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2 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 The Journal CONTENTS November 2012 Regular/Occasional items The Official BMW Club within the UK and Republic of Ireland From The Editor’s Desk ...... 4 www.thebmwclub.org.uk General Enquiries: 0800 0854045 Club Officers ...... 6 FREEPOST: THE BMW CLUB The BMW Club is the Trading name of The B.M.W. Motorcycle President’s Platform ...... 7 Club Ltd; Registered in England; Registration Number 4261129 whose Registered Office: c/o Veitch Penny LLP 1, Manor Court Dix’s Field Exeter Devon England EX1 1UP Torque Reaction ...... 9 All Rights Reserved Star Letter ...... 15 For problems regarding distribution of The Journal, please contact your Section Secretary. Should there still be a problem then contact the National Membership Secretary whose contact German Jottings ...... 51 details are listed on page 6. The Editor reserves the right to alter/amend any item or image Mutual Aid (Club member ads) . . . . . 75 submitted to The Journal. Such amendments will usually only be to make an item more readable or easier to understand. Submission of items/images will be taken as acceptance of this condition. Small Business Advertisments . . . . . 79 We (The BMW Club) are the owner or licensee of all Intellectual Property rights in this publication. You may not copy or distribute its contents without the express written permission of ourselves The BMW Club - Out and About .53 or the original author. Articles/Features

EDITORIAL TEAM A Motorcycling Adventure...... 25 Correspondence on any Journal matter not covered by the officers listed below should be sent The Vintage Register - An Update . . . . 31 to the Editor who will forward it as appropriate. For general Club administration and membership matters please see the list of Club officers on Page 6. What ARE brakes? ...... 35 Editor: Stewart Lowthian, 29 Wagg Street, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 4BA. The 2012 Thatch Rally ...... 46 01260 279 126 [email protected] Features/Articles: Peter Wright. The Mercia Section Saltburn Weekend . . 49 [email protected] DISCLAIMER Torque Reaction: Paul Nadin, 49 Berkshire Drive, The BMW Club Journal accepts for publication articles and letters written in good faith; however, Congleton, Cheshire CW12 1SB. 01260 279 443 the views expressed in articles and letters which are published are not necessarily those of the [email protected] 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 Mutual Aid: Maurice Weldon, 21 Lawnwood Drive, Club Journal has not been approved, tested or otherwise checked by The BMW Club Journal Goldthorpe, Rotherham, South Yorkshire S63 9GD or The BMW Club. Before acting on information, advice or suggested modifications published 07752 904 334 [email protected] in The BMW Club Journal you should always obtain technical advice, and if appropriate have a professional motorcycle engineer carry out the work for you. Commercial Display Advertisements: Jim Bruce, The BMW Club Journal and The BMW Club cannot accept liability for any loss, damage or The Firs, Bayview Crescent, Broadford, Isle of claims occurring as a result of any modifications or work or other action carried out on the Skye IV49 9DB 01471 820 408 advice or based on the suggestions given in any article or letter published in The BMW Club [email protected] Journal and (save for death or personal injury arising from The BMW Club Journal’s negligence) all such liability is hereby excluded. Small Business Advertisements: Charles Knight, The BMW Club Journal is published for and on behalf of The B.M.W. Motorcycle Club Ltd. 4 Homelands, New Road, Porchfield, Isle of Wight, The BMW Motorcycle Club Ltd, The BMW Club Journal, it’s Editor and Officers accept PO30 4LS ,01983 520 847 no liability in respect of loss or damage occasioned directly or indirectly as a result of the 07521 695 992 [email protected] publication of any advertisement in The BMW Club Journal or Website. Section News: Steve Foreman 01536 722 048 [email protected] Diary of Events: Bob Barker. This month’s cover photo from Ted [email protected] Plaziuk shows his R1150R at the 12th Around The Compass: Bob Barker (see above). century Cistercian Convent at Trzebnica, Club/Section Display Ads: Piers Kurrein. Poland’ [email protected]

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 3 From The Editor’s Desk

Back again reason for the problems I was having is the front brake lever touching the handguard, We’re back from France again having had (to the extent that BMW send me a pack of better weather in September stickers with a clearance than in June. A good holiday, setting on them to attach to with a couple of days where the guards) but that was fine. we had to find shelter from The bike will stop without the the sun, which seems to have servo but requires a mighty been conspicuous primarily grip on the brake lever so, in by its absence this year. It the rain, we set off for home. can’t have been too bad a year Leaving a McDonalds on the however as I seem to have A34, the problem reocurred clocked up about 5000 miles then went away, giving me since March without any the stopping power that commuting. The ride down I’m used to. The problem, to Gillian’s parents was as which I sorted a couple of dull as the M40 and A34 always are, with only days later (believe it or not but I don’t carry a red triangle of death at Chieveley services to a comprehensive tool kit with me), appeared add excitement to the proceedings. Having to be that where the front brake lever operates chatted for a few minutes with a gentleman the microswitch that controls the brake light who’d bought a new Tiger Explorer after 4 and servo was worn very slightly (alloy brake GSs of various vintages I fired ours up to be lever on steel microswitch lever) thus fooling rewarded with a brake failure warning and a the bike’s electronics into thinking that distinct lack of stopping power. The fault light the brake was on when it wasn’t. A smear of went away after