BMW OWNERS NEWS – A PUBLICATION OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA
SEPTEMBER 2016
www.motonation.com
SEPTEMBER 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS www.bmwmoa.org
www.olympiamotosports.com www.firstgear-usa.com/mens-gear/jackets.html
Table of Contents features
56 68 84 92
Das Rally! As seen through the lens A collection of images from Das Rally!
Wisconsin, Rediscovering the Heart of the Driftless Area By Ron Davis #111820, Sue Rihn #43753 and Tom Van Horn #51550 Untouched by glaciers, the Driftless area of southwestern Wisconsin offers riders a trifecta of exciting roads, beautiful scenery and unique attractions.
road racing, american style By Wes Fleming #87301 When legendary motorcycle racer and AMA Hall of Fame inductee Wayne Rainey decided the USA needed a premier racing circuit, with the support of friends and the AMA, MotoAmerica was born.
downhill and off camber, part two By Katherine Helmetag #196517 In part two of her feature, Helmetag takes us back to Michigan's Grattan Raceway's turn 4 where riders continue their track day experience.
The BMW MOA and MOATM are trademarks of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America.
the club 4 Owners News Contributors 8 Headlight What a Rally, by Bill Wiegand 10 President's Column The Honor, by Wes Fitzer 12 Shiny Side Up The Tie that Binds, by Ron Davis 14 Picture This Picturesque 16 Rider to Rider Letters from our members 20 2016 MOA Getaway planner Member tested/ product news 22 Mosko Moto Backcountry Panniers, MotoChic’s
Lauren bag, action camera comparison, REV’IT Ladies Airwave 2 jacket and pants, Outback Motortek.
38 BMW backs Rever, BMW soft panniers, Five California Gloves, Scorpion modular helmet, GIVI Trekker side cases, Joe Skaggs wins MOA Foundation R 100 Custom motorcycle, Phil Rose receives Knöchlein award, BMW Scrambler details, CSS Polyeurethantechnik.
tech 50 Keep ‘em Flying Time to Retire, by Matthew Parkhouse skills 98 Ask a Pro Problems with Simulators, by Lee Parks lifestyle 102 John Hermann and Wildcat Canyon, by Gene Calbow 104 Mileage Slaves Annual Ride with a Spritz and Twist, by Dave Cwi
106 Tradition and the California Delta Roads, by Richard Klain events 112 When and Where Places to go and things to see 119 Advertiser Index 120 Talelight
ON THE COVER: The Twisted Throttle S 1000 XR Pikes Peak Edition is the next bike to be raffled by the BMW MOA Foundation. Tickets are available at bmwmoaf.org. Photo by Lee Harrelson #145612
September 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS
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the club
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CONTRIBUTORS 1 . D ancin’ Dave Cwi is a Life Member of the MOA as well as a Premier Member of the Iron Butt Association. He's owned every series of BMW motorcycle from the /2 to the modern RT, and has burned out his wife, who once loved motorcycling but sold her bikes after two trips with Dave. He pays for his riding addiction via marketing stints, including work in Power Sports. You will see him down the road. 2. Matt Parkhouse acquired his first BMW in 1972, upon his return from Vietnam. He hired on at Doc's BMW of Colorado Springs in 1977. Since then, his life has been a mixture of travel (U.S., Mexico, Europe and North Africa), owning/working in various shops, working as a nurse, and being very involved in his local community. He has owned around fifteen airhead BMWs over the years, but his first bike, a 1972 R75/5, is parked by the front door with 423,000 miles on the odometer. 3. Lee Parks has been riding motorcycles since the age of 12 and finds his greatest joy in sharing the motorcycling experience with family and friends. This passion eventually led him to work in the motorcycle industry. Parks has an extensive racing background, has worked as the editorial director of Motorcycle Consumers News and founded Lee Parks Design in 2001 to create innovative products and services to help riders achieve “better living through motorcycling” and help companies better serve their customers.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
4. Ron Davis has been a rider, off and on, for about 40 years. Over that period, he’s also squeezed in a full time career teaching high school and university classes in writing, photography, and publishing while also working as a social media writer for the tourism industry in northwest Ontario and Associate Editor for BMW Owners News. His writing has been featured by BMW Owners News, BMW Motorcycle Magazine and The National Writing Project, and his essays, sometimes on motorcycling, can be heard regularly on Wisconsin Public Radio’s “Wisconsin Life.” His recently completed novel for young adults, Sachem Summer, is about love, trout fishing and a BMW R50/2. 5. Wes Fleming tried being a rock star for 25 years, but gave all that up to focus on motorcycles. His mother still hasn’t forgiven him. The first new motorcycle he ever bought got run over by a car – with him still in the saddle. He discovered BMWs thanks to a friend in 2001 and has been riding trendy, not-so-trendy and sidecar-equipped BMWs ever since. Wes currently holds down multiple jobs, including motorcycle shop office boy and history professor, and when he’s not helping his teenage daughter with her homework, they’re out somewhere in their sidecar rig. 6. Marcia McGuire learned to ride a few years ago, and since then her mode of adventure has become the two wheels of her BMW G650GS. She loves how motorcycles expand engagement with the world, and her GS often accompianies her in her projects investigating and documenting social and environmental issues.
www.maxbmw.com
This is it!
The 2016 BMW S 1000 XR Pikes Peak Edition custom built by our friends at Twisted Throttle is the next MOA Foundation raffle bike. Visit bmwmoaf.org for more details and to buy your tickets. Photo by Bill Wiegand #180584
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BMW OWNERS NEWS  September 2016
September 2016  BMW OWNERS NEWS
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headlight Magazine of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America MANAGING EDITOR
Bill Wiegand bill@bmwmoa.org
What a Rally! By Bill Wiegand #180584
ASSOCIATE EDITORS
Ron Davis • Wes Fleming • Joe Tatulli ART DIRECTOR
Karin Halker karin@bmwmoa.org CONTRIBUTING WRITERS
David Cwi • Marven Ewen • Deb Gasque Chris “Teach” McNeil • Lee Parks Matthew Parkhouse • Jack Riepe Shirley and Brian Rix • Shawn Thomas ADVERTISING
Advertising materials, including chartered club rally display advertising, should be sent to our Advertising Office. Please contact Chris Hughes for display rates, sizes and terms. Chris Hughes chris@bmwmoa.org 11030 North Forker Road, Spokane, WA 99217 509-921-2713 (p) 509-921-2713 (f ) BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA
640 S. Main Street, Ste. 201 Greenville, SC 29601 864-438-0962 (p) 864-250-0038 (f )
Submissions should be sent to the BMW MOA office or editor@bmwmoa.org. Submissions accepted only from current members of the BMW MOA and assume granting of first serial publication rights within and on the BMW MOA website and use in any future compendium of articles. No payments will be made and submissions will not be returned. The BMW MOA reserves the right to refuse, edit or modify submissions. Opinions and positions stated in materials/articles herein are those of the authors and not by the fact of publication necessarily those of BMW MOA; publication of advertising material is not an endorsement by BMW MOA of the advertised product or service. The material is presented as information for the reader. BMW MOA does not perform independent research on submitted articles or advertising. Change of address notification and membership inquiries should be made to the BMW MOA office or membership@bmwmoa.org. BMW MOA membership is $40/yr. and includes the BMW Owners News, which is not available separately. Each additional family member is $10 without a subscription. Canadian members add $12 for postal surcharge. The BMW MOA and MOA™ are trademarks of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
THERE’S NOTHING LIKE THE EXPERIENCE OF SEEING SOMETHING
that’s been months, and even years, in the planning, come together and not only do well, but succeed incredibly well. While the vast majority of the heavy lifting is done each year by our Rally Chairs, the thousands upon thousands of volunteer hours faithfully given by our members begins early each Spring. Each year we all have a front row seat for what’s in store through the pages of Owners News, but nothing can replace the excitement of seeing all that planning unfold. There’s simply nothing that compares to the feeling of being part of a team working together toward a common goal and then seeing that goal achieved. The Hamburg area rolled out the red carpet, welcoming all BMW MOA riders and the Das Rally! grounds offered us a park-like venue with tall trees providing ample shade with plenty of green space surrounding rally central where seminars, food, refreshments, vendors and the evening entertainment was located. Rally campers had acres of beautifully green grass to pitch their tents and the GS Giants got dirty while competing and practicing on one of their best tracks ever. Though a brief episode of severe winds did blow through the rally grounds during the wee hours of Thursday morning, our weather was nearly perfect. Daytime temperatures consistently stayed in the lower ‘80s with occasional fluffy clouds floating by offering additional relief. Personally, I brought many memories home from Hamburg that I know I’ll treasure forever and topping my list is the opportunity our annual get-together provides to reunite with many of our Owners News contributors who tirelessly give so much of their valuable time to make Owners News the great publication it is. I’m continually amazed at the dedication of our contributors who receive no monetary compensation, but give so much of themselves. Words will never be able to fully express the appreciation all Owners News readers have for the tireless work they do each and every month. Writers like Jack Riepe, Matt Parkhouse, Dave Cwi and many more provide the foundation upon which Owners News is built and a rumor circulating around the rally grounds was that Paul Glaves may even have something for us in the future. For all of our benefit, I hope that is true. Beyond Owners News, the hard work of our member volunteers serving the nearly 50 committees needed to make our rallys successful is equally incredible. Providing services for everything from registration to door prizes, sign production and placement to seminars, beer sales to shuttle service, volunteers are not only the backbone of our rally, but our organization as well. Seeing our volunteers in action is a humbling experience that I believe serves to plant the seeds of service in the minds of others necessary to sustain us. Of all of my Das Rally! experiences, the one I will cherish the most is of Joe Skaggs. Imagine relaxing by your tent and having friends run up telling you of a Karol Patzer Facebook post congratulating you on winning the Foundation’s R 100 Custom. I’m guessing Joe couldn’t get to the main stage fast enough and witnessing the expression on his face of not only excitement and awe, but thanks and heartfelt appreciation, tells me the MOA is a pretty cool place to be. Thank you again to all who attended Das Rally! Thank you to all volunteers for all of your hard work. Thank you to Dutch and Kate Lammers for putting it all together. Ride safe!
www.bmwmotorcycles.com
PRESIDENTSCOLUMN
The Honor OUR MISSION
To foster communication and a sense of family among BMW motorcycle enthusiasts BMW MOA OFFICERS
Wes Fitzer, President 918-441-2114; jwfitzer@yahoo.com Jackie Hughes, Vice President 509-928-3261; jhughes@bmwmoa.org Reece Mullins, Secretary 334-470-7770; rangerreece@mac.com Jean Excell, Treasurer 719-650-6215; jeanexcell@bmwmoa.org BMW MOA DIRECTORS
Sam Garst 414-704-7767: guanocave@gmail.com Stan Herman 719-250-4358; hermanhaus1@msn.com Bill Hooykaas 705-329-2683; hooykaas@bmwmoa.org Lisa Malachowsky 925-759-4360; lisa.malachowsky@gmail.com Marc Souliere 613-297-7546; beemer1@sympatico.ca BMW MOA VOLUNTEER STAFF
Steve Brunner, Mileage Contest Coordinator 910-822-4368, steveb@bmwmoa.org Jim Heberling, High Mileage Coordinator 309-530-1951, jheberling@bmwmoa.org Deb Lower, Ambassador Liaison 719-510-9452, ldeborah@comcast.net Greg Feeler, Pat Carol and Brian Burdette 2017 BMW MOA Rally Chairs 2017rallychair@bmwmoa.org BMW MOTORCYCLE OWNERS OF AMERICA
640 640 S. Main Street, Ste. 201 Greenville, SC 29601
Robert C. Aldridge, Executive Director bob@bmwmoa.org Ted Moyer, Director of Membership & Marketing tedm@bmwmoa.org Ken Engelman, Director of Business Development ken@bmwmoa.org Bill Wiegand, BMW Owners News Managing Editor bill@bmwmoa.org Karin Halker, Art Director karin@bmwmoa.org Ray Tubbs, Digital Marketing Manager ray@bmwmoa.org Wes Fleming, Associate Editor Digital wfleming@bmwmoa.org Lesa Howard, Membership Services lesa@bmwmoa.org Amanda Faraj, Membership Services amanda@bmwmoa.org
By Wes Fitzer # 170126 DURING THE JULY MOA BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING HELD AT
Das Rally! in Hamburg, New York, I was given the extreme honor of being elected by my fellow board members to serve as your president. I say honored because only a few short years ago I was just another member, wondering what I could do to serve the BMW MOA. You see, the MOA and the eclectic group of riders making up our ranks have been somewhat of a life-saver for me. Perhaps because my work was within law enforcement, I had become somewhat jaded toward society, suspicious of individuals I didn’t know and thinking they were somehow bad. What I’ve quickly learned as an MOA member is just the opposite and that there are about 34,000 people across both North America and the world I now consider friends. These people, sharing the common bond of their love for BMW motorcycles, have proven time and time again that there are good people out there who can be counted on, not only in times of need but in times of celebration as well. This was proven to me time and time again at Das Rally! I was on my way to Hamburg and just outside of Omaha, Illinois, population 253, when the fuel pump on my 2014 K 1600 GTL died. With the help of BMW Roadside Assistance, the bike was towed to Grass Roots BMW in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, and I was able to continue my trip to Hamburg in a car. It was what I learned after the breakdown that really opened my eyes about our membership, when nearly every MOA member I came into contact with offered some sort of assistance, from loaning me a bike to helping with logistics. During the repair, both BMW Roadside Assistance and Brian, the Service Manager at Grass Roots, kept me apprised of the status of my bike. It is exactly this type of overwhelming support our membership continually shows one another that made me run for board membership two years ago and why I’m so honored to serve as your president. So, where do we go from here? The BoD and its staff have always strived to make the MOA the best motorcycle enthusiast club in the world, regardless of brand, and we will continue those efforts. We have an outstanding group of employees, board members, key volunteers and countless other volunteers who pull together to keep this train on track. The BoD has been and will continue to work on more effective and efficient communications to the membership. Next month you’ll see an Annual Financial Report in ON which represents the first time this information has been produced in a formalized financial report and our first cumulative financial report since 2011. We will also continue to look for new and innovative ways to not only serve and invigorate our existing members, but new ways to recruit new members. Perhaps the best way to invigorate and recruit new members is by kicking tires in a parking lot or gas station. When you see fellow BMW riders, take a few minutes to introduce yourself and ask them if they are members. If not, have them visit bmwmoa.org/membership to learn what the BMW MOA has to offer, and encourage them to take advantage of our Three Free program. If you would like to serve the MOA in some way, I encourage you to run for the MOA Board of Directors, and we have changed our election process to now holding elections annually. Keep an eye on the Owners News for more information. If you do choose to run, I’ll make two promises: you’ll work hard and you’ll enjoy most every minute of it. Where else can you serve 34,000 people who enjoy doing the same things you do? Finally, I hope you enjoy what I believe to be the best part of the riding season with its cooler temperatures and the beautiful fall foliage it brings. Stay safe,
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
Wes Fitzer
www.tourmaster.com
the club 12
shinysideup
The tie that binds By Ron Davis #111820 ONE
HOT
DAY
last summer I was stopped at a red light when a young woman in an SUV pulled up next to me. She leaned out her open window and asked, “Aren’t you hot?” A quick side note here: this was a question, emphasis on the word “hot,” probably prompted by my wearing an improbable three-season motorcycle jacket. Regrettably, this wasn’t an exclamation, as in “Aren’t YOU hot!” I smiled and said, “Yup, but as soon as I’m on the highway, I’ll be okay.” A few miles down that highway I had to pull into a convenience store for gas and had another encounter there that I’d bet is just as familiar to any rider. As I was filling my tank, a guy from the next bay over walked up, grinned and said, “Where ya headed?” What followed was a lengthy conversation about my bike, his BMW riding days and the pleasures and perils of motorcycle life in general, ending with smiles all around and a hefty handshake. These kinds of encounters have happened so often that when I’m on a bike I practically expect them whenever I’m at the pump, a wayside, an overlook, a campsite or yes, even at a stop light. The probability of being approached seems to go up exponentially according to the amount of gear (or road grime) I’m carrying. I like it. Everyone that approaches me seems to have a story or a question, and though I’m far from being an extrovert, not the kind of person who seeks out new relationships, these moments can turn a routine stop into an opportunity for a pleasant and often interesting chat with a complete stranger.
BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
Apparently, I don’t even have to be on the road. This morning a realtor stopped by to look at our house, and when we got to the garage, all talk of septic tanks, land values, and interest rates came to an immediate halt when he spied my beemer. A DRZ400 rider himself, Patrick and I played 20 questions over the merits of BMWs vs. Suzukis for the next ten minutes, and I guess now we’re buddies. Last June while on a solo trip, I pulled in
introduced ourselves, and then she asked, “Is that your BMW out there?” When I told her it was, she continued, “Nice bike. Say, what are you doing tonight?” I looked down at my bug-encrusted helmet and said, “Well, I guess this is it.” “Don’t move,” she said, holding up one finger, “I’ll be right back!” Now, I must admit, I had a salacious moment there, wondering if this was code for the old cliché, “Let me slip into some-
to one of a cluster of fishing cabins set back in the sticks. I had purposefully stopped early in the evening since I didn’t want to try navigating gravel roads and deer crossings after dark. No TV, no wireless, no phone service, and for dinner I was facing a bag of granola. I unpacked my stuff, and thought to myself, “Well, now what?” I set to cleaning up my face shield when just then a woman with curly blonde hair opened the door and walked in, taking me by surprise. Startled herself, she said, “Oh, excuse me, I just came to get some ice, didn’t know anyone was here!” We quickly
thing more comfortable,” but ten minutes later Lacy (the blonde) and her husband (John) came knocking, laden with a platter of three artisanal cheeses, locally smoked trout, a bottle of Pinot Grigio and two six -packs of Two Hearted Ale. It seems that Lacy and John, although then “glamping” from a Jeep carrying a couple kayaks and a mutt named Jordy, had been at one time a cycle tourers, crisscrossing the country on John’s beloved K 75. They were motorcycle people. While we sat at my cabin’s picnic table and watched the West Fork of the
Kickapoo gurgle by, we ate, drank, shared our knowledge of attractions in the area, and traded all kinds of stories. John, a “Coastie” who had worked security and rescue out of San Francisco Bay, shared an experience he had had while ferrying his K-bike back to Wisconsin. In Utah, a strong, straight-line wind suddenly slammed across the highway, and John watched the semi he was following tilt and then tip to its side on a corner. At the same time, the blast drove him off the pavement, across the shoulder and down into a ditch where he and the bike did an endo. Luckily, Lacy had been following in the Jeep, and miraculously, the only fatalities were a crushed headlight nacelle and a fractured collar bone. Now that’s a story! We adjourned to a campfire, and the story spinning and bonding continued long into that starry night. The next morning, I was packed and squirming my way back to the highway by dawn without an opportunity to see my new friends again, but it occurred to me how lucky I had been—once again saved from the solitary confinement of my own noggin and probably a night spent reading a John Sanford novel for the third time, simply due to my choice of transportation. Much as I was fond of believing when I was 16, motorcycles are not chick magnets, nor are they only about spending time by yourself. They can be, however, a link, a password or a secret handshake that often admits me unconditionally into a community of like-minded people. Like it or not, it’s in our DNA to be social creatures, and it’s strange (a little wonderful) how a hunk of steel and plastic can fulfill such a basic human need.
September 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS
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www.imtbike.com
www.nextadvwealth.com
www.machineartmoto.com
Picturethis
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PICTURESQUE We asked our online readers to submit their photos showing
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6 1. T aking in the beauty of a Swiss valley. Paul Guillien #179473 Bonney Lake, Washington 2. O ur view of the Austrian Alps while on an Edelweiss tour. Michael Brown #45061 Lubbock Texas 3. A double rainbow over our camp in the Valley of Fires Recreational Area. Kyle Keifer #205875 Grapevine, Texas 8
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4. C entaur Station located in Wildwood, Missouri. Ken Heyer #195135 Wildwood, Missouri 5. I found this old store in Fossil while riding through the forgotten towns of eastern Oregon. Steve Walker #103544 Roseburg, Oregon 6. T he Avenue of the Giants in northern California photographed through my brother’s RT hub. Mark Janda #198513 Gilbert, Arizona
7. A GS in her natural habitat off the Mountain Loop Highway in northwest Washington. Ian Daniel Marks #161044 Seattle, Washington 8. T he road to East Rosebud Lake near Alpine, Montana. Scott Moseman #196924 Lincoln, California For December, our Picture This theme is Autumn Splendor. One photo may be submitted per member and the best selected for publication in the BMW Owners News. Send your high resolution image, image description and member number to editor@bmwmoa.org.
