An old guy shares some thoughts on BMWs and their riders

[ricochetrider]

reading thru this thread, I see the discussion here has turned to airheads and vintage BMWs, young riders, etc.

This has long been a topic of discussion amongst the BritBike crowd, and guess what? Some folks think their bikes are *worth* $X,XXX.00... yet still, (as I see with airhead BMWs currently) people buy the bikes, sometimes, almost "often", for reasonable money in rideable condition.

Let's remember that not everyone needs a pristine bike to be satisfied with their motorcycle. As long as a bike is running well, not leaking or isn't dangerous, they are likely to get ridden, sometimes long and hard, by somebody. talk of totally stripping down a running bike would make some of my Brit Enthusiast buddies cringe and shake their heads- take for example my friend Graham Ham of Daisy's Diaries fame, who put at least a hundred thousand miles on his old Triumph, doing the bare minimum to her.

Right now in younger BritBike circles, there is, as there is in younger BMW circles, a lot of interesting custom stuff being built and ridden. For the most part with Brits, however, the customs are being built with parts; most folks far as I know, aren't chopping up complete bikes for their bobbers, cafe bikes, street trackers, or whatever.

My personal theory is that these guys (& gals) are the BritBike enthusiasts of the future, and may eventually move into restoring and/or riding complete bikes, after they grow old enough to not want to bounce from bar to bar in less than ideal ergonomic positions any more. I'd say there's a strong parallel between the brands, and the young BMW crowd is doing pretty much exactly the same as the Brit folks are.

The Brits are 50s/60s/70s, the younger BMW Airhead crew is rolling mostly 70s, 80s, & 90s bikes.

Bottom line: the future of vintage motorcycling is secure; Airheads (and BritBikes) are in good hands.

PS: the same holds true for the 70s Japanese Bike enthusiasts.

 

[temesvar]

This is where i should point out WHY i have a BMW.
Is the bike the best in the world? Let's be serious, nowhere near!
Not the best tourer, not the best off road, not the most reliable,
not the most efficient, not the most powerful, not the finest
machine out there! Definitely, not the most cost efficient bike!
If i was younger, i would never buy a BMW. As i have aged, i ride
within speed limits. Comfort is a priority. And have had an idol
as kid, a person i never talked to, who was riding a r60.
Where ever that bike was parked, i would stop and look at.
So i always wanted a boxer! Now, at my twilight, i got just that!
Not the best bike i ever rode, but the bike i love the most!
You don't have to have the best to love, you should love what
is best for you!

 

[jconway607]

This is where i should point out WHY i have a BMW.
Is the bike the best in the world? Let's be serious, nowhere near!
Not the best tourer, not the best off road, not the most reliable,
not the most efficient, not the most powerful, not the finest
machine out there! Definitely, not the most cost efficient bike!
If i was younger, i would never buy a BMW. As i have aged, i ride
within speed limits. Comfort is a priority. And have had an idol
as kid, a person i never talked to, who was riding a r60.
Where ever that bike was parked, i would stop and look at.
So i always wanted a boxer! Now, at my twilight, i got just that!
Not the best bike i ever rode, but the bike i love the most!
You don't have to have the best to love, you should love what
is best for you!

That's a refreshingly honest take on why most of us are riding BMWs. I don't know if I have ever seen it stated so clearly.
It just says it all, especially the part about most of us, I think, being hopelessly attracted to the brand at some point due to some event or another. I remember riding my 1976 Goldwing in New York about thirty years ago with my wife, when we stopped at a tourist venue. I saw an airhead sitting in the parking lot. I was already fascinated with them, but I said to my wife, "How can they cost so much, when there's so little to them?!".
I've owned one ever since.