I’d hauled on the front brake Vaseline to lubricate the lever and half an hour a couple of times, which also restored normal adjusting the position of the switch seems to stopping power. All was well for the next 700 have sorted the problem without the spending miles until, restarting the engine after waiting of terrifying sums of money. in the check-in queue at Le Havre, it started We’ve used the overnight boat from again. An intermittently working brake servo Portsmouth to Le Havre for both this is not good news when riding two-up with years crossings. The cabins aren’t the most luggage on slippery and steeply inclined steel comfortable place we’ve slept in but they’re decks. perfectly acceptable for one night. We had a Back at Gillian’s parents house, we told reasonable outward crossing as, unlike last them about the giant pandas and koala bears time, we were spared announcements about in the zoo at St. Aignan-sur-Cher where our shops and bars opening and closing every ten gite was, then next morning I tried to see what minutes. The return crossing seemed strange: was causing the problem. The most common we were loaded straight onto the boat on 4 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 the lowest deck where there seemed to be in Northampton. It seems a long way away far more motorcycles than usual, including now but it’s the opportunity for every member the inevitable unsilenced Harley-Davidson. to have his or her say about any aspect of how When will these people learn that virility the Club is run, including the election of Club and noise are mutually exclusive rather than officers. You can read later on in this edition synonymous?. The ferry was packed and left why some of the current National Officers late. We later found out that the other ferry will not be standing for re-election next year. company serving western France was on strike If the Club is to continue then these positions so we were carrying as many of their passengers need to be filled, so if you’ve ever felt that you as possible as well as those originally booked. were brave/crazy/idealistic enough to stand, then now is the time. The process of standing Cover photographs for election is straightforward: contact David Cooper for a copy of the nomination form, Firstly, I need to reiterate: landscape format fill in your name and membership number photographs are unusable on the cover of The and find a proposer and seconder to support Journal. I’ve extracted a few pages of guidance you. In 2010 three of the six National Officers regarding covers from an edition of a couple (including me) were appointed rather than of years ago (a lot of which was taken directly elected. Let’s not have this unwelcome from Martin Ellis’s work on the subject) and situation happen again. The whole point of I’ll happily email a copy to anyone who wants a meeting of members is to run the Club as it. Secondly, if you plan to use Photoshop or democratically as possible but this can only similar to remove unwanted items from a work when there are members to elect. photograph, please do not crop the picture as I need the freedom to move it around to accommodate the title and Club logo somewhere on the cover. Section AGMs

This is being typed just before I head off north to attend my section’s AGM, which takes place on the same day as at least two other such meetings. It is therefore far too late to exhort you to attend as you’ll be reading this a fortnight after the event. I’ve already been notified of a new secretary for the North- East Section, so page 6 has been updated with his name and address. If there are any more changes I need to know about them so page 6 doesn’t lead members up the garden path trying to contact the wrong person. The National AGM

This is being held on April 20th next year The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 5 National Officers & Section Secretaries National and other officers Section Secretaries PRESIDENT: Dick Boyd, Stewart Place, South Road, East Anglia: Secretary Cliff Batley, 46 Newmans Garmouth, Morayshire IV32 7LX Road, Sudbury, Suffolk, CO10 1UA 01343 870 389 [email protected] 07966 015 607 [email protected] Secretary: Dave Cooper, Greensleeves, Exmouth Membership-Dik Langan 0845 003 6880 Road, Exton, Exeter. Devon EX3 0PQ [email protected] 01392 876 991 [email protected] Irish: Jim Sweeney, Fearna, Straleek, Celbridge, Treasurer: Jim Lepley, 7 Landale Gardens, Co Kildare. Tel: 087 2300736 [email protected] Burntisland, Fife KY3 9HN London: John Lynch, 166 Chaulden Lane, 01592 874 592 [email protected] Hemel Hempstead, Herts HP1 2BT 01442 267694/ NATIONAL Social Secretary: Mark Dutton, 13 07860 663092 [email protected] Greenfield Drive, Great Tey, Colchester, Essex CO6 1AA 01206 212 232 or 07703 179 062 Mercia: John Humpherson, 14 Highmoor Close, [email protected] Willenhall, West Midlands. WV12 5UU National Membership Secretary: FREEPOST, 01922 710694 [email protected] The BMW Club, Glenthorne, Yeoford Road, Midland: John Winn,16 Ardington Road, Cheriton Bishop, EX6 6JA Northampton, NN1 5LJ. 0800 085 4045 [email protected] 01604 631 043 [email protected] Standing orders: [email protected] North East: Simon Johnston, C/O 5 School Row, POST/5 Tool Hire Secretary: Mike Delacoe, North Broomhill, Morpeth, NE56 9TY 4 Charwelton Road, Preston Capes, Daventry 07702 709063 [email protected] NN11 3TA 01327 360 945 [email protected] Lynn Tagg, 63 Ambrose Court, Pre/5 Tool Hire SecRETARY: Peter Dunn, Northern: 101Station Road, Thatcham, Berks RG19 4QH Moss Lane, Leyland, Preston. PR25.4XA. 07941 075 165 [email protected] 01772 431 324 [email protected] Merchandise SecRETARY: Cath Broughton, 17 Oxford: Tim Read, 15 The Limes, South Cerney, Strawberry Hill, Northampton NN3 5HL Cirencester, Glos GL7 5RF 01604 416 896 [email protected] 01285 869 320 [email protected] See Merchandise advertisment for contact times. Scottish: Marjorie Burnett, Crawick Lea, Glasgow Vintage & CLASSIC Register Secretary: Road, Sanquahar, Dumfrieshire. DG4 6BZ Robin Walker, 37 Heron