The BMW Club JOURNAL December 2010 £2.50

A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

Est. 1985 2010

Thank you for your business for the past 25 years

CHRISTMAS CLOSE DOWN We will be CLOSED from Saturday 25th December 2010 to Monday 3rd January 2011 inclusive

2 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends The Journal CONTENTS December 2010 Regular/Occasional items The Official BMW Club within the UK and Republic of Ireland From The Editor’s Desk ...... 4 www.bmwclub.org.uk Club Officers ...... 6 General Enquiries: 0800 0854045 President’s Platform ...... 7 FREEPOST: THE BMW CLUB Torque Reaction ...... 9 The BMW Club is the Trading name of The B.M.W. Motorcycle Club Ltd; Registered in England; Registration Number 4261129 In Memoriam ...... 16 whose Registered Office: Charter Court, Midland Road, Hemel Hempstead, Herts, HP2 5GE. Members Discounts ...... 32 All Rights Reserved German Jottings ...... 40 Mutual Aid (Club member ads) . . . . . 83 For problems regarding distribution of The Journal, please contact your Section Secretary. Should there still be a problem then contact Small Business Advertisments . . . . . 86 the National Membership Secretary. Contact details are on page 6. The Editor reserves the right to alter/amend any item or image submitted to The Journal. Such amendments will usually only be to The BMW Club - Out and About .64 make an item more readable or easier to understand. Submission of items/images will be taken as acceptance of this condition. Articles/Features Book Review ...... 18 EDITORIAL TEAM The Gorge du Verdon ...... 19 Any correspondence not covered by the officers listed below, or any queries, should be sent to the Editor. Replacing Paralever bearings ...... 25 Editor: Stewart Lowthian, 29 Wagg Street, Back in the Saddle ...... 30 Congleton, Cheshire CW12 4BA. 01260 279 126 Battery Maintenance and Problems . . . 33 [email protected] Features/Articles: Position vacant Workshop (mal)practice ...... 37 Torque Reaction: Paul Nadin, 49 Berkshire Drive, A Lap with the Gods ...... 43 Congleton, Cheshire CW12 1SB. 01260 279 443 [email protected] Product Rviews ...... 50 Marketing/Commercial Sales: Brian Johnston, Doctor Postfive’s Memoirs ...... 53 10 Saffron Road, Tickhill, Doncaster DN11 9PW. 01302 743 032 / 07950 319 197 Light in the Darkness ...... 55 [email protected] Mutual Aid: Maurice Weldon, 21 Lawnwood DISCLAIMER Drive, Goldthorpe, Rotherham, South Yorkshire The BMW Club Journal accepts for publication articles and letters written in good faith; however, S63 9GD. 07752 904 334 mutual.aid@bmwclub. the views expressed in articles and letters which are published are not necessarily those of the org.uk Editor of The Journal or those of The BMW Club or its officers or members. The information, including advice and suggested modifications published in the The BMW Commercial Display Advertisements: Jim Bruce, Club Journal has not been approved, tested or otherwise checked by The BMW Club Journal The Firs, Bayview Crescent, Broadford, Isle of or The BMW Club. Before acting on information, advice or suggested modifications published Skye IV49 9DB. 01471 821 017 display.ads@ in The BMW Club Journal you should always obtain technical advice, and if appropriate have bmwclub.org.uk a professional motorcycle engineer carry out the work for you. The BMW Club Journal and The BMW Club cannot accept liability for any loss, damage Small Business Advertisements: Charles Knight, or claims occurring as a result of any modifications or work or other action carried out on 69 North Street, Ashburton, Devon TQ13 7QH. the advice or based on the suggestions given in any article or letter published in The BMW 01364 652 122. [email protected] Club Journal and (save for death or personal injury arising from The BMW Club Journal’s negligence) all such liability is hereby excluded. Section News: Steve Foreman. 01536 722 048 The BMW Club Journal is published for and on behalf of The B.M.W. Motorcycle Club Ltd. [email protected] The BMW Motorcycle Club Ltd, The BMW Club Journal, it’s Editor and Officers accept Diary of Events: Ian Caswell. no liability in respect of loss or damage occasioned directly or indirectly as a result of the [email protected] publication of any advertisement in The BMW Club Journal or Website. Around The Compass: Ian Caswell (see above). Club/Section Display Ads: Piers Kurrein. [email protected] This month’s cover photograph shows John Forum Administrator: Mike Fishwick. King’s R100RT on the minor road between [email protected] Crawleyside and Blanchland above Weardale Forum Address: http://forum.bmw-club.org.uk

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 3 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends From The Editor’s Desk

This month’s Journal Politics and Opinions Welcome to the bumper December/Christmas Not the internal politics of the Club, edition. No expense has been spared this which sometimes seem to become more month to bring you full important than enjoying 92 pages and I’ve even had the company of friends and a new photo taken for the riding our motorcycles, occasion. My thanks to but the politics of national those who responded to government. Nic Yandell my October request for and Roland Powell have, in material. The result is a Torque reaction, expressed varied collection of articles completely opposite and features with, I hope, opinions following on from something for every reader. the “Ride to the Wall” article in the November An Editorial error edition. I used the article correction because it appeared to give It has been pointed out a straightforward account to me that the heading “UK and Ireland” of the event, making it quite clear what its that I have been using in Small Business Ads purpose was. It also demonstrated that the is inappropriate so from now on I will instead event, attended by a reported 15,000 bikers be using U.K. and R.o.I. My apologies to those was run in an orderly manner, unlike some affected. I cannot change the new logo but events I have been to over the years. will be raising the matter at the next National The two members named above have Committee meeting, which will take place exercised their right to express their opinions between me typing this editorial and you regarding the content of The Journal and the reading it. activities that the Club should or should not take part in. As Torque Reaction is received The New Logo (and hopefully read) by all members this is the This was sent to me just too late to appear in natural place to discuss such matters. Please the November edition so this month is its first remember however, if you wish to contribute time on the cover of The Journal. BMW have to this debate, that matters of national politics issued very detailed instructions, running to and their consequences are outside the scope 38 pages, on how their trademark roundel can of The Journal. be used and sorting out how best to use the new The Disclaimer on page 3 states “...however, logo in conjunction with the cover photograph the views expressed in articles and letters will be an interesting experience as it, and its which are published are not necessarily those conditions of use, are very different to the of the Editor of The Journal or those of The previous one. Advice from those experienced BMW Club or its officers or members.” This in graphic design will be welcome. is necessary to allow me to publish articles

4 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends containing all shades of opinion, including how many they had to replace. If your copy contributions from members who wish to is missing or faulty then, as stated on page 3, oppose current Club policy. Please therefore your section secretary is the first port of call remember that unless an article states that it to obtain a replacement, as I don’t have spare represents official Club policy then it is the copies. opinion of the author. Around The Compass New Section Officers Around the Compass seems to be getting By now all the Section AGMs should have smaller and smaller. At my first-ever Club been held and new committees elected. Could event recently (which involved a comfortable I ask all new Club officers to check their hotel with good food and a sensibly-priced details are correct on page 6 please. Where I wine list), I discussed how to publicise such have been notified of a new Secretary but not events with the lady who organised it, having of a new email address I have assumed that, if the previous secretary used a Club rather than found out about the event when I was sent a private email address, the new secretary will details of it to use in ATC. We discussed how inherit the address. In my ideal world every to publicise an event which, despite being section secretary and social secretary would organised a year in advance, had been difficult use an email address supplied by the Club. to fill. Her view was that ATC was the way The benefit for members who use this means to announce events whereas the current of communication is that if the outgoing trend is to use the excellent full and half page secretary misses a message the incoming one advertisements produced by Piers Kurrein. will get it. ATC is the ideal place to announce events well in advance so how about using it a little more? The November Edition There seem to have been more problems East Anglia Christmas Party than usual with this edition. As well as some I’ve been asked by Matt Butcher to mention arriving late (including my own) there were that the venue for the East Anglia Section cutting and collating problems with several Christmas Party has changed from the one in copies. Having spoken to Jane Moore at the year card, and it will now be at The Flying Newman Thomson, who print The Journal Fortress, Mount Road, Bury St Edmunds, for us, to discuss the matter I received the IP31 2QU from 12:00 noon. following email: - “Good morning Stewart, A very large saving I would like to say how sorry I am for I’ve just renewed my motorcycle insurance. the inaccurate trimming on some copies of Although the renewal premium from my the November issue. The problem lay with our binding line, which an engineer has previous insurer was not unreasonable I subsequently corrected. Please also pass on our phoned Lynbrook, who advertise in The sincere apologies to any of your members who Journal. The result of this call was a saving received one of these copies. I’ll make sure a of just under £100 for the same level of cover. special eye is kept on this in the future to avoid Details and card number were taken over a repetition of the problem. the telephone and the paperwork should be With kind regards, with me a few days before the cover starts. Jane” I’m obviously pleased to save so much cash. It This is hopefully the end of the problem but shows the value of reading the adverts in The could I ask Section Secretaries to let me know Journal. BMW Club Journal • December 2010 5 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends National Officers & Section Secretaries National and other officers Section Secretaries PRESIDENT: Dick Boyd, Stewart Place, South Road, East Anglia: Mark Weavers, 25 Hill Avenue, Garmouth, Morayshire IV32 7LX Gorleston, Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, NR31 6HP 01343 870 389 [email protected] 01493 600 585 [email protected] Secretary: Dave Cooper, Greensleeves, Exmouth Irish: TJ McHale Tavanavghmore, Foxford, Co Mayo Road, Exton, Exeter. Devon EX3 0PQ 087 247 0111 from within Irish Republic, or +353 87 01392 876 991 [email protected] 247 0111 [email protected] Treasurer: Jim Lepley, 7 Landale Gardens, London: Nick Fry, 4 Newbury Close, Chancellors Burntisland, Fife KY3 9HN 01592 874 592 Road, Stevenage, Herts SG1 4TE [email protected] 01438 749 913 [email protected] NATIONAL Social Secretary: Mark Dutton, 13 Mercia: Ruth Jackson, 213 Morley Road, Greenfield Drive, Great Tey, Colchester, Essex Oakwood, Derby. DE21 4TB. 01332 668 159 CO6 1AA 01206 212 232 or 07703 179 062 email [email protected] [email protected] Midland: John Winn,16 Ardington Road, Northampton, NN1 5LJ. 01604 631 043 National Membership Secretary: The Membership Secretary, FREEPOST, The BMW Club, [email protected] Stewart Place, South Road, Garmouth. IV32 7LX North East: Philip Oughtred, Ponteland Cottage, Pipe 0800 085 4045 [email protected] Bridge, Rowland Gill, Tyne & Wear NE39 1PQ 01207 544 851 [email protected] Standing orders: Keith Wills. 01289 382 247 [email protected] Northern: Lynn Tagg, 63 Ambrose Court, Moss Lane, Leyland, Preston. PR25.4XA. POST/5 Tool Hire Secretary: Mike Delacoe, 4 Charwelton Road, Preston Capes, Daventry [email protected] 01772 431 324 NN11 3TA 01327 360 945 [email protected] Oxford: Tim Read, 15 The Limes, South Cerney, Pre/5 Tool Hire SecRETARY: Peter Dunn, Cirencester, Glos GL7 5RF 101Station Road, Thatcham, Berks RG19 4QH 01285 869 320 [email protected] 07941 075 165 [email protected] Scottish: Marjorie Burnett, Crawick Lea, Glasgow Merchandise SecRETARY: Cath Broughton, 17 Road, Sanquahar, Dumfrieshire. DG4 6BZ Strawberry Hill, Northampton NN3 5HL 01659 50091 [email protected] 01604 416 896 [email protected] (see Merchandise advertisment for contact times) South east: Shaun Mulligan 47, High Street Halling, Rochester, Kent. ME2 1BP Vintage & CLASSIC Register Secretary: 01634 241215 [email protected] Robin Walker, 37 Heron Drive, Bracken Southern: Richard Tavener, 34 Nursery Close, Park, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 1GJ Frimley Green, Camberley, Surrey GU16 6JZ 01427 610 329 [email protected] 01252 838 384 [email protected] Sporting Register Secretary: Robert Bensley, South West: Debbie Sampson ‘Trevilla’, Oak Tree Farm, Heath Road, Banham NR16 2HS 18, Ropehaven Road St. Austell Cornwall PL25 4DU. 01953 888 415 [email protected] 01726 61642 [email protected] Sidecar Register Secretary: Position vacant. Ulster: Charlie McConnell, 6 Cameron Park, GS Register Secretary: Paul Devall Ballymena, Co Antrim BT42 1QJ 028 2564 7730 07092 263 119 [email protected] [email protected] Western: Sue Ross 7 Pintail Grove Kidderminster Assistant Secretary for America: Worcs. DY10 4RT 01562 820 458 Position vacant. [email protected] 100,000 MILE AWARD: Ian Collins Yorkshire: Roland Powell, 369 Higham Common 01270 781 097 [email protected] Road, Higham, Barnsley, South Yorkshire, S75 1PG WEBMASTER: Nick Fearn 01226 391 603 [email protected] [email protected] HQ Register: Tony Painter [email protected] TECHNICAL OFFICER: Mike Fishwick 01823 253 897 After Midday only please Sirgon, 24250 Daglan, France. Delegates to other organisations [email protected] BMF: Primary contact: Tony Cartmell – Other delegates; Vice-Presidents: Jeff Dymond, Paul Brown, John Lewis, Mark Dutton Peter Dunn [email protected] FBHVC: M McNair Dennis Crompton [email protected] 0161 653 0998 DVLA: B r i a n P r i c e 9 9 N e a t h R o a d , R h o s , Cliff Batley [email protected] 01787 Pontardawe, Swansea, SA8 3AH 01792 862 152 373919 [email protected]

Please restrict any calls or enquiries to these Club officials to between the hours of 10am and 9pm, and let the Editor know if any of these details need amendment

6 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends President’s Platform

As I write this platform there is enough interest it’s the last weekend of we could extend the October, the clocks are booking of this venue. falling back and the You can also camp. Being renewal forms, along with run over the same week/ the November Journals, weekend of 2nd -7th of are hitting the mat. We May will be the centenary are almost at the end of six days trial event. So 2010 and the volunteers you could use either or that run this club are both of the above events industriously working to spectate at the 100th away on membership Scottish Six Days Trial. renewals, planning for the You will certainly require events that will happen in 2011 and generally walking boots for the trial as it can be hard working and scheming towards the members work to access some of the sections but well being given a vast choice of events and worth it when you get there. adventures to participate in during the next Now volunteers. The club needs you! year, 2011 and the clubs sixtieth. So with that You’ve heard it all before but really we do. in mind please fill in and return that Renewal We need to promote the club and this can form ASAP and let your Section Membership only be done by you, the members. Tell fellow Secretary enjoy his or her Christmas as well as BMW riders how much you enjoy the club yourself. They do put in an awful lot of work and if you don’t think that, volunteer to your for the club and are our unsung heroes. section committee and help them to run this The Scottish Section that I support have a club, participate in decision making and then particularly interesting and cost-effective event perhaps you might help to make a change, at the Spittal of Glenshee, which is just north if that is what is required. Remember this of Perth and includes camping, a bunkhouse club just doesn’t happen, it is run by you the and good Hotel accommodation. The Hotel members. Also if you don’t want to participate is set in beautiful scenic countryside and runs in running the club you can still suggest or will be organized but you will enjoy this area present ideas through your Section National just as much if you take a walk at least for Committee Representative, which will help to one day and see the wildlife in the area. The move the club forward. It is easy enough to get event is to be held over the Early May Bank an idea in front of the National Committee. holiday 29th April to 2nd May and will no Finally I think that we need more technical doubt be advertised elsewhere in this Journal. articles in the Journal, particularly for the The weekend of 6th-8th May, after the above airheads, and hope that we can see them in the event, the Scottish Section will be running future to help the membership retain the skills a bunk house or rather multiple Log Cabins required to keep these machines running. in the forest and mere walking distance from After all they are good reliable, inexpensive Lochearnhead. Price for the weekend inclusive everyday working bikes. of Dinner, Bed and Breakfast is £20- £30. If Thought that you might like to see this

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 7 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends snippet :- BMW Motorrad Italia enters www. Superbike World Championship Munich/ San Donato Milanese, 28th October 2010. BMW Motorrad has announced the entry of Team BMW Motorrad Italia Superbike in the .co.uk 2011 FIM Superbike World Championship. European Importers : Jesse Luggage The team will debut with riders Ayrton Badovini (ITA) and James Toseland (GBR) and will receive technical support from the BMW Motorrad Motorsport factory team, which is providing engines and electronics for the BMW S 1000 RR. The team will be led by Andrea Buzzoni, Director of BMW Motorrad Italia and Manager of the Superbike project;Serafino Foti, who will serve as Sporting Director; and Gerardo Acocella as Technical Director. Suppliers for Nomad, Famsa, Xplorermoto Finally have a look at the Concept C on the web. I see my last bike coming on.

That’s me for this month. Your President,Dick Boyd

Cli Batley ~ Sudbury, Su olk 07966 015607 [email protected]

8 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

Please send all submissions for Torque January’s Torque Reaction to Paul Nadin by 1st December please. Reaction Details on page 3 A New Remus Exhaust to loosen it. Luckily the bike has only covered 8000 dry miles and so there was no corrosion for my R850R and BMW had assembled the torx bolts with I have owned a 2004 BMW R850R for just some very heavy grey grease and removal was over 3 years and have never thought that it straightforward after the initial turn of the sounded very 850 like. In my younger days, torx key back in the sixties, a 650 was considered a big After loosening the clamps round the left bike and the sound of a BSA Super Rocket and right front pipes and unscrewing the with twin inverse megaphone exhausts would exhaust can I soon had the entire system on the lift ones spirits as it passed. deck. Now all that remained was the removal I had heard somewhere that the exhaust of the lambda sensor for which I had to nip on the R850R is the same as on the R1150R out and buy a 22mm open ended spanner. and so over-muffles the engine. There is also Loosening the sensor was easier than I had a large and heavy catalytic converter that expected probably due to the low mileage. further diminishes the bikes performance. I The Remus ‘Y’ pipe had a hex capped screw thought I’d treat myself and bought a Remus where it’s possible to fit the lambda sensor but Revolution exhaust can with a ‘Y’ piece with I elected to leave the sensor tucked away in a which to ‘decat’ the bike. handy recess at the back of the engine casing, The system arrived yesterday (the first held in place with a ubiquitous cable tie. I had Tuesday of October) and I set to work. Before read, on the BMW Forum, various theories I began I started the engine with the fast about the lambda sensor and whether to re-fit, idle lever in the up position and checked the remove or leave disconnected. I reckoned that exhaust noise with a sound level meter. There I’d try it with the sensor disconnected and if is an International Standard (ISO 5130) that necessary I could then fit it later. contains the correct method for doing this, Fitting the Remus exhaust proved to be together with allowable noise levels for various extremely easy and it minutes later I was able engine sizes for both cars and motorcycles. I to start the engine and check out the bike’s arranged the sound level meter to be at the new sound. I repeated the noise test and noted same height as the exhaust outlet and at a an increase of exactly 10dB(A). More to the distance of 1½ metres away and at 45 degrees point the bike now sounded as one would to the exhaust, noted a reasonably steady expect of an 850cc machine. reading of 70.5dB(A). The bike is now considerably lighter and The first problem encountered was the looks far better without the encumbrance of removal of the long torx headed bolts that the catalytic converter. hold the rear of the centre stand to the I took the bike out for a road test. The catalytic converter. I had to lightly tap the engine felt much more free-running with more torx key into the bolt, as it didn’t want to go power available. The bike was louder but not in. I then had to slide a 300mm piece of pipe too un-neighbourly I hope….. In a word it now onto the torx key to obtain sufficient leverage sounds more ‘throaty’. On the overrun there BMW Club Journal • December 2010 9 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends was occasionally some popping in the exhaust RUNNING LIGHTS. Ring automotive system but this is a well-known side effect do good LED running lamps and they are of this type of exhaust’s character. Upon my stock items at your local Halford’s for about return I checked all the bolts and connections £20 quid. and they were all sound. The next thing will HID headlights. Fit a direct relay set from be to acquire some heat deflecting adhesive the battery and your standard headlight will aluminium tape to fix to the back of the near run much brighter. Cheep as chips and all the side pannier. plans are available for free on the net. Andy Maslin. Derbyshire. Happy riding In Praise of the new Editor Peter James. Western Section. Just a quickie in appreciation of new Editor, Oiling and Greasing Stewart Lowthian I’m very pleased with Just a couple of points by way of a follow up his approach -- good down-to-earth stuff, appeals to the technical and practical minded to Graham Parker’s excellent article in the Oct members as well as the newer lads on the block 2010 edition of The Journal. who find the fashionista aspects of the latest Firstly I believe that BMW have now models their main interest. changed the amount of oil to be used in the I mustn’t moan, takes all sorts to make final drive from 0.25 litres to 0.18 litres. Don’t a club as good as ours, but that’s how I feel. know why but reputedly something to do with And felt it plus plus when I saw the Editor’s final drive failures. Less is more! heading for Geoff Meade’s (very interesting) Secondly, regarding greasing the splines on letter (October Journal) on the Nurburgring the end of the drive shaft, Graham (and also experience: ‘WITH THIS RING - I SEE Haynes Manual) mentions using molybdenum RED’. Brilliant! disulphide grease. He also mentions the need Stan Walinets. North East Section to clean both units i.e. the splines on the drive shaft and the socket in the final drive Stan, you’re making me blush. The title of housing that the drive shaft fits into. BMW Geoff’s letter was his own, not mine. recommend and use Castrol Optimol Type TA paste for this location Some Money-saving Tips This is silvery in colour. It is supposed to Sometimes we waste a lot of time chasing have anti fretting properties. The important around and spending a fortune on bits that thing to note is that if you do choose to use really don’t work that well so here are my top molybdenum disulphide grease (and this money saving, recession busting tips:- may apply to other greases for all I know) it is OIL. Morris lubricants do a great 20/50 chemically incompatible with Optimol Paste mineral oil and a big drum (delivered free) is and it is vital that all traces of the Optimol an absolute bargain. Paste are removed as it will not mix with HANDLEBARS. My old 1100GS was normal grease. never comfortable. I adjusted the bars, I The web address below gives details: bought risers, pull back risers you name it. A http://docs-asia.origin.electrocomponents. £25 pair of Renthal low road bars are perfect. com/webdocs/0028/0900766b80028f79.pdf You can fit Bark Busters hand protectors or use their fitting kit to use 1150 ones. John Cobley. Yorkshire Section. 10 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Brian Shears and his would like to acknowledge their dedication to running the section during such times as ‘Little Lady’ verging on the heroic. The stewardship of Brian Shears and ‘the little Seamlessly the club has run when both have lady’, as Brian described her in his last section had to deal with personal issues that would news is over. The king and queen of the South- test the mettle of any. I would agree with them East section have reigned for many years and both that now is the time to gracefully hand guided the section through the best of times. the orb of office over to a new and willing We have enjoyed immensely the social volunteer. The diligence and dedication you activities that have been a result of their efforts. have shown for so long to others can now Few, if any, will truly realise the dedication rightfully be dedicated to each other. May you this couple devoted to the section in this now enjoy, like we do, the simplicity of just corner of the BMW club kingdom. Many turning up at the club for a social event free of section secretaries in the other principalities the concern of its organisation and you both will know the energy, effort and dedication can plan your own personal diary of events in required as will our new section secretary the years to come. Shaun Mulligan as he inherits the throne. We With Brian and Margaret’s resignation wish Shaun well in his new role. comes that of Keith Morris as Social Secretary Shaun has inherited a fine section, guided and his wife Debbie. Thanks also go to them and developed under Brian and Margaret’s for their role over the past years and may you care. Given their distractions of health soon get accustomed to not scanning the shop concerns over the past couple of years we shelves for good value prizes for the raffle. DON’T GET A FLAT BATTERY Top quality German made charger to maintain the battery on your Can-Bus wired bike. PLUGS STRAIGHT INTO THE ACCESSORY SOCKET – REALLY EASY! The charger can be connected up to the battery for long periods without any problems and will always keep it fully charged. Overcharging of the battery is prevented. The battery on your bike can go flat FAST without a charger as the alarm and Can-Bus wiring have quite a large drain even when the ignition is off! Full instructions, features LED indicator ONLY £79 lights, may be wall mounted, proper UK plug. To suit: F650GS (twin) F800R/GS/S/ST R1200GS/Adventure ALL YEARS For all other bikes we R1200R/S • R1200RT • R1200ST K1200S/1300S • K1200R/1300R sell the CTek charger K1200GT 06 on • K1300GT • G650 range and most other Can-Bus equipped BMWs for just £29 FULL DETAILS ON OUR WEBSITE www.NippyNormans.com Tel: 01626 830458

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 11 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Good luck to the new elected committee. (November Journal) with increasing dismay. Any display of approval, never mind support, Roger & Jill Bickerstaffe for the actions of the British Armed Forces in Afghanistan, Iraq or even Ireland is a complete Rear Diff Oil anathema to me. I shall not elaborate on this I read the article on changing the rear diff oil as I do not wish to fall in to the same trap, i.e. on the R1200 models. Please could anyone bore heartfelt motorcyclists with my politics explain how to fill my rear diff on my R1200 and ethics, however sincere and carefully Adventure? The bike is a 58 plate (Oct 2008) considered. and has a drain plug. I will not, nonetheless, belong to an I have looked but the filler plug (if it has organisation which shows formal support to one) is not obvious. Do I fill the diff with the such political causes. wheel off through the bolts that hold the diff together? Why BMW have done this? Most Nic Yandell East Anglia. likely so we all have to take our bikes to get dealer serviced Ride to the Wall 2011. If any one can assist this would be This letter is to support Chris Rollinson’s appreciated, email - [email protected] proposal that we ride as a Club to “The Wall”, or 0774 8872 385...... Thank you. next October and to thank him for his article. I’ve attended all three RTTW and went to Simon Cossins. North Yorkshire. this year’s ride with another club member. Our observations are similar to those made by Re the ‘Ride to the Wall’ Chris. Part of my simple enjoyment of riding a bike We did’nt get in the traffic as we stayed at is its distance from the hideous reality and a nearby Inn and got up at 06.00hrs arriving complexity of politics. I have been a member early enough to be at the front, hint. A BMW of the BMW Club for 23 years and the mag Club ride in “en masse” would show our has generally reflected this enjoyment. support for the armed forces and if we display So I read Chris Rollinson’s article an inclusive, friendly attitude, attract some

