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I. TRW Track Support
I'm repeating this one because we have a lot of new members who may have not received last month's newsletter.
NEW PROGRAM! For the remainder of this year, a customer who purchases ANY model new 2012 BMW can select a 2Fast track day OR track school at either Pacific Raceways (Kent) or The Ridge, (exciting new track outside of Shelton).
Ride West will pay the entry fee and also provide support with:
- Our Events Sprinter van with a canopy, chairs, snacks, and water.
- One of our staff to ride with you on our demo BMW S 1000RR.
- Dave Preston to maintain the "friendship station" at the van.
Once the customer has selected a day of his or her choice, we will take care of the entry, and let you all know. Then you can register and pay your entry for the event, and when you arrive "your" support Sprinter will be there with the canopy, chairs, water, and snacks to make the day special.
But wait, there's more! Let's say you wanted to attend either the track day or track from 2Fast on May 9th, or June 6th. By a special arrangement with 2Fast and WMST, as a Ride West VIP customer you will pay not the usual $189 for a track day or $289 for a track school, but only $120 for the track day or $220 for the school!
Even better, Chris Johnson of WMST and our Dave Swezey will attend all three events, so you'll have coaching help even if you opt for just the track day.
Chris is well known for his Washington Motorcycle Safety Training (WMST) programs, and has served as an instructor for a police high speed motorcycle operation course. Dave Swezey is a graduate of Keith Code's California Superbike School, and their experience and knowledge will be available to you for free. This offer is open to you riding any street legal motorcycle of any brand.
To register for either of these two dates, simply go to www.2Fast.org and register. Use the special promo code of RIDEWEST when you get to the payment page to access the special rate for just these two dates.
For other events, simply sign up as a "normal" customer, let me know you will be attending, and we will get the events van there in support of your efforts.
If you are a purchaser of a 2012 BMW from Ride West, or about to be, simply contact me with the 2Fast track day or track school of your choice, and I will take care of the registration for you.
So far we are off to a great start with this new program!
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II. Ridin' with REVerend Bill
Click here to view high quality photo essays by Bill Hucks and others of the Team Ride West adventure ride of last month, and the next one - which is THIS weekend! Still time to sign up!?
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III. World SBK!
Team BMW is off to a flying start in the world superbike series this year, with new riders, new management, and (evidently) new programming to allow the rear tire to last a race distance with the awesome power of the BMW S 1000RR engine.
The only chance you have to watch World Superbike action in person in this country is the sole US round of the series, held at Miller Motorsports Park outside of Salt Lake City on Memorial Day.
Even better, BMW is offering (again) a special ticket package to make your adventure even better. Having been there and done that, I can heartily recommend both the race, the track facility, and the BMW ticket package. I can't go this year, but perhaps you can. I'd be happy to assist in organizing a group to ride there and back. It takes two solid days or riding or one burning butt marathon day each way - I recommend the two-day option if you can afford the time.
Here are the details.
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IV. Recent Team Ride West Fun
Team Ride West Demo Ride 1 - April 22nd. Wow! This one was oversubscribed from the start, and led to quite a scramble to match participants to motorcycles. In the end we used all of the demos available (minus an F 650 GS that was off at Adventure Camp), two service loaners, one used BMW, and two motorcycles that belong to Ride West!
Having survived the organizational challenge, we were rewarded with pretty much perfect weather. Kerry and Sean from our Sales department both chose to sacrifice a day off to assist, which was really welcome. We ended up with 8 customers on demos, three Team Ride West members on their own bikes, and three staff. The route was nice, the company terrific, and at the end of the ride four of us discovered "Rainin' Ribs" BBQ about two miles north of the store on Lake City Way - a scrumptious way to end the day! Pictures and video in the pictures and videos section of the Team Ride West Page.
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V. Picture Perfect...
 "My" new BMW F 800 R
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Content Editor: Dave Preston Production Editor: Nicole Turner |
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VI. Team Ride West Events
Please check the web site frequently for changes.
