinator, for offering me his spot in the Street-masters class and later the Street Skills class.

Also, thanks to the MOA Foundation for the Paul B Scholarships and to all the Gateway Riders and Jack’s Pack riders for your help and support.

All Finishers by State ALABAMA - 1 Finisher

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 189927 Paul Parsons 1995 R1100GS 4,457

4,457 CALIFORNIA - 4 Finishers

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 127868 Miguel Mendonca 2013 K1600GTL 2016 K1600GTLE 18,420 108765 Charlene McLauchlan 2000 R1200C 2012 F800GS 2,461 158163 Don Strand 2014 K1600GT 611 129629 William Lopez-Hertan 2005 R1150R 237

21,729 FLORIDA - 2 Finishers

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 89428 Wayne Doherty 2009 G650GS 7,293 84629 Charles Dorrel 1995 R1100R 283

7,576 GEORGIA - 1 Finisher

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 83834 Maurice Kornreich 2012 R650GS 5,084

5,084 INDIANA - 1 Finisher

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 145767 Jerry Pearson 2016 F700GS 151

151 MASSACHUSETTS - 1 Finisher

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 156002 John Simonds 2008 R1200GSA 2,577

2,577 MICHIGAN - 6 Finishers

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 207557 Lester Allen 2016 R1200R 2,511 39316 Rhys B. Blair 2009 K1200LTC 2013 K1600GTL 489 106908 Phillip Thick 2006 K1200LT 2013 K1600GTL 425 50868 Robert Higgins 1976 R75/6 1973 R80/5 223 70 Dick Hautau 2004 R1150RT 187 9947 Paul Eisenhauer 2002 R1150RTP 59

3,894

Proud sponsor of the BMW MOA Mileage contest MISSOURI - 2 Finishers

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 72768 David Anderson 2015 R1200GSA 6,862 200845 Tracy Anderson 2009 F650GS 1,941

8,803 NEW MEXICO - 1 Finisher

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 157644 Jack Dannenbert 2011 R1200GS 11,046

11,046 NEW YORK - 1 Finisher

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 11223 Josh Ascher 2009 R1200R 2000 R1150GS 6,970

6,970 PENNSYLVANIA - 3 Finishers

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 148120 John Churico 2016 R1200GS 2009 K1200LT 4,980 135581 Brian Lamborn 2005 F650CSA 1988 R100RT 1,630 110373 Tim Papinchak 2015 R1200GSWC 1,183

7,793

www.scenicwheels.com.au www.britishmotorcyclegear.com

SOUTH CAROLINA - 1 Finisher

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 115301 Charles Fridy 2014 R1200RT 6,241

6,241 TENNESSEE - 1 Finisher

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 153965 Richard Gruber 2009 K1200LT 6,384

6,384 TEXAS - 1 Finisher

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 45061 Michael Brown 2002 R1150GS 1998 K1200RS 6,504

6,504 WASHINGTON - 2 Finishers

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 59757 Roy Barnes 2009 F650GS 1,281 161723 Jim Trotter 2010 R1200GSA 816

2,097

www.beemershop.com

WEST VIRGINIA - 1 Finisher

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 88980 Michael Harper 2003 R1150RT 2,397

2,397 WISCONSIN - 3 Finishers

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 201985 Dave Peters 2012 R1200RT 14,062 124432 James Harms 2010 R1200RT 57 54925 Tom Schirz 2014 K1600GT 2007 K1200GT 25

14,144

Canada ONTARIO - 2 Finishers

Bike #1 Bike #2 TOTAL MOA # Name Year Model Year Model MILES 126705 Cliff McEwen 2008 R1200R 852 49338 Jean Gattie-Copas 2011 R1200GSA 7

859

www.ayresadventures.com January 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

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See you in Des Moines next summer

By Brian Hinton #135269 2018 BMW MOA Rally Chair AS YOUR BMW MOA RALLY 2018 CHAIR,

one thing keeps popping into my head as I write this: experience.

I think about what a wonderful organization the BMW MOA is and about the many member benefits included in our membership. In a world where clubs claim “membership has its benefits,” I’m compelled to ponder what I consider to be the main

benefit of the MOA. I truly believe that the primary asset of the MOA is its members.

Now don’t get me wrong, the corporate benefits included in our membership are outstanding. The discounts on rider training, roadside assistance with tire replacement, discounts at campgrounds across America, life-saving medical services, all on top of the travel, lifestyle, and leisure sav-

ings we receive are substantial.

