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Capturing the beginning of a new day on Flathead Lake near Polson, Montana. Photo by Ben Myers #223522.
INSIDE
JANUARY 2022
FEATURES
34 FIRST RIDE ON THE R 18; HEADING TO STURGIS! BY BRIAN CAREY #203865 Brian Carey was at an Irish Festival making Guinness disappear when he received a text from a nephew inviting him to the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. His immediate response was, “Yes!” But Carey quickly realized he’d need to get a bike first. Luckily, he already knew what he wanted.
42 THE TWO HUNDREDS ON THE COVER: When it left the factory in Germany, it did so as a 1982 R 100 RT. Abused and abandoned by its previous owner, the bike eventually found its way to Black Wolf Touring and Custom in Beecher, Illinois. There, in the skilled hands of Zack Witkowsky (#4885), it was transformed into the beautiful custom bike seen here.
2
BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
BY KEN FRICK #199204 Like most riders, Ken Frick enters a different realm when he’s on the back of his motorcycle. It’s been that way for Frick ever since he and his young brothers would pile into their dad’s old Pontiac, roll down the windows and head off down a two-lane road.
54 BMW OWNERS NEWS BEST OF 2021 Before we fully embrace 2022, we look back at some of the best of BMW Owners News from the past year. Whether it be the humor of Jack Riepe, riding along with Matt Parkhouse as he cracks open the transmission of an old Airhead, or Mark Janda’s beautiful images, each month, BMW MOA members share their wonderful stories and pictures for us to enjoy.
4 HEADLIGHT Gone but Not Forgotten by Bill Wiegand
8 PRESIDENT'S COLUMN
A Year to Celebrate
by Reece Mullins
10 POSTCARDS FROM THE ROAD
12 RIDER TO RIDER Letters from our Members 14 NEWS Blame it on the K, BMW Motorrad introduces the
ConnectedRide Cradle, 2022 Rally Registration Savings extended, BMW Motorrad recalls Accessory Footpegs, MAX BMW buys Bench Mark Works, 2022 BMW MOA National Rally–50 Years of Wandering Farther, Please Welcome our newest MOA Members!
22 MEMBER TESTED More Favorite Tools by Joel Parks 24 MEMBER TESTED Held Airstream 3.0 gloves by Mark Barnes
26 MEMBER TESTED Wunderlich ERGO Screen
Marathon and Hand Guard Extender set by Wes Fleming
28 KEEP 'EM FLYING Yard and Crankshaft Work
by Matt Parkhouse
32 TORQUE OF THE MATTER What’s this with the Manuals?
by Wes Fleming
72
FROM THE FOUNDATION Education and Training– Planning for the Year Ahead by Rik Lewis
74
SERGEANT BIKER Two, four and twelve seconds
76
DISPATCHES FROM THE EDGE OF CALIFORNIA
by James Carlisle
Lone Pine concert by Don Bartletti
78 80
DETOURS Traffic Stop, Part 2 by Bill Shaw JACK THE RIEPE Probing the Sinister Side of Moto Rallies
by Jack Riepe
84 THE RIDE INSIDE Having, Doing and Being by Mark Barnes 86 SHINY SIDE UP Roughing It? by Ron Davis 92 WHEN AND WHERE Rally listings 95 ADVERTISER INDEX 96 TAILIGHT
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
3
HEADLIGHT
WHILE CHATTING WITH A FRIEND THE OTHER DAY AND CATCHING UP ON TYPICAL
GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN
By Bill Wiegand #180584
holiday matters, families and the Green Bay Packers, the conversation eventually turned, as it always does, to motorcycles. More specifically, the motorcycles that got away. Later, as the day was fading and I was driving home, my mind began to wander. It seemed ironic that Willie Nelson’s song, “To All the Girls I’ve Loved Before,” began playing over the radio. Since first hearing that song back in the ‘80s, I always thought the pairing of Willie and Julio Iglesias was a little strange. The song seemed more appropriate for Iglesias, the handsome Spanish singer, than for Willie, the grizzly, pot-smoking country music legend. Music has a way of transporting you to another place and time. Maybe it’s back to your high school prom, a first date or possibly to the first dance at your wedding. While Willie’s song didn’t take me back that far, it did take me back to the conversation with my friend I had earlier that day. But strangely, the song’s words had now changed, and it was no longer about all the girls I’ve loved before. Instead, I heard… To all the bikes I’ve loved before Who traveled in and out of my garage I’m glad they came along I dedicate this song To all the bikes I’ve loved before Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit blue as I recently sold my 2019 R 1250 GS. Of all the bikes I’ve owned over the years, I’d have to say it was my favorite BMW. Though others were close, that bike will forever be my favorite, if only by a beak. The GS was the HP version in Motorsport colors and was loaded with the Comfort, Touring, Dynamic and Premium packages. The bike was also fully outfitted with Touratech upper and lower crash bars, windshield, seat, risers, handguards, and BMW’s aluminum panniers. Sadly, the 1250 GS and I enjoyed fewer than 10,000 miles together since our first ride back in May of 2019. Like most of my other bikes I’ve sold, I’m still not sure why I let it go. But I do take comfort knowing it’s now in the garage of a friend who I’m sure will love it as much as I did. To all the bikes who shared my life Who now are someone else’s bikes I’m glad they came along I dedicate this song To all the bikes I’ve loved before A couple of years ago, my wife retired, and we moved from the central Illinois home we had lived in for many years back to our home state of Wisconsin. Growing up, the logging trails and fire roads surrounding the family cottage near the Upper Michigan border were where I learned to ride. Now we live 100 or so miles from that area with the fabled alphabet roads all around us. For me, it’s a rider’s paradise! What I apparently convinced myself into believing was that while the GS appeared to be the perfect bike up here, what I really wanted to take when hitting the dirt was my G 450 X. Sadly, that bike sits in the garage of an MOA member living in Pueblo, Colorado, who isn’t interested in selling it back to me. When I owned the 450 X, I also owned an S 1000 XR which gave me the ultimate expression of Gelande/Strasse. Unfortunately, when you live in central Illinois, with its straight roads and miles of farmland, Gelande/Strasse is many, many miles away, so, as I’ve done with my GS, I let the XR and X get away to someone else’s garage. Now I find myself looking for the next BMW I’ll undoubtedly sell much too soon. Damn you, Willie Nelson!
4
BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
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6
BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2021
Serenity Now A stop to admire the beauty surrounding Buffalo Hills Road near Franklin, West Virginia. Photo by David Burke #109393.
January 2021 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
7
PRESIDENTS
COLUMN
A YEAR TO CELEBRATE! FORMED AND INCORPORATED IN 1972, ALONG WITH THE ARRIVAL OF THE NEW YEAR
By Reece Mullins #143779
8
BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
comes the 50th anniversary of our wonderful club, the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America! 2022 will be a year of celebration, a year to remember, and a year to get out there and ride and meet fellow club members. Our rich club heritage has survived many challenges over the last five decades, including the most recent and still lingering, COVID-19 pandemic. I believe that if there is one thing the pandemic has shown us it is that we cannot take anything for granted. The pandemic has revealed how very social the human condition is. Despite the risk of death, and no matter how hard we try, it has become glaringly apparent that we cannot completely isolate ourselves from everyone and everything. This may be why our club has thrived for so many years and why I believe it will continue to do so into the distant future. Though our shared love of motorcycling binds us initially, it is the club experience that waters the seed of lasting relationships. Like so often is the case in many social institutions, our club is no exception: the more you put into it, the more you get out of it. Volunteering in any capacity is a rewarding experience. Friendships formed through the volunteer effort become very strong and last a lifetime. Recently, Jess Smith, a fellow Army pilot and longtime friend of mine, was hired as a contract instructor pilot at Fort Rucker. Jess and I initially met when we flew combat missions together in Iraq from 2006-2007 as Kiowa Warrior pilots. We now work on the same airfield again. Upon his arrival in lower Alabama, many of our fellow instructor pilots and I kept asking him when he was going to buy a bike. Eventually, he caved and got the bike of his dreams, a yellow 2000 Ducati 996, quite possibly one of the sexiest bikes ever created. Shortly after he bought his Ducati, I signed him up for the MOA and like so many MOA members, he’s all in with gear, helmet, tech, Sargent seat, aftermarket lighting, mirrors, turn signals, and more. The list (that we are all too familiar with) is lengthy, and the bike is phenomenal. On Halloween, Rhonda and I were invited to a party that Jess and his wife Angel threw for his co-workers. Much to my pleasant surprise, the guest list was, you guessed it, all motorcycle fellow Ducati and BMW riders from work. After dinner, I even signed up two more new MOA members over after-dinner cigars. Those new members include Steve Payne, another Ducati rider, and Steve Damron, a BMW rider whose father has been a member of our club since 1972 and has taken Steve along on many a rally adventure while growing up. Last weekend just as the sun was setting, Jess came by the house on his new Ducati. Jess and I had never ridden together before this day, and though he hadn’t planned on me riding back with him that evening, I got geared up and on my bike. It turned dark just as we pulled into his driveway, and once there, I helped him place his bike on its bike stand. Before I left, I looked him in the eye and said, “This day made surviving Iraq worth it.” This year, I suggest you open up the BMW Owners Anonymous book or app and find a club member to ride with. Take every opportunity you can to spend quality riding time with your fellow club members, both at the charter and national levels. After all, this is a year to celebrate!
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January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
9
POSTCARDS
FROM
THE
ROAD
Top, A photo captured last September on a brisk morning in Lone Pine, Montana. Photo by Ben Myers #223522. Above Left, Taking a detour while riding home to Louisville, Kentucky, and using some of the new skills learned after a training session at the BMW Performance Center in Greer, South Carolina. Photo by Ernest Fernández #199515. Right, Beautiful Misión San Francisco Javier near Loreto, BCS, Mexico. Photo by Jorge Torres #219920.
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.
10
BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
Above, Taking a short break in front of a cardón, or Mexican giant cactus, in the Cataviña boulder fields in central Baja. Photo by Michael McCrary #148315. Above right, Near the beginning of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Photo by Jon Eesley #218712. Right, Taking a break from the road at Serra da Estrela, the highest point in Portugal. Photo by Kim Dorsing #166192. Below, Admiring the beauty of nature. Photo by Chris Wilhelm #205021.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
11
t
t
RIDERTORIDER Send your letters and comments to: editor@bmwmoa.org
I would like to thank the BMW MOA Foundation for providing the Street Skills Cornering Confidence course to our members. Without access to nearby training facilities, I haven’t had opportunity to learn from qualified instructors since my beginners’ program over thirty years ago. This online format was ideal for a time of limited travel, and I look forward to next season when I can put these new ideas into practice. Arnie Nurmi #214093 Thunder Bay, Ontario
How Fortunate We Are
Our pastor recently made inspirational booklets available to those who wanted one. Within, the author proposes 25 questions which he claims will change your life. Some questions were difficult for me to answer; some were difficult to answer truthfully. One question, however, was easy to answer. It asked, “When was the last time you felt fully alive?” The last time I felt fully alive was on a beautiful late October day in 2021 while exploring Ohio’s Appalachian foothills astride my motorcycle. That was just the last time; I feel fully alive whenever I ride. I would think that many, if not most of us who ride would answer the same way. How fortunate we are. Bob Lardinais #15772 Lexington, Ohio
Climate Change
I enjoyed Bill Shaw’s article “Climate Change and Motorcycling,” until I read, “There is no denying humans are responsible for climate change…” This had me laughing and wondering if 99.99% of all scientists in the year 1491 would have agreed that the earth was flat. Richard Griffith #49177 Jerome, Michigan
An IMTBike believer!
I just got back from my fourth time renting from IMT, twice in Barcelona, once in Lisbon and this time in Madrid. On this most recent trip I rented an R 1250 RT and as usual, the bike was in top shape and Guillermo was a great help with a great attitude. On a tip from him I found the perfect terrace restaurant in a beautiful town in southern Spain. If you are thinking about it, I could not recommend them more highly. Ike Northup #72518 Newland, North Carolina
Pawprints on my Soul
I just received my November issue of BMW Owners News and read the superb story by Peter Burke. It is one of the most positive stories I have ever seen in our magazine. So uplifting and real. Thanks to Peter for writing it and thanks to Bill for getting it published. Great pictures too! James W. Suttie #167485 North Vancouver, British Columbia
12
BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
t
Thanks to the Foundation
Grand Coddiwomple 2021
Dear Team Coddiwomple…I just wanted to say Thank You for putting the Grand Coddiwomple Challenge together for us as we saddled up and rode in 2021. I have had a great time working on the different challenges as it has allowed me to work on my routing skills and to research and learn some history along the way. I cannot imagine the work that goes on behind the scenes, but I am hoping that we’ll see another one in the future. Thanks again for a helping provide a great reason to travel in a purposeful manner toward a vague destination. Mary Begley #126912 Cadott, Wisconsin
What Goes Around...
The weekend after Veterans Day, three of us decided to take a four-day trip. Richard, Mike and I checked the weather and figured a long weekend in early November would give us some time to check out new roads in Alabama and
southwest Georgia from our homes in Pensacola, Florida. On Friday morning we set out, Richard on his F 750 GS, Mike and his wife Glenda on their K 1600 GTL and me on my R 1200 R. We had a great day riding the rural roads and byways with perfect temperatures and abundant sunshine. When we arrived at our destination on Friday evening, I had a tip-over at a stop light. We got my bike up, but I was in pain. When we got to our motel, I unloaded my gear from the bike with a lot of help from my friends. I took some pain pills and went to bed soon after our dinner. I got little sleep as I hurt every time I moved–it turned out I had three broken ribs. The next morning while I was still in bed, my two friends correctly assessed the situation and determined I should not continue the ride. But the problem then became how to get me and my bike back home to Florida some 200 miles away. They contacted our dealer in Pensacola, Adventure Motorsports of Northwest Florida, who offered to send a truck and trailer but couldn’t get to me until late Saturday evening. But Max, the service manager had an idea. He contacted a fellow MOA member who lived not too far away from us in northern Alabama. This member said absolutely, he would help me out. Once he arrived, he rode my bike to my home in Florida while his wife followed in their SUV with me and my gear. They gave up their entire Saturday
to make sure I got home safe and sound and with my precious R. Not only that, but they treated me to lunch and would not accept any payment. This is the type of people who, to me, exemplify the spirit of the MOA; anything to help a fellow rider. And, as Karma would have it, my wife and I had put this fellow MOA member up for the evening a few years ago when he had business in Pensacola; what goes around comes around. Stay safe out there. Stephen Rome #201347 Pensacola, Florida
t Then and Now
Regarding Ron Davis’ recent article, “Tip-Toeing Off the Reservation,” I left the reservation a couple of years ago after 50
years of riding only BMWs. The Honda 2019 (and later) CB500X has poorer suspension and torque, but its geometry, wheelbase, seat height, weight, power, speed, and range are almost identical to the early 1970s BMWs–it feels uncannily similar. When I ride my 2019 CB500X, it is easy to imagine I am riding my first BMWs– either my R 60/5 or my R 75/6–but with ABS, almost no maintenance, and parts and service available everywhere. I feel like a teenager on it, like I rediscovered the joy of a nimble airhead! BMW, please make an R 18 with half the power and weight–a general purpose motorcycle once again. Derrick King #2608 Singapore
WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU!
Each month, the Rider to Rider pages of BMW Owners News detail the successes, failures, wishes and frustrations we all face as riders, BMW motorcycle owners, customers and individuals. As a BMW MOA member, these are your pages and we want to know what’s on your mind. Got something to get off your chest? Tell us about it. Know a business that deserves to be recognized? Tell us about it. Got a riding or tech tip that we could all benefit from? Tell us about it. Got a suggestion for BMW Motorrad? You know the drill–Tell us about it! There’s only one rule and that’s to stick to the subject that brings us all here–motorcycling, so save political rants for Facebook! Send your thoughts to editor@bmwmoa.org and lets all work to build a better community.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
13
NEWS
Blame it on the K By Josef Woodall #216871 I DON’T KNOW IF THIS SHOULD BE
classified as a Letter to the Editor or one of those cutesy articles that end up at the back of BMW Owners News. But in all reality, it’s a written apology to the fine folks that thought up and eventually made the 2021 Grand Coddiwomple Challenge happen. I saw the early articles regarding the Grand Coddiwomple Challenge and thought, Wow, that is right up my alley– Here was a fun program that combines two of my favorite activities: motorcycle riding and exploring new places.
As soon as the program was organized and invitations went out, I signed up. So early, in fact, I received a low three-digit number. Now the fun began! I knew I couldn’t do the planning I needed to do on my on-board Garmin unit, or even with the mapping programs on my smart phone, so I went back to those “old school” skills of an earlier time. I have been fortunate in that I spent 22+ years in the U.S. Army as a Combat Engineer, and map reading/land navigation were a much-practiced skill set.
The author with motorcycles staging for a Veterans Day parade.
14
BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
So out came the paper maps, atlases and information books I’ve collected from stops at many state Welcome Centers, and the search and routing process began. I’ve been riding two-wheeled vehicles since 1964 and have been lucky to have ridden just about everything that qualifies to be a motorcycle. I’ve also been blessed by having ridden a wide variety of makes and styles of motorcycles. Early this century I purchased my first BMW motorcycle, an R 1150 RT (used, but new to me). In 2015, I traded up to a 2014 R 1200
EPM Wilbers Importer, Distributor and Service center
RT that I still have. This was the motorcycle that I planned to ride the Grand Coddiwomple Challenge with. The RT seemed like the perfect motorcycle for the task, equally at home in short treks near my home in northwestern Arkansas and comfortable enough for long haul trips that encompass multiple states. So, I started the Grand Coddiwomple Challenge by setting up spreadsheets with the different definitions of all the challenges and routed maps, then set up routes, set reminders on my smartphone of what the different challenges were, and off I went! Now the unthinkable happens! While scrolling through motorcycles for sale on CycleTrader.com, what should I find but an ad for a 2018 K 1600 GTL. Without going into all the gory details, I am now the proud owner of that bike while I still have my R 1200 RT. One would not think that there would be much difference between the K and the R, but I soon learned that the K was a riding machine. Once I packed up and hit the road with it, all I wanted to do was ride! While riding the RT, it seemed really easy to stop, smell the roses, take pictures for the challenge, walk around and explore. For me, with the K it’s all about the ride, the joy of miles of blacktop and concrete gliding under you. Motorcycle riding has always had that unique feature of wind therapy for me: The openness of the road, the virtually unobstructed view of the world around you, and the requirement to be attentive yet able to lose yourself in the ride. As I started to put miles on the K, it began to develop an almost siren-type song that sang of the open road and the desire to cover as much of it as possible. This is where I possibly begin my “Letter to the Editor” segment–my letter of apology to the Grand Coddiwomple Challenge organizers and participants. I knew there was only a limited number of participants for the challenge, and I received a packet, having possibly denied someone else the opportunity of taking place in the challenge. I truly had every intention of being an active participant of the challenge; but I blame it on the K!
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NEWS
BMW Motorrad introduces the ConnectedRide Cradle For riders who like to use their smartphone for map navigation, BMW Motorrad now offers the ConnectedRide Cradle. The new ConnectedRide Cradle not only works as a cradle when using a smartphone cradle as a navigation device, but when combined with the BMW Motorrad Connected App and the Multi-Controller, additional vehicle data such as lean angle, acceleration, deceleration and much more can also be displayed. Using adjustable clamps, the ConnectedRide Cradle allows the use of many smartphones and can charge the connected device inductively, while using an LED charging indicator to provide information about the phone’s charging status. The ConnectedRide Cradle can also be locked to the bike’s holder, if the holder supports that. For more information and to see if the ConnectedRide Cradle will work with your BMW, visit your local BMW Motorrad dealer.
