August 2020 BMW Owners News by bmwmoa

BMW OWNERS NEWS â€“ A PUBLICATION OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA

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AUGUST 2020 BMW OWNERS NEWS www.bmwmoa.org

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INSIDE

AUGUST 2020

FEATURES

36 TWO WHEELS SOUTH – PART 2 BY MATIAS COREA #217227 After leaving the urban sprawl of the big city behind them, Matias and Joel make their way across the southeastern United States while meeting some interesting people along the way before spending three weeks in Mexico where the pair experience and an entirely new kind of adventure.

48 THE NEW S 1000 XR – A MOTOGP BIKE FOR THE MASSES BY STEVE GREEN #198919 After trying to pawn off the S 1000 XR as a sporty version of a GS, BMW designers redesigned the bike and have now positioned it as a true sports bike capable of all-day touring. The 2020 version now provides similar performance to the S 1000 RR, but with comfort.

ON THE COVER: Nathan Petersen #193055 found a great site to photograph his K 1600 B while riding around Honolulu.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

54 EXPLORING ALABAMA'S HIGHWAY 25 BY VANCE HARRELSON #100402 PHOTOGRAPHY BY LEE HARRELSON #145612 Adventure riding means different things to different riders. For brothers Vance and Lee Harrelson, adventure riding means getting off big highways and riding the quiet two lane roads and taking the time to discover the hidden treasures along them.

On a recent road trip from Tucson to Spokane, I was overcome by the morning light falling on northern Arizona's Vermilion Cliffs. Photo by Jay Wilson #209288.

4 HEADLIGHT Dealing with Regret by Bill Wiegand 8 PRESIDENTS COLUMN

The Riding Season that

Never Was by Wes Fitzer

26 KEEP 'EM FLYING Summer in Colorado by Matt Parkhouse 30 TORQUE OF THE MATTER Fuel Injection, Throttle Bodies and You by Wes Fleming

10 POSTCARDS FROM THE ROAD

64 FROM THE FOUNDATION Motorcycles: The Gifts that

12 RIDER TO RIDER Letters from our Members

66 Riding the Smokey Mountain Twisted Tour by Louise Powers 72 SHINY SIDE UP First Anniversary: One Year with my

14 NEWS Congratulations to Nathan Petersen #193055,

Use Amazon Smile and support the MOA Foundation, Giant Loop’s Klamath Tail Rack Pack, Sena HD speakers, Mitas E-07 tires, Win a Café Racer and help youth, Welcome our new MOA members.

20 MEMBER TESTED Aluma MC1F motorcycle trailer by Tom Moe

22 MEMBER TESTED Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross longevity test by Cassie Maier

24 MEMBER TESTED Big Ear BE-1C Custom Earbuds by Larry Pepper

Keep on Giving by Ted Moyer

G 310 GS by Ron Davis

74 FINAL JOURNEY Remembering Helene Kafka #3788 76 JACK THE RIEPE The Double Yellow Peril: Crossing the Line by Jack Riepe

88 WHEN AND WHERE Rally listings 95 ADVERTISER INDEX 9 6 TAILIGHT

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

HEADLIGHT

BY THE TIME AUGUST ROLLS AROUND, MY MIND IS USUALLY FULL OF

DEALING WITH REGRET

By Bill Wiegand #180584

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

fond memories of great rides I’ve taken over the spring and early summer and the anticipation of where my bike will take me before the snow flies once again. To say it’s different this year would be a gross understatement. While it could be argued, it appears many Americans are an impatient lot who apparently don’t like being told what to do or how to live. For some of us, it’s “Live and let live, baby,” and we refuse to let anyone tread on us or our desires. It looks right now like our gambling has sent our once-flattening curve trending upward again. It may be that only after we look back and recognize the consequences of our actions will we feel regret over what we’ve done. We all live with regrets—some great, some negligible. Whether it be working too much at the expense of relationships with family and friends, worrying too much about what others think, or lacking the confidence to go after something we really want, regrets are real. Personally, my regrets include not possessing the writing skill of a Twain, Hemingway or Egan. The photographic talent of an Adams or Iooss, the moneymaking ability of a Buffet (Warren or Jimmy) or the riding skills of a de Coster or Rossi. Unrealistic regrets sure, but success can only be measured by setting one’s sights high. Luckily, it is possible to learn from our regrets and put some of them behind us. We can change personal priorities to make relationships more important, decide not to care what others think, or just choose to go for it. We can also choose to work harder in order to come closer to achieving whatever goal we pursue. Unfortunately, some things we can’t change. For me, listening to loud music and riding without ear protection when I was younger has rewarded me with hearing loss that just isn’t coming back. Combining that with my wife’s congenital hearing issues can make for some interesting conversations at my house which can oftentimes lead to arguments over what we thought we heard: “I think we should get a cat,” he said. “You’re telling me I’m fat?” she yelled back, and her communication method changed to some unmistakable sign language. These days, while I regret the rides I’ve not been able to take this year, the thing troubling me the most has to do with the motorcycles I no longer own. I’ll always kick myself for selling my G 450 X. A perfect bike for the woods, had I known Judy and I would be moving back to Wisconsin it would still be in my garage. On top of that, Steve Green’s review of the 2020 S 1000 XR in this issue reminds me just how much I miss the 2016 model I traded in just over a year ago. It was red and it was fast. Scary fast actually, and like a Siren of Greek mythology, that XR had a way of luring a rider into twisting the throttle a little further and leaning into corners a little deeper. For me, those two bikes offered the ultimate Gelände/ Straße. I guess it’s probably a good thing they’re not in my garage anymore as I don’t need any more broken ribs, though the GS that’s taken their place is perfectly capable should I forget what I’m riding. Here’s to a life lived without regret. Improbable? Probably. But whatever you do, stay away from tattoo artists who can’t spell.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

Jurassic Trail Dinosaur sculptures guard the entrance to Rattlesnake Ranch near Benson, Arizona. Photo by Deryle Mehrten #58537

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

PRESIDENT'S

COLUMN

LIKE MANY OF YOU I’M SURE, I’M LOOKING AT 2020 AS THE RIDING

2020 – THE RIDING SEASON THAT NEVER WAS

By Wes Fitzer # 170126

season that never was. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve still ridden some, but what I’ve missed is riding with and riding to meet my friends. I know deep down there will be many other opportunities when we can ride for pie (March 14, 2021) or ride to the National Rally (June 24-27, 2021) in Great Falls, Montana, or to any of our other MOA Getaway events. By August, I would typiclaly be looking toward the end of my riding year, realizing more of my season was behind me than in front of me. This year I’m looking to the latter part of the riding season to make up for some of those lost miles on my bike. I’ll have a lot of riding to do in a very short amount of time, but fortunately the MOA and our Chartered Clubs still have several events planned from now through the end of the year. If you haven’t tried one of the MOA’s hotel-based Getaways, there are still several that are ready to welcome you as a guest. First up is the Getaway in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, from August 7-9. Since its inception, I’ve attended this event and can attest to the great riding, hospitality and activities. Next up is Copper Mountain, Colorado, set for August 21-23 and set in another beautiful location. I haven’t been to this one before but may try and make it this year. Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, from August 28-30, is the one I’ve been pining to attend for the past couple of years. Maybe this will be the year. Coeur d’Alene is followed up by our Cedar City, Utah, Getaway on September 11-13. It is another excellent option for those who prefer to ride in the beautiful mountain roads of Utah. For those of you on the eastern seaboard, Pine Mountain, Kentucky, from September 10-12 is within striking distance from my home base and is another I’ve not yet attended though I have heard nothing but great things about it. Warren, Vermont, is our next offering from September 18-20, and although this is a slight change in location, we feel this will be even better than last year. Tomah, Wisconsin, is our next to last Getaway for 2020 and takes place from October 2-4. This is another I’ve yet to attend but may make an effort this year. They do a great job putting this one on. Our last offering for 2020 is in the Texas Hill Country at Kerrville, Texas, from October 23-25. I’ve attended this one several times and love riding the Texas Hill Country. Our Getaway series offers an excellent opportunity to meet new members, make lifelong friends and enjoy some great riding. Our Chartered clubs also have a bunch of great offerings that you should check out. These are typically camping-based events that vary in size from a few dozen to well over 300 attendees and are located all over the country. Most of these events have been a staple with their clubs for 40+ years and are great events put on by great folks who have the same passion for life on two-wheels as you do. There are simply too many to list here, and I’d suggest going to the MOA’s website (bmwmoa.org/events) to get a complete listing. Be sure and check back regularly to ensure an event hasn’t been postponed or canceled due to COVID-19. Like everyone else, I’ll be glad when we can put all this COVID business behind us. If I could find the “plug” for 2020, I’d unplug it, plug it back in and see if that didn’t fix everything going on right now. Stay safe and healthy and ride on!

Wes Fitzer 8

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

www.araiamericas.com No helmet can protect the wearer against all foreseeable impacts. Nothing is a substitute for safe riding practices. ÂŠ2020 Arai Helmet

POSTCARDS

FROM

THE

ROAD

Top, My R nineT in front of a riding buddy's "office in the sky" at Page Field in Fort Myers, Florida. Photo by Eric Gauster #218579. Above left, At the Sapphire Point Overlook near Frisco, Colorado. Photo by Steve Martin #69767. Right, A photo from a recent ride near the Muskegon Pier Lighthouse. Photo by Neil Cleary #164720.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

Top Left, A photo taken near Savannah, Georgia, at one of the entrances to the Savannah National Wildlife Refuge. Photo by Curt White #188704. Top Right, My R 1250 GS near a well-preserved homestead found in the beautiful Hill Country of Texas. Photo by Tom Wilmotte #118186. Left, A mural found during a morning ride around Honolulu, Hawaii. Photo by Nate Petersen #193055. Bottom, My R 1250 RS parked near The Palouse, one of the most scenic regions in Washington State. Photo by Charles H. Porter #54193.

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

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

It's science

My heart goes out to you folks when it comes to choosing submitted letters for printing. I’m referring to Ron Parson’s letter in June in which he called our climate crisis “drivel.” Our nation has produced a certain kind of citizen whose superpower is to obfuscate the obvious. I hope and trust that most of your readers base their viewpoints on the hard work of our scientists who are motivated by curiosity and trying to be as objective as humanly possible. The heating of our planet is no more political than your house catching fire. What brought about this crisis, and what we do about it, IS political. I, personally, am dealing with the grief of so much of our wondrous flora and fauna disappearing from this rare gem of a planet. Bret Nelson #98578 Vienna, Virginia

Thanks for the benefit

Just a quick note to say thanks to the MOA staff for making Jon Delvecchio’s “Cornering Confidence” on-line course available to our membership. I’ve been “wanting” to take a rider course for a long time, and even with your gentle nudges, I didn’t make it happen! Well, thanks to MOA, I had no excuse! I also bought Jon’s book, so I can continue to review and practice. I’ll try to keep using his methods so that they become ingrained habits, and nothing would make me happier than to have Linda tell me how impressed she is with my smoothness and fluid-like moves through the twisties! Thanks for the benefit! Dave Cowgill #61217 Clayton, Delaware

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

Hanging up the gloves

Occasionally I have seen articles giving advice on how to buy a used motorcycle, and given that I have always bought my bikes used—never new—I have read such articles with great interest. But now I have reached circumstances where riding is something I’m going to have to put behind me. I have three bikes to sell, all BMW’s, and I am hoping to pass them on to good homes. I’d like to sell them at decent prices. I’d also like to avoid dealing with people who are out to scam me or decide they have reason to sue me. So, I am hoping that someone in the BMW MOA community might share their wisdom in how to best manage this delicate process. An article on the subject would be well appreciated. I am hanging up my riding gloves with regret. My decades of riding have been very enjoyable and rewarding in so many ways, but now it is time. I am hopeful my bikes will continue to roll on well into the future and give their new owners the same joy they gave me. Ed Bianchi #100679 York, Pennsylvania If anyone can advise Ed how best to sell his beloved BMWs, feel free to contact him at horacepro@aol.com –Editor

Number 12 is my favorite

I bought my first BMW in 1976 and my twelfth BMW in 2016, 44 years later. I am more appreciative of the technological refinements, and I am just as proud to own my most favorite BMW, a 2015 F 800 GT. At 470 lbs., it has 90 HP, ESA, TPM, and an ABS system which, in 62,000 miles, has prevented a collision twice. The GT is dependable, economical and as safe as a mass-produced motorcycle can be, and it is fun. The addition of side cases and bar backs completes it.

Lastly, my thanks to Richard, the master tech, and the entire service department at San Diego BMW. Jeff Peek #36722 San Diego, California

An interesting discovery

A few weeks ago, I was riding my mountain bike on my beloved trails in Palo Dura Canyon in the Texas Panhandle. As I unloaded the bike from my roof rack and put on my bike shoes, I realized I had forgotten my hydration backpack. The canyon was close to 100 degrees, and after driving 104 miles to ride, a little heat wasn’t going to stop me. I took a big drink which I thought should contain my thirst for a little three hour ride. I then set my drink on the SUV’s seat, hopped atop my bike and off I peddled on the dirt trails. Heat or no, the ride was once again wonderful for my old bones, and there was enough wind to provide a bit of evaporation of sweat for a semi-cooling relief. As I was about through 90 percent of the ride, I noticed I was no longer sweating. Bad sign and with about three miles left of challenging vertical climbs, I began to feel slightly dizzy. I made it back to my SUV, grabbed my drink and discovered my placement of the drink had left it exposed to the West Texas sun. The drink was almost too hot to drink however, I quickly realized the more I drank, the cooler my body temperature felt. As I finished my drink, I remembered reading a doctor’s thought on hydration. He simply said “If you want to warm quickly, drink a cold drink and to cool, drink a warm liquid. I have since tried this numerous times and it works. Keith Ingram #198056 Clovis New Mexico

A great shop in Santa Fe

Last summer, I was staying in Santa Fe, New Mexico, after a long and happy trip across the country from mid-Maryland when I realized that I needed an oil change. I phoned up the local BMW dealership, and they could not take me. I kept searching and found OCD Custom Cycles, owned by Marc Beyer, a BMW master technician and an interesting guy. When I asked him what OCD stood for, he said, “What do you think it stands for!” The kind of guy you want to work on your bike. He took me right away and got me going quickly. He has a clean (you could eat off the floor), friendly shop, and his business manager Franny got me going quickly. For anyone traveling through Santa Fe and is in need of service, I would recommend OCD Custom cycles for basic work like an oil change or major fix-ups that you may require. I would be willing to bet it is cheaper than the BMW dealership. Richard Mead #144691 Frederick, Maryland

Let's just ride!

