February 2021 BMW Owners News

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

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FEBRUARY 2021 BMW OWNERS NEWS www.bmwmoa.org

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BMW motorcycles are a family affair for Alonso Lopez #82706 (center) and sons Gustavo (left) and Vonnie (right) as they prepare for a ride through central Colorado.

INSIDE

FEBRUARY 2021

FEATURES

36 THE 2020 SALTON SEA

56 MOA GARAGE: MAKING

BY DON BARTLETTI #220547 Though he’d been to the Salton Sea many times before as a photojournalist with the LA Times, 2020 was the first time Bartletti would be there in another capacity—as an attendee to the Airhead Beemer Club’s 10th Annual Salton Sea Rendezvous.

BY WES FLEMING #87301 Still getting acquainted with his borrowed R 18, Fleming searches for ways to make the big BMW just a little more comfortable.

46 THE LAST RIDE OF THE

ZACH AND JEN WITKOWSKY: A MEMBER PROFILE

RENDEZVOUS

SEASON

ON THE COVER: Adam Chandler #207579, photographs his riding companion as they seek off-road adventure in Colorado. Adam’s full story will appear in next month’s issue of BMW Owners News.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

BY KEN FRICK #199204 As the 2020 riding season gives way to the cold of winter, Frick gets out to enjoy one last ride along the Ohio route he’s been riding for years over the roads he knows so very well.

THE R 18 A LITTLE MORE COMFORTABLE

58 BUILDING A DREAM

BY BILL WIEGAND #180584 Some believe Zack Witkowsky was born with a metric wrench set and an airbrush in his hands. The son of long-time MOA member and owner of Stable Sport and Touring Jeff Witkowsky, Zack and wife Jen look to continue Jeff’s legacy through their own shop, Black Wolf Touring and Customs.

An image from a ride in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, last fall. Photo by Terence Hamill #14629.

4 HEADLIGHT Time for a Reset by Bill Wiegand 8 PRESIDENTS COLUMN Febrrrrrary by Wes Fitzer 10 POSTCARDS FROM THE ROAD

12 RIDER TO RIDER Letters from our Members 14 NEWS BMW MOA announces two new MOA Getaway

locations for 2021, Update your BMW Owners Anonymous book data and preferences now, Add comfort to your R 18 with a Corbin Saddle, The Grand Coddiwomple is coming, See you in Great Falls, Please welcome our newest BMW MOA members,

24 MEMBER TESTED ZTechnik mirror extenders

by Steve Leader

26 MEMBER TESTED Touratech’s Comfort Seat

by Lee Harrelson

28 MEMBER TESTED Antigravity ATX-12 RS battery

by Mark Barnes

30 KEEP 'EM FLYING Low Oil Pressure! by Matt Parkhouse

34 TORQUE OF THE MATTER Unvoid my Warranty with Magnuson-Moss by Wes Fleming

64 FROM THE FOUNDATION From off-road training to the MABDR by Mike Sheehe

70 SERGEANT BIKER Lessons from my little GSXR

by James Carlisle

72 SHINY SIDE UP All you’ll ever need by Ron Davis 74 THE RIDE INSIDE Too much Adventure? by Mark Barnes 76 FIRST BIKE Enthusiasm and that first bike

by Patricia Blaskovic

78 FINAL JOURNEY Remembering Ray McKenna 80 FINAL JOURNEY Remembering Ross Graham 82 Learning to Settle by Jim Stettler 90 WHEN AND WHERE Rally listings 95 ADVERTISER INDEX 96 TAILIGHT

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

3

HEADLIGHT

AS MOA PRESIDENT WES FITZER SAYS LATER IN THIS ISSUE, WHILE

TIME FOR A RESET

By Bill Wiegand #180584

4

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

February is the shortest month of the year, it undoubtedly feels like the longest.

Here in northern Wisconsin, or in the vernacular of anyone living north of Highway 64, “Up Nort’,” snowmobilers are currently cursing me apparently because I recently bought a snowblower. Because weather data for the last few years “highly recommended” that purchase, as did my wife (who apparently feared being snowbound until June), we have been ready since December for the blizzard that has yet to arrive.

Just like when you pack a tire patch kit and portable compressor to prepare yourself for a flat tire or bring an umbrella to work fearing the rain, it seems when you buy a snowblower, it just doesn’t snow. Sorry, winter sports fans!

Even though we’ve only received a couple inches of snow up here so far, I did get the machine out once to clear the road in front of a dozen of my neighbors’ places.

There wasn’t enough snow to keep anyone housebound, and a few grateful neighbors won’t outnumber the fuming snowmobilers, but as Carl Spackler famously said, “So I’ve got that going for me, which is nice!”

For me, these first few months of a typical new year and my countdown to spring is always conveniently broken up with the NFL playoffs and then the Super Bowl, MLB Spring Training, the NCAA Basketball Tournament and the Final Four. Then the fun ends, and I’m faced with one final hurdle before I can begin to enjoy riding again—April 15—as there’s no escaping the taxman. But, just like the annual migration of monarch butterflies or the Indy 500 every Memorial Day weekend, these annual events have been part of my internal clock for as long as I can remember.

Now last year, most of all that was erased or postponed, and even though the taxman didn’t come knocking until July, with the postponement of our National Rally to 2021 and nearly all other rallies and Getaways canceled, I believe it would be best to forget 2020 altogether. If we can’t do that, let’s at least find a reset button and try all over again.

For the most part, history shows that regardless of the hurdles placed in front of us, humanity perseveres. Our current challenge, the pandemic that has taken so much from so many of us over the past year, is finally showing signs, albeit slight signs, that we are regaining control. If you look hard enough, there seems to be a faint glimmer of light in the distance and with that light, the promise of a return to normalcy.

The planning for our annual National Rally is gaining momentum, and based on the number of emails we’ve been receiving promoting Chartered Club rallies, many of our members are feeling the same optimism.

With fingers crossed and a rabbit’s foot in my pocket, I’m “cautiously optimistic” we will soon move beyond what has so unceremoniously disrupted what we have worked so hard to achieve—happiness.

Here’s to a return to normal and an overabundance of happiness for all.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

Old Glory The abandoned Ismay Trading Post in Cortez, Colorado. It was a windy day in the great USA! Photo by Steven P. Befera #96635

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

7

PRESIDENT'S

COLUMN

THOSE OF YOU WHO’VE READ MY FEBRUARY COLUMNS IN THE PAST

FEBRRRRARY

By Wes Fitzer # 170126

may recall it is my least favorite month. Despite being the shortest month of the year, February seemingly drags on forever, and for me, March is the start of my riding season. So close, yet so far!

What does someone who hates an entire month do to pass the time?

I’ll typically spend much of this short, yet dreadfully long, dreary month preparing my trusty steed for another riding season. This year I’ll have a companion to help me. My son Jacob, who’s finishing his senior year in high school, is looking forward to having more time to ride with Paula and me. In the past, his high school sports schedule has kept him from joining us on many of our previous trips, and while he’s still not sure where he’s going to college, he’s looking forward to a summer off from sports. Jacob has also worked for our local Napa since he was 14, but he can now take time off for a good old-fashioned motorcycle trip as the business owners understand, while his coaches never did.

We’ll pore over maps to begin our planning, looking for places we’ve either never ridden to or old favorites we’d like to ride to again. This year, one of our main goals is for Jacob and me to ride at least the first half of the Trans America Trail, which will be a significant change from my “traditional” BMW-riding style. While I grew up riding in the dirt and have trained my trusty BMW R 1200 GS Adventure to be a “mean street machine,” I’m going to have to undo all those hours of training I’ve given my bike to behave on the asphalt and bring it back to its roots—roots that involve gravel, mud and getting whacked in the face by that branch you didn’t see in time to avoid.

We’ll also be sleeping on the ground, eating June bugs and drinking straight from the crick (creek for you northerners). This all sounds fun, especially for an older feller who struggles to get a good night’s rest on his temperaturecontrolled, adjustable base, high dollar Purple mattress at home.

You might ask, what in the world am I thinking? Well, it won’t be long until Jacob’s grown and gone. We just enjoyed the holidays with our grown daughter, who blew through the house on Christmas morning with her boyfriend—they had four Christmas celebrations that day—and my wife and I commented after they left how we remembered those days and the stress of trying to make everyone happy.

The good thing about bringing my 6'4" gym rat son with me on trips like these is he can pick up my bike when I drop it for the hundredth time. We’ll have helmet comms, but I’m thinking of getting a really irritating whistle to blow when I drop it. When I fall, I’ll blow the whistle and sit there impatiently while he rights my bike yet again. This may be more fun than I initially thought!

Stay safe and keep the rubber side down.

Wes Fitzer 8

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

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POSTCARDS

FROM

THE

ROAD

Above, Watauga Lake east of Elizabethton, Tennessee, created by the Tennessee Valley Authority with the 1948 completion of the TVA Watauga Dam. Photo

by Eitan Zadok #202055. Below left, An image of my R 1100 S taken during a day trip to the marina in Dorum-Neufeld, Germany. Photo by Monika Tiemann #94710. Below right, Looking down into Crested Butte, Colorado, from the Gunnison National Forest. Photo by Don Henderson #195445.

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.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

Above Left, At the Big Muskie Bucket, once part of the world's largest earth moving machine in McConnelsville, Ohio. Photo by Craig Olmsted #197287.

Above right, A shot from a November ride to the Owyhee River in eastern Oregon. Photo by Chuck Scheer #178536. Left A hillside waterfall found while taking a shortcut from the Flathead Valley to Seeley Lake, Montana. Photo by Vince Dye #209885. Below, Breaking camp near Utah's Escalante Canyons National Monument. Photo by John Tucker #204267.

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

11

t

t

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

A friend wherever you go!

While searching online for a used S 1000 XR, I came across a new 2020 S 1000 XR set up the way I wished with low suspension and a price that was quite low, possibly due to the fact the dealership was in the back of beyond in Wisconsin and suffering greatly from the pandemic.

I wasn’t able to travel at the time due to the pandemic, but with the assurance the dealer would hold the bike until I could travel, I purchased it last June.

When I was finally able to travel in September, I made my way to Asheville where I keep my riding gear in a storage unit.

After a day in Asheville, I was at the airport for my 6 a.m. flight to Charlotte then another to Madison, Wisconsin. The dealership was 30 miles northeast of Madison and after checking for any available transportation there, I thought I’d have to use either Uber or Lyft to get there. While sitting at the gate in Charlotte waiting to board my flight to Madison, I decided to pull up the BMW Owners Anonymous app I’d just installed on my phone a couple of months before and searched for members in the town the dealership was in. I found four. I called all four, and two rang with no answer and two went to voice mail. For some reason, I didn’t leave a voice message on the first call but decided to leave a message on the second one saying I would be in Madison in four hours and wondered if the person was perhaps retired and wouldn’t mind picking me up for moto talk, and that I’d cover gas money and lunch. About 20 minutes later, while sitting in my seat on the plane with the door still open, Steve Reifsnider (#103039) called me back and told me I was in luck, he’d come down to pick me up.

The flight was on time, and so was Steve, who picked me up in his late

12

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

model pickup, and we had a very pleasant ride to the dealership. We talked a bit about each other, our motorcycle histories, and the bikes we’ve had. It was a very pleasant ride, and we both enjoyed it immensely. I also mentioned that I’d be installing a cradle for my smartphone on the bike and Steve, a mechanic before retiring, offered his workshop. He then proceeded to wait while I checked in to my hotel, grabbed my gear, and dropped me to the dealership to pick up the bike.

After spending some time at the dealership, I rode to Steve’s home, and we installed the cradle, which involved removing a body panel to get the wiring for the cradle to the battery. I took Steve to dinner that night, and we had a very enjoyable meal. Steve also stopped by my hotel the next morning to see me off with my brand-new S 1000 XR. The moral of this story is the BMW Owners Anonymous app can be more than just a fall back for a breakdown, and the convenience of having it in your phone can’t be overstated.

Since then, Steve and I have stayed in touch via email, and I mentioned the National Rally in Great Falls for 2021 where we might have the opportunity to share a few more moto stories.

Scott Roe #201086 Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands

Thank you very much!

Just a quick note to thank all the folks involved with the MOA Kerrville Getaway.

The hotel and conference rooms were excellent, the rides were excellent, and for my first time riding in Texas, for the most part, it was dry!

I would also like to thank the sponsors Rocky Creek, Dunlop tires, and the others as well.

I am especially thankful to the first two as I won a Motopressor pump and my

wife won the set of Dunlop tires. Since she rides a Can Am Spyder, I guess I will trade her for the tires. I also want to thank Stan Herman since he actually picked the numbers.

We had a wonderful trip down and most of the way home. The snow and closing of I 25 northbound on Sunday night had us spending the night in Trinidad, Colorado, but fortunately the bikes were on a trailer, since the snow had been forecast prior to our departure .

Life is a wonderful adventure, and thanks again for the fun and new friends.

John J. Coyle II #204203 Arvada, Colorado

Ride Respectfully

I realize that this was written tongue-incheek, or at least I hope it was, but I still have a real problem with the fact that the author seemed to have no problem riding in Mohonk Preserve (Public Lands) through fields and on a non-motorized trail, and when confronted, making up some cock and bull story and feeling pleased he got away with it in “Where the Road Ends,” November BMW Owners News.

In Idaho, which has over 50,000 miles of dirt roads and trails to ride and hike, of which 10,000 are non-motorized, misuse of non-motorized trails by motorcycles and four-wheelers is a serious problem often resulting in loss of access to the trail by the public or serious resource damage necessitating spending scarce money on repairs or trail closure.

One of the Backcountry Discovery Route’s foundations is that riders ride respectfully to minimize the risk of route closure along their 10 current BDR routes.

Robert Adams #206078 Horseshoe Bend, Idaho

R 18 Review

I enjoyed the recent R 18 review and took particular note of the shifting challenge mentioned by the author. I’d go a step further and label this a complete fail by the ergonomic engineer at the factory.

I wear a size 11 boot and find that my toe hits the sidestand and I cannot connect to the gearshift unless I splay my entire foot at a severe angle outwards, and I believe the sidestand needs to be re-engineered. I showed the problem to my dealer when I took a test ride, and he was very surprised.

Whenever I’m out on my R 18 people always ask how I like it. I show them the shift lever issue, and they are equally surprised. I’ve sent a message to the factory but haven’t heard back. Another issue with the bike is its tremendous weight, which is nowhere near as balanced as my Harley. I’m still mystified why this bike weighs so much. When I’m on my Harley I’m aware of the weight, but the factory did a nice job of balancing it. I also ride an R 75/6 and a R 1200 GS Rallye so perhaps I’m spoiled by their weight and balance.

Every new bike has growing pains, and the R 18 is no exception. Yes, the torque requires both hands on the handlebars or else one would get thrown off!

Sandy Sandbakken #13681 Walnut, California We disagree with you about the shift lever being a "complete fail by the ergonomic engineer" because whomever that was made the shift lever adjustable. It comes off with just one bolt and can be adjusted to suit the rider's foot - even my size 14. Visit the MOA's YouTube channel and watch the "R 18 Visual Owner's Manual" for this and more tips about your new R 18. –Wes Fleming

Thank you, Matt!

I wrote an article which appeared in the April 2020 BWM Owners News about restoring a red 1978 R 100/7. Since then, I’ve been riding it and noticed the neutral light problem exactly as described by Matt Parkhouse in his “Keep ‘Em Flying” column published in the August 2020 issue.

I’ve never had the problem before, so Matt saved me a lot of work figuring it out.

A wiring diagram in the original owner’s manual was helpful in understanding what Matt was writing about. Just shows that even though I thought I knew my BMW inside and out, I can still learn something. I always read Matt’s column.

Thanks, Matt Parkhouse and BMW Owners News!

Shane Yanagisawa #5826 Edgewater, Maryland

Thank you Joe

I just received my January issue of BMW Owners News and I have to say it is so nice to be able to sit in my easy chair with my copy and catch up. I don’t know about the rest of your readers, but I’m very disappointed that most of my other cycle magazines decided to go digital and have done away with sending out a hard copy magazine. I really hope the MOA does not decide to go that route.

Keep up the good work.

Joe Marriott #75043 St. Joseph, Illinois

Blinding LEDs

Shane Yanagisawa’a article in the January 2021 issue of BMW Owners News about upgrading to LED lights raises a few concerns. As Shane states about his headlight, the LED replacement will not

project correctly from a reflector designed for a halogen bulb. This is precisely why Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 108 requires that replacement lamps be of the kind originally designed for the vehicle and Title 49 USC 301 prohibits the manufacture, sale, or installation of vehicle equipment that does not comply with the Safety Standard.

While these requirements don’t apply to vehicle owners (that’s determined by each state’s motor vehicle code), they do apply to manufacturers, importers, vendors, dealers and independent repair shops. Those organizations can be fined up to $5,000 for each noncompliant item made, sold or installed, up to a maximum fine of $35,000,000. Simply marking an item “For Off Road Use Only” doesn’t hack it with the Feds.

While LEDs produce more light and last longer, they also produce significantly more glare because of the way white light is generated by an LED lamp. One member of my local club installed an LED headlamp bulb in his F 800. When on group rides, I make sure he is not one or two bikes behind me because the poorly projected beam from his headlamp makes the use of my rearview mirrors almost impossible.

Karl Hutchinson #56261 Williamsville, New York

Gone but not forgotten

I am a MOA member and will remain a member even though I no longer own a BMW motorcycle. Last September, my 2009 Megamoto along with five other motorcycles melted into a puddle during the Archie Creek fire.

My son Evan asked if I was going to join the BMW Melted Owners of America! Included is a picture of the engine block and if you look closely, you can see the sidestand enlarger.

Greg Barbre #189599 Monroe, Oregon

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

13

NEWS

The BMW MOA is pleased to announce two new MOA Getaway locations for 2021! \The Dillard House, located in Dillard, Georgia, and nestled in the Little Tennessee River Valley of North Georgia, is set to host an MOA Getaway on May 21 - 23! The breathtaking views and scenic byways found in this part of Georgia are among the best the Blue Ridge Mountains have to offer.

Once a simple and modest mountain home of just six rooms, The Dillard House has grown into a modern hotel that can accommodate hundreds of guests. With 92 guest rooms and suites, more than 28 cottages and chalets, The Dillard House will provide comfortable and beautiful surroundings as well as exquisite hospitality and service for every MOA Getaway attendee.

Besides the beautiful riding opportunities found in the area, guests can enjoy a relaxing day of fishing at the fully-stocked trout pond, horseback riding, a round of golf, or an exhilarating white water rafting trip. Nearby attractions include the Biltmore House, Harrah’s Cherokee Casino Resort, the Oconaluftee Indian Village, Dollywood, Oconee State Park, the Great Smoky Mountain Railroad, scenic Helen, and Georgia’s award-winning vineyards.

Our second new MOA Getaway location for 2021 is in the oldest capital city in the United States, Santa Fe, New Mexico, also scheduled for May 21-23, 2021. For more than 400 years, Sante Fe has blended the cultures of Anglo, Spanish and Native American settlers and attracted artists, culinary masters, wellness experts, and other creative dreamers who brought their talents and experience to this place known as “The City Different.”

While in Santa Fe, explore the deep rich history of the area through

Dillard, Georgia

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

its museums and more than 250 art galleries. Delight in the innovative local cuisine and various entertainers, or wander the historic center’s winding streets and uncover handmade and one-of-a-kind treasures at numerous independent boutiques.

Memorable riding, both on- and off-road, await in this enchanted area under the backdrop of the Sangre de Cristo mountains. Enjoy your ride and take in the magnificent landscapes of the majestic red rock country captured by Georgia O’Keefe. All that waits for you in Santa Fe. A $99 MOA Getaway event fee includes a Friday night welcome party and dinner with a cash bar, Saturday night dinner and awards with a cash bar, $500 worth of door prizes, and a special MOA gift. Event fees are non-refundable. If you must cancel for reasons out of your control, you may receive a credit toward a future MOA event. Please visit bmwmoa.org/refunds for a list of covered events and circumstances that qualify for an event credit.

The MOA Getaway event fee does not include lodging at the Drury Plaza Hotel. Please call the hotel directly or visit the hotel’s website for reservations and cancellation policies.

Hotel/lodging facilities may have strict cancellation policies.

Please verify these policies with the hotel before making any reservations.

Find more information about MOA getaways by clicking the “Events” tab at bmwmoa.org.

Update your BMW Owners Anonymous book data and preferences now Change can be difficult, especially when long standing traditions are in flux. As our world makes a quantum shift from analog to digital, the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America is doing its best to keep up with change without leaving anybody behind.

Part of how we’re changing at the MOA involves the BMW Owners Anonymous book, long recognized as one of the biggest and best benefits of being an MOA member. Lost?

Broken down? Don’t know where the best food in town is? Crack open your BMW Owners Anonymous book, make a couple phone calls, and get the information, help or guidance you need.