Rally Registration Savings extended! The holiday savings continue! Register now for the 2022 BMW MOA National Rally in Springfield, Missouri, for only $55—that’s 35 percent off the gate price for MOA members! But wait, there’s more! Register two people and the rally fee is only $99 for the pair! Member or non-member, husband and wife, brother and sister, BMW rider and Harley guy—it doesn’t matter. Register two names for the rally in one transaction and you can save as much as $111 over gate pricing. Make your plans for the 2022 National Rally early and save big. Round up your friends, your spouse, your kids! Just register two people and the price is only $99 for both of you. Didn’t get the gift you wanted last month? Why not give the gift of the rally to your riding friends this year? Stay tuned to the rally website at rally. bmwmoa.org for the latest news and information.
16
BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
BMW Motorrad recalls Accessory Footpegs BMW Motorrad recently announced a worldwide recall for their accessory footpegs. The recall is due to stress corrosion cracks that have appeared on the studs of some of the milled footrests originally available through the BMW Motorrad accessories catalog. The affected parts numbers include: 77 25 2 452 958 Footrest adjustable, left, black solid 77 25 2 452 960 Footrest adjustable, right, black solid 77 25 2 465 256 Set of footrests adjustable, black solid The accessory footpegs fit BMW Motorrad GS models R 1200/1250 GS, R 1200/1250 GS Adventure, F 750 GS, F 850 GS and F 850 GS Adventure. If you have a set of the accessory footpegs installed on your GS, BMW Motorrad recommends contacting your BMW Motorrad dealer to exchange them for the corrected parts. If an exchange cannot be made, the dealer will remove the footpegs and convert them to the standard equipment and reimburse owners for the purchase price in the form of a coupon good toward other BMW merchandise.
MAX BMW buys Bench Mark Works Bench Mark Works, a BMW Motorcycle vintage parts and service company located in Sturgis, Mississippi, recently announced an agreement to sell its inventory and assets to MAX BMW Motorcycles of New Milford, Connecticut. Both Bench Mark Works and MAX BMW are known for their deep commitment to the care, maintenance and restoration of vintage BMW motorcycles and had worked together for many years prior to the sale. According to Craig “Vech” Vechorik (#9462), founder of Bench Mark Works, “My entire career has been driven by my passion for keeping vintage BMW motorcycles running, and I wanted Bench Mark Works to continue its legacy once I retired. Max Stratton and his team at MAX BMW share my passion for vintage BMWs, and they are the ideal partner to assume our extensive inventory of hard-to-find parts and the Bench Mark Works name.” The sale includes the Bench Mark Works extensive parts inventory, the Bench Mark Works name and website. While
MAX BMW will incorporate the Bench Mark Works inventory into its own online parts catalog, it will also continue to maintain Bench Mark Works as a destination for pre-1970’s vintage parts and accept orders by phone and email. “Vech is an absolute legend in the BMW world and truly one-ofa-kind as a keeper of the flame for the marque,” said Max Stratton, founder and owner of MAX BMW Motorcycles. “Over the years, MAX BMW has worked with Bench Mark Works to source hard-to-find and discontinued parts for some of our restoration projects, and I have admired Vech’s encyclopedic knowledge and his love of sharing these bikes with others.” In a message to customers, Vech commented “Max loves BMWs, especially old BMWs, and he and his organization were the logical people to take over Bench Mark Works. I am excited for Bench Mark Works to carry on with new blood.” MAX BMW began fulfilling Bench Mark Works orders in November.
Max Stratton (left) founder and owner of MAX BMW motorcycles and Craig “Vech” Vechorik (#9462), founder of Bench Mark Works. January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
17
NEWS
50 Years of Wandering Farther By Brian Burdette #77050 AS THE CHAIR OF THE BMW MOA 2022 NATIONAL RALLY, IT
is my pleasure to invite all of you to the biggest BMW motorcycle family reunion in the world this June in Springfield, Missouri! Every BMW MOA Rally has been special for different reasons, but this year, we have both the opportunity and responsibility to celebrate the MOA’s golden anniversary. That’s right, 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the founding of the BMW MOA! Fifty years is a long time, and the BMW MOA and BMW Motorrad have seen amazing changes over that time. In 1972 BMW produced only one basic motorcycle model: the Slash 5, in three displacements including 500cc, 600cc, and 750cc. Additionally for the first time ever you could buy that Slash 5 in colors other than black, including white, red, blue, green and curry (gold)! You could also buy any one of those models for well under $2,000! As a part of our Rally “Anniversary” activities, we have some very special things planned around the BMW Slash 5 bikes. More information about those activities will be revealed in the coming months, but I can tell you now that we really, really encourage you to bring your /5 to the Springfield Rally! Ride it if you can, trailer it if you must, but we want to have your bike there regardless of whether it’s a 10-point restoration or if it looks like it’s never seen a bath or polish since it was uncrated. If it is some variant of a Slash 5, we want you and your bike to be part of a very special series of events. This won’t happen again, so don’t miss out! Just about any location is good for a celebration, but the Ozark Empire Fairgrounds is going to be an excellent rally site! The grounds have all the facilities we need for vendors, activities and camping. Springfield is also the birthplace of Route 66, the
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
“Mother Road,” and there are many historic Route 66 points of interest to explore. Springfield is also the home of the Bass Pro Shops headquarters. If you have ever shopped Bass Pro Shops or Cabela’s, you simply must see this as it is beyond description! Springfield is also a great jumping off point to ride Missouri’s Ozark region just to the south. Many consider the Ozark region to have some of the best motorcycling roads in North America, so do plan time in your schedule to ride through on your ride to or away from the rally. Over the next few months, you will hear more about the Springfield area, what to do at the rally, anniversary activities, riding opportunities, and much more here in BMW Owners News and through the other MOA media outlets, so stay tuned! Rally registration has been open since December 1st, so don’t hesitate to take advantage of the early registration discount. Visit http://rally.bmwmoa.org and find more information about the rally which includes a very helpful FAQ section. Along with Co-Chairs Pat Carol and Greg Feeler, Photo by Terence Hamill #14629 we want to extend the warmest invitation possible to you and your riding friends to attend a very special rally. Our rally slogan is “Wander Farther!” which honors that part of our BMW riding culture and the philosophy of the BMW MOA which is always compelling us to go just a bit farther, whether it be over that next hill or into that next time zone! Make plans now to join your extended riding family by wandering your way to Springfield, Missouri, this June 16th - 18th, 2022!
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NEWS
Welcome our newest MOA members "I’ve recently retired and wanted to get a new motorcycle that would allow me to continue to hone my meager adventure riding skills, while at the same time being great transportation to ride long distances around the US and Europe visiting family and friends. Last August I bought a 2021 BMW R 1250 GS Rallye–my first BMW and it has exceeded my expectations–just an amazing bike. After purchasing the GS and adding crash bars and lots of other shiny bits, I rode from North Carolina to Oklahoma to take some off-road riding courses at D.A.R.T. with Bill Dragoo and his team. Isn’t that what you’re supposed to do with a new adventure bike? Crash it in dirt, gravel, rocks, mud and sand, pick it up and try, try again? D.A.R.T. was a great experience–the curriculum, personalized instruction and real time feedback were top notch. My riding improved significantly, and I’m appreciating more and more the capabilities and versatility of my R 1250 GS. I’m looking forward to participating in the BMW MOA community going forward–let’s ride!" Rich Strong # 226111 Harlingen, Texas
Kurt Andersen Smithfield, UT John Anderson Glen Cove, NY Mike Antoniou Oxford, MI Andrew Archer Morrison, CO Will Arnot Kentfield, CA Steve Autera Roswell, GA Michael Baker Dunbarton, NH Hilmi Baran Seattle, WA Orest Baransky Pauma Valley, CA Tom Barrington Roseville, CA David Bartholomew Falmouth, ME Patricia Bartholomew Daytona Beach, FL York Baur Issaquah, WA Scott Baxter Bedford, TX Robert Bean Pickens, SC Haley Beaupre Pisgah Forest, NC Jeff Beech-Garwood Saint Paul, MN Charles Berlanga Converse, TX
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
Juan Andres Blaha Port Orange, FL Richard Bramlitt Sevierville, TN Chris Brinkley San Antonio, TX Peter Brisbine Albuquerque, NM James Bronson Brooklyn, WI Dane Broussard Wylie, TX Phil Brown Fergus, ON Josh Bumgarner Hickory, NC Dennis Bute Green Cove Springs, FL Bruce Byrd Ramrod Key, FL Alem Cerkic El Paso, TX Alain Charbonne Repentigny, Quebec, QC Gautam Chatterji Clifton Park, NY Keith Clark Ann Arbor, MI Dustin Coit Fayetteville, AR Jim Compton Weaverville, NC Tom Crook Colorado Springs, CO Robert Cutcher Jupiter, FL
Christopher D Moorpark, CA Joshua Denny Grand Junction, CO Craig Dickinson Avon, CT Chris Drake Victoria, BC Martin Drane Sneedville, TN Amr Elghaziri Staten Island, NY Assem Elghaziri Staten Island, NY Theodoor Elink-Schuurman Grandview, MO Kristen Emler College Station, TX Alan Ernest Paris, KY Jeff Estee Grand Rapids, MN Thomas Fiedler Titusville, FL Lee Fisher Scottsdale, AZ Reginald French Saint Francisville, LA Mike Gainsburg Fort Lauderdale, FL John Garcia Livonia, MI Travis Getting Mission Viejo, CA Aaron Gillis Cottrellville, MI
Allen Gray Holly Springs, NC Kenneth Gray Rochester, MI Philip Gresham Taringa, QLD Phillip Guy Medina, OH Laszlo Gyorok Huntsville, AL Michael Hansen Ketchum, ID Glenn Hawkins Murfreesboro, TN Donald Hawkins Sunset, SC Brian Heffington Centerton, AR Robert Heiberger Boulder, CO John Hellickson Larkspur, CO Vincent Hennigan Loveland, CO Bruce Henriksen Newport, OR Peter Hood Middlesex, VT Rod Hood Louisville, KY Reiner Huppert Berkeley Heights, NJ Art Hushen Riverview, FL Wallace Jackson Liverpool, NY Darren Jackson Goose Creek, SC Thomas Jerdon Memphis, TN GS Johnson Grants Pass, OR James Johnson Deatsville, AL Jesse Jones Warren, OH Adlai Jourdin Lake Worth, FL Burak Kasapoglu Oakland, CA Jerry Kaufman Arroyo Grande, CA Steve Kearney Mamaroneck, NY Dave Keeseman Waynesboro, PA Charles Knight Elon, NC Lee Kump Chesterfield, VA Michael Larson Pensacola, FL Gregory Lehman Milford, NJ Aidan Leroux Beeton, ON Miyan Levenson Bronx, NY Roberto Loreuzutti Upper Black Eddy, PA David Luker Baton Rouge, LA Kenneth Maas Asbury, NJ Marlynn Mabhena Queen Creek, AZ Kurt Macek Austin, TX Stefan Mannsbart Eads, TN Muthu Maran Weston, FL Mitchell Marsh Saline, MI John Martin Portsmouth, NH Chuck Matheson Vacaville, CA Ronald McCombs Oak Park, MI Royce McConnell Irasburg, VT Donald Moldenhauer Panama City, FL
Ryan Mueller Madison, WI Dale Nance Fresno, CA Wayne Nelson Centennial, CO Miguel Neto Fort Smith, AR John Newsom Englewood, FL Hien Nguyen Kinnelon, NJ Eric Noble Round Hill, VA Greg Noble Brooklyn Park, MN Charles Noon Knoxville, TN Martin Olgren San Antonio, TX Chad Oliphant Weaverville, NC Phillip Ordono Randleman, NC Michael Padovan Frenchtown, NJ Aldo Panera Los Angeles, CA Steven C. Payne Enterprise, AL Michael Pechan Germantown, MD Pablo Penataro Yori Charlottesville, VA Bruce Peters Woodbury, MN Danail Petkov Homer Glen, IL Mark Pilkington Orlando, FL Robert Pingel Mukwonago, WI Don Platon Phoenix, AZ Kodi Polson Rancho Cordova, CA Tom Ponting Stratford, PE Derek Poy malverne, NY Michael Pultz Pahrump, NV Gary Raaum Huachuca City, AZ Samer Rahwanji Oakville, ON Joe Ramos San Antonio, TX Douglas Reading Saline, MI Rocky Reid Santa Rosa Beach, FL Will Robinson Summerfield, NC Dimitri Rodriguez Toronto, ON Jeff Roemer Dover, NH Robert Roshon Bigfork, MT Kirk Rush Charlottesville, VA Sam Sallam Irvine , CA Ovaddie Sanchez-Martinez Clinton Twp, MI Daniel Sawin Vinita, OK Paul Schatz Delray Beach, FL Eric Schwalber Cleveland, SC Scott Schwartz McKinney, TX Robert Schwartz Temple, TX Fatih Sen Kennesaw, GA Alex Shams Hampton Bays, NY Tobby Small Charlotte, NC James Smith Palmetto Bay, FL
Daryl Smith Livonia, MI Gary Smith Sandy, UT Stewart Smith Macon, GA Daniel Solloway Marlborough, CT Tim Specht Coleman, MI Phillip St. John Dade City, FL Dexter Stacy Acworth, GA Allen Sterk Old Tappan, NJ Mark Stern Venice, FL Steven Sullivan Greenwood, IN Jeff Thompson Pinckney, MI John Thornburg Rockport, MA Greg Tomey Canyon Country, CA Mike Tooley Trabuco Canyon, CA Thomas Toquothty Chesterfield, VA Marcel Tremblay Prouville, QC Gonzalo Villamizar Ponte Vedra, FL Michael Vogt Belleville, IL Randy Walsh San Antonio, TX Charles Walter Truckee, CA Andrew Weber Hercules, CA Greg Werner Hobe Sound, FL Jim Wert Telford, PA Charles Whisenhunt Saint Louis, MO Daniela Wieczorek Athens, GA Jeremy Wilhelm Sparks, NV Rick Wilkins Littleton, CO Michael Williams Verona, WI Matthew Wilson Littleton, CO Scott Wing Mead, CO Joshua Winter Oklahoma City, OK Ron Zablocki Torrance, CA Todd Zedak Hudson, OH
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
21
PRODUCT
REVIEWS
More Favorite Tools By Joel Parks #49182 I REALLY ENJOYED MARK BARNES REVIEW OF THE KNIPEX
Plier Wrench in the November issue of BMW Owners News. I liked it so much so, that I went right out and bought one of the Knipex Plier Wrenches to confirm my pre-diagnosed status as a “tool head.” I’ve always been this way, preferring to purchase a tool for a specific job rather than pay someone to do the job for me. This way I not only have a new tool to hang on the wall, but a newfound skill to go with it. However, my favorite tools are not necessarily the ones I use most often, but rather the ones the job just couldn’t get done without or that make it far easier. Here are three that come to mind:
Vampliers
The name alone won me over. Not sure where I first read about these, but if you’ve ever had a rounded off nut or screw to pull out (and who hasn’t) you’ll be thankful to have a pair in your tool chest. Made by Vampire Tools (Vampiretools.com) they are cleverly designed pliers with patented vertical and horizontal serrations that tightly grip the chewed-up bolt or screw, making extraction way easier. Vampire sells them starting at $26.97 for a single tool, all the way up to $163.26 for a four-piece set with carrying bag. My garage is a happier place since I found these.
Handee Clamp
You’re on your back on a cold garage floor and getting one nut started is all that stands between you and a congratulatory cold one. Problem is, you can’t reach it. A wrench won’t fit in the tight confines between a battery and swing arm pivot, and neither will a set of fat fingers. What to do? Years ago, while installing a tach on my 1988 R 100 GS, I convinced my girlfriend to use her tiny fingers to hold a nut steady behind the headlamp while I started to tighten the bolt. The
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
woman is no longer my girlfriend (she’s my wife) and not only are her fingers not as tiny as 30 years ago, but she also doesn’t like being in my garage anymore (which is material for another story). I’ve tried the little thumb puppet thing with a magnet on it with some success, but the Handee Clamp made that instantly obsolete. Again, I’m not sure where I read about this, but it took some time to track down as they may have been out of production for a while. What the Handee Clamp does is contained in its name: Using a thumbscrew adjuster, it holds nuts, bolts and clamps of various sizes like a Vice-Grip, while you gleefully thread the bolt into them, or vice versa. Deceptively simple in design, it slips into places hands and wrenches simply can’t. The Vampliers is available at vampiretools.com while the Handee Clamp can be found at Handeeclamp.com. Both products can also be found at that Bezos guy website for about $20.
My Most Essential Garage Tool
I’ve saved the best for last. With Sears stores closing all around the country, I was happy to score one of these Craftsmanbranded bottle openers for my tool wall. I don’t think I need to explain the importance of a fine tool like this one, but it works with both domestic and foreign beers and, since it’s made by Craftsman, it has a lifetime guarantee. Adds a certain peace of mind, don’t you think? Happy wrenching.
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January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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PRODUCT
REVIEWS
Held Airstream 3.0 gloves By Mark Barnes #222400 EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, YOU TRY ON
a piece of clothing that immediately fits perfectly, as though it’d been custom-tailored to your exact specifications. Such experiences are extra-rare for someone who’s apparently smaller than most motorcycling shoppers. Even though my dimensions are statistically average and labeled medium, I usually find only larger sizes in dealership inventory. Eurosports BMW/KTM in Asheville, North Carolina, is not a big facility, but they make excellent use of their square footage, stocking only high-quality kit and keeping the little guy in mind. All these factors converged to produce elation when I slipped on a pair of Held’s Airstream 3.0 gloves on display there. Not only were these gloves reassuringly snug without being tight or binding anywhere, but they also instantly won me over with their genuinely pre-curved fingers. Most motorcycle gloves advertise this design feature, but I’ve found few go far enough; I end up still having to exert effort to close my grip on the bars, at least during the break-in period. My hands measure a standard size 8, but I’ve had to buy larger and smaller sizes from a wide variety of manufacturers. This Held model was refreshingly true to size–typical German precision! Summer gloves often sacrifice protection to provide the airflow and light weight crucial to keeping hands comfortably cool in hot weather. The medium-gauntleted Airstream 3.0s strike an exceptionally good compromise here, integrating perforated leather, polyamide mesh panels, and several types of armor. The unlined palms and finger bellies are supple-yet-abrasionresistant kangaroo hide, delivering grippy tactile sensitivity
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
at the hand/bar interface. An arc of suede inboard of the thumb further enhances traction and durability, while a wedge of padded SuperFabric augments impact and abrasion protection at the palm’s heel. Additional armor takes the form of TPR and SuperFabric pads on the pinky, a raised leather-covered plastic plate on the outboard side of the gauntlet, and this model’s most visually striking feature: a row of hard plastic air scoops that double as a knuckle shield. There’s also an extra layer of leather reinforcing the entire outboard edge of the glove. Coolmax lines the glove’s interior across the back of the hand, wicking away moisture and creating a smooth, plush surface facilitating easy ingress/ egress; a layer of Held’s
Armaprotec textile adds more abrasion protection here. Seams are completely unobtrusive and accordion-stitched leather panels contribute to natural digit mobility. The glove upper is made of tough-yet-soft goatskin. Attention to detail is excellent, throughout. Reflective material resides behind the open mesh, the left forefinger features a rubber visor wiper, and there’s
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even a snap tab inside each glove’s cuff to keep them paired when not in use. There was no discernable break-in period, as the gloves felt “invisible” within a few miles of leaving the dealership. Shorty designs (sans gauntlets) are popular for summer gloves, as they allow a bit of airflow into jacket sleeves. In a crash, however, they also leave a gap right at a fragile, high blood-flow area. Some models address this with abbreviated, snug gauntlets meant to go inside jacket sleeves, but these usually block the airflow which was supposed to be one of their advantages. The Airstream 3.0s incorporate Velcro-secured gauntlets appropriate for wrapping around the outside of a jacket sleeve, but their bulk is minimal, so loose-fitting sleeves might allow them entry if the wearer prefers. Summer in the hot and humid southeast is a challenging environment for gloves like these, but the Airstream 3.0s perform quite well. Control feel is outstanding, and a burst of cooling airflow through the perforated leather could be felt any time I spread my fingers. Surprisingly, there’s no sensation of air movement across the back of the hand, despite the dramatic-looking air intakes and exhaust vents. It seems these exist primarily to aid in the wicking function of the Coolmax, which does succeed in maintaining a pleasantly dry interior. Available in sizes 7-12, with long and short (size) versions, the Airstream 3.0 carries an MSRP of $185. They’re a pricey option for summer gloves but earn their fee with a terrific blend of comfort and protection. Look for possible end-of-season discounts at your favorite retailer or visit rideheld.com for more information.