Although I haven’t been a member of MOA for long at all, I have held the reins and been in the saddle of a steel horse since the days of kick-starts and gearchange levers on the right side. I’ve never owned more than one bike at a time, yet across the decades I have had a variety of makes and models including Honda, Triumph, Suzuki, Norton, Harley-Davidson and currently BMW. My interest in motorcycling is for the pure enjoyment of having to focus on the aspects of driving while dealing with the elements of nature. (I have herded cattle down the road in front of me while driving a Harley on a hot, summer day in the Southwest. It was either that or pass out from heatstroke) Adding to Bob Lower’s comments in the June issue: Whether or not a person owns a BMW is really insignificant in the larger view. Some of my best rides have been driving the BMW along side of HD folks in their “fashion wear” while I am in protective gear, which incudes a black helmet with paste-on cat ears and tail

that twirls in the wind. It will never be about “what” bike you ride, but rather, “how” you ride it. Just be safe and have fun! SueAnn Niland #217711 Stevens Point, Wisconsin

Thank you science

What an array of letters in the June 2020 edition! I feel compelled to comment on their competing themes. Ron Parsons was taken aback by the scientific drivel about climate change, while Brian Higgins worries that nature is using COVID-19 to restore balance in the environment in light of man’s degradation of it. George Mangicaro, a traditionalist, bemoans the design of the new R-18 and its predecessors in wayward design. One page later, Ron Davis is extoling the virtues of E-bikes and noting that BMW’s version is an elegant design, “but a little on the high side of comparable market pricing.” Focusing on Mangicaro and Davis first, as comfortable as tradition is, it is also an obstacle to necessary change. Think back to BMW’s switch away from its traditional opposed airhead twins to oil and then water-cooled engines of one, two, four and six cylinder engines in opposed, laydown, vertical and in-line configurations. The uproar has barely subsided. While BMW sells its E-bike as a “Lifestyle Accessory” at its automotive stores, I believe it will eventually join the ranks (as Harley did) to produce an electric motorbike. Stubborn traditional thinking will also lead to our undoing. Higgins is right, along with 99 percent of the world’s climate scientists. Climate change is real and not “drivel.” I believe he is wrong in suggesting that Mother Nature is using COVID-19 to even the score with humans for our assaults on the environment. Such magical thinking lulls us into thinking that there is some anthropomorphic force that can smite us but perhaps also save us from ourselves. We have to fix the problem we created or it will vanquish us. Just as the pandemic has forced us to do things we never imagined, coping with climate change will require similarly unfamiliar and non-traditional

adaptations—embracing electric bikes and riding carbon emitters out of necessity or for periodic sheer pleasure, rather than simply to see who can rack up the most miles in a year. Mr. Parsons’ take on Science needs addressing specifically. Science is not a “Gospel Truth” but a process that calls for continued efforts to wring truth from theory. Of course, some things considered true at one time were later refuted; eugenics for example. Conversely, how many truths were insisted upon until the scientific process proved otherwise, a flat earth before it was proven to most people to be round or that the earth was the center of the universe before science proved the earth revolved around the sun. As for Parsons’ claim that “There has not been a new ‘Natural Law of Science’ discovered in over a hundred years…” Let me cite the discovery of DNA and RNA that are foundational to our understanding of all living things and which are also guiding scientists looking for a vaccine for COVID-19. Another discovery relates to the existence of tectonic plates that all the world’s surface sit on. Finally, Einstein’s theories of Special and General Relativity were formulated just over 100 years ago. Per Mr. Parsons, “Modern Science’s end game today is just another unprovable ‘theory’ that they now teach as fact.” Newtonian physics keep Parsons’ bike rolling down the road, and laws of thermodynamics are the basis for engine designs that power his bike. Theory provides a direction that science can pursue to establish truth based on replicable studies. One recent theory suggested that COVID -19 sufferers could be coaxed back to health using an existing antimalarial drug (hydroxycholoquine). Some people, informed and otherwise, claimed a few successes, but scientific studies recently showed this drug had no beneficial effect for COVID patients and could in fact cause heart damage and death. Thank you, science! We await your development of a vaccine for COVID -19 so we can back on the road again. Todd Collart # 38289 Ventura, California

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

NEWS

Organize your gear with a Klamath Tail Rack Pack from Giant Loop

A Café Racer to support STEAM Young Scientists of South Carolina’s mission is to provide Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Math (STEAM) provides opportunities to underprivileged youth of the Lowcountry as a way to end poverty and increase graduation rates. MOA member Jim Carlisle (#196730), grew up in South Florida, graduated from Spring Hill College in Mobile Alabama in the 1980s and earned a Masters degree in Elementary Education in 2010. In 2015, Carlisle retired from the Army after 26 years as a Lieutenant Colonel and the next year, joined Teach For America and moved to Walterboro, South Carolina, to teach fifth Grade math and science. To support Young Scientists of South Carolina, Carlisle has built and donated a custom 1979 BMW Café racer which will be raffled off later this year. This magnificent café racer will be the center of attention wherever it goes! For more information about Young Scientists of South Carolina or to purchase a raffle ticket, visit www.YSoSC.ourraffle.org

Congratulations to Nathan Petersen Congratulations to Nathan Petersen # 193055 of Honolulu, Hawaii, for winning the August 2020 BMW Owners News MIDhis image of his K 99 with photo contest 1600 B parked in front of this artistic wall in Honolulu. For his efforts, Nathan will receive a MotoPressor Puncture Repair Tool courtesy of Rocky Creek Designs. To enter the BMW Owners News monthly photo contest, simply send your best shots to bmwmoa.org/ 99 The contest is open to all photocontest. current MOA members. Good Luck!

BMW OWNERS NEWS

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Giant Loop’s updated Klamath Tail Rack Pack makes it even easier and faster to mount and remove the pack from motorcycle tail racks and fenders. Using their versatile mounting system, which includes two of Giant Loop’s new 25-inch stretch polyurethane Pronghorn Straps™ plus four Fender Hooks and two forward-tensioning webbing anchor straps, the new Klamath Tail Rack Pack can accommodate a wide variety of motorcycle models. Like a tank bag for the rear of bike, the lowprofile Klamath Tail Rack Pack keeps gear organized and easily accessible. The four-liter soft luggage case features a zipper-less, nested clamshell design inspired by classic motorcycle rally racing packs that makes for quick access to gear, even while wearing gloves. For 100 percent waterproof, dustproof and snowproof protection, the Klamath Tail Rack Pack includes a seam-sealed inner liner Dry Pod™ and a padded interior lined with high-visibility yellow. Also featured is an interior adjustable divider with a pen/tire pressure gauge loop, key clip and zippered mesh pocket. Made in the USA and constructed with military-spec materials, the Klamath Tail Rack Pack is available in black and in a limited edition gray and orange. It is backed by a limited lifetime warranty and carries an MSRP at $119. For more information, visit giantloopmoto.com.

BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

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AUGUST 2020

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AUGUST 2020 BMW OWNERS NEWS www.bmwmoa.org

The Mitas E-07 you know and love is back! Mitas is enhancing its offerings in the trail/adventure tire market and reintroducing a number of sizes to its Mitas E-07 range, along with their successful E-07+, giving riders even more choice. The E-07+ is a class-leading 60/40 off-road adventure tire for riders of larger adventure motorcycles with higher engine displacements and power outputs who are looking for great off-road performance, as well as improved road performance. The tire features a tread design slightly more on-road oriented than the original E-07, including a bigger knobby design which provides plenty of open space between the tread blocks to displace sand, mud and water from the contact patch while keeping enough rubber between the road and the rotating tire. Select sizes of E-07 and E-07+ are also available in the “Dakar” version (marked with a yellow stripe) and feature a reinforced carcass, higher puncture resistance and a harder compound. These are ideal for higher loads, longer adventure trips and extreme conditions. All tubeless (TL) versions of both E-07 and E-07+ can be used with a tube on tube-type rims. For more information, visit twistedthrottle.com

Support the MOA Foundation when shopping at Amazon Regardless of whether it’s through a direct donation or by purchasing raffle tickets, there are many ways BMW MOA members can support the MOA Foundation. Perhaps the easiest way to offer your support is to join “AmazonSmile” and choose the Foundation as your charity. AmazonSmile is a simple way for you to support your favorite charitable organization every time you shop, at no cost to you. AmazonSmile is available at smile.amazon.com on your web browser and can be activated in the Amazon Shopping app for iOS and Android phones. When you shop at AmazonSmile, you’ll find the exact same low prices, vast selection and convenient shopping experience as Amazon.com, with the added benefit that AmazonSmile will donate 0.5 percent of your eligible purchases to the charitable organization of your choice. To date, AmazonSmile has donated more than 183 million dollars to all charities and more than $2,400 to the MOA Foundation in their continued support of rider education and training.

Sena's new premium HD speakers Sena just released premium HD Speaker accessory kits for their 10C Pro, 10C EVO, 20S, 20S EVO, and 30K. Current Sena users will be able to upgrade to the same premium Sena HD Speakers first seen with Sena’s flagship 50R and 50S models. Sena’s new premium HD Speakers are said to offer a marked increase in volume, bass boost and clarity for a noticeably enhanced audio experience while riding. The new HD Speakers are also redesigned for physical comfort with a beveled taper to reduce contact with the ear. In addition to the revised hardware of the HD Speakers, Sena will also roll out upgrades for each device’s firmware to ensure HD Speaker audio quality is maximized, along with new audio related functions developed for Sena apps with the goal of providing a refreshed audio experience while Riding Connected! The HD Speakers for the Sena 30K, 20S EVO, 20S, 10C EVO, and 10C will be available worldwide later this month with pricing anticipated to be $39. For more information, visit sena.com August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

NEWS

Welcome our newest MOA members

I love twisty roads through mountain passes and along rivers and even got a tattoo of a scene from my favorite Highway 12â€“Lolo Pass in Idaho. I joined the MOA for the Owners Anonymous Book and hope to support riders as they come through Oregon or find support next time I am traveling across the country. Thanks again for the welcome. Dave Zaback #220710

I have been a BMW enthusiast since I was a kid and am thrilled to be a part of the MOA! What I love the most about my S 1000 RR (2016 and now the 2020) is the way it handles, and how nimble the bike feels. I cannot wait to take it out to the track and test it to the limits with sharper lean angles in the turns and topping out on the straightaways. Looking forward to exchanging stories with my fellow Motorrads. Letâ€™s hit the road! Ashwath Raja #220831

Chester Macewicz Connor Casto Norman Lucia Daniel Kang Rob Joseph Brian Aust Jake Zier Dave Zaback Lynda Wooldridge Nicholas West Eric Snyder Gary Rosen Andrew MacNeil Mike Lewis Deanna Kniola

John Fountain Robin Bradley Ron Blaker Louise Duchesne Travis Splechter Carson Smith Erol Piskin Joshua Casto Ben Zehnder Michael Vorpe Lawrence Todd Monroe Nash Kevin Kuykendall Eric Koppang Joshua Klaaren

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

Paul Steinbrecher Volker Schroff Doug Roberts Rebecca Riley Terry Logan Ashwath Raja Wayne Lee Harvey Latson Jarrod Kyle Bryan Dagg Troy Bradford Gary Walker Nicholas Tusa Michael Tucker Timothy Tongier

I just started riding again after about 25 years. I was able to purchase a used R 1200 RT in January and love the bike. My two brothers in Germany are both motorcycle riders and one of them has a new BMW bike as well. Thank you so much for having me as a member. I am so excited to meet the other members. Volker Schroff #220759

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When you can’t ride, tow it with an Aluma MC1F Trailer By Tom Moe #33028 WHILE I WOULD ALWAYS RATHER RIDE THAN TRAILER MY RT,

my wife and I are now Montana snowbirds who migrate close to 1,000 miles to our seasonal homes each fall and spring. Last fall, we loaded the RT in the back of our pickup, as we were also pulling a U-Haul trailer. While moving back north this spring, we realized we would need the bed of the pickup for some of our other belongings. We also decided we’d prefer to make our future moves with a SUV, and after that decision, I began searching for a trailer to haul the bike. Two constraints limiting us are our relatively small garage and no outdoor storage space at our winter home in Lincoln,

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

California. This meant we would need to find either winter storage or get a fold-up trailer that would fit in the garage. I researched Kendon fold-up trailers, as I recalled seeing one a few years ago in the showroom at A & S Cycles in Roseville, California. While A & S Cycles no longer sells Kendon trailers, another area dealer does. After looking at and seriously considering a Kendon, one thing I did not like about them was the exposure of my motorcycle on the trailer, as there isn’t much floor to speak of and no front structure. Continuing my search on Craigslist, the Aluma MC1F popped up at a dealer in Reno, Nevada. After looking over the ad and

visiting the manufacturer’s website at www.alumaklm.com, I found it was similar in size, weight and functionality to the Kendon. It also had a solid floor and a good rock guard in the front. I also found a YouTube video review with a guy using his. In the video, he pulled the Aluma with a Prius to pick up a buddy’s Harley. I was pretty well sold on the trailer after watching that video, so I ran up to Reno and picked one up and returned to California. It pulled very easily behind my half-ton GMC. When I backed it into my garage, I easily removed the rock guard to reduce the stand-up profile, folded up the tail and stood it up against the wall. At 5’ 10”, 180 pounds and 71 years old, it was a bit of a strain for me to stand it up, so I’d recommend two people for that task. I also thought I could put an eye hook in the wall and use either a block-and-tackle or comealong to assist in standing it up. I found laying it back down not too challenging, but two guys would be better than one. Folded up, the standing profile could be as small as six-feet wide x 20” deep and 6’ tall with the rock guard and the wheels and tires removed. The trailer includes a good, removable wheel chock for the front wheel and a good ramp as well. The ramp is stored under the tail section of the trailer. I found it easy to load the RT, and if one prefers to keep their feet on the ground, ramps could be placed on both sides of the ramp for footing. I did that unloading the bike. Once the bike was securely on the trailer, I was able to back the trailer back into the garage, unhook the trailer and easily move the trailer around the garage by hand. The tongue jack is a quality fold up jack with a wheel. One shortcoming I noticed is that the front tie downs are not as far forward as they should be for a BMW and don’t pull the bike forward tightly to the wheel chock. The front rock guard position pushes the tie downs back and the trailer may have been designed more for cruisers like Harleys. An easy fix I found was to simply place tie-downs from the center stand mounting frame to the forward tie points and cinch the bike forward, pushing the front wheel solidly against the chock. Not a big thing, I just

needed a couple of extra straps. Once hooked up and underway, we did find that the light duty ratcheting straps from the front forks to the tie downs loosened, and I had to get the 800-lb ratcheting tie down straps to keep things tight. I actually bent one of the ratcheting mechanisms on the 500-lb. models. Once tight, the trailer and bike made the long trip over some rough roads very nicely. I do think that the solid floor and rock guard are a great design and will help prevent rock damage to the motorcycle, especially on gravel or chip-sealed roads. The big and substantial fenders also do a great deal to protect the motorcycle. I thought the Kendon fenders were too small and unlikely to shield the bike from damage. I could see in my rearview mirror, even at freeway speeds, that my R 1200 RT was not subject to buffeting while in the slipstream of the pickup. The trailer could also be used for things like ATVs or riding lawn mowers as the distance between the fenders is 54” with the deck size advertised at 51” X 106”. The included ramp is not wide enough for four-wheel vehicles and a pair of four or five foot ATV ramps would work very well for loading four wheeled vehicles. The Aluma can also be used for hauling furniture and those pesky runs to the dump to dispose of garden waste, etc. The Aluma cost me less than a Kendon single would have and in my view is a better trailer for my intended purpose. However, Kendons have a great reputation and should also be considered. Another option I looked at was the Stinger from Discount Ramps. Stinger trailers are not a bad option; they cost less and are foldable as well. But in my case, the folded size and shape of the Stinger took up more floor space in the garage, didn’t come with a rock guard and offered very little protection for the bike. Aluma does not sell from their website, and you will have to find a dealer if you want one. Dealer links are shown on www.alumaklm. com. My trailer cost $2,529 out the door with no sales tax, as I was licensing it in Montana. The Kendon I was looking at was $3,299 plus and the Stinger single listed at $1,999. All in all, I am really pleased with the Aluma MC1F for the intended purpose and would certainly recommend the trailer for its intended use and perhaps a few other uses.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

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Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross AX 41 tire: A look at longevity By Cassie Maier #203304 FIRST THINGS FIRST: BASED ON MY

experience, I would buy another set of Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross AX41 60/40 tires for my R 1250 GS. If you read my initial impressions article published in the March issue of BMW Owners News, you may have gotten the sense that I liked them from the get-go. I did, and after spending some time on them, I fell in love and have nothing bad to say about the AX41. With that being said, knobby tires can make some noise and produce a little vibration on pavement, but that’s just their nature. Although I didn’t find these tires to be too loud or create excessive vibration, I do wear ear protection and have been riding on 60/40 tires for a few years, so I am used to those traits. If you asked me for a tire recommendation, I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Bridgestone’s Battlax Adventurecross AX41. Regarding my experience for the first few hundred miles, I was thinking a lot about those tires, including the way they responded to different surfaces and how they made me feel on the bike. Once I freed myself from scrutinizing the tire for the sake of putting a review together, I began to relax and really liked them. I rode them as a 60/40 tire should be ridden, and what better test than riding a 1,100-mile Backcountry Discovery Route? New Mexico offers a huge variety of terrain, including everything from rocky climbs, water crossings and deep sand, along with the stretches of pavement that connect sections. Not once did I worry about my tires. They performed the way I wanted and needed them to. They are grippy and make climbing and riding sand easier. The AX41s also held up well on the tire-eating pavement, though I’ll admit I’m a little heavy with my throttle hand, but if

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

you aren’t as rough a rider as I am the tire wear would be awesome. With my Mosko Moto bags loaded full plus my weight, my GS responded the way I wanted even when I decreased tire pressure. With lowered tire pressure, the tires performed well on pavement stretches between dirt tracks. On our long pavement days, including getting to and home from the BDR, I upped the tire pressure to BMW’s recommendation. Finally, to the answer the question many want to know regarding how many miles I got out of them. Sadly, on the last day of our riding the BDR, I got a puncture in the rear tire. Though we patched it and I managed to squeeze another couple hundred miles out of it, the tire began losing about 10 psi each day. After only 4,700 miles I had to replace both tires though they had a lot of life left in them, maybe enough for a return ride on the New Mexico BDR and certainly enough for some local rides. I was sad not only because of the puncture but also because I wasn’t going to be able to ride the AX41s to the end of their life. I really think I could have eclipsed 6,000 miles on the Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross AX41 60/40 tires with the type of riding I was doing, meaning minimal pavement riding and more of off-road riding. Pavement chews up knobbies, so don’t expect to get road-tire life out of an adventure-tire. Overall, if you are looking for a new set of tires for your adventure riding, give the Bridgestone Battlax Adventurecross AX41 a go. Overall, I found they didn’t dip or wobble on pavement curves, provided great traction when I needed it off-road, were quiet for a 60/40 tire on-road, and gave me confidence while riding like I do and in the terrain I enjoy.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