 

[dennisdarrow]

Pushing my 57 VW up Inglsadt Hill by leaning forward repeatedly over and over to give it that extra ooooomph of momentum as I tried to pass the German beer truck. As I looked in the mirror here came these flashing lights telling me that I had maybe 1/2 kilometer to get over before he needed to pass. OK so I fell back and gave up on more than 50 KPH out of that overpowered HP flowing out of that old VW in 1965 that I got to help me through my 3 year tour in the Fatherland. The next thing I know is here comes this black monster with a frau in the sidecar with 2 kids snuggled in and another behind Herr rider. They just cruised by as I began to push that steering wheel even harder to catch up and take a better look.
Caught them on the downside of the hill and was able to stay next to them long enough to figure out that this was a BMW and not only could it carry a family but the thing could do it with gusto and class. HAD TO HAVE THAT. Started looking the next day and the rest is history.......Like many fellas over there, got a very used one and was considered by the frauleins quite the guy. mmmmm loved those snuggle bunnies

 

[20715]

Yup.

No wonder I didn't get the December issue. Or any since August. I just realized my membership lapsed. I just renewed it. Always wished they'd send a reminder.

 

[20774]

No wonder I didn't get the December issue. Or any since August. I just realized my membership lapsed. I just renewed it. Always wished they'd send a reminder.

I always get the envelope in the mail about two months before the membership expires. Is that not working for you?

 

[20715]

I always get the envelope in the mail about two months before the membership expires. Is that not working for you?

Kurt, I've been in the ABC for 20 years, and I don't recall ever getting an envelope or any kind of reminder. Maybe my memory is defective. I'm certain I recall at one time they were right up front you had to note the expiration date included near the address label on each issue, because you wouldn't get a reminder to renew.

 

[20774]

Howard -

I think it's the default to get the mailing, unless there's an opt out somewhere or you haven't entered your info on your profile. But since you're getting the ON in the mail, they must know where you live!! I'd suggest contacting Ted Moyer or Ray Tubbs to see what needs to change.

 

[lee]

I always get the envelope in the mail about two months before the membership expires.

This last week I received an email reminder plus a reminder in the mail.

 

[Friedle]

Old gu

Kurt, I've been in the ABC for 20 years, and I don't recall ever getting an envelope or any kind of reminder. Maybe my memory is defective. I'm certain I recall at one time they were right up front you had to note the expiration date included near the address label on each issue, because you wouldn't get a reminder to renew.

Howard, Which membership has elapsed? You seem to be referencing the MOA, yet Kurt is addressing the Airheads Beemer Club (ABC) ??

Friedle
ABC and MOA

 

[20774]

Howard, Which membership has elapsed? You seem to be referencing the MOA, yet Kurt is addressing the Airheads Beemer Club (ABC) ??

Friedle
ABC and MOA

Ooops, I see I missed that. I assumed Howard was initially talking about the MOA, but now I see he responded referencing the ABC in his second post. The Airheads Beemer Club monthly magazine has the membership expiration date on the back page with the mailing label. I don't know if that is on the wrapping for the MOA ON.

 

[20715]

My apologies to everybody. I can see how you thought I was talking about the MOA. I was referring to the ABC, because Jim Strickland had referenced the December issue of Airmail. I get too many magazines. When I checked, the last ABC magazine I got was the August issue, which is when I realized my membership had lapsed.

I've been in the MOA 36 years, and they're always good about sending reminders, via snail mail and more recently e-mail.

Thanks guys. Sorry again for my lack of clarity.

 

[20774]

Howard -

Your MOA member number is almost the same as mine! I guess you've already taken care of the issue with the ABC. I don't recall getting any email notices, but I have been monitoring the date on the back of the Airmail issues. For anyone needing to contact them, the membership chairman is at membershipteam@airheads.org.

 

[james.a]

Howard,
The same thing happened to me. I was lapsed for October and November. I had sent in a check with the form from the back of Airmail, but was dropped for 2 months any way. Rick Koch re-set my membership to Sept., but I still don't have my back issues.

 

[brownie]

Airhead thread

Nice discussion of the airhead machines, the Airheads (people) and related stuff.....'tho I travel on my '04 Oilhead (96K miles) I commute regularly on my '82 RS (166Kmiles).
The 5-6K miles a year on the RS is pure therapy....have always done 99% of maintenance required...still makes me feel mechanically adept !!!
I always enjoy showing off "Igor" (no garage/show queen) to newer/younger riders...it might not be for them, but they do generally appreciate the machine...and the blessed boxer sound !!