12 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends interest in the club from the many BM owners comfort and it suits me. Some years ago on my present. Riding Happily 70th birthday I did 1000 miles in 24 hours, this is what I do and like. BM bikes keep getting Roland Powell better and better, I suppose people even moan Yorkshire Section Secretary. about sat-navs but I find them magic. We have here two completely opposite We all have bikes for different reasons and opinions of the same event. Whilst it is the we are all right, just recognise it and go with it. right of every member to engage in debate I too have owned Vincent’s plus regarding Journal content and Club activities the political aspects of this subject are beyond Peter Westerman. Leicester. the remit of these pages. If you wish to respond to either correspondent then please remember That Tyre this.. Inflator More Simple BMWs? Mr Whitwell’s Patent Bike Engine Tyre Re Colin Manning Remarks About Making Inflator (Nov 2010, P12) sounds an intriguing BMW Bikes More Simple – November invention, but as anything other than a get- Journal. you-home measure I would approach it with He is talking about his own point of caution. view without even considering other rider’s It sounds best suited to an airhead Boxer, opinions. and I suppose it works by running the As he says he likes old bikes and is always engine on only one cylinder. BMW’s Boxer modifying and repairing - that’s his thing. engineering should ensure the engine survives My thing is to ride 30,000 miles per year, the mismatch of mechanical forces involved very often 500 miles per day over the UK and when only one cylinder is powered. However, Europe on my own for business. I struggle to unless the fuel feed to the non-working change a bulb! cylinder is cut off, which is not mentioned in Very fortunately I have a new RT1200 his letter, then the tyre will be inflated by a almost yearly with 100% reliability and mixture of air and fuel vapour, expelled on the

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 13 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends compression stroke through the special Heath using two bikes with in-tank fuel pumps and Robinson hollow plug. a sports car with an in-tank ‘lifter’ fuel pump Now a rear drive tractor tyre rarely gets and I reassure myself with the knowledge punctures and represents a big, sturdy that in more than forty years’ driving I have container for a fuel/air mix which is normally never heard of any such pump causing such a burned under pressure in the engine cylinder. problem. What do the experts say? A bike tyre does get punctures all too easily, and I’m left wondering about the implications Chris Rogers. Devon of riding around on a container of a pressurised mixture which could be fiery in the wrong An Explosive Mix? circumstances. I would also like to hear from chemical Am I missing something here? Is JP Whitwell experts about the effect on the rubber/ seriously suggesting inflating tyres with a polymer in the tyre carcass. Its interior would heady cocktail of air and fuel direct from one be continually exposed to petrol vapour and of the engines combustion chambers? might suffer a measure of chemical degradation I will be giving all tractors in Southend a over a period of time. Could that affect the wide berth; they have very big rear tyres. I am structure of the tyre? If the rider subsequently sure my bike has a huge displacement but not had an accident which could be traced to that as huge as my displacement should one go off tyre, might his insurance company decide that at the wrong moment...... the bike was un-roadworthy and refuse to pay Presumably he meant “Turn the engine up? As for Dave White’s concern about the over with the starter motor and disconnect bare electrical connections on the in-tank fuel any remaining unmolested sparking plugs to pump, I think the reassurance lies in the fact prevent starting”! that petroleum is only flammable as a vapour Mark Clark. Hertfordshire. and when it is mixed with air in the right proportion, roughly between 1.5% and 7.5% of petrol to air. Below 1.5% the mixture is too’ The SOS Medical lean’ and won’t fire and above 7.5% it’s too rich Talisman and again won’t ignite (that’s why the mixture Re the letter from Keith Burley and medical used for the engine has to be just right. With info for us and others. I have worn an SOS too much choke, or with the engine ‘flooded’, medical talisman for many years. It is a neck it won’t start). Within the bike’s petrol tank the ‘mixture’ will almost certainly be so chain and a small screw together ‘disc’, inside vapour-rich that a wayward spark from an which there is a multi-folded piece of paper intermittent fuel pump connection would not on which my medical history is written. be able to ignite the petrol. This is always round my neck for the possible However I’m not a technical expert so I eventuality, but fortunately never needed. certainly wouldn’t say ‘never’, and I would love Such an item can usually be found in the to hear from those who practice the science jeweller’s shops. The great thing about it is you and can provide chapter and verse and maybe just get used to it being there. May be interest practical experience. to the participants. Many thousands, probably millions of vehicles have in-tank fuel pumps. I ride around T’ Upsidedown Tyke. 14 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Available BMWfrom dealers all

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BMW Club Journal • December 2010 15 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends In Memoriam Alistair Hill remembers his brother

Ray Hill passed away early October, as an avid on ride up the M1 I was following him about lover of the marque and a long time subscriber 500yrds astern and I saw smoke coming to the journal & BMF member I would like to from his bike, I dropped a gear and pulled up write a few words. alongside to find him on cruise control screen We cremated him on the 21st October, the up smoking a fag, he just looked across and entry music to the crem was Meatloaf Bat Out grinned. of Hell, which may indicate the type of guy He loved his touring and was not adverse to he was, I was privileged enough to give him a popping to Budapest for coffee! R 100RT circa last escort on his K1200 LT, our 82 year old 1983 if I recall, he did a great deal of riding Aunt “Tib” in Europe and decided at the several trips to last minute she the US but also wanted to ride commuted on along as well, his bike on a Ray had given regular basis. her a spin on As a staunch the bike several member of the times before, it BMF he would certainly raised support the the mood of rights of his the day. fellow riders, His K1200 as a rider LT was the himself went last of a long though the distinguished IAM, and was line of beemers one of the few he had owned, bikers I would the photo was ride pillion the one he with. sent me with a simple note (my new baby), he I paid one last tribute to him and sprinkled had converted me many years before, he had a wee bit of his ashes from the bike at his various bikes through his riding career from favorite double bend, just North of Lincoln the early Honda 750 4, another favorite of his on the A 15 before Scampton Air base coming was the 850 Norton Commando but he always from Caenby Corner with appropriate musical returned to the BMW, our last ride together accompaniment at full blast, got to love those in 2008, I had rented a Honda Pan European LT’s. 1300 because Ray had expressed wish to try So we are one great rider down, he will be one out, but after the first couple of hundred missed and remembered with love by many. miles and my moaning he decided to stay on the beemer in comfort. His wee brother His previous K 1100 LT was also of note, Al

16 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 17 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Book Review Tortillas to Totems by Sam Manicom

Tortillas to Totems is the tale of Sam & interesting, funny and engaging. Here are a his companion Brigit’s wonderful Motorcycle couple of excerpts from the book journey which commences by exploring the ancient Mayan ruins of Mexico and then “Hardly a house, rarely a village, seldom any onto the dramatic landscapes forests, towns, traffic; what a beautiful road. We were on one of beaches, mountains and roads of America the fabled bikers’ highways of Canada. Within Canada and Alaska. This is an engaging book from the first minutes of rolling onto it, it had started to live chapter to the epilogue. Written so beautifully up to its reputation. Just road, forest, flowers, you feel warmly invited to share the highs, lakes, rivers, bears and a few road repair crews the lows, the joy and sadness and the overall for added diversity. In the distance, craggy peaks, human experience of wild travelling on a lightly dusted with snow, formed one of nature’s motorcycle. From dodgy policemen and perfect backdrops. The curving, dipping surface troublesome awkward border crossings, to of the Cassiar Highway eased from asphalt to new friendships, cultural adjustments and gravel to short sections of thick glutinous mud. innovative coping strategies this is a gripping Fun time. Above us, clear blue sky and a sun read with lots of learning for those of us who that warmed our backs as we headed north. wish to follow in his lead or for those of you, Alaska here we come...” like me, who will have to settle for sharing the experiences of others. A natural story teller Sam captures the “I doubt he could see us but he was on his imagination not only with his vivid description guard as the other horses, a couple of which were of the long open roads and wonderful scenery wobbly-legged foals, set to grazing the stream’s but of the trials and tribulations that such a banks, or to drinking from the gently flowing journey would inevitably bring. His love affair water. We held our breath. This sight felt like a with his trusted steed Libby (1991 RS80GS) pure gift. Never had I imagined that we would is evident from the start and as with all close be sitting in a place such as this, surrounded by relationships they have their ups and downs as wild horses. The now brilliant orange sun made the adventure progresses. the perfect backdrop as the milling horses kicked Unpredictable incidents and accidents up small clouds of dust as they fed and drank. keep the pair on their toes (and tyres). Any This was the real Wild West as far as I was biker having undertaken lengthy motorcycle concerned.” journeys will almost certainly identify with Sam and Brigit’s determination, frustration My first Sam Manicom read and his latest and ultimate satisfaction in keeping the machines going. book so have kind of started back to front This journey of discovery is full of surprises however it won’t be long before I indulge in from the onset and as with life itself nothing his other adventures. ever really goes totally to plan or how it might have been imagined. This is very true of Caroline Williams. this adventure which makes the book more GS Rider and Northern Section member 18 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Castellane and the Gorge du Verdon Mike Davies’s diary tells us what we missed

The BMW Club East Anglia Section visited After a shower we walked to the nearby Castellane and Verdon Gorge between 4th restaurant. – 11th September 2010. The words are by Mike Davies with photos by Mike and Mark Friday 3rd September Handley. Out on to the peage early we rode steadily As with all our foreign trips, this one was south in sunny weather, stopping for a break, organised many months ago by Matt Butcher fuel and lunch and after a few uneventful and Sarah McCarney with Mark Handley hours arrived in Grenoble at the Etap hotel planning the ride-out. Early bookings on – actually located at Voreppe, some 11kms ferries usually mean cheaper fares. Hotels north of Grenoble. booked over weekends are cheaper. This report is written on a day-to-day basis and as we all Saturday 4th September tend to do our own thing whilst staying in the We left the hotel around 8.45 and rode area of the trip, it will give a fair idea of what steadily south, again in sunny weather. went on. I had arranged to ride down with Shortly after passing Grenoble we joined the Tom Rodgers and share a chalet at Domain du Route de Napoleon, named after Napoleon in Verdon, Castellane, where we were all staying 1815. It is a delightful road with many bends (one of many such sites owned and run by Les and great scenery, passing through Gap (avoid Castles Company). Tom rides a 2009 GSA this town in rush hour) and Sisteron. A few and I ride a 2010 GSA with the new engine so miles from Castellane we stopped for lunch at we were well matched. a café where we were joined by Mark and Lyn Handley riding their R1100RT. Thursday 2nd September We started our journey to the Verdon area and met at the BP petrol station just as you enter Dover. The P&O ferry was waiting and after a good breakfast onboard we left Calais having put our watches on an hour for French time. I had planned a peage route and the next stop was at Challon-en-Champagne. I have pre-booked Etap hotels where possible as they offer reasonable comfort at good prices and booking early saves more money. These hotels are nearly always located in an industrial estate area of the town but a restaurant is usually within walking distance. We arrived After lunch a short ride brought to us to the at Challons-en-Champagne but at a Premier campsite where we booked in and moved into Classe hotel as the Etap had been full when our chalet. I booked. This was not as good as the Etap! BMW Club Journal • December 2010 19 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends top to be greeted with magnificent views of Castellane, the Verdon River and surrounding countryside.

Our chalet was chosen as it had plenty of room, both of us having our own room and toilet facilities. These chalets are well equipped The inside of the chapel is ornately and bedding and all utensils are included. decorated and holds regular services. Walking For 4 euros you can hire two towels, which down on the main path was much easier with saves space in the luggage. We unpacked and ever changing views and many butterflies, went to the on-site shop for basic items and moths and lizards as company. On arrival in breakfast foods. Castellane we sat down at one of the many cafes in the main square for a well-earned Sunday 5th September drink. Several of our group told us they had Our first day started with beautiful sun so also walked up to the chapel during their stay. breakfast was on the veranda. We then walked Monday 6th September into Castellane (about a mile) and were immediately attracted to the imposing sight of Prior to leaving home I had loaded a route the Notre-Dame du Rock chapel perched high on to my GPS for a circumnavigation of the on a huge rock behind Castellane. entire Verdon Gorge and today Tom and I set off down the road on the north side, which soon passes through spectacular scenery.

It was a tempting sight so we set off up a very steep path to the rear of the rock (we learnt there was an easier way which we found on the The road closely follows the river Verdon walk down!). After about three quarters of an and has been hewn out of the limestone rocks, hour and a few breather stops we arrived at the with the odd tunnel, overhanging rocks and precipices at every bend.

20 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

The Gorge, the largest in Europe, is reputed views. One particular place is by a restaurant to be around 3000 feet deep at its deepest where, from a specially built vantage point, and the road climbs steadily until high on one has spectacular views of the gorge and the north side of the gorge one is presented where it takes a U shaped bend. with stupendous views of the gorge and the The ride continues along more gentle roads sparkling strip of the river many feet below. and we eventually arrived back at the campsite. Great care is required when riding as the road is only just wide enough for two vehicles and many of the bends are blind. We eventually arrived at Lac de Sainte Croix and checked out canoe hire for another day.

Beauty Total distance for the circumnavigation was around 80 miles. Tuesday 7th September Today was set aside for the ride out.

Crossing the Galetas Bridge to the south side of the Gorge, we proceeded to Aiguines were we had lunch in the small square. Some years ago a group of us from the East Anglia Section had stayed here in the small hotel but on that occasion it rained solidly for three days! Today was beautiful and we had an enjoyable lunch. The road on the south side of the gorge is not so demanding but still offers excellent

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 21 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Mark and Lyn Handley led some fifteen bikes and one car (Jon and Becky Price had driven down) off on bendy roads to St. Paul where we parked in a designated bikers area and had two hours to look around and have lunch.

Just before we left Thorenc, Mark came up to me and said he was having problems with his GPS and could I lead the ride back home. I had the routes on mine so led off. Immediately we encountered two wide and deep water gulleys running across the road – ok on a GS but more tricky on some of the tourers. The road then got progressively narrower and loose St. Paul is a walled town set on a hill and under wheel but fortunately we soon came on one can walk around the walls and explore the to a better road. More winding roads with many narrow streets. excellent views led us past Lake Castillon just north of Castellane and we all returned to the campsite safely after an excellent ride out. Wednesday 8th September 2010 After a leisurely breakfast Tom and I decided to sample the facilities offered at the campsite. We chose mini-golf which was free (at this time of the year) and, collecting our clubs, knocked our golf balls around the course which gave us both much amusement. I think in fairness to us both a draw was the best result!! We then rode a few miles north to Lake Castillon for some photos.

Leaving St. Paul, Mark led us on through more winding narrow roads to a pre-arranged tea stop at Thorenc where we all sat down to tea and cakes.

22 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends On the way back we stopped off at the particular interest to me as I have run Citroens local supermarket and I bought a litre of fully for some 30 years and manyTunnel of the dal models Gall I synthetic 10- 50 oil as I needed some before the have owned were on show. We then rode on ride home. We also filled up with petrol. The to Digne-les-Bains, along some of the Route 33 litre tank on the GS allows well over 300 Napoleon on which we had ridden down. miles travel and in some cases I have recorded We lunched here and I bought my usual close to 400 miles on slower roads. Back on the campsite we changed and walked into Castellane for a drink. Most evening meals we either cooked for ourselves in the chalet or ate at the camp restaurant. Thursday 9th September 2010 Today a trip to St. Tropez was agreed and with luck we might see my long-time heart throb, Brigitte Bardot. Two other members joined us for this trip – Duncan and Paul. The route to St. Tropez was due south about 70 miles but on joining the coast road we encountered heavy slow moving traffic. Luckily we GSA riders had left our panniers souvenir, a knife or in this case a bottle opener behind (3 feet across when fitted!) so we were with blade. I buy one at each holiday venue able to entertain the car drivers with some and am building up a collection. I also pick up filtering! We were lucky to find parking on a small piece of rock from the areas I visit and the quayside at St. Tropez where we had an have a geologist’s delight on a shelf at home, excellent if a little pricey lunch! I had planned a ranging from all over Europe and as far as ride back along the coast and this was virtually New Zealand! traffic free. I didn’t see Brigitte Bardot! Saturday 11th September Departure day! We had to arrange a chalet inspection before leaving and with this duly completed we set off north and homewards. We used the same routes back apart from a diversion off the peage before our stop at the Etap in Chalons-sur-Champagne and another detour as we approached Calais. We also rode a couple of short off-road excursions just to test the GSAs! We stopped for lunch in Sangatte – I can recommend the Blanc Nez restaurant towards the end of the main street in Sangatte going south. The ferry trip was as usual Friday 10th September without incident. I bought a watch as the one First thing this morning, after breakfast, we I was wearing had stopped during the holiday. set to and cleaned the chalet as we were leaving A great holiday and thanks to all concerned the next day. We then rode to the Citroen who helped in arranging it. We all met new Museum just outside Castellane where a large colleagues from other areas within the club. range of Citroens is on show. This was of The Verdon Gorge is an area I can thoroughly

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 23 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends recommend for stupendous scenery, great roads and excellent food and drink. Statistics: Attendees at Campsite (permanent and visitors) about 60 in total. Cost of Prestige Chalet 72 Euros per night (for 2 people) Motorcycle including electricity and gas. Premier Classe Hotel 50 Euros for room (for 2 people - give Service & Repairs these a miss). Etap Hotels average 42 Euros per room (for 2 people) at the weekend rate. Individual attention Total mileage covered from Essex to Castellane and back: 2196 miles. Petrol consumption: On Peage around 42 mpg at 90 mph and 48 mpg at 80 mph. Oil used: 500 ml (still full on arrival home and as service was done immediately on return I estimate engine [email protected] used about 350 ml for trip. Touring speed on Peage: around 78-80 mph after trying higher speed (less economical). Peage fees about 50 euros for whole trip. On reflection we could NORTH DEVON have cut out one hotel stay each way as the

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24 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Replacing Paralever Bearings

Paul Glaves explains wrenching American-style.

During a tech seminar at the BMW MOA After the rally in Wisconsin I found the International Rally in Wisconsin I was need to remove the final drive and swingarm asked by a questioner how he could tell if the from Voni’s 2000 R1100S with 52,000 Paralever pivot bearings in the final drive on miles, to inspect the universal joints on the his bike were bad. I glibly responded that I driveshaft. BMW uses high strength thread was sure they were bad, and expanded on that locking compound on the Paralever pivots so answer with my observation that I had never the pivots must be heated to melt the thread removed a Paralever final drive and found locker to remove the pivots. the pivot bearings suitable to be reused. I still As has almost always been the case I found haven’t, as the photographs in this column that the Paralever pivot bearings were damaged will show. and needed to be replaced. Photo 1 shows the The Paralever rear suspension uses two sets outer bearing race and needle rollers still in of roller bearings: swingarm bearings where place in the final drive housing. The inner the swingarm pivots at the transmission case race pulled out of the bearing assembly when or frame, and Paralever pivot bearings where the pivot pin (stub axle) was removed. In this the final drive attaches to the rear of the particular bearing the rollers were stuck, and swingarm. In my experience the swingarm wouldn’t roll at all. The rollers exhibit flat bearings seem robust and seldom need spots worn onto them by the rocking motion replacement. But, the smaller Paralever pivot of the inner race. bearings back at the final drive seem fragile Photo 2 shows the damaged inner race, and almost always need replacement once the which pulled out of the bearing assembly final drive is removed from the swingarm. when the pivot pin or stub axle was removed.

Paul Glaves Photo 1

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 25 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Worn and or pounded indentations are or later manuals may show different numbers. clearly visible on this inner race. The other The specifications call for the housing area Paralever pivot bearing was also damaged but around the bearing to be heated to 248 not as badly as this one. Interestingly, as bad degrees Fahrenheit (120 degrees Celsius). If as these bearings were I was unable to detect you have access to the BMW special tools by any looseness in the Paralever pivot joint by all means use them. They simplify the job. But external examination. Also, this is the second if you don’t have access to these tools you can time I have removed a final drive and found use alternatives – CAREFULLY. the Paralever pivot bearing inner races firmly I use a half-inch drive socket with an stuck to the pivot pins with an over exuberant outside diameter of 28mm (1.1 inch) as a application of thread locking compound driver. Note – this is the outside diameter – which was mostly missing from the threads not the nominal size. This diameter slips into and all over the bearing. In both cases it was the hole in the case from the inside out and the first time the final drive had been removed bears against the back of the bearing. First, since assembly at the factory. remove the rear portion of the driveshaft from Removal of the old bearings is usually the final drive input shaft by lightly prying straightforward. If the inner race is stuck to it forward. Photo 3 shows a socket inserted the pivot pin heat the race with a torch and through the recesses in the case and bearing use pliers (and gloves) to remove it. The outer against the back of the bearing outer race. An bearing race is an interference fit in the final extension sticks through the other bearing. drive case. That is, the outside diameter of Heat the area right around the bearing with the bearing is ever-so-slightly larger than the a heat gun. I use an infrared remote sensing hole or recess in the case into which it fits. The thermometer to determine the temperature BMW repair manual specifies three special of the heated housing. Once it is hot enough tools to be used to remove and replace these a few light taps on the driver with a hammer bearings: Counter Support, BMW No. 00 8 will drive the bearing out. You do not need to 572 and Internal Puller, BMW No. 00 8 573 pound heavily if the housing is heated to the to remove the bearing and Driver, BMW No. specified 248 degrees F. BMW specifies a bearing driver to install 36 3 700 to install the new bearing. These the new bearings. However, I use a long bolt numbers are from my R1150R manual. Earlier Photo 2 Photo 3

26 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends and washers to draw each new bearing into JL Enterprizes makes and sells solid bronze place. It took a lot of years but I’ve learned bushings, which together with a steel outer to try to avoid pounding on things unless race replace the roller bearings at the Paralever absolutely necessary, especially if I don’t have pivots. In my opinion the Paralever pivots are the exact, specified special tool. Photo 4 a good application for a solid bushing instead shows a new bearing being drawn into place. of a roller bearing. Nothing in this joint is Heat the housing around the bearing recess. spinning. As the suspension moves, the final Freezing the bearing prior to installation drive case rocks back and forth on the stub helps. The heat causes the recess in the case to axle pivots. A solid bushing spreads the load expand and freezing causes the bearing race to over a larger area than bearing rollers. shrink slightly. Carefully align the bearing so I have installed these solid bronze bushings it is straight and slowly draw the bearing into in the three Paralever equipped bikes we now the recess by tightening the nut on the bolt. Be own: an R1100RS, R1150R, and R1100S. careful that the bearing is going in straight. If Photo 5 shows the two-piece assembly: the not, stop and start over. Be sure that the back steel outer race on the right and the bronze of the outer race is fully seated against the bushing which replaces the rollers and inner shoulder in the recess. race on the left. Photo 6 shows the bronze CAUTION: While I haven’t done it, I bushing fitted into the steel outer race on the am sure it is possible to fracture or otherwise workbench. damage the final drive case by pounding too Installation of the steel outer races into hard removing a bearing or by forcing a new the recesses in the final drive case is virtually bearing into the case crooked. If the case is identical to installing a new OEM bearing. warmed sufficiently the bearings will drive out Photo 7 shows a steel outer race in place in the or be drawn in quite easily. Be careful! If you final drive case. Note that when fully inserted are not sure of your technique leave this work the race is not flush with the outside of the to your dealer or other qualified technician. case. I used the long bolt and washer assembly By now you might surmise that I am not shown in Photo 4 to initially draw the race entirelyBirgit and satisfied bikes in withCactus the LandOEM roller bearings flush with the case. I then put the bronze used in this application. You would be correct. bushing in place and continued to draw the There is an aftermarket alternative available. race all of the way into the recess. Photo 8 Photo 4

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 27 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends shows the bronze bushing in place, in the race, Manuals for different models have different in the final drive case. torque specifications. I have manuals which The first time I installed a set of these give two different torque specifications and bushings I stopped in the middle of the job I haven’t sorted out if the spec changed or if and contacted Jess Lindley at JL Enterprizes somebody mis-translated. The manual I have for advice. The OEM roller bearing inner race for R1100RS/GS bikes says 105 Newton slips completely onto the stub axle pivot pin Meters, which is 77 Foot Pounds. The manuals with no force required. The bronze bushing I have for an R1150R and R1100S say 160 wouldn’t slip past the little shoulder on the Newton Meters, which is 118 foot-pounds. pivot pin. My impression, which was wrong, Find and follow the specifications for your was that the inside diameter of the bushing bike. BMW specifies Loctite high strength was too small. Photo 9 shows the bushing thread locking compound on the threaded on the pivot pin as far as the shoulder would fixed pivot and the threaded movable pivot. permit it to slide loosely by hand. The specific Loctite number has changed over Mr. Lindley explained that the bushing the years. See your manual or ask your dealer. was sized to be a slight interference fit on the If you decide to install the aftermarket pivot pin. This is so the bushing rotates in bronze bushings from JL Enterprizes you will the hardened steel outer race and not on the receive an instruction sheet with instructions smaller, softer pivot pin. With that explanation for greasing and properly installing the provided I proceeded to reinstall the final bushing set. The torque for the fixed pivot and drive on the swingarm. Tightening the pivot for the locknut on the movable pivot should pins pressed the bushings on to them without be per the repair manual for your bike. difficulty. Likewise, removing the pivot pins The preload on the bushings is set with slides the bushings off the pins. very light torque on the movable pivot. The I understand that if this fit is too tight the specification is 36 to 48 INCH pounds. bushing can split, and that the most recent Basically you want to make sure the bushings bushings available are now not as tight on the are just snug and free of play. When you pins and that Loctite 270 (2701 in Europe) tighten the movable pivot you are pressing should be applied to the pin/bushing interface the bushings onto the pivot pins. You will be and also on the threads. able to tell when they are fully on the pins and The BMW Repair Manuals provide tight. Then back the pivot pin off slightly and torque specifications for the preload and final it will feel loose. Then lightly tighten to take assembly using the OEM roller bearings. up the play. Do not overtighten!! Photo 5

28 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends I apply Loctite 270 thread locking compound to the movable pivot and wait at Photo 7 least 30 minutes before I tighten the locknut. This generally prevents the movable pivot from turning when I tighten the locknut. I mark the pivot with paint so I can tell if it moved. If it did, I take it back out and start over. The bronze bushing sets are available from two sources that I am aware of. The retail price for a set of the bushings is $120 as of this writing. The primary vendor is: Tom Cutter’s Rubber Chicken Racing Garage in Yardley, PA. (www.RubberChickenRacingGarage.com) Tom is set up to process credit cards and do world wide shipping if this is important to you. Photo 8 Bushing sets are also available at Ted Porter’s Beemershop in Scotts Valley, CA (http://beemershop.com) If you have specific technical questions about the bushings you can contact Jess Lindley, JL Enterprizes, at jlenterprizes@ acsol.net or (970) 523-7067.

Good wrenching!