Drive, Bracken Park, 01659 50091 [email protected] Gainsborough, Lincolnshire DN21 1GJ South east: Shaun Mulligan 47, High Street 01427 610 329 [email protected] Halling, Rochester, Kent. ME2 1BP Sporting Register Secretary: Robert Bensley, 01634 241 215 [email protected] Oak Tree Farm, Heath Road, Banham NR16 2HS 01953 888 415 [email protected] Southern: Richard Tavener, 34 Nursery Close, Safety officer: Colin Bembridge. Frimley Green, Camberley, Surrey GU16 6JZ 02089 538 807 [email protected] 01252 838 384 [email protected] Events Logistics: Brian Johnston, 10 Saffron South West: Debbie Sampson ‘Trevilla’, Road, Tickhill, Doncaster DN11 9PW. 01302 743 032 18, Ropehaven Road St. Austell Cornwall PL25 4DU. or 07950 319 197 [email protected] 01726 61642 [email protected] Marketing/Commercial Sales: Position Vacant Ulster: Charlie McConnell, 6 Cameron Park, Sidecar Register Secretary: Position vacant. Ballymena, Co Antrim BT42 1QJ. GS Register Secretary: Position vacant. 028 2564 7730 [email protected] Assistant Secretary for America: Western: Sue Ross 7 Pintail Grove Kidderminster Position vacant. Worcs. DY10 4RT. 100,000 MILE AWARD: Jason Goodwill 01847 893 935 01562 820 458 [email protected] [email protected]. Yorkshire: Simon Crossley. C/O 2 Birstwith WEBMASTER: Nick Fearn Grange, Birstwith, Harrogate. North Yorkshire, [email protected] HG3 3AH. 07742 951 610 yorkshire.secretary@ TECHNICAL OFFICER: Mike Fishwick Sirgon, 24250 bmwclubuk.net Daglan, France. [email protected] HQ Register: Lisa Parker Tre Agan, 6 Becket Close, Forum Administrator: John King. Ocean View Estate, Redruth, Cornwall, TR15 2HJ [email protected] 01209 204623 [email protected] Forum Address: http://forum.bmw-club.org.uk Delegates to other organisations Vice-Presidents: BMF: Primary contact: Tony Cartmell Cliff Batley [email protected] Other delegates; Jeff Dymond, John Lewis, Mark 01787 373 919 Dutton Graham Walker 21 Whitehouse Ave, Burnhope, Durham DH70AJ 07931710991 [email protected] FBHVC: M McNair Peter Dunn [email protected] DVLA: Steve Perry [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 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 President’s Platform Hi, October 2012 and a new membership year The club needs the support of you the starts, so welcome to all the New Members members but also you need to support the that I see joined on the 1st October. This people that you have sitting on the committees edition contains the Renewal Form and a new whether it be at Section or National level. Standing Order Form for those of you that pay Stewart the Editor gets through a mountain of this way. This will need to be work, creating an interesting, submitted if you are renewing informative and accurate as the Membership fee has Journal every thirty days. I increased from £25 to £27 don’t know how he does it as for UK membership. Other I have enough trouble with increases include overseas from this screed. Also I mustn’t £30 to £32 and the same with forget the Editorial Team the Irish Republic, from £30 to behind Stewart, especially £32. Jim Bruce in the Isle of By the time that you receive Skye, who wont’ want me this Journal we will have held mentioning him, I know. the National Committee So don’t be afraid to submit Meeting on the 20th October. copy to Stewart as your news At this meeting I will be telling the members is our news, whatever the subject. I am at the that I am standing down as the President at moment working on a Christmas Pudding the next AGM in 2013. I have enjoyed this Recipe, basically trying to find it. position in the club and greatly regret standing The Vintage Register is making a comeback down but must regain my life and spare time. I as you will have seen from the letters in the also have a number of BMW bikes which need October Journal and I suspect that we might rebuilding and riding. Also at the recent Glen see a Touring Register appearing soon. Seems Coe gathering which we all survived in spite strange that we haven’t seen this one until of the weather I celebrated with my friends, now. the members of this club, my 70th Birthday I am glad to say that the 200 tickets for the Also standing down from the National Motor Cycle Live event have all been sold and Committee will be the following :- David I will have posted those out by the time that Cooper the National Secretary, who has this Journal appears, I hope! Don’t forget we already declared his intentions, Mark still require volunteers to man the stand. Dutton, the National Social Secretary, whose BMW seemed to have been in the centre explanation you can read in the Social Scene of a lot of WSB Media hype and attention elsewhere in this Journal, and Les Madge, which won’t have done the mark any harm who will be standing down as Membership at all. Melandri looked like having the Secretary. If I can help the new members of championship sewn up until the last couple of the committee in anyway they only have to ask mishaps and it has all opened up again now at me but I need to take a much lesser role in the the time of writing, with the final two races of future running of this club. the year taking place at the Circuit de Nevers The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 7 in France this coming Sunday 7th October Whatever happens at the 4.441 km ‘Magny- Cours’ racetrack, everyone is in agreement that this year’s championship has been one of the best ever and we may have to wait until the very last race for the championship result. Which we did and Max Biagi clinched the WSB by half a point. I see that the new R1200 GS was the star of the show when released today 2nd October 2012 at Intermot. The new bike sports significantly more power, with 125 hp, than its predecessor. The newly-designed boxer engine is now air/liquid cooled with a host of ergonomic and technical improvements to keep the GS on top of the competition. I suspect that this latest version will be significantly quieter, which is of course what the American market demands. That’s it for this month. Your President Dick Boyd.