MAY
5/09 Wed - Ride West, 2Fast & WMST Track Day/School @PR
5/12 Sat - Parts and Apparel Swap 9am - 5pm @ Ride West
5/12 Sat - South Prairie Fly In @ South Prairie
5/15 Tues - Team Ride West Dinner 6:30pm @ Café Veloce
5/18- 5/21 Fri - Sun - Adventure Camp in Roy, WA
5/20 Sun - Snohomish Classic M/C Show in Snohomish, WA
5/20 Sun - DEMO RIDE #2 10:00am Meet @ Ride West
5/25 Fri - 2Fast Day @ The Ridge
5/26-5/28 Fri-Mon - World Superbike Race (SBK) in Miller
June
6/01-6/4 Fri - Mon - PSS Adventure Camp in Roy, WA
6/02 Sat PSS Maintenance Class 9:00am @ Ride West
6/02 Sat - Team Ride West club ride to Mt. Erie
6/06 Wed - 2Fast, WMST, and Ride West VIPs @ PR
6/09 Sat - 2Fast Day @ Ridge
6/10 Sun - DEMO RIDE #3 10:00am Meet @ Ride West
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VII. BMW Product Tests
It's the time of year where our new demo models roll in and have their break-in miles (usually 600 miles) taken care of by the staff (usually sales staff) or me. Here are my thoughts on a few of the new arrivals. Call Sean, Kerry, or Roman to make an appointment to take one out and see if your impressions mirror mine - or not! 2012 "low frame" BMW G 650 GS (demo) This version of the popular and extremely tractable single cylinder BMW dual sport has a low frame and seat, and they're not kidding - the seat really is low! At 29.5 inches it is right down there, and add to that a fairly narrow seat design means that people of less than towering stature can have a BMW model AND plant their feet on the ground. This bike is so easy to ride it is amazing, and I wondered if the clutch and brake were stock, such was the ease of operation. Whoever heard of a clutch you can pull in with two puny fingers. Of course, as a GS you can also use this little beastie off-road, and I was pleased to see that it is still easy to stand up on the pegs in the approved dual sport style, even if you are aged and somewhat full size! This is really an impressive bike.
2012 BMW S 1000 RR (demo) If you're not a sport bike junkie, you might think the 2012 BMW S 1000RR is unchanged from 2011, but aha! What seem to be relatively minor bodywork changes make a big difference. The new rear seat section is more chiseled in appearance, and the red, white, and blue paint scheme seems to work better with the curves and cutouts of the panels, at least to me. The catalytic converter has been moved a bit, allowing a simpler design, and to my ears the exhaust is just a titch louder and more aggressive, but not egregiously so.
At the end of the day, if you're serious about purchasing the best sport bike for street use, track days, and even the occasional longer ride, the BMW S 1000RR remains pretty much the only choice.
Which color for you, sir?
2012 BMW F 650 GS (demo) I had this idea that Ride West could purchase an example of this that I could use for street work and Bill Hucks could use for leading our Team Ride West dual sport adventure rides. We could add a tank bag, panniers, and perhaps a 2nd set of wheels and tires and viola - essentially the use of two motorcycles for the cost of about 1.3. That plan did not work out (this year) but this yellow F 650 GS arrived as a demo and let me say - Yum. This is the color I would have picked. Yellow paint works really well with the contrasting silk black pieces, which are also set off with bright yellow F 650 GS graphics. Not to everyone's taste, but really works for me. That said, I have always liked yellow vehicles for unknown reasons, and there are other colors for those of you with different, as in better, taste.
The F 650 GS features the 800cc engine of the F 800 GS in a softer tune and lower compression version, but still 800cc just to confuse. The softer tune makes the engine's character and performance more accessible to riders of a wider variety of experience and skill. Add a seat that feels lower than it actually is and the small windshield, and you have the makings of a "mini sport tourer" I put together in the next paragraph with the added bonus of soft to medium off-road capability.
"My" 2012 BMW F 800 R As is the usual practice, Ride West has purchased a new BMW for me to use this year. The rationale is that I do so many events that if I were to use a demo bike, it would not be here for customers to try out too much of the time. Instead, an "extra" bike is purchased that is used as an additional demo on the days that I am in the store - which is most of them.
For this year I tried something a little different - a sport touring bike that features much less weight than usually comes to mind with you think "sport tourer." You can have the BMW K 1600 GT, which is pretty much the mack daddy or sport tourers, or the R 1200 ST, and even the R 1200 GS has received glowing reviews as a sport tourer - which was not part of its original design brief. Just for fun, I have chosen to take the F 800R "naked" sport bike and used some BMW accessories to make a sport tourer that weighs less than 400 pounds. So far, this experiment is proving to be a rousing success. The details are:
The red and silver paint scheme that my wife describes as "classy." A BMW tank bag that is enormous but very functional, and easy to install - as in I could do it myself. (! ?) The BMW expandable sport bags and luggage rack allow enough room for the first aid kit, air compressor, and tire repair kit that go on all of our club and demo rides (and have never been used - let's keep that going). The left side bag is a special order for the F 800R as it needs to be smaller to clear the exhaust. The small "fly screen" fairing is standard equipment this year, and is primarily a styling piece, although it does reflect the wind a bit and the raised and rounded portion is the perfect place for an oval "Ride West BMW" decal. By the way, we have these again, produced by Team Ride West member Paul Peterson. See me for yours!