This article was supplied by Paul Glaves who is the technical editor for the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America. My thanks to Paul for allowing us to use it and to Dick Boyd for forwarding it to me. Photo 6 Photo 9

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 29 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Back in the Saddle

Helen Beer is back where she belongs

When Dave Cooper sidles up to you at the – you have to have a certain strength for that. AGM wearing a smile you know you should They encouraged, challenged and witnessed be very afraid and run….. but I wasn’t quick the return of that fly catching grin as I enough and he asked me oh so sweetly to enjoyed my new bike. write a few lines for the club. Maybe I should On the way home from one such ride I have stayed at the Village Hall where I’d gone waved off my entourage saying I would be by mistake – I’m sure the Harvest Supper I fine and rode off home alone….. all was fine was invited in to would have been v tasty and …… I parked outside the garage, went inside I wouldn’t be writing this!! My immediate to remove my helmet and let the dog out….. response was ‘What about – I’ve not done a but then discovered that with the additional lot lately’ – apart from repairing and getting lean on the sidestand of this new machine and fit again….. and hospitals and physios don’t the slope outside the garage (which hadn’t exactly make gripping reading! been an issue in the last 26 years) I couldn’t His pleading eyes were just too much so pull her upright – oh whoops (or something how can I describe to you how great it is to v similar). The skin graft and pelvis were be back on a bike. I lay in my hospital bed objecting strongly so I had a typical British dreaming of Daisy II – well you have to focus moment and made a cuppa whilst I pondered and my rather scrummy medics had no issues my dilemma…. I couldn’t ask the neighbours with me getting back on…. One put it nicely cos they all think I’m mad anyway. So – I – saying as long as the next time they saw me decided to sit on the front bench and see who it was not through the same route . walked past…. And on a sunny afternoon it I formed a cunning plan and picked her wasn’t long before a v fit young man obliged up in time to attend the BMW National and provided that tiny bit of assistance/ Spring Rally – a few had concerns about this muscle…. Pink moment over! Lesson also decision but it just had to be done. Wally at learnt – park on the flat bit of drive in future! CW’s wanted to deliver her - my hobbling And no – I don’t sit there every Sunday round the showroom obviously didn’t instil afternoon hoping my hero will return! confidence….. He even rung me that night I am fortunate to have many friends who to ensure I’d landed home safely…… oh ye like an excuse for a ride and I can now sit of little faith! V touching though and an happily for 2 hours in the saddle enjoying it example of the caring support I have received all again. She’s even had two washes and the over the last few years. A huge thank you to centre stand is not a problem. I luckily have all of you!! no recollection of my accident, the hours My first few rides were with various before or for several days afterwards – and I friends – they formed an escort to ensure I am truly very grateful for this…… it means I was ok – the riding was fine but the stopping can continue to enjoy a hobby I love with all and manoeuvring could have been a problem the good friends I have made over the years. 30 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 31 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

To arrange to have your business included in the Member Discounts scheme,microhelpuk.net, please contact 01623Graham 467852, Parker: 07843 graham@ 211280

32 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Battery Maintenance and Problems Wise advice from Mike Fishwick

Even those who keep their motorcycles in top still require an occasional check. A strip condition often ignore the battery until it dies. of adhesive tape across the plugs – even if it This failure is usually regarded with surprise, has a BMW logo – does not denote a ‘sealed’ and accepted as being ‘One of those things,’ battery, being simply a sign that the battery but at £80 to £120 a time it is an expensive has not been checked since it was built. folly. Measure the battery voltage some hours after charging, or a decent run, when 12.5 to Normal Maintenance 13 volts should be found. If in doubt, check If your battery is not a sealed zero- your meter against a known good instrument, maintenance type, it needs a check on the cell and do not regard digital meters as being levels at least twice a year, and topping up with inherently accurate. Your alternator should de-mineralised water – as is used in steam irons maintain 13.5 to 14.4 volts with a fully- etc. This compensates for loss of the water charged battery. in the dilute sulphuric acid electrolyte being Also take hydrometer readings of each cell. turned into bubbles of oxygen and hydrogen With a fully-charged battery these should read by the charging current, a process known as between 1275 and 1300 (the specific gravity, ‘gassing.’ or density, when compared to distilled water Even low-maintenance batteries, in which at 1000). If your battery is behind the engine, the use of lead-calcium plates promotes less the readings will be lower when hot, but a ‘gassing’ and loss of water from the electrolyte, single lower reading indicates a dying cell. The complete battery maintenance kit

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 33 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Suitable hydrometers are readily available Ideally the battery should be connected to a from Halfords etc. and are also handy for constant-voltage charger via the power socket, topping up the cells. and left on a continuous float charge just below Remember that the diluted sulphuric acid the level where ‘gassing’ takes place. Under used in batteries is corrosive, so try not to drip such conditions the battery will not require it on clothing or bodywork, as before long to be disconnected, or to have its filler plugs it will eat through. Needless to say, contact removed. Switching on the lights for a couple with skin or eyes is to be avoided. Treat any of hours every week, followed by recharging, spillages with a strong bicarbonate of soda will help to prolong the life of the battery. solution, and rinse copiously. Alternatively, use the charger every week or so, Occasionally disconnect and clean the the gradual self-discharge providing a similarly battery terminals, lightly coating them with beneficial cycling effect. Vaseline before reassembly. Do not forget the Remember that the ABS memory will engine earth strap, which is usually clamped record a power supply problem when the to the aluminium of the engine. Corroded battery voltage falls below 12.6 volts. While aluminium makes a wonderful insulator, and the later (ABS 2 onwards) systems will reset in some circumstances a failed engine earth themselves automatically, the original K100 can destroy the engine’s electronics. system will not. It can, however, be reset by earthing the centre pin of the blue diagnostic Lack Of Use connector, holding the Abs switch down, and Stagnation, and the associated sulphation turning on the ignition for ten seconds. of the plates, kills more lead-acid batteries The use of a socket directly connected to than anything else. Seldom-used vehicles are the battery is particularly useful on models of course most at risk. with ‘Single-wire’ or CANBUS electrical If you intend to lay up for the winter, top system, which will not enable continuous up the cells well before the last journey, as this ‘float’ charging. will charge the battery and help the water and acid to mix – remember that unmixed water No electricity? will freeze before the acid. If your garage lacks electricity, there is Do not just leave your motorcycle standing little option but to remove the battery for the during winter, as afterwards you may find winter, but this will mean that the alarm is the battery to be dead due to the normal self- inactive. discharge and the current drain through the A good answer to this problem is to connect alternator diodes, maintaining the memory a well-insulated cable to the battery positive of the radio, and of course the alarm system. terminal, and connect a small motorcycle Some after-market electronic equipment battery (with a 3 amp fuse in one cable) via can increase this level appreciably, as can the the power socket. Replace the battery with a original K1200LT radio, which could flatten freshly-charged one every week or two. the battery in a week! This current drain – typically 30 mA – will Wear And Tear reduce battery capacity by about 20 ampère- During normal use a certain amount of the hours per month. At 0°C a battery will lose plate material will become detached, and fall half of its capacity at 20°C, so during the into the base of the cell. This means that the coldest weather the battery may be flat after effective area of the plates is reduced, and – like two months. Deep discharges will ruin low- water flowing through a flattened pipe – the maintenance batteries, such damage being resistance to flow is increased. This is known excluded from guarantee claims. as increased internal resistance, the initial 34 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends symptom being that the affected cell does not much higher than the battery voltage, so a lose as much electrolyte as the others. higher current will be passed through the As the condition worsens, low current healthy cells, causing increased ‘gassing’ and demands such as the lights will operate electrolyte loss in them. The increased load normally, but operation at high current – on the alternator will also reduce the overall the starter motor – will cause the voltage to system voltage, with symptoms such as poor collapse. lights. The usual reaction is to charge the battery, after which voltage and specific gravity tests Best Practice will often reveal an apparently healthy battery. Obviously, the worst treatment a battery A battery specialist would test the battery can receive is being left to stagnate in a much- by connecting a low resistance across the loved car which is seldom used. The answer terminals while measuring the voltage under is to persuade the battery that it is being load, but an alternative method is available. used, by connecting it to a constant-voltage Remove all the filler plugs, then with a torch, charger via the cigar lighter socket or a while wearing eye protection and keeping a separate power socket, such as the Hella DIN- safe distance, observe the electrolyte levels type. These are in common use, from BMW while the starter motor is engaged. Passing motorcycles to John Deere tractors, and are current through any resistance will generate readily available from many auto-electrical heat, and in this case it will be sufficient to suppliers. This practice is usual in industrial quickly boil the electrolyte in the affected cell. and marine installations, and will not upset This test is absolutely conclusive, and of course your electronic gremlins, who will simply the answer is to replace the battery. assume that the alternator is charging the battery. Use the lights every week to partially Sudden Death discharge the battery, such cycling helping to Loss of conductive paste from the plates – in reduce any long-term capacity loss. larger quantities – can cause a sudden battery Suitable chargers are easily found, such failure in two ways. as the Gunsons ‘Automatic’ type, which is If sufficient paste falls to the bottom of available from German & Swedish branches the cell without touching the plates, the cell for about £45. will become open circuited, and there will Do not regard charging as an occasional treat no longer be a current path, resulting in the for your battery, but as a routine procedure. battery voltage falling to zero. If your motorcycle is in regular use, connect It is worth remembering that modern low- it whenever it is in its garage. Apart from the maintenance batteries develop this problem advantage of beginning a cold, dark, winter very quickly, often at the end of an apparently day with a fully-charged battery, you will also normal run, after which starting will become extend its useful life. impossible. I have been charging my cars and motorcycles If the paste manages to bridge the negative in this manner for over thirty years without and positive plates in a cell, it will become short any problems, finding that battery life is at circuited, so connecting the adjacent cells least doubled. As examples, my R100 battery together. Starter current passing through the has usually lasted for at least eight years, while paste will heat and fuse it together, resulting my BMW Z3 has just celebrated its twelfth in the loss of that cell. birthday and is still using the original battery, A short circuited cell can be easily diagnosed, which remains like new, giving specific as the battery voltage will be reduced by about gravities of 1275 to 1300, and maintaining 14 2 volts. The alternator output will then be volts even after being off-charge for 24 hours. BMW Club Journal • December 2010 35 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends WILDCAT ADVENTURES Benefits: A well-cared for battery does not place a 25 YEARS EXPERIENCE heavy charging load on the alternator, which CORSICA-SARDINIA-SICILY Road is then better able to maintain its voltage when “Earth, Sea and Fire” 03-19 SEPTEMBER 2011 under load. This enables the entire electrical EASTERN TURKEY Road system to operate at full efficiency, which is “Cappadocia and The Black Sea Coast” particularly noticeable in terms of lights. 09 JUNE-02 JULY 2011 For example, many owners claim their MOROCCO Road headlights to be dangerously poor, and buy “Atlas Mountains Raid” HID replacements rather than looking at the 01-17 MAY 2011 25 SEPTEMBER-11 OCTOBER 2011 basic problem of low voltage. This situation is not helped by the use of ‘Longlife’ bulbs to MOROCCO OVERLAND Road/Offroad “Desert and Mountains Raid” reduce warranty claims for blown bulbs – look 17-29 MAY 2011 for the tell-tale ‘LL’ next to the bulb details. 11-22 OCTOBER 2011 Modern engines are very dependant on a TUNISIA Road good electrical supply, and several owners have “Roman Sites and Sahara Raid” 14-27 OCTOBER 2011 noticed a sudden improvement in performance For DETAILS & PHOTOS please visit after fitting a new battery. www.wildcat-adventures.co.uk Your battery is the heart of the electrical Phone: 01786 816 160 (Office) Mobile: 07802 470 880 system, and is worth taking care of – look after Email: [email protected] it, and it will look after you.

Z3 battery and essential tools

36 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Workshop (mal)practice

Tools as explained by T’Upside Down Tyke 1/. Hammer. 3/. Slip Jointed Pliers. Originally used as a weapon of war for the Primarily used to strip the heads of purpose of stoving peoples’ heads in. But as obstinate bolts when the correct sized spanner we have become more civilised, we use bombs is not available. Most come with a wire cutting now, and the hammer has come in to its own. pair of jaws which is either too small or too big These come in a variety of formats all of which for the wire you want to cut. Can sometimes when being wielded develop a mind of their be used to replace the hammer. Known to nip own and, despite considerable efforts from the fingers when used in awkward locations. user, always manage to hit the most expensive and fragile object in proximity to the intended 4/. Drill Press. target. In addition to missing what you aimed Usually a bench mounted hand turned or for, fingers too get in the way, despite being at electric vertical drill for the drilling of holes the back of the hammer holding it! With the in materials that are set on the bed of the drill advance or teknologee these now come with below the drill bit and chuck. Depending on several head options, namely steel, plastic, the speed of the drill bit, swarf/offcuts can fly brass, and hard rubber, but appear in practise in all directions usually finding their way in to to be of little use other than mashing fingers your open-necked shirt. These, being hot then and knuckles. The upside to these injuries is, burn in to you chest leaving teeth-like marks, which then have to be explained to dearly it gets you out of doing the washing up! Some beloved! Useful tip. If the magnetron of your models come with ‘’the fly away head’’, and microwave oven fails, remove it and separate others are referred to as AKA ‘Ford Wrench’, the magnetron and recover the two circular or ‘WIH’ AKA ‘Wound inflicting hammer’. permanent magnets, and place these on the Best practise should be maintained at all times bed of the drill to catch the swarf/offcuts. Can to avoid injury so that you are still available to also be used for magnetising tools to keep your do the washing up! screws and nuts in place when trying to locate 2/. Electric Hand Drill. them in their intended destination. Developed from the original manual 5/. Bench Grinder. models to enable the user to complete a given This device is usually equipped with a wire task quicker. Particularly good for spinning wheel on one end and a grinding wheel on the rivets in their holes, causing wandering drill other end. The wire wheel is useful for cleaning bit scratches as ‘it does it’s own thing’, and off rusty bolts, and has been known to rip more damage when the crappy drill bit breaks. these from your fingers at the speed of light Some of the larger more powerful models are throwing them across the garage/workshop capable of turning the users wrist in amazing and embedding them selves into anything in degrees of rotation never previously achieved. their path. Also removes finger nails and hard In extreme situations it has been noted that earned callouses in the time it takes you to say when the bit bites the user can, particularly ***! The grinding wheel is primarily used for when stood up a ladder, be rotated by 360 grinding metal off, and is particularly useful degrees. in setting fire to the debris on the bench and BMW Club Journal • December 2010 37 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends floor. It too is capable of transporting objects on your sandwiches. N.B. Ensure this is across the workplace and embedding them thoroughly degreased before returning it to in anything in their path, or even out of the the cutlery drawer in the kitchen, or all hell garage and then becoming lost in the garden or will break lose. tangled up in the washing out on the line. This then results in more explaining and grovelling 11/. Bolt and/or stud extractor. to dearly beloved. Despite paying a small fortune for this supposedly hardest of tools, it usually snaps 6/. Hydraulic floor jack. off at the first 5mm bolt. Primarily used for lifting things, which usually weigh in excess of its capabilities. Can 12/. Timing light. be useful when swapping car wheels around A stroboscopic instrument bought at not but has been known to fail leaving the subject inconsiderable expense, which is useful for vehicle on the floor and the jack trapped illuminating grease and crud build up on beneath it. obscured engine parts. 7/. Long piece of 4x4 inch timber. 13/. Two ton overhead hoist. Used for lifting the car up to retrieve the Rarely used, usually for engine removals, but hydraulic jack. Usually accompanied by half a does have the benefit of being strong enough dozen bricks to use as chocks. to snap cables and pipes you have forgotten to disconnect prior to the lift. 8/. Tweezers/long-nosed pliers. Useful for removing splinters after using 14/. Battery electrolyte tester. the 4x4 pole. A very handy tool for the transfer of sulphuric acid from the battery to your pants, socks, 9/. Mobile phone. boots or any where else you choose to splash it, To be kept in ‘reach’ so you can ring your and this is after you have now determined that pal up to bring round another hydraulic jack. your battery is actually knackered, just as you Also useful for ordering tea or coffee from the thought in the first place. kitchen. 15/. Hacksaw. 10/. Gasket scraper. One of the family of cutting tools built Useful when ‘cleaning’ old gaskets off on the Ouija board principle. It converts machined surfaces without causing damage. human energy into a crooked unpredictable Can also be used for spreading mayonnaise motion and the more you attempt to influence

38 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends its direction the more dismal your efforts become. 16/. Vice/mole grips. Used to hold bolt heads or more usually round them off whilst suddenly opening and resulting in skinned knuckles. 17/. Ratchet tool. Bolt removal tool typically equipped with a socket attachment end. This tool can also double up as a hammer. Used with sockets that approximately fit the subject nut, which persistently fall of the end of the tool, or at best round nut and bolt faces off. Sockets are also known to disappear in to the abyss of the melee on the garage floor. Not recommended for users with high blood pressure. 18/. Wander light. With bulb guard and handle. Sometimes referred to as the users sunning light, also known as the drop light, as it regularly does, despite having first secured it firmly. It is a good source of vitamins. Apart from that it is known to consume light bulbs at a staggering rate, and can only be likened to the rate at which a machine gun spits out bullets. Also useful for warming your ‘pinkies’ on a cold day. 19/. The Cantilever Tool Box. That mystical place where tools are never in the same place that you put them, despite having a ‘system’ for where everything goes. The bottom tray is where all the nuts, bolts and washers ‘live’ despite the fact that none of them are ever the actual size that you currently need. It also has the ability to dirty ever tool despite meticulous cleaning after every use. It can also be contributory to the dreaded hernia given its all up weight. It can, when fully closed, be used as a standing platform to reach those out of reach shelves where you only keep ‘little’ used items, that you constantly require. BMW Club Journal • December 2010 39 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends German Jottings The pages of Motorrad magazine interpreted by John Bentall

Motorrad pitched some touring motorcycles the machines here and none of the others can together on a ride to find Jeremy Clarkson’s match its in-gear pulling power. On winding “best driving road in Europe”, the roads the slightly cramped riding position is Transfagarasan Pass in Carpathia. The not apparent, but on the longer stretches the participants were the R1200RT, Kawasaki rider sons gets a sore posterior. The pillion seat GTR1400, Yamaha FJR1300, Honda Gold is not particularly comfortable for long stints Wing, Triumph Sprint GT, H-D Electra Glide either. However the unstressed nature of the Ultra Limited and Suzuki GSX 1250 FA GT. machine is transferred directly to the crew as In issue 19, the machines were evaluated on the the big Suzuki seems to guide itself. usual 1000-point scale and resulted in a win The massive (421kg) Gold Wing seems to for the R1200RT. In issue 20, the machines echo the massive mountain scenery, however were evaluated purely for their capabilities it is light to park and bring upright. It is more as touring machines, particularly luggage light-footed through the mountains that capacity, behaviour when laden, equipment seems credible – in truth something of a “Gold and braking for downhill hairpins. Swing” – as it is perfectly balanced, with a The RT feels totally at home in the low centre of gravity and a low seat. Steering mountains and responds to the riders every precision and feedback are excellent for a command. The high, wide bars and relatively luxury liner, even when negotiating bumps light weight (282kg wet) make light work of midway through a corner. The air suspension riding progressively. Although its boxer motor does not quite have the range of the BMW’s is amongst the least powerful of the group, it ESA system but is good nonetheless. The Gold delivers the goods in a very touring-friendly Wing is always eager to do business and is a manner. The rider sits comfortably behind the very comfortable perch for the lady pillion 25-litre tank, enjoying a compliant suspension even though she felt a little remote from the that irons out even the worst bumps of the action. Rumanian roads and also the best brakes of The pillion found the Harley even more the group. to her liking – and both machines were The more flowing the roads, the more the completely unaffected by her presence, as was Triumph is in its element. The engine pulls the RT. The pillion sits more upright, enjoys evenly and seems to catch a second wind high the most open position for the knees while the up the rev range. This characteristic, together footboards provide an opportunity to vary the with the exhaust note and the most precise position of the legs. The exhaust even warms steering result in a sporty riding experience. the passenger’s right foot. The motor is very However as a result of its lengthened flexible and the modest performance enforces wheelbase, this “sporty” machine actually a relaxed ride. requires a lot of steering input effort to make The nine-year old but ever fresh-looking rapid progress. The Triumph has bigger cases, Yamaha has a low seating position, narrow a better headlight, comfier suspension and width and low seat height that still provides a lower pillion seat than the Sprint, so all it adequate leg-room and a relaxed bend of the needs now are higher bars, a more protective knees and is good for long stretches in the screen and a gear indicator to improve its saddle. It is difficult to heave onto its centre- touring credentials. stand and the 305kg make themselves noticed The Suzuki has the best touring motor of all when turning and parking. The handling is 40 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends fidgety over bumps on the Bridgestone BT21 When the weather is throwing down rain, tyres and constant corrections are required. fog and poor visibility, the rider feels safer on The substantial heat output is only welcome on board the Gold Wing. The Triumph rider has cooler days and the setting of the windscreen plenty of feel for what the front wheel is doing is a matter of compromising the turbulence but suffers from aching wrists, which he calls between rider and passenger. There should “Carpathian tunnel syndrome”. be more a difference between the hard and Riding along unfamiliar, indifferently soft setting for the rear damping, less torque surfaced roads the RT is completely reaction when applying or closing the throttle unperturbed by the greasy surface and the and fewer vibrations. Metzeler Z6 interact does not slide over the The 314kg Kawasaki is somewhat front- many bitumen strips. Its behaviour is the heavy and prefers wide open bends and completely opposite of the Harley, whose determined steering inputs. The application 28-spoke, Dunlop-shod wheels seem to follow of effort is helped by the leant-forward riding every rut in the road surface. If one attempts to position. The GTR is throttled back in the force the pace, the Harley bucks and wallows lower gears and does not pull particularly like a ship in heavy seas, as the suspension at strongly out of low speed corners. Its uphill both ends hits its stops. Pumping up the rear acceleration in 3rd gear laden with pillion suspension to its maximum air pressure helps does not match that of the Suzuki, FJR or matters considerably. even the RT. So let’s try downhill then – and The irritating brakes on the Harley are slow this brings another problem to light. The to bite as if there is air in the system and those brakes fade extremely badly and the rider is of the Suzuki feel rather dead and lack a clear chalky white underneath his helmet. The well- biting point. The Kawasaki brakes feel terrific matched suspension offers the greatest load as all three disks are always used, but that it capacity after the RT, but when negotiating makes it difficult to apply a bit of trailing brake the huge potholes the Kawasaki offers little through a corner. The coarse operation of the in the way of feedback and handling reserves. ABS also means that ultimate braking power BMW H-D Honda Kawasaki Suzuki Triumph Yamaha R1200RT Electra Gold GTR GSX1250 Sprint FJR1300 Glide Wing 1400 GT Acceleration 0-62 mph 3.9 6.3 4.2 3.2 3.4 3.4 3.3 25-50 mph in 3rd gear, laden, at 5,000 ft above sea level 6.4 11.2 7.4 6.7 6.1 7.1 6.5 Crankshaft BHP (Dyno-test) 100 71 101 136 99 109 128 Weight – fully fuelled kg 282 407 421 314 278 270 305 Touring Fuel Consumption. 55.5 48 41.5 43.5 45.5 55.5 45.5 Range (miles) 310 242 228 210 190 243 250 Braking Distance from 62mph with pillion (metres) 45.4 48.8 52.1 51.4 49.5 47.0 47.6

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 41 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends is a little below par. The front brake lever of the Honda does not seem to do much and the rear is definitely also needed to provide adequate stopping power unless one wants to try out the airbag. When the RT has stopped from 62 mph, the Gold Wing is still travelling at 22mph. At the turning point of the tour the Kawasaki went on strike and refused to start as the transponder key went out of action. On the following morning a call to Kawasaki Germany elicited instructions on how to bypass the unit and breathe life back into the electronics. During the return trip, the Harley held its own for hours at a time. Anyone who has not long to live should blow everything and tour for a year on an Electra Glide. Those who want an almost perfect tourer for short and long trips should ride an RT – and in between lie the trusty FJR, the powerful GTR, the opulent Gold Wing, the sporty Triumph and the inexpensive Suzuki.

