BMWMCQ JULY 2016 JOURNAL

www.bmwmcq.org.au

July 2016

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF QUEENSLAND INC.

Established 1958

OFFICIAL JOURNAL OF THE BMW MOTORCYCLE CLUB OF QUEENSLAND INC.

The Committee President - Paul Hughes

Ph: 0409 814 633 president@bmwmcq.org.au R 1200 RT (90th Anniversary) + R 1200 GS (Wethead)

Vice President - Richard Maher Ph: 0415 111 454 vpres@bmwmcq.org.au R 1150 R

Secretary - Andy McLeod Ph: 0447 370 496 secretary@bmwmcq.org.au R 1200 GS

Treasurer - Bill Carson Ph: 0474 979 315 treasurer@bmwmcq.org.au K 1600 GTL (US of A model)

Editor - Dave Hepburn Ph: 0422 080 524 editor@bmwmcq.org.au R 1200 RT

Records Officer - Craig Brennan Ph: 0422 907 934 regalia@bmwmcq.org.au R 100 RT

Regalia - Julia Townsend Ph: 0416 112 620 regalia@bmwmcq.org.au Triumph Sprint GT SE

Inside this Issue - July 2016 Contents:Editorial . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Sub-missions Deadline & Policy. . . . 4 Committee Reports. . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 Club Venue & GM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 General Meeting Minutes . . . . . . . . . 11 Monthly Ride Reports . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Articles Stories and Reports . . . . . . . 13 BMWMCQ Historical Article Part 2. . . 16 Feature Article - JAPAN Part 2 . . . . . . 18 Product Reviews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Future Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Future Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 BMWMCQ Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28 Photo Wall Members Photos. . . . . . . 29 BMWMCQ 2016 Events Calendar. . . . 30 Warrego Riders Events Calendar . . . . 31 Cupla Adverts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32 Journal Advertising Rates. . . . . . . . . 32 Special Event November. . . . . . . . . . 33 Warrego Riders Admin . . . . . . . . . . . 34 BMWMCQ Christmas function. . . . . . 35

Advertisers Cafe2U - P9 Good Wool Store - P.32 HydroTac(R) Lenses - P.26 Motorcycle Adventure Products P.26 Team Moto Gold Coast - Inside Front Cover

Munich Motorcycles - P.32 Northside Motorcycles - P.11 Motorline Motorrad- Back Cover

Tools/Spares - Geoff Hodge

On The Cover...

Tools/Spares - Bill Luyten

BMWMCQ members enjoying the June Monthly Ride despite really bad weather with a great ride through Clear Mountain, Mt Samson, Dayboro, Mt Mee etc......Photo By Jane Gray

Ph: 0413 180 101 tools@bmwmcq.org.au F 800 GT + R 51/3

Ph: 0438 123 747 tools@bmwmcq.org.au R1150 Rockstar - R1200 GS LC

Events - Cindy Bennett

Ph: 0401 610 671 events@bmwmcq.org.au F 700 GS

I T Officer - Garry Hilton

Ph: 0412 045 356 admin@bmwmcq.org.au R 1200 GS & Honda Cross Tourer

Sub Committee • Dealer Liaison / Advertising - Don Grimes Ph: 0411 601 372 • Forum Moderator - Garry Hilton

Club Details BMW Motorcycle Club of Queensland Inc.

ABN 30 351 243 651

Address all correspondence to: The Secretary PO Box 3669 South Brisbane QLD 4101 Monthly meetings are held on the first Thursday of the month at the:

Moreton Bay Sports Club, 175 Boundary St., Tingalpa

A Club Ride is usually held on the first Sunday after the monthly meeting.

BMWMCQ AIMS The objectives of the BMWMCQ are to increase the enjoyment of motorcycling by: 1. Improving the opinion of the public towards motorcycling in general and associated members particularly, by careful, courteous, considerate riding, especially when riding with the Club, and rendering assistance to all road users in difficulty.

2. Improving the service and availability of spare parts for BMWs in Queensland using the advantage of a united effort.

3. Decreasing maintenance and running costs by mutual assistance on mechanical problems.

4. Organising day trips, tours and outings.

5. Encourage and support Regional Ride Groups 6. Affiliation with other clubs/associations where such affiliation would be of mutual benefit.

DISCLAIMER The views and opinions expressed in this Journal are those of each contributor and are not necessarily shared by the Editor, management, and / or membership of the BMWMCQ. The Editor reserves the right to refuse any advertising or delete any material which could be considered or interpreted as questionable, libellous or offensive, without consultation.

WEB SITE Visit: www.bmwmcq.org.au

4

Editorial

JULY 2016

Dave Hepburn

W

hat can I say but, thank you, thank you, thank you BMW for heated hand grips and seats. Used to be the Game of Thrones mantra, “Winter is Coming” now, at long last in Queensland, winter is here.

Some of us will handle it well, others not so. Whilst being a Kiwi I embrace the chilled air, however, my age suggests that I should stop acting like a teenager as that part of my youth has long gone along with fluid joints in my knees, shoulders, elbows and back. As my good mate Ned says, “Such is life”. (Duncan you’re not the only one with ancient acquaintances) Life goes on and we get old and that which used to be supple and flexible becomes much less so especially when subjected to the cold.

Thankfully, BMW have made allowances for these conditions and provide warmth and protection to us all, well not the GS riders so much, giving us amazing fairings and other heated parts of the machines that take the edge off winters chill or we can just ride 2 hours a day between 11am and 1pm when it is warmest. That’s not going to work.

For some strange reason I am actually looking forward to riding to Warwick and Killarney on 22 July for the Bonfire Night. They tell me it snowed last year.

So my question is; how do you fit chains to a motorbike?

Editor’s Report

This month’s journal sees the completion of two articles that commenced last month: The History of the Cane Toad Rally and Alison and Ian’s great holiday tour of all things Japanese.

An apology to Greg Gaffney, who provided an article to the editor at the end of May and for whatever reason it didn’t make it to print. So here it is this month and it is still current.

Tony and Duncan have once again come to the party and provided some great articles…god only knows what I’m going to do when Tony and Jane go on holiday.

There is a new feature page which I have titled “Picture Wall” which by its very name is a page dedicated to members’ pictures….a “picture is worth a thousand words” right? for those of you who can’t get pen to paper…….actually I had a spare page with nothing to put on it (if I take one out I have to take three more and that wasn’t going to happen)….anyway, whenever I have a spare page it will be dedicated to photographs. (May not be in every issue)

I wish you all a great month in July…enjoy this months Journal…

Dave Hepburn editor@bmwmcq.org.au

Policy Regarding Submissions

Submissions to the journal should be relevant to BMW motorcycles and or to the BMWMCQ and its activities. Articles or Letters to the Editor may or may not be published if space does not permit or if the content of the submission and or letter is not considered to be of interest to members or not in the interests of the Club, our sponsors or advertisers.

Members are encouraged to use this, our journal; to express views, float ideas or make inquiries of other Club members on technical, organisational or other matters which may benefit the Club and its associates.

Submissions should be kept to a reasonable length and maybe edited or published in part only, if the Editor considers it necessary.

Note – submissions close on the 15th of each month!

BMWMCQ Committee

Submissions for the next journal (AUGUST‘16 Edition) close on the 15th JULY2016 - just soes y’all know.......

Committee Reports Paul Hughes

F

irst off, for regular readers of the journal, I don’t have any wheels that need cleaning, polishing, re-spoking or refitting.

I do have a spare cast alloy front wheel for 1200GS LC if anyone is interested (Richard??)

For those interested, my leg has improved to the stage of road riding but dirt is still a little way off. I can’t wait to get back out there (hope that doesn’t lead to breaking the other one ...Lol).

We have a very busy period coming up. July is absolutely full of weekend activities.

On July 10 we have Motofest in combination with the Qld BMW Car Club out at Eagle Farm. Richard is busy filling out all the required paperwork and I believe we have 15 bikes participating. It should be a good day if the weather holds out. We have therefore moved the club ride to Sunday July 17 and it seems this ride planning has fallen to me to organise.

We will be meeting at Yatala BP (Staplyton) at 8.30am sharp departure heading south. Details can be found on the Facebook page.

The following weekend, 23 July, is the Bonfire night at Killarney, which should be just a great night out and a fabulous ride weekend.

Following on from that is the Frigid Digit weekend at the end of the month where we all get a mystery camping location which I believe is guaranteed to be …cold. The event this year is our signature event for BMW’s 100-year celebration. If you haven’t let Gary Bennett know yet book in now.

In August we have the joint presentation of vehicles (with the car club again) at the top of the Mall on August 20. This is the worldwide date that BMW celebrates officially their 100-year birthday. I hope we can get a really good turnout for this event.

The Christmas party is now finalised. The club committee approved to pay for local transport to and from the venue from within Stanthorpe CBD, so the cost for a 3-course meal is $45.00 per head. The venue is well known (the Wine College) and serves great food in a very modern atmosphere. There will also be entertainment provided by one of our well-known members. Make sure this event is a must attend in your calendar.

We have now successfully purchased a new GS-911 Wi-Fi (capable of being utilised on all post 1999 BMW motorcycles). We sold the old one. It is now available to members along with a donated mini laptop to operate all the software functions available.

5

JULY 2016

President’s Report

The National Rally at Bright (Vic) in November is coming along nicely. I believe accommodation is getting hard to get, so make sure you make your bookings early. Quite a contingent is going down for this from our club.

The “Long Ride” dates are now set in September, so if this interests you, better get 1000 km fit and ensure the bike is raring to go.

The committee is working on enhancing the electronic format of the journal and a new development is just about ready to be released. Huge improvement over what we have now. You will receive further information shortly. Watch your email inboxes.

Lastly, please ride safely and ensure you support our sponsors wherever you can. Without them the club would be a poorer place.

See you on the road.

Paul

Paul Hughes president@bmwmcq.org.au

BMWMCQ - General Meeting First Thursday of each month at Moreton Bay Sports Club

T

he MBSC is located at 175 Boundary St., Tingalpa. Boundary St. has a set of traffic lights at its intersection with Wynnum Road to allow an easy entry and exit.

MBSC is a short distance from the Gateway Motorway, North or South. The MBSC is at the very end of Boundary St., so keep going until you see the sports fields and the parking areas.

