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| October 2010 - Ride West BMW e-newsletter | |
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| Greetings!
What's New This Season...?
Fall is upon us and we are
gearing up for a very busy "off-season" full of events, slide shows and seminars
(be sure to check our events calendar) beginning with our Parts and Apparel Swap
on October 16th. Hint: We are putting a ton of apparel on sale!
Also, in this issue we are
introducing a new feature called "The Safety Corner" where you will find
interesting articles, tips, and safety suggestions written by several of the
local MSF school owners and instructors. We will feature a new article every
month. This month's article is written by Chris Johnson, owner of WMST (Washington Motorcycle Safety Training), and is
about "The Other Guy."
Get out and enjoy a ride amongst the
fabulous fall colors.
David Swezey
General Manager - Ride West BMW
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Ride West Presents...
Our Semi-Annual Parts & Apparel Swap Meet!
Saturday, October 16th 2010! 9AM to 5PM
Amazing deals are always to be had at our semi-annual Parts and Apparel Swap! So clean out the garage, the attic, closet or crawlspace and drop your used merchandise off for consignment.
We'll also have very special sales through out the store on items you just won't see anywhere else for less! It's a tradition we love, and we especially enjoy the BBQ while we shop!
We'll be accepting merchandise from October 8th - 15th. We would prefer you don't wait until the day of the event to drop off your items for sale, but if you can't get in before hand we'll do our best to check in your items.
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NEW! The Safety Corner
The Other Guy
 Have you ever been riding and
that other guy has just cut you off, or pulled out on you and you knew it was
coming? I'm guessing the answer would be yes for most riders. Even newer riders among us have probably been there.
For you new guys, welcome to the wonderful world of being a motorcyclist. The
real question is how did we know, and what told us that guy was about to pull
that crazy move. Read More...
Click Here To Read Chris's Bio
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BMW Promotions
More great ways to save on your next bike!
Our website is now linked to the latest BMW Promotions, although it still may take a couple of days after the first of each month for BMW to upload them, so be sure to check back.
For great ways to save on your next BMW CLICK HERE
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8100 Lake City Wy NE
Seattle, Washington 98115
206.527.5511
888.527.RIDE
Hours:
Tue - Fri 9am to 6pm
Sat 9am to 5pm
Service opens at 8am
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Useful Quick Links
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MSF Training:
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New "Social Network" links
- Videos from BMW of North America
- Ride West is on Facebook
- The BMW EXPLOR Rider Community
- News from BMW of North America
- ADV Rider - Worldwide Adventure Rider Forum
- The NW's Ultimate Motorcycling Resource - Sound Rider
- BMW WebEPC onlin parts lookup Click Here
- GlobeRiders - Motorcycle Adventure Touring Company - Click Here
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- Free Service Loaners!
- Free Coffee!
- Free Doughnuts - every Saturday!
- Free Earplugs!
- Free Wireless!
- Free Trip Planning!
- Free Insurance Quotes - For your motorcycle, auto, RV, ATV, & home!
- Free Demo Rides - ask us about an extended demo ride!
- Free Used Bike Inspection - with every trade or consignment!
- Free 30 Point Inspection - with every service!
- Introducing FREE Seminars & Clinics
- Free "Club Room" for your events!
- Free Shower facilities for travelers!
- NEW - Free membership in Team Ride West!
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Current Events
For all the details, check out our Events Calendar- Click Here
We're frequently asked about our upcoming events, so please check our events calendar. You're not going to believe how many events we have planned! - * Note: We have limited seating and reservation are required for most of our events, so please call to reserve your spot.
Check out our new feature - the 'calenblog.' For each day that we do not have a special event we will be posting tidbits, trivia, bike evaluations, rants and raves - lots of stuff. If you place our events calendar on your "favorites" page, you will have moto-topics to ponder every day!
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Team Ride West
From Dave Preston
Winter WILL Get Here
What an awesome riding season 2010 brought us! And what is the "riding season?" For some, the riding season can be defined as only the days of bright sunshine and temps over 70 degrees, while for most it is those weeks and months when the odds of sun and (relative) warmth outweigh the odds for rain and (relative) chill. For still others, the riding season is January 1st to December 31st.