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January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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PRODUCT
REVIEWS
Wunderlich ERGO Screen Marathon and Hand Guard Extender Set By Wes Fleming #87301 WHEN IT COMES TO WINDSCREENS,
personal preference is often hard to pin down. If you’re taller or shorter than average, the stock windscreen often creates uncomfortable buffeting and noise no matter how high or low it’s adjusted, and those things make riding unpleasant after a while, especially if you’re out putting in a series of 400-mile days or trying to achieve your first fully-documented Iron Butt ride. Last year when I visited the folks at Wunderlich USA, they recommended I try their Marathon windshield, and I couldn’t resist. I’d just ridden 400 miles to get to their facility in Hendersonville, North
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
Carolina, and I tried just about every position for my stock windscreen, failing to find any relief. Thirty minutes later, Edward Plam had installed the Marathon and its support on my bike. We added Wunderlich’s Hand Guards as well; more on those soon. The Marathon–technically the ERGO Screen Marathon–is taller and wider than the stock windscreen. The updated Marathon II has a cutout in it to help equalize pressure on both sides of the screen, which further reduces buffeting according to Wunderlich. Where it is noticeably wider is at the bottom; with the
hand guards installed and my GS Adventure “wings” carried over from my old GS, I now have a nearly seamless lower border for wind to push past–out and away from my upper body. Wunderlich recommends–and I heartily agree–the addition of their Screen Reinforcement, at least on the left side, as the Marathon is considerably larger than the stock screen and without the reinforcement, it could waggle in the breeze at speed in an alarming and possibly even distracting way. Given the thickness of the Lexan used to craft the windscreen, I don’t think the screen would break without the
reinforcement, but having it on steadies everything and gives a great sense of security. It does add a few seconds to adjusting the windscreen, as the lock knob on the reinforcement must be loosened to move the windscreen, then tightened again for full effectiveness. The reinforcement steadies everything nicely, and for the kind of riding I do, I don’t feel I need the right-side reinforcement in addition to the left-side one. Wunderlich also offers an additional support piece which allows mounting a GPS or other item behind the windscreen. No matter where I put the windscreen, buffeting and noise are way down compared to the stock screen; I tend to leave it in the highest position and occasionally have to look through it. Luckily, I am tall, so most of the time I look over the screen, but I can tuck down just a little in poor weather to get even more protection from the larger screen. The tinted screen is a bonus in bright daylight; though I’m not looking through it, it still cuts way down on sun glare in the cockpit, which reduces eye strain during an all-day ride. It performs quite well in poor weather as well; somehow the design directs water more to the sides than to the top, which means less water flicking back towards my face. This was definitely an unexpected but welcome bonus feature of
the Marathon! Adding Wunderlich’s Hand Guard Extender Set–also tinted–was almost a no-brainer given that I’m lucky enough to be a year-round rider. The extenders go both above and below the stock hand guards–installation is a snap, by the way–and add a lot of protection to the rider’s hands and forearms. Because they’re tinted the same as the windscreen, they look quite purposeful, snazzy even. In poor and cold weather, they are an absolute joy to have on the bike, but even in the summer months I liked having them. Even though airflow on my hands was reduced, their position relating to the windscreen was such that air pressure against my entire upper body was reduced, which also means less wind noise in the cockpit. Between the Marathon windscreen and the Hand Guard Extenders, plus the GSA wings I carried over from my previous bike, I’m all set for weather protection and reduced wind noise every time I ride my motorcycle. Installation, though I didn’t do it myself, required only a few hand tools and a little patience. The ERGO Screen Marathon II MSRP is $263.95; the left-side reinforcement MSRP is $74.95. MSRP for the Hand Guard Extender Set is $175.95. For more information, visit wunderlichamerica.com.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
27
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Yard and Crankshaft work By Matt Parkhouse #13272 AT THIS POINT, I’M HOLDING MY BREATH,
awaiting the start of real winter here in Colorado Springs. A week from Thanksgiving finds us looking for the first real winter storm, complete with snow and seriously cold temperatures. I’m involved with the usual annual putting the yard to bed chores, including covering flower beds and raking up leaves. Cutting firewood is part of that
as well. One bit of personal excitement has been the relocation of our local BMW Motorrad dealer to our “Motor City” row of car dealers. The new facility will be a remodeled auto dealership within a couple of miles from our home and is a huge facility with two floors and several display areas for BMW, Ducati, Triumph, Gas Gas and KTM motorcycles. They are also building a nice coffee bar and social area to encourage local riders to hang out. They’ve also told me they are happy to have me continue carrying
I have the parts of the two "short blocks"; one with the damaged crankshaft, the other a good, used unit. I'll be mixing and matching parts to end up with a good engine block with new bearings.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
off the wooden shipping crates rather than filling a dumpster which would end up in a landfill. I’m happy to have heat for the winter season along with creating an exercise program that I enjoy. I’m in the midst of an experimental cardio rehab program and along with my cardiologist, am trying to determine if I am out of shape from a warm season of doing little other than working on Airhead BMWs. The last half year has seen little other than my climbing over bikes and standing at the work bench. Either the sedentary life has me out of shape or my atrial fibrillation has me constantly short of breath. My doc and I both feel that a month of daily exercise will help figure out what the story is. If it’s my heart, there are procedures I can consider that might help. If I’m just out of shape, a month of bicycle riding, wood cutting (and hauling), raking leaves, and shoveling snow every day should help this 71-year-old body get back into shape. Unfortunately, I’ve missed any serious riding of Airheads this year. On the Airhead front, I’ve been busy servicing gearboxes to
Here, I am repairing the most commonly stripped fastener found on the airhead BMWs. Folks try to resolve leaking valve covers by over-tightening the 8mm center stud, causing it to pull out of the soft aluminum head material. Fortunately, it is a fairly easy repair to accomplish, using either a Heli-Coil or TimeSert kit.
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I am pointing to the second-most-common stripped thread repair done on the airheads. The fill and drain plugs for the driveshaft compartment are hard, sharp steel threads fitted into the soft aluminum of the rear drive housing. Unfortunately, this thread repair is not nearly as simple as the valve cover stud. You have to pull the rear wheel and dismount and partially dismantle the rear drive to get a clear shot to effect a HeliCoil or TimeSert repair of the threads. The reason for this is that there is a steel seal carrier that has to be gotten out of the way before you can work on the damaged threads.
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January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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'EM
F LY I N G
vend on eBay, along with helping local riders. I have a fellow due to stop by in a couple of hours with a very well-preserved R 75/5. He called a couple of days ago to help get his stalled bike running at the nearby gas station where it had quit on him. I got him going by adjusting his points but he’s now coming by for a proper tune up. That rider showed up this morning, and I did what we used to call a “four-point tune-up.” This hour-plus job involves attending to the points and timing, checking the sparkplugs, setting the valves, and adjusting the carburetors. With all these tasks done, the Slash Five is running very smoothly. My current big, on-going project is swapping crankshafts from one engine block to another. A rider had his R 100 GS run out of oil on the highway, but he did not notice the problem until the engine seized. I didn’t hear how he got the bike home. I do know that he found another engine block that has a good crankshaft from an eBay parts vendor. I’ve pulled both his and this replacement crankshaft out of their respective blocks and am now measuring so that I can order new bearings and other parts. It’s been a couple of years since I’ve done this sort of project. I’m reviewing my information and locating the various shop tools needed to redo the main bearings of an Airhead crankshaft. The rear main bearing, assuming you have the right size, is simply installed into the heated engine block. The front main bearing is another story. It must be installed “just so” into the front bearing carrier. You then need to drill three holes into the bearing shell. Two holes are simply oil passages. The third hole is part of a locking pin system to anchor the front bearing to keep it from rotating and cutting off the oil passages. Working with the crank and the main bearings really drives home the thoughtful design that went into the older BMWs. Big, well-fitted parts are working in a system that should last a good long time (as long as you watch the oil level). Fortunately, I had collected the shop tools needed to get the crankshaft out of the case and install it in the bike’s old case in the first few years at Doc’s shop here in the Springs. I’ve also collected several of the endplay adjusting bearing rings which allows me to set the correct space. At this point, I have the crankshaft mounted in the original case and have taken care of the fitting and shimming. It’s a slow process, involving quite a few hours to perform the needed steps. The process is slow enough that I won’t have it finished as I send in this column. I’ll have the “final report” on this project next month.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
Once the main bearing size has been computed, installing the rear bearing is nice and simple. The front bearing is another story. Three holes have to be drilled through the front carrier and the new bearing. Two are oil passages that supply the valve train of each cylinder, the third allows the installing of a small locking pin that prevents the bearing from rotating and cutting off those two oil passages. The kit involves a number of specific drills and reamers.
The last part of installing the crank is adjusting the endplay. You want the crank to move back and forth a small bit (0.10mm). This is achieved by swapping around two bearing surfaces that hang on pins at both sides of the rear of the case, at the rear main bearing. These are the reason you want to block the crank when a flywheel is removed. You really want these circular rings to stay in place! It's a tedious job, setting up a pair of the adjuster rings, installing the flywheel and checking the endplay. If it is off, you have to remove the flywheel and replace the outer ring with a thicker or thinner one to get the endplay to that 0.10mm. Lots of hours in setting up a new crankshaft!
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Enumclaw, WA USA January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
31
TORQUE
OF
THE
MATTER
What’s this with the manuals? By Wes Fleming #87301 IT’S NOT OFTEN I GET
a truly frantic message from an MOA member, but it happens. Occasionally they’ll be stuck in a small town somewhere—invariably on a Sunday, knowing they can’t even call a BMW dealership until Tuesday—trying to get help with an immobilized motorcycle. Using the BMW Owners Anonymous book or app, we’re usually able to at least find them someplace to stay until the shop opens. “WHAT’S THIS WITH THE MANUALS?” was how this message started, and I read on to discover a member had recently contacted BMW customer service about obtaining a service manual for his 2021 BMW motorcycle. The message they received back from the customer service rep met with their disapproval: “Due to the increasing technical complexity of our new vehicles, we have decided, in order to maintain a flawless technical condition and to ensure compliance with legal requirements, that in the future we as a manufacturer will only support repairs by trained staff in specialist motorcycle workshops (for example, at authorized BMW Motorrad dealers and in BMW Motorrad service workshops). Operating instructions and installation instructions for our original BMW Motorrad accessories for the individualization of our vehicles will of course remain available on our homepage for download by end customers.”
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
The member was upset and looking to me for information and a solution to his problem. For many of us, this simply isn’t an issue, as we trust our dealers and their service departments to take care of our bikes. For others like me, as well as independent shops, having the manual before tearing into a bike is a good idea, if for no other reason than to have access to the proper torque values when it’s time to start putting everything back together.
I contacted John Gamel, the MOA’s Consumer Liaison, because that’s what I sould do in a situation like this where more information is needed and people are on the verge of rage. John discovered BMW has expensive DVD-based service manuals available on their parts lists, but as of November 2021, it wasn’t possible to actually order the “DVD, Repair Manuals”
for a variety of models. Or rather, according to anecdotes related in the MOA Forums, riders were able to order the manuals, but were later informed by their dealers the manuals weren’t available. Both in the forums and on social media, the discussion got heated, with more than a few people taking a “How can BMW do this to us, their loyal customers?” position, deeming this an affront to their riderhood and vowing to never buy another BMW motorcycle as long as they live. “But we have the right to repair!” others said, including handy links to web pages related to the Right to Repair movement currently growing in the U.S. and Europe. Still others declared BMW’s position as a violation of the Magnuson-Moss Act, which I’ve written about in this column in the past. We’re still working on getting clarification on this issue, but let’s take a look at all of this as it applies to the average BMW rider. First and foremost, there is no federal right to repair law. The only state with one is Massachusetts, which passed “An Act Relative to Automotive Repair” in 2013. This law—which only applies to Massachusetts, mind you— states that manufacturers “shall make available for purchase by owners and independent repair facilities all diagnostic repair tools” which are available to its dealer network; there is no wording limiting the cost of these items. We can debate all day long whether or not service manuals are diagnostic repair tools, but the law does not specifically mention technical documents or service manuals at all. Even if it did, it would only apply to Massachusetts; while
other states have had bills proposed addressing the right to repair, no other laws have gone into effect anywhere in the country. Further, Massachusetts’ right to repair law specifically excludes motorcycles. It appears BMW is under no legal obligation to tell you how to repair your motorcycle in any state. As for the Magnuson-Moss Act, it addresses warranties, not the right to repair as it is being discussed in relation to the availability of service manuals. Its basic tenets are that as long as the vehicle owner uses a functionally equivalent part to repair or service their vehicle, the manufacturer cannot void the vehicle’s entire warranty. It is, however, up to the owner of the vehicle to prove the equivalence of the aftermarket part—such as an oil or air filter—to the OEM part if a dispute arises between the owner and the manufacturer. The key aspect of the MMA is that if your engine fails because you used a cheap oil filter, the existing warranty would still apply to the rest of the motorcycle not affected by the engine failure. Based on this information, we can assume BMW is not breaking any state or federal laws by refusing to make available a service manual for their late-model motorcycles. Their statement about the increasing complexity of their motorcycles requiring trained attention from certified techs may seem condescending to some folks, but that doesn’t mean they’re wrong. One thing BMW cannot be accused of is building poor-quality motorcycles. They have always striven to put the best, most technologically-advanced motorcycles on the road, and one function of their efforts is that their motorcycles have become
increasingly more difficult to diagnose and repair by shade-tree mechanics. It may well have been a lot easier to repair your own Beemer in your driveway or on the side of the road in 1982, but now it’s 2022 and a lot has changed in 40 years, both in your favor and not so much in your favor. There is one major resource riders can take advantage of to get the technical information they want. Haynes Publishing Group, a company out of the UK,
publishes popular technical manuals under the Haynes and Clymer monikers. It takes them a bit of time to get one published, however; as of this writing, the most recent manuals they have available are for a few 2020 Ducati and Honda models. The newest BMW motorcycle you can get a Haynes/Clymer manual for is the 2018 R nineT variants. Manuals are available for the 2017 S 1000 R/RR/XR, 2016 F 700/800 models and 2016 R 1200s.
Clymer’s manuals deal with older model BMW motorcycles, including K bikes up to the first generation of 1200s and R bikes going way back to the old days. The most recent R bike covered by a Clymer is the 2009 air/oil-cooled 1200 generation. The downside is you’ll have to wait until Haynes Publishing can secure a technician-cum-author, buy a few R 1250s and start tearing them apart to record all the steps and info along the way. This may take several years, which might be frustrating, but you can always contact them and let them know you’d love it if they published a manual sooner rather than later. Visit haynes.com/en-us/contact on the web for more information. You can also contact BMW Customer Service to let them know you’d like to obtain a factory-published service manual. They might not sell you one, but they might start to reconsider their position if they hear from enough riders. Visit bmwusa.com/contact-us.html on the web for more information. Remember you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, and be polite in your interactions. Another thing you can do is keep an eye on right to repair laws in the US and the EU as well. As laws change in this country and in others, you may find yourself in the position to purchase a service manual sooner than you expect. Consider joining The Repair Association (repair.org) as a way to commune with other R2R advocates. From my perspective, it’s probably best not to get your hopes up. Develop a good relationship with your nearest certified BMW Motorrad service department and you’ll undoubtedly be able to keep your BMW motorcycle in tip-top condition.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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First Ride On the R 18:
HEADING TO STURGIS! By Brian Carey #203865
Twenty five miles into the trip, a stop in New York's Harriman State Park was required to further secure accessories and gear.