We’ve expanded the BMW Owners Anonymous book into the digital world, creating the BMW Owners Anonymous app for all BMW MOA members. It serves the same purposes as the physical book, but leverages modern technology to put the information you need at your fingertips on your smartphone or tablet. Whether you’re using iOS or Android, the BMW Owners Anonymous app is there for you!

Log in to your BMW MOA member account at bmwmoa.org and update your personal profile, then visit http://bmwmoa. club/useanonapp to get up to speed on how the app works!

MOA members do not need wi-fi access or constant cell coverage to benefit from the BMW Owners Anonymous. Thanks

to the “Refresh Data” process, you only need a connection to the internet (or cell coverage) at the moment you wish to refresh the data. We’ll be updating the data about twice a month, so you’ll always have fresh info on who is participating in the Anonymous program at the tap of your finger. Remember to refresh your BMW Owners Anonymous app data before you head out on your trip and you’re all set!

In addition to the BMW Owners Anonymous app being updated regularly, but we’re adding more to the app all the time. Soon it will contain your own membership information, like a digital Membership Card, which will enable you to renew your membership quickly and easily.

We’re also working on adding the most up-todate motorcycling news to the app, a feature we’re pretty excited about. Both of these changes will be in place in the BMW Owners Anonymous app for the new year.

Since January 1, 2021, the default option for the BMW Owners Anonymous info has been included with the app. Download and login instructions will be included with each new member packet we send out.

However, we are committed to sending a paper copy of the BMW Owners Anonymous book to every MOA member who still wants one. All you need to do to continue receiving the paper copy is opt in, which you can do online by visiting bmwmoa.org and updating your profile. If you need help logging in, just contact the main office and we’ll get you squared away!

Add Comfort to your R 18 with a Corbin saddle Corbin takes touring-quality comfort for BMW’s R 18 to the next level with their ergonomic sculpting and wide, supportive bucket shaping. The shape is contoured out to cradle a rider’s body and disperse weight over a greater area, offering greater comfort and support to keep riders in the saddle longer.

Optional electric seat heaters built into the saddle use independent switches for rider and passenger seating areas. The switches are conveniently located on the left and can be activated without removing a hand from the throttle.

Temperature is controlled and maintained automatically.

The Corbin seats also work with an optional removable rider backrests in both the front and rear positions for comfort and support. Backrest support hardware is built into the saddle for a clean look, and the backrests are easily adjustable for rider posture without removal from the saddle. Backrests in the front rider position also feature adjustment fore and aft to suit varying statures and will fold down to ease mounting the bike. Corbin’s new R 18 saddle installs easily with a tongue in the front and a single bolt into a stock location at the rear.

Proudly made in the U.S., for more information and to order, visit corbin.com

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

15

NNEEWWSS

The Grand Coddiwomple!

By Greg Feeler #2241 THE BMW MOA IS EXCITED TO ANNOUNCE A NEW RIDING

event for 2021 open only to MOA members: The Grand Coddiwomple!

What is a coddiwomple, you ask? Well, the word coddiwomple means to “travel in a purposeful manner toward a vague destination.” So, “The Grand Coddiwomple” is a large-scale scavenger hunt created to give MOA members opportunities to ride their motorcycles while searching for specific items in order to accumulate points, receive recognition and have loads of fun! Basically, you get to ride your bike to various physical locations called “Challenges,” then provide proof you were there by taking a photo of your bike, the Challenge location, and your individually numbered Grand Coddiwomple flag. Each Challenge carries a point value and while some you can only complete once, others have no limit.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

www.captialcycle.com

Grand Coddiwomple participants will receive a numbered flag to photograph when visiting challenge sites.

Riders can earn Completion status relatively easily, even with limited riding time, though accumulating many points or even winning is of course more challenging.

Riders will only need 300 points to complete The Grand Coddiwomple, which will not only earn you bragging rights and a Certificate of Completion suitable for framing, but also a commemorative pin. Riders can go well beyond 300 points, and the rider with the highest point total will be named the winner and receive a special award of recognition.

There will also be prize pools for those with the highest point totals. See the Sections 12 and 13 in the rules document for details. Though there is a competitive element anytime a score is kept and there will be some drawings, The Grand Coddiwomple is not just about competition or prizes. Rather, it’s about all the places you will go and the fun things you will do that you may not have done otherwise. Participating riders will get to choose their own Challenges to complete, plan their own routes and set their own schedule. The purpose of The Grand Coddiwomple is to have fun riding your motorcycle!

Once you register, you will receive your uniquely numbered 2021 Coddiwomple flag and a sticker. As described in the rules, for most Challenges you will need to take a picture of the Challenge object with your bike and flag clearly displayed. You will then post your pictures on a photo sharing site and email a link to the photo with a description of the Challenge you are claiming.

The Challenges will get you traveling, but some will also require some thought and creativity. This year the overall theme is based on the slogan and location of the 2021 BMW MOA Rally in Great Falls, Montana. The “Gold Saddle Up and Ride Challenge” will earn you 200 points by spelling out the words “SADDLE UP AND RIDE” using the first letter of different place names. Another Challenge worth 50 points requires a photo of a place name which includes the word “Falls.” Riders can also earn 50 points by somehow depicting the phrase, “Falling in Love!” Check out the full Challenge list description at the Coddiwomple link below!

Grand Coddiwomple rules and Challenges are fully spelled out on the Coddiwomple registration website at bmwmoa.org/coddiwomple. This event runs from April 1, 2021, through October 31, 2021, with registration opening on February 2, 2021. Participation is limited to the first 1,000 entrants, so register early to ensure your place and to receive your flag by the April 1 start date.

Have fun planning your ride and riding your plan! It’s The Grand Coddiwomple!

Register today at www.bmwmoa.org/coddiwomple

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

COME EXPLORE AN

MOA GETAWAY

TODAY VISIT BMWMOA.ORG

www.kermitchair.com

17

R A L LY

NEWS

By Corey #196849 and Becky Smith #208184 2021 "Saddle Up & Ride Rally Chairs We were all extremely disappointed to have postponed last summer’s BMW MOA “Saddle Up & Ride” Rally scheduled for Great Falls, Montana. As difficult as that decision was, everyone involved knew it was the right thing to do for the safety of our MOA members and happy rally-goers. Thankfully, because of MOA Executive Director Ted Moyer and the MOA Board of Directors’ quick work, it was decided to keep the Rally in Great Falls for this June. That was great news to all of us who had already put a great deal of time and effort into planning for the 2020 Rally. We are optimistic that the spring will bring relief and look forward to things getting back to normal again soon.

Becky and I are in frequent conversations with the Director of Montana Expo Park and the Executive Director of Great Falls Tourism. Everyone there is excited and planning for a great rally in 2021. A positive thing that came out of the rally postponement was that it gave many Great Falls businesses trying to get renovations done last summer some extra time to get those things done. We are looking forward to seeing some of those changes when we return. Just like everyone else, Great Falls is pushing forward with the goal of seeing

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

thousands of BMW motorcycles in the city of Great Falls this summer.

If you did not register for the Rally last year, we hope your 2021 riding plans include joining us in Great Falls this June. If you are also interested in volunteering at the Rally, a new function added to the Rally page allows members to choose a time slot to volunteer with your favorite committee. On the BMW MOA website at bmwmoa.org, click the Rally link. In addition to registering for the Rally, there is a Volunteer Sign-Up link, which leads to a Sign-Up Genius page where you can sign up to volunteer. Hands down, volunteering could be the most rewarding experience for anyone looking to meet new people and have more fun at the Rally.

On the FAQ page on the Rally site is a list of committees and their functions to give you an idea of what each committee does, which will allow you to find a committee that best suits your talents. If you would like to make the most of your rally experience, consider volunteering. If this is your first Rally, awesome, and thank you for committing to come.

Montana is a breathtaking place to explore on a motorcycle. Becky and I invite all of you to join us, along with a few thousand of your BMW-riding friends, at the 2021 BMW MOA National “Saddle Up & Ride” rally hosted at the beautiful Montana Expo Park, June 24-27 in Great Falls, Montana.

Watch for more information to come as we get closer to the Rally.

A little about Great Falls, Montana Surrounded by pristine wilderness and water, Great Falls, Montana, is this year’s basecamp for discovering Genuine Montana. Located in the heart of Montana, the Big Sky Country, Great Falls is surrounded by spectacular natural wonders and scenery. The city is nestled between rich, productive farmland and only miles away from the majestic Rocky Mountains to the west and Little Belt Mountains to the east.

An exciting community of more than 58,000, Great Falls was settled around the mighty Missouri River, one of nature's most magnificent waterways. The Missouri River provides Great Falls with its name as the Missouri cuts through the city it drops more than 500 feet in a series of rapids and five breathtaking waterfalls -- the great falls of the Missouri.

Known as "The Electric City," Great Falls has a long history which began with the famous expedition of Lewis and Clark in 1805 who explored the newly purchased Louisiana Territory filled with herds of buffalo roaming the prairies. Lewis and Clark were the first known white explorers to catch sight of the "great falls" of the Missouri River…they heard the roaring of the falls more than seven miles away.

Paris Gibson came west in May of 1882. He made plans for a city, then laid them out before James Hill, a man of great importance in the railroad industry. Hill gave his financial backing to Gibson, knowing that a city in such an area would make a valuable connection for the railroads.

While organizing the town, Gibson made sure the streets were laid out in a precise, arrow- straight pattern, plus he set aside 886 acres for city parks. Gibson believed beauty was important in a city and personally made sure that elm, ash, and fir trees were planted on every street and boulevard.

While at the rally, be sure to bring your tackle to fish one of

the world’s best trout streams or pack a lunch and take a hike into the pristine wilderness of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, one of the largest roadless areas in the U.S., just 45 minutes outside of town.

Anyone yearning to hike “The Bob” needs a good supply of bear spray, as this area boasts the highest population density of grizzly bears in the U.S. Depending on the route you’ve taken to the rally, bucket list roads are abundant in the area and include some of North America’s most scenic routes including Glacier National Park’s Going-To-The-Sun Road to the north, Yellowstone National Park to the south and Highway 12 and Lolo Pass near Missoula to the west.

Thirty miles south of Great Falls, the Upper Missouri River bends through the rock walls of Wolf Creek Canyon. This scenic stretch of river has roughly 3,500 to 5,500 trout per mile, one of the highest populations in the U.S. Visitors there are also likely to see eagles, osprey, and even bighorn sheep along the banks.

Although we are good at it, Great Falls isn’t all untamed wilderness. Visitors can enjoy the region’s unique heritage in both art and history at modern museums and galleries in town. The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center chronicles the Corps of Discovery’s epic journey through the West. The Corps spent more time in Great Falls than any location other than their winter camps, and many of their most famous adventures occurred here. Charles M. Russell, the renowned Western Artist, spent the majority of his life in Central Montana. The largest collection of his works and his home are both located at the C.M. Russell Museum in Great Falls.

Finally, visitors to Great Falls will also enjoy many microbreweries, bistros, and quirky coffee shops in the eclectic downtown where Genuine Montana culture feels a lot more “hometown” than “resort town.” Prices are affordable and the locals are friendly, living up to the Montana moniker as “The Last Best Place.”

See you in Montana!

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

19

NEWS

Welcome our newest MOA members

I joined BMW MOA for the opportunity to meet new people and share the love of riding. I also wanted a place where I could ask questions and get advice on upgrades, maintenance, and gear. I also know that there is strength in numbers, and I like to be a part of a larger whole. My wife and I want to get involved and attend the different gatherings and just enjoy the ride.

Nick Newby #222791 Sandpoint, Idaho

Brian Aldrich Aurora, CO Kurk Anderson Kohler, WI Michael Arnott Roswell, GA Robert Audsley Bartlett, TN Henry Ayres Charlottesville, VA Jason Baab Cranberry Township, PA Anthony Baldwin Knoxvilie, TN Thomas Ballenger New Braunfels, TX David Barrett Zionsville, IN Ted Barrett Glasgow, KY Christopher Bateman Mt Pleasant, SC John Bergstrom Edina, MN Denny Blair Plainfield, VT Gordon Blimbaum Lyndhurst, OH Lara Blum Honolulu, HI Carol Bracewell Madison, WI Barry Brad Calgary, AB Michael Braga Cotati, CA Dan Bryant Henrico, VA Tiffani Burkett Simi Valley, CA Nick Buskirk Hemingford, NE Christopher Byrne Bridgewater, MA Shannon C Birch Tree, MO Jeffrey Carden Pensacola, FL John Carroll Harbor Springs, MI John Chladek Gualala, CA Bohdan Chorny Toronto, ON Bill Cliby Rochester, MN Milton Collingwood Uxbridge, ON Mike Cook Oneida, NY Larry Core Mooresville, NC Joe Cornwell Santa Maria, CA Joanne Coyle Arvada, CO David Crammond Toronto, ON Neil Cureton Sammamish, WA

20

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

Aaron Davies Los Altos, CA Christopher Davis Biloxi, MS Kevin Davis Grundy, VA Barbara Dawson Scottsdale, AZ Samuel Dean Spencer, IN Bill Deihl Lake Dallas, TX Rick del Monte Dallas, TX Tony DellAquila Seminole, FL Chris Dickerson Weeki Wachee, FL Frank Dorogi Buffalo, NY Stephen Dorrance N. Chesterfield, VA Donald Duvall Middleton, ID Mario EnrĂƒÂ­quez Doral, FL Jeffrey Evanson Medina, MN Mike Facente Johnston, RI Ryan Finch Cincinnati, OH Joseph Ford-King Voluntown, CT Morgan C France Oakland, MD Greg Freeman Rosemount, MN David Freeman San Antonio, TX Thomas Gabriel Pensacola, FL Norman Gagnon Fort Walton Beach, FL Bruce Garrett Leander, TX Matthew Gault Boiling Springs, SC John Gehlenborg Lawrenceburg, IN Carlos Gomez Hialeah, FL Emmett Gooch Wilmington, NC Jenn Guerriero Westminster, CO Stephen Gulixson Baldwin, WI Douglas Haenni Springfield, IL Chris Hailey Simpsonville, SC John Hall Perkasie, PA Aaron Hall Oakland, CA Robert Harrington Minneapolis, MN Ben Hassenstein Peachland, BC

David Hayes Morrison, CO Matthew Heard Millbrook, NY Andrew Hiegel Athens, GA George Hilbish Monroe, NC Matthew Hintlian Frazier Park, CA Gregory Howard Pensacola, FL Jennifer Howard Pensacola, FL Shawn Hughes Bell, FL Marcel Jofre Coral Springs, FL Loren Johannes Castle Rock, CO Simon Jones Dallas, TX Lee Ann Jones Coconut Creek, FL Doug Jurcich Minneapolis, MN Burak H. Gino Karabel Park Ridge, NJ Ralph Katieb Ely, MN Steve Kelly Milton, FL Damon Kinter Colorado Springs, CO Tony Knight Kalamazoo, MI W Kocal Cave Creek, AZ Pell Kornegay Crestview, FL Tom Krapu Saint Louis, MO Michael Kruger Peachtree Corners, GA Logan Lad Lakewood, CO Michelle Lamphere Custer, SD Roderick Lang Tucson, AZ John Lange Dassel, MN Lester Langford Denver, CO Chris Larson Sioux Falls, SD Richard Lasota Milton, FL Ross Lavely Reno, NV Edward Lavine Coto De Caza, CA Paul Le Blanc Bogalusa, LA Gary Lee Nashville, TN Trent Lindgren Marietta, GA Scott Lindroth Durham, NC

I started riding in 1991 as a way to get back and forth to work spending less money on gas. I quickly developed a love for the open road and when my car broke down, I did not replace it for almost two years. I stopped riding for several years after I moved to Florida, but am glad to be back in the saddle. I am a big fan of long rides even when the weather is not “great.� I have never let the cold weather stop me (most of the time) and living in Florida I do not have to worry with the snow. I bought my 1998 K 1200 RS about four years ago and have ridden from Jacksonville to New Orleans and Atlanta and to the Gulf of Mexico on this bike and have loved every minute of it. Thanks for the membership to this club. I hope to have many years of enjoyment with you all!

Clay Probst #223011 Milton, Florida

David Litts Southern Pines, NC Andres Lutz Maple Grove, MN Scott Martin Lyme, CT Antonio Martins Ellisville, MO Hans Mazard Hampton, GA Daniel McArthur Arlington, TX Scott Mccandless Westminster, CO Scott McClear Kingston, NH Murray McClure Ottawa, ON Peter McComber Minneapolis, MN Scott McGahey Cary, NC Stan McGroarty Roscoe, IL Michael McSweeney Newton, NJ Cody McWilliams Minden, NV Chris Meenan Rising Sun, MD Scott Mikaelian Flemington, NJ Matthew Milbourne Williamston, MI Liza Miller Santa Cruz, CA Eric Mintalar Hopkins, MN Victor Mirando East Northport, NY Patrick Moody Fresno, CA Jon Moorehouse Pensacola, FL Rainer Moosmuller Randburg, South Africa Sarah Mosher Minneapolis, MN James Navickas Phoenix, AZ William Neill Hiram, OH Nicholas Newby Sandpoint, ID Matt Noteboom Aurora, CO Pascal Ollinger Aurora, CO Timothy ONeil South Portland, ME James Owen Fort Collins, CO Chris Parrish League City, TX Jay Parsons Westerville, OH Bruce Perkins Summit, NJ John Pfingstag Phoenix, AZ

Shawn Pierson Axton, VA Sydney Pifer Gig Harbor, WA Sarah Pifer Gig Harbor, WA Jim Pion Chicopee, MA Kennth Potter Albuquerque, NM Norman Powell Florence, OR Bill Powers Saint Paul, MN Gerry Pregent Strafford, NH Clay Probst Milton, FL Dan Radigan Walnut Creek, CA Swaminathan Ramalingam Mebane, NC Raghu Ramaya Grafton, MA David Rhodes Fairfax, VA Steve Robbins Mount Juliet, TN Benjamin Rogers Millersville, MD Thomas Roman San Francisco, CA Tim Rowland Clay, NY Danielle Roy Mount Saint Hilaire, QC Will Rumplik Torrance, CA Onder Sahin Lucas, TX Anthony Salvaggio Kailua Kona, HI Janae Sauder Mohnton, PA Sara Sawyer Durango, CO Bobby Selegrath Noblesville, IN John Semeniuk Phoenix, AZ Zach Shepherd Franktown, CO Trevor Simones Navarre, FL Dhramen Singh Woodbridge, VA Chris Sloan Markdale, ON Benjamin Snow Wichita Falls, TX Andrew Sohn San Francisco, CA Dinesh Soundararajan Greensboro, NC Paul Stalboerger Byron, MN Jeffery Stamy Friendswood, TX Kathryn Stiles Creedmoor, NC

Charles Stoops Pensacola, FL Lindsay Struve Boomington, MN Randall Stueber Denver, CO Brian Stupi Westminster, MD Michael Summerfield Cornwall, NY Jeffrey Sweitzer Minneapolis, MN Dave Swift Ellington, CT Rick Tarnow Erie, CO Nicholas Theodore Wolfeboro, NH Matthew Thick Metamora,MI William Thompson Orlando, FL Steve Tiernan Tobermory, ON Jamar Tillman Milton, FL Stratton Tingle Chattanooga, TN Christopher Tori Highlands Ranch, CO David Turner Fresno, CA Barry Turner Lubbock, TX Hendrikus Vanderveldt Dallas, TX David Venitelli Spring Valley, NY Austin Via Radford, VA Matthew Waddell Clearwater, FL Jerry Walton Lafayette, LA John Warren Pensacola, FL Michael Warren Baltimore, MD Vincent White Olney, MD Robb White Briarcliff, TX Marshall Wilhelmi Newport News, VA Todd Willcox Gig Harbor, WA Warren Wilson Pioneer, CA Edward Winkler Fairway, KS Glen Winnor La Quinta, CA Phillip Woodhall Minneapolis, MN Gloria Yanni Topsham, ME Rich Zeman Beaver Dam, WI

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

21

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

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

April 23 - 25, 2021

Fontana, North Carolina

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.

Fontana Village Lodge 300 Woods Rd. Fontana, NC 28733

Room Rate: $70 - $209 per night depending on room type.

Event Fee:

$99

(828) 498-2211 – Mention BMW MOA Getaway

Features:

Bonfire

on Friday, Live music on Saturday evening.

Breakfast available at resort restaurant.

www.fontanavillage.com

Official sponsor of the 2021 MOA Getaways Additional support provided by:

I’ve have been going to Fontana since the first inaugural weekend getaway started.

Many people ask why I keep coming back, especially when this is in my backyard.

Fontana is held at the best time of the year when there’s no traffic, and few tourists.

