Out of Retirement from Maryland

[yz80]

Hi All,

After a 14 year hiatus from riding on the road I’m back in the saddle. My name is Chris and I’m from central Maryland. I just purchased a 2020 R1250GS and I’m busy getting my chops back. I’ve owned 2 oil heads in the past (see pics below) and also had been known to mess around on Ducati’s, Moto Guzzi’s and Harley’s. However, when I decided to get back into riding, I knew there was only one bike to do it on. The GS! Pictured below is my ‘94 RS, (circa 1994) me on my way home from Bar Harbor on my 2002 GS in 2006 and my “New to Me” R1250GS. It’s good to be back and when I got my leg over that 1250, I felt as if I never left, as it inspires so much confidence. I’m still taking a measured approach to getting back into riding, however. There is some muscle memory that still needs to come back. Thanks for having me!

 

[glenfiddich]

Welcome back to the fold!

Pete

 

[mikegalbicka]

Welcome from central Florida. Enjoy that nice ride.

 

[skibum69]

Welcome back from Newfoundland.

 

[langoptc]

Welcome yz80! Great pics and that 1250 is lovely. Thanks for posting.

 

[riderr1150gsadv]

Welcome back! That is a nice bike!

 

[paul_f]

Welcome back from Ontario!

 

[pauls1150]

Welcome! Was the mini-Yammerhammer your first bike?

 

[HSVPhil]

Hallo YZ in MD!
What have you been up to in the DMV? We lived/worked up yonder for many years before leaving the Rat Race behind. We belonged to and participated with the BMWBMW organization for many years. See if you too belong with the rejuvenated BMW2.org Riders group. I'm now the president of the AlaBeemers, so I wholeheartedly support joining up with your nearest MOA chartered club... We used to ride off-road in western MD, southern PA & northern VA, but I presume it's not easy to have group rides anymore in that sprawling metropolis. I presume you're out of motorcycling retirement, so go get some training if need be. You just can't jump on a big M/C and say you're ready to go ADVenturing. The MOA Foundation will give U some $$ for your selected professional Training Course. We took the 2-day off-road course offered by BMW in Greer, SC. - Money Well Spent before many X-country & European jaunts!

The MOA Foundation offers the Paul B training stipend:
https://bmwmoaf.org/rider-training/paul-b-rebates/

Happy eXplorations on your newest Motorrad Machine!
HSV-Phil --- & --- HSV-Karen [Alabama Airmarshal of CC-214]
USAF-Ret'd — & — USN-Ret’d
'75 R90S ——-—— '82 R100CS
'14 K16GT ———— '16 R1200RS
’09 KLX250S ——— ’88 R100RT
’05 Vespa 200L -—-- ’11 Vespa GTS 300
President of MOA CC-05: mail-to: president@bmwmoal.org

 

[yz80]

Hallo YZ in MD!
What have you been up to in the DMV? We lived/worked up yonder for many years before leaving the Rat Race behind. We belonged to and participated with the BMWBMW organization for many years. See if you too belong with the rejuvenated BMW2.org Riders group. I'm now the president of the AlaBeemers, so I wholeheartedly support joining up with your nearest MOA chartered club... We used to ride off-road in western MD, southern PA & northern VA, but I presume it's not easy to have group rides anymore in that sprawling metropolis. I presume you're out of motorcycling retirement, so go get some training if need be. You just can't jump on a big M/C and say you're ready to go ADVenturing. The MOA Foundation will give U some $$ for your selected professional Training Course. We took the 2-day off-road course offered by BMW in Greer, SC. - Money Well Spent before many X-country & European jaunts!

The MOA Foundation offers the Paul B training stipend:
https://bmwmoaf.org/rider-training/paul-b-rebates/

Happy eXplorations on your newest Motorrad Machine!
HSV-Phil --- & --- HSV-Karen [Alabama Airmarshal of CC-214]
USAF-Ret'd — & — USN-Ret’d
'75 R90S ——-—— '82 R100CS
'14 K16GT ———— '16 R1200RS
’09 KLX250S ——— ’88 R100RT
’05 Vespa 200L -—-- ’11 Vespa GTS 300
President of MOA CC-05: mail-to: president@bmwmoal.org

Well, the DMV is a Rat Race on Steroids now! I am very particular about choosing my riding time and avoid peak traffic whenever I can. I never did any off-road on my old GS and I won't on this one. I'll save that for my 33 acres in MD and my son's Honda CRF 250 - LOL!! I rode up to Thurmont today and Blue Ridge Summit, and blasted up to Myerstown, MD, Down 17 to 340 and home yesterday. Can't wait to "re-explore' Berkley Springs, Paw-Paw, WV and Route 9 soon. Those were my runs "around the block" back in the day and it's so nostalgic to be reliving them now! Especially in the fall when the colors are so vibrant but I do I like to get off the road by 3:30 in the late fall. The deer are rutting up here and I would rather not harvest one on my "new to me" GS!
I do feel very at home back on the new 2020 GS after this hiatus but I will be looking into an advanced rider course. My chops are coming back but there is always more to learn. Lots of rust to polish off after 14 years. Cheers! -YZ.

 

[k100fran]

Welcome aboard. Those are three great rides. Enjoy that GS!

 

[wbrownell9]

Welcome back! What a beautiful bike. I just got back after a much shorter vacation from riding and am enjoying my new-to-me 2023 R1250 GS.

I've long made a practice of doing some sort of refresher training every year - on road, parking lot, track day - it's all good. Plus depending on where it is, it's a road trip! This year I did the MSF course, not particularly demanding, but it pays for itself in reduced liability insurance.

 

[yz80]

Welcome aboard. Those are three great rides. Enjoy that GS!

Thanks! I see you had an 82 Vision. I had an '82 650 Maxim as my first bike! My sisters boyfriend had a V65 Magna he would let me ride if I would get out of the house when he came over to see my sister. That was a "Win-Win"!! - LOL!!