Web address for the Moreton Bay Sports Club is - www.mbsportsclub.com.au

I look forward to seeing you all there for our next General Meeting on Thursday 7th July

6

July 2016

Richard Maher

S

tatus Update; 1 x wheel cleaned and replaced on motorcycle.

Monthly Journals posted without any resistance from Australia Post. (This was a first) Righto….

Now all the set tasks have been completed for the month I can get on with organising the RACQ Motorfest for 2106.

The BMWMCQ was contacted by the BMW Club of Queensland who are displaying their cars at the RACQ Motorfest event on July 10th. We were invited to show a selection of motorcycles to promote the Marques 100 years of manufacturing. Initially 10 motorcycles were required. After a Facebook request and some face to face networking we have managed to attract the interest of 20 motorcycles spanning from 1962 to the present day.

The Motorfest organisers have dedicated a special area for the BMW 100 years display, and I am pleased to advise we have managed to attract the interest of 100 BMW vehicles for inclusion at this event. I can sit back put my feet up and have a drink.

Hopefully the weather plays its part and we knock it outta the park. I look forward to having a great day and will be bringing along all my BMW related books for display on the day.

As fate would have it. I just happen to have two motorcycles in my garage on agistment. Their owner is relocating north to Noosa from the grey and bleak environs of suburban Sydney and was looking for somewhere to store his prized possessions until their new home is completed. I was happy to provide floor space for his 1978 R100S and his ’85 R80GS. They all look remarkably comfortable tucked up at night with their 4 valve cousins. He has kindly allowed their use for the Motorfest Display.

If you would like further info on Motorfest go to www.racq.com.au and follow the link to the Motorfest website.

We are also pairing up with the BMW Club Qld for a BMW supported event on August 20th. This will be BMW exclusive event and will open to Cars, Motorcycles and if you happen to have a spare BMW aviation engine, BMW Boat or any other obscure method of transport BMW have toyed with over the last 100 years please feel free to drag that along on the day.

The venue will be Reddacliff Place in the City.

I will provide further info on the Facebook page as it gets closer to the event.

Committee Reports Vice President’s Report

I also received an email from a member who had worked for Australia Post. Cautiously reading the Email I was expecting a summons or at the very least some threat promising to withhold my home mail until I published an apology about my rants regarding the postal industry in general. But NO. She agreed with me and said she found my article “entertaining” and even had a “chuckle”. I guess as she no longer works for Aussie Post, Homeland Security are not checking her emails for “maliciously” encouraging customers to expect better service.

OK, as it seems I’m not going to do any better than this, for this month.

I’m going to take the email from my one fan and sit in the garage with my motorcycle with one clean wheel and have a cuppa.

Twinies on Agistment......

Richard Maher vpres@bmwmcq.org.au

Getting to know your Committee…..

Name: Richard Maher Position on committee: Vice President.

How long have you been a member of the Club: 22 Years How many bikes have you owned over the years: Actually around 20 but if you include Maree’s Bikes and those that have been left in my garage that I have passed off as my own, An awful lot more !!

What do you ride now: 1996 R1100R that BMW copied and stole for the R9T concept.

What 3 things are still left on your bucket list: 1. Visit Scandinavia for the Northern Lights.

Continued bottom next page ...

Committee Reports Bill Carson

I

t has been a pretty uneventful month for Treasury.

For May, we received $1,635.41 in income and had $2,090.93 in expenses. Our accounts in May ended with $3,910.06 in checking and $18,428 in the DDH account.

We purchased our GS-911 WiFi from Motohansa. I can’t say it was a great experience.

After coming to agreement on terms of purchase, we paid and patiently waited for the unit to arrive.

I received an email after a week indicating it hadn’t been sent yet but would be sent express. It showed up

Getting to Know Your Committee...

Richard Mahar Continues 2. Round Australia trip on someone else’s Motorcycle.

3. Publish a book of Nude Photographs. (Not of me!!)

Which cartoon character best sums you up: Uncle Scrooge McDuck If money was no object what bike would you own: R1300GS. The one blinged out by Touratech that I found in Frankfurt last year.

If you could have one super-power what would it be: Definitely X-RAY Vision…..very helpful for lots of reasons, but especially helpful for choosing subjects for my nude picture book.

Now this is what I call an Action shot.....

7

July 2016

Treasurer’s Report another week later. All told, it took 2 weeks to receive after payment was made. I guess I’m not patient after experiencing what Amazon has done for the world.

Had an opportunity to meet the Clubs Australia and BMW Motorcycle Club of Victoria, John Eacott, this week. He rode up from Melbourne and brought us the Come and Get it award from the South Australia Club.

We had a nice relaxing lunch up in Calypso Bay with Dave and Paul.

That’s all for this month…

Bill Carson treasurer@bmwmcq.org.au

8

Committee Reports

July 2016

Cindy Bennett

T

Events Officer’s Report

he inaugural Hamilton Hotel social dinner was on 15th June. This is the replacement event for the Coffee Club get togethers held the 3rd Wednesday of each month. It is interesting that in days past the Club used to hold the monthly meetings at the Hamilton Hall next door and then head to the pub afterwards for refreshments. Everything old is new again!

We had around 25 attendees and while we were seated inside for this first time, we will normally be seated in the outside Marquee area near the Bistro.

Reports have been favourable, so come along on 20th July if you missed the first one.

Other upcoming events in July include MotorFest on the 10th; Saturday Coffee Morning at Colleges on the River on the 16th; Presidents Ride on 17th; Killarney Bonfire Night on the 23rd and Frigid Digit on the 30-31st to round out a full month of events.

Keep your eye on the Club Facebook page or the Events section of the website.

A GS route is being keenly planned by Duncan – stay tuned for more details.

Any events that you want added to the Events Calendar please drop me a line.

Cindy Bennet events@bmwmcq.org.au

Julia Townsend

D

ear Members,

I hope this journal finds everyone well. I need to apologise for not attending the last club meeting. I had promised to bring in the fleece tops but alas, my paid employment took priority on the night.

Regalia Officer’s Report

The committee has asked me to restock the standard range of t shirts as we are running low in some sizes. I am also going to look into options for some long sleeve T’s and some GS T shirts as well. Stay tuned.

The standard range is pictured below. As usual, I will have my display at the monthly club meeting so come and see me or send me an email. regalia@bmwmcq.org.au or phone me 0416 112 620.

Julia Townsend regalia@bmwmcq.org.au

NAME BADGES $15.00 LADIES MAGENTA VIBE TEE (Embroidered with club logo) $30.00

MEN’S ELITE NAVY POLO (Embroidered with club logo) $40.00

MEN’S ELITE GREY POLO (Embroidered with club logo) $40.00

Committee Reports Bill Luyten

T

he following is a list of special tools available for hire at a low fee and a list of the last of our spares available at a reasonable price.

The committee has decided to not continue selling spares so when these items are gone they won’t be replaced. Tools however will continue to be available.

The new GS-911 diagnostic tool will be available shortly following setup with a notebook computer kindly donated by our club President Paul.

The club would like to hold at least 2 service days in the coming year subject to finding a suitable venue with the space and facilities to perform maintenance on our beloved motorcycles.

The club is looking at the possibility of hiring a hobby style workshop for the day if available in the Brisbane area. If there are any suggestions for a venue, please contact me or Geoff Hodge and we’ll follow it up.

Contact Tools Officers: Bill Luyten 0438 123 747 (wluyten@bigpond.net.au) or Geoff Hodge 0413 180 101 (ggilps2@optusnet.com.au)

Tool Hire: $5.00 per week plus $25 deposit. Tools and spares can be posted, preferably picked up or brought along to the next meeting or club ride.

Below is List of the club’s special tools and Repair Manuals, if what you need is not listed please check the website for a complete listing.

Bill Luyten spares@bmwmcq.org.au

Tools Hire / Spares / Sales Special Tools Twinmax electronic carburettor balancer (Twin BMW engines) Vacuumate (electronic synchronisation of throttle valves up to 4 cylinders) Throttle Valve synchronizing gauges up to 4 cylinders (vacuum mechanical) GS-911 Wi-Fi Diagnostic tool Clutch alignment shafts (3 sizes) Compression gauge (cylinder pressure) Steering head bearing puller and seating tool Gearbox output flange puller

9

July 2016

Tool’s Report Repair Manuals Workshop manual - K75/100 (Haynes) Workshop manual - K100 BMW Workshop manual - R1100 Haynes Workshop manual - R45, R65, R65LS BMW Workshop manual - R45, R65 BMW Workshop manual - R60/7, R75/7, R80/7, R100/7, R100S/RS BMW Workshop manual - R60/6, 75/6, 90/6, 90S Workshop manual - R80GS BMW Workshop manual - R50/5, 60/5_6, R75/5_6, R90/6, R90S (Haynes) Workshop manual - R45, R50, R60, R65, R75, R80, R90, R100 (Haynes) Workshop manual - K1200RS/GT/LT, ‘98-’10 (Clymer) Workshop manual - K1200LT DVD BMW Workshop manual - R Series Oil Head DVD BMW Spares

Bearings K Series front wheel x2 $8.50ea R Series Wheel/Swingarm (Not Mono) x6 $20.00ea Filters - Air K Series K1200 (LX628) x2 $18.00ea

Filters - Fuel K & R Series in line (KL145) x4 $23.50ea

Spark Plugs XR5DC (K/R1100) Bosch Super x2 $11.00ea

Tools/O Rings Oil filter removing tool - (OCS 1) K/R4V x5 $17.00ea K Series Oil Filter ‘O’ Ring x6 $3.50ea R Series Airhead Fuel Oil Filter Cover ‘O’ Ring x5 $4.00ea R Series Oilhead Fuel Sender ‘O’ Ring x5 $6.50ea

Want to serve award winning coffee at your next event ?

Book a Cafe2U mobile cafe today by calling Kieran Doyle. #1093

Cafe2U Australia Redlands 0409 815 984

10

July 2016

Craig Brennan

I

t has been another month of the Records officer recording things. With the added bonus of, possibly, recording the records of people who record how far they travel on their BMW machines.

Committee Reports Records Officer’s Report Currently I have Lurgi and therefore am not doing much on my bike, except dreaming. The plans are continuing for the Border Run to Border Village SA. (Not Borderville, as I wrote last month). This project is taking the bulk of my Aspie obsessiveness, and I’m sure my wife is regreting her approval.

