RIDERTORIDER Send your letters and comments to:
editor@bmwmoa.org
A question of reliability I read with great interest the letter in the
November 2015 issue of BMW Owners News submitted by Don Walter of Iowa City regarding the significant lack of reli- ability of newer BMW motorcycles. Based on the data he provided from an extensive Consumer
Reports survey,
BMW clearly has a big problem compared to every other make of motorcycle. I hope that the BMW MOA will do a feature, in- depth article on this and seek comments from key BMW management where they acknowledge the problems and explain how they are working to improve reliabil- ity. In saying this, I am assuming that the conclusions from the CR database of 11,000 respondents are accurate. I ride an '83 R80ST airhead, which is the first BMW I've owned, and as much as I like the appearance and performance of some of the new bikes, I won't even con- sider buying one based on the reliability data, just as I wouldn't buy a car or refrig- erator from a manufacturer with nearly four times the failure rate of the industry leading Japanese companies. While BMW Motorrad has certainly been developing class-leading models in several market segments, perhaps they need to take a pause and focus on improving their quality and reliability.
Bud McIntire #200264 Winston-Salem, N.C.
January's "Headlight" I call myself a year-round rider, and typi-
cally, I am. However, a quick glance over my computer screen and out the window reminds me of the foot of snow still cover- ing the ground. It is true that western North Carolina boasts some of the best motorcycle roads in the country, but with that comes the occasional seasonal obstacle, temporarily limiting me from enjoying my favorite
16 BMW OWNERS NEWS April 2016
pastime. During those times, I pull out new and old issues of BMW ON, make sure the battery tender is connected, and daydream of the next opportunity to get back in the saddle. In the January 2016 issue, Bill Wiegand’s “Headlight” article hit home. I have ridden motorcycles all my life and really am a year-rounder, but I still haven’t taken the time or made the effort to take an extended trip or attend a rally. Add to that the fact that I’ll celebrate my 60th birthday in a few weeks, and I’m feeling a tug to make my time on the old R 1150 R (aka “The Raven”) really count this year. As Bill admonished, I truly would like to make this a memorable two-wheeled year, complete with a possible rally, a long multi-day trip and maybe even some motorcycle camping. And although I am not new to motor-
cycling, I am fairly new to the BMW com- munity and the MOA. So hopefully, as I seek to make 2016 memorable, I’ll enjoy meeting some more of you, my fellow readers and riders, along the way. Who knows…I might even get to thank Bill, in person, for his motivating and encourag- ing article.
David Stanford #202005 Edneyville, N.C.
Renewed inspiration I am one of the older riders, and I am look-
ing at my future riding prospects. I'm 62 and my bike is 36. I've had shoul-
der replacements, and my bike had pis- ton replacements, so we're both wearing out at the same rate. I've never owned anything but Airheads since seeing a new R80 in a showroom of a now long-gone dealership. Since then I've owned almost all the airhead models except a Slash 2, and I've never felt it necessary to own any of the newer types of BMWs. I've ridden to all the faraway places I
dreamed of going as well having taken some foolish rides for the bragging rights. Have you ever driven your car and had that terrifying realization that you've just fallen asleep for a second? It's even scarier if you're on a bike. I also was amazed at how far I had to lean the bike to pass a car when doing 120 mph. I was much younger then and no longer feel the need to prove anything to myself. Times have changed for me, but I'm not
done riding yet. I’ve cut down on rally attendance as have other older riders on their. I can't follow the conversations around the campfires when it's all about new bikes and the electronic gizmos on the market. I have an engine with wheels. When I talk about dual-plugging, four-
valve heads or lightened flywheels, peo- ple ask, "What's the point? Why soup up a John Deere tractor?" I’ve decided that when my 979cc tractor can’t plow the roads anymore, I'll switch brands and leave the MOA. Recently, I've changed my mind. The R
nineT Scrambler, the Scooter and the G 310 R all excite me. I'm grateful that my favorite marque came up with models that don't follow the "bigger is better" philosophy. I now have reason to keep renewing my membership another 20 years or so, but I'll have to learn to talk about all the electronic farkles. I'd like to share a poem I clipped from an issue of Owners News which appeared back in the 80s and has always inspired me.
What distant shore is calling now, The wild goose to the wing? For that same call is haunting me, I too must rise and sing. The hand of God shows everywhere with hues of burnished gold and misty mornings make aware the hun- ger in my soul. I know it's time to start again, too well I know the sound
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