iNTRoDUCiNG

Welcome to the 3rd in our New Member “Spotlight” series where we are highlighting recently joined members and shining a spotlight on them (and their Beemer of course)! This month we are posing questions to Michael and Cheryl Wood – new members who you may have met at the German Club.

“We own a number of motorcycles with the most recent 1200GS to replace 19 years of 1100GS ownership. The 1100 has travelled the world so difficult to part with a faithful companion. I also like the relative simplicity and weight of the single cam 1200’s. Cheryl has been a very good pillion for as long as I can remember.

Riding background is limited but started with obtaining a full licence at age 15 on a Suzuki T90 Wolf and progressive ownership of a DKW 125, Suzuki T500, Suzuki TS185, Honda XR250, Kawasaki GPz1100, Yamaha SR500 before BMW’s.

We rode the GPz around the country in the early 90’s but prior to that had the opportunity to use a client’s R80GS (with Gaston’s signature) to ride from Perth to Alice Springs via the Gunbarrel H/Way 2 up returning via Dalhouise Springs & the Oodnadatta Track. 7000kms in 2 weeks at times challenging conditions cemented the relationship...the bike that is.

In 2005 we shipped the 1100GS into Vancouver BC and rode North America for 3 months from Prudhoe Bay Alaska in the north to New Mexico in the south. We normally spend a month a year riding in the US, anything west of Denver and over 100,000km on the other side of the road. We now keep a couple of bikes in the US based in a hangar at Boeing in Seattle.

Locally I ride as a GS trio with two other Michael’s so a 6 cylinder M3 of sorts.

About the only advice I could offer is travel light and in my experience due to longevity BMW’s can offer surprisingly good value.

My favorite machine... 1984 R80GS (& Gaston’s signature) with brakes, power that sort of thing... a very organic ride.”

Cheryl & Michael Wood