42 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends A Lap with the Gods

Neil Leigh would like to make your dreams come true

If you not only love riding race tracks but locally!! I thought Geoff Meade’s letter to The are also a scholar of the history of Motorsport Journal had a great feeling of ‘first love’ but it’s the Nurburgring Nordschleife combines these important to correct and explain one statement two loves in a way no other circuit can within he made. ‘As soon as you cross the start line, its 20.8 kms (necessarily shorter than in its insurance is suspended’. Be very aware if this competitive heyday). Tales of heroic deeds applies to your insurance company:- i.e if it is in and the ghosts of the good and the truly great the policy statement* that the Nordschleife in seep from the surface and stare down from the not covered then the best advice is do not take trees, hills and mountains that surround you. part in lapping in Public traffic as the ‘circuit’ I have been riding the Ring on motorcycles is a designated one way public street and in the for the past 20 years as a true Nordschleife event of an incident you will be expected, by the attending police (remember it’s a public enthusiast, taking part in numerous training one way toll road) to produce valid documents courses and for the past 10 years passing on to prove your bike is road registered, you have my love and knowledge of the place to other a valid license and you have correct insurance. devotees through working as an instructor for Failure is going to be very messy! As far as do’s training groups. At present I train English- and don’t go in Public traffic, do treat it as speaking groups on Motorrad courses as well nothing more than a quick road ride, meaning as escorting Guests in public traffic from you do have time to keep a very wary eye on my Motorsport lodgings base near to Spa your rear view mirrors and use indicators to Francorchamps. Yep I know, I have too much show approaching vehicles that you have seen of a good thing going! For details please see them and will be staying to the right hand side my advert at the back of The Journal. (remember, public Street rules apply). Don’t Firstly we need to address the issue of venture out in public traffic if it’s wet if you do Public Traffic, or ‘terrorist traffic’ as it’s known not have a very good level of experience of the

The Green Hell

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 43 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Nordschleife, as in some sections it is nothing a series of rights and lefts, each tighter than like as grippy as an average public road surface. the last requiring accurate braking while I kid you not! still being careful on cool rubber, you catch If you really do have an itch to scratch a glimpse of the GP track to your left as you regarding the Nordschleife, closed circuit narrowly miss the Armco on the final right, training courses are the way to go and there let the bike drift left and bring it hard to the are two ways for English speaking riders to right hand side of the track for the very tricky join appropriate courses with experienced downhill left known as T13. The end of a instructors. Motorrad Perfection training line of cones to your left hand side is a good have an average of four courses a year, turn in indicator but the best advice is to get motorcycle only, covering 2 full days on the your braking done in a straight line before circuit and including 2 or 3 nights half board the bend as the off camber dip in the middle accommodation. Cost (at 2010 prices) is from of the bend can easily cause a front wheel to 759-979 euro inclusive. I work as the senior fold underneath you, look through the bend English instructor on these Motorrad courses and drive hard downhill letting the bike drift and can be contacted at [email protected] out towards the left hand side as you sweep or www.nurburgring-motorcycle-training. right to set you up for the next unnamed right, com or see www.aeaventures.com. BMW Club perhaps just rolling the throttle (160km/hr) Mulheim provide a full 3 day course each year before turning in at the number board (2km) with experienced English Instructors Chris aiming for the obvious apex then letting the Rossiter and Barry Salmon. These courses bike run to the left side, through a left kink share the circuit with Car training groups. then back to the right hand side to prepare for Cost (at 2010 prices) is 1490 euro excluding the Hatzenbach. accommodation. For more information see ‘A mistake at one bend is often paid for the excellent article in the October Journal by two bends later’ could have been written just Phillip Morgan. Barry Salmon is your contact to describe Hatzenbach. Starting this Left, for 2011 at [email protected] Right, Right, Left, Right, Left section with a THE LAP ITSELF! touch less pace than possible and then driving To describe a lap is a very personal journey; through it on a gently rising throttle is the we all see things differently and will be elated correct style, as jumping on and off the brakes or concerned by different parts of the circuit. and gas unsettling the suspension just pushes Some are daunted by open high speed sections, you further and further off the correct line. others are more comfortable confined within Entering the Hatzenbach the surface changes the Armco and trees which give this place its as you go left to right. Start your right turn most infamous name ‘The Green Hell’. What is not in dispute is that everyone will have an at this surface change and the next piece is a opinion after each lap, no two are ever exactly the same, the light moves around while the wind blows first one way then the other, the track is always alive, teasing you. Let me explain. You set off with all the glamour of a modern car park, swipe your lap card and up goes the barrier, wiggle through the cones ejecting you onto the track and high speed acceleration towards Antoniusbuche bridge making sure to work some heat into cold tyres as you roll over the top of a flat left roller coaster and then Section training at Hatzenbach. feel a hard compression in towards Tiergarten, 44 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends double apex right, go left at the service road to hand side over another blind crest. If you are your right and then at the end of the kerb turn fully exploiting the performance of your bike in for the following right and left. Leaving the it will go light and unsettle as you aim towards final left bring the bike over the left hand side Schwedenkreuz, one hell of a quick bend, it of the track always keeping your eyes trained goes left over a crest and being followed quickly on the next bend not on the scenery to your by a tight Right, Aremburg, means you have right, as many people look at it then ride out to keep the bike under control to the left of to meet it: not smart. Hocheichen is next. It the track and get some serious braking done. used to be a dreadfully slippery corner but a You use the Schwedenkreuz sign board (and a new surface three years ago has made it much surface change) as the turn in marker having safer. Approaching on the left side of the track rolled the throttle (190km/hr) and settled watch for the start of the kerbing on the inside the bike, look through the bend and don’t let of the track and use this as your peel in point. the bike drift too far to the right of the track, As you apex the bend you cannot see which back to the left kerb and hard on the brakes way the track goes as it drops steeply through turning into the right of Aremburg where the a left-hander but by using a natural right then inside kerb starts, making a late apex and then left motion you will naturally drop through driving out using all the track to the edge and the left on line and on the way out drive as whooshing past the bridge parapet as you light hard as you dare towards the sweeping right the blue touch paper and fire down Fuchsrôhre. of Quidelbache Hohe, as quick as you can go The first direction is towards the left and as you to the left hand side and then sweep right, drive into it the following right left become over a bridge. Bring the bike over to the left obvious and you keep it pinned while tucking hand side again and climb up the near vertical in to maximise acceleration helped by the steep hill into Flugplatz (all those great jump shots descent, the high compression at the bottom is at the Ring, yep its Flugplatz!) As you crest further complicated by a left sweep, it requires the rise at probably 190km/hr you turn into concentration and full commitment as you the first right apex using another access road charge steeply up the other side you can feel the to your left as the marker, sweep through the blood rushing one way then the other but you first apex 1 metre from the kerb and let the have no time to experience this rush, you must be over to the right hand side and at the end of bike drift towards the middle of the road then the kerbing turn left over the blind crest and drive it back for the second apex and then back once more begin to shed serious speed for the on to full acceleration through three blind entrance to Adenauer Forest. Adenauer Forest but flat lefts, down a very fast compression is a right, left, right, with the first right being a (possibly the very quickest spot on a bike at late apex, the middle left feels impossibly late, the ring (250+km/hr) moving to the right you are almost hanging around and waiting to turn but done correctly the final right is spot on as you drive towards the kerb on the exit. There used to be some painted graffiti around which was a good reference, now you just have to practice it and feel the force! For all the non Jedi knights out there concrete paving has now been installed to make the straight on experience in the middle of Hatzenbach a little less rude but I think they are making it all a little too easy! A good crowd always gather here at weekends to watch the antics; a rule of thumb is if you see plenty of spectators Leading a group through Hatzenbach. take care; they aren’t there for the peace and BMW Club Journal • December 2010 45 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends quiet! miss, hit,miss which is obvious once you see Away and sweeping into the first of two it) Still plunging downhill you are entering lefts at Metzgesfeld you use the board marker Wehrseifen which is perversely the slowest as your turn in point with plenty of pace bend sequence on the track. Positioned to the staying inside the tyre wear line and then hold left side loose lots of speed probably down to to the right hand side and slow for the much 60km/hr and steer into the right keeping to tighter second left. Click the apex and then the right, once more hard on the brakes and run towards the blind right hand apex which at the end of the right kerb turn into the follows over the top, across to the left hand left, the apex is then obvious. I always enter side and hard on the brakes downhill into this sequence one gear higher then required, Kallenhard. It’s tight, it’s adverse and if there this then gives a nice progressive torque for has been rain it often takes an age to dry being the following Ruthanne meaning I do not under trees, all the afore mentioned mean you have to change up a gear mid bend upsetting treat it with care, steady in and drive out being the overall balance. Down through a right the mantra, use the inside Kerb to indicate sweep and staying on the right you set up for the turn in point and let the bike run across Briedschied bridge which passes over the main the face of the bend rather like a skier would road into Adenau, still traveling downhill traverse a slope and on the way out short shift means you need to shed some more serious to give progressive drive towards a quick but speed before the turn, as there is no run off dangerous left right which again takes forever and a bloody great concrete wall to prevent you to dry after rain and strangely the surface raining down onto the passing traffic. Caution always seems to look wet there just for good is the best advice through Briedschied, no measure! I ignore the left side of the track and showboating please! Considering GP bikes aim for the right kerbing, out to the right hand raced here till ‘83 some of todays riders would side and loose a little speed as you are travelling have a coronary seeing the lack of any run off steeply downhill. At the end of the concrete unlike the football fields which now separate kerbing to your left again roll in ignoring the the rider from disaster. whole of the first kerb which you see to your Entering Briedschied there is a metal grate right, apex in the middle of the second and to your right, around 1 metre before the end. progressively drive back out to the left hand Start your turn, miss the apex by 1 metre side (it has no proper name but we call it and let the bike cross the middle of the road

A typical training course group

46 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends before bringing it back for a second left apex running too wide and then drive hard again running parallel with the left side at the end coming back to the left for the blind crest and of the kerb, chuck it into the following right as immediate turn to the right. Done right this hard as you dare and wind on the throttle, its unnamed bend feels right, it’s very quick and called Ex-Muhle and is so steep that it really you need to make sure you have weight over knocks the wind out of any pace you carry in. the front to avoid a wheelie, it’s critical that I always advise riders that if they begin a lap you still have steering here! Sweep through the and find themselves travelling with a similar next left staying on the left and then kill the speed car through the first part of the lap (it’s speed. Turning in at the end of the kerb for the a lot of downhill and the braking and extra right of Steillstrecke, the apex is the 147 board adhesion gives cars a good advantage), show which is also exactly where they made a tarmac due courtesy and let them lead to Briedschied joint so easy with the gas as high-sides are not as after Ex-Muhle a good sports bike can uncommon on this spot, drive hard out to the always then make a lot of ground and separate kerb and we are approaching the Carraciola you safely for the remainder of the lap. Karusel, to give it its full and proper name! We are now heading towards Bergerac but Everybody is freaked by this the first few first we have a to negotiate a flat left kink. times but in fact it pretty damn simple, up the This is the bend which Nicki Lauda did not hill to the right of centre, select the highest negotiate, with horrifying results. Exiting this tree in front of you, aim towards it and you you bring the bike over to the left side for the will drop into the Karusel at the exact point right hand Brunchen bend, the trick here is a required, head looking to the left on a nice late apex requiring you to wait till the kerbing steady driving throttle and exit at the top end on your left is level with you, then start your joint. Voila! that wasn’t so bad was it? Practice turn gracefully aiming for a big white spot on makes perfect, its quicker than you think but the inside kerb, it feels late and looks far too not as quick as you want, every time. late but this bend viewed from above goes a long way around and being followed by a very I always say this is a track of two halves, fast section exit is critical to get good drive. the exit of the Karusel is the finish of one, Brunchen is another area which is very slow the beginning of the other, it’s tree lined, drying due to trees; even the entry can be dry darker, more confined and there are dragons but half way round it will end in tears if you do up there somewhere! Welcome to The Green not check it first! Hell. The next defined section is Hohe Acht Now we are running up Kesselchen, I say ‘up’ (High Hut), the run from Karussel being a as it’s a climb all the way but riders are amazed series of very quick bends. Two lefts and a left when it’s pointed out to them as it begins with 3 flat lefts taking care to not stray beyond the middle of the road, over a blind, crest move over to the right, the front will go light here if you are carrying sufficient speed and then through another flat left, this one looks tight but as you enter it opens out, the next section is still flat sweeping right and then preparing the bike to the left side for the very quick right left flick before Angst curve, a fast tricky left corner which you always feel could have been taken quicker. For the entry to Angst you need to be on the Right side turning in at the end of the kerb aiming for the obvious apex, keep looking through the bend to avoid Putting on the style BMW Club Journal • December 2010 47 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends right kink, the gradient pinching speed the it back to run along the kerbing to the left on minute you lift meaning that its a no braker the way into Brunchen. Let me give you a clue, but you have to keep it tight and correct as the there are probably 1000 people at Brunchen run off is minimal and your angle of attack to on a sunny Sunday, guess why? Haven’t got the barriers is acute. Exiting the left right kink it? Stroll the grass verges and they are covered you stay to the left at Hohe Acht and make the in bits of plastic bodywork and mirrors and next Right turning in at the road sign and yet I swear it’s not that difficult but people see again looking for a very late apex, you know all the spectators and decide they had better it is correct when you can see the exit at the demonstrate their mastery of the place with apex point drive towards the kerb on the left the attendant comedy/painful (delete as stay left and run down the left watching in the applicable) results. track for a painted Zebra crossing, when you The first right of Brunchen kind of tightens see the final portion of it appear turn to the and its important not to take many liberties right and welcome to Wipperman. with the outer concrete rumble strip; you turn The Centre of Wipperman is a left right in at the end of the kerbing to your left and tight S and having made your right turn entry on the exit run parallel with the track edge to this section stay right for a second longer again using the end of kerbing for the second than appears prudent then start to the left of right, exiting this once again staying off the the S, clip the apex and roll straight into the outer rumble strip back over to the right, and right apex, you’ll know if it was right as you look for a small patch of dark Tarmac in front will catapult out to the left kerbing and run of you. This indicates the late turn in to the parallel with it, end of kerb turn to the right left of Eiscurve, pull the bike in tight to the over the next blind crest and stay to the right high inner curve as you apex then straighten for Eschbach (read this all as quick as you up and aim toward the right curve over the can, that’s how it feels when you ride it, non crest, as you rise over the top the following left stop action!) Again the turn in for Eschbach becomes apparent and you realise you need is the name board and you have the choice of to be over to the right, once done the section making one long wide bend or two apexes to presents itself and you can see your way to the left. I actually fall somewhere between the Pflanzgarten. More spectators, Ooh er! make two, for safety’s sake probably missing the first sure to do your braking before the launch into apex by 2m letting it run out and then bring the first right hander, turning around 1metre

Section training at Brunchen

48 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends before the end of the left kerb, missing the first to the right, just miss the little patching, drive apex by 1 metre and then letting the bike run it to the left side and again go right at the 187 to the middle of the road then back for the sign, get inside the rippled tarmac and go like second apex; stay right, in your mind chant the devils on your tail as all the tricky stuff is “hold,hold,fold”, go left and this little delay now dealt with and only the long straight run will drop you right onto the next blind left in to the end awaits; mind you saying that I curve, gas it out to the right end of curve, aim have seen a bike endo on the brakes when he left and over the top of the end of the world, realised that the track had cones across it to otherwise known as Pflanzgarten2, lovely stop you riding straight one, honest, what a spot, done right, pure top gun! Staying to the plonker, he’d put the difficult bits behind him! left side at the end of the kerb turn to your Welcome back to the Cafe, the Time? it does right, aim for the piece of kerb you can see, not matter, did it feel good to you? great! and as you get to it straighten up pull a nice little wheelie and bang, bang straight through * This insurance issue is a grey area, It is the next two apexes, plenty more top gun!! believed that by law companies offering motor By now it should all be going along nicely and motorcycle insurance are obliged to have and quickly, you are on the left and you need to nip it back and turn in for the next right, to provide a minimum of 3rd party cover on the entry to the Schwalbenschwanz at the anything designated as a ‘Public highway’ surface change, apex and hold it to the right, The suggestion that they can exclude the end of kerb hard to the left, hold that in staring Nordschleife is the same as them looking at at the 181 sign to keep your mind otherwise the M25 junctions 6-8 between 6-9am as being occupied and then let it out to the right, down way too dangerous and thus not covered! If the you go, end of kerb, turn left again into the ‘Toll’ is the issue then the same can be argued mini Karussel, dropping in at the top of the for any French autoroute, the QE2 bridge, first slab, zip around and exit tight corner of M40 toll road etc . Guests of mine who have the first and second slabs, you really need to contacted their insurers and been told verbally see it slowly to sort it, mucho gas and head for ‘no way’ I always advise to keep off as the fact Galgenkopf (its something to do with gallows, that they have asked and been told is certainly oh lordy). Rein back on the speed again, to the going to be an issue if they need cover from an left and 1metre before the end of the kerb turn incident which occurs while lapping.

Debriefing at the end

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 49 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Product Review The Nippy Norman super-high-wide screen reviewed by the Editor The R1200GS is, like most motorcycles, tall. He suggested either the Wunderlich Ergo something of a curates’ egg in that it is good or his own Super-High-Wide. I compared in parts. One of the not-so-good parts for me them on his website and picked his own on is the screen, which seems to provide no wind the basis that it was both taller and cheaper. or rain protection whilst generating the most The website advises that it is only appropriate almighty noise. The number of companies for riders over 5’11” and, as I’m 6’6”, it seemed selling replacement screens suggests that like a good idea. I emailed him my address and I’m not alone in my experience. I tried every a couple of working days later the post lady position of the standard screen to no avail. I knocked on my front door and delivered a bought a used screen and cut it down to make large parcel. a flyscreen, thinking that maybe the noise Fitting the screen was quick and simple. The would then pass under my helmet. No chance. original is removed with a T25 screwdriver The only thing it proved was that the standard and a 10mm socket. The only fiddly part screen kept a little of the breeze off the front of the job was transferring the black plastic of my jacket. The more research on the subject fittings from the old screen to the new, which I did the more I was convinced that every required a little care to avoid breaking them combination of motorcycle, rider and helmet was different and that I could easily end up with when unclipping them from the screen. The a shed full of failed experiments before I found NN screen needed a couple of strokes with a something that worked for me. What changed file to allow the fittings to snap into place. The things was telephoning Nippy Norman to design has, Norman tells me, been modified check on a detail regarding his sponsorship of to remove the need for this. Mounting the the Star Letter. Business concluded, Norman new screen was then straightforward. The full asked me if there was anything I wanted to try range of adjustment is available but, probably out. I suggested a screen, explaining that at my due to the NN screen being heavier than the height I would probably need something very original, it needs to be held whilst the adjusters

50 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends are tightened. Photo 1 shows the two screens a long motorway haul and some torrential side by side. Photo 2 is of the standard screen, rain to form a conclusion. The motorway haul showing how little protection it gives to a came soon enough. The Northern Section camera-shy Editor, and photos 3 and 4 are of meet 65 miles from home and the only realistic the Nippy Norman screen taken from as near way there is up the windswept M6. The west as possible the same viewpoints. wind is ever-present and relentless. Crossing Previous Journals have carried favourable Thelwall (a long and very exposed bridge) the reviews of Nippy Norman products so I was bike was no more prone to wandering than it optimistic on my first ride. With the standard always was so the larger screen appears not to screen anything over 30 mph without earplugs compromise stability is crosswinds. The larger is deafening so, knowing I only had time for screen is quieter, which helps concentration, a couple of miles on the way to work, I left and keeps the wind off my neck and chest, the plugs in my pocket. The difference at low aiding both comfort and warmth. On single- speeds was dramatic. No bellowing wind carriageway A-roads, which is where I prefer noise and no turbulence. I took a longer to ride, I found myself braking more. The way home and smiled all the way. Saturday only conclusion I can draw from this is that dawned and with it the chance to try a little the quieter screen gives a different perception harder. We set out in light rain: enough to be of speed. Light rain has not been a problem as irritating but not enough to see how well the I’m tall enough to look over the screen if need screen protected us. Getting used to such a be (or it can be lowered a couple of positions: high screen took a little while as under some I kept it on the highest setting) but the best circumstances I was looking through it rather thing about it was the way heavy rain stopped than over it. The rain stopped just before our whenever I rolled the bike out. I don’t know first port of call and didn’t trouble us again. what witchcraft is built into it but anything The next stop was at the other end of a dual- that can make clouds continent is miraculous carriageway and appropriate progress was in my book. Nothing will turn a GS into an made. No earplugs and no noise. It was a RT except a part-exchange deal but a screen strange and uncanny experience. The engine that suits the rider can help significantly. seemed noisy, but it had nothing to compete The Nippy Norman part number is WDE- with. I was impressed. All I needed now was 1200GS-SH and it costs £89.00 + postage.

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 51 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Product Review

An easy to use battery charger from Nippy Norman reviewed by the Editor

As I write this at the beginning of November battery terminals then fiddling about with my R1200GS is a fortnight off its fifth crocodile clips, this unit plugs into the birthday. I’ve never been fond of riding accessory socket. Instead of popping back to in serious cold (I did that when my only the shed every half-hour to check the reading transport was a Honda CB125S and Gore- on the ammeter (my battery charger really is Tex wasn’t invented, and I that old) the electronics don’t want to be reminded of the charger ensure that of it) so the motorcycle the battery gets only the may well sit idle for days charge it needs. The unit on end while I wait for offers, according to the a glimmer of sunshine. Nippy Norman website, This enforced idleness “Perfect charging with is dull for me but worse the latest IUoU charging for the GS. Its original technology in 4 stages. battery was replaced The unit can be connected under warranty as it had up to the battery for long the good manners to periods without any die with three weeks problems and will always of the warranty left. Its keep it fully charged. replacement lasted until Overcharging of the March this year when battery is prevented. I replaced it with an The battery on this bike Exide courtesy of my can go flat fast without local Honda dealer for a charger as the alarm a lot less than a genuine and Can-Bus have quite BMW item. Two to three a large drain even when years life from a battery is the ignition is off! Full expensive (my Triumphs used to average six instructions, features LED indicator lights, years per battery) so something needs to be may be wall mounted, proper UK plug.” It done. Just after I’d placed Mike Fishwick’s is listed as suitable for the F650GS, (twin), article on battery care in this edition an the F800R/GS/S/ST, the G650 range, the email arrived from Nippy Norman asking R1200GS/Adventure all years, R1200R/S/ for my address so he could send me a couple RT/ST K1200S/1300S, K1200R/1300R of new tools, of which more next month. K1200GT 06 on, K1300GT S1000RR and I replied and received, to my surprise, a most other CANBUS equipped BMWs battery charger designed to make life easy It can be ordered via the Nippy Norman for the owners of CANBUS-equipped bikes. website as item number TES-CHARGER at Instead of removing both seats to reach the £79.00 (including VAT)

52 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Doctor Postfive’s Memiors

We don’t want to consult John Mann’s doctor Doctor Postfive’s Memoirs 1 foot Doctor Yes that is correct as you can see Doctor: Well Mr Kaywun I have the results Mrs Effsixfiftea He had my name tattooed of your tests and I am afraid you are going to on his right ankle have to made a big decision. Doctor Correct Mr Kaywun: Oh well Doc you better give Mrs Effsixfiftea He had three testicles me the news. Doctor Oh! yes you can see that OK Doctor: The tests show a very high protein Mrs Effsixfiftea: He had a ten inch scar count in your system across his six-pack Mr Kaywun: So Doc what is the Doctor : Yes it is quite plain to see isn’t it? downside. Mrs Effsixfiftea: He had ginger hair on his Doctor: Well Mr Kaywun I am afraid you chest will have to give up wearing an open face Doctor Yes it shows up quite clearly doesn’t helmet and get one with a visor. it? Now we have put his head back where it should be so I will ask you to be brave and formally identify his face. Dr Postfive’s Memoirs 2 Mrs Effsixfiftea: Oh Dear me!!! Doctor What’s the matter? Doctor well Mr Ahhraytee I am afraid you Mrs Effsixfiftea: My husband was Chinese have got a severe case of RSI caused by excessive not Pakistani rotating of your wrists and hands Mr Ahhraytee What’s the answer Doc? Doctor I suggest you sell your Goldwing Doctor Postfive’s Memoirs 4 and buy a K100 as it’s got less chrome. Doctor: How’s the transplanted foot Dr Postfive’s Memoirs 3 doing? Mr. Erlsforque : Not too bad. But when Mrs Effsixfiftea. I’ve come to identify my I change gear, my right foot, which was the husband doctor transplant, tries to do the same. Doctor Yes Mrs Effsixfiftea. But its not Doctor: Lets have a look at the records. Yes going to be very pleasant for as you know your I can see the reason husband was ‘T Boned’ and subsequently It seems your new foot came for a biker who de-capitated in the accident. only rode classic British bikes. Mrs Effsixfiftea Yes I know, so let’s get it Alternative solution over with Doctor: Oh dear! Since your transplant Doctor We need a few proofs of identity. have you been walking around in circles or As many as possible. I will pull the sheet straying to one side when you walk? away slowly We will start at the feet and go Mr Erlsforque: Well yes. upwards. Doctor. I am afraid you now have two left Mrs Effsixfiftea He had four toes on his left feet . BMW Club Journal • December 2010 53 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends The new models

The K1600GT and GTL. Pictures courtesy of Paul Binswanger

In last month’s editorial I observed that although I couldn’t bring you photos of the new K1600 series I could tell you of a potentially worthwhile offer from Moto- Bins. Paul Binswanger, the proprietor of the aforementioned business, lost no time in upstaging BMW by sending me a collection of photos. Given the choice between a photo of Paul and one of a pretty young model I compromised and picked the bikes in the colours I preferred. The photo on the left with the pretty young model is of the K1600GTL whilst the one below featuring the gentleman who sent the pictures is of the K1600GT.

54 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Light in the Darkness

Jim Lepley is as careful with his own cash as with ours

My love affair with my K1100 LTSE was I initially did some research on waning. After nearly six years, I still loved the supplementary lighting but was put off by the smooth power, the long distance mile eating, cost and installation procedures. the comfort etc. etc. but the falling over was Then EBAY was perused and I found that I becoming a habit. It is just too tall and my could buy a pair of HID H7s with slim ballasts legs must be getting shorter. No problems for about £32.00 (search for 150501183832). at all whilst moving, but the standing still, So I did. manoeuvring in the garage/driveway getting off of the stand was a nightmare –uncountable On to the point of the missive: times on it’s side and another muscle strain. I consulted the workshop manual to replace So it had to go. BUT what could I get as an the headlamp bulb – WOW starting from alternative. Well at the AGM in April we were the ground up a major fairing and plastic both sold (by the Motorrad rep) on the new panel dismantling was called for. So I sat and R1200RT (except for the question of finance). thought about doing the job for a couple of I just could not really afford the £14/15000 days. Then I went up to the bike, rolled on the (with extras) that it would cost me. floor close to the front wheel and looked up. So much discussion followed, and after a The main beam reflector and bulb was right recommendation by Eric at Lochers in May there, but the dipped beam was higher up so (why don’t you try? I can get both feet flat on a bit of stretching straining and the wire clip the ground. It’s got a reverse gear. It puts itself holding the cover came off and I could just see on the centre stand) I thought that I would get the wire spring clips holding the bulb in. a K1200LT. I did and am absolutely thrilled I can now report that if you kneel in front with it except as my letter in the October of the bike and reach up inside the fairing that Journal related I can still fall over when not or it is entirely possible to remove the existing almost not moving it must be me!!!. protective cover and bulb by feel, and after The only fault I have found is that during drilling a 28mm hole in the cover to suit the the hours of darkness I was unsure if the grommet for the wiring to the ballast, to dipped headlamp was even working!! I don’t replace the H7 bulb with an HID alternative even have an on/off switch to compare the with no tools required at all. Just shut your difference. I can only assume that it continued eyes and work by feel. There is even enough to work after I had a look from off the bike. So room for my pork sausage fingers and ham improvements were necessary. like arms. There are several very helpful ledges I have fitted an HID conversion to the K11, under there to site the ballast with double H4 type bulb, (MOT man says “that’s not sided sticky foam, as hopefully shown in the strictly legal but I can’t fail it” – something to photographs following, tuck the wiring in do with type approval on bikes) and my car, and JOB DONE. and been very pleased with the results. So it It must have taken less than an hour had to be. I do keep the original bulb with me and the improvement in dipped headlamp in case the ‘boys in blue’ get over enthusiastic. performance has to be seen to be believed BMW Club Journal • December 2010 55 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

56 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 57 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Forthcoming Event

An invitation from the Scottish Section

Scotland – Land of great roads and friendly who found out his wife, Queen Grainne, people – not that I’m biased you understand!! was having an affair with Diarmid, a great I’m sure many of you reading this have enjoyed warrior and womaniser. To get his revenge he motorcycle trips north of the border. The invited Diarmid to join the hunting party to thing that strikes most riders, is just how quiet search for a wild boar which had been killing the roads are – what a relief from the constant livestock and terrorising people in the district. traffic jams in so many other parts of the They arrived in Glenshee and camped in the country! area of the Spittal. There the king challenged Over the early May bank holiday next year Diarmid to hunt the boar alone. The challenge the Scottish Section is holding a hotel weekend was accepted and he did indeed kill the boar in at the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel in north-east an epic battle fought with sword, axe & dirk. Perthshire. It’s a very relaxing place where they Unfortunately, he was wounded by the spines pride themselves on giving their guests a warm on the boar’s back which usually resulted in a welcome. quick death if the antidote was not applied at This is a great location – set amongst the once. However, King Fingal had deliberately hills and just 100mtrs off the A93. There destroyed the antidote and Diarmid died. has been a hostelry of sorts on this site since When Grainne heard what had happened approximately 961. This was an area where to her lover she fell on an arrow, committing cattle raids were common place and the suicide rather than let the king have her. The Caterans (rustlers) were a feared group from lovers’ grave is marked by 4 poster stone circle the Middle Ages till the 17th Century – so a which can still be seen today. refuge would be very welcome. In fact, spittal However these are tales of long ago and is an old Scots word meaning ‘a refuge on a as you settle into the Spittal of Glenshee remote hill pass’. Hotel there will be no wild boars to hunt – Glenshee is special – It’s said that for 1000 just wonderful roads to ride - to Braemar & years it was Scotland’s hidden route north to Ballater with perhaps a visit to the Royal the Highlands – from the Lowlands to Upper Lochnagar Distillery, a visit to Balmoral Deeside through Scotland’s highest mountain Castle to see the gardens & grounds, up the pass and Britain’s highest main road, the A939 to Tomintoul & Grantown-on-Spey by Cairnwell pass. This is on the A93 between the Lecht Road, a run to Alford Transport Glenshee and Braemar and it’s summit at the Museum – or maybe you’ll just want to put on Glenshee Ski Centre stands at an altitude your walking boots and enjoy a couple of the of 670m.The old Devil’s Elbow road, with a very good walks right on the doorstep - too gradient of 1 in 3 was just south of the summit many options for one weekend in fact- you’ll but fortunately it was redesigned some years be spoiled for choice! ago. On the Saturday night we’ll have It’s an area full of history & legend. Behind entertainment with Scottish music and from the Kirk you can still see the Standing Stone the 60’s & 70’s which dates from the Bronze Age. This marked So why don’t you join the Scottish Section, at the Glen’s ancient meeting place, Dun Shith, their early bank holiday weekend in Glenshee, or Hill of the Fairies. In the Gaelic, Glenshee an area of beauty and legend. is translated as Glen of the Fairies. 29thApril – 2nd May? See the advert in the A 6th century legend tells of King Fingal Journal for details. 58 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 59 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

60 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 61 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

62 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 63 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends The BMW Club... Out and About. On the following pages, you’ll find details of the Club’s ‘social’ side, including information about past and future events, and where you can get together with friends old and new. Why not try something for yourself this month?

