BMW Owners News May 2018

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Inside features

46 50 56 60

going over 70

By Stuart A. Kirk #55005 Regardless of the motorcycle, the pace or destination, there is the deeply exhilarating experience of piercing the air on two wheels while leaning through the corners. Pleasures that endure, even as we falter.

california superbike school

By Jim Netherland #107878 There is no doubt that track day riding has improved my street riding and given me a better appreciation for what my motorcycle can do. My only regret is that I didn’t take a California Superbike School class sooner.

first ride: g 310 gs

By Bill Wiegand #180584 With confidence-inspiring agility, light weight and a docile motor, the G 310 GS could be the perfect bike for new riders, commuters and urban dwellers. These same qualities also make it a great bike for riders of advanced abilities both on-road and off.

mid-life catharsis

By Heather A. D'Anca #212650 It didn’t matter that my hair was messy and my makeup smudged. It didn’t matter that I’d been wearing the same pair of leather pants over leggings for 14-straight days. I was alive. Really alive.

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

the club 4 Owners News Contributors 8 Headlight Training is the Answer, by Bill Wiegand 10 President's Column Memorial Day!, by Wes Fitzer 12 Postcards from the Road 14 Rider to Rider Letters from our Members 16 Shiny Side Up The Weakest Link, by Ron Davis

tech 36 Keep ‘em Flying Supertech 2.3 and a new Season

by Matthew Parkhouse

40 Torque of the Matter Electronic Wizardry,

by Wes Fleming

skills 68 From the Foundation Time for Some Dreaming,

by Ted Moyer

Member tested/ product news 20 – Continental RoadAttack 3 tires

– Rukka Apollo Gore-Tex X-Trafit gloves – Grease Ninja Chain Oiler – MachineartMoto ADVance Guards

28 MOA Board approves publication of quarterly board minutes

to digital format only, Motorcycle Shippers can get your bike anywhere, Giant Loop Fuel Safe Bladders, Sam Garst and Randy Boris recognized for donation, NHTSA releases 2016 motorcycle data, Millennials aren’t killing motorcycling – it’s dying on its own.

BMW MOA RALLY 34 – Rally Seminars

lifestyle 70 Congratulations to our High Mileage Riders 78 Jack the Riepe The Future of Farkle, by Jack Riepe 80 Final Journey Steve Johnson #60709 82 Ride Well Dealing with Osteoarthritis, by Marven Ewen events 86 When and Where Places to Go and Things to Do 95 Advertiser Index 96 Talelight

– GS Trophy participant to offer female-only Adventure Training – Rally Entertainment set – Fun Iowa facts

ON THE COVER: J im Netherland #107878 follows coach Josh Galster through a turn during a California Superbike School class at New Jersey Motorsports Park. Photo courtesy Jim Netherland.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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the club

CONTRIBUTORS 1. Stuart Kirk began riding at 19, but then abandoned motorcycling for 25 years. As he describes in his recent book, Revved! Obsessions of a Midlife Motorcyclist (available from Amazon), he resumed riding with a passion, averaging 20,000 miles a year, from commuting in LA traffic to cross-country trips. He retired as a professor at UCLA five years ago to have more time to ride and to contemplate what it means to be a dedicated motorcyclist who is now over 70. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with an ever-changing collection of motorcycles.

2. In 2015, Heather D’Anca purchased her first motorcycle, a BMW F 800 R for the pillion, having only been on a motorcycle twice. After confirming she loved motorcycling, she purchased her second pillion motorcycle, an R 1200 R as a wedding present so the F 800 R could go to the track. Two months later, she attended the MSF course, never having piloted a motorcycle and unable to drive a manual transmission vehicle. She did not pass. Determined, she got on her KTM Duke 390 the next day and did. So far, it has endured her beatings.

3. A writer of limited ability, Jack Riepe is confined by the absolute truth. Hobbled by arthritis, he types his stories by pounding a shot glass on a keyboard— with his foot, and rumors that he is in the Brazilian Witness Protection Program are only partially true. If you like his column, you’ll love his book, “Conversations With A Motorcycle,” an autobiographical account

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BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

of his early years on a motorcycle, when women unleashed their passion—on everyone but him.

Email jack.riepe@gmail.com for more information.

4. Jim Netherland learned to ride a Honda Trail 90 on the family farm in the 1970s and his love of all things mechanical led to an automotive engineering career in Michigan where he lives with his wife and family.

He has toured the eastern US and Canada on BMWs, including his current bike, a K 1200 GT. Jim was introduced to track days during a BMW dealer event at Grattan and is now hopelessly hooked.

5. Jim Heberling hails from the Land of Lincoln and started riding his dirt bike in the old gravel pits in the 60s. He spent the next 25 years fishing and enjoying quiet early mornings on the lake with coffee and a couple of Fig Newtons. When Jim retired a couple years ago he purchased his first BMW, a 2013 R 1200 GS Adventure and now enjoys traveling to rallies and volunteering wherever he can.

6. 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.

©SPIDI → SINCE 1977. 40 YEARS

www.spidi.com

LOOKING FOR PERFECTION. HAVEN’T FOUND IT. YET.

Cheers!

A mural welcomes visitors to the Exile Brewing Company, one of eight craft breweries in Des Moines.

Photo by Bill Wiegand #180584

May 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

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headlight Magazine of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America MANAGING EDITOR

Bill Wiegand bill@bmwmoa.org

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 $49/yr. and includes the BMW Owners News, which is not available separately. Each additional family member is $19 without a subscription.

Canadian members add $16 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 May 2018

Training is the answer

By Bill Wiegand #180584 I BELIEVE ONE OF THE HARDEST THINGS FOR ME TO DO IS TO ASK

for help. It’s as if asking for a hand makes me appear weak or vulnerable.

Maybe my skill set, regardless of the endeavor, has become stale and made progressing to a higher plateau difficult, if not impossible.

Call it complacency or perhaps an overestimation of my own abilities.

Maybe I’ve simply been ignoring the reality that I’m not the rider I think I am. Sure, I do all right, and when riding alone, I can set my own pace and ride my ride. When riding with friends, I don’t believe my skillset hinders or negatively affects the group.

I’ve been thinking about a fall I took nearly two years ago while riding the Nevada Backcountry Discovery Route. There was a time when going down was part of the fun. You fell, dusted yourself off, and kept riding. You blamed the fall on many things, but rarely ever rider error or inability. I’ve finally realized I need rider training.

In the world of advertising, the Marketing Rule of Seven says that a prospect needs to be exposed to an advertiser’s message at least seven times before he or she takes action and buys a product or service. I can’t put my finger on why, but for years it seems I’ve not been able to see the forest for the trees. Apparently I was too close to the solution to see that it was right in front of my nose.

Both the MOA and MOA Foundation surround us with opportunities to become better riders, both on-road and off. In the April issue of BMW Owners News, we published a story detailing an off-road training opportunity available at the MOA National Rally in Des Moines. This July, certified BMW Motorrad Off-Road instructor Bill Dragoo, along with 2016 GS Trophy competitor Tom Asher, will be training riders of all levels looking to polish their skills.

In this issue is a story describing another Rally off-road training opportunity for women taught by Jocelin Snow, a competitor in the 2018 GS Trophy competition. This issue also carries an article by Jim Netherland describing the skill development he made through his experience at New Jersey Motorsports Park while enrolled in a California Superbike School.

In yet another story published this month, Ted Moyer describes the MOA Foundation’s fund raising initiative that will ensure funding of the Paul B. Scholarship program, guarantee its long-term viability, and fund the Foundation’s programs promoting rider safety, education and training programs.

Then, next month we’ll publish an article detailing on-road training opportunities at the Rally being offered by Streetmasters and Street Skills.

The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s recently released data sheet for motorcycles showed a 5.1 percent increase in fatalities among U.S. motorcycle riders for the year 2016. The increase from 5,029 motorcyclists killed in 2015 to 5,286 in 2016 accompanies just a 0.9 percent increase in the number of registered motorcycles and marked the second straight year fatalities went up.

Many of these deaths were attributed to not having a valid motorcycle license, riding under the influence of alcohol, speeding, or not wearing a helmet. Additionally, 22 percent of riders killed were riding large displacement motorcycles, and nearly 50 percent were killed on weekends. Public roads and highways are dangerous places for motorcyclists. Of these numbers, one can only wonder what they would be had the riders undergone rider training.

I still don’t know what it was that took me down a year and a half ago, but I do know what to do to avoid the same fate in the future: Rider Training.

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PRESIDENTSCOLUMN

Memorial Day! 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 May 2018

By Wes Fitzer #170126 EVERY MONTH, AS I PREPARE TO WRITE MY PRESIDENT’S COL-

umn, I review the previous columns I’ve written. I was amazed and somewhat upset with myself that I’ve never written about what I believe to be one of the most important holidays we celebrate in America each year.

Originally known as “Decoration Day,” Memorial Day is observed each year on the last Monday of May. It’s a day of remembrance for those who have served and died to preserve our freedoms as Americans. Outside of the significant religious holidays we celebrate, what could be more important than remembering those who’ve made the ultimate sacrifice so the rest of us can enjoy the freedoms we have today?

Soldiers’ graves were decorated before and during the American Civil War. According to the Richmond Times-Dispatch, the first Civil War soldier’s grave was decorated on June 3, 1861, in Warrenton, Virginia. In 1862 women in Savannah, Georgia, decorated Confederate soldiers’ graves, and in 1863 at a cemetery dedication at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, a more formal ceremony of commemoration began. Following President Abraham Lincoln’s assassination, when losses on both sides exceeded 600,000, burial and memorialization took on a new cultural significance. Under the leadership of women during the war, an increasingly formal practice of decorating the graves of fallen soldiers began, and in 1865 the federal government created national military cemeteries for fallen Union soldiers.

On May 26, 1966, President Lyndon B. Johnson designated an “official” birthplace of the holiday by signing the Presidential Proclamation naming Waterloo, New York, as the holder of the title. The House Concurrent Resolution 587 followed in which the 89th Congress had officially recognized the patriotic tradition of observing Memorial Day, now celebrated on the last Monday of May. I would like to personally thank those members of our U.S. Armed Forces who have made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our freedoms. I would like to extend that thank you to the family and friends who ultimately sacrificed time with those they loved so they could protect all of us.

For many of us, Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer. I live on a large lake in eastern Oklahoma, and every year I watch lake-goers come to the lake to celebrate their “beginning” of summer. I always hope they’ve at least thought of the real reason for their three-day weekend.

Living on the lake, we’ve occasionally found that we can become hostages on holiday weekends. One year we decided to go on a motorcycle camping trip over the Memorial Day weekend; upon our return we found that some city feller chose to set up camp and build a campfire on our dock, mind you, it’s a wood-decked dock, so we returned to a hole burned through it! You have to love “some” people.

One day, after my retirement, I hope to ride my trusty R 1200 GS Adventure to Waterloo, New York, to visit the birthplace of Memorial Day. Okay, to be honest, I often only need a reason and a destination to ride to, but I’ve never ridden to Waterloo, so what better reason could there be?

I hope each one of you takes time to remember the real reason for the three-day weekend we celebrate at the end of each May. Thank a member of our armed forces the next time you see him or her and take a moment to remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect your freedoms!

Ride Safe.

Wes

Fitzer

www.progressive.com

Postcardsfromtheroad

1 2

3

4

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  May 2018

1. M arveling at the Grand Staircase Escalante National Monument.

Kerry Miller #160550 Centennial, Colorado

2. M y new K 1600 B photographed in southern Utah while on a 5,000 mile trip.

Richard MacPherson #214225 Anderson Island, Washington

3. C rossing over Montezuma Pass in southeastern Arizona with Mexico seen in the distance.

Mark Apel #213747 Bisbee, Arizona

5 6

4. T he last ride of 2017 and stopped on Highway 22 south of Longview, Alberta, looking west toward the Rockies.

Clayton Driver #211501 High River, Alberta

5. A murky day in the Carolina hills.

Tim Bronson #164218 Campobello, South Carolina

6. A stop along the road to Chimney Rock near the Rabbit Ears Range of Colorado.

Craig Smith #194972 Rochester, New York 7 7. C ombining two of my favorite pastimes.

Alan McKinnon #16947 Damariscotta, Maine

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.

t

t

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

The Perfect Story

Jack Riepe’s article “Der Motorradflüsterer” in the March issue achieved perfection.

His words kept me smiling and laughing from beginning to end. The readers of BMW Owners News are fortunate to have Jack’s thoughts and experiences translated to print on its pages. I can’t wait to read his next submission.

Okay, Jack, I did it! Now you owe me a signed copy of Conversations With A Motorcycle!

Peter Piarrantano #154828 Rohnert Park, California

Welcome to Des Moines

As an Iowa native born in Muscatine on the Mississippi and now living in Des Moines, I am grateful for the letters by both Brian Dutcher (February) and Steve Swanson (April).

Living in a state where hogs outnumber people, I appreciated Steve’s warning about “making a silk purse out of a sow’s ear.” Nevertheless, both he and Brian are correct. Together, they provide a fairly balanced view of what fellow BMW riders can expect as we make our way to the capital city in July.

Most of the riding enjoyment will come from choosing the right route, particularly for those riding through the northeast corner and heading down the Great River Road to pick up US 20 at Dubuque or US 30 at Clinton. Perhaps they can use Iowa 64 through Maquoketa and Anamosa, with a stop at the National Motorcycle Museum.

Others may choose to enter the state from the southwest and ride some of the Loess Hills near Council Bluffs before turning west on US 30 to Denison and Boone, maybe making a stop at the Boone and Scenic Valley Railroad.

Add these to Steve’s excellent suggestions for day or overnight rides, though it

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BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

should be noted that Maytag no longer operates in Newton. Or once at the Fairgrounds, it may be time to kick back during the days and visit with friends. There is a chance to visit the night life of the Court Avenue District or head northwest to the intimate watering holes of Beaverdale.

On behalf of all Iowa BMW riders, I say “welcome” to Brian and Steve and hope to see them at the rally!

Cleveland Bryant #181849 Des Moines, Iowa

Expiration dates

Like my fellow BMW riders, I have struggled with my “Expiration Date” for riding over the past two years. To be honest, it has been the most difficult time in my motorcycling journey experience.

During a recent visit to my local BMW dealer, I struck up a conversation with a new S 1000 XR owner. We talked about our bikes, sharing some suggestions about some riding places in the local area, and I suggested some places in Colorado that might get some dirt on his bike. Shortly after this conversation, I realized this encounter gave me answers and clarity to my motorcycling expiration date dilemma.

Before I share with you what I have figured out about my expiration date, allow me to give you some background about my motorcycle journey. I purchased my first used BMW in the early 90s, a 1978 R 100 /7 and joined the BMW MOA. After a few years, my job relocated me from Michigan to Texas, and shortly after arriving in Texas I took a break from riding motorcycles. I returned to a BMW with a 2000 R 1000 RT in the mid 2000’s. My present rides are a 2009 R1200GSA and a 1970 R60/5.

There are many more adventures and experiences that would fill in the gaps, but I wanted to share with you a glimpse of

my motorcycling journey.

So how did I get to the thoughts of an expiration date?

My “Expiration Date” thoughts began when our group slowly began to grow smaller and a close friend in that group suddenly passed away from natural causes. My thoughts have grown even stronger over the past few years when I have noticed the traffic around me is becoming more inattentive, aggressive and careless. These things, plus the fact I am beginning to feel the physical effects of a 37 year career in aviation maintenance, have fueled my struggle with my riding expiration date.

So how can a brief conversation give clarity to my struggle?

As we shared our experiences together, my mind was flooded with the sights, sounds and smells from that ride. I felt like we were talking about a ride we were going to do instead of a ride that he or I have done. Most importantly, we weren’t on our bikes. Just two guys talking about a common interest. It was at that moment I realized my motorcycling journey is about more than just riding and when will it all end.

I realize that a day will come when my physical or mental ability will no longer support the safe operation of a motorcycle, provided someone else doesn’t make that decision for me. However, sharing my motorcycling journey experience seems to push that expiration date to a choice I can live with.

Scott Dishnow #61946 North Richland Hills, Texas

Motorcycle abuse

I rarely communicate with BMW Owners News, but the February issue has got me in a fume.

I am one of the members who remembers your predecessor, Doug, and enjoyed

the Avant guard, almost hipster articles that appeared in the magazine when he was the lead editor.

As an owner of a R 1100 RSL, R 90 S and R 1100 S, as well as several vintage Ducati and two-stroke race bikes, my eye for a BMW motorcycle is in the image of the R 100 RS. Second to that might be a /5 toaster or one of the early Earles-forked models or an R 69 S painted at the factory in the off white color with a matching sidecar.

I mention this, as I keep returning to the article on David Arundel’s “Bobber,” thinking “Poor Bike, what a way to end your life!” Every element of this artistic creation screams of crap! Precise in the execution, but totally lacking in concept. Why put those crappy Firestone tires on a BMW? Why chop up several good bikes to make something that didn’t need to be? I too own a Harley Davidson 350 Racer Replica that does have a tach, and I wish it too had a speedometer. In our world today there is no excuse for not equipping a vehicle with the minimum standard of safety equipment which includes knowing how fast the vehicle is traveling, unless Mr. Arundel’s bike is just a poser or a trailer queen.

So I just thought that I would drop you a quick note and let you know an opposing viewpoint. There was an article in the July 2001 issue of Classic Bike, entitled “Sexton’s Stormer” that, in contrast. was a far more appealing interpretation of a BMW, with a “Rorty Sixties-style Café Racer” that showed far more initiative and creative effort and that would have been worthy of the pages of our Owners News magazine and consideration by our membership.

Andrew Kalmanash #66844 Stamford, Connecticut

Anonymous abuse

I’ve been a continuous member of the MOA since 1974, when I bought my first

motorcycle, a ‘73 BMW R 60 /5, while stationed in Germany. Upon transfer back to the States in ‘76, I promptly purchased one of the last R 90 Ss on the east coast, which I still have and ride. Over the next few years, I had purchased an ‘81 R 100 RS which we rode on our honeymoon to the Lake Placid Rally in ‘83, and then in ‘85, I purchased a K 100 RS. During the early-to-mid ‘80s, I was heavily involved in a local Orlando BMW club, and performed all of the simpler maintenance items on my Twins. So this is where the Anonymous book comes into focus.

As I perused the current Anonymous Book that I just received, I found that I had to laugh at some of the recommendations on page one that seem to have to be stated to avoid being abused, and it brought back two instances that caused me to drop out of the listings.

Back around ‘84, I received a call from a member from Massachusetts who was visiting Orlando. The local dealer could not fit him in for a full service and tire change, as the member was planning to return north within two days. The dealer recommended he contact me.

I had him drop off the bike, oil and air filters, and tire at my house, and after work I proceeded to adjust his valves, clutch, points and timing, change the filter and all the oils as he requested, grease the swing arm, adjust the carbs with my Carbstix, mount his new tire, and in the process, I replaced his two spark plugs.

For this, I presented him with a receipt for the oils and the two plugs. I performed all of this for free and only asked for the money for the items just noted. Do you know that this guy was irate that I changed his plugs and charged him the $1.90 each for them?

Quoting from the Anonymous Book, “The request to be able to use this space should always be regarded as a seldom used privilege, rather than a less expensive way to cross the country.”

So back around ‘85 or ‘86, Freddie the

Freeloader calls and tells me he’d like to make “reservations.” Honest! He wanted to make reservations to stay at my home.

Needless to say, he didn’t stay with me on his trip from wherever to Orlando, and sorry to say, I never again listed my data in the Anonymous.

I still look forward to receiving my monthly Owners News and once a year, the Anonymous Book, which I’ll quickly scan to see if there are others nearby, then toss in my tour box. This time, I just happened to glance at Page one, had a flashback, shook my head and had to share.

Ed O’Brien #4865 Winter Springs, Florida

Finding a home

The first time I read “The Throwback Rider”

by Dave Cwi in the March issue of Owners News, I was the one perplexed. I wasn’t sure if it was written as humor, satire, or straight up. The second time I think I got it.

There are probably as many worlds of motorcycling as there are individuals who ride. Some go for the superslabs and miles. Some stay on the blue highways.

Some ride in the dirt, mud and gravel from one end of a state to another. Some are happy riding a modern appliance, and some of us are throwbacks.

I’ve ridden my 1974 R 90 /6 since 1976, and it is my very good friend. Just let your friend know that, yes, she made a good choice. There are parts readily available.

There is a wonderful community of Airheads around the world who will gladly help her, whether maintaining her bike or helping her on the road. And, with good instruction and some experience, if her bike is as well set up and maintained as you describe, she has nothing to fear, taking off across the country, anytime and anywhere. Her /7 has found the right home.

Steve Eby #193044 Cincinnati Ohio

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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shinysideup

The weakest link

By Ron Davis #111820 I’VE

PROBABLY

been reading too many motorcycle magazines.