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Big Ear BE-1C Custom Earbuds: Can you hear me now? By Larry Pepper #52400 this, I purchased the upgraded helmet speakers from SENA and replaced the intercom and phone now that I am using standard speakers in the pre-cutout circles the Big Ear BE-1C earbuds with my SENA (which don’t necessarily align with the 20S headset. location of my ears) in the liner Since I began riding, I have of my helmet. Later, I learned tried a variety of different types through reading the directions of intercom systems. My earliest that users were supposed to example being an analog position the speakers directly intercom system consisting of a in line with their ears using the pair of plastic tubes joined provided shim materials and together with one tube posimove the speakers inward as tioned near my mouth and the close to the ears as possible. other end near the ear of my As time passed and me still passenger. A second tube not fully happy with the reversed this routing, from my upgraded speakers, we arrived passenger’s mouth to my ear. A at the 2018 BMW MOA connection in the middle of this National Rally in Des Moines. Rube Goldberg brainstorm Gosh, it was hot outside, but in permitted privacy at rest stops. the exhibit hall it was nice and While I don’t remember how cool. Strolling among the much this modern marvel cost, vendors, my wife and I came it was too much for how well it upon Big Ear, a vendor for performed. custom molded ear plugs and Years later I unsuccessfully inner ear monitors. After a tried a pair of Chatterbox units long discussion with the Big and up until ten years ago, I was Ear owners, I decided to go for still trying to sell these Chatterit and purchased their BE-1C boxes at swap meets. Then, late custom earbuds. My hope was one night about five years ago, I to hear better while not ended my relationship with the destroying my hearing. The Chatterboxes and placed them in process began by having molds the electronic recycling dumpster made of my ear canals which at the edge of town. are then sent to the lab where a About four years ago, I reverse mold is made and then purchased a SENA 20S which The Big Ear BE-C1 earbuds after nearly two years of use. On both buds you can see the sound tubes which allow sound to leave the transducers and a new positive is made housing worked fine for my purposes, enter the wearer’s ear canals. Also shown is the 1/8” plug that connects to the the electronics. A couple of including listening to music, sound source device, in my case, the SENA unit. weeks after the rally I received accessing my phone, and my Big Ear BE-1C earbuds. conversing rider to rider and The BE-1C earbuds are color-coded rider to passenger, along with hearing what me think about how they were all adding with a red dot on one and a blue dot on turn I just missed from the very polite up to potentially damage my hearing. I the other. Easy-peasy—red is right. Once Miss Nav V. Plus, all of this slick sophistialready had tinnitus which I blamed on in my ears, the earbuds plugged into the cation is transportable across my three my early riding days without a helmet or base of the SENA unit and when bikes! any hearing protection. To help alleviate I CAN ACTUALLY HEAR MY MUSIC,

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

A short time after I began using the SENA headset, I started noticing how loud I had to raise the speaker volume to hear over the wind and road noise, which made

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August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

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Summer in Colorado By Matthew Parkhouse #13272 IT HAS BEEN RATHER

busy here in the old bike yard. There are a pair of early 1980s Airheads getting ready to depart, an ’82 RT and an ’82 RS. The owner was nice enough to strip off the fairings before bringing them here from the Albuquerque area. Both had been sitting a while so there were four carburetors to de-gunk and clean out. Additionally, among other reasons why they had been brought to me was that the steering head bearings were notchy. About half the time I spent with this pair involved working on the tapered roller bearings that the forks rotate on. The job was made seriously easier because the owner removed the fairings, so I did not have to work around them. I found a real “click-stop” feeling to the bearings, so I knew I needed to replace them. It is a fiddley job, using the Kukko puller I bought back when working at Doc’s BMW of Colorado Springs in the 1970s. Some of the Airheads, especially those made in the 1980s, have the steering neck of the frame made so that there is almost zero overhang for the jaws of the puller to catch on and pull out the outer races of the steering bearings. I ended up sharpening the lips of the jaws with a file and slowly extracted the races with about ten attempts on each bearing race. You can run a bead with an arc welder that shrinks the races enough to cause them to just drop out. I have never gotten involved with electric welding, so I have always used the Kukko puller. After I chill the new races for a couple of hours in our freezer and heat the frame neck with a small torch flame, the races usually drop in and I seat them with a

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

brass hammer. Sometimes, I will use one of the old outer races as a drift to seat the new races all the way into the neck of the frame. This job also gives me the chance to check over the forks, renewing seals and replacing the rubber RT and RS cups that close the hole where the forks pass through the fairing. Additionally, another fellow who brought over a 1978 R 80/7 pointed out the little sticker from Doc’s BMW. I had most likely been the person who broke that bike out of the crate and set it up in 1977 or early 1978. I then pointed out the threedigit shop inventory number that I had probably stamped into the aluminum triple tree fork lower. The bike had a few electrical problems. One of them is a rather unusual problem showing up occasionally in the earlier Airheads. Starting in 1974, BMW set them up so the bikes would only start when in neutral or if the clutch was pulled in. This circuit involves the neutral switch, a small switch in the clutch hand control and a diode that lives behind the headlamp plug-in panel. With other models, like the R 100 GS series, that diode is hidden within the wiring harness, under the gas tank. If that diode shorts out, you end up with the neutral lamp coming on when you pull in the clutch. The proper repair involves pulling out that panel, unsoldering the diode and installing a new one. If you know where to do it, you can install the diode on the FRONT of that plug-in panel, avoiding taking off a couple dozen wires. The diode is a common part, so I have obtained much larger and more robust ones that should be tougher in operation. I crimped on a couple of push-on connectors to the diode leads, allowing me to plug it into the panel. Diodes work by

allowing current to flow in one direction while blocking it in the opposite direction. It is important to orient it properly. The place it gets plugged into is at the pair of contacts one row up from the left side bottom. One is brown with a black stripe, the other is brown with a yellow stripe. The end of the diode with the stripe is the cathode, the other end is the anode. The striped end goes to the brown with a black stripe connector. There is an unused connection point on that section. The brown with the yellow stripe connectors were both occupied by plugged in wires, so I used a 2-into-1 connector to plug in the anode end of the diode. I did undo the plug-in panel enough to turn it around and remove the old diode from the back to avoid any issues with it. The new diode, if it fails again, can be renewed quite simply from the front. No rides are planned for the immediate couple of months. I am enjoying warmer weather, being able to work on bikes outside in the back, and my short errands riding around town. Susanna fractured her ankle a couple of months ago, so I have been her chauffeur. The fracture certainly curtails her ability to ride. I have been in a particularly good mood for the last day after finally figuring out the issue with the mystery bike, the R 100 R that suffered a hydraulic lock last fall. The timing was way off, like 140 degrees off. About a dozen folks sent me suggestions, but they were things I had already tried, were not connected to the problem, or just did not work. What solved the problem? A new starter! I will go into more detail on that project next month. It is very nice to hear that bike run!

The markings and diode schematic symbol. The stripe or band is on the cathode (negative) side. The other end is the anode (positive) side. Current flowing in one direction is blocked while current going in the opposite direction is passed through.

The diode before it went into the R 80/7 headlamp shell.

The headlamp shell of the R 80/7. I have already removed the shorted diode from the back of the plug-in board. The replacement diode will get plugged into the lower left side of the board. The cathode end goes to the brown with black stripe set of spade connectors. The anode end goes to the brown with yellow stripe spades.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

As noted in Final Journeys, a friend of ours, 78 year old Helene Kafka, died recently. Helene came crashing into my life in the mid-1980s after she quit her job in Iowa and shipped her bike to Europe, where she rode around for half a year. After she shipped the bike back, she wintered in Mexico and then decided to live in Colorado. There she stayed with a â€œfriend of a friendâ€? while she looked for a new job and a place to live. About that time, my friend Jon Sterling and I were sitting on my front porch couch and drinking beer while we took a break from servicing our Slash Fives which were in pieces in the front yard. Suddenly, a Subaru slammed on its brakes in front of the house, and this wild woman ran up my walkway and introduced herself. She had apparently surveyed the scene before stopping and rightly figured us for kindred spirits. After talking with her, we invited her to the party I was hosting that weekend. Helene was a mental health therapist, and many of my friends, due to my hotline and nursing work, worked in that field. By the end of that party, Helene had several job leads, ideas of good places to live and was the newest member of the Pikes Peak BMW Riders. Helene was a friend and riding companion from that moment on. With her stories and scrapbooks, Helene inspired me to ride into Mexico for the first time (I have now been there eleven more times). She also arranged for my first wife and I to borrow an R 60/7 from friends she had in England, my first European tour. In her will, Helene specified some funds for a remembrance party and will exit my world in a similar manner to how she arrivedâ€”not so wildly, but someone to remember and celebrate.

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Both the RT and the RS needing new steering head bearings were low-mileage, well kept bikes. They also both had rusting battery boxes, a symptom of battery acid spillage. While I was working on them, I pulled the boxes, wire brushed the rust and then treated it with Rust Reformer. This is a chemical compound painted on with a small brush. It reacts with the rust to arrest the rusting process, leaving a plastic-like grey-black coating. Perfect as a primer for a shot of black spray paint. You always want to pour out what you think you will need into a small vessel and work from that. If you stick the brush you’re using into the bottle, it can set up a reaction that will contaminate the remaining Rust Reformer! When I was living in England in the 1990s, I ran across about a dozen different brands of this stuff! It’s damp and rusty over there!

A set of the outer bearing races from one of the two bikes receiving new steering bearings. The marks indicate “brinelling”, that causes a “click-stop” feeling to the steering. Keeping the bearings adjusted and greased will help avoid this but it can happen to the best maintained airheads.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

The old, reliable Kukko 22-2 puller, as I extract the upper bearing race out of the steering head of the frame. Purchased (for a lot of money!) in the late 1970s. When ever I use this, I get unhappy that my ancestors evolved away from their prehensile tail. You need to hold two wrenches and a bracing bar as you pull out the bearing. One of my in-steadyuse tools, I also have a couple of attachments for it to pull out wheel and swing arm bearings.

You really do take an airhead apart when doing the steering bearings! I spent about three hours with one bike, around four with the other one. It would have been a lot longer had the fairings been in place!

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INJECTION CON FUEL INJECTION, THROTTLE BODIES AND YOU By Wes Fleming #87301 WHEN THE FIRST 1984

K 100 RS rolled off the production line, it was packed with more advanced technology than any other contemporary motorcycle. We’ve looked at anti-lock brakes (ABS) in this space before, so now let’s look at the other system the K bikes brought to BMW: fuel injection. Carburetors are effective, but they’re fussy little devices. They rely on gravity or vacuum and have a lot of tiny holes and passages in them which are easily blocked by gummy deposits created when gasoline sits undisturbed for more than a few weeks. Jets have to be cleaned when this happens, or even replaced, which you might want to do to alter your performance curve anyway. Fuel injectors do away with these issues, but along with improved efficiency, they also raise the complexity of the motorcycle. Electronic fuel injectors (EFI) require computers to command them as well as a myriad of sensors to provide the computers with enough information to keep that engine humming with an optimal fuel/air mixture. One thing that is the same between carburetors and fuel injected systems is the presence of a butterfly valve, controlled either directly or indirectly by the rider. The butterfly valve alters the amount of air flowing into the system. The sensors detect how much air is present, report that information up the chain and the computer increases or decreases the flow of gasoline to provide that optimal fuel/air mixture we crave. Until the advent of throttle-by-wire, when you twisted your wrist, the throttle cable moved the butterfly valve to change the air flow and things happened from there.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

This is the complete throttle body assembly, with the fuel injector in place but not connected to its holder or wiring. The butterfly valve turning mechanism on the right, and the fuel injector on top along the centerline of the throttle body. The idle control module is above the injector.

NNECTION Fuel injectors require a pressurized system, which means upgraded fuel hoses had to be used. While modern ones are usually reinforced with nylon and other space-age materials, in the early days of EFI it wasn’t odd to see steel or copper reinforced hoses; these quickly became too expensive for most manufacturers, which drove the shift to plastics. The sensors are the key to EFI. They measure air temperature, air intake pressure, engine temperature and throttle position. A fuel pump pushes gas to the fuel rails, where it is held until the injectors need it; think of the fuel rail as being similar to a float bowl in a carburetor. When the computer tells the injector to push fuel into the throttle body, a fine mist of fuel sprays through the nozzles to allow fuel and air to mix before the mixture is sucked into the combustion chamber. (Remember the stages of a four-stroke cycle: suck, squeeze, bang, blow.) Big benefits of fuel injectors, in addition to being more efficient, are that they improve fuel consumption and they don’t require as much attention as carburetors. Most modern gasoline contains detergents which effectively keep most fuel injectors clean for tens of thousands of miles, which means they only need our attention occasionally. Fuel injectors contain some parts that could go bad, but when fuel injectors go bad, it tends to happen all at once rather than gradually. If you trace a gradual problem to your fuel supply, it’s more likely to be a clogged fuel filter or dirty nozzles than a failing injector. An intermittent problem with your fuel injectors is more likely to be an issue with the wiring than the injector unit itself. If you notice your fuel economy is getting worse, the engine seems to be performing poorly or the bike idles rough, it’s time to pay a little attention to your injectors. Start with the simplest thing you can possibly do to keep your bike operating efficiently: pour a little fuel system treatment in the tank after your next fill-up. Popular brands include STP, Gumout, Chevron, Lucas and Liqui Moly. Pay attention to the dosing recommendations on the label; it’s better to spread the bottle out over several tanks of gas instead of dumping it all in at once. Along with treating the gas in the tank, it’s a good idea to check the electrical connectors powering and controlling your fuel injectors. You may need a tiny flathead screwdriver to

disengage the clips in order to gently disconnect the fittings; then clean both sides of the connector, using a small pick if necessary to clear debris. (If there is corrosion on the connectors, you may need to seek professional help.) Verify the wires are solidly connected to the fittings, then put a little dielectric grease on the connectors and snap them back together. Wipe off any excess dielectric. If your fuel injectors are still acting up at this point, it’s time to get a little deeper into the diagnostic process. If you have a GS-911 or other diagnostic tool, hook that up to your bike and read the fault codes. Make a note of any of them, especially if they relate to the fuel system, then clear the faults and go for a ride. If your bike is riding great again, make a note in your maintenance log (you DO keep a maintenance log, don’t you?) recording the date, odometer reading, symptoms of the problem and how you fixed it. If the same problems or fault codes come back, you’re probably looking at something in the system needing adjustment or replacement.

Here you can see the butterfly valve partially turned. The assembly is upside-down in this photo.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

TORQUE

THE

MATTER

With a little care, attention and the occasional application of prophylactic chemicals, there’s no reason your fuel injectors shouldn’t last the life of your motorcycle. The best thing you can do for them is use quality gasoline and ride, ride, ride to make sure the gas doesn’t sit in the tank.

Check out the MOA’s YouTube tech channel, Nicht Uber Max (nichtubermax.com), to see a video on how to remove and check your fuel injectors and throttle bodies. While the process will vary for your specific model, the concepts are the same. Send your questions or ideas for future columns to techquestions@ bmwmoa.org.

This photo shows the four nozzles on the tip of the injector. Note the surrounding casing is a little beat up; this likely doesn't greatly affect the injector's operation and is probably a result of impatient, ham-fisted reinstallation techniques on the part of the author.