Hope to see you all around the traps.

Craig Brennan records@bmwmcq.org.au

Getting to know your Committee…..

Name: Craig Brennan Position on committee: Records Officer How long have you been a member of the Club: 7 years I think. Near enough.

What’s your favourite stretch of road: The one in front of me. I am rather partial to the Gatton-Clifton road and the Esk-Hampton road.

What is the worst thing that has happened to you on a bike: Borrowing a friend’s bike, and within half an hour, coming off and breaking 2 ribs. I’m pleased to say the bike was fine.

What is your pet hate when riding: Lying on the road with 2 broken ribs and having an OAP telling me I have to get off the road because I’m holding up traffic.

How many bikes have you owned, and which has been your favourite: 4 bikes. I think I like my R100 RT the most because I know it the best. I wouldn’t mind my ’48 Ariel back, though.

What is the one piece of essential equipment you need on a bike: An engine. The engine was off getting repaired for months and it really cramped my riding style. I had an almost lethal dose of Parked Motorcycle Syndrome.

Where is your ultimate dream destination to ride: The horizon. There are times I just want to ride my bike and just not stop. I am doing the Border Run this year and really looking forward to it.

For Richard....NOW this is an action photo

Remember members, if you ‘log-in’ to our Club’s Web Site you’ll find our journal is in full colour -take a moment and have a look @ www.bmwmcq.org.au ‘Viewing Tips’ - PDF is best viewed as a Two Page Spread - Click on ‘View/Page Display and tick ‘Two Page Scrolling’Be sure both - ‘Show Gaps Between Pages’ and ‘Show Cover Page In Two Page Vew’ Are Ticked

Committee Reports Andy McLeod

11

July 2016

Secretary’s Report

Minutes of the BMWMCQ General meeting Thursday 02/06/2016 Meeting Opened: 7.34pm Attendees: 37 Apologies: George & Maggie, Paul & Caroline, Frank, Bill Carson, Greg Dunn, Mario & Fiona.

Minutes of Previous General Meeting: Proposed – Dave Hepburn, Seconded – Tony Grey.

President: First Aid Accident Management Courses available July & early August.

Xmas Party in Stanthorpe at the College of Wine Tourism 3rd Dec Aug 20th is the 100yr Anniversary of BMW. The BMW Car Club is holding a display in the city and would like to have some of our bikes for display.

RACQ Motorfest 10th July @ Eagle Farm Race Course. See Richard Maher re bikes for display.

Events: Sunday Ride – Mark Gilbert organising. Meet at Caltex, Carseldine. If going direct to lunch venue let Mark know.

New Venue for Coffee Club evenings – Hamilton Hotel, Hamilton.

Coffee Morning at Cycle Ride off Ricketts Rd on Sat 18th at 9.30am Regalia: Stock will be at the next meeting.

Secretary: Memberships, disclaimers and BMWTCNSW mag.

Records: Records are going very well.

Editor: Praise from Paul regarding Dave’s efforts so far. Dave is getting a lot of articles from the members and historical articles from Ron as well.

Treasurer: Up to date with the accounts. MAY -$1635 Inc, $1860 Exp. On hand $6936, Inc $7688, Exp $752.93 to date.

Assets will be depreciated as this has never been done.

Vice Pres: I had another run in with Aust Post. They are not my friends.

Tools: A List of major tools and spares is on the website. We have a new GS-911 tool that will cover all the models from R1100’s to now.

Gen Business: The come and get it trophy to be returned to us. (An event between the Qld & W.A. clubs). Garry Bennett has the Frigid Digit organisation well in hand. BYO everything, camp kitchen available. The Cane Toad Rally is advertised on other BM Club websites. Ron Durkin is listing the Rallies available run by the other clubs on our classic bike facebook page. The Bendemeer weekend was started as a meeting between the Qld and NSW BM Clubs. Killarney Bonfire Ride 23rd July. Peter Ferguson asked that past events be mentioned during the meeting. Agreed, but tales to be kept to a minimum length of time.

2nd – Mark Gilbert 3rd – Ian Sayce 4th – Bill Luyten Raffle: 1st – Anne Closed: 8.25pm Ian and Alison gave a pictorial discourse on their recent motorcycle travels in Japan.

Advertisers - Do

you have any unusual or difficult service stories to tell? Remember the Dirty Wheels column that used to be in Wheels Magazine? You do! Great, send them in. Have any new products to tell people about? If you send me a short editorial style article simply listing the product and benefits, I will (space permitting) publish as close to your ad as possible with a pointer to your ad. Keep it brief and informative is all I ask. Ed.

12

12

July 2016

NO MATTER WHAT THE WEATHER THROWS AT YOU……..

JUNE 2016 RIDE REPORT

S

aturday 4 June produced one of the wettest winter days on record in SEQ. A severe weather system was taking a toll on the east coast of Australia eventually causing major flooding and loss of several lives as far south as Tasmania. What better time for the monthly club ride.

Mark Gilbert is an optimistic man and as ride leader for the June ride remained positive. At the club meeting on the preceding Thursday he outlined the ride route and said he would be at the Carseldine Caltex at 8am regardless of what Mother Nature had in store. For Jane and me this was to be our last club ride for a few months so we were determined to keep Mark company. The ride Gods were in our corner and the weather system moved through Brisbane late Saturday leaving Sunday morning clear but very windy. There were ten positive souls on nine bikes gathered for the ride briefing – Jane was the only pillion and only female along for the ride.

We quickly left the M1 (or is it M3?) heading west for the hills on offer. We have come to expect a well planned ride from Mark with interesting and often unknown roads and today was no exception.

The north side is not my forte but I remember we crested Clear Mt and Mt Samson before entering Dayboro then over the more familiar territory of Mt Mee. Now I digress for a moment to note that the QPS has a very strong attraction to the Mt Mee ‘circuit’ and this Sunday morning was no exception. A full array of their latest fleet acquisitions was on display albeit usually hidden up driveways or behind bushes. A black Hayabusa is not normal kit for a patrol officer. A more friendly face in Ron Durkin took time out from his hilltop enclave at Ocean View to wave to the passing troop astride his faired white K100.

This looked much more like a Police bike than the Busa and its ilk.

Monthly Ride Report June 2016 There are a lot of changed speed limits on Mt Mee and zero tolerance is being shown so take care if travelling this way.

Another hazard on Mt Mee that Sunday morning was the wind. There was a westerly wind channel just below the Glasshouse Mountains Lookout which literally blew the bikes across a lane. Trent’s bike-mounted GoPro captured the moment Merle’s bike got blown across into the right lane. We were two bikes back and I initially thought there was some unseen obstruction on the road that Merle had avoided. When our turn came the Grey Ghost was also moved about a metre. That was some wind.

Wamuran was the chosen caffeine stop where we were joined by a contingent of our Sunshine Coast members. Suitably satiated with coffee, pies and cake our enlarged band (waistlines as well as numbers) of 12 bikes set forth in pursuit of more hills and back roads. This final ride stage took us over the Peachester Range Esses and Bald Knob then along the Mooloolah Valley before ascending the range to join the Montville – Maleny Road. We headed back to the Landsborough Road then past Mary Cairncross Reserve to our lunch venue at Tranquil Park.

The usual post ride banter included tales of one booking and one bike blown over with rider aboard while corner marking. Yes that was some wind.

There were some stunning views from Tranquil Park and a fine lunch that capped off a very well organised and enjoyable ride. Thanks Mark.

Tony Gray

Articles Stories and Reports THE JOY OF NAVIGATION, OR HOW I BECAME PSYCHOTIC

T

is better to have loved and gotten lost, than to have bought that bloody GPS”. So said Alfred Lord Tennyson to our members the other night, while I was up getting another Erdinger Weissbier at the monthly German Club dinner. Alfred’s concerns have certainly been echoed by others, with Dave Pidcock’s recent attempts to mount a Garmin 590LM to his bike a case in point.

Nothing about GPS technology seems easy or intuitive or cheap, neither the hardware nor software.

It all seems well designed to take you from home to 1 Smith St in the car, but if you want to go via a dirt road or your mum’s place at 2 Jones St, words like “waypoint”, “trip”, “route”, and “I’m lost in a dodgy part of Logan” suddenly gain common usage. But, what are the options? Here are some observations and experiences, with sneaky hopes that a member who knows what they are doing will be racked by guilt and inspired to help the less competent in a formal GPS for beginners classroom setting.

Adventure riding back in the old days was simple, decide where you wanted to go and then find the names of all the detailed 1:25000 maps and go and buy them. On the journey be prepared to stop every 25km to put a new map into the display pouch taped to the handle bars. If in the city, use the Gregory’s, committing to memory all the suburb and road names on the route, which guarantees that you will not get a single red light the whole way because you have immediately forgotten everything and desperately need to re-check the map. If out in the country use a state map, and over time all available space in the glove box or bag will be taken up with poorly folded A0 sheets given to you by Aunty Beryl who went to exotic places on the way to WA on a Bowls Club tour in 1975.

Then GPS’ and smart phones were invented, and navigation suddenly reduced from a global “we’re heading north, there’s Darwin on the map”, to a small world about 500m in front of you accompanied by confusing instructions about urgently needing to take your Volvo in a U-turn across four lanes of traffic in a manoeuvre that would fail a Kamikaze pilot’s risk assessment. Hire cars suddenly had the option of a GPS, we went out and bought them, new cars had them in the console, and paper maps ended up under the passenger seat with the lost tin of barley sugars.

Google Maps is very easy to use and is almost all that is needed for road touring and even light adventure touring using the bicycle or walking feature for farm roads and worse. Virtually travelling the route on the PC with a nice glass of red in the comfort of home (or work for those with more progressive corporate policies) is very powerful, particularly the

July 2016

13

Street View to imprint what key intersections look like into the Shiraz-befuddled memory bank. Problems start out in the field though, it is surprising how many farm roads don’t have full mobile network coverage, and Google does not believe that you can walk or ride your pushbike at 120km/h so reverts to car navigation on the best available bitumen even if it means doubling the distance, you don’t want any of that awful dust on the Volvo’s duco. And if the road happens to be closed, and you have no mobile coverage, or the battery has gone dead, then you suddenly find yourself in a rising panic lining your analogue watch hands up with the sun to find out which way is north.