This makes it a great time to explore and ride the Tail of the Dragon, Cherohola Skyway. I have watched attendance grow through the years and this has become the most attended MOA Getaway. I always bring the whole family with me, and stay in one of the cabins. There are so many functions at Fontana that we decided to change the name from Fontana to “Funtana!” The MOA has done a great job putting this MOA Getaway” together. I have been to many other MOA Getaways, but hold “Funtana” close to my heart! Come join in the fun. I’ll look forward to meeting you!

Robert “Stew” Stewart, Life Member #100004

MAY

5/7/2021 – 5/9/2021

MOA GETAWAY – COEUR D’ALENE LOCATION: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

5/14/2021 – 5/16/2021

MOA GETAWAY – LOS OSOS LOCATION: Los Osos, California

5/21/2021 – 5/23/2021

MOA GETAWAY – DILLARD LOCATION: Dillard, Georgia

5/21/2021 – 5/23/2021

8/20/2021 – 8/22/2021

MOA GETAWAY – GUELPH LOCATION: Guelph, Ontario

SEPTEMBER

9/3/2021 – 9/5/2021

MOA GETAWAY – SUN PEAKS

LOCATION: Sun Peaks, British Columbia

9/10/2021 – 9/12/2021

MOA GETAWAY – PINE MOUNTAIN LOCATION: Pineville, Kentucky

9/10/2021 – 9/12/2021

MOA GETAWAY – SANTA FE

MOA GETAWAY – CEDAR CITY

LOCATION: Santa Fe, New Mexico

LOCATION: Cedar City, Utah

JULY

MOA GETAWAY – SUGARBUSH

9/17/2021 – 9/19/2021

7/30/2021 – 8/1/2021

LOCATION: Warren, Vermont

LOCATION: Skytop, Pennsylvania

OCTOBER

MOA GETAWAY – SKYTOP

AUGUST

10/1/2021 – 10/3/2021

MOA GETAWAY – TOMAH

8/20/2021 – 8/22/2021

LOCATION: Tomah, Wisconsin

LOCATION: Copper Mountain, Colorado

MOA GETAWAY – KERRVILLE

MOA GETAWAY – COPPER MOUNTAIN

10/22/2021 – 10/24/2021

LOCATION: Kerrville, Texas

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

communication in motion

www.cardosystems.com

PRODUCT

REVIEWS

ZTechnik mirror extenders

By Steve Leader #222695 I SPEND A LOT OF TIME ADJUSTING THE MIRRORS ON MY

G 650 GS trying to maximize my rear view. Like many of us, I usually end up having the inside third of my mirror reflect my shoulders, making me shift my body position to get a fuller view.

I even tried adding a small, circular blind spot mirror to give me a little wider range, but those really only took up more of my valuable mirror real estate. While reviewing pictures of other bikes in one of the galleries, I noticed a GS with mirror extender arms and thought I’d give them a try.

I originally went with a cheapie set of Chinese extenders — I WISH I hadn’t. There were a few issues with the cheapies including the thinness of the metal which seemed to introduce a lot of vibration while I was riding and which made the mirrors sag. They also didn’t tighten down snugly enough, so I couldn’t adjust the mirror angle while riding without moving the whole arm assembly.

I finally decided to bite the bullet and go with a more higher-end version, selecting the ZTechnik Mirror Extenders.

I got mine from Sierra BMW for $45, but they are available at many retailers.

The kit is very basic and includes two extenders, the mounting hardware and an install sheet. The ZTechnik extenders are .25" thick, and for me that was the key difference between the less-expensive version I had originally. The extenders are also 2.5" long, though this measurement varies slightly depending on the model of your bike and whether or not they have a curve to them. ZTechnik offers versions to fit most motorcycles.

The installation is simple. First, you remove your existing mirrors, mount them to one end of the threaded oval extender and then use the included hardware (an M8 Torx-head screw and a locking washer) to mount to the stock mirror location.

It’s the classic five-minute upgrade.

The post-install test proved I had gotten just what I hoped for.

The ZTechnik extenders don’t interfere with any operation or access to any controls, and the additional angle allows me to have full use of the mirror, giving me a wider field of view of what’s behind me––not my shoulders. Additionally, there was no noticeable vibration in my mirrors, and they mounted securely enough that I could make a minor adjustment to the mirror without moving the mounting arm.

For more information or to find a retailer near you, visit nationalcycle.com.

24

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

www.helmetsunblocker.com

www.re-psycle.com www.re-psycle.com 11

11

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www.beemershop.com

Adventure proof packing systems and gear for exploration.

GO LIGHT. GO FAST. GO FAR. â„¢

Gear up for adventure at www.giantloop.com Giantloopmoto.com

www.imtbike.com

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

25

PRODUCT

REVIEWS

Touratech’s Comfort Seat

By Lee Harrelson #145612 ON TWO WHEELS WE FEEL MORE

connected to the road and environment around us. That connection comes from the road up through our tires, frame and suspension, right up through our seat, and when our adventure takes us off the pavement, that connection increases as we feel our way around mud holes and gravel pits. The Touratech Comfort Seat is made specifically for GS models and is packed with features for adventure riding.

First, there is no shipping your seat pan away and then waiting for its return, leaving you unable to use your bike in the meantime. There are also no funny measurements to make, no cast of your

26

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

butt cheeks to send in. Each Touratech seat is made bike-specific, on a single piece, high-density plastic pan. My 2019 F 750 GS is lowered from the factory, so I ordered the lowest of the three heights available for my model, and it fits perfectly. Old seat off, new seat on, click, done.

I am not a large guy. At six feet tall and weighing about a buck fifty with all my gear on, you wouldn’t think I’d feel compression in a seat. The F 750 GS stock saddle felt firm in the back and softer towards the tank, so shifting my weight forward for any amount of time resulted in a hot spot and eventually a little numbness in my left leg. The Touratech Comfort Seat

offers a much nicer, firm yet giving feel from front to back. The Touratech seat is also cut a bit narrower in the front than the stock seat and feels great when off-road, while still allowing my feet to reach the ground when needed. In addition, the bowl of the seat is cut a little deeper than the stock seat and creates a comfortable highway position but still enables you to shift your weight side to side in the curves of two-lane roads.

What I really like is the way Touratech designed the two-way elastic, non-slip cover and how the seams stay out of contact with the rider. The cover also has a great texture and still allows easy movement around the seat even when it’s wet. The seat feels soft

and gives to pressure while still providing support and helping you sit in a neutral position. Overall, the Touratech seat offers a very comfortable ride and is a huge improvement over my stock seat. I don’t know why it took me so long to upgrade, but like I said before, I’m a small guy and figured all seats would fit like the stocker did. Not anymore!

Though I grew up on off-road bikes, I had been riding a 2004 R 1150 R with a stock seat up until my first GS purchase two years ago. While not completely set up for serious dirt, my GS has allowed me to venture into some rough back roads and forest road trails. I also feel better equipped when older brother Vance’s proposed day ride takes a gravel road detour!

This year has been a bit different in the type and miles I’ve ridden. With no big, cross-country trips or rides to the rally, I instead have been taking the time to explore the territory closer to my Alabama home. With the warmer weather of the south, we are fortunate to have many November and December days with full eight to ten-hour riding windows. It’s great to get out early and spend a day looking for roads I’ve have not seen before, enjoying an unusual spot for lunch or a special sunset on the way home. January and February are cold months with few opportunities, though we get an occasional day here and there. But when spring hits and the days get longer, watch out—the miles start to build up!

We all hope 2021 is a year for reconnecting, with our friends, our fellow riders and our MOA community. Getting back to some MOA Getaways and our National Rally in Montana this summer are tops on my list, along with other road trips and adventures across America’s back roads.

The addition of my Touratech comfort seat and luggage system makes my F 750 GS a ride I will enjoy for many years to come.

The Touratech Comfort Seat for the F 750 GS sells for $629.95. For more information visit touratech-usa.com.

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

27

www.cyclenutz.com/moa www.cyclenutz.com

www.boxerworks.org

Bonjour Provence HIGHLIGHTS Riding Provence, Gorge du Verdon, Aix-en-Provence, Avignon, Carcassonne, Luberon villages, Vercors, Pont du Gard, Millau Viaduct, Grasse TOUR DATES 2021 MAY 29 - JUN 13

adriaticmototours.com www.adriaticmototours.com COUNTRIES France

DURATION 16 days / 14 riding days

ROUTE LENGTH 2.000 - 2.800 km (1.200 - 1.700 miles)

BMWON-120x82-PRO.indd 1

21/12/2020 07:25

Why not live where people vacation?

Beautiful Coeur d’ Alene, Idaho! www.lattmangroup.com www.LattmanGroup.com I’m Peter Hans Lattman, Real Estate Agent and Owner of the Lattman Group.

As a lifelong motorcyclist and BMW MOA member (#97545), I’d love to share with you why I live here.

Serving North Idaho and Eastern Washington for all of your real estate needs!

Peter Hans Lattman

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

Cell: 208-664-0101 Peter@HardWorkingPeter.com

PRODUCT

REVIEWS

Antigravity ATX-12 RS battery

By Mark Barnes #222400 “STRANDED IN THE MIDDLE OF

nowhere!” was my initial assessment when the starter button produced nothing but silence. On a recent disaster-riddled off-road ride, I’d dismounted at a trail’s dead end to scout for possible ways forward. I hadn’t expected to be off the bike for long, and I wasn’t in the best frame of mind. These factors converged in my failure to turn off the bike’s key, leaving an electron-hungry aftermarket lighting system unhindered access to the feedbag

28

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

that was my battery. While I gave lengthy consideration to a complicated and treacherous water crossing that might allow passage to another trail nearby, said lighting system feasted until there was nothing left to consume. I was already primed to encounter catastrophe, and my immediate interpretation of the situation took shape accordingly.

After a few minutes reviewing bleak and dreadful options, I burst into laughter. I remembered the ReStart button, a clever

feature Antigravity has included on some of their lithium-ion (technically LiFePO) batteries for the last couple of years. These batteries come equipped with a special circuit that detects when their voltage drops to a dangerously low level and cuts off the juice while there’s still enough left to start the motor, preserving the capacity for several attempts. The ReStart button restores battery functionality; think of it as a reserve petcock for your power source.

Installation of this battery was the reason

I’d stopped carrying a pocket jump-starter in my backpack, but that decision had been made months ago and forgotten amidst my initial crisis reaction.

I’ve put these batteries in a half-dozen other bikes, but I’d never had to find out how well the ReStart technology actually works. With breath held and fingers crossed, I pressed the button on top of the battery. As soon as I turned the key back on, the fuel pump’s whirring sounded promising. The next stab at the starter brought the motor to life instantly.

WHEW!! At least one catastrophe was averted that day. Thanks, Antigravity!

I’ve come to value the power, reliability and convenience of Antigravity batteries over the years. Even without the ReStart circuit, lithium-ion batteries often offer significant advantages over the OEM units they replace, albeit at a higher price-point.

These include increased power, smaller size, lighter weight and longer (up to a year) shelf life, because they don’t selfdischarge without parasitic drain. My most recent acquisition was the ATX-12 RS, purchased for $224.99 to replace the dying AGM battery in my F 800 GT (not the bike in the off-road story above!). Whereas the old battery cost about a third of the new one’s price, it weighed 10 lbs., 2oz.; the new one is a mere 2lbs., 5oz. Cold cranking amps were rated as 200 (old) and 360 (new), with both carrying amp-hour ratings of 12. (Note that lithium-ion battery amp-hours must be converted to a lead-acid equivalent for fair comparison; the ATX-12’s unconverted rating is 6.1 AH.) Some Antigravity batteries are substantially smaller than their conventional counterparts. These arrive with stiff foam panels that can be used to fill up the leftover space, if necessary for proper fitment in the allotted space. While my ATX-12 had about the same exterior dimensions as the battery it replaced, the F 800 GT’s battery bracket was designed for a more typical set of indentations in the battery’s top. With very little improvising (slipping a thin sheet of rubber behind the battery), everything buttoned up neatly

and securely. Accessing the ReStart button in this application requires removal of eight bodywork fasteners, as well as the bracket, which happens to pass right over the button. Still, this labor would be preferable to getting the bike towed or leaving it in search of a replacement battery! There may still be reasons to carry a power-pack jump-starter, but ReStart makes the weight, bulk and expense of one optional. As shown, the ATX-12 RS also features four terminals, allowing easier fitment where the usual connections are reversed or additional connections for accessories are desirable.

In addition to protecting users like me from their own forgetful negligence, the ReStart circuit will trip if too many accessories suck up wattage while the engine is running. The same principle applies since any drain in excess of the charging system’s capacity gets pulled from the battery. Remember, a battery does not otherwise contribute to a motorcycle’s operation and should simply be the passive recipient of replenishing charge after its work of spinning the starter/fuel pump is done. A battery put to sleep by the ReStart circuit in this case would cause lights and accessories to grow weak or stop working, signaling the rider to reduce the load on the electrical system.

A battery revived by the ReStart button obviously needs recharging. Such a revival should be followed by enough riding to accomplish this or refreshing the battery with an external charger. Lithium-ion batteries should be charged with purposebuilt chargers, not those made for leadacid batteries. That said, the Battery Management System built into Antigravity batteries protects against over-discharge, over-charge, and thermal excess, and automatically balances the cells. All of this presumably extends battery life and helps avoid damage to the battery and to nearby objects that would be affected by battery overheating. Antigravity batteries come in a wide variety of sizes and capacities and are covered by a three-year warranty.

Visit antigravitybatteries.com for more information.

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

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Low Oil Pressure!

By Matt Parkhouse #13272 HERE IN COLORADO,

up some dirt and add a bit of points lube to the rubbing block on the points. While the points themselves should last a good long time, you do need to get in there to clean things out and re-lube the rubbing block every few years.

With the bike starting and running nicely, I went on a short ride to warm up the engine so I could tune the carbs. With not a little consternation, I observed the oil light flickering at a normal idle.

The oil light was definitely glaring at me.

There are several possible locations for this trouble. Perhaps the most common cause is a defective oil pressure sender, which is also the easiest repair of the oil system.

This pressure-operated switch is located in the engine block, below the left-side cylinder. After placing a catch bucket under the engine, I used a 24mm deep

socket to unscrew it and replaced it with a new spare of mine. No change in the oil light flashing. I switched back the sender and moved on.

Another possibility for low oil pressure is the oil filter. I recently detailed how we found part of an old oil filter at the back of a Slash Seven oil filter compartment. Since I had just replaced the oil filter, this was a real possibility, so I opened the filter compartment to take a look. Everything appeared to be good, no bits or pieces of old filters in there. If a problem shows up after you’ve done some work on the involved system, examining that area is a good idea as a mistake could have been made.

Since I had just replaced the timing cover as part of my experiment, I figured a look there was in order. Also, I’ve heard of long-stored Airheads having issues with

we are definitely in the winter part of the year!

I’ve cleared my shop around the lift to allow indoor wrenching––a luxury I still appreciate.

As I’ve mentioned before, for the first 20 years I lived here I did all of my bike repair on the walkway in front of the house. I even poured a small rectangle of concrete to be my work area and at this time of year, I would bundle up and carry on, placing the work tools on the hearth of the wood stove inside the front door. I’m VERY pleased to be able to bring my Airhead work into a heated, out-of-thewind, area.

I’m pretty well caught up on working on other folks’ Airheads. I finished up the experiment on the “Mexico Bike” that I mentioned last month. Everything worked as I hoped it would––the Slash Seven timing cover with the non-BMW camshaft seal fit right in and has been oil-tight, and the late model alternator fit into the mounting area and puts out nice voltage. The whole exercise wasn’t really necessary as I already had fitted the Slash Five with an early Slash Six alternator. I just wanted to know if I could utilize the more common (at least on eBay) Slash Seven alternator to increase charging output on a Slash Five.

With that exercise completed, I continued to go through the ’72 Slash Five to set it up for my really hoped-for ride into Mexico in February and March.

I finished changing all the oils, reset the timing after I had moved the part that the points are mounted to, which also gave me a chance to clean up the points.

I had installed a Dyna Ignition Booster several trips ago and found the points The oil pressure relief valve is at the upper part of the engine. It opens when the oil pressure exceeds 75 or showed no signs of burning or arcing on 80 psi. I have heard of them sticking open either from inactivity or from a small particle of metal holding it the contact area. All I had to do was clean open. Either problem is pretty rare.

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The pressure relief valve, out of the engine and apart. I found no problems so I polished up the surfaces and put it back together and back in the engine.

The timing cover, with the various seals used with the camshaft. The small one on the left is a /5 seal, the larger one on the right is a /7 seal and the center one is a seal I purchased from a bearing and seal house.

You really do need to take things down this far to get at the timing chain or swap timing covers.

www.alaskaleather.com February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

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stuck pressure relief valves. This part of the oil passageway system is located behind the timing cover at the upper part of the engine. The relief valve screws into the front bearing carrier that supports the forward end of the crankshaft. As all the parts were nice and clean, disassembly took a lot less time this trip into the engine.

Once I had the cover off, I heated the aluminum of the bearing carrier to expand where the relief valve is fastened to it. It unscrewed easily with a pair of vice grip pliers. I found the spring-loaded valve part to be rust-free and moving freely in the steel tube. I polished the various areas of contact and replaced the valve as it clearly was not the problem. Checking that valve was sort of a long shot, but because I’d just been working around it, I felt it was worth checking out.

The next stop on my journey searching for the cause of the low oil pressure was the connecting rod bearings. These bearing shells are mounted on the big end of the two conrods and when worn, can definitely lead to a loss of oil pressure like what I was seeing.

When I purchased the Mexico Bike for $500 back in 1986, I was told it had a “bad noise in the engine.” Sure enough, when I tore into the engine back then, I found badly worn conrod bearings. Fortunately, whoever was riding the machine parked it before any damage was done to the crank journals. I replaced the bearing shells, used strips of very fine emery paper to polish the crankshaft and put everything back together. Since then, the Slash Five has been south of the border 11 times with no issues involving the conrod bearings. After pulling the exhaust system and the carbs, I was ready to take off the pistons, cylinders, and heads as one unit. When I pulled the conrods out, I could see a little wear but no real damage. The crank journals were nice and smooth as well. I decided to replace the rod bearing shells, as a matter of routine, and reassembled the engine.

When everything was back together, I started up the engine. No oil light! I left the bike running to warm up as I put the tools away. The oil light remained out after a

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While the weather was warm and I had the time, I decided to service the forks as well. It had been a few years and a few trips to Mexico since the last time I had the apart.

While getting the Mexico Bike up and running, I noticed a dripping carburetor. Upon closer examination, it proved to be a leaking fuel line.

Easily renewed.

good warm up, test ride and balancing of the carburetors. I’ve had it on a couple more errands around town with no problems indicated.

The one last stop on the journey to find the oil pressure problem would have been the oil pump located on the rear of the engine, behind the flywheel. As there were no oil leaks back there, I was hoping I could avoid doing that bit of work. If you see oil running out from that area under the gearbox, it is most likely coming from a bad rear main seal or a loose oil pump cover. Oil pumps can wear out, they are most often damaged by some sort of mechanical failure in the engine that sends shards of metal into the oil system.

In the course of planning for these jobs, I found myself pulling down a box I hadn’t touched in over a decade. In my “oil system parts” box, I have a couple of sets of oil pumps, oil pump covers, oil filter parts, pick up parts and the like. I just haven’t had any work involving the oil system in a very long time and wanted to see what I had on hand so that I could order anything I

needed beforehand.

In looking through the online parts fiche at MAX BMW, I found that the oil pump has one of two different sized pump rotors. I could not find any information on when the change occurred. I was pretty sure it was near or at the end of the Slash Five production run (in late 1973) but could not nail down just when the change was made. I finally found the information I needed in Ian Falloon’s Original BMW Air-Cooled Boxer Twins 1950-1996 and discovered that the change in the size of the camshaft and oil pump rotor were done as the 1973 production year began.

Mr. Falloon has written a large number of books, mostly covering BMWs but also including other European motorcycles. I sold a number of his BMW oriented books when I was vending at rallies and have several different copies on my shelves.

My Mexico Slash Five is a 1972 model so I would need the earlier version of the parts if I ever do need to deal with the oil pump.

We are preparing to drive up to Boise right now. Susanna’s father died a couple of

Two different oil pump covers. The earlier one, used on /5 and some /6s, uses the Phillips type of screws. This is one of the few areas on an airhead BMW where you might have to use an impact hammer. The cover with flat cutouts for the bolts allow the use of a torque wrench. You can retrofit the later style of cover on a /5 or /6.

days ago at the age of 99. Among many pursuits, he was a well-known Idaho historian who had documented many aspects of life in Idaho and helped preserve much of the history of Boise.

He was sometimes bemused by his eldest daughter, who occasionally arrived in Boise on her R 100/7 and rode around Europe and North Africa on a R 60/5.