8 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 Please send all submissions for December’s Torque Reaction to Paul Torque Nadin (details on page 3) before Reaction November 5th please. Progress in France gear oil additive. I hope that this will help members save a After much campaigning by FFMC (MAG’s little money in these hard times. sister organisation in France) we hear that John Kidman. Chelmsford. the French Government have now scrapped the idea of banning older vehicles from city The lost Art of the Gear centres, the original idea being that 8 major Change cities in France would introduce access restrictions on bikes built before 2004 under I am most grateful for the words of wisdom the guise of improving air quality. from Mike Fishwick with regard to gear This was a nonsensical idea, given that bikes changing. Clearly he is a chap of considerable of any age will always be moving in an urban knowledge and experience and I shall do my area and never adding to congestion and thus best to put his advice into practice at the first increased pollution in the way that stationary opportunity. cars do - no matter how new they are. I have to say - and this is not a criticism of The move would also have penalised those Mr Fishwick - that a good deal of what he said who chose older bikes for financial reasons has gone straight over my head as, though I or, perversely, because they felt the carbon have a reasonable concept of the mechanisms footprint of producing a completely new involved, it has long been my practice to leave machine, was an environmental price they ‘fettling’ the machinery of my transport to the didn’t want to pay. This is a huge success for chaps at the appropriate garage. rider’s rights and campaigning, so well done Many years ago I dabbled with the relatively FFMC. simple mechanics of my 1946 Vauxhall 10, Paddy Tyson. then those of my Morris Minor 803 and my Campaigns Coordinator, Hillman Imp but after that I lost interest Motorcycle Action Group. and (pneumatic clutch be-damned!) almost www.mag-uk.org 01926 844064 the will to live. Balancing life on shift work at Gatwick and scrabbling under a car in free Washers Anyone? time left me with little appetite for the latter. My eventual highly specialized employment I seem to remember that BMW do not supply left me even less free time and enthusiasm for drain plug washers for the gearbox drain plug things mechanical and I only took to biking as on 1200 twins. The answer that I have found retirement approached. is to go to your local Citroen dealer and ask for Thus, being now a tourist on a motorcycle a 14mm sump plug washer. This is a crushable (as opposed to a biker who tours) I shove copper washer with a neoprene insert - I have the almost two year old R1200 RT(SE) into used them several times on my R1200 R with Bahnstormer’s for servicing in the sure and good results and no leaks. They cost around certain knowledge that, should the thing do 40p. Incidentally I can also recommend FIN away with me through faulty servicing, the The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 9 lady wife will take ‘em for all they’ve got and their corresponding brackets and swapped the live well on the outcome. upper part of these brackets with the original However I have taken the trouble to check ones on the RT. It takes a few minutes to in the bike’s manual and found no advice install them with no alteration to the bike. about gear changing therein and I do know Initially I made this change because I use enough to realize that Mr Fishwick’s wise muffs in winter (very familiar in France and I words about well-lubricated cables and worn am French!!) and with those ones on you lose needle jets (ah, days of the SU carb innit?) total visibility on the original mirrors. I have don’t apply to my nearly magic carpet, though to say the supplementary ones give me a much others will of course benefit. better comfort and I keep them on the all year In the meantime I shall endeavour to round. follow the advice on crunchless gear changes Norbert Rodriguez .Oxford Section. and try to attain the dizzying heights of clutchless changing - which I did manage on Bend Swingin’ a trial ride on the new BMW scooter! Again, my appreciation to Mr Fishwick. I shall salute I refer to Stephen Shepley’s letter in the him on my next trip through the Dordogne - October 2012 issue of The BMW Club nice place! Journal. Neville Dalton. Oxford Section. I always thought that the reason was quite obvious, but it is very clearly described in the RT Supplementary following extract from “Full Control” – the Mirrors full text of which can be downloaded from http://www.rlmr.co.uk/bikes/bike01.htm In response to the request by Neville Dalton “In a right-hand bend, leaned over, the in October edition here is the solution I have centre of the contact patch is to the right of used for my R1200RT (December 2010 the centre of the tyre – and thus also to the model). right of the imagined extension of the steering I have bought R 1200 GS mirrors with axle. When braking the braking forces will ‘attack’ in the centre of the contact patch and thus try to turn the wheel, fork and handlebar

10 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 towards the right. In fact the braking forces More on ‘Sitting Up’. make the bike steer more to the right and the lean angle changes. In a bend this feels like the There’s a letter in T/R from Stephen Shepley bike is straightening up.” (October Journal TR) asking why bikes sit up The solution is to ‘positive steer’ as hard as in bends when you use the front brake. Well, you can while keeping your braking within the short answer is – it’s the rider. tyre grip limits! When going into a corner too fast the Dennis Scott. adrenaline fuels panic and the colour of fear Scottish Section. turns brown which causes the rider to tense up. All this tension is transferred to the bars National Rallies by the rider’s now iron grip on the bars, plus their weight going forward when they use the and the use of Public front brake. The increasing panic about not Schools as Venues making it around the corner is multiplied a hundred fold by the now increasingly stressed rider’s vision fixed on the point of impact on One of my daughters is the events manager for the bend, a sure-fire way of feeling that you’re one of these establishments and mentioned travelling a lot faster towards your impending that as her department is a ‘stand alone’ doom. business run for the benefit of the school there To avoid, well we all know the good advice would be an extra cost to her from the school given where road craft is concerned, and in to cover reinstatement of the areas used for an ideal world that would be enough but we camping and vehicular access - if not a road. don’t live in an ideal world, so for a start take She was of the opinion that the ground control of your weight with your legs when staff might want nothing less than the cost of braking and let everything above the waist completely re-seeding in those areas, which stay relaxed. Practice this on your rides....every goes some way to explaining why these types ride, so muscle memory can start to work for of venues can be so expensive. you. Patrick Armstrong. Next learn to use a light grip on the bars. Oxford. Have you got heated grips that work well?