Most R bikes use the same injectors on both cylinders, so it’s easy to swap the injectors side-to-side. If your injectors are not identical, see if you can find a friend with the exact same bike as you have, and ask if you can borrow their fuel injectors for a 10-minute ride. Gently disconnect the wiring and swap the injectors, then go for a ride. If your pal’s bike performs like yours was but yours performs great again, then you know you need new injectors. Call your dealer and order up the parts; if you can change your fluids, you can swap out the injectors, but as always, if you have any doubts, have a professional do the work. I currently have two BMWs, a 1998 K 1200 RS with 76,000 miles and my trusty (koff) 2005 R 1200 GS with 89,000 miles. The K’s injectors have never given me a moment of worry or hesitation, which is good because they’re under a body panel and hard to get at. One of the injectors on the GS failed at about 60,000 miles, not long after I bought the bike. I went through all the steps above and, when I did the buddy injector swap, discovered it was simply a bad injector. I replaced them both, keeping the good one as a spare in case I should ever need it. I haven’t…yet.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

A close-up of the fuel injector showing the o-ring used to prevent fuel from leaking out of the housing and the electrical connector at the top of the unit. Note the gummy buildup on the o-ring; this sticky mess results from gas sitting in one place for a long time.

www.touratech-usa.com

by Matias Corea #217227

A Life Changing Adventure from Brooklyn to Ushuaia

This story is about a love for motorcycle travel, about fulfilling dreams and taking risks. About feeling alive and making mistakes, breakdowns and breakthroughs, falling down and getting up, interruptions and improvisation. Itâ€™s about the need for change and leaving everything we know behind while forcing our way into the unknown. This is a story about two friends who decided to take a different path in life and ride their BMWs from Brooklyn to the southern tip of Argentina. PART 2

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

We have left the gray urban sprawl behind as we cross through the Appalachian Mountains. Fall brings with it damp mornings and patches of light rain though the days warm up slowly as we travel southwest. The landscape around us explodes with the colors of fall. Surrounded by vibrant nature, we wind our way through this postcard called the Blue Ridge Parkway. Our spirits are high. The Southeastern U.S. has a great network of stunning roads, from Virginia to New Orleans. They are well maintained with little commercial traffic, and safer than any highway. Itâ€™s a way for us to settle into a new rhythm and get used to the bikes as we stretch our riding muscles on these perfect roads. Skyline Drive begins in Virginia, then crosses into the Shenandoah National Park. We connect with the Blue Ridge Parkway and then catch the Natchez Trace outside Nashville, Tennessee. From there, it is all one gorgeous road through Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana, all the way to New Orleans. Riding on these roads is like riding through a postcard. They meander through National Parks with nothing man-made to taint their beauty. No gas stations, no restaurants, just about a thousand miles of perfectly paved road. While every rider dreams of twisting roads that never end, after entire days of leaning into a thousand bends, I admit I am looking forward to some straight stretches. Every time we stop someone approaches us, always curious about the bikes and what weâ€™re up to. When we tell people we are riding all the way to the tip of South America, we get wide eyes, handshakes of respect, and plenty of wishes for a safe journey. Even I am impressed about our plan, especially since we are now only about 500 miles into the trip.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

NE W YORK WYOMING

MICHIGAN

PENNSYLVANIA

IOWA

Harrisburg

NEBRASKA

BROOKLYN, NY

OHIO ILLINOIS

INDIANA

Front Royal

WEST V I R G I NA

COLOR A D O KANSAS

Afton

MISSOURI

VIRGINIA KENTUCKY

Nashville

Newland

TENNESSEE

N O R TH CAROLINA

Cherokee

OKLAHOMA NE W MEXICO

ARKANSAS

SOUTH CAROLINA

Tishomigo State Park MISSISSIPPI ALABAMA

GEORGI A

Jackson LOUISIANA

TEXAS

SKYLINE DRIVE BLUE RIDGE PKW Y

Houston

NATCHEZ TRACE PKW Y FLORIDA

Laredo

M E X I CO

New Orleans

UPCOMING ROUTE

Monterrey

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

The days pass quickly on the road. As we move further from the busy cities, we get to spend more time in nature. I haven’t really camped since I was a teenager and I’ve missed waking up in a small tent in the middle of a forest. I walk outside, still half asleep, and I feel immediate peace. There is something magical about waking up to the sound of birds and the wind gently moving the trees. It’s a different rhythm in the forest. It can almost slow your heart rate down. I get the water going, and I put some coffee in the filter. I look around and realize how much I’ve missed nature while living in NYC. Making coffee is not a morning chore anymore. It’s a quiet moment of pleasure with no need to rush through it. It’s my only focus. There’s beauty in getting used to new rituals. This is now part of what we do, how we live. We have simplified our lives a lot. I feel lighter and more nimble. Everything we have is on our bikes, and the things that I have back home seem to have suddenly lost their value and utility. Why do I have so much stuff? Do I really need everything I own? I feel as though I’m even carrying too many things right now. For every day that we plan to camp, we get food and wine in the nearest town and try to get to the campsite before dark. We learn the hard way that trying to set up camp in the dark takes twice as long when you’re tired and hungry and you just want to unwind. Setting up the tent, making a fire, sizzling something on the grill and toasting with your friend to a great day on the road—there’s nothing like it. I can’t imagine this trip without camping, the freedom of pitching our tent and being in nature for the night. No reception, no distractions, only a quiet forest and a slower pace.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

As a creative, I’m interested in learning about other people’s creative process, and what drives them to pursue their craft. As I was researching a camping hatchet, a friend pointed out a blacksmith in North Carolina named Liam Hoffman. I reached out to Liam and he accepted to see us on our way south. We arrived at Liam’s by mid-morning. He lives and works in Newland, North Carolina, and by the time we arrive, his oven is hot and he has already been hammering on steel for hours. As we film his process, he’s focused and nothing stops him from getting his work done in his shed-like workshop right in the middle of his beloved Blue Ridge Mountains. Liam is a self-taught craftsman. He learned blacksmithing by reading metallurgy books but also by watching videos on the internet. He’s only 24 years old and already has a renowned brand of axes. “I started when I was 13, and there was not much to do around here. The closest cinema is 40 minutes away,” he explains. “So, one day I made a fire and started beating on some metal, and it turned into this. I was 15 when I sold my first item, a kitchen knife. I’ve been doing this for seven years now.” Liam shows great pride in the fact that he makes every axe by hand, from start to finish, every time. “I leave the axe head forge-finished which shows that it was forged to shape, you can see the marks from the hammer in the head. I make everything on the axe from scratch. I don’t outsource anything. I think about the products I make as an investment. They are heirloom tools, something you can hand down to future generations.” As we leave Newland the next day, I think about Liam’s tools. When they are being made, the promise is that they will last. They are made to be repaired and maintained, not to be thrown away and replaced by a new one. I feel the same way about our old trusty Airheads.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

As we pass through Mississippi, we have to pay a visit to Bench Mark Works, a place legendary for its preservation of BMWs. There are few places where motorcycles are more important than everything else. Everyone at Bench Mark Works has an almost spiritual dedication to the preservation of the engineering of vintage BMW motorcycles. Walking into Bench Mark Works is like stepping into a different world. The guys at the desk are busy on the phone taking orders, and they call someone to come get us. To my surprise, Craig Vechorik, the owner, comes out to greet us. I didn’t expect to meet him, and I certainly didn’t expect he would take time to walk us around. Craig shows us various ongoing restoration projects throughout the space, and he answers all of our many questions with the passion, clarity and articulation of a true expert. His pride for what he does is palpable. Craig started his business in 1998 while he was still working another job. After getting married, his wife Elaine pushed him to focus on his passion and open a workshop. His business grew quickly, allowing Craig to quit his old job and focus solely on restoring vintage BMWs. He got into BMWs because, as he says, “They’re made from higher quality engineering and have a better fit, finish and longevity than anything made in America, Japan or England.” Walking around the showroom, I stop in front of what is the most beautiful BMW I have ever seen. It turns out to be Craig’s favorite as well: a 1936 R 17. “It’s my favorite because it’s very Art Deco,” Craig says. “It happens to be one of the fastest pre-war BMWs made. It will go right up to 100 miles an hour.” When asked about what he enjoys most about his work, he corrects me. “It’s not work,” he explains. “I work for myself, and this is what I have always wanted to do. I’m just having a good time, all the time.” We leave Bench Mark Works having an even deeper appreciation and love for the machines we have chosen to ride for 20,000 miles.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

The next couple of days we rode at an easy pace enjoying the calmness of the Natchez trace. No trucks and almost no cars in these first days of November. The foliage is like a poem. I am looking forward to New Orleans, and this road is the best way to get there from the northeast. Getting to New Orleans is our first small milestone. We’ve only been on the road for a few days, but I have been looking forward to arriving here since we left Brooklyn. Good food, great friends, and summer weather in November, what else can you ask for? Walking the streets of New Orleans feels like home. I have a very personal connection with this town, as if I had been here in a previous life. This is where jazz was born. As a saxophone player myself, I love to wander around the streets of the French Quarter listening to jazz pouring out from every street corner and walking into a bar to get a drink in the middle of the day. This

town is laid back, and no one is judging. My friend, John Greco, invited us to stay at his house in Mid-City for the week. John and I met seven years ago through our common friend and motorcycle mentor, Peter Boggia, while on a trip to the Sanfermines in Pamplona, Spain. In our attempt to be “Hemingways,” we ate jamón, we drank, and we sang late into the night for an entire week. We’ve been friends since. We both love riding and working on bikes, and there’s never a conversation about motorcycles between John and me that’s too long. That’s one of the things that bonds us. As a self-reliant rider, John has built a workshop in his backyard, and it has everything we need to work on our bikes. While here, I want to check that everything is still working properly so we do an oil change and a valve adjustment. While doing that, I find that one of my adjusting bolts is stripped. Luckily John lets me

borrow one from his R 80 G/S. Now that is friendship at its very best. We spend the next few days riding around the different neighborhoods, hitting as many different local joints as we can, listening to jazz and taking in the welcoming weather of the South. Having motorcycles allows us to move from one edge of the city to the other, multiple times a day. They make you part of the city’s fabric for a moment, and you experience it in a much deeper way, giving you an understanding of the city’s character that only the locals have. It’s sad to have to part ways with New Orleans and John, but I feel fulfilled as we haven’t left a single corner unexplored.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

It took us only two days to get to the Mexican border from New Orleans. Luckily, we had a chance to camp for a couple more days and enjoy the comforts of the U.S. The anticipation for the new part of our journey is high but comes with a slight nervousness as we do not know what to expect in this large country. Crossing through Laredo makes it a very memorable moment. We had never crossed the U.S./Mexico border by land before, and we assumed we would see signs as we got closer and would follow a clear procedure. Once at the border, we saw dozens of cameras everywhere and soldiers with FX-05 rifles in full military get-up. It was very intimidating to say the least. The soldiers were staring at us—two dudes on old motorcycles crossing through something resembling a war zone. Nervously, we rode our bikes through slowly, waiting for someone to guide us or to at least to point out where we could park our bikes and do the

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

paperwork. But no one said anything. They just kept staring. We safely passed what we thought was the first control, following the lines on the ground only to discover we were on a long bridge, closed in on both sides by tall fences. Ahead of us, a big green sign read “Bienvenidos a Mexico.” The ease of that crossing felt unsettling. Before we left Brooklyn, we spoke to everyone who would listen about our trip. Each time Mexico was mentioned, inevitably, we had to listen to horror stories about its dangers. From corrupt policemen stopping you in the middle of the road for a bribe, to drug lord kidnappings, gang killings, and even news stories of a few travelers who had been killed seemingly for no reason. These tales seeped into our subconscious. Admittedly, we felt a bit apprehensive about adventuring on secondary roads. We decided to ease into things and travel mostly on paved highways. These are safe by

default as they are fenced and monitored 24/7. The positive thing of taking these roads is that, with such a vast distance to cover in three weeks, it’s very convenient to be able to move faster than we could on smaller roads. The negative is that we feel disconnected from the landscapes we’re riding through. Nevertheless, we veer off to visit interesting Pueblos Magicos (“magic towns”) like Real del Catorce, and quintessential towns like Guanajuato and San Miguel Allende. As we spend more time in Mexico, we meet many different people, and they are all generous and kind to us. Everywhere we go in Mexico, people show us their towns with pride and invite us into their homes to help a couple of aching and weary motorcycle travelers. Despite our fears, we have no issues with police here and haven’t felt danger at any point. Either we’re lucky, or the stories we heard back in New York are just that—stories.

Chihuahua TOP RIGHT: A few miles from Wadley there is a road with a train cutting the road in the middle. We stood there perplexed, trying to figure out how to cross the road. Then a scooter emerged from under the tracks. The pass is quite low, but we managed to squeeze through by hunching over and walking the bikes. There are older tracks in the dry mud; it’s obvious this is how you cross and only us city boys think it’s strange.

BOTTOM RIGHT: We rode through Sierra Juarez in Oaxaca; it was Sinaloa almost 2 PM and we were hungry and hot. We hadn't seen anything for 45 minutes, so we stopped to have lunch. In the kitchen, the timid host nodded, then pointed at the side door. A single large wood stove with flat surfaces for cooking tortillas pulses with otherworldly smells. There is no menu, just what Rosa makes each day. Today is mostly tacos, enchiladas and quesadillas. We asked for whatever was easiest for her to make. She lives behind the kitchen with her husband - a truck driver - and their two children; they grow corn and trade it for provisions in the nearest town. She dances around the stove and I admire the simplicity of the moment while reflecting on the dependencies I create for myself. In a few minutes, our food is ready, and nothing beats the taste of homemade tacos.

USA Coahuila

Laredo

MONTERREY

MEXICO Durango

Estación Wadley

Real del 14

San Luis Potosí

Jalpan de Serra

Guanajuato Jalisco

Querétaro

Michoacán

CIUDAD DE MÉXICO Puebla

Sierra Juárez

Chiapas

La Soledad Oaxaca

Tabasco

Tuxtla Gutiérrez Salina Cruz

Mazunte

Comitán La Mesilla

N August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

GUA

As I reflect on the fears that were passed on before the trip, I realize that they came from people who have never made the trip themselves. It’s common to be afraid of things we don’t know, and it’s easier to stoke those fears rather than encounter them. Now that we’re fully ready to explore this beautiful country, we know we can’t afford to spend as much time as we’d like here. Mexico deserves months to explore it in depth. This country is a land of contrasts: one hundreddegree days in torrid lands, torrential rains in lush, junglelike sierras, beautiful warm beaches, and cold misty fog on its highest peaks. Mexico has all of it. Each week we ride through entirely new landscapes as if Mexico is many countries in one. Joel and I are starting to find our rhythm on and off the saddle, and we’re averaging 200 miles a day. We’d rather ride less and rest more than do 400-mile days. Having budgeted six months to ride 20,000 miles, we could ride 120 miles a day and still hit Ushuaia in April. Some like to ride 350+ miles a day, but we don’t see the point. Though we love riding, we like traveling more. We’re here to experience cultures, people, landscapes – all of those things we might never see again. So, we’d rather go slower and not throttle through countries.

TOP: One of the best parts of life on the road is how few things one has to worry about. Our checklist for accommodation requirements is very short. On the top of the list is making sure the bikes can be parked inside or in a protected parking garage–after that, everything else is negotiable. This also allows us to leave the side cases and only take in our duffle bags with our clothing and toiletries. BOTTOM: A friend had posted once about her plates being stolen. Since we planned on shipping our bikes back to the U.S., losing them was not ideal. We decided to make copies and use them from Mexico onwards. We “matched” the design of the plates, and we removed “New York” to not advertise the bike’s origin. We doublelaminated three pairs so we could have spares that felt rigid and more “real.” Because the plastic copies were too thin, we turned our plates around and just mounted the fakes on top. The plate trick came in handy when we got a parking ticket in Guanajuato where I walked outside to find an agent bent over behind my bike. I asked, “Can I help you officer?” Then I saw that he had unscrewed my plate holder and handed me the ticket. He said that I had to pay the ticket to retrieve the plate. The holder had both plates which was silly of us. In a bold move I took the holder from his hand and said, “Here’s the plate, you don’t need to take a piece of my motorcycle.” As I handed him the fake plate only. I like to imagine my fake plastic New York license plate still hanging in some wall in the Guanajuato police station with a little plaque that warns, “Be aware of fake plates.”

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

We have been in Mexico for three weeks when we approach the border. Our days in Mexico have been a great experience and a perfect transition between the United States and Central America. This border is supposed to be an easy one to cross, but it comes with hours of headaches partly because of our lingering anxiety from the last border crossing. Three weeks earlier we had crossed the border into Mexico, and we didn’t get our passports stamped! We were so nervous crossing the border that we didn’t consider the consequences of missing the Mexican entrance stamp. We were just so glad not to be in that place that we kept riding. The Mexican immigration office at the Guatemalan border is unofficial looking: a small one-story building with old mirrored glass and space inside for no more than 15 people where a couple of agents are behind a worn-out counter, moving as slowly as humanly possible. Once it’s finally our turn, we hand in our passports. The agent seems very confused. “Where is the entry stamp?” he asks. “Which entry stamp?” I reply, while I finally connect the dots. He asks us where and when we entered Mexico, and he shakes his head disapprovingly, then smiles with disdain, like we’re dummies. He says that because we don’t have an entry stamp, we’ll have to return to Laredo, some 1,500 miles north, to get our stamp. I’m stunned speechless as a nervous knot forms in my stomach. Going back to Laredo is out of the question. Adding 3,000 miles, and losing two weeks of time, just because we made a mistake is too hard a pill to swallow. I tell him that his solution is crazy, and I suggest there might be a different one. “Maybe we could pay something,” suggesting a bribe as subtly as possible. He gets up from his desk to talk to a superior. While the agent is in the back room, I go over every possibility and beat myself up for having made such a huge mistake. After what feels like an eternity, he comes back and asks us for a $50 fee to stamp our passports in and out. I am both relieved and angry. He knew the fee was a solution from the very beginning, and of course, this is not the first time this has

happened. The agent tells me to “put the money inside the passport, it will be faster that way.” I know exactly what is happening, but I don’t want to push my luck. I put a $100 bill inside my passport, close it, then slide it toward him. He opens it, slides his chair back slightly, looks to his right, takes his own wallet out from his back pocket of his pants, then puts the bill in, and gives me $50 back. It’s so obvious it’s offensive. Basically, this routine is how the cameras don’t capture the illegal bribe. But I go with it. Still, this is better than riding 3,000 miles just to get the stamp and save $50. We walk outside where another border agent takes a carbon copy of our chassis number, snaps pictures of the bikes, and checks our luggage. Everything is very slow and there is a 45-minute wait between one agent and the other. When everything is done on the Mexican side, it’s already 4 o’clock in the afternoon and too late to get across the Guatemalan border. It will be

dark in less than two hours. We head back to a nearby town for the night knowing tomorrow we’ll cross earlier and be done with it. The next day we wake up early, anxious to cross over to Guatemala and start this new exciting leg of the trip. We want to make sure we don’t hit the hoards of tourist buses so we make sure to get there by 9 a.m. Crossing is a breeze, and in 30 minutes we’re on the other side. There’s something emotionally draining about crossing difficult borders, but the sense of release and excitement is like a drug. As we leave Mexico behind knowing there was so much more to explore, I also feel the need to keep moving forward. It’s been six and a half weeks since we left New York City, and we’ve spent three and a half weeks in Mexico. We’re feeling the itch to change things up a bit, knowing a lot of places to discover lie ahead of us.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