One time, we arrived at their house on our bikes, accompanied by a large pickup truck, driven by the undertaker of Jerome, Idaho. We had been riding to Victoria, British Columbia, with Jon, who had just purchased a Slash Five I had restored. Unfortunately, Jon mistakenly grabbed the diesel pump as we refueled about a hundred miles out of Boise. We were on the side of I-84, trying to figure out what was going on with the barely running machine when the truck owner, the proprietor of the Farnsworth Mortuary, pulled over to offer assistance.

As things worked out, he was a BMW rider and on his way to the Boise BMW shop, Big Twin, to pick up one of his several Airhead BMWs. Amazing coincidence! We hoisted up the ailing Slash Five and loaded it in the truck as Jon rode with him while Susanna and I followed on our bikes. The procession ended up in her parents’ driveway, to the surprise of her father and mother. Jon, Susanna, and I stayed there a day and then carried on to Victoria in a rental car.

On a later trip to Boise, I picked up the Slash Five and trailered it back to Colorado Springs. I identified the diesel problem and repaired the damaged head gaskets. Jon returned to Colorado Springs and we were able to take an uneventful ride up to Canada and beautiful Victoria with his “new” Slash Five.

Susanna’s dad, Dr. Arthur Hart, led an interesting life that he enthusiastically shared with his family and the citizens of Idaho. It will be a sad occasion, this journey to Boise, but it will be a celebration of a life well lived.

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

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TORQUE

OF

THE

MATTER

Unvoid my warranty with Magnuson-Moss

By Wes Fleming #87301 WHEN IT COMES TO WHO’S ALLOWED TO

work on your motorcycle during the warranty period, everything changed in 1975. That’s when the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act became U.S. law and shade tree mechanics everywhere rejoiced just a little.

Granted, the law wasn’t specifically aimed at motorcycles, but it covers bikes. It covers any product with a warranty, though it doesn’t mandate any product has to have a warranty. The underlying purpose of the MMWA was to make warranties more understandable by the general public, but it was also meant to cut down on manufacturers and merchants taking advantage of warranties.

The important part of the law for our purposes is the prohibition on conditions for written or implied warranty, which states: “No warrantor of a consumer product may condition his written or implied warranty of such product on the consumer’s using, in connection with such product, any article or service (other than article or service provided without charge under the terms of the warranty) which is identified by brand, trade, or corporate name.”

There’s a bit of legalese there, but translated into clearer language, it means the manufacturer—and their agent, the dealer—cannot force you to use their branded products on or in your motorcycle to maintain the warranty. MMWA goes on to say the “article or service” has to be of equivalent quality as the manufacturerbranded article or service, and if the quality is called into question, a commission decides if the quality standards match.

A lot of riders will tell you how quickly a dealer might act to void your warranty and thereby force you to pay for an expensive repair during the warranty period, especially on the internet. Take that with a grain of salt, because not only should you not believe everything you read on the internet, but you should also remember a good dealer is on your side—not necessarily because it’s the right thing to do, but because they have a vested interest in creating a repeat customer out of you. A voided warranty over something trivial is likely to cause a lot of anger towards the brand, possibly losing a customer for life and guaranteeing the angry customer will bad-mouth the brand at every opportunity, which could cause lost sales beyond that one angry customer.

Believe it or not, dealers aren’t the biggest fans of warranty repairs in the first place for the simple reason they often have to pay for them up front, then try to get their money back from the manufacturer on the back end. Because of this process, dealers

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discuss warranty repairs with their manufacturer representatives before undertaking them, similar to how you might call your health insurance provider for approval of a procedure to make sure it’s covered by your policy and you won’t have to pay for it out of pocket.

Remember a motorcycle dealership is a business, and if they don’t make money, they can’t continue to operate; they’re more likely to do the smart thing for the business as opposed to the right thing for the customer.

What it boils down to is this: it is illegal for the manufacturer (or their agent, the dealer) to void your warranty simply because you had work done on your motorcycle by a third party even if that third party is you. The big caveat here is you must be able to prove you used equivalent parts—and the burden of proof is absolutely on you.

As an example, say the starter on your S 1000 XR goes bad.

You can’t get to a dealer—or don’t want to—so you go to a local independent shop. Instead of buying the OEM (made by Denso) for $522, the shop buys the equivalent part directly from Denso for $327. Same part, different supply line, different cost to you, but equivalent to the original part and therefore maintaining your warranty. You may well have to jump through more hoops getting BMW to cover the cost through the independent dealer, but even if you end up paying for it out of pocket, your warranty stays intact should you have futher starter-related problems.

If the manufacturer specifies your motorcycle requires 5W30 oil and you use 15W50, you could be in trouble if something goes wrong with the engine. MMWA makes it so they could deny paying for an engine repair or even void the warranty as it relates to the engine, but that wouldn’t affect future warranty repairs to your rear shock, ABS system or TFT display.

To keep on the good side of MMWA, document everything you do to your bike during the warranty period. An independent repair shop should be able to provide you with a detailed receipt or invoice for the work they did, showing they used brand-equivalent parts. If you do the work yourself, keep track of what you did, when, at what mileage and keep the receipts for future reference (some store receipts will degrade over time, so make copies or take photos of them for your records).

The full text of the Magnuson-Moss Warranty Act is online at govinfo.gov/content/pkg/USCODE-2012-title15/html/ USCODE-2012-.

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Salton Sea Rendezvous of 2020

By Don Bartletti #220547

Saturn and Jupiter shine bright over author Don Bartletti’s 1977 R 100/7 during the Airheads Beemer Club's Salton Sea Rendezvous at Mecca Beach Campground on the eastern shore of the Sea. Bartletti has owned the bike since it was new.

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Although the Airhead Beemer Club’s 10th Annual Salton Sea Rendezvous was my first motorcycle vacation to the Salton Sea, I’d been there dozens of times over the past three decades as a San Diego-based photojournalist with the Los Angeles Times.

Inevitably my focus as a visual reporter was on something breathtaking or something that took my breath away. This bike trip was destined to become a “folo” (newspeak for follow up) to one of California’s weirdest environmental and cultural regions.

For example, 20 years ago, when the Salton Sea’s ecology was devilishly out of whack due to agricultural chemical pollution, it was big news as the fish die-offs approached Biblical proportions.

I’d seen the shoreline carpeted with dead tilapia, waterfowl and a breathtaking stench. Ironically at the 2020 Rendezvous, I comfortably beach camped on the thick, soft layer of pulverized bones from those calamities.

When the Sea’s ecology was in harmony, vast flocks of pelicans, ducks, cormorants and gulls made me hold my breath to steady a 300mm telephoto lens on the beautiful formation of birds descending into a wildlife sanctuary. But the weirdest migration was that of the snowbirds and other restless human wanderers.

They landed in a place called Slab City, a squatter’s refuge a couple of miles from the shoreline. My return to the desert outpost with fellow Airheads confirmed that it still hung on to its in-your-face

reputation. The only street sign read, “Slow the F*&$ Down!”

Why would a resident of San Diego’s coastal Riviera want to spend a weekend on the fringe of an outlander’s Sea? Well, the past ten months haven’t been so good in my hood. The Great COVID19 Pandemic of 2020 mercilessly squeezed lifestyle, limb, and liberty from this easygoing corner of the U.S. On top of that, political cultism had infected many of my friends and neighbors who habitually squat in front of their cable TV sewer pipes.

I pulled the plug at 10 a.m. on Friday, November 13, 2020. The Salton Sea Rendezvous, organized by the SoCal region of the Airhead Beemer Club, figured to be an antidote and an adventure for my neighbor Mike Schwartz, Orange County Airhead friend Steve Becker and myself.

The three of us eased our way through North San Diego County’s rural backcountry on Highway 76 and cruised beneath a ten-mile canopy of dark green California live oak and sycamore trees of the San Luis Rey River Valley below Palomar Mountain.

Even by San Diego standards, it was a perfect day for riding: sunny, 75 degrees and not a breath of wind. The best twisties were on Montezuma Grade with its serpentine descent into the vast Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. My stock exhaust pipes held a long soft chord as we passed a pack of loud belching sand buggies frantically scuffing across Mother Nature’s bronzed skin. Over the

In this image from 2007, dead TIlapia fish litter a beach on the side of the Salton Sea.

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horizon, the Borrego Salton Seaway inclined steadily until it dead-ended 220 feet below sea level on the west side of California’s biggest and one of Earth’s saltiest lakes. We made a sharp left onto Highway 86 and JPEGed (photo speak for compressed) the final 37-mile clockwise dash around the Salton Sea to the east side and our destination, the Mecca Beach Campground.

The dense air below sea level made every blip of my throttle feel like a soft kick from behind. My 1977 R 100/7 performed like a teenager—I just held on. We swept around 18-wheelers, vans packed with migrant date pickers and some “look at me,” jacked-up tubby tip-over pickups with blackedout windows.

On the eastern shore of the Salton Sea, Mike Schwartz, Don Bartletti and Steve Becker sit on the soft, thick layer of pulverized fish bones that accumulated from decades of fish die offs.

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The Mecca Beach Campground was nothing less than a desert oasis for about 40 riders and ten drivers, mostly from SoCal. Tim Latis rode from Whidbey Island, near Seattle, Washington. Things must have been really bad up there. I was a comfortable 150 miles from my flat screen headlines and happy to be with my fellow nomads at a bottomless well of cheap Mexican cerveza and watery Gringo beer.

Collectively and without prompting, our Airhead motorcycle family found a diplomatic rule of order to the unprecedented political and social insanity we left behind: we didn’t bring it up. But we did social distance, mostly based on how much room was available on the picnic benches or how many folding chairs would fit around the bonfire. Lots of us wore face coverings until it was time to hydrate. When the tonics took hold, we “let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be. There will be an answer…”, but we didn’t bring it up.

A clear and balmy night at Mecca Beach State Campground for the 2020 Airheads Salton Sea Rendezvous. About 40 bikes, 50 people, and 300 or more beers made their way to the eastern shore for the annual desert event.

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On Saturday morning, we took a day ride headlong into the mother-of-all-motorcycle theories: “It’s not the destination, it’s the journey.” Wrong. Things are ass-backward out here. If not for the distraction of mile-long freight trains speeding along parallel to State Highway 111, the flat as a tortilla desert highway was achingly monotonous. But the southbound two-lane was our high speed mainline to destinations like Salvation Mountain, Slab City, East Jesus and Bombay Beach.

I’d been to these cultural anomalies throughout my newspaper career, but I had no deadline or headline or assignment to complete this time. Photography and motorcycling have been blissfully addictive since I was in high school, so even in retirement, I habitually packed a digital Nikon D750, an iPhone 11 Pro and a craving to follow up on the sub-cultures of weirdness just over the horizon.

Our first stop was Salvation Mountain, a must-see curiosity on the other side of the tracks near Niland. It’s not as inspiring as

South Dakota’s Mt. Rushmore, but it’s arguably as nutty as Nebraska’s Carhenge. Declared a Protected Folk Art Monument by the state of California, the late Leonard Knight created it. The kindly eccentric spent 26 years living in the back of a converted White firetruck parked on the west side of a sun-baked foothill.

He obsessively tattooed messages and symbols of love and harmony using 1,000’s of cans of colored paint—all donated by his many admirers.

Salvation Mountain also marked the gateway to Slab City, an abandoned WWII Marine Corps desert training base once used by the Greatest Generation of warriors. Several generations later, it ain’t so great. I did a photo essay for the March 25, 1999, issue of The Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine about this off-the-grid, self-governed squatter’s community of well-to-do snowbirds and thrifty drifters. People flocked here to sweat out the winter. People free-camped in class-A motor coaches, over-the-cab campers, VW vans, post-war station wagons, and converted school busses.

Airheads and other bikes from the Salton Sea Rendezvous at Salvation Mountain in the California desert near Niland. The artwork was created by the late Leonard Knight who spent decades using 1,000s of gallons of donated paint to create what is now been declared a folk art site worthy of preservation and protection.

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At the end of Sidewinder Road, we rolled into East Jesus, an art installation that is nothing short of weirdness resurrected. We parked our bikes beside a dusty old car named Cry Baby Buick. It was decorated with a crowd of undressed Barbie and Ken dolls of every skin color and body position known to Man. Here’s one we can publish.

The first comers parked on the bare concrete slabs of Camp Dunlap’s Quonset huts. There were no rules, building codes or addresses, nor was there running water or hard-wired electricity.

But there was a preacher, a town crier, an astronomer, firewood delivery, and a nightly drum circle. Now, 21 years later, I repeat, it ain’t so great. On this Saturday morning, we rode slowly through town with our eyes on the potholes and the passing subdivision of shame along Beal Road. As the locals call it, the Slabs had devolved into a hardscrabble slum of burned-out trailers, motor homes, and plywood shacks. The place was in serious need of a community police call (military-speak for litter cleanup). The scattered trash and busted stuff looked like scabs on the face of neglected idealism.

Then…Hallelujah! At the end of Sidewinder Road, we rolled into East Jesus, an art installation that is nothing short of freedom resurrected. East Jesus is an American slang term to describe a place way off the beaten path. Yep, this was that place.

We parked our bikes beside a dusty two-door coupe with the name Cry Baby Buick painted across the back window. The hood, roof, trunk and doors were adorned with a crowd of undressed stowaway Barbie and Ken dolls of every skin color and body position known to Man. We strolled on the beaten paths with a hands-behind-the-back contemplation you might give a sculpture garden at the Getty Museum or the Smithsonian. Naaa, not really.

These sculptures were a cobbleation (CQ – made up word) of old cars, a crashed airplane, beached dingeys, whirligigs and Perfect-10 female mannequins. Practically everything was encrusted with bomb fragments, brass bullet shells, bottle caps and stuff buried during the wartime days. I muttered “Good Lord” as I ambled past a wall of dead TVs with snarky commentary posted on the screens. I thought I’d outridden my election-year prejudices, but the ghosts of opinions present caught up to me. I just let it be.

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We interrupted the monotonous ride back to the campground with a stop at the beach—Bombay Beach.

A faded billboard and a couple of rusty neon signs hinted that this was once a resort for water skiing, fishing and fun for the whole family. The sand dusted asphalt streets were surprisingly wide. I imagined a ’57 Buick Caballero station wagon with the kids in the back towing a Chris Craft runabout that could easily make a mid-block U-turn. But for the past umpteen years, the boat channel has been bone dry. The shoreline of the good old days receded at least a hundred yards.

Like in East Jesus, creativity put this 21st Century purgatory on Google Maps. Among several art installations in town, one was labeled “Swing.” From the dirt berm above 5th Street, I spotted the classic one-seater A-frame schoolyard swing anchored offshore with someone wading through the murky water and about to jump on. I didn’t want to miss the fun but between me and recess was an expanse of crunched up fish and bird bones (the beach). My ‘77 road bike’s skinny tires dug deep into the skeletal remains as I slipped the clutch and staggered in the saddle through the fishbone graveyard. When I reached the hardpan near the water, I jumped off. A lithe young brunette repeatedly pendulated over the water with her long hair and legs flying high at 220 feet below sea level. I took a deep breath and kept on shooting.

This was a good destination to end our day-long visual scavenger hunt, so we rode the snoozer road back to the campground. It was 4 p.m. at the oasis, and behind a veil

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The beaches around the Salton Sea are covered with the bones of millions of dead fish that perished during many decades of seasonal die offs. Agricultural drainage from surrounding farms is the only source of water for the lake and the runoff is a toxic brew for fish and waterfowl. Bottom Image, A young woman soars above Bombay Beach on the Salton Sea where the surface of the water is 223 ft. below Pacific Ocean sea level.

The near-shore play set is an art installation reportedly erected by an artist who goes by the name of @ssippi.

Airheads at the annual Salton Sea Rendezvous, where social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic was mostly based on how much room was available on the picnic benches or how many folding chairs would fit around the bonfire. Left to Right, Steve Galardi, Joe McClung, Joe Morris, Ken Tolcou, Bill Snyder, Greg Balas and Scott Marburger.

of aromatic smoke was Southern California Airmarshal (regional director and Rendezvous founder) Gary Jackson and friends grilling up an authentic carne asada fiesta complete with “street taco” tortillas the size of music CDs. I went back for seconds four times. Gary streamed Linda Ronstadt’s “Songs of My Father” to a couple of throaty speakers cranked up to authentic south of the border volume from his iPhone.

In closing, I’ll share an anecdote from the Salton Sea Rendezvous emblematic of our vintage Airhead riding family. After a balmy evening around the bonfire with good friends, food and drink, I wandered off to bed. At the crack of dawn, I set out to photograph the first rays of sun grazing across the herd of scooters. From a distance, I squinted at something on the tank of my bike. From a lot closer, I let out a silent scream—“Oh Jesus! It’s my goddam wallet!” Apparently, someone found my butt-bruising wad of cash, credit cards, and nice photos of my wife.

Nothing was missing except any recollection of losing it!

An anonymous man or woman may have recognized the name on my legally expired (with COVID extension) California driver’s license and matched it with me, the old, young at heart longhair with the like-new old bike. Whoever spared me a potential identity crisis, I want to hug you, and I’ll probably cry. When public hugs are safe again, the pandemic will be over, and we’ll all cry out with joy.

Thanks to my Airhead family for a blessed motorcycle vacation.

I crawled out of my tent at the Salton Sea Rendezvous to photograph the first rays of sun grazing across the assembled motorcycles in the parking lot. From a distance I squinted at something on the tank of my bike. From a lot closer I let out silent scream - “Oh Jesus! It’s my goddam wallet!” Apparently, someone found my butt-bruising wad of cash, credit cards and nice photos of my wife.

Nothing was missing except my recollection of losing it! Whomever spared me a potential identity crisis, I want to hug you, and I’ll probably cry.

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THE

LAST RIDE

OF THE SEASON

BY KEN FRICK # 199204

IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL WAY TO START MY DAY.

The bright early morning sun gave no hint of what was coming. By noon the sky would be mostly overcast, with any trace of the sun gone by late afternoon. In the evening, there would be rain, but by then, I’d be home.

Today was the day; I couldn’t risk not taking advantage of what was immediately in front of me.

Already, Denver, over a thousand miles to the west, was being nailed with its worst early season snowstorm in decades which was racing to the north and west of us. Parts of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Minnesota were about to be hit hard, and there was another front right behind this one. Here in Ohio, in 24 hours there would be rain and winds that could gust to 70 mph. This could well be my last opportunity to get in this ride, my last ride of the season.

Every year I look forward to this ride and dread its conclusion. Some of my fellow riders keep their bikes at the ready all winter, taking any opportunity to get back on the road. Not me. I don’t like being teased by one or two nice days spread out over an entire

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winter. Once I park my bike for winter, it sits, waiting for late March or the first of April.

Every year it’s the same. As November eases along, the leaves dropping along with the temperature, there’s always one day late in the year, usually during the week of Thanksgiving, before the arrival of the inevitable. This year, two days before Turkey Day, I was heading out, but not just out. I was going to revisit an old friend, the route I’d taken on my last rides of the year for over a decade.

Years ago, best buddy Dave Levingston and I had our own late-year tradition, heading for the hills and mountains, exploring the state of West Virginia and beyond. We called it our last long ride of the year.

But those days have passed. Now I take my last rides alone—the same route, the same way, every year. It’s only a one day ride, one tank of gas, on roads I know well. I don’t remember exactly when or how I came to choose this route, only that it’s now a part of my routine. On all of my other last rides, it had been just that, a ride, but this year I thought I might stop a bit to take a look beyond the highway.

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Easing away from home, the sun was in my eyes as I rounded the westbound ramp onto I-70. Early morning traffic into the city was backed up, stop and go for the first few miles, but leaving Columbus against the incoming traffic was lighter, allowing me to get up to near highway speed quickly. I was already counting the minutes. The freeway was not where I was meant to be, not on this morning. In under half an hour, I was on the back roads.

Beyond the freeway that served as my way to get out of town quickly, the route I’d come to favor was simple. Western Ohio is a quiet, tranquil place, even more so at this time of the year. That’s what I’ve looked for on these rides. The highways for my first few hours on the road are nearly all two-lanes, the same as they were decades ago. Find any map from the 1950s, and chances are, little has changed. Ohio Route 29 to the north came first, a meandering rural road running through Madison County farmland.

The bright sun helped set the mood, and my heated vest helped keep me warm. Later in the day, the temperature would hit the mid-50s, but the morning’s low 40s more than had my attention.

Being late in the year, the low sun helped frame the scenery where I was riding, casting long shadows, setting a glow on the acres not used for agriculture. There were pockets of trees, old-growth, no doubt, that had been there for eons; almost all of them had now shed their leaves. It was along this stretch I saw the day’s only other motorcycle.

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Mechanicsburg came first, its claim to fame being the boyhood home of William Saxby. If you’re a person along in years, that name may ring a bell. Mr. Saxby was a U.S. Attorney General late in the Nixon Administration. Mechanicsburg was like most of the small places I’d venture through on my ride, and little had changed over the years, even decades. It was there I saw the first evidence of Christmas, now only a month away.