September 2016  BMW OWNERS NEWS
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t
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RIDERTORIDER Send your letters and comments to: editor@bmwmoa.org
Thank you all
I wanted to take a few moments to say "Thank You" to all of the staff at BMW MOA for your continued efforts to make our club the best it can be! While the Board of Directors determines policies and sets the direction of the club, you're the folks that are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the organization. Whether it's membership services, publications, club benefits, or MOA events, you're the face of the organization when members call. Your professional and caring attitudes mean a lot to our members when they need assistance. I also wanted to thank each of you for your support during my term as MOA president. It's been my pleasure working with you the past three years, and I want you to know I'm proud of your efforts. My best to all of you. Chuck Manley #12106 Bloomington, Illinois
Excellent Publication
Under Bill Wiegand’s tutelage, Owners News has morphed into a photographic treasure chest and a literary giant of informative travel stories and broad-based, thought-provoking articles. The July issue stands proud and tall. Matt Parkhouse, a fellow Viet Nam era vet, excels with his road tales to Mexico and informative how-to wrenching skills. Although I bailed on airheads several decades ago, each of his articles reminds me of how I should have done it! With bliss, my oilhead RT and K 1600 GT Sport serve me extremely well today. The jury was out on Deb Gasque months ago; not so now. This issue transformed her from me-me status into an eloquent scribe. “Wanderlust in my own backyard” beckons me to ride South Carolina. Sweet prose, cuisine and an expressive, flowing travel story.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
Wiegand’s life story and recap of Carl Reese’s epoch transcontinental ride was captivating and brilliant. From Reese’s training regimen to his wife’s angst and then ride fruition, I felt transformed, as if I was in the saddle. And, while the larger windshield surely contributed to the 28 mpg average, I spit out my caffeinated stimulants when I read the 74 mph average over the 38 hour and 49 minute milestone! Really? What a feat, rider and man! Of note to Carl and any other performance rider: the excessively wide bags on the Wasserboxer RT and K 1600 GT (they’re the same) contribute to reduced mileage at elevated speeds, solo or two-up. Witness the bug splatter on the outside edges? For style and function I purchased the somewhat expensive but high quality, manufactured in France “Suitcase Flat Lids” from Hornig Accessories in Germany (www. motorcycleparts-hornig.com). At 3¾” narrower per side, they contribute to about a 2 mpg increase through better aerodynamics. And what to say about Riepe? We have a long-shuttered asylum not too distant from here that would gladly reopen their gates for this renowned bloviated hulk. I love his insanity and wit! Dennis M. Brown #112633 Oakland, California
The GS: I get it
The June edition of Owners News expressed some puzzlement with the extent of coverage devoted to the BMW GS. I’m going to give that thought a ringing endorsement even though I’ve never owned one and never will—unless it is the only bike BMW makes. They say that imitation is the highest form of flattery. That’s borne out by the fact that every major manufacturer has tried hard to offer and tried to imitate the “adventure” genre first introduced by BMW in the eighties with
the “Bumblebee.” While BMW has not enjoyed much success in offering a cruiser—no one else has come close to the success of the GS series. Can you imagine what would be left if every advertiser quit offering GS related items and all GS product vendors vacated the BMW MOA international rally? There would be almost nothing left. It’s not my kind of bike, but my wife thinks they’re “cute.” One of my oldest riding buddies, now deceased, ran a BMW dealership in Phoenix, Arizona. He was a racer, flat track and motocross, and was clearly a better, faster rider than me. Long before the GS reached over 50 percent of BMW sales, he said, “I hate to admit it, but it is the best handling (including cornering) BMW in the whole fleet.” That was, of course, also before the new, liter class S 1000 RR and high tech suspension and engine management bikes. But most people cannot ride either one to the edge of their performance envelope anyway. You don’t have to yearn for the most technical off-road path to ride it on. I don’t think a 600 pound bike is the right one to plow through sand either—but that seemingly matters little to some people. The fact is, the GS has about the highest weight payload of any bike you can name. My early days of BMW ownership found me in the company of rally-goers and real tent campers, and there are a lot of people who still enjoy that. If you want to just go a bit off the beaten path and carry all the gear you want—the GS is the bike. And if you’ve got a big person with a big six foot frame—unlike me—this is the bike you can stretch out on. If you want to ride all day on the open highway and then pitch a tent, dump your gear and enjoy some scenery everyone else misses—this may be the bike for you. The GS: I get it—but I won’t be getting it. Just call me crazy. Steve Cantrill #38304 Payson, Arizona
Anakee definition
I read Ian Schmeisser's review of the Michelin Anakee Wild tires in the June Owners News and was disappointed that he did not explain the strange name. So I went to my computer and found that the numerological definition (I could find no other) gives the word a destiny number of 1—which is also considered to be the number of God. Michelin obviously thinks very highly of its Anakee line. Clement Salvadori #07123 Atascadero, California
Old Issues/New Issues
Waving: In past issues of the BMW MOA magazine there has been much discussion about who waves to whom and whether this is determined by what one is riding. Well, I found my experience at the rally interesting in that no one was returning my waves (I ride an R 1200 R). Is there some unspoken etiquette/rule that within some prescribed radius of rallies waving is uncool? Would someone clue me in? I live just outside of Washington, D.C., and everyone waves with few exceptions. Aging Membership: I am 70 years old and the crowd at the rally looked old to me. This perception was reinforced when I got home and flipped through the copy of The First 35 Years that I picked up at the rally and noticed how over the years the members in the photos kept on getting older and grayer. I hope someone has a plan to recruit younger members and lower the average age of our membership or the viability of the BMW MOA will be in question. Utah: This probably could have gone under “Aging Membership,” but come on, Utah in July? Statistically, July is the hottest month in Utah, averaging 93 degrees. From the National Climatic Data Center: “This is the city's sunniest, driest and hottest month, although some days can soar over 100 degrees Fahrenheit.” July in Hamburg was hot enough for me. I suggest pushing back future Rally dates to June; even in the cooler northern states the weather will be pleasant. Chet Hepburn #44345 Arlington, Virginia
Wanderlust
I enjoyed Deb Gasque's recent article "Wanderlust in my own backyard" about the Low Country. I have spent a lot of time in that area and have stayed at the Battery Carriage House B&B in Charleston and the Price House Cottage B&B in Summerville. Both are very nice places and both are haunted. I never saw the ghost or any sign of him at the Battery Cottage but the Price House did have signs. Returning one night from supper, all the cabinets in the kitchen were open. Upon asking the owners, they said it was a common occurrence—nothing scary, just different. I do enjoy that area. During my last visit I stopped at the Charleston Landing State Park during the Team Strange Whispering Giant Grand Tour, which is a very nice relaxing area. Jim Moss #32559 Wirtz, Virginia
Ron Davis' "Head Check"
In Ron’s article he described being rearended while sitting in his daughter’s car and waiting for a light to change. In late May, I had a similar experience, sitting on my K 1300 GT. I was waiting in a queue at a stop sign at a busy intersection in Los Gatos, California, in the pre-school time, when the car ahead of me pulled out into traffic, and I moved up to the stop sign and then, BAM! I had stopped at the stop sign, and the car behind me didn’t. The impact pushed me forward, and over we went, fortunately not into the traffic lane immediately ahead. I rolled off the fully-loaded bike with only a small bruise on my left leg (ATGATT), but the right side of my bike was scratched from front to rear. I popped up and was highly annoyed, as I could see that the driver who had hit me was a young woman in an SUV. While she was very apologetic and helped me get the bike back up, she said that she thought that I was moving into the intersection. I got all of the insurance information, took pictures of the bike, gathered myself, and was off with no mechanical damage. I had left the house that we were visiting five minutes earlier to start a trip up the California and Oregon coasts to Seattle, the San Juans and then across
Washington back to Idaho, my new home. I left the bike at Big Twin Motors in Boise for insurance repairs. Big Twin did a super job of replacing all of the damaged body parts, and Clearwater Lights generously provided replacement parts for a damaged running light at no charge. While standard advice is to keep an eye on the road behind you when stopped at an intersection, I’m still trying to figure out how I could have reacted more defensively while moving forward and preparing to stop before cross-traffic. I hope that this tale will help others be mindful of the hazards of distracted drivers. Richard “Dick” English #124246 Ketchum, Idaho
Hard to believe
It's hard for me to believe that fellow MOA members actually want to take the time to criticize Bill Wiegand's photograph of that striking lady on that striking motorcycle. Who cares how safe or unsafe this lady's attire would be if she were riding, because she obviously is not. Folks, this is an art photograph, pure and simple, and in my opinion, a really good one. Wayne Richard #145837 Seneca, South Carolina
Billings or Bust
"Billings or Bust" by Jim Turley in the July issue was a remarkable story. It seems at first simple and unpolished, but it is revelatory and completely unafraid, and when you're done reading you have a new friend for whom you wish the best. The piece is like good folk art, raw and unforgettable. Thanks to Jim for his fearless authenticity and to editor Bill Wiegand for the insight to publish the story. I would have stopped one paragraph sooner, but then, I don't write like that, so I don't have a say. Steve Kohler #205022 Bonne Terre, Missouri
September 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS
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www.gezagear.com
www.eagleriderpittsburgh.com
www.re-psycle.com www.coloradomotorcycleadventures.com
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www.iliumworks.com
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www.corbin.com
www.pandorasmotorsports.com
September 2016  BMW OWNERS NEWS
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2016 MOA S
everal years ago, the MOA Getaway idea was introduced to provide a smaller event where members and friends could gather at great locations all over North America. The events are designed to be smaller than
a traditional rally setting and are typically hotel based with no need to pack your ThermaRest and tent. Because MOA Getaway events are typically designed for approximately 100 attendees, they are sure to sell out. We have a fantastic line up for 2016 already and are working to add more. Visit bmwmoa.org and click on the Events tab for details and registration information. See you soon at an MOA Getaway!
entucky Pineville, Ker 9-11
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
Getaways Win a Life Membership! A BMW MOA Life Membership will be given away to one lucky winner at every Getaway and every member at the Getaway will have a chance win our Grand, Grand Prize.....
a Beach's Alpine Sampler Tour valued at $4,910! , Utah St. George 23-25
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Mosko Moto Backcountry Panniers By Brian Dutcher #160860 HARD OR SOFT? PANNIERS, THAT
is. It has long been the debate among riders around many a campfire ever since we started traveling on two wheels. Proponents of either camp are so set in their opinions that this debate rises to some of the great rivalries— Ford vs. Chevy, ATGATT vs. cotton bandana and flip flops, "tastes great vs. less filling”—you get the picture. While this review is not intended to turn the tides on those steadfast opinions, it is meant to pass as my assessment of one of the latest options of soft panniers. This all started when I needed to outfit my F 800 GS for a future
Backcountry Discovery Route adventure. I have had five years of experience with hard panniers on my R 1200 GSA and three years using soft panniers on my wife's F 700 GS. Between the two bikes we’ve covered more than 90,000 miles of packing, carrying, unpacking, and occasionally dropping gear using those luggage systems. What I was looking for was a rugged and truly waterproof system that was configurable and easily removed, whether packed or unpacked. What I found was the Mosko Moto Backcountry Pannier system. The Backcountry configuration I chose for my F 800 GS consists of one 30-liter and one 40-liter rolltop, soft-sided pannier. The
The Mosko Moto Backcountry Panniers saw some use on the Florida shoreline.
30-liter bag goes on the exhaust side while the 40-liter goes on the other. The outer shell consists of a combination of materials. The side panels are made from a ballistic nylon material while the tops use ripstop nylon for easy rolling, and the front/ back feature a 22 oz. PVC material. The removable interiors of the bags are constructed from 22 oz. PVC with welded seams. An expansion panel on the large outward-facing sides allows one to stuff in whatever and haul it away. Whether stowing a mid layer as the day warms up or toting out the trash from a campsite, these adjustable outer expansion pockets offer additional space. This is also where the
they will continue to deliver in the routine armor plate is located. clay or to an impact with the soft Florida and the toughest of conditions of a BackFor more storage, the panniers also come sand and mud. As such, I can’t claim any big country Discovery Route. For the future, I with roll-top exterior pockets for storing get-offs to testify how tough the Backcounplan to adapt my R 1200 GSA to accept the items you don't want mixed with your clean try bags are. However, a quick look on the Backcountry Pannier setup. inside items, whether that means a can of Mosko Moto blog site and Facebook page Now, for some of the Q&A I have already chain lube, fuel bottles or a six pack of your will show you plenty of instances of riders fielded by curious enthusiasts: favorite canned beverage. By supporting putting these bags to the ultimate durability What do they weigh? Approximately 9 the MOLLE system, additional accessories tests and how these panniers have faired lbs. per bag (includes the puck and all can be attached to the front leading side of when exposed to the abrasive slab. I can, mounting hardware) the bag or the bottom. Are they lockable? No. Installation entails simply Are they really waterproof? Withattaching a puck onto an existout a doubt. ing pannier rack frame. My Are they waterproof after a drop? install was on a Touratech steel Well, that depends. For 98 percent of pannier rack. The Mosko Moto the instances that we would all face puck allows you to slide the soft out there, yes, but riders come up pannier on and lock it in place. will all sorts of interesting new ways With a quick flip and swivel of to challenge their gear, so nothing is the lock, you can pull the panabsolute. nier off and carry it away with Do they dent like an aluminum the heavy-duty handle. pannier? (Really, I had this asked) As with any roll-top bag, the No, but if your get-off is bad enough, top must be rolled down and the pannier rack will bend (not an secured to remain closed and issue of the bag). waterproof. The Backcountry Are they removable? Yes, it’s a panniers utilize an integrated quick and simple process, and they and adjustable strap and buckle are easy to carry away with you. on each side to accomplish this. Are they expandable? Yes, via the Any excess strap is neatly rolled MOLLE system. up and secured back to the Where can I put stickers? They do strap itself via hook and loop not support the easy application of wraps. one’s traveling resume of stickers. Through thousands of miles Will they melt on hot exhaust? If of use, these panniers have you somehow get the bag to contact worked perfectly. I had the your hot exhaust, I can only assume lucky opportunity to miss five some level of degradation, but I did months of a long Iowa winter by heading to the Florida pan- This rear view shows the Mosko Moto puck mounts, the roll-top side straps not submit my only pair to this level with hook and loop secure tabs, and the carry handle. of abuse. However, I am sure Pete handle for work this past year, and the guys at Mosko Moto have and I couldn’t be there without already subjected test models to the a bike, so the F 800 GS and the abuse of campfires and may be able to proBackcountry bags made the trip with me. however, speak to their ability to keep all vide more info on the levels of fire/heat They were used for daily commuting and your gear clean and dry through relentless resistance. weekend day rides in the regional woods. thunderstorms, sand slurry and mud bogs. Only you can decide which type of panWith Florida being the flattest state in the The Mosko Moto Backcountry Pannier nier will work best for you. However, if you U.S., there wasn’t the amount of technical System performed flawlessly on over 4,500 have decided that you want to try out a set riding one would find out west, which is miles of Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and of soft panniers, you may not need to look what these bags were designed for. The bags Mississippi back roads, forest service roads, any further than the Mosko Moto lineup. were never exposed to jagged rocks, baked and single tracks. I have full confidence that
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MotoChic’s Lauren bag By Deb Gasque #182082 I RECENTLY CAME ACROSS THE
products created by California-based MotoChic at a women’s motorcycling conference I attended in May. Of course being a fashionista, I immediately honed in on the fabulous bags designed by the company’s owner, Debra Chin, and spent some time examining every fine detail. Both her “Lauren” bag (a convertible backpack/ tote) and the smaller counterpart, “Valerie” (a wristlet-type bag), are made from highquality, lightweight materials and are intended to be superfunctional accessories for those riding on two wheels. Following my first sighting of MotoChic’s sassy bags that weekend in May, I contacted Chin for a closer look at her Lauren bag. Even though both of my 1994 R 1100 RS bikes have saddlebags, I was curious as to the functionality of a backpack and the comfort of wearing it for longer distances. I, of course, was also interested in the fashion aspect, as the Lauren bag easily and quickly converts into a tote bag. Debra was very friendly, knowledgeable and accommodating, and she graciously offered to send me a demo Lauren bag to test. When I opened the box, I was thrilled to see such a gorgeous and well-made bag. I could smell “luxurious” all over it. As I began my thorough investigation, I noticed how incredibly clever Chin’s design is. Including the ample, main space inside of the bag, there are functional pockets and clever hideaway
BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
compartments galore, all lined with Debra’s copyrighted, motorcycle-patterned material. Too cute! She has also fashioned her backpack to cleverly store tote bag components in hidden areas of the bag, secured with built-in magnets and thus create clean lines. The outside of this fashion-meets-function masterpiece is constructed with a self-storing, water-resistant dust/rain fly that keeps
the bag protected through high speed wind and rain. There are large reflective panels on the back for nighttime visibility and quilted leather panels on the bags that come in black, white or red to give this bag its classy “pop!” I loaded my loaner Lauren up with all of the items I would normally tote with me for
a day working on an article in town: my MacBook, phone, reference materials, wallet, charging cords, sunglasses, lipstick, lotion and a couple of other small items. It all fit perfectly with room to spare, and I set out to give this sassy bag a try. I rode all over town during a very hot and humid summer weekend. The bag fit nicely on my shoulders with no discomfort or extreme heat issues. Honestly, I forgot it was riding on my back most of the time. When I arrived at my destination to get some writing done, I unloaded my gear with ease and got to work quickly. With this bag’s many compartments and sections, it’s easy to stay organized. Another big plus: this Fashionista maintained her sense of fashion and style. MotoChic’s Lauren bag, which incidentally is named after the style icon Lauren Hutton, is truly a classic, finelycrafted bag made by an extremely savvy entrepreneur who not only has hit the mark on her products, but also rides. That’s absolutely a win-win! MotoChic’s Lauren bag retails for $325, and the smaller Valerie wristlet retails for $55. For more information about Debra Chin and her MotoChic bags, visit motochicgear.com.
www.cortech.net
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Video Camera Showdown
GoPro Hero4 Black vs. Sena 10C vs. Sena Prism By Chad Warner #202143 A MONTH-LONG RIDE IN AUSTRA-
lia gave me the opportunity to compare three popular video cameras in the field, a trial by fire to reveal strengths and weakness more thoroughly than a simple comparison of specifications. These reviews are based upon what’s possible straight out of the box, using only a few extra mounting pieces, but without extra video equipment such as Bluetooth remotes or smartphone apps. Sena graciously provided both of their cameras at no cost for my review, and while this did not color my judgement, I would like to thank Sena for their support of the adventure riding community.
Packaging and Mounting
the mounts, which can affect video quality when riding over less-than-smooth surfaces. Sena cameras are not compatible with the RAM mounts I use with my GoPro, and it’s a good thing that the Sena camera can be tethered with a metal wire to keep it from flying into the weeds if the mounts were to break in an adventure dismount.
As a long-time shooter with GoPro products, my GoPro Hero4’s packaging and contents are essentially the same as GoPro Hero4 their previous cameras: a seethrough plastic enclosure that showcases the camera and contains a Camera Setup smattering of mounting pieces, some One new feature on the GoPro Hero4 that that are not useful for motorcycle I liked much better is the larger size of the applications. Indeed, I find RAM Power and Record buttons. While not mount fixtures to work far better for always easy to use while wearing gloves, attaching cameras to my bike, but these are far easier to use than those on these mounts don’t come cheap. previous versions. The Sena camera arrived with a The GoPro Hero4 Black features a small pleasant surprise: professional pack0.5” x 0.75” window next to the lens that aging inside and out, along with a displays all pertinent camera settings greater number of mounting bracksimultaneously. This took a little getting ets than GoPro, a chest mount and used to as it’s different than previous modtwo suction cup mounts that cost els, where you’re forced to page through extra with GoPro. Some of the Sena several screens to view various setting pieces could be more rugged, and I information. While the Black model profound a bit of play (movement) in vides the highest quality video capture and
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
more features than the GoPro Hero4 Silver, unless you’re using all its pro-level bells and whistles, the Hero4 Silver is a better choice due to the touch-sensitive color monitor on the back, which displays what the camera is seeing along with menus that are easier to navigate for those who need to wear reading glasses to see anything. Of course, you can use Bluetooth to connect the Hero4 Black to your smartphone and view through the lens, so that may be the better solution for some. At first, the setup for the Sena equipment made me nervous. Compared to the GoPro’s shoot right out of the box approach, there were wires, a microphone and speakers to place into my helmet and the challenge of pairing the cameras to each other. After watching a couple of videos on YouTube, it took just 10 minutes to set up and pair the cameras to each other and to my phone. With the Sena 10C, you can use the Bluetooth connection to control the camera remotely to shoot video and pictures, make and receive phone calls and listen to your music and your GPS. Though this gives the Sena cameras a powerful advantage, there is a learning curve to discover which buttons must be pushed in various combinations and sequences in order to use each option. I got the gist of it fairly quickly and did not find it too distracting. The Sena Prism is more like the GoPro in terms of simplicity and ease of use; one can unpack and shoot video straight away. The display window on the Prism is smaller than the GoPro, although it is backlit, making it much easier to read. There are not as many video or photo options as the GoPro, which can be good or bad depending on your skills or the effects you’re attempting to achieve.
