mika
Still Wondering
The motorcycling world viewed from the saddle of BMW. A daily look at all things BMW, Euro-bike, products and things I find interesting on the internet. With links to news, reviews, events, riding skills, maintenance and racing series updates. Morning Reads is a one stop for motorcycling information.
Today’s Birthdays / Calendar
BMW MOA Chartered Club:
Loonie-Tic BMW Riders of Quinte West
Founded:
8/12/2002
Contact:
Don "The Kiltmeister" Faichney (kiltmeister@sympatico.ca)
28 Ravine Drive
Port Hope, ON L1A 4G8 Canada
www.ltbmwr.ca
Meetings:
3rd Sunday of each month, locations announced in monthly newsletters, or contact The Kiltmeister
Events:
The 2nd Return to Trenton Rally, August 5 ?ó€“ 8, 2004 in Trenton, Ontario
Gem??tlichkeit is the warm, comfortable feeling
one receives from pleasant surroundings and atmosphere.
I think you will find that when you come here.
Wisconsin State Parks and Trails
Ozaukee – Washington Daily News
Fond Du Lac Reporter
The Sheboygan Press
Daily Citizen, Beaver Dam
Weather
West Bend WI
Current
10 Day Forcast
United States
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Canada
Meteorological Service of Canada
News:
Pasadenastarnews.com: Cities fight over taxes from a H-D dealer.
blog.thirdage.com: Can you tell a bad driver by their sun sign? I knew there are bad drivers but I didn’t know about sun signs
autopies.com: Cadillac plans to take on the BMW 3 Series and win.
autospiese.com: Spy shots of the new Rolls-Royce Cabriolet. I wonder how much they had to pay for these pre-release PressClub photos?
Beer News:
Seacoastonline.com: Smutty Brewery has record year
Rumors:
Snopes.com: Ammo Dump
Feature:
BMW C1
This year coverage of the Intermot show and the unveiling of the new BMW models generated large numbers of threads, posts and views on the Forum. I wonder what the Forum would have had to say in 1992 when BMW introduced the concept version of the BMW C1?
By the time the C1 200 made it appearance to replace the original C1 125cc we may reasonably wonder what the woman in the photo is smiling about. Is she looking back at admiringly at us as the owners of this bike that truly intrigues her? Or, is she looking back at us to laugh at the odd ball vehicle while feeling a bit sorry for us in a compassionate way?
From its presentation to the public the C1 presented difficulties for everyone. BMW claimed
the idea. Much would be made about the true input of BMW but they fervently claimed the idea as their own. They fervently claimed the idea, specifications and approval at all steps of the process. It was theirs! Presented as a concept at the show it was to be two wheeled transport with all the advantages that can imply with the strengths of an automobile.
The production plans that were laid out had Bertone, the Italian specialty manufacturer doing the production building of the C1. Bertone was not an unknown quantity to BMW.
In the past Bertone had provided concept car design for the automotive division of BMW and many other European manufactures. Americans are champions of vertically integrated companies that control the show from top to bottom. The Europeans seem to be able to maintain a high level of control and bureaucracy while taking advantage of flattening their companies by creating project based alliances to take advantage of specialty companies.
In addition to the design services they offered Bertone also could provide their customers with manufacturing at a variety of levels. This normally involved being a body and platform builder with the final work being completed by others. At the presentation the Italian firm proudly touted the blend of motorcycle and auto innovation they had designed and would be producing for BMW. Breaking ground in the new concept would user in a new chapter in the storied history of this specialty firm. While putting some money in their pocket from someone who’s check would not bounce.
The parenting analogy works until you throw the third element in the mix. Bombardier – Rotax would provide the power plant and drive train that brings this concept to life.
A strong company in its own right, Bombardier – Rotax was no stranger to participating with design and production duties performed under another brands marque. At the unveiling they wanted to be recognized as an important piece of this innovative project.
The trip from concept vehicle to road going production versions took several years. In the intervening time potential customers, dealers and the press were left to wonder about the idea. Was it a car- bike, a bike-car, urban transportation vehicle, uber-scooter or what? Mark Hammond in his article about the C1 for Motorcycle summed up the European confusion and the American reaction this way. “Whatever the Europeans decide on, you can bet if one ever washed up on American shores, it will be known simply as ‘that goofy looking scooter thing’.”
C1: Part II will dig into the work the three parents of the C1 produced.
Gear:
webBikeWorld.com: Motorcycle Bluetooth Intercom Review
Technology:
Wired.com: Canon warns of overheating cameras. It is a gear problem not a battery problem this time.
Gizmodo.com: Samsung fuel cell to power laptop
Wired.com: Alternate predictions for 2007. I love all the predictions that come out around New Years
DarkRoastedBlend: Japanese Robotics.