Because of the Google Maps problems I went and bought a half-way house system for the iPhone called Mud Maps, which is basically a detailed and large scale maps App that doesn’t need a mobile network to know where you are. There is a similar system called Hema. Mud Maps solved a lot of the field issues, and is great for those who miss the Aunty Beryl days, and all the maps are free. Rather than A0 size though it is very small on the iPhone, and if you want to set a route to follow or to download a GPS file to use on it, the software is clunky and I still haven’t figured it out yet.

No chance of getting lost in Fortitude Valley with Mud Maps

With the Cairo to Cape Town trip in the offing next year, and the liberal spread of GPX files for motorcycling available out in the land of internet, we finally bit the bullet, did over a few service stations to raise the funds, and bought a Garmin 590LM GPS just

Continued page 14

14

July 2016

in time for the May ride.

First problem was exactly the same as Dave Pidcock’s; the GPS unit comes with a motorcycle mount with 6 feet of loose cables, none of which seem in any way necessary for someone with a bike that has an accessory socket, and all requiring an electrical/ motorcycle mechanic dual trade to install. It also comes with a car mount which would be perfect for a bike with an accessory socket, but this only has a suction mount connection. The primary trauma which the discussion groups highlighted was that if you have more than one motorcycle to mount it on (Cindy still irrationally refusing to pillion on the Triumph for 80 days in Africa), you need two of these expensive wiring nightmares, and probably more as I’m sure my first connection attempts would fry the mount electronics.

Large amounts of time were spent on the internet, surely Garmin or someone makes a simple powered mount that would fit every modern GS motorcycle, but no luck there.

After eight days of pondering the problem, coming up with a brilliant plan, having plan fail, and drinking more wine, there were no longer any foreseeable alternatives. I now understand how (only if you are Jewish will you get the next bit...Ed) the Mohel felt conducting the first Bris, once you’re deploying the scissors for a total wiring circumcision there is no backing out. So an expensive mount is now just a mount without power, but at least we can power it through the USB accessory cable on either of our bikes after purchase of a RAM mounting ball for Cindy’s 700GS.

And then came the next GPS drama in the seemingly never-ending series, tackling the Garmin software. Firstly the Garmin Basecamp software was installed painlessly onto the home PC, with only two trips to the Apple shop in the city required to resolve the operating system issues. Then finally came the great day, I excitedly plugged the GPS into the PC, opened Basecamp, and set about constructing the route for the May ride. After three attempts at the route, with the best not complete but likely to only kill half the riders, several trips to the wine fridge, and wild fantasies about taking Garmin programmers hostage and forcing them to make a route, I gave up.

However, as Thomas Edison said; “Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is just not to buy a bloody GPS.” As I’d already bought one, it was too late to succeed.

Uploading a complex route into a Garmin GPS... The Final Step

So a work-around has been implemented; rather than thinking about developing a

Articles Stories and Reports

route from scratch in Basecamp which gives me pretraumatic stress disorder, I plan it in the relatively easy and comfortable world of Google Maps using the bicycle option for any Volvo unfriendly off-road routes.

Using the walking option may result in needing ropes to drag your 300kg motorcycle up a cliff or doing a Steve McQueen over a fence, so is not recommended.

With 13,000 hours spent looking at everything ever posted about GPS’ and creating routes, including John McDouall Stuart’s six trips through the Centre of Australia, with the first five foiled by GPS software and hardware mounting problems on horses, along the way, I discovered a free website that allows conversion of Google Maps URL routes to GPX files and back again (http://www.gpsvisualizer.com). This is extremely handy for looking at GPS files posted by others, and has allowed a complete route for our USA/Canada holiday to be developed in Google Maps, and converted to GPX format files which we will hopefully upload to the hire GPS when we collect the GS’s in Vancouver.

As Churchill once said, while struggling to map the quickest route from London to Berlin on his TomTom; “A pessimist sees the GPS in every exciting route; an optimist sees the exciting routes in every GPS”. Even after all the trauma, I remain a GPS optimist.

Duncan Bennett

GS TOURING We’ve ridden lots of bikes, we’ve ridden lots of ks We’ve seen lots of places in so many ways But none have been better I have to confess Than since we’ve been touring on our 1200GS

We’ve ridden in Europe, we’ve ridden in UK We’ve ridden in New Zealand, Canada and USA We’ve ridden in Tasmania, all down the East Coast Some might even say we’ve ridden more than most Overseas we’re often asked “Have you been to Uluru?”

“Have you done The Centre?”, “Have you been to Kakadu?”

So the time has come, no more delay We’re riding around Australia; we’re riding all the way!

Jane Gray Jun2016

Articles Stories and Reports

O

HOT LAP AT WILLOWBANK

n Thursday, 26th May, I rode some hot laps at Queensland Raceway, when I participated in BMW’s RR Experience. The day started off very cool at the track near Ipswich, at 80C, and rose to only about 180C, later in the morning.

I test rode an R 1200 RS. This was a considerable upgrade from my old 1975 R90S. (My R90S, when NEW, was about 60HP, now I think about 40HP. This machine was 125HP). The first thing I noticed was how much smoother it was than my airhead. I attribute this (possibly) to the current boxer engine’s counterbalance shaft. I also appreciated the excellent performance of the brakes which were a nice surprise.

This was the first time I had the opportunity to have ABS and traction control available. However, I wasn’t breaking or accelerating hard enough to take advantage of either.

One cool thing was the opportunity to try BMW’s gear shift assist pro. This allows clutch-less gear shifting, both up and down, through the gears. I found this fairly easy to get used to, however, you do have to be mindful of just keeping the throttle open,

July 2016

15

when up-shifting, and completely closed, when downshifting, in order to get the smoothest changes.

This was my first time on a race track and my times were quite uncompetitive. So, if it was such a cool day, and my times were so ordinary, what made my laps so ‘hot’?

The bloody Heated Grips were ON and I didn’t know how to turn them OFF!

A lot has happened at BMW in the 40 years since they made my R90S! It was an experience and it was FUN! Greg Gaffney

• BMW trained technicians; • BMW national service technician of 2006 (metro winner), Adrian Cash; • Log Book Service followed by BMW Motorrad Maintenance Schedule; • BMW software used for diagnosis; • Re-set service light, time & distance; • Great deals on the leading brands of motorcycle tyres.

Northside Motorcycle Tyres & Service 4/11 Paisley Drive, Lawnton Qld 4501 Ph: 07 3205 6505 Fax: 07 3205 6003 Email: northsidemctyres@bigpond.com Web: www.northsidemctyresandservice.com.au

16

BMWMCQ History Articles

July 2016

members. IMHO the Safari today is not what was originally intended by Chris, a ride venue & marque gathane oad ally art ering for any BMW owner of ALL ages & ALL models.

But that’s marketing dept’s for you.

Jump to 2000 or was it 2001?

Committee member David Bell wanted a restart – he had first organized what essentially (in my memory) a CT Weekender @ Perseverance Dam, basically well attended but only by ‘active’ club members. I remember PA & me riding up for the Saturday arvo for a few hours then pushing on (to a pub PA)? David then got more ambitious, using his police contacts and experience as a former country constable in SW Queensland. He proposed a Safari type of Cane Toad, essentially a “Rolling Rally”. I believe CB (Charlie Brown) was Club Prez & once again we now had committee buy-in / support. It was reasonably publicised, we did have a few non BMW club riders attending but lookThe committee, circa 86, at Finch Hatton Pub. There is actuallyFOUR ing back, it really was a big (but great) Club Presidents, circa 1980-1990, in this photo. club run.

David nailed the organisation estarting the CT Rally? Well, in the early 90’s a for a rolling ride. We meet up in few of us in committee discussed a restart, we Warwick where he had a caravan park booked with a looked into the demographics to find the centre of plethora of motels nearby. We had a welcome dinmembership had now dropped below the Tropic. So ner in the big Chinese Restaurant in Warwick where Prez Peter Allen & I (Records) & I think Rick Trenaman the briefing was held. The next day we road west for went off on recce’s. We found the Many Peaks hotel lunch in Gund’y, then west again onto Westmar Sports was scenic, isolated & with the offer of the sports Ground where David had rented the Sports Hall & the ground over at Rail Station, less than a click walk over Grounds. I remember making a point of going around a slight rise to the pub, it was ideal. I took on the role meeting the non club attendees as they were in a small as organiser for 94. I can report it was a great event minority, also we had quite a few trailer sailors back with many attendees. then, so the camping was 4½ star.

There was one fellow though, (you can still see

Now, that was Easter Friday and a pleasant him at bikes shows selling badges & bike memorabilia) night around the camp fires ensued. The big event who was a little upset with us after he won the exciting next day was the (relatively) nearby Flinton Picnic “Slow Race” (more of that club racing). “What do you Races. David had a bus organised for patron care. mean there is no trophy? I nearly burned my Clutch Check it out some time – It really is the Melbourne Cup Out” he cried! But I had a limited budget you see – tro- of the South West. Great fashion (www.facebook.com/ phies only for riding there – no gymkhana prizes. We Flinton-Races-Easter-Saturday)! A slightly subdued also changed the date to May and used the term “The start Sunday saw attendees do the long straight North Toad hops around” as marketing regarding date & site to Miles (via lunch at Meandarra Hotel?) where David changes. Wondering, perhaps the next CTR could be at had booked Possum Park. BTW A decommissioned Kakadu??

RAAF Bomb Dump from WW2 & the Brisbane line

Back then, I was an officer in the Active Redays. Bomb Shelters into Bunk Houses & for those serve (great for a loan of rally fire fighting gear) and demanding 5 star (important these days it seems), had a full 2 job work calendar, so I handed the Toad they have historic 1st class QR Sleeper Wagons with over to Rick Trenaman who ran it in 95 (& 96). But It en-suites.(http://www.possumpark.com.au/) then faded out I believe due to lack of internal support

A sad note, David suffered what seemed a and of course Chris Van Wyk had started the BMW minor accident there, this then plagued him over a Safari. I remember going both on the 96 Cooktown & number years and he recently had to stop riding his 98 Tasmania events, good fun & well attended by our BMW from it.

C

R

T

R

P

2

BMWMCQ History Articles

July 2016

So a Cane Toad today, personally I feel the rolling rally approach last taken was something that could be done again. Provided you understand that everyone travelling on that road space was under their own duty of care. Conga lines & the orange & lemon vest approach would kill this event for me. Ah if I only had time then I might offer to ….