Shooting Videos and Photos
GoPro has worked hard to make shooting basic video and photography straightforward. One press of the front button turns on the camera. Push the front button again and you’re in Camera mode, ready to shoot video or pictures. Push the top button and you're either shooting video or pictures… or so you hope. It’s hard to say how many times I thought the camera was recording when it actually wasn’t. I’m sure you’ve seen GoPro users looking at themselves in their mirrors to make sure the camera is on and recording. Of course, this becomes even more difficult if you need cheaters to see! At least once you’re shooting video there’s a red blinking indicator light. In comparison, it’s easy to tell what the Sena 10C is doing because there’s a nice young lady’s voice telling you when video shooting starts and stops. There’s a shutter click when you take photo, and you’re even told when you’ve paired to another device. The Sena Prism, however, is glitchy when it comes to camera controls. The two buttons on the top of the camera must be pushed simultaneously to perform a function. Sounds easy, but in Sena Prism
Sena 10C
practice, when you may only have one hand available, it was difficult. Many times the buttons required a firm push, and there were more than a few times I could not get the camera to stop shooting or turn off. One of the most annoying things in most bike cam video is the audio, which is usually just constant wind noise. This is both a function of the camera’s noise suppression capabilities and where you mount the camera. My preferred location for mounting the GoPro is atop my helmet, as this centers the shot and provides a natural perspective looking over the windscreen. It’s breezy up there, but the Hero4 does a great job of masking wind noise from the audio. The
Sena 10C (which can only be mounted to the side of the helmet) tended to keep the windscreen in the shot unless I leaned far to one side. Both the Sena Prism and 10C didn’t do as well as the GoPro in eliminating wind noise. One tricky thing about all bike cam shooting is knowing exactly what the camera is seeing as you ride. The GoPro has an “Ultra-Wide” mode, which is your best bet for getting everything into the picture. It took me a bit to get used to the Sena 10C camera’s various angles while mounted on the side of my helmet, especially those that were off-center from where I was looking. One nice difference
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with the Senas was the ability to narrate over the video. However, I wasn’t able to test this because I ride with goggles and no face shield, and the wind noise drowned out my voice in the videos. There are some excellent examples of narration online, and I think this feature adds significantly to the quality of the videos you create.
Which one’s for you?
It would take a deep trip into the weeds to explore every function and foible with these cameras, many of which could affect how you proceed. By all means, please speak with many users before making your choice. The point-and-shoot simplicity of the GoPro is a definite plus, as well as its multiple modes of shooting and flexibility in mounting, especially the compatibility with RAM mounts. While I did come to hate those two buttons atop the Sena Prism, I found the Bluetooth connectivity features of the Senas to be the differentiators. However, Sena really needs to step it up with mounting flexibility. There is an accessory motorcycle mounting kit available, but my preference is to use the much more rugged RAM mount system. If you’d like to see the story I shot in Australia, you can view it online at vimeo. com/166384118.
GoPro Hero4 Black
Sena 10C
Sena Prism
Pros • Point & shoot simplicity • Highest performance video capture on the market with multiple options • Multiple lens angles including Super Wide • Better wind and other noise cancellation • Richer HD video • Extensive mounting options • Compatible with RAM mounts Cons • Difficult to know camera status without a smartphone
Pros • Voice guidance and audio cues for function controls • Bluetooth audio capabilities to record narration as you ride • Tether strap assures secure mount • Extensive, wellintegrated accessories
Pros • Point and shoot simplicity • High quality construction • Bluetooth connectivity can pair with optional helmet headset • Extensive, wellintegrated accessories
Cons • Mounting system not as rugged, not compatible with RAM mounts • Less rich video, but can be adjusted in post-production
Cons • The two buttons from hell on top of the camera • Less rich video, but can be adjusted in post-production • Mounting system not compatible with RAM mounts
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
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REV’IT Ladies Airwave 2 gear By Marcia McGuire #206242 A
ROAD
TRIP
THROUGH
THE
northern California redwoods reminded me of the critical role our gear plays in our adventures. I met a Belgian motorcyclist who had somehow convinced his boss to let him take a year’s sabbatical during his surgical residency to ride through the Americas. As our conversation ended, we made plans to cross paths again in Seattle. The next day he sent me a message: “Had an accident.” He told me of the hit-and-run, the helicopter flight and of his broken foot and leg. “But my skin, it’s perfect,” he said. Perfect, because he always wears his gear. On my return trip I stopped to visit him and while there to make his hospital room a little less sterile, we sewed a string of little Belgian flags to celebrate the upcoming EuroCup games. Summer seems to be the time that riders are less inclined to wear gear, but considering all the warm-weather options available, it’s an unnecessary risk. REV’IT’s new version of their Ladies Airwave 2 jacket and pants is so light and comfortable, I feel like I’m not even wearing gear, and these products prove it’s possible to design women’s gear offering both protection and comfort. I’ve worn the Ladies Airwave 2 gear in temperatures ranging from the mid-60s to the mid-90s. Yes, Seattle can have 90 degree days. On the cool end of that spectrum, riding on the freeway felt like the air conditioner was blasting; while on the hot end, the airflow swept through, keeping me comfortable. Sitting in stop-and-go traffic was
BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
warm, but no different than sitting out in the sun without gear. The gear doesn't work if the airflow is blocked, however. I have a taller windscreen on my BMW G 650 GS, so on the same mid-90 degree day in the peak heat, I swapped bikes and took my windscreen-less Yamaha XT250 out and noted that the Ladies Airwave 2 absolutely did its job. The solid fabric of the Ladies Airwave 2 is made using high density polyester yarn, and at 600D, it is highly abrasion resistant.
The mesh is made of REV’IT’s proprietary PWR shell material, which is designed after Cordura. One hundred percent polyamide yarns, durable in terms of tear and abrasion resistance and featuring a high melting point, make up the PWR shell. Inherent in any mesh is a reduction of the performance qualities. However, REV’IT tests its fabrics to meet the CE abrasion standard, mesh included. The armor is a mix of REV’IT’s CE protection. The back’s slot is prepared for the SEESOFT CE level 2 back protector though it does not come with the jacket. The elbow, knee and shoulder armor are Knox LITE CE level 1, and the hip armor is SEESMART CE level 1. The knee protection is adjustable to multiple positions. Knock on wood, but as I have become a
better rider, the less I test my gear to its CE standards. I will say that with all I’ve put my other set of REV’IT gear through, the Indigo jacket and Tornado pants made of the same fabrics and the same armor as the Ladies Airwave 2 (though different hip armor), the gear, and myself have held up remarkably well. While wearing REV’IT gear during my early riding days, I tipped over dozens of times on asphalt, made countless graceful and not so graceful dismounts during my RawHyde off-road class, and went down during a long slide on a stretch of ice. All these mishaps left me able to pop right back up and keep going with my gear showing no wear. The hip protection covers more surface area on the Tornado pants than on the Airwave 2s, and the fall on ice left me with a dimesized bruise; I suspect that, depending on how one falls, with the Airwave 2 hips there might be a little more residual evidence than a dime-sized mark. Design-wise, the mesh covers the full front and back of the jacket, the underside of the arms, and the front and rear of the legs. There are two zipped pockets on the front of the jacket, and an inside pocket on each side. The pant has two vertically zipped pockets. My iPhone 6 in its large OtterBox Defender case just fits in the front jacket pocket. There are horizontal reflective strips across the pecs and lower back and vertical reflective strips on the lower side of the legs. The waist and cuffs on the pants and jacket can be adjusted as well as the bicep sleeve, and the jacket and pants can be zipped together. There are zippers from the ankles to just below the knee. Instead of a snap, the pants close with a slide button design. I was not a fan of the neck closure, which does not have a hook or snap to keep it open; however, it did not flap, so it was not
bothersome. The jacket seems shorter in the front than I am used to, though it is amply long in the back. I was surprised that reaching forward with both arms together, such as to load a bag, was restricted, despite the sizing being appropriate for me. I did not experience this kind of restriction while riding my G 650 GS, but I did when in the extended riding position on an S 1000 RR. I will disclose that my shoulders are a bit broader, and I have an ape index of +4, which is great for rock climbing, but means long sleeves are usually two inches too short. My suspicion that both could be the reason for the restrictiveness was proved accurate when I had a friend my size but with normal proportions try on the Airwave 2 jacket. She was immediately impressed that it didn’t feel bulky, and she liked its European cut, feeling no restric-
tiveness in the shoulders. My color choice for my Ladies Airwave 2 was the silver-black jacket and silver trousers. The silver/grey color of the mesh is more distinct than the stock images of the items, and so have more of a contrast against the whiter-grey solid fabric. If one is going for a slimmer look, the all-black, particularly in the pants, should probably be considered. The REV’IT Airwave 2 ladies jacket carries a MSRP of $299.99, and the pants cost $209.99. I would definitely recommend the set. Actually, while riding I would forget I was wearing protective gear until a breeze would press the thicker textile against my body. The only thing you won’t get while wearing the Airwave 2 is a suntan.
PROS:
• Incredibly light and comfortable, feels like wearing nothing! • Good pocket space. • Provides full protection for the woman rider (hip armor included) while allowing excellent airflow. CONS:
• Can feel restrictive around the shoulders when arms extended, depending upon rider’s build and bike. • Pants come up a bit short when in the riding position (having a “tall” inseam version for the smaller sizes would likely remedy this). • Leg zipper not long enough to for pants to come on or off over boots.
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Outback Motortek products By Mark Carrera #188605 OUTBACK MOTORTEK IS A FAMILY
business that stretches across the Atlantic Ocean and two continents; it is located in both Canada and Hungary. Lorry Gombos’ father’s medical equipment factory in Hungary moonlights as a motorcycle farkle factory, churning out Lorry’s excellent designs. As a mechanical engineer and owner of the Hungarian factory, the senior Gombos oversees O u t b a c k Motortek’s production while working closely with Lorry to produce the best possible product. In early 2014, Lorry and his wife Kelli took OM on the road. They created business connections using a grassroots marketing approach via their high-mileage Subaru adorned with a rescued dog or two and also through the internet marketing. As Lorry and Kelli continued to travel and promote Outback Motortek at moto events, they developed many new friends. Lorry, a young and inspiring entrepreneur, is focused on creating some of the best and strongest farkles for the F 800 GS, as well as Suzuki and Honda ADV bikes. Outback Motortek focuses on crash bars, skid plates and tail plates that are really meant to be beat on. The vision and mission are to produce off-road products for hardcore abuse from the toughest customers. So far, some of those customers
BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
have names like Kinga Tanajewska (onherbike.com) and Oliver Solero (thebrokentoothproject.com). While I hope to never actually test the crash bars and bash plates, Lorry and Kinga have done some serious and personal product testing. In a recently published YouTube clip, you can watch Lorry purposefully dropping his F 800 GS at low speed into gravel and then, if that’s not convincing
enough, he drops it on pavement! However, it’s Kinga’s personal reflections and the images of her high-speed, head-on collision with Outback Motortek’s crash bars and skid plate protecting the engine of her F 800 GS that seals the deal. Kinga’s story is a hard-hitting testimonial to OM’s incredibly durable products. As a small company, Outback Motortek competes with giants in the industry, but pound for pound the OM products exceed expectations in quality and craftsmanship. Customer service and personal attention underpin Outback Motortek’s business
model, and it’s where Lorry and Kelli really shine. Lorry has seemingly endless reserves of positive energy combined with an infectious, never-ending smile; his smile reflects his love for what he and Kelli are doing with Outback Motortek. This personality component feeds the heart and soul of the organization. Outback Motortek is founded on family values, mutual respect, humble gratitude, and honor in a business world that often lacks these qualities. Their vision quickly transfers to the lucky customers that discover Outback Motortek; I experienced this first hand and through the feedback of some Outback Motortek customers. They are very quick to correct any product issues and will do whatever it takes to win over their customers. Outback Motortek products are always hand built; there are no robotics in the familyowned factory, and production is done with very little outsourcing. While the father and son collaborate across two continents and the Atlantic Ocean, the attention to quality production is not diluted, and in fact, the international component seems to be the glue that holds the company together. On one side is the visionary son of an engineer, and on the other continent are decades of quality craftsmanship and engineering; I’d call it a perfect chemistry. The best of all OM’s products is the pride of the designers and the craftsman. As an example, nearly all OM products are thicker or wider in critical areas such as impact zones and high-stress points. I can attest to this point; as an
example, the engine crash bars that came on my 2013 F 800 GS bent during a low speed tip over. Lorry’s demonstration on YouTube is the mirror image of where my bar failed, so I now run a full set of Outback Motorek crash bars. The near-perfect welding beads, precision bends, and fantastic powder coating are a testament to years of professional training and experience on the factory floor. The luggage racks are seemingly robust enough to hang a bike from. There is a comfort knowing that your favorite duffle bag from Green Chili ADV or a 48-count suitcase of Tecate beer will be secure. A quality tail-rack is a valuable peace of mind while overlanding or simply cutting across town to a backyard BBQ. Currently, all of the Outback Motortek products are available in either black or grey powder coat. Their grey powder coat rocks, and they have a matte silver coming online soon. The option of grey has quickly become a favorite alternative to the plethora of black and chrome bars available on the market. The grey is not only eye-catching, it’s also functional. Black surfaces store heat from the sun; grey does not and is a little cooler to the touch. The crash bars are constructed using 27mm tubing with a 2mm wall that has become an industry standard. The lowers bolt to the engine and frame mounts while the uppers bolt into the lowers and have a crossover support section that runs under the beak on most models, especially the F 800 GS. A complete set of bars covers a large surface area on the side of the bike, big enough to hang side pouches and comfort foot pegs for extended overlanding adventures. The bars not only look great, their functionality and durability have been tested. There were some early production issues with the uppers—clearances were not enough to remove the side panels on the F 800 GS bars. However, before too many customers reached out to Lorry, new bars were already being shipped for replacement at no additional charge. The skid plates are produced using 4mm aluminum and have unique strength ridges embossed into the high impact area; some
September 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS
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www.bmwmcsem.com
There are always plenty of door prizes at MOA Getaways, but we’re upping the stakes for 2016. In addition to our regular swag bag offerings, the MOA will be giving away a BMW MOA Life membership at every Getaway event – a $995 value. But we’re not stopping there. One name will be drawn at each Getaway for a chance to win a Beach’s Alpine Sampler Tour.
Register for a MOA Getaway today at www.bmwmoa.org.
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competitors use bolt-on sliders that can break off and need frequent replacing during extreme use. The skid plate bolts onto the existing motor mounts, easing the installation process, and is quickly removed for oil changes. Design is essential to functionality, and as Lorry said, “We designed the ‘Murghab’ skid plate to provide sufficient protection from the harsh effects of off-roading, yet keep the engine well-ventilated.” Consequently, the skid plates function as well as they look and provide the rider with peace of mind for extreme off-road riding. There are several clips of skid plates bashing on rocks, sliding over logs, and being intentionally tortured by big hits; just check the OM website or YouTube. Outback Motorteck has recently partnered with BMW Motorrad Hungary for continual fitment and adjustment sessions on borrowed bikes. The current list of bikes fitted for Outback Motortek farkles includes
BMW F 650/700/800 GS, Suzuki V-Strom DL 650, Kawasaki KLR 650, and 2016 Honda African Twin (coming soon). It is likely that throughout your travels to the many rallies over the 2016 riding season that you will encounter Lorry and Kelli at their Outback Motortek vendor’s booth; look for the distinctive orange and black colors. When you do, stop in and say hello, check out their products, and share your stories. PROS: Outstanding craftsmanship, grey color choice, actually crash tested, strength ridges on bottom of skid plates, and competitive pricing. CONS: Limited product line, some growing pains, low exposure in the USA
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
For the F800/700/650GS (2009-2015) MSRP in USD: Crash Bars (upper & lower), $389; Lowers only, $225; Uppers only, $229. Skid Plate $249; Tail Rack, $129. Many package deals are available online. Contact: Lorry and Keli Gombos, 877.931.3636. Mail: 527 Rodd Avenue, Pickering, L1W 2B1 Ontario, Canada https://outbackmotortek.com/contact/ (USA) http://americasshop.outbackmotortek.com/ Email: info@outbackmotortek.com
More about the Hungarian metal manufacturing world as well as how OM’s products are made can be found on their very informative website; www.outbackmotortek. com.
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American Made Deerskin Gloves Soft as silk, tough as nails. The incomparable Lee Parks Design DeerSports gloves provide iconic good looks, legendary durability, and world-class performance and comfort. See for yourself how the same gloves are just as at home leading the International Iron Butt Rally as they are winning the WERA National Endurance Championship. It’s no wonder so many pairs are still on the road with 5–10 years of adventures behind them. Feel the difference American hand-craftsmanship makes on your next ride. !"
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BMW OWNERS NEWS  September 2016
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BMW i Ventures invests in Rever Moto, Inc.
BMW i Ventures recently announced a strategic investment in Rever Moto, Inc., the motorcycle-focused tech company connecting a global community of motorcycle enthusiasts through their Rever app and website. Since launching in 2015, Rever users have tracked millions of miles on motorcycle rides in 119 countries around the world. The free Rever app, available on iOS and Android, works in conjunction with the Rever website to help riders discover the world’s best roads, create custom routes, track epic rides, compete for bragging rights and share their riding experiences across social platforms. Rever is based in Eagle, Colorado, and was founded in 2015 by motorcycle industry and technology veterans. For more information visit www.rever.co.
Five California Gloves
With leatherwork inspired by the Japanese “bubble” look, the new California glove by Five represents the company’s belief that when you’re on a motorcycle, the glove isn’t just an accessory, it tells the bike how you’re feeling. This new model is part of Five’s goal of producing the most advanced gloves for riders to protect the most complex part of the human body which has the highest number of bones, joints, ligaments and nerve endings. The Five California gloves have been created using a vintage, padded effect with a topside closure featuring a leather and Velcro® adjustment strap and a pull-tab to make putting the glove on and taking it off easier. The glove is available in black or brown with sizes ranging from XS to XXXL. MSRP for the Five California gloves is $79.99, and for more information visit five-gloves.com or mtadistributing.com.
GIVI TREKKER® Dolomiti Side Cases
GIVI’s new Trekker Dolomiti Adventure Touring Aluminum Side Cases are now available and fit any existing GIVI PL and PLR Monokey® mounts. The 36-liter Dolomiti side cases feature a light, secure, rugged and waterproof aluminum construction with fully removable lids, integrated rubberized handles with integrated loops for straps and cargo nets. The GIVI DLM36 Trekker Dolomiti side cases carry an MSRP of $700 per pair and are available wherever GIVI products are sold.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
BMW NA hires former HD exec
BMW introduces soft panniers for GS models
Offering riders an alternative to hard panniers, BMW’s new Atacama Adventure Luggage System for the GS series includes a pair of Atacama side cases and Atacama Duffel. Unlike traditional soft luggage systems that use straps to secure the luggage to the bike, the Atacama Adventure Luggage System uses a wedge and plate mounting system made from injection-molded, glass-filled nylon for one-click on/off mounting and removal from bike. In addition to the simplicity of mounting and removing the bags, the mounting system keeps the soft bags from bouncing around in rough terrain like traditional “over the seat” softbags and strap-based connection systems. Additional features include offset side case sizes including 25 liters on the exhaust side and 35 liters for the non-exhaust side to allow for symmetrical positioning on the bike, while maximizing overall carrying capacity. The bags feature 100 percent waterproof main compartments and mount to existing hard pannier racks. For more information and pricing, visit your local BMW Motorrad dealer.
Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America, has announced that Michael Peyton will assume the role of Vice President, BMW Motorrad Region Americas, based in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey. Peyton will be responsible for BMW motorcycle sales and marketing in the Americas Region. Peyton comes to BMW from HarleyDavidson Motor Company where he was most recently head of U.S. Dealer Development, Americas Region. To his new role, Peyton brings more than 26 years of broad-based, cross-functional experience in sales, marketing, operations and strategy at Harley-Davidson and, previously, at Ford Motor Company. “I am delighted to welcome Michael Peyton to the BMW Group,” said Ludwig Willisch, President and CEO, BMW of North America. “He is customer focused and has a proven record of developing strong relationships with his dealer network, and I know he will do well here at BMW.” Michael Peyton is an avid motorcyclist, mountain biker, downhill skier and allaround outdoor enthusiast. He began his new role at BMW Motorrad Region Americas on Monday, July 25.