emotional connection with the R 18 because I love the design. My nephew Dan texted last March to invite me to the Sturgis Then, once I heard the engine, rode it and saw people turning their Motorcycle Rally. We had talked about taking a long motorcycle heads to admire it, there was no turning back. trip one day, and he knew that I had been to Sturgis before and I frequently create comparison charts and spreadsheets to was willing to return. When I received his text, I just happened to determine the best purchase options, and often for low-cost items. be at an Irish festival listening to a great band while making I just bought a can of Belt Dressing for $4.79, but not until I Guinness disappear. This wasn’t the reason I agreed to join him, researched the cost per ounce and reviews for several available but it may have contributed to the speed of my response. In a alternatives. For the R 18 to convince an otherwise rational person subsequent text, I added a disclaimer: “...but I’ll have to get a bike like me to act impulsively, it must have the all-important cruiser first!” charisma that has always been critical to success in this segment, I had reluctantly returned my job-assigned K 1600 Grand plus the heart and soul to make an emotional connection with America several months earlier when I retired and was experiencsomeone who knows nothing about it. Based on the overwhelming a difficult riding withdrawal period as the weather warmed up ingly positive feedback that I’ve received from strangers unfamiliar in the northeast. My wife Nancy and I both loved the GA but with the R 18, I’m justifiably satisfied that these boxes had been wanted to experience the R 18 Transcontinental before making a satisfactorily checked. purchase decision. UnfortuBMW of Manhattan is 25 nately, that model wouldn’t be miles from my house and available before the Sturgis happened to have a First trip, and my symptoms Edition R 18 C that was required immediate attention. calling my name. The demo As the R 18 Classic had ride that won me over was on recently been launched, I saw a base R 18 through Bear an opportunity to experience Mountain State Park, but my the end-result of all that first experience on the Classic planning and rationalized my was riding it home from the decision by claiming that the dealership while sparring side cases and windshield with traffic on the Henry made it a long-distance Hudson Parkway and George touring bike suitable for a Washington Bridge. After 4,600-mile journey. I could safely reaching the New Jersey even use my phone and side of the bridge, I was able headset for music and to fully focus on enjoying my navigation and eventually new acquisition. upgrade to a more passenger- With the purchase of the R 18 at BMW of Manhattan, the planned trip to Sturgis At 1802cc, I expected the friendly seat for Nancy–some- became a reality. characteristic “good vibrations” of the smaller R 1250 engine would thing with a backrest to help mitigate the chances of another be more pronounced with the big boxer and found the impact was vanishing-wife incident. I could also easily remove the bags and just enough to provide the muscular feel I expected from this bike. windshield for local riding to fully display the pure beauty of the Expressing itself in a rich baritone rumble, the R 18 C feels like it’s bike, which couldn’t be done with a Transcontinental. flexing with anticipation at a standstill until the low-end grunt of a At this point I had already convinced myself, but my decision throttle twist launches it out of the gate. It quickly smooths out as was reinforced by the fact that I was getting a First Edition that soon as you start moving, but at a stop it reveals its typical boxer wouldn’t be available unless I was one of the lucky souls who got lineage, with a mild shimmy at idle and a slight handlebar shift to there first. Right? Plus, it came with a commemorative Heritage the left when revving in neutral. Book, historic BMW badges with copper lettering like the ones on With 116 lb. ft. of torque, acceleration is uncompromised and the R 32 and R 5, and a First Edition hat and belt. Now I was immediate. I find myself consistently riding in lower gears as it feeling extra special! Then, once I saw the white pinstriping, extra takes relatively high speeds before the R 18 starts pushing RPM chrome and First Edition badges in person, it didn’t matter what limits. In sixth gear you have to be going close to 85 mph to reach the price was—I had to have a First Edition. 3,000 RPM, so this gear becomes more of a fuel efficiency measure It’s interesting how the human brain finds any way possible to than anything else. Top speed is underpromised at “over 111 mph,” rationalize a decision that may otherwise be considered irrational. and overdelivered at 120 mph (with a headwind and 250 pounds of I’m clearly biased because of my employment history and rider and gear). I can’t tell you how I know this, but I will say that appreciation for BMW, as well as my involvement in the planning the speed limit on I-90 in South Dakota is 80 mph, and traffic for this bike. But even if this wasn’t the case, I would have had an
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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To clarify, it never left the bike. It just relocated itself to the top of moves brisky. the other bag when one of the straps shifted and somehow made In accordance with expectations of the cruiser segment, the U.S. contact with the rear tire. The tire was fine, but the friction had had insisted on a 28” seat height when planning the R 18. This is melted the strap and my backrest moved abruptly at 85 mph. helpful when dealing with an 805-pound bike, but the positioning You can learn a lot about a new bike during a long maiden of the cylinders helps to keep the weight low, so it’s less apparent. voyage, and this ride was no different. I learned how to position To be honest, I never feel like I’m riding a heavy bike, and I’m the straps so they couldn’t possibly move and also learned to happy that BMW used the quality materials that contributed to the zip-tie my USB/12 V adapter to the power socket so I wouldn’t weight. When backing up, Reverse Assist completely eradicates the knock it out while using the heel shifter. Lastly, using a zip tie over weight, and it’s not even a consideration when stopped on a steep my Yeti cup made sure it couldn’t creep out of the accessory cup hill as long as you set the brake with Hill Start Control. holder, and I moved it further from the button for the heated grips Like most cruisers, there is the potential to generate some after I noticed my hands getting hot every time I replaced the cup. sparks when cornering aggressively, but in the rare case that it Fortunately, I learned does happen you’re quickly and most of these probably not “cruising.” I adjustments were made in a will say that the 68.1” picturesque setting on wheelbase was initially Seven Lakes Drive in New noticeable when turning at York’s Harriman State Park slower speeds, but coming as I made my way north from a Grand America from New Jersey to scenic with a 63.7” wheelbase this Route 6 in Doodletown, wasn’t a big surprise. I’ve New York, a great westerly grown used to it now and route that would take me wouldn’t want to comprothrough most of Pennsylvamise the design of the bike nia to Ohio. for anything shorter. Once At high speeds, I was I had the R 18 C in my happy I had a windshield driveway, I sent photos to but did feel some neck the Sturgis crew, so they fatigue from the draft knew I was committed. hitting my helmet, and I was My nephew invited me starting to miss the high to meet his riding group in electronically adjustable Virginia on August 6th so The author (center) with brother in law Jim (left) and brother Kevin (right) pose with windshield and fairing of we could all ride west Mt Rushmore in the distance during their Iron Mountain Road ride. the K 1600 GA. Other than together. His plan would that, I’ve been happy travelling long distances on this bike (over have required a six-hour highway ride via the Baltimore and DC 4,600 miles on the Sturgis trip alone). Someone suggested Beltways, then 24 hours on interstates over three days. Score one adjusting the suspension, but I’m content with the comfort of the for retirement. Unless I need to get somewhere quickly, I prefer to factory settings. I would occasionally experience some butt-fatigue take my time via a more scenic routes and don’t mind riding alone after a few hours of riding without a break, but the stock seat is at my own pace. To enjoy the planned ride more fully, I decided to fine for most of the riding I do. leave a few days earlier, and we agreed to meet somewhere closer Almost every ride on the R 18 C brings me in contact with to Sturgis so we could ride the final leg together. people who are clearly infatuated with this bike. It might just be a To prepare for the ride, I searched my garage for the waterproof thumbs up or a wave while riding by, but people frequently want BMW roll-top duffel necessary to fulfill my prophecy about the to tell me how much they like it. long-distance touring capabilities of the Classic. I used a BMW At one shop, I was stopped on the way in by a rider who loved Yachtsport dry bag to hold my tent, sleep sack, and sleeping pad, the bike and continued to inspect it while I was in the store. On and strapped both bags to the passenger seat through the frame, the way out, I was stopped by a different gentleman who was positioning the Yachtsport bag so it also acted as a comfortable waiting to tell me that he had never seen a BMW that looked as backrest—until it disappeared somewhere in Indiana on day three.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
good as the R 18. Another BMW fan outside of Port Allegany, Pennsylvania, followed me down the road in his truck until I pulled over for gas. He owned a K 1200 LT, but loved the R 18 and was trying to convince his wife to let him buy one without selling the LT. Most of the Harley riders I spoke with liked the R 18 C design, and the ones who admitted that they would consider owning one tended to be people who had experienced different brands of bikes over the years. At the other end of the spectrum, a couple guys told me their club membership required them to ride a Harley and an R 18 seemed to be out of the question even if it was a second bike. I spent my first night in Coudersport, Pennsylvania, and reached Cleveland, Ohio, by 2 p.m. on my second day, riding to Sill’s BMW for my 600-mile service. There, I met with the
very-hospitable proprietress Pamela Dengler and her friendly staff and heard about their successes with the R 18. In addition to positive marketing efforts that include the sponsorship of large local events, Sill’s is in the process of completing a dedicated display area for the Heritage bikes to help ensure the continued success of these models. After my service was completed, I followed the apt recommendation of the Sill’s staff to visit the Southern Tier Brewing Company for dinner before ending my visit to Cleveland the next morning at The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. I then moved on to the Hoppy Gnome Brewing Company in Fort Wayne, Indiana, that afternoon and Big Swing Brewing Company in Rock Island, Illinois, on day four, via a route recommended by Sill’s that kept me off the interstates and south of the Chicago traffic. I realize that this is starting to sound more like a brewery tour than a motorcycle
Taking a break at Sylvan Lake after the Needles Highway ride in Custer State Park. January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
37
trip, but my three-day brewery streak met its demise in Illinois when subsequent destinations failed to produce brew pubs within walking distance of my evening accommodations. Leaving Rock Island, I opted to ride north along the eastern bank of the Mississippi River before crossing over to the Iowa side near Savanna, Illinois, where both sides of Main St were lined with motorcycles and I realized that I had arrived at a biker destination. While a band set up across the street, I paid a visit to Frank Fritz Finds. Owned by the co-star of American Pickers, it was a blended antique store/biker bar/cafe with plenty of memorabilia and custom bikes. Not to be outdone, the Iron Horse Social Club a couple doors down is a full-blown motorcycle museum within a biker bar. Both are worthwhile stops for motorcycle fans, and attracted a lot of people who were happy to give me their impressions of the R 18 C. Not surprisingly, the one guy who was most enamored with the retro design happened to be riding an old-school Ural. Sorry, but there’s no R 18 sidecar option yet. Failing to locate the requisite brewery in Fort Dodge, Iowa, that evening, I discovered Rides biker bar where I joined a group of Harley riders to solicit feedback on the R 18. Rides’ owner had already left for Sturgis with a large group from the bar, but those who remained were happy to look at photos. One of them knew
that he would get grief from his Harley riding buddies if he ever owned one, but he liked it so much that he didn’t really care. I crossed over into South Dakota just west of Sioux City, Iowa, and rode along the north side of the Missouri River planning to reach Chamberlain, South Dakota, where I would meet my nephews Dan and Kevin and friend Ted, all aboard Harleys. I was pleasantly surprised to see my niece’s husband Daniel riding toward the motel on a used Vulcan he bought for the trip. After three long days of interstates and camping, they were happy to sleep in beds that night and let me lead them on a picturesque detour the next morning between the Missouri River and endless fields of sunflowers, passing through the Crow Creek Reservation. After 90 minutes, we crossed the river and began to battle the incredible winds that would accompany us to Rapid City. The R 18 C handled it well, but we were all visibly leaning into the crosswind until it became a headwind and neck-fatigue began to set in. After passing a ridiculous number of promotional billboards for the Wall Drugstore, we succumbed to the pressure and maneuvered around hundreds of motorcycles in historic Wall to find parking and a round of buffalo burgers. The I-90 leg of the ride from Wall to our cabins in Keystone went quickly. Bestowed with an 80-mph speed limit, the rest of my crew decided to test their top-speed against the R 18. They ranged
In front of the BMW showroom on Main St. in Sturgis. A BMW in a sea of Harleys has always been easy to spot, until now.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
Top, The Wall Drug Store in the old-west town of Wall, South Dakota, attracts more than two million visitors per year. Middle, Don't all hardcore biker gangs stop for a photo in a field of sunflowers on their way to Sturgis? Well, maybe not all of them, but with so many acres of sunflowers east of the Missouri River, Carey (second from left) and his nephews didn't have a choice! Bottom, You can't leave Sturgis without a visit to the Full Throttle Saloon.
from 105 to 116 mph but aside from bragging rights, how often does the R 18 really need a top speed of 120 mph? In Keystone, we met up with the rest of the crew. Dan’s girlfriend Andrea and her parents, John and Yvonne, had transported her father’s Harley Softail from the Chicago area and her brother Jack had ridden his Harley Sportster from Minot Airforce Base in North Dakota. My brother Kevin and brother-in-law Jim had both taken the MSF course before the trip so they could join us. They flew into Rapid City and rented an SUV and a Harley Heritage Softail to swap back and forth during the week. Anxious to experience the R 18 with the rest of the crew, we rode up to Sturgis via Deadwood the next morning and went directly to the BMW display and demo area, which was strategically placed downtown on the main drag. With thousands of motorcycles lining the street for as far as the eye could see, it was perfectly situated to generate foot traffic. A BMW showroom on Main Street had all four R 18 models on display, along with accessory displays of seats, wheels, handlebars, tailpipes, etc.; stacks of Marshall amplifiers emphasized their partnership with BMW to provide premium sound systems for the B and Transcontinental. Next door, a huge outdoor area displayed all of the R 18’s including some custom models, and stationary demo rides were offered via a dyno-type setup. It also hosted a food truck and dining area alongside a bar serving “Berlin Built’ craft beer, brewed exclusively for BMW. I don’t know that we have any immediate converts from my Harley crew, but everybody enjoyed the riding experience and was enthusiastic about the styling. I particularly enjoyed the amenities, comfort and outstanding long-distance touring capability of the Transcontinental. Compared to the Classic, the additional 1.2” of rear suspension travel, more-comfortable seats, top case and backrest, sound system, large TFT display, fairing with a high windshield, and additional 2.1 gallons of fuel capacity provide an obvious advantage for two-up riding and longer excursions. I was very happy with the Classic on this trip, but Nancy may start campaigning for the Transcontinental once she hears about it. I spent some time loitering around the demo area to hear what people were saying after our ride, and then returned a couple days later for more feedback. In general, the bike was well received. Although people appreciated the beautiful design of the base R 18, Harley riders seemed to relate more to the added
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BMW's huge outdoor display area was strategically located to generate foot traffic from Main Street and maximize demo rides.
functionality of the Bagger and Transcontinental. They really appreciated the overall fit and finish, as well as the abundant torque, TFT display, and Reverse. People were also impressed with the warranty and made references to the ride comfort and available technology. I thought the exhaust note might be an issue, but there were comparisons to the similar sound of a stock Harley. Lastly, people loved the Option 719 paint (Galaxy Dust/Titan Silver) with more than one couple insisting that they wouldn’t consider any other color. After returning to Keystone, we attended the evening lighting ceremony at Mt. Rushmore and then planned the next day. We went online and found a list of “The 5 Most Terrifying Drives You Can Possibly Take In South Dakota.” Iron Mountain Rd. is #1 on the list, so we decided to start our day there, followed by #4 Wildlife Loop Scenic Byway, and #2 Needles Highway. The website for “The Advocates Injury Attorneys” (need I say more?) posts an identical ranking with descriptions that include the following excerpts: “Iron Mountain Rd - 314 sharp curves, 14 switchbacks and 3 tunnels...a true white-knuckle drive, hugging closely to the rocky edges of Custer State Park...with hairpin turns and a snaking course through natural rock tunnels and pigtail
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
bridges; Needles Highway - Originally deemed impossible to build...a road with several dangerously sharp turns and narrow tunnels through rock formations.” The Wildlife Loop isn’t a challenging ride unless Bison block the road, which is what happened while we were passing through, causing a massive backup of bikers. The situation was eventually remedied when a rider with super-loud pipes revved his engine until the herd dispersed. All three of these routes had spectacular scenery and were actually more fun than terrifying, as long as you gave them your full attention. After an obligatory stop to check on the slow-moving progress of the Crazy Horse Memorial, we prepared for the night. Successfully navigating three of the “most terrifying drives” during the day gave us the confidence to navigate the decadent nightlife of Sturgis that evening. What happens in Sturgis, stays in Sturgis, so I won’t elaborate but I will say that Sturgis delivered on its promise of great live music and scandalous debauchery. The next day included compulsory visits to the famous Sturgis Buffalo Chip (promoted as the Largest Music Festival in Motorcycling) and the Full Throttle Saloon (promoted as the World’s Largest Biker Bar). Both locations are undisputed Sturgis
Top, The Iron Horse Social Club. Bottom, Deadwood, South Dakota.
landmarks and are arguably self-contained towns that feature massive campgrounds, colossal sculptures, memorabilia, custom bikes, and multiple stages, bands, food options, shops, and bars. If you’re going to get stuck somewhere, do it here. Before heading back to Keystone to prepare for the journey home the next morning, I stopped by the BMW area for a visit before taking one last ramble through Sturgis to soak in the essence, admiring the custom bikes and marveling at amusing activities enjoyed by an entertaining variety of motorcycle lovers you won’t find anywhere else. Contemplating the R 18 on the long cruise home, I thought about the impact it had made on this trip alone and the lasting impressions it would leave on the people who had experienced it. If nothing else, BMW has built a beautiful, authentic, legitimate cruiser, and I’m proud to say that I played a small role in making it happen. It took a huge commitment to develop the new platform necessary to make this family of motorcycles a reality, and I fully expect BMW to do whatever is necessary to ensure its long-term success.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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THE
Two Hundreds By Ken Frick #199204
Since Ken has been riding, there have been two preferred directions of travel–heading west, then the highway home. The 200s gave Ken a westward highway with 1,300+ miles of morning to evening adventure, stretching over four states from the Upper Midwest to the Rockies.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
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headwaters, it is but a trickle of the image of you might have of this It’s always been the highway, the open road. On my motorcycle, great river. In the early morning, with the mist rising, it was a I enter a different realm, a place where in my mind, I can touch wonderful beginning for my first day on the 200s. things never within my reach in any other vehicle. Call it freedom Minnesota is called the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” but it’s also home if you’d like, but for me, it’s been that way ever since my young to millions of trees. The eastern part of the state was a never-endbrothers and I would pile into Dad’s old Pontiac, roll down the ing green tapestry of fir trees that this highway cut through long windows, and off we’d go. There was magic in that car on our ago. For the most part, the 200s are local highways, with US 2 and Sunday drives with our family together as we hooped, hollered I-94, then later I-90, carrying a heavier load through the larger and laughed our way through Ohio’s farm belt on a two-lane road, cities across the northern tier of the US. taking us to wherever Dad pointed his car. I rode past places named Loons Foot Landing, The After-Hours While planning a new adventure recently, I searched for Trail, Spooner, Iron River, Eagle something special, different, at Claw, the Chippewa National least in one way. I’ve ridden Forest, The Paul Bunyan across the U.S. numerous times Highway, Thief River Falls, Wild and can pick a favorite route to Rice River, and Moccasin Mike almost anywhere using any Road. There was, however, one combination of U.S. and state road I passed with what I highways. Still, if you look at any thought was an ill-fitting name state highway map, some lines called Forest View, which was haven’t changed since the road the view I’d been enjoying for a was built over a century ago. hundred miles! Chances are you know them, As the miles slipped by, two some of them even famous. landmarks became prominent But within individual states, and drew my attention all the highway numbers remain the way into Idaho: Lutheran same as the road continues churches and Dollar General along, changing only at the stores. The dense forests of border–except for one place with eastern Minnesota gradually an exceptional set of state morphed into farm country, highways. They’re called “The with Route 200 seemingly 200s,” which start near Duluth, dog-legging around land parcels Minnesota, then follow a path where county engineers decided into North Dakota, through long ago to maintain the Montana, before finally ending property lines of the local in Sandpoint, Idaho. I’d learned farmers. about this highway from Chris Little changed when I entered Weld, a retired San Francisco North Dakota. Gone were the police officer with a passion for 90-degree highway corners, now motorcycling almost unmatched. replaced with sweeping higher Back in the late 1960s, those four Modeled after Sioux warrior Marcellus Red Tomahawk and used on North Dakota highway signs for nearly a century, the profile is being replaced by a speed curves. But the essence of states put together something version using the shape of the state. where I was riding stayed the unique. That’s where I was same. I was surrounded by corn, soybeans and wheat–a big chunk headed–to find the eastern starting point in Minnesota. of America’s breadbasket. The ride would cover half of our continent, from God’s Country Every shade of green surrounded me, and when a cloud passed into the Wild West. I’d arrived at the 200s quiet starting point late over, the colors were enhanced even more. Along other stretches, on my second day out. That night, with rain pelting my rainfly, I where there was no vegetation, the earth was a vivid color of red couldn’t help but wonder what would make this highway special that was hard to be matched anywhere. As I rode west, the highway beyond a single shared number? took on the character of the changing terrain with long stretches That day I was up before the sun, packed and on the road. It was straight as an arrow with sweeping turns tossed in. the beginning of what was to be a wonderful adventure. The low At a Cooperstown motel one warm day, I was sitting in the shade sun and a morning fog gave an almost ethereal feel to my morning in front of my room sharing stories with a few other travelers. After ride. Very quickly came my first surprise. Early that first morning, seeing my motorcycle, one of them shared a story of one of his the sign I saw was for the Mississippi River, which always seems a adventures and described that, as men too young to know better, pivotal point on my rides. Here, in the far north near its
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he and a friend rode from El Paso, Texas, to Thunder Bay on Lake Superior’s northern shore. On motorcycles too small for such a huge trip, the men’s bottoms took the brunt of their pain to the point that on their way home, they both decided to “borrow” pillows from one of the motels where they had stayed. I’m sure many of us will admit to a similar type of larceny. For this week, I claimed this highway as my own, and I felt right at home. The 200s had an ageless appeal and created a sense of calm and a feeling that you’d been there before. Then from out of nowhere, something contemporary, current in highway planning, spaced out over the state’s entire length in three distant locations were of all things traffic circles, roundabouts, the final one barely fitting in the state just before the Montana border. Perhaps a young highway engineer pressed the issue and convinced the locals of their need to join the 21st century. There was an element of purity in the 200s. It was simple and direct and maybe more pronounced in North Dakota than in the other states. I crossed over the Yellowstone River, a reminder to this outsider of the changing character of being further west.
