Parts Department
Last Minute Items

Events, Events, Events!  Between Sasquatch, Alt Rider's Hoh Rainforest Ride, and the many BDR trips planned, the sunny warm weather couldn't have arrived at a better time.  Make sure you're prepared for whatever your travels bring.

   FEATURED PRODUCTS

// Wolfman Dry Bags - We've carried Wolfman tank bags for some time and are pleased to announce their line of dry duffel bags.  These heavy-duty, reasonably priced roll top dry bags are made in the U.S., come complete with all the straps to attach them to your bike, and are simply built to last.  We've got another shipment coming in about a week! 

// WABDR - Yes, we've got the DVD's for Washington and Idaho, plus maps, and stickers for your panniers.  Speaking of Back Road Discovery Routes, you may want to pick up a spare fuel bottle (by Primus) and Wolfman holster, giving you that extra liter of fuel to get out of a jam.  Another popular item you may want to bring along is the rugged Cycle Pump by BestRest Products.   Whether you are adjusting your tire pressure for the rugged terrain, or simply fixing a flat on the trail, this little pump is worth its weight in gold! 

// Schuberth S2 Full Face - The reviews are in and the brand new, German made S2 full face helmet is making waves around the country with both touring and sport bike riders alike.  This amazingly quiet full face helmet is simply a cut above the rest in build quality, features and comfort.   Complete with some of the same big features as the C3, including an integrated drop down sun visor, anti-fog face shield insert, and an optional Bluetooth neck roll, all in a super quiet touring / sport touring / road racing lid.   Get yours today!  Also, stay tuned for your chance to demo one of these amazing helmets.  We're working with Schuberth North America and should have a demo days date shortly.

// Heidenau K60 Tires for your GS - A runaway success is the only way we can describe these amazingly versatile tires for your GS. This could be the ultimate and most legitimate, street friendly, 50/50 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.  Heidenau produces a well-crafted product with a high standard of quality that truly lives up to the phrase "Made in Germany."  We also carry full off-road knobby tires from Kenda (Big Block), Continental (TKC-80) and Metzeler (Karoo).   If you're are interested in having Heidenau's installed on your bike, PLEASE call and schedule a time well in advance as supply is limited.

// Tech Spec Tank Grips - Get a grip already!  We now carry Tech Spec tank pads for your S1000RR and K1600GT/L (along with most other late model BMW's).  Each kit includes both left and right pads as well as a center tank pad.  Experience better feel, better control, better grip and a great look.  We've installed a set on our Alt Rider R1200GS Demo.  Stop by and take a test ride!

// Touratech - We are your one-stop source for all things Touratech!  We're making stock pickups just about every day so if there's something your after, give us a call or stop by and we will get it on the truck. 

Questions? Suggestions? Product requests?  Drop us a line in the Parts Department.  

Bill Niwa

Apparel Manager

apparel@ridewest.com

Jeff Conlin

Parts Manager

parts@ridewest.com

Ask MotoAdventureGal  

By Alissa Clickenger

Article #1 (Riding)

Dear MotoAdventureGal: Sometimes I just want to get on the bike and GO...no packing, no thinking, no planning. What do you think?

 
MotoAdventureGal Says: I personally leave my spares (tire tubes, air pump, some zip ties, Cycle Wipes™) packed on the bike at all times, that way I never have to think about gathering them-they're just always there for me. I also leave the GPS on the bike all the time, so that's there for me as well, although sometimes it's nice to ride without a destination or directions, just following the most scenic road.
 
But really, if you boil it all down, there are only three things I think you'll truly need...

1. Your AMA card.
2. A credit card.
3. A mobile phone.
 
It may sound too simple to be true, but seriously, when I travel I pretty much live in my riding suit (see my previous column on why I always travel in a base layer), so a change of clothes isn't really necessary as long as you wear quick-dry undergarments.
 