To finish the Toad story, it was again proposed as a public rally in oh, the early 2000’s by Peter Mohle who was a keen rallyist and wanted it to restart. I was Club Delegate back then & was offered / induced to assist (only) but the rest of the committee at the time was not engaged, so it did not float! So that’s about it for me, a trip down memory lane, but a last thought

Cane Toad Rally Crossing

The Cane Toad Rally was generally referred to as … “The Toad” not the CT or CTR and is IMHO is not just a weekend camp for club members. I do realise a couple of members ran a weekender recently (2015) to ‘keep the name alive’ as I was told. Appreciate the effort. But, if today you want to run a club internal rally, closed to BMW members (OK & guests) then the rally you should run is “BINGARRA” which was for 15~ years our members only internal rally run 6 months after the Toad. But that’s another story coming to the journal soon!

Not all got into the check in tent unscathed sometimes

Gymkana High Jinks

Racing Prowess - Many Peaks 92 or 93

Ron Durkin member #101 (Or was that my real number? – computers changed everything)

17

18

July 2016

Alison and Ian’s Adventure to Japan April/May 2016 Continues..........

Day 1 (23rd/4) – Tokyo to Fujinomiya – 170km

T

he ride up and down the mountains on day 1 was very much like the road and views behind Mullimby, with occasional glimpses of part of Mt Fuji as a bonus. We twisted and turned up and down mountains all day, in and out of clouds and mist!

Coming down the final mountain range from the misty mountains to the valley was spectacular. The highlights of the day – Ashigara Pass, glimpses of Fuji, the Ashinoko/Hakone Skyline road and Shiraito Falls.

Day 2 (24/4) – Ise -211km

This was a completely new experience for us – a Japanese ferry! We woke early to the sound of very fine rain tinkling down the drainpipes (shaped like tulips strung together – very pretty) and mist in the mountains all around us. We were keen to make sure we got to the ferry in time – only 2 crossings per day, and many k’s (211) to complete (funny, huh). Not 100metres from our accommodation was the first of some amazingly large bridge spans.

Breakfast was fresh strawberries dipped in condensed milk, at the side of the road, overlooking the ocean, with very small waves lapping at the shore.

Storm damage must be an issue, noting the substantial use of dolosse. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dolos)

Feature Article Part 2 of 2

We reached the ferry in good time, so once we bought the tickets and found out which lane to be in – a bit of anxiety here for us not understanding Japanese writing – we detoured to the headland and lighthouse, only to be greeted with the sight of many motorbike riders out and about – today was a Sunday.

The hour crossing was uneventful – happy me - no seasickness – and we headed to the mountains (where else) and ultimately our accommodation for the night. Braving a traditional Japanese toilet on a rocking ferry in full riding gear was a challenge! Nuff said.

The web site for this night in Ise is completely in Japanese and we were a bit unsure of JBR’s choice of destination and accommodation, but on arrival, what a treat. Lovely people and much to see in the small town. One of the guests spoke English and expressed her and other guests’ astonishment to see westerners staying at that ryokan (Japanese Inn) – apparently a first for them all! I did wonder how the other guests felt at having westerners in their midst, probably committing all sorts of faux pass with our western manners. Everyone was always very gracious, everywhere we went. Our incorrect tying of yukata was only pointed out once – not sure if I was “a prostitute” or “a corpse”!

Ise is the spiritual home of Japan, with the Shinto shrine (area the same size as the city of Paris) and affiliated buildings dating back over 2000 years, which we spent some time exploring. No smoking allowed within the vicinity – and respectful attire expected – no Aussie stubbies and thongs or exposed tattoos! My apologies for inflicting my squeaky green slip-ons to the people offering prayers – seems that many visit morning and night, to and from their work commute.

Day 3 (25/4) – Koyasan – 177 km

A day to get really serious about mountains.

Look at the GPS! Circular bridges/roads climbing up the mountain! The JBR info said “… after Yashino, there will be a number of very narrow roads that

Feature Article will lead you to your destination, the world heritage listed Koyasan…” Also – our first sightings of cherry blossoms en masse.

We spent all day climbing ever upwards towards our Buddhist temple (dating to 1127) overnight accommodation. One of the roads on this day is never to be forgotten – most corners were numbered, and it appears to be that it makes it easy to report rockfalls or the mountain sliding into the river below! The mountains are so steep that rockfalls are very common, and an engineers’ paradise in the ways in which the mountains are pinned and held together.

Just on the ONE road, road #309, there were in excess of 350 numbered corners! It was an amazing few hours riding, accomplishing less than a ¼ of the day’s travel distance! Single lane, hugging the riv.er one side and the mountains the other, waterfalls, shrines, cherry blossom, oncoming vehicles, and endless 180 degree corners – hitting 3rd gear occasionally was a highlight, and 4th – a rare treat!

It was also on this day that a policeman chose to talk to us. We had parked on a painted traffic island, with our hazards going, looking at a map and GPS, when he stopped to see if we needed help. He was happy to pose for a picture. Just to mention how polite people are in Japan – if you want to stop – anywhere – literally – just put on your hazards and stop. Pulling to the side of the road is optional. This gave me much licence to stop and take photographs, and just pause to absorb the beauty. Please remember this when you see Japanese tourists in Aus., randomly stopping.

Smile and wave, and not the 1 or 2 finger variety!

Just while I think of this – bikers don’t do the nod over there – it’s a wave of the hand – took a while to remember!

So after climbing and climbing and climbing some more, we reached the town of Koyasan, located our Buddhist temple accommodation, and set off sightseeing at double speed – the sun was setting, it was getting cold, and vegan (Monks’) dinner at 5 pm.

After dinner, and after dark, a monk took us for a walk around the town, giving us the history behind Buddhism being brought to Japan from China, the

July 2016

19

origins of Sumo wrestling, etc. We even saw a pine tree said to date back over 2 centuries, complete with clusters of 3 cones, not the usual 2 or 5 – go check your local pine tree!

Despite the small distances, we fuelled up once or twice daily, the servos’ being few and far between, and not all selling “high-octane” – know this stuff, George? Self-serve was a massive challenge at some of these places – we always resorted to knocking on the attendants’ door asking for help and leaving a souvenir kangaroo / koala with our thanks.

Day 4 (26/4) – Nara – 112km

What goes up must go down – and so we did – complete with moss covered roads in the forest, and terraced rice fields once we emerged.

Awe inspiringly beautiful. The profusion of flowers bordering all the roads, rice paddies, mountains …..It was fascinating stopping next to the rice paddies – the sounds of hundreds of frogs croaking, and heron’s patiently waiting for a feed – seemed like there was one standing sentry at each paddy, minding their food source, the whole trip!

On this day, the weather got hotter and hotter (30 deg C), up until now if had been in single digits overnight and up to the high teens through the day - and dressed in our winter trousers and jackets, we were broiling in our suits, so when I saw the word “hair”, we pulled over, and I promptly had a haircut – Ian thought it a bargain at 3,000 yen (AU$38). Little does he know, eh girls?

We arrived in Nara at lunch time, very hot, and looking for a cool shower and some shade. The proprietor took a lot of sweet-talking by Ian to let us in our room before 3 pm, and park in the staff car parking below our window. Mission accomplished, cold showers, and off to explore Nara, the first capital of Japan in the 700’s, with 8 UNESCO World Heritage Sights. There are also many (1,200 plus) deer – very tame and cheeky, nosing into one’s pockets and bags looking for “deer biscuits” – one ate the corner of our map! They must still think they are the messengers of the gods and not accountable for their actions. I was

20

July 2016

surprised at how warm their horns are – apparently this means that they are growing for the next season.

The warm air helped dry our washing in our room, so it was a mixed blessing.

Day 5 (27/4) – Kyoto – 107km

This was a day that we were really looking forward to – I had high hopes of sighting a Geisha (white face, red lips, black kohl eyes), and Ian the bamboo forest. Tick and tick.

This day was the start of seeing mass tea plantations – on steep hillsides, complete with fans to moderate the temperature! Ingenuity. Solar powered, too.

Enroute, the highlights were Iga Castle and Ninja Museum, and the district of Gion (traditional part of town for geisha) entering Kyoto.

We were so impressed that everywhere we went; motorbikes get the best parking, closest to the entrance of any building. Parking attendants abound, in smart uniforms, waving you to the best spot they can find for you – wonderful. Usually cordoned off with cones, and moved aside for you with great fanfare – think we can do the same here?

Unfortunately, we got close to Kyoto; the rain started, and didn’t let up for a few days. The rain is not heavy, but constant, and pardon the pun; a bit of a dampener on one’s sight-seeing.

Of all the towns/cities we visited, this is where we would like to have spent 2 or 3 days – lots of varied things to see and do. Once again, the local historical district and gardens were very beautiful, and we happily wandered around with our borrowed umbrellas in the evening.

Day 6 (28/4) – Kanazawa – 256km

We woke to the sound of a large bell being sounded at 6am – this seemed to be the norm in most places we stayed, so I hoofed it up the hill to the historical district to find out more – to find a man in a smart uniform with a very large pole, hitting an equally large bell. Call to prayers or wake up the workers to go to work / rice paddies. Most businesses only open at 10 am so open to conjecture.

I can’t begin to describe the castle gardens – early morning light, light misty rain, and a profusion of spring flowers around ponds, lakes and waterfalls. All I needed was 140 yen for a can of hot coffee!

JBR’s planned highlights of the day for us included Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest lake. Good place to have brunch, we thought, even by-passing coffee vending machines en-route! That said, it was a damp day and not conducive to stopping. Sadly, when we got there, everything was shut. A very kind lady told us in her best “Engrish” that it was the day before the start of Golden Week, so everyone was resting in preparation of the week long holiday and festivities and onslaught of Japanese holiday-makers.

Feature Article

Ah well, we soldiered on, following the coast road – and it truly was – right on the shore line complete with signs warning of waves washing over the road. Even in the soft rain, it was breathtaking – a sunny day would have meant me stopping every 10 minutes to take photographs!