As a motorcycle enthusiast and MOA member, I think about the growth of the organization and about the collective experience of our membership. Do you remember what it was like the first time you rode a motorcycle? Do you carry that enthusiasm every time you throw your leg over the saddle?

Meet the 2018 Rally team Can you remember when all you wanted to talk about was motorcycles and what roads you were going to ride, trying to get your friends to ride with you? Do you recall the excitement as you rode to your first rally?

As life progresses and we get older, we tend to settle into routine. We grow up, start families and settle down. We worry about our careers and only later in life begin doing the things that we’ve dreamed of. In our world today, technology has advanced the way people communicate. We are now an instant society where information is at our fingertips and only a few seconds away.

It is my goal to highly encourage all BMW MOA members to take a moment and share your experience of motorcycling with others. Maybe even someone you wouldn’t normally speak to, or maybe someone from the younger generation. Your inspiration could be the difference in our motorcycling world.

Young riders today are very passionate about style, imagery and the emotional connection they have with their machines. When you break it down to the simplest way of thinking, young riders today are not all that different than the young riders of yesterday. The excitement of getting on your motorcycle, the feeling of freedom while riding, the experience of being in the picture, not just looking at the picture, those are all things that are synonymous with being on two wheels.

I encourage you to talk with your friends and your fellow motorcycle companions about your experience at a rally, be it the International MOA Rally, a charter club rally, or any motorcycle gathering that you’ve been to. Spread the word that motorcycling is good for the soul and being with likeminded friends takes our experiences to a higher level. I also strongly encourage you to mark your calendars for July 12-15, 2018 for the BMW MOA International Rally in Des Moines, Iowa. I promise it will be an epic experience you will long remember.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU BRING

together a superbly talented musician, a world-class photographer and the Iron Butt Fashionista? No, it’s not the newest reality show in the making, but these three dynamos comprise your 2018 BMW MOA Rally Team!

Rally Chair Brian Hinton and his CoChairs, Lee Harrelson and Deb Gasque, are hard at work planning and creating the biggest MOA family gathering of the year and promise your time spent in Des Moines, Iowa, July 12-15, 2018, will be remarkable.

With a fairground scene that’s absolutely pristine but surrounded by a city that’s worthy of a super shout-out for its high marks in the good vibes department, you won’t want to discount Des Moines as simply a “Rally in the Cornfield.”

Much to the contrary. Brian, Lee and Deb have some grand things in the making and look forward to seeing returning rallygoers, as well as an extraordinary amount of first-timers who have never attended.

Spoiler Alert! This is the year you will want to participate as the volume of epic will be turned up beyond full-blast to 12! So

who are the characters in this grand plot?

2018 Rally Chair Brian Hinton is a rockstar and nothing less. Don’t be fooled by his nonchalant demeanor as he’s a fiercely talented guitarist who rocks the music circuit on a regular basis and also owns a guitar shop, Elite Music, in Montgomery, Alabama.

An Alabama native, Brian has been involved with motorcycles since his teenage years, and in 2004, Brian had his first experience with a BMW motorcycle. Back then he had a couple of friends’ motorcycles that he could borrow and his first loaner was a 1993 R 100 R. “I ended up keeping that bike for almost nine months and knew then I was a Beemer guy all the way.” He found an R 1200 C on a local bulletin board and bought it, then rode it thousands of miles and to his very first rally.

Brian was also introduced to the MOA during this time when he was given a stack of Owners News magazines. “I really started getting to know this new lifestyle as well as the MOA culture,” he said. That experience also led Brian to seek out local BMW

From left, 2018 MOA Rally Co-chairs Lee Harrelson and Deb Gasque with Rally Chair Brian Hinton.

January 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

87

rally

moarally motorcycle clubs, and this is when he found the BMW MOA Alabeemers chapter. He is now the club’s Travel Director where he actively encourages club rides, including their monthly Second Saturday ride.

The BMW MOA has become very important to Brian, and he also serves as a Regional Coordinator with aspirations of joining the BMW MOA Board of Directors.

“What attracts me to the MOA is the sense of fellowship and common goodwill of everyone who I have met that is involved with the MOA. They offer great information and insight into the world of riding and safety, as well as bridging the gap between dealers and end users,” he said.

Brian is absolutely thrilled to be the 2018 Rally Chair and is working hard to bring a harmony of fresh, vibrant and creative tones to our

gathering in Des Moines, Iowa, July 12-15.

His passion is deep and will certainly enhance efforts to organize one of the best rallies on record.

