Motorcycle Chats 

Parts Department
Thank You! 

We probably sound like a broken record every spring, but this year's Spring Parts and Apparel Swap was, by a very wide margin, the best we've ever had, of course anyone present to witness the line wrapping completely around the building at 8:55am could testify to that. This particular swap was so successful, in fact, that in our first HOUR we surpassed the ENTIRE day's sales at 2008 Spring Parts Swap!

None of that would be possible if it weren't for YOUR enthusiasm and participation.  The scope and quality of items consigned get better and better every year, and this year's overall selection was unbelievable. We were worried we didn't do a good enough job getting the word out, but you clearly told your friends and neighbors, and made sure they came out. There were a lot of new faces both buying and selling this year, and it was great to make so many new friends.

It is a lot of work and logistical plate-spinning to make an event like that happen, and a few customers have asked us point blank, "Are these events really worth it for Ride West?"  Absolutely!  The Parts and Apparel Swap events are less about big sales and big money, and more about really having fun and building up the sense of community with our customers. Besides, with a showroom full of all the latest and greatest 2012 apparel and accessories, the least we could do is offer you a convenient way to sell your old stuff!

So thanks again, and if you missed it this time around, the Fall Parts and Apparel Swap happens Saturday, October 13th. We'll see you there!

Tech Tip Of The Month

Happy Spring Everyone!  

With the summer finally upon us, motorcycle trips are getting planned and taking place. We've touched base on securing the load to your trusty steed, but your vehicles maximum weight load (driver+passenger+all their stuff) should also be kept in mind. Even an employee at Ride West was recently surprised to see the new K1600GT's max load was only 468 lbs; they thought it should be more. It's not surprising to hear, seeing as most of the travelers that come though Ride West throughout the year are overloaded, and by far exceeding their vehicle's maximum load capacity.  

Although Beemers will carry much more than is recommended, the extra weight can (and will) affect the handling and longevity of components. The owner's manual and even most saddlebags will have the maximum recommended load capacity listed and should be a guideline for your pre-packing setup. I'm not saying you can't over-fill and over-pack but a lighter overall package could be more enjoyable to ride, so packing light and packing right might be the answer. Not to mention keeping your motorcycles' components happier by allowing them to operate in the range they were designed for.  Making each trip the best it can be takes planning and practice, and Ride West has the tools and expertise to help.  

Best of luck in all your summer riding adventures!

Mark Eddy

Service Manager

Life on the Road - A Woman's Perspective  

By Gaila Gutierrez   

If you would have asked me a year ago what I'd be doing today, I can assure you my answer would not have been "I'm living on a motorcycle". Taking a much needed career break to travel North and Central America for a year with my partner, Tad Haas, living on a motorcycle is exactly what I'm doing.

The decision hatched in December 2011 and immediately catapulted us into warp speed (and exhausting) planning; renting and emptying the house, getting finances in order and gearing up. To say there is a TON of planning to put your 'regular' life on auto pilot while you launch into the wild blue is an understatement, but that's a whole other story. We met our self-imposed deadline and were surrounded by 30+ friends sending us off from rainy cold Seattle on April 15, 2012.

Leaving behind the luxuries of a hot daily shower, 24/7 Internet, fresh clean laundry, endless choices of shoes and clothes, and the biggie... a paycheck, more often than not I wondered if my choice to go gallivanting across the Americas for the next year was the right one. Always up for a good challenge, I threw caution the wind, cut my hair short, found a home for my cat, loaded up the bike and took off with no particular place to go. [Read More] 

A Message From Our Owners

Big Plans for Ride West BMW 

Been there, done it, seen that.    We have done a lot of two-up riding over the past many decades, including: 20 trips across the US and Canada as well as many North to South routes; all 50 states (most of them multiple times); Europe, Australia, New Zealand and Central and South America.  This is not meant to be an egotistical statement. It is just that riding a motorcycle together is one of the things in life that we enjoy.  And after about half a million miles on two wheels (the majority of them two up), we have come to some conclusions about this type of riding.  Matter of fact, we have come to many conclusions, and a good deal of them do not match others couples' methods of operating.  For insta
 

We have changed our system as we age, though.  We used to consider the ride our goal,  often traveling five and six hundred mile days back to back.  A two week trip that was not 6000 miles was hardly worth our time.  But we have changed our thinking as our bodies soften and the seat somehow hardens.  Now we ride 350 to 400 mile days for two or three consecutive days and then hole up in some nice resort for a couple of days before heading out again.  It works for us.  One thing we still disagree on sometimes is the route itself.  One of us (the guy of course) thinks that repeating any given route in the opposite direction is a waste of good rubber.  After all, we have already been there, done it, seen that.  The other one of us claims that the scenery is totally different in the reverse direction and we need to enjoy the scenery that we missed the first time.  I doubt that we will ever see eye to eye on this.

If there is a point to this story it is this:  Regardless of how you like to ride, whether single or two-up, long distance or short, fast or leisurely, just do it!  We live within a 500 mile radius of some of the best riding in the entire world and there is a lot to see and do out there.  And if you did not appreciate it the first time, do it in reverse (the other direction) and see if you like it this time.  One of our long time motto's at Ride West is "If we haven't been there yet, we are going there next", and if we have been there we would like to share it with you.  Come on in and talk to us about your favorite rides.  Perhaps you have one we can add to our repertoire.   Go there, do it, see that.  And then let us know.

Ride West BMW Owners

Ann and Keith Thye

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