The stacks of issues down in our furnace room are teetering, threatening to become the furnace. I’d recycle them, but I can’t help thinking there’s some tiny shred of information buried in there that I’ll desperately need someday. Moreover, there’s a psychological problem. Every magazine has its maintenance section, and I just can’t read article after article on topics like how to measure the sag in your bike with some sand bags and a few feet of dental floss or how to align your wheels with a two by four without experiencing more and more powerful pangs of guilt. The underlying message of all these stories is that real motorcyclists do their own maintenance, and I confess, I have done practically zilch.

The trouble is, when it comes to torque wrenches, voltage meters, and micrometers (whatever those are), I am the original village simpleton, capable of generating thousands of dollars of damage with a single twist, tap, or yank of my vise grip (basically my number one tool, when it can be found). However, guilt is a strong motivator. I’ve lain awake at night wondering if I should try changing my brake pads (and what the heck is “sintering?”), or worrying if the bird’s

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

nest of accessory wires under my saddle will one day torch one of my favorite body parts. I stare in awe at seductive images of Touratech suspension components. I pretend I understand the formulas for rake and trail.

Is there anything I could do? I began sifting through YouTube videos about mainte-

nance chores simple enough for a Neanderthal. Ever look at these clips? Often the thumbnail for the video sports a buxom young lady in a tube top lasciviously fondling a socket wrench; however, when you open the video, the narrator, can of Bud in hand, appears to have just finished digging

his own septic system. His dog repeatedly walks in and out of the shot, and in the distant background we hear his wife calling, “Hey TV star, how about doing a video on cleaning the rain gutters?” But I did stumble across an operation that I felt surely lay within my somewhat limited skill set: cleaning and greasing my chain.

Chain maintenance, I learned, is not only pretty easy, but it is an important step toward extending chain and sprocket life and increasing gas mileage, not to mention giving me something to talk about with a hint of authority at the Wednesday night bike meet. With at least a month before the beginning of Wisconsin’s eagerly awaited three-day riding season, I systematically gathered my tools and supplies. Short work, since I didn’t have any. YouTube said, first of all, I would need a chain brush. Sure, some said, an old toothbrush might work, but is that the tool you want hanging on your pegboard? Off to Amazon. There are all kinds of chain brushes there, but in an unusual concern for quality, I dutifully resisted my usual partiality for “thriftiness” and passed on “economical” models that had reviews carrying phrases like, “fell apart in my hands on first use.” I settled on an aluminum “Grunge Brush,” just in case my new dedication to DIY would last at least three lifetimes. YouTube experts also counseled to get some kerosene to clean the chain, but all my big box store had was a ten gallon vat, and not seeing a fork lift around, I settled for a quart of mineral spirits. Out of remorse for my compromise, I splurged on a 99-cent spray bottle.

When it came to oil for the chain, I quickly tumbled headlong into the rabbit hole of bike forum threads where multipage debates on the best chain oil raged, only surmounted in megabytes and fervor by the infinite opinions (and a few disturbing threats) on the best engine oil. Again at the big box store, I closed my eyes and grabbed a spray can from the lineup of brands. An optional purchase, I learned, was a sort of wheel cozy, which shields the rear wheel and tire from overspray (yes, you can actually buy these), but I just couldn’t see the advantage of these over a carefully fashioned piece of cardboard, stealthily scavenged after dark from my neighbor’s recycling bin.

My arsenal of weapons assembled, the next afternoon I rolled my bike out to the driveway. No sooner had I hoisted it onto its centerstand when my neighbor strolled over. He wanted to know if I had seen any suspicious individuals poking through his garbage. Of course, I hadn’t. I wheeled the bike out of his prying eyes and into the garage. By then my chain brush had gone missing. It only took five dog biscuits and a humiliating, 20 minute game of keepaway through three backyards with my Lab Penny to get back on task.

Running the chain through the brush while dousing it with cleaner took just a few minutes, leaving me to wonder why in all the videos I watched the narrators felt the need to be so adamant about NOT RUNNING THE ENGINE to save time during this step. I guess they felt obligated to offer the warning, but even I could see how having your fingers eaten between the chain and sprocket would be worthy of a minor Darwin Award. With a good wipe down with a pile of t-shirts that have mysteriously started getting too tight and a drenching of oil on the now sparkling chain (and on my hands, my shirt, my pants, the floor, my shoes, and Penny), the service work order was complete.

I pulled out a lawn chair and toasted my newfound elevation to the ranks of Mechanic, Third Class, with a frosty bottle of Fat Tire. My guilt assuaged, I pondered my next challenge: rain gutters.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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Continental RoadAttack 3: A great tire option for a touring GS

By Ray Tubbs #58606 I’D LOVE TO START THIS REAL-

world tire test by describing a crossdesert run that included a river crossing, followed up with a couple of moderate, trials-like jumps and ending with a lap around a Moto GP track—think James Bond.

The reality is this long-term test of the Continental ContiRoad Attack 3 includes the type of riding normal

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

riders do, including commuting to work, taking relaxing weekend jaunts and riding through some rain. In my case, a lot of rain,which may just be the best test to tell us what the tire can handle.

Continental released their new ContiRoad Attack 3 sport-touring tires last year, and while they’re already award winners, a brief overview is warranted.

Continental is the only tire company

using a single rubber compound on each tire which is cured using varying temperatures over the tire profile. Called MultiGrip, the goal is to create a harder center patch for better wear characteristics and softer outer edges for better grip. Continental believes that using a single compound also prevents de-lamination and the distinct changes in grip one sometimes experiences when using a multi-compound tire. To make sure, Continental’s marketing department is as busy as their engineers; Continental describes the technology used in the tires by giving us terms like TractionSkin (a micro-rough tread surface that doesn’t require a releasing agent to aid in removing the finished tire from the mold), RainGrip (a specially activated silica compound to improve traction in wet conditions), ZeroDegree (0° steel-belt construction for high speed stability), and EasyHandling (designed flex in the sidewalls for linear handling even when turning). According to Continental, all of this adds up to a 15 percent improvement in the wet, 10 percent increase in mileage and a 5 percent advance in warm-up and handling over their previous generation tire.

Visually, the 120/70ZR19 front has a rounder profile, while the 170/60ZR17 rear is slightly flatter. The angular tread pattern is reminiscent of the SportAttack line but with deeper siping designed to push the water away from the tire. This new siping offers the most grooves at the normal tire angles you are likely to encounter during wet weather riding while still providing ample amounts of rubber for an enhanced grip when upright or at the most extreme lean angles.

Commuting on the tire offered a compliant ride with no undue harshness over

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expansion joints or road imperfections.

The front provided excellent feedback, but unlike a true sportbike tire that transmits every road imperfection, the sidewall of the RoadAttack 3 absorbed most of the flaws of the road. I’ll chalk this benefit up to the EasyHandling which was very much appreciated when riding on our aging expressways. Additionally, I found braking at speed to be extremely stable, exhibiting no squirm while providing excellent grip during the quick transitions from braking to steering to acceleration required by the random interstate Olympics I participated in, which in my case, was an ottoman rolling across the roadway.

The southeastern United States has experienced a reasonably wet winter. Either that or I just picked a lot of rainy days to ride.

Whatever the case, I had ample time to check out the wet weather characteristics of the RoadAttack 3. Riding both secondary roads and interstate highways, I found the tire’s sipe design to do precisely what Continental had intended: to shed water quickly

and efficiently while offering a consistent grip over concrete, asphalt and the transition surfaces found on overpasses. The RoadAttack 3 impressed me on my spirited rides over wet secondary roads, as the tires never lost traction or caused me concern even though I tend to be very hard on the front end of any motorcycle. The RoadAttack 3s held firm even when braking to the point of ABS actuation, and Continental’s magic brew of silica, sipes, and carbon black struck me as being spot-on.

The sharp-eyed amongst you have likely noticed by now that the tire sizes I utilized were for the heavy-weight enduro class, and in my case, a 2016 BMW R 1200 GS Adventure. Long a leader in the sales race, large enduros get the attention of every tire manufacturer as a sport-touring option.

While it may be heresy to some to not have dual-sport tires on an enduro bike, after 3,800 miles I believe the Continental RoadAttack 3 is a fantastic choice for those of us that rarely venture off the street.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

21

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Rukka Apollo Gore-Tex X-Trafit gloves

By John Rector #132206 WHILE ATTENDING THE MOA GET-

away in Tomah, Wisconsin, last fall I had the opportunity to try out a pair Rukka Apollo Gore-Tex X-Trafit gloves. The three-season gloves were good-looking, had a semi-short cuff and were unvented. The term X-Trafit refers to Rukka’s method of keeping the liner inside the glove when you remove your hand.

The weather during the Getaway

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

weekend was beautiful and sunny, with temperatures starting out in the upper 30s and warming up to the mid 50s during the afternoon. I thought these gloves would be perfect for the weather we had that weekend.

The first thing I noticed about these gloves was the quality. All seams were finely and seemingly carefully stitched, and the leather was of excellent quality and weight with no observable blemishes

whatsoever on any of the sections. The leather had a very substantial feel to it and told you these were clearly quality gloves.

The fit with a large was very good, although I normally wear a size XL, so this particular glove was a little short in the fingers and a bit tight across the back of the hand for me. Nevertheless, I wore them most of the day on Saturday, switching them back and forth with my trusty BMW summer vented leather gloves to compare

Grand

European Tour the dexterity, quality, fit, warmth and comfort. On that particular Saturday, since my BMW gloves were vented, these Rukka gloves were considerably warmer and more comfortable than mine.

The Rukka Apollo Gore-Tex X-Trafit gloves have some very nice features that I wish I had on my gloves. For instance, in addition to the customary hard knuckle protection for your largest knuckles, they also have hard protection for the next set of knuckles for your third, fourth and fifth fingers. There is a flexible and expandable piece of material just above the wrist that provides some additional comfort and movement, and the thumb finger has a very handy raised visor wipe. I especially liked the hard protection for the meaty part of your palm on the underside of the glove. My BMW gloves have only a slightly thicker piece of leather at this location. In the event of a fall, I believe the Rukka gloves would provide much more protection for my hands.

The hook and loop strap at the wrist was large enough to securely tighten the gloves across my wrist. Since the cuff was a little longer than a summer short-cuff glove, I was able to cinch up the jacket and glove to keep cold air from blowing up my sleeve.

So what are my impressions of the Rukka Apollo Gore-Tex X-Trafit gloves? Well, after putting them to the test for a full day in cool weather, even though they were a size smaller than I would prefer, I was sufficiently impressed that I decided to buy a pair for myself, only this time in a size XL. The Rukka Apollo Gore-Tex X-Trafit gloves carry an MSRP of $199.

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Grease Ninja Chain Oiler

By Bill Wiegand #180564 I REMEMBER STANDING AT THE

parts counter at Gateway BMW in St. Louis just after buying my S 1000 XR. With my new bike just 15 or so feet away, I watched as another customer walked into the showroom, paused to look at the XR and said, “It’s not really a BMW if it’s got a chain.”

What! Never mind the K vs. R bike debates, in his mind without a shaft drive my new bike wasn’t even worthy of wearing the roundel.

“Yeah,” I said, “but I’ll never have a final drive failure!” Take that you shaft-driven snob!

Though valve adjustments on an inline four demand a much higher

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

level of expertise than I’m comfortable with, in the two and a half years I’ve owned the XR I can say I’ve enjoyed doing all of the maintenance I’m able to do—which includes maintaining the chain.

Yes, it is a dirty job, but when I see a clean, well-lubed and properly tensioned chain I believe it tells you something about the bike’s owner. I’m not sure exactly what, but something.

After about 25,000 miles on the XR I figured my original chain had reached the end of

its life, and over the winter I replaced it along with the sprockets. From what I’ve read, I got just about as much mileage from them as I could expect. The best thing is, beginning this spring, I’ll be riding with a new final drive. Take that Mr. Shaft Drive!

Like most riders with chain-driven bikes, over the years I’ve wasted a lot of chain lube by spraying not only my chain, but my exhaust, tires and garage floor as well. While I always used a piece of cardboard to help contain the mess, it always seemed that more lube was missing the target. For years, I thought that was the best I could expect.

It was while surfing the web and researching chain and sprocket replacement that I came across a site describing the process. While that information was helpful, the gem that I found most helpful was the small tool used in the video to thoroughly lube chains without wasting chain lube. They were using the Grease Ninja Chain Oiler.

The Grease Ninja Chain Oiler consists of a 2” x 1.25” polycarbonate block uniquely molded to ride over a chain. A stiff copper wire attaches the block to a standard can of chain lube, and once connected, the can’s spray tube is inserted into the Grease Ninja block.

To use the Grease Ninja, the block is placed over the chain, and pressing the can’s button releases lubricant through the tube into the block. Using your free hand to rotate the wheel, chain lube is then evenly distributed over the chain’s pins and rollers.

After about two revolutions of the wheel, the chain should be evenly lubricated.

Using the Grease Ninja, I’ve found that very little chain lubricant is now wasted because of overspray and the chain itself appears more evenly coated with lubricant than before.

Whether using the Grease Ninja or not, it’s always best to lubricate your chain when it’s clean and most mechanics recommend using simple kerosene and a Grunge Brush for that process. Additionally, it’s recommended to not over lube your chain as excess lubricant will give dirt something to stick to.

The Grease Ninja Chain Oiler is made in the United States and available in three sizes from bicycle chains to 530. At only $15, I find it to be one of the cheapest yet most useful tools in my garage. For more information, visit greaseninja.com.

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MachineartMoto ADVance Guards: Premium design and protection

By Ron Davis #111820 THOUGH I ADMIT I HAVE A WEAK-

ness for farkles, appearance isn’t usually the number one consideration for me, as evidenced by my wearing the same work shirt for two weeks straight (much to my wife’s chagrin).

The primary items on my checklist before purchasing a new piece of gear? Cost effectiveness, comfort, durability and function. MachineartMoto’s ADVance Guards check all those boxes, and as an added benefit, they look pretty darn cool doing it.

Over the years I have routinely added hand guards to most of the bikes I own. They help stretch the boundaries of the limited riding season in Wisconsin, and at least in some cases, can protect my aged paws and expensive parts on the bike from

harm. The ones I’ve installed have ranged from plastic cheapos, to plastic with a metal rib, to high-priced BMW OEMs. Results have been mixed, but with their construction, innovative multi-functionality and design, MachineartMoto’s new ADVance Guards seem to have created a whole new dimension in hand and gear protection.

Probably the most immediately noticeable feature of these new hand guards is their beefy, twin spar frames. Constructed of forged aluminum about 3/8 in. thick, I’m convinced these guards will protect hands, levers, and switches in all but the most severe crash. They do add a little less than a pound each to the front fork, but in the case of my F 700 GS, I didn’t notice any negative effects on handling; in fact, I did notice a much-appreciated, signficant The cutting edge design of the ADVance Guards from MachineartMoto offers elegant style and industrial strength protection for hands and gear.

26

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

reduction in bar vibration, one shortcoming of the F7 and I suspect of other midsize models. The ADVance Guards’ frames are bolted over the bar end weights and clamped to the handle bar with bespoke mounts, again made from brawny, forged aluminum.

Installation, even for a shop class reject like me, was straightforward. It probably took me longer to find my T25 Torx wrench than to complete the actual install.

MachineartMoto provides clear instructions and includes all required hardware, but I recommend watching the two excellent installation videos found on their website. Since the F 700 GS is one of BMW’s less popular models, I’ve run into fitment problems with other aftermarket add-ons, but the ADVance guards bolted on like original equipment.

Besides their premium construction, the patented multi-functionality of the MachineartMoto’s new hand guard is another strong feature. The guards have cleverly designed, adjustable sliding shields which can enlarge their front surface by 50mm for cold weather, providing 142mm of vertical wind protection. The shields are secured with three glove-friendly thumbscrews that nest in brass receiver nuts. When the temperature rises, the shields can lowered to hide behind the guard frames. When temperatures really soar, the shields can be removed and a polypropylene insert can be popped out of the front of the frame, allowing freeflowing air to your grips.

MachineartMoto’s new ADVance Guards can adapt to changing conditions with a sliding shield up for cold weather, down for warmer temps. Removing the sliding shield and a front insert permits free-flowing air to flow over the grips on the hottest days.

The thumbscrews for adjustment/ removal are retained on the sliding shields, so no worries over parts rolling away into the gravel or disappearing in your side case. All of these adjustments must of course never be made with the bike in motion, but adjustment of the shield and removal of the insert takes less than a minute.

As many riders may already be aware, attention to detail and functional but elegant design are hallmarks of all the MachineartMoto products. Though not my primary concern, the matte black, powder-coated frame and gray insert (more insert colors coming in 2018) coordinated nicely with my bike’s black and silver color scheme, and the ADVance logo is nicely understated. Since the guards were

designed by riders, they of course provide plenty of room for levers and bulky, cold weather gloves, and I found no conflict with mirrors, cables or bar switches. I use an 18” Madstad shield on my F 700 GS and found the ADVance guards just kiss the edges of the shield at full steering lock. I was also still able to use a Helmet Hook on the clutch side bar end with the guard.

No provision for auxiliary running or directional lights is provided on the ADVance Guards, but other than that, their only negative aspect might be seen by some to be their cost. Relatively speaking, MachineartMoto’s ADVance Guards are expensive ($249-$269), but as BMW owners know, quality is rarely cheap. It’s worth considering that replacing an OEM brake lever will set you back at least $100. The

new guards can be purchased from a variety of the usual suspects, plus the MachineartMoto website, where a fitment guide is provided. In addition to providing kits for the BMW GS line (including the R nineT GS and Scrambler), guards are also available for some KTMs, Triumph Tigers and Honda Africa Twins, with MachineartMoto promising more model kits in the future.

As I mentioned earlier, when it comes to adding accessories to my bike, appearance is generally not a deal maker or breaker.

MachineartMoto’s ADVance Guards provide premium quality, excellent protection and unique versatility. That they look classy doing it is an added bonus. For more information, videos and rider feedback, visit MachineartMoto.com.

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May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

27

news From the Board

Relax and ship your bike to the Rally

In an attempt to bring the BMW MOA into the digital twenty-first century and free up BMW Owners News to publish high quality motorcycle news, imagery and content; The Board of Directors has approved the publication of the quarterly in-person board meeting open session minutes to digital format only. This is in accordance with the BMW MOA bylaw Section 3, paragraph 3.1, which states, “The official publications of BMW MOA shall be BMW Owners News and the officially authorized BMW MOA website bmwmoa.org.”

Any members who would like to express his or her opinion regarding this change is welcome to contact the board at bod@bmwmoa.org or me directly at rangerreece@mac.com.

Members that would like to receive a printed copy of the first quarter 2018 Open Session Minutes may do so by calling BMW MOA headquarters at (864) 438-0962. The first quarter 2018 Open Session Minutes may also be found online at www.bmwmoa.org/default. asp?page=MeetingMinutes.

A link to the minutes and what I am sure will be a spirited forum discussion about them will be posted in the Clubhouse section of the BMW MOA Forum as well.

By Reece Mullins #143779 BMW MOA Board Secretary

There’s nothing quite like a good ol’ motorcycle rally to get riders excited, and if it’s anything like past events, this year’s BMW MOA International Rally in Des Moines, Iowa, will be a rally to remember.

To give you more time to enjoy the Rally, let Motorcycle Shippers transport your motorcycle to Des Moines. Shipping your bike will make sure it arrives looking its best, while decreasing the wear and tear from long hours on the road.

Motorcycle Shippers is proud to be a longtime partner of the BMW MOA and is dedicated to coordinating your transportation needs, and best of all, Motorcycle Shippers is offering MOA members a $50 discount on motorcycle shipping to or from the rally. For more information, visit www. motorcycleshippers.com.

Giant Loop Fuel Safe Bladders Adventure gear company Giant Loop’s new three and five gallon Gas Bag™ Fuel Safe Bladders can conveniently transport hydrocarbon fuel in a collapsible welded film and ballistic nylon-reinforced container that rolls up or packs flat when empty.

Gas Bag Fuel Safe Bladders are intended only for the temporary transport of liquid hydrocarbons for racing vehicles used in professional off road and closed course competition racing events. The Gas Bag Fuel Safe Bladder is not a portable or long-term fuel storage container as described by ASTM, EPA, ARB or other state or federal agencies.

All models of Gas Bags feature two rows of webbing daisy chain loops that prevent the Gas Bag from sliding out from under tie-down straps. Filler necks are standard size, fitting “universal” spouts, Available exclusively from Giant Loop and authorized dealers, USA MSRP is $239.99 for the three gallon Gas Bag and $299.99 for the five gallon Gas Bag. For more information, visit giantloopmoto.com

28

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

Thank you to Sam Garst and Randy Boris Sam Garst, #103463, and Randy Boris, #49712, pose with a print of the 1978 BMW R 80 recently raffled by the BMW MOA Foundation. Members of the Foundation’s Board of Directors presented Garst and Boris with the prints to thank them for their generous donations to the Foundation. Garst purchased the R 80 at an estate sale, and Boris performed repairs to make the motorcycle ready for the Foundation’s winter raffle.

After expenses, the raffle netted the Foundation more than $25,000 which will be used for rider safety, education and training initiatives.