Left, right and below. Images found along Ohio's Route 29.

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I picked up U.S. Route 36 in Urbana, a quaint city and one of Ohio’s prettiest, a longtime favorite. Beautiful homes with classic architecture line Scioto Street where I was riding, the community’s main thoroughfare. A college town, it seemed more than appropriate it be set in a county named Champaign.

Elsewhere in the United States, U.S. 36 has been in a flux state; in some areas, it is converted to four-lane expressways, but not along my route. In this part of Ohio, U.S. Route 36 is an old road in almost every regard. Named the “Korean War Veterans Memorial Highway,” it possibly reflects a time when the highway was in its prime. Today, the highway appears almost as a taut string, holding together a series of small pearls: Westville, St. Paris and then Fletcher. Larger Piqua comes next; it seems always to be a larger city than I recall, followed by smaller Covington and Gettysburg. Almost to Greenville, I picked up U.S. Route 127 North.

Some small towns are simple dots on the map, little more unless you live there. But their pride runs deep. There was a time when this was Reagan Country, now claimed by Trump. Gun clubs are common, the American flag waves prominently along my route.

Many of the farms I rode by had no doubt been in same family for generations, and cemeteries have both old and new grave markers.

The air holds an occasional whiffs of manure used to fertilize the now dormant fields, along with smoke from wood burners.

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Some small towns have their claim to fame, depending on how you measure such a thing. A historical marker on the edge of wee little Westville marks the hometown of Harvey Haddix. Once again, if you are of an age and if by chance a baseball fan, Mr. Haddix is a name you may recall. In the 1960 World Series, the out-manned Pittsburgh Pirates took on the mighty New York Yankees, a juggernaut featuring Yogi Berra, Tony Kubek, Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris. The great Casey Stengel managed the team. That series is remembered due to the heroics of Bill Mazeroski, who hit a home run in the bottom of the ninth inning of the seventh game. He is now a hero for all time in the city of Pittsburgh. The winning pitcher of that game was Harvey Haddix! It was one of two he won in that World Series.But Mr. Haddix may be better known for a game he lost, pitching a perfect game into the 13th inning (an unheard-of feat never duplicated) only to lose, 1-0, to the then Milwaukee Braves.

Just down the road was Graham High School, with a sign out front referencing a phenomenal record in athletics. I couldn’t recall the school from my previous rides through the area, much less the school’s namesake.

But just down the highway from the little town of Lena was another historical sign, this one claiming to be the home of A.B. Graham, an educator and the founder of the 4-H Clubs! The four Hs reference head, heart, hands and health, for those who may have forgotten.

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The flavor of my ride changed when I turned north on US 127.

This is the highway I aim for on my last ride. Nestled up to nearby Indiana, it has a singular, somewhat calm feel about it. This view of Ohio seems different. Eastern Ohio has its hills and its rolling highways to match. On the other hand, Western Ohio can be flat as a pancake, its roads nearly as straight as an arrow. Call it what you want, simple, uncomplicated or just plain easy, it’s a comfortable place for motorcycling and perfect for this ride.

The highway divides massive farms. There is wealth along this corridor. Even late in the year, with its farm fields shaved of their crops, this is an attractive place to ride. There are fewer towns along this stretch, with sometimes odd points of interest seemingly out of scale with anything nearby. Why would anyone park an airplane in their front yard, much less display an enormous chicken?

A short detour off the highway near North Star will take you to Annie Oakley’s grave, marked with another historical marker. Sans the historical sign, it’s a common grave among many, undistinguished from any others. But it is different. People stop to leave things, trinkets, some specific to her fame. It was a good stop. The historical marker shares information not generally known from her days riding and shooting with Bill Cody and his Wild West Show.

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Just north in Carthagena is the beautiful St. Charles Center, once a Catholic Pontifical College, now a senior living community for retired clergy and laypeople. Construction of the massive building, well over the length of a football field, took six years during the 1920s. Every year I’ve marveled at this beautiful structure, well back from the highway as I ridden by, but not this year. On this ride, I stopped to take a peek. Its chapel is spectacular.

Left, above and below, Images found along U.S. Route 127.

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My ride continued north, but not far. My time on Route 127 was brief. Someday, maybe next year, I’ll ride further north to do more exploring, but with the shorter hours of daylight this late in the year, this ride wasn’t the right time for that adventure.

At Celina, I turned east toward home, again on Ohio Route 29, an extension of the same highway where my ride began. The community bounds Grand Lake, one of Ohio’s prettiest settings.

The town reflects what I think of as a tourist’s destination, with the beautiful lake a major attraction. One of the residents I spoke with suggested I stop to see their Mercer County Court House, sharing with me only that I wouldn’t be disappointed. I’m glad I did. The grand building’s holiday decorations bore testament to a community blessed with an abundance of civic pride.

Further east, I picked up U.S. Route 33, the highway taking me to Wapakoneta, a small town that had been in the news recently.

Ohio has its famous aviators, including naturally the Wright Brothers, Eddie Rickenbacker and John Glenn. But just as well known if not more is another favorite son, Neil Armstrong, who grew up in “Wapak,” as it is known locally. This year was the 50th anniversary of the first moon landing. For years I’d ridden nearby, but on this ride, I decided to make a stop at the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum. What fun! There’s cool stuff to see there.

Beyond Wapakoneta, the nature of my ride changed. It did every year. Odd how a year away from this ride eases away some of its less inspiring elements. What had been four lanes of uninhibited riding now funneled down to only two, and with the highway Above and below, The St. Charles Center located in Carthagena, Ohio.

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being heavily traveled, big trucks came into play, slowing everything to at best the speed limit. It was slow going, with heavy traffic and nowhere to pass. And if you did try, there was another big rig lying in wait. It was time to fall in line and play their game.

There was, however, one final stop before the monotony. Just beyond where I’d ridden under I-75 I found a reason to smile. On the north side of the highway was a notice for all travelers who happened this way. Out in front of Terry White’s house were painted three huge letters: O-S-U. THE OSU! Mr. White is a huge Ohio State University Buckeye fan. I had to stop. It was a fitting image to conclude the fun part of my ride. All day I’d been riding through what is Cincinnati Reds Country. I’d

At the Neil Armstrong Air and Space Museum along U.S. Route 33.

also seen a few Cincinnati Bengals flags (from those who were brave enough to display them) and even a few for my Cleveland Browns. But in the State of Ohio, pretty much everyone is a Buckeye fan. Back in Piqua, I had noticed a Buckeye Street, and there was another in Celina. Who knows how many I missed? But enough of that; I hope I haven’t lost many readers.

Every year, from somewhere near Mr. White’s home, the road is lacking. The highway does its thing and does it well. It gets you to where you are going. Once Route 33 finally turns to four lanes, it flows well on a line toward Columbus and beyond. There is the burgeoning HONDA automobile plant between Bellefontaine and Marysville, plus the Mad River Mountain Ski area if you know where to look. Still, there’s little to enjoy, the road devoid of anywhere to stop and visit, particularly if you’ve ridden that stretch over and over. Route 33 is often my way home from my long rides out west. I know every turn and long mile of the highway.

With all my stops, it was nearly dark when I returned home. Once again, it was a fitting way to say goodbye to another year of riding. All I need to do now is prep the RT for winter, change the oil, give the bike a proper cleaning, and fill the gas tank. At some point, I’ll find the bike’s cover and finally put it to bed, and that will be that. How sad, another year behind me, now months of cold ahead.

But on the bike will be my tank bag, and on it the map I’d used for my last ride, a reminder of another good year of riding now passed. Next spring, when I uncover the bike, it will be the first thing I will see, something from last year and a promise of what lies ahead. And next fall, sometime near Thanksgiving, I’ll be back out again, but maybe on that ride, there will be a different ending, something I’ve never considered, a view from a different perspective. Next year I think I’ll ride this route in reverse.

I wonder what I’ll find I’ve never seen before. I can’t wait until next year. Maybe my first ride come spring will be on Route 127, finally riding north from Celina.

Sounds like a plan.

The OSU front yard on U.S. 33 just east of I-75.

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MOA Garage Making the R 18 comfortable

By Wes Fleming #87301 56

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

T

here is so much to like about the R 18, from the (heated, of course) grips on down. The power delivery is smooth, the torque is surprising, and cruising at just about any legal speed is easy. The bike is easy to ride, the transmission shifts cleanly, and all the technological bits and bobs work exactly as you expect them to, from ABS and traction control to hill hold and whatever the computerized process is that revs the engine up a little as you downshift to make sure the rear wheel doesn’t get squirrely on you.

With so much to like, it’s easy to fixate on the things you don’t like. For me, it’s the positions of the foot levers and the seat. Now having put just over 1,000 miles on BMW’s Big Boxer, I’m 2-for-3 on addressing those issues.

I have size 14 feet, which means big boots; on a bike like the R 18 with mid-controls relatively close to the gigantic cylinders—each one is 901cc, remember—I found myself kicking the bottoms of the cylinders every time I needed to shift or brake. While the foot brake lever is not adjustable, the shifter is. Rotating the shifter on the shaft by one tooth took care of that problem, and it was super easy to do, too.

You might expect somebody with feet that big to be big all around, and you’d be right. I’m over six feet tall and heavy to the point where pretty much every doctor I see for anything says I need to exercise more.

As a result of my generous weight, there isn’t a stock seat in the world I find comfortable. It’s not BMW’s fault the stock seat on the R 18 was uncomfortable, but they have options.

For about $450, I was able to purchase BMW’s “tall” seat for the R 18. I had to order it through my local dealer, who had to in turn order it from Germany. It came in less than two weeks and was easy to install, requiring just one of the few tools hidden under the bike’s side cover. I thought the bike looked cooler with the pillion seat removed but discovered riding without it was not as comfortable as riding with it, so I put it back on.

With the tall seat installed and the passenger seat in place—though without the slightly goofy-looking grab-strap—you’d be hard-pressed to identify what is different about this R 18 from one on a showroom floor. I can now ride for a couple hours straight without having to get off the bike and walk around for five minutes.

BMW has more seat options for the R 18, including some seats likely more appropriate for touring. It won’t be long before the aftermarket seat makers catch up, so no doubt R 18 owners will have lots of options going forward.

Top to bottom, The shifter is easy to adjust, the brake pedal can't be adjusted, and the tall seat adds comfort for the hips and knees of taller riders.

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BUILDING A DREAM Zack and Jen Witkowsky: A Member Profile

By Bill Wiegand #180584

As the sun sets, Zack Witkowsky wheels a project into his shop in Beecher, Illinois.

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M

through the custom paint he was constantly changing on the R 75. ore than anything else, BMW motorcycles have been That interest in painting would prove to serve him well when he a constant in Zack Witkowsky’s life. got older. “Dad didn’t always understand what I was doing, but he The son of longtime MOA member Jeff Witkowsky supported what I wanted to do,” Zack said. (#4885), Zack’s earliest memory isn’t of opening After high school, Zack began working as a mechanic and shop Christmas gifts, birthday parties or family vacations. What Zack supervisor for an area municipality, and while he wasn’t crazy remembers is being placed in his dad’s BMW sidecar and quickly about his work, the salary and hours were generous for a kid his falling asleep, then waking up hours later at some faraway rally. age. “I punched out each day at three, and during the summer that Get to know Zack, and you’ll begin to believe that some of his gave me a lot of time to have fun,” he said. childhood toys had to have included a metric wrench set and an Before long, Zack’s life approached a fork in the road when a airbrush. Barely able to walk, Zack fondly recalls his father handing high school friend set him up on a date. Though Zack knew it him a push broom and putting him to work, the elder Witkowsky was a blind date, the woman didn’t. While the details of that first believing if his son was old enough to be in the shop, he might as meeting escape Jen, the pair became a couple a few months later. well be working. For many years, Jeff Witkowsky was the owner of Thirteen months after that first date and with four dozen chocoStable Sport and Touring, an independent motorcycle shop located late cookies in hand, Jen knew they had something special and about 50 miles south of Chicago in the small town of Beecher, proposed marriage Illinois. The shop had to Zack. earned a solid reputation The couple were for good work and was engaged with wedding well-known in the area plans on hold until Jen for its Airhead repairs, finished her degree, a fairings and paint. degree that required an When Zack wasn’t in internship. In her final his dad’s sidecar watching semester of college, Jen the fields of corn and accepted an internship soybeans whiz by, he at a veterinary clinic in could be found at his South Dakota, more dad’s side handing him than 800 miles from tools, and by the time he their Illinois home. was 8, Zack had successWhile it was supposed fully torn down his first to be an eight-week Airhead. That motorcycle internship, halfway was the 1975 R 75 /6 his through the clinic was dad gave him and that he so impressed with Jen owned for nearly 25 years that they offered her a before finally outgrowing full-time job once she it and passing it on to his graduated a month later. brother-in-law.

It was an opportunity That R 75 was much she couldn’t turn down, more than just a first bike Zack Witkowsky poses on his dad's motorcycle before heading out for a ride. and she called Zack to for Zack. With his dad’s give him the news. shop as a classroom, the “I love you, but I’m moving to South Dakota. You coming R 75 was not only the manual laying down a solid foundation of or not?” she told him. mechanical knowledge but also an everchanging canvas Zack used Seemingly a monkey wrench in the plans they had been making to express himself through paint. together, Zack was a bit blindsided by the news and could only say Taking the bike apart was one thing, but as a kid he was only that he’d think about it, and for most of the next year, Zack did able to work on it here and there when he showed interest. When think of it. the desire did strike, Jeff was at his side, making sure young Zack For Jen, packing everything she owned and loading her pickup did all the work under his supervision to learn every bit of it. “He truck was no big deal. She had done it many times before, living in wasn’t going to do it for me, but he’d always be there to help,” five states since graduating from high school a few years earlier. “I Zack said. had a habit since my early 20s of throwing everything in the back It wasn’t until Zack was 18 that he finally got the bike completely of my pickup, my dog in the front seat, and moving,” she said. back together. In the meantime, Zack was riding his dad’s R 80 and For Zack, leaving the only home he had ever known was more had gotten his motorcycle license as soon as he turned 16. In high difficult. But after taking the time to wrap his head around the school, Zack was a typical gearhead who enjoyed hanging out with idea of moving, and with a week of vacation, he headed west to friends and working on cars and motorcycles. But, he was also an scout opportunities and interview at three automotive dealerships. artist, who took every art class available and expressed his art

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grow and soon became a goal he shared with Jen. Still not sure what he was going to do, Zack was on his way back In 2018, while sitting on their deck with a couple of friends on a home when a Chevrolet/Cadillac dealership called his cell phone warm summer evening, Jen was listening to Zack as he described and offered him a job. Finally, in June of 2012, he joined Jen in a to his buddies “his shop” he wanted to get rolling. As Zack small town about 45 miles from Pierre, South Dakota. continued talking, Jen jumped in and started asking him questions.

Despite being together, Zack struggled, trying to adjust with the “When you have this shop of yours someday, what would you move west and the desolation that comes with living on a 6,000call it and what would you make of it?” she asked. acre ranch. “You couldn’t get any good food out there,” he joked.

As the questions continued, little did Zack know but at that “You couldn’t get a good pizza, you couldn’t get a good deli moment, Jen was creating a Facebook page. At the end of their sandwich, and you couldn’t get a good hotdog, and we were 45 conversation, she handed him her phone and said, “Well, you have miles from the closest town.” a business now, go do something with it!”

Sadly, not long after settling in South Dakota, Zack’s dad began With that, Black Wolf Touring and Custom was born. The name experiencing health issues. The couple knew it wouldn’t be long was chosen as an homage to the nickname of “Grey Wolf ” that before they’d be moving back to Illinois, and Jen began the Zack’s mother had given to his father years earlier. long-distance planning of their wedding. Two weeks after their One of their first return to Illinois, they projects was a custom celebrated their build for Jen. She knew wedding. she wanted an Airhead After their honeyand described a bike that moon, Jen took a job resembled an old Chevy with the pet insurance pickup truck that had provider Trupanion, as been left rusting in an their sales lead in the open field. Worn by Chicagoland area. Zack, years of being beaten meanwhile, found work down by the weather, it at an area GM dealerdidn’t look like anything ship. While their lives else. She wanted a bike had seemingly returned that emulated a ‘50s to normal, Zack still pinup model and was all hung on to his dream of curves. Zack knew following in his father’s precisely what to do. footsteps and owning his The basis of the bike own shop. Though it was was an ’81 R 100 and a easy to complete nut and bolt for Zack to visualize his rebuild. Once the chassis dream, making it a and motor were reality was not. completed to his As the months passed, satisfaction, Zack got to Jeff slowly began Riding BMW motorcycles was a family affair for the Witkowskys. From left, Alex, Zack and Jeff. work doing what he truly handing the reins of loves––the custom Stable Sport and Touring paintwork. Most of the to Zack, yet Zack wasn’t painting Zack had done to that point was restorative in nature, in a position to leave the security of his full-time job and jump duplicating original colors and sheens. This bike demanded a headfirst into the unknowns of business ownership. Still, just as different approach. he had for so many years earlier, Zack and his dad spent time Jen wanted an original––a weathered look. To accomplish that, together in the shop whenever they had the opportunity.

Zack drew on his experience. After applying a perfect layer of “They had a very special relationship that I feel privileged to paint, he began to create the look Jen sought through, among other have seen,” Jen said. “There was very little English spoken, but things, adding additional layers of paint using an old paint chip through their grunts, nods and glances, they could rebuild a bike. brush and Brillo pads and then sanding much of that new paint It was like watching a ballet.” Zack and his dad worked together away. As a perfectionist, it was difficult for him to do, but it was a like that until everything changed in August of 2017 when Jeff labor of love. To finish the job, Zack rubbed dirt on the new paint passed away. and even dropped a brand-new and expensive chrome exhaust Jeff ’s passing left a massive void for the Witkowskys, yet the system into an acid bath to further enhance the aged look. family moved forward the best they could. As always, Zack was While not necessarily Zack’s cup of tea, he believes the customer busy working at the automotive dealership while maintaining a is always right, especially when that customer is his wife! To Jen, small client base at the shop as Jen’s responsibilities at Trupanion the bike is beautiful even though she knows how much it physically grew. Zack’s desire to someday have his own shop continued to

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pained Zack to degrade the perfection he worked so hard to create.

Proud of their creation, the couple named the bike Cora Belle and brought it to the BMW MOA National Rally in Lebanon, Tennessee, in 2019. There they entered it in the People’s Choice show.

Accompanied by a 50-page album detailing every step of the build, the bike was a hit. With the positive response Cora Belle received and the new business leads it brought, the couple now had the confidence that their dream, Black Wolf Customs and Touring, would succeed.

Together, the couple makes a perfect team. While Zack is a quiet artist and gifted custom builder who prefers to let his work speak for itself, Jen believes she has had the great fortune of being a spectator to see what her husband does and has no trouble telling others about it.

Together, they know it won’t be long before Black Wolf Customs and Touring will be everything they want it to be, and much more.

Above, A Black Wolf Customs and Touring logo adorns the fairing on Jen's custom BMW. Right, Zack and Jen Witkowsky in the shop at Black Wolf Customs and Touring.

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FROM

THE

FOUNDATION

GOING FROM BMW OFF-ROAD TRAINING TO THE MABDR

BY MIKE SHEEHE #221540 CAN A MOTORCYCLIST THAT HAS STRICTLY RIDDEN ON-ROAD FOR DECADES LEARN THE NECESSARY

skills to tackle off-road trails in confidence from the BMW Performance Center? Well, here’s the story of my experience taking the two-day off-road course with the generous assistance from the BMW MOA Foundation’s Paul B. Memorial Scholarship Fund.

Like many of you, I’m an avid motorcyclist and have toured the U.S. and Canada for hundreds of thousands of miles on the tarmac. My travels have taken me from twisty backroads to eight-lane superhighways, and I’ve conquered the adrenaline rush of riding in major cities like New York. I’ve taken on many challenges while riding motorcycles, and thought I was prepared for most any obstacle that came my way…until I got an adventure bike, a BMW F 850 GS. Unlike many motorcyclists I’ve talked to, I learned to ride on the street. Many people have shared how they’ve learned while riding dirt bikes in grade school, when the fun factor of whatever you’re doing greatly outweighs the fear factor. It’s a time you can learn quickly without much fear of making mistakes and falling; broken bones heal much quicker at 13 then they do when you’re over 30. Unfortunately (or fortunately), as I’ve gotten older, my survival instincts are more prevalent than when I was learning about obtuse angles and the American Revolution.