Scorpion EXO-AT950 modular ADV Touring helmet
Scorpion’s new EXO-AT950 modular adventure touring helmet can be used as a full-face, dual sport helmet with its external peak visor attached, or with the peak removed, the helmet offers a more aerodynamic touring helmet. The eye port is wide for greater peripheral vision and downward visibility, and the modular chin bar can be conveniently flipped up when needed. Additional features of the helmet include an internal, drop down Speedview® sunvisor and a KwikWick® II liner for added comfort. To aid with ventilation, a dual position mouth vent and a large intake port at the top of the helmet force cool air in through deep air flow channels while two large exhaust vents move hot air out. Additionally, the no-fog Everclear® face shield can be removed to allow the EXO- AT950 to be used with goggles. Three shell sizes made of Advanced LG® Polycarbonate and dual density EPS combine to create a helmet that is lightweight, strong and protective. The Scorpion EXO-AT950 helmet is available in sizes XS to 3XL and carries an MSRP of less than $300. For more information, visit scorpionusa.com.
September 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS
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BMW releases R nineT Scrambler details THEY
WERE
RIDDEN
BY
ACTION
heroes on the screen, and scores of hobby racers entered mountain and beach races on them: the Scramblers. With deeptreaded tires, a raised exhaust, extended suspension travel and a relaxed seating position, Scramblers offered riders in the 1950s to 1970s not just motorcycling fun on winding country roads, but also great offroad capability and an extended range of use. Like the motorcycles themselves, the people who rode Scramblers were not bound by established conventions, and they could be seen virtually everywhere, on winding country roads, stony mountain passes and even sandy beaches.
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The history of BMW Motorrad is also rooted in the Scrambler concept. In 1951, the BMW R 68 was shown at the International Bicycle and Motorcycle Fair IFMA in Frankfurt with a typical raised 2-in-1 exhaust, just like the one used for racing by BMW Motorrad legend Georg "Schorsch" Meier. While the standard version of the R 68 had a conventional exhaust mounted in a lower position, the raised exhaust version was already available back then as a BMW Motorrad accessory. To this day, some owners of this highly valuable post-war BMW Motorrad classic still like to retrofit the special Scrambler-style exhaust. Now BMW Motorrad presents the new
BMW R nineT Scrambler, a motorcycle which revives the Scrambler era in a very special way. It has everything that defines this motorcycle type, filled with spirit and created for motorcycle fans who love things that are purist, reduced to the essentials and non-conformist. Combined with the technology and quality of the BMW R nineT Roadster, the BMW Scrambler establishes the new BMW Motorrad Heritage world of experience.
Potent, air-cooled boxer
The new BMW Motorrad Scrambler features a classic air-cooled, punchy flat twin boxer engine offering powerful torque and
a unique sound. With a capacity of 1170 cc, it delivers an output of 81 kW (110 hp) at 7,750 rpm, develops a maximum torque of 116 Nm at 6,000 rpm while, along with the new engine mapping and a fuel system including carbon canister, meets the requirements of the EU4 pollutant class.
requirements of a classic Scrambler look and is fitted close to the body of the bike, offering a slim appearance. Producing a full boxer sound, it also adheres to the new noise emission regulations, and a large-size catalytic converter ensures even more effective exhaust gas cleaning.
A Scrambler with character
Traditional suspension
With both the new Scrambler and the the R nineT, BMW Motorrad has responded to the motorcycle fans, allowing them to modify their bike creatively according to their own personal taste. The spectrum of potential alterations ranges from original BMW Motorrad accessories to a wide selection of accessory parts produced by customizers to create a unique motorcycle. The high exhaust with two silencers meets the
Like the R nineT Roadster, the frame concept is a key aspect in terms of the Scrambler's extensive customization capacity. The specially developed steel tubular space frame integrates the boxer engine as a loadbearing element and consists of a front section with integrated steering head and a rear section with swinging arm mount. The passenger frame can be removed, thereby allowing the R nineT Scrambler to
be used either by two riders or by the rider alone. In line with the bike’s active riding character, the suspension geometry of the R nineT Scrambler is mainly geared towards handling and a neutral cornering response, making it a lot of fun on winding country roads. In good Scrambler style, the front suspension uses a telescopic fork with rubber gaiters and a spring travel of 125 millimeters. Rear wheel suspension is handled by a Paralever single-sided swing arm used in other boxer models. Suspension and damping are carried out via a central spring strut with a spring travel of 140 millimeters. The Scrambler is fitted with light alloy cast wheels with a large 19-inch front wheel and with tire sizes of 120/70-19 at the front and 170/60-17 at the rear.
September 2016  BMW OWNERS NEWS
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The R nineT Scrambler comes with ABS as standard equipment and is fitted with four-piston calipers, steel-wrapped brake lines and 320-millimeter brake discs at the front. At the rear is a single-disc brake with a diameter of 265 millimeters and a twopiston floating caliper.
Ergonomics for a relaxed feel
A relaxed upright seating position is one of the key features of a Scrambler. For this reason, the ergonomic triangle of handlebarseat-footrests has been redefined. With handlebars that are higher as compared to the R nineT, slightly reduced seat upholstery and rider footrests that are positioned
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BMW OWNERS NEWS  September 2016
somewhat lower and further to the rear, the new model gives the rider a relaxed ride feel.
Attention to detail
Whether with the standard light alloy cast wheels or the optional cross-spoke wheels, the new R nineT Scrambler demonstrates authentic style. One important design objective was to deliberately ensure the body features were reduced so as to achieve a purist appearance. From all angles, the BMW Motorrad Scrambler is defined by a blend of classic and modern elements of motorcycle design style. The circular headlamp gives it an
expression of freedom, independence and serenity, while the speedometer with analog display features a simple style that very much reflects the classic principles applied to the development of the BMW Scrambler. Eye-catching elements are the painted 17-liter sheet steel fuel tank and the trim cover made of aluminum sheet with an embossed R nineT inscription running across the air intake duct on the right-hand side. The new member of the BMW Motorrad Heritage world of experience also conveys its high-quality workmanship in numerous details. These include the refined, aluminum forged parts with a glass-bead blasted
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www.wolfmanluggage.com and then clear-anodized surface or the clamp for the double-butted tubular handlebars, also made of aluminum and bearing an engraved BMW Motorrad inscription. The tapered and stitched twoperson seat in Saddle Brown likewise demonstrates refined workmanship and the use of high-end materials. The new BMW R nineT Scrambler is available in Monolith metallic matte paint to maintain the character enhanced by black-coated components such as the frame, swinging arm, wheels, fork slider tubes and engine housing. www.mysafetyfast.com/info
September 2016  BMW OWNERS NEWS
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Congratulations to Joe Skaggs, Foundation R 100 Custom winner
IT WAS A EXCITING DAY FOR JOE
Skaggs. After spending much of the last day of Das Rally! at the GS Giants track, Joe had just finished dinner and was relaxing by his tent. On the other side of the Rally grounds, Paul Thorn was tuning his guitars and getting ready to perform but before he could play, he had one last task–to pull the winning ticket from a drum of 6,175 entries and select the winner of the BMW MOA Founda-
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
tion’s R 100 Custom raffle bike. Onstage with Thorn was Ted Moyer, MOA Foundation Executive Director and Lee Harrelson, Das Rally! Entertainment Chair. After pulling the ticket and calling his name to the crowd, no one responded so Moyer called Skaggs. Sadly, no one answered the phone at Joe’s home in Arkansas forcing Moyer to leave a voice mail over the roar of the crowd surrounding the stage. So much for presenting Joe the key to his new bike in front of crowd gathered at the
main stage and Thorn began to play. Luckily for Joe, Karol Patzer knew he was at the Rally and posted the news on Facebook. The word spread quickly and about 30 minutes later, a beaming Skaggs rushed to the stage. Amid camera flashes and shouts of congratulations from the crowd, the news began to sink in. The MOA Foundation was also a winner as the raffle netted over $50,000 earmarked for rider safety, education and training for all members.
Phil Rose latest Knöchlein winner
IT SEEMED ONLY A MATTER OF TIME
before Phil Rose #40357 would receive the Professor Gerhard Knöchlein BMW Classic Award. The award presented by the BMW Clubs International Council honors club members who have been particularly instrumental in the promotion and perpetuation of the BMW marque. Only members of a recognized BMW club who have kept their historic BMW vehicles in perfect condition and made them accessible to the public are eligible. Based on those prerequisites, Rose’s selection seemed academic. Rose rode into the world of BMW nearly 30 years ago with the purchase of a brand new 1987 K 75 S, replaced the next season with an ’87 K 100 S Motorsport Edition, which was soon followed by an ’86 K 75 C and an ’83 R 100 S. Phil’s early endeavors into restoring BMWs began with a cache of Slash 2-era twins, followed by a long line of BMWs restored with much help from Darrell Messerle, former owner of Grass Roots BMW
in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Phil’s long list of restorations include a 1968 R 50/2 displayed at the Moodus National, a 1976 Daytona Orange R 90 S ridden to and displayed at the Durango National and featured prominently on the cover of Old Bike Journal, a 1959 R 26 currently displayed in his living room, a 1981 R 80 G/S, and a 1969 R 60/2 in Granada Red, which were among the first winners at the annual Quail Gathering. Additional restorations also include several 1982 R 65 LSs, one of which was given away as the Grand Prize at the BMW MOA Rally in Rhinebeck, a 1981 R 100 CS, several 1982 Krauser MKM 1000s, a 1972 R 75/5 Toaster in Monza Blue, a 1993 K1 in Silk Blue and a 1987 R 80 ridden to the BMW MOA Rally in St. Paul, Minnesota, two years ago. Phil lives in Taunton, Massachusetts, and uses the call sign name of Phactory Phil because all of his machines have to either be at or better than the factory standard at the time of production. Phil has hosted
numerous events at his house, providing the opportunity for enthusiasts to see and enjoy all of his fine machines. Many of the motorcycles that Phil has restored have been sourced and found even before they became the machines to have, namely the R 80 G/S and R 26. The R 80 G/S was the very first G/S delivered to ABT BMW in Chicago and was built in November of 1980. The R 26 was initially advertised as a 1955 R 25/3, but as soon as Phil saw it, he knew exactly what it was. This bike was originally sold at Phil's local dealer, Dunbar Eurosports, and even came with the original bill of sale. BMW Mobile Tradition verified that the bike was actually built in 1959, the same year Phil was born. Phil joins a long and prestigious list of U.S. Knöchlein Award recipients which includes Darryl Richman, Jeff Dean, Bob Lonergan, Lothar Schuttler, Jack Wells, Paul Glaves, Doug Morrison, John Lacko, David Percival, William J. Young, James M. Smith and Peter Nettesheim.
September 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS
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Made in Germany: Inside CSS Polyeurethantechnik By Kurtis Minder #141660 WALKING UP TO THE UNASSUM-
ing facility in Coburg, Germany, it was obvious which door to go through. Parked in front was a modified but pristine red and black classic BMW. This is the home of CSS Polyeurethantechnik, a company many BMW motorcyclists have patrolled but few know what it is. Jurgen and Ina Ritter run this manufacturing operation which produces polyurethane-based products. The company and the space are small, but their output is tremendous. The company started as a car accessories company when Jurgen decided he needed some tank protection for his ‘87 Honda motorcycle. Failing to find a source for the tank pad, he began designing his own. First mocking up the design and then hand-crafting a mold, he procured the necessary polyurethane (PU) materials and made his first tank pad. Happy with the results, Jurgen felt that these
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BMW OWNERS NEWS  September 2016
might be useful to other motorcyclists. He began creating molds and building pads for various Japanese brands, later focusing solely on BMW motorcycles. The PU business quickly usurped the car parts business. In 1992 they closed the auto parts business in favor of PU product manufacturing. They now offer a tank pad option for nearly every BMW motorcycle model, going back to the early 1990s. Due to inbound interest, they expanded the business a few years ago to include manufacturing parts for medical equipment, sports equipment and other materials. CSS has even supplied CE-rated armor for BMW apparel and other riding gear. In 2014, under the brand "ONYX Sport," CSS began making 3-D targets for bow hunting practice. These are made of a variation of the same polyurethane material and are lifelike recreations of animals. Jurgen sketches, prototypes and builds the molds for these animal statue targets. His artistry and craftsmanship shine through on these applications.
The Process
Everything is done by hand at CSS. The design process for motorcycle tank pads starts with the bike. Jurgen is careful to observe BMW Motorrad’s design intentions for each bike. He looks at the tank geometry and begins sketching a design. When he feels he is close, he cuts a leather mock-up and positions it on the bike. Any changes required are re-sketched. Next he cuts a template out of a moldable material; this piece is affixed to the motorcycle to emulate the placement and ergonomics of the final product. After Jurgen is satisfied with the overall design and aesthetic, he begins making the mold for the new pad. The prototype is used to create the reverse mold, and the mold material is forged. The final mold is put on the production line, where the technician will spray the mold with an electrostatically-charged paint. The PU material is then injected into the mold and heated. A short time later the pad is removed from the mold and sent to the processing and packaging team. The packaging team trims any ancillary
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material and affixes the adhesive to the back of the pad for applying to the tank. The item is then labeled and packaged, ready for sale and shipping. The two assembly stations each support about eight molds, and CSS processes about 10 PU material cycles per mold per day for about 160 products produced per day. In 1993 Jurgen commissioned the build of their current production plant. The company has four full-time employees and turns out thousands of different products and designs each year. They are continually expanding and growing from the demand driven by the quality and reliability of their products. They are gearing up to celebrate their 20th anniversary, and their tank pads were most recently featured on the cover of Germany’s Motorrad Magazine adorning a custom R nineT bike built by their friends at Wunderlich.
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www.advdepot.com www.motoworkshighlights.com Tank pads provide a few simple functions that enhance the motorcycling experience and protect the bike. Tank pads protect your tank paint from the rider's belt buckle, zippers and snaps on the riding jacket, and from the inside of the rider’s knees. They also provide grip so that the rider can hold the tank with his or her knees. This allows the rider to relax the upper body and provides better control and confidence while turning.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
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TECH
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Time to retire, rear drives and one more long-sleeping Airhead By Matthew Parkhouse #13272 AS I HAVE MEN-
tioned here in the last few months, I’ve been “ready to sell” the 1978 R 100 S. Now that I have it squared away, test ridden and “ready to go, I have only taken it a few hundred miles. It just doesn’t feel right to keep it in a corner of the yard under a cover. Gordon, a gentleman in Missouri, has REALLY been after me to sell it to him. I finally said yes, and he fired off a check to me. Unfortunately, he crashed his current bike, an ’83 R 100. We talked over the weekend, and he told me that at eighty-three, the years had caught up with him, and solo bikes were no longer within his abilities. I’ll send the check back to him when it gets here. We are making plans to get together sometime soon. I’ve been thinking a lot these last days about how we acquire passions and are given a certain amount of time to enjoy them, but eventually, we must (or really should) give them up. There really is, “A time to begin and a time to call a halt to things.” I also recently have been corresponding with fellow Friend of the Marque, “Oak” Okleshen. He’s been one of my teachers ever since I got started in this world of the long-ranging flat twins. Oak was one of the leaders in the assembly of the “CHITECH Manuals.” These are a well-organized, “how to” guides to all things electric on the airhead (and earlier) BMWs. They cover the years from 1955 to 1990. I put mine into a looseleaf binder, and it shows clear evidence of being repeatedly grabbed
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
with greasy fingers to help out with something electrically puzzling. The manuals are still available, by the way, from the Chicago BMW club, where they originated. The manual started in 1976 and has been through several revisions since then. It’s $30, and can be found at crbmw.com/ rokcart. The reason I was writing to Oak was to find out if he would be at this year’s National Rally. He told me he wouldn’t, as his “old body is falling apart.” He’s sold his bikes, is retiring from BMW repair work and is now selling his set of custom-made tools. Over the years, as a machinist, he invented or improved on several of the needed shop tools. His advice to me was, “Have fun while it lasts. Sell the house, shut off the phone, give the kids away and hit the road while you can.” Thanks, Oak! I feel I have done a pretty good job of just that. In my “BMW years,” I’ve lived on the bike for seven months (post-Army), done two four-month European tours, ridden south of the border a dozen times and taken LOTS of long trips in between. You HAVE to cover some ground to put 423,000 miles on a Slash Five! Now it is becoming my turn to start looking “beyond the motorcycle.” I still have a few years (if all goes well). Life is full of surprises, after all—cows on the road, lightning and careless surgeons. My theory of success is to avoid being a specialist. I enjoy being part of a number of activities. I just “retired” from a 44-year career of being a community volunteer. I worked as a nurse for over thirty years. I built a house. I taught a nursing course for several years. I’ve converted a van to electric drive and built another EV from scratch. I enjoy reading on a number of things. I half joke that when I have to stop riding, I’ll start raising rabbits and chickens (Susanna will finally get her cats). There will be more riding, however. We’re
planning a run next month up to Boise to spend time with Susanna’s folks. And, I have NO plans to end this column anytime soon! One of our local folks has an incredibly well-preserved Slash Five. I’ve been running out to his home to help get it completely ready for riding. We had just about everything done but were troubled by a small but persistent gas leak on one side. On the third trip out, after a new float was installed and all the “usual” tasks attended to, I noticed the brass fitting where the fuel line attaches seemed a bit out of place. On closer examination, I could see part of a black O-ring showing. With a bit of gentle wiggling with some pliers, I was able to pull it out of the carb body. There was the gas leak. I cleaned it up, and the o-ring looked good, so I tapped the spigot back into place in the carb body. That was the end of the leak. This is the one and only time I’ve witnessed THAT particular problem. I gave the Bing Agency in Kansas a quick call. They stated it is rare, but they have seen this problem on occasion. That O-ring is not stocked as a separate item, so if I ever needed to replace it, I could grab one from one of my scrap carburetors (that’s how I shot that particular photo, by the way). In the last couple of weeks, my long-suffering Slash Five, Strider, has been having electrical problems. I’d go through the usual start-up routine and NO POWER! No instrument lights or any sign of power. By wiggling the wires at my self-installed circuit breakers, I could get it to light up again. After about three of these incidents, I decided to take a look at the pair of circuit breakers I found at our local flea market and installed about 35 years ago. BMW did not install fuses on their bikes until sometime in 1972, after they built MY Slash 5. I found this set of aircraft 10 Amp breakers and wired them into the bike’s circuits, one
I am removing the input seal carrier. The tool in my hand is essential to unscrew this part of the rear drive.
Here is a rear drive, taken down as far as needed to renew all four seals. I refer to them as the "inner" and "outer", the "input" and the "spine" seals. The first two seal the ends of the large crown gear, the input goes behind the input splines and the spline seal goes under the 24mm nut that secures the spline piece. All but the spline seal require a special tool installer. It would be almost impossible to install the seals correctly without these tools. Counting the holding fixture, there are five of the tools shown. I assembled this collection in the Butler and Smith days.
for lighting, one for everything else. I stuck them behind the left-hand battery cover so they’d be invisible but handy. After three and a half decades, perhaps it was time to take all the connectors off and clean things up. After a pleasant hour or so of replacing a couple of connectors, sanding all the contact surfaces, replacing everything, treating a bit of rust and repainting the mounts I had welded up back then; everything worked and has not presented any further problems. Usually with the fuseless Slash Fives, I simply cut the power (red) wire at the battery and install an inline 25 Amp fuse to protect the entire wiring system. I haven’t worked on a rear drive for a number of years. This month, I’m now starting on the third one. The first two involved leaking seals, the last one is an eBay purchase. I bought it (for not much) knowing I’d be renewing the drive splines. The various models of airhead BMWs use different drive ratios. The “ratio” refers to the number of gear teeth of the pinon gear as related to the number of teeth on the larger crown gear. The crown gear has the drive splines welded to it to power the rear wheel. The rear (or final) drive requires a
number of steps to get things apart and back together. You can fabricate a number of the BMW shop tools (or figure out a work-around) to work on many parts of the airhead bikes. Many of the tasks involved in the repair and maintenance of the airheads can be done with reasonable skill levels and basic tools. The rear drives however, really do require the use of specific shop tools for several of the steps of disassembly, seal installation and reassembly. Fortunately, I managed to collect a set of the needed tools a long time ago. The rear drive also requires heat to tear down and rebuild for several parts of the job. This really IS “one to leave to a knowledgeable shop.” There is also a rather fiddly procedure to check the shimming (on two axes) when it goes back together. If the rear drive needs new splines, it can be rebuilt by several vendors. I have used Hansen’s BMW in Oregon for several decades now. If you tear the rear drive down and send them the one part, the cost will run around $300. If you just send in the entire rear drive, it’ll run over $450. While the drive is apart, it is an excellent time to repair the
The tool here immobilizes the input spline piece so that I can unscrew the 24mm nut that secures it to the input shaft.
