Morning Reads: 26 June 2007

[mika]

Today’s Birthdays / Calendar

Motorcycle News:

thekneeslider.com
Vun Rotax single by CR&S

beatnikbiker.com
Motorcycle ownership cost

motorcycleworld.com
Moto Guzzi Norge honored by Motociclismo magazine

Rumors:

reuters.com
Honda denies talk of interest in Harley

Other News:

marinecorpstimes.com
Last survivor of the first Iwo flag raising dies.


htrnews.com
Packers release financial report

business.scotsman.com
Guinness sale rumours persist
By Nick Bevens

madison.com
Special requests: ‘Grilling With Beer’ makes cooks hoppy
By Mary Bergin

brownsvilleherald.com
Bill aims to reconcile border security, wildlife issues
By Aaron Nelson


Blog Update:

SheRidesABeemer

Nate Kern

2strokebuzz

2009 Dakar Attempt

Wii The People

excessivevelocity

Faster and Faster

Five Hundred Miles

GoBackpacking

Guilty Truth

Headlines from Our Favorite Biker Blogs

Jangle Jangle

The Hog Blog

K’TELONTOUR of the World

MilesAndSmiles.net

MotorCycle Tours Unicorn Adventures

Musings of an Intrepid Commuter

Nelson’s BMW airhead motorcycles

Redleg’s Rides

Ride it like you stole it!

Silent K’s Thoughts and Happenings

The 25 Year Plan

The Road Show Podcast

Three Wheel Revolution

Throttle Wear Blog

TWT Forums

vagabondish

World of Max


Parts:

engadget.com
Featherweight plastic rims roll closer to production
By Darren Murph


Riding Skills:

Bikes in the Fast Lane
Video: Saftey Ad – The Day You Went To Work
“The UK has some of the best motorcycle safety ads. Always hard hitting, and a very good message. The following TV spot says that despite the fact that you always use this route to go to work, every day, doesn't mean you need to pay attention.

The ad won from Transport for London won the Golden Award in Cannes 2007.”


Photography / Video:

dPS.com
Introduction to filters for DSLRs


Wonderings:

Evolution

M.R. Traveler

visordown.com
Ride to The Arctic Circle

An event newsletter from ‘Sound RIDER! ‘landed in my e-mail inbox. If you are in the Northwest you may want to check these events out.

The Ride West Insurance – 3 Pass Blast! Saturday July 14

Sportbike Northwest 2007
August 23rd – 26th 2007 in the Columbia River Gorge

Sport Touring Northwest 2007
August 23-26th Columbia River Gorge – experience the Columbia River Gorge like never before.

Dual Sport Northwest 2007
August 26th – 29th Columbia River Gorge

Weather

West Bend WI
Current

10 Day Forcast

United States
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Canada
Meteorological Service of Canada


Today’s RoadFood.com

Woot

Todays Woot

The Blog

Over Heard in New York | Voice of the City


BMW Group Press Club: Page 2


Morning Reads: RALLY PAGES

A resource of information and links to information for use at the 2007 Rally

RALLY PAGES

What do you need to know to go to the rally…

SHIPPING TO THE INT'L RALLY
How do I ship my gear to the Rally?
Packages will not be accepted before July 2.
Send your shipments to:
YOUR NAME, C/O BMW Rally, Washington County Fair Park, 3000 Hwy PV, West Bend, WI 53095

The 35th BMWMOA International Rally Home Page
With links to:
Lodging
Volunteer
Rally Forum
FAQs
Secure Services

Rally Schedule

Entertainment Schedule

Track Day in Wisconsin, July 13

Event Registration

Link to registration form

BMW MOA Foundation Rally Classes – 2007

WISCONSIN

Trails.com: Best Scenic Drives in Wisconsin

WisconsinMotorcycling.com

TravelWisconsin.com : Maps and Guides - Who doesn't love a free map or travel brochure? Take your pick below. You can download them for instant fulfillment. Or have us mail honest-to-goodness printed versions right to your door.

State of Wisconsin Portal

TravelWisconsin.com the official state tourism site.

Washington County home page

West Bend home page and FAQ

Washington County Fair Park

Free Travel Maps & Guides

DOT – Wisconsin – Maps – A variety of online maps and resources. Bicycle maps, detailed county (check out the double letter roads!), rest areas, main trunk highways, truck routs, work zones and map ordering sources.

