bogey. This little light has saved me count- less tickets over the years whenever I have accidentally crept over the speed limit. The only disadvantage has been that the display runs on batteries and it seemed to go through batteries after about three days of riding. I thought it was a small price to pay for the protection I received. While at the MOA rally in Billings last
month, I saw Aaron, told him how much I liked his product, and mentioned the short battery life. He asked me to bring the unit in. I did, and he said, “I thought I had recalled all of those. Here, have a new one. It should give you at least 50 hours of battery life—probably a lot more. And here, have some extra batteries for all those you burned up.” Wow! He could have easily dismissed me with a casual “Those things happen.” I was overwhelmed. I still am. I had to write and let everyone know about a great product and great customer service from a consistent advertiser in the BMW ON.
Stephen C. Weston #21713 Parker, Colorado
Standing up and fighting back This year has been the Year from Hell from
the standpoint of my health. Two surger- ies, three stents, a pacemaker and ongo- ing back problems. This past Sunday I cast off what was on
my shoulders and went for a 200 mile ride for the first time since the pacemaker and stents were implanted. A number of fam- ily and friends questioned my thinking after the aforementioned issues. In my opinion, life is about standing up and fighting back. I take great inspiration from boxing leg-
end Carlos Monzon. He was knocked down in one of his championship bouts; he got back up and defeated his oppo- nent. After the fight was over, his son remarked,
“Father, when you were
knocked down I cried many tears,” to which the champion replied, “My son, it is not important if you get knocked down; what is important is that you get back up.” I was raised in a Methodist parsonage by a pastor who, before the ministry, had
quit school after the eighth grade and had been a paratrooper, a coal miner and a truck driver prior to continuing on with his education and seminary work. What- ever the GI Bill would not pay, my father paid with his own money. I was 12 years old when he had finally finished his studies. I really had no Idea what I was learning
at the time, but every day my old man put on a shirt and tie, picked up his briefcase and went to work. Every day, no matter how broke he was (which was often), no matter what life threw at him, he stood up and fought back. He continues to do so every day, going to the nursing home to care for my mother.
I had no idea when I began writing this
where it was going, though I am pleased where it ended up. As it turns out, the old dog still has a fight left in him. FIND YOUR FIGHT AND RIDE!
Will Buffton #70125 Scranton, Pennsylvania
Amazing BMW riders What would I do if I broke down here? The
question we have all asked and will ask again. I can answer that question if the here is along US Highway 212 approxi- mately 204 miles East of Billings, Montana. On Wednesday, the day before the rally
started, my R 1200 CLC engine stopped twice momentarily and then died for good. I was on a desolate stretch of two lane highway with little shoulder and a 70 MPH speed limit. I saw a farm with a paved entrance up ahead and coasted to a stop a few feet off the highway. Gary Linn, riding a BMW, came by and
stopped within 10 minutes. He left to get help in Broadus, Montana, the nearest town, about 35 miles west, hoping at least there would be cell phone service. I quickly learned to give the thumbs up to passing bikes because everyone would have stopped. As I was considering my options, I saw a beautiful site pass by, a truck towing a two bike trailer with one bike on it, I waived frantically, and John and Jane Del- aney stopped. I rode the remaining dis-
tance in air conditioned comfort. As soon as we showed up to the Rally,
Sam Garst, “Shuttle Sam,” introduced me to Randy and his code reader and com- puter software, and Sam later gave me a ride with my equipment to a camping area. The next morning Sam loaned me his gas can, shuttled me around with help and a guide to the who’s who of resources. I talked with a lot of people with advice and offers. Following a diagnosis of a bad fuel pump, Ted Porter referred me to Euro MotoElectrics of Denver. Euro helped me consider what I might need for the instal- lation and the parts arrived Friday morning. Michelle Hand of Chromeheads helped me with the install, backing me up on the instructions. Michelle is a gearhead and provided a couple of bottles of well needed water. I never got the names of others who aided in one way or another, including the trike rider who gave me a ride for some fresh gas. If I misspelled anyone’s name, forgive me. Considering everything, it was a great rally with some great fellow riders.
Chad Landes #119549 Maize, Kansas
Wind has met its match Keith Fitz-Gerald’s column about riding in
the wind in the August 2015 issue was interesting and contained some good tips. I had not heard of sticking my knee into the wind but will certainly try that on the next windy day. The best tip I ever got about handling
wind was to keep a very light grip on the handle bars (just hold on loosely with the thumb and forefinger). It sounds counter- intuitive to loosen your grip when your bike is being blown around, but by loos- ening it, the bike is able more easily to keep going on its intended line than when we grip bars more tightly. This tip made a big difference in my ability to ride in the wind and also has made a difference for me in all other riding conditions as well.
Dean Vegosen #186906 West Palm Beach, Florida
October 2015 BMW OWNERS NEWS 17
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140