Why the AMA card? Because along with your other membership benefits, if you let them auto-renew your membership, you get their roadside assistance for free. Best of all, it provides coverage for all your vehicles in your household--including motorcycles, cars, trucks, RVs and even trailers! (It's also a good idea to support the only organization that looks out for our rights as riders.)
 
Why the credit card? Saves time at the pumps and pays for those emergencies. Not to mention the hotel room since you are not carrying your camping gear!
 
Why the mobile phone? To call your family, of course, and tell them you'll be gone riding yet another day!

Alisa Clickenger is MotoAdventureGal. On a motorcycle, she's crossed the USA multiple times, ridden up to Alaska, all over Europe, and traveled solo to Argentina in 2009. She rides and writes for a living, and leads a women's motorcycle tour that teaches and empowers women to tour in groups or alone. 

**Alisa's website and e-mail listed below.

A Message From Our Owners

July 17th marked out 17th anniversary in this business.  How time flies when you are having fun!  And it has been, and still is.  We have both spent that many years in other industries and view these last seventeen as enjoyable beyond compare.  Keith was in the wholesale grocery industry and Ann in the retirement community business.  People often ask how we got here from there, and so here is the answer.

In high school we dated on a Vespa and migrated to a 1958 BMW R50 in early college.  That bike served us well for school, work, recreation and travel.  And we put a lot of miles on the motorcycle before moving on to families, real jobs and a life.  Through the ensuing years a number of bikes hit the garage but the thought of that old BMW never left us.  Fast forward about thirty years and life found us on the other side of the continent.  We have lived in cities all up and down the West coast: San Francisco, San Rafael, Santa Rosa, Medford, Eugene, Portland, Olympia and Seattle, but not in that order.  The early 90's found us working and living in New Hampshire, and completely out of our element.  We had spent nearly two years there and decided that to maintain our sanity we needed to move back to the West coast.  And so we did, landing in Seattle in late 1993.  We needed something to do, and so we started a search for an appropriate job or, preferably, a business to buy.  At that time we were back to BMW motorcycles, having purchased a used K75 a few years earlier (which, incidentally, remains our all time favorite motorcycle).  We found that Buckingham BMW was for sale quite by accident. 

Pardon the third person here, but it is the easiest way to describe this.  The brakes went out on the Jeep, or at least to the point of being dangerous, so Ann took it to a shop in downtown Seattle, on Pike Street.  She dropped Keith off at the house to get the K75 and pick her up at the shop.  But Keith got delayed by a phone call while leaving the house and by the time he got to the shop she got tired of waiting and was off somewhere in the antique shops.  In Keith's effort to locate her (remember, this is before cell phones that are easy to carry) he saw a bunch of motorcycles parked up the street.  Not remembering a shop there, he investigated.  It happens that University Honda had just that week moved from the Ravenna neighborhood to that new location, and so he entered with his helmet under his arm.  A salesman approached and said "how do you like your BMW?"  Keith answered, "How do you know I have one as it is parked two blocks from here?"  The salesman said, "Because that is a BMW helmet and since they do not sell them in this country (and still don't) I assume you are riding one".  They chatted a few minutes and he blurted "Do you know that the BMW shop is for sale?"  Keith was not sure he even answered him as he chased out of the shop and hunted down Ann.  Upon relating the story, she insisted that they jump on the bike and hustle over there post haste. 

Bill and Sandy Buckingham were working with a business broker that we were familiar with and, although some offers for the business had been presented, none had been accepted.  So Ann made the offer and a short time later became the very proud owner of a BMW motorcycle shop (Ann is the owner, Keith the President).  Interestingly, had this been any other brand of motorcycle we would not have been interested---it was the BMW brand that drew us to this deal.  So, here we are seventeen years later, in a different location from that old original funky building, having fun in a wonderful business environment and a relationship with a few thousand customers that we truly enjoy.  Thanks for making these last years some of our best. 

Ride West BMW Owners

Ann and Keith Thye

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