jireynolds67
New member
A big hello to all members of the BMWMOA. I am a former member who is returning after a number of years. I bought my first BMW, a used 500 while stationed in Germany in 1960. I shipped it to the states when I returned in October of 1961 and rode it from New Jersey to California in October and November of that year. It was quite a trip. I rode in constant pouring rain in the east. I stopped to visit my sister in North Carolina for a few days and the rain finally stopped, at least the constant part. I stopped to visit in Nebraska and then the snow started. I started out again but stopped for a couple days until the highways were clear. It was so cold, so I headed south and then west again on old Route 66, I think it was, currently I-40. I was running just about 24 hours behind a blizzard and it was cold. I donÔÇÖt think anyone had made a fairing yet at that time. I did have a windshield but it wasnÔÇÖt wide enough to protect my hands from the cold. It was necessary for me to hold the throttle so my right hand got really cold. I would stop and rub my hands around on the valve covers to warm them. I finally arrived in California the day after Thanksgiving. My mother was really worried as I had written and told her I would be there for Thanksgiving. By the way, after the cold ride, I found there was a tightening feature on the bottom of the throttle, which could be tightened and would hold it in position. I sold that BMW before going to Japan in 1964.
I bought my second BMW, a new 1972 R75/5, while stationed in Germany in 1972. During the first week I owned it, I had a fairing installed. It was a Glaizer Fairing, probably misspelled, which German Police Bikes had. I found out who made them and rode to that business to buy one. The owner was really surprised as no one had ever done that. The only bikes he had ever installed one on were Police Bikes. The fairing was fiberglass with no storage spaces but was really strong and solid. I shipped my R75/5 to the states when I returned in the summer of 1974. Again, I rode from New Jersey to California, visiting family and friends along the way, and the weather was beautiful all the way. I then rode on from California to Washington State as my car was shipped from Sweden to Portland and I went to see a brother who was stationed at McCord AFB. I heard about the BMWMOA and joined at that time. I looked at my old issues of the BMW NEWS which I have kept and found the August 1974 issue, which was probably the first I received. Per the mailing label, I think my original membership number, which I would like to still have, was 03470.
I bought my third BMW, a used 650 with Earls Forks in 1975. I rode it to the Rally in Missouri that year and it was the only Rally which I ever attended. I never saw so many BMW Motorcycles in one location and I really enjoyed it. I still had both of my BMWÔÇÖs when I met and started dating a woman in 1986. She did not like motorcycles and I made a judgment error and sold both of my BMWÔÇÖs, when I should have stopped dating her instead. That is another story, which I will not relate here.
After selling my two BMWÔÇÖs, I let my membership expire. I recently bought my fourth BMW, a 2003 R1150RT-P and now I have joined the BMWMOA again and my new membership number is 154166. The R1150RT-P is different from my previous ones in many ways. It loves to run on the interstate and I wish I was back in Germany to ride it. So far, I have ridden at least one 300 plus mile day and two 475 mile plus days. Next week, I will be making a 260 mile plus trip for Thanksgiving Day and then return.
I didnÔÇÖt mean to make this so long but did want to give a bit of my BMW History. I love to ride, even though I have been down more than once. I know that is part of the riding a bike. I am happy to own my fourth BMW and to be a BMWMOA member again.
I bought my second BMW, a new 1972 R75/5, while stationed in Germany in 1972. During the first week I owned it, I had a fairing installed. It was a Glaizer Fairing, probably misspelled, which German Police Bikes had. I found out who made them and rode to that business to buy one. The owner was really surprised as no one had ever done that. The only bikes he had ever installed one on were Police Bikes. The fairing was fiberglass with no storage spaces but was really strong and solid. I shipped my R75/5 to the states when I returned in the summer of 1974. Again, I rode from New Jersey to California, visiting family and friends along the way, and the weather was beautiful all the way. I then rode on from California to Washington State as my car was shipped from Sweden to Portland and I went to see a brother who was stationed at McCord AFB. I heard about the BMWMOA and joined at that time. I looked at my old issues of the BMW NEWS which I have kept and found the August 1974 issue, which was probably the first I received. Per the mailing label, I think my original membership number, which I would like to still have, was 03470.
I bought my third BMW, a used 650 with Earls Forks in 1975. I rode it to the Rally in Missouri that year and it was the only Rally which I ever attended. I never saw so many BMW Motorcycles in one location and I really enjoyed it. I still had both of my BMWÔÇÖs when I met and started dating a woman in 1986. She did not like motorcycles and I made a judgment error and sold both of my BMWÔÇÖs, when I should have stopped dating her instead. That is another story, which I will not relate here.
After selling my two BMWÔÇÖs, I let my membership expire. I recently bought my fourth BMW, a 2003 R1150RT-P and now I have joined the BMWMOA again and my new membership number is 154166. The R1150RT-P is different from my previous ones in many ways. It loves to run on the interstate and I wish I was back in Germany to ride it. So far, I have ridden at least one 300 plus mile day and two 475 mile plus days. Next week, I will be making a 260 mile plus trip for Thanksgiving Day and then return.
I didnÔÇÖt mean to make this so long but did want to give a bit of my BMW History. I love to ride, even though I have been down more than once. I know that is part of the riding a bike. I am happy to own my fourth BMW and to be a BMWMOA member again.