The torches come out three times during the disassembly of the rear drive. Here, I am expanding the area around the input seal carrier, prior to unscrewing it.
This particular rear drive had a buggered up driveshaft fill plug. With hard sharp steel threads in a small soft aluminum hole, this is a commonly stripped fastener. I did the initial drilling using a drill press and fixture to get a good 90-degree hole. Now, I'm cutting the threads prior to installing a 12mm Heli-Coil to restore the fill threads.
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TEC
keepemflying
fill-drain plug threads for the driveshaft, should they be damaged. These two plugs, located where the driveshaft mates with the rear drive, are the second-most commonly stripped fasteners on the bike. It is a fairly easy Heli-Coil fix but the drive needs to be off the bike and with parts removed. The MOST common stripped fastener? The valve cover stud in the heads. At least that one is a very easy Heli-Coil repair. Susanna and I are packing up for the rally and will take off tomorrow. We’re going by car, alas, but between my challenges and the fact we’ll be continuing on to see grandkids and other family on the East Coast, it makes sense to use four wheels. When we return from that trip, my next project will be changing the batteries in my electric three-wheeler from lead-acid to lithium-ion (from a wrecked Chevy Volt). More power, more range, half the weight and longer life. This should be worth the extra cost involved. And, after that we WILL, as mentioned, take the bikes on a leisurely ride to Boise and back.
This particular rear drive had a buggered up driveshaft fill plug. With hard sharp steel threads in a small soft aluminum hole, this is a commonly stripped fastener. I did the initial drilling using a drill press and fixture to get a good 90 degree hole. Now, I'm cutting the threads prior to installing a 12mm HeliCoil to restore the fill threads.
I am cleaning up the connections on the 35-year-old wiring for my self-installed pair of circuit breakers. I'd started having electrical gremlins a week or two earlier. A couple of new connectors, some sandpaper and a little dielectric grease later, the problem has been banished. The gas line intake spigot can come loose, generating a rather hard-to-find gas leak. It had worked about 1/3 loose, exposing the black o-ring. I ended up cleaning it up and tapping it back into place, which stopped gas from dripping on the riders' foot. That o-ring is not available separately so if it needs replacing, the real-world solution would be to find a scrap carburetor and salvage a good used one. First time in 44 years!
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
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Das Rally 2016 A collection of images from Das Rally! Thank you to Reid Dalland, Chuck Feil, Ken Frick, Darrell Hoemann, James Nowell, Bill Wiegand and Ken Yarwick for providing great memories of the event. A full recap of Das Rally! will be published next month.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS  September 2016
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September 2016  BMW OWNERS NEWS
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Discover Wisconsin
WISCONSIN Rediscovering the Heart of the Driftless Area By Ron Davis #111820
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BMW OWNERS NEWS  September 2016
All paths are the same, leading nowhere. Therefore, pick a path with heart! –Carlos Castenada September 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS
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Like many of my baby boomer brethren, most of my efforts during my college days seemed devoted to anything but preparing myself for the world of work. I was free to dabble in all kinds of alternative activities and philosophies and spent some time pouring through Carlos Castenada’s then popular novels. Dog-eared copies of books like The Teachings of Don Juan, A Separate Reality and Journey to Ixtlan poked out of a lot of backpacks in the early ‘70s, and though I was intrigued with them then, about the only thing that stuck with me was the idea of a “power spot.” According to Don Juan, the “Man of Knowledge” in the novels, everyone has a power spot, unique to him or her, and once discovered, it affords a rejuvenation of energy and clarity of vision. The highlight of my spring semesters back then was escaping the college grind to spend weekends on my sister’s farm down in the heart of southwest Wisconsin’s Driftless Area. I’d spend foggy mornings down in the hollows, wading one of the countless, cool-running spring creeks to pluck out a few brown trout and some fresh watercress, and later I’d hike (more like “climb”) into the lush, near vertically-sloped coulees
searching for morel mushrooms. I remember thinking this just might be my own power spot. Once I had scraped up enough cash for a used, red and white Honda CB350 and began spending afternoons threading my way through the squiggly state, county, and township roads, this new dimension confirmed the mystic power Wisconsin’s so-called “Coulee Country” held for me. Last spring when Editor Bill Wiegand asked me to spend a few days poking around this same area as an advance man for a scheduled weekend Getaway in the Driftless Area, I couldn’t load my panniers fast enough. My first day out, I headed directly to Black River Falls, site of a fall Getaway, September 30 through October 2. The reception Friday evening will be held at the Best Western Arrowhead Lodge and Suites where Sue Rihn, the organizer for the event, will be orienting riders on off-road and pavement riding opportunities and points of interest. (see the list of links at the end of this article for more information about events and places mentioned). In the immediate area, riders might want to visit the award-winning Sand Creek Brewing Company, Wisconsin’s third largest craft beer
Sand Creek Brewing.
brewery. Tours start at 3:30 on Friday (tap room open 3-10 p.m.), and the tap room is open noon to 5 p.m. on Saturday. Visitors
who are feeling lucky may want to roll the dice or pull the handle on the one-armed bandits at Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls, which also offers accommodations. Black River Falls sits near the northeast reaches of the strip of southwest Wisconsin known as the Driftless Area. It’s called “Driftless” since it escaped getting mowed down and covered in “drift” by the last glacier, though as the glacier receded, its meltwater carved this area of Wisconsin into a maze of deep valleys, steep coulees and bluffs. This kind of topography has made southwest Wisconsin legendary for motorcyclists seeking endless roller coasters of pavement through spectacular scenery. Just southwest of Black River Falls is Wisconsin’s Cranberry Country. The weekend before the Getaway, something like 120,000 thousand visitors will converge on little Warrens, Wisconsin, for the Cranberry Festival, a three-day gathering for food, music, parades, and over 1,000 craft, food and flea market vendors. If you’re curious about the cranberry culture of Wisconsin, you might like to visit the Cranberry Discovery Center in Warrens, open Monday through Sunday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Just a ways east out of Black River Falls
on Hwy 54 is North Settlement Road, one of Wisconsin’s “Rustic Roads.” Heading south, it meanders for about 12 miles through the Black River State Forest’s pine plantations, marshes, and hardwood stands which should be in prime fall color at the time of the Getaway. The road was not in the best shape when I traveled it, with occasional potholes and patches of gravel where culverts had been replaced, but riders are The Deke Slayton Memorial Space and Bicycle Museum in Sparta, bound to see a variety of wildlife Wisconsin, features mementos from Slayton’s career as an and diverse plant life including astronaut, bicycles spanning centuries of history, and real-life sphagnum peat moss beds and and model airplanes. native wildflowers. museum has over 80 two-wheelers that North Settlement Road ends at County span centuries of history. Sparta lays claim O, and from there, the quickest route to the to being “the bicycling capital of America,” most popular Driftless Area roads is to take and is the trail head for one of the first Cty O west to State Hwy 27 south. Hwy 27 “Rails to Trails” programs, the Elroy-Sparta passes through Sparta, where tourers may Bike Trail. Called “the Granddaddy of them want to take a break at the Deke Slayton all,” the Elroy-Sparta Trail covers 32 miles Memorial Space and Bicycle Museum. Slaythrough rolling countryside and three tunton, one of our first astronauts, was a memnels, one of them three-quarters of a mile ber of the Mercury 7 group and part of the long (shuttles and bike rentals are available crew for the U.S./Russian Apollo-Soyuz at both ends of the trail). There is also an docking mission. The bicycle part of the
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working shops, and quaint cabins speckle businesses. Construction began, but soon aviation section of the museum which feathis area, but keep an eye out for buggies budget and environmental concerns halted tures dozens of model planes, including a and of course the occasional horse manure the project, and though some huge concrete model of the Wright brothers’ first plane deposit! structures eerily still rise from the valley, and a full-size 1932 Pietenpol. If you skip Cty P, leaving the Reserve on most of the Reserve has returned to its natContinue south on Hwy 27 to Cashton, south 131 you’ll pass Wildthings Fur Comural state. A visitor’s center for the Kickapick up Hwy 33, and you’re in for some of pany, where you can pick up locally-caught poo Valley Reserve is open 8 a.m. to 4:30 the most memorable rides of your life. Taksmoked trout and watch hats, caps, mittens, p.m., Monday through Saturday. ing Hwy 33 east for a few miles will lead you and motorcycle seat covers being made Just before leaving the reserve heading to Wisconsin’s answer to The Tail of the from everything from wolverDragon, up and over Wildcat ine to wolf fur. A block down Mountain. Just for the fun of it, the highway is the “ALMOST I like to turn around and head world famous” Rockton Bar, right back over the mountain where its renowned chicken and back to Ontario, then turn barbecue packs its parking lot south on Hwy 131, a favorite of each Sunday with both twomany riders for its pleasant wheeled and four-footed transsweepers and gorgeous portation (There are many scenery. equestrians in this area). Hwy 131 cuts through the Another Rustic Road in the Kickapoo Valley Reserve, area I’d recommend meets Hwy 8,569 acres of sandstone cliffs 131 just as you leave the Reserve and forested bluffs towering to the south. The Rustic Roads over the sweeping valleys crasign there clearly marks its dling the Kickapoo River. Recbeginning at Dutch Hollow ognized as a National Natural Road, but watch the signs careLandmark, a State Natural fully, as Dutch Hollow magiArea, and prime wetland habitat for birds and other wildlife, The “ALMOST World Famous” Rockton Bar on State Highway 131 packs in riders, cally turns into Sand Hill Road. both motorcyclist and equestrian, on Sunday for its Sunday chicken barbecues. Turn right at Lower Ridge the Reserve also has a fascinatRoad, which will lead you back ing history. Back in the ‘60s, in to Highways 131 and 33 and into Ontario, south, on the advice of a local rider I took a response to periodic flooding problems which is proclaimed by its welcome sign to left on Cty P. This little stretch from 131 over (probably due in some part to logging and be “The Canoeing Capital of the World.” to Hwy 82 will give you all the twisties you farming activities), a congress-initiated This side tour has some great elevations could ever want. As you round one of the program called for the river to be dammed providing scenic overlooks and threads its countless bends bordered by rocky outwith the idea of creating a recreational way past Amish farms and horse stables. croppings, you may feel as you’ve ridden resource and sparing downstream commuLocated to the west on Hwy 82 is Hillssuddenly into the 1800s. Working Amish nities from flooding. Over 140 families sold boro, a common rallying point for groups farms, small bakeries, produce and wood or were forced to sell their homes and State Highway 33 takes riders up and over Wildcat Mountain and is typical of the rollercoaster roads found in southwestern Wisconsin, offering dramatic overlooks, twisted switchbacks and sprawling sweepers.
riding the Driftless Area. The Hillsboro Brewing Company (est. 1846) in the middle of town offers a scrumptious and varied menu (try the nachos!) and craft beers from their brewery just down the street. As testament to the popularity of the area for motorcyclists, just outside of Hillsboro is the Blue Highway Motorcycle Lodge. The six, elegantly crafted cabins there are only available to motorcyclists, and though they are situated on 40 secluded acres of a forested bluff, each cabin boasts four-star accommodations. The night I was lucky to stay there I was pleasantly surprised by all the special touches owners Dan and Brandy have included at each cabin. Besides the paved paths leading to each cabin, fresh fruit, whirlpool tubs, boot dryers, gas fireplaces, kitchenettes, screened porches, and even motorcycle ports to keep bikes out of the elements make this stop tailor-made for riders. The Blue Highway Motorcycle lodge offers MOA members a five percent discount. After another day crisscrossing the area I stayed for a night at the Blakely Hobbit, near Viola (home to the internationally known S&S Cycle, call ahead for tours). It’s been said you can’t turn around in the Driftless area without stepping into a trout stream, and the Hobbit cabins overlook one of the most famous of these, the West Fork of the Kickapoo River. Like many bed and breakfasts and cabins in the area catering to anglers, the Hobbit may be a little rustic for some; however, the unspoiled views, the quiet serenity, and the personal attention from Eddie, the owner for over 30 years, made this a great, restful spot for me. The Hobbit offers two cabins, tent camping, and RV parking, all on the banks of the gently burbling West Fork. Heading south on State Highway 82/56 led me to Viroqua, a small town with a large number of unique attractions. The Saturday Farm Market features many booths offering locally grown, organic produce, Amish baked goods, pastured meats and preserves, as well as handmade crafts and furniture. Visitors also enjoy taking the walking or driving tours of local vineyards and the unique round barns that dot the area. Other unique attractions include the Fourtney Underground Theater and the Viroqua Food Cooperative, which serves three meals a day made from local and organic foods and is popular for its soup and salad
bar. I can vouch for their paninis! From Viroqua, it’s a short run west on State Hwy 14 to the Mississippi, the western boundary of the Wisconsin portion of the Driftless Area, and Hwy 35, The Great River Road. This route, traveling both north and south, is nationally known by motorcyclists for its majestic views of the Mississippi river and the bluffs that bracket it, especially in the fall when colors peak and clouds of migrating wildfowl use this flyway. Visitors to the Getaway in September should be aware however, that La Crosse will be holding its Octoberfest celebration during the same weekend, so expect heavier than normal traffic. Depending on how you feel about crowds, Octoberfest features three days of fun activities, including parades, music, a craft beer night, countless food vendors, contests, and as much lederhosen as you’d ever care to see. Northeast of La Crosse, many riders make a pilgrimage of sorts to the Mindoro Cut. At the summit of a cavalcade of twisties and switchbacks, County Trunk C (formerly State Hwy 108) slashes down through 74 feet of solid dolomite and sandstone, earning it the title as the second deepest hand-hewn cut in the western hemisphere and a place on the National Register of Historic Places. Visitors can pick up County C north in West Salem, just east of La Crosse, and after traversing the cut, motorcyclists are often drawn to Top Dawgs Pub and Grub in Mindoro. Though it might look a little shabby from the outside, Top Dawgs is known for offering 108 different hamburgers, not to mention locally made, fresh bleu
cheese that is to die for. Each time you sample one of the burgers, your ticket is punched, and after trying the full menu, you earn a free steak dinner. Paul, the owner, told me Top Dawgs has served riders from all over the world, and, get this, he claims he opens at 4:30 a.m. and closes the place sometimes as late as 2 a.m.! It’s impossible to do more than just scratch the surface of riding and touring opportunities in southwestern Wisconsin; in fact, once you’re in the Driftless area, it’s a challenge to find a route you won’t enjoy. However, remember much of this area is rural, and this means deer, buggies, bicyclists, and a bunch more things to stay alert for. Coming around one sweeper near Hillsboro, I was even confronted with a recalcitrant cow, and another rider told me she had just had a face-off with a donkey. So, take your time, and enjoy this wonderful resource for motorcycling adventure. In addition to the links below, many of the routes I’ve mentioned can be viewed on YouTube, but for a comprehensive look at maps of six suggested motor routes and 88 attractions, visit DriftlessDestinations.com or pick up one of their free brochures available at restaurants, hotels, and convenience stores in the area. Whether or not the southwestern Wisconsin Driftless Area becomes your “power spot” as it has for me, its exciting roads are what Castenada might have called “paths with heart,” and, if I can borrow one more quote from him, “…there I travel looking, looking breathlessly.”
Links to more information: • Black River Falls Getaway Information: www.bmwmoa.org/ (select “Events,” “MOA Getaway Black River Falls” • Sand Creek Brewing: sandcreekbrewing.com/ • Ho-Chunk Gaming Black River Falls: ho-chunkgaming.com/blackriverfalls/ • Cranberry Discovery Center: discovercranberries.com/ • Deke Slayton Space and Bicycle Museum: dekeslaytonmuseum.org/ • Kickapoo Valley Reserve: kickapoovalley.wi.gov/Home • Wildthings Fur Company: wildthingsfur.com/ • Blue Highway Motorcycle Lodge: bluehighwaymotorcyclelodge.net/ • The Blakely Hobbit: blakleyhobbit.com/ • S&S Cycle: www.sscycle.com/ • La Crosse Octoberfest: oktoberfestusa.com/ • Viroqua Tourism: viroqua-wisconsin.com/viroqua-tourism/what-to-do/ area-attractions • Driftless Destinations: driftlessdestinations.com
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Discover Wisconsin
The Mindoro Cut.
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A DAY RIDE Heading West from Madison
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Entering the area untouched by glacial ice.
By Tom Van Horn #51550 and Sue Rihn #43753 aturday morning dawned clear with a few small white clouds dotting the crystal blue skies. We spread our maps out on the table as we enjoyed our morning coffee at the University of Wisconsin – Madison’s Memorial Union overlooking Lake Mendota, our starting point for a day’s ride into Wisconsin’s Driftless Area. We started our ride by following Observatory Drive through the campus, following the Lake Mendota shoreline, passing UW landmarks like Bascom Hall, Muir Knoll, the Carillon Tower, Washburn Observatory and eventually Picnic Point. A glance to the right at the intersection of University Bay Drive and Highland Avenue revealed the First Unitarian Meeting House. It was designed by Frank Lloyd Wright and built by a protégé. It’s a very striking and wellknown example of Wright’s genius. We picked our way to University Avenue, a divided major street which runs northwest through Madison and Middleton and which eventually becomes US Hwy 14, our escape route to the country. Minutes later we turned left on Cleveland Road, which
S
offered a nice set of twisties and set the tone for the day. Many of our roads on this day would be narrow, with wild flowers instead of gravel on the edges of the road, and center-line markings optional, depending on what each county had decided was necessary. Our first destination was the Cross Plains Interpretive Center Site on Old Sauk Pass Road. This is a great place to really appreciate what the glaciers left for us here in this area of the state. There is a small path into the woods for hardy hikers, and it leads past little knolls and narrow, deep ravines. Much of the landscape on our route featured “terminal moraines,” places where the last major glaciers stopped. This is the cause of the up and down topography we rode through. The rounded-off ridges consist of material scraped in and left as the ice masses melted. mixing 400-million yearold sedimentary rocks right next to 20,000year-old igneous rock pushed in from Canada by the glaciers. We continued down Old Sauk Trail over and between these ridges, where our next stop sign was Stagecoach Road. We turned
Bascom Hall on the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
left down Stagecoach, passed another ridge, then left again on Cty P. Climbing up another ridge afforded us a nice view from the top, and as we went down, we turned right onto Observatory Road where we saw telescopes moved here years ago to escape the city glow in the city. Our next destination was Brigham County Park, off Cty F. On clear days, it offers a view of the higher places to the north known as the Baraboo Bluffs, which will be a subject for another ride. Visitors here are treated to cold spring water from the hand-pump. I don’t think there is any water anywhere that tastes as good. Continuing on F, we entered the village of Blue Mounds. The Hooterville Inn on the right is a good lunch stop if you're hungry. We continued on Cty ID to the next town, Barneveld, which was almost completely destroyed by a huge tornado in the '80s. They've rebuilt and are doing well nowadays. Taking a right on Cty T, we threaded our way through neighborhoods, eventually angling off to the left and finding more fabulously twisty creekside roads.
A view of Lake Mendota from behind the student union at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
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A few miles out of Barneveld we found Mill Road, which leads to the Hyde Mill. This water-powered grist mill was built in 1850, and while no longer operating, the building and race are still there, as well as old millstones and other pieces placed around. This is a special, peaceful place favored by photographers. Another good spot for lunch is the Pleasant Ridge Store. The former general storeturned-eatery off Cty ZZ features great sandwiches and specials, and the artwork on the walls features old motorcycle posters and memorabilia. As we headed north on Hwy 23 we entered Frank Lloyd Wright country. Popular stops are the Hillside School, associated with this famous architect, and Taliesin, Frank Loyd Wright’s “eastern” home and the site of an architecture school in the past (tours must be arranged in advance). Right around the corner is the Frank Loyd Wright Preservation Center (one of the very few restaurants designed by him) which has a visitor center. Tower Hill state park is just up from the center. The “tower” was used to form round lead shot for military use in the
Hyde's Mill.
Memorabilia covers the walls of the Pleasant Ridge Store.