One of our functions at Ride West is to provide you with the products and education to expand your riding season to the comfortable maximum - for you.
The first problem most motorcyclists address in their riding "career" in the Northwest is the challenge of riding in the rain. The problems identified come down to gear, tires, and road conditions.
In recent years enormous strides have been made in the motorsports apparel industry in terms of providing riding gear that is totally and completely waterproof for extended periods of time. For only one example of the gear we carry, my current Alpinestar boots have been worn almost every day for a few years in all weather conditions include a LOT of rain and have never allowed my feet to suffer even a trace of dampness, far less getting wet. BMW and Revit both provide jackets and riding pants that will allow you to spend the entire day in a drenching rain without getting - drenched. Gloves - no problem. For your helmet, a NikWax Visor proof (available at Ride West) or other products on the outside of the shield and "Fog Off" defogger on the inside (also available here) will remove rain as an obstacle to your riding. Read More...
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Team Ride West
News and Updates
"Team Ride West" - 350 members and counting!
Our
riding club continues to cruise from strength to strength. Initiated as
a new club on January 5th of this year with 2 members, Team Ride West
now has over 370 members and will surely surpass 400 members by the end
of the year. Team Ride West is now the largest dealer-supported riding
club that we are aware of - anywhere! There are no dues, and Team Ride
West members enjoy two to three dozen organized rides a year, ranging
from one day rides (most) to two, three, and up to eight day adventures.
Team Ride West offers both street and dual sport rides, and members
ride motorcycles from pretty much every manufacturer in the world.
In
addition, a monthly newsletter - "Riding the West" - and frequent
e-mails keep members aware of what is going on here, across the country
and around the world of motorcycles. Team Ride West is Dave Preston's
"baby," and if you are interested - shoot him an e-mail at team@ridewest.com and ask for the current newsletter.
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About Our Staff...
Who are these people?
Parts, Accessories, Apparel, Finance, Insurance and Reception
Last month we introduced you to our Ride West BMW Sales staff - This month we bring you the rest of the crew on the main floor!  Bill
Niwa, Apparel Manager; Bill has been at Ride West going on eight years, and comes to us from a career
at Nordstrom. He owns a "classic" Honda Hurricane, which may have been sold by
the time you read this, and certainly needs a new
BMW! As a
hobby - he writes and creates music. He roams through all sorts of genres, and
for now plays his music at home in his  headphones. Someday...Jeff Conlin, Parts Manager;
Jeff is one of our "imports" from Bob's BMW back east. Jeff worked for them for 5 years, and is charging into his 4th year at Ride West. Previous to all that Jeff worked for NASA for 8 years as sort of a one-man documentary film crew following graduation from college with a degree in graphic design, film, and cartography. (Jeff is an interesting guy! :) ) Jeff enjoys BMW his F 650 GS,skiing, hiking and "Seattle-type things." He also plays the Hammond organ in a group known as the "Satellite Four."
Colin Busch, Parts Advisor;Satellite Four
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interesting guy! Colin enjoys building bicycles, creating and
listening to  "extremely loud music," and of course - motorcycles! How's
this for a collection? 2009 Ural Side Hack, 1995 BMW R100 GS PD,
1980 Puch 50, 1976 Condor A350 (Swiss Army bike, dontcha' know),
1973 BMW R75/5, 1962 Norton SS
Colin
returns to Ride West after taking a year off for a ride - including 8
months out of the country. He will be presenting a free seminar at ride
West (Thursday, 11/04)
and then an inexpensive ($10) class here (November 18th) on how you too
can travel for extended periods of time for not much expense!  Omar Behery, Parts Advisor;Omar is another "Bob's" imports- coming to Ride West BMW four years ago after 4 years at Bobs. He enjoys backpacking and cycling when not tending to or growing his intriguing motorcycle trio. We did not want to list all the motorcycles he has owned due to space considerations! At the moment, Omar cares for: 2007 BMW X Challenge, 1977 BMW R100S, 1959 BMW R 60 with sidecar. Sean McCoy, Parts Advisor;Sean
is our off-road expert - when he is not looking for a new girlfriend!