BMW's

A MotoGP bike for the masses

een r G M. n e tev S By

19 9 8 #19

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

Inside a nondescript industrial building south of Los Angeles, the custodian of the gaggle of new press bikes stored there pointed to a brilliant red one and said, “That one’s yours.” I mentally screamed, “Yes!” I was lukewarm about the other color available for the 2020 XR, “Ice Grey,” which to me, looks like someone sprayed clear lacquer over grey primer. With the fob for the keyless system ensconced in the surprisingly generous weather resistant compartment on top of the fuel tank, I pressed the go button and with the instantaneous response of a light switch, the four-cylinder, 999cc marvel exploded to life with a 2000 rpm authoritative call to arms. Amped up by the siren song of promised eye socket-crushing acceleration, I pulled in the clutch and selected first gear. Gently easing out the clutch lever, the still-cold engine gave a momentary lurch before it stalled dead, due only to my awkward finger movements. I did not look back at

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

the garage staff. So began my adventure with the latest in technology from BMW. Having my own XR with over 32,000 miles, I feel well qualified to render an opinion, and—SPOILER ALERT—The new bike is fantastic. It does everything you ask it to, yet in better ways than you’d expect. The new XR will inevitably be compared to four BMW standards: the outgoing model, with which it shares almost no parts save switchgear; the 1250 GS and GSA; the BMW S 1000 RR and R, and finally, all other motorcycles. The new bike started with a clean sheet of paper. At its heart is a new S engine, which appears in the S 1000 RR only with a different head, the “Shift Cam,” which is the current crown jewel of engine technology. When I first heard that the XR would not get this admittedly heavier and more complex head, I felt a sense of

disappointment. BMW said this bike “didn’t need it,” and that sounded to me like a cop-out. I quickly learned that they were right. On a street machine that rarely goes over 10,000 rpm, there is little need for additional ultra high rpm power. The XR’s new double overhead cam engine and drive train is 16 pounds lighter than the former XR and produces noticeably more mid-range torque, despite being about a half an inch narrower. In fact, this XR engine has more torque in the 2,000 to 6,000 range than the RR. Riding more than 1,000 miles over five days, the increase in torque was easily felt. Cruising at speed on California’s Covidemptied freeways, passing only required a few degrees of throttle twist to zip by traffic in sixth gear, which, incidentally, is an 8 percent taller gear than previously used. The transmission is

further refined as well, and with the Shift Assist Pro, it seems that you need only “think” the bike into the next gear. The clutch itself is a marvel of engineering. It is called an “anti-hopping clutch,” meaning that if you downshift without the shift assist, releasing the clutch quickly won’t cause the rear wheel to lock up and produce wheel hop. Another safety item has been incorporated into the XR’s front brake. It was found that during panic stops, when the front brake was grabbed, some riders inadvertently kept a bit of pressure twisting on the throttle, thus causing the stopping distance to be increased. The XR’s main computer has the ability to sense a panic stop via its six-axis controller and cuts fuel to the engine assuring a minimum stopping distance. The controller also intervenes when a panic brake situation occurs in a curve. Typically, without the multi-axis ABS, a hard grab of the front brake will result in a low

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

side crash, but this latest technology will ease the application of the ABS, allowing a safer stop. Other goodies include a TFT screen, cornering lights with the Headlight Pro option, accessory LED fog lights to supplement the now standard LED headlights, available forged wheels with thicker brake discs and overall reduced rotating inertia, a lighter and narrower frame, narrower handlebars that are decoupled for elimination of vibration, and six seat options, including low, high, comfort and M. The seating position is slightly different and improved. By the time I had traveled to the main street, I could already feel a more responsive and lighter machine; much more than I’d expect from the 22-pound weight reduction. I would later learn that the wheels are directly off the RR, and their lighter weight helps its agility. The Carbon Package contributed to this bike getting more compliments from riders and even pedestrians than any other bike I’ve ever ridden! Although expensive at $1,700, the package is considerably less than if one were to purchase the parts separately. There are two dealer options for windscreens, a shorty and a taller touring screen. The stock screen, which can now be controlled with one hand from the cockpit, compliments the overall improved aerodynamics of the bike and is better performing than the old stock screen, but if this bike were mine, I’d also get the touring screen and switch out screens for long, high speed touring rides. This is an easy task using only four simple screws. Options include a locking GPS mount for the BMW Nav IV, cruise control, hill hold and luggage prep. The new panniers are

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

light years ahead in looks from the prior version. A new tank bag is convertible to a backpack—nice touch! Forged wheels are a relative bargain, costing only $1,350 as a factory option and include thicker brake rotors for anticipated track day use; the decrease in rotational inertia contributes to even greater response and agility in steering inputs. High performance models and parts for BMW Motorrad have typically borne an HP logo. That changes with this year as BMW is now using their corporate brand “M” series, as seen on cars, parts and pieces. Our test bike, with the Carbon Package, sported several locations where the M is displayed. Dealer options include M levers, hand protectors, footrests, forged wheels, carbon bits and even carbon engine protection bars! A completely new frame provides a rider position that is still touring oriented, but slightly more aggressive. The rider sits about an inch further forward with bars positioned a half inch lower. BMW claims better rider integration with better weight distribution. The bars are also about an inch and half narrower to make the ride feel more lively and help with lane splitting. A new suspension joins the new frame, featuring a direct acting rear shock for better compliance and Marzocchi forks to offer better compliance in the “Road” mode and a more supple ride. When electronically activated into Dynamic or the optional Dynamic Pro mode, the ride stiffens and adapts in 10 microseconds to road conditions. The interaction of all the sensors, the main computer (or ECU) and the electronics for throttle and brakes make the bike a superior machine for going fast compared

to MotoGP bikes of not too long ago. Dynamic Pro mode allows for degrees in intervention for wheelies or stoppies (which we did not test since we had to return the bike “in the condition as we found it.”) The Pro mode can also be self-leveling. Joining in my road test and sharing their impressions of the new bike were two other XR owners with lots of riding experience, Deena Mastracci and Rick Giroux, officers in our local BMW MOA club. Getting off the bike, after a spirited run through a twisty mountain section, Deena called to Rick, “I love it!” She then turned to me and said, “Shall I hate you now, or later?” Would she hate me now because she has to go and order one or hate me later when she has to pay for it! When I asked what she liked best, she answered, “The throttle, coming off the corners. I had to customize my current XR for riding position, with different bars and seat; this bike feels perfect as is.” Deena is a hard riding, Iron Butt certified, BMW enthusiast who considers herself “average build” and is 5’6”.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

Rick, who at six feet tall owns his own second XR and also has a GS and a 2020 RR. When he took the bike for a while, his first comment was that the bike felt “more flickable” with amazing mid-range power. He added, “I felt like I was sitting in the bike rather than on it. I own a 2019, and this bike is 20 percent better in all ways.” Rick, Deena and I all agreed that the ride was smoother over road irregularities and shifting on the fly to Dynamic Mode quickly made the bike ready for aggressive riding. We also all agreed that the new brakes, now BMW-Hayes rather than the old model’s Brembos, at first seemed “grabby,” but after our second or third stops, we realized they were absolutely rock solid and efficient, needing only modest input to bring the bike to an astoundingly quick stop. It was hard to tell during our mountain roads day of play if it was possible to feel the claimed 7 percent increase in aerodynamic efficiency, but my 800-mile trip up the coast yielded at least 10 percent better gas mileage. I do know that a 400-mile day on highways on my own XR will leave me wondering why I took it on that ride. On this bike, it was a decent ride but not quite a plush as my GSA, which makes 400 miles seem like child’s play. My only complaint is that BMW did not incorporate a hydraulic clutch for those days where you’re stuck in traffic. BMW motorcycles are designed and engineered by enthusiasts. They recognize that no single bike can do everything perfectly. BMW engineers changed the focus of the new XR to be sportier since the GS and GSA need to remain the ideal adventure bike “multi-tool.” Now, instead of trying to pawn off the XR as a sporty version of a GS, they’ve realized that the XR fills the marketing position of providing a sports bike experience that is capable of comfortable all-day touring. The new XR provides very similar performance on the streets to the RR, but with comfort. The acceleration off corners is scary fast, adrenalin pumping and smile inducing, but the bike can also be used for a docile run out for a quart of milk. Only a few years ago, even true race bikes weren’t as fast, but you can still use this XR to commute daily to the job or on a tour of a thousand miles. I believe the 2020 S 1000 XR easily qualifies as a MotoGP for the masses.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

Tech specs Engine Type: Water-cooled, four-stroke, in-line four-cylinder engine Bore x Stroke: 80 mm x 49.7 mm Rated Output 165 hp at 11,000 rpm Max. Torque 84 lb-ft at 9,250 rpm Compression Ratio 12.5:1 Emission Control Closed-loop, three-way catalytic converter

Performance/Fuel Consumption Maximum Speed: Over 125 mph Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 3.2 seconds Fuel Consumption 37 mpg Fuel Type Premium Unleaded

Chassis/Brakes

Frame: Aluminum composite bridge frame, self-supporting engine Front Wheel Control Upside-down telescopic fork, slide tupbe diameter 45 mm, Dynamic ESA, damping electronically adjustable Rear Wheel Control Aluminum underslung double-sided swing arm with central spring strut, Dynamic ESA, damping electronically controlled Suspension Travel front/rear 6" / 6" Wheelbase 61.1" Wheels Die-cast aluminum wheels standard, forged wheels available Rims and Tires 3.50 x 17" / 120/70 ZR 17 front 6.00 x 17" / 190/55 ZR 17 rear Front Brake Dual floating disc brakes, four-piston fixed calipers, 320 mm Rear Brake Single disc brake, two-piston floating caliper, 265 mm ABS BMW Motorrad ABS Pro

Power Transmission

Self-reinforcing multi-plate anti-hopping wet clutch, mechanically operated. Constant-mesh six-speed gearbox, 525 chain

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

Exploring

ALABAMAâ€™S HIGHWAY 25 By Vance Harrelson #100402 Photography by Lee Harrelson #145612 54

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

ne of the many things I have discovered during my 20-year relationship with BMW motorcycles and the riding community is what I refer to as “adventure touring.” Now I realize my definition may have a slightly different meaning than others, but I define adventure touring as taking little roads instead of the big roads and taking the time to discover what is along those roads. Too often we are so short on time that we ride right by some of the most interesting people and places that tell the story of the road and its role in the history of the area. I have often heard people say there is nothing worth seeing where they live and they’ve got to get away to find something new worth exploring. I believe this is rarely true, and if they take the time to really discover their own backyard, they will, too. My brother Lee and I recently set out to prove my theory on one of the more well-known motorcycle roads in central Alabama. Ride along with us and see what we found while riding a great motorcycle road.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum.

Alabama Highway 25 is a two-lane ribbon of asphalt 257 miles in length stretching from southwestern Alabama, north to the Georgia border. For our adventure, we started at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum just outside Birmingham, Alabama, and rode south to the highway’s southern terminus near Thomasville. The Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum houses one of the world’s largest collections of vintage motorcycles and motorsports memorabilia. The museum itself is located in a beautiful park-like setting that is home to one of the world’s premier road racing circuits. A stop here could easily become a half day visit so plan your time accordingly on the front or back end of your trip. Whatever you decide, just be sure to give your visit to Barber enough time, and by all means don’t miss it!

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

Our next stop was in downtown Leeds, Alabama, where we visited a renovated train depot and read about the legend of John Henry the “Steel Drivin’ Man.” Henry drilled holes for the explosives used to blast tunnels during the construction of the Columbus & Western Railroad between Goodwater and Birmingham. According to legend, Henry was involved in a race against a steam-powered drill that its manufacturer claimed could do the job faster than a man. Witnesses claim that after the all-day contest, Henry beat the steam-powered drill in a head-to-head contest. It should be noted that other states claim this happened in their location. Who am I to say for sure, but the park and depot here are worth a stop in this quaint little town. Just east of downtown Leeds, Alabama 25 turns south off Main Street (US78) and the next 19 miles provide some of the best motorcycling road in the state. This route crosses over the top of Double Oak Mountain and provides smile-inducing curves offering great views and elevation changes. Stop at the top of the mountain for a great view of the valley below, and when there, you will be directly above a railroad tunnel piercing through the mountain below you. Remember the tale of John Henry that “Steel Drivin’ Man?” This is where the legendary contest is said to have taken place. Once you are off the mountain, Highway 25 will bring you through the settlements of Vandiver and then Sterrett, where you may want to stop at Whit’s Grocery & General Store for a break and a cool drink. Shortly after leaving Sterrett, you’ll ride through the settlement of Calcis, once home to a large limestone quarrying operation. At one time, this bustling little town included several stores, a passenger rail depot and post office. Continuing south you will soon arrive in the town of Vincent, and crossing US 231 you will be headed straight for the twin smokestacks of a coal-fired power plant in Wilsonville, almost ten miles away.

Story of the steel driving man John Henry in Leeds, Alabama.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum in Clanton, Alabama.

Your next town will be Columbiana, the county seat of Shelby County. Highway 25 bypasses the center of town, but I encourage you to turn left at the first traffic light and drive through the historic and picturesque Main Street, which is lined with beautiful old homes near the downtown area. Be sure to circle the original courthouse, and if time permits, you can visit the Shelby County Museum and Archives there. There are also plenty of good eats in town, including BBQ and other southern favorites. Just ask a local for options and directions. Heading south from there, you will soon enter the town of Calera, which is home to the Heart of Dixie Railroad Museum. Here you will find an extensive collection of old trains from all eras as well as a nice gift shop. There are many special events held here throughout the year for every train enthusiast young and old, so be sure to check it out.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

Tree carvings in Orr Park Montevallo.

Continuing our ride south, Lee and I begin to notice everything starting to turn white—the road, the trees, the buildings, the cars…everything. We were now passing through the mineralrich part of central Alabama and home to many limestone quarries. It turns out that process of processing limestone is quite dusty and about as close we get in Alabama to snow! The quaint little college town of Montevallo comes next. Once here, I suggest taking time to visit the beautiful campus of The University of Montevallo and Orr Park in the town’s center and

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

the home of the Tinglewood Carvings. Tim Tingle, a coal miner by trade, took it upon himself to transform storm-damaged cedar trees into glorious works of art in the early 1990s. Tingle is still carving today. Montevallo is also the geographic center of the state, and a marker off highway 25 just north of town identifies the exact location. Continuing the ride south brings us through Brierfield and near the historic Brierfield Ironworks State Park. Stop in, take a step back in time and learn about the history of this area. Camping is

Downtown Columbiana.

University of Montevallo.

available along with some quaint cabins offering modern amenities and a swimming pool in season. Be sure to check in with the locals at the general store. They will be glad to see you and answer any questions you have.

Rental cabins available in Brierfield Iron Works Park.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

A bit south of Brierfield you will pass through the small community of Sixmile, which was once the home of Sixmile Academy, a coed elementary and secondary school that operated from 1858 -1896. A historical marker sits along Highway 25, and you can visit the old school’s site near by. Next come the twin cities of Centreville and Brent. Centreville

Route map

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

is the county seat for Bibb County and offers visitors a nice downtown area surrounding the courthouse and is worth a stop. The adjoining city of Brent has a rich heritage of logging and lumber production. In 1973, a massive tornado hit Brent and destroyed 90 percent of the buildings in town and killed five people. The twister then traveled for 139 more miles and still ranks as the longest tornado track in U.S. history. South of town you will find the Sawmeal Restaurant, a well-known stop for good home cooking. In addition to the great food there, you will find many pictures and memorabilia chronicling the local logging and lumber industry. From here Highway 25 continues south through the southern section of the Talladega National Forest and winds lazily along with little traffic and plenty of gentle curves. There are many signs along the way pointing to old settlements, cemeteries, and churches out in the forest. There are some very interesting spots to visit for those with a taste for off-road riding. However, be aware that these side roads can vary widely in condition as you get deeper into the forest. A ranger station in Brent can provide information and maps if you want to explore the beautiful forest. Approximately 30 miles south of Brent is the town of Greensboro. Highway 25 takes you right through town on Main Street and past the Pie Lab. This place is known for their delicious pies (they ship nationwide) and deli-style lunches. The dining room is only open Fridays and Saturdays, but if you time it right the Pie Lab is worth the stop for great food and friendly service. A word of caution though, you may need to allow time for a nap afterward! Greensboro is also home for farm raised catfish. This local industry began in 1960 when a feed salesman, along with a cattle and cotton farmer, decided to try hatching catfish fingerlings for commercial purposes. The industry has seen its ups and downs over the years but still provides catfish nationwide, and you will see evidence of it everywhere.

Hathcocks Grocery in Brent.