Manufacturer of the day:
I am replacing the word of the day with the manufacturer of the day. The word of the day was fun for a while but was becoming tedious, at least for me. I keep looking for manufacturer information on all sorts of bikes and bike products. I am going to work through my link list for you. This will be a combination of historical, specialty and main brand. Can you name the over 100 that I have on my list?
Aermacchi
Woot
Todays Woot
The Blog
Bike Candy:
The Pit Crew View: Racing News:
Dakar 2007
youtube.com: Popcorn Dakar. Fun video.
The official Dakar 2007 website.
Versus: Now that you too are hooked on the event here is the TV schedule for your 2007 Dakar viewing pleasure.
Dakar Rally News via topix.net
Mobileindustry.biz: EA launches Dakar 2007 for mobiles.
NORTH AMERICAN ENTRANTS:
Here are the entrants from NA and their websites when available. This undoubtedly is an incomplete list and I will continue to refine it up to race time.
MOTORCYCLE
Chris Blais: Red Bull / KTM
Paul Broome: Honda
Terry Curtis - Team Rally Raid Mexico / Yamaha
James Embro: Team SSC / JJE Constructors
Timothy Hall: Heatland Dakar 2007 / KTM
Sunny Irvine - Team Rally Raid Mexico / Yamaha
Christopher Jones: KTM
Mike Kary: Team RallySoCal / Husqvarna
Steve Laroza: Team JJE Construcors / KTM
Casey McCoy: Rally Pan America / KTM
Brian Schumckle: Team RallySoCal / Husqvarna
Elmer Symons: Team SSC/JJE Constructors / KTM
Jonah Street: Pai-Rally Pan America / KTM
CARS
Ron Bailey Motorsports
Team Gordon
Volkswagen Motosport: Drivers Mark Miller / Ralf Pitchford
Team SMG: Divers – Michael Peterson / Matthew Stevensen
TRUCKS
Thomas Geviss / Paul Mitchell: Team Gordon
Darren Skilton / Jose Grijalva / Hecotr Camachof
Here is another chance for you to do the digging: Google Directory: Dakar 2007, approximately 598 sites to mine. Have fun.
Dakar Motorcycle Entrants as of 5 OCT 2007 This appears to be a complete list of the motorcycle entrants.
PAGE 2: A Link to Events and Racing Calendars
Last update: December 17, 2006
Unless noted otherwise, I have no known commercial interest in any products, retailers or manufactures discussed in the Morning Reads. The links used in the Morning Reads are for informational use only. The use of all links is subject to the terms of use of the originating site.
Today’s Birthdays / Calendar
BMW MOA Chartered Club:
Loonie-Tic BMW Riders of Quinte West
Founded:
8/12/2002
Contact:
Don "The Kiltmeister" Faichney (kiltmeister@sympatico.ca)
28 Ravine Drive
Port Hope, ON L1A 4G8 Canada
www.ltbmwr.ca
Meetings:
3rd Sunday of each month, locations announced in monthly newsletters, or contact The Kiltmeister
Events:
The 2nd Return to Trenton Rally, August 5 ?ó€“ 8, 2004 in Trenton, Ontario
Gem??tlichkeit is the warm, comfortable feeling
one receives from pleasant surroundings and atmosphere.
I think you will find that when you come here.
Wisconsin State Parks and Trails
Ozaukee – Washington Daily News
Fond Du Lac Reporter
The Sheboygan Press
Daily Citizen, Beaver Dam
Weather
West Bend WI
Current
10 Day Forcast
United States
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration
Canada
Meteorological Service of Canada
News:
Pasadenastarnews.com: Cities fight over taxes from a H-D dealer.
blog.thirdage.com: Can you tell a bad driver by their sun sign? I knew there are bad drivers but I didn’t know about sun signs
autopies.com: Cadillac plans to take on the BMW 3 Series and win.
autospiese.com: Spy shots of the new Rolls-Royce Cabriolet. I wonder how much they had to pay for these pre-release PressClub photos?
Beer News:
Seacoastonline.com: Smutty Brewery has record year
Rumors:
Snopes.com: Ammo Dump
Feature:
BMW C1
This year coverage of the Intermot show and the unveiling of the new BMW models generated large numbers of threads, posts and views on the Forum. I wonder what the Forum would have had to say in 1992 when BMW introduced the concept version of the BMW C1?
By the time the C1 200 made it appearance to replace the original C1 125cc we may reasonably wonder what the woman in the photo is smiling about. Is she looking back at admiringly at us as the owners of this bike that truly intrigues her? Or, is she looking back at us to laugh at the odd ball vehicle while feeling a bit sorry for us in a compassionate way?
From its presentation to the public the C1 presented difficulties for everyone. BMW claimed
the idea. Much would be made about the true input of BMW but they fervently claimed the idea as their own. They fervently claimed the idea, specifications and approval at all steps of the process. It was theirs! Presented as a concept at the show it was to be two wheeled transport with all the advantages that can imply with the strengths of an automobile.