1800s. Hwy 23 took us across the Wisconsin River and into Spring Green. It has a nice, revitalized downtown, with several nice eateries and places worth checking out. We followed Hwy 23 to US 14 and then Hwy 60 which offers sweeping curves, unlike the writhing back roads we'd been riding thus far and ran us back east on the north side of the Wisconsin River. This part of Highway 60 was the first corridor to be designated a Wisconsin Scenic Byway. The sweeping
curves of Highway 60 wind 100 miles through the heart of southwest Wisconsin’s rural Driftless Area, from Lodi to Prairie du Chien as they follow the Lower Wisconsin River. Our next stop (and a popular tourist destination) was the Wollersheim Winery near Prairie du Sac. The first person to try winemaking here was a Hungarian count, Agoston Haraszthy, whose European vines didn't survive the midwest winter. He moved on to try again in California, and the rest, as
they say, is history. Wollersheim has won many awards for its wine and has recently branched out into distilling. The old stone house and vineyards are well worth a visit. After leaving the winery, what better way to sample a classic Wisconsin supper club than making a stop in Roxbury at the Dorf Haus. The Dorf Haus has been serving classic Wisconsin fare such as fish fries since the 60s, but it also offers an extensive menu of scrumptious ethinic dishes like weiner schnitzel, spaetzli, and sauerbraten. The owners aimed to emulate a German beer hall at the Dorf Haus, and the supper club is decorated with German artwork. The Dorf Haus opens at 5 p.m. on Wednesday through Saturday and at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday. As we turned for home, we wound our way past farms and more farms. Rural Wisconsin has a beauty of her own, with majestic red barns against green corn and golden wheat and stunning fall color on the hardwood covered ridges. No matter what routes you take, what stops you make or how many times you visit Wisconsin’s southern Driftless Area, each ride is sure to create delightful memories. Below, The entrance to the Wollersheim Winery near Prairie du Sac. Right, The Pleasant Ridge Store offers a great place to stop for lunch.
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1 0 3 7 8 # g n i m e l F s e W By
T
en years ago, you couldn’t have gotten me interested in motorcycle racing if you dipped the bikes in chocolate and paved the track with gold. Race bikes were so far removed from the riding I did (and still do) on a dayto-day basis that I just couldn’t find any connection. Then I met Nate Kern. Nate made his reputation racing BMW motorcycles, especially the R 1200 S. My former local chartered club, BMW Bikers of Metropolitan Washington, had a number of N8! fans, and we organized rides out to Summit Point, West Virginia, to cheer for Nate and watch the races. It was the club’s enthusiasm and Nate’s infectious passion
for the sport that got me paying attention to racing. On the rare occasions I could find motorcycle racing on TV, it was MotoGP or World Superbike (WSBK). Great races, but very few Americans. It was fun to cheer for Loris Capirossi, and it’s been a lot of fun to watch the rise of Marc Marquez the last few years, but those circuits lack that hometown team to root for. Enter MotoAmerica. Legendary motorcycle racer and AMA Hall of Fame inductee Wayne Rainey decided a few years ago that the USA needed a premier racing circuit. He and some colleagues set about working with the AMA to establish such a circuit and make it
work. After the demise of the AMA Superbike Series and the unwillingness or inability of World Superbike and MotoGP to stage more events in the United States, MotoAmerica—now in its second season— has stepped up to run a premier professional motorcycle racing circuit populated primarily with American riders and staging all of its events in the U.S. One of the appeals of MotoAmerica is that it serves as a funnel to push America’s best and fastest riders on to international competition. When more American riders compete in World Superbike and MotoGP there will be more of a home team to root for and who knows, maybe even another Wayne Rainey someday.
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MotoAmerica races are split up into five classes. At the slowest end of the spectrum—not that any of these bikes could be considered slow in the classic sense—are the circuit’s youngest riders. They compete in the KTM RC Cup, and they ride identical, single-cylinder KTM RC 390 motorcycles. The bikes are simple and the same, which enables the riders to build their skills in a highly competitive environment dedicated to the physical art of racing, rather than trying to outmaneuver each other technologically. Building on the idea that skill, rather than technology, can be the focus of a racing series, MotoAmerica also features two classes based on stock motorcycles of 600 and 1000 cc displacement that basically anybody can buy at their local dealer. In the Superstock classes, only a few modifications to the bikes are allowed, and they are basically bolt-on changes, such as suspension and electronics modules. The engines and transmissions must be as supplied by the factory and be widely available to riders in general. In the Superbike (1000 cc) and Supersport 600 classes, MotoAmerica rules allow all sorts of engine modifications, from polishing connecting rods to lightening crankshafts. While all race bikes can be expensive, it’s the Superbike and Supersport motorcycles that come with high-dollar price tags and, quite often, factory and sponsor support. Many of the riders in the Superstock classes are known as “privateers” in the The start.
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racing world. While they may have sponsors, they’re pretty much doing things on their own. This is where Jeremy Cook enters the picture. Cook is one of only two BMW riders in MotoAmerica. Along with airline pilot and former Suzuki and Ducati factory rider Steve Rapp, Cook has naturally drawn the attention of BMW riders in the U.S. The MOA sponsors Cook, enabling him to
travel from race to race and transport his motorcycles, spare parts and supplies in a large enclosed trailer. His other sponsors include Bob’s BMW and Schuberth. Cook is a Marine Corps veteran who, after getting out of the service in 2004, needed something to keep himself busy. He was misbehaving on motorcycles on the street with his friends and recognized that behavior wasn’t constructive. He took a chance on a track day and enjoyed it so much he got licensed and started racing the very next weekend.
“Unfortunately, the second race of my second year I had a massive highside at the top of the roller-coaster at Virginia International Raceway, which resulted in a medevac flight to Duke [University], shock trauma ICU for nine days as they tried to save my right arm, and six months of physical therapy. I swore off racing but shortly found myself looking into race schools,” Cook said. A chance meeting with Nate Kern at the inaugural MotoGP races at Indianapolis in 2008 led to Cook putting a deposit down on an S 1000 RR at Bob’s BMW in Jessup, Maryland. Cook’s next step was a rain-soaked California Superbike School week in which he split the riding between his Suzuki GSX-R1000 and brand-new S 1000 RR. After selling the Gixxer, he put in a season with the Championship Cup Series as an amateur, winning several regional and track championships. As an Expert the following season, he was able to get enough points to earn his AMA Pro Supersport, Daytona Sportbike and Pro Superbike licenses—just before MotoAmerica took over the series. “MotoAmerica is BIG!” Cook said. “The TV coverage and number of fans and spectators that show up add a lot to the stress.” The last round of the season takes place September 9-11 at the New Jersey Motorsports Park, located south of Millville, New Jersey, next to Millville Airport, a former Army Air Corps facility used to train P-40 and P-47 pilots during World War II. NJMP is a 500-acre facility that sports two tracks
called Thunderbolt and Lightning, named after 1940s fighter planes. Thunderbolt is the main track; at 2.25 miles long, it features three long straightaways and 12 turns. Race weekend is grueling for the riders and their crews. It starts on Thursday, when the teams trickle in from all over the country in cars, trucks and RVs, many of them pulling trailers. Tents and canopies go up and the work begins. There are meetings and tech sessions the riders must attend, but Friday is when the action starts. Each class, the single-cylinder KTMs, the 600 cc and the 1000 cc bikes, takes to the track for 30- or 40-minute practice sessions spanning the bulk of the day. The teenagers competing in the KTM RC Cup have their first qualifying session to see who gets to race the next day. Most teams spend Friday night going over the bikes and talking through the practice sessions to identify difficult portions of the track and work on improving their chances in the races. Saturday is the first day of action, but it starts with qualifying sessions for the Supersport and Superstock 600 bikes, which are broken up into two groups to minimize the number of racers on the track at any one time. The big bikes practice again in the morning, and the KTM kids have another qualifying session. After a lunch break, the day’s Superstock 600 last chance qualifier kicks off, an eight-lap sprint to not only qualify for the first of the class’ 16-lap races, but to set the grid (starting) positions as well. After the 600 last chance qualifier, the big bikes take to the track for two 15-minute sessions called Superpoles. Which Superstock riders compete in the Superpole sessions is based on the fastest times in the Superbike practice sessions. If a Superstock 1000 rider’s fastest practice lap is within 107 percent of the fastest Superstock 1000 rider, he’s in the races, but to get into the Superpoles, he has to be within 107 percent of the fastest Superbike rider. Each Superpole session has a small number of riders, perhaps 10 or 12 at most. Following the Superpoles, the racing starts. The KTM RC Cup’s first race takes to the track for nine laps. Race one for the Supersport and Superstock 600 riders follows the KTM race. Finishing is important, and finishing as high in the standings as possible is paramount because a limited number of positions receive points for the
Jeremy Cook on the starting grid.
race, and it’s the overall point standings that determine the champion at the end of the season. Sunday is race day through and through, and it’s generally the day with the most spectators as well. Gates will usually open between 7:30 and 8 a.m., with warm-up sessions beginning not long after fans are let into the spectator areas. Warm-up sessions last 15 minutes, long enough for the riders to get mentally prepared for their races and to make sure the bikes are still handling at peak efficiency. Tension in the pits starts to rise after the final Superstock 600 qualifying session, and the Superbikes hit the track for their first
18-lap race early in the afternoon. They line up on the grid according to their times from the Superpole sessions (or practice sessions if they didn’t qualify for Superpoles) and get the green flag for the “sighting lap,” a quick trip around the track just to remind them of the bumps, hills and turns they’re about to face. They line up again, and the grid swarms with mechanics, coaches, umbrella girls (and guys) and photographers. The bikes start and race officials clear the grid. Riders rev their bikes and wait for the red lights to go out—and they’re off! Eighteen laps later some of them have crashed out, many of them are disappointed, but
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somebody has won, racking up those allimportant championship points. After Race 1 ends, it will be several hours before Race 2 happens. In the meantime, the 600 cc bikes take to the track for their second 16-lap race and the KTMs get their second 9-lap race in as well. Closing out the weekend’s schedule is the main event, Superbike/Superstock 1000 Race 2. The grid is the same from Race 1, but riders who crash in the first race and either can’t get their bike repaired or don’t have a backup bike find themselves on the sidelines watching their friends and colleagues set their minds to the task at hand. A thousand things, a million maybe, will go through the racer’s mind before the green flag drops. Tire choice: hard, medium or soft? How much air pressure? The temperature setting for the tire warmers. Chain
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tension. Suspension setup. Hydration for the human and coolant for the machine. That feeling in the pit of the stomach might be hunger, but it might also be fear. They visualize each turn, each step of the way, passing and staying smooth, operating the motorcycle’s controls in a clean, efficient manner to maximize speed. On the grid, every rider sees him or herself crossing the finish line to the waving of the checkered flag without any other rider in front of them, knowing they’ve secured victory that just 18 laps ago wasn’t assured to anybody. The lights go out, the green flag flies and Race 2 begins. It’s only the matter of a few dozen minutes before everybody knows who won, who lost and who crashed. When Race 2 ends and the interviews are over, track employees will begin the process of cleaning up the grounds and making sure
the spectators safely exit the facility. Racers strip off their leathers and the teams start stowing their gear for the long drive they’ll start that evening. Some will go home; others will travel directly to the next event. If it’s the last race of the season, like the one in September at New Jersey Motorsports Park, they’ll all head home and start preparing for next season. Some of the racers in the KTM series will move up to 600s, and some of the 600 cc riders will move up to 1000s. Superstock riders will become Supersport or Superbike riders. The top riders in Supersport and Superbike might entertain offers to race in other circuits, maybe even circuits that travel all over the world. The only thing that is known for sure is that MotoAmerica will be back in 2017 and the action will be as fast and as exciting as ever.
Looking to the future Jeremy is staying busy as he preps for the 2017 racing season. There’s his job, his work towards a double masters’ degree, training for triathlons, getting ready to enter the Naval Reserve, and his personal life (what there is of it) competing with his desire to undergo more training through the California Superbike School program. “It’s hard to juggle all the things in the adult world,” he admits, “but the biggest thing is to remember that we’re all human and you can only do your best.” The cost of being a privateer can be difficult to overcome. “MotoAmerica has done a good job of regulating costs to make things as economical as possible,” Jeremy says. “But it still requires a large amount of money to get through the season. I’m older, and with my background I can market with the best of them, which has helped me with sponsors. I like to learn about the products I use and tell others about them. I’m able to use my age as an advantage to allow me to focus and make sure those that are giving me support get my support.” Jeremy has copious praise for MotoAmerica, saying, “They have done an amazing job, especially with the odds stacked against them with the decline of road racing in the United States and the poor job Daytona Motorsports Group did to keep our sport alive. Organizing the ever-growing TV package they’ve provided, as well as the purses and the list of circuits we get to race on—especially those partnered with DORNA for MotoGP and World Superbike—is unbelievable for only their second year.” Far left, Cook on the track at Barber. Left, A member of Cook's pit crew gives time updates. Below, Jeremy gathers his thoughts before a race.
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DOWNHILL AND OFF-CAMBER PART 2 By Katherine Helmetag #196517 92
BMW OWNERS NEWS  September 2016
T
urn 4 is right again and sets up the Jump, a small hill that drops away quickly. It's a great opportunity to try for some air. The hard landing sets up the braking zone before Turn 5 and Turn 5a, a pair of closely linked turns named the Esses that stir the soul and offer novices and experts alike a place to practice moving their weight around above the bike. April Eby has been riding for six years. She started on a 1981 Honda CB650 Custom and moved on to a Triumph Scrambler. She purchased her S 1000 RR in 2014 after joining BMW SEM's service team as a technician. She credits a friend's father with teaching her to think like a mechanic and analyze problems. With some gentle prodding from Audrey and John, she joined the track pack from the dealership for the first time. Each track day starts with the basics: reading flags and reading the track in the classroom. The first session is all about finding your way around the track, with a chance for the control riders and instructors to check out the novice class. Next up, riders are grouped based on basic skills and comfort level with speed and then taken through the no brakes drill—lapping the track without using your brakes. A third classroom session covers riding in one gear and what to expect from that, followed by a track session of practice. “I scared myself a bit. I had no idea I could ride like that,” April said. “It's just not an option on the street; I had to come here to find that out.” She admitted to being nervous leading up to the day, both for herself as a rider and for her bike. “I was worried about falling or crashing, or pushing myself too hard, but I made it.” The groupings of like-skilled (or speedy) riders helped her get comfortable riding on the track, and she felt like she learned at a good pace. “Both the same-gear drill and the body positioning drill were big eye-openers for me. I can see how body position will be useful on the road, not in a ‘hang off in every turn way,’ but knowing that I can push the bike around under me to gain some traction. I can imagine a situation that is really pushing my envelope turning into a more manageable one now that I have more riding technique.”
April Eby practices body position.
After lunch, the novices returned to the classroom and discussed body position. A demo bike was brought in so that riders could feel what various degrees of hanging off feel like while stationary. The following riding session focused on moving the bike around underneath the rider. A final classroom session tied the day’s teachings together, and the novice riders went out for a lead/follow drill in which instructors evaluated them, then cut loose to lead their groups. April said, “The lead lap session, where I got to ride out front for a lap and be closely evaluated by the control rider, was both exhilarating and nerve-wracking. I knew at that point that I was riding okay, but I was still a bit nervy, not sure how I looked or how the instructor would see me as a rider.” After April’s successful solo evaluation, April and Audrey took to the track together, with Audrey taking the lead to help pull April along. “I thought I was doing pretty well,” April laughed. “I'm glad I did all the drills first. Keeping up with my group was easy. Audrey? Not so much.” Cresting the exit of the Esses, it's down into Turn 6, the Bowl. A real-deal Monzastyle bowl turn, complete with camber that looks like the banks at Daytona when you're picking your line. The most fun line is not always the fastest line through the Bowl; going high is fast, but going low feels
insanely cool due to the pool-like drop-in entrance. Like shooting the Corkscrew at Laguna Seca, you are better off letting your machine do the work while you sit back and enjoy the ride. Lead instructor Mike “Kozy” Kozykoski talked about his experiences teaching and how he came to own a 2014 S 1000 R. “I had to put my money where my mouth was!” he laughed. A big fan of the S 1000 RR after seeing so many students succeed on the bike, he told John at BMW of Southeast Michigan that he'd finally get a BMW when they made a naked version. “I think I bought the first one they shipped, and I love it!” Mike likes the riding position, saying, “It's especially good for a taller guy, and the throttle is so very smooth. It's a bona-fide track bike.” Off the track, he takes it slow on an Electra Glide, because “slow is okay, too.” Kozy's infectious laugh burbled along continuously as he recalled once riding “slow enough to be passed in the rain by a Gold Wing with the radio on. Now that was slow.” Twelve years of teaching with Sportbike Track Time at tracks east of the Mississippi has given Kozy perspective on tracks and learning. “Grattan is by far my favorite. The diversity of turns is amazing. There is no other track like it in the U.S.,” he says. His favorite students are the ones who don't expect to learn, but do, and his favorite
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Kozy instructs novices.
drill is the no-brake drill. He says, “Students gain confidence in that drill, and the light bulbs start to really come on.” A favorite memory of Mike's is from a dealer track day at Mid-Ohio, where Gary Nixon asked for some tips with the hang-off drill. “Holy cow, I was completely shocked that someone of that stature would ask for my help,” Kozy said. “But then I realized, that's how you get to be great. Never stop learning. Even the most experienced riders can learn at a track day. I tell everyone: any bike, any rider, especially novices—everyone will learn something at a track day.” Audrey, with 13 Audrey in the garage years and hundreds of track days of experience, concurred, saying, “I definitely learn every time. One, I'm not 18 any more, and two, there are so many little reminders—do this, don't do that. Each time the
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bike is upgraded by BMW, I have learned new tricks, new ways to control it. Track work enables me to communicate how impressive this bike really is, because I know personally.” The wildlife makes itself known in the long tight sweeper, Turn 7. Near the Swamp, Turn 7 is best known for turtle alerts. Large turtles sometimes make their way out of the cattails in the Swamp and up onto the racing surface. Corner workers shoo them off and are occasionally bitten in the process. It makes for the weirdest standing yellow flag ever. Geese, coyotes, wild turkeys, the occasional nesting cranes and worms make up the rest of the abundant wildlife that have no respect for noisy, speeding machines and their
riders. Pro tip: wax like crazy before rainy track days, or be prepared to be scraping worm guts for a while. Also don’t forget that goose poop is slippery when wet. BMW SEM's team at the track included Mike Glinski, team leader for Parts and Service, and Jeff Koenig of Sales. Jeff shared the shop demo S 1000 RR with Audrey while Mike put a demo S 1000 R through its paces. Returning from a few laps with the single-R, Audrey talked about the most significant differences between the two bikes (throttle response and gearing), and how they impacted the ride up the long and demanding straight. She said, “You need sixth [gear], definitely. Fifth is topped out. That extra shift is the biggest difference for me, it adds a little drama to the straight that I don’t have on the double R.” The naked R is clearly a little sister to the RR, but does not lack for fun factor. Blane Kamp headed up BMW of Grand Rapids’ team. Blane is general manager of BMW GR and a 26-year track veteran,and said, “I guess you could say we take track work seriously! We decided to go with a dealer sponsorship recently, and Robby [Scudder] is a solid fit for us. More importantly, he’s putting the S 1000 RR through its paces on the track with complete support from us.” Robby has raced in WERA and AHRMA and is a two-time national champion, formerly on a Suzuki SV650. Coming over to the S 1000 RR meant moving up in competition and top speed. In his second season at this level, he’s competitive and enjoying the bike. Turn 8—the Bus Stop—marks the lowest point on the track. The turn is named for the braking required before its tight right hairpin. Once through the Bus Stop, riders climb steeply to Turn 9, another combination right-left that dumps onto the main straight. “Main straight” is a misnomer, as it's the only straight. Mess up the exit of Turn 9 and you will experience what SCCA drivers call “yard work in the valley.” The entrance to the climbing straight is bounded by a grassy wall on the right and another steep grassy wall on the left. Reaching the Armco barrier at the top is a truly significant event, but thankfully a rare one. The magic of Grattan is like the magic of the S 1000 RR, a deeply technical affair requiring all the riders have to give and rewarding them with both instant feedback and room to grow.
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Difficulties with motorcycle simulators By Lee Parks #162125
Q:
A:
I have noticed that simulators are used extensively in aviation and other industries for training. Why don’t they get used for motorcycle training?