We were ready to get out of the rain at lunch time having followed the coast road through dozens of fishing villages, and came across a place that was open – hooray! It was a massive seafood shop – think Sammies x 10 here in Brisbane. After peeling off our wet weather gear – slightly water resistant, the labels should say, we squelched in our wet socks into the store. Just as well we couldn’t read the labels. I played safe with a fish, Ian choosing randomly, plus the obligatory hot coffee from a vending machine. And a box of triangle cheeses! A man befriended Ian telling him that he travelled from Tokyo regularly just to buy seafood at this place, and walked us through the store – let’s just say the variety was astonishing and caused Ian to question what he had actually eaten for lunch.

We were fed up with the constant rain, so headed for the motorway – yes – who’d have thought – anyway – that knocked a whole lot of km off our travelling, arriving in Kanazawa late afternoon, and what a pleasant surprise!

The hostess encouraged us to park right at the door, under cover, almost in the “robby”, and took all our wet clothing to the boiler room, and put an air blower into our soaking wet boots, all with no “engrish” being spoken. What service!

We had our onsen and then walked a block over to the towns’ castle, Kenroku-en, home of the Honda motor vehicle dynasty for many a century (1580’s). The rain had slowed, and as darkness fell, headed back to town, on foot, to find supper. A most unexpected evening – drinks, where we rediscovered plum flavoured saké (umeshu - yummmmmmm), declined the “fried guts” and “giblets nabe” and staggered off (riding exhaustion plus 50% plus proof saké’) to find more recognisable food, finding

Feature Article an Italian place, with Japanese/Italian fusion food, chopsticks and cutlery .

The next morning we borrowed bicycles from our hostess, and went back and rode around the castle and local parks for a while – great way to start the day!

A great place to spend a few days if time allowed.

Day 7 (29/4) – Noto – 200km

After warming up with a bicycle ride and vending machine hot coffee, we collected our dry gear and headed for more coastal scenery. Watching the skies carefully, we headed for the mountains for a while, bypassing the rain, before heading back down to the coast, past a nuclear plant, a wind farm and rice paddies. It was a really interesting ride – heading to the very northern tip of the peninsula. It’s described as “rugged seascapes, traditional rural life & fresh seafood”.

We stopped at a hole in the rock kinda place - they had this interesting platform set up, where you step onto this wooden platform, and “swing”. It makes you feel like you are going to fall off and tumble down the cliff, onto the rocks and into the ocean. Unusual!

After leaving our prime parking spot, (we were getting used to this treatment) it was on to our accommodation in Suzu, a fishing village, and a bikers’ pub – except there’s no pub – or lounge – everyone hangs out in someone’s room. The variety of bikes in

July 2016

21

the parking lot was astonishing - including a brand new F800GS. Day 8 (30/4) – Takayama – 254km

The rain had vanished and we were met with the amazing sight of rice paddies right next to the ocean as we headed south back towards the mainland.

The JBR route planning included about an hour on the motorway – yuk – and given we were surrounded by mountains, guess what we chose, even though it was already a massive 254k day!

We also noticed that we were at the tip of the Alps, and there were motorbikes everywhere, so there must be corner nirvana around the place. And so it was - to the extent that one of the roads was still shut due to snowfall. The detour meant – yes – motorway – and the mountains are so steep, it is tunnel overload.

3 consecutive tunnels of 10km, 9 and 9 with a 100 metre gap between each – amazing! Like I said earlier – engineering heaven, but Ian got fed up, telling me he felt like a “mole”!

We also passed the village of Shirakawago, a UNESCO heritage listed gasho-style village. We bypassed it, being heathens and not interested in this version of culture, but found a spot in the mountains above that we could look down on it, complete with many corners before and after the viewing area! Also, being Golden week, it was mobbed and we got to do some serious lane splitting. I found it a bit nervewracking with the narrow roads, massive tour buses and people and cars and motorbikes everywhere!

We made it to Takayama by about 4 pm and found our accommodation – quite a mission – the hillside was so steep we had to park a few “blocks” away and walk our gear up and down many stairs to our hotel. This town is extensively written up as a destination, but too touristy for us. Luckily, everybody vanishes at 5pm and all settles down, so we wandered the quiet streets and bridges crossing wide streams, and found a bite to eat.

Day 9 (1/5) – Yamanakako – 303km

I laughed at Ian – he woke up to say – big day today – more than 300km! That’s usually smoko or lunch stop for us in Aus! We were super excited that the weather forecast was clear, and we were really, really, really hoping for a good sighting of Mt Fuji.

We headed out past an active volcano – last erupting in 2014 (Mt Ontake), and over the northern end of the Southern Alps. Brilliant, brilliant riding, with many other motorbikes out and about.

And …. Drumroll …. Coming up to lunch time, as if the morning had not been spectacular enough, there was Mt Fuji, with a puff of cloud around the top!

Not too far down the road, was a restaurant, where we parked our bikes under the cherry trees, dropping their blossoms over our bikes, all together – “ooh aaaah” - and had lunch looking at the mountain. Sigh!

22

July 2016

Needless to say, neither of us could do more than a few twisty kilometres without stopping to look at the mountain, and take another photo. The GPS master found one of 3 roads heading up the mountain, and we were off! To our delight we made it to the very end of the road, over 2,000m above sea level! Signs of wild deer, bear & pigs didn’t put us off. Happy!!!

We zagged and zigged all the way back down – an almost 180 degree corner about 100m apart, I stopped counting at 36 corners – keeping the bike in 2nd the whole way for engine braking, back down to the lake, booked into our accommodation and headed straight back outdoors, where a block away was a hammock café, with hammocks between the trees, on the edge of the lake, with Mt Fuji ahead – what a spectacular last evening.

That night, after onsen, we had our last Japanese dinner complete with complimentary homemade grape juice and wine.

The view from our room overlooked the garden and koi pond, and we were snuggled up in our futons before 8pm – what a day!

Day 10 (2/5) – Tokyo – 131km

After a walk around part of Lake Yamanakako with coffee, and a pit stop at the hammock café’, it was back on the bikes to hand them back and head for home. The last day sightings were beyond description and with heavy hearts we headed for Tokyo, with Mt Fuji in our wing mirrors. It was a pleasant ride, with as little motorway as possible, and handed over the bikes at about noon.

From here it was onto the train, into the airport, in the QANTAS lounge, consumed a few too many saké’ too quickly, onto the plane, a glass of champagne, and sayonara Tokyo. We landed at about 6 am the next morning and after a quick shower at home, back at our desks by 8:30 am Tuesday morning!

It was all a bit of a shock to the system, I can tell you!

In summary – planned distance – 1921km; Actual – 2170

Most telling, JBR expected us to spend about 50,000 yen on tolls – we managed about 17,000 – lots of motorway detours into the mountains thanks to my master GPS planner.

I feel like I have written a novel, but have barely covered a highlight per day. We had a wonderful trip, and it would be a country to return to when we have more time, to spend a day or 2 in each place and absorb a little more of the country.

Retirement beckons!

Heartfelt thanks to my master planner Ian for his many, many, many hours of online Google map and web site research, and JBR for making it a reality.

Alison & Ian Sayce JBR F800R’s

Feature Article More Happy Snaps from Japan

Articles Stories and Reports TOURING THOUGHTS am sitting at the keyboard just having written a story for Editor Dave on the June Club Ride. My thoughts have now turned to preparations for the Grey Ghosts next great adventure – leaving in a few weeks to visit those remote parts of OZ that Jane and I are yet to experience.

The maps are laid bare, advice from friends and fellow travellers gathered in pencil notes in rough order and the vastness of our beautiful land there to be experienced. We do not over plan our trips but prefer to leave space to cover the unexpected.

Bike preparations are a mechanical process of checklists for maintenance and insurance cover for what may go wrong like a flat tyre. Things can go wrong no matter how comprehensive your preparations but you can weigh the balance in your favour with good planning. One of those circumstances particularly in remote Australia is fuel range and the black thought of being stranded on a remote highway with an empty tank kicking myself for not having planned accurately.

As any long term motorcyclist can attest there have been/will be times when you go close to running on fuel vapour. I well remember a story from a favourite comedian now out of favour (OK it is Bill Cosby) where the father calls his son down to the family car parked in the driveway. He proceeds to push the sons face down the fuel filler pipe asking “What can you smell”? Nuthin’, Nuthin’ came the reply. That’s right, how did you manage to get the car home and parked in the driveway without even the sniff of gas left in the tank?

I have only ever run out of fuel once on a bike, my VTR 1000 Honda which had a small 16 litre tank, no reserve supply and a notoriously heavy thirst when ridden hard. I well remember the ‘Oh S_ _T’ moment when I realised I was a long way from fuel and running on vapour. That was way back when I lived in Melbourne and a friendly and helpful trolley guy in a shopping centre carpark came to my rescue on a Sunday evening.

I

July 2016

23

For Jane and me that ‘Oh S_ _T’ moment came while touring the USA last year. ‘Sam’ our mount in South West USA was a GS1200 Rallye. Sam was similar to our Grey Ghost so we knew that 400 km was achievable from the 20 litre tank with careful use of the right wrist. What I didn’t appreciate at the time was that all of those location markers dotted along the beautiful California Coast of the Big Sur were just that – localities. This is very much like Australia where a dot on a map might just be a dot on a map. There is nothing there.

The Coast road is designated as Highway 1 but it is a misnomer – all of the non tourist traffic travels along the inland but parallel super Highway 101. As we were travelling the road off season the tourist traffic on Highway 1 was as rare as a NSW win in State of Origin. As each locality passed with no sign of fuel and Sam’s fuel indicator started to flash I resorted to well known practical manoeuvres to conserve fuel.

Maintain as high a gear as possible meaning fewer revs, coast on the downhills, lower speed, keep the bike upright and don’t stop. Thoughts turn to each combustion stroke in the engine as the last litres of precious fuel are sucked down the intake tubes to be compressed, burned and spat out the exhaust.

There are several other superstitions that must surely help to reduce fuel usage. Breathe slowly and steadily like a diver in distress, do not talk on the intercom, do not look at the ‘distance to empty’ indicator or the flashing amber warning light on the dash panel. I had adopted all of these while also offering a few prayers to the Gods of the Road promising not to speed again if we are delivered up some fuel (they know I was only kidding?).

Evil thoughts then play tricks with my mind.

If we stop along this remote windswept foreign land what will I do?