The winner of the R 80 was Scott Sherrow of Kirkland, Washington.

NHTSA releases 2016 motorcycle data The National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) released its 2016 data sheet for motorcycles showing a 5.1 percent increase in fatalities among motorcycle riders in the USA for the year.

The increase from 5,029 motorcyclists killed in 2015 to 5,286 in 2016 accompanies just a 0.9 percent increase in the number of registered motorcycles. This was the second straight year of an increase in fatalities. The rate of rider fatalities increased 9.5 percent from 2014 to 2015; the 2015-16 statistics are the highest since the 2007-08 period.

Motorcyclists represented 14 percent of all traffic fatalities for 2016 despite making up only 3 percent of all registered vehicles and accruing just 0.6 percent of vehicle miles travelled. Based on these numbers, motorcyclists were 28 times more likely to die in a crash than passenger car drivers.

The NHTSA report gives a number of statistics that identify areas in which motorcyclists can take action to reduce their chance of being killed while riding.

• 27 percent of riders killed did not have a valid motorcycle license • 25 percent of riders involved in fatal crashes had

blood-alcohol concentrations (BAC) of 0.08 or higher, the highest rate of impaired vehicle operation across all classes • 37 percent of riders killed in single-vehicle crashes were alcohol-impaired • Motorcycle riders killed at night were three times more likely to be alcohol impaired than day riders • 802 riders killed in 2016 likely would have lived had they been wearing a helmet • 33 percent of riders killed were speeding, compared to 19 percent of passenger car driver deaths • 49.6 percent of rider deaths occurred on the weekend • 22 percent of riders killed rode motorcycles larger than 1,501 cc (up from 8 percent in 2007) While the overall increase in motorcycle fatalities from 2007 to 2016 is just 2 percent, the average age of the rider killed has fallen from 43 to 39. Riders 40 and older killed while riding rose from 49 percent in 2007 to 54 percent in 2016.

Interested riders can view the report on the NHTSA website at crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

29

new

news

Millennials aren't killing motorcycling – it’s dying on its own A look at BMW Motorrad news and numbers

By Wes Fleming #87301 NEWS ABOUT BMW MOTORRAD

doesn’t come fast and furious like it does from Harley-Davidson. Harley is a major American manufacturer, and while BMW is a massive part of the economy in Germany (and thus the EU), it is a much smaller part of the US economy. BMW manufactures some SUVs in the US, but no motorcycles at all. All BMW motorcycles are made in Germany or India – and so far, only the G 310 series bikes are made in India. BMW Group’s divisions – including motorcycles – source parts from 31 production facilities worldwide, including Europe, Asia, Africa and North and

30

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

South America. Because of all that (and more), there just isn’t much news about BMW Motorrad on a day-to-day basis.

That seemed to change for two weeks in March, when BMW Motorrad lost one of its top non-executive employees and got a new director right around the time their 2017 annual report came out.

Not many people outside BMW’s corporate offices had heard of Ola Stenegärd until March 8, when the news broke that Polaris’ Indian Motorcycles hired him away from BMW. Stenegärd was a product design lead for BMW Motorrad and as such, was instrumental in the development of the R nineT and its sisters as well as a number of other BMW motorcycles. He worked for

BMW for 15 years, eventually becoming the Head of Vehicle Design and a key member of the team marketing BMW’s motorcycles as well.

Stenegärd’s move to Indian is a huge loss for BMW Motorrad, but consequently a huge gain for Indian. Though an iconic brand in American minds, Indian is struggling to build its sales from a ground-up renewal of the marque that started with the 2014 model year and the scratch-designed Thunder Stroke 111 V-twin engine the wizards at Polaris came up with. The retrostyled heavy cruisers Indian first put out were quickly joined by smaller, more aggressive Scouts – still cruisers, but packed with forward-looking technology like

liquid cooled engines. It’s obvious why Indian chose to debut its air-cooled bikes first, and clearly the market responded to this ancient and dying technology. Given that Polaris’ claims that Indian’s sales have grown by double digit percentages year after year, it appears they made the right choice in that regard. Polaris is clearly banking on Indian continuing to grow, as they eliminated Victory Motorcycles not long after Indian came on the scene.

If nothing else, Stenegärd will help pull Indian’s looks into the 21st century and possibly lead to Indian diversifying its model lineup to include non-cruiser motorcycles.

Frankly, the idea of an Indian-branded sport-tourer or adventure bike with the Scout’s engine in it is exhilarating. Having a designer as well-known as Stenegärd on board imparts gobs of credibility onto Indian, and certainly Stenegärd’s wellknown passion for cruisers and V-twin engines don’t hurt as he joins North America’s simultaneously oldest and newest major motorcycle manufacturer. The move still begs the question of why BMW Motorrad was either unable or unwilling to retain Stenegärd’s services.

Less is known about Markus Schramm, the man BMW has tapped to be the new head of Motorrad. The press release was light on information, calling Dr. Schramm a “passionate motorcyclist” but giving precious little other information. This could be seen as a reaction to current temporary head Hubert Kühner saying a couple of months ago that electric motorcycles have “no place” in BMW’s future despite the hullabaloo BMW made about their electric concept motorcycle two Augusts ago at their 100th anniversary celebration out in California. Kühner stepped in where Stephan Schaller left off; Schaller led BMW Motorrad from June 2012 until April 2018, when he took over as the new CEO of Voith GmbH. All we’ve gotten from BMW about Schramm is a suited-up mugshot and the press release’s promise that he’s a “passionate motorcyclist.” Considering Schaller presided over Motorrad during the ascent of the water boxers and all the nineT variants,

Region Worldwide Germany France Italy USA Spain

2017 101,524 26,664 16,607 14,430 13,546 11,193

Schramm certainly has big shoes to fill.

Almost immediately after I posted the news of Schramm’s ascension, somebody on Facebook wondered if he would “bother” attending the MOA’s annual rally in Des Moines. Not only has a BMW executive from Germany never attended our little rally, given the poor numbers being put up by the USA when it comes to sales, why would he bother? He can more easily attend BMW Motorrad Days the week before and visit with over 40,000 BMW motorcycle enthusiasts rather than the 5,000 or so that will attend the MOA rally.

The last bit of recent news from BMW Motorrad is buried in their 260-page 2017 Annual Report. As with most of these types of corporate documents, it’s as cheery as you might expect it to be. Honestly, BMW has some good reasons to be optimistic about motorcycle sales – they’re up everywhere in the world exept the United States.

BMW Group had a good year in 2017, and things are certainly looking up for BMW Motorrad nearly everywhere but the United States. The combined population (estimated) of France and Italy (127.5 million) is way less than half that of the USA

2016 87,983 24,894 13,350 12,300 13,730 9,520

% Change + 15.4 + 7.1 + 24.4 + 17.3 - 1.3 + 17.6

(325.7 mil), yet Italians alone bought nearly 1,000 more BMW motorcycles than Americans did in 2017. People in France bought more BMWs than Americans last year, too, and this year they’re starting to pull away in the standings.

It should be noted that BMW sold 16,436 motorcycles in the USA in 2015, its historical high-water mark for the nation and well up from the dismal 9,167 they sold in the USA in 2009 during the early fallout from the Great Recession.

As American BMW riders continue to complain that BMW Motorrad doesn’t engage with its customers on this continent, these annual reports provide a picture as to why that may be. BMW doesn’t have a lot of motivation focus its marketing and outreach money and efforts in the USA, where sales continue to slide despite a massive population. The USA made up just 12 percent of BMW’s motorcycle sales in 2015, the biggest year of sales in the USA ever, and that dropped to below 10 percent in 2016.

The reason behind that could be that it’s not just BMW motorcycle sales that are down in the USA - all motorcycle sales are down in the USA.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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new 32

news

Harley-Davidson announced its 2017 results not long ago. In their shareholder conference call, they admitted that their Q4-2017 sales in the USA fell 11.1 percent to 23,195 motorcycles sold. When Harley’s sales drop by double digit percentages and they still sell nearly as many motorcycles in this country in three months as BMW did in Germany (its largest market) in all of 2017, that says a lot about the obstacle BMW Motorrad has to hurdle in this country to achieve greater sales numbers.

It’s hard to say what BMW can do to increase motorcycle sales in the USA. They are certainly making a lot of effort, which is obvious with the introduction of the Bagger and Grand America motorcycles. The USA is a huge potential market for anything, but American consumers can be difficult to figure out. From a functional standpoint, there’s no performance difference between a K 16 GT/GTL and a B/GA, so why did BMW develop these bikes and aim them squarely at the American market? Because they (obviously) felt they had to do something to try to entice riders disinterested in mainstream Harley-Davidson and Indian heavy cruisers due to their outdated (air-cooled V-twin) technology. Nobody holds a candle to BMW Motorrad when it comes to technological innovation, but in a lot of regards, American riders at large simply don’t respond to that. Oh, they sure demand things like ABS and LED headlights be there and complain when they’re not, but that’s not what draws them in most of the time. It’s the way the bike looks, the way it feels – and certainly not what’s under the plastic. These heart

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

reactions easily overpower mind reactions.

I know a K 1600 Bagger is way more technologically advanced than an Indian Chieftain - so why do I want a Chieftain so bad?

Even I can’t answer that question. It’s visceral. I can’t help it!

BMW is updating its middleweight (or high-middleweight, if you like) motorcycles, the previous F 700/800 series, and bumping their displacement to 750/850.

From my perspective, this is due to the constant cry for “bigger! bigger!” that seems to come from American riders and

aftermarket parts - is damn near bulletproof. Why did BMW feel they had to make the engine bigger? In large part because Americans just won’t shut up about bigger engines. (I know I’ll catch flak for that, but hey, at least we can talk about it.) Ask me some time about my R 850 R and why I foolishly sold it. At any rate, it seems that even though we contribute only about 10 percent of BMW Motorrad’s sales, riders in the USA have a disproportionate effect on the course of the company’s future – for better or worse, as it may be.

industry publications. In our culture, there is never enough of anything, and that is especially true when it comes to motorcycles. It was likely an American who coined the phrase “There is no replacement for displacement” and from a cultural standpoint, we are absolutely obsessed with engine size. Are we collectively compensating for something? Maybe.

There was nothing wrong with the F 800 motorcycles. They were fantastic! That parallel twin BMW developed is a great motor that - other than inexplicable stator weaknesses easily addressed by

There is no doubt in my mind that BMW Motorrad has a great future in the USA, but I also don’t doubt it will be difficult for them. In the meantime, BMW enthusiasts in the USA would do well to check out BMW’s new offerings and see if anything appeals to them. Growing sales is the surest way to attract BMW’s attention and get them to participate on this continent.

Portions of this op/ed piece appeared first online at http://www.bmwmoa.org/news/ news.asp?id=392519.

www.iliumworks.com

www.sargentcycle.com

May 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

33

2018 BMW MOA national Rally - Des Moines, Iowa Time to Learn

Seminars offer something for everyone ANYONE ATTENDING THE BMW MOA

International Rally in Des Moines will have the opportunity to be an active participant in more than 100 seminars and workshops during our three days of non-stop fun. The Des Moines rally promises to have the best lineup ever.

Not only do we have professionals coming in to share the latest in BMW innovations and gear, but others will be there to entice us to ride the roads of far

off places, as well as the less traveled roads here at home. Industry leaders will be on hand to tell us about tires, GPS technology and safety issues that affect us all, and hands-on workshops will be offered by members for those who are ready to do some “wrenching.”

Last year’s rally included seminars on servicing bikes of practically any age and on understanding ever-changing motorcycle technology. The best in tires, seats,

riding clothing and helmets were all subjects of seminars, as were topics such as how to deal with a dropped bike or a fall. Sharing the trials and tribulations of touring, listening to panel discussions with amazing riders, and discussing topics pertinent to the MOA were also just a few of the themes featured in this year’s lineup of seminars.

For more information, visit bmwmoa. org and click on the RALLY ’18 tab.

Experience the journey

Jocelin Snow to offer off-road training TAKING A BIG ADVENTURE BIKE LIKE

how she hasn't allowed her size to impede her riding or selection of motorcycles in her stable.

Jocelin will be sharing and demonstrat-

BMW's GS off-road can be intimidating for anyone, sometimes more so for women. At this year's BMW MOA International Rally in Des Moines, women will have a unique opportunity to participate in a training session led

by Jocelin Snow.

Jocelin, a former professional AMA motorcycle road racer, is one of the country's premier GS riders, who in June will compete in Mongolia for the 2018 GS Trophy.

At just over five-feet tall, Jocelin has a lifetime of experience riding motorcycles on which she can't touch the ground.

2018 GS Trophy competitor, Jocelin Snow.

She has also owned and operated a motorcycle riding school for ing some of the skills she has learned while many years and is currently a guest training and competing for the GS Trophy, instructor for the advanced Adventure and her training course will provide you training class at RawHyde Adventures. the tools to improve your skills and build Spend some time with Jocelin and learn your confidence while riding your

adventure bike off-road.

The training session will include the basics of balance, control, judgment, attitude and confidence. Also covered will be how to lift a dropped bike, bike set up, proper riding positions, trail and emergency stops, acceleration, hill fail recovery, and obstacle crossing. Throughout her course, Jocelin will demonstrate how to shed personal fears regarding size and strength while providing skills to practice to ride your big adventure bike comfortably—with anyone, anywhere.

The regular cost for this training is $125, but with a partial sponsorship by the MOA Foundation, the final cost to participants will be only $65. To register for this female-only off-road training at the BMW MOA International Rally in Des Moines, visit bmwmoa.org.

For complete Rally information or to register, visit www.bmwmoa.org 34

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

experience the music

Entertainment every night

By Lee Harrelson #145612 AJ Ghent [J-ent] is all about energy, musically, physically and spiritually great venue for evening entertainment with through his family’s heirloom sacred steel plenty of both bench seating and lush sounds. Over the years, this fireball has grassy areas for spreading out blankets or shared music with Zac Brown, Dave Grohl relaxing in your Kermit chair. Situated and legendary freeform artist, Colonel close to the beer garden, rally-goers are Bruce Hampton and has opened for acts encouraged to come early and stay all night such as Derek Trucks and the Allman while visiting with old friends and making Brothers Band. new ones.

Tommy Talton is a familiar name to For Thursday’s opening night, we’ll kick many, especially fans of ’70s Southern off the party with the rock and roll, rock. Talton figured heavily into that part country/blues band Jacob County and the of music history and co-founded the Damaged Goods. The band exhibits both band Cowboy. creative and Tommy has spirited played guitar musicianship with the likes of coming through Gregg Allman, in their fun and Bonnie groovy guitar Bramlett, solos.

Dickey Betts, My friends Kitty Wells and know I have Clarence Carter, real affection and he’s still and pride for adding to the Muscle Shoals, rich tapestry of the small town Lewis Brice will rock the rally stage on Saturday night.

Southern music in northern and is at the top of his game.

Alabama with the rich musical history.

Saturday opens with popular IowaOur next act fits right in line! Formed in based band The Nadas, who are sure to Muscle Shoals in 2000, Iron Horse is a make you feel things through their four-member band creating much of music. Regardless of the emotion, you’ll their own music. They have four selfwant to listen and sometimes dance. The produced albums including “Ridin’ Out Nadas marked their 25th year in 2018 and the Storm,” “New Tracks” and “Small Town will soon be releasing their 11th studio Christmas.” album, entitled “One Louder.”

Friday is set to be a day full with the Saturday’s closing act will really push seminars, training courses, vendors, bikes, the rally into high gear with Lewis Brice’s bikes, vintage bikes and more bikes, high energy show, featuring songs with a along with tents, friends, conversations distinctive groove, narrative lyrics and and general good times. Keep your eyes bluesy soulful singing. open for performances by none other Lewis’s debut self-titled EP was than the BMW riding fool and general released via Pump House Music last year trickster Chris “Teach” McNeil to show us and since that time, Lewis has been all just what can be done on a BMW! named one of Rolling Stone Country’s Then, at 7 p.m. we'll crank up the main “New Country Artists You Need to Know” stage for a night of guitar virtuosos and and Billboard’s “Country Artists to Watch some southern soul music fused with in 2018.” funk, rhythm and blues and rock and roll.

THE KNAPP AMPHITHEATER WILL BE A

As a younger rallyer, I enjoyed the more experienced riders who were always happy to share with me. They shared their riding stories (some were definitely “tall-tales”) and their fine art of one-upping each other, but the occasional beer-sharing more than made up for it!

Graham Knight #213268

Did You Know...

#1

Iowa's national rank in beef, pork, corn, soybean and grain production.

Sliced bread was invented by an Iowan. Otto Frederick Rohwedder invented the automatic bread slicer in 1912.

1,000,000 The number of people who flock to Des Moines every August to experience the Iowa State Fair and some of the delicious foods including Apple Pie on a Stick, Fried Peanut Butter and Jelly on a Stick and Deep-Fried Brownies on a Stick.

Known for agriculture, it's no surprise the Des Moines farmers markets are great. The Downtown Farmer's Market runs from May through October with more than 300 vendors and an average of 20,000 shoppers each Saturday.

In 2013, Forbes Magazine rated Des Moines America's "Best Place for Business and Careers" for its highly educated workforce and low business costs.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

35

TECH

keepemflying

Supertech 2.3 and a new season

By Matthew Parkhouse #13272 EVEN

THOUGH

it’s still cold here in Colorado Springs, I’ve already done a couple of serious rides this year. As mentioned in a previous column, Susanna and I rode the pair of Slash Five “Europe bikes” from El Paso, Texas, to Orlando, Florida, in early January, and yes, it was VERY cold.

Then, recently, I just returned home with Strider, my “old original” Slash Five, after trailering to Susanna’s sister’s house in Arizona and riding round-trip to Joshua Tree National Park in California. I had fun reconnecting with nine of my high school friends; it’s been 50 years since graduation. It was cold there, too. The next ride should be six weeks from now, out to California to spend a couple of days at the school with more of the

small class I was part of. I also want to take a detour through the Mojave Desert to see what shape the old gold mining towns of Randsburg and Johannesburg are in. I haven’t been out there since the 1970s. I’m restoring a couple of old carbide mining lamps in preparation for some gold mine exploration.

This past February saw Susanna and I join the Maryland Supertech 2.3. The Airhead community in Maryland sure knows how to organize an enjoyable time. We flew out a couple of days early to enjoy part of a day in Washington D.C. at the Smithsonian.

We also spent a pre-Supertech day touring Jim Hopkin’s private BMW museum and Bob Henig’s BMW shop and museum. Both were impressive.

The Supertech was held at the Tuckahoe Steam and Gas Association’s museum. We stayed at the nearby Quality Inn in Easton, Maryland. The organizers originally planned on 60 attendees but ended up with closer to 80. At the initial gathering at the

Inn on Friday evening, I gave a short talk on “How I Got Here.” As some of you know, my journey began at age 15, with inspiration from the local Hells Angels on their runs in Los Angeles, where I grew up. That journey goes on today, working out of our home, riding the airhead I purchased in 1972, and writing this column. On Saturday, I presented a slide show and talked about 4- and 5-speed airhead gearboxes. Tom Cutter, my instructor at the first two BMW factory trainings I attended back in the ‘70s and ‘80s, provided additional comment during the 90-minute lecture. We both reminisced about the 1978 BMW production run, which saw EVERY transmission suffering from assembly defects! Later that day, participants and I opened a $200 mystery gear box that Will Andalora (the Maryland Air Marshal) provided. It proved to be in good shape, other than needing new bearings.

Several other presenters also ran seminars, including electrics and wiring, ethanol and its effect on our machines, motorcycle safety, a splendidly cut-away airhead BMW on a stand, Kathryn from KatDash with her displays, and various others. As a closing presentation, Susanna and I showed a slide show of our 2006 trip through Europe and North Africa on a pair of R 60/5s. That presentation closed with a brief discussion of the beginnings of our planned European trip this coming September on an R 60/5 and an R 75/5.

The actual Supertech event was only part of our experience with the Maryland Airhead group. We were guests in the homes of four couples before and after the seminar days. Our flight to Maryland was delayed (of course). We were collected by Will Andalora, and the delay meant we arrived in the middle of a party hosted by Mark and Claudia Lipschitz. Mark coordinated the Bob Hening explaining the fine points of the history of Fred Tausch’s 630,000 mile R 60/5 to me. We spent a couple of hours at the Bob’s BMW Museum.

36

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

Phil Funnell’s airhead with the trailer sleeping pod attached.

event and was meticulous in his attention to details, thus ensuring an exciting time for all. Among other efforts, he cooked or organized almost all the food for the weekend.

We stayed with Mark and Claudia the first night and slept the sleep of the exhausted.

Nothing does it to you like sitting in an airport.