65 Diary of Events - December and January 65 Find out what’s on in the next few days/weeks 68 Where we meet 68 A complete list of regular section events,with adresses, dates and contact details 69 The Social Scene 69 The National Social Secretary invites us to be sociable 70 Around the Compass 70 Events coming up which may need booking, including UK and European Trips/weekends 71 Section & Register News 71 Keep in touch with what’s happening in the Club’s regional Sections. Includes reports of past (and upcoming) events, and general news about your own area. Contact details are provided at the end of each Section’s entry 2010 BMF Discount Code - BMW10C849 Where are you now? This is the Regalia Sales Team from the 1992 FIM Rally in Edinburgh (picture from Andy Stork)

64 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Diary Of Events: December & January December = January = Weekends = Red Text Submission deadline for January = December 1st

These activities have been arranged as agent for and on behalf of The BMW Club. All organisers are covered by our insurance, provided the event guidelines are followed.

December 2010 Midland The Three Kings, Saltersway, 1 E. Anglia Lunchtime Pub Meet. The Three Threekingham, Lincs. NG34 0AU Tunns, Wethersfield Rd, Finchingfield, (01529) 240249 Pub meet 7.30pm Braintree, Essex. CM7 4NR. 12:00 Ulster Club meeting, Christmas dinner & photo Noon. competition presentation. Templeton N. East Durham Amateur Rowing Club 7.30 Hotel, Templepatrick; £15 P.P. to be p.m. Quiz Night with Peter Holley and paid by November meeting. Carolyn Tabiner. Western Evening Meeting - New Inn, Claines, S. East Club Night at ‘The Bull’, East Farleigh. Worcs 20.00 hrs. Bob Dunn – 01384 8pm. 390344 Southern Old Gits Loomies Cafe A32/A272 GU32 8 E. Anglia Lunchtime Pub Meet. The Lamb & Flag, 1JX. 12 Noon Main Street, Welney, Cambs, PE14 Western Evening Meeting – The Lamb Inn, Iron 9RB 12:00 Noon. Acton. 19.30 hrs. Denis Bradbeer – Mercia Natter Night 19:30hrs The New Inn, 01454 775786 The Wharf, Wilne Lane, Shardlow. 2 Oxford Natter night, George&Dragon, Derbys. DE72 2HG Erlestoke, Wilts 7.00pm. 9 Northern Christmas Dinner at the Harraby Inn 3-5 Northern Winter B&B camping bunkhouse Carlisle John Bell 01285535173 weekend in the Brecon Beacons, Mercia Natter Night 19:30hrs The Dog, Henley book direct with the venue on www. Road, Mappleborough Green, Studley, thecastleinn.co.uk The Castle Inn B80 7DR Rhys Jones: 07765702276 Midland The Reindeer Main Street,Edingley,N 3 Northern 8PM Evening Natter meeting at ottinghamshire,NG22 8DE Pub meet The Briars Hall Hotel Vera Hunt 7.30pm 01623 882253 01257464429 Southern The Flying Bull, Rake. GU33 7JB 4 Mercia Christmas Dinner. Millers Hotel, 8:00pm Sibson, Warks. Needs to have been booked and paid for by the AGM 10 S. East ‘The Roebuck’ at Laughton on B2124. 5 E. Anglia Lunchtime Pub Meet. The Worlds End, 8pm. Mulbarton, Norwich NR14 8JT 12:00 11 Scottish Get There Before Santa’ Early Xmas Noon Party Night. See Around the Compass Midland Christmas lunch with charity raffle, at for details. The Community centre, Great Lane, Southern Christmas Party Night at Gatwick Greetham, Rutland. Tickets only - Manor 7.00 pm. Speak to Trish or available from Sally or Graham Cluley Gerri. (01572) 813639 Yorkshire Section Christmas Dinner Venue Scottish Monthly meet: Spittal of Glenshee TBA Hotel. A93.Perthshire. PH10 7QF 12 Northern St Mary’s Lowton Jacobs Join Christmas 12.30 party Rhys Jones 07765702276 robert. Western Skittles Match @ The Old Royal Ship, [email protected] Luckington, Wilts SN14 6PA. Meet 12 E. Anglia East Anglia Section Christmas Buffet. noon, sausages & chips @ £4-00 per The Flying Fortress, Mount Road, Bury person, numbers required by 28th Nov. St Edmunds, IP31 2QU 12:00 Noon. Janet Wilson – 01225 858876 Matt Butcher, Tel: 07915 850767 Yorkshire The Village Hall, Cracoe, Marigolds Irish North West Meeting. Meet at: Coffee’s Hot Snacks. 12 noon Café, Carrick on Shannon. 12:00AM 6 Scottish Natter nite: Meldrums Hotel, Main St. TJ McHale. [email protected] Ceres. 19:30 087 247 0111 7 Mercia Natter Night 19:30hrs The Rose Inn, London Mystery Run. Departure place and Main Road, Baxterley, Warks CV9 time a mystery; will be published in the 2LE Journal & Website

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 65 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Midland Towcester “Christmas special” A5 Yorkshire Squires Café Bar, Sherburn in Elmet. Rangers clubhouse (indoors with 7pm hot snacks) bottom of Islington Rd, Towcester, Northants. O/S ref: SP 23 Southern The Flying Bull, Rake. GU33 7JB 69453 48384 12 noon to 3pm John/ 8:00pm Janet Winn (01604) 631043 N. East Ride In Lunch Meeting at Brockbushes 26 S. West Boxing Day Pub Meet at: The Garden Centre, A68/69 junction. Weary Traveller, Cullompton, EX15 Oxford Indoor meeting, Uffington village hall, 1BQ 12:00PM Chris Crocker: 01884 2.00pm. 252759 S. East Christmas Lunch. 12 noon. Poult Wood Golf Centre, Tonbridge. For Scottish Monthly meet: Hopeville Social Club. bookings contact Margaret on 01474 Harlaw Road Inverurie. 12:30 566142 S. West Christmas Pub Meet at: The Weary Southern Wickham Square VMCC Meet Traveller, Cullompton EX15 1BQ Western Boxing Day Bike Meet @ Tipputs Inn 12:00PM Chris Crocker: 01884 252759 on A46 near Nailsworth. From 11.00 Scottish Monthly meet: Katie’s Tearoom, Perth hrs. Janet Wilson – 01225 858876 Road Birnam. 12:00 28 Southern Saddlers Arms Send Marsh GU23 6JQ. Western Easter Compton Meeting. 13.30 hrs. Christmas Party! Raffle contributions 8:00pm will be appreciated 29 Mercia OAPs and Layabouts-wot-lunch Yorkshire The Red Hart Hotel Blyth. 12 noon 12:30hrs The Rose Inn, Main Road, 13 Scottish Monthly meet, Glasgow: Malletsheugh Hotel, Ayr Road, Newton Mearns, Baxterley, Warks CV9 2LE Glasgow G77 6RT. 19:30 Yorkshire Natter night Bear Inn South Cave, January 2011 market Place 8pm 1 E. Anglia New Year Ride. See in the New Year 14 Northern Natter Night: Church House Buglawton with a ride touching all 5 counties in 8:30pm. (Stewart Lowthian 01260 our section. Depart 10:30, and full 279126) tanks please. Subject to reasonable Oxford Natter night, Harcourt Arms, Stanton weather. Meet at: Tesco, St Saviours Harcourt 7.30 pm Interchange, Bury St Edmunds, IP32 Southern Phoenix Inn SO21 1RF/ Saddlers Arms 7JS 10:30am. Mike Davies, Tel: 01206 GU23 6JQ 8.00 pm 822671 15 N. East Social Evening at The Waggon Inn, nr. Oxford New years day meeting, 12 noon, Lock, Ponteland Stock and Barrel, near the Wharf, S. East Xmas Fun at ‘The Bull’, East Farleigh. Newbury 8pm. Ulster New Years Day Run. 10-30am Albert 16 Midland The King’s Head, Kingsway, Tealby, Clock, Belfast. Lincs. LN8 3YA (01673) 838347 Pub Yorkshire New Year Day Buffett 1pm meet 7.30pm 2 Mercia New Years Breakfast 10:30 Repton Southern Horton Inn, Horton, Dorset BH21 5AD Village Hall. Askew Grove, Repton. on the A3078. 8.00 pm Derbys. DE65 6GR 17 Northern 8 PM Meal at the Holden Arms Scottish Monthly meet: Spittal of Glenshee Haslingdon BB4 4PD Alan Stretton Hotel. A93.Perthshire. PH10 7QF 01706656606 12.30 18 Yorkshire Christmas Dinner at Magnet Hotel, 3 Scottish Natter nite: Meldrums Hotel, Main St. Pontefract Road. Castleford. WF10 Ceres. 19:30 4BG 4 Mercia Natter Night 19:30hrs The Rose Inn, 19 E. Anglia Lunchtime Pub Meet. Shoulder of Main Road, Baxterley, Warks CV9 Mutton, Halstead Road, Ford Street, 2LE Aldham, Essex, CO6 3LL. 12:00 Western Evening Meeting - New Inn, Claines, Noon. Worcs 20.00 hrs. Bob Dunn - 01384 Scottish Monthly Meet: Buccleuch Arms Hotel, 390344 Moffat. 13:00 5 E. Anglia Lunchtime Pub Meet. The Three Yorkshire Lunchtime meet How Stean Gorge Tunns, Wethersfield Rd, Finchingfield, Café, Lofthouse. 12 noon Braintree, Essex. CM7 4NR. 21 Northern 7.30PM Meet at The Creek Peel Isle of 12:00PM. Man Andrew Brown 01624819088 N. East Durham Amateur Rowing Club 7.30 Midland The Griffins Head, Mears Ashby, p.m. Bring and Buy Top Box sale and Northants. Pub Meet 7.30pm. Social Evening Steve Foreman 01536-722048 / S. East Club Night at ‘The Bull’, East Farleigh. 07859909853 8pm. Oxford Natter night, Dog & Partridge, Riseley, Southern Old Gits Loomies Cafe A32/A272 GU32 nr Reading 8.00pm 1JX. 12 Noon

66 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Western Evening Meeting – The Lamb Inn, Iron 19 E. Anglia Lunchtime Pub Meet. The Lamb & Flag, Acton. 19.30 hrs. Denis Bradbeer – Main Street, Welney, Cambs, PE14 01454 775786 9RB. 12:00PM 6 Oxford Natter Night, George & Dragon, N. East Social Evening at The Waggon Inn, nr. Erlestoke, Wilts, 7.00pm Ponteland Southern The Flying Bull, Rake. GU33 7JB S. East Club Night at ‘The Bull’, East Farleigh. 8:00pm 8pm. 7 Northern Natter Night. The Briars hall 8:00 PM 20 Southern Horton Inn, Horton BH21 5AD / Flying Vera Hunt: 01257464429. Bull Rake GU33 7JB 8:00pm Scottish Lochearnhead bunkhouse weekend, 21-23 Irish Ballintoy hostel weekend - See Around Dick Boyd 01343 870389 the Compass for details. 8 S. East New Year Party. 7.30pm. For further 21 Northern Meal and meet at the holden Arms details please see Journal, S/East Haslingdon BB4 4PD The Holden website or phone Margaret on 01474 Arms 8:00 PM Alan Stretton: 01706 566142. 656606. 9 E. Anglia Sunday Pub Meet. The White Lion, 23 E. Anglia Sunday Cafe Meet. Saucy Megs White Lion Road, Wheatacre, Beccles, Cafe, Red Lion Square, Soham NR34 0AT 12:00 Noon. Cambridgeshire CB7 5HQ. 10:00 Irish N.W. New Year’s Lunch - Coffee’s am. Café, Carrick on Shannon, 12.00 London Mystery Run. Departure place and noon. TJ McHale mctjrt11@hotmail. time a mystery; will be published in the com 0872400111 Journal & Website N. East Ride In. Coach and Horses, on the Northern Section meeting - free pie & pies and A167. just north of Croxdale a £200 raffle Rixton Village Hall 1:00 Oxford Bring & Buy, Uffington village hall, PM Rhys Jones: 07765702276 2.00pm S. West Pub Meet at: The Weary Traveller, S. West Pub Meet at: Jamaica Inn, Bolventor, Cullompton 12:00PM Chris Crocker: Cornwall 12:00PM Nobby Donno: 01884 252759 01726 812471 Scottish Monthly meet: Hopeville Social Club. Scottish Monthly meet: Katie’s Tearoom, Perth Harlaw Road Inverurie. 12:30 Road Birnam. 12:00 Southern Christmas Lunch - details TBC Southern Winter Talk at Rake Village Hall, GU33 7JA. Details TBC Western Skittles Match @ The Salutation Inn, Ham, Nr Berkeley off the A38. Meet Western Easter Compton Meeting. 13.30 hrs. Winter Warmer - Soup & Roll. at 12 noon. Buffet available @ £5-50 per person - numbers required by Sun 10 Scottish Monthly meet, Glasgow: Malletsheugh 10th. Janet Wilson - 01225 858876 Hotel, Ayr Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow G77 6RT. 19:30 25 Oxford Natter night, Dog & Partridge, Riseley, nr Reading, 8.00pm 11 Northern Natter Night: Church House Buglawton 8:30pm. (Stewart Lowthian 01260 Southern Saddlers Arms Send Marsh GU23 6JQ. 279126) 8:00pm Oxford Natter night, Harcourt Arms, Stanton 26 Mercia OAPs and Layabouts-wot-lunch Harcourt,7.30pm 12:30hrs The Rose Inn, Main Road, Southern Phoenix Inn SO21 1RF/ Saddlers Arms Baxterley, Warks CV9 2LE GU23 6JQ 8.00 pm Western Evening Meeting - 99 Neath Road. 12 Mercia Natter Night 19:30hrs The New Inn, Rhos, Pontardawe, Nr Swansea. 19.30 The Wharf, Wilne Lane, Shardlow. hrs. Brian Price - 01792 862152 Derbys. DE72 2HG 27 Irish Leinster meeting 8.00pm West County 13 Mercia Natter Night 19:30hrs The Dog, Henley Hotel, Chapelizod. New members Road, Mappleborough Green, Studley, especially welcome. Jim Sweeney B80 7DR 0872300736 [email protected] 14 S. East ‘The Roebuck’ at Laughton on B2124. 29 S. East Lunchtime meeting at ‘The Bull’, East 8pm. Farleigh, 12 noon. 16 E. Anglia Lunchtime Pub Meet. Shoulder of 30 E. Anglia Sunday Cafe Meet. Cabin Dairy, 17 Mutton, Halstead Road, Ford Street, High St, Burnham-on-Crouch, Essex, Aldham, Essex, CO6 3LL. 12pm. CM0 8AG. 10:00 am. Scottish Monthly Meet: Buccleuch Arms Hotel, Mercia Pie and Peas 10:30 Repton Village Moffat. 13:00 Hall. Askew Grove, Repton. Derbys. Western Meet for Breakfast 09.30 hrs Lockside DE65 6GR Café, Cumberland Basin, Bristol (no Western Pub Meet for Lunch/Natter @ The White ride out). Booking Required. Denis Hart, Littleton-on-Severn, Bristol BS35 Bradbeer - 01454 775786 1NR meet 12 noon - numbers required. 18 Northern Evening meeting The Creek, Peel, Janet Wilson - 01225 858876 Isle of Man. 7:30 PM Rhys Jones: 31 Northern Evening meeting Harraby Inn, Carlisle. 07765702276 7:30 PM John Bell: 01228 535173.

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 67 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Where We Meet Please send Where We Meet changes to the Editor. Don’t forget UK postcodes or GPS references where applicable.

EAST ANGLIA: The Worlds End, Norwich Road, Mulbarton, SCOTTISH: 1st Sunday @ Spittal of Glenshee Hotel. A93. Norfolk NR14 8JT, 12:00, 1st Sunday; The Five Miles, Perthshire. PH10 7QF at 12.30. 1st Monday @ Meldrums Upware, near Soham, Cambs,12.00, 2nd Sunday; The Hotel, Ceres, Fife at 7.30 2nd Sunday @ Katie’s Tearoom, Shoulder of Mutton, Fordham, Essex, A1124 12:00, 3rd Perth Road, Birnam PH8 0AA at 12.00. 2nd Monday @ Sunday; The Compasses, Littley Green, Essex,19:30, last Malletsheugh Hotel, Ayr Road, Newton Mearns, Glasgow Wednesday.The Three Tuns, Finchingfield, Essex, 12.00, G77 6RT at 7.30. 3rd Sunday @ Buccleuch Arms Hotel,High first Wednesday. The Lamb and Flag, Welney, Cambs. 12.00 on the 2nd Wednesday. Street, Moffat DG10 9ET at 12.30. 4th Sunday @ Hopeville Social Club, Harlaw Road, Inverurie at 12.30. IRISH: Cork meet at 6.30pm Kearys Motorrad every Tuesday night – May to September Liam Quinlan 086 8252774 SOUTHERN: The Phoenix Inn, Twyford, Hants SO21 1RF, on [email protected] Dublin Meeting – Last Thursday the B3335 1 mile south of M3, J11, 20.00 second Tuesday. 8.00 pm, West County Hotel, Chapelizod; Jim Sweeney The Saddlers Arms, Send Marsh, Nr Ripley GU236JQ, 20.00, [email protected] 0872300736 . North West Meeting – alt Tuesdays. The Two Counties Inn, Rake GU35 7JB, on 2nd Sunday, Coffey’s Café, Carrick-on-Shannon, 12.00 noon; the B2070 between Liphook and Petersfield, alt Thursdays. TJ McHale, 087-2470111 [email protected]. Horton Inn near Horton, Dorset, BH21 5AD on the A3078, LONDON: Section meets are as rideouts and are irregular, 20.00 3rd Thursday. “Old Gits” Loomies Diner on A32 at please see their website and the Journal Diary for meets. West Meon Hut cross roads A272 & A32, Hampshire first Peter Jones 07710887958, Nick Fry 01438749913 for Wednesday, 12 noon. advice. SOUTH EAST: ‘The Bull’, Lower Road, East Farleigh, nr MERCIA: Repton Village Hall, Askew Grove, Repton, Derbys Maidstone, ME15 0HD, 20.00, 1st/3rd Wednesdays. ‘The DE65 6GR, see diary for dates and times. The New Inn, 61 The Wharfe, Wilne Rd, Shardlow, Derbys DE72 2HG, 01332 Roebuck’, on the B2124 at Laughton, 20.00, 2nd Friday. 793330, 2nd Wednesday, 1900hrs. The Dog,Henley Road, ‘The Bull’, Lower Road, East Farleigh, nr Maidstone, ME15 Mappleborough Green, Studley, B80 7DR 2nd Thursday, 0HD, on the 4th Sunday, 12 noon. 1930hrs. The Rose Inn, Main Road, Baxterley. Warks. SOUTH WEST: Jamaica Inn: PL15 7TS. At Bolventor, off CV9 2LE on 1st Tuesday at 19.30 and last Wednesday A30 east of Bodmin (signed from A30). The Weary Traveller, at 12.30. EX15 1BQ, at Cullompton, 100 yards from Junction 28 off MIDLAND: All year round gatherings The Three Kings, the M5 on the A3181.The Weary Traveller, Station Rd., Saltersway, Threekingham, Lincs NG34 0AU, 01529 240249, Cullompton EX15 1BQ Tel 01884 32317 All meets 1200 as 1st Tuesday 7.30pm; The Old Reindeer, Main St., Edingley per calendar of events. Notts, NG22 8DE, 2nd Thursday 7.30pm; The Griffins Head, 28 Wilby Rd, Mears Ashby, Northants, NN6 0DX 3rd Tuesday ULSTER: Corr’s Corner, Glengormley, Co Antrim, 8.00pm on 7.30pm; The King’s Head, Kingsway, Tealby, Lincs LN8 3YA, first Tuesday every month. Wednesday evening runs, Corr’s 01673 838347 3rd Thursday 7.30pm. Winter gatherings The Corner, 7.00pm from beginning of April to end of August. Community Centre, Great Lane, Greetham, Rutland and The Sunday morning runs from Sandy Knowles Roundabout Rangers Cycle Clubhouse, off Islington Road, Towcester, 10.30am most Sundays between July and October. Northants occasional Sundays, October to March. Alternating Breakfast meets see Diary or Forum for details. WESTERN: Easter Compton Village Hall on the B4055 (south of Junction 1 M48) 13.30hrs, 2nd Sunday. New NORTH EAST: The Durham Amateur Rowing Club, Green Lane, Old Elvet, Durham DH1 3JU at 19.30hrs 1st Inn, Claines, Worcester, 2000hrs, 1st Tuesday. The Lamb Wednesday of the month. The Wagon Inn, 3 miles NW of Inn, Iron Acton, 19.30hrs, 1st Wednesday. 99 Neath Road, Ponteland on A696, NE20 0DH, 19.30hrs 3rd Wednesday. Rhos, Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 3EH, 19.30hrs, 4th Unless otherwise noted all runs start from Durham Services, Wednesday. Bowburn J61 A1(M). YORKSHIRE: Cracoe Village Hall on B6265 north of Skipton NORTHERN: The Briars Hall Hotel on A5209 near through Rylstone, 12 noon 1st Sunday, BD23 6LQ, The Bear Burscough, Lancs, 20.00 1st Friday; Chipping Village Hall Inn, South Cave, on the A1034 from the A63, Brough, 8pm, Chipping, Nr. Preston, 13:00, 2nd Sunday;The Holden Arms, 2nd Monday, HU15 2AS . The Red Hart Hotel, Blyth, on the Grane Rd. Haslington Rossendale BB4 4PD 19.00 3rd B6045 from Blyth services on the A1, 12 noon, 2nd Sunday. Friday Harraby Inn, Carlisle, A6, 2 miles west of M6 J42, 19.30, last Monday. The Creek, Peel, Isle Of Man 1930 3rd Squires Cafe Bar, Sherburn in Elmet, on the B1222 from the Tuesday; The Church House Buglawton (Congleton) on the A1 or the A162, 7pm on the 3rd Tuesday, LS25 5LQ. How A54 20.30 second Tuesday. Stean Gorge Cafe, 12 noon, North of Pately Bridge near Lofthouse, 3rd Sunday, HG3 5SF. The Conservative Club, OXFORD: George & Dragon, Erlestoke, Wilts 7.00pm, 1st Thursday; The Harcourt Arms at Stanton Harcourt at Town Street, Gildersome on the B6126 between Morley 19:30, 2nd Tuesday Dog & Partridge, Riseley (off end of and New Farnley, 8pm on the last Tuesday.The Bikers Café Swallowfield by-pass (A33)) 19:30. 4th Tuesday Village Hall, Fimbar Road Fridaythorpe Driffield YO25 9RX 12 noon last Uffington, Oxfordshire, 14:00 occ. Sundays. Saturday in the month

68 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends The Social Scene What’ s happening out and about, brought to you by the National Social Secretary

The shakeup caused by local section AGMs them also by volunteering an hour or up to a doesn’t appear to have been as diverse as maximum of two hours per event of your time. predicted. Most The appointed tasks sections now have maybe a mundane job managed to find like stacking chairs somebody willing to or directing traffic, stand as social secretary or maybe taking over so later in this month a duty during a meal (November) we will be break. Whatever meeting. The purpose the task is it will be of the meeting is to swap nothing too strenuous ideas about planning and your help will events, encourage be appreciated. If more intersection you would like to get cooperation and ensure involved and support that no section is left as a national events feeling isolated. helper please drop me a The major events line with your contact diary for inclusion details including your into next year’s Journal is also nicely coming membership number. It is essential that you together and some new style additions will be have a mobile phone. discussed. Have you planned your summer holidays We will be also announcing the mechanics for next year yet? of streamlining the new way that the diary Here is advance notice of two continental is compiled ready to be presented in The trips that have been planned and are well Journal. My thanks must be extended to Ian worth considering but as always you need to Caswell who has devised a superb system that please book early. will be unveiled to the social secretaries at East Anglia section is inviting you to join the meeting after the successful trial period. them at Domaine de Bans in the heart of the This is compiled to make sure we provide you Vosges, France from 18th ~ 25th June. More with the very best entertainment and events details from Tom Rogers 07976 706391. package for the forthcoming year. The Midland section is tempting you to join I wish to introduce the concept of a national them on the Great Italian Adventure at Garda team of helpers from any section that national 3rd to 16th August 2011. See how the Italians events organizers can rely on to support holiday! To obtain more information contact manpower shortages. The tasks would be Steve Foreman 07859 909853 non-specific but sometimes a job is easily Safe Riding carried out with say 6 people but hard work Mark Dutton or impossible for just one. If you regularly National Social Secretary visit our national events why not support Telephone: 07703 179062

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 69 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Around The Compass Please send Around The Compass changes to [email protected] with “Compass” as the subject

11th December 2010 Scottish Section You can attend either or both nights and if you are – ‘Get There Before Santa’ Early Xmas brave you can even come by bike. The Sheep Island Party Night At the North West Castle Hotel, View hostel can sleep up to 120 people. The cost Stranraer, Dumfries & Galloway (please check would be £14 sterling per person per night which out all facilities at www.northwestcastle.co.uk) translates into €16.50. They also have a Camping Enjoy a Saturday night Smorgasbord dinner Barn (it is not a camping area) which they use as an and dance at this hotel in the South of Scotland extension to the hostel. http://www.sheepislandview. (85 miles from Glasgow, 139 miles from com/ The hostel is close to the Giants Causeway Edinburgh, 93 miles from Scotland/England – and more importantly, Bushmills Distillery. The Border, and just a boat trip from Belfast or Larne) local hostelries do food and I’ll make sure that they Costs (all per person sharing – if single occupancy don’t run out of Guinness. Booking is direct with please contact Bob): Buffet Dinner Dance £25; the hostel at [email protected] or phone Buffet Dinner Dance and Saturday night B&B £50; 028 207 69391. If you are interested in going Weekend Package (Friday dinner until breakfast please send me a personal message johnmount@ Sunday) £100. Deposit £25 per person (please imagine.ie If I get sufficient interest I will organise make cheques payable to ‘North West Castle Hotel’). some grub and possibly some entertainment. Enquiries and deposits to Bob Crawley, 3 Station Road, Kelso, Scottish Borders, TD5 8DQ.Tel: 01573 22nd-25th April 2011 – Southern Section’s 223203. E-mail: [email protected] Easter 2011 Hotel Weekend at Llandovery mid Wales. Cost will be £135.50 per person for 21st-23rd Jan 2011 – Irish Section A weekend half board for 3 nights. Contact David and Myfanwy in Ballintoy, Co. Antrim to shake off the winter blues. Williamson Tel 01428 751756. A deposit of £10 per person will be required on booking. Booking essential as space is limited.