Somewhere along the line, the cattle were replaced by horses, then antelope and bison, with the Dollar General stores in decline, the Lutheran churches still in larger numbers. In the early morning hours while camped near Hillsdale, North Dakota, I was awakened with the sound of what was initially a single coyote, then others, then with a chorus of owls, all of them asking, “Hoo, Hoo, Hoo!” In Hazen, an attractive-looking town, I found a bit of frivolity which seemed out of character in the North Dakota I’d witnessed, a ‘40 Chevy, lacking any color whatsoever parked near where Lester Heier was mowing his lawn. The relic of a truck was like others I would see on the ride, but this one called out to me. From the highway, I wasn’t sure why until I walked closer. Mr. Heier had mounted two solar-powered lights to the grille and a tall antenna to the vehicle’s rear. “Why?” I asked. “Why not?” was Mr. Heier’s response. The entire length of the 200s has little formal nature to hang its hat on. Historically, there is little of note, mostly small towns and wide-open spaces. There are no state capitals, only a few state
There seemed to be a dated feel about the 200s, from a time decades ago when Ken's dad would have felt right at home. Lester Heier's '40 Chevy was one many rusted relics he saw on his ride remembering fondly the North Dakota "Peace Garden State" license plates from his youth. January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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parks, but little else that would draw you in this direction, with one exception. In 1883, a young Teddy Roosevelt came to the Dakota Territory to hunt buffalo and experience the West’s wildlife. There, he fell in love with the remoteness and the challenge of the area and established a home near Medora, now located on I-94, a bit south of Route 200. He would become a rancher, and more importantly, a conservationist, so much so it would come to define his life. He later said, “I would not have been president had it not been for my experience in North Dakota.” The Theodore Roosevelt National Park is in western North Dakota in two locations, the North and South Units. State Route 200 took me to the northern unit, a lonely place and one of the country’s least-visited parks. Being there, I couldn’t help but wonder about the conversations that took place around campfires all those years ago. I thought somewhere inside the park, the tires of my motorcycle crossed where Teddy Roosevelt had once ridden his horse! There were stretches where the 200 highway was as polished as any, while others waited to be brought up to speed. Somewhere along the way, I joined
Above, In eastern Montana, the towns of Enid, Circle and Mosey appear dry as a bone, even as rendered on a Montana highway map. Further west, near Geyser, Fort Shaw, Greenberg and Paradise is where the colors changed and the highway weaves and bobs. All of the state's end to end miles are a joy to ride. Right, How do North Dakota ranchers say hello to travelers and neighbors? These characters, found near Golden Valley, were on display in a field near other bales wrapped in red, white and blue and indicative of the patriotism Ken saw along the entire series of 200 highways. Below, A rustic red barn found west of Great Falls, was one of the few man-made structures over a span of many miles. This stretch of highway was the high point of Ken's ride, seemingly left untouched as if some highway engineer knew this place was special and meant to be left alone.
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The Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild, near Lincoln, Montana, was an outdoor presentation or art unlike any Ken has witnessed. Over 20 spectacular creations, all vastly different are spread out over 26 acres. To convey a sense of scale, Ken asked Marilyn and Joe Bomar to sit in "Clearing," by Alison Stigora.
the Lewis and Clark Trail, which became a part of my travels for several days. It was Montana where the dynamic of my ride would change– where the air felt different and where Route 200 would rise to a level truly special. In Montana, I found a stretch of highway as beautiful as anywhere I have ever ridden. My ride through Minnesota and North Dakota had begun with few expectations, as I rode through two states I’d rarely traveled. I should have known better as those states started my wonderful ride. They were a prelude to something extraordinary yet to come. Montana had been a destination before, and I knew it rather well. Yet, it would be a different type of adventure over its many miles, with the single highway taking me through areas of unmatched beauty and creating memories for a lifetime. How does one begin to explain the Big Sky? How is it that among our 50 states, somehow Montana stands alone? While Texas, Alaska and California are different from any other state, there’s something different about Montana that requires one’s first-hand experience. The question was, just what would I find this time that would be truly special? My ride so far had taken me through Minnesota and North Dakota on their State Route 200s. Montana’s 200s would become
one of my all-time favorite rides. When planning a ride, I always look for a place where those things I believe to be unique are considered common and where the common is considered special–where there is a sense of pride in the places I witness. A page gets turned when crossing the border into Montana. The Lutheran churches and Dollar General stores that had earlier dotted my path were mostly gone and replaced by casinos. The green I had enjoyed was gone and replaced by the Montana of John Wayne and John Ford–a desolate appearing landscape devoid of anything specific, only hours of the same. The pioneers of the 1800s, who traveled at 10-15 miles each day in the heat and the sameness, must have grown to despise this open place. Not that I agree. At 60+ miles per hour, within my view was beauty unabated, with Route 200 carrying me through all that is Big Sky into the mountainous west and the Rockies. It was thrilling with every turn on the highway. This is a unique place, but similar to places I’d seen in Utah, Nevada, and other glorious states where I’ve pointed my motorcycle every year for five decades. That’s easy to write, first thing in the morning, the sun warming my back in the early chill. Later in the heat of the day, I might temper my early -in-the-day tribute to Montana. Something one doesn’t typically plan for on a cross-country trip
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are the hours of daylight. At the height of our summer, Montana receives nearly an hour and a half more daylight than does southern Texas, and on my motorcycle, I was enjoying every extra minute. The mix of green and brown/golden tones slipped into my rearview mirrors, replaced with dry and dusty appearing colors with what I thought were unseasonably cool temperatures. Rarely did the thermometer hit even 80, but that would change. By then, I hoped I would be gone. A chance meeting at the Flowing Hills Rest Area gave me a different glimpse of exactly where I was. Two young women, Abby, a science teacher, and Cynthia, who was studying dental hygiene, had taken summer jobs with the state as aquatic invasive species inspectors where they checked boats that might be carrying foreign elements to the Fort Peck Dam area, as the protection of the lake is vital to their community. Abby commented on the many different types of people who came through the area and said this little highway attracts people from all over the world. Great Falls loomed ahead, and 100 miles out from the Rest Area, the road rose in elevation to where once again I was surrounded by a magnificent green color. The ride that had become a bit tired, as I was, took on a different feel. In the colors that I rode through, the greens and now reds and golden tones, the ride once again became exciting. What wasn’t agricultural was grazing land, and I was
surrounded by the Judith, the Little Belt and Highwood Mountains, with the Rockies straight ahead! Route 200 merged with US 87, changing the mood a bit, and at some point, Montana State Route 3 slipped in. A few miles from Great Falls, I found US 89 and a more business-like rushed pace with it. There was a good dinner ahead and a reserved tent space. I was heading for the BMW MOA National Rally. Life was good! Great Falls would be a resting place for thousands of riders like me, enjoying three days of only motorcycles, but here my Route 200 would be on the bottom rung, kicked to the curb in the highway hierarchy, listed last and lowest among the highway signs. But after the rally, the road not far to the west would be something truly uncommon, a stretch of highway more special than anywhere I had ever ridden on my motorcycles. For all of Montana, there had been beautiful clouds, all day, almost every day. The ride I had hoped to experience. Although I had never held fast to being able to ride in a place where time was different, indeed, here it felt nearby. The ride that I had experienced, not only in Montana, was in large part superb, but through my few morning hours on this newly found stretch, it was stunning. Quiet and unassuming, the luminous green carpet gave an almost Eden-like pastoral setting, singular, unlike anywhere else on my ride. Of my many miles on the 200s, those beginning some miles west of Great Falls
There was an inviting element to the 200s, as if the highway was asking motorcyclists to come and enjoy the ride. It was easy to image Model T Fords long ago carrying families to church or goods to market or old Harleys thundering along.
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Rolling toward Great Falls, the landscape changed from arid to vibrant where the land was used for grazing and agriculture.
approaching Missoula were my favorite. There were no power lines for many miles, simply a rhythmic pattern of fencing that lined both sides of the highway, stretching on for what seemed a timeless period. There were few buildings of any nature, little evidence of anything beyond the road and nature at its finest. For many miles, the view on my left was filled with red flowers, while on the right, there was a similar pattern of blue. There was no way you could not be at peace in this beautiful place. When I travel alone, I don’t look for reasons to stop. The long trips I take with my wife at home are truly defined as motorcycle rides, pure and simple. When together with Cindy, we go searching for the special things we can share. But without her, I narrow my search. The things I tend to find are more singular, the things that jump out at me requiring but a few minutes for a photograph. But one sign, in particular, caught my attention. It read, “The Blackfoot Pathways: Sculpture in the Wild,” and it took me to the one place that would stand as my favorite stop of my trip. One after the other, the twenty different artistic renderings, all built around a wooded theme, were marvelous, with my favorite called “Clearing” by Alison Stigora, made from the charred wood from mountain wildfires with the interior made from blue pine. Closer to Missoula, the character of the highway again changed.
Gone was my tranquil ride. 200 became the road the locals and others took to get to somewhere they needed to be. Traffic picked up, always wanting to go three miles per hour faster than me. Missoula, after Great Falls, would be the second and last of the bigger cities on all the 200s, but with Route 200 joining I-90, it was quick work racing around the city. For all of Montana, there always seemed to be a motorcycle presence. But after Ravalli, very little. Now it was big RVs clogging the highway. Slow-moving “land yachts” always seemed to pull long lines trapped behind them, a quarter of a mile in length, maybe longer. This was, after all, a road used by many to get to Glacier, some miles to the north. The traffic eroded my usual mood, made worse by the 100+ degree afternoon heat. Eastern Montana was uninhabited in comparison. But with the mountains, this part of Montana was a beehive, operating at a different speed. I had no choice but to fall in line, the highway’s charm somewhere behind me. I could only hope that more was in store for me in the few miles of Route 200 that remained. It was the names of the things that I passed by that reminded me of where I was. White Wolf Road, Third Hay Creek (followed by First Hay Creek) Hell Creek, Big Dry Creek (it was neither), and on
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Ken's quick ride through Idaho's panhandle began with a bang–a huge site of quarried stone with a large collection of antique cars, trucks and other vehicles parked and stacked around the grounds. A photographer's paradise!
and on. In the west, they use a very different dictionary than back home when choosing names. A sign outside Plaines said Spokane was 186 miles away, but my 200 ride would end much sooner. A car dealership appeared to be the perfect place to refill my water bottles, but it was closed. It was Sunday. I had no clue. I had seen an eagle, looking, watching, no doubt for a noontime meal, and for dozens of miles warnings to be on the lookout for bighorn sheep. Earlier in the day, there had been rafters enjoying the Clark Fork River, paralleling the highway. For days I would end my ride with no bugs smashed on my windshield. None wanted to venture out into the heat. After a seemingly endless Montana, Idaho came rushing at me. Immediately, inside the state, the highway fell out from under me. Down I rode. Minnesota’s Route 200 had covered 201 miles, North Dakota 416, Montana 706, the longest state highway in the U.S. In Idaho, Route 200 would cover only 33 miles. I made the best of its short distance. Only a short ride inside the state, I passed a stone business, where the company’s entrance gate welcomed customers with two mounted (parked) Nash Metropolitans sitting on huge stones 10 feet off the ground. Impressive, I thought. They sure did catch my attention. How out of place, maybe, but inside the business site were dozens and dozens of cars the owner had collected, none for
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sale, I was told, being the decor of the owner’s choice. Coming into Idaho from the southeast, Route 200 was a major highway, with US 2 coming down from the north. The names that jumped out at me could have come from any of the previous states. Black Wolf Road, Bear Lake and Horseback Mountain. On my way to Sandpoint, I passed Mosquito Creek and Lightning Creek and rode through the Village of Hope. The end of my 200s was abrupt. After a week on this road, I hoped that the 200s would end on a high note, with some exclamation point. But no, my Route 200 ride ended a few miles short of what I would have preferred with a bent sign under a US Route 2 overpass, the route that would take me into town. What I saw was why the Sandpoint area is a haven for vacationers and retirees. With most of my brief Idaho ride along the shore of Lake Pend Oreille, I had pitched my tent for my last night on the highway. So beautiful was my view; it all but bordered on being idyllic. My trip had been book-ended by forests and lakes, first in Minnesota and now Idaho. The ride through both and in between had been simply beautiful. Along the way, covering a vast distance, it was easy to forget the graffiti back home and the litter that’s hard to ignore. I saw none of that on the 200s. There was an evident pride the people who reside along this highway have about where they live. Sometimes the areas where I rode through were proud, small-town America at its best, while in others, the surroundings were a bit more frayed.
Over all of my miles, something always caught my eye. In the early morning hours, the road in my mirrors was charged by the rising sun, the light chasing after me. Late in the day, with the sun low and in front of me, my 200 had seemed electrified, a shining carpet for my bike and me to race over and a glowing surface to a promised land somewhere out in front. My 200 ride had finally concluded, but will always be one of my favorite rides. How could it not be with all I had been witness to? There had been one sign just a few miles before the highway’s end. It would be the Lutherans who got in the last word, with a local congregation claiming a two-mile stretch of my highway as theirs for beautification. Sorry Dollar General, the Lutherans get final bragging rights. From Sandpoint, my ride would continue for two more weeks over many national and state highways, all of them wonderful places to ride a motorcycle. But it was the 200s I chose to write about. Now I find myself looking for another special set of highways I’ve never experienced. Maybe I’ll ask Chris if he has any more ideas. Chances are he does.
Top, A few miles from Sandpoint, Idaho, Ken's Route 200 adventure quietly ended. Gone was the simple highway, replaced with the more business-like pace of US 2. Bottom, Much of Idaho's Route 200 bordered Lake Pend Oreille, the most beautiful of Ken's ride. There, along the water's peaceful edge, Ken camped his last night near the highway. Two neighbors left their chairs in the water, peacefully waiting for tomorrow.
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BMW Owners News Presents
THE BEST OF 2021
Keep 'Em Flying, July
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Few BMW Owners News contributors give as much as Matt Parkhouse (#13272) does without fail every month. Matt's "Keep 'Em Flying" column continues to be some of the most read pages published every month and a treasure to all who ride, work on and appreciate Airheads.
Cover, January
Mark Janda (#198513), captured this foggy image of Portland Head Light–Maine's oldest lighthouse–located near the Town of Cape Elizabeth, Maine.
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Feature Image, January
Sean de Moraes (#220999), couldn't help but stop and admire the stunning view ahead ahead of him while riding Hagerman Pass outside Leadville, Colorado.
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Before we fully embrace 2022, we pause to look back at some of the best of BMW Owners News from the past year. From the humor of Jack Riepe or riding along with Matt Parkhouse as he opens the transmission of an old Airhead, to dealing with the reality of riding amid a pandemic or Peter Burke’s story about riding with Glenlivet, his beloved Golden Retriever, each month BMW MOA members share their images and stories to entertain and inform us all.
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R 18 lineup expansion, September
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With their new R 18 Transcontinental and R 18 Bagger, BMW Motorrad's R 18 model lineup doubles in size. The new machines combine the power of the Big Boxer with a classic chassis concept based on historical models, exclusive equipment and stylish design.
Trailering West for Big Adventure, March
Adam Chandler (#207597), had only two weeks to get from his New England home to Colorado. So, to get more time in the Colorado dirt, Chandler and his buddies hauled their bikes west!
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James Carlisle (#196730), explains that patience and using a Search, Evaluate and Execute (SEE the Road) strategy when riding are key to reaching your destination safely and help you avoid explaining your riding prowess to the police.
Feature Image, December
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Andrew Allen (#210232), shared this beautiful image of his RT stranded on a foggy Skyline Drive while riding in Virginia last fall.
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Bringing the R 18 to Market, December
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Brian Carey (#203865), began working at BMW's New Jersey headquarters in 1998. A long-time rider, Carey eventually moved to the motorcycle side of the building and offers us an inside look at the development of BMW's Big Boxer– the R 18.
Postcards from the Road, September
A sunrise near Cody, Wyoming, captured by Terence Hamill (#14629) while one his way to the 2021 BMW MOA National Rally in Great Falls, Montana.
t MOA Foundation, February
Can a long-time motorcyclist who has never ventured off-road learn the skills necessary to tackle off-road trails with confidence? Mike Sheehe (#221540), wanted to find out and enrolled in a two-day off-road course at the BMW Performance Center in Greer, South Carolina. Not long after his training, Sheehe rode the Mid-Atlantic Backcountry Discovery Route with the confidence he needed.
Taillight, July
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George Karl (#217427) finds relief from the brutal California sun while waiting for some of his buddies to catch up while riding the California Backcountry Discovery Route.
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t Mileage Slaves, March
As BMW Motorrad continues to mandate dealerships conform to a similar corporate look and feel, Dave Cwi (#28490), realizes why he loved his now-closed Indianapolis dealer so much–it was a clubhouse where everyone knew your name! He also worries about the new dealership and whether he'll feel the same.
Big Picture, June
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Some don't appreciate the beauty of the front end of BMW's S 1000 XR. Matt Mulder (#223069) doesn't agree and captured this striking image near Utah's Flaming Gorge Reservoir while on a 3,000-mile ride through Idaho, Utah and Colorado.
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Kookaburras and Ferries-Tasmania by Motorcycle, March
During the summer of 2019, Nancy Kirner (#201930) created a spreadsheet of potential locations where she and her husband could spend a couple weeks exploring by motorcycle. The winner, based on cost and intrigue was Tasmania, an island state off the southern coast of Australia.
Big Picture, October
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Mark Janda (#198513), found this old Sinclair service station while riding across northern Utah last summer.
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t Postcards from the Road, May
David Smith (#139759), captured the shot below while riding near Snowy Pass Range in Wyoming's Medicine Bow National Forest.
Scenic Motorcycle Navigation, December
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Dan Townsley (#60829), is a navigational master! In his most recent review, Dan details Scenic Motorcycle Navigation V3, one of the most full-featured mobile navigation apps he's found for those of us who don't claim to be navigation-tech gurus!
My GS Story, January
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Nolan N70-2 GT helmet, October
One of his favorite products he's reviewed, Ron Davis (#111820) really likes this helmet's design which has the ability to, by using interchangeable parts, be used in six different configurations!
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John Rice (#24267), has owned eight GSes over the years beginning with his R 80 G/S. With that experience, if he could build the perfect GS today, it would be an Airhead R 80 with tubeless wheels, twin front disks, ABS and the suspension from his F 700!
Muriel Farrington, Friend of the Marque, August
Muriel Farrington (#89517) didn't begin riding until she was 58. Since that time, she's been heavily involved with her local clubs and served the BMW MOA at many levels including as Secretary of the MOA Board of Directors. Now, Muriel can add Friend of the Marque to her many titles.
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Roundels and Knobbies, December
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A highlight of the fall riding season in the northeast is the annual MAX BMW off-road event the first weekend of October. In her feature, Dawn Hein (#169208), detailed the Wheels in the Field event that had everyone smiling at the end of the day.
Shiny Side Up, February
Ron Davis (#111820), wondered if there is an "only book you'll ever need" when it comes to motorcycling. Looking at his ever-growing library of moto books, Davis realized the answer is, "It depends!"
tEvery Part You Need and More, July
Walking through the front door of Wunderlich America, Wes Fleming (#87301) found both a showroom of new and late-model BMWs and a motorcycle shop. Sadly, the beautiful bikes aren't for sale, but instead serve as test mules for their wide range of products available for nearly all modern BMW motorcycles.
Glenelg....twinned with Glenelg, Mars. Really! August
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Halfway through an eight-day ride around the Scottish Highlands, Alan Toney (#124362), was told that Glenelg would tick all the boxes on his pre-trip planning sheet. "Aye," they said, "Glenelg has all that, and quirky too. The weather could be a wee bit swappy, but the midges shouldna be so bad." With that, Toney was on his way.
