Tech Tip Of The Month

What's Bugging You? 

What I have this month is a cautionary tale about bugs, rocks and other debris that can cause some issues if not removed in a timely fashion. I realize the usual reason for washing our motorcycles is to make them sparkle and shine, but there are more practical and technical reasons for thorough washing that we should keep in mind. One is radiators and/or oil coolers, the other is fork seals.

Radiators can get plugged with bugs, rocks, tar and anything else you're riding through. This can lead to hotter engine temperatures and overheating if left unchecked. The easiest and most effective way to see if your radiator is plugged is to shine a light from the backside and look at it from the front. If the light can't make it's way through, then cooling air can't either. Hopefully a gentle stream of water will wash away the debris. DO NOT USE HIGH PRESSURE; it will bend the fragile cooling fins and block the airflow for good. And believe it or not, crusty bugs on fork tubes can damage your fork seals. So wash those off as soon as possible for your forks' sake.  

Armed with this information and a sense of childlike wonder (ewwww, bug guts!), go grab your wash mitts-- clean one for the windshield and panels, an old crusty one for the wheels -- and lets get those hard to reach places free of debris! 

Mark Eddy

Service Manager

What's New In The Parts Department?

"Clearance Center" - Now Open for Business! 

Sale time! - The sale section is off and running! If you haven't checked it out, do so, for simply awesome deals and great sale prices! You'll find anything from brake rotors to riding pants, windscreens to tank bags, nuts and bolts, electrical stuff, used gear, you name it! With new items being added all the time, our new Clearance Center will become a "destination" that will always be worth a look. You'll find awesome sale prices anywhere from 25% to 80% off on a wide variety of great stuff that's just been here a bit too long and needs to go! And we'll keep marking stuff down until it's all gone.

This permanent addition to our shop will undoubtedly help you find great items and awesome deals, but will also help us keep more of the fast moving items you want in stock, all the time! And, if you find something in the Clearance Center that you still can't justify spending the cash on, just ask us how we can make the deal even more attractive by bundling sale items!

New and Noteworthy Products 

BMW Rallye 3 - Back by popular demand! We are finally restocked with the all purpose, "does everything" Adventure Riding Suit.   Whether you're touring the world, or just the twisty roads of the Olympic Peninsula, the Rallye 3 Suit can accommodate any climate, any riding condition, on any bike. Regardless where your next adventure takes you, you'll ride in comfort and safety thanks to features like Scholler's C-Change Liners, BMW's highly energy absorbing NP Armor (CE2), optional on board water bladder, along with tons of vents and pockets.

Moose Racing Pelican Cases - F800GS/F650GS Twin - Need Adventure luggage for under $750.00? Need it to include a top rack? Need it to be waterproof? Impact resistant? Have quick release cases? Pad-lockable? This is it! The Pelican cases are lightweight and sturdy, and offer a clean looking luggage alternative that can be carried with you when you leave the bike. In stock now!

Rallye GS Pro Boots - One of the best off-road boots we've seen, period. This is what you need to wear when it gets a bit too rough, when you're back tire regularly hangs halfway over a mountain cliff while your other leg stretches forward, sliding, gas on, skin of your teeth stuff. If you are at the point on your 650, 800, or kudos, 1200GS, that you spend most days sideways, you need an off-road boot like these (and perhaps a knee brace or two). Opt for BMW's exclusive waterproof socks and you're ready for the rough stuff.

Street Sneaker 3 - We've made a special purchase on last year's great summer riding shoe, the Street Sneaker 3, just in time for the best weather of the season. Stop by and try on a pair of these stylish, protective Sneakers that feel as good off the bike as they do on.

BMW Vintage Casual Wear - High style and classic good looks describe the (new) vintage line of BMW Casual Wear. Check out the "Airhead" Belt, or the Men's and Women's Heritage Leather Jackets.   We've got new scarves, key chains, wallets, t-shirts and more for the original BMW Rider!

Jeff Conlin - Parts Manager

Bill Niwa - Apparel & Accessories Manager

(206) 527-5511

parts@ridewest.com 

apparel@ridewest.com 

A Message From Our Owners

Big Plans for Ride West BMW 

This is an exciting time for Ride West BMW.  As mentioned several times before in these articles, our industry has had a tough go of it over the past several years.  And although Ride West has sailed through these rough waters better than most, it has still been a period that we hope never to repeat again.  While most of the industry is beginning to bounce back slowly, Ride West is realizing the fruits of our action plan that was planted two years ago, and we are looking at a strong growth pattern. A few years ago when the economy was beginning to drive off a cliff we determined that our best defense would be a strong offense, so we devised an action plan for the future.  The future is now playing out and our plans are coming to fruition.  Fifteen initiatives were implemented to help increase sales.  A wide range of activities, events, and promotions appealing to all motorcyclists, regardless of brand affiliation, have been instituted.  At the very core of the entire program, however, is our emphasis on building a close relationship with the MSF schools throughout our marketing area. 

Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF) contractors operate schools throughout Washington, and in many areas of the United States for that matter, that primarily teach people how to ride motorcycles and to obtain endorsements on their driver's licenses for two wheel operation. The MSF requires that bikes in the program must meet two of the following:  1- they must be 500cc or under; 2- they must have a 30 inch maximum seat height; and 3- they must be less than 400 pounds(unladen).  Prior to the introduction of the BMW "low frame" G650GS model, the only one of the three requirements met by any BMW model was the unladen weight.   Hence, no BMW model has ever been placed in a motorcycle training program anywhere in the country, up to this point.  During discussions with one of the local training providers, we realized that with a seat height of 29.5 inches, and an unladen weight of less than 400 pounds, the BMW G650GS "low frame" bike meets two of the three requirements. After reviewing this with representatives of the Washington Motorcycle Safety Program (WMSP) it was determined that BMW G650GS "low frame" complies with MSF standards and is therefore authorized to be used in WMSP training classes.

What is really exciting is that with the introduction of this bike to the MSF curriculum, the schools are now able to expand their intermediate class offerings.  Intermediate riders coming back for further instruction and experience are not interested in riding 250cc bikes, which are primarily used by the training fleets.  Now they can ride road-worthy motorcycles with ABS and the safety and comfort features that BMW riders are accustomed to.  The MSF contractors are as excited as we are about this revelation. 

So, for the first time in the US, BMW motorcycles will be used in MSF training classes.  Ride West is proud to be the first BMW dealer in the country to accomplish this by supplying 30 G650GS motorcycles to several of the schools within our region.  We expect this pilot program to be very successful, and as such, for the first time we will have a presence with thousands of riders who have not been exposed to BMW motorcycles.  We see this as a true win-win situation; certainly a win for us with the increased exposure to the brand, and a win for the schools and WMSP with the expansion of their intermediate courses and their ability to utilize BMW's years of experience with technical and safety features like anti-lock brakes (ABS).

We will keep you up to date on the success of this program in future issues of this newsletter.  For now, however, we are truly excited about this opportunity to blaze a new trail for BMW, our local training providers, their students, and Ride West.

Ann and Keith Thye