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 11 Well turn them on high so you can’t grip the Hogwarts bars hard, that will help, then learn to use your front brake...properly. What does that mean? This would be the first time I had engaged Well, progressively, as a panic grab will only in any activity of the club, although I had end in tears. been a member for ten years. Whilst I owned Now I could go on and on as the above only a BMW because it suited me, I knew that scratches the surface but you’re not going to the marque attracted a lot of mature, well learn anything just by reading about it, you heeled highbrows who saw themselves as need to go to where you can not only practice slightly different from others. They would be this in a safe place on your own bike (as that’s motorcyclists and I was a biker. the one you ride) but also learn about what So it was with some trepidation that I set you believe about riding a motorcycle as what off for the National Rally in Shropshire on you believe does affect your behaviour. I went that late August weekend. Of course the ride to i2i motorcycle school and learned heaps was rewarding . . . all rides are. My journey that I now put into practice, and that’s after took me through two hundred miles of mixed I.A.M and RoSPA training etc but there are a terrain, but just as ‘Ellesmere’ appeared on lot of good training courses so ask and find out local signposts, the rain dropped out of the what’s local for you. sky. Oh despair! And I was camping too! Ady Strowger. At least the main entrance of Ellesmere Peterborough. College was easy to find. I rounded the approach, passed through the open wrought Can Anyone Help? iron gates and carefully traversed the neat tarmac drive to where a yellow hi-vizzed I am a freelance journalist running several figure armed with a clipboard stooped in the features in Classic Motorcycle Mechanics teaming rain. He waved me down. “You’ve magazine. come in the wrong entrance. Didn’t you see One of the columns I write is a Spotter’s the signs?” Great start! Guide, which details a particular machine, Re-directed I proceeded to negotiate the its place in the market, why it was popular, campus roads ‘backwards’ through a mist what it led on to etc. The articles also list the laden visor with running nose. After a couple key differences year-on-year, giving the reader of false dawns I found reception, dripped an outline idea of which model they might water all over the registration form and was actually be looking at or own. directed back to where I had started. I’m hoping to run a Spotter’s Guide on the Apart from the rain, the pitch for my BMW R80 shortly and wondered if there’s tent was actually quite pleasant. The ground anyone within the club who could assist with was firm, the trees protective and, No 1 on the year-on-year differences please? Experience the male campers list, a discrete ditch ran to has shown that owner’s clubs have the best the rear. But dusk was approaching, so tent knowledge of these key areas. pitched, stove out, meal unpacked and eaten, Would anyone in the club be able to help it was to bed. please? Naturally we’d be giving credit/ The next morning it was beautiful, T-shirt mention of the club in the article. and shorts. What a relief. As I looked up I Thanks for your time and best regards. could see that I was positioned on the edge Steve Cooper. 07715-747-856 of a flat, mown cricket pitch. This formed [email protected] the motorcycle ridden campsite of perhaps 12 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 Wherever you’re going make Footman James your 1st destination

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FJ A5 BMW Motorcycle Club.indd 1 28/09/2012 13:17 a hundred souls. Beyond was a steep, well The guided tours were fine, but bereft of the groomed bank in which was set a run of stone other half, it didn’t seem quite as purposeful, steps leading to upper lawns and beyond that so I decided to go for a swim that afternoon. . . . . Hogwarts. This was surely where J.K. It was sooo enjoyable. Modern, light and airy, Rowling had found her inspiration. heated, and empty. . well, almost. I had to explore. Nodding brief A grand gala dinner was on offer for acknowledgement to my neighbour, I started Saturday evening, but I hadn’t booked. Instead off towards the main halls. Passing through I dined in much humbler surroundings under the tent city, I clocked the machinery on the awning of my tent but determined that I display. R’s, K’s, 100’s, 1200’s, old, new, would attend the dance later. When I arrived pristine, tatty and of course loads of GS’s – the hall was filling and after a short while the everything was there. For the first time, I was band was on. The evening continued with a feeling more at home. Up the steps, along the couple of truly fine real ales, a wide range of kempt paths and in through the front door. loud but enjoyable music and a lot of shouting Inside the cloisters, the assembly halls, the to my ‘neighbours’ who I had spotted and anti-rooms, the staircases, the dining hall, the joined up with in the hall. A good evening red brick and stone . . . this was Hogwarts. always passes quickly and before long, I was Returning to tent city, I made tea. As I tucked up re-assuringly in my sleeping bag. supped, a couple of older gents ambled by. Sunday was to be the day of my return They stopped and said hello. They reminded home. Another swim, more teas and chats me of the walrus and the carpenter. We with neighbours – I now knew the 1150GS chatted - about the site, camping gear, home, to my left and the 1100RS to his left – and riding, the past, embarrassing things that by lunchtime I was ready to go. Bike packed, had happened to us, but strangely not about goodbyes said, I stopped off to thank Mr motorbikes. They were measured, reflective, Hi-viz (who I now know to be Reg Moule) philosophical. It was lovely. Moments passed relaying to him my thoughts about the rally. and someone else joined us. This was Mr Hi- “Well,” he said, “if you enjoyed it that much, viz, the rain soaked figure I had met with his tell us about it”. clipboard the evening before. He was different. So I have. Jolly, enthusiastic, informative, welcoming . . Mick Bright. . obviously an organiser, and in better spirits East Sussex. now! They left, another cup of tea and now a The Vintage Register. conversation with my ‘nodding’ neighbour. His accent betrayed his origins. Long It’s good that someone is trying to kick start retired, he had worked for BSA in Golden some interest in, and discussion about, the Hillock Road until their demise. Resident in Vintage Register. Robin has done a great job in Birmingham myself at that time, my work had the past, before he developed his nasty illness. also taken me to BSA in those final days so we Indeed, since then he has still contributed as had much to talk about. Now in his seventies much as his condition would allow, for which he had brought his wife, his tent and his R100, he deserves our grateful thanks. in the rain, to Ellesmere. Respect! Regarding the diminishing interest and What was I to do that day? Swansea had numbers of Register members, this is at least conspired to retain my licence just at the time I in part a natural occurrence in my experience, needed it, so riding the demonstrators was out. but which we should try to combat. Club 14 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 StarAs chosen Letter by The Editor One Happy Member club alive and will allow me to enjoy the companionship if I want to some time in Having read ‘Torque Reaction’ in the the future. October issue I thought it was about time Let’s not get hung up on this issue. In that I burst into print, so stop the front any organisation there are those that do page. and those that either remain inert or simply