After dropping our gear with the next hosts, Mark took us to the Smithsonian in D.C. We spent four hours or so at the Air and Space Museum before taking an Uber ride to the hosts of the evening, Ken and Christine Mansky. We were invited with the Manskys to the home of Alain and Marinette Roussel. Alain, owner of Le Ferme Restaurant in Chevy Chase, Maryland, cooked a lovely meal for us. We went back to the Mansky’s and had a restful sleep. The next morning, Ken drove us to Jim Hopkins’ private museum. About a dozen airheads spent a couple of hours observing and listening to the stories just about every piece displayed came with. Jim’s BMW interest includes a number of bikes, but mostly focuses on racing and European motorcycling memorabilia. He made the museum come to life.

About half of the morning group drove over to Bob’s BMW in Jessup, Maryland.

Bob showed us around the BMW

An airhead with many cut-away components, on display at the SuperTech weekend.

dealership, which has aspects of being a museum in itself. After a break for lunch, we returned to Bob’s to tour his motorcycle museum. The museum is set up in the original Bob’s BMW building, now remodeled to display the bikes and artifacts. Bob has collected an eclectic bunch of motorcycles, but my interest, of course, was in the various airheads he has. Two bikes in particular I originally saw at various rallies were the R 60/5 belonging to Fred Tausch and the bike and trailer belonging to Phil Funnell.

Bob acquired Fred’s bike, with 630,000plus miles on it, from his estate in 2005. The bike was maintained in Fred’s frugal style of only fixing what was broken. Per his wishes, it sits exactly as it was when he parked it the

last time, down to riding gear in the bags and dirt on the paintwork. Phil Funnell actually rode his bike and used the coffinlike sleeping trailer from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Bob’s in 2013. Almost all of Bob’s display bikes are ready to ride and do get taken out on occasion. The museum is open to groups by appointment and to the public two Saturday mornings a month.

Check with Bob’s BMW for the details.

While there, I had a conversation with Bob on the preservation of motorcycles. His opinion is that the modern bikes, with their plastic parts and electronic controls and mechanisms, will start to break down around the ten-year mark, whether the bike is ridden extensively or stored in a

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

37

Susanna and I are planning a ride back east this summer, to include visits with her two kids and my brother in New England.

We are also looking forward to Mike Friedel’s Airheads at the Aerodrome Rally in June, the National Rally in Des Moines in July and visiting a couple of those outlier friends of mine along the way. A good, solid month of riding. We’ll have a brief visit home and then go to the Top o’ the Rockies Rally in Paonia, Colorado.

The above is kind of like how I used to ride in the early years. Unlike those days, when the attitude was “I have plenty of time to do this riding before I get involved with real life,” this year’s plans have more of the “I better do this before I no longer can” feeling about them. It’s been ten years since that surgical disaster laid me low, and I’m starting to feel some of the after-effects of the sepsis and the ten-day coma. I am, however, still more than able to enjoy covering the road miles on my Slash Five.

Jim Hopkins in his BMW museum.

climate-controlled museum. The older bikes, almost entirely made of metal, tend to hold up much longer. Any airhead owner will agree.

After finishing at Bob’s, Bill Lambert and Ed Fule drove us to Chris and Bridget Kennedy’s farm house for Thursday’s evening dinner.

Susanna especially liked Bridget’s beet risotto. I got to admire Chris’s R 100 RT along with Bridget’s chickens out back. The next day, Chris took us on a tour of Annapolis and out to lunch. He then dropped us at the Quality Inn for an evening social event featuring a massive oyster shuck. We were, after all, on the shores of Chesapeake Bay. Our fourth hosts, Duane and Stevie Wilding, took us in after the Supertech and before we caught our flight home the next morning.

Stevie prepared goose, which was excellent. All in all, an incredibly social few days with delectable meals put on by a wonderful group of people. Like the Florida Rally of the month before, it was a grand time meeting people from a part of the country that we don’t usually get to frequent.

38

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

I’m preparing to open this five-speed as part of the demo session.

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TEC

TorqueoftheMatter

Electronic wizardry

By Wes Fleming #87301 MY

GRANDFA-

ther was a hard man, and blunt to boot. He served in the army during World War II, Korea, and in the Ohio National Guard for decades. He was a police officer for many years, as well. A child of the Great Depression, he didn’t trust banks and indulged in creature comforts like a good cigar or a big, comfortable four-door sedan.

Not long after I graduated from high school, I asked him for advice about a difficult situation I had gotten myself into. “Don’t be stupid,” he said.

“Everything is harder when you’re stupid.” At 18 years old, I didn’t quite understand the depth of such simple advice, but as an adult I have come to rely on it more and more often.

Except, it seems, when it comes to my motorcycles.

Regular readers of my tech exploits will remember that many moons ago, a lengthy maintenance cycle presented me with an easy opportunity to detach the starter from the transmission of my 2005 R 1200 GS and measure the thickness of the clutch components. With nearly 80,000

40

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

miles on the bike, this should have been a no-brainer, yet I squandered the opportunity. Sure enough, 3,000 miles later my clutch failed. Had I spent 15 extra minutes at 80,000 miles, I could have saved myself months of waiting and hours of work.

During the clutch replacement, I had the opportunity to take care of a mundane task that, because I didn’t think about it at the time, went on to strand me at a gas station

and require me to fetch a trailer to retrieve my bike. My grandfather’s words came back to me as I stood next to my bike in the driveway, fruitlessly trying to get it to start.

The symptoms were simple: with ignition on, kill switch set to “go” and the starter thumbed,. the result was no clicks, no whirrs, no feeble attempt to turn over at all. There was also no bright green N telling me the bike’s transmission was in neutral and no zero in the gear indicator box to confirm Mr. N’s glow.

My bike refusing to start in anything

other than neutral had been an ongoing issue since mid-2015, but one I worked around by simply starting my bike in neutral. There’s two things that could cause that particular problem: a bad kickstand switch or a bad (or out of adjustment) clutch switch. I had reason to test my kickstand switch not long ago and found it to be good, so my assumption was that the clutch switch needed adjusted or replaced.

I was wrong about that, but it turned out not to be my fault. The aftermarket brake and clutch levers I installed on my bike in mid-2015 are adjustable, and unless they are adjusted to one of the extremes possible, they simply don’t engage the clutch switch properly.

This was communicated to me by the folks at Adventure Designs, from whom I bought the JPR “shorty” adjustable aluminum levers. I don’t remember this feature being part of the hardware documentation, but then again, I don’t remember reading any hardware documentation.

With the kickstand and clutch switches now out of contention as the cause of the problem, I turned to the thing that tells me and the motorcycle’s computer that the transmission is in neutral. This electronic device is called a gear indicator potentiometer, and it’s bolted onto the back of the transmission.

You’ve probably been waiting for the stupid part to come back around. Gentle reader, I am nothing if not here to prevent your ongoing disappointment, so here it is. Ever since I got this motorcycle in 2010, it has done this weird thing. If I stay in fifth gear too long, the gear indicator on my dash would change from 5 to 6, then go blank a few seconds later. It would stay blank for some indeterminate period of time, occasionally flashing a random gear number, then seemingly resetting itself to normal operation. As time has gone on, the amount of time in fifth gear to cause this fault has gotten shorter, and the amount of time for the bike to reset itself has gotten longer.

This issue was not forgotten during my clutch replacement, but a new gear indicator potentiometer costs $220, and I was already into my bike for over $1,400 on that clutch. I just couldn’t bear to add another two bills and change to the parts bill. I didn’t even pull it out to check or clean it. As my grandfather would say, stupid.

The only way to confirm my diagnosis that the shift indicator potentiometer has finally gone the rest of the way bad is to hook the bike up to a diagnostic tool and read the fault codes. I could have gone to a dealer and had them hook it up to an official BMW computer, but queues are long, and I’m not one to demand special front-of-the-line treatment from people I didn’t buy my motorcycle from (or anybody else, for that matter). Instead, I went to Beemers Uber Alles, where I work in an increasingly sporadic fashion, and hooked my bike up to our GS-911 diagnostic interface.

After the system scan, attention-grabbing red letters told me what I already knew: “10115 Gear position potentiometer. The fault is currently present.” I clicked the button to clear the fault codes from the bike’s computer.

A flash of green caught the corner of my eye and I heard the fuel pump prime. The realization that I just fixed my motorcycle WITH A COMPUTER struck me like Wile E. Coyote running full speed into a wall painted to look like a road tunnel.

No wrenches. No Torx drivers. No sockets.

A computer. My mind went immediately to 2001: A Space Odyssey and Hal refusing to open the pod bay doors for Dave.

After subjecting my motorcycle to another ignominious two-hour trip on a trailer, I sent Ted Porter (of the Beemer Shop) an email.

“Thank you, Ted,” I wrote. “You saved my sanity today. Thanks to the GS-911, not only did I confirm what’s wrong with my motorcycle, but I was able to get it to start again by clearing the fault codes.”

The Beemer Shop isn’t the only place you can buy a GS-911, but Ted was the first to import it into the USA, and the knowledge he and his staff possess of how the device and its accompanying software works is dizzying. He explained to me the differences between the Enthusiast and the Professional licenses. Ted stressed that even if the Enthusiast license holder has maxed out the allowed 10 VINs, that GS-911 can still be used with a mobile device (Android or iOS) to read the codes on any compatible BMW motorcycle and more importantly, reset the fault codes. Had I been stranded somewhere on the road instead of stuck safely at a gas station and then in my own driveway, this functionality would have been critical to saving my day and getting me back on the road.

Buying a GS-911 is probably only suitable for the more hardcore, “I do my own maintenance” riders out there, and on top of that, only the ones willing to shell out for its not insignificant cost. A GS-911 is not a substitute for the knowledge and experience brought to motorcycle repair by a qualified, educated BMW motorcycle technician, but it can definitely save an otherwise ruined ride and give consumers a good place to start when discussing their maintenance and repair needs with their chosen qualified professional mechanic.

While I’ve used one in the shop for several years, I’m now of the opinion that having a GS-911 in my tool kit is as important as having my other go-to bit of electronic wizardry, a digital volt-ohm meter (DVOM). A GS-911 and its accompanying mobile app could get me back on the road, and I’m sure it will allow me to help other riders I encounter in my journeys. I’ll discuss DVOMs in depth in a future column and also look at how to replace the gear indicator potentiometer. I might even dissect the broken one to see its innards and maybe figure out why it malfunctioned.

You can learn more about the GS-911 from the manufacturer’s website, hexcode.co.za, and you can buy your own from Ted Porter’s Beemer Shop (beemershop.com) and other online retailers. Prices start at $299.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

41

Tell us why you run #MichelinOnMyMoto and you could win a set of #MICHELINRoad5 tires!

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by May 31, michelin.com 2018 will get a free 12” MICHELIN Road 5 chamois!

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May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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Explore

MOA GETAWAYS

[

MOA Getaways continue to grow in popularity, and this year we’re offering more than ever before. Spread across the United States in bucket-list locations, each Getaway provides a unique opportunity to ride some of the best roads and spend time with fellow BMW riders.

[

Be sure to register early as many locations sell out.

Register for more than one Getaway and receive a discount!

MOA Getaways — great rides and great friends. We look forward to seeing you at a Getaway this year!

Date: J une 1 - 3, 2018 Location: Brian Head, UT Surrounded by the majestic canyons, rock formations and rugged landscape of southwestern Utah, Brian Head is a motorcyclist’s dream with miles of roads most riders can only dream of.

Address: Cedar Breaks Lodge 223 Hunter Ridge Drive, Brian Head, UT 84719 Reservations: 800-438-2929 - Mention BMW MOA 2018 Utah Getaway Room Rate: Studio $119, One Bedroom $129, Resort fee $13 per day Website: cedarbreakslodge.com

Host Info: Jackie Hughes 509-953-5679 jackie@bmwmoa.org Event Fee: $99

Features: Mountain top accommodations, day spa available

Date: June 15 - 17, 2018 Location: Grand Targhee, WY Join us at the Grand Targhee Resort and experience some of Americas most scenic roads and legendary national parks including Yellowstone and Grand Teton as well as the famed Antler Arches in Jackson, Wyoming.

Address: Grand Targhee Resort 3300 E Skihill Rd., Alta, WY 83414 Reservations: 307-353-2300 Mention BMW MOA Getaway Room Rate: $139 Website: grandtarghee.com Host Info: Jackie Hughes 509-953-5679 jackie@bmwmoa.org Event Fee: $99 Features: Scenic chairlift rides, pig roast on Saturday night

Reserve your spot today! To register, visit bmwmoa.org and click on the EVENTS tab or call 864-438-0962 and a membership associate will be happy to assist you. Contact host hotel for accommodations.

The Places You'll Go!

Peter Hans Lattman MOA # 97545

Call, Text, or Email Peter for all of your Real Estate needs

August 17 - 19, 2018 MOA Getaway Eureka Springs Location: Eureka Springs, Arkansas

SCHNEIDMILLER REALTY

Cell: 208-664-0101

E-mail: peter@cbidaho.com peter@cbidaho.com I'm Peter Hans Lattman with Coldwell Banker in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho. Long time MOA member, and life long motorcyclist. Let me show you why I live here.

If you'd like to invest in a second home, or escape the big city for good, I'm here for you!

August 24 - 26, 2018 MOA Getaway Copper Mountain

Call, text, or email me for more information or just the scoop on the best twistie roads in North Idaho!

Location: Copper Mountain, Colorado

September 7 - 9, 2018 MOA Getaway Pine Mountain Location: Pineville, Kentucky

Why not live where people vacation?

Beautiful Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho!

September 7 - 9, 2018 MOA Getaway Sedona

Put my lifetime of negotiating experience to work for you!

Location: Sedona, Arizona

September 14 - 16, 2018 MOA Getaway Jay Peak

Offering Trips to Peru, Bolivia, Argentina and Chile

Location: Jay, Vermont

September 21 - 23, 2018 MOA Getaway Tomah Location: Tomah, Wisconsin

November 9 - 11, 2018 MOA Getaway Texas Location: Kerrville, Texas

For a detailed listing of events, please refer to the When and Where section on page 86.

18 years of experience organizing motorcycle tours. The largest BMW motorcycle travel company in Latin America. BMW International Travel Partner. BMW Dealer for Southern Chile. info@motoaventura.cl www.motoaventura.cl www.motoaventura.cl

Independent touring or guided tours with multilingual guide, mechanic and support vehicle.

Join the BMW MOA FACEBOOK page today! Get the MOA Newsfeed via Twitter for more BMW and motorcycle news – www.twitter.com/bmwmoa

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

45

Going Over 70

By Stuart A. Kirk #55005

It was a crisp fall morning, and I was excited to be riding my new BMW RT through Colorado’s glorious mountains on my way home to Santa Fe. North of Poncha Springs, my enthusiasm was dulled momentarily by lumbering trucks going 30 mph carrying “wide loads” of heavy construction tractors, prefab houses shrink-wrapped in plastic, and one carrying a modest size barn. Snaking behind each of these cargo carriers were clusters of hapless car drivers completely bewildered about what to do, even though there were ample opportunities to pass legally.

I did what any sensible motorcyclist does—I passed the cars and trucks. By the time I got to Poncha Springs the trucks and the lemmings were well behind me. In front of me lay an empty enticing road with nicely paved dual south bound lanes that headed up and over the 9000 foot Poncha Pass in gracefully arranged, addictive sweepers. The opportunity engulfed me in a Zen-like trance of being fully in the here and now, as my Beemer swept me in perfect arcs of increasing speed through the sequence of wide-open S curves up the mountain.

In the midst of that moto-revelry, a beige Chevy SUV behind me with a flashing Christmas tree tied to its roof was intent on getting my attention. I slowed and rolled into the next pull-off area. I removed my gloves, helmet and ear plugs. A man of about my age, who looked strikingly like Barney Fife but less excitable, introduced himself as a Chaffee county official. He noted politely that he thought I might

qualify for a “six-pointer.” Since this was in Colorado and deer season, I took the reference as a metaphor having to do with a large buck, perhaps trophy worthy, the heads you see on the walls of rural Colorado saloons. He asked me, just for the record, to verify my identity and then went back to his holiday car. He had not divulged nor did I inquire about what the posted speed limit was, or how fast I had been traveling. Strangely relaxed, I waited, noting the familiar large trucks lumbering up the grade.

Barney emerged from the Chevy, looking subdued and disappointed, like someone who has bad news to share. “Mr. Kirk,” he said hesitantly, “I’m going to give you a citation for only one point. Do you have any questions?” he asked respectfully.

I had none. I knew that I shouldn’t press him about my disappointment. I had already envisioned that I might frame a citation for a six pointer, but surely a one pointer was nothing to brag about. I thanked him anyway. He returned to his car and waited while I put on my helmet and gloves, pulled out onto the highway and began to chase down those damn trucks again.

Two months later when I was driving over that same pass, I noted for the first time that the posted limit was 50. I’m sure on my previous ride I was scooting over 70.

There was a time when such speeds on a motorcycle were way beyond my experience. I still remember the thrill when I first accelerated my first motorcycle, a Yamaha 80, up to about 40 miles per hour on an isolated country road near Paso Robles,

California. I was 18 years old at the time and was stunned by the speed, the blur of the landscape, and the heightened anxiety.

At 18, the idea of going over 70 was incomprehensible.

Now, going over 70 is more the norm.

What doesn’t seem normal is my age… over 70, and yet I remain a fully addicted, year-round, long-distance rider, but with an emerging, uncomfortable awareness of an ending.

There is the undeniable fact that I will die, sometime, somehow, somewhere. No need to worry about that one; apart from the details, it’s a given. This awareness encourages me to look back, a retrospection considerably richer in detail and length than the opaque view forward.

I retired five years ago and found that nothing stimulates a retrospective as effectively as sorting through boxes of photos and mementos: old pictures of ancestors I never knew and family scattered across North America; of my young, then elderly, now deceased parents; of my childhood, long-forgotten friends and events, my young adulthood, my own young children who are now middle-aged parents themselves; cheesy mementos from an academic career and appreciative notes from former students.

In those boxes of memorabilia are many pictures of my 30 years of motorcycling travels. Unlike career mementos, motorcycling is not merely a cherished memory; it remains a passion, my weekly quest for a quick 100 or so mile loop or a three-day ride. My riding is sometimes haunted by its ending.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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At the Point Arena Lighthouse in Northern California, 2017, friends heading to or over 70 (author on the far right).

Thoughts of an ending are intrusive. In the last few years at least four of my former riding friends, all in my age cohort, have died. None died from motorcycle accidents and noteworthy, all were still riding regularly. So, one option is to stop worrying, keep riding and stop riding when I’m dead.

Other aging friends, still alive, if under occasional medical care, have curtailed riding for brief periods due to serious life-threatening illnesses such as cancer or heart disease, others when recuperating from surgery for worn out shoulders, hips or knees, and a few others from motorcycle injuries that don’t heal as quickly or completely as they did when they were young. All of these fellows may ride less, but they remain active motorcyclists. So, another option is to view cancer, heart

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BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

disease, surgery, injuries, and other infirmities (like my weak back muscles) as merely temporary set-backs; take a pause and then keep riding.

And even those of us who have escaped major catastrophes fear the creeping loss of hearing, vision, dexterity, stamina, and memory, which can only be denied or ignored for a while. These discouraging warning signs alert us to our decline and to the increased risk and dire consequences of making errors when riding. This suggests another option: keep riding until there is only silence, darkness, or disorientation.

A friend and long-time rider—a philosopher and ex-minister—recently decided to sell his BMW and step down from being an active rider. I had lunch with him to inquire how he arrived at that

decision. For him it was an act of selfdetermination. He wanted to freely make the decision to stop riding, rather than have the ending be determined by a medical event or an accident. He traded his moto for a used, sporty car. Five months later, I heard through the local rumor network that he was sniffing around considering getting another bike. Soon after, he sent me a photo of his new GS. This suggests yet another option: I can try to give up riding someday. Good luck with that!

The motorcycle magazines are quite aware of their aging readership (and aging columnists, too), offering practical advice about how to continue buying and riding motorcycles more safely. There are sensible things a rider can do as the mind and body deteriorates. For example, buy smaller,

lighter bikes—trade that Gold Wing for an SV650, or consider a three-wheeler or sidecar. As eyesight diminishes, avoid riding at night, in the fog or rain. Avoid areas and times of heavy traffic. I, for example, recently stopped lane-splitting in Los Angeles traffic after 20 years of doing so…in fact, I stopped riding there altogether and relocated my California moto to a rural area. With reaction times not as polished as they were, slow your pace a bit. With stamina waning, replace 500-mile days with shorter rides. Perhaps, don’t ride alone so much.

Every aging rider has to make his or her own accommodations. I have friends—lifetime skilled riders—who are making very different decisions. For example, one a former road racer, decided to completely abandon street riding (as too dangerous)

and restrict himself to dirt riding only.

Other friends, who are long-term dirt riders have sold their dirt bikes (as too dangerous) and now ride only on pavement. As with so much of life, we all must make our own choices.

Regardless of the choices we make, there are pleasures that endure, even as we falter.

Regardless of the type of motorcycle, the pace or destination, there is the deeply exhilarating experience of piercing the air on two wheels while leaning through the corners, of traveling on lonely back roads through magnificent landscapes, of feeling alive and free and at peace. Motorcycling may be as close as we get to moments of transcendence.