Still, I was determined to figure out how to learn to ride off-road in more mature way. If you’ve purchased a GS, you know how much it begs to be taken off-road. I promised myself I wouldn’t take mine off the pavement until I had proper crash protection and some training. However, only a few days after purchasing the bike, when riding past trails and places the GS is meant for, the little kid inside of me took over, and I turned off the road. I found myself in places I’d never been before and really had no right being with my skill level, but I took it VERY SLOWLY and steadily and somehow came out unscathed. I was immediately hooked!

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After those experiences, I fast tracked getting the crash protection I needed and started watching YouTube videos on how to ride off-road. A few were helpful, some were ok, but many were not. Even so, I felt I had a little bit of a foundation to try what I’ve been learning on easier forest roads and trails. I found some recommended off-road trails near Asheville, North Carolina, and headed that way. When you watch the experts in videos online, those guys really rip up the trails. They speed through any obstacles that come their way and kick up dirt as they navigate sharp turns on gravel.

That was not me.

While I thought I was prepared from the videos I watched and was ready to blast through the trails, my survival instincts kicked in, stunting my ability to get past second gear most of the time.

While that may sound like it hampered the fun factor, it didn’t.

With the adrenaline pumping and being able to see places I had never seen before, I had a great time. I also came across challenges I wasn’t expecting, like mud, puddles and deep gravel, which I luckily conquered safely. This test trip opened my eyes to a few things, starting with being hooked on this style of riding now more than ever! I knew if I wanted to take on more riding like this—the Trans-America Trail or a Backcountry Discovery Route—I needed some serious training to get my skills up.

I started to search for off-road motorcycle training in Florida, but there was none. Fortunately, a few hours away in South Carolina, the BMW Riders’ Academy offers one- and two-day off-road training at the Performance Center. I was happy to learn that BMW MOA members get a discount when booking a course,

Left, Getting to know the bikes we’ll be using at the BMW Performance Center. Above, One of the trails leading to the off-road course.

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

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FROM

THE

FOUNDATION

and anyone can apply for a scholarship from the Paul B. Memorial Scholarship fund, which I applied for and was happily granted.

From the research I did, I found that the one-day course covers the basics and the two-day training sets you up for more challenging obstacles. I decided to do the two-day because I wanted, as much as possible, to be ready for the more challenging environments of harder trails.

While I would have rather booked online, you do have to call to book the off-road classes. There were a few people in my class that were very vocal over their frustrations with the booking process, but for me, booking was straightforward and painless. They ask your birthday, when you want to take the class, and what bike you want to use during the course. It took less than ten minutes. The woman who took my reservation was polite and professional. The confirmation email provided valuable information on when to show up, how to be dressed, the address, and other pertinent info, but it didn’t provide a receipt of my payment or the specific motorcycle I booked. It would have been nice to have that

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information in the email just to confirm everything was setup correctly. (It was!)

Finally, my training days arrived, and I showed up at the BMW Performance Center at 7:45 a.m. The facility is really impressive— nice, modern and welcoming. You sign in with the instructors as you get there, and they check your name on a list, have you sign a liability form, and then you’re all set. While waiting for the class to begin you can partake in a selection of coffee and teas to get your caffeine fix, but eat before you arrive, because there was no breakfast available at the Performance Center.

One thing to note is that the off-road training takes place rain or shine. It was raining when I arrived at the training center and was forecast to continue both days. That didn’t slow us down at all, but we were soaked at the end of both days. The training starts in a classroom for a few minutes to be introduced to the instructors, get an overview of the training, and to meet your fellow riders on this exciting adventure. After the classroom session, you head to your bikes to get an overview of how to get on and off, how to put

A stop along the Blue Ridge Parkway heading to Virginia to set up camp about an hour away from the end of Section One of the MidAtlantic Backcountry Discovery Route.

them on the center stands, and a few exercises on stationary motorcycles to prep you for how you will be riding.

Then you hit the ground running! You’ll be training on their off-road course for the rest of the day, except for lunch. The classroom section helps to put your mind at ease with what you’re about to learn, but the nerves still kicked in for me as we rode to our first stop on wet grass, rocks, gravel and a little mud. I guess it was more of a machismo thing, not wanting to be the first with an unplanned dismount, but my heart was racing for sure. Luckily, they start you off with some balancing exercises on the bike, riding in circles, getting a feel for how you connect with the bike. Since I chose to learn on the bike I already own, that helped me relax a little bit more with the experience I already have with this exact motorcycle. However, there were some at the training who had never ridden a GS before, and they handled the exercises well.

Those first exercises were a good way to ease into the training.

The really great thing about this training is each exercise builds upon the last one, getting more challenging each time. The instructors do a great job of supporting you during the training and then giving you breaks to recharge and reflect. Much of the

first day was spent in an open area practicing balance, turns, body position, slow riding, trail stops and emergency braking. We also practiced riding over small mounds and rougher terrain. It was a good introduction to the basics of riding off-road, taking small steps to each new challenge and incorporating what we learned previously into our current practice session.

While the practice exercises were fun and informative, my favorite part came after every few exercises when the instructors would put our new skills to the test and take us on what they called an “enduro run.” This is where we would ride all over the expansive off-road facility to give us real-world challenges to put the skills we just learned to the test. We would weave between trees, ride slowly through obstacles, go over rough terrain, up hills, down slopes, and many other areas we’ll encounter when riding in the real world. As we built up our skills and strengthened our abilities, the enduro runs would get progressively more challenging.

Day One was fun, but Day Two was even better. The exercises were more challenging and strenuous. Where Day One gave you the proper foundation of skills to ride off road, Day Two introduces you to obstacles you will experience in the real world. We rode through a

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

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FROM

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FOUNDATION

large gravel pit, raced in a sand pit, learned to emergency brake on a steep incline, practiced sharper turns, and rode steeper hills. The instructors also stepped up the enduro runs, challenging us with even more difficult terrain. During both days of training, the Performance Center provided a well-balanced and delicious catered lunch with plentiful salads, sides, entrees and deserts available. During the practice sessions they also provide drinks and snacks to keep us hydrated and our energy level up, because you will get a workout during this training and sweat a ton.

Reading this overview might have you thinking of doing the training and wondering how to prepare for it. While I couldn’t find any prerequisites from the training center itself, talking with the instructors over lunch, they mentioned there really isn’t any cut off for experience on a motorcycle for taking the training. I would suggest you have a good foundation on riding and operating a motorcycle before taking the off-road course. It seemed to me that the people with the least amount of riding experience struggled the most during the training sessions. Most everyone took a spill at some point, but the ones without much riding experience seemed to be picking their bikes up the most.

The other way to prepare for this training is to exercise regularly. My suggestion would be to do a consistent program with some sort of cardio, a ton of squats, and abdominal work to be best prepared for the training. You can most certainly take the training without exercising much, but you will definitely feel it at the end of the day.

I rode my F 850 GS to the training because it’s so close to the Blue Ridge Parkway and the start of the Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route, so I figured I would take advantage of that opportunity and do a section of the MABDR after my class. The day after the training I rode up the Blue Ridge Parkway to Virginia to set up camp about an hour away from the end of Section One and beginning of Section Two. It was a great time to camp, with cool weather and the leaves changing to brilliant shades of color all along the route. The next day I put my new skills to the test on the MABDR.

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To say I was excited is an understatement. You begin by riding up a curvy paved road and then after the Dirty Dancing Inn, you jump right on gravel roads. When I first rode on roads similar to these— before the training—I took them slowly, probably about 10-15 mph, and I was nervous, taking my time. After the training, it was much different. The BMW Performance Center training gave me the confidence and foundation to tackle these roads with more gusto.

The training helped me more than double my pace on similar trails, while still riding in a controlled way within my new comfort zone.

While speed is kind of arbitrary when discussing off-road riding skills, I bring it up to show the differences before and after training and that I wasn’t as timid after learning proper techniques.

I was able to tackle turns and switchbacks with much more vigor this time. Where before I slowed to a turtle’s pace as I took turns, this time I counterbalanced the bike in turns. Most of Section Two was on fairly tame surfaces calling on skills that were taught on Day One of the training. It was at Tubb Run where day two of the training really came in handy. With the combination of recent rains, barrels of fallen leaves and rocky terrain, it was challenging but fun due to the techniques I learned from the BMW Performance Center. I did slow my pace a bit as I tackled large puddles of standing water, mud, deep ruts and the rocky sections, but because of the training, I never felt I was in over my head. I rode Tubb Run with a smile on my face, while riding safely and with confidence.

Riding section two of the MABDR was a resounding success, and I can’t wait to return to conquer the entire thing. After that experience I can happily say the training worked and offers riders the skills they need to conquer trails like they never have before. Overall, I think the two-day off-road training at the BMW Performance Center was great.

If you’re a motorcyclist who has strictly ridden on pavement your adult life, this off-road training will help you on the journey of mastering off-road riding in gravel, sand, dirt, ruts, hills and much more. If you’re on the fence, just take the plunge, you will not be disappointed!

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February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

69

SERGEANT

BIKER

Lessons from my little GSXR

By James Carlisle #196730

The story you are about to read is true. Only the names have been changed to protect the innocent. The events are retold here to provide lessons we may all use to become more professional riders ourselves.

I JUST GOT OFF WORK. MY BUDDY

and I are making our way toward home.

There are little over 1,000 miles on my new bike, a Suzuki GSXR, and I am loving it. I have been riding for over eight years, but recently had been without a bike for about a year. Man, I missed it. My buddy goes straight on Main Street, and I hang a left onto Airport Rd. You know that turn under the freeway, don’t you? My little GSXR is on rails as I gently roll on the throttle around the long sweeping corner.

As the turn progresses, my view opens up.

I spot sand that has washed onto the road. I can’t take my eyes off the sand as my mind works to swerve around it. My body is tight, and I have a death grip on the bars. I wrench the bike around—the rear wheel bobbles. I manage to get the bike upright, but I impact the outside curb and am tossed from the bike. As I am sliding and rolling along the ground, my buddy happens to look back. He races back to me, convinced I am dead. Lying there in the dirt, taking inventory, I, too, am surprised. Only hours later did I realize how much I hurt, but just then, the

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road rash on my arms was the only injury that registered.

It is a week later now. My wife is no longer so upset. The insurance company is sending a check for the totaled bike. I have spent some time thinking about what I might have done differently. Of course, I initially blamed the sand and gravel on the road, but this is the real world rather than the race track. In the real world, people cross the street in front of you, trucks spill their loads, animals stop in the middle of the road, traffic jams to a halt unexpectedly, and of course, there is no one sweeping the sand and gravel off the road each day.

Complacency: I had taken that same corner every day for the past two months.

I loved it. Perfectly banked. Almost no traffic. It begged me to push hard through it. But that day was different, and I was complacently expecting it to be the same, even though I could not see the entire road surface around the corner. Luckily, I survived to learn to treat every corner in the real world as though it is the first time I have ever encountered it. I will go to the

race track for predictable corners I can afford to accelerate through blindly.

Surface changes: Once I spotted the sand and gravel, it took me a moment to comprehend it as a danger. When I was a new rider, I always assumed that any road surface change could cause a traction change and pose a threat. Back then, I did not need time to comprehend the difference in surface appearance because I treated every change with respect. That split-second advantage may have allowed me to manage the crisis with much more skill rather than just reacting badly.

Skill or Reaction: I used to do track days on my old bike. With good coaching, I developed some excellent bike skills that translate well to the real world. But after taking a year off from motorcycling and getting on a new, unfamiliar bike, those skills were not the first thing to rise to the surface in a crisis. I got target-fixated on the gravel, got stiff on the bike and put a death grip on the bars. Everything I did was instinct-driven. Everything I did was wrong. On the race track, I learned to stay loose, to look where I wanted to go and

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how to let the bike slide in a turn without crashing. Of course, these things take practice, and there is no convenient racetrack for practicing. The Motorcycle Safety Foundation offers the Circuit RiderCourse. This one-day course would have knocked the rust off my skills and given me ways to practice them without access to a racetrack. Right after I buy my new bike, I will sign up for the next available course.

Personal Protective Equipment: I wear the gear required by my local laws. The gloves worked. I never tested my helmet.

My long-sleeved shirt did nothing to protect me from road rash, and my pants did nothing to protect me from the impact with the ground. There are mesh motorcycle jackets and pants with built-in abrasion resistance and padding that may have left me all but uninjured. I can wear these over my street clothes. Even in the hottest weather, they remain cool while riding. In cold weather, most of these jackets and pants have liners that zip in to keep me warm, allowing me to extend the riding season far into winter. I plan to buy riding gear along with my new bike this week.

I learned from my crash. I hope you will too. I learned to treat every corner in the real world as though it is the first time I have ever encountered it. I learned to treat every change in the road surface with respect. I learned to practice my skills and to seek out training whenever I get a new bike or after a long break. I learned the value of proper motorcycle gear.

See you out there, and ride safe!

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

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SHINY

SIDE

UP

All you’ll ever need

By Ron Davis #111820 THE OTHER DAY I WAS

talking to my old riding buddy Ralph, who had just sent me a book on trout fishing titled Following in the Footsteps of Ernest Hemmingway by Jay Thurston (Savpress.com).

Ralph said, “Sometimes you find a book that is the only book you’ll ever need.” He was pretty much right about Thurston’s book. But, I wondered, is there an “only book you’ll ever need” when it comes to motorcycling?

Looking at my bulging library of moto books, the answer is probably, “It depends.”

For instance, if you’re looking for a comprehensive look at the history of BMW motorcycles, one book I’d recommend is Kevin Ash’s BMW Motorcycles: The Evolution of Excellence.

Ash traces the development of BMW motorcycles from 1917 up to about 2006, with interesting takes on historical influences, changing company philosophy and marketing considerations.

It’s a small book in size but it’s packed with fascinating details and stunning photos used courtesy of BMW Motorrad itself.

A larger book published about ten years more recently is Ian Falloon’s The Complete Book of BMW Motorcycles: Every Model Since 1923. Following the world-wide success of his first book, The Ducati Story, Falloon has written histories of many of the leading motorcycle marquees, and this BMW tome covers every model from the R32 to the S 1000 RR. If your need is for more of a comprehensive introduction to motorcycles and motorcycling, for me, the long-standing “bible” is David Hough’s Proficient Motorcycling (Editions I and II). I haven’t yet found better books when it comes to making me a more confident and safer rider. Hough has taken some criticism for what some might consider sermonizing a bit, but his advice is backed up by data and extensive experience, and I have no objection to his taking safety so seriously.

Another book on the technical side I’ve endorsed on these pages in the past is Jim Ford’s The Art of Riding Smooth. Jim has a talent for explaining in clear language subtle tweaks anyone can incorporate into their riding skill set. Warning: reading his book may leave you with an uncontrollable urge to ride what he calls the “invisible roads” of Appalachia or even reserve a spot in one of his Rider’s Workshops.

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Those looking for some entertaining trivia, might want to pick up a copy of either or both volumes of Mark Gardiner’s Bathroom Book of Motorcycle Trivia. Like most readers, I tend to forget about half of what I’ve read or remember too much incorrectly, so I find myself going back to these books (yes, often found in my bathroom), which feature 365 short pieces on all kinds of intriguing moto-facts, records, true stories and events.

If you enjoy cozying up on long winter nights with narratives about motorcycling, of course I must pay homage to the guy I consider the god of moto-writing, Peter Egan. His Leanings books are compilations of columns that have appeared mainly in Cycle World since 1977, and for me no other writing gets at the adventure that only motorcycling can provide in such compelling, conversational style. Returning to reread Egan’s columns is like visiting old friends.

Though it’s more difficult to nail down exactly why, I’d also recommend a book that despite its 1998 publish date, continues to attract accolades. Melissa Holbrook Pierson’s The Perfect Vehicle is both her personal story of her relationship with bikes and an objective examination of their place in our culture. Legendary moto-adventurer Ted Simon expressed my feelings about this book better than I can: “Bikers of all genders should read it to learn better why they do it. Many others will learn why they should.”

This is nowhere near a complete list of books I would recommend to ON readers, just ones whose titles popped out from my bookcase as favorites and which I know are still available from major booksellers. What is your favorite? Why not send a “Rider-to-Rider” letter to Owners News with your top pick? The easiest way to do this is to use the “Owners News/Letters to the Editor” tabs on the BMWMOA website (bmwmoa.org) or you can email Bill Wiegand at bill@bmwmoa.org.

Receiving praise in Rider, Backroads USA, RoadRunner and on Adventure Rider Radio, a collection of Ron Davis’s most popular stories, Shiny Side Up: Musings on the Improbable Inclination to Travel on Two Wheels, is now available from most online booksellers.

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

73

THE

RIDE

INSIDE

Too much adventure?

By Mark Barnes, PhD #222400 I JUST RETURNED FROM THE MOST CHAL-

lenging trail ride of the past year. My on-road/ off-road ratio shifts back and forth, but pavement got the lion’s share of 2020’s saddle time, so it was with a mixture of dirt-starved excitement and rusty apprehension that I set out to explore once-familiar routes at my local OHV park. It did not go well—or did it? A mountain-biker friend insists a ride can only be considered great if those involved must seriously consider the possibility they won’t make it back.

If that’s the criterion, then my ride was truly epic.

Eons ago, when I rode at this place often, everyone else doing so was on two wheels. Four-wheelers started showing up with increasing regularity, seemingly because anyone could hop on one and go, skill development be damned. Anecdotal evidence suggested these machines were actually more dangerous than motorcycles, with roll-overs much more consequential for their (usually helmetless) riders. They were also far more destructive to the terrain, partly due to how they work and partly due to how their operators worked them. It became common to see groups taking turns sitting still in soft, wet areas, spinning their wheels gleefully until they had to be dragged out with a winch.

The resulting craters were a huge annoyance to motorcyclists.

Not only did they create tediously repetitive dips that added nothing to the enjoyment of riding, but they filled with water, the depth of which was impossible to judge. Many such depressions ended up being 30-50 yards in length. They might be as shallow as six inches or as deep as three feet; their placid surfaces gave no clues. We were forced to treat each one as a potential bike-swallower, skirting their edges as much as possible in extremely tight settings with no alternative paths.

Side-by-sides came to replace the four-wheelers, and their explosive popularity compounded the problems for motorcyclists.

Exponentially. These larger, heavier, taller and more powerful machines have torn up trails—and even jeep roads—at a rate and to a degree previously unimaginable. Whereas trails in this area have always been quite rocky, side-by-side traffic has eroded much of the dirt that supplied at least some reprieve from brutal rock gardens. Steep climbs, which were plenty difficult before, are now complicated even further by the cavernous ruts dug by giant tires hunting traction at full throttle and a snail’s pace.

Trail maintenance, which used to be a strength of this facility, seems to have been altogether abandoned. The side-by-side pilots like things the way they are. They not only constitute the largest contingent of permit-buying customers, but their numbers have doubled and doubled and doubled again. The park, which used to

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be host to a familiar group of local enthusiasts, now teems with a multitude of visitors from far-flung lands. I used to wonder why, with the enormous increase in revenue, the park didn’t invest in keeping the trails in better shape. Now I understand that the degraded conditions are an asset, not a liability, with the users paying to make the place “better” while the owners build more cabins for them.

Motorcyclists no longer matter, and from a financial perspective, why should we? Aside from my companion on this recent outing, I didn’t see a single other bike in a facility with four gigantic parking lots crammed with trucks and trailers. Times change. I should get over it, but nobody likes to become irrelevant. My ride began with resentment and fearfulness, which are not good starting points, and it got worse from there.

I would have felt trepidation about this ride, even without the park’s devolution. When I was at my skill and physical conditioning peaks, it was not uncommon to spend a whole day there and travel less than 30 miles, sometimes much less. Bikes and bodies would have been battered, tanks drained, courage and resolve repeatedly tested, and everyone would feel a sense of immense accomplishment at having simply survived. This was considered “fun.” Although I can recall that mindset, I no longer possess it. My buddy and I planned to enter on some relatively easy trails and poke around beyond them until we got too tired, frustrated or intimidated. We would ease into it...

With no intention of pushing the envelope, we left most of our tools and food behind; we’d exit for lunch after a couple of hours and re-enter for another low-key session in the afternoon. We should have taken the hint when the “easy” route we chose proved more challenging than the next-level trails we expected further into the wild. We thought maybe, if we went deeper, we’d reach areas unspoiled by so much abuse. Maybe then we could relive a bit of the past we remembered fondly.

No such luck. The more we endured, the more there was to endure. Gnarly became grisly, and grisly became virtually impassible.

Of course, virtually impassible eventually became utterly impossible.

Our map, absurdly inaccurate in its difficulty ratings for the trails, was almost useless. Likewise, our memories. Occasionally I could identify a landmark, but the place was mostly alien and unrecognizable. As worried as I was about pressing ahead on the loop we’d charted, I was equally disturbed by the prospect of backtracking through the hellscape we’d already traversed. Each new obstacle required a ten-tenths effort. I would loosen up as the ride went on and some old reflexes would return, but the next hurdle always raised the bar apiece.