He owns a Yamaha YZ 450 and a Honda CR 250 - but may be about to switch
to a BMW G 450X as this is published! Sean is truly one of the nicest and most helpful people you will meet.  Nicole Turner, Receptionist / Media Assistant;Not only is Nicole our newest employee, she is also the first to take on a new position with a new job description. As such, she is succeeding in her job better than anyone ever has! Nicole's job is to greet you as you come into the store, answer phone calls and assist Dave Swezey and Dave Preston with a myriad of marketing initiatives that involve converting materials into e-newsletters (like this one) or published ads, and in addition she serves as a copywriter :) She survived a job application process that featured 114 applicants, and we are pleased we made a great choice in hiring her! |
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What's new in the Parts Department
End of Summer Sale
Schubeth Concept 3 Modular Helmet |
End Of Summer Already? Yes! Is summer really over? We don't think so, but it's that time again to clear out summer inventory. Nexx XR1R | Save 20% to 40% on select summer and leather riding gear, save a ton at our biggest season end sale ever! And just in time to get a few more warm weather rides in. Stop on by and you'll be pleasantly surprised on the deals to be had on the gear you've always wanted, limited to existing stock of course.
Schuberth Helmets - We're thrilled to be chosen as one of the first dealers to carry the new Schuberth Concept 3 modular helmet! The totally redesigned, German made Concept 3 represents the best quality modular helmet available today and we'll be stocking it in the coming months ahead (stay tuned). Welcome back Schuberth!
Nexx Helmets - In addition, we have evaluated the Nexx XR1R full face helmet and it's amazingly comfortable and light. We will be stocking our shelves with it within the next month. This new(ish) entry into the helmet market is much, much, MUCH lighter than any helmet you have ever worn! The Carbon version is even lighter, and of course really cool! In fact there is not a lighter full face helmet available that we know of. We are also taking a look (for next year) at the Nexx vented summer helmet, the Nexx X60 | X60! Cool indeed!
MicroWire Heat Technology |
Gerbing's Heated Clothing - We've just received our first shipment of heated clothing, including jacket liners, gloves, glove liners (!), controllers and accessories (pant liners also available by special order), all in the new Microwire Technology, which heats up faster and is more reliable than ever! There are now 3 gloves to choose from including the full gauntlet T-5, the light weight G-3 and the brand new, super soft nubuck glove (a perfect match to your new BMW Atlantis Suit). They're all waterproof and very warm. Summer may be coming to a close, but if you're like us, it doesn't mean you stop riding. What does rain or cold have to do with anything??? Extend your comfort year round with Gerbing's Heated Clothing!
Alt Rider update - This just in - Accessories for your F800GS. You R1200GS guys already know what all the hype is about. From the bulletproof skid plate, to the oil cooler guard, to the side stand foot, these genuine USA made accessories are simply some of the best accessories available for your F800GS, period. Plus they're made right here in Seattle and are reasonably priced. Do we need a better reason? We don't think so, and we're proud to support this up and coming local manufacturer. Check out what's new on your next visit. F800GS | Thanks for reading!
What's on your mind? What can we do better? What do we really need to stock?
Your feedback is always appreciated!