I’m a long standing member of the club in tag along. I’ve thought about the cry for the East Anglian section but I am first and committee members in the EA region but foremost an armchair supporter. My trusty I am currently involved with the Citizens 1100RT and I manage a few thousand miles Advice in this part of Norfolk. I can’t do a year, winter and summer but I suspect both - if I did my wife would kill me! like many members I have little time for Does the membership at large really anything else with regards to the club. want people like me to withdraw our So why be a member? Well there are lots subscription simply because we wish to of reasons. There’s the technical support remain casual observers? Everyone needs to and the casual enjoyment of reading about think about it, because that is the implied other people’s exploits and aspirations. For suggestion between a lot of what was me that is all I want from my membership at written last month, and if that life-raft was the moment. I am happy to pay my annual to leave the ship I suspect that revenues subscription and I’ll even accept an increase would drop significantly. You would then without throwing my dummy out of my have a nice little enclave left of very active pram as long as it is reasonable. Few things people but no membership base. in life are not increasing in cost these days. I enjoy reading the mag every month Being a member does not mean that and hope that we can resolve these issues I have to get involved in anything. If the without destroying something intrinsically club wants to spend any surplus from my very good. membership fee on subsidising annual John Constance. gatherings then so be it. I’m happy in East Anglia Section. the knowledge that such events keep the

The Star Letter is sponsored by Nippy Norman, whose Throttle Rocker as pictured here is awarded for the Editor’s choice of letter. See www.nippynormans.com for their full product range.

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 15 membership and interest has ebbed and active. As time went by interest slowly flowed in several of the organisations I have increased and, after many years, interest been associated with - hopefully nothing to then slowly decreased. When Malcolm took do with me! over, interest slowly increased, now it’s slowly With reference to the BMW Club’s Vintage decreased. A natural phenomena? Register, a short history lesson illustrates a Before taking on the position of Vintage number of relevant points. It also adds, I hope, Secretary I was, and am still, the VMCC to the content and gives some possible answers BMW Marque Specialist. Before that I had to points raised in the article in Octobers’ an interest in BMW’s, owning an R12 for Journal. very many years. During all this time I built Originally, we had a Vintage Secretary, the up a private library of BMW literature. This late Joe Greenwood. He wrote periodically was made available to VMCC members in our Journal and answered queries raised and subsequently BMW Club members. A in the Journal and personal approaches. This booklet was published, “The BMW Useful culminated in a series “In Search of BMW” Book”, which listed all the photocopied that went on monthly for about three years. literature available plus a list of various Perhaps it’s time to reprint these articles in the suppliers and services relevant to BMW Journal, for a new generation? Robin has my owners. Photocopies were available at cost, hard copy of this series. During all this time plus a small amount. no events were organised, except for the odd This money was ploughed back into event put on by a geographical section. purchasing more relevant BMW literature. As When I took on the position in 1976 after this was done entirely at my expense it remains Joe stepped down I tried to build up interest with me. However it was always accessible by and put on events. We catered for BMW’s club members and still is. I also compiled a over twenty five years old or of a type made “Data Dossier” of useful information, hints twenty five years previously, a rolling date. An and tips, technical articles etc. which had R90S Section was once suggested but nothing appeared in our Club journal. Again this came of it. Over the years membership of the was available and still is in the form of photo Vintage Section, which we formed in 1980, copies. This eventually became so big, going slowly increased. Club politics eventually into several hundred pages, that sections or changed this to ‘Register’. We put on two individual pages only were reproduced to camping weekends a year, interestingly one on order rather than the entire document. the same week-end as the Welsh Rally, a green After twenty five years Malcolm took over. lane run and a Sunday run. We had stands This was the result of misunderstandings by at the two Stafford Shows, Founders Day, the then recently appointed Club Secretary, Festival of 1000 Bikes and some other shows. leading to my “missing the boat”, as well as The Vintage Section had an account with others, when putting my name forward for a lubricant manufacturer, which enabled the forthcoming AGM. I was going to propose members to get the correct lubricants for their Malcolm and I share the job. That though was machines at advantageous prices. Our Club, too late. Following this it allowed me more through the Vintage Secretary, was a member time to devote to my business. When I started of the BMW Veteranen-Club Deutschland my business I notified the membership, e.V. I was the Club representative to the through the Journal, what I was doing. I DVLA, this also being a good excuse for a had always kept Club and personal business decent ride on my R69. We really were quite separate as far as possible. Inevitably there was 16 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 a little overlap. is a situation which surely cannot continue - At this time I reminded Club members confusion has already arisen in some quarters that the “Data Dossier” and “BMW Useful as to who owns what and, were John to leave Book” were still available to them. And they the club for whatever reason, then these still are. None of this seemed to be taken up resources would be unavailable. Quite simply at the time, despite a few letters to the Journal we need a databank of knowledge to keep reminding members of the availability of for historical reasons and to share with our these resources. The pre/5 Tool Hire Secretary members. at that time also had a private library, which At the moment the Vintage Register has was made available to Club members. These quite a paltry selection of archival material resources have not been purloined, lost or to offer. Over the years I hope to build this mysteriously disappeared, they have just been into being the premier Resource Bank in the ignored and subsequently, forgotten. country for BMW Motorcycle material. This So there is a lot of literature as well as is not too high an aspiration for a club of our knowledge available to the membership, but size and standing - though it is a monumental which has been left dormant (knowledge step up from what we have. Robin Walker vacuum?) for very many, indeed too many is currently cataloguing the road tests and years. periodicals which currently make up most of This, perhaps, is now the ideal time to our collection and we will make this public consider the “next step forward”. If we keep once it is completed but at the moment all the 25 year rule, then we will be including very we can share with members is through the much more than “black and whites”. If we try donation of my own paltry collection of to keep to “black and whites” the Register will technical material which consists of: surely continue to shrivel and die. • 19?? - R5 Engine Parts Catalogue - Perhaps we should have a Black and White