There remains, as well, the pleasures of companionship. Whether gathered at a scenic lookout, a favorite roadside café, or

the motorcycle shop, there are your riding friends, who, regardless of their diverse ages and biographies, are also immersed in a life of riding. They provide a continuing source of understanding, patience and generosity, a fellowship of wisdom and support.

For now, as I ride in the Rocky Mountains, I can imagine a very elderly Barney Fife with flashing lights having trouble catching me as I slice through a steep twisty canyon. But, sensing some mutual comradery, I’ll slow, pull over and wait for him. I may have trouble swinging my right leg over the saddle to dismount as he hobbles out of his SUV to chat with me.

Only this time, I’m just going to ask him politely for the six-pointer.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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California Superbike School

BY JIM NETHERLAND #107878

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T

he vicious acceleration of BMW’s S 1000 RR stretches my arms as I punch a hole in the air and streak down the front straight of the Thunderbolt track at New Jersey Motorsports Park. I scoot over to the right side of the saddle, locking my left knee into the tank and preparing for the first two turns of this lap.

Once I’m sure I’ll make the apex of turn one, I smoothly roll on the throttle, crest a small hill and negotiate turn two.

I’m now ready to tackle a new exercise called the “Hip-Flick,” planned for me by my coaches. Turns 3-4-5 make up a set of esses requiring quick transitions, something I’ve had trouble with in the past. Once I identify my turn-in point, I focus on the apex of turn 3, shift my head and torso to the right while taking care to relax my arms as I push on the right handlebar to initiate the turn. The S 1000 RR responds by diving toward the apex. Adding light throttle to maintain my speed, I quickly flick my hips to the left and bring my right knee to the tank before opening my left knee and moving my head and torso left to attack turn 4.

Wow! It worked! I am ready for turn 4 in

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BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

time, repeating the exercise to negotiate turn 5. This is progress! This is fun and what a way to spend a vacation day with 60 other students here at the California Superbike School.

California Superbike School (CSS) is a first-class operation and known in the motorcycle racing and track day community as the oldest and best of the track-based rider training programs. Founded by Keith Code in 1980, the school relies on proven methods to guarantee riding improvement for its students. While numerous world champions and race winners have gone through this training, it also works for track day enthusiasts or street riders who want to experience the capabilities of a modern superbike.

The CSS curriculum is broken into four levels, each taking a full day with classroom instruction reinforced by sessions on the track. Level One focuses on bike stability and gives riders confidence on the track. Vision exercises make up the bulk of Level Two exercises, while Level Three

is more about body position and using the body to control what the bike is doing on the track. Level Three students also get to review a video of themselves riding on track to help them see what the coaches are talking about regarding body position or bike placement on the track. The student is coupled with a consultant in Level Four, who works with the on-track coach to develop a customized plan for each rider.

I had completed Levels One and Two at the National Corvette Museum (NCM) A thumbs up from Keith Code himself.

A post-ride debriefing session with my coach.

Motorsports Park in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in May, and was amazed by the professionalism and quality of every aspect of my CSS experience. For that first experience with CSS, I used my own Triumph Daytona 675 track bike, which was nice because I had already done about 35 track days on it and understand it very well.

Despite my familiarity with my Triumph, I kept eyeing the S 1000 RR superbikes available for rent. After my first session with CSS, I was sure of two things: First, that I wanted to complete CSS Levels Three and Four in the near future and second, I wanted to ride an S 1000 RR. Although CSS offers more than 80 training days each year at tracks across the country, they do not offer many schools near my Detroit area home, so I needed travel. After considering several western locations, I settled on New Jersey Motorsports Park, as if fit my schedule and budget.

CSS offers two options for their instruction. Their top format is a Two-Day Camp, which provides a 2:1 student to coach ratio with students receiving seven track sessions

to practice on the school’s S 1000 RRs. Twoday camps also include all the bells and whistles, including meals, a video review of your riding on track, lap times, and access to all the off-track special instructional bikes, like the lean bike. Depending on the track, the cost of the Two-Day camp varies from $2,750 to $3,750.

There are also Single Day Schools where the student to coach ratio is 3:1, and students can ride their own bikes or use a CSS S 1000 RR for an additional charge. With Single Day sessions, students get five ontrack sessions with some of the other perks added for a fee. The cost of a Single Day School at most tracks is $475 if you use your own bike, and using a CSS S 1000 RR would be an additional $200. Being somewhat of a cheapskate, I chose the Single Day School format. Typically, CSS will offer Single Day Schools for two days in a row so that students can complete two levels, just like the Two Day Camps.

Each day starts early, with registration opening at about 7:15 a.m. If you bring your own bike, a tech inspection is completed to

make sure everything is in working order.

Then, after an introductory meeting with the school’s staff and instructors, students are broken into groups, which take turns being in class or on the track.

CSS tries to populate the groups with students of the same level, but there might be more than one level within a group, depending on the distribution of levels at the school that day. In levels 1, 2 and 3, students attend class together with others at the same level, learning one exercise at a time. The curriculum is very scientific, and the instructors offer evidence for the effectiveness of the exercises. After classroom instruction, it is time to get suited up and prepare to go on track.

Before being set loose for the first track session, students complete two or three exploratory laps of the track to become familiar with the flag stations and learn entry and exit points, as well as the general course layout. At the completion of these laps, the group returns to the pit lane, where they are introduced to their coaches for the day. The coaches explain how the track

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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sessions will work. Coaches will follow the students on track to observe their riding, then pass the students and signal them to follow the coach. Hand signals are used to remind the student to try the exercise. Then the coach will signal for a student to pass so that he can follow the student to observe progress. After this is over, students are free to continue practicing the exercise until the checkered flag is shown at the end of the session.

Immediately after the session, students go to a predetermined location to meet with their coaches and get feedback on their riding. These discussions are some of the most valuable of the school. Occasionally, I observed some students trying to argue with the coaches about the feedback, which I never understood. It is obvious that the coaches are very experienced, smooth and very fast. They know what they are doing and try to help the students to progress. I found their feedback to be very insightful, and it helped me to see things about my riding that I had missed before.

My coach for both Levels Three and Four was Josh Galster. He was a fantastic coach; we connected very well, and I learned a lot from his input.

Having observed the coaches for all four levels, I have to say that I was thoroughly impressed. They are on the road much of the year, traveling with the school. They deal with a wide variety of students and see all kinds of riding problems. Still, they all remained calm and patient with the students and helped every single student to ride better. Plus, they all have exceptional riding talent, but they are very approachable and humble.

Level Four is more customized than the other levels. Rather than attend a group classroom session, students are grouped with consultants who focus on their individual needs and tailor track exercises to correct or improve distinct aspects of their riding. I found this to be the best part of the whole class. Luckily, my consultant was Keith Code, so I got the benefit of his tremendous experience in solving some ailments of my track technique. By the end of the day, I felt so much more confident, having tackled the Hip Flick, Line Plotting, and Knee over Curb drills.

In Level Three, we had practiced the HipFlick drill, but I did not seem to be getting it on the track. I mentioned this to my coach,

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Josh Galster, and consultant Keith Code at the beginning of my Level Four training.

Keith took me to one of CSS’s training machines, which was essentially a motorcycle chassis mounted to a set of hydraulic actuators. I sat on the saddle and practiced moving from side to side very quickly using the Hip-Flick. After some coaching from Keith, I was able to do it to his satisfaction.

Back out on the track, I tried it riding through the esses with Josh following me.

Returning to the debriefing area, I found Keith waiting for me. Josh reported that my Hip-Flick technique was “textbook,” which resulted in a gratifying punch in the arm from Keith. They were as excited as I was over my improvement. This is the attitude that pervades the CSS. As with the rest of their operation, CSS uses first rate machinery. The S 1000 RRs are highly maintained and a joy to ride. For Level One and Two, the bikes were run in Rain mode to tame the S 1000 RR and improve safety for students on the track.

During Level Three, riders were allowed to change to Sport mode, which I used for Level 4 as well. CSS claims that the number of accidents has dropped by 40 percent since they started using the S 1000 RR. Looking at the schedule, it is obvious that CSS chooses some very nice tracks for training. In addition to New Jersey Motorsports Park and National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park, CSS has sessions at Barber Motorsports Park, Circuit of the Americas, Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, Virginia International Raceway and many others.

Everyone will agree that motorcyclists tend to be a fun people. I have found this at BMW rallies and at track days. CSS was no different. Being in New Jersey, I met several people from the mid-Atlantic area and some from further locales like Toronto.

Everyone was nice, and the group cooperated on track and in the classroom to make for a great experience. Our group ranged in age from 15 to 65. We had photographers, chefs, engineers, and even a retired surgeon. Riding ability and experience were also widely varied, but everyone made room for each other on the track, so there were no serious incidents on the track.

I began doing track days in 2013, and other than one day on my 2008 K 1200 GT, all of my track time has been on the Triumph. I had always wanted to try an S 1000 RR, so this was a dream come true to ride

one on a track. I was not disappointed. I was worried that the BMW would feel heavy compared to my Daytona, but it is so flickable and the brakes are so good that the weight was not an issue. I mostly enjoyed the impressive acceleration, which felt like being shot out of a cannon at the end of each turn. The electronics are awesome and give the rider a little more confidence to push harder—an important characteristic when you are learning new skills at the track.

I believe that every rider can improve by going to the track. There is no doubt that track day riding has improved my street riding, giving me a better appreciation for what my motorcycle can do. Also, I no longer feel the need to speed on public roads because I know it is much safer and more fun to do so on the track.

Although I have not tried all the hundreds of organizations offering on-track training, I can say that CSS offers first class instruction, first class bikes, first class facilities, and a great atmosphere for learning and fun. I highly recommend it. My only regret is that I didn’t take a California Superbike School class sooner.

Scholarships available for Rider Training The Paul B. Memorial Scholarship Fund was established in 2011 to honor the memory of Paul Bachorz, an avid BMW motorcyclist with a big heart and a love for the BMW riding community.

The purpose of the Paul B. Scholarship is to award grants to individuals in the motorcycle riding community to assist them in pursuing rider education and training opportunities. The Foundation will award grants of up to $250 for MOA members, or up to $100 for non-members, toward the cost of participation in an approved training course.

Individuals interested in receiving a scholarship, or for more information, visit bmwmoa.org and select Paul B. Scholarships from the Foundation tab.

The Right Address For Your Bike. bobsbmw.com www.bobsbmw.com

2018 BMW R 1200 GSA

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Parts | Accessories | Apparel | Service | New & Used Motorcycles www.bobsbmw.com 10720 Guilford Road, Jessup, MD 20794 | 888-269-BOBS (2627) | bobsbmw.com May 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

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May 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  May 2018

AT FIRST GLANCE, BMW’S NEWEST

model, the G 310 GS, could easily be mistaken for one of its bigger brothers—the F 700 or 800 GSs. Then you do a double take and find yourself staring quizzically at the bike, wondering what is different. The G 310 embossed on the side panel solves the mystery; you’re looking at BMW’s new G 310 GS. The telltale styling cues are all there. The high beak, low mudguard, aluminum side panels and prominent GS logo behind the roundel all scream GS, and despite the fact the motorcycle is produced in India through a partnership between BMW and the TVS Motor Company, the fit and finish scream BMW. With a selling price below $6,000, BMW Motorrad is betting this bike, along with its G 310 R sibling, will get new riders into BMW showrooms and be a first step in their motorcycling journey with the roundel. A journey, BMW hopes, that will continue as the rider’s ability, experience and income grow.

Releasing the bike to the world press at an event in Spain several months ago spoke volumes regarding BMW’s intentions for the bike. Eyeing greater sales numbers in the Indian and Asian markets, the G 310 GS

becomes BMWs rugged and economical bike capable of handling the poor roads and fuel of those regions.

In North America, buyers will get a motorcycle with adventure styling that BMW Motorrad describes as a “versatile travel enduro.” Take away the marketingspeak, and you have a capable motorcycle not intended for serious off-road use. The truth is, here in the U.S. the vast majority of GS models sold never see dirt, but it doesn’t matter, as they also happen to be great touring motorcycles.

For experienced off-roaders, the big GSs are great bikes in the dirt. For the rest of us, they’re simply too tall, too heavy and way too expensive to be trashing that way. The G 310 GS gives those of us with limited offroad experience the opportunity to dip our toes into the off-road water and ride fire trails and logging roads on an affordable bike that’s easy to pick up if we fall and doesn’t jeopardize next month’s mortgage payment when we do.

Like the 310 R, the GS is built around the same 313cc powerplant featuring the rearward leaning cylinder which pulls its fuel and air mixture from the front and pushes exhaust gases out the back. This design allows BMW engineers to create a straighter

airflow through the engine to maximize performance. This motor orientation also allows for a lower center of gravity and the shifting of weight forward for better steering response. Designed for the world market, premium fuel is recommended, but the motor is happy chugging along on the diverse fuel qualities found either at your local Quickie Mart or along the trail in Timbuktu.

In front, gold-anodized upside down forks provide just a hair over seven inches of travel to cushion the ride, while in the rear, a single shock offers the same travel.

The only suspension adjustment possible is with spring preload in the back. Light alloy rims sport a 19-inch Metzeler Tourance dual-sport tire in the front and a 17-inch Tourance in the back.

Stopping the motorcycle is accomplished via a single, 300mm disk in front squeezed by a four-piston caliper and a 240 mm disk with a single-piston floating caliper in the back. Like all BMWs, the G 310 GS comes equipped with ABS as standard equipment.

On the G 310 GS, ABS can be turned completely off when the pavement ends.

The G 310 GS’s instrument cluster features a large liquid crystal display offering MPH, RPM, odometer, engine

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

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temperature, fuel level, time and date, remaining fuel range, fuel consumption and average speed. To fulfill its description as a travel enduro, the bike is also equipped with a small windscreen and luggage rack.

Available colors include Racing Red, Cosmic Black and for an additional hundred bucks, Pearl White Metallic. While your mileage may vary, I found the Pearl White Metallic to be the most attractive with its Motorsport-like colors. While paint color is the only factory option available, accessories including a tank bag, top case, high and low seats, Navigator VI, Navigator mount and an accessory power socket can be added by your dealer.

Albert Hammond had a hit in the early 70s with “It Never Rains in Southern California.” For some reason, the tune was playing in my head as the plane taxied away from a snowy terminal at O’Hare. To my

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dismay, the day we rode the wee GS in the hills north of San Diego was rainy and unseasonably cold. Luckily, I packed my Gore-Tex gear along with some warm base layers.

The heavy rain had stopped by the time we pulled out of the hotel, and our route was taking us west toward Ramona. Photographs of the proposed route shown the night before got everyone excited about the ride which featured long sweeping curves through the hills. The images reminded me of the Cherohala Skyway, sans the lush green foliage.

The annoying rain soon returned and stayed with us all morning, and I soon realized I had forgotten to pack my pinlock visor. Between the fogging faceshield and the actual fog, visibility was limited with only a double yellow line visible to guide us.

Fifty miles into the ride, I began to get

comfortable with the bike and found the G 310 GS to be a willing, though sometimes underpowered, mount. But is it right to compare the wee GS to the R 1200s and S 1000 XR I’m used to riding? Obviously not.

Without a lot of bottom end torque, one needs to keep the little thumper in the 6,500 plus rpm range and maintain an active left toe. Trying to close the gap between yourself and a rider a quarter mile ahead of you is impossible when you’ve already got the throttle pinned. About all it’s going to give you is 75 miles per hour.

Temperatures had dropped into the lower 50s as the elevation rose when, out of habit, my thumb began searching for the heated grips button. What was I thinking!

Though I can understand heated grips not making the cut for this bike, hand guards able to at least interrupt the cold wind would have been nice. I predict aftermarket

By the Numbers

Engine

Type liquid-cooled, single cylinder, DOHC

Bore/Stroke 80mm/62mm

Valves per cylinder

4

Output

34 hp at 9,500 rpm

Torque

21 foot pounds at 7,500 rpm

Compression/Fuel

Electrical System Alternator

Headlamp

Starter

330 W

Battery 12V

10.6 : 1/premium unleaded

Emission Control Closed-loop 3-way catalytic converter

versions to be big sellers.

Despite cold hands, I found the upright seating position and the seat itself very comfortable, and with my 33” inseam, flatfooting at stops posed no problems.

The further we rode the more I enjoyed this bike.

I realized that one of the primary reasons the bike is so much fun to ride is that, like most smaller displacement bikes, it doesn’t intimidate like an F 700/800 GS or R 1200 GS might.

Whether riding on asphalt or slippery dirt, the feeling was the same. With confidence-inspiring agility, light weight and a calm motor, the G 310 GS would be the perfect bike for new riders, commuters and urban dwellers. Those same qualities also make it a good and inexpensive bike for riders of all abilities, and I believe it’s got more off-road ability than BMW suggests.

Affordable, fun and easy to ride for anyone throwing a leg over, the G 310 GS just may be the secret sauce that gets more butts into showrooms and onto BMW motorcycles.

Capacity 313cc

Transmission

Clutch

H4 12V 60/55W 0.5 kW

Multi-plate wet clutch

Gearbox Constant mesh 6-speed gearbox with helical cut gears Rear wheel drive

O-ring chain

Suspension

Front wheel Telescopic forks with 7.1 inches of travel Rear Wheel Aluminum swing arm with a directly mounted spring strut with 7.1 inches of travel

Wheelbase

Steering head angle

55.9 inches 63.3 degrees

Brakes

Front, single 11.8 inch disc Rear, single 9.45 inch disk

BMW Motorrad ABS

ABS

Wheels

5-spoke light alloy die-cast Front 2.5 x 19" Rear 4.0 x 17"

Front 110/80R 19

Tires

Rear 150/70R 17

Dimensions / Weights

Length

81.8 inches

Width (incl. mirrors)

34.7 inches

Seat height

32.9 inches

Road ready weight

374 pounds

Fuel capacity

Fuel consumption

71 mpg

Top speed

89 mph

Performance

2.9 gallons

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

61

MID-LIFE CATHARSIS

by Heather A. D’Anca #212650

Providence – Our 2016 BMW R 1200 R

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

63

church. I’d endured long trips as a passenger, and more frequent Seated on the pillion, arms wrapped around my husband’s trips as a pilot than ever before. But no matter the conditions, I torso, my legs began to involuntarily shake from the cold. got on the bike. As soon as friends and family found out I sold We had already been on the motorcycle for an hour in my car, they immediately tried to find a solution to get me 20-degree weather, but still had another 30 minutes before another one. Though I appreciated their sentiment, I didn’t we reached our destination. I gave my husband our hand want another car. Our society had become so reliant on the signal indicating I needed to stop, and we pulled into the automobile, that nobody could fathom a life without one. But, next BP gas station to take a break. we could.

It had been two weeks since I sold my SUV. In the midst of And I was grateful for the experience. It connected me with financial hardship, our options were limited, and we needed generations past, as I imagined them traveling long distances by to catch up on late utilities, court costs and motorcycle horse and carriage, and I realized that as a people, we’d become payments. So, I sold my car. Though it was still winter in soft. It connected me with children, glints in their eyes, faces northern Illinois, I believed we could survive using motorbeaming as they waved on the roads and talked to us in parking cycles as our only means of transportation. My husband had lots. It connected me to old men, tipping their hats, smiling with been riding for nearly 13 years, and I had my permit for 10 their eyes, giving thumbs up as we passed, and telling stories months. It was a calculated risk, but one I was willing to take. about the time they once had a motorcycle. It connected me to This trip was the second 3-hour roundtrip we’d taken in the homeless, as I waved at them from only a few feet away, freezing weather in two weeks. As we flew down the state unable to roll up my window and avoid the human interaction, highway at 60 mph, Brendon Urie, Panic! at the Disco’s lead as they realized they weren’t surviving the winter weather vocalist, began to croon in my ear buds. I leaned back conditions alone. It connected me to the road and to the natural against the top case, stretched both arms out wide and sang world around me: the smells, the changes in temperature as we along at the top of my lungs, knowing the only person who drove, the feel of the air, might be able to hear my the unobstructed muffled voice outside IT CONNECTED ME TO THE ROAD AND TO THE and view of the landscape. my helmet was my Though it took husband.