29th Apr 2011-2nd May 2011 – Ulster Section Mayday Weekend in the Scottish Highlands. Dornoch Hotel, Dornoch (About 40 Miles north of Inverness). Contact Leslie Allan 07846042601. £100 PP sharing, single room Supp: £5 per night; three nights DB+B, includes Rally fee. 20th-22th May 2011 – Ulster Section North West 200 Weekend. Based at Coleraine Rugby Club, £7 PPPN camping, dinner Sat: night £12 PP, breakfast £5 PP. Race Sat: 21/5/11, local guides for vantage points, see the S1000RR at 200+MPH!! Details, contact Shane at www.framingfantastic.co.uk.

70 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Section and Register News Please send all Section News entries and contact detail changes to Section News (see page 3 for details) - not to the Editor please.

really rewarding, and we are happy to support you East Anglia Section and give ideas for routes etc. Please contact Mark Weavers on 01493 600585 to have a chat about it. My name is Matt Butcher and welcome to my first We are also having a party on the Saturday night section news as your Social Secretary. I would like at the function room of the camp site, with a buffet, to thank Mark Dutton for doing such a good job as live band and disco (and somewhere quiet to sit for Soc Sec and I have got a large gap to fill this year. those who need it). Watch this space for the advert The AGM also resulted in Mark Weavers being your in the Journal next month. Secretary for another year and Jenny Batley taking Our headline event for 2011 is our trip to The over from Jon Price as Treasurer. Well done to Mark Vosges in June, organised by new committee for staying with us and Jenny for stepping up, and member Tom Rogers. The advert for this event thanks to Jon for his sterling service. Thanks also should be elsewhere in the journal and it would be to Mark Handley and Paul Brown who stood down great to get as good a turn-out as Castellane this from the committee this year after contributing so year. These trips are becoming an EA speciality, so much to the section. The other committee members come along and see what you have been missing. for 2011 are Cliff Batley, Jon Price, Dik Langan, For those who do Twitter (I confess to being one of David Massey, Mike Davies, Mark Dutton, Tom them), our section has a presence as BMWClubEA. Rogers and Tim Robinson. We have a really good Jon Price is our Section Twit, something that suits blend of new folk and experience and I am looking him, and he will send reminders of upcoming events forward to a great 2011. and other section news. I have just arrived back home from the cafe meet Please also consider making use of the Forum at the Orwell Crossing, and it was wonderful to on the Club web site to keep up to date. If you go see so many people there. It was one of our best straight to the East Anglia section and side-step the attended ever with well over 20 bikes, so well done politics you will find a great way to keep up to date all. Let’s keep it going through the winter too. with who is going to events and what is happening Our Christmas buffet will be at The Flying generally. The 2011 year card will be on there before Fortress, Mount Road, Bury St Edmunds, IP31 2QU the paper version finds its way to you, so maybe that at 12:00 noon on 12 December, replacing the Five is temptation enough. If you need a hand getting set Miles for that day. It would be great to see you there up drop me a line and I will try to help. and please do not feel any shame in coming in your Ride safe, and get those cans of ACF-50 out car rather than on the bike. I will probably be on 4 soon! wheels myself! Moving to 2011, the year card is pretty much up Matt Butcher and ready to go. There are some changes to our 07915 850767 regular meets, and you should be able to see them in [email protected] this month’s Diary of Events. The only fixed Sunday meets in 2011 are at The Five Miles on the 1st Sunday, The Three Tunns on the 1st Wednesday, Irish Section The Shoulder of Mutton on the 3rd Sunday and October 15 & 16 our Leenane Hotel weekend took the Lamb & Flag on the 3rd Wednesday. We have place. With 76 members including 4 people from dropped the Worlds End, Mulbarton and have a the Ulster section and 6 from other UK sections in variety of other venues instead. We have included a attendance it was by far our biggest event this year return to the Crossways Inn at Scole for 3 Sundays and it didn’t disappoint. People arrived all through in 2011 with a view to making this more regular in Friday and after the usual meet up natter a leisurely 2012 if popular. meal was enjoyed. A few of us then wandered in the As well as the weekend and weekday meets, we village where we eventually ended up in Gaynor’s have some great events lined up for you. We are Bar enticed by the music. We quickly became running the Banham Rally & GS Weekend again, entangled in a local “stag do” this led to a sort of and as usual it is not restricted to people with a GS sing off between our Champion and theirs (the Stag so please come along. It will be over the late May himself), mighty craic but as the small hours grew bank holiday weekend, 27 to 30 May. We have off- nearer the wiser amongst us headed for the hotel. road rides being organised, but we do need some Saturday dawned, one of those absolutely gorgeous volunteers to lead a road ride please. This can be clear sunny autumn days and the star of the weekend

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 71 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends was the beautiful Connemara countryside. George There followed the Section AGM at the Green Kavanagh and Pat Munnelly organised a loop of Dragon Pub` in Flaunden with twelve attendees ; all Connemara in a clockwise direction and Brendan of the current Committee Members were re-elected Lang and Chris Wright went anticlockwise with both and after some light discussion the meeting closed groups meeting at Dowd’s cafe in Roundstone for for lunch,and a few beers, and then we all went Lunch. Back again to Leenane and some of us sat home ! outside enjoying the view only to be treated to a You will have noticed some brackets, and a display by the “white arrows” on the opposite side photograph, missing from last months missive . of the fjord (you had to be there). Another fine meal Having checked my original Proof these omissions on Saturday night was followed by the presentation appear to be the result of “Editorial tweekings” by Chris Browne of the Paul Browne member of the – I have reproduced the missing brackets below year award. This is awarded to the non committee together with the Photograph of Alan Arnold being member who makes an outstanding contribution to led around Russell Bend at Snetterton . the Section. This year’s deserved winners were the ) ) dynamic duo of Sheila Clarke and Liam Quinlan for You may just be able to make out where Alan is their very successful running of the Irish Section looking – at my Number Plate instead of looking Boreen Run. where he wants to go. He`ll learn Our Section A.G.M. took place on Sunday 31st October, with a good turnout considering the bad weather. Alan Kane of the Ulster Section carried out “teller duties”. Lots of topics were discussed with lots of views being expressed, but by far the biggest issue continues to be the late delivery of Club Journals. The committee remains as it was with Brendan Lang Treasurer, Dave Browne Social Secretary, myself as Secretary and Stephen Somers as Membership Secretary so get your renewal form off to him by January. Please pay your subs for 2011 directly to the Irish Section, and send to the Membership Secretary Mr Stephen Somers, 13 The Meadows, Passage West, Co Cork. Please make your cheques/drafts/postal-orders payable to: BMW Club Irish Section. Please note if you intend to take part in Club events, and bring a pillion passenger with you or indeed to bring a partner or friend on their own bike, they must be fully paid-up members or in the case of spouse/partner living at the same address, they can be associate members cost of which is only an Euro 3.00. Contact Steve for full details of membership/associate membership: [email protected] As this will appear in the December Journal, on behalf of the committee, I would like to thank you all for your support throughout the year and to wish The Section Christmas Dinner has now been you all a very happy and peaceful Christmas. booked for Saturday 11th. December and will take place at Julies Restaurant & Bar , Holland Park, TJ McHale West London. Based on previous experience I have Secretary Irish Section booked for 24 people which happens to be the Dave Browne - Irish Social Sec BMW Club maximum number that the Restaurant can seat as [email protected] one party ( in what they call “The Garden Room”) – this means that places will allocated on a “first London Section come, first served” basis so give me a ring as soon as you can if you are interested. We meet at 19:30 Eight riders turned up for the October run to (or earlier ) for 20:00hrs. The Restaurant is a short ( Dorchester on Thames which was in fine weather, healthy) walk from Holland Park Tube Station. the drop off system kept us all together and there The December Mystery Run will take place on the was a good turn out of bikes to look at, at the H following Day ( Sunday 12th December ) and will be Café next to MPS Express ( formerly M & P ) who to The Fox and Hounds for lunch. I will provisionally were unfortunately shut ( they used to be open on book for 8 people so let me know quickly !! Sundays which was very useful, but not any more ) The first Ride-out for 2011 will be on Sunday 23rd

72 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends January, destination yet to be decided but date both involve food! The first is on Sunday 2nd, and stands. is the New Year Breakfast. The urn will be on from I would like to take this opportunity to wish about 10:00 and it’s planned to start eating about everyone a happy Christmas and a better New 11:00. The usual comment applies – if you are late Year. you risk getting only scraps or nothing. The second is on Sunday 30th and is the annual Go carefully Pie and peas feast. Same timings, and for both events bring your hunger! Peter Jones There will of course be the usual pub meetings, 07710 887958 the details of which are on our web page and in the [email protected] Journal under “Where we meet.” Two timely reminders. The Social secretary, i.e. Mercia Section me, needs some ride-outs for next year to fill the calendar and the sooner I known about them the October saw three events, one ride-out, the section easier it is to plan things – it was a bit of a panic in AGM and the first meeting of the winter season at 2010! For the moment a date and the start point will Repton. do. The second reminder is to get your spare bits The Ride-out was to join up with the Ride to the and pieces together for the Top-box and Pannier Wall gathering at Drayton Manor Park. I led the sale at the end of Feb. ride (only a few miles) from Markeaton along the A38 and straight to Drayton Manor. There was no Stay safe and enjoy your biking, pretence of finding an interesting route; the plan Sean Dodds was to get there as quickly as possible so that 01332 723843 people who had not registered for the main event [email protected] could do so. We arrived at Drayton just before 9:00 and there were already hundreds, if not a thousand bikes on the car park we were using, and more were Midland Section pouring in by the minute. We had a very long wait to get away from Drayton on the ride to the National Another month over, where does the time go? I am Memorial Arboretum, some 41/2hrs, However, writing this having just returned from the “Hippo once on our way, the route was well marked, every Rally” in darkest Cornwall. Another great weekend crossing, traffic light, junction, roundabout and slip Organized by the South-west section, and my road was open for us, controlled by marshals, police thanks go out to Sally, John, Les and all other and even military police. It was brilliantly organised. helpers that make this such a good rally Year after The NMA was full of bikes, as were the approach Year. 70 plus campers in November can’t be bad. roads, the overflow car parks, and the quarry and The winter meets are in full swing, with 36 transport yards down the road. Worth the wait – attendee’s last week at Towcester. Don’t worry about maybe, ignoring the wait - an excellent day. turning up in the car, as long as you turn up. By the The section AGM took place on the 23rd and a full time you get this, the Midland AGM will be history, I’ll report can be seen on our web page on the BMW let you know what happened next Month. Club site –www.thebmwclub.org.uk – click on the Don’t forget the ride-out on the 21st December to Sections tab, then click on the Mercia section area The Norfolk and Suffolk Aviation Museum, Flixton. on the map and it’s in Latest News – Recent Events. Leaving Jack Hills café A5 just north of Towcester The only point of interest is that Colin Ainsworth Sharp at 09.30, with a second departure from stood down as Secretary – thanks for all your good Huntingdon services on the A1/ A14 Brampton at work Colin and Suzette. Ruth Jackson has taken his 10.45am sharp. Free admission. Café on site. Over place, welcome to your new roll, I hope you enjoy 60 historic aircraft on view. About 85 miles. it. A very nice post-meeting buffet was provided by On December 5th it’s the Xmas dinner at Lorraine, worth attending if only for the food! Greetham Community centre, ticket only from The third meeting was the end of October chin- Graham and Sally Cluley on 01572-813639 Raffle wag / tyre-kicking and lasagne, salad and garlic prizes welcome, and the 12th It’s the Towcester bread lunch, marking the beginning of the winter Xmas meet. meetings at Repton. It also gave people a final You could do worse than join us, The Midland chance to decide on their food for the Christmas Diners Club, at the Griffins Head, Mears Ashby at dinner, and a few last minute decisions to go. about 7:30 on the 21st. Usually a good crowd, and December sees our Christmas / end of year reasonable prices. Of course, all the other evening dinner on the 4th. You need to have booked and meets will be on, see the diary. paid by the end of October, and the latest details will The Midland Post Christmas meal, organized by be appearing on the web. Bill Rodgers, is on Jan 29th, Please contact Bill for January has two meetings, strange this but they menu and booking.01526-834480

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 73 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends The now traditional Midland Section New Years later than you think!!! Day ride will leave Markfield services, just off J22 It’s not too late to book your place at the Brecon M1 Beacons weekend on the 3rd -5th December, book at 10:00am approx.. Meeting from about 9:30am, your camping, B&B or bunkhouse accommodation we will be meandering over back roads to the direct with the venue at www.thecastleinn.co.uk Engine House, Highley in Shropshire. Café open all There are a few section subsidised Christmas day, this is part of the Severn Valley Railway, with dinners arranged at various venues around the some section, they include the Briars Hall arranged by Vera static engines etc. inside the building. See www. Hunt 01257464429, The Holden Arms arranged by highleystation.co.uk/ for more info. Alan and Hazel Stretton 01706656606 And now a moan. I am putting together next years The Harraby Inn Carlisle arranged by John Bell Diary of Events, and so far, not one suggestion has 01228535173. Frank Hambletons mid week run come flooding in! In fact, apart from myself and the group is also arranging a Christmas do as is Mike couple of old reliables, the only thing new is invites Gibson’s mid week run group in the North of our from other sections! So come on, let me have your vast section. ideas, and if necessary, I’ll put them into action. I am sure they will all be glad to see you should Whatever happens, please don’t moan that your you wish to attend. section doesn’t put on what you want to go to, as we On the 12th December there is our Christmas are a bit short on clairvoyants on the committee! “Jakobs Join” do at Lowton church hall, bring Moan over. If I don’t see you until after Christmas, something to share and dig into the food others have have a really good one, and hope to see you out in brought along, there’s always plenty to go round. the New Year. We have found a new winter venue for 2011 and our first meeting there will be on the 23rd January Till next time, 2011. It’s at Rixton with Glazebrook Community Bodger Hall, Manchester Road, Rixton, Warrington, WA3 6JZ. We will have free pie and pies as well as a Steve Foreman £200 raffle so we hope to see loads of you there. 01536 722048 We have been unable to secure the traditional 2nd 07859 909853 Sunday every month at this venue so the February [email protected] meeting is on the 20th and the March meeting is on the 13th. If the venue is popular we hope to move Northern Section back to the second Sunday every month in 2012 That’s about it I think so have a fabulous and Hi all, Firstly I am pleased to be able to report that peaceful Christmas and New Year. Allan Davies stepped forward to fill Bill Smithson’s Rhys Jones shoes as our section treasurer at the AGM. Susan 07765 702276 Donohue also volunteered her services to help the [email protected] committee run the section, thank you very much indeed for that. So what’s been happening? The “big thing” North East Section in October was the joint Northern/Scottish hotel weekend in Eccelfechan arranged by Bob and Pam Hi Folks. Well we have had a bit of a busy old Harrison, it was a great success with 38 people month and with some news of forthcoming events enjoying a well organised weekend in comfortable I had better get started. Starting with a very wet surroundings. and dismal note, the Sunday ride out on the 3rd of The ride out on Saturday led by Bob Harrison was October was cancelled. Not due to lack of interest wet but was enjoyed by all who went on it. It’s a part by members but the atrociously bad weather. ‘Phil of the country I blast through several times a year O’ went to meet anyone that was brave enough to on my way to the highlands, so it was nice to spend turn up, only to see Tony Seed who arrived just to some time there. provide moral support. So the decision was made to It will be on again next year but please note that forgo the event and call it a day. Not good, that’s the out of 800 members in the Northern and Scottish second time it happened this year. sections, it took nearly 12 months to get 38 people On Wednesday 6th we had our Section AGM to book the weekend. It takes a lot of effort by the held at the Rowing Club. It was quite well attended organisers to put these things on and the section with about 30 turning up for the proceedings. There has to take a gamble on people wanting to attend were no real contentious issues so after the voting before committing to the venue. We have been for the committee to represent yourselves for 2011 accused of turning into a camping club – yet we was voted in, we adjourned to do the usual thing as struggle to fill one hotel weekend in our diary!! we do at the bar. Come on people – show some enthusiasm – it’s Our regular monthly ‘ride in’ was a bit of a good

74 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends ‘do’ this month, a new venue for us, the Hadrian Hotel in the village of Wall, about 5 miles north of Oxford Section Hexham. The meal was excellent and although we On October 10th we had the last ride out of the year. had not pre-booked anything, we were afforded the What follows is Eddie Webb’s report on the day: convenience of a table all to ourselves that sat all 14 “Eleven hardy members on nine bikes joined me of us. This is certainly a place for us to bear in mind for the last run of the year, starting from Buckland for the future. services on the A420. The Hampshire part turned The following weekend our regular end of season out to be the real mystery as the ride was mainly Buffet was held at the Ravensworth Arms in Leamsley in Wiltshire! The real “mystery” was the first just west of Gateshead.. We had arranged for I think destination of the Avebury stone circle,just north 40 but there were more than that eventually. It was a of Devizes. We arrived in good time following the good venue with more room than we had last year. A361 from Swindon, through Wroughton and on to There were a load of donated raffle prizes and the Avebury for the first coffee stop. Some stayed in ticket sales raised almost £100 for the Great North the café while others walked around the famous Air Ambulance. Well done indeed. stones. The Alexander Keiller museum houses On Wednesday 20th there was the regular artefacts and displays about the stones, with a bit meeting at the Waggon Inn, west of Ponteland. We of background on Alexander Keiller himself (the actually managed to get 14 of us turn up to do a same Keillers of marmalade fame from my home bit of putting the world to rights and a bit of banter. town of Dundee). The gardens and Manor were also It was a very cold night though, is this shades of open and part of the site run by English Heritage things to come over the winter months, I hope not. on behalf of The National Trust. We all met back at Well the new diary is off our hands and into those the café, where some decided to head home. Six of the printers. It is a little late this year, so section others decided to travel on to the second part of the members may, and I say - may, not get theirs until mystery, Stonehenge. Once past Devizes the roads the February edition of the journal arrives through were open with nice sweeping bends, perfect bike their letter boxes.However to keep you informed in roads! Once at Stonehenge, we had a look at the the month of January we have the following dates. famous stones, then retired for another coffee and Wednesday Jan 5th at the Rowing Club there will “rockcake”. I think we just about managed to cross be a talk by Mandy Drake from the Great North Air the border into Hampshire, if it was for only a couple Ambulance. of hundred yards, so justifying the title of the days Sunday 9th January the Sunday ‘ride in’ for lunch run! We had a great run back in the last of the days is at the Coach and Horses on the A167 about 4 sunshine, a fine end to a great day.” miles south of Durham. There is plenty of parking On the 24th of October we were in Wiltshire and they do a cracking carvery lunch. again, we were at the annual skittles match against On Wednesday 19th January there is the regular the Western section. This was a home match, our meeting at the Waggon Inn near Ponteland. turn to pay for it!, it was at The George & Dragon at Even more advanced news, Stop Press, Dennis Erlestoke, the farthest flung pub meet of the Oxford Maggs has once again done his stuff and the Hotel section. With us and the Western section we filled Weekend is at Nethy Bridge over the 27th, 28th and the pub, a tremendous buffet was laid out on the 29th of May and the price is £42 pppn, which is £3 pool table, i took a doggie bag home so i did not cheaper than this years jaunt. Get your names (and have to make sandwiches for work on Monday. The money) into Dennis ‘cos he needs your support to George &Dragon always treats us proud. make this a success. As for the match, the Western section took the Finally, on Wednesday 2nd Feb at the Rowing victory again but only just!, some Oxford members Club, we have another Bring and Buy sale. So now played for the Western to make the numbers equal. is the time to sell, exchange, or donate all those bits Everybody had a good time. Rob Allin and John and pieces that you have been meaning to get rid of Ottaway gently took the mick out of everybody for the last decade. stepping up to bowl. Thank you to Marion Allin for And now really a final note, a big thank you to doing the scoring. Next year it will be a Western all those who helped out this past year, arranging section event at The Old Royal Ship, Luckington, rides,, section ‘do’s and the myriad of things to help Nr Chippenham. it go along smoothly. From me, may all of those in This month we will have the social meet at Uffington the section, and indeed the club as a whole have a on the 12th of December, 2.00pm onwards. The very merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. Reading Toy run is on the 5th December, meeting at Safe riding everyone 1.00pm to leave at 2.00pm from The Foster Wheeler building, Reading, next to J11 of the M4. For more John King information go to readingtoyrun.org Don’t forget the 01677 425005 annual New Years day meeting at The Lock, Stock [email protected] and Barrel in Newbury from 12 noon onwards. BMW Club Journal • December 2010 75 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends John Hillier 01189 332152 South East Section [email protected] The Section AGM saw many changes to the structure of our committee. Scottish Section Brian Shears, our Secretary for 16 years stood down. We all wished him and his right hand lady, Welcome to another edition of my ramblings. Margaret a huge thank you for all their hard work, October saw the section AGM at the Bridge of Cally; help and advice they gave over these years. We unfortunately, I wasn’t able to make it due to work hope they will have a more relaxing time enjoying commitments. The section office bearers remain in the club activities and events. office, but the main change is that the committee The Social Secretary, Keith Morris stood down has reverted to its previous size. Of the three, two along with Roger Bickerstaff from the Social of them have not held a committee post in recent Committee and again we thank them and their right years; so welcome on board Nigel MacDonald hand ladies, Debbie and Jill for all their efforts and and Mick Reed. Dick Boyd our ever-present third look forward to seeing them at the club. committee member. The minutes are available on The new Secretary is Shaun Mulligan with Lou the section website, but are a bit long to re-produce Warner Social Secretary. Elaine continues as here. Treasurer. The Ecclefechan hotel weekend was a Northern/ The Social Committee now is Graham Ashmore . Scottish hotel weekend organised by Pam and Bob George Barlow. Ian Campbell. Dave Deacon . John Harrison of the Northern Section. The hotel was Smith and Rosemary Warner. Dave Witts is looking warm and welcoming. The food was excellent as after the website and John Hawker has offered to was the company. Pam and Bob made all those deal with Membership applications. attending feel very welcome. Information was sent This committee has met and agreed to continue out before the event giving an itinerary and list of many of the events as well as introducing new people attending. Bob organised an excellent ones. Perhaps a ride out for older more cherished ride out on the Saturday which most people went Beamers, a more sedate ride, sit back and enjoy on and thoroughly enjoyed. The Scottish Section the scenery. were a bit thin on the ground, Bob Crawley, Jim Any ideas for any events please speak to one of and myself. Mick and Lesley Reed, Brenda and the committee and we can consider it for the Diary Nigel MacDonald, who all live in the area, came of Events. for the dinner organised by Pam on the Saturday Ian’s camping w/e in The New Forest was a evening. Pam was asked if she would organise success with good weather and Lou lead a ride on this weekend again next year. Pam said yes but Saturday through The Forest. A good weekend for pointed out that filling all the rooms had been all. difficult and more support was needed. This was George took 6 to Weymouth Beach Races with a great weekend so come on all you people who tea on the Prom. And for the Wednesday run, Ron prefer hotel weekends support this event. took us to Beachy Head. We have added a new monthly meeting to the On the 17th Rod took us to Norman’s Bay via “the calendar of events. This is on the first Sunday of the pretty route” and very pretty it was too. The Photo competition had fewer entries although month and is held at the Spittal of Glenshee Hotel on still of the same high quality. the A93, (PH10 7QF) at 1230. This is also the venue Winners were. Scenic-Ken Hall. Humorous- for a new section weekend on the early may bank Graham Ashmore . Action-Chris Coffill. Bike-Shaun holiday, (29th April to 2nd May). An advert appears Mulligan. elsewhere in the journal. This is a hotel weekend The members present voted for these and awards with camping available. will be given at the New Year Party on 8th January. The other regular meetings will remain as they are A note about the Christmas Lunch on 12th and the regular weekend events are also in place. December at Poultwood Golf Club, menu choices The January bunkhouse weekend at Lochearnhead will be available at club night 3rd November.(and will take place on 7th to 9th of January, contact Dick hopefully Shaun will put on our Section Forum). Do Boyd on 01343 870389. A change for the event let me know in good time. this time is that we are asking for a pre-payment of 50% of the £20 weekend cost per club member, Signed off my first section report this should be sent to Dick. This is extremely good value, as it is effectively half board. Lou Warner.Soc Sec 01622 678997. Jason Goodwill 01847 893935 As new Secretary I thought I should add a bit on [email protected] the end.