With all of that, Brian remains basic with his belief of what makes a great event. “In my opinion, a great event is created by the gathering of people with a common passion. We are one big family who love to ride, socialize and have a good time together,” he said.

Rally Co-Chair Lee Harrelson is a Birmingham, Alabama, native and the youngest of five brothers. Lee credits his career as a professional photographer, amongst a couple of other things, to his siblings, specifically his brother Keith. Through his example and encouragement when Lee was an impressionable and slightly troubled teenager, he found his life’s passion behind the camera. Following a stint at a local camera shop and then later as a fashion photographer’s assistant, Lee made the

www.aeroflowscreens.com

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

bold decision to take a leap of faith and move to Florida where he began shooting fashion, commercial advertising and tourism images.

Although Lee was rocking the photography world and truly living his dream, he pined for his sweet home Alabama. Two years later, he packed it back up and moved home, where he landed a job as a fashion photographer at a Birmingham-based department store and spent nine years traveling across the country living the dream.

As Lee’s career evolved and he once again yearned to be back home in Birmingham, Lee began photographing food for grocery stores, restaurants and cookbook publishers. Along with the influence of siblings in launching his career path, Lee also received his passion for motorcycling from two other brothers, Vance and Rob. He picked up his first BMW after borrowing one of his brother Vance’s F 650 GSs and

really digging it. Eventually, Lee purchased his own BMW, a 2004 R 1150 R, which remains his two-wheeled main squeeze today. It was at this time that he also joined the MOA. Due to the influence of yet another brother, Mark, Lee gained his deep passion of music. This passion, which rounds out a perfect trio of fervor, has landed Lee the title of Entertainment Chair for our BMW MOA Rallies for nine years.

Lee has truly enjoyed his work within the MOA and has made lifelong friends. In 2018, Lee will not only be sure we have absolutely outstanding music every evening, but will also be working on the big picture of our annual gathering as a CoChair with the same passion and fervor he’s given throughout his life.

Rally Co-Chair Deb Gasque’s motospark began with the August 2015 issue of our BMW Owners News magazine. In that issue was a brand new column titled “Long

Distance Style,” and upon seeing her first story published in a motorcycling magazine, The Iron Butt Fashionistas screams of delight could be heard echoing throughout the fairgrounds in Billings, Montana.

Deb’s longtime career in the journalism/ communications field took an unconventional shift when she submitted her story in June of that year. Deb, a Utah native and longtime South Carolina resident with a history in conventional journalism, was introduced to motorcycling in 2005 and rode pillion for a few years. In 2009, she earned her motorcycle endorsement, and her passion for fashion-blended storytelling grew right along with her passion for twowheeled adventures.

Deb acquired her first BMW, an ’05 F 650 GS, in 2010, on which she logged thousands of miles. In 2014 she moved up to a 1994 R 1100 RSL on which she completed her first Iron Butt Saddle Sore by riding 1,000 miles in 24 hours that July. The following July, on

the way to the BMW MOA Rally in Billings, Montana, Deb completed another Iron Butt ride, a Bun Burner, by riding 1,500 miles in 36 hours. Last October, Deb completed an Iron Butt 50 CC by riding coast-to-coast in under 50 hours along with two other MOA members. Deb describes the feat as “definitely my biggest two-wheeled accomplishment thus far.”

Deb sees herself as a huge MOA cheerleader, constantly recruiting new members during her travels, and is excited to serve as a Rally Co-Chair. She is working hard with the rally team and has the goal of putting a true festival vibe into our gathering in Des Moines.

A dynamic rally team, a gorgeous location and an epic lineup of fun, festival and friends—what are you waiting for? Mark your calendars now for July 12-15, 2018, to “Experience the Journey” to Des Moines, Iowa, for the BMW MOA Rally 2018! Registration begins next month.

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January 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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WHENANDWHERE

Email your event information to editor@bmwmoa.org

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3 8

10 5

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2

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Map courtesy of

January 1

01/12/2018 -01/14/2018

BMW Motorcycle Owners of Northeast Florida 35th Annual Winter Rally Location: Starke, Florida Contact: William Botkin, Co-Rally Chair wfbotkin@comcast.net Camping, door prizes, local rides, seminars and much more. Enjoy camping along the shores of beautiful Kingsley Lake, a roaring campfire and camaraderie with like-minded riders. All riders are welcome.