Jeff Conlin - Parts Manager
Bill Niwa - Apparel & Accessories Manager
Contact us @ (206) 527-5511 or e-mail @
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Tech Tip of the Month
 October is upon us and that means cooler and wetter riding conditions to plan for. As I was riding over Stampede Pass, pondering ideas for the October newsletter, it was my rear tire sliding out to my left and right in the loose gravel that snapped my attention back to the task at hand (getting to my destination and back without falling over). As I pulled over to let some air out of my knobbies and adjust my shocks for a softer ride (and hopefully some more tire/ground contact) I figured that it seemed like a good topic to discuss here. Hopefully we are all aware of the importance of a pre-ride check over, but a ride-specific set-up will also make your ride safer and more fun. A couple of PSI in your tires can make all the difference between confidence in your motorcycle and a "funny" feeling that does not inspire confidence. With a fully-loaded cycle your tires will have to be close to the maximum recommended pressures listed by the tire manufacturer (that specification will be on the tire sidewall). But if you are not fully-loaded, then lowering your pressure for maximum traction would be advantageous. The same idea holds true for your suspension settings; if you are loaded, then a stiffer setting will have to be used to keep your cycle stable and prevent it from "bottoming out" and creating an unsafe handling condition. If slower speeds are involved and the conditions call for a softer setting, then make an adjustment and see if it feels better. Most suspension adjustments are based on feel so it takes some time and effort to realize what changes you are making. With so many relatively easy ways to make you a better rider (with increased enjoyment and confidence), why not take the time and realize your potential. Mark Eddy Service Manager |
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A Message From Our Owners:
Thank You For Your Support
This has been an extremely busy summer (and year for that matter) at Ride West BMW, more so than any period that we can remember in the past many years and with good reason. It all gets back to a subject that is continually on everyone's mind these days---the economy.
 In the most recent issue of Power Sports Business, one of our industry's influential monthly publications, the cover story is about the demise of a Ducati dealership in Bend, Oregon that was owned by the husband and wife team of Kathy Jo Porter and David Bingham. We know Kathy and Dave and would visit them regularly on our occasional trips to Central Oregon. They opened their dealership is the early 2000's and grew rapidly, earning multiple national awards along the way. As the economy collapsed so did their business and they recently made the gut wrenching decision to close the doors to the dealership. Even though they saw the collapse coming and did everything they could to fight it, their revenue just melted away. And they are not alone. Some industry observers estimate that ten percent of the motorcycle dealerships in the country have disappeared, with many more to follow in the coming months. This trend is across all manufacturers, including a couple of BMW dealers that have closed on the West coast this year.
So why have we been busy? The answer lies in a strategic decision that we made a year and a half ago. The demise of Lehman Brothers was abrupt and created a chain reaction of financial catastrophes. We all hunkered down. At Ride West we felt that the ensuing years would be difficult and that our best defense would be a strong offense, and so we decided to spend money to try to make money. We developed a massive event and activity program, including adding personnel (David Preston and Team Ride West) and temporarily reassigning David Swezey, Ride West's General Manager, to develop outside sales in an attempt to drive new customers into the dealership. The plan is working. The past year and a half our revenue has increased as the industry has dropped off a cliff (down 41% in 2009 and an additional double digit decline this year).
The tough part, however, is making a profit. Our health care costs are increasing another 15% this year. L&I (Worker's Compensation) is rising dramatically, as are taxes and the cost of most of our products, because the product manufacturer's costs are likewise increasing. Hence, gross margins shrink and with costs rising the inevitable downward spiral begins. The only way to combat this is to increase sales (there is a limit to cutting costs). And this leads us back to creating new unit sales. We have elected to try and bolster our business with new customers drawn from the events and activities we sponsor. New BMW's on the road lead to additional service, parts and accessory, etc. sales. It's working so far---let's just hope that it continues. And thanks for your continued support. Without it we would be like our friends in Bend.
Ann and Keith Thye
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| $200.00
Referral
Coupon! |
Need a quick $200 bucks? Print out this coupon and bring it in with a friend, neighbor, co-worker, heck...even a total stranger, on their first visit, and if they purchase a new BMW, from Ride West BMW, then will give you a $200 Gift Card or $100 cash, which you can use in any department. You can use this coupon as many times as possible but you can only get one gift card per sale. So let all your friends know that BMW makes a motorcycle that meets everyones needs, style, and adventure, we even have a bike that gets 70 MPG, has heated grips and ABS standard, and that is only $8165* Did I mention.....we have a zero down option and you can get 90 days to first payment on approval of credit with BMWFS! (Lets see....ride all summer without payments...where do I sign!)
| | Offer Expires: Oct 31, 2010
*Includes freight but excludes dealer handling, tax, title, and licensing |
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