What's New in the Parts Department?
Thank You!   

As another year draws to a close, we wanted to take a moment to thank you for continuing to trust and rely on our Parts and Apparel department.  We feel fortunate to have such an active (some would say rabid!) BMW riding community in the region, one that encompasses the true breadth of the line - from classic /2s all the way to the newest twin-cam boxers and inline-6's - and we try very hard to keep everything you need in stock, or at least close at hand.  You are the reason we do this, and it's not just feel-good marketing babble... we truly enjoy helping to keep your bikes on the road and helping keep you safe, comfortable, and enjoying the ride, be it an I-405 commute or a transcontinental adventure.

If you think we could improve on something, or if you have some suggestions or ideas you'd like to share with us - please let us know!  We always want to hear feedback, good or bad, and are always looking to improve.  If you're happy with your experience here, we'd sure appreciate it if you could do us a favor and let some of your friends, neighbors, or forum-buddies know about it as well.

We are grateful for your business, and more importantly, for your friendship. We're proud to serve you!  To a 2012 full of good rides-

Jeff, Bill, Sean and Omar

What's New?

Heidenau K60 Scout Tires for your GS - This could be the ultimate and most legitimate Dual Sport tire to hit the market yet, and best of all its made in sizes to fit your R1200GS, R1150GS, R1100GS, F800GS, F650GS and G650GS! In the likes of the legendary Metzeler Sahara / Enduro 3 (R100GS-ers unite!) Heidenau produces a well-crafted product with a high standard of quality that truly lives up to the phrase "Made in Germany." We're very excited about our new relationship with Heidenau and believe we'll be selling out of every tire we can get! Know that supply will be limited throughout the 2012 season. We'll do our best to keep as many on hand as possible, but we suggest getting them early (now might be a good time in fact). We also carry full off-road knobby tires from Kenda (Big Block), Continental (TKC-80) and Metzeler (Karoo).

Puget Sound Safety Motorcycle Recovery Kit - Speaking of GS-ing, as your adventure travels take you to more remote and desolate areas, carrying a motorcycle recovery kit might be the best investment you will ever make, especially if your motorcycle decides to find its way into a ravine or down a steep embankment. With a few select pulleys, strong rope, some elbow grease and a few trees, you can literally winch your bike out of a jam yourself using this kit! The first time you, or you and a buddy, attempt to push your R1200GS up a dirt hill, you'll realize why you should have not left home without this key piece of gear, or you might just be holding your lower back in pain! Adventure riders, this kit is worth its weight in gold.

New Book - Motorcycling Through Western Oregon - "Moto journalist Tom Mehren has spent several decades riding the lesser known roads of the Northwest United States. For this collection, he reveals twenty-five paved rides that provide the opportunity to capture the sights of Western Oregon, while enjoying its many twists and turns by linking together stunning sets of roads. Mehren goes on to reveal historical facts and insights about the roads, places and state infrastructure.

Each ride includes a pre-ride descriptive, turn by turn directions and an easy to follow map. The spiral bind makes it easy to slip into a tank bag window. Use the see and do, lodging and restaurant directories to create a simple single day ride, or design a multi-day grand touring experience". Courtesy www.soundrider.com

We love this book, and invite you to stop by Ride West to check out this comprehensive guide, as well as Tom's other great regional titles, all full of information to help make your next adventure unforgettable.

BMW R1200GS Still the King of Adventure-Touring
R1200GS VS. Super Tenere Comparo 

In 1979 I was the Assistant to the general Manager at the Casper Star-Tribune in Wyoming. One day a big man in cowboy boots and a big cowboy hat, walks in and says in a big voice, "I wanna talk to the Publisher." Both the publisher and the GM were out, so I was summoned to greet this big man. "How much advertising do I have to buy in order to have you write an article about my business?" he says . "Well," I say, "we don't make our editorial choices based on our advertisers needs. As the biggest daily newspaper in the State, we write about news and features of interest to serve our readers." In a louder voice he says, "Son, you don't understand. How many pages of advertising do I have to buy for you to write a story about my business?!" And so it went... and he eventually left in a huff.

A Message From Our Owners

Big Plans for Ride West BMW 

We went to the symphony the other night and as we were waiting for the concert to begin, we began reading the program notes.  The piece was the Violin Concerto in D minor by Robert Schuman, who composed this Concerto shortly before his tragic descent into complete madness.  He was, however, an extraordinarily productive artist.  In the write up about it was the following sentence:  "Although it is difficult to characterize his large and varied output, it is fair to say that Romantic reverie, mercurial caprice, solemn grandeur and ecstatic effusion all have their place in it".  Oh c'mon.  What are we trying to say here?  So we got to thinking that we might be able to summarize our dealerships performance this past year in like verbiage.  How about this:  "Ride West's 2012 fiscal and calendar results, extrapolated, indicate positive operations.  This enterprise continues its upward revenue trajectory despite diminution of the industry.  Fiscal constraints, governmental reticence, circumspect budgetary consequences, a propensity for lackadaisical consumer expenditures and wholesale monetary pressures have certainly impacted the firms ability to produce remunerative financial reward.  Nonetheless, the company exceeded budget producing substantial balance sheet improvement as well as attaining a level of profitability consistent with expectations."  In other words, we had our challenges and we did fine.

So why can we not say what we mean, in plain English?  I think I know what they were trying to say about Schuman, but I am not quite sure.  What we were attempting to say about Ride West's 2011 calendar year results is that, although we do not have the final figures in yet for the year as this is being written, we had a sales increase of well over 15% last year.  And this was accomplished during a year in which the rest of the industry bumped along the bottom, with about a one half of one percent increase.  And our profitability is better, as a percent to sales, than it has been in many years.  Our thanks to a wonderful customer base and a team of dedicated employees to make this happen.  

2012 expectations exude a confident assertion of our ability to continue optimistic vectorial monetary results.  Our wholesale partner indicates myriad industry announcements with consequential implications for our firms' continued impressive financial capabilities.  In other words, we are looking for another good year.  BMW has the best line-up in the industry with some exciting new products coming in future months.  And with our Club Ride West full slate of activities and events planned for this year we look to continue our success.  Stay tuned here for exciting things to come in future editions of this newsletter.

Ann and Keith Thye

ADV Rider -  Sound Rider -  GlobeRiders -  TourUSA