After Greensboro, the intersection of US Highway 80, brings you through through the small town of Faunsdale. With a population of fewer than 100, you may think nothing big happens here, but every spring the town sponsors their annual Faunsdale Crawfish Festival, complete with authentic southern cooking, music and dancing. That same week, the bi-annual Faunsdale Biker Rally is within walking distance. This is an adult-only event, with “bikers” from all over the state in attendance. If you happen to visit on a day other than during these events, I recommend a stop at the Faunsdale Café on Main Street. They have a great deli menu but believe me, their cheeseburger is really hard to beat, and stopping there gives one the chance to meet the locals. Eight miles further south brought us to the small town of Dayton. Established in 1832, by 1860 Dayton was thriving and supporting schools, a cotton gin, a blacksmith and tavern along with several large homes. Today, the William Poole House remains and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Be sure to check out the old section of the cemetery where the graves date back to the earliest days of the town, as well as the Civil War. Continuing our ride south brought us to Thomaston and home

of the annual Pepper Jelly Festival which is held the last Saturday in April and celebrates the rural life and traditions of western Alabama. I have never attended, but it is on my to-do list. Our final 22 miles took us to the southern terminus of this great road and its intersection with Alabama Highway 5. Lee and I spent two full days on this route, and I am sure there is even more to discover. Along the way we did make several new friends and collected a lot of information on local points of interest as we went along. The point of this story is to stress that there is a lot to see along the way, once off busy highways and Interstates. I believe the same can be said along any route if you slow down and take the time to look around. Lee and I plan to keep on exploring and we hope you do, too. Ride well! More information at these sites: • barbermuseum.org • en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Henry_(folklore) • hodrrm.org • brierfieldironworks.com

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

FROM

THE

FOUNDATION

THERE MUST BE SOMETHING IN THE WATER THIS MONTH. THAT MIGHT EXPLAIN

MOTORCYCLES: THE GIFTS THAT KEEP ON GIVING

By Ted Moyer # 100360

an extra dose of kindness or maybe a dash of generosity that has fueled several unique donations to the MOA Foundation. Specifically, a bevy of bikes have been donated by BMW MOA members for a variety of programs. Greg Schulte of Pagosa Springs, Colorado, donated a beautiful 1999 R 1100 S, which happens to be the first model year for the sporty boxer. Greg got wind of the Foundation’s plans to develop a historical museum and made a long-term “loan” of his prized motorcycle. The Foundation will take stewardship of the bike for the next ten years for display and preservation purposes. Not long after taking delivery of Greg’s motorcycle, Ed Sabin, an MOA member since 1973, read the news of the Foundation’s plan to develop the New Rider Experience as part of the G.E.A.R.S. program. If you did not see the latest news, the Foundation is developing an interactive riding demonstration allowing brand new riders to experience two wheels with the hopes of eventually climbing aboard a G 310. Ed thoughtfully donated his G 310 to the New Rider Experience and set the wheels in motion to drive an entirely new generation of riders at MOA events and rallies. It doesn’t stop there. Rolf Gabbe of ROK Straps fame donated his K 1100 RS to the Foundation. Although the beloved K and Rolf have been through quite a few “experiences” together, it is the perfect donor for a future Foundation fundraiser or customization. No plans yet on how the Foundation will utilize the K, but the donation has potential in the Foundation’s raffle program, which offsets the Foundation’s annual operating costs. Possibly the most notable donation of the month came from Fritz Spokas of Tamaqua, Pennsylvania. You may recognize Fritz’s name as the winner of our Completely Vintage R 100 RS this spring. After viewing the perfectly restored RS, Fritz felt it would be better to preserve the first-year RS forever and donated the bike back to the Foundation. Plans are underway to deliver the bike to South Carolina and properly display the iconic motorcycle for everyone’s viewing pleasure. Possibly the most touching donation of the month came from Steve Satterwhite of Tampa, Florida. Steve has been an MOA member for better than 30 years and called recently to make some changes to his membership. During our conversation, Steve told me he recently lost his MOA hat and asked if I could send him a replacement. Any hat would do the trick, and he promised to donate “a little something” to the Foundation for the effort. After the call, I packaged a few hats along with a note to Steve thanking him for his membership and wishing him the best. I had no idea Steve’s donation would be a 2008 F 800 ST in pristine condition with only 2,000 miles on the clock. After making the decision to donate his bike, Steve said “I promised the Foundation a donation and I am a man of my word.” You are correct, Steve. You are a man of your word and much more! Regardless of whether the motorcycle is donated to support a specific program, for display in a historical museum or simply to offset financial operations, the gift of a motorcycle often has a greater value to the Foundation than it does in the open market. Every MOA member who chooses to donate makes a difference in the effort to save lives through rider safety, education and training. How could we ever put a value on the life that is saved? From all of us at the Foundation and on behalf of every member who has benefited from rider training, thank you for your generosity. As always, I encourage you to ride safe!

Ted Moyer 64

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

Get There We get it. You need a place to celebrate you. That’s why we created MotorradFest – a destination event that celebrates everything about motorcycling – the bikes, the people, the passion, the experience. It happens September 25‐27, 2020 in Tennessee. Come for the day or the weekend. It’s your reason to ride. Register at mfest.bmwmoa.org

Riding the Smoky Mountain Twisted Tour By Louise Powers #212117 “WHY DID YOU REQUEST A GS?” HE YELLED AT ME OVER

the phone. “Because we’re doing an off-road tour, and that’s what I want to ride,” I responded, wondering why it was an issue. “We’re doing an ON-road tour,” he replied. “Oh, really?” I thought. When a friend asked me to join him on a tour with the BMW Performance Center, I assumed it would be for an off-road tour. To be honest, I didn’t know the BMW Performance Center offered tours, and while I know the staff has fantastic instructors and classes are offered for all riding styles, I was unaware they offered more. But last September, I found myself geared up in street-riding apparel (or at least the closest thing I had to it) and

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

sitting in a briefing on what we would experience over the next two days. I listened as BMW Brand Ambassador Shawn Thomas and BMW Performance Center head instructor Aaron Rankin suggested riding something other than what I was used to. Shortly before arriving in South Carolina, I found out I’d be riding an S 1000 XR. That sounded good to me, but I knew nothing about the XR except that it had two wheels and was made by BMW; I would get to know it once we set off on our tour. The next morning, the tour participants met over breakfast. Our group was small and included five riders and four staff members, three who would ride with us and one who would drive the chase vehicle. Immediately after breakfast, we headed into a meeting

room where the PC staff introduced themselves and gave us a rough itinerary of what was to follow, as well as the basic rules of riding in a group. Aaron Rankin would be leading the group, accompanied by Ricardo Rodriguez riding sweep along with Cassie Maier, another instructor at the PC. The chase vehicle would carry our overnight bags, meaning we’d be able to ride carrying minimal gear. After the brief meeting, we were finally released to our bikes, and I hopped on the XR and immediately began experimenting with its height and balance. Before long, all of us were chomping at the bit to get riding. The reasonable temperatures felt earlier that morning were now giving way to South Carolina’s late summer heat and humidity, something this Colorado girl was not used to. We were all ready to ride, and we set off on wide, fast roads chosen by the Performance Center to get used to the bikes. Included in our group was my XR, a K 1600 Bagger, an R nineT, an F 850 GS, an R 1250 GS, and a handful of R 1250 RTs. As we shuffled around in the pack finding the spots where we wanted to ride, we quickly turned off onto small, winding two-lane roads. We rode through farmland dotted with lovely little houses and animals as we snaked through the state park full of towering trees while making our way up into the Smoky Mountains. Our first stop was a quick break at a bakery near Hendersonville, offering mouth-watering pastries and curious locals wanting to know about our adventure. In exchange, they gave us a little history of the mountains we were riding. Our timing was perfect, as our next destination was the famed Blue Ridge Parkway in the middle of those mountains. Once there, I found myself having a great time zipping my XR through the twisties and scenic sweepers. Before long, we arrived at a lookout point and stopped for a photo opportunity. The Smoky Mountain views were breathtaking. Often when people come to ride in Colorado, I hear comments on how rocky our trails are. That typically elicits a smile and a comment along the lines of, “The Rocky Mountains, not just a clever name!” I have to admit that as I looked across the valley at the bluehued mountains in the distance, I thought, “Huh! Smoky Mountains, not just a clever name!” as I was utterly charmed by the

beauty laid out before me. We stayed just long enough to get the photos we wanted. If beautiful roads, pastries and stunning scenery were not enough, we had more to see. When another rider asked if I wanted to swap bikes and try the Bagger, I jumped at the chance. I admit I was intimidated by the bike, but this seemed like the perfect place to try it out. Riding the Bagger on the Blue Ridge Parkway put a huge smile on my face as I felt myself relaxing and enjoying the powerful machine beneath me and the beautiful scenery all around me. After more miles of eye-popping views and lunch at a tiny but delicious local restaurant, we found ourselves at Dale’s Wheels Through Time motorcycle museum in Maggie Valley, North Carolina. The museum is a beautiful collection of more than 300 running vintage motorcycles, and the Performance Center had arranged for a fascinating presentation on one of the most interesting bikes there with a bizarre history. After leaving the museum, we had one more stop scheduled for the day: The Tail of the Dragon. I had heard of this famous stretch of road for many years, and the information always boiled down to two things: The Tail of the Dragon is super fun and always super crowded. Arriving at the end of the day, we were given a choice to ride it that afternoon or to come back the next morning. Seeing the Dragon’s lack of traffic, we chose to ride the 11 miles and 318 curves that evening. I was back on the XR when I rode the Dragon and just enjoyed every curve. Traffic was light, with only a few other riders out. Once we reached the Tennessee state line, we turned around and rode it again since we were staying in North Carolina for the night. It was the

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

perfect end to a great day of riding. One would expect the riding on a BMW Performance Center tour to be fabulous but may wonder what the hospitality would be like. Wonder no more. Our accommodations sat smack dab in the middle of the mountains at the rustic, but beautiful, Snowbird Mountain Lodge. The next morning began with us on the Cherohala Skyway and sweeping through the Nantahala National Forest. The many shades of green and the fresh scent of the forest vied with the beautiful roads as my favorite place that day. North Carolina has the most beautiful and well-kept roads I have seen anywhere. Gliding through sweepers or concentrating on the apex of tight turns was easier without having to worry about potholes or broken pavement. As we rode, we experienced more twists and turns through the national forest along with several small waterfalls and creeks, all while sunshine streamed through the trees or shone brightly on walls of kudzu. If you don’t live in the south, the undulating kudzu covering everything in its path is a sight to behold and was not scarce on this tour. After lunch, we stopped at a rock outcropping where a waterfall cascaded over us. While there, we encountered another group of riders, took pictures of each other, and acknowledged what a beautiful day it was and how fortunate we felt to be able to enjoy it in our own way. Finally, after a few more gas stops, we were rolling back into the Performance Center as a storm was moving into the area. Our arrival was timed perfectly to avoid the soaking that would have come had we been any later. Once back, we sadly exchanged goodbyes despite knowing we had just spent two fantastic days of riding together while making new friends. If you did not know the Performance Center hosted tours, you were not alone. The PC offers a wide range of them, both on-road and off-road, from one to three days in length. This is a great way for someone like me who came from thousands of miles away, and who wanted to ride the area. It’s the ultimate fly-n-ride. I also came away from this tour with an all-new love of road bikes, especially the K 1600 Bagger. If you’re looking for a well-thought-out tour to ride the best roads in this area, this is the way to go. Likewise, if you are thinking about a new bike, this is the perfect way to spend a couple of days on the model you’re thinking about to help make your decision. I enjoyed myself so much that I am now eagerly waiting to try their off-road tour.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

UP TO 750 MORE REASONS TO

JOIN THE MOA

In the market for a new BMW motorcycle? Well, if you are, your MOA membership is about to pay huge dividends. BMW MOA members are now included in the BMW Motorrad Appreciation Program for 2019 giving current MOA members up to $750 off the purchase of a new, untitled BMW motorcycle. This new incentive offers active BMW MOA members who have been a member for one year or longer, $250 off C-series and G-series motorcycles, $500 off F-series and R-series motorcycles and $750 off K-series and S-series motorcycles. Additionally, this new BMW Motorrad Appreciation Program discount can be combined with other seasonal incentives or sales offers. MOA members are eligible for one purchase incentive during the 2019 calendar year for any new 2018, 2019 or 2020

qualifying model, defined as any new, previously unregistered BMW motorcycle. BMW auction units do not qualify. The new incentive may be combined with other sales offers or incentives, except other BMW Motorrad Appreciation group discounts such as the Military Purchase Offer or Emergency Services Purchase Offer. MOA members interested in purchasing a new BMW motorcycle with the discount applied should visit their local BMW retailer for details. Proof of membership, such as your BMW MOA membership card, showing a full year of membership will be required to secure the discount. If you can’t find your MOA membership card, they are available online at bmwmoa.org in the member profile area, or a replacement card can be ordered through the MOA membership office.

NOT A BMW MOA MEMBER YET?

Well, you’ve now got 750 more reasons to join. Get started today by joining online at bmwmoa.org or call (864) 438-0962. You could be on your way to $750 off your next BMW motorcycle purchase.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

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August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

SHINY

SIDE

First Anniversary: One year with my G 310 GS By Ron Davis #111820 WHENEVER I SWITCH

bikes I always get a case of “Seller’s Remorse.” Last summer, for really no other reasons than a change in my riding habits and my desire to try something new, I sold my BMW F 700 GS and picked up a 2019 G 310 GS. A glowing comparo between the 1250 GS and the newcomer 310 by Jocelin Snow in Owners News had piqued my curiosity, and a test ride and an appealing price tag (nicely discounted by my MOA membership) sealed the deal. Make no mistake, that F7 was a great bike with some outstanding features, but, well, as I’ve mentioned here before, I have kind of a disease when it comes to changing vehicles (currently on my fifth BMW). After a year of ownership (though only a thousand miles— thanks, Covid), I’d like to offer my impressions on the bike called somewhat derisively the “Baby GS.” First off, from when it was introduced in 2017, I was attracted to the 310’s looks, and my bike regularly gets compliments. It really doesn’t look like an entry level motorcycle, and the “beak” and the tank shroud echo its bigger siblings’ iconic lines. The ergonomics work for me, too. At 5’9”, the reach to the bars and pegs fits me well, and I can almost flat foot at stops. However, when I stand up on the pegs, the reach to the bars and use of the rear brake pedal are both awkward (more about accessorizing later). Though I’ve always

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

found OEM BMW saddles better in the showroom than on the road, the 310 is really quite comfortable—a 100 mile-sit is not a problem. Being the lightest BMW (375 lbs.) also makes horsing the bike around in the garage and wrangling it in the dirt much easier than with a bigger bike. Though it’s not really an ergonomic issue, I’ve found the sidestand to be a little too tall; special care has to be taken when parking.

Adjusting to the little GS’s power band was a challenge at first. There was a lot of rowing through the six gears, as one might expect with a 313cc motor, and the single’s appetite for soaring rpms takes some getting used to. Paul Glaves, an ON contributor and BMW savant, and his wife Voni, (more miles on a bike than I can imagine), both have 310s, and Paul recommends a shift/mph pattern that exploits the bike’s power above 6,000 rpm: “First [gear]—quite slow, 2nd good for 10

to 35 mph, 3rd from 20 to 50 or 55, 4th up to about 70, 5th to over 80, 6th and 5th about the same top speed between 85 and 90. In 5th you hit the rev limiter, and in 6th wind resistance overcomes horsepower.” The bike has no problem with legal highway speeds, but of course passing requires some planning. Since it’s a thumper, the baby Beemer is prone to vibration. I’ve been told that vibration decreases as the engine “beds in,” but I’m skeptical. The mirrors on my 310 are terrible on the highway (more to come on add-ons), and all 310’s seem to have a problem with a headlight that jiggles on its mount with every little bump, though ADV forums are rich with DIY hacks for both problems, and I plan to try some. Suspension I’d rate as fair to good, depending on where you’re riding, and the tool needed for adjusting the rear takes me back to my Honda days. The Farkle Factor: One of the BMW G 310 GS’s keys to its phenomenal sales figures is of course it’s price, and without spending anything on upgrades, it’s shown itself to be an inexpensive, reliable and spirited commuter and a fun off-road weekender. But for those like me who can’t resist farkling, there are a few improvements I’ve made. Luggage: I added a Pelican case knock-off for a top box which works fine without adding much to the bike’s crosswind profile. (It doesn’t like a lot of wind, but it’s no worse than the two V-Stroms I’ve owned). I also found some nifty Nelson-Rigg Dual Sport Saddle Bags (nelsonrigg.com) which expand to carry 24 liters of stuff without getting too close to the muffler. A Givi windshield with a cheap spoiler zeroed buffeting, and to knock down

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vibration and tingling hands, I added a heavy handlebar strut, Original Grip Buddies (originalbeemerbuddies.com), and a rubber bushing for the handlebar clamp. I still get some tingling, but reminding myself to hold the grips like a potato chip or a toothpaste tube (as experts recommend) helps. I love the set of SRC Moto crash bars I added (July 2020 ON) and also the Cyclops Signal Inserts which make the bike much more conspicuous (May 2020 ON). Lowercost mods include a sidestand foot, a CrampBuster and a voltage monitor. Apparently there was an alternator issue with the 2018s, but I have seen no hiccups in the charging level on my 2019. A size large Tool Tube (thetooltube.com) for an air compressor sits under my rear rack. Still to come: The oil filter on a 310 hangs right out there on the front of the motor, and the plastic skid plate is more cosmetic that functional, so that’s got to be dealt with. Also, many 310 GS and R owners seem to like upgrading to an aftermarket silencer, but I’m okay with stock. As I mentioned, a footpeg mod for off-road would be nice, as would maybe some Rox risers (roxspeedfx. com)—Paul recommends two-inchers. A primo set of handguards like ADV Guards from MachineArtMoto (machineartmoto. com) is probably in the cards; they’re the best I’ve seen, and I know from previous experience they have an added benefit of damping vibration. For the mirror problem, I’m lusting after some Mirrorloks (motomanufacturing.com/mirrorlok). Apart from a brake caliper recall and replacement, I’ve had no mechanical issues with the 2019 BMW G 310 GS (though the brakes curiously felt a little spongier after change-out). After a year of riding, I’d say its diminutive size, no-frills design, low price and frisky handling rekindle a lot of the appeal that first gave me the motorcycle bug.