Continued on page 26

24

Product Reviews

July 2016

Hepco & Becker now offer a new design in Stainless Steel Engine & Tank Guard for 2013 onward R1200GS Liquid Cooled Our redesign of the Tank Guard sees it now independent to the engine guard and it is now available in stainless steel!

PN 502668.0022 RRP $398inc is not only compatible with the matching stainless steel engine guard (PN 501668.0022 RRP $398inc), but also it fits right along with BMW’s OEM engine guard should you already have one!

Increase your protection with Hepco & Becker and Motorcycle Adventure Products (their AUS importer) For more please see http://www. motorcycleadventure.com.au/shop/ and click “Find my motorcycle and it’s accessories”!

Best Regards:

Ron & Judy Durkin ... & your

team @ M.A.P

3DX – Motorradical (of South Africa) have some great new products for the 2013 onward R1200GS Liquid Cooled The first is a R1200GS & Adventure K51OE Crash Bar Support Bracket for reinforcing and supporting the original crash bars!

They have found in ZA (As we have seen here) that the OEM engine guard can be bent back toward the rear of the valve cover in a fall.

All stainless Steel and in stock, PN A09760 RRP $129 Inc.

We have more new great gear coming on line from these guys that is “Engineered to outlast adventure”!

These include headlight, header pipe and side stand switch guards and much more.

Increase your protection with Motorradical and Motorcycle Adventure Products (their AUS importer) For more please see http://www.motorcycleadventure. com.au/shop/ and click “Find my motorcycle and it’s accessories”!

Best Regards:

Ron & Judy Durkin Phone: +61 (0) 7 3139 0387 9AM-5PM AEST Monday to Friday) Fax: +61 (0) 7 3103 5941 Email: sales@motorcycleadventure.com.au

Australian Importers of Quality Motorcycle Accessories Please visit our WebSite(s) – WWW. motorcyclesadventure.com.au or alternatively www.enduristan.com.au www.hepco-becker.com.au www.rokstrapsaustralia.com

Future Events

July 2016

25

26

July 2016

Jondaryn Classic - Mal Cramer

Continued From Page 23 ..... Tony Gray

Leave Jane with Sam while I hitch a ride to get fuel and run the risk of neither being there when I return? Stay with Sam while Jane hitches a ride to fetch fuel. Yes that way if Jane is carried off by some crazed wacko at least I will still have the bike and won’t surrender my credit card deposit at Eagle Rider rentals? Leave Sam while we both walk the long road for fuel in bike gear? Rub 2 sticks together and start a wildfire so we get rescued by the LAFD? None of these options were particularly appealing.

Fortunately for us the Gods were with us that day and as we drew into a tiny spot called Gorda we saw a fuel bowser in front of a general goods store.

Obviously we were not the only travellers to be rescued by that bowser at Gorda as the pump price was over double the price of the California average.

Sam was happy and we were happy.

Now I had better go and recheck those distances and bowser icons on my map of the Savannah Way!!!!!!!!!!!!

Tony Gray

Book Online Book Now Contact Roger on 0427 464 266 Price $78 Venue - Dates -Times are shown at

bottom of

PAGE 27 opposite.........

Future Events

July 2016

MOTORCYCLE ACCIDENT MANAGEMENT TRAINING QUEENSLAND

CABOOLTURE BRISBANE Grange Date: Saturday 6th Aug 2016 Date: Sunday 7th Aug 2016 Venue: Caboolture Golf Club Venue: Brothers Grange Sports Club

Time: 11:00am - 3:30pm Morning Session: 8:30am-2:30pm

BRISBANE Birkdale Afternoon Session: 1:30pm-5:30pm Date: Saturday 20th Aug 2016 IPSWICH Venue: Redlands Multi Sports Club Date: Saturday 13th Aug 2016

Time: 11:00am - 3:30pm Venue: Ipswich Golf Club

GOLD COAST Morning Session: 8:30am-12:30pm Date: Saturday 27th Aug 2016 Afternoon Session: 1:30pm-5:30pm Venue: Palm Beach Currumbin Sports Club

Time: 11:00am - 3:30pm

27

28

BMWMCQ Supports

July 2016

xplorer cutout

xplorer cutout our new adventure luggage setup!

Hepco & Becker have upgraded their Xplorer cases to accommodate selected large Adventure bikes which have upswept or high exhaust systems. Xplorer Cutout features a regular 40Lt Xplorer on one side, plus a special 37Lt version on the other. This setup combines carrying capacity with symmetry. Not only that but this new system uses a dedicated pannier frame manufactured in stainless steel! We’ve got your luggage needs covered, especially with our great prices!

serious about setting up your Bike? so are M.a.p. and hepco & becker Hepco & Becker are now offering Engine & Tank Guards for selected adventure bikes in Stainless Steel (as well as their proven mild steel).

The BMW R1200GSLC and the CRF1000L Africa Twin are the first up!

R1200GS LC Tank Guard has an updated design.

This stainless version is independent of the Engine Guard. It can also be fitted along with BMW OEM guards.

Increase your protection!

AUS & NZ importer

MOTORCyCLE AdvENTuRE pROduCTS (07) 3139 0387 www.Motorcycleadventure.coM.au/shop Order online from our webshop or through your local dealer

If one single donation can save three lives, imagine how many more could be saved if your group donated together. (Quote from Club Red web site.)

HydroTacÂŽ Lenses

www.stickonbifocals.com.au

Ph: 0418 573 677

If you have enjoyed reading the stories in this and previous editions, you may be surprised to know that they were written by members just like you. Therefore you can be assured others would like to hear your story.

Send your stories and pictures or requests for help to editor@bmwmcq.org.au

Photo Wall...Members Photos

July 2016

29

30

July 2016

BMW MCQ 2016 Events Ride Leader / Contact

BMWMCQ 2016 EVENTS JULY Thursday 7 Sunday 10 Saturday 16

7:30pm 9:00am 9:30am

Sunday 17

08:30am

Sunday 17 Wednesday 20

6:30pm

Saturday 23 Tuesday 26 Sat 30 & Sun 31 AUGUST Thursday 4 Saturday 6

6:00pm 6:30pm

7:30pm

Sunday 7 Fri 12 to Sun 21 Wednesday 17

12:00pm -5:pm

6:30pm

Saturday 20

8:00am

Tuesday 23 Saturday 27

6:30pm 9:30am

SEPTEMBER Thursday 1 Sunday 4 Sat 10 to Sun 11 Saturday 17

7:30pm TBC 8:00am 9:30am

Sat 17 to Sun 18

Wednesday 21

6:30pm

Tuesday 27 OCTOBER Sat 1 & Sun 2

6:30pm

Thursday 6 Sat 8 & Sun 9 Sunday 9

7:30pm

Saturday 15

9:30am

Monthly club meeting RACQ Motorfest Saturday Morning Coffee Run Monthly Club Ride President’s Ride Laverda Concours Social Dinner - Hamilton Hotel Killarney Bonfire Night German Club Frigid Digit Weekender

Monthly Club Meeting 40th Border Run Monthly Club Ride Biscuit Run Off Centre Gathering Social Dinner - Hamilton Hotel BMW 100th Anniversary Display German Club Saturday Morning Coffee Run

Monthly club meeting Monthly Club Ride The Long Ride Saturday Morning Coffee Run Far Cairn Rally Social Dinner - Hamilton Hotel German Club

Cane Toad Rally Monthly club meeting Kosciuszko Rally Monthly Club Ride - Vice Pres Ride Saturday Morning Coffee Run

Tingalpa Eagle Farm Racecourse Colleges By The River

Richard Maher Chuwar

BP Serevice Station Yatala (Stapleton) Cleveland Showgrounds Cnr Kingsford Smith Dve

Paul Hughes

Racecourse Rd, Tottenham Cnr Kingsford Smith Dve

BMW Touring Group NSW & Racecourse Rd Hamilton

Ron Durkin - Classic Riders

BMW Club ACT Richard Maher

Laverda Club & Racecourse Rd Hamilton Killarney Ian Sayce W’Gabba

TBA Gary Bennett

Tingalpa

Eucla, WA BMW Clubs of WA & SA CDT at North Pocket Lake George & Maggie Baroon Biscuit Run Paul Hughs Mungerrannie Roadhouse Classic Riders Group Cnr Kingsford Smith Dve & Racecourse Rd Hamilton Reddacliff Place, George Brisbane CBD St W’Gabba

Indian Motorcycle Geebung Museum

Tingalpa

TBA Ride Leader Needed!

TBA Les Blue Sky Coffee Newstead

W’Gabba

TBA Tingalpa Geehi Hut NSW TBA End of the Road Coffee Bar

New Farm

BMW MCQ 2016 Events Continued Wednesday 19

6:30pm

Social Dinner - Hamilton Hotel Tuesday 25 6:30pm German Club NOVEMBER

Thursday 3 7:30pm Monthly club meeting Sunday 6

Monthly Club Ride Fri 11 to Mon 14 BMW Clubs Aust National Rally Wednesday 16 6:30pm Social Dinner Hamilton Hotel Fri 18 to Sun 20 Imbil Rally

Fri 18th to Sun 20 Horizons Unlimited Travellers Event Saturday 19 9:30am Saturday Morning Coffee Run Tuesday 22 6:30pm German Club DECEMBER

Thursday 1 7:30pm Monthly club meeting Saturday 3 6:00pm Christmas Party Wednesday 14 6:30pm Social Dinner - Hamilton Hotel Saturday 17 9:30am Saturday Morning Coffee Run Italics font denotes event organised by other clubs

Cnr Kingsford Smith Dve W’Gabba

Tingalpa

Bright, VIC

21 May

Time

8.00 am to 5.00 pm

Ride

Texas – Full day

18 June

8.00 am to 2.30 pm

Blackbutt – Half day and lunch

16 July

8.00 am to 1.00 pm

Western Downs – Half day

20 August

8.00 am to 4.00 pm

Mt Tamborine – Full day

& Racecourse Rd Hamilton

Nigel Gill

Cnr Kingsford Smith Dve & Imbil Jindabyne, NSW

Racecourse Rd Hamilton Leisure Riders Horizons Unlimited

Harry’s Diner

Windsor

W’Gabba

Tingalpa QCWT, Stanthorpe Cnr Kingsford Smith Dve

& Racecourse Rd Hamilton

Venue tbc

Warrego Riders Calendar Date

31

July 2016

Continued page on 34 Description A longer ride on some spectacular roads – Toowoomba, Leyburn, Gore (smoko), Cement Mills, Pikedale, Silver Spur, Texas (lunch), Inglewood, Millmerran and home. We will include a couple of dirt loops however, for those so inclined; the ride can be all bitumen – 500 km for the day.