NATURAL WORLD AROUND ME: THE SMELLS, 90-minutes to arrive at a Approaching stopTHE CHANGES IN TEMPERATURE AS WE DROVE, location I didn’t want to lights didn’t stop me, as go to, my perspective had the windows of the THE FEEL OF THE AIR, AND THE in as much time. nearby vehicles were all UNOBSTRUCTED VIEW OF THE LANDSCAPE. changed It didn’t matter what I was tightly sealed to keep in going to do. It didn’t the heat and keep out the matter the outcome. It natural elements. I didn’t matter that my hair was messy and my makeup smudged. looked around and saw others in their 20s, 30s, 40s and 50s It didn’t matter that I’d been wearing the same pair of leather using their cell phones, applying mascara, and robotically pants over leggings for 14-straight days. It didn’t matter that commuting, numb to the world outside their cages. I pitied people thought I was crazy. All that mattered was that I made it. them. Though my toes were very literally numb, my spirit I was alive. Really alive. I had succeeded in reaching my was on fire. Some of the adjacent car-dwellers seemed to destination. Again. I thanked God. I had learned I was capable notice, as they very nearly careened into the bumpers in of far more than my own expectations of myself. I had learned front of them while staring incredulously in our direction. that every time a new challenge arose, I would meet it and find a And then there was the bus. As I glanced to my right, it way to turn it into an opportunity. I had learned that at 37 years pulled up next to me. Through the tinted glass, my eyes old, I could sacrifice objects that mother culture deemed caught movement, and my attention was drawn to a girl, necessities and make my own path. Some would say I was approximately seven years old, waving excitedly out the having a mid-life crisis. But for the first time, there was no window. At me. Heart warmed, I returned her energetic crisis. There was only gratitude. wave with my mittened right hand until the distance between our BMW and her school bus increased enough that I could no longer see her smiling face.

As we approached our destination, I reflected on my experience riding over the last two weeks. At the outset, I wasn’t sure I could do it. After all, it was winter, and Chicago Heather A. D’Anca is President of Studio620D, Inc., a firm that weather was as unpredictable as its traffic. I had driven in promotes events, people and brands from top-tier organizations rain, snow, road construction, and temperatures from 18 to they know, like and trust. She pilots a KTM Duke 390 and rides 46 degrees. We’d gone to the grocery store, the library and pillion with her husband on their BMW R 1200 R. Learn more at studio620d.com/about.

64

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

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FromtheFOUNDATION

FOUNDATION

Time for some dreaming

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 Vance Harrelson, Vice President vance@bmwmoaf.org Will McHardy, Secretary wmchardy@bmwmoaf.org Tom Gary, Treasurer tgary@bmwmoaf.org BMW MOA FOUNDATION DIRECTORS

Ken Hall khall@bmwmoaf.org Kate Lammers klammers@bmwmoaf.org Randy Logan rlogan@bmwmoaf.org Shalmarie Wilson swilson@bmwmoaf.org BMW MOA FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS

220 North Main Street Suite 500 Greenville, SC 29601 866-865-1055 Ted Moyer, Executive Director tmoyer@bmwmoaf.org

By Ted Moyer #100360 THE LOTTERY JACKPOT HIT $500 MIL-

lion this week. Anyone who picks the correct six numbers wins enough cash to do whatever they want - forever. Naturally, I fantasize about what to do with that kind of money. I could buy every motorcycle I ever dreamed of owning. It’s harder than you think to make a dent in $500 million, even if you have expensive motorcycle habits.

As unproductive as it seems to dream of hitting the big jackpot, it was only a few years ago that the MOA Foundation asked, “What would we do if …?” With no money in the bank or plans to generate funding, several MOA members spent a little time dreaming up a plan. There were ideas of a ride center, providing training materials to clubs, and training our youngest members.

All very worthwhile pursuits that require some amount of funding.

The same group started small, generated donations through a grass roots effort and eventually launched the first fundraising campaign to support Foundation initiatives. Not really sure of where they were going, they pioneered our current raffles by restoring an airhead and selling $5 tickets.

It wasn’t a $500 million jackpot, but it may have been the shot that launched the Foundation to its current position.

The R 90 S raffle has just concluded, and it was our most successful yet. The financials aren’t complete, but that effort will net the Foundation $100,000 in funding for rider safety, education and training. That is a jackpot of sizeable proportions that can be used to save lives. Time to do a little dreaming.

Although dreaming sounds like fun, members have a different expectation and rightfully so. Our donors expect the Foundation to identify a need and make a commitment to solve the problem with the appropriate funding. Not the reverse order of generating a bunch of money and then deciding how to spend it. We have been

dreaming of winning the lottery and what we would do with the jackpot, while our constituents expect us to spend more time planning and less time dreaming. That is a fair expectation.

The current Foundation Board members share your beliefs and have set a course that reflects this thinking. Last year, the Foundation created a $65,000 investment account to ensure the long-term funding of GEARS Training. The allocation to the Paul B. Scholarship program was doubled in size, raising the amount of scholarship awarded since the program’s inception to over $100,000. All good starts, but the hard work is just beginning.

This year will be the year the Foundation puts the initiative ahead of the funding.

Last month, the Foundation announced a major awareness initiative that will be unveiled in Des Moines. In May, we launch the 2018 Superstakes along with a commitment that a minimum of $100,000 will be dedicated to fund the Paul B. Scholarship program to guarantee its long-term viability. Our legacy giving initiative is also taking shape with its specific goals to fund GEARS Training, Paul B. Scholarships and an effort to preserve the history of BMW motorcycles.

It is a natural progression as the Foundation moves from its infancy to a fullfledged, viable organization with the ability to fund its endeavors. The business of saving lives through rider safety, education and training demands more than dreaming about the lottery. It requires a determined plan of how to solve the problem and what resources are required to do it. This year, the Foundation is poised to accept that very challenge.

Just in case you’re wondering, that $500 million jackpot would buy one GS per day for the next 50 years. After taxes, of course.

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May 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

69

lifestyl

highmileage

Congratulations to our High Mileage riders

By Jim Heberling #191926 BE SURE TO CON-

gratulate Richard Konen of Des Moines, Iowa, at the BMW MOA National Rally this July for reaching the amazing milestone of 1.5 million BMW miles. During the rally, Richard has also volunteered to lead rides to share some of the great roads and sites around Des Moines. Thank you Richard for sharing your story with us and congratulations to everyone reaching new mileage plateaus.

See you in Des Moines.

Richard Konen #47683 1,500,000 miles Des Moines, Iowa

Having grown tired of the mess and upkeep of chains and sprockets, in 1972 I bought the biggest, fastest and most high tech motorcycle out there, the BMW R 75 /5 toaster tank. Since that time, my BMWs have been my primary mode of transportation, in addition to my recreation.

I currently own 10 motorcycles, seven of which are BMWs. My favorite BMWs have been the mid to late 70s R 100 /7s, on which three of them I have accumulated more than 962,000 miles.

Currently, my primary motorcycle is a 1978 R 100 /7 with 288,744 miles.

My winter bike is a 1975 R 75 /6 with a cold weather POP DREYER fairing and 214,386 miles on it. Over the years, I’ve ridden in all 50 states plus Mexico and Canada. I also love BMW rallies and find that no matter what time I get in I can set up my tent and go meet friends or just talk to other Rally Rats. I believe rallies are an

70

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

1,500,000 miles

400,000 miles

700,000 miles

300,000 miles

Richard Konen Eric Blume

500,000 miles R uss Drake

Andrew Olson

Mark Howson Wayne Doherty Philip Ager

Jeffery Foster

excuse to go somewhere by a new route and with my Golden Age Passport I’m able to include national forests, national parks, and national monuments in my travels. I rarely ride interstates or stay in motels, as I believe both are detrimental to making new friends.

Though I usually ride alone I do have a buddy with a Goldwing and a Yamaha FJR who has probably been to more BMW rallies with me than most of the BMW riders I know.

As a retired automotive and big truck mechanic, I’ve found my BMWs to be very reliable and extremely easy to work on. I live in Des Moines, Iowa, and if there is interest, I will have several favorite rides set up and plan to unofficially personally lead one ride each day at the rally. While Iowa isn’t northern Georgia or Colorado, there are a lot of scenic twisty rides around Des Moines with interesting stops along the way if you are willing to get off the interstate.

Eric Blume #30657 700,000 miles Seattle, Washington

Even though I started riding BMWs aboard S and RS models, the machines that I have put the most miles on are GSs. I have owned every variety of the GS built and still own an R 80 G/S. I currently ride four GSs and keep one in Europe to allow me to explore that part of the world. I find the GS to be

200,000 miles Martin Benson John Mudge

100,000 miles

Annie Huddy Boerge Deist Stanley Salter Edward Vertucci

the most versatile, comfortable and capable of the BMW motorcycle designs.

Travelling cross-country alone is the riding mode I enjoy the most. With the freedom of riding solo, there is no schedule, no unnecessary stopping and no discussion of the routes taken. The risk, however, of riding alone is that if something bad happens (e.g. break downs, flat tires, running out of fuel) you are on your own to resolve problems. Being prepared to deal with these situations makes them issues not to worry about.

My most recent memorable ride was the one I took last summer. I rode from Germany, where I store my bike, to Great Britain and to Lands End in the southwest part of the country. I then rode up to John O’Groats in northeast Scotland, then to the Scottish North Coast 500 where I met up with friends to catch the ferry to the Isle of Man for the TT fortnight. Great times riding on the left side of the road and filtering through traffic.

My recent retirement has allowed me the time to travel. My first year after retiring, I logged 35,000 miles on my new R 1200 GS Adventure, including cross country trips from Seattle to Portland Maine, Seattle to Bisbee, Arizona, and another trip up to Purdue Bay, Alaska.

I enjoy seeing new places around the world and meeting new people along the way.

Jeffrey Foster #80519 500,000 miles Albuquerque, New Mexico

I’ve owned five BMWs over the years, beginning with my 1967 R 50, a bike I rode for 25,000 miles including an all-summer trip from Milwaukee to Panama and then back up to Prince Rupert, British Columbia.

I also put 100,000 miles on both my 1995 R 100 RT, and my first GS Adventure, a 2003 R 1150. I also added exactly 200,000 miles on a 2009 R 1200 GS before donating it to my son in Pennsylvania. Currently, I ride a 2012 R 1200 GS Adventure. The GSA is my favorite bike because of its big gas tank and its off-road capabilities which I use infrequently but enjoy having when a forest road beckons.

I have ridden to Alaska four times now, including making it to Prudhoe Bay in 2014 with some great friends. That would have to be my most memorable ride except that at 76, my memory may not be as complete as it was in the “good old days.”

I still spontaneously break out laughing when recollecting some experiences from my 1968 trip through Mexico and Central America with a friend on a matched set of BMW R 50s. I also have good memories of a 2013 trip to Australia including visiting Coober Pedy, an opal mining center, and Alice Springs in the Outback.

I enjoy doing the grand tours that have become popular since the “I’ve Been Everywhere Tour of 2000.” These tours allow me to visit destinations not recognized by your mainstream tourist bureau. Perhaps they are simply waypoints on my routes to visit friends and family, but they also entice me to plan more trips and to ride on many roads off the normal route. There are so many roads in this country, and they all seem to have their own beautiful spots.

Riding by myself seems safer to me than riding in a big group and allows my mind to clear and reset itself. That being said, riding with one or a few good friends is just as enjoyable as I get to share experiences we can recall later.

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HIGHMILEAGE

Andrew Olson #42831 400,000 miles Fergus Falls, Minnesota

I am a retired Police Officer with 31 years on the job and find that riding without music or radio distractions has been therapeutic for the mind and soul.

Over the years, I have owned three BMWs, including a 1987 K 75 T with a R 100 RS fairing conversion that I bought new and rode for 118,166 miles. Then I bought a used 1994 R 1100 RS on which I got my Iron Butt certifications for a BunBurner Gold (1,500+ miles in 24 hours) and the 50CC (50 hours Coast to Coast). I rode that bike for 155,313 miles. My current bike is a 2005 R 1200 RT with 136,857 miles. Aboard this bike, I’ve ridden to almost all 49 states including a five-day trip to the Alaska/ Yukon border from my home in Minnesota with a Minnesota State Trooper friend riding along on his Buell XB9. We came up with this crazy ride while I was still working as a police officer and waiting for my next call during a snow storm.

Some of my travels have been with my wife Robin on her F 650 GS and now her R 1150 R, but most were solo as Robin likes to stop and eat more than twice a day and only when we need gas. The last several years I have been doing “burger” rides with Dan, a retired Pastor.

Other notable rides include traveling to Moab, Utah, for a burger at Milt’s Stop and Eat and then back home or to Moab for a burger and malt and then to Seattle for fish-nchips. Other rides include traveling to Death Valley National Park in July with a stop in San Francisco.

This year I’ll take another Moab ride with my wife in May, then head out to the Blue Ridge Parkway with Dan and continue on to the MOA Rally in Iowa. After the rally, we’ll head to Yellowstone and Idaho.

Like all of my rides, I am always in search of really great food and even

better roads along with the adventures the rides bring and people that I meet.

Mark Howson #37273 300,000 miles Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario

The last 80,000 of my 300,000 miles have been aboard my 2005 F 650 CS. My wife Doreen and I do most of our touring together on two bikes. 2015 was a good year for us and included rides down the Pacific Coast from Oregon to San Jose and to the Atlantic Coast of New Hampshire.

More than half my riding is solo day rides north of Lake Superior and Lake Huron, with some of the loops being around 1,000 miles. The main dangers out on these roads are the moose, bear, wolves, foxes, deer, birds and bugs the size of birds.

My favorite bikes are my ‘95 R 100 R, ‘85 R 65, ‘81 R 100 RT, ‘72 R 60 /5 and my ‘68 R 50 /2. I purchased the first two new and put almost 100,000 miles on each. I plan to go back to using the R 100 R as my primary ride with the R 50 /2 as a backup machine once the CS reaches 100,000 miles and moves to a new home.

A great ride is a lap around Lake Superior which, at 1,060 miles, makes a good IBA documented Saddle Sore. The south shore though Michigan’s Upper Peninsula has some nice curvy pavement and the stretch through Minnesota has many nice views of the lake, but Ontario’s highway 17 is built over some rugged terrain with wonderful views of Lake Superior and should be on everyone’s bucket list. The loop makes an excellent three-day ride while offering ample time for photos and sightseeing.

Riding 8,000 to 12,000 miles each year, I hope to be rolling up on 400,000 miles in another decade or so.

got older and the bike got heavier, I switched to an F 800 GS that I rode for 87,000 miles.

Somehow, that bike got taller as I got older, so again I moved down (in height) to an R 1150 RT and a G 650 GS. With all of these bikes I made one serious mistake: I sold my R 100 GS Bumblebee.

I usually ride alone or with one or two others. One riding companion is best for motels and they are becoming more frequent. There’s something to be said for a comfortable room instead of packing up a wet tent in the morning, but camping is still good, just not every night. My longest trip so far was to Alaska, and I made it to the Arctic Circle but not the end of the road.

Mexico has been on my list five times. and I guess that’s becoming a favorite ride, but I do have to go back to Newfoundland.

John Mudge #39837 200,000 miles Clyde, North Carolina

I’ve been riding my ’78 R 100 /7 for more than 35 years and 223,000 miles. I seldom ride it for local commuting, but almost always take it if I go somewhere more than 50 miles away. I live in the Smoky Mountains of western North Carolina about 10 minutes away from the Blue Ridge Parkway and do a lot of one, two or three-day tours around the Southeast. I also make several one to two week tours around the eastern half of the United States each year and have done a dozen or more cross-continent rides to Nova Scotia, Labrador, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Baja and more.

Occasionally, I’ll take afternoon rides just for the sporty feel and thrill of a

Wayne Doherty #89428 300,000 miles N. Fort Myers, Florida

I began riding in 2000, and since that time, I have owned seven BMW motorcycles. I guess my favorite was my first new one, an R 1150 GS that I put 165,000 miles on. As I John Mudge

72

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

motorcycle, but mostly it’s for a journey of exploration. Exploring back roads and small towns on two wheels is what turns me on and makes me be part of the environment, geography and local life.

Often when I stop somewhere, someone will approach and start a conversation about the Beemer. These conversations will usually evolve into interesting local subjects. I ride a lot by myself but often ride with friends. Our talent is turning a hundred-mile trip into a 300-mile adventure.

Longer journeys narrow my focus to the specific mission and makes life simpler and more passionate. I don’t have to deal with work, the lawn mower, the house, the bills, the computer or appointments. When I hit the road, my only concern is the trip itself and my being an active part of it every minute.

I’ve ridden modern Beemers, and while they are about as good as a motorcycle can be, they just don’t have the Airhead feeling, sound and vibe I’m addicted to. Plus, their simple design allows me to care for them and fix them when necessary. My /7 has had a few problems, sometimes in the middle of nowhere, but so far I’ve almost always been able to get it going again. My Airhead is a machine of course, but in my mind it’s a horse. I take care of him and he takes care of me.

Most of my mechanical ability needed to care for my bikes was provided by my mentor Keith Patchet of Keith’s Touring Specialties. He provided endless information, both on paper and on the phone that I couldn’t find anywhere else. Nowadays, the Airheads Club and MOA provide the information and camaraderie that keeps the wheels rolling on and on. For this I am eternally grateful.

Annie Huddy #140563 100,000 miles Helena, Montana

I started riding in 2008 on a trip to Alaska aboard a 2007 F 650 GS. The new bike had 600 miles on it, which represented the sum total of my riding experience. My husband Kevin, a very patient man and accomplished rider, and I rode the Alaska-Cana-

dian Highway to visit our daughter.

The ALCAN was a great training road, where I encountered rain, cold, wildlife, grated bridges, permafrost heaves and construction. That first year I rode just over 6,000 miles and was hooked!

In 2016, I went over 100,000 miles and have added a 2011 F 650 twin, a 2014 F 800 GS and now a 2017 R 1200 GS. I have to give my husband credit for encouraging me, sharing his knowledge, and doing the maintenance that keeps us both on the road, as well as being the planner for many trips!

Boerge Deist #194565 100,000 miles Alpharetta, Georgia

After I was hit by a car while riding my bicycle in June 2012 I didn’t feel safe anymore riding Georgia roads. I realized that I needed to be able to move away from cars and trucks quickly if I wanted to be on the road and not protected by tons of steel.

With a broken shoulder and foot and arthrosis in the shoulder, I started to learn to ride a motorcycle late that fall aboard a new F 800 GS. David Hough taught me the best way to overcome fear is to practice and practice.

After about 18 months and 17,000 miles, I moved to an R 1200 GS and decided I wanted to ride seriously with goals.

My first long ride was in 2014 and took me to Canada to see relatives in Southern and Northern Ontario. Coming back from that trip, I realized, that after spending most of my life in Europe, it would be a great to get to know this beautiful country by riding to its four corners from my home near Atlanta, Georgia. The first corner took me to the southwest and included San Diego.

That tour was beautiful, breathtaking and invigorating.

Last year two more corners were conquered aboard my 2017 R 1200 GS Adventure. I also visited my Canadian “snowbird” uncle in Florida and rode to Lubec, Maine, the northeastern most point of the United States. The ride back proved to be the most challenging part of the ride and took me through New York City on a Monday

Boerge Deist

morning.

Next year, a ride to the northwest will be taken which will complete my four corner ride. I’d also like to ride to the geographic center of the nation, as well all the 48 contiguous states. I also have Alaska in my sights for 2019.

If my health allows, a nice ride would take me from my mother’s resting place near the Baltic Ocean in Germany to Estonia via Poland, through a bit of Russia and the Baltic states, and then back via Sweden and Denmark.

Stan Salter #133785

100,000 miles Santa Barbara, California

I am currently 86 years old and have been riding motorcycles for the past 56 years. My favorite ride these days is taking my wonderful R 1200 RT from my home in Santa Barbara, California, to the city of Lompoc, about 50 miles northwest, where I have lunch at Alfie’s Fish and Chips with my good friend Marve every Thursday.

I’ve owned about 25 to 30 motorcycles over all these years, and I have enjoyed most every one of them, but I never kept any of them as long as my current RT. To achieve the maximum spiritual benefit riding offers, I usually ride alone and believe that if you want to avoid ever needing a psychiatrist, you should ride a sport-touring BMW motorcycle and enjoy life.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

73

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BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

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lifestyle 78

jacktheriepe

The Future of Farkle

By Jack Riepe #116117 MY

FALSE

CRE-

dentials as a moto journalist had gotten me into the building.

They identified me as Jack Riepe, Chief Technical Writer For “R” Bike Development for the Owners News. As part of my disguise, I had been constipated for a week.

I signed a document agreeing not to mention the location. It didn’t make much difference as I didn’t know where I was. Passing through an elaborate display of security, I entered a laboratory staffed by young technicians who shared the face of smug achievement. They were at the crossroads of reality and tomorrow, about to introduce a wonder that was generation ahead of its time…or so the brochure said.

The lab was a room without corners or lines. The floor was white. The walls were white. The ceiling was white. White light flooded the room from indirect sources. The technician speaking to me was wearing white shoes, white hospital scrubs, and white gloves. Yet his dark eyes were ablaze with excitement. I felt like I was in an Apple Store.

“Here it is,” he whispered. The bauble was on a stand dead center in all this whiteness — an orb of jet blackness — gleaming like an insidious period at the end of a perfect sentence. “Here is the future of motorcycling.”

“Where?” I asked. “Behind the helmet?”

“The future is the helmet,” hissed the tech.

And so I was introduced to the HPN 7500, the helmet of tomorrow.

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

Made of composite materials found only on low-flying asteroids, the helmet was said to be lighter, stronger, quieter, and more sexually appealing than any other headgear on the motorcycle market. (I hesitate to repeat this claim as thousands of my literary critics will bristle at the word “sexual,” and its connotations.) The helmet looked like any other helmet, except for the face shield, which shimmered in the artificial light.