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FINAL

JOURNEY

Remembering Helene Kafka #3788 By Susanna Parkhouse #56786 AS THE FOLLOWING VIGNETTES

attest, knowing Helene Kafka was an experience. If you ever had the opportunity to meet her, you were not likely to forget her. She freely spoke her mind. She was her own woman. Helene loved motorcycles and anything to do with motorcycles— especially BMWs. Helene added a flavor to our world which will be greatly missed.

clinical social work and dealing with the people no one else could handle, Helene took to the road to exercise her free spirit. Once, she and a friend rode to Toronto where they then flew with their bikes to Germany to spend several months touring Europe. I introduced Helene to a friend from Colorado who ran motorcycle tours on

Peter Kafka, Helene’s younger brother

In early May of this year, my sister Helene Kafka passed away at the age of 78. Helene was something of a renegade or non-conformist. Much of her high school years were spent hanging out in Greenwich Village in the ‘50s where she rubbed shoulders with the likes of Joan Baez, Dave Van Ronk, Stan Getz and Bob Dylan. Her first bike back then was a blue Zundapp Bella motor scooter. Her passion, for at least the last 62 years of her life, was to the explore the world and challenge life from the seat of a motorcycle. Helene’s passion for bikes really caught fire in the ‘60s when she lived in Glen Cove, New York, where she hung out a lot at Ghost Motorcycles in Port Washington. It was here she was introduced to her life-long love for the BMW. I don’t know how many she owned throughout her life, but she never let any of them sit idle for long. In the late ‘60s, when I was living on the front range of the Colorado Rockies, Helene made two separate round trips from New York to Colorado on her BMW with her German shepherd riding in a side car, all in a three-week period. Did I say Helene was an unusual character? Financing her passion with her career in

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

500cc Royal Enfield bikes in India and neighboring countries. Helene made three trips with Patrick to Northern India, Sikh Kim and Bhutan, often riding in mountainous muddy tracks we would call off-road in North America but there the tracks were just the open road. Helene’s open road.

Cal Bailey, a Canadian friend

My first encounter with Helene involved, of course, a motorcycle. I was hitchhiking

from mid-western Canada to Manhattan. All the bike mags I read standing up at our small-town drugstore were published in the Big Apple, so I was headed there to learn about what interested me: photography. Crossing the border at Buffalo and diagonally traversing New York, between rides I found myself walking up a two-lane road in the Catskills of New York. Not far ahead was a Honda 450 with a toolkit unrolled on its seat and its rider bent over, fiddling with a carburetor. The sound of a female voice, cursing, came to my ears. She sensed my approach and stood, a thin woman with a ponytail, in a rather dark mood. As I came closer, her sharp eyes assessed me: friend or foe, smart or stupid, useful or not? Having passed these trials, her first words to me, as she held up the ball end of a throttle cable were, “Can you fix things?” As the owner of many British bikes and a farmer’s son, the answer was “of course.” Problem resolved, she asked where I was going. I replied New York City and got a hard stare, such as an Inuit would give if you had a pup tent and said you were going to pass a winter in the Arctic. There was more to this New York business than meets the eye, I realized. “We’re going to Manhattan on Monday, you can come,” she told me, nodding toward the pillion. Once there, Helene found me a place to live and a job. I apprenticed for a photographer and several years later left New York. Years after that, aboard a Slash 6 she counseled me to buy, I returned to New York for my master’s degree. She’d finished

hers and was working and riding to Colorado and back on long weekends. After more years passed, Helene was living in Colorado, which was her dream. When I would visit her, we would take a trip on two of her many bikes or I’d meet her at a National Rally that was close to Canada: Burlington, Rhinebeck or Hamburg. That was 50 years of friendship with the kindest, most intelligent person I ever met. Thank you, Helene. Thanks also to your buddies, that generation of exceptional women I met at those rallies who, like you during that same half-century, have changed the world.

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I met Helene at a BMW Rally put on by the Pure Stodge Touring Association held at Keith Dempster’s farm outside Iowa City, Iowa. She rode in from New York City, and I was impressed by her poise and no-nonsense attitude. We stayed connected by seeing each other at local and national rallies. Then we both ended up living in Colorado Springs. Helene could stand head to toe with anyone when it came to talking about where she’d ridden and her work as a therapist dealing with difficult clients. We shared an adventure when we rented bikes from a tour company and flew to New Zealand. Helene had the ability to connect with people, always knew what she wanted and worked hard to reach her goals. She didn’t suffer fools lightly, but if you passed muster, she would do whatever she could to help you get out of a predicament. When it came time for her to put the BMWs away and start riding the Can-Am, she was still going to rallies and entertaining folks with stories from past adventures. I will always remember Helene as a dear friend, a mentor and a spunky woman. She knew what she wanted to accomplish and made it happen. Godspeed, Helene.

August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

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RIEPE

The Double Yellow Peril: Crossing the Line By Jack Riepe #116117 THE RUN HAD ALL THE

Skippack. This was one of those little towns with trendy antique galleries, cafés, an ice cream place and a nice hotel. The initial plan was to join a special group of riders early enough to investigate the cider donut situation, snap a few pictures, and then participate in an annual ride of ancient machinery. Cream always rises to the top. Every rider’s group or association has its elite. Not the self-appointed windbags who can

earmarks of a perfect ride. Fat, lazy clouds floated in brilliant sunshine…trees shimmied in streaks of crimson and gold…and the first cool breeze of the fall whispered “cider donuts and coffee.” I didn’t have any cider donuts or coffee. What I had was “Slippery” Dick Bregstein framed in my rectangular Napoleon mirrors. Dick was the perfect wingman as he always said “Okay” to any proposal. A good friend will help you move. Bregstein would help you move a body. I was in the lead, both by preference and through Darwin’s law of natural selection. The mechanical sophistication and power of my K 75 marked me as the logical choice for alpha male and for breeding with willing females. The lupine whine of the engine silenced all challengers as we cruised through the tamed Pennsylvania countryside. Dick’s Todd Trombore (center) giving final directions for the ride. “R” bike offered the best of both quote chapter and verse of a riding manual, worlds—cooling by whale oil and reliable but the folks who have a genuine passion steam propulsion. We were taking it easy for motorcycles, as in the restoration, and could have won the gold in an preservation, and operation of classic Olympic event titled: “Synchronized machines that defined the two-wheeled Motorcycles In A Monet Painting.” movement in the ‘50s, ‘60s, and ‘70s. They There is an advantage to taking it easy are filled with an exuberance for life, as you move through new territory: generally see the humor in most things, sight-seeing. You cannot blitz through the and are delighted to share any of it with scenery without missing a lot. We were on someone who feels likewise. Todd tree-lined ridge as a hot air balloon Trombore fits the bill. majestically rose and took flight. I stopped His cast of characters includes the usual to watch. suspects whose bikes and peccadilloes are “Isn’t that amazing,” I said. well-known to each other, and who will “Yes,” Bregstein replied. “And they arrive astride museum-quality BSAs, apparently make these things in your size.” Triumphs, Nortons, BMW “Toasters,” Our destination was a WaWa (gas Velocettes, Moto Guzzis, and at least one station and a sandwich shop) in the ville of

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

Vincent Black Shadow. No one ever shows up on a rat bike, though more than a few have arrived on machines that are wheezing, rattling or leaving a bit of a contrail. All of these guys are sports. Their colleagues will kid them mercifully, then unroll the tool kit and set about making adjustments. The WaWa was a busy place on a Saturday morning in Skippack, but the back tier of the parking lot hosted some of the most amazing motorcycles I have ever seen…twenty, to be exact. One late arrival needed “mouth to mouth” from the ether can to start. Another had a slipping valve. One of the Moto Guzzis had a creaking clutch cable that would break later that day. (The rider would switch this out in less than 15 minutes.) One of the most hauntingly beautiful bikes on this run was an R 90 S, owned by the late Karl Duffner. To this day, it remains the most perfect motorcycle I have ever seen. Heavily customized, the machine had over 300,000 miles on it. The paint was utterly flawless. The additional detail work suggested savage practicality, with a strong touch of personal preference. I would use the same philosophy in flipping my K 75 (Fireballs) into a signature bike, but the hardware-store appeal of my K 75 would never match the elegance of Duffner’s R 90 S. A last word from Todd: “Stay together. There are a lot of turns on today’s ride, and you will not be able to refer to the directions sheet once you are underway.” I gave Bregstein a sideways glance to make sure he understood this. The ride started out in suburbia and quickly meandered through places that seemed untouched for 50 years. We passed

fields complete with cows, rode through thickly forested patches where the tree branches made a canopy over the road, tossed gravel in quirky little turns, and passed a waterfall that was the dam for Lake Nockamixon, a large reservoir in Bucks County. I was astounded at how close all this was to where I lived and how close we were to New Jersey. Todd led the group in a sidecar rig modeled after the Hindenburg. He was followed by his wife Laura, a truck mechanic, on another sidecar rig that carried “Sidecar Larry,” an Australian sheep dog. And still this was a spirited ride. Bregstein and I were in the highly coveted “last place” position in the procession. My arthritis throbbed in my right knee and left hip. My thought was that we could easily bail if the pain became too intense. Also, while Todd’s rides barely covered 60 miles as the crow flies, they were known to go on for hours. It didn’t take long for the “snap the whip” effect to set in, and we began to lag behind. Ninety minutes into the ride, I lost the group. Bregstein was very sympathetic. “We got ditched by escapees from a motorcycle museum led by two zeppelin sidecars, riding through the enchanted forest. How is that possible?” We were part of the group until a dead stop on a steep incline at a t-intersection, followed by an uphill left turn. This is the kind of maneuver defeated by my arthritis, because I have to take a second or two to manually place my left foot on the peg. A second was a second too long for the driver of a beat-up old car, who got between us and the column. The speed limit on this road was 45 miles per hour, even though it was as straight as an arrow. Little rolling hills created a limited sight distance situation, and the driver of the car strictly held to the posted speed. An uninterrupted double yellow line sealed our fate. Now I could easily see over the roof of this guy’s car and could judge when there was no oncoming traffic. There was no opposing traffic for the entire time we were

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EXPLORE YOUR NEXT MOA GETAWAY MOA Getaways continue to grow in popularity, and this year weâ€™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 â€” great rides and great friends. We look forward to seeing you at a Getaway this year!

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

JACK

RIEPE

on this stretch. I started to close the gap between the K 75 and his old Chevy. Bregstein knew the score and was posed 18 inches off my back tire. That was when the driver in front of me slowed to 40 miles per hour. We dropped back and readjusted the strategy. I moved to the far left and got ready to jump to light speed. Suddenly, the car in front of us was doing 35. I pulled in the clutch, twisted the throttle, and pegged the tach needle at 6 grand, while dropping a stitch on the shifter. The K 75 shot around the car like it came out of a slingshot. Bregstein was right behind me. I gave this driver about 30 yards before coming right again. I could see Bregstein’s grin in the mirror. I also saw something else. The driver of the car was yelling and screaming, while closing in on Dick. I gave the throttle more twist. The speedo read 70, which was faster than I deemed proper for this road. Still this jerk advanced. We passed a sign indicating a junction with Route 100. We’d have to stop, I wondered if this serial killer would just plow into the two of us. A little country church, weather-beaten and deserted, appeared on the right. My thought was to get off the road on the other side of it. I thought there might be an open lot…or there could have been a church yard. I flipped on the turn signal, hit the binders and started down shifting. Behind me, Bregstein was Ginger Rogers to my Fred Astaire. The driver panicked and hit his brakes. There was an open lot on the other side of the church, currently filled with antique motorcycles and a dog. Bregstein and I coasted into the crowd. The driver in the old car followed us, screaming out the window. He stopped when 20 pairs of moto eyes looked him over. He pulled out and left, suddenly quiet. One of the riders said to me, “What the hell was that all about?” “That guy was the father of a woman I once married,” I said.

The group stopped for a break at a genuine country store, and Todd’s wife Laura began to address an issue of sidecar maintenance. “Want to see what Sidecar Larry can do?” she asked me, flashing a smile like a laser. I nodded. “Get a wrench,” she said to the dog. Sidecar Larry ambled over to the tool kit and picked up a crescent wrench, which he placed in Laura’s hand. I started to laugh. Then Laura said, “Not this one…the 17mm one.” I stood there with my mouth open. The dog looked at me as if to say, “Sucker.” It was Laura’s turn to laugh.

The late Karl Duffner’s R 90s–in my opinion, the most beautiful motorcycle.

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August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

OUR MISSION Supporting your experience by sharing resources, unique events and the community. BMW MOA HEADQUARTERS 2350 Hwy 101 South Greer, SC 29651 864-438-0962 (p) The BMW MOA and MOA™ are trademarks of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America.

Vance Harrelson BMW MOA OFFICERS Wes Fitzer, President 918-773-7178; wes.fitzer@bmwmoa.org Reece Mullins, Vice President 334-470-7770; reece.mullins@bmwmoa.org BMW MOA DIRECTORS Brian Dutcher (402) 289-7182; brian.dutcher@bmwmoa.org Stan Herman (719) 250-4358; stan.herman@bmwmoa.org Jon Kurtz (859) 338-9801; jon.kurtz@bmwmoa.org Kelly Moore 859-536-8638; kelly.moore@bmwmoa.org Doug Peters (478) 747-4718; doug.peters@bmwmoa.org Sue Rihn 262-424-2617; sue.rihn@bmwmoa.org Michael “Roc” Shannon 812-322-1378; roc.shannon@bmwmoa.org

BMW MOA STAFF Ted Moyer, Executive Director tedm@bmwmoa.org Bill Wiegand, Managing Editor bill@bmwmoa.org

in this issue FOUNDATION OUR MISSION The BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Foundation is dedicated to supporting motorcycling and its rich heritage for BMW MOA members and the motorcycling public by funding programs that advance rider safety, education and training. BMW MOA FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS 220 North Main Street Suite 500 Greenville, SC 29601 (205) 821-7205 BMW MOA FOUNDATION OFFICERS Chuck Manley, President cmanley@bmwmoaf.org Vance Harrelson, Vice President vance@bmwmoaf.org Pam Werstler, Secretary pwerstler@bmwmoaf.org Tom Gary, Treasurer tgary@bmwmoaf.org

CONTRIBUTORS Cover Nate Petersen #193055 Table of Contents Jay Wilson # 209288 Big Picture Deryle Mehrten #58537 Postcards from the Road Eric Gauster #218579 Steve Martin #69767 Neil Cleary #164720 Curt White #188704 Tom Wilmotte #118186 Nate Petersen #193055 Charles H. Porter #54193 Member Tested Tom Moe #33028 Cassie Maier #203304 Larry Pepper #52400 Tech Matthew Parkhouse #13272 Wes Fleming #87301

Wes Fleming, Digital Media Editor wfleming@bmwmoa.org

BMW MOA FOUNDATION DIRECTORS Dan Finazzo dfinazzo@bmwmoaf.org

Features Matias Corea #217227 Steven M. Green #198919 Vance Harrelson #100402 Lee Harrelson #145612

Ray Tubbs, Digital Marketing Manager ray@bmwmoa.org

Keith Foster kfoster@bmwmoaf.org

Tonya McMeans, Membership Services tonya@bmwmoa.org

Skills Louise Powers #212117

Ken Hall khall@bmwmoaf.org

Tori Ricci, Membership Services tori@bmwmoa.org

Kate Lammers klammers@bmwmoaf.org

Lesa Howard, Membership Services lesa@bmwmoa.org

Randy Logan rlogan@bmwmoaf.org

Karin Halker, Art Director karin@bmwmoa.org

Pam Werstler pwerstler@bmwmoaf.org

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

Lifestyle Ron Davis #111820 Susanna Parkhouse #56786 Jack Riepe #116117 Talelight David Haedt #207938

Louise Powers

Ron Davis

Matias Corea

IBMW MOA KEY VOLUNTEERS HIGH MILEAGE COORDINATORS Allison Gifford and Jonathan Gifford allison.gifford@bmwmoa.org jonathan.gifford@bmwmoa.org MILEAGE CONTEST COORDINATOR Jim Low 608-347-5910; lowjim09@gmail.com AMBASSADOR LIAISON Jason Olson bmwjiggs@gmail.com CONSUMER LIAISON John Gamel john.gamel@bmwmoa.org FORUM LIAISON Kurt Schrader Forum Administrator - Gary Nelson Forum Moderators - Steve Henson, Lee Fulton, Voni Glaves, Don Eilenberger