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Salton Sea Rendezvous, February
Though Don Bartletti (#220547), had been to the Salton Sea many times as a photojournalist with the LA Times, 2020 was the first time he'd be there in another capacity–as an attendee at the Airhead Beemer Club's 10th Annual Salton Sea Rendezvous.
Operation Buzzkill, October
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Mark Barnes (#222400) has been working hard to remove the annoying handlebar vibration he's experienced with his 2013 F 800 GT. In this iteration of his Operation Buzzkill, Mark details the replacement of his well-worn OEM heated grips.
D.A.R.T. Training, June
Mark (#209373) and Kate (#216332) Hearon idolized Charley and Ewan–riders who always took the long way on their motorcycles. The only problem was that neither Mark or Katelyn particularly liked riding in the dirt until, that is, they took D.A.R.T. training. Now, they can't get enough!
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Shiny Side Up, November
Ron Davis (#111820) has been a faithful and shameless disciple of Bayerische Motoren Werke for decades, but believes variety is the spice of life. Recently, in an impulsive disregard for his savings account accompanied by an eye roll from his wife, he picked up a 2014 Honda NC700X. Heresy!
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t Road to the GS Trophy, June
Kandi Spangler (#220021) often wonders if 5'6" Spud Webb ever doubted he'd make it in the NBA. As a 5'2" female riding a standard-height R 1250 GS, Spangler likes to think she's changing stereotypes regarding female riders. Kandi hopes to change more stereotypes as she prepares to compete in the upcoming GS Trophy competition.
Postcards from the Road, November
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The early morning clouds combine with the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse to provide the perfect backdrop for Darrel Bryant's (#225166) R 1200 RT.
t Vance Harrelson Friend of the Marque, March
A long-time rider, Vance Harrelson (#100402), has been heavily involved with his local club, the BMW MOA Board of Directors, the MOA Foundation Board of Directors, has been a National Rally chair and much more. It was only fitting that he is also now known as a Friend of the Marque!
The Ride Inside, August
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Mark Barnes (#222400) describes how plucking ourselves out of our day-to-day struggles and obligations doesn't make them go away, but it does allow us to tackle them more efficiently and effectively. That is even more true when our break is spent plugged into the invigorating energy of fellow riders.
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t Building a Dream-Myth Motor, May After returning from his 20,000-mile journey from Brooklyn to the tip of South America, Matias Corea (#217227), moved forward with his dream of building custom BMW adventure motorcycles. The Myth 001 Adventure Airhead is his first motorcycle to fulfill that vision.
Postcards from the Road, January
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David Lawrenz (#40344), photographed his 1991 R 100 GS/PD while riding one of his favorite back roads in western North Carolina.
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Cover, October
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Riding on a piece of wood barely wider than your front tire sounds about as difficult as it is. Wes Fleming (#87301), captured our October cover image while attending the GS Trophy East Qualifier held at the BMW Performance Center in Greer, South Carolina.
Dispatches from the Edge of California, October
Don Bartletti (#220547), travels light when venturing out on his '77 R 100/7. Believing his bike to more of a thoroughbred than pack mule, his camera gear is one thing that is always with him. Bartletti captured the image at right in Joshua Tree National Park using a 30-second exposure, 48 years of experience and a "gazillion-yearold" boulder.
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November
Dustin Silvey's (#224778) wife Janel had never ridden a motorcycle before. To prepare for an extended cross-country ride with Dustin on her own bike, she must first conquer her anxiety by completing a motorcycle safety course.
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Summer Mileage Contest, March
2020 was a tough year for everyone but that didn't stop 465 MOA riders from getting on their bikes and social distancing the best way they know how. Summer Mileage Contest winners included (above left) Thom Rieck (#150400), from Minnesota and (above right) Stacey Papinchak (#126149), from Pennsylvania.
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The Last Ride of the Season, February
As his 2020 riding season gave way to the impending cold of the Ohio winter, Ken Frick (#199204), got out to enjoy one last ride along the route and over the roads he knows so very well.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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t
Feature image, March
t
James Paton (#27433) and his son Erik stop to take in the beauty near Logan Pass along the Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. Photo by Bill Wiegand #180584.
My Green Bike, September
Encouraged by his wife, John Rice (#24267) bought his '75 R 90/6 in the spring of 1981 and rode it everywhere. While many other BMWs have passed through his garage over the years including one of each iteration of GS from the R 80 to the Camhead along with other Airheads and a couple of sidecar rigs, the green R 90/6 has been a constant. Now in his 70s, Rice has passed the bike to his grandsons to allow another generation to enjoy the beautiful machine!
t
Riding the New R 18s, November
For Sam Q. Fleming (#195185), anytime his sport bike riding brain, hopped up on NOFX and Colorado curves, began to cry out for trail braking and lean angles, he just had to take a deep breath and remind himself that this is a beach cruiser, not a downhill bike, don't ask it to do things for which it wasn't intended!
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
Annual Mileage Contest, July
t
To say 2020 was quite a year is a bit of an understatement. It is safe to ride? What about gas stops and hotels and restaurants. What if I have a medical issue and hospitals are already dealing with too much? Those were some of the questions 131 BMW MOA members asked them as they set out and kept track of their mileage in the 2020 Annual Mileage Contest. In the end, (above left) Blaine Paulus Jr. (#79801) rode an astonishing 87,904 miles while (above right) Brenda Gay (#220554) tallied 21,615, as they took first place honors in their divisions. Congratulations to all riders who safely competed!
t Feature image, April
Mark Janda (#198513), found this long-abandoned service station somewhere in Oklahoma during a 9,200-mile cross-country ride last summer.
Taillight, October
t
Ron Sturm (#211901), cautiously dismounted his bike to document this view while riding Ophir Pass between Silverton and Telluride, a section of the Colorado Backcountry Discovery Route.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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t Detours, June
Bill Shaw (#70903) learned long ago that regardless of how hard he worked at something, there would always be someone better. However, when it comes to his favorite avocation, Shaw admittedly works even harder because the stakes are higher and over the years, has taken many defensive riding courses. Then he realized that moving from a defensive to a proactive riding strategy can produce a seismic shift in skill building, especially for newer riders.
Building a Dream, February
t
Many of those who know him believe Zack Witkowsky was born with a wrench in one hand and an airbrush in the other. The son of long-time MOA member and former owner of Stable Sport and Touring Jeff Witkowsky, Zack and his wife Jen look to continue with Jeff's legacy with their own shop, Black Wolf Touring and Custom located in Beecher, Illinois.
t Cover, July
Ian Feinberg (#206734), captured this beautiful image with riding Tuweep Trail near the north rim of the Grand Canyon during a 1,400-mile tour from California to Colorado.
Postcards from the Road, October
t
A mural found along Nicollet Avenue in Minneapolis, Minnesota, provided the perfect backdrop for Phil Stalboerger's (#222952) beautiful R 1100 S!
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
t
Torque of the Matter, April
After his doctors gave him only 28 more years to live, Wes Fleming (#87301), wants to see more than soybean fields and manure piles. Instead, he wants to explore the rings of Saturn and needs to get their before noon and look good getting there. He has decided to buy Harley's new Pan America! Then, he woke up and decided instead to fix the wrecked '04 R 1150 GS basket case he just bought.
t Taillight, January
The Ultimate Father Daughter Dance, September
Lytle Brown (#203133) was planning his ride to the 2021 BMW MOA National Rally when his daughter surprised him by saying she wanted to go along. It didn't take long before Brown realized that every once in a while, something unexpected happens leaving you with joyful memories that last a lifetime.
t
t
Andrew Phillips (#136760) chose the wrong line while heading home and found the deepest part of an icy puddle. Luckily, some local residents were able to help get Andrew back on the road.
Table of Contents Image, December
Seeing his bike from a different perspective, Wally Gingerich (#115500), captured this image while riding to the top of Colorado's Mount Evans.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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t Postcards from the Road,
December
Nick Papp (#131213), found this old iron bridge while riding West Charleston Road near Troy, South Carolina.
Postcards from the Road, June
t
Gary Oberg (#27260) found this mural, part of the Painted Desert Project which is a privately funded public art initiative connecting artists with communities, while riding on the Navajo Nation.
t
Jack the Riepe, September
t
Jack Riepe (#116117) can tell a great story. While any of his articles published in 2021 could be highlighted, his piece "The Adventures of Rollo," stands out as one worth reading again. And then again!
Back of the Bike, July
Travel, especially international travel, gives one a perspective on the world that cannot be had otherwise and forces you out of comfort zones like nothing else can. Angela Ecenbarger (#118736) found that doing so from the back of a motorcycle adds a totally new dimension–exhilaration!
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
tTwisted Etiquette Tour, May
At Shawn Thomas' (#91122) house, when someone offers you something, the correct response is, "No, thank you." But as Shawn found, that's not the case when riding BMW motorcycles on some of the best roads found in Tennessee and the Carolinas.
t
How it All Started, April
A story Doug McBride (#6642), describes as "the product of a mind severely affected by pandemic boredom," offers a bit of historical fiction on the beginnings of the motorcycle marque we all love.
tHave You Ever, October
Have you ever missed a turn on the freeway and found out that it would take 100 miles and the rest of the afternoon to get back on track? Deryle Mehrten (#58537) poses this question along with many more in this piece sure to make you smile!
t
The Road to Great Falls, October
Terrence Hamill (#14629) likes to ride and really enjoys riding in the west. When he found out the 2021 BMW MOA National Rally would be held in Great Falls, Montana, he was ecstatic and knew riding there would check a lot of boxes!
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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tTable of Contents Photo, October
The Bonneville Salt Flats provided the backdrop for lan Rutledge (#223310) when he captured this image during his 3,300-mile ride crossing nine states over eight days.
tPostcards from the Road, November
While heading back home to Colorado following the 2021 BMW MOA National Rally in Great Falls, Montana, Jody Krohnfeldt (#216726), captured this beautiful image outside her cabin near Afton, Wyoming.
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Taillight, April
David Hrenchir (#121136), found that in Plant City, Florida, even Marilyn can appreciate a thing of beauty–his GS!
t
I Waved at a Scooter Today, July
After waving at a rider aboard a scooter, Matt Wank (#217542) wondered if he'd made a mistake. Then, he realized that while a motorcycle and scooter may not have enough in common warrant a connection, the riders of those machines certainly do.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
t
Pawprints on my Soul, November
They are one, Peter Burke (#133958) describes as he and Glenlivet travel together. In his series of vignettes, Peter describes their latest journey together covering more than 6,000 miles. The trip didn't go exactly as planned, but that seems to be the norm.
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Admore Lighting, September
Mark Hearon (#209373), reviews Admore Lighting's Light Bar Pro and how he feels safer when he rides with it on his bike.
tJoe Berry is a Lucky Man! November
Listening to his riding friends talk about their motorcycle adventures, Joe Berry (#220843) always dreamed that someday he'd travel the country on a Honda Gold Wing. Instead, he found a 2012 K 1600 which he loved until he won last year's MOA Foundation One Ticket/You Pick It Raffle. Now he really does have his dream bike–a 2021 R 1250 GS Adventure 40th Anniversary edition!
t
Postcards from the Road, June
Some of the beauty Mike LoGalbo (#155063) found along the Burr Trail in Utah's Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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FROM
THE
FOUNDATION
Education and Training– Planning for the Year Ahead THE MOA FOUNDATION BOARD CONTINUES TO PUT
By Rik Lewis #217253
a tremendous amount of energy into planning and other activities that will drive its mission success. That mission is “Advancing Rider Safety, Education, and Training,” and the Foundation is seeking to provide “Training for Every Rider.” Individual participation and commitment to safety, education and training is vital to success, and the start of a new year is a great time to update your safety, education and training plan. Many MOA members do have these plans, although their plans may not be in detailed, written form. They are carrying them around in their brains. This article is a reminder of widely available, low-cost, basic–but important–training opportunities which provide vital ancillary skills to enhance safe riding. Perhaps surprisingly to you, motorcycles are not required for this training. During the winter, conducting these basic training activities as a group could be a great way to concurrently maintain BMW Charter Club camaraderie and build safety and risk management skills.
Install or Update and Verify Your Smartphone “Medical ID” app now
Apple iPhones® and most Android® smartphones allow the user to input emergency contact and related medical information into an app allowing first responder access even if the home screen is locked. Quick information access can be lifesaving in the chaotic aftermath of a vehicle accident or mishap. Do this now. Do not wait.
Basic First Aid Training
First aid includes treatment of an injured or sick person in the first minutes after an illness or injury. Accidents or illness can happen at any time and at any place. As we ride farther and to remote locations in search of new adventures, first aid skills can be important to helping someone recover more quickly or result in a saved life. A basic first aid course typically includes the Heimlich maneuver and assessment and treatment of minor injuries, including wounds, burns, sprains and broken bones.
CPR Training
Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is performed on people who have stopped breathing and do not have a pulse. It is vital in life-threatening situations like a drowning accident or cardiac arrest. CPR compresses the chest and heart to pump blood to the brain. A fast CPR start is required, and brain damage can develop if CPR is not started within two minutes of the heart stopping.
AED Training
An automated external defibrillator (AED), is used to help a person suffering sudden cardiac arrest. These machines but sophisticated and easy-to-use medical devices that analyze the heart’s rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. These devices are wall mounted in many public and private buildings, making them visible with quick access–look for them in your daily routine travels so you know their locations. Familiarity with AED basic operation can save valuable time during their use.
Training Resources Widely Available
Numerous organizations offer these training programs on a frequent basis, at low cost, and with many online training options available. The American Red Cross is a great place to start your provider research. Many local fire departments also offer training classes to residents of their communities and often at no cost. If you already have training, consider a refresher class and take an untrained rider friend with you.
Have No Fear-Legal Protections via Good Samaritan Laws
All 50 states and Canada have a Good Samaritan Law offering legal protection to people who give reasonable assistance to those who are or whom they believe to be injured, ill, in peril or otherwise incapacitated. This legal protection is intended to reduce fear of being sued or prosecuted for unintentional injury or other wrongdoing that occurs during assistance, and thereby encourage volunteer bystanders to rapidly assist an injured person. Make your education and training plan today.
Rik Lewis 72
BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
73
SERGEANT
BIKER
Two, four and twelve seconds 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 to provide lessons we may all use to become more professional riders. IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL FALL DAY, AND BIKER BOB WAS
commuting in to work as traffic was moving smoothly at the speed limit. Bob was wearing all his gear and content to go with traffic flow, but the car in front of Bob unexpectedly braked hard and swerved. Bob progressively and forcefully applied both brakes as he closed on the stopped minivan ahead in his lane. Unfortunately, it was too little, too late and Bob hit the back of the minivan. It took Bob a couple of months to fully recover from his injuries and even longer before he got the courage to get back on a motorcycle. Bob believed and told his family that his crash was not because of speeding or tailgating and that he was doing everything right. It was, he explained, just an unfortunate and unavoidable crash. But in his heart, Bob knows he learned a valuable lesson that day.
Two Seconds
No, Bob was not tailgating. He had two seconds of separation between himself and the vehicle ahead of him on an almost perfect day. The Two-Second following distance rule is essential because it takes the average person one second to perceive a problem and one second to react. In almost all crashes, motorcyclists have had only two seconds to complete all collision avoidance actions. Of course, following distance assumes that the vehicle you are following is moving. In Bob’s case, the moving car swerved out of the way and left in its place a stopped vehicle.
Four Seconds
Bob was unaware of the stopped minivan. Before the crash, his perception was not extended out at least four seconds, which is an urgent distance because it takes the average person four to five seconds to bring a vehicle to a complete stop—one second for perception, one second to react and two seconds of actual braking. Anything discovered only four seconds in advance is urgent. When Bob was following two seconds back, his perception should have extended at least again to the next vehicle ahead. Would Bob have hit the minivan had he perceived the problem simultaneously as the car ahead of him had?
Twelve Seconds
What if? Perception distance is 12 seconds, giving a rider time to play the “what if ” game and seek out the escape paths that
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
will remain open. What if Bob had noticed the minivan 12 seconds earlier? What if Bob saw the unexpected behavior of other drivers near where the minivan was stopped? Bob learned from his mistakes. Don’t be like Bob and only learn from the mistakes of others. Keep your two-second following distance, so you have time to perceive and react. Stay urgently aware of the space within four seconds so you can complete all evasive actions before you crash. Play the “what if ” game within twelve seconds so that nothing is ever urgent to you. See you out there and ride safe!
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75
DISPATCHES
FROM
THE
EDGE OF
CALIFORNIA
Lone Pine concert By Don Bartletti #220547 ON THE SECOND SUNSET OF A TWO-WEEK MOTORCYCLE
journey up and down the Golden State, I zoomed into one of the first let-it-all-hang-out crowd scenes since the great COVID-19 Pandemic muted yelling in public and talking loudly with strangers. On this warm summer night in Lone Pine, California, hundreds of people joyfully socialized at the “Concert in the Rocks” in the Alabama Hills National Scenic Area. The 2021 fundraiser was sold out and donations filled the treasure chest necessary to keep the nearby Museum of Western Film History open to the public. For the past century, this ginormous boulder field at the foot of Mt. Whitney has been a gold mine for Old West moviemaking and more recently for new car commercials. About a 100 years ago the first of hundreds of Hollywood westerns was filmed here during the time of the Great Influenza Pandemic. Now it’s take two with a posse of scientists hot on the trail of the latest outlaw virus.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
Ironically this steak dinner and pop music celebration was set in Lone Ranger Canyon–but not a Masked Man, Woman or Child could be found. Don Bartletti has owned his 1977 BMW R 100/7 since it was new, and whether riding with friends or alone, his constant passenger has been a camera. Bartletti was awarded the 2003 Pulitzer Prize for Feature Photography for his six-part photo essay about Central American children clinging to the backs of freight trains that crawled their way north through the length of Mexico. Survival on “The Beast” came only to the brave and the lucky. “The Roads Most Traveled” is a collection of Bartletti’s most revealing documentary photographs and can be seen at donbartlettiphotography.com.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
77
DETOURS
Traffic Stop, Part 2 By Bill Shaw #70903 A PRINCIPAL TENET OF THE IRON BUTT ASSOCIATION IS
that riding at a steady pace is safer, more efficient and less fatiguing than speeding. Stated another way, maintaining an average speed is more important than riding at a high speed. While safety is at the heart of this doctrine, another benefit is that by keeping a low profile, riders are less likely to attract the attention of law enforcement officers (LEOs). In addition to using speed-detection devices such as radar and lidar, police use visual cues to identify motorists committing driving-related infractions. A sudden change in motion, speed, direction or unusual behavior will immediately attract their attention. So, anything that makes a rider stand out from the maddening crowd will cause an LEO to take notice. Since it is impossible to be invisible to police while simultaneously being conspicuous to other motorists, there are still some things you can do to reduce your conspicuity to avoid being pulled over. • Stay to the right on multi-lane highways except when passing. Properly passing another vehicle will not single you out, but lingering in the passing lane might. • Erratic movement like weaving in and out of lanes will also attract the attention of police. There’s a big difference between defensive driving and riding like a squid. • Be extra cautious when driving by rest stops, truck stops and weigh stations. Police tend to watch closely those places where people congregate and areas that generate the highest number of calls in their patrol area. • Be alert on either side of a state line for at least 10 miles, particularly when traveling on an interstate or when there is a change in the posted speed limit. • Watch out for any vehicle that suddenly appears in your rear-view mirrors. While not a hard and fast rule, some larger departments do not allow the use of radar/laser equipment at night or on Sundays. Officers will then rely on a technique called “pacing” where a cruiser or motor officer follows behind a driver (for at least 2/10ths of a mile) before initiating a traffic stop.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
• Never be the fastest vehicle on the road. Even if a cruiser is not equipped with radar/laser or the officer is not able to pace for the required distance, a ticket can still be issued for failure to obey a highway sign, especially the posted speed limit. • On interstates or U.S. highways where the posted speed limit is 65 mph or under, don’t exceed it by more than 9 mph–even when passing a slower vehicle. Where the speed limit is above 70 mph, don’t go more than 4 mph over. • Never, EVER, pass on a double yellow, exceed the speed limit by 20 mph, or drive in a manner that endangers the life, limb or property of any person. These activities constitute reckless driving and may result in a custodial arrest and your motorcycle being impounded until the court date. This could be a pretty expensive lesson to learn–especially if the ticket was issued three time zones away. • Beware of guilt by association. In other words, avoid riding with people who do stupid things like engaging in aggressive driving, racing or instances of road rage. • Pay attention to what other drivers are doing, particularly 18-wheelers. If the big rigs are suddenly slowing down for no apparent reason, they might have heard about a speed trap over their CB radios. • Even when riding in familiar areas, use an app like Waze or Google Maps, which alerts users of the location of police.