Rustic Roads

Rustic Roads program goals
to identify and preserve in a natural and essentially undisturbed condition certain designated roads having unusual or outstanding natural beauty, by virtue of native vegetation along with natural or man-made features associated with the road

to provide a linear park-like system for vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian travel for quiet and leisurely enjoyment by local residents and the general public alike

to maintain and administer these roads to provide safe public travel, yet preserve the rustic and scenic qualities through use of appropriate maintenance and design standards, and encouragement of zoning for land use compatibility, utility regulations and billboard control

DNR.state.WI – Wisconsin State Park System
Admission sticker information and fees

Online Travel Center - The Travel Center is a collection of interactive maps that display important and timely information to assist travelers in making choices for safe and enjoyable trips through Wisconsin.

Milwaukee-area current travel information

Wisconsin State Patorl office locations

Southeast Region
Wisconsin State Patrol Waukesha Post
Captain Varla J. Bishop, Commander
Lieutenant Theodore J. Meagher, Executive Officer
21115 East Moreland Boulevard
Waukesha, WI 53186-2985
Phone: (262) 785-4700
Fax: (262) 785-4723
Waukesha Post counties:
Serves Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth, Washington and Waukesha

Custard Stand List of Wisconsin

Wisconsin Artisan Dairy Association

Wisconsin Winery Association

Wisconsin Cheese and Dairy Product Information

Wisconsin Attractions – Lighthouses

The Yellowstone Trail – Wisconsin

Wisconsin Sport Bike Roads

The Mustard Museum of Mount Horeb

Wisconsin Brewpubs and Micro Breweries


Weather
West Bend WI
Current

10 Day Forcast

United States
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

Canada
Meteorological Service of Canada


Travel Information – Driving Conditions and other related information sites.


Bike Candy

THE END

 

[mika]

Page 2

BMW Group Press Club:

Tracking the news from BMW at their English language sites and Germany

PressClub USA

BMW K 1200 GT NAMED AMONG CYCLE WORLD'S TEN BEST AGAIN

Woodcliff Lake, NJ  June 25, 2007 For the second year in a row, the BMW K 1200 GT has been named one of the top ten motorcycles for 2007 by editors of Cycle World magazine. At the 32nd Annual Cycle World Ten Best Bikes awards dinner, the BMW K 1200 GT received the magazines award for Best Sport-Touring Bike, the category for motorcycles designed for sport/adventure riding, covering long distances over multiple days. We are honored to have earned the same spot on Cycle Worlds coveted top ten list with the same motorcycle for the second time in a row, commented Arturo Pineiro, vice president, BMW Motorrad USA. This is the 14th year BMW has been chosen for a top ten award.
All winners and runner-ups in the ten different classes can be seen in the July issue of Cycle World, available on newsstands June 25.

HereÔÇÖs what Cycle World editors had to say about the BMW K 1200 GT:

ÔÇ£ItÔÇÖs hard to figure out what the K1200GT canÔÇÖt do. Its 150-plus-hp engine is capable of breathtaking acceleration, and its sophisticated shaft-drive chassis (with available adjustable-on-the-fly suspension) is fully at home decimating the backroads, droning the interstates or anything in between. A highly protective full-coverage fairing, an electrically adjustable windshield, a cushy dual seat and spacious, quick-detach saddlebags provide all-day or all-week comfort and convenience. You can complement the basic package by choosing from a mile-long list of options that include heated seat and grips, cruise control, GPS navigation, Xenon headlight and stability control. Sport-touring can be the most challenging segment of the sport, since it tries to combine the best from opposite ends of the streetbike spectrum, but for the K1200GT, itÔÇÖs a no-brainer.ÔÇØ

Since its introduction, the K 1200 GT has strengthened BMW MotorradÔÇÖs worldwide market position in the tourer segment. Following the success of the former model bearing the same name, the new K 1200 GT offers added dimensions in riding dynamics and long-distance performance. Innovative wheel guidance systems - the BMW Duolever at the front and the EVO-Paralever at the rear - make a significant contribution to the K 1200 GTÔÇÖs riding prowess. Drive power comes from the cutting-edge inline four-cylinder engine in transverse arrangement, developing maximum output of 152 hp and thus currently setting the benchmark in the tourer segment.