Cassie Maier

2021 BMW MOA RALLY CHAIRS Corey and Becky Smith 2021rallychair@bmwmoa.org REGIONAL COORDINATORS Joe Burns - Pennsylvania (814) 229-0896; joe.burns@bmwmoa.org

Don Loudermilk - Georgia 404-787-2969; don.loudermilk@bmwmoa.org Ben Lower - Georgia (469) 831-1021; ben.lower@bmwmoa.org Bruce McKelvy - Pennsylvania 215-872-4605; bruce.mckelvy@bmwmoa.org

Adam Chandler - New Hampshire (415) 894-0857; adam.chandler@bmwmoa.org

Pete Mikolaitis - Indiana (401) 924-2526; pete.mikolaitis@bmwmoa.org

Carlos Dao - Florida 561-927-6730; carlos.dao@bmwmoa.org

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Joe Dawson - Arizona 480-721-4412; joe.dawson@bmwmoa.org

Gordy Olson - California 916-642-2221; gordy.olson@bmwmoa.org

Ken Decroo - California 909-961-7762; ken.decroo@bmwmoa.org

Mike Secor - Texas 214-557-4577; mike.secor@bmwmoa.org

Brian Dutcher - Arizona 402-289-7182; brian.dutcher@bmwmoa.org

Gary Shuman - Massachusettes 617-513-2053; gary.shuman@bmwmoa.org

Frank Florio - New York 518-369-8339; frank.florio@bmwmoa.org

Phil Stearns - Ohio (937) 470-1851; phil.stearns@bmwmoa.org

Karolina Francis - British Columbia, Canada 604-657-7351; karolina.francis@bmwmoa.org

Thomas Van Horn - Wisconsin 608-695-6784; tomvanhorn@bmwmoa.org

Johnathan Gifford - Oklahoma 484-919-7277; jgifford@bmwmoa.org

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August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

WHEN

AND

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WHERE

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August CANCELLED 1

08/01/2020

21st Annual 100,000 Foot Ride

Location: Lakewood, Colorado Contact: Phillip Glynn bmwk1200rs@live.com

08/06/2020 - 08/09/2020

43rd Annual Daniel Boone Campout

Location: Harmony, North Carolina Contact: Fernando Cofani rally@carolinasbmwmoa.org (803) 979-1325 Since the rally was so successful last year with no rally fee, we will continue to build on that format for this year. We have some

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

of the best motorcycle roads east of the Mississippi: Ride the Blue Ridge Parkway, High Country of North Carolina, Southwest Virginia and Northeast Tennessee, and fun GS rides all in easy distance to the campout.

08/07/2020 - 08/10/2020

Kaslo Camp-N-Ride

Location: Kaslo, British Columbia Contact: Judy Wiebe events@valleybmwriders.com Join us on the shore of beautiful Kootenay Lake for a few days of camping and riding on some of the curviest roads in BC. This is a no-host campout, although we do try to coordinate a group dinner one night.

NEW DATE 4

08/07/2020 - 08/08/2020

MOA Getaway - Eureka Springs

Location: Eureka Springs, Arkansas Contact: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962 There’s a reason people love to come here! The Eureka Springs story began well over 100 years ago with tales of miraculous healing from 63 mineral springs gushing from a rocky wilderness. Today, Eureka Springs will refresh you as the authentic “America’s Victorian Village.”

08/13/2020 - 08/16/2020

22nd Annual Beartooth Beemers Rendezvous Location: Red Lodge, Montana Contact: Charlie Greear (208) 661-5639 registrar@beartoothbeemers.org

www.motoelekt.com

OVERSEAS SPEEDOMETER REPAIR R & K BIKES

Come back “home” to the Lions Camp located 10 miles south of Red Lodge, MT. We have ample camping space in and around the camp, even a mountain stream nearby. If you are not into camping there are cabins with built in bunks, just bring your sleeping bag.

800-444-0292

www.speedometer.com www.speedometer.com

CANCELLED 08/13/2020 - 08/16/2020

Nakusp Hotsprings Rally

Location: Nakusp, British Columbia Contact: Brian Dingsdale nakusprally@beeceebeemers.com

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08/15/2020 - 08/16/2020

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54th Annual Four Winds Rally

Location: Lakeville, Minnesota Contact: Lee Krahenbuhl lee@hamlineconstruction.com 35th Annual 2 day fund raiser event put on by volunteers with all proceeds benefiting the MS Society. Event includes a “ride at your own pace” marked route along with a route book, picnic lunch at Moon Motorsports (BMW dealer) in Monticello, MN, and an evening banquet & auction at the Holiday Inn in St. Cloud, MN including dinner and entertainment.

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08/14/2020 - 08/16/2020

Location: Fairmount City, Pennsylvania Contact: Joe Burns jburns@fredlburns.com The longest continuously running annual BMW motorcycle rally in America! Scenic roads near Allegheny National Forest for both road and adventure riding. Plenty of camping in shaded grass areas and lodging available nearby.

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Location: Franklin, Nebraska Contact: Jayney Solo (402) 676-1739 jayneysolo@cox.net

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NEW DATE 11

08/28/2020 - 08/30/2020

MOA Getaway - Fontana

Location: Fontana, North Carolina Contact: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962 Come experience some of the best roads east of the Mississippi River in this lush mountain atmosphere. The roads wind forever, the people are friendly and good times are just around the corner.

NEW DATE 12

08/28/2020 - 08/30/2020

MOA Getaway - Coeur d-Alene

Location: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Contact: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962 Join us August 28-30 for the Coeur d’Alene Getaway. We will gather at The Coeur d’Alene Resort situated on Lake Coeur d’Alene for a fabulous weekend. Sunset complimentary!

September 13

09/04/2020 - 09/05/2020

POSTPONED UNTIL 20221 14

09/04/2020 - 09/07/2020

46th Finger Lakes Rally

Location: Watkins Glen, New York Contact: Finger Lakes BMW Club rally@fingerlakesbmw.org

09/10/2020 - 09/13/2020

7th Annual Wailin Wayne Weekend Location: New Straitsville, Ohio Contact: Chad Warner info@wailinwayneweekend.com Wailin’ Wayne Weekend combines 3 different styles of Adventure Riding. There are Challenging Trail Rides through Wayne National Forest, both for advanced and intermediate riders... Endless miles of great county gravel roads... Hairpin twisties and woops on Ohio’s Route 555, better known as The Triple Nickel.

CANCELLED 16

Rally

09/10/2020 - 09/13/2020

22nd Annual European Riders

Location: Burkesville, Kentucky Contact: BMW Motorcycle Clug of Nashville ridersrally@bmwmcon.org

09/11/2020 - 09/13/2020

Premier Training at BMW Performance Center

Klassic K BMW Riders of the South East

Location: Greer, South Carolina Contact: Ray Tubbs (864) 438-0962 ray@bmwmoa.org Limited to only 14 participants, this full day of rider training will encompass both on and off-road skill development using BMW Performance Center facilities, motorcycles and instructors. This unique opportunity includes two nights lodging at the Greenville Marriot Hotel with a Friday night “meet and greet” and introductory session at the Performance Center. Saturday features a full day of both on- and off-road training with breakfast, lunch and an evening dinner. Transportation between the hotel and the Performance Center facility, a special Premier event polo shirt, and the use of a Performance Center BMW motorcycle are also provided.

Location: Cruso, North Carolina Contact: Ken Garland ken-hazel@mchsi.com The Klassic K BMW Riders of the South East, invite you to come experience some of the best riding and scenery in the South East in the Heart of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Very close to “The Dragon”, Cherohala Skyway, Shady Valley, Wheels Through Time Museum, and too many other great attractions and roads to list.

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

09/11/2020 - 09/13/2020

MOA Getaway - Cedar City

Location: Cedar City, Utah Contact: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962 In 2020 we return to the site of our inaugural Getaway - Cedar City, Utah. Located within a day ride to Cedar Breaks,

Bryce Canyon, Escalante, Capitol Reef, Zion and even the Grand Canyon, Cedar City is the epicenter of National Parks in the United States.

09/11/2020 - 09/13/2020

BMW Battlefield Memorial Workers Rally Location: Gettysburg, Pennsylvania Contact: Sam Booth samrbooth@yahoo.com The Sixth Battleﬁeld Memorial Workers Rally is devoted to volunteering a few hours for the National Park Service at Battleﬁeld preservation and restoration. So far we have torn down three miles of worm fencing, cut brush, overgrowth and trees from the Slaughter Pen, and removed rail fencing at The Angle.

CANCELLED 09/11/2020 - 09/13/2020

20 Bavarian Mountain Weekend

Rally

Location: Vadito, New Mexico Contact: David Hartman leohere@aol.com 505-345-4465

09/11/2020 - 09/13/2020

MOA Getaway - Pine Mountain

Location: Pineville, Kentucky Contact: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962 This beautiful state park will be the base of operations for all the amazing riding and great exploring to be done in the area.

POSTPONED UNTIL 2021 22

09/11/2020 - 09/13/2020

50th Annual Wisconsin Dells Rally

Location: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Contact: Robert Preuss 262-391-0550 barnrazer@yahoo.com

CANCELLED 23

Rally

09/11/2020 - 09/13/2020

37th Annual Green Mountain

Location: Goshen, Vermont Contact: Chip LaPointe chiplapointe@gmail.com

RIDE THE BLUE RIDGE

09/11/2020 - 09/14/2020

Midway Camp-N-Ride

Location: Midway, British Columbia Contact: Judy Wiebe events@valleybmwriders.com Join us for a few days of camping and riding in beautiful Midway, BC. This is a no-host campout, although we try to coordinate a group dinner one evening.

Rally

09/17/2020 - 09/20/2020

44th Annual Pure Stodge Iowa

Location: Amana, Iowa Contact: Mark Mumaw 319-213-5389 mark_mumaw@yahoo.com Additional details can be found on our website as well at www.purestodge.org. 09/18/2020 - 09/20/2020

26 MOA Getaway - Warren

Location: Warren, Vermont Contact: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962 This year we move a little further south to our new Vermont location, Sugarbush Resort in Warren Vermont. This 4000 acre, four-season resort is famous for being one of the largest ski resorts in New England and where the outdoor enthusiast can find abundant summer activities. Situated at the base of Mt Ellen, the third tallest peak in Vermont, Sugarbush Resort in located in the historic Mad River Valley. This is where you “come for the mountains, and stay for the valley”.

09/25/2020 09/27/2020

Location: Catawba Meadows Park 701 Sanford Drive, Morganton, NC 28655

Contact: Gene Smith at 828-439-9754 or rallymaster@knobbies.org Hey RA & MOA Members and all others!! Join us the week after the BMWRA Rally in Waynesville, NC. Come on over to our side of the mountains for some great riding and hospitality. 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 are all within 1 mile. Large showers with plenty of hot water on site! Free shuttle services from Catawba Meadows Park to local restaurants & breweries. And don’t forget, our Knobbies’ sponsors “Ride With the Knobbies” to places tourists DO NOT go! From touring to off-road rides. All proceeds go to the South Mountain Children and Family Services.

09/18/2020 - 09/20/2020

17th Thunder Mountain Rendezvous Location: Hotchkiss, Colorado Contact: Kerry Dolan 970-985-1274 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.

www.m4motorcycles.com August 2020 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

WHEN

AND

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09/18/2020 - 09/20/2020

28 29th Annual Purity Springs Rally Location: East Madison, New Hampshire Contact: www.gsbmwr.org. Come and join us in the beautiful White Mountains of New Hampshire for our 29th 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. Hot showers are a short walk from the camping/cabin area. After dinner each night enjoy the conversation and laughs around the campfire. 09/18/2020 - 09/20/2020

29 18th Annual Laurel Highlands

BMW Riders Campout

Location: Somerset, Pennsylvania Contact: Jason Kaplitz gsjay@kaplitz.com We return to PIONEER PARK CAMPGROUND located in south central Pennsylvania. Pioneer Park is a terrific full-service camping resort with excellent showers and facilities. 09/24/2020 - 09/27/2020

30 BMW MOA Motorrad Fest Location: Lebanon, Tennessee Contact: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962 mfest.bmwmoa.org It’s finally here! Motorrad Fest - the signature BMW MOA motorcycle event for 2020. M’fest is an an open-air, festival style event to celebrate BMW motorcycles and the people that ride! Unlike other events we’ve done in the past, you can join us for a day or all weekend. And every day pass or three day pass will include full access to all entertainment areas of M’fest - the Bier Garden, entertainment stages, educational demonstrations, exhibitors, bike show and swap meet.

09/25/2020 - 09/27/2020

Rams Rally

Location: Parker’s Crossroads, Tennessee Contact: Spencer L Bennett 901-626-2831 officers@bmwrams.com Rally fee of $40.00 dollars includes Friday and Saturday nights tent camping, pancake breakfast on Friday and Saturday, Saturday evening dinner, Movies by the

BMW OWNERS NEWS | August 2020

Lake, Community Bonfire, endless Coffee, Lemonade and Ice Water at Rally Central, and Door Prizes.

09/25/2020 - 09/27/2020

Ride the Blue Ridge with the Knobbies Location: Morganton, North Carolina Contact: Gene Smith 828-439-9754 rallymaster@knobbies.org Join us the week after the BMWRA Rally in Waynesville, NC. Come on over to our side of the mountains for some great riding and hospitality. From touring to off-road rides. All proceeds go to the South Mountain Children and Family Services.

09/25/2020 - 09/27/2020

44th Annual Hiawatha Rally

Location: Houston, Minnesota Contact: Steve Deglmann hiawatharally@gmail.com The BMW Motorcycle Owners Club of Minnesota invites you to the 44th Annual Hiawatha Rally at Money Creek Haven Campground near Houston, Minn. Rally fee includes: two nights camping, coffee, tea, water and lemonade. Vendors on site. Demo rides by Leo’s South.

CANCELLED 09/25/2020 - 09/27/2020

34 38th Annual Last Chance Rally Location: Buena, New Jersey Contact: Peter Lisko Jr. 856-589-7015 pjliskojr@gmail.com

09/25/2020 - 09/26/2020

Premier Training with West38Moto

Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Contact: BMW MOA ray@bmwmoa.org (864) 438-0962 Limited to only 14 participants, this full day of rider training will teach the basics of off-road skill development and practical application of the training in the Colorado mountains! Participants will be treated to a half day training session in the morning and a led, off-road ride in the afternoon. Come explore Colorado and put a training tag on your adventure!

CANCELLED 09/25/2020 - 09/27/2020

36 35th Annual Hoosier Beemer Rally Location: North Vernon, Indiana Contact: Andy Fountain k12lts@gmail.com

October 37

10/01/2020 - 10/05/2020

Last Chance to Camp-N-Ride

Location: Oroville, Washington Contact: Judy Wiebe events@valleybmwriders.com Join us for a few days of riding and camping on beautiful Osoyoos Lake in downtown Oroville, Washington. This is a no host campout, although we do try to coordinate a group meal one evening. 10/02/2020 - 10/04/2020

38 MOA Getaway - Tomah

Location: Tomah, Wisconsin Contact: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962 Local riders will tell you this area is the “east Tennessee of the upper Midwest.” There are so many curves, twists, coulees and hollows you’d swear you are in West Virginia. And the roads… oh, the roads! 10/02/2020 - 10/04/2020

39 Wheels in the Field

Location: Chester, Vermont Contact: Doug Morrison dmorrison@ohiengineering.com We are so excited for the third year of this ever-growing Enduro Weekend, Wheels in the Field: an Oktoberfest German gear head gathering of BMW Motorcycles the weekend of October in the Town of Chester, Vermont. 10/03/2020

40 Annual Hamburger Cookout Location: Cooper, Texas Contact: Austin Hutton president@lonestarbmwriders.org Join Lone Star BMW Riders for a day of riding, eating, socializing and fun. This is a

NEW LOCATION FOR THE 45TH

Fri. Noon to Sun. 10 am

Bass River Resort

204 Butts Road Steelville, MO 65565

Colonial Virginia Motorcycle Rally

45th Falling Leaf Rally

Pre-Registration By Phone

$50

800-392-3700 Per Person – Early Bird Price Pre-Register till 9/7/2020 Saturday Only Camping Per Person $30 till 9/7/2020

INCLUDES: 2 Nights Tent Camping ■ Friday Night Hot Dog/Chili Dinner ■ Saturday Pancake/Sausage Breakfast ■ Saturday Night BBQ Dinner

SATURDAY GUIDED GS RIDE

VENDORS RIDER AWARDS GRAND PRIZES DOOR PRIZES

www.BassResort.com (Rally Site)

Full hookup RV sites and log cabin lodging available. Call Bass River Resort for pricing. Clean modern bathrooms & hot showers. On-site store with sandwiches & pizza! EARLY ARRIVALS WELCOME Per Person GATE $35 Saturday at the GATE $60 PerAt thePerson