“This is the world’s first intuitive helmet,” said the tech. “It self-determines fit, measures temperature, monitors weather conditions, and reacts to the rider’s mood. It self-ventilates to a preset internal temperature. It senses impact and spreads the shock throughout the entire helmet structure. It reads road conditions, has an internal GPS, and monitors the weather. It then shares this data with the motorcycle to provide the ultimate riding experience. It is stronger than steel, lighter than Kevlar®, and more expensive than diamonds. Put it on.”

The helmet looked too small for me and seemed the wrong shape. I have a lupineshaped head. This appeared to be a round Charlie Brown-head helmet. Still, I went through the motions of putting it on. It fit perfectly. There was a second of tight discomfiture, but it seemed as if the helmet was stretching to match the contours of my head…because it was.

The helmet was light. I could barely feel it. The helmet was quiet. The built-in noise suppression system made it possible for me to hear the tech drop a dime, but there was virtually no sound when he fired a shotgun.

I barely sensed a jolt when the tech struck the unit with a ball peen hammer. (I offered to strike him back for a comparison, but he declined.)

The helmet was black when I put it on, and now it was changing to a deep shade of blue.

“Just getting over a bad romance?” asked the tech.

“How did you know?”

“This helmet also serves as a mood sensor. It turns blue when you do. It can also be programmed to quietly beep in the presence of romantically receptive potential love interests.”

The real measure of a helmet is on the bike, however, and a road test was in order.

A jet black, BMW K 1300, with a blood red spider painted on the gas tank was selected.

The motorcycle was stock, except for the paint, which was distilled from a divorce attorney’s soul to achieve an impossibly dark lustre. The side bags were stock, though each sported a pale gray skull and crossbones motif, hand-painted by a tattoo artist. The motorcycle’s name was “Poison.”

The BMW K 1300 is an even-tempered machine designed for light cruising to the rings of Saturn. A gentle twist of the throttle backs the cadmium rods out of the reactor, releasing the bike’s inner soul. A soul selector allows the rider to choose “insanely fast, unabashedly powerful,” or “demonic.”

Bavarian pretzel twisters are silent on this subject, but this touring bike is rumored to have 53,000 horsepower at 1200 rpm. Now eclipsed by the K 1600, the K 1300 is the perfect transition bike from a scooter or an English bicycle.

The 11 computers on the bike reacted like the European Union to Turkey when it came to the computer in the helmet. But they were all best friends after the first 11 minutes (162 miles). The helmet computer does not use a central core, but has circuitry spread throughout its construction. The whole helmet is a computer. And you don’t talk to it…you think into it. I was moderately hungry when I took to the road.

Amazingly enough, the helmet’s GPS ran me past every Chinese restaurant in 80 square miles, slowing past the ones that offered spicy, crisp dumplings in meerkat sauce.

The helmet interacted with the K 1300’s

suspension, brakes, and seat, to convert tight turn g-force into electronic pulse stimulation. This feature finally recognizes the entire “K” bike line for the EKG grid dancers they really are. I went into one decreasing radius turn so tightly that the bike converted it into a Möbius strip, and made me tingle for the next half hour.

Blowing through another curve triggered the helmet’s “Certain Death” warning. This was a shock.

A klaxon-type horn trumpeted in my ear as a voice emphasized “Certain death…

Certain death…Certain death.” I frantically scanned for deer, gravel, or on-coming traffic—all to no avail.

“Where is the certain death?” I thought into the helmet.

The shimmering face shield crackled for a micro second, then focused on a redhead waiting to cross the street. The helmet was correct in its assumption. I tried to slow the bike down, but the HPN 7500 forced the bike to take evasive action. “Don’t look for trouble,” said the helmet.

The day was hot and the helmet opened vents to cool my head. The shimmering face shield automatically adjusted for various light conditions, and instantaneously switched to my eyeglass prescription when I glanced down at the dash. Never taking my eyes off the road, the helmet told me speed, the road conditions 50 miles ahead, and the location of suitable rest stops that featured performance artists. The helmet adjusted my speed to local regulations, limiting my infractions to 45 miles per hour over the legal limit.

For “R” bike riders, the same helmet will pinpoint diners with “Early Bird Specials,” organic food stores, and organized line dancing.

I did try to program the helmet to “beep” when it encountered suitable romantic interests. Twice, this unusual alert triggered, only to fade as I got close to the

female rider. “What’s going on,” I thought into the helmet.

“Their initial attraction was to the motorcycle and to not you as a man,” said the helmet. “The last one recognized you from your column and reached for a weapon.”

The HPN 7500 helmet was six years in development as a project for the defense department, though its benefits to the motorcycling community were recognized early on. The helmet comes in black, but easily changes to deep blue (sadness), deep green (envy), and deep red (rage). It also switches to purple, to challenge riders not on “K” bikes to try and keep up.

The helmet is made by “Here Today Technologies” and retails for $1.2 million (USD), though the price is expected to drop by $50 around Christmas.

Please be advised that these helmets are 100 percent programmable and will identify male riders as “suitable, deadbeats,” or just plain “boring” to women. A woman I know slipped one of the HPN 7500s on, looked at me, and busted out laughing.

“What did your helmet say?” I asked.

“Impassable obstruction within 50 feet,” she said.

Riepe’s new book — Motorcycles Speak Louder Than Words — is getting accolades from men and women riders. The second in his moto series and the companion book to Conversations With A Motorcycle, is available exclusively online at jackriepe.com. The set works better if you read Conversations first. Meet the author in person at the BMW MOA Rally in Des Moines this summer or at the Georgia Mountain Rally in May.

www.tristedthrottle.com/sw-motech May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

79

Finaljourney

Steve Johnson #60709

By Marina Ackerson #36679 ACCORDING TO STEVE JOHNSON, YOU

have to ride a road three times: once out, once back and one more time for pictures.

That was Steve Johnson’s philosophy.

I met Steve, a.k.a. Mr. Chain Gang, at the BMW MOA National Rally in Midland, Michigan, in 2000. Standing by my ’97 chain-driven Funduro, Steve came by and said, “Hey girl, your chain needs tightening.” That was the beginning of a great friendship.

Steve loved riding his F 650 especially on the great backroads of Mexico. Along with Maralan Hutchins and John Stock, Steve also led official Chain Gang rides to Sonora and Chihuahua. One of his favorite places was Alamos, Sonora, where he spent time exploring the historic area and hours sitting on the patio at Rancho Acosta writing his poetry.

Many will remember Steve from rallies where he had a Chain Gang area set up to work on bikes. At the Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania, rally in 2011, while working on several bikes in the hellish daytime temperatures, Steve ended up in the hospital after suffering heat stroke. That represented his level of dedication to the F 650 community.

Steve had been battling lymphoma recently and lost his battle on February 18, 2018. When asked if there was anything on his bucket list he hadn’t completed, he declared it fulfilled. Steve was happy raising his daughter as a single dad and enjoyed moving to Bozeman, Mon-

tana, to be with his three grandchildren.

Steve was especially proud of the Chain Gang, as well as all of the friends he made through the organization.

He will be missed.

BMW Riders Association Rally Wellsboro, PA July 19-22, 2018 Register at www.bmwra.org www.bmwra.org

Photo of Gina De Pasquale by Will Guyan

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81

RIDEWELL

Dealing with osteoarthritis

By Marven Ewen #150506 WHILE AT THE RALLY

in Salt Lake last year, I noticed the popularity of GS style bikes. The interest in these bikes is on the rise. I think it may have something to do with an aging rider demographic—adventure touring bikes offer a more relaxed riding position for aging joints, and they are usually lighter than touring bikes, so easier to push around the garage. Also, just as likely, riding a machine built for “adventure” makes us feel younger.

Joints are the articulation point between our bones. The articulating surface is covered with cartilage for smooth motion. The joint is held together by ligaments and enclosed in a capsule which holds a small amount of joint fluid. In addition to lubrication, the joint fluid is also the source of nutrition and waste removal for the cartilage. Tendons travel over joints attached to muscles, which allows us to move. They also provide some stability to the joint, preventing slippage, especially in the case of the shoulders.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is gradual chronic inflammation of the joint which slowly breaks down cartilage, calcifies the ligaments, and causes distortion of the bone ends. Sometimes arthritic joints will become acutely inflamed from minor trauma causing an abnormally large amount of joint fluid to collect. This causes the joint to be painfully swollen.

Throughout our adult life we develop osteoarthritic changes to varying degrees.

As aging joints start to wear out, we become less flexible and therefore less tolerant of demanding sport bike ergonomics. The upright riding posture of adventure bikes along with their plush suspension fills a need for comfort.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

Changing bikes is one solution, but not for everyone, as adventure bikes tend to be notoriously tall. There are other ways to deal with osteoarthritis. Like many ailments, prevention is the best treatment. We can’t completely prevent OA, but we can slow down its progression and treat the pain. Slowing down progression can be started at any time before the joint is totally destroyed, but the sooner the better.

My number one recommendation is to wear all the protective gear on every ride.

Trauma is a common cause of OA. Intraarticular fractures (bone breaks that disrupt the joint surface) and ligament injuries often result in the development of secondary OA. The armor in riding suits is strategically placed to provide some protection to vulnerable joints. This is also why riding boots are recommended. The boots protect your vulnerable malleoli (bony protuberance on each side of the ankle) from injury in a low side crash.

Because articular cartilage relies solely on joint fluid for its health, it is important to move the joint frequently. This means exercise! This ensures the joint fluid will be

refreshed providing nutrition to the cartilage and removing waste products of metabolism. Putting a joint through a full range of motion by stretching also aides this, in addition to increasing flexibility of muscles and tendons. Finally with regard to joint health, strength training gives us strong muscles which help stabilize joints.

Additionally, building muscle gives you an advantage in efforts to lose weight because muscles burn calories.. Do some strength training a couple times a week and a little yoga or light stretching every day. Increase activity slowly and gently especially if you have OA, as you don’t want to trigger acute inflammation. Listen to your joints.

When touring, you have to get off the bike more to walk and stretch. If you are starting to have pain that is bothersome, consider taking acetaminophen to start with, as it is quite safe as long as you keep the total daily dose under 4 grams per day.

Occasionally you may need to take a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as Ibuprofen 600mg every 6 hours as needed. The problem with this medication is it can have side effects such as stomach inflammation and decreased kidney function. Also, there is increasing concern that chronic use of this class of medication can contribute to cardiovascular disease. People on anticoagulant medication can not take it because of increased bleeding risk.

Some people find glucosamine/chondroitin supplement daily helps. The study results on this seem to be mixed, but it is quite safe, and if you find it helpful, then then keep taking it.

Beyond these self-help treatments, your doctor can provide other treatments such as topical medications, physical therapy, joint injections, debridement surgery, and, as a last resort, joint replacement.

DON’T TEMPT FATE. Play it safe and always ride right.

Taking Motorcycle Safety Head On. Keeping motorcyclists safe is paramount to the BDR mission. We developed the Ride Right initiative to raise awareness on the importance of keeping to the right side of the road to reduce the risk of head-on collisions around blind corners and in riding situations with limited sight lines. www.ridebdr.com/rideright RideBDR.com/RideRight

Thanks to our sponsors for their commitment to the BDR mission.

Š 2018 Backcountry Discovery Routes. All rights reserved. Backcountry Discovery Routes is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

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May 1

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 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.

2

86

05/04/2018 - 05/06/2018

The Original Mini-Rally

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

68

Location: Delton, Michigan Contact: Mike Hart (269) 317-9951 bathartx46x@comcast.net Located between Delton and Hastings near the Yankee Springs Recreation Area there are plenty of back roads to explore, both paved and dirt. Numerous camping areas with 2 bath houses as well as some electrical connections and rooms, cabins and bunk-houses for an additional charge - first come, first serve.

3

Rally

05/04/2018 - 05/06/2018

28th Annual Georgia Mountain

Location: Hiawassee, Georgia Contact: David Will (803) 760-9807 rally@bmwmcoga.org The area offers rewarding twisties, inspiring

vistas and renowned mountain hospitality.

Plus, this is dual-sport heaven for all skill levels. The perfect start to anyone’s riding season! The rally has lakeside tent and RV camping and lodging, Friday chili and Saturday steak dinners, Saturday and Sunday breakfasts, regular rally attractions and major prize draws.

4

05/11/2018 - 05/13/2018

5th Annual High Pass Boogie

Location: Meadows of Dan, Virginia Contact: Micah Pulleyn info@highpassboogie.com Join us for a full weekend of Southern VA’s best motorcycle routes for both on and offroad riding. As in years past, there will be two on-road routes and one dual-sport route for motorcyclists of all abilities, and all

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

different brands of bikes. The High Pass Boogie welcomes all riders to celebrate and honor the treasure of the Blue Ridge Parkway together as a community.

5

05/11/2018 - 05/13/2018

MOA Getaway Coeur d’Alene

Location: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Contact: The Coeur d’Alene Resort (855) 703-4648 There’s something magical about Lake Coeur d’Alene that’s hard to define, but it begins with spectacular Idaho sunsets, the glowing lights of downtown Coeur d’Alene reflecting across its waters and the wonderful roads.

6

05/11/2018 - 05/13/2018

Premier Training at BMW Performance Center Location: Greer, South Carolina Contact: Jackie Hughes (864) 438-0962 jackie@bmwmoa.org Limited to only 15 participants, this full day of rider training will encompass both on and off-road skill development using BMW Performance Center facilities, motorcycles and instructors.

7

www.etbmw.org

05/17/2018 - 5/20/2018

European Riders Rally

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

Join in on the guided group rides both Friday and Saturday or explore the area on your own.

8

05/18/2018 - 05/20/2018

BMW Battlefield Memorial Workers Rally

44th annual

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.

9

05/18/2018 - 05/20/2018

The 2018 Downeast Rally

Location: Phippsburg, Maine Contact: Cedric Harkins 207-415-5907 rally@bmwrsm.org

BMWBMW Square

Route

Rally

June 1st – 3rd 2018 YMCA Camp West Mar Sabillasville MD 21780

camping + newly renovated bunk-houses + dinner Fri & Sat + beer on site + campfire + guided and self-guided rides + field events + tech day + Gettysburg Battlefield tour +++ http://bmwbmw.org/srr www.bmwbmw.org/srr

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

87

www.purestodge.org

Enjoy three days and two nights of Oceanside camping at Hermit Island Campground.

We provide a Friday night chowder & chili, Saturday morning full breakfast, Saturday evening lobster dinner and Sunday morning pancake breakfast along with live music on Saturday night.

10

05/18/2018 - 05/20/2018

Natural State Campout

Location: Morrilton, Arkansas Contact: Rod Kilduff rod.kilduff@conwaycorp.net A no-frills campout at the Corps of Engineers Cherokee Park on the north bank of the Arkansas River, southwest of downtown Morrilton, Arkansas. Complimentary coffee, camping fees only, and lots of good roads.

11

05/18/2018 - 05/27/2018

The 44th Annual Great River Road Rally (GR3) Location: Soldier’s Grove, Wisconsin Contact: Sam Garst rally@madisonbmwclub.org Your rally fee ($30 pre-registration, $35 at the gate) includes 2 nights of shaded camping, Saturday evening meal, Saturday and Sunday morning pastries and fruit, GS & Touring rides, a rally pin and mug to first 250, door prizes, awards, firewood, coffee & lemonade.

12

05/19/2018 - 05/20/2018

New Sweden 450

Location: Cherry Hill, New Jersey Contact: Ron Cesaretti rcesaretti@comcast.net We are back for our fifth year! 450 miles of great back roads linked together in the tristate area. The ride will take place over the course of 2 days, traversing some of the best roads in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Delaware.

13

05/19/2018

Texas National Picnic

Location: Rusk, Texas Contact: Rich Barnhart (936) 645-4549 detbmw@gmail.com The picnic will be held at the Park Dining Hall around noon on Saturday. There is no fee and the park day-use fee is waived for attendees. Camping, hotels & food are on your own and hotels are available nearby.

There are restrooms, showers, picnic tables, grills, and plenty of parking. Bring your own

88

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

food and drink; we will provide charcoal for the grills on Saturday.

14

05/24/2018 - 05/28/2018

The 49’er Rally

Location: Mariposa County Fairgrounds Contact: Joe Luthy 49erchair@bmwnorcal.org Mariposa is the gateway to Yosemite National Park and located on scenic State Highway 49. Rally activities include: speakers, vendors, food trucks, skills training, beer garden, poker run, 50/50, street rides, lead GS ride, live entertainment, Saturday night dinner and the GS Giants!

15

05/24/2018 - 05/27/2018

18th Annual Rok on Rally

Location: Del Rio, Tennessee Contact: Jerry Dobrianski twocreekstn@aol.com Easy access to the great roads of East Tennessee, Kentucky, Western North Carolina and Western Virginia from our private campground, T.W.O. Creeks, in Del Rio, Tennessee. Within an hour’s ride of Max Patch, Deal’s Gap (the Tail of the Dragon) and the Cherohala Skyway.

16

05/25/2018 - 05/27/2018

The Great Chicken Rally

Location: Dunlap, Tennessee Contact: Dianne Albe rallychair@bmwmoal.org Grills are back and we are smokin’ some gooood chickens… Suggested rides will be available for you to explore the area. The rally grounds are the historical Coke Ovens Park and Museum that commemorates the boom era of coal mining in the region.

17

05/25/2018 - 05/27/2018

2018 Charter Oak Rally

Location: Eastford, Connecticut Contact: Chris Jennings nostnkncmptr@live.com 203-368-9281 Join us in the scenic shores of Crystal Pond at Camp Nahaco, Eastford, in the “Quiet Corner” of Connecticut. We offer camping, showers, beautiful country roads and four meals (including our famous Friday night chili), door prizes and an excellent reason to get your motorcycle out of the garage.

June 18

06/01/2018 - 06/03/2018

2018 Land of Oz Rally

Location: Atchinson, Kansas Contact: Don Hamblin rallykcbmwmc@gmail.com An even better rally value than ever in the best kept riding secret in the midwest!

Shaded camping with lake views, Chili ’til gone Friday, KC BBQ Saturday before the live dance music.

19

06/01/2018 - 06/03/2018

44th Annual BMWBMW Square Route Rally Location: Sabillasville, Maryland Contact: Bruce Dimon 703-953-8990 president@bmwbmw.org Rally round Maryland’s Catoctin Mountains for our 44th year. Plenty of camping and bunkhouses with upgraded furniture.

Reserve your bunks when you pre-register because we expect them to fill up. Chili on Friday and a dinner of BBQ with all the trimmings on Saturday.

06/01/2018 - 06/03/2018

20 MOA Getaway Cedar Breaks Location: Brian Head, Utah Contact: Cedar Breaks Lodge ushotels@diamondresorts.com (435) 677-3000 Surrounded by the majestic canyons, rock formations and rugged landscape of southwestern Utah, Brian Head is a motorcyclist’s dream with miles of roads most riders can only dream of.

21

06/01/2018 - 06/03/2018

42nd Hiawatha Rally

Location: Houston, Minnesota Contact: www.bmwmocm.com/ hiawatha2018.html.

Rally fee includes: two nights camping, coffee, tea, water and lemonade. Vendors on site. Demo rides by Leo’s South. Door prizes and awards. Rally pin to first 330 attendees. Ride for Pie Friday afternoon.

Friday evening soup and roast your own hot dogs until gone.Live music Friday night. Guided dual-sport (GS) ride and field events Saturday. Dinner Saturday night.

22

Rally

06/07/2018 -06/10/2018

42nd Annual Pure Stodge Iowa

Location: Amana, Iowa Contact: Steve Carson (319) 330-2844 pstarally@gmail.com We will be rally-central at the Middle Amana Community Park and we offer the best bands (both Friday and Saturday night), the highest quality rally food included Friday and Saturday evenings, shaded camping as well as nearby hotels, Amana shops, hospitality and restaurants to be enjoyed.

23

BMW Motorcycle Owners of Alabama

29th Annual

Great Chicken Rally May 25 - 27, 2018

Location - Coke Ovens Park and Museum, Dunlap, Tennessee For more information contact Dianne Albea rallychair@bmwmoal.org

06/08/2018 -06/10/2018

26th Gathering of the Clans

Location: Ferguson, North Carolina Contact: Charlie Smith (276) 628-3251 bmwcharlie@embarqmail.com Airheds, those who ride airheads, and other members of the motorcycling community are invited to join us for a weekend of friends, fun and fantastic roads at the Highcountry Motorcycle Camp.

24

06/08/2018 -06/10/2018

16th Annual Laurel Highlands BMW Riders Campout Location: Somerset, Pennsylvania Contact: Jason Kaplitz 814-615-9138 gsjay@kaplitz.com Friday evening enjoy Gourmet Dump Stew (bring a can or two to add to the pot), hotdogs and snacks til their gone. Morning Coffee & tea. Saturday Catered dinner, tons of door prizes. Hearty send-off breakfast Sunday morning! Pavilion, picnic tables, hot showers, campfires allowed-wood provided! Motels & Restaurants nearby. Sat. night campground entertainment!