Riding comfort is enhanced by excellent protection from wind and weather, the electrically adjustable windshield, excellent ergonomic design of the rider's seat thanks to flexible height adjustment of the seat itself and the handlebar, as well as standard side cases.

The K 1200 GT also meets stringent requirements for environmental compatibility and safety. Apart from a fully controlled three-way catalytic converter, the high-performance EVO brake system with semi-integral ABS anti-lock brakes and an electronic immobilizer are standard features offered by this sophisticated new tourer. Optional equipment includes Electronic Suspension Adjustment (ESA), an on-board computer, a xenon headlight, cruise control, or the BMW Navigator.

ÔÇ£Given all of these enhancements, features and options, the new K 1200 GT is able to meet the very highest standards of comfort so important to the passionate touring rider, while, at the same time, making the sporting heart of the die-hard motorcycle enthusiast truly skip a beat,ÔÇØ observed Mr. Pineiro.

[/img]http://m1ka.smugmug.com/photos/133844256-L.jpg[/img]

PressClub Canada

Red dot award for the "Design Team of the Year" 2007 goes to the BMW Group.

Red dot award for the "Design Team of the Year" 2007 goes to the BMW Group.
Award ceremony is the highlight of the Award Gala in Essen, BMW, MINI and
BMW Group DesignworksUSA seize 8 prizes for outstanding product design.

Munich. This year, at the presentation of the 2007 red dot awards for outstanding product design, the focus will be not only on especially appealing vehicles produced by the BMW Group, but also on their designers. As the highlight of the festive award gala taking place on June 25th at the Essen Opera House, the Aalto-Theater (named after the Finnish designer and architect Alvar Aalto), the "Design Team of the Year" will be honoured. And this year the title goes to the BMW Group. In presenting this award, the international jury of the competition is showing its appreciation of the consistently innovative design work produced by BMW Group Design. The internationally renowned and coveted red dot award has been presented every year since 1955. Since 1989 experts have honoured outstanding achievements and those reaching beyond individual products in this field with the title "Design Team of the Year". Current proof of the latest winners' competence will also be on show in Essen. Two automobiles and three motorcycles produced by the BMW Group, as well as three further products designed by BMW Group DesignworksUSA have won the 2007 red dot award.

The red dot award is one of the most significant marks of approval for successful design. The prize is awarded in numerous categories, including transport, industry, architecture, leisure activities, household, office, as well as computer and entertainment electronics. In addition to the degree of innovation and formal quality, functionality of the products, their symbolic and emotional content and ecological compatibility are, among other things, also taken into account. This year 2,548 products from 43 countries were nominated for the red dot award. "Both the number of products submitted and the quality standards were excellent this year," sums up Professor Dr. Peter Zec, initiator of the red dot design award and president of the international design association Icsid.

Having seized five awards at once, the BMW Group is the most successful company in the automotive category. The spectrum of the winning products is also remarkable. A red dot award also went to the BMW 3 Series Coupe as well as to the new MINI. Moreover, the jury considered three BMW motorcycle models for the award - the BMW F 800 S, the BMW G 650 Xcountry and the BMW HP2 Megamoto. From the innovative Supermoto bike the spectrum also spans to the BMW Cruise Bike Junior for kids, which also received an award for outstanding design. The BMW Cruise Bike Junior was produced at the studios of BMW DesignworksUSA, a BMW Group subsidiary. The staff of this largely independently operating design agency are not only occupied with designing vehicles, equipment and accessories for the BMW Group, but are also committed to a large number of well-known international companies in the field of IT and entertainment electronics, boat building and aircraft technology, household, lifestyle and sport. BMW Group DesignworksUSA received two further red dot awards this year in the category household and kitchen products. One of the awards went to the ecopod E1, a recycling station for beverage holders, which is produced by the American company ecopod, another going to the fully automatic coffee percolator Talea Touch presented by the Italian company Saeco. In both cases the experts at BMW Group DesignworksUSA were intensively involved in the product development process at an early stage. Thus a design was created that reflects both the characteristics of each product as well as the brand identity of the respective manufacturer.