German Section within an expanded Vintage Register • 1938 - R51,R61,R66,R71 Parts List - that includes an R90S Section, GS Section etc. German This is now a very good time to thoroughly • 1938? - R51,R61,R66,R71 Service Re- explore the various scenarios and come up pair Manual - German with an action plan for the future. We are • 1939 - R51,R61,R66,R71 Owners certainly going to need some members who Manual - English are prepared to stick their heads above the • 19?? - R12, R17 Parts List - German parapet! Volunteers please. • 19?? - R 25, R25/2, R25/3 Workshop All the best manual - German John Lawes. • 19?? - R26 Wiring Diagram - German • 19?? R26, R27 Repair Manual - Eng- Vintage Register lish, French and German Archives. • 1966 R27 Owners Manual • 1966 R50, R60, R69S Owners’ Man- I’m desperate to improve the services we offer ual to our members and at the same time create a We can’t start to improve on this without permanent legacy for those who come after us. your help. We desperately need any material As you can see from John Lawes’ letter, we have you might have which could be of use to in the past relied on the generous offer of one other members. Donations would be greatly man to open up his records to the club. This appreciated, of course, but for the vast majority The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 17 of you all we ask is that we can have a scan of to P. Ardron, Plantation Farm, Caistor Rd., your material to add to these archives. I’m Market Rasen, Lincs. LN8 3JE Thank you in fully aware of how precious (and fragile) this advance for your contributions. older material is so if you feel safer scanning Peter Ardron. Lincolnshire. this yourself then that’s no problem. If you have neither the time nor the BMW Owners make a inclination to do this then please send it to Meal of Hogs me either by Courier or Recorded Delivery. I’ll take great care of it whilst scanning and Every once in a while Ian Clarke, who has then return it to you within a week - again been around BMWs almost as long as I have, either by Courier or Recorded Delivery and invites old BMW enthusiasts along to his also refund the cost of your postage to us. No- house on the edge of the New Forest for a Hog one will lose out financially because of their Roast.. He usually caters for 100 people and, generosity. How much or how little you send as in most years that it has been held he gets is completely up to you, of course. the numbers dead right. This year Southern When I was Librarian with the New section members were also invited and, with a Imperial Owners Association I put out a soothsayers skills, Ian chose a perfect day. similar appeal and one kind member sent me Arranged on the lawn were some of Ian’s the contents of a very packed four drawer filing bikes ranging from an un-restored 1927 R57 cabinet! If V.R. members were to send me to a selection of beautifully prepared BMW similar amounts I really would be delighted, models right up to 1969. Also arranged on the but I would be more than happy also with just lawn was a selection of ‘old BMW enthusiasts’ a single document. ranging from Bob Porecha who has been As soon as documents are made available to around since the early 1960s to myself, who us we will make them available to the rest of goes back even further. We were nowhere the membership, the catalogue can be accessed near as well preserved! Naturally, having been via the website and through the Journal - around for so long there is little chance of me though the latter will be updated much less remembering the names but I do remember frequently of course. All material will be one-time President Mike Warrilow and the on the inventory and by making everything lovely Peta being there as was Barry Wilson public I and whoever succeeds me can be held accountable for this material. I am determined that never again can there any confusion as to what material we hold on our members’ behalf. Finally, digital copies of all we hold will be shared within the V.R. admin team to ensure that in the event of some disaster befalling the original material, the content will not be lost to the club. A 1920s R68 with a rare Luggauer Material should be sent fuel tank as used on the works racers 18 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 and Martin Eaves. smooth out your throttle control. Try this Unsurprisingly most of the bikes ridden by going downhill at first with little throttle the attendees were also getting on a bit and and a gradual increase in speed you can snick out of the 30 or so bikes present there were up the box - no problem. Selecting first from only three K models but a good cross section neutral at a standstill can be done smoothly of bikes made over the past 50 years and even and silently by letting the bike roll forward as one or two newish ones. you select gear, a small movement of the rear Ian and Betty provided the Hog Roast wheel helps gear engagement. Works for all and, a welcome touch, as it was such a warm bikes, shaft or chain drive. day, an ice cream van with free ice cream! As Norman Shearer. Ulster Section. always there was no charge for the food but a collection was held for the A-CU Benevolent More on Mirrors Fund, which raised £300. As Wallace would have said “A Grand Day I have just read the Neville Dalton letter about Out”. Many thanks to Ian and Betty for such Mirrors on the RT BMW and it has inspired a pleasing dose of nostalgia. me to write a letter to Torque Reaction about Bruce Preston. a recent problem I had with a mirror on my K1600GT SE. On this model the mirrors are Gear Changing great to use and I have no problems with them with one exception - they are over designed. I agree entirely with Mike Fishwick regarding I am an aircraft design engineer with gear changing. It should be swift and smooth; 40 years design experience. While I was on of the three elements, throttle, clutch and holiday in Norway I had a minor incident in gear lever; the gear box has the most to do and a car park at zero MPH when I clipped the the gear lever movement should commence mirror on the side of a van. This was while I just ahead of the other two. As Mike stated was taking the bike off the main stand and my ‘applying pressure to the gear pedal before the side stand was still down. Silly me. change’ uses the full movement of the lever The very strong mirror survived with only thus avoiding missed gears. a rub mark on the plastic, the glass mirror Clutchless up changes will help you was also fine, but the whole mirror assembly became loose inside the fairing. Where the assembly attaches to a large casting (two of these castings mount the whole front of the bike, head light etc), the strong mirror mount attaches with two screws that clamp the assembly into a fork on the casting and the top half of this cast fork broke off like a carrot. I had to have the large casting replaced at a cost of £550 and had to wait four weeks for the casting to be delivered from A 1937 R35, as yet unrestored and, behind, an R26 Germany. The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 19 In my opinion the mirror is too strong mistake, but I am disappointed by the design. and the attachment point is too weak. If the BMW could save quite an amount of weight mirror had been designed to fail it would by making the mirror with no metal supports have only cost me £75. The mirror assembly inside it. This is a heavy bike that needs some is designed to take some load if the bike is weight saving. moving forward, but my bike was not moving Other K1600 GT owners be very careful forward but sideways when the side stand with your mirrors when parking! bumped down on the ground, sending the Doug Wilson. Northern Section. bike sideways. PS. Neville Dalton was with me in the car The incident was my fault and an expensive park in Norway.