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JACK
THE
RIEPE
Probing the Sinister Side of Moto Rallies By Jack Riepe #116117
Author’s Note: Writer’s guidelines for the MOA’s Owner’s News–“ON”–no longer permit using words like “brotherhood” to describe the membership as this language reeks of man-crushing masculine sexual overtones. (No one knowingly attributes sexual anything to BMW riders.) To keep things even, I will refer to the easygoing K bike riders as the “Teutonic Brotherhood,” while reserving the designation of the “Germanic Sisterhood” for their more uptight R bike colleagues. I fully expect to be pilloried for this consideration, proving you can’t please everyone. WHILE MOA MOTO RALLIES ARE THE
paradigm for fellowship, intellectual sharing and a hint of the raised skirt, murkier agendas simmer in shadows where reactive headlamps–a $3,000 option–fail to shine. Alleged character assassins, international parts thieves and One-Card-Monte players ply their respective trades in the background. A guy in an overcoat whispers he’s got a 1939 R 23 muffler bracket for sale…A fast-talking sidewalk dealer shuffles a single card, before taking an R biker for $20…And six non-male riders from Wisconsin have pooled $47.50, for anyone willing to leave a New Jersey moto columnist dangling by his participles. As a writer, I drift in and out of the Teutonic netherworld with relative impunity. Some welcome me as a kindred tortured soul, while my über male writing persona inspires loathing in others. I have dabbled in the black arts of a mystery moto writer with notable success in solving two strange events. Both cases were the talk of the Aurora, New York, rally. Here is a synopsis.
The Haunted Sidecar, Case 876:
Fred Derf, 63, of Slidehammer, Pennsylvania, left home for the Aurora rally under a cloud of contention. He and his wife of 40 years, Betty Ferouter-Derf 58, had just had the fight of the century. Fred had promised to paint the kitchen before departing on the six-week trip required to cover the 200-mile ride. Naturally, the kitchen was
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
unpainted at post time, and Betty was unrelenting. Fred waited until she was out of sight before throwing random gear into his sidecar. His amended plan was to load up and leave before Betty realized he was gone. Among bikers, this is known as “the flying exit.” His tent, sleeping bag, stove, lantern, commode, cooler, Amish rain gauge and 25-pound LP gas canister followed a gentle trajectory into the side car. But the madness was on him. So great was his fear of leaving behind something that would invariably prove essential, that everything within grasp got stowed. This included a lawn sundial, 20 pounds of ramen noodles, a moose-head mount and an upright player piano. The bike started with a whisper-like touch of the button. A mighty war clank from the transmission sent Derf on his way. Yet the ride was far from pleasant. A persistent moaning, punctuated by shrieks, rose from the sidecar. Fred had purchased the sidecar at a previous rally through a $150 midnight cash deal. No questions asked. “I knew it,” yelled Fred. “The damn thing is haunted.” By the time I arrived at the rally, the side car was surrounded by twin-cylinder elders with their smelling salts drawn. None would approach the moaning sidecar. “Stand back,” I commanded, before systematically removing the stacked gear. “What the hell is this?” I said, opening the top of the old player piano.
The piano was filled with bath towels, rolls of small change and the semiconscious figure of Betty Derf. She had stowed away with the intent of surprising hubby Fred at the rally. It appears Fred and I learned to play the piano at the same “conservatory.” Two days later, I was asked to solve a far more vicious crime.
The Stolen R 90, Case 835:
An aging rider, whose ability to count cylinders stopped at two and who was equally blessed with a personality that rivaled the earth’s crust for pliability, was foaming at the mouth. Someone had apparently stolen his R 90 from a parking lot reserved for numerically challenged riders with foaming mouths. The lot was full. The details of the case were sparse: 1) The bike was a fully-restored R 90 painted in the original “Prune Whip Brown.” 2) I t had the keys in the ignition so the rider wouldn’t lose them. The owner was something of a celebrity and had been receiving threats like, “Say good-bye to that brown parts pile.” For this reason, he had changed the vanity plate from his nickname “Prickly’s,” to “Not Prickly’s.” Subtlety is difficult for some of these guys to grasp. 3) T he spot where the bike had been parked was vacant.
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I approached this case in a golf cart, slowly cruising the parking lot with the bike’s owner. It was my thought that one or two of this guy’s friends may have moved the bike into a port-o-potty as a kind of joke. He responded that he had no friends, only packs of hyenas that nipped at his heels. Still, we cruised the port-opotties with purpose, occasionally following suspicious individuals. “That guy is suspicious,” said my client in a stage whisper that could be heard for 100 yards. “What makes him suspicious?” I asked. “He’s got both eyes on the same side of his nose,” was the reply. “Let’s start where you left the bike,” I said to Mr. Prickly. “I left it in a spot by the main gate,” he replied. “I remember the UPS guy was just making a delivery.” Something clicked in my head, and I sought the only UPS truck in the parking lot. It was parked next to an R 90 in the rare “Prune Whip Brown” paint scheme. With the UPS truck behind it, the R 90 became invisible against an identical brown backdrop. The rider was so thrilled to get his bike back (keys still in the ignition) that he leaned over and hissed, “If you tell anybody about this or use my real name in one of your columns, I will beat the shit out of you unmercifully.” Readers will note I haven’t mentioned his name, but I am more confident about telling this story now that he is old and goes about dressed like the Kaiser. And so, I acquired a reputation as a kind of moto-mystery detective. Somebody is always watching in the MOA. These folks are known as “The Watchers,” or the “Knights of the Eighteenth Letter of the Alphabet;” a society that traces its roots to the Templars of the Middle Ages. A summons from “The Watchers” is
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THE
RIEPE
specifically targeted. My Kermit Chair was was simple: utilizing the principle behind never to be taken lightly, and it was at a a deep forest green material (guaranteed the Hartley-Davidson rider chain wallet, a rally deep in the heart of Tennessee that I to snuggle the butt of a rhino) stretched slender chain or a steel cable could was called before this group. Seeing them over an oak frame (from the same grove of connect a rider’s dentures to their belts. in all their knightly armor and regalia, I trees that sired the hull of “Old Ironsides” Within a day, R bike riders reported was instantly reminded of “The Knights (the USS Constitution), embroidered with having their dentures and pants stolen at Who Say Ni!,” made famous in Monty the legend: “Riepe’s” in bright red thread. the same time. Python’s epic film about the Holy Grail. An acquaintance of mine suggested I get I counted the vendors who were With the visors on their helmets down, Tommy Sherrill (the Kermit Chair exhibiting. There were 451. According to I was not intended to know their identiCompany’s CEO) to embroider the word the official roster, there were only ties. Still, it was hard to ignore the name “Not” above my name. (Please note my supposed to be 450. Sandwiched in tags on their tunics. The Knights commisprevious comment on subtlety…) It between a booth selling Tennessee Pig Ear sioned me to stop a crime wave that was should be noted that Sherrill does tearing through the rally. Two all the embroidering personally, items were being stolen with SOME RIDERS HAD THEIR TEETH and by hand. He also knits his reckless abandon: Kermit Chairs, helmets. which would then be sold for STOLEN THREE TIMES OVER THE RALLY own I conspicuously left my Kermit thousands of dollars in the Far WEEKEND, LIMITING MANY TO LIQUID Chair out in the open, after East, and dentures, which would the precaution of hiring a be ransomed back to their owners. MEALS THAT CAME IN BROWN BOTTLES. taking guard (a rider from Maine), who The denture thefts were out of hid behind a huge mustache after control. At first, clever thieves securing this iconic seat to his dentures, Sandwiches and a concession for “Tent would snatch teeth from shower stalls and which were fastened, in turn, to his pants. Hats” (head gear shaped like a tent that poorly secured tents. Victims would Less than an hour later, I found the guard would allow BMW minimalists to sleep receive a ransom note advising that a asleep, sans chair, dentures and pants. while strolling through the rally), was a one-time payment of $50 to $500 could I cruised the rally with a vengeance. I counterfeit stand manned by a bogus prevent their teeth from disappearing into found the chair boldly on display with dentist. The sign read, “Buy teeth and get a a port-o-potty. Some riders had their teeth other recently acquired moto artifacts at pair of pants for free.” stolen three times over the rally weekend, the booth of “Vendor X.” Kermit Chair thefts were a different limiting many to liquid meals that came in “That’s my Kermit Chair,” I screamed. story. These priceless works of art/ brown bottles. “It is not,” hissed the miscreant. furniture were stolen without regard from Brazen denture pirates began stealing “The damn thing has my name on it,” I R bikers, K-Zars, and anyone else who left the teeth right out of R bikers’ mouths, shrieked, my voice going up another one unattended. The word on the street often while they conducted seminars or octave for emphasis. was that my personal folding throne was slept through them. My solution for this
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
“I am Riepe,” was his reply. “That is my name embroidered on the back of this chair.” The words had no sooner left his lips when six knives, each thrown by a different woman from Wisconsin, pierced his heart. I glanced furtively at the crowd and shouted, “The bastard’s dead. I’m taking his chair.” The lifeless form of Vendor X was dangling by his participles as I fled. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. Happy New Year…
www.cyclepump.com
www.motobikejack.com www.beemershop.com
I am not really dead… it only seems that way following my last three-week stint in the hospital. I’m sorry I missed the December issue, but I found it difficult to hit the right cheery tone as my medical team removed 91 pounds of fluid in 14 days. The gifted cardiologist spearheading this endeavor is an MOA member and a dedicated K bike rider. He knows how to get a heart racing. I would like to thank the MOA for its vision and insight in publishing my work, and my three sponsors — BestRest Products (David “Pufferfish” Petersen), Defender® Jeans (David Hall), and The Kermit Chair Company (Prudence and Tommy Sherrill) for funding these columns, my speaking engagements, and my Facebook presentations. If you read my column, drop them a line to say “Thanks.” Better yet, buy their stuff, always made in the USA by folks you’d be proud to call your neighbors.
www.euromotoelectrics.com January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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Having, Doing and Being By Mark Barnes, PhD #222400 OUR BRAINS CONSTANTLY GENERATE
electrical activity at all the frequencies between zero and 40-some hertz. However, at any given moment, at any given location in the brain, certain frequencies dominate the others in amplitude. Slower frequency brainwaves prevail when we sleep, for example, but this is a matter of proportion, not exclusion. While we’re awake, some areas of the brain are more active (creating faster brainwaves) than others, depending on which structures are engaged in addressing the demands of the immediate situation. A similar phenomenon exists in our motorcycling lives. Instead of brainwave dominance, it involves the relative ascendance of three facets of our passion. They’re all present during our tenure as riders, but different ones take center stage during different epochs, or even from moment to moment.
Having
It’s hard to be a motorcyclist without a motorcycle—this seems obvious. It’s actually not so clear cut, though. When any of us are between bikes, we don’t cease considering ourselves riders (see the final category below). Aside from the special circumstance of not currently owning a motorcycle, the material possession aspect of being a motorcyclist can be foreground or background. Some people are always fascinated by the latest, greatest technology, and repeatedly stretch themselves financially to own it, whether it’s in the realm of machinery, accessories or gear. Others pay little attention to technical advances and latch onto other elements as “must haves,” like historical significance, idiosyncratic associations they attach to a particular model or bit of kit, or the image-defining style of a bike, helmet, farkle or whatever (again,
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there’s more on this in final category below). Some of us don’t care much about any of these factors, and are content to simply have a machine that runs and adequate gear to be legal—and perhaps marginally protected. My guess is most of us rotate through these various positions. Sometimes we’re smitten with a new thing to buy and can’t rest until we make it our own. “Damn you, Craigslist!” Other times, our focus is elsewhere, either because our budgets prohibit such a purchase and indulging the infatuation is just too painful or because our attention has been grabbed by something from one of the other categories.
Doing
You could argue not all motorcyclists spend time wrenching in the garage, but the act of riding seems like a requirement for membership in our group. On the other hand, nobody rides constantly (except extreme outliers such as Melissa Holbrook Pierson describes in The Man Who Would Stop at Nothing). For some of us, our motorcycles are our primary mode of transportation, serving both utilitarian and recreational purposes. For others, riding is strictly a leisure activity. The time and mileage a person spends with wheels turning varies across a huge range. It’s the same for related activities, like doing maintenance and modifications, attending rallies, schools and races, or getting together with riding buddies just to talk about curvy roads and carburetors. Sometimes obligations, terrible weather, poor health, and other noxious facts of life interfere with our involvement in motorcycling, and sometimes for extended periods. We don’t stop thinking of ourselves as motorcyclists when this happens. In fact, we may be even more acutely aware of this part of our identity because of how intensely we long to resume the actions we’ve been forced to suspend. One could argue daydreaming about such things is a legitimate form of moto-Doing (“daydreaming” is a verb, after all). In any case, our participation in the multitude of options on the
motorcycling menu fluctuates. We may go on an off-road tear for a while until we’ve satisfied the perverse need to pummel and exhaust our bodies, then return to the road to savor the challenges of high mileage or twisty corners for the next few months. We might forfeit a season in the saddle to devote all our spare time to a restoration, or travel weekend after weekend to help our amateur racer friend in the pits. Unwelcome circumstances will inevitably interrupt our flow, but we get back to it as soon as we can and make substitutions where possible. Maybe I couldn’t spend the whole day winding through the canyons with my gang, but I can re-watch one of the Romaniacs’ hard enduros after dinner. Is shopping online for gear on a stormy day more about Having or Doing? Hmm...
Being
This final category is at once both ethereal and concrete. As alluded to earlier, being a motorcyclist is a matter of identity. If I were to go years without a bike or riding opportunity, I would still be a motorcyclist. Whether or not I have or do the things mentioned above, the more fundamental question is, “If I’m a motorcyclist, what sort of motorcyclist am I?” My elaborate gear screams “hard-core!,” but maybe I’m a timid poseur hiding behind a facade. Am I a crusty desert nomad or a balletic trials aficionado? Have I cultivated exceptional pavement-carving skills by attending track days and advanced training schools? Am I someone who has learned exactly what and how to pack for a ten-day tour? Are my navigational abilities sufficient for wandering comfortably through a web of unmarked trails? What characteristics have I developed, deliberately or unwittingly, over the course of my time in the two-wheeled world? We each bring different talents, histories and current capacities to the table. Mistaking ourselves for the images we project, or the persons we were at a different point in time, can lead to disaster. Who we are changes over the years, for better and for worse. Hopefully, we know more and grow wiser with age, but eventually we must also contend with declining physical strength, slower reflexes, diminished vision, etc. We may be lots of different motorcyclists over the span of a lifetime, even though some threads surely remain constant throughout. What kind of motorcyclist we are greatly influences which of the three categories we invest in most. For example, would I rather spend my hard-earned resources on Ohlins suspension (Having), an Edelweiss tour (Doing), or individualized instruction (Being)?
Of course, these may be intertwined. Maybe I want the Ohlins suspension so I can go racing, or the Edelweiss tour so I can enjoy the prestige of being an international traveler. In addition to raising my level of expertise, individualized instruction might help me acquire an instructor position of my own, and it’s obviously an activity in itself. If you think too much about all this, it becomes a tangled mess because the distinctions I’ve made are somewhat contrived, much like many other models we use to talk about life’s complexities. In my own life as a rider, I’ve devoted an excessive amount of energy to Having. I’m a tech geek who has squandered too much time and money chasing down shiny objects, only to replace each acquisition quickly with the next interesting target. I’ve owned a lot of really wonderful bikes and top-shelf accoutrements, and enjoyed most of them immensely, but this category definitely ranks third in terms of overall satisfaction. Next would have to be Doing. I have countless vivid memories of adventures large and small, interactions with other riders, moments of pure bliss in the saddle and on the garage floor. Even if I had to end all my involvement in motorcycling tomorrow, I’d carry these images and their attendant feelings with me to the grave; they are a source of richness beyond measure. Yet as fantastic as those are, I have to rank Being as the most rewarding of all. The experience of learning a technique and employing it with some measure of grace on subsequent rides (or mechanical projects) has changed my sense of who I am, what I’m capable of doing, and what I have to offer others. While I may carry memories of Doing with me, the investments I’ve made in Being have changed the person doing that carrying. Not only do I feel a sense of accomplishment in the specific capabilities related to riding, but the process of developing them has boosted my confidence in pursuing other areas of development as well. Which of these categories has attracted your attention most during your years as a motorcyclist? Which is most important to you right now? Just as sophisticated neuroimaging technology can show our brainwave activity in flux with different colors, we can see our own—and each other’s—priorities shift back and forth if we look with these categories in mind. Mark Barnes is a clinical psychologist and motojournalist. To read more of his writings, check out his book Why We Ride: A Psychologist Explains the Motorcyclist’s Mind and the Love Affair Between Rider, Bike and Road, currently available in paperback through Amazon and other retailers.
