RIDERTORIDER Send your letters and comments to:
editor@bmwmoa.org
Saving what you've got I knew my hearing would get worse as I grew older and also knew that riding would aggravate the problem, as it has been shown that exposure to high fre- quency wind noise is a major contributor to hearing damage. My hearing acuity has decreased in spite of the fact that during 40 years of riding, I have always worn hearing protection. I have tried every- thing from custom-molded appliances to foam and hard ear plugs with only limited success. I knew I had come to the point where I
would have to limit my riding or find a better solution to protect my remaining hearing. I recently saw that Sena had a Noise-Control helmet, but I didn’t need a replacement helmet. I also knew of noise cancellation technology for air travel and found many products available from one to three hundred dollars. The high-end product was manufac-
tured by Bose and because of their repu- tation, I called their sales division. They had no information regarding the use of their product with a motorcycle helmet and cautioned that riding earphones might preclude hearing honking or emer- gency vehicles. What they did tell me made me think it might be my solution. I am pleased to report that their ear- phones have reduced wind howl by at least 90 percent, yet I can hear my horn with no difficulty and do not think I will have any difficulty hearing approaching emergency vehicles. Riding has become quieter and more pleasant. The Bose unit has a rechargeable battery and is very light. It includes three sizes of earbuds to insure a good fit. Sena is the first manufacturer to incor-
porate sound reduction technology into helmets, but I believe we will see this become a standard for helmets in the future. I wish I had this option years ago. Antonio San Martin M.D. #68519 San Antonio, Texas
16 BMW OWNERS NEWS May 2016
A statement of reliability I have been riding BMWs since 1975 and have accumulated more than 500,000 miles on the brand. I have also been a BMW dealer for 21 of the last 40 years. I can say I have seen many bikes in need of repair, and I can assure Mr. Yuhas that both the ST 1100 and FJR have their own sets of problems. I recently stopped at Engle Motors, and the subject of conversation was an FJR final drive failure. Other members have been on the offensive regarding BMW reli- ability, and I would like to say that BMW never hid a potential problem and was proactive in every way to insure customer safety and satisfaction. By the way I've ridden all over Mexico,
Alaska and the lower 48 and never carried a spare part. As my pal Norman Jones told me when we traveled to Mexico in 1977, "If you take something, it will never be the right part."
Julius Dusterhoft #6299 Iowa City, Iowa
Touring articles wanted Regarding Owners News, I’m disappointed by the lack of road tour articles, as if highway riding is bland and without chal- lenges beyond monkey-butt. In my opinion, I ride the best bike out
there, a BMW K 1600 GTL. I ride daily, and it’s my primary mode of transportation, including grocery shopping and trips to Home Depot. I am not a weekend warrior heading out alone or with a group, for a hamburger 100 miles away. Owners News seems solely oriented to the GS rider. Granted, more GS bikes are sold than K bikes, but we are just as inter- ested and dedicated as off-road riders. And let me be clear, super highways are not the only paved roads that big bikes tour on. We just prefer pavement over dirt and gravel.
I challenge many riders to undertake
the adventure of navigating congested inner city streets, packed commuter high- ways, drunken Saturday night parking lots, semi’s changing lanes in traffic or suburbanites who ignore stop signs. That is truly adventure riding, especially on a 750 plus pound bike with a passenger and luggage. For instance, how do you manage a big bike on soft surfaces, aplenty on highway shoulders? How do you turn in crowded situations or back up while your bike is pointing downhill or uphill. How do you camp with a big bike when the surfaces are soft or what are some suggestions regarding packing or carrying extra fuel? All of the same questions adventure riders seek answers for apply to touring bikes. I find most of my answers in on-line dis- cussion groups dedicated to the GTL, but I don’t expect to be totally ignored by the MOA as Owners News does. It’s getting so that my membership in the MOA is being challenged. I used to rely on the advertise- ments for information, but I’ve just about covered all the one’s that are pertinent. If it wasn’t for the BMW Owners Anonymous book, which I haven’t used yet, I’d be hard pressed to justify remaining a member. Really good, solid product reviews and recommendations with photos for the big bike would be appreciated. America is not just remarkable to see
from a trail. There are roads, inns and establishments all along paved roads like the Blue Ridge that don’t just cater to those trying to get 300 curves out of the trip. Besides, people, when you’re riding the Tail of The Dragon you’re looking at the pavement, not the scenery. When you’re navigating a trail, you’re looking at the ruts, rocks, branches and obstacles, not the scenery. Give me a reason to stay. Eric Kuritzky #189895 Orlando, Florida
Thank you for your letter Eric. This is not the
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