All in all it is a sport-touring bike that is comfy, fast, and has a fairly low seat. I cannot think of any other model built by anyone that offers the same combo of like weight, power, brakes, comfort, and technology. I like it!
Make an appointment for a test ride, and you might want one too!
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VIII. You, Me, You Tube, We... Etc.
We have our own Team Ride West web site page on the Ride West site. Go to www.ridewest.com and locate the Team Ride West page. There you'll find lots of information, links to ride videos and slide shows from past adventures.Here is the latest Nicole Turner production - from our Demo Ride #1
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IX. Dinner at Cafe Veloce
We enjoy a fine time and great food at Café Veloce for our club monthly dinners. "Our" night is the 3rd Tuesday of each month. Most people arrive between 6:00 and 6:15pm, and by 6:30pm we have looked at each others bikes sufficiently to sit down to order food. We're in the "club" room in inclement weather and out on the deck when the sun shines.
This month's TEAM RIDE WEST CLUB DINNER will be on Tuesday, May 15th.
Cafe Veloce is located in the Totem Lake mall area north of Kirkland and south of the Bothell/Woodinville I-405 exits.
Directions to Cafe Veloce:
- Heading north on I-405 take exit 20B (NE 124th St) and then the ramp to Totem Lake Blvd. You will go through the traffic light to 120th Ave and Café Veloce is to the right just past the auto parts store.
- Heading south on I-405 take exit 20 (NE 124th St) and turn left on NE 124th Street. You will go through two traffic lights and then take a left on Totem Lake Blvd. Into the right lane, and right at 120th Ave to the restaurant.
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X. The Ride West Difference
Say you're chatting with friends about the varied events and rides you're enjoying with Team Ride West. Say further that these friends ask you, "What makes Ride West different?" Here are concepts we would thank you for putting across - the "Magnificent Seven."
- With Team Ride West, more rides, dinners, and events than anyone else.
- More in-store sales, swap meets, seminars, classes, etc. than anyone else.
- Ability to purchase insurance for your bike, home, and auto - all in-house.
- More demo bikes, and longer demo rides, than any other dealer.
- New for this year - our track school and track day support program.
- Service Department capable and happy to work on any brand.
- Wide assortment of used bikes of all brands.
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XI. Team Ride West Concept Ride Procedures
Team Ride West rides are referred to as "concept rides" because route and destination changes may evolve during the day depending on the wishes of those on the ride, the weather, and events of interest we may find along the way. The initial route directions will be sent out by e-mail a few days prior to the ride, but it is not required that everyone on the ride follow the same route or reach the same destination!Here are the guidelines that we follow: - Arrive at the start of the ride (usually Ride West BMW) with a full tank of fuel and funds for fuel, food, and other expenses during the day.
- Sign in and receive the printed instructions if needed. (Pause - if you do not have both a motorcycle endorsement on your license and insurance on your motorcycle, we ask that you wait until you do to ride with us.)
- Be VERY careful as we turn out of the Ride West parking lot onto 16th. Cars
- can and sometimes do turn left from Lake City Way onto 16th - potentially at a lethal speed.
- Once on the ride, find a group to ride with of 3 to 5 bikes - based on
- friends, model, experience, style of riding, and/or desired pace.
- Allow LOTS of space around you - front, side, and rear. Do not "tailgate."
- At major intersections that involve a turn, make sure the person behind you
- (in your group) has seen the turn before you accelerate away.
- RIDE AT YOUR OWN PACE - always.
- Pass on the left - well over the centerline. Do not pass on the right - EVER,
- under any circumstances barring dire emergency.
- Use hand/foot signals as needed. There's no required guide to these.
- On the way home, once past the final group fuel stop, it's every person for
- him/her self. You may drop off at your exit or street without the need to let the entire group know - but mentioning your intent at the final stop is a nice gesture.
- Other groups of motorcycles? - pass them very carefully with lots of room.
- For groups larger than 15 bikes or so, we will expect people to take some responsibility for following the route directions and/or others in the group, or for finding their own route. This rule is called "YOYOMF" for "You're On Your Own My Friend." Kudos to Bill Hucks for coming up with the phrase, although his version is just a bit more colorful.
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XII. Pithy Words to Ride By...
If you want to take part in one of the 6 Sunday Demo Rides, best contact me ASAP for dates and models available - these seem to be the hottest ticket in town right now, and they're free!
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