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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Roughing It? By Ron Davis #111820 ONE OF THE REASONS
I bought a bigger bike last spring was my thinking that I might, after a long sabbatical, like to try moto-camping again. But I had to wonder, could a bike hold all the stuff these aging bones would require to rough it for a night or two at a fairly spartan campground? And would the prospect of pump-it-yourself water, pit toilets and no electricity hold the rustic romance it once did? I had postponed and re-postponed
Wildcat Mountain Overlook
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expeditions all summer for a variety of reasons, not the least of which included the dreaded Delta Variant, but in September I saw an intriguing photo taken at a likely looking state park in Wisconsin’s Driftless Area (basically, motorcyclist heaven). As is my custom, I did practically no research on the park itself, but instead began the hunt for my long-neglected camping gear (more than once finding myself in the garage or basement forgetting what I was searching for). I did find my tent, but it’s not one of those remarkable modern ones that packs down to the size of a flashlight only to
magically bloom into a small cabin, complete with a sitting room and your Beemer’s own garage. Instead, mine is an old ripstop nylon and fiberglass mat contraption, with three remaining stakes, tattered zippers and some poles that had been duct taped together after a sudden blast of wind at an MOA rally in the ‘90s. It can be crammed into a bag roughly the size and shape of a good-sized Basset hound. Admittedly, most of the camping gear I was able to resurrect was junk. A pile destined for the dumpster grew steadily: half of a Girl Scouts of America aluminum
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"DAY-LONG" TOURING SADDLES By
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cooking set, some blobs of what I’m pretty sure were once bars of soap, boxes of damp wooden matches, an empty bottle of Support Suspension System Vietnam-era bug juice and a bunch of 4917 Shasta Dam Blvd. miscellaneous left-overs from MREs, like Shasta Lake, CA 96019 tiny bottles of tabasco sauce, peanut butter (800) 432-9566 (I’m guessing) and rock-hard salt packets. However, my searches did yield a few info@day-long.com www.day-long.com www.day-long.com much more serviceable items. A barelyPhoto: Gina Miele ©2021 used Jet Boil backpacking stove a friend had given me in exchange for boarding his aero bmwon 2021a.indd 1 7/8/21 4:33 PM Bonneville one winter was a welcome Introducing ™ discovery (complete with a French press!). 1 Gallon 2 Gallon I also found an inflatable pillow from Exped, which I remembered as being positively luxurious after using a rolled up Aerostich jacket for years. And in the same box was a Thermarest cot, which, though it takes up less space than a loaf of bread, is so diabolically designed, I knew I’d have to practice assembling it in the living room rather than risk trying to figure it out later in a cloud of mosquitos with a flashlight in Gear up for adventure at my mouth. Giantloopmoto.com Totally forgotten and looking almost brand new was a Touratech/Ortlieb collapsible water bowl. About the size and weight of one gauntlet glove, it opens out to hold 10 liters of water or anything you’d want to tote around while camping—really earns its place in any top box. Looking more worse for wear, but still useful was an army surplus compression stuff sack for my mummy bag. These bags (ebay?) have at least ten straps that can reduce content to half its normal size. By the next morning, I was all packed for my impromptu shakedown trip, though with no room for food (I resolved to dine only at five-star convenience stores), and I set off for my camping destination. I hesitate to name the park I headed for because I don’t want to disparage it. It’s a cute, well-kept state park featuring a swimming pond and a scenic bluff with 223 crude, WPA-built steps www.beemershop.com
aerostich.com/on
ARMADILLO BAG
Liquid Power Reservoirs
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
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(I counted them) up to an observation platform that offers scenic vistas stretching out 10 miles. Had I done a bit more research and paid more attention to the park map, I would have learned the campsite I chose was located three blocks from an interstate, four blocks from a state highway, and one block from railroad tracks that carried trains by every two hours (with accompanying air horn at the park road crossing). Not exactly the tranquil setting I normally associate with camping. Obviously, I passed the night fitfully. I found the cot, though a life-saver compared to sleeping on the ground, had gotten harder to crawl out of than I remembered, being only five inches off the floor. Actually, any maneuvering around in a tent—getting dressed, groping around for glasses, flashlights and ear plugs, zipping and unzipping jammed zippers to answer nature’s calls, chasing mosquitos—had somehow gotten much harder than when I was 20 years younger. Fortunately, my chorus of grunts and expletives didn’t bother anyone in the nearly empty campground.
As I heard yet another train approaching, I mentally recounted the string of motels I had passed in nearby Tomah (Motto: “Where the Interstate Divides”) before I reached the campground However, the thought of mounting up and waking some innkeeper to get a room then returning the next day to strike my camp reminded me of a kid chickening out after trying to sleep in the backyard. Instead, my thoughts turned as they seem to do about a hundred times a day to the question, “What am I doing here?” Maybe this puny camping trip was a belated homage to my father’s annual compulsion to pack our family of six into our ’58 Mercury station wagon and head up north (his and Mom’s queen-size mattress roped to the top). The weeks of mildewed canvas tent, leaking air mattresses, and trips into town for fudge and moccasins (the soles inevitably plastered with burned marshmallows) always teetered on the edge of disaster, but nothing makes family-favorite memories like adversity. The next day I headed to another state park nearby, Wildcat, which is a
wonderful, bluff-top camping and recreation area that sits astride State Highway 33, affectionately known by local riders as “The Tail of the Cow” (Wisconsin’s own answer to The Tail of the Dragon). Much quieter, with spectacular views of the lush Driftless coulees, bluffs and trout streams, this park is clearly one of the gems of Wisconsin’s 66-park system. I broke up the trip home with a stopover to ogle my buddy Zino’s new-to-him hydroplane and pet his immaculate V-Rod a little. However, I spent much of my time on the road calculating the considerable disparity between the hours riding and the hours prepping, setting up and taking down a campsite, and finally putting everything away where I might be able to actually find it someday. Would I do it again? I decided moto camping, no matter how much I invest in creature comforts, is always going to be a challenge, maybe more so as I grow even older. But then, so is motorcycling in general, and isn’t that part of what makes it our passion? Next summer: Lake Superior and the Porcupine Mountains!
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
SCAN ME FOR DETAILS
DON’T RUN AWAY FROM YOUR PROBLEMS.
RIDE AWAY FROM THEM. IT’S A LOT FASTER. THERAPEUTIC MOTORCYCLE ADVENTURES FOR VETERANS AND FIRST RESPONDERS WITH PTSD (AND OTHER NASTY STUFF)
©2020 MOTORCYCLE RELIEF PROJECT
MOTORELIEF.ORG
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
in this issue
BMW MOA OFFICERS Reece Mullins, President (334) 470-7770; reece.mullins@bmwmoa.org Brian Dutcher, Vice President (402) 289-7182; brian.dutcher@bmwmoa.org Kelly Moore, Treasurer (859) 536-8638; kelly.moore@bmwmoa.org Adam Chandler, Secretary (415) 894-0857; adam.chandler@bmwmoa.org
BMW MOA DIRECTORS Paul Di Marchi (303) 415-9300; paul.dimarchi@bmwmoa.org Jon Kurtz (859) 338-9801; jon.kurtz@bmwmoa.org Doug Peters (478) 747-4718; doug.peters@bmwmoa.org
FOUNDATION OUR MISSION The BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Foundation is dedicated to to building a vibrant community, inspiring enthusiasts to connect and share their passion for motorcycles. BMW MOA FOUNDATION HEADQUARTERS 2350 Hwy. 101 South Greer, SC 29651 (864) 438-0962
Louise Powers (805) 598-1529; louise.powers@bmwmoa.org
BMW MOA FOUNDATION OFFICERS Tom Gary, President tgary@bmwmoaf.org
Michiael “Roc” Shannon (812) 322-1378; roc.shannon@bmwmoa.org
Randy Logan, Vice President rlogan@bmwmoaf.org
BMW MOA STAFF Ted Moyer, Executive Director tedm@bmwmoa.org Bill Wiegand, Managing Editor bill@bmwmoa.org Karin Halker, Art Director karin@bmwmoa.org Wes Fleming, Digital Media Editor wes@bmwmoa.org Ray Tubbs, Digital Marketing Manager ray@bmwmoa.org Chris Hughes, Director of Advertising chris@bmwmoa.org Tonya McMeans, Membership Services tonya@bmwmoa.org Lesa Howard, Membership Services lesa@bmwmoa.org
Pam Werstler, Secretary pwerstler@bmwmoaf.org Dan Finazzo, Treasurer dfinazzo@bmwmoaf.org BMW MOA FOUNDATION DIRECTORS David Dunn david.dunn@bmwmoaf.org Andreas Gneist andreas.gneist@bmwmoaf.org Rik Lewis rik.lewis@bmwmoaf.org Steve Martin steve.martin@bmwmoaf.org Walton Rogers walton.rogers@bmwmoaf.org
CONTRIBUTORS Cover Bill Wiegand Table of Contents Ben Myers #223522 Big Picture David Burke #109393 Postcards from the Road Ben Myers #223522 Ernest Fernández #199515 Jorge Torres #219920 Michael McCrary #148315 Jon Eesley #218712 Kim Dorsing #166192 Chris Wilhelm #205021 News Josef Woodall #216871 Brian Burdette #77050 Member Tested Joel Parks #49182 Mark Barnes #222400 Wes Fleming #87301 Tech Matthew Parkhouse #13272 Wes Fleming #87301 Features Brian Carey #203865 Ken Frick #199204 Skills Rik Lewis #217253 Lifestyle James Carlisle #196730 Don Bartletti #220547 Bill Shaw #70903 Jack Riepe #116117 Mark Barnes, PhD #222400 Ron Davis #111820 Talelight Richard Hepburn #149054
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Brian Carey
Mark Barnes
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 CONSUMER LIAISON John Gamel john.gamel@bmwmoa.org FORUM LIAISON Kurt Schrader Forum Administrator - Steve Henson Forum Moderators - Gary Nelson, Lee Fulton, Voni Glaves, Don Eilenberger 2021 BMW MOA RALLY CHAIRS Corey and Becky Smith rallychairs@bmwmoa.org
Wes Fleming
REGIONAL COORDINATORS Jerry Barron - South Carolina (313) 587-2740; jerry.barron@bmwmoa.org Charles L. Buchanan IV - Virginia (920) 574-0170; charles.buchanan@bmwmoa.org Joe Burns - Pennsylvania (814) 229-0896; joe.burns@bmwmoa.org Doug Christensen - Florida (561) 536-3663; doug.christensen@bmwmoa.org Joe Dawson - Arizona (480) 721-4412; joe.dawson@bmwmoa.org Ken Decroo - California (909) 961-7762; ken.decroo@bmwmoa.org Jean Excell - Colorado (719) 650-6215; jean.excell@bmwmoa.org Frank Florio - New York (518) 369-8339; frank.florio@bmwmoa.org Karolina Francis - British Columbia, Canada (604) 657-7351; karolina.francis@bmwmoa.org Johnathan Gifford - Oklahoma (484) 919-7277; jgifford@bmwmoa.org Vince Kelly - Pennsylvania (610) 7047611; vince.kelly@bmwmoa.org
James Carlisle
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 Stephen Rome - Florida (850) 479-2701; stephen.rome@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 Thomas Van Horn - Wisconsin (608) 695-6784; tomvanhorn@bmwmoa.org Gerry Weninger - Saskatchewan (306) 221-3787; gerry.weninger@bmwmoa.org Bryan Whitehead - Illinois (312) 804-2293; bryan.whitehead@bmwmoa.org
Jack Riepe
WHEN
AND WHERE
UPCOMING EVENTS N FOR O I T A C O L WAY NEW GETA
2022!
FEBRUARY 18-20, 2022 MOA GETAWAY AT EMERALD COAST
LOCATION: Emeral Coast, Florida CONTACT: BMW MOA 864-438-0962
april 1-2, 2022 HILL COUNTRY HANGOUT
LOCATION: Kerrville, TX CONTACT: : Mike Makowski makowski.michael@gmail.com
Join the San Antonio BMW Riders Association April 1 - 3, 2022 at Kerrville-Schreiner Park in Kerrville, Texas for a couple of days of beautiful springtime in the Texas Hill Country! The rally site is on the hillside of the park. Camping will be in the Fawn Hide-a-Way loop; dining hall and mini-cabins in the Midway Mini-Cabin loop. The GPS coordinates for the entrance to the Park at State Park Rd 19 and FM 173 are 30.011739, -99.122925. Note that this is NOT the same as the entrance to the riverside of the park which is on the opposite side of FM 173. Rally check-in opens at noon in the dining hall in the Midway Mini-Cabin Loop on April 1st. Rally fee of $40 includes two nights tent camping, Friday and Saturday night dinner, poker run on Saturday, and door prizes and awards Saturday night. In addition, you are situated in the middle of some of the best riding in Central Texas, just minutes from Hwy 16 and the Three Sisters! Early registration begins on January 1st 2022 and ends on March 25th. Registrations after March 25th are onsite only for $50 per person at the gate. Please check out the details and online registration at SAN ANTONIO BMW RIDERS ASSOCIATION WEBSITE!
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
WHEN
AND
Email your event information to editor@bmwmoa.org
WHERE
january
1 1 /14/2022 – 1/16/2022 BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF NORTHEAST FLORIDA’S 39TH ANNUAL WINTER RALLY
LOCATION: Live Oak, FL CONTACT: Pedro Afable, Rally Chair
rallychair.bmwnef@gmail.com
april
LOCATION: Emerald Coast, FL CONTACT: BMW MOA 864-438-0962
6 5 /6/2022 – 5/8/2022 MOA GETAWAY AT COEUR D’ALENE
LOCATION: Kerrville, TX CONTACT: Mike Makowski makowski.michael@gmail.com
LOCATION: Coeur d’Alene, ID CONTACT: BMW MOA 864-438-0962
7 5 /13/2022 – 5/15/2022 MOA GETAWAY AT LOS OSOS
4 4 /22/2022 – 4/24/2022 MOA GETAWAY AT FONTANA
LOCATION: Los Osos, CA CONTACT: BMW MOA 864-438-0962
LOCATION: Fontana, NC CONTACT: BMW MOA 864-438-0962
FEBRUARY
2 2 /18/2022 – 2/20/2022 MOA GETAWAY AT EMERALD COAST
MAY
3 4 /1/2022 – 4/2/2022 HILL COUNTRY HANGOUT
8 5 /14/2022 - 5/15/2022 NEW SWEDEN 450
5 4 /27/2022 – 5/1/2022 BMW’s TAME THE TAIL OF THE DRAGON
LOCATION: Cherry Hills, New Jersey ONTACT: Ron Cesaretti (856) 425-4040 C
LOCATION: Robbinsville, North Carolina ONTACT: Kevin Rasmussen (423) 302-0448 C
rcesaretti@comcast.net
qbird66@gmail.com
For complete details on any event listed, please visit bmwmoa.org and click on the Rallies & Events tab
12
6 15 14
13
17 11
16
8
18
7 4 5
9
10
2 3
1
Map courtesy of
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WHEN
AND
WHERE
juLY
9 5 /20/2022 – 5/22/2022 MOA GETAWAY AT SANTA FE
12 7 /7/2022 - 7/10/2022 CASCADE COUNTRY RENDEZVOUS
LOCATION: Santa Fe, NM CONTACT: BMW MOA 864-438-0962
LOCATION: Cashmere, Washington CONTACT: Dan Muir (703) 585-2159
10 5 /20/2022 – 5/22/2022 MOA GETAWAY AT DILLARD
rallymaster@wsbmwr.org
LOCATION: Dillard, GA CONTACT: BMW MOA 864-438-0962
august
13 8 /5/2022 - 8/7/2022 MOA GETAWAY AT GUELPH
june
LOCATION: Guelph, Ontario CONTACT: BMW MOA 864-438-0962
11 6 /3/2022 - 6/5/2022 LAND OF OZ RALLY
LOCATION: Atchison, Kansas CONTACT: Bruce Weber (913) 620-4529 moa_84843@yahoo.com
septemiber
14 9 /9/2022 - 9/11/2022 51ST ANNUAL WISCONSIN DELLS RALLY
LOCATION: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin ONTACT: Robert Preuss 262-391-0550 C
dellsrally@gmail.com
15 9 /9/2022 - 9/11/2022 MOA GETAWAY AT SUGARBUSH LOCATION: Sugarbush, VT CONTACT: BMW MOA 864-438-0962
16 9 /16/2022 - 9/18/2022 MOA GETAWAY AT CEDAR CITY LOCATION: Cedar City, UT CONTACT: BMW MOA 864-438-0962
17 9 /22/2022 - 9/25/2022 2ND ANNUAL LAUREL HIGHLANDS WEEKEND - SPONSORED BY THE BMW MOA LOCATION: Somerset, Pennsylvania ONTACT: Jason Kaplitz C
gsjay@kaplitz.com
18 9 /23/2022 - 9/26/2022 35TH ANNUAL HOOSIER BEEMER RALLY LOCATION: North Vernon, Indiana ONTACT: Andy Fountain C
DE INS ID RI
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TH E
(812) 498-2031 k12lts@gmail.com
Whether it’s tech, industry or just for fun,
The Ride Inside with Mark Barnes
MOA’s newest podcast features Mark’s insights into the mental, emotional and social aspects of motorcycling.
Chasing the Horizon
digs into the topics that matter to all riders. chasingthehorizon.us
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BMW OWNERS NEWS | January 2022
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BMW OWNERS NEWS STAFF Bill Wiegand, Managing Editor bill@bmwmoa.org Karin Halker, Art Director karin@bmwmoa.org Wes Fleming, Digital Media Editor wes@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
Admore Lighting....................................15 Adriatic Moto Tours...............................31 Adventure New Zealand Tours............9 AeroFlow...................................................79 Aerostich-Rider WearHouse...............87 Alaska Leather.........................................79 Beemer Boneyard..................................79 Beemer Shop, The..................................87 Best Rest Products/Cycle Pump.......83 Black Box Embedded............................81 Boxer Works Service..............................25 Capital Cycle............................................79 Colorado Tourbike Rentals.................29 Corbin Pacific...........................................73 Cyclenutz...................................................25 DMC Sidecars...........................................31 Edelweiss Bike Travel............................88 EPM Hyper Pro.................................29, 75 Euro Moto Electrics...............................83 Geza Gear..................................................31 Giant Loop................................................87 Helmet Sun Blocker...............................27 HEX ezCAN...............................................83 Ilium Works...............................................23 IMTBike Tours..........................................25 Kermit Chair Company............................9 Knopf Tours..............................................15
LD Comfort..................................................9 M4Moto..............................................27, 75 MachineartMoto....................................23 Michelin Tire............................................IFC MOA Gear Store.................................... IBC MOA Getaways.......................................19 Morton’s BMW.........................................73 Moto Bike Jack........................................83 Moto Bins..................................................31 MotoDiscovery........................................82 Motonation..............................................BC Motorcycle Relief Project....................88 Mountain Master Truck Equip....29, 79 Overseas Speedometer.......................15 Parabellum...............................................23 Peter Lattman Real Estate...................31 Progressive Insurance.............................1 Redverz......................................................75 Re-Psycle BMW Parts............................75 Rider Magazine........................................75 Roadrunner Magazine..........................81 Rocky Creek Designs............................25 Ron Davis - Shiny Side Up...................81 Russel Cycle Products...........................87 Sargent Cycle Products...........................9 Touratech.....................................................5 Wilbers USA.......................................15, 79
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 52, Number 1
January 2022 | BMW OWNERS NEWS
95
TAILIGHT
Brrrrrrrrr! Richard Hepburn (#149054) waited too long for the sun to come out and woke up to this!
Introducing the all-new Michelin® Road 6 tire
GEAR UP WITH STYLE!
Gearstore gear.bmwmoa.org
Legendary performance… improved! 1,2 The all-new MICHELIN® Road 6 tire offers 15% more grip than the MICHELIN® Road 5 tire in wet conditions thanks to 100% MICHELIN® Silica Technology™ tread compounds and a new tread pattern featuring MICHELIN® Water Evergrip Technology™.1 It also delivers 10% longer tread life compared to the previous generation.2 In addition, MICHELIN® 2CT+ Technology™ which has been standard on the rear tire is now applied to the front tire as well. This provides better rigidity at lean and more stability when cornering – especially under strong acceleration or heavy braking, compared to the previous generation.
michelinman.com/motorcycle
@michelinmotorcycle #MichelinOnMyMoto
Official Sponsor of the BMW MOA Annual Mileage Contest
(1) Based on internal lap time testing conducted in 2020 in Fontange, France on wet surfaces using a 2018 SUZUKI 1250 Bandit S tted with 120/70 ZR 17 front and 180/55 ZR17 rear tires comparing MICHELIN® Road 6 and MICHELIN® Road 5 tires. Actual results may vary. | (2) Based on external wear testing conducted in 2020 by Dekra in France using a 2014 BMW K1300R tted with 120/70 ZR 17 front and 180/55 ZR17 rear tires comparing weight loss of MICHELIN® Road 6 and MICHELIN® Road 5 tires after 2500 miles. Actual results may vary. | Copyright © 2021 Michelin North America, Inc. All rights reserved.
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JANUARY 2022 BMW OWNERS NEWS www.bmwmoa.org