The utilisation of creative diversity is one of the formulas for the success of BMW Group design. BMW Group chief designer Christopher E. Bangle allows his staff the greatest possible freedom when searching for new influences, incentives and impulses. On the other hand however, he is most resolute in ensuring that the design of new vehicles of the BMW, MINI, Rolls Royce and BMW Motorrad brands adheres to a mutual philosophy focusing predominantly on an aspiration for authenticity. Thus design expresses not only the character of the brand, but also the product quality offered by a new vehicle.
Moreover, the coexistence and cooperation between employees within the BMW Group working on the design of new models of different brands is unparalleled. "We bring people together, letting them rotate within the different design departments," explains Bangle. "The more a person working on a BMW M knows about a MINI, the more likely he is to understand the differences between each vehicle. I am most proud of the fact that we are able to successfully distinguish between brands, whilst creating a very open, communicative and trustful cultural atmosphere amongst designers," emphasises the head of "Design Team of the Year" 2007.

More than 8000 Fans Celebrate MINI United 2007

Munich/Amsterdam. For this Dutch seaside town, summer has never begun quite like it did this year! Over the course of three days, more than 8000 MINI fans from 50 different countries flooded the Circuit Park on the North Sea coast for the MINI United Festival 2007. Under the banner of 'Friends. Festival. Challenge.', the worldwide community of MINI fans enjoyed a unique mixture of racing atmosphere, party and lifestyle. It even exceeded the resounding success of the MINI United premiere in 2005. The event underscores the growth of the MINI community and the enjoyment of the MINI brand, lifestyle and sense of community seems to be limitless.

With the North Sea on the one side, and a sea of 3000 MINIs on the other covering the town's roads and car parks, Zandvoort was certainly the perfect location for the biggest MINI festival ever. Many of the guests had travelled a long distance to be there and join in the action of the MINI United 2007. The longest journey of all was undertaken by Yuliya Tkachenko from Krasnodar in Russia: She left her home seven days before the festival began, travelling some 4200km in her MINI to be sure of arriving in time for the event.

And it was certainly worth it. The assembled masses in the Circuit Park enjoyed fantastic shows of music and performance right from the start. Top stars from the international DJ scene were also there and the fantastic top level acts ensured that the atmosphere never palled. The absolute highlight of the weekend's star-studded line-up was the live performance given by the international duo Sister Bliss and Maxi Jazz. The two members of the band, Faithless, thrilled the fans not only with their famous chart hits, but also with their DJ skills.

The sporting highlights of the MINI United Festival came with the fourth and fifth heats of the German MINI CHALLENGE 2007. Local Dutch racing legend, Jeroen Bleekemolen (former DTM Professional) came first in both races despite being a guest-driver and never having driven before in the MINI CHALLENGE race series. Frenetic jubilation broke out in honour of the winner and runners-up as they mounted the podium, following which an extensive autograph session took place for the fans. Even for the more experienced participants in the MINI CHALLENGE, the level of excitement at MINI United was a completely new experience.

And just to top off that race feeling, guests could take part in go-kart racing, accompany the professionals in the original MINI CHALLENGE race cars or put in a fast lap in their own MINI.

Rolls-Royse Motor Car PressClub

NEW PRESIDENT FOR ROLLS-ROYCE NORTH AMERICA

Paul Ferraiolo (48) has been appointed President of Rolls-Royce Motor Cars North America. He starts his new role on the 1 July 2007. He joined Rolls-Royce in 2004, first as the Product Marketing Manager then latterly as the worldwide Head of Marketing based at Goodwood. His automotive career spans 27 years throughout which he has held a number of senior positions covering engineering, marketing and brand strategy.

Rolls-Royce Chairman and Chief Executive, Ian Robertson, said, ÔÇ£We would like to thank Paul for the outstanding job that he has done at Goodwood over the last few years. He takes charge of our largest market place at an exciting time for Rolls-Royce, with record sales and an expanding product portfolio. We wish him the best of luck in his new role.ÔÇØ



BMW Sauber F1 | Formula 1

 

[PAULBACH]

Good reminder Mika!

UV Filters

The main reason that I buy UV filters the for all of my lenses is protection of the lenses. Lenses are not cheap and the thought of scratching or cracking the front glass element is enough to send shivers down most photographers backs. IÔÇÖd rather have to replace a $50 filter than a $1500 lens any day. UV filters are also great at keeping salt spray, dust and grime off the front of your lens.

Those still using film cameras will find UV filters handy also for cutting back the ultraviolet light. However most digital cameras have the ability to cut down UV and Infrared light.

Just be aware when buying a UV filter (or an alternative for protection might be a skylight filter) that the quality varies. I tend to buy higher end professional filters for my higher end lenses.