Motorcycle simulators have been tried in various forms and levels of sophistication for decades. Strangely, it is more difficult to create a realistic full-motion motorcycle simulator then automotive or even a flying simulator. In order to account for changes in speed, pitch, yaw and rolling, a fixedwing flight simulator has to be programmed to deal primarily with: 1) Aerodynamic forces (including drag) 2) T he normal force (gravity) 3) Inertial forces (on aircraft and pilot) 4) Thrust from the engine (and possibly the cooling system)
tained, controlled environment. Quite a few years ago I spoke to a chassis designer at Honda Motor Corporation and asked him your same question. His response was quite telling. He said Honda had spent around $10 million trying to develop a simulator and gave up when, “We were no closer to making a realistic simulator than when we started.” The good news is that part of that experiment was salvaged in the form of the Honda Smart Trainer. The Smart Trainer is not a simulator in the traditional sense, as the platform doesn’t roll, pitch or move in any way—and the steering only works as direct steering, not countersteering. However, it does do an admirable job of creating traffic scenarios to test a rider’s decision making ability about negotiating traffic safely. In my experience, moving simulators can be very useful for body position training, but none have been able to accurately
By contrast a motorcycle deals with all the above forces plus: 1) Gyroscopic precession 2) Rider/passenger body position and movement (changes in combined center of gravity) 3) Changes of friction from the road surface 4) Tire profile shape 5) B raking system 6) Suspension position and rate of change The incredibly sophisticated interplay of all these forces with a known motorcycle design has left even the most sophisticated of motorcycle engineers scratching their heads with how to recreate them in a small, con-
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Figure 1.
simulate the effects of steering as of this writing. The most sophisticated version I’ve personally seen and used (Figure 1) has been tried in the armed forces without much success. While it does a decent job simulating accelerating, braking and shifting, its steering process is not even remotely accurate. The way it tries to deal with the cornucopia of forces is to steer directly up to 12 mph; then a bell rings and steering operates in the opposite way. At that point only countersteering will cause the bike to start or keep leaning in a turn. The problem with that strategy is a real bike will crash if you continue to countersteer the bars once it enters a turn. Countersteering is only for getting a bike to begin rolling by temporarily causing it to fall. Fortunately, the reason we don’t fall is the trail in the chassis then forces the wheel into the direction of the turn to keep it balanced. This is why all the
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pictures of bikes mid-corner show the front tire facing in the direction of the turn, and not away. The only exception to this is in the short moments when the rider puts additional countersteering forces into the bars when additional lean angle is needed. This kind of simulator can have the effect of teaching bad muscle memory to new riders before they even get on a real bike for the first time. The evidence of this is every time an experienced rider got on the simulator, he or she crashed it multiple times. Although you can learn how to “play the game,” as I eventually did, a real bike would crash by following the technique that is successful on that particular simulator. All of this begs the question which is, “Who are we helping with these things?” The military eventually discovered the same thing and retired most of them from service. Sadly millions of our tax dollars that could have been used on actual training were wasted on this project. The good news is at least we now know one more way how not to make a simulator. In the meantime, lots of good actual training is available from multiple sources all around the world. It’s never a bad time to improve your skills. Lee Parks (#162125) has been riding and racing motorcycles for well over 33 years. He has been the editor of both consumer and trade motorcycle magazines, manufacturers his own line of motorcycle gloves and is a WERA national endurance champion. His riding skills book Total Control has sold over 100,000 copies in five languages around the world. Lee’s Total Control Training company manages—and is the curriculum vendor for—the California Motorcyclist Safety Program as well as several large military contracts. If you have a question you’d like to him to answer in this column, send him an email at lee@totalcontroltraining.net.
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lifestyle John Hermann and Wildcat Canyon By Gene W. Calbow #124264 FOR MORE THAN 50 YEARS, JOHN
Hermann has been a true ambassador of BMW motorcycling. Recognized throughout the BMW community, John Hermann’s accomplishments include over one million miles on BMW motorcycles, recognition as a “Friend of the Marque” from BMW Motorrad, and authoring a noteworthy book that has received international acclaim as the best English guide for Alpine riding in Europe titled Motorcycle Journeys through the Alps and Beyond. “Beyond” refers to Corsica and the Pyrenees. The book is in its fifth edition and based on his almost 80 motorcycle trips in the Alps. Locally, San Diego riders have
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enjoyed his friendship and vast knowledge in everything related to riding, roads and motorcycles. One such ride has become a
tradition in the BMW Owners Club of San Diego (#4 in both the MOA and RA) of which John Hermann is member #0013 and an Honorary Life Member. “The incident” occurred in 1978 when
John was riding with friends through Indian reservation back country on Wildcat Canyon Road. The road was and is a public road patrolled by the California Highway Patrol. As John relates the story, “I was riding my beautiful silver smoke BMW R 90 S, and I’d recruited three friends to go for a ride out to Wildcat Canyon. We left from Bob’s Big Boy on El Cajon Blvd. They were leading, and just north of the dip I saw them go off the road, and then I saw why. A red Datsun pickup was headed straight for me. It didn’t deviate until it hit me and knocked me and the 90 S down. The driver got out with a piece of pipe that he swung at my Bell Star helmet yelling ‘Get off the reservation.’ Eventually, my three friends returned, and we limped back to civilization. The driver was finally brought
to trial by the DA using the battered helmet as evidence. At the defense table, the driver kept muttering, ‘I’ll get you.’” John said The incident left him hesitant to ride Wildcat Canyon until one BMW club rider said, “We’ll go with you. You’ll be safe with us.” So a tradition was born, and every year riders come from all over to escort John through Wildcat Canyon. This year saw almost 100 riders converge to ride with John and share this experience. The ride ended at San Diego BMW Motorcycles, which hosted delicious food and a special roundel cake honoring the “King.” In addition, Schuberth North America gave John a signature helmet emblazoned with “King of the Alps” and “Wildcat Canyon.” Those riders who escorted John Hermann received a commemorative T-shirt and a stamped and signed certificate from the man himself, noting that the rider “… helped as escort on the celebrated, world famous, annual Wildcat Canyon Ride.” At 86, John Hermann recently bought his 18th BMW motorcycle, a red-framed R 1200 R. His first motorcycle was an R 50/2. John still meets his motorcycle friends a couple of times a week, and as he noted, “We’re lucky that San Diego has such wonderful roads.” These days he also likes riding his bicycle to the Sharp Coronado gym for his exercise class three times a week. He still plays the piano, sings in his congregation choir in Mission Valley and enjoys going to the opera, where he sang in the chorus for 18 years. As members, we’re simply proud to know John and ride with him.
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www.rockycreekdesigns.com
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mileageslaves
Annual ride with a spritz and a twist By David Cwi #28490 I AM LYING HERE
on a picnic table at a rest stop north of Columbus, Ohio, trying to take a nap and the rain has started to fall. A spritz in the face. Just enough to get me awake and moving. I’m wearing my helmet, but my shield is flipped up. This puts my head in just the right position for a nice quick schnooze, and Lordy, do I need one. I was in Nova Scotia at noon yesterday, and I’ll be home for dinner in Indiana today, 1,700 miles and 32 hours or thereabouts. But that’s not the story. At least not for now. Maybe next time I’ll talk about how you can in fact UN-teach stupid…like this unplanned IBA Bun Burner, stupidly executed and ill advised. So to protect the younger riders, maybe I should say SOMETHING about that. On Sunday we were at the Bluenose Rally. I’m guessing the day started around 6:30 a.m. while the ride started later, nearer noon. We crawled out of our tents to tear down, pack and get ready for the fabulous lineup and ride. Envision all bikes at the rally rolling through local towns on our way to Kentville and brunch, some bikes with country flags on them. It’s the traditional end of the rally. A string of bikes flowing past waving well-wishers with traffic stopped for us at intersections. Way Cool. While the band was playing Saturday night and others were responsibly downing adult beverages, I was hydrating and went to sleep early. I’d already made up my mind to try to get home early. This meant that for
BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
the first time in nearly 20 years of attending, I did not dance. And part of that was my distress over the band, but mostly it was because I wanted to crash early. More about the band in a minute (as if you cared). Heck I’ll tell you now. Usually Saturday night at the rally means a great couple of sets by The Good Feelin’ Band, a genuine bar band. This year they had a wedding crashers band—very competent, lots of folks dancing, but no soul. Ken Ryan, I believe, was the name of the lead vocalist for the Good Feelin’ Band. This guy could infuse any rock song the band cared to cover with the precise vibe of the original version, but better. Why Ken was not on contract and making big bucks for some U.S. record company is a mystery to me. I was told that he died this year. Cancer. Missing Ken, it was hard to get a groove on with these other guys. But now you know that this rally is old school, with a fun Saturday night for sure. By the end of the rally awards brunch on Sunday, that being around 11:30 a.m., I was still feeling “fresh.” Time to start for home. The original goal: Augusta, Maine. Stop there, eat at the steak house near the hotel, and finish up 1100 miles or so the next day back to the house. A doable two days. If you are going home from the Bluenose back to the Midwest you have a choice. Roll toward Detroit or Sarnia, Ontario, meaning go there via Canada entirely or pop into New England, go around Boston, hang out on I-84 or I-90 or a few other options and roll. (Don’t forget your Speed Pass.) I was tied to three other Raiders headed toward Ohio and New Jersey, so I was locked and loaded for I-84. But wait. Monday, the next day, would be the Monday of the Fourth of July holiday. I got it into my head that I did not want to deal with holiday Monday traffic the next day all the way from Maine to Indiana, so, what the heck, why not get past New
England and roll 900 miles or so after the award ceremony brunch, which SHOULD have meant stopping somewhere West of Hartford, Connecticut. But NOOOO. Once I got moving I had full-on “horse to the barn” syndrome augmented by “avoid Monday traffic” paranoia and, what the heck, I was feeling goooood— at least ‘til we reached the border and the USA had only one border agent on duty. We were stacked up for 45 minutes, and the adrenalin and the energy went WHOOOSH. Maybe next time we’ll talk about riding into the night, knowing that if you daydream you’re dead. Like I said: you CAN un-teach stupid. So I’ll learn you…maybe… next time. But the whole point now is to talk about the Bluenose, the old school rally with its own unique twists and the rally I’ve attended more than any other, not counting the BMW MOA National. Here’s why it’s special to me and worth all the miles. Twenty years ago I met the divine Ms. Cindy at a local U.S. rally, and she mentioned she was going to the Bluenose Rally. All of a sudden, attending that rally got interesting. And figuring out a way to ride back to the USA with this girl seemed like a very good idea. So I’m a bit sentimental about it. Nova Scotia now is not like Nova Scotia back in the day. I love the Province and the people. When I started riding there, there were no four-lane roads. At one time, very local roads were pot-holed enough that I bent rims twice. But now the Transcan is basically all four lanes, with folks up there are running 20 clicks over the speed limit, and they are as wacko on the roads as we are. They’ve got Tim Hortons and Canadian Tire everywhere, and Murphy’s Fish and Chips in Truro. I recall walking into Canadian Tire and thinking this was a clubhouse of all things “guy.” Imagine a mash up of Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Depot,
AutoZone, and Walmart. Tim’s had the only good coffee back then in all of Canada. But mostly why I go is the rally and the local rides and places. Google “Halls Harbor,” for example. The organizers will make sure you get there, and also get some ice cream at the Apple Valley Overlook. Go down to Digby for some scallops. Go in town to Viki’s and have the best chowder you will ever experience. And then there’s the rally. It is timed to the Canada Day national holiday, which also happens to mesh timewise with our Fourth of July holiday. If you are a first-timer to the rally you will be invited to become a Bluenoser Saturday night during a band break, with a ceremony you’ll savor. (Go to YouTube and search for Bluenose Rally to see a clip of it.) Your initiation will be enjoyed by 200 or so of your new closest friends. This is a small rally so you can get to know everyone. When I started coming, the rally was in one key sense more hardcore. EVERYONE camped. So going to the Bluenose was very much like the original BMW club rallies in feel. But now there is a row of RVs against one tree line. Clubs attend and will cluster in campsite groups. These clubs are “all brand clubs” not bike brand clubs, save for the BMW Owners of Nova Scotia (BMWONS). And the BMW club sets up and sponsors a beer and wine “reception” on Friday night while the Apple Valley Riders hire a brass ensemble for music as you sip!!! Free wine and beer courtesy of a BMW club. Which takes me to another unique aspect of this event. The rally has been going on for 46 years courtesy of the Apple Valley Riders. But it only works because folks in the provinces work together to make things work. How’s that for a concept? The BMW club contributes that annual Friday night reception. Other clubs don’t just attend. They contribute. Okay, I’ll give it a shot. Hopefully, I have this right. BMWONS also show up for work parties in the spring, helping to prep the site; cleaning up dead branches and such. Canadian Motorcycle Association (CMA) folks
include a highly trained first aid contingent on site, while also working the field events and assuring a Sunday morning worship service on site. The Antigonish Touring Society (ATS) usually hosts a party in the winter and collects cash there, which they donate to help sponsor Saturday breakfast. I’m told that the “Mainiacs” always arrive early and do whatever needs doing. This year that included fixing the hot water heaters and fixing a sink drain, along with myriad other things, like running to town to fetch “stuff ” and not billing for it. We are talking a group of regular U.S. attendees from Maine. And then there are the bikes and their owners. It feels like a family get together and the bikes can include some one-off pieces that are amazing. I am particularly on the lookout for any bike that Doug Murphy of D Murphy Sport Boats has touched. Go to his Facebook page and eyeball some of his amazing fiberglass work. He can create and wonderfully paint side cases, top boxes and windshields with embedded instruments, all of which look they must be stock but are not. And his work is affordable. This year a guy showed up with an old Guzzi needing top box repair. You know where I pointed him. When it hits year 50, the future of The Bluenose Rally is not quite clear, so if you want to go you might want to get it in gear. If I get there the next four years I figure that I’ve ridden in excess of 100,000 kilometers just back and forth to the rally. (I gently hinted to organizers that if I make it to the fiftieth, maybe I should buy myself an award.) I usually get there in three ride segments, not two like this year. And that should answer your unspoken question. Yep, I baited you. You think I went from Nova Scotia to Columbus, Ohio, and then slept a bit on a picnic table and continued on to Indianapolis? Nope. Stopped in Scranton, Pennsylvania, slept for four hours, and then the carcass woke up. Set off to finish it, and the snoozies caught up to me in Ohio. Some destinations and folks are worth the ride. Find yours. See you down the road.
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www.ventureheat.com/11-power-sports
lifestyl
A 120-year-old tradition visits the California Delta Roads. By Richard Klain #22237 THE FIRST COMMERCIALLY-BUILT
gasoline-powered motorcycles began appearing in the 1890s. When enough of these became available, a sense of community quickly evolved, and people began riding together. One of the first large group rides was in 1911 with “Motorcycle Day in Livermore,” as commemorated with a 100th anniversary event ride and article appearing in the March 2012 issue of Owners News. Calmoto is a northern California BMW motorcycle dealership with two locations, Mountain View and Livermore. On the first Sunday of each month, there’s a shop ride to interesting places over great roads around the San Francisco Bay Area. Calmoto Mountain View opened in 1981. Shortly after that, founding owner Kari Prager started leading customers and friends on informal shop rides. Michael Meissner, now owner and general manager, joined in 2000 and became the sole owner when Kari passed away in 2010. Today the shop
Riders queue up, waiting to board the ferry.
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Michael Meissner briefs 37 riders about the California Delta Roads ride.
rides are more organized, shorter and more street than adventure oriented, with email alerts, info links and online Google Maps with routes.
The California Delta is one of those places with great roads. It’s been around for 10,000 years, since the end of the last Ice Age. It was a freshwater marsh which by the mid-1800s became a rich agricultural region. Increasing human activity and nature’s response put much of this land below sea level. Levees were built to try and fix that, followed by the water wars, and much of the fresh water became repurposed for irrigation, as well as providing a municipal water supply for southern California. Commerce required roads on top of these levees, along with bridges and ferries. Perfect motorcycle country! This year’s ride on April 3, 2016, started at Calmoto in Mountain View, with 16 riders showing up. Another 21 riders joined the procession at Calmoto in Livermore. From there we rode just under 100 miles, stopping in Locke and crossing over levees on two ferries, the J-Mack and the CA-84 S, and
Macho Picchu – Sept. 10, 2016 Bolivia - Sept. 24, 2016 Ushuaia – Nov. 18, 2016 & Feb. 10, 2017
13 years of experience organizing motorcycle tours. The largest BMW motorcycle travel company in Latin America. BMW International Travel Partner. BMW Dealer for Southern Chile. info@motoaventura.cl www.motoaventura.cl www.motoaventura.cl
Independent touring or guided tours with multilingual guide, mechanic and support vehicle. Lunch at Foster’s Bighorn restaurant, surrounded by animals.
four bridges, ending the ride at Foster’s Bighorn in Rio Vista for a late lunch. The town of Locke, originally known as Lockeport, began in 1912 when three Chinese merchants each raised buildings on land owned by the Locke family. The town grew and shrank and had a very colorful history, often distorted by the passage of time, memory and emotion. As amazing as Locke was and is, Foster’s Bighorn (not to be confused with Foster’s Freeze) is very interesting in its own way. The original proprietor, Bill Foster, retired from big game hunting in 1953, went to work in his bar, and passed on in 1963; many of his trophies adorn the walls of the restaurant. Bill considered himself a conservationist, and he started finding his big game muse when he apprenticed for a man who was one of the first African hunters to bring movies of wildlife to the U.S. in 1918. If you want to have new adventures, take advantage of 120 years of experience and ride with a friend, group or community that knows of interesting places to ride and visit. Check with local motorcycle dealers and clubs or social media resources like Meetup or Facebook. For more information about the places mentioned above, point your web browser to rlk.com/120years.
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34th ANNUAL LAST CHANCE RALLY Hosted byThe New Sweden BMW Riders September 23, 24 & 25, 2016 Buena Vista Campground, Buena, New Jersey Shaded camp sites are included in the rally fee; cabins and hotels are available at additional cost. Contact the campground directly for details and cost of cabins. Friday night features our traditional Chili Dinner & nachos and cheese - Saturday features our ROASTED PIG feast. Lots of Door Prizes - Field Events - GS Ride - Awards - Campfires (NO GLASS CONTAINERS PERMITTED)
RALLY FEE FOR THE WEEKEND IS $50 FOR ADULTS WHO PRE-REGISTER BY SEPT 8TH OR $60 AT THE GATE. Feast on our legendary pig roast, relish the roads, renew old friendships & relax in the shady south jersey pines.
For More Information See www.newswewdenbmwriders.com www.newswedenbmwriders.com orwww.lastchancerally.com www.lastchancerally.com
www.wunderlich-usa.com
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www.bmwmoa.org/hotline
www.klassickbmw@gmail.com
www.gotournz.com
www.aeroflowscreens.com www.day-long.com
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The
Benefits of
Membership Free BMW Advantec Oil
Show your valid BMW Motorcycle Owners of America membership card and get one FREE liter of oil with an ADVANTEC oil change. Ask your Service Advisor for details. Offer also available for “over the counter sales� of three quarts of oil and filter.
We have lined up some of the best discounts in the industry worth way more than $40 per year. Whether you need product discounts, travel discounts or specialized services, your MOA membership can save you thousands of dollars with our partners.
MOA Partner Discounts Seven Corners Travel Insurance
10% off premium tier travel insurance as required by most motorcycle tour operators.
Product Discounts Motovid.com Rider Clinic
$25 off rider clinics. Motovid.com has something for riders of all levels.
Travel Discounts Biltmore House & Gardens
Nearly 20% off gate prices. Experience the beauty of Biltmore at special rates.
Leisure & Lifestyle Discounts Rock & Roll Hall of Fame
Discounted tickets for MOA members.
Service Provider Discounts VPI Pet Insurance
Up to 15% off pet insurance.
For the complete listing of all member discounts, visit us online www.bmwmoa.org/discounts atwww.bmwmoa.org/discounts bmwmoa.org/discounts
event
WHENANDWHERE
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Range of Light Gypsy Tour
Location: Orland, California Contact: rolchair@bmwnorcal.org Range of Light Gypsy Tour BMW Club of Northern California MOA #9 Sponsored by the BMW Club of Northern California, it’s a traveling tour! Joins us on the best riding and camping tour in the West.
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Detailed information for all events is available online at: bmwmoa.org
9/3/2016 – 9/5/2016
36th BMW Club Quebec Rally
9/8/2016 – 9/11/2016
Wailin’ Wayne Weekend
Location: New Straitsville, Ohio Contact: Chad Warner thewigllc@gmail.com The three W’s stand for Wowie Wow Wow! That’s what the riding is like in the Wayne Forest. More info and register at www. gsgiants.com.
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9/2/2016 – 9/5/2016
Location: L’Ange-Gardien, Quebec, Canada Contact: www.bmw-club-quebec.org Come and discover the beautiful region of Outaouais, near Ottawa, the capital city of Canada. The program includes rides for street and GS bikes, presentations, a hot air balloon festival in Gatineau, tour of downtown Ottawa and Byward Market, get together for dinner in the evening and much more.
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42nd Finger Lakes Rally
Location: Watkins Glen, New York Contact: rally@fingerlakesbmw.org www.fingerlakesbmw.org Located 3 miles west of Watkins Glen, NY just off Route 329 in Watkins Glen State Park, it is the perfect base to come and experience the many touring opportunities in one of the most scenic areas of New York State.
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9/2/2016 – 9/5/2016
9/9/2016 – 9/11/2016
34th Green Mountain Rally
Location: Goshen, Vermont Contact: Dan Walton rally@vtbmwmov.org In the midst of the Green Mountains, once again enjoy the best home cooking, great Vermont self-guided tours, live bluegrass
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event
whenandwhere
music, door prizes and more. For more information, visit www.vtbmwmov. org.
