Large herd of r18's in Boulder, CO on 08/24

I had been wondering when I would see my first R18 on the road. Yesterday I was riding my bicycle up to the National Center of Atmospheric Research when three R18's went be me on the uphill climb. Those three were followed in short order by about eight more strung out over the next few minutes. What a pleasure that was. My trip up the hill on the bicycle is slow and they all went by me again on their downhill run. Wondered if it was a group with rentals or some sort of club or demo ride. I was too stunned to see license plates. Very cool.

Good to get a good ride on my birthday!

It was the BMW dealer intro for the Transcontinental:

https://www.facebook.com/MortonsBMW/photos/pcb.2023710774446399/2023707561113387/?type=3&theater

It’s also a press event… dang, BMW ON didn’t ask me to represent the MOA…. again!








#yagottabeinsidethecircle

Visian said:

It’s also a press event… dang, BMW ON didn’t ask me to represent the MOA…. again!








#yagottabeinsidethecircle

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I only got two chances: The K1200RS in Spain and Intermot in Germany. Both were great experiences.

PGlaves said:

I only got two chances: The K1200RS in Spain and Intermot in Germany. Both were great experiences.

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A certain Touratech person has gotten quite a few more….

I feel kinda strongly that these opportunities should be shared among qualified members, it’s consistent with our brand.

Visian said:

A certain Touratech person has gotten quite a few more….

I feel kinda strongly that these opportunities should be shared among qualified members, it’s consistent with our brand.

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I'm available, so I volunteer. Just doing my duty to help.

barryg said:

I'm available, so I volunteer. Just doing my duty to help.

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Can your ride/write/shoot quality pics and edit quality video and do you feel comfortable schmoozing with other journalists? I feel that the BMW MOA has a great opportunity to promote our brand and create a strong impression of our members if you do. All we have to do is put the team into place. I volunteered to help coordinate this effort a couple of years ago and it didn’t go anywhere. Maybe it was just me.

Honestly I think our editorial would have far greater weight and create significant gravitas for the MOA brand if we took steps to create expert analysis from qualified members instead of paid 3rd parties, which in reality smacks of astroturf. We have a lot of talent in our ranks, we just have to coordinate it.

We need to pull this together before Revzilla’s Common Thread effort kills us. WE would complement our editorial with promotion of the products that our advertising partners market. Together this would help both members and our vendor partners get ahead in an increasingly competitive world.

Anyone who is on this team has to have the chops, though, and commit to do the work. Wannabes won’t work

Ian

I saw a new Trans R18 at my dealer and admit it is VERY well finished with styling touches everywhere. Besides a Harleyesque brace of instruments on the batwing fairing, it appeared to have a large tv display directly below. Speakers are built into the leading edge of the saddlebags and chrome trim bits are on many edges. The black paint was flawless mit dual white pinstripes for accent. The knee airflow control wings reminded me of an old victrola horn. I think a Touring Harley or Indian would look plain parked next to one of these.

It is cartoonishly large, however. No idea on the price.

It was all the dealer owners or General Managers. My boss was there.

The BMW tractor-trailer had a full load of R18s in various styles and colors at Barber's Vintage Days Festival a month ago in Leeds, AL. They had test rides for anyone qualified, their nearby competition in the paddock area was Indian and KTM with their various models. The folks in the NJ Headquarters seem to have their marketing sites set strictly on the R18 line up as we head into the indoor North American Motorcycle Show season.

Last time I rode a BMW as a test bike, I had my checkbook balanced and at the ready. I traded in a toasty-hot K1100LT for a seemingly cooler K1200LT back in '03... This Oktober, I skipped the test rides entirely to browse the Gigantic Swap Meet and the Vintage bikers' paddock area. The racing in various categories was a lot of fun and very serious. https://www.barbermuseum.org

Here's the BMW exhibit tent along Fan Alley.


Here's the view from the hill where we camped. Over my right shoulder, down thru the trees, was where the manufacturer's Test Fleets were corralled.


Happy Trails Y'all!
HSV-Karen & HSV-Phil
la Secretary & el Presidente, Club #5, celebrating 50 years of AlaBeemer fellowship...
'09 650GS-twin — '14 K-GT
'82 R100CS ——— '75 R90S
'16 R1200RS —-— ’05 Vespa 200L

See all y'all in Springfield, MO when the MOA will host Their 50th B'day celebration.

airheadbullet said:

I had been wondering when I would see my first R18 on the road. Yesterday I was riding my bicycle up to the National Center of Atmospheric Research when three R18's went be me on the uphill climb. Those three were followed in short order by about eight more strung out over the next few minutes. What a pleasure that was. My trip up the hill on the bicycle is slow and they all went by me again on their downhill run. Wondered if it was a group with rentals or some sort of club or demo ride. I was too stunned to see license plates. Very cool.

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Herd of R-18's? I thought more than 2 was a "pride"...

rick601 said:

Herd of R-18's? I thought more than 2 was a "pride"...

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Seeing as Boulder is Buffalo country, the massive forms and pounding of hooves seemed more appropriate for a big twin description. Either way, most impressive.

BMW is starting a three-country touring service using only R18s. See: https://ridermagazine.com/2021/12/0...the-great-getaway/?oly_enc_id=0240C8840912J7U

They're calling it "The Great Getaway."