76 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends It is difficult to adequately show our respect and gratitude to somebody who has led our section for 16 years; Brian and Margaret have worked tirelessly to run the section over this time even though their health has given them some real challenges. I hope our round of applause for them at the AGM went some way to showing this. I think with the people added to the committee we have a variety of characters and together we intend building on what we have and will offer something for each member. Please tell us if we are failing. I see our section forum is used hardly at all, although this cannot replace our Journal, can we use it for discussing topics of interest, passing on information etc. We will also look to update our website. What would you like to see on it. ? Shaun Mulligan [email protected] Southern Section Richard organised another successful shooting event at the beginning of October. Five members tried their hand at different disciplines, with rapid fire and moving targets. Congratulations to Dave Wright who was the overall winner. In the middle of the month Dave Goldsmith met up with other members at Shoreham Airport cafe. Dave sent the following report. When I arrived at the Richard Tavener has volunteered to take over from airport cafe, several early arrivals were breakfasting Dave as secretary, and Noel Robertson has joined and also reported they had experienced frosty me on the social team. Trish has agreed to become conditions for their ride in. 16 members were waved a committee member along with Peter Dunn, Eve off by Eddie, Steve and Dave Wright. The run of Smith and Gail Hynard. It is really good that our 53 miles was via Glyndebourne and Ringmer with members are willing to put themselves forward to a photo-stop at Herstmonceux Castle. We arrived help make the Southern Section great. home at East Dean, where 7 other Southern Section We had a lot of members volunteering to organise members, plus Geoff and Lesley from S E Section runs and events next year and will be putting the had already arrived independently. The kitchen was calendar together as quickly as possible. If anyone in full swing and everyone enjoyed the lunch and was not able to attend the AGM, but wants to lead a splendid social occasion. Thanks to Dave and a run, please let one of your social team know as Lesley for organising this event and opening up soon as possible. their home to the hungry bikers. Now to December, and we are looking forward to Our section AGM was held at the end of the seeing lots of you at the Christmas Dinner Dance month. It was attended by 56 members, which is a at the Gatwick Manor on the 11th December. The very good turn out. This may have something to do only other event in December is the Boxing Day with the lovely buffet lunch. Thanks must go to Myf, meet to check out the old bikes at Wickham Square for organising the food, and also to the ladies who organised by the VMCC. made cakes and scones for afters. January 9th sees our first talk of the 2011. We will We have had a few changes on the committee be able to let you all know next month who will be which I would like to tell you about, but firstly want regaling us with their stories. to thank two of the people who stepped down this Hopefully you will be reading this before Christmas, year. Dave Williamson has been a great secretary/ so have a lovely celebration. Best wishes to all our chairman, easily managing to keep us all in order members for a happy Christmas and a great biking at the committee meeting. Also I want to say a big year in 2011. thank you to Trish. She has been a huge part of the social team, keeping the calendar up to date, Trish 01372 378196 sending out the all the reminder e mails and taking [email protected] on a lot of organising. Gerri 01895 446896 (not after 20.00hrs please) We now have a lot of new faces in the team. [email protected]. BMW Club Journal • December 2010 77 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends nationally, a very Happy Christmas and Prosperous South West Section New Year, and for the millionth time please note: At the AGM on 10th October there was a change Tues: 7/12/10, Christmas Dinner; Ballot, Photo in some of the Committee members. They are Comp presentation; 8pm Templeton Hotel, Templepatrick. now as follows: Dave Cooper – Chairman. Debbie No meeting in January, next club event being Sampson – Secretary, from St Austell. John is still New Years Day Run, Sat: 1/1/11, 10-30am Albert Treasurer, Clock, Belfast; see Wilson Lynn bring in the new I am still Social Secretary. Don Rabson from year by riding through the fountain!! Pick the run Camelford and Pete Fletcher from Bridgewater. up at Ballygally, 11ish, and see how far we get this Now 3 of the counties are represented on the time. Committee. Some of you will have received a Last month I was a bit presumptuous with the membership renewal form with your November report about the section AGM, nothing subversive, journal with Dave Little’s address on it. Dave is no just trying to meet Journal deadline which was the longer our Secretary so your form should be sent same evening. It was as seamless as reported, to DEBBIE SAMPSON. 18 ROPEHAVEN ROAD, two changes occurred, Charlie McConnell, is now ST. AUSTELL. PL25 4 DU. Phone number 01726 Secretary, with Bob Barker remaining as National 61642. Committee Rep: Richard Herron takes over from Thankyou to Dave Little and Nobby Donno for Alex Bradley as Section Webmaster/IT Guy. Both their time on the Committee. positions changing on the basis of, “if someone else Something for you to think about before next wants to do it, I don’t mind” quite subtle and this time years AGM. You will need a new Social Secretary!!! producing the desired result, thanks to Bob and Alex 3rd October was a meet at The Weary Traveller for their efforts and time on behalf of the Section, and a good time was had by all. Chris I have mislaid and welcome on board Charlie and Richard. your report, sorry, must have had a tidy up session Tuesday 2/11/10, club night featured a talk by after the wedding. Trevor Baird and Elaine Hardy, representing ‘Write 17th October , 10 members arrived at The Bowd to Ride/Right to Ride’ a lobby group monitoring , Sidmouth in lovely sunshine to enjoy a good lunch legislation heading our way. A very informative and lots of chat. Helen looked in to see everyone and interesting presentation outlining how we as which included new member Chris Cook. Hope to motorcyclists should be active in putting our case see you around again Chris. forward, a good starting point, we were informed 24th October, The weather was a bit mixed for by Billy Owens that the current Metropolitan the meet at Jamaica Inn and don’t know how many Transport Plan for Belfast does not even mention people were there. motorcycles. Trevor and Elaine are working full time 31st October. Pumpkin pie and muffins were making contact with relevant groups and bodies enjoyed with cups of tea and chat about pensions and working in partnership with PSNI and DOE, etc. on Halloween day. We also had some Halloween both have extensive experience at lobbying for balloons but no one wanted to take them home. motorcycling in the UK and Europe, Elaine having The DOE is nearly complete for next year and submitted research papers on various aspects of with a bit of luck you should get it with your January motorcycle use and safety. journal. We hope you will find something to interest Attending this club night was a bit of a close you and will see you out and about during the year. shave for myself, other club officials and members, The Christmas Pub Meet is at The Weary as we travelled directly from Dublin Airport to Traveller on 12th December so see you there, if not Corr’s, having just returned from Berlin and a visit we will also be there again on Boxing Day, for lighter to the BMW factory. Thanks once again to Jim Hill refreshments! And possibly some gaviscon. Do they of Hursts Motorrad for making the trip possible, sell that in pubs? we had an excellent time in Berlin, a first visit to So for now, Happy Christmas everyone and hope this city for most of the group of sixteen, myself Santa brings you lots of goodies. Its time to eat, included; everyone vowing to return again to see drink and be merry, but not while on the bike. more of Berlin. We were made very welcome at the factory, coffee at the reception area on arrival Take care and see you next year. and departure, and given an extensive guided tour of most of the facility by Sebastian, our guide on Sally Robinson the tour. High tech. is definitely the name of the 01395 597725 game here, engines on a line which knows where to [email protected] send them next after each stage of their build, fully automated machines applying jointing compound Ulster Section and itching engine numbers: we had an opportunity to inspect the conrods produced by cracking open Wishing all members of our section and club the big end and were astonished to find no trace of a

78 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends joint when holding the two pieces together. The site quite kicking and screaming. does not look too impressive, but inside is certainly The site has static vans and several hard standing an eye opener, also a touch of the real world in the pitches which allowed Denis B, Brian H and Keith ‘hall of shame’ bikes from the production line pulled A to bring along their very posh camping vehicles. aside for remedial work, all in all an impressive outfit The rest of us making do with canvas roofs for our and well worth a visit if you have an opportunity to only protection. However the weather was very do so. kind to us yet again, we must have done something It is with great sadness that the section learnt right with the planning this time! Paul and Jenny R of the death of Professor Gordon Blair, of Queens had bought themselves a brand new tent and so I University Belfast. A section member he was a can only imagine they intend to become one of the world renowned expert in Mechanical Engineering Western section “Hardy” regulars. (Sic). at QUB, for years leading two stroke development With a bright and warm Saturday dawning most of and latterly four stroke engines, ranging from race us decided to catch the bus into England’s smallest to emissions, it is believed that at some time every city, WELLS. A beautiful but bustling place steeped engine maker had made their way to QUB for his in history, a wonderful Cathedral and numerous expertise. A native of Larne, he had on several other architectural delights, with some buildings occasions given presentations at our club nights, dating back 400 years. Their Saturday market was always bringing the complexity of his work down to a in full flow and made the trip that little bit more suitable level of understanding for ourselves, on his interesting, There were some of the BIGGEST last visit dealing with valve trains, he described how sausages I have ever seen being cooked right in as a young student he would spend several days front of the entrance, wild boar and venison just with a sliderule working out the profile for camshafts, two of the choices, a fantastic smell. A very clever now all done with several computer programmes. marketing ploy if you ask me. He will be greatly missed, Leslie Allan represented Saturday evening for some reason found us all in the Ulster Section at his funeral, and the section the bar/restaurant on site, can’t begin to think why! made a contribution to Cancer Research NI in lieu The manager ran what she thought was going to be of flowers, as was his request. a quiz which even we mere mortals could take part Looking ahead to 2011, we have just learnt that in and have a chance of winning, how wrong can Sat: 21/5/11 is the date for the North West 200, see you be? Yet again the sections BRAINS of Europe separate ad: for details. Also details of the 60th (if not the world) Jan and Ian Hibbert ran away with year national rally, if you are considering going to the prizes. They really do need to get out more! this event please contact our committee. Sunday was a little wet in the morning, but soon dried up so most were able to pack up damp, if not dry Norman Shearer tents. The sections recently purchased gazebo was [email protected] put to good use with all attendees spending several hours beneath it drinking, eating and chatting the Western Section time away. We all agreed the Gazebo has proven itself to have been a worthwhile acquisition for the Write up from Dave and Anita Holland section, well done Colin. about the Bucklegrove Camping weekend Hopefully we will revisit the site in a year or two, next year we will be in France so it must be 2012 at This was the first year at Bucklegrove caravan and the earliest. Ride safe. From Dave and Anita. camping site, a family run site at the foot of the “Saul Junction” proved a worthy test of navigation Mendip hills at Rodney Stoke. 32 members came for many on Oct 17th. The fact that it was a “CANAL along from far and not so wide, with John and Janet JUNCTION” and not a road junction eluded many “sat WINN winning the long distance award, Les Carr navs”, however the INTELLIGENCE QUOTIENT of second prize and our very own James winning the BMW Club (Western Section) members overcame “Surprise camper” award with his 7 mile journey all such problems and a happy rendevous ensued. and only the second outing for his tent. Well done Such a nice spot, on such a bright, if cool day. Well James and a big thank you for supporting us with done everybody. our event. We thought about having a “Hardest From one intersection to another now. The inter working” award for Roger Young! His bike looked - section skittles match on October 24th was an like a Himalayan Sherpa on steroids, with at least uproarious affair, with great support, a fantastic two tents four chairs, air beds and sleeping bags spread of food and a great location. What is more stacked around him as he rode majestically onto the we won the contest against a worthy team. (although site. He had his instructions to have all erected and I am not at all sure how) ready before the rest of the slightly increased Young Our earlier in the season than usual, Devon contingent arrived later in the afternoon. Sandie had Riviera Hotel weekend was thankfully a warmer volunteered to look after their three Granddaughters then usual affair. Not a great deal of sun to be had for the weekend so they were dragged along not though. More details of the Marine Hotel weekend

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 79 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends next month , where BMW Halloweenists meet be contacted by E-mail - Christmas!! More to come of the re-emergence [email protected]. of the wonderful Hank and Carol Handcock with I think you will agree that Dave deserves a big Manfred Von Handcock, better know as the “Brown thank-you for his commitment and hard work to our Baron”. Word too from Brian Morgan, yes the same section over the past years. Brian Morgan who’s bike photo is on the front cover Alison Roberts our Treasurer is replaced by Sue of the November Journal, and who was also at the Anderson, the other half of Stuart and Sue. Alison Hotel weekend, to say that the meet at Brian Price’s has done a great job in keeping our books for the Garage is a success , they gather as ‘Grumpy men’! past year, but, pressure of work means she no for a natter, his words, not mine. Glad to hear the longer has time to continue. So thanks go to her meeting is still going strong. also. Chris Broadbent still in charge of Regalia ; the See you all at the Christmas Easter Compton rest of your committee for 2011; Andy Stork; Alan meet in December. Any donations for raffle prizes George, Graham Roberts; Mary Crompton and would be greatly appreciated. Dennis Asquith were voted on unopposed and I am Chris Bates still your Social Sec. So PLEASE can I have some dates and venues Janet Wilson for the coming year, I have to go to print before 01225 858876 mid December. We shall be displaying our section [email protected] Diary on the internet so you can see what’s on. We also voted to change the Diary layout, in line with Yorkshire Section other sections, we are trying to keep costs down so Our section AGM had the usual attendees and that more funds are available to spend within the thanks go to them for coming they made some section. good decisions on your behalf, so lets look forward The visit to RAF Fylingdales is to be on Thursday to a great year ahead. There are some changes to 28th April at 1.30pm. The programme will include a your committee. Dave Milne is replaced as Section briefing on the role of the Station then a tour of the SSPAR (radar). Time for this approx 3hrs. There is Secretary and National Com. Representative by no charge for this visit . Souvenirs can be bought. Roland Powell. Many of you will know Roland and The visit is limited to 25 people. Note that hearing his intrepid riding trips, he comes to Cracoe and can aids and pacemakers are not allowed in the Station. I can arrange for refreshments to be available. Just call me if you want to go on the list. I will publish more info nearer the time. We still have some places left for our Christmas dinner at the Magnet Hotel on Saturday the 18th December just give Dave or Doreen a call to reserve your place. 01132 860604. Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year from your committee. Elaine West 01274 832309 [email protected] REGISTERS Vintage and Classic Don’t the months come round quickly I am sure it was just yesterday that I was sitting here churning out last months offering, is it me or is time itself speeding up? First I must apologise there has been no Vintage News Letter since I came to the job but there are two main reasons, one I am an idiot with this computer but things are now altering. I have the right software and help in the background, and two, there were no articles in the pipe line. I must just comment on that last note, that reading through some back numbers I have found the same names keep cropping up in

80 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends each one. Come on, there are nearly one thousand of us in the Register surely there are many of you with woes, joys, funnies and tips to offer us all, so get those pens out and contribute. This also applies to the main Journal I now realise how difficult it is for our Editor to fill it. I know quite a few of us are perhaps bored with 21 pages of travelogue covering minutely all 2,697, but he has no option if there is nothing else to put in Right nag over. There are a few bikes for sale rattling around at the moment, an R60/5 an R100/7 and a rather unusual R50 cafe racer in red I will put you in touch if you are interested. I also have a K100 RS in red in my garage that I shall not be able to manage shortly which will be for sale also, please phone me for details.In Lincolnshire we have already had the dreaded gritter salters out on the roads but luckily followed by heavy rain so getting out has not yet been curtailed. This brings me to my R50S. It let me down rather badly 25 miles from home and the one day my mobile was in my other leathers. Good old Carol Nash and SOS. The problem has been identified as the electronic ignition and hopefully will have been sorted out by the time you read this, maybe the old mag system should have stayed with it! An option I am now considering, I have always preferred original and ‘if it ain’t broke why fix it?’ bit like the valve seat question. I have learned that Carol Nash will be transferring the breakdown recovery to the AA early in the new year this fills me with horror all I can hope is that they subcontract it out to SOS who are geared up for we two wheelers, unlike the AA who I understand will be endeavoring to recover bikes on flat bed trucks as they do not as yet have enough bike trailers. From the 19th of this month I shall not be available for about two weeks but shall be doing my best to get a News sheet to you with the January Journal that arrives just before Christmas. Wishing you safe miles. Robin [email protected] Sporting Robert Bensley 01953 888415 [email protected] Sidecar Register Position vacant GS Paul Devall 07092 263 119 [email protected] BMW Club Journal • December 2010 81 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Available BMWfrom dealers all

Reservoir protectors for F800GS Carbon fibre huggers for Oil cooler grills for the R1200R/S/ and F650GS, R1200GS and more R1200R/S/GS, K1200/1300R/S/GT RT/GS, K1200/1300R/S/GT

Throttle Rocker for all models Spotlight kits for F800GS, Boxer watch – great – eases wrist ache! R1200GS and many more models Christmas present

82 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends Mutual Aid Mutual Aid Adverts are to enable BMW Club Members to buy or sell motorcycles or related items that they own. The service is free but subject to the rules below, and is not available to trade advertisers. 1. Note – adverts are NOT accepted over the phone – please only. Any subsequent submissions are the responsibility of send them by post or email to the Mutual Aid Officer whose the advertiser. name and address are on page 3. Please remember to include your full postal address. 7. Please note the copy deadline in the Journal and understand which edition it applies to before querying why your advert 2. All adverts should be readable, well punctuated and doesn’t seem to have appeared. Please submit your advert unambiguous. If writing, please use capital letters for clarity. If e-mailing, please only use a simple font such as Arial or well before deadline date if at all possible.The BMW Club Times new Roman. NO ATTACHMENTS PLEASE! cannot be held responsible for the quality or availability of items or goods or for any arrangements for delivery or payment. 3. The maximum length is 65 words, excluding your phone numbers, name and email address. If you wish to use more 9. Adverts from non-club members may be accepted in special than 65 words your option is to pay for the advert at 20p a circumstances. For information, please contact the Mutual Aid word (plus VAT) for the whole advert. In that case, we would Officer. need payment with the advert when submitted. Note – one advert/month per Mutual Aid category. Adverts may be edited Business Advertisement (Disclosure) Order 1977 where deemed necessary by the Editor. Any advertiser who places an advertisement concerning the sale of 4. In your advert, please include your forename, phone number(s) goods being sold in the course of business shall clearly indicate this and an email address if available. fact. This applies whether the advertiser is acting on their own behalf 5. You must include your name, full address, Section and or for another party. If you have reason to believe that you have been membership number. These will not be published (unless misled as to the status of any advertiser, please inform your local requested) but we will check membership. Trading Standards Department and the Editor immediately. The fine 6. Mutual Aid Adverts are accepted for a one-month insertion for breaches of this order is up to £1,000. Note: January Journal deadline is December 1st MOTORCYCLES FOR SALE “K” Series

K75S - 1989 - Silver. 23,000 miles. MoT October “F” Series 2011. Tax April 2011. Panniers. Oxford heated grips. Excellent Michelins. Recent service including pads, F650GS - 2002. Owned by “Britain’s Got Biking battery, clutch cable, all filters etc. Fairing removed. Talent” winner so in excellent condition. Under Has RT bars and Givi screen. Rides very well but 15,000 miles, black, with MoT/tax to October 2011. paintwork on tank/side panels not great. Hence Over £1,500 accessories including ABS, heated £875. Phil 02476 674062 for details or viewing grips, hand guards, Dakar screen, Scottoiler, Meta (Coventry). alarm/immobiliser, panniers, etc. New tyres recently K1200RS SE - 2002 ‘02’ - 15,700 miles. FSH. fitted. Not used off road. £2,795. Martin 01695 Metallic black, ABS, heated grips, alarm/immobiliser, 422210 or e-mail [email protected] full touring panniers. August 2011 MoT. Immaculate, may part exchange. Robert 01704 841301 or 07796 (Lancashire). 026953 or e-mail [email protected] F650GS - 2004 - 31,300 miles. Silver. T&T March (Southport). 2011. Low seat model. Stunning condition. FSH. New chain and sprockets recently fitted. Full BMW luggage - touring screen (original included), engine “R” Series bars, hand guards, heated grips, ABS, original tool kit and manuals. Lady owner. £2,650 o.n.o. Clive R45 - 1980 - Blue. With R65 barrels, pistons and 01226 781489 or e-mail [email protected] (South gearing. New b/b electronic ignition. Stainless exhaust.12 months MoT. Comes with Churchgate Yorkshire). full fairing (not fitted). Very good condition. Bargain F800ST - 2008 March - 12,500 miles. Metallic blue. £1,000 o.v.n.o. Also seat for R45/65 in very good Excellent condition, always garaged. ABS, computer, condition, £65 including P&P. Bryan 01278 683124 heated grips, centre stand. BMW expanding (Somerset). panniers and top box all on ignition key. Tyre R65 - 1983 - Black. 24,464 miles. SORN. Runs well. pressure monitors. New rear tyre 2,500 miles ago. Almost unused tyres. Powder coated frame. Keihan £5,150 o.n.o. Phil 01386 852120 (Worcestershire.) stainless steel silencers and exhaust. Goodridge brake pipes. Hawker gel battery. Electrical accessory socket. Pannier frames and rack. 25

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 83 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends litre Krauser panniers. Surefoot side stand. Rider handbook and Haynes manual. BMW windshield. Others Fork gaiters. £1,100 o.n.o. Also RT Fairing for R65 with appropriate powder coated fittings. £300 HONDA CD185T BENLEY - 1980 - 16,000 miles. o.n.o. Dave 07972 798925 or e-mail daveshaw48@ New tyres, refurbished. MoT. Taxed up to July next year. £500 o.n.o. Thomas 01456 450647 (Inverness blueyonder.co.uk (Tyneside). area). R100S - 1979 - Black. Long MoT and tax. Wire wheeled model. Correct white instruments. Gas Bits & Bobs flowed head, fork brace, Surefoot sidestand, panniers, spare screen. Runs well, but I have A PAIR OF FOOTRESTS TO FIT R1200 too many bikes! £1,995. John 01628 636045 ADVENTURE - To suit child passenger. They bolt (Maidenhead). through the pannier frames – taking only a few minutes to fit. They can be left on all the time as they R850R - July 2003 - Red. 19,500 miles. ABS, heated do not affect the panniers and the standard footrests grips, BMW panniers and inner bags. Good tyres. can still be used as normal. My daughter can now Meta System alarm, hand guards, sports screen. reach the standard pegs so no longer required. £20 MoT June 2011, taxed until October 2011. Superb plus postage £5. Simon 07748 872385 or e-mail condition. £3,500. John 01684 274792 or e-mail for pictures etc., [email protected] (North [email protected] (Gloucestershire). Yorkshire). R1100RS - 1994 - Red SE. Panniers. Only 5,600 BMW K75/100 - Complete centre and side stand, miles. Condition is very good. Last owner elderly. good condition, £30 plus carriage. Alt-Berg boots Cannons have gone over it and done all BMW size 43 good condition, hardly worn, £40 plus recalls. New BT 016 tyres. Truly a nice bike carriage. Alan 01389 753208 (Strathclyde). possibly unique. £4,200 o.n.o. Peter 01473 736488 BMW - Large BMW top box with silver lid, £250. (Ipswich). BMW battery charger with adaptor fitting, £40. R1100RT - 1999 - 21,913 miles. Light blue. Original BMW tank bag for K1200GT (2007), £75. BMW panniers. Kappa 52 litre top box. Full stainless inner panniers, £75. All nearly new and immaculate. fasteners kit. New centre stand fitted. Original top Buyer collects or P&P at cost. Stephen 01522 521863 (Lincoln). box rack and Clymer manual included. Summer use only. Maintained and in very good condition. CLOTHING - All very good condition/excellent 42” Serviced and MoT August 2010. Asking £2,950 chest and 36” waist unless otherwise stated. BMW o.v.n.o. David 01772 815969 or e-mail david. black denim suit, £125; BMW blue/silver jacket, £40; [email protected] (Preston). Hein Gericke Voyager jeans, £25; Hein Gericke Streetline leather jacket XXL, £50 and matching R1150RT - 2002 - 13,000 miles. Silver, condition jeans, £50; Rukka jacket, £20; Alpine Wear trousers ‘A’. Heated grips, o/e and tall screens, o/e panniers, (unworn), £40; Altberg boots 9½, £50; Duchinni with inners, Givi top box and bag, tank bags, boots 11 (unworn), £35; Alpinestars Gore-Tex twin sockets and horns, stainless steel fasteners, boots 9, £20 or £400 the lot. Peter 01235 525824 original toolkit, puncture kit and rack all unused. Tax (Abingdon Oxfordshire). to September 2011, MoT to May 2011. Cosseted, DAYTONA SPORT MOTORCYCLE BOOTS - In standard specification, garaged. Very reluctant black with red logos. Size 44, worn once therefore sale by mature sole owner. £4,250. James 01563 as new condition. £70. Ian Collins 07834 450654 or 536277 (Scotland). e-mail [email protected] (Cheshire). R1200GS - 2008 ‘57’ - Grey. Top model with F650GS 2003 BMW INTERNAL PANNIER BAGS computer and ESA, heated grips, BMW alarm and - Used three times, like new. Cost £120 sell for Emob. L/mils, nine month tax, FSH, A/M screen £65 o.n.o. Anni 01623 620724 or 07758 856013 or and wing lets, new tyres 500 miles, belly pans, e-mail [email protected] (Nottinghamshire). front fender X, carb/F hugger, steel H/Pro, luggage, FERODO FBD204 BRAKE PADS - Fits R80/ low seat and S/Skin cover gel pad new, Laser can, R100GS and all twins with single disc 1985 on, original screen and can, all included in price £8,750. new in blister pack, £10 posted. Oxford Barrier lock- Must sell. Andy 01964 562396 or 07900 920928 or chain, heavy duty square links,1·5m long, solid bit e-mail [email protected] (Hull). of kit, duplicate present, £15 plus post swap Ferodo R1200S - 2006 ‘06’ - Red and silver. 5,800 dry FBD2050 brake pads, 1981 on rear brake shoes, miles. Superb condition. Heated grips, carbon fibre Mahle 0X35 (straight/bendy non oil cooler) oil filters. belly pan and guards. Hagon remote adjustable Bryan 07729 175476 or e-mail bry617uk@yahoo. front shock, Metzler tyres. Pillion seat with cover com (Staffordshire). and chrome grab rail. Dealer serviced. MoT and tax GENUINE BMW DUAL SEAT - To fit K1100RS until August 2011. £6,400 o.v.n.o. Roger 0116 292 1996. Very good condition. No splits or tears. 7124 or e-mail [email protected] (Leicester). Complete with all fittings. £80 o.n.o. Can deliver to