Finally, in a decision fraught with intense ambivalence, we went off-map in a bid for shortcut access to a gravel road promising a

manageable escape. At this point, many hours had passed since our journey began. We were hungry, exhausted, and increasingly concerned about fuel. Cliff Bars and backpack hydration prevented our total collapse, but daylight was fading and we were 20 miles into the rough.

I should have known better, yet at each choice point it had seemed like pressing on would be the most efficient way out. In retrospect, my anger about losing this playground to the side-by-sides had impaired my judgment and fueled my determined attacks on each new boulder field and ravine.

Once off the map, and with no phone signal or GPS, serious dread and anxiety took root. We’d succeeded in getting away from the heavily trafficked areas. The trails we’d reached seemed to have had no travelers for ages.

They had deteriorated in a different way than those pummeled and gouged by the side-by-sides. Unmarked and unmaintained, they meandered and intersected in confusing ways. Intrusive visions of busted cases and compound fractures threatened to disrupt my concentration. No rescuers would happen by if we had a serious mishap here.

At least the low sun helped us keep some directional bearings. At each junction, we turned toward the road.

We knew which side of it we were on, but had no idea how close it was, or whether there would even be a path open to it. Eventually, we made a long decent off the mountainside on what appeared to be the remnants of a gravel lane. After crossing a wide, but mercifully shallow and slow-moving river, we were rewarded with the sight of asphalt in the distance. Deep breath.

Safely out of the woods, literally and figuratively, the question plagued me: Had we been absolutely foolish? Or was my terror an overreaction to what ended up being a successful test of riding and navigational competence?

Which adage applies? No pain, no gain? Look before you leap? All’s well that ends well? You never know until you try? Curiosity killed the cat?

Had I known all along we’d make it out okay, I’d have enjoyed a whole lot more of the ride. On the other hand, it wouldn’t be seared into my memory as a grand adventure.

Some rides are fun only after they’re over, like the time Hurricane Opal caught up with us high on the Blue Ridge Parkway... but that’s a tale for another time.

What doesn’t kill us makes us—er—have better stories.

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

75

FIRST

BIKE

Enthusiasm and that first bike

By Patricia Blaskovic #147593 I RECENTLY LAUGHED WHEN MY

spouse told me about a Facebook post wanting to only include BMW riders over 60. The comments, as you can imagine, were hilarious. Yes, sometimes it is hard to relate to those of a different generation, gender or background, and this is where I believe the MOA tries to be different. We do not always succeed, but we give it our best try.

Ironically on the same day, I witnessed my new, 20-something neighbor (I’ll call him Mick) ripping up and down our small, dead-end street on an older Honda Interceptor that had obviously seen many miles.

It was the Sunday morning after Christmas, and his activity was enough to draw the attention of a few neighbors.

Soon, my phone beeped with a few messages like “Who is that on that motorcycle?” This was just after a significant snowstorm with some snow still remaining on the street, and temperatures were below freezing.

About halfway down the street, our neighbor was out clearing his walkway and stopped Mick to express his displeasure with his display of noise and speed.

I can understand his disapproval, as last summer he had another neighbor who never failed to wake everyone on the street with a loud-piped Harley. One good outcome with that neighbor was that he heeded my advice to get some training at the local Harley dealer through their

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

Riding Academy.

Back to Mick and the day after Christmas. I initially found myself in the same camp as the disgruntled neighbor who thought this young man shouldn’t use our street as his test track and warned, “Someone will probably call the police.”

Just then, my spouse, always the optimist, said, “Think back to your first

bike and how excited you were to ride it.”

Suddenly memories flooded back to when, as a 20-something, I was given a 1978 Honda CB360 by my older brother.

He said, “You can have it for free, but I won’t teach you how to ride it because mom will kill me!” Luckily, I had a good friend who helped me with that, and I was able to pass my riding test at the BMV on the first try.

Those memories changed my perspective enough to pack up a few motorcycle magazines and books, walk them over to my new next door neighbor Mick, and

have a friendly chat. He was grateful for the reading material and divulged he had no street riding experience and didn’t have a computer to research things. Mick told me nobody in his family rode, and they were less than happy with his dangerous dirt bike antics years earlier.

Mick also couldn’t stop telling me about the new bike and the laundry list of items that weren’t in working order. It sounded like he had purchased quite a project for himself. I told him that having a safe machine should be one of his priorities, and we discussed tire conditions along with several other items. Surprisingly, he knew about tire date codes, and as far as we could tell, the front tire was over 15 years old, but the back tire was newer.

I realized that letting him do most of the talking was a better idea since he was on a roll and probably wasn’t going to listen to a 60-something lady who rides a BMW. I said, “Well, it looks like you have yourself a fine winter project!”

Before I departed, I informed him about the training available in our area, both from the State of Ohio and from private dealerships such as Harley-Davidson, which I think runs a fantastic program.

I then handed over the bagful of reading material and wished him good luck.

Indeed, we can all relate to this moment and a new, enthusiastic rider as it brings to mind that feeling of excitement that maybe

we have forgotten in our later years. For me, it was a rekindling of why I started riding in the first place. I didn’t own a car. My bike was my only mode of transportation, and yes, I rode in some crazy cold temperatures in Ohio, but I loved it so much it did not matter. I worked a night shift and remember riding home in the cold, struggling to extract myself from my bike when I arrived and needing a soak in a warm tub to thaw.

In a world divided in so many ways, I hope people who love this sport would continue to widen the circle and reach out rather than exclude. When encountering a newer rider, my advice is to ask them a few questions about their bike and see where the conversation goes. If you’re lucky enough to be able to plant a few seeds of wisdom without being too heavy-handed, it might just sink in and become a “teachable moment.”

Seasoned riders often want to share what they’ve learned and help younger riders avoid some costly mistakes, like grabbing that front brake as you’re turning in the driveway. (Luckily, Mick fell in a snowdrift.)

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77

FINAL

JOURNEY

Remembering Ray McKenna #27208

By Ed Perry #35689 ON AUGUST 6, 2020, LONG-TIME BMW

rider Raymond William McKenna succumbed to injuries after being hit five days earlier by an inattentive driver while riding his R 80 ST in Western Massachusetts.

Ray was born in Dobbs Ferry, New York, a small town on the east bank of the lower Hudson River Valley. We were kindergarten classmates and had been best friends ever since. Over the next 65 plus years, we shared many adventures, from bicycles to BMWs. Ray was a well-known BMW rider in the Northeast and a longtime member of the BMW MOA, BMW RA, Yankee Beemers, Connecticut River Valley Riders, BMW Motorcycle Owners of Vermont, Saratoga Thoroughbreds, BMW Riders of Southern Maine, and the Airheads.

In high school, Ray began riding his first motorized two-wheeler, a 125 Vespa, on which he eventually toured New England.

He then moved to a BMW R 27 and used it for touring the northeast as far as Michigan.

After several years in the Army, Ray purchased a new 1970 R 60/5. In 1973 I accompanied him on my R 75/5 as we rode as far as Prince Rupert, British Columbia, hoping to make a long-discussed trip to Alaska. But alas, conditions weren’t going to allow it, and with his typical Ray attitude

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

to make the best of it, we used our time to ride the West Coast south as far as Mexico before returning to the Northeast.

Upon returning home, Ray got married.

However, the call of the road was too much for him; after a few years, he and his wife parted amicably, and Ray returned to the less structured schedule of the single home renter.

Over the years, if there was a BMW motorcycle event in the Northeast, Ray would know about it and would probably be there on one of his beloved Airheads. If you rolled into the parking area and Ray’s 1978 Smoke Red R 100 S (with almost 300,000 miles on it) or his Silver R 80 ST was there, you knew that some good times were assured.

For years, I thought Ray’s early arrival at any gathering was simply to assure a good tent site or a place at the dinner table.

Eventually I began to understand what I had always really known about Ray––he truly was a people person. He believed everyone had a story worth hearing, and he wanted to hear all those stories. When

he went to a rally, campout or breakfast, he would know everyone, and if there was somebody he didn’t know, he would make a real effort to meet them. Once he was set up at any get-together, his bike would rarely move until the event was over, as Ray’s first priority was to visit with all his friends. This would usually consume the whole weekend because he had so many friends. In addition, he made new friends all the time. If you spent time with Ray, you made new friends. For those of us who knew Ray, think of all the friends you met because of him.

There was always room for Ray at any campfire or dinner table. His hilarious sense of humor and outrageous puns were always the source of a good time. “Why whine about it when you can laugh about it?” was Ray’s philosophy. A “WAG MORE, BARK LESS” sign was prominently posted on his refrigerator door. Easily recognized by his pork pie hat and battered titanium coffee cup, at campfires, dinner tables, around coffee pots from Maine to Vermont and everywhere he rode, the Raymond William McKenna stories and jokes will continue.

Ray will be missed but not forgotten by his BMW family.

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FINAL

JOURNEY

Remembering Ross Graham #60983

By Herman Greinstein #57897 IT IS WITH GREAT SADNESS THAT I

pass along the news that our good friend Ross Graham passed away last spring. Ross was an avid BMW motorcycle rider, shown in a ride he once made on his BMW R 100 CS from Vero Beach, Florida, to Alaska and back. He then made the same trip a few years later by himself aboard his BMW R 1100 GS Paris Dakar.

Ross always enjoyed telling us stories of the rallies he had ridden to, the people he met and the experiences he had whenever he traveled. One of his favorite stories was of his ride to the BMW Rally in Paonia, Colorado. They would camp in a park downtown, as all the local residents welcomed the riders every year. Ross liked adventure and would also often take his grandsons on cross country camping trips in his Jeep.

Ross and I loved to go to the BMW Motorcycle Club of Northeast Florida’s Winter Rally. Billed as “Florida’s Coolest Rally,” it was usually the first rally of the year, held on the second or third weekend of January. I’ll always remember us shivering in our freezing cold tents. When

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

we got older, we started renting rooms at Camp Blanding. We were at the winter rally years ago and Ross gave me his raffle tickets, and one of the tickets won a BMW waterproof touring bag. Ross said, “See, there you go, it’s yours!”

Fortunately, last March a few of us were able to get together during Daytona Bike

Week and camped out with Ross’s fellow teachers. We hung out around the campfire telling stories and made a trip to a favorite local eatery where we met other family members and friends.

Our friend Ross Graham will be missed by many of our BMW motorcycle enthusiasts throughout our beautiful country.

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81

Learning to Settle

By Jim Stettler #222931 PEOPLE WHO KNOW ME PROBABLY

say I’m set in my ways. I think I’ve likely become that “grumpy old man at the end of the block,” but something happened recently to make me ponder whether I’m as much a creature of habit as I think.

Last week I visited a motorsports dealership to have a new rear tire installed on my motorcycle. This large dealership in the Houston area has five locations and between those locations, it probably represents every major motorcycle, ATV and personal watercraft manufacturer doing business in the U.S. The location I visited is an authorized distributor of 11 brands, including BMW. I spent 90 minutes walking the showroom floor while my new tire was getting installed. I recognized that while almost all the bikes had some redeeming value for their intended customer, none of them suited my needs if I could only afford one bike.

My 2016 BMW R 1200 RT is a fairly big sport touring model weighing around 600 pounds. An incredible bike, it’s big (but not too big), fast (but not scary fast), reliable (always important), comfortable and good for 12-hour trips in the saddle, has good wind protection (with an adjustable windscreen) and considerable luggage capacity (making it a good choice to ride for local errands and even weeklong adventures). I also happen to think it is beautiful to look at, although I recognize that beauty is often is the eye of the beholder.

Automobiles, SUVs and trucks are designed to be very good at a single purpose, but their features usually fall short once you get away from that design focus. For instance, a sports car makes a terrible vehicle for off-roading fun.

Similarly, motorcycles are primarily designed to accomplish specific things like long-distance touring, sport-touring, street

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

riding, sport riding or track days, dirt and trails, motocross racing, boulevard cruising, comfort, looking cool at the bar, showing off how much money you can spend, practicality, economy, etc.

Every bike usually does one of these items listed above very well. There is even a category that’s called dual-purpose or dual-sport, that attempts to be a manufacturer-designed compromise of street riding and light off-road riding, and they are pretty good at both tasks, but in the rest of the universe, the bike you probably choose will do one thing very well, and not so well (or not at all) on all the others.

If you only have money and space for one motorcycle, this choice must be carefully considered.

If you’re lucky enough to have the financial resources and room to spare, you can have one for every occasion. I often tell friends that if I had more money, more space and one less wife (for the record, I only have one wife), I’d have a garage full of motorcycles. Each fit for an intended purpose. At a minimum, I’d have a sport tourer, a new Kawasaki Z900, a 300cc street bike for quick errands not requiring me to carry anything, a dirt bike for some fun in the outdoors, a classic Triumph or Norton street bike, and maybe even a scooter and a three-wheeler or bike with a sidecar because I always thought they’d be cool or good fun. If I had a LOT of money and even more space, I’d have at least another half dozen of even less practical motorcycles.

But I only have one bike because I have limits and have had to learn how to settle in life. So, I had to pick one based on doing things well that I intended to do.

So, no off-roading adventures for me, but my RT manages to do many of the things I might ordinarily encounter on any given day.

My BMW was designed and

manufactured in Germany by engineers obsessed with attention to detail, much like those bikes from Japan brought to our attention in the early 1960s and 1970s. The biggest distinction I used to see was that the Japanese designed vehicles to be reliable and practical, with high quality and a low price point. The Japanese still build great machines, but their cost has risen relatively. We still see their overall value and some people pay extra for that value because they know those bikes are good. The Koreans are the new low price leaders in the world. They also build great products, but less expensive than the current Japanese manufacturers.

The Germans, on the other hand, have tended to often over think design and make it more complicated than it actually had to be, because they could, and they don’t know when to quit, never understanding the law of diminishing returns.

While this law is basically related to economic theory, my example illustrates that you can spend money on additional engineering design in trying to make the product more desirable, but what it really does is increase cost, increase complexity of repairs and does not make the product measurably better for the customer. The Germans operate on the assumption that Americans are willing to pay extra for that quality.

As an example, my BMW car windshield needed to be replaced after getting a crack after being hit by a small rock from a gravel truck. When I ordered a new windshield from the local Safelight Auto Glass distributor, they asked if I wanted an exact replacement or a cheaper one? I inquired why they asked the question.

What was the difference? Well, it seems my model had an optional windshield with a built-in sensor to automatically turn on the windshield wipers in a light rain. I told them that I never realized that I even had

this feature. I asked what was the difference in cost for the exact replacement windshield? As I recall it was about $200 more. I told them I didn’t need this feature and that after driving for more than 50 years I was fully capable turning on the windshield wipers on my steering column if I ever needed my wipers on. Why was this design feature included by the Germans? The answer is “because they could.”

This additional attention to detail often causes higher end costs and maintenance/ repair complexities for the consumer. I remember buying my first BMW motorcycle in 2003––a 1990 BMW K 75S with 8,800 miles on the clock. I was amazed at all the individual little details that the Germans included. None of these little details, individually, was reason by itself to buy the bike, but rather it showed they engineered in details that were nice, but not essential. I used to say to myself “those f***ing Germans think of everything.” I owned the bike for 14 years. I have never

owned any vehicle for 14 years!

My current BMW bike has heated handle-grips and heated seats that are adjustable to your preferred level of heat.

When I bought the bike, these features were pointed out to me by the salesman, but I never expected the need for them, living in south Texas. On a recent trip to the Ozarks in late September of this year, the temperature in the mornings dropped to the mid-40 degree range, so I thought I’d try these features. Was I ever surprised at how much better the riding experience became once my hands would stay warm and I had a toasty butt!

Since my first BMW motorcycle, I have now owned four BMW automobiles and frankly, they suffer from the same over-thinking. In fact, I bought my first BMW car after I realized how good the BMW bikes were. The single biggest complaint from the early BMW autos was the lack of quality cup holders. I know that sounds silly, and I’m just being picky because the rest of the car is so amazing.

Now any German citizen will quickly point out that drinking beverages while driving at more than 120 mph on the German Autobahn is dangerous and ridiculous, a safety hazard, and takes away from the total driving experience while you should be focused on the road. But that is why the cup holders were obviously designed as an after-thought to appease the crazy American customer who wants to drink and eat while driving. Even with the poor cup holders, I finally became a convert for the total machine and learned to appreciate their corporate advertising slogan that “BMW is the ultimate driving machine.”

Back to my RT, my single biggest complaint is that my BMW boxer lacks a good, manly engine roar. It is too quiet, if you can imagine that. After all, it is widely known that bikers believe that “loud pipes save lives,” but it is virtually impossible to make this type of engine design sound mean and nasty. Even the purchase of after-market pipes doesn’t seem to help.

My 2016 BMW R 1200 RT.

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

83

This is probably just another example where the German engineers over-think the proposition that a proper motorcycle should do all things well, AND not be loud and obnoxious at the same time.

Perhaps I’d feel differently if I was raised in Germany and wasn’t exposed to the sound of a 45 degree Harley V-twin during my youth.

Engine configuration (in-line 4, in-line 6, V4, V6, V8, V-twin, parallel twin, single, and so on) has a lot to do with the sound it makes, as well as firing order. This is why Harleys sound so good, and they will never change that sound. When Harley introduced the V-Rod engine, it lasted several years before going out of production. It performed very well, but apparently didn’t sound right. A Harley’s exhaust rumble is what defines what a motorcycle should sound like and makes people come back

My 2008 BMW 528 i probably cost over $50,000 new. I’ve learned to live with its inadequate cup holders, as it’s still a great car I love to drive. Even though it’s 13 years old, I’ve settled again!

over and over again to buy another while bringing new customers into the showroom.

I was born to a middle class family in St. Louis. We always had a roof over our heads and enough to eat and lived in a

Me and my “just right BMW” stopping outside Bandara, Texas, on our way to Luckenbach.

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BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

modest, two bedroom house in the city.

There were no fancy vacations or luxuries, but we always had the necessities of life. I never felt like we were not normal and I never felt like we deserved anything more.

We did not have rich friends or family members, so I never knew what we were “missing” like kids do nowadays. Back

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then, we thought “normal” was a TV show like Leave it to Beaver, Father Knows Best, or I Love Lucy.

I believe my upbringing instilled in me the concept of asking myself “Do I want it, or do I need it? Even today, I ask myself these questions before every major purchase. For me, a backyard pool, big power boat or timeshare property is a waste of money because I know that I would never use it after the initial thrill wore off. So, I don’t waste my money on them, or on motorcycles that I know I’ll really never use.

Sheryl Crow has a verse in one of her songs that says “It’s not having what you want. It’s wanting what you’ve got.” That concept is largely overlooked today. I’ve learned to settle on a lot of things in my life, that’s not to imply it’s always a bad thing. I found my minimum requirements that make me happy and don’t think I’d miss anything I don’t already own.

After walking around the dealership for 90 minutes, I imagined how I would feel about possibly owning every bike I looked at and came to a conclusion I didn’t expect when I went into the dealership. I realized every bike I looked at had some feature or quality that I didn’t like. Sometimes I feel a little like Goldilocks when she tries the bed and says “This one is too hard, this one is too soft, and this one is just right.” My BMW is just right for me. Not too big and not too small. It does almost everything I want, and there’s no other bike I can imagine that would “check all the boxes” and that I would want instead, as long as I’m limited to one bike in the garage…but damn that exhaust note!

I guess I’ve settled on this bike as right for me.

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87

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.