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9/9/2016 – 9/11/2016
Bavarian Mountain Weekend Location: Sipapu, New Mexico Contact: David Hudson rally@ loebmwr.org or call 505-890-8972 Join us for the 32nd Bavarian Mountain Weekend Rally sponsored by the Land of Enchantment BMW Riders in Sipapu, NM, located 25 miles SE of Taos, NM on state highway 518.
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9/9/2016 – 9/11/2016
Wisconsin Dells Rally
Location: Wisconsin Dells, Wisconsin Contact: Sharon Ernest or Brian Manke, 2016dellsrally@gmail.com The Wisconsin BMW Club invites you to RALLY FOR A REASON, at our new location - Camp Wawbeek , an Easter Seals Camp located on HWY 13 Wisconsin Dells WI.
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9/9/2016 – 9/11/2016
R100RS 40th Anniversary Rally & Gathering of the Tribes Location: Three Rivers, California Contact: vinceotter@prodigy.net or jwcov@yahoo.com Come ride California’s fine Sierra. In conjunction with the ‘’Gathering of the Tribes’’ Rally, and a good dose of ABC camaraderie, all interested in Airheads are welcome. Hotel, Camping, Showers, Restaurant facilities close by. See Airmail for more info.
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9/9/2016 – 9/11/2016
Valley BMW Riders Camp Out
Location: Midway, British Columbia Contact: Gary Smith, 250-766-3192 judosmith@telus.net This is a no-host camping event so come on out to meet other riders and enjoy the stories and tales of their experiences.
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9/9/2016 – 9/11/2016
Beemers in the Bluegrass Rally
Location: Frankfort, Kentucky Contact: Roy Rowlett, kr4mo@yahoo.com Join Bluegrass Beemers for the 23rd annual mini rally located at scenic Stillwaters Campground on US 127 eight miles north of Frankfort, Kentucky.
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9/9/2016 – 9/12/2016
2016 Colorado Motomarathon
Location: Winter Park, Colorado Contact: John Metzger, 303-641-1062 The Motomarathon Association’s long-distance, motorcycle sport-touring format comes to the central Rocky Mountains September 9-12. The 2016 Colorado Motomarathon™ will loop all four days out of Winter Park Resort.
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9/16/2016 – 9/18/2016
Autumn Beemer Bash
Location: Quincy, California Contact: bashinfo@comcast.net or call 925-443-2070 Famous CCBR coffee, beer garden, two nights camping w/early camping available, Saturday night BBQ, two continental breakfasts, GS ride, poker run, vendors, and speakers.
9/9/2016 – 9/11/2016
MOA Getaway Pineville, Kentucky
Location: Pineville, Kentucky Contact: Vance Harrelson alabeemer@gmail.com The MOA will host another great MOA Getaway at the Pine Mountain State Resort Park on Sept. 9-11, 2016. This beautiful state park will be the base of operations for all the amazing riding
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
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9/16/2016 – 9/18/2016
Twin Valley Rally
Location: Meadows of Dan, Virginia Contact: Seth Pagani twinvalleyrally@gmail.com Willville is located right in the middle of some of the finest motorcycle roads in the state. In the seven years that we have been putting on this rally, we believe it has earned the reputation for being one of the best
anywhere.
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9/16/2016 – 9/18/2016
Dinky Dozen BMW Motorcycle Club Campout Location: Pontiac, Illinois Contact: Sharon Fulks myers.sharon@comcast.net or call (309) 828-0918 Camp, ride and fellowship with the Dinks. Check out more details and any updates on the Dinky Dozen Facebook page
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9/16/2016 – 9/18/2016
Whackey Hat Campout
Location: Jamaica, Vermont Contact: John Van Hook jvanhook@comcast.net This year we are returning to our roots by returning to Jamaica State Park in Jamaica, Vermont. The Whackey Hat is the last official Yankee Beemer campout of the season. In its first year the YBs didn’t let a bit of rain spoil the fun so in a fit of PMS (parked motorcycle syndrome) the attendees started crafting hats out of whatever they could find. Soon judges were recruited to decide the “best” hat.
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9/16/2016 – 9/18/2016
MOA Getaway Coeur d’Alene, Idaho
Location: Coeur d’Alene, Idaho Contact: Jackie Hughes galuprider@yahoo.com Located in northern Idaho, this lakefront resort offers five-star amenities in a beautifully rugged setting. Join us in the beautiful Red Lion Templin’s Hotel on the River, where comfortable luxury meets outdoor adventure and guests enjoy premium ACCOMMODATIONS and plush AMENITIES in a beautifully scenic location.
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9/16/2016 – 9/18/2016
Klassic K Kampout IX
Location: Cruso, North Carolina Contact: Greg Hunt 864-357-8896 klassickbmw@gmail.com Come and enjoy the great riding around the southern end of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Very close to “The Dragon”, Cherohala
Skyway, Shady Valley and too many other great roads to list. The rally is also very close to the Wheels Through Time Museum. For over 30 years the K bikes have been a reliable mainstay of the BMW motorcycle experience.
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9/16/2016 – 9/18/2016
7th Annual Ride the Blue Ridge
Location: Morgantown, North Carolina Contact: Gene Smith, 828-439-9754 rallymaster@knobbies.org We are happy to invite you to the 7th Annual RIDE the BLUE RIDGE with the Knob Mountain NC Motorcycle Chapter (Knobbies). The rally site is Catawba Meadows Park in Morganton, NC. There is easy access to Interstate 40, and the best riding in the southeastern United States, including the Blue Ridge Parkway, the Snake, the Dragon, and many more roads that have not yet been “named”. 9/16/2016 – 9/18/2016
20 Tug Hill Tounout
Location: Lowville, New York Contact: John O’Hara 315-245-3453 blhawk2@gmail.com Please join Long Level Beemers at this unique, rustic park with its’ pristine waterfalls and river gorge a short hike from your campsite.
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9/16/2016 – 9/18/2016
Gathering of the Clams
Location: Wakefield, Rhode Island Contact: (Mr. Clam) Carl Saccoccio carlsaccoccio@verizon.net (401) 447-7114 Join us to celebrate our 23rd Club Anniversary at Camp Fuller YMCA on beautiful Great Salt Pond in Wakefield, Rhode Island 02879. Enjoy three days and two nights of ocean-side camping or sleep in a shared cabin (first 70 people) at no extra charge.
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9/16/2016 – 9/18/2016
www.oceanstatebmwriders.com
Snappin’ Turtle Rally
Location: Barryvillef, New York Contact: Pat Restaino patrestaino@optonline.net For more information, visit www.bmwmcnj. com/snappinturtle/snappin2016.pdf
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9/22/2016 – 9/25/2016
Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Adventure Travelers Event Location: Yosemite, California Contact: Grant & Susan Johnson susan@horizonsunlimited.com Whether you’re a seasoned veteran with wisdom to share or a complete novice hungry for ideas and guidance, Horizons Unlimited Meetings are for everyone who dreams of adventure along the road less traveled.
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Rally
9/23/2016 – 9/25/2016
30th Annual Hoosier Beemer
Location: North Vernon, Indiana Contact: Jeff Kernen jrkernen@ yahoo.com Come ride southeastern Indiana and experience some of the best roads in the Midwest!
bmwmoa.org St. George is located about 40 miles south of Cedar City, slightly closer to the Grand Canyon and even closer to Zion than Cedar City is. It offers more options for dining and shopping for those who so desire. There is still easy access to the other National Parks in the area. 9/24/2016
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Oktoberfest Celebration & Motorcycle Swap Meet Location: Jessup, Maryland Contact: Hanna Creekmore hanna@bobsbmw.com, 888-BMW-BOBS Meet up at Bob’s BMW Fall Open House Oktoberfest Celebration & Motorcycle Swap Meet on September 24. Food, door prizes, vendors, swap meet and storewide savings! 9/30/2016 – 10/2/2016
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9/23/2016 – 9/25/2016
13th Annual Thunder Mountain Rendezvous Location: Hotchkiss, Colorado Contact: Gary Campbell gcampbell44@yahoo.com or call 970-210-2604 Come join us at the Delta County Fairgrounds in downtown Hotchkiss on Color weekend on the Western Slope of Colorado.
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Rally
9/23/2016 – 9/25/2016
34th Annual Last Chance
Location: Buena, New Jersey Contact: Peter J. Lisko Jr. pjliskojr@ verizon.net or call 856-589-7015 Shaded camp sites, cabins and local hotels to accommodate your travel preference. Enjoy a relaxing weekend of field events, riding destinations, awards, comradery and sumptuous food.
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9/23/2016 – 9/25/2016
MOA Getaway St. George, Utah
Location: St. George, Utah Contact: Jackie Hughes, jhughes@
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29 2016 Rams Rally
Location: Parker’s Crossroads, Tennessee Contact: www.bmwrams.com/the-rams-rally The Rider’s Association of The Mid-South (The RAMS) invites you to join us for the RAMS Rally in Parker’s Crossroads, Tennessee. 9/30/2016 – 10/1/2016
30 MOA Getaway
Colorado Springs, Colorado
Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado Contact: Stan Herman hermanhaus1@msn. com or call (719) 250-4358 Come visit one of America’s greatest towns with Pikes Peak and spectacular riding at your door step. Colorado Springs is a motorcyclist’s dream town.
31
9/30/2016 – 10/2/2016
MOA Getaway Black River Falls, Wisconsin
Location: Black River Ralls, Wisconsin Contact: Sue Rihn sue@beemerhill.com Early Fall means beautiful color in the western edge of Wisconsin. The air turns slightly cooler, the days get a little shorter and the
fun is just beginning. Join us for the inaugural Getaway Weekend in Black River Falls.
32
9/30/2016 – 10/2/2016
Tellico Mountain Rally
Location: Tellico Plains, Tennessee Contact: Greg Crays gsgrog@gmail.com 727-418-5452 Rally includes dinner on Friday and Saturday nights, bonfires both nights and numerous door prizes. Advance registration is $40 ($45 at the rally). Contact registrar Larry Myers at LDMYERS365@HUGHES.NET or 423-3095929. Rally registration form may be downloaded at: www.bmwroc.com.
33
9/30/2016 – 10/2/2016
Valley BMW Riders Camp Out
Location: Oroville, Washington Contact: Gary Smith, 250-766-3192 judosmith@telus.net This is a no-host camping event so come on out to enjoy the group, enjoy the camaraderie of other riders and check out the beautiful venue. 9/30/2016 – 10/2/2016
34 24th Annual Purity Springs Rally Location: New Hampshire Contact: Tim Tregea ttregea@comcast.net You’re invited to join us for our “do nothing” rally in the White Mountains of NH where you can ride, share some laughs, make new friends and continue to dazzle your old friends with tales of your riding expertise. Visit our website at www.gsbmwr.org.
October 35
10/6/2016 – 10/9/2016
Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Adventure Travellers Event Location: Stecoah, North Carolina Contact: Grant & Susan Johnson susan@horizonsunlimited.com Whether you’re a seasoned veteran with wisdom to share or a complete novice hungry for ideas and guidance, Horizons Unlimited Meetings are for everyone who dreams of adventure along the road less traveled.
36
10/7/2016 – 10/9/2016
Colonial Virginia Rally
Location: Lenexa, Virginia Contact: Carol Beals cebeals@gmail.com or call 757-287-5594 Tour rally site is the Rockahock Campground just a little north of Williamsburg and just outside of the Historical Triangle of VA. Many wonderful historical sites (Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown) are close by with great riding roads.
37
10/7/2016 – 10/9/2016
41st Falling Leaf Rally
Location: Potosi, Missouri Contact: bmwfallingleaf@yahoo.com Experience the spectacular roads and beautiful scenery of the Missouri Ozarks at the 41st Falling Leaf Rally. Join the Gateway Riders at the Washington County Fairgrounds for one of the last weekends of the season. Good friends, unmatched riding, great rally. 10/13/2016 – 10/16/2016
38 AIM EXPO USA
Location: Orlando, Florida Contact: AIMExpo (949) 517-7501 Don’t miss the fun! AIMExpo is a one-of-akind motorcycling experience that brings together enthusiasts and industry insiders in one arena! Demo the latest models at the innovative AIMExpo Outdoors!, see and purchase the newest motorcycling products directly on the show floor, meet celebrities, learn tips and tricks from the pros and much more. 10/13/2016 – 10/16/2016
39 Adventure Ribfest
Location: Centerville, Tennessee Contact: Jim Bean tnfrijole@gmail.com All the trails you can ride, all the ribs you can eat… none better! Visit bmwmcon.org for more information
and Leelanau counties. Take in the scenic roads on the Lake Michigan shoreline, or explore the extensive ORV trail system in the area with your ADV bikes.
41
10/22/2016
OKTOBERFEST 2016!
Location: Herald, California Contact: John Vashon treasurer@bmwnorcal.org Join us for the BMW Club of Northern California’s annual Oktoberfest at the Rancho Seco Recreational Park. We have a large grass camping site that gently slopes down to a beautiful lake. One all-inclusive price includes a lead tour to the campsite, meal, beverages, camping and admission to the park. 10/22/2016
42 11Th Annual Ride To Eat Picnic Location: Sulphur, Oklahoma Contact: www.lonestarbmwriders.org Please join the Lone Star BMW Riders at Chickasaw Recreation Area in Sulphur, Oklahoma. Burgers and brats with all the fixings will be served at noon. Bikes and bikers of all kinds are welcome.
www.roadrunner.travel/bmwon.com
November 11/4/2016 – 11/6/2016
43 46th Annual South Central BMW
Owners Reunion
Location: Fayetteville, Texas Contact: Nick Bell vp@bmwclubofhouston.com 713-818-0134 Enjoy guided road rides, social events, and dinners on Friday and Saturday night, breakfasts Saturday and Sunday. For details see the event web page at bmwclubofhouston. com/cms/club-rally 11/5/2016 – 11/6/2016
40
10/14/2016 – 10/16/2016
BMW Touring Club of Detroit Color Tour Location: Interlochen, Michigan Contact: Mike Eckstein veep1@bmwtcd.org Join the TCD members in enjoying Michigan fall colors in beautful Grand Traverse
44 Touring Club of Detroit 29th
Annual Edmund Fitzgerald Run
Location: East Tawas, Michigan Contact: Mike Eckstein veep1@bmwtcd.org Enjoy the brisk fall Michigan weather with this longstanding TCD tradition. Annual
September 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS
117
www.alaskaleather.com
event
whenandwhere
camp-out at Tawas Point State Park on Lake Huron. Saturday afternoon, ceremony on the shore to pay tribute to the 29 brave sailors lost from the Edumund Fitzgerald to the icy waters of Lake Superior.
45
11/11/2016 – 11/13/2016
15th Annual Cajun Swamp Scooter Rally Location: Lafayette, Louisiana Contact: swampscooters.net Come have a good time with us. Great food with great music. Kick some tires and tell some lies. The roads are not great, but the food is the best.
46
11/18/2016 – 11/20/2016
MOA Getaway Marble Falls, Texas
Location: Marble Falls, Texas Contact: Paul Mulhern pmulhern@swbell.net This year’s weekend getaway in Marble Falls, Texas is centered in the heart of the highland lakes region of the state and the host hotel will be right on the water. This area has something for everyone.
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BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2016
advertiserindex Action Stations/Bohn Armor................. 43 Adriatic Moto Tours................................... 43 ADV Depot.................................................... 47 Adventure Designs.................................... 35 Adventure New Zealand Tours...........110 AeroFlow.....................................................110 Aerostich-RiderWearHouse.................... 54 Alaska Leather...........................................117 Alaska Motorcycle Adventures............. 48 Ayres Adventures....................................... 90 Beach’s Motorcycle Adventures........... 36 BeadRider...................................................... 36 Beemer Boneyard....................................118 Beemer Shop, The...................................... 33 Best Rest Products..................................... 83 Bing Agency...............................................103 BMW MOA Foundation............................ 97 BMW Motorrad.......................................9, 29 BMW of Pensacola..................................... 90 BMW of Southeast Michigan................. 33 BMW Performance Center....................100 Bob’s BMW.................................................... 67 Bombar’s Beemers..................................... 99 Boxer Works Service.................................. 47 British Motorcycle Gear........................... 49 BullRack......................................................... 49 California Motorcycle Rental................. 36 Cee Baileys Aircraft Plastic............... 37, 90 Colorado Motorcycle Adventures....... 18 Colorado Tourbike Rentals..................... 49 Corbin Pacific............................................... 19 Cortech (Helmet House).......................... 25 Crampbuster/Throttle Rocker............... 47 CruzTools....................................................... 48 Cyclenutz....................................................... 96 DMC Sidecars............................................... 54 Dubbelju Motorcycle Rentals................ 96 Dyna Beads................................................... 66 Eaglerider Pittsburgh............................... 18 Edelweiss Bike Travel................................ 49
EPM Hyper Pro............................................ 83 Euro Moto Electrics.................................118 Falling Leaf Rally......................................... 83 First Gear......................................................IBC Geza Gear...................................................... 18 Giant Loop.................................................... 66 GS-911 Diagnostic Tool............................ 48 Global Rescue............................................100 GSM Motorent............................................. 90 Hawks Products.......................................... 48 Helmet Sun Blocker................................... 96 Ilium Works................................................... 18 IMTBIKE TOURS................................... 13, 47 Kermit Chair Company............................. 36 Kinekt Gear Ring......................................... 66 Klassic K Kampout Rally.........................110 Knobbies Rally............................................. 67 LadyRidersWear.......................................... 90 Last Chance Rally.....................................107 LD Comfort................................................... 95 Legal Speeding Enterprises................... 96 MachineartMoto........................................ 13 Max BMW Motorcycles...............................5 MC Wheel Repair........................................ 95 Michelin Tire................................................. 91 MOA Gear Shop........................................101 MOA Hotline..............................................109 MOA Member Benefits..........................111 Morton’s BMW Motorcycles................... 48 Moto Aventura..........................................107 Moto-Bins...................................................... 95 Moto Machines........................................... 28 MotoDiscovery............................................ 66 MotoStays..................................................... 54 Motohansa Tools (The Beemer Shop)... 66 Motonation..................................................BC Motorcycle Releif Project - psa............. 96 Motorcycle Travel Network.................... 99 Motorrad Elektrik....................................... 96 Motorworks - UK........................................ 47
Motoskiveez................................................. 96 Mountain Master Truck Equipment...... 66 MTA Distributing/Olympia Moto Sports..IFC Next Adventure Wealth Advisors......... 13 No-Mar Enterprises................................... 66 N’Vision Creative......................................103 Ocean State BMW Rally.........................115 On The Level Magazine...........................108 Overseas Speedometer........................... 48 Palo Alto Speedometer............................ 36 Pandora’s European Motorsports......... 19 Parabellum................................................... 82 Paris Corp./My Weego.............................. 82 Peru Motors.................................................. 48 Progressive Insurance.................................1 Ray Atwood Cycles.................................... 43 Redverz.......................................................... 35 Remus USA................................................... 53 Re-Psycle BMW Parts................................ 18 Rich Phillips Leather.................................. 67 Rider Magazine..........................................115 RoadRUNNER Magazine........................117 Russel Cycle Products.............................110 Sargent Cycle Products............................ 54 Seat Concepts............................................. 99 Snapping Turtle Rally............................... 67 South Sound Motorcycles...................... 55 Spiegler.......................................................... 82 Stop ‘n Go...................................................... 54 Street Eagle Motorcycle Rentals............. 36 StrongBilt (StrongRak)............................. 43 Suburban Machinery................................ 36 Throttlemeister........................................... 43 Total Control......................................... 35, 83 Tourmaster (Helmet House)................... 11 Venture Heat..............................................105 Wilbers USA.................................................. 99 Wolfman Luggage..................................... 43 Wunderlich.................................................108 Ztechnik......................................................... 35
BMW ON (ISSN:1080-5729) (USPS: 735-590) (BMW Owners News) is published monthly by BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Inc., 640 S. Main Street, Suite 201, Greenville, SC 29601. Periodicals postage paid at Pewaukee, Wisconsin and additional mailing offices. Opinions and positions stated in materials/articles herein are those of the authors and not by the fact of publication necessarily those of BMW MOA; publication of advertising material is not an endorsement by BMW MOA of the advertised product or service. The material is presented as information for the reader. BMW MOA does not perform independent research on submitted articles or advertising. POSTMASTER: SEND ADDRESS CHANGES TO BMW ON, 640 S. Main Street, Suite 201, Greenville, SC 29601 © 2016 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 46, Number 9.
September 2016 BMW OWNERS NEWS
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talelight
Peaceful, easy feeling Relaxing in the shade along the Yakima River near Ellensburg, Washington. Photo by Bill Wiegand #180584
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BMW OWNERS NEWS  September 2016
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SEPTEMBER 2016
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