2017 BMW MOA INTERNATIONAL Rally A fi rst-timer’s MOA Rally experience By Calep Howard #118864
ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, A GOOD friend of mine needed to part with a motorcycle and a 1977 BMW R 100/7 rolled into my
garage. I always
wanted one, and after parting with some cash, I installed a new battery, fresh plugs and points, and I filled the tank. I was in love. I rode that motorcycle to work,
and people thought that was cool. I rode that motorcycle to the home office in the Twin Cities, and people thought I was nuts! I had a blast! Eventually, I joined the local BMW club and then the MOA. While I like tent camping and trav-
eling on my motorcycle, what I really like is sitting by a campfire while drinking a cold beer and telling com- pletely true tales of all of my amazing adventures. While spending a few dreary winter days back in 2014 rereading back issues of the Owners News, I realized that something was missing from my life. I realized I had never been to the MOA International Rally. After a few more cold days reading about what I was missing, I made plans to attend the 2015 rally in Billings, Montana. Stitching all of my disparate expe-
riences and interests together, I began preparing my bike, my camp- ing gear and myself to take the
biggest motorcycle trip of my life, from my driveway in Overland Park, Kansas, to Bill- ings, Montana. The summer of 2015 was going to beat all previous summers! Once I arrived in Billings, I was initially
overwhelmed when I was directed to the camping area. After surveying the area, I found a place to make camp and just like that, my rally experience began. Once through registration, the reality of
being at this event began to sink in. While I was excited to get my bag of swag, the most important part of the rally was the informa- tion I was given. With my camp set up and registration complete, I grabbed some food, made my way back to my camp and started figuring out how I was going to spend my time at my first MOA rally. For me, that time spent planning made
my first MOA rally a success. While a cou- ple of the seminars I attended helped expand my knowledge of motorcycle tour- ing, others discussed gear choices, and I learned how to lighten my touring load and pack correctly, valuable knowledge I was able to use on the ride home. I really like motorcycles and just as inter-
esting as I found the seminars, I also learned a great deal by simply wandering the rally grounds and looking at motorcycles, simply seeing what others were doing to and with their bikes. From those who ride a stone- stock bike, to riders who have mastered the art of farkling and completely customized
their bikes, the rally grounds held the larg- est collection of motorcycles I’d ever seen, and the inspiration was incredible. I found the campsites to be equally inspiring with tents from ultralight to palatial on display. The best part of the rally was the people
who ride these motorcycles and camp, all there to tell you their stories. It doesn’t mat- ter if you’re an introvert like me; once there, you’ll immediately feel comfortable intro- ducing yourself to other riders and getting to know them. I’ve found that every MOA member, myself included, is more than happy to talk about his or her motorcycle and the gear we use. This approach has helped me meet new people and make life- long friends. As winter drags on, I once again find
myself reading and rereading past issues of Owners News, but now it’s different. This year I’m not debating whether I’m going to Salt Lake City in July for the MOA’s 45th BMW MOA International Rally, but instead debating when I’m leaving and what route I’ll take. I’ve begun to chronicle my adventures
aboard my beloved airheads online at www.
thetwowheeledtourist.com. I launched “The Two Wheeled Tourist” not only to tell everyone about where I’ve traveled, but also to share my experiences with other riders. See you in Salt Lake City. I’ll be the guy on the black BMW motorcycle!
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BMW OWNERS NEWS February 2017
RAL YL
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