Ken Frick BMW MOA OFFICERS Wes Fitzer, President 918-773-7178; wes.fitzer@bmwmoa.org Reece Mullins, Vice President 334-470-7770; reece.mullins@bmwmoa.org Stan Herman, Treasurer (719) 250-4358; stan.herman@bmwmoa.org Sue Rihn, Secretary (262) 424-2617; sue.rihn@bmwmoa.org BMW MOA DIRECTORS Brian Dutcher (402) 289-7182; brian.dutcher@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 Michael “Roc” Shannon (812) 322-1378; roc.shannon@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 2350 Hwy. 101 South Greer, SC 29651 (864) 438-0962 BMW MOA FOUNDATION OFFICERS Chuck Manley, President cmanley@bmwmoaf.org Vance Harrelson, Vice President vance@bmwmoaf.org

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

Tom Gary, Treasurer tgary@bmwmoaf.org Pam Werstler, Secretary pwerstler@bmwmoaf.org

Karin Halker, Art Director karin@bmwmoa.org

BMW MOA FOUNDATION DIRECTORS

Wes Fleming, Digital Media Editor wfleming@bmwmoa.org

Dan Finazzo dfinazzo@bmwmoaf.org

Ray Tubbs, Digital Marketing Manager ray@bmwmoa.org

Keith Foster kfoster@bmwmoaf.org

Tonya McMeans, Membership Services tonya@bmwmoa.org

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

88

CONTRIBUTORS Cover Adam Chandler #207579 Table of Contents Alonso Lopez #82706 Terence Hamill #14629 Big Picture Steven P. Befera #96635 Postcards from the Road Eitan Zadok #202055 Monika Tiemann #94710 Don Henderson #195445 Craig Olmsted #197287 Chuck Scheer #178536 Vince Dye #209885 John Tucker #204267 Member Tested Steve Leader #222695 Lee Harrelson #145612 Mark Barnes #222400 News Greg Feeler #2241 Corey #196849 and Becky Smith #208184 Tech Matthew Parkhouse #13272 Wes Fleming #87301 Features Don Bartletti #220547 Ken Frick # 199204 Wes Fleming #87301 Bill Wiegand #180584 Skills Mike Sheehe #221540 James Carlisle #196730 Lifestyle Ron Davis #111820 Mark Barnes, PhD #222400 Patricia Blaskovic #147593 Ed Perry #35689 Herman Greinstein #57897 Jim Stettler #222931 Talelight Bob Boucher #49694

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

Patricia Blaskovic

James Carlisle

Lee Harrelson

IBMW MOA KEY VOLUNTEERS HIGH MILEAGE COORDINATORS Allison Gifford and Johnathan Gifford allison.gifford@bmwmoa.org johnathan.gifford@bmwmoa.org MILEAGE CONTEST COORDINATOR Jim Low (608)347-5910; lowjim09@gmail.com AMBASSADOR LIAISON Jason Olson bmwjiggs@gmail.com

REGIONAL COORDINATORS Joe Burns - Pennsylvania (814) 229-0896; joe.burns@bmwmoa.org Adam Chandler - New Hampshire (415) 894-0857; adam.chandler@bmwmoa.org Carlos Dao - Florida (561) 927-6730; carlos.dao@bmwmoa.org Joe Dawson - Arizona (480) 721-4412; joe.dawson@bmwmoa.org Ken Decroo - California (909) 961-7762; ken.decroo@bmwmoa.org

CONSUMER LIAISON John Gamel john.gamel@bmwmoa.org

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

FORUM LIAISON Kurt Schrader Forum Administrator - Gary Nelson Forum Moderators - Steve Henson, Lee Fulton, Voni Glaves, Don Eilenberger

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

2021 BMW MOA RALLY CHAIRS Corey and Becky Smith 2021rallychair@bmwmoa.org

Don Bartletti

Jean Excel - Colorado (719) 650-6215; jean.excel@bmwmoa.org

Karolina Francis - British Columbia, Canada (604) 657-7351; karolina.francis@bmwmoa.org Johnathan Gifford - Oklahoma (484) 919-7277; jgifford@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 Pete Mikolaitis - Indiana (401) 924-2526; pete.mikolaitis@bmwmoa.org Thomas Moe - Montana (916) 919-6770; tom.moe@bmwmoa.org Gordy Olson - California (916) 642-2221; gordy.olson@bmwmoa.org Mike Secor - Texas (214) 557-4577; mike.secor@bmwmoa.org Gary Shuman - Massachusettes (617) 513-2053; gary.shuman@bmwmoa.org Phil Stalboerger - Minnesota (612) 616-2445; phil.stalboerger@bmwmoa.org Phil Stearns - Ohio (937) 470-1851; phil.stearns@bmwmoa.org Thomas Van Horn - Wisconsin (608) 695-6784; tomvanhorn@bmwmoa.org Bryan Whitehead - Illinois (312) 804-2293; bryan.whitehead@bmwmoa.org Corey and Becky Smith

WHEN

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WHERE

UPCOMING EVENTS FEBRUARY

1 MOA GETAWAY AT ORANGE BEACH 2/12/2021 – 2/14/2021

LOCATION: Orange Beach, Alabama CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

Escape some of winter’s grasp by spending a few days walking sugar white sand beaches and soaking up some southern sunshine.

The Orange Beach Getaway is back on the beautiful Alabama gulf coast for 2021! Join us in Orange beach and get a jump start on the riding season.

For those not familiar with America’s Gulf Coast, it is the perfect blend of southern hospitality, warm weather and relaxing vibes.

Nestled on the Alabama - Florida border, Orange Beach is a hidden treasure in the southern states. Along with the sugar white sand beaches, you’ll find some of the best coastal culture and seafood mixed with a lot of southern love. Visit the opposite side of Mobile Bay and experience some of the southern delta that produces the best seafood in the country.

Arrive anytime on Friday and join us for a reception at the ISLAND HOUSE HOTEL. We’ll have a hot dinner, cool drinks and a cash bar will be available. We encourage you to bring your bike, park out front and hang out with us. This will be a great time to mingle and make new friends as we tell tall tales, kick tires and take names! Throughout the evening, plan your Saturday adventure as we’ll have information available on area rides and points of interest you can explore.

Get up early and head out or sleep in late, Saturday is your day to ride the area or just relax and enjoy the resort. Whatever you plan for the day, make sure you are back in time for a fantastic beach front evening. Be prepared to share details of your day’s adventure with those at your table and we’ll give away over $500 in great door prizes too!

Book your Weekend Getaway now as space is limited and we anticipate this Weekend Getaway will sell out quickly.

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march

2 PREMIER

TRAINING AT BMW PERFORMANCE CENTER 3/25/2021 – 3/26/2021

LOCATION: Greer, SC CONTACT: Ray Tubbs 864-438-0962 ray@bmwmoa.org

In partnership with the BMW MOA, MOA Foundation and the BMW Performance Center Rider Academy, a Premier Training opportunity for MOA members has been scheduled for March 25th and 26th at the BMW Performance Center Rider Academy in Spartanburg, South Carolina.

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 Marriott Hotel with a Thursday night “Meet and Greet” and introductory session at the Performance Center.

Friday 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.

Riders may choose to use their personal motorcycles for this training opportunity but will assume all risk and responsibility for any damage. This program is exclusive to any other existing discounts or MOA Foundation scholarship opportunities.

If you want to improve your on-road skills and get a solid introduction to off-road riding, this training is for you. On-road training includes slow rides & trial stops, a city course, emergency stops, obstacles avoidance and braking. The off-road section gives you a flavor of a slow ride on dirt, the slalom course, how to tackle washboard ruts, emergency stops and an intro to hills if the time allows.

The MOA Premier Training event costs $995.00 per person and includes: • Thursday and Friday night lodging at the Greenville Marriott with Friday breakfast • Thursday night “Meet and Greet” at the BMW Performance Center • One full day of training with the use of a BMW Performance Center motorcycle • Friday lunch at the BMW Performance Center • Friday evening dinner at a favorite Greenville restaurant • Transportation between the hotel and BMW Performance Center on both days • A Special Premier Event polo shirt • Shuttle to the Greenville airport The $995.00 price point represents a great opportunity to receive quality training at a significantly reduced cost. Availability for this unique event is sure to fill quickly, so don’t delay in registering.

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

91

WHEN

AND

Email your event information to editor@bmwmoa.org

WHERE

april

3 4 /16/2021 – 4/17/2021 PREMIER TRAINING AT BMW PERFORMANCE CENTER LOCATION: Greer, SC CONTACT: Ray Tybbs (864) 438-0962 ray@bmwmoa.org

MAY

7 5 /1/2021 – 5/2/2021 2021 MOTORCYCLE FLEA MARKET AND MOTOEXPO

LOCATION: Pecatonica, IL CONTACT: Earve Brauer or Steve Frank 815-761-0048 / skynut69@yahoo.com

4 4 /23/2021 – 4/24/2021 RIDING INTO HISTORY

8 5 /7/2021 – 5/9/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT COEUR D’ALENE

5 4 /23/2021 – 4/25/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT FONTANA

9 5 /14/2021 – 5/16/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT LOS OSOS

LOCATION: St. Augustine, FL CONTACT: Bill Peterson (904) 827-7379 info@ridingintohistory.org

LOCATION: Fontana, NC CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

LOCATION: Coeur d’Alene, ID CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

LOCATION: Los Osos, CA CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

10 5 /20/2021 – 5/24/2021 2021 BMW CLUB OF NORTHERN CALIFORNIA 49ER RALLY

6 4 /29/2021 – 5/2/2021 BMW’S TAME THE TAIL OF THE DRAGON

LOCATION: Robbinsville, NC CONTACT: Gary Culbertson garyculb18@gmail.com / 803-773-6361

LOCATION: Mariposa, CA CONTACT: Greg Hutchinson ghutchin@

pacbell.net

11 5 /21/2021 – 5/23/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT DILLARD

LOCATION: Dillard, GA CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

22

8 15 27 29

20

14

7

18 23

10

25

16

19

28

9

24 5

12

11

31

92

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

1

3 13 17 21 26 30 32

6 2

4

Map courtesy of

For complete details on any event listed, please visit bmwmoa.org and click on the Rallies & Events tab

12 5 /21/2021 – 5/23/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT SANTA FE

LOCATION: Santa Fe, NM CONTACT: BMW MOA (864)

438-0962

2021 CHARTER OAK RALLY May 28 – 30, 2021

Sponsored by Connecticut River Valley BMW Riders, Inc.

13 5 /28/2021 – 5/29/2021 PREMIER TRAINING AT BMW PERFORMANCE CENTER LOCATION: Greer, SC CONTACT: Ray Tubbs (864) 438-0962 ray@bmwmoa.org

14 5 /28/2021 – 5/30/2021 CHARTER OAK RALLY

LOCATION: Eastford, CT CONTACT: Chris Jennings 203-368-9281 / nostnkncmptr@live.com

june

15 6 /24/2021 – 6/27/2021 BMW MOA INTERNATIONAL RALLY

LOCATION: Great Falls, MT CONTACT: Becky & Corey Smith rallychairs@bmwmoa.org

juLY

16 7 /15/2021 – 7/18/2021 49th ANNUAL TOP 0’ THE ROCKIES RALLY

LOCATION: Paonia, CO CONTACT: Ronnie Martinez (303) 229-8229 ronniealfonzomartinez@yahoo.com

The 31st Charter Oak Rally will be held May 28 - 30, 2021 at Crystal Pond Park in Eastford CT. (Located on Crystal Pond off Weeks Rd).

• The Camp has a nice dining hall, a large open field to camp or wooded area to pitch a tent.

• Rally fee includes continuous coffee, Friday night chili (until gone) and Saturday night meal.

• On Saturday and Sunday mornings there will be a continental style breakfast.

• Door prizes are included.

For questions, e-mail rally@crvbmw.org or call Chris at 203-368-9281. Register online at www.crvbmw.org

17 7 /30/2021 – 7/31/2021 PREMIER TRAINING AT BMW PERFORMANCE CENTER LOCATION: Greer, SC CONTACT: Ray Tubbs (864) 438-0962 ray@bmwmoa.org

18 7 /30/2021 – 8/1/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT SKYTOP

LOCATION: Skytop, PA CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

august

19 8 /20/2021 – 8/22/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT COPPER MOUNTAIN LOCATION: Copper Mountain, CO CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

20 8 /20/2021 – 8/22/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT GUELPH

LOCATION: Guelph, Ontario CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

Whether it’s tech, industry or just for fun, Chasing the Horizon

digs into the topics that matter to all riders. chasingthehorizon.us

SEPTEMBER

21 9 /3/2021 – 9/4/2021 PREMIER TRAINING AT BMW PERFORMANCE CENTER LOCATION: Greer, SC CONTACT: Ray Tubbs (864) 438-0962 ray@bmwmoa.org

Brought to you by BMW Motorcycle Owners of America

WHEN

AND

WHERE

22 9 /3/2021 – 9/5/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT SUN PEAKS

LOCATION: Sun Peaks, British Columbia CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

EXPLORE YOUR NEXT

MOA GETAWAY

23 9 /8/2021 – 9/12/2021 8TH ANNUAL WAILIN WAYNE WEEKEND LOCATION: Nelsonville, OH CONTACT: Chad Warner

info@wailinwayneweekend.com

24 9 /10/2021 – 9/12/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT PINE MOUNTAIN LOCATION: Pineville, KY CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

25 9 /10/2021 – 9/12/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT CEDAR CITY

LOCATION: Cedar City, UT CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

26 9 /16/2021 – 9/17/2021 PREMIER TRAINING AT BMW PERFORMANCE CENTER LOCATION: Greer, SC CONTACT: Ray Tubbs (864) 438-0962 ray@bmwmoa.org

Visit bmwmoa.org and click on the EVENTS TAB or call 864-438-0962

27 9 /17/2021 – 9/19/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT SUGARBUSH

LOCATION: Warren, VT CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

28 9 /24/2021 – 9/26/2021 35TH ANNUAL HOOSIER BEEMER RALLY LOCATION: North Vernon, IN CONTACT: Andy Fountain k12lts@gmail.com

OCTOIBER

29 1 0/1/2021 – 10/3/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT TOMAH

LOCATION: Tomah, WI CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

30 1 0/14/2021 – 10/15/2021 PREMIER TRAINING AT BMW PERFORMANCE CENTER LOCATION: Greer, SC CONTACT: Ray Tubbs (864) 438-0962 ray@bmwmoa.org

31 1 0/22/2021 – 10/24/2021 MOA GETAWAY AT KERRVILLE

LOCATION: Kerrville, TX CONTACT: BMW MOA (864) 438-0962

NOVEMIBER

32 1 1/12/2021 – 11/13/2021 PREMIER TRAINING AT BMW PERFORMANCE CENTER LOCATION: Greer, SC CONTACT: Ray Tubbs (864) 438-0962 ray@bmwmoa.org

94

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

750 REASONS TO JOIN THE MOA In the market for a new BMW motorcycle? BMW MOA members are now included in the BMW Motorrad Appreciation Program that gives members up to $750 off the purchase of a new BMW motorcycle.

You must be a member for a year to qualify, so don’t wait any longer to join! Membership options start at just $39 per year and include a saddlebag full of benefits including the new motorcycle purchase discount.

Get started today by joining online at bmwmoa.org or call (864) 438-0962.

ADVERTISING

BMW OWNERS NEWS STAFF Bill Wiegand, Managing Editor bill@bmwmoa.org Karin Halker, Art Director karin@bmwmoa.org Wes Fleming, Digital Media Editor wfleming@bmwmoa.org Ron Davis, Associate Editor ron.davis@bmwmoa.org Jose Abiles, Associate Editor iridertp@gmail.com Chris Hughes, Director of Advertising chris@bmwmoa.org 509-921-2713 (p) 509-921-2713 (f ) Advertising materials, including chartered club rally display advertising, should be sent to our Advertising Office. Please contact Chris Hughes for display rates, sizes and terms.

Submissions should be sent to the BMW MOA office or editor@bmwmoa.org. Submissions accepted only from current members of the BMW MOA and assume granting of first serial publication rights within and on the BMW MOA website and use in any future compendium of articles.

No payments will be made and submissions will not be returned. The BMW MOA reserves the right to refuse, edit or modify submissions.

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

INDEX

Adriatic Moto Tours...............................27 Adventure New Zealand Tours.........86 AeroFlow...................................................85 Alaska Leather.........................................31 Beemer Boneyard..................................77 BeemerShop............................................71 Best Rest Products/Cycle Pump.......77 Bing Agency.............................................71 Black Box Embedded............................81 Bohn Armor..............................................29 Boxer Works Service..............................27 Capital Cycle............................................17 Cardo Systems.........................................23 Charter Oak Rally...................................93 Colorado Tourbike Rentals.................31 Corbin Pacific...........................................86 Cyclenutz...................................................27 DMC Sidecars...........................................81 EPM Hyper Pro.................................25, 86 Euro Moto Electrics...............................81 Gateway Adventure School...............35 Geza Gear..................................................29 Giant Loop................................................25 Helmet Sun Blocker...............................25 HEX ezCAN...............................................25 Ilium Works...............................................69 IMTBike Tours..........................................25

Kermit Chair Company.........................17 LD Comfort...............................................79 M4Moto-psa............................................86 MachineartMoto....................................35 Michelin Tire............................................IFC MOA Platinum Roadside Assist...... IBC Morton’s BMW.........................................86 Moto Bike Jack........................................79 Moto Bins..................................................86 Motonation..............................................BC Motorcycle Relief Project....................69 Mountain Master Truck Equip...........79 Overseas Speedometer.......................71 Parabellum...............................................35 Peter Lattman Real Estate...................27 Progressive Insurance.............................9 Redverz......................................................35 Re-Psycle BMW Parts............................25 Rider Magazine........................................85 Roadrunner Magazine..........................86 Ron Davis - Shiny Side Up...................86 Russel Cycle Products...........................81 Sargent Cycle Products........................79 Stop ‘n Go..................................................77 Touratech.....................................................1 Weiser Technik...........................................5 Wilbers USA.......................................31, 71

JOINING AND RENEWING Membership in the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America is open to all riders, regardless of brand affiliation. Although we are united by the BMW marque, adventure-minded motorcyclists will find a home here.

Join today by visiting bmwmoa.org or call one of our friendly membership associates at 864-438-0962.

Primary Annual memberships are available in one year, two year or monthly options. Additional membership options include Primary Membership with Basic 25/100 Roadside Assistance, Primary Membership with Platinum Roadside Assistance, Digital Membership with Basic 25/100 Roadside Assistance, Digital Membership with Platinum Roadside Assistance. We also offer Roadside Assistance without an MOA Membership.

For a complete listing of membership options, please visit bmwmoa.org or call 864-438-0962.

Change of address notification and membership inquiries should be made by calling the BMW MOA office or via email at: membership@bmwmoa.org. BMW MOA membership is $49/year and includes the BMW Owners News, which is not available separately. Canadian members add $16 for postal surcharge.

BMW ON (ISSN:1080-5729) (USPS: 735-590) (BMW Owners News) is published monthly by BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Inc., 2350 Hwy 101 South, Greer, SC 29651. Periodicals postage paid at Pewaukee, Wisconsin and additional mailing offices. Opinions and positions stated in materials/articles herein are those of the authors and not by the fact of publication necessarily those of BMW MOA; publication of advertising material is not an endorsement by BMW MOA of the advertised product or service. The material is presented as information for the reader. sBMW MOA does not perform independent research on submitted articles or advertising.

POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO BMW ON, 2350 Hwy 101 South, Greer, SC 29651 © 2020 by BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Inc. All information furnished herein is provided by and for the members of BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, Inc. Unless otherwise stated, none of the information (including technical material) printed herein necessarily bears endorsement or approval by BMW MOA, BMW NA, the factory or the editors. The editors and publisher cannot be held liable for its accuracy. Printed in the USA. Volume 51, Number 2

February 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS

95

TAILIGHT

A stop to smell the flowers Bob Boucher #49694, found this giant robot sculpture outside the Meow Wolf Arts Complex in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

96

BMW OWNERS NEWS | February 2021

MICHELIN Commander III Tires ®

®

The newest MICHELIN® tire for all types of V-Twin Cruisers and Touring bikes The new MICHELIN® Commander® III tires are available in two models: Cruiser and Touring. MICHELIN® Commander® III Cruiser tires offer the best wet grip and the shortest stopping distances in wet conditions among leading competitors.1 MICHELIN® Commander® III Touring tires offer an average of 25% longer tread life among leading competitors.2 Both models offer enhanced wet grip AND exceptional longevity, distinctive tread patterns, and patented velvet sidewall designs that enhance the styling of V-Twin motorcycles. The MICHELIN® Commander® III Touring tire is an original equipment option and approved replacement tire for the BMW R18 motorcycle. wwwmotorcycle.michelinman.com Motorcycle.Michelinman.com @michelinmotorcycle #MichelinOnMyMoto

Official Sponsor of the BMW MOA Annual Mileage Contest

(1) Based on internal test conducted in Fontange, France using a 2016 Harley-Davidson Forty-Eight fitted with 130/90 B 16 front tire and 150/80 B16 rear tire comparing lap times and stopping distances of MICHELIN® Commander® III Cruiser tires with METZELER® Cruisetec™, METZELER® M888 Marathon™ Ultra, and DUNLOP® Elite 4 tires. Actual on-road results may vary. | (2) Based on third-party test in Dallas, Texas on surface roads using a 2017 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide Ultra Classic fitted with 130/80 B 17 front tire and 180/65 B16 rear tire comparing wear rates of MICHELIN® Commander® III Touring tires with METZELER® M888 Marathon™ Ultra, and DUNLOP® American Elite tires. Actual results may vary. | Copyright © 2020 Michelin North America, Inc. All rights reserved.

Never ride alone With Platinum Roadside Assistance and Tire Protection added to your BMW MOA membership, you’ll never ride alone again. BMW MOA’s 24/7 Platinum Roadside Assistance gets you to a repair facility fast and will even replace a punctured tire for free! All that for only $109 a year, which includes the cost of your MOA membership.

Join online at bmwmoa.org or convert your current BMW MOA membership by calling 864-438-0962. BMW MOA Platinum Roadside and Tire Protection, available exclusively for BMW MOA members.

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

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