84 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends reasonable distance. Bob 0208 669 4621 or e-mail o.n.o. All plus P&P except engine. Phone 01539 [email protected] (Surrey). 441311 anytime - ask for Stef (Cumbria). GENUINE BMW TANK BAG - To fit R1200GS R850R/R1150R - Pair of BMW panniers in good 2008-10 (MU/TU). Excellent condition. £80 plus condition with key, £125. R850R spare set of bulbs, P&P if appropriate. Steve 01733 380284 or 07985 £10. Haynes manual No. 3466 - R850, 110 and 609313 or e-mail [email protected] 1150 4-valve twins 1993-2004, £10. All items plus (Peterborough). postage. Nick 01908 667910 or e-mail millsnd@ JACKET/TROUSERS - Frank Thomas Aquapore o2.co.uk (Milton Keynes). textile jacket. Blue/black medium size. Bombproof R1100RT - Centre stand and side stand taken from waterproof jacket with detachable thermal lining. Approximately six years old and has been re- a 1998 bike when some new ones were fitted. Old proofed. Inner and outer pockets, Velcro collar ones shot blasted and powder coated. Cost new and cuffs. Used but in good condition. £40 o.n.o. £240, accept £110. Spare screen from same bike, Difi Gore-Tex textile trousers. Schoeller fabric with £60. All plus post and packing. Paul 07752 904334 Keprotec/Kevlar reinforcement. Zipped calf with (Rotherham). Velcro fastener. Both calf zips lost their original tags R1150GS - (1) R1150GS Collector box used. (2) and are fitted with ‘paper clip’ tags. Size medium. R1150GS ‘Y’ piece. (3) R1150GS Silencer i.e. £25 o.n.o. Derek 01706 223611 or e-mail derek. complete system. All used but in good condition, [email protected] (Lancashire). accept £100 o.n.o. (4) Used fuel tank off an older K1200RS/GT OIL TEMPERATURE GAUGE - R series, not sure of model. Good condition colour Wunderlich part no. 8154006, fits in place of the green/ish, £100. Andy 07940 299306 or e-mail oil filler plug, £30. Givi top case E52, nearly new, [email protected] (Can meet to deliver/ colour matched BMW grey green. Complete with collect Yorkshire to Bristol motorway services.) back rest, £120. Geoff 01243 377167 or e-mail [email protected] (Hants.). R1150R - SW Motech rack and Givi mounting plate to suit all Givi top boxes. Hardly used. £40. SW K1200S - Tank bag, laser exhaust system, boots (Alpinestar, size 7) and back protector (Dainese). Motech tank filler ring to take their range of tank Armand 07540 805713 or e-mail armand.suchet@ bags. Fits R1150R and other six-bolt filler caps. yahoo.fr (London). £10. Ian 07977 935477 or e-mail mappsbellevue@ btinternet.com (Kent). K WHEELS AND TYRES - Two by 18 inch, one by 17 inch (no discs), £20 each or £50 for all three. R1200GS ACCESSORIES - BMW stainless steel Also small K top box with fittings, £20. John 01628 engine protection bar, new and unmarked, comes 636045 (Maidenhead). with all fittings and instructions (cost £232), £150. BMW small tank bag, as new condition (cost £91.50), LEADING LINK FORKS - To fit a 1979 R100RT using standard BMW front wheel. Mike 01463 782085 or £50. Extended front mudguard ‘beak’ (cost £41.80), e-mail [email protected] (Inverness Shire). £20. All items postage extra or buyer collects. John 01905 28689 or 07772 437651 (Worcester). R80-R100 ETC. - Snowflake style front wheel, £40. Rear wheel with disc, £35. Rear light, £10. 1975 RT FAIRING FOR R65 - With appropriate powder rear sub frame, £20. Black leather American style coated fittings. £300 o.n.o. Dave 07972 798925 or flight jacket, XL, 44” to 46”, £75. All plus postage. e-mail [email protected] (Tyneside). Ralph 01935 813767 or 07812 950759 (Dorset). SWOP - 1200RT pannier and large top box inner R80 PARTS - Cast repair wheel with brake bags plus tank bag (all genuine BMW) for same to fit drum, £40. Pair of 8·2 standard pistons (little use 1200GS Adventurer. All bags in very good condition approximately 2,000 miles), £60. Alternator Stator, used three times. Pete 01904 635871 (Yorkshire). £20. Steering damper, £15. Handle bars, £5. Twist grip, £5. Clothes: BMW waterproof suit, £35. SYSTEM 4 EXTRAS - Tinted visor in MCN cover, Waterproof jacket, quilted lining, £10. Leather suit. off road/open face conversion, £15. System 5 Leather jacket. Two helmets. Telephone for details. open face conversion (new), £10. Four paint touch Pat 01235 813027 (Oxon). up sticks, codes 934, 310, 492, X2, £1 each. K100/1100 oil filter key, £3. Inner bags plus top box R80ST/GS FRAME - With V5C, £350. R65 engine, 06/1986, 45,000 miles, known good runner, inner, £20. RT1100/1200 mirrors, £25. K100/1100 complete with all electrics, flywheel and clutch. radio removal keys, £3. All plus post at cost. Keith £350. R65/80/100 mono, integral pannier cases with 01706 877040 (Lancashire). latest latches and fitting brackets, £150. Richard SYSTEM 5 BMW HELMET - Metallic red, size 01373 462913 (Somerset). 60/61 together with jet side sections for converting R100 ENGINE - In large lumps, £250 o.n.o. Hagon to a jet helmet style. £30 plus postage or collect rear shock R1150RT refurbished, £250 o.n.o. Four (handbook and bag included). Kevan 01622 728320 rib hubs, £25 o.n.o. Under tank master cylinder, £20 (Maidstone).

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 85 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends R100RS MONO - Lowish miles and excellent Wanted condition. Your price paid if exceptional bike. Could part exchange a R65 Mono, perfect, screen, PETROL TANK - 5·3 gallon/24 litre capacity for panniers, etc., etc., 1986 model, much spent, tyres, an R80 or R100/7. Paintwork not too important, exhaust, battery, etc., and more. Gordon 01239 though the tank must be sound and rust free. Can 613468 (Cardigan, Wales). collect. Call Dave on 0117 957 0926 or e-mail guzzi. SUREFOOT SIDESTAND - For R80/7. Also if it’s [email protected] (Bristol). possible a low seat option for same, preferably a dual seat but a single seat will be considered. R60 - 1956 to 1959. Also R27 single 26-25. Les 01902 674396 or 07905 800658 or e-mail Private buyer. Reasonable price available for [email protected] (West Midlands). good provenance. No dealers. Noel 01727 863342 WANTED - Rear wheel for an R80ST. Anything evenings (St. Albans). considered. Phil 02476 (Cov) 674062. Small Business Adverts

Small Business adverts are available to any individual or business. For rates and terms please contact Charles Knight (details on Page 3)

Accomodation and Touring 881504 or 07929 222961 (10/09) BED AND BREAKFAST, MOFFAT, SOUTHERN SCOTLAND, B & B, garage parking, wonderful U.K. & R.o.I. biking area. One mile from M74 J15 on Edinburgh scenic route. Why not break your long journey here 4 STAR B&B IN WONDERFUL PERTHSHIRE. or spend a few days riding the local roads, enjoying Luxury en-suite accommodation in tranquil the hills and bends. Club member. Chris 01683 Balnaguard 5 miles South of Pitlochry. Wonderful 220378 see www.buchanguesthouse.co.uk (2/11) breakfasts, spectacular views. £25-£30 pppn. £150- £175 per wk. Lockable garage for m/cycles. Ann FERMANAGH NORTHERN IRELAND Wonderful Croft Tel 01796 482627; website www.balbeagan. countryside B&B, en-suite quality rooms, secure com (3/10) garage for bikes. Ideal for touring North & West of 5 Star AA & STB An Cala Guest House, Grantown- Ireland. Club member. Tel: 028 895 31124 www. on-Spey. Ideal base for Highlands. Kingsize aislinghousefermanagh.com (6/10) doubles and magnificent 4 poster. All en-suite. On GREEN ROUTE MOTORCYCLE TOURS The site parking, also garage. £39-£42 pp b&b. 01479 “Green Route” takes you on some of the most 873293 www.ancala.info (2/11) scenic drives in Ireland and Scotland. On roads less B&B DUMFRIES & GALLOWAY – 3 Star STB, travelled so you can relax, enjoy great biking and Trewan, Dalbeattie. Kingsize Adjustamatic Massage experience some of the best scenery in the World. beds. Ensuite or private bathroom. Own entrance, Good accommodation close to restaurants and large car park, double lock-up garage. 5 minute pubs. “A journey is best measured in friends rather walk to town. Wonderful biking area, local, empty than miles” www.greenroutesmotorcycletours.com roads and scenic routes to Ayrshire. 1 hour drive Tel +447914528782 (12/10) from Carlisle. Large garden backing on to forest GLENCOE – HIGHLANDS Ghlasdruim B&B.All with use of BBQ. Tel: 01556 612337 www.freewebs. ensuite rooms, secure off road parking. Maureen com/trewan 01855 811593 [email protected]. B&B IN THE BORDERS. A68 Jedburgh. Quality co.uk (11/11) 4 Star accommodation. All rooms en suite/private facilities. Fabulous views over the town and only a LAKE DISTRICT B&B IN BOWNESS-ON- 5 minute walk to the centre. Secure off road bike WINDERMERE. Panoramic views of Bowness parking. Friendly hosts Chris & Amanda, Club and lake. En-suite. Covered/lock-up parking. Members. £29.50 - £45 pppn. Tel: 01835 862216 Leisure facilities. 015394 88658 Web: http://www. Email [email protected] www.airenlea.co.uk abovethebay.co.uk (12/10) (3/11) MONAGHAN SOUTHERN IRELAND Canal Lodge B&B PLYMOUTH, just 20 mins to Continental Guest House. Rooms En-suite. Secure Bike Ferries. Quiet location, en-suite, garaging for Parking. Club Member. Ideal for touring Northern bikes. www.beckdaleguesthouse.com email: info@ Ireland. Tel: 00353 47 81848 [email protected] beckdaleguesthouse.com Tel Bruce on 01752 www.canallodge.net (6/11)

86 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends PLYMOUTH, En-suite accommodation very close to phone Charles on +33 (0)553 501 239 (10/11) continental ferryport. Secure parking for bikes. Early FRANCE – LOIRE ATLANTIQUE REGION, Rural breakfast for ferry passengers.Caraneal Hotel. 12 - 14 Pier St. West Hoe. Tel 01752 663589. email; Farm house B & B’s plus 2 gites sleeping 8 & 4, near caranealhotel@ hotmail.com (5/10) Chateaubriant, St. Malo closest port, great roads, little traffic, guided group ride outs by arrangement. SOUTH SHROPSHIRE Clun Farm House, 16th Evening meals, private bar, swimming pool, Century B&B situated in stunning South Shropshire undercover parking alongside our bike.. Phone hills. Village location, 2 pubs. House parties catered Richard or Pat on (00 33) 2 40 97 08 44, e-mail for. Fantastic touring suggestions, great biking roads [email protected], Website www.la-janais.com in to Wales. Secure parking. www clunfarmhouse. (2/11) co.uk Tel: 01588 640432 (09/11) FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY - B & B plus ideal gite Europe for two - north of Saumur. Tranquil location - Use of pool/hot tub. Evening meals available. Covered AE AVENTURES BASED NEAR TO SPA in a parking. tel: (0033) 241821184. www.theloireaffair. quiet village providing B&B and half board, secure co.uk (12/10) garaging, recommended touring in the Ardennes FRENCH B&B BARN, POITOU CHARENTES. & Eiffel and escorted Nurburgring experience. Exclusive use of our converted stone barn in the Motorcycling adventure only 3½ hours from Calais Vienne, 10km from the N10 south of Poitiers. Sleeps that’s a bit special. See www.aeaventures.com Phone/Fax Neil or Ann on 0032 80398788 email up to 5, indoor parking, 60 euros per night for 2, 16 [email protected] (4/10) euros per extra person. Evening meals available. www.bikers-bb-barn.com www.bed-breakfast-yurts. AUSTRIA - S/C fully equipped Chalet & Apartment com , Tel 0033 5 49 87 09 01, email kevin.lindsey@ (Sleeps 2-6). Superb touring roads & mountain aliceadsl.fr (12/09) passes. Excellent amenities. Secure parking. Close Italy/Slovenia Discounts for bikers - phone/mail FRENCH PYRENEES Self contained apartment in for details. Liz Cannard. Tel/Fax 0043 4769 26415 200yr old farmhouse near Lourdes. Secure parking. www.alpine-dollshouse.com (2/10) Old Gascony, high mountains and Spain on your doorstep see www.flyride-pyrenees.com Tel: B&B Germany. The Beautiful Westerwald. Tudor 0033(0)562354526 (2/11) Home. All facilities for Bikers, Drying room ,secure parking, Bar ,evening meals, all rooms on suite GERMANY – FRANCONIA - Old Doctor’s House .Fantastic roads great rides Mosel ,Rhein Valleys Bed & Breakfast. Ride & Relax! Come and explore The Dambuster Run, Nurburgring and much more... beautiful Franconia, Germany, by bike! Hidden gems, Special for BMW owners 5 nights for the cost of 4. such as nearby Franconian Switzerland, famous for www.vinecottage.de email [email protected] its windy roads, the Steigerwald Natural Park or 00492742911728 (5/11) parts of the Romantic Road wait to be discovered. B&B IN FRANCE - Mike & Heather Fishwick look Three cosy guestrooms, great breakfast. Minimum forward to welcoming you at our well-appointed B&B stay, two nights. www.travelangel.de travelangel@t- in a pretty village near the Dordogne river, close online.de (03/11) to the famous Valley of the Five Chateaux and GERMANY SPECTACULAR HARZ MOUNTAINS many other interesting places. Canoe on the river, TOURS. Biker only B&B established 15 years. Let explore the area on traffic-free roads, or just laze Greg and his R1200S be your guide to some of the around. Room 40 Euro per night, breakfast 5 Euro best Biking roads in Europe. 200 year old beamed, pp, evening meal and wine 15 Euro pp. Email newly renovated 10 bedroom B and B. All rooms for details on [email protected].(12/10) ensuite. Courtyard garden for drinks and food. B&B Normandy-France. 3 en-suite bedrooms, BBQ evening Saturdays in the season. Local beers great roads, lovely region, perfect for weekend and wine. Come and meet bikers from Denmark, escape, 10% discount for club members, call Sweden, Holland, Germany and UK. Large locked 0033233640023 www.maisonlaudiere.com (03/11) garage for 20 bikes. Trained mechanic on call. 2 BRITTANY - TOP QUALITY MOBILE HOMES mins walk from lively local town with bars and on coastal 4 star site in this tranquil region. ideal restaurants. Run by bikers for bikers. Special rate for family holidays or Section rallies. Great biking for BMW club members. Email gregoryniven@t- area with masses to do and see. Big savings on online.de www.harzbiker.co.uk Tel 0049 5524 3749 ferry costs. www.benodetbreaks.com or call Steve (9/10) Jackson on 01543 473089 (1/11) ITALY – ABRUZZO REGION. Secluded & tranquil DORDOGNE – FRANCE B&B and self catering countryside farmhouse B&B only 30 minutes from cottages with pool. Tours and Trail Riding in Adriatic beaches or national park mountains. the Dordogne. All the usual facilities for bikers. Fantastic roads, scenery, people & wildlife! For Discounts for club members. Please see www. more information visit www.moto-abruzzo.eu or dordognemotorcycleholidays.com for full details or Email: [email protected] (12/10)

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 87 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends NORMANDY / BRITTANY BORDER - Gourmet Bed & Breakfast Close to Mont St- Michel large elegant WORLDWIDE 200 year old town house restored and renovated CAPE MOTORCYCLE TOURS conduct affordable to a very high standard. Individually designed guided and custom tours to all areas of Southern Africa, en-suite bedrooms, guests dining room, drawing planned to experience open spaces, towns, nature, room, lounge and conservatory for the comfort wildlife, culture and hospitality of South Africans. and hospitality of our guests. With landscaped Custom Designed Tours and Motorcycle Hire is part walled garden and secure garage parking. Gourmet of our service and we assist in planning a unique dinners are our speciality let us pamper you and custom tour tailored to your group requirements. tantalise your palate for a truly memorable dining Bookings here: www.capemotorcycletours.com experience. In the town of Saint-James just off the or e-mail [email protected] or Tel A84 auto route, twenty minutes from Mont-St Michel +44(0)7770963829 and the beautiful coastline with scenic routes and great biking roads. Tel: 0033 (0)233-589025,Email: SERVICES [email protected] Web Site: www.petit-illyria. eu.com (4/11) LYNBROOK INSURANCE for Special Member’s NORTH PORTUGAL- MINHO VALLEY.Penedes terms including Classic & Modern Motorcycle Nation Park and Galicia. Interested? We offer Insurance (all makes) Tel 0845 130 4662 or farmhouse self catering and luxury B&B both with 01277 206285. Also Travel and Europewide pools. Come and sample the real Portugal see Breakdown/Recovery Tel 0151 336 5881 (quote Lynbrook) (12/10) our Website. www.portugal-holidayvilla.co.uk. Tel Maggie on 00351-251648107 or Mobile 00351 RPM MOTORCYCLE COLLECTION/DELIVERY 911595902 (12/10) SERVICE - Any Motorcycle Transported. 2004 Jumbo Transit Fully Fitted to accept 50cc to RIDE MOTORCYCLE TOURS - ADVENTURES 1300cc Machines. Fully Insured, Goods in Transit, Join us on an IN EUROPE & THE UK Public Liability, Commercial Recovery Insured. exciting biking holiday, relax and ride High Security Slam locks on all Loading Doors. the best roads through stunning scenery Established 10 years Fast, Friendly and Efficient staying in nice hotels while visiting interesting Service Contact Reg Moule: +44 7774 486554 +44 places. Try the Spa Classic and Black Forest, 1299 401609 Croatian Adventure, 5 Countries Ride, French Alps,Lakes & Gorges, Pyrenees, Moto ACCESSORIES & SPARES Piston, Spains Picos de Europa. While at home why not try our 3 day taster of the beautiful Lake District, RAM Products for BMW by realm engineering – the fantastic NW200 road race in Ireland or ride Specially developed alloy bodied shock absorbers – some of the best roads in the world with scenery fully adjustable for pre-load and damping. Complete to match on our Scottish Highlands and West Coast with quality spring, C Spanner and new fixings. K75 Tour. www.ridemotorcycletours.co.uk email: & K100 stock length - £195. 25mm shorter £225. [email protected] Tel: 0191 522 0217. (3/10) K1100 - £225, 30mm shorter £255. Competition SOMME & YPRES BATTLEFIELD TOURS. Our & specials available, please check. Other models secluded farmhouse B&B, 100 miles from Calais, under development. RAM High Power plug has secure, covered parking and workshop. Evening leads – 8mm silicone hi-performance leads – kit meals available. Your host is GS owner, author and includes new screw on plug nipples, wire separator. historian. See World of BMW or www.martinpegler. K100/1100 - £41.75 K75 - £34.95 Available in Red com. Phone 00333 2286 5672. (3/11) or Yellow. Other models under development. Under Development – replacement stainless steel exhaust SOUTHERN BRITTANY Close Redon 3 spacious, system for K100/1100 (late spring) & Wavy Brake comfortable gites, set in 3 acres of tranquil grounds Discs. Bona-fide club members get 10% discount which may be rented separately or altogether for a off above prices. All prices are plus vat (17.5%) and larger group: Sleep 2 – 16. Secure garage parking carriage (UK £8.95 First Class & Insured) www. for bikes. Contact: Anne & Dave Chapman Tel: realmengineering.com or 01386 849116 (12/10) 01732-456459 e-mail: anneanddave.chapman@ Stainless Steel Fasteners Part or full kits available, virgin.net (12/10) most models covered. SAE or e mail info@ SPAIN - TORREVIEJA Luxury 2 bedroom apartment. shawstainless.co.uk for list. Chris Shaw Engineering Enclosed terrace. Satellite TV. Landscaped garden. 24 Station Road, Halton Holegate, Spilsby, Lincs, Communal pool. Restaurants, bars, shops. www. PE23 5PB Tel: 01790 755515 Mobile: 07702 862508 villamartin-apartment.com (10/11) www.shawstainless.co.uk (6/10)

88 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends www.eBolt.co.uk For stainless steel nuts, bolts and CENTRAL LONDON BMW SPECIALISTS - All fasteners, tools and consumables Tel 020 8133 models to date 2v, 4v, BMW Diagnostic equipment, 5241(11/10) ex dealer Tech, 30 years exp. Servicing, repairs, insurance work.Tyres, spares FROM stock. 5 star SERVICING workshop - full facilities.BMW authorised supplier. Bikes bought/sold - see Biketrader web page. Jap ANDREW SEXTON NORTH OXFORDSHIRE & German 102 Druid St, London SE1 2HQ Tel:0207 WARWICKSHIRE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE 237 2299, www.japandgerman.co.uk (2/10) BORDER. BMW Quality service, repairs, restoration CRAY ENGINEERING BMW Twins road & race and special tuning work, on all models. Collection performance specialist. Fully equipped workshop and delivery arranged. Tel 01608 730111 (6/10) for servicing, repairs, rebuilds & engineering. Tuning B.E.M.W. For competitive prices on: Restorations, packages to suit your requirements. New & used repairs & spares. Spares for vintage/classic BMW’s spares. Tyres fitted & balanced while you wait. from 1935. CJ750, copies of 1938 BMW R71, from (Callers by appointment only) Phone/Fax 01795 £3,455. Some new 1957 models in stock, LH/RH 538282 Faversham, Kent (11/10) sidecars plus OHV machines available. Machine EURO CLASSICS. A small family firm dedicated tools for the small/home workshop, including Chester to servicing, repairs and renovation of BMW’s. We MultiFunction lathe/mill/drill. Parts made to pattern build bikes to order (GS a speciality). Insurance or drawing. S.A.E. for specification and services or work carried out. Supply and fitting of tyres. New visit our website. 2 Forman Street, Derby DE1 1JQ. & second hand parts. Exchange drive shafts, Varta Phone/fax 01332 298523. Eves & w/ends 01332 batteries. BMW’s for sale or sell your BMW at no cost 824334, www.bemw.co.uk (1/11) to you. Please phone Phil or Dinah on 01604 591222 Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire and surrounding counties (Northampton) or www.euroclassics.co.uk. (04/10) BMW motorcycle servicing , repairs & restoration GJB MOTORCYCLES BRISTOL. Service, repairs, Steve Grover t/a Motoscot senior BMW Technician onsite MOT’s and full diagnostics. Collection and (ex service manager at Slocombes of Neasden for delivery available. 10% discount on MOT’s for fellow over 20 years) BMW diagnostic equipment and BMW club members. Telephone Garry on 0117 special tools on site Loan bike available collection/ 9677016.(12/10) delivery service arranged. Will also service/repair MOBILE MOTORBIKE SERVICES Professional all makes, models Phone 01582 419812 or Mobile repairs and servicing for all BMW models at realistic 07843 056201 Email [email protected] prices. We offer a mobile service within a 40 mile www.motoscot.co.uk (1/10) radius of Nottingham. Call Jim Hill on 0797 123 6087 BERKSHIRE & Surrounding Counties. BMW or 0115 9727153. www.ifixyourbike.com.(11/10) Motorcycle services. K, R & F Series. Independent NORTH EAST Independent BMW Specialist. Full BMW Specialist Servicing, Repairs & Spares. service & repair for all models up to present day. Collection & delivery. Weekend work & loan bike Factory trained senior technician. Mobile service available. For all enquiries please contact Garry within 60 miles of Sunderland. Now breaking bikes. Webb Tel: 01344 860580/07770 444794. Email Call Mike Kendrick 0191 510 0265 or 07828 281003 [email protected] (4/10) (9/10) BRISTOL BMW SPECIALIST Independent SCOTLAND NEAR GLASGOW Mostly Bricks & qualified engineer & ex-racer with over 30 years Boxers. Independent BMW specialist. Professional BMW experience for all your servicing & repair motorcycle servicing and repairs at realistic rates. requirements. Regularly breaking airhead twins, Agreed labour cost restorations. Phone Jim Downie R80 / R100 bought for cash. All makes & models 01505 850341 or 07973 326928. bricksnboxers@ catered for but specialist in pre 90’s bikes & BMW aol.com (4/10) twins. Collection available. 10% Labour discount SERVICING, REPAIRS & SPARES: Boxer & K to fellow BMW Club members! Contact Dave at servicing. Breakdown & crash repairs. Pickup & FERALWORKS. 0794 1950 266 or 01454 851 461 delivery service. Weekend work. Loan bike available. Email; [email protected] (11/09) BMW’s always being broken. Only BM’s worked on. CARDIFF MOTORRAD Wales’ Number One Tel: Neil on 0208 546 2600 (SW London) (12/09)** Independent BMW Motorbike Specialists BMW THE BOXER MAN – THE INDEPENDENT BMW Factory Trained Technician Services - Repairs - SPECIALIST. Full Service, Repair & Restoration Diagnostics - Tyres - MOT’s All Makes Welcome facilities for R and K Series machines. Mobile service 10% off labour to all club members Please call available within an 80 mile radius of LEICESTER. Mike on 07843528377 or 02920 565666 E-mail: Call Phil on 0116 2668913 or 07860 588076, www. [email protected] (12/10) boxerman.co.uk (12/10)

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 89 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

90 BMW Club Journal • December 2010 A Merry Christmas to all Members and Friends

BMW Club Journal • December 2010 91 BMW Motorrad

The Ultimate S 1000 RR Riding Machine

BMW Motorrad

The Ultimate S 1000 RR Riding Machine

25mm Module box white

TROPHIES? WE’RE SEEING DOUBLE. Jon Kirkham, Steve Brogan and the BMW S 1000 RR. This season, they were an explosive combination. We’d like to thank the Samsung Mobile Racing and Jentin Racing-BMW Motorrad teams and all their sponsors for a great year. With wins in both the Metzeler National Superstock 1000 and Mirror.co.uk EVO Superbike categories, we’re pretty sure our fi rst BSB Championships won’t be our last.

To test ride the S 1000 RR, call 0800 777 155, visit bmw-motorrad.co.uk S 1000 RR or contact your nearest BMW Motorrad dealer. UNSTOPPABLE SPORT

S1000RR 297x210 MCNsport.indd 1 03/11/2010 09:57