A touch more than half a day – Toowoomba, Yarraman, Blackbutt (smoko – pies Ray!), Somerset Dam, Esk, Hampton (Sketches for lunch) and Toowoomba. If you are pushed for time, you could be home for lunch. Guaranteed 100% bitumen – 300 km Depart Toowoomba BP (as usual), Pittsworth, Norwin, Tipton, Dalby (smoko), Irvingdale, Acland, Goombungee and Toowoomba. It will be a bit brisk, so a shorter day.

Appx 250 km – again, all bitumen It’s getting a little warmer! Toowoomba, Laidley, Mt Walker, Boonah (smoko), Canungra, Beachmont, Mt Tamborine, Tambourine (lunch), Springfield, Glamorganvale, Atkinson Dam, Murphy’s Creek, Toowoomba – All bitumen and about 500 km for the day

Ride Leader

Dave

Luke

Reg

Dave

32

Cupla Adverts...

July 2016

Call now for our frEE parts CataloguE

Genuine & Aftermarket parts (from 1955 onwards) • Accessories • Australian Agent for Hepco & Becker Luggage Systems and Crash Bars Electronic Ignition Systems Unit 5&6 / 9 Hayden Crt Myaree, Perth, 6154 Western Australia

www.munichmotorcycles.com.au TrAde enqUiries WelCoMe (open till 7pm est.)

??? SMOOTH OUT YOUR RIDE ???

We’ve got you covered.

GENUINE AUSTRALIAN

SHEEPSKIN SEAT COVERS

Phone: 08 9317 3317 Fax: 08 9317 3359 email: munich@iinet.net.au

ADVERTISING SPACE AVAILABLE

From business card to full page, all sizes are available.

The BMWMCQ journal is distributed to members throughout Queensland and is also displayed in QLD dealerships. In addition, copies are sent interstate to other BMW affiliated Clubs.

Get your message out to people who own, ride and restore BMW motorcycles. Rates are below.

Phone your requests to Don Grimes - Ph: 0411 601 372 Colour - Back Cover

Good Wool Store Pty Ltd 49 Queen St BERRY 2535 P 02 4464 2081. F 02 4464 3344

www.goodwool.com.au

Advertising Rates 2015

$2,000.00

Colour - Inside Front Cover

$1,500.00

Colour - Inside Back Cover

$1,250.00

B & W - Full Page Inside

$800.00

B & W - Half Page

$450.00

B & W - Quarter Page

$250.00

B & W - Business Card $100.00 All advertising should be related to motorcycling in general. The committee reserves the right to reject any advertising that is deemed inappropriate, in any way. Advertising content can be changed at any time (monthly in the journal and any time on the web site) provided the advertisements reside on the advertiser’s server. All journal ad changes must be submitted by the cut-off date specified on the Events page. All journal ads are to be supplied by the advertisers in PDF format.

Special Event November 2016

B

July 2016

33

BMW CA NATIONAL MOTORRAD RALLY BRIGHT, VICTORIA 11TH – 14TH NOVEMBER 2016

MW CLUBS AUSTRALIA (CA) is the conduit body, which encompasses all state car and motorcycle clubs in Australia.

Each year, through the assistance of one of its state clubs, sponsors a national event. Traditionally, this has been organized by one of the car clubs. However, in 2014, the ACT BMW Motorcycle Club offered to and ran a successful rally at Lake Cargelligo, NSW. Congratulations are due to the ACT Club for running an event that was enjoyed by all. Since that time, CA has indicated that this national event should be shared between the car and motorcycle clubs on a revolving biennial roster. So when nominations were called for the 2016 motorcycle event, our own BMWMCCVIC was quick to volunteer and offer Victoria as the host club. A small group of members convened to put this all together and this is their story (to date).

Whilst every state or territory in this great nation can boast of many fabulous locations for a rally, we in Victoria are specially blessed with options. When deciding on a destination for a National Rally, consideration was given to the following major factors; • • • • •

The options in the region for various top quality road and off-road (GS) rides.

The ride to the destination for not only our Victorian members but also for those of you travelling from all other states/territories. Remember, this is a national event.

The destination. Somewhere where there are many other attractions apart from great rides. A town that welcomes visitors and caters for them.

Adequate and attractive accommodation options for different requirements (camping, bunk house, shared cabins and motels).

In general, a fun place to visit and remember.

Bright, ticked all the boxes for our selection criteria and was favoured by all. The time of year was also critical and many factors had to be considered. Weather was critical and late spring is a wonderful time in the Ovens Valley, tucked up under the High Country. After the football season (whichever code) and before Christmas rush and school holidays. Mid November was an obvious choice.

To date, the organizing sub-committee has been hard at it with a lot of arrangements already in place. We have secured firm accommodation options and have planned out many rides, which will be offered as options, both on and off road. The traditional Rally Dinner will be held on Saturday evening and Sunday evening will see an adventure film night offered. In addition, for a limited number (based on first registered, best dressed), there will be an ‘off road training’ course offered on Saturday morning for those who wish to brush up on their skills. Part of this training will be an afternoon GS ride on dirt roads where the professional trainers will ride with the trainees and help fine-tune their techniques.

The main function of this early notice is to encourage those of you who need time to plan your workplace around dates, to plan for the rally timeframe. It is an “All weekend program”. Registration is in Bright, from Friday afternoon (11th Nov) to and including breakfast on Monday morning (14th Nov). For most, this will mean having the Friday and Monday made available for travel to and from.

We will be sending timely bulletins out to each club as well as using the BMWMMCVIC website, forum and Facebook page with notices and reminders of updates. Expect to see notices and flyers in your representative club notices and websites during April, registrations will open electronically on July 1st and close on September 25th.

A special note on accommodation. When registering, you will be able to elect to look after your own accommodation or to book accommodation being offered. We have secured accommodation based on motel and camping grounds. The camping grounds offer a range of options from tent sites, to shared bunk house sites, to various cabins that contain rooms for couples as well as shared single rooms. Some of these will be single beds and bunks but we will not be allocating anybody to a top bunk. That will be for gear.

We are looking forward to bringing you a wonderful event and very enjoyable time in Bright, in November. For those who have not been to Bright before, you will be amazed at what a beautiful and place it is and what it offers as a premium destination for a motorcycle rally. We encourage you to bring your partners. There are many activities available for non-riding partners such as golf, wine tours, walking, food and cheese tours etc….

Put the date in your calendar now. Book your workplace days off and start building ‘Brownie points’ on the home front. Bright, in November will be a blast.

Jack Schmidt 0414 460 295 Rally Co-ordinator, BMWMCCVIC.

34

July 2016

Warrego Riders Calendar Continued

Future Rides

K

eep the following in mind for the rest of the year:

September – Nanango Go Karts – yeeeehaaaaa. A competitive favourite when it’s a little warmer.

October - An overnighter into central NSW, potentially staying at Narrabri. The ride will definitely include the Narrabri – Bingara Rd, Copeton Dam and a whole lot more. A bitumen ride with roads guaranteed to blow your minds.

November – Another Blackbutt pie run? Or a half-day ride elsewhere.

December – Brisbane ride group Xmas party in Stanthorpe, Warrego Riders function to be held as well – location and venue to be determined and advised.

There will be regular off road rides between monthly rides (as well as at least one camping overnighter) – Luke and Dave will keep you posted on these.

Warrego Riders General Ride Information

All rides depart the BP service station on the corner of Ruthven & North Street at the nominated time – please be in attendance a minimum of 15 minutes early for a ride briefing.

The above calendar is a guide. Rides may be modified or changed – notice will be provided.

Members, associate members and guests welcome on any roadworthy motorbike.

Corner marker system used.

Gold coin donation for the RFDS encouraged.

All rides communicated and managed through the Warrego Riders Facebook Group – please feel free to join. An Event will be created a fortnight prior to each ride – we ask you to confirm attendance through this.

The monthly coffee night will be held at the Toowoomba Sports Club at 7.00 pm on the Tuesday prior to the ride.

All welcome to join for dinner, a drink, a chat and to discuss the next ride and general matters.

The next quarter’s calendar will be posted on Facebook, the BMWMCQ Journal and the Warrego Riders website in September 2016. If you have any ideas for rides, please let us know!

Please feel free to contact Danny Bemmerl – 0431 041 612 or danny.bemmerl@ergon.com; or Dave Pidcock – 0427 329 008 or r1200dp@gmail.com with any queries.

Look forward to seeing you on a ride.

Dave

David Pidcock Warrego Riders Group r1200dp@gmail.com

July 2016

35

2016 BMWMCQ Christmas Party

Have you booked your accommodation yet?

Date: Saturday 3rd December 2016 Time: Bus pick-up 6:30:pm for 7:pm Dinner Venue: Qld College of Wine Tourism, Stanthorpe Cost: 3 Course Dinner at $45.00 per head A bus to and from the Venue has been arranged and the cost will be covered by the Club.

Pickup from: Top of the Town and other accommodation areas in Stanthorpe.

We will start getting definite numbers and some money from you in August/ September so stay tuned???????

diScoVeR motoRline motoRRad & MAKE LIFE A RIDE. Located mid way between Brisbane and the Gold Coast and just off the M1 Motorway, Motorline Motorrad is the home of the Ultimate Riding Machine in Springwood.

Motorline Motorrad offers the full range of BMW motorcycles, Genuine BMW Rider Wear and Genuine BMW Servicing.

Visit Ben, Rick, Jarryd and the Motorline Motorrad team to arrange your personalised introduction to your new BMW motorcycle.

Home of tHe Ultimate Riding macHine in SpRingwood.

Motorline Motorrad I 1-11 Old Chatswwod Rd, Daisy Hill, Qld M1 Pacific Mwy, Daisy Hill – Opposite IKEA Logan I Exit 23 (South) I Exit 24 (North) Tel: 3290 7000 motorrad@motorline.com.au www.motorline.bmw.com.au

2015 BMW Financial Services DEALER OF THE YEAR