25

The BMW Motorcycle Owners Club of Minnesota invites you to the 42nd Annual

Hiawatha Rally

Money Creek Haven Campground near Houston, MN.

06/08/2018 -06/10/2018

Pemi River Rally

Location: Thornton, New Hampshire Contact: Duncan Cooper 508-338-4022 cooper.duncan@me.com We’ll bring our Toy Box, have a blazing campfire, a pig roast on Saturday night and enjoy best riding in New England. Friday night burgers and dogs and all-day coffee are included in the rally fee. Participation in the Saturday night feast is by preregistration only.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

June 1 – June 3, 2018

89

Rally fee includes: 2 nights camping on grassy shaded tent sites.

24-hour coffee, tea, water and lemonade. Vendors.

Demo rides by Leo’s South.

Door prizes and awards. Rally pin to first 330 attendees.

Rally T-shirts for sale through pre-registration.

Friday evening soup and hot dogs until gone. Live music Friday night.

Guided dual-sport ride and field events Saturday.

Dinner Saturday night. Sunday morning worship service and treats.

Preregistration: $40 per person until 5/4/2018 ($20 children ages 7-15).

Preregister to be entered in a drawing to win a free Kermit chair!

Onsite registration: $45 per person, starting at noon Friday. ($25 children ages 7-15). Children 6 and under free.

Registration forms and more information: www.bmwmocm.com/hiawatha2018.html Questions: Email 2018hiawatharally@gmail.com Registration checks payable to: BMWMOCM Mail to: C. Bushnell 9925 Trenton Lane Maple Grove, MN 55369 www.bmwmocm.com

26

06/14/2018 -06/17/2018

31

06/24/2018 -06/30/2018

18th Annual Red Rock Rendezvous Rally

Appalachian Mountains & Music Motorcycle Tour

Location: Pagnuitch, Utah Contact: Lloyd Larrimore 801-556-3578 beehivebeemers@hotmail.com The Rally site is the gateway to Zion, Bryce Canyon, Capitol Reef and Grand Canyon National Parks; plus there are 10 additional state parks within one hour riding! The Rally offers 3 days of camping, brat lunch, a Saturday catered dinner, a GS ride, a Poker Run, a tour to Grand Canyon, and lots of door prizes.

Location: Front Royal, Virginia Contact: Tamela Rich tamela@tamelarich.com This is a luxury tour that includes accommodations, meals and two private bluegrass concerts—one by Wayne Henderson! The itinerary celebrates Southern Appalachia’s rich history, it’s fusion of cultures and cuisines, and it’s oral storytelling heritage in Virginia, West Virginia, Tennessee and North Carolina.

27

06/15/2018 -06/17/2018

MOA Getaway Grand Targhee

Location: Alta, Wyoming Contact: Grand Targhee Resort info@grandtarghee.com (307) 353-2300 Join us at the Grand Targhee Resort and experience some of Americas most scenic roads and legendary national parks including Yellowstone and Grand Teton as well as the famed Antler Arches in Jackson, Wyoming.

06/16/2018

28 Lobo Loco It’s Raining Cats and

Dogs Motorcycle Scavenger Hunt

Location: Hamilton, Ontario Contact: Wolfe Bonham wolfe@loboloco.ca This is an eight-hour motorcycle scavenger hunt where riders are given themed locations, each with different point values, 2 weeks in advance. It is up to the riders to come up with their own route that will gain the most points and make it to the finish line before time runs out. Prizes, awards, certificates, and tons of food await!

32

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 33

Rally

07/06/2018 -07/08/2018

38th Annual BMW Club of Quebec

Location: Shawinigan, Quebec Contact: Richard Veilleux rallyemaster2018@bmw-club-quebec.ca The event will take place on a small island, called Ile Banane, reserved just for us. There are rides for both street and dual sport bikes. On the program will be: rides, local area activities, great food and lots of fun.

06/21/2018 -06/24/2018

29 Touratech Rally West

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

06/22/2018 -06/24/2018

30 Merritt Camp-n-Ride

Location: Merritt, British Columbia Contact: events@valleybmwriders.com This is a no host event. Join us in the beautiful Nicola Valley for some great riding, and camping.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

34

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.

35

Rally

07/19/2018 - 07/21/2018

47th Annual Top O’ The Rockies

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 wifi 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.

36

07/19/2018 - 07/22/2018

2018 Cascade Country Rendezvous and GS Rally by BestRest Location: Republic, Washington Contact: Dan Muir rallymaster@wsbmwr.org Join the Washington State BMW Riders and BestRest Products at the Ferry County Fairgrounds in Republic WA. Guided off-road and road rides, seminars, dirt riding training in one of the best riding locations in the Northwest.

August 37

08/03/2018 - 08/05/2018

Damn Yankees Rally

Location: Heath, Massachusetts Contact: Ken Springhetti 978-764-3527 president@yankeebeemers.org The Damn Yankees Rally, in beautiful Heath, MA. Heath Fairgrounds offers rustic camping at one of New England’s oldest operating fairgrounds. Saturday evening chicken BBQ by the Heath Volunteer Fire Department is included as well as the legendary Church Ladies home made Pies and baked goods. Rustic, outdoor showers available.

08/04/2018

38 19th Annual 100,000 Foot Ride Location: Lakewood, Colorado Contact: David Kosak 720-810-2479 davidkosak2937@gmail.com This ride is designed to take you over enough mountain passes in a day to equal 100,000 feet. This accomplishment is not available anywhere else in North America

and perhaps the world. The 100,000 Foot Ride combines some of the best motorcycle roads and stunning scenery the state of Colorado has to offer.

39

08/09/2018 - 08/12/2018

Kaslo Camp-n-Ride

Location: Kaslo, British Columbia Contact: events@valleybmwriders.com This is a no host event. Join us on the shore of Kootenay Lake for some great riding and camping.

40

08/10/2018 - 08/12/2018

41st Annual Daniel Boone Rally

Location: Boone, North Carolina Contact: John Olsakovsky 704-577-4512 rally@carolinasbmwmoa.org Enjoy some of the best motorcycle roads on the East side of the Mississippi River. With three states in easy distance, ride the Blue Ridge Parkway and High Country of North Carolina, try the roads in Southwest Virginia and Northeastern Tennessee and try out a variety of challenging and fun GS rides, all in easy distance to the campgrounds.

41

RENDEZVOUS Join us August 16th - 19th for the Best Little Rally in the West.

At the foot of the famous Beartooth Pass 10 miles from Red Lodge, Montana Great food, friends and fun. www.beartoothbeemers.org www.beartoothbeemers.org

www.advdepot.com www.advdepot.com

08/10/2018 - 08/12/2018

36th Annual Husker Rally

Location: Franklin, Nebraska Contact: Jayney Solo (402) 676-1739 jayneysolo@cox.net Join us for our 36th annual rally at the fairground in Franklin, nestled in the beautiful Republican Valley of south central Nebraska.

The Nightriders offer a weekend of great food and fun. Meet others who share your love of the open road, good company, shaded camping, hot showers and the best rally food.

42

BEARTOOTH

We’re all heading to the 2018 “Land of OZ” Rally June 1-3

Warnock Lake, Atchison, Kansas

Still $30 Pre-registration, or $35 at the gate

08/16/2018 -08/19/2018

Touratech Rally East

D E L E C N A C

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

08/16/2018 - 08/19/2018

43 Nakusp Hotsprings Rally Location: Nakusp, British Columbia Contact: Robert Tetrault nakusprally@beeceebeemers.com The Nakusp municipal campground is a beautiful location nestled right in the town of Nakusp, near amenities, restaurants and shopping. The area provides both on and off-road riding experiences. Take a dip in

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

91

www.kcbmwmc.com

the lake or soak in the Hotsprings after a fantastic day of riding.

08/16/2018 - 08/19/2018

44 20th Beartooth Rendezvous Location: Red Lodge, Montana Contact: Carla Toth registrar@beartoothbeemers.org Take any of our outstanding rides that include the scenic Beartooth & Chief Joseph Highways and Hellroaring Plateau for G/S riders. Cody, WY and Cooke City are a short day ride away or just hang out at the camp or shop in Red Lodge.

08/17/2018 - 08/19/2018

45 MOA Getaway Eureka Springs Location: Eureka Springs, Arkansas Contact: Inn of the Ozarks (479) 253-9768 info@innoftheozarks.com Nestled in the Ozark Mountains of northwest Arkansas and surrounded by pristine rivers and lakes, Eureka Springs is known for its healing waters as well as ribbons of highway twisting around majestic bluffs to reveal the area’s breathtaking scenery.

08/24/2018 - 08/26/2018

46 MOA Getaway Copper Mountain Location: Copper Mountain, Colorado Contact: Copper Mountain Resort (888) 760-7561 Come to colorful Colorado to ride some of America’s most breathtaking stretches of the Rocky Mountains. For some, these spectacular mountain passes and canyons represent motorcycling nirvana.

47

08/31/2018 - 09/03/2018

44th Annual Finger Lakes Rally

Location: Watkins Glen, New York Contact: Finger Lakes BMW Club rally@fingerlakesbmw.org Located 3 miles west of Watkins Glen, NY just off Route 329 in Watkins Glen State Park, it is the perfect base to come and experience the many touring opportunities in one of the most scenic areas of New York State.

September 09/07/2018 - 09/09/2018

48 36th Annual Green Mountain

Rally 92

Location: Goshen, Vermont Contact: Eric Rossier ebryantrossier@gmail.com Enjoy cool mountain air as you soak up bluegrass Friday night. Dine comfortably on home-cooked meals in the screened hall, or fire-lit pavillion. Self guided gap rides and tons of gravel roads in and near National Forest.

09/07/2018 - 09/09/2018

49 MOA Getaway Pine Mountain Location: Pineville, Kentucky Contact: Pine Mountain State Resort rita.jackson-edmondson@ky.gov (606) 337-3066 Set in the Kentucky Ridge State Forest and surrounded by mountains, this secluded resort offers peace and tranquility while being the perfect place to get away for a weekend of fun and great riding.

09/14/2018 - 09/16/2018

54 9th Annual Ride the Blue Ridge Location: Morganton, North Carolina Contact: Gene Smith (828) 439-9754 rallymaster@knobbies.org Join us again for some of the best riding in the South. Meal Voucher for any night, T-shirts for the first 150. Great camping, RV spaces available with water, electrical hookups. Hotels and full RV campsites within 1 mile.

09/07/2018 - 09/09/2018

50 MOA Getaway Sedona

Location: Sedona, Arizona Contact: Poco Diablo Resort reservations@pocodiablo.com (928)282-7333 Surrounded by red-rock buttes, steep canyon walls and lush pine forests, the Sedona area offers some of the most scenic roads of the southwest taking riders through postcard-perfect rock formations and incredible landscape.

09/14/2018 - 09/16/2018

55 Gathering of the Clams Location: Wakefield, Rhode Island Contact: Carl A. Saccoccio 401-447-7114 carlsaccoccio@verizon.net Join us for our Silver Anniversary at Camp Fuller YMCA on beautiful Great Salt Pond in Wakefield, Rhode Island. Enjoy three days and two nights of ocean-side camping or sleep in a shared cabin at no extra charge.

09/14/2018 - 09/16/2018

51

09/07/2018 - 09/09/2018

Midway Camp-n-Ride

Location: Midway, British Columbia Contact: events@valleybmwriders.com This is a no host event. Join us on the edge of the Kettle River for some great riding and camping.

09/07/2018 - 09/09/2018

52 35th Bavarian Moutain Weekend Location: Vadito, New Mexico Contact: R. J. Mirabal (505) 299-4916 info@loebmwr.org Located just 25 miles SE of Taos, NM on state highway 518 there is wonderful mountain area riding, with nearby Santa Fe, Taos, Las Vegas and points beyond.

09/14/2018 - 09/16/2018

53 33rd Annual Autumn Beemer

Bash

Location: Quincy, California

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

Contact: bashinfo@comcast.net 1-925-209-1066 Come check out the famous CCBR coffee, our Beer Garden, 2 nights of camping w/ early camping available, a Saturday night BBQ, two Continental breakfasts, a GS ride, a poker run, vendors and speakers. RVs and leashed pets are welcome and there’s great camping on the grass along with hot showers.

56 Purity Spring Rally

Location: East Madison, New Hampshire Contact: www.gsbmwr.org Come and join us in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire for our 27th annual rally. You can choose to camp, stay in a cabin (cold water), or stay in a hotel room.

Camping is on a level grassy field and hot showers are a short walk from the camping and cabin area.

57

09/14/2018 - 09/16/2018

MOA Getaway Jay Peak

Location: Jay, Vermont Contact: Jay Peak Resort (802) 988-2611 info@jaypeakresort.com Ride the deliciously winding roads through lush topography that only God could have created. Experience Green Mountain with its rushing streams and working farms so picturesque every photograph taken becomes a picture postcard.

09/14/2018 - 09/16/2018

58 Klassic K Kampout XI

Location: Canton, North Carolina Contact: Greg Hunt (864) 357-8896 scbmwrider@gmail.com Held in Cruso NC at the Blue Ridge Motorcycle Camp (not affiliated with the rally).

This is a no charge Rally held at one of the best motorcycle campgrounds that you will find. There is no charge other than your camping, food and supplies.

09/14/2018 - 09/16/2018

59 Annual Oktoberfest Weekend Location: Round Top, New Jersey Contact: Don Eilenberger president@njsbmwr.org A 3 day weekend event - with lodging and 6 (!) all you can eat meals included. Held in the German Catskills region (Round Top area) - our club welcomes other BMW riders to our annual Oktoberfest.

dolankm@gmail.com Our rally offers great camaraderie, a beautiful venue, and the greatest riding in Colorado. It also helps us raise money to support motorcycle safety and the local Booster Club. Our low elevation venue includes a large meeting hall, restrooms with showers, plenty of grassy camping and the convenience of walking to downtown restaurants, stores and motels.

61

09/21/2018 - 09/23/2018

Hoosier Beemer Rally

Location: North Vernon, Indiana Contact: Jeff Kernen 812-801-1327 jrkernen@yahoo.com Friday night includes a gourmet Hot Dog roast as well as Live bluegrass music and Saturday evening we’ll have a catered meal and give away door prizes. Come ride some of the best roads in southern Indiana and enjoy some great fellowship at the same time!

09/21/2018 - 09/23/2018

60 15th Thunder Mountain

Rendezvous

Location: Hotchkiss, Colorado Contact: Kerry Dolan 970-985-1274

62

09/21/2018 - 09/23/2018

MOA Getaway Tomah

Location: Tomah, Wisconsin Contact: Cranberry Country Lodge

(608) 374-2801 Experience a unique combination of quiet Midwest charm in an area untouched by glaciers. This area of southwestern Wisconsin is known by deeply carved river valleys, lush forests and some of the best riding in the region.

09/27/2018 - 09/30/2018

63 Last Chance to Camp-n-Ride Location: Oroville, Washington Contact: events@valleybmwriders.com This is a no host event. Join us on the shore of Osoyoos Lake for some great riding, and camping with fellow riders from both sides of the border.

64

09/28/2018 - 09/30/2018

2018 Rams Rally

Location: Parker Crossroads, Tennessee Contact: Spencer Bennett 901-626-2831 spencer14554@gmail.com Friday and Saturday nights tent camping, pancake breakfast on Saturday and Sunday, Saturday evening dinner, endless Coffee, Lemonade and Ice Water at Rally Central, live music, and Legendary RAMS Door Prizes.

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May 2018  BMW OWNERS NEWS

93

October 10/05/2018 - 10/07/2018

65 41st Annual BMWMCHR Rally

Civil War Tour

West Virginia | Maryland | Pennsylvania | Virginia

September 21 - 30, 2018

10-day vacation, starting at $3,588 866-343-7623 | www.bluerimtours.com www.bluerimtours.com

Location: Lanexa, Virginia Contact: Carol Beals (757) 287-5594 rally@bmwmchr.com The campground is just north of Williamsburg and outside of the Historic Triangle of Virginia. There are many wonderful historical sites (Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown) close by with lots of great riding roads.

10/12/2018 - 10/14/2018

66 43rd Falling Leaf Rally Location: Potosi, Missouri Contact: Bill Haugen rally@gatewayriders.com The St. Louis Gateway Riders welcome you to the foothills of the Ozarks, offering exciting riding for road and dual sports, and beautiful Fall colors.

November 11/09/2018 - 11/11/2018

67 MOA Getaway Texas

Location: Kerrville, Texas Contact: Y. O. Ranch Hotel (877) 967-3767 Nestled in the heart of Texas Hill Country and full of cowboy spirit, riding this part of the state provides spectacular vistas of wildflowers and sun-kissed rivers over wonderfully rolling hills on the best roads this state offers.

11/09/2018 - 11/11/2018

68 16th Gumbo Rally - Swamp

Scooters Motorcycle Club

Join the BMW MOA FACEBOOK page today! Get the MOA Newsfeed via Twitter for more BMW and motorcycle news – www.twitter.com/bmwmoa

Location: Carencro, Louisiana Contact: James Carpenter (337) 298-6340 president@swampscooters.net Rally fee includes great food Friday and Saturday nights as well as breakfast on Saturday, bike games, shaded camping, a great location to camp and enjoy the bonfires.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS  May 2018

advertiserindex Adaptiv Technologies............................... 84 Admore Lighting........................................ 21 Adriatic Moto Tours................................... 23 ADV Depot.................................................... 91 Adventure New Zealand Tours............. 74 AeroFlow....................................................... 42 Aerostich-RiderWearHouse.................... 74 Airhawk International.............................. 18 Alaska Leather............................................. 85 Alaska Motorcycle Adventures............. 85 Ayres Adventures....................................... 43 Backcountry Discovery Routes............. 83 BeadRider...................................................... 71 Beartooth Beemers Rally......................... 91 Beemer Boneyard...................................... 77 Beemer Shop, The...................................... 76 Best Rest Products..................................... 65 BMW MOA Foundation............................ 66 BMW Performance Center...................... 84 Blue Rim Tours............................................. 94 Bob’s BMW.................................................... 55 Bohn Armor........................................... 25, 85 Boxer Works Service.................................. 65 BullRack......................................................... 85 Capital Cycle................................................ 84 Chicken Rally............................................... 89 Clearwater Lights....................................... 65 Colorado Tourbike Rentals..................... 76 Corbin Pacific............................................... 69 Cyclenutz....................................................... 65

DMC Sidecars............................................... 65 Dubbeju Motorcycle Rentals................. 65 Dyna Beads................................................... 42 East Texas BMW Club................................ 87 Edelweiss Bike Travel................................ 18 EPM Hyper Pro..................................... 18, 77 Euro Moto Electrics................................... 75 Geza Gear...................................................... 71 Haynes North America............................. 71 Helmet Sun Blocker................................... 74 HEX-ezCAN................................................... 18 Hiawatha Rally............................................ 89 Ilium Works................................................... 33 IMTBIKE TOURS................................... 17, 77 Kermit Chair Company............................. 21 Land of Oz Rally.......................................... 91 LD Comfort................................................... 71 Legal Speeding Enterprises................... 43 M4Moto-psa................................................ 77 MachineartMoto........................................ 75 Magura USA................................................. 75 Michelin Tire.......................................... 39, 41 MOA Gear Shop.........................................IBC MOA Member Benefits............................ 81 Morton’s BMW............................................. 69 Moto Aventura............................................ 45 Moto-bins..................................................... 17 Moto Skiveez............................................... 74 Motoadventours........................................ 75 Motonation..................................................BC

Motorcycle Relief Project........................ 93 Motorrad Elektrik....................................... 74 Mountain Master Truck Equipment...... 65 MTA Distributing/Olympia Moto Sports..IFC On The Level Magazine............................. 80 Overseas Speedometer........................... 74 Palo Alto Speedometer............................ 42 Parabellum................................................... 27 Peter Lattman Real Estate....................... 45 Progressive Insurance.............................. 11 Pure Stodge Iowa Rally............................ 87 Ray Atwood Cycles.................................... 76 Redverz.......................................................... 74 Re-Psycle BMW Parts................................ 77 Rider Magazine............................................ 94 Rocky Creek Designs................................ 17 Russel Cycle Products............................... 84 S100 Cycle Care Products ...................... 76 Sargent Cycle Products............................ 33 SBS Brakes..................................................... 43 SPIDI Inc............................................................5 Square Root Rally....................................... 87 Stop ‘n Go...................................................... 17 Suburban Machinery................................ 74 Touratech.........................................................9 Twisted Throttle......................................1, 79 Weiser Technik..................................... 23, 25 Wilbers USA..............................................42, 1 Ztechnik......................................................... 19

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 5.

May 2018 BMW OWNERS NEWS

95

talelight

Unstoppable

With heated gear and his GS in “Snow” mode, Andrew Lewis says he can ride the mountains of southern Oregon all year.

Photo by Andrew Lewis #215400

96

BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2018

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Stylish new v-neck design for the ladies. Soft white tee with weathered blue trim. Very soft 100% cotton District Made tee.

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