April 2

BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2018

Hill Country Hangout

Location: Kerrville, Texas Contact: Paul Mulhern 210-279-6074 pmulhern@swbell.net Just in time for the famous wildflower bloom and on the doorstep of the famous Three Sisters. Two nights camping included, or enjoy nearby hotel accommodations.

The best roads in Central Texas plus motorcycle museum, wineries, shopping, and more.

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04/06/2018 -04/08/2018

04/22/2018

34th Wild Goose Run

Location: Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Contact: Brian Justman brianjustman@kewaskumpig.com The Port Washington BMW Club invites all Midwest area clubs to join us for a noon brunch and festivities at the Bayside Supper Club in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin.

May 4

05/04/2018 -05/06/2018

2018 Great Hopewell Road Rally

Location: Nelsonville, Ohio Contact: Sam Booth samrbooth@yahoo.com Join us in the Hocking Hills of southeastern Ohio for some of the best riding roads in the

Detailed information for all events is available online at: bmwmoa.org

Midwest. Two nights camping, Friday and Saturday dinners, guided rides of the Earthworks/effigy mounds, self-guided rides, endless coffee, movies, awards and door prizes.

5

www.motoelekt.com www.boxerworks.org

05/18/2018 -05/20/2018

BMW Battlefield Memorial Workers Rally Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Contact: Sam Booth samrbooth@yahoo.com Once again we will be gathering at the Artillery Ridge Campground in the Gettysburg National Military Park for another weekend of volunteering for battlefield restoration and preservation for the National Park Service.

June 6

06/21/2018 -06/24/2018

Touratech Rally West

Location: Plain, Washington Contact: www.touratechrally.com Please check the website for more updates.

7

06/29/2018 -07/01/2018

BMWRO Chief Joseph Rally

Location: John Day, Oregon Contact: Bob Metzger 608-642-1186 bmwro.pres@gmail.com Enjoy the friendly confines of the Grant County Fairgrounds in the heart of central Oregon. With tent and RV camping available, enjoy daily guided and nonguided group rides, catered dinners, breakfasts and a beer garden as well as evening bonfires.

July 8

7/12/2018 – 7/15/2018

BMW MOA International Rally

Location: Des Moines, Iowa Contact: Brian Hinton 2018rallychair@bmwmoa.org A beautiful rally site, wonderfully scenic roads and awesome area attractions welcome rally goers at the 46th annual BMW MOA International Rally this summer in Des Moines, Iowa. We look forward to seeing you there.

January 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

93

www.bluerimtours.com

9

07/19/2018 -07/21/2018

47th Annual Top O’ The Rockies Rally Location: Paonia, Colorado Contact: Carl Thomte rcarloski@msn.com The area offers some of the best riding in the state both on and off road. There are three National Parks within a day’s ride from rally headquarters. Enjoy three nights of shaded grassy camping, Saturday night dinner, two nights of live entertainment in the beer garden, free wi fi and endless coffee and tea. Food vendors and showers are on

site and restaurants and motels are walking distance from the rally central at the teen center located in the middle of the park.

August 10

08/16/2018 -08/19/2018

Touratech Rally East

Location: Huntingdon, Pennsylvania Contact: www.touratechrally.com Please check wesite for more information.

www.tourbikes.com

info@motorelief.org

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BMW OWNERS NEWS January 2018

advertiserindex Adriatic Moto Tours................................... 91 ADV Depot.................................................... 49 Adventure New Zealand Tours............. 49 AeroFlow....................................................... 88 Aerostich-RiderWearHouse.................... 23 Alaska Leather............................................. 46 Alaska Motorcycle Adventures............. 46 Ayres Adventures....................................... 85 Backcountry Discovery Routes............. 81 Beemer Boneyard...................................... 90 Beemer Shop, The...................................... 91 Best Rest Products..................................... 27 Bill McGovern CPA..................................... 23 Blue Rim Tours............................................. 93 BMW Performance Center...................... 27 Bob’s BMW.......................................................9 Bohn Armor........................................... 23, 46 Boxer Works Service.................................. 93 British Motorcycle Gear........................... 85 BullRack......................................................... 75 Capital Cycle................................................ 19 Cardo Systems............................................. 46 Clearwater Lights....................................... 21 Colorado Tourbike Rentals..................... 94 Corbin Pacific............................................... 31 Cyclenutz....................................................... 21

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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 © 2018 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 48, Number 1.

January 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

95

talelight

Demo Ride

Leon Brunken #91814 tries a jackalope on for size somewhere in Wyoming.

Photo by Jackie Brunken #108366

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  January 2018

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JANUARY 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS www.bmwmoa.org