The production plans that were laid out had Bertone, the Italian specialty manufacturer doing the production building of the C1. Bertone was not an unknown quantity to BMW.
In the past Bertone had provided concept car design for the automotive division of BMW and many other European manufactures. Americans are champions of vertically integrated companies that control the show from top to bottom. The Europeans seem to be able to maintain a high level of control and bureaucracy while taking advantage of flattening their companies by creating project based alliances to take advantage of specialty companies.
In addition to the design services they offered Bertone also could provide their customers with manufacturing at a variety of levels. This normally involved being a body and platform builder with the final work being completed by others. At the presentation the Italian firm proudly touted the blend of motorcycle and auto innovation they had designed and would be producing for BMW. Breaking ground in the new concept would user in a new chapter in the storied history of this specialty firm. While putting some money in their pocket from someone who’s check would not bounce.
The parenting analogy works until you throw the third element in the mix. Bombardier – Rotax would provide the power plant and drive train that brings this concept to life.
A strong company in its own right, Bombardier – Rotax was no stranger to participating with design and production duties performed under another brands marque. At the unveiling they wanted to be recognized as an important piece of this innovative project.
The trip from concept vehicle to road going production versions took several years. In the intervening time potential customers, dealers and the press were left to wonder about the idea. Was it a car- bike, a bike-car, urban transportation vehicle, uber-scooter or what? Mark Hammond in his article about the C1 for Motorcycle summed up the European confusion and the American reaction this way. “Whatever the Europeans decide on, you can bet if one ever washed up on American shores, it will be known simply as ‘that goofy looking scooter thing’.”
C1: Part II will dig into the work the three parents of the C1 produced.
Gear:
webBikeWorld.com: Motorcycle Bluetooth Intercom Review
Technology:
Wired.com: Canon warns of overheating cameras. It is a gear problem not a battery problem this time.
Gizmodo.com: Samsung fuel cell to power laptop
Wired.com: Alternate predictions for 2007. I love all the predictions that come out around New Years
DarkRoastedBlend: Japanese Robotics.
Manufacturer of the day:
I am replacing the word of the day with the manufacturer of the day. The word of the day was fun for a while but was becoming tedious, at least for me. I keep looking for manufacturer information on all sorts of bikes and bike products. I am going to work through my link list for you. This will be a combination of historical, specialty and main brand. Can you name the over 100 that I have on my list?
Aermacchi
Woot
Todays Woot
The Blog
Bike Candy:
The Pit Crew View: Racing News:
Dakar 2007
youtube.com: Popcorn Dakar. Fun video.
The official Dakar 2007 website.
Versus: Now that you too are hooked on the event here is the TV schedule for your 2007 Dakar viewing pleasure.
Dakar Rally News via topix.net
Mobileindustry.biz: EA launches Dakar 2007 for mobiles.
NORTH AMERICAN ENTRANTS:
Here are the entrants from NA and their websites when available. This undoubtedly is an incomplete list and I will continue to refine it up to race time.
MOTORCYCLE
Chris Blais: Red Bull / KTM
Paul Broome: Honda
Terry Curtis - Team Rally Raid Mexico / Yamaha
James Embro: Team SSC / JJE Constructors
Timothy Hall: Heatland Dakar 2007 / KTM
Sunny Irvine - Team Rally Raid Mexico / Yamaha
Christopher Jones: KTM
Mike Kary: Team RallySoCal / Husqvarna
Steve Laroza: Team JJE Construcors / KTM
Casey McCoy: Rally Pan America / KTM
Brian Schumckle: Team RallySoCal / Husqvarna
Elmer Symons: Team SSC/JJE Constructors / KTM
Jonah Street: Pai-Rally Pan America / KTM
CARS
Ron Bailey Motorsports
Team Gordon
Volkswagen Motosport: Drivers Mark Miller / Ralf Pitchford
Team SMG: Divers – Michael Peterson / Matthew Stevensen
TRUCKS
Thomas Geviss / Paul Mitchell: Team Gordon
Darren Skilton / Jose Grijalva / Hecotr Camachof
Here is another chance for you to do the digging: Google Directory: Dakar 2007, approximately 598 sites to mine. Have fun.
Dakar Motorcycle Entrants as of 5 OCT 2007 This appears to be a complete list of the motorcycle entrants.
PAGE 2: A Link to Events and Racing Calendars
Last update: December 17, 2006
Unless noted otherwise, I have no known commercial interest in any products, retailers or manufactures discussed in the Morning Reads. The links used in the Morning Reads are for informational use only. The use of all links is subject to the terms of use of the originating site.
Last edited:
Thanks for the link to the West Quinte Cub. I have emailed Don in regards to membership. 