20 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 On Mirrors and Mags Having already got 2 spots under the ‘beak’ and now two more under the front of the Firstly in the October Journal Neville Dalton sidecar I had a logistics problem re-wiring and was enquiring about supplementary mirrors switching the new lights as the existing spots for the R1200RT. He and other members may are operated by a single switch in the handle be interested in the following. bar centre mounting mini console (a BMW I’m not sure what the riders in the Tour accessory) and so being unable to find a dual de France were using for the supplementary switch something else was required to switch mirrors but adaptors are available for the the new sidecar lights. This little ‘console’ also R1200 RT (2010 onward) from Nippy provides for mounting neon indicators for Normans under Wunderlich Part Number accessories etc. WUN-4600055. These are attached to the Whilst ‘trawling’ I found a little gismo that existing brake/clutch assembly and will take a now operates the sidecar spots from Nippy mirror with a M10 x 1.5 thread. Normans which fitted the ‘bill’ perfectly. It’s The second item relates to a biker called an ‘auto switch’, part number AUT- magazine that is freely available from the AS7, priced very reasonably at £20,which internet. Members may be interested in a basically is a pcb that operates the sidecar spot Biker Magazine called ‘The Rider’s Digest’ lights and comes ‘without’ a switch’! which is free to download. To register for the So how do you switch ‘’the accessories’’ on magazine go to http://www.theridersdigest. and off? It’s so simple that even I could work it co.uk and follow the ‘Subscribe’ link. The only out, so by simply pressing your existing cancel information required to subscribe is an email indicator switch it turns the sidecar spots on address after which you will receive an email and another press turns them off again. So in when a new magazine is available to view or effect no additional switch for the s/car spots download, usually every month. The topics and minimal wiring too. covered are wide ranging and include rider’s No connection with NN’s, but if you’re tours, book reviews, classic bikes, etc. in the market for a spot light controller this Colin Ross. Western Section. is ‘THE’ gismo to buy and for more info give NN’s a call – and this may help http:// In praise of the Auto autoswitch.com/as5nb.php Switch Andy Stork. Bradford. I have recently hung a 3rd wheel and a box More for Classic Bike (sidecar)on the R1150 GS, after too much Owners. surgery (below the neck / above the waist !) as the alternative was four wheels only, such This is a message for members who have classic is the weight of the GS when two up with bikes (or other vehicles) manufactured from luggage etc. 1972 to, say, around 1985, and also to all who The stock sidecar lights are mounted on may agree with the suggestion that the free the mudguard and from a distance forward, road tax concession for historic vehicles has taking them out of the line of sight to traffic been set at the 1972 end point for too long and in right side roads, from which it could appear should be updated. that I am simply hogging the road or about Do we not think that /5, /6 and /7 (and to turn right, so additional lights were duly equivalent bikes of that era) are worthy of required. being treasured, partly as being classic historic The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 21 vehicles but also because as long as people are ‘R90/5S’. using them they are not contributing to the David Stevenson. pollution of the planet by buying new ones Southern Section (vehicle manufacture uses a lot of energy and causes pollution). Comments on Rallies I know that a lot of people who have classic and Costs. machines also have new ones but this does not apply to everyone. I urge you to sign the First I would like to say thank you to Jim government e-petition at http://epetitions. Bettley and Dave Foster for writing such direct.gov.uk/petitions/37880 which asks supportive letters to The Journal -if only there for exactly this - that free historic road tax were more such positive letters from members be reverted to a 25 year old rolling system, who appreciate the work done by others. or if not then a change to apply to vehicles As the lead orgainiser of the Framlingham manufactured up to 1985. ‘Back to Skool’ rally in 2009 (with a good I hope that as many of us as possible will do team of helpers) I would like to counter the so. There is a catch, though. The Government suggestion by Dick Boyd in his column and will not consider any petition with less than Rhys Jones in his letter that Framlingham and 100,000 signatures. The subject matter of this Ellesmere were expensive venues - to quote petition makes it very hard to achieve that, for Rhys “ High-end posh private schools that the obvious reason that not that many people, charge an arm and a leg are not necessary for relatively, own classic vehicles. So if you agree 95% of the membership”. with the notion could you please also pass it When Mark Dutton ,Jenny and myself around to as many people and organisations as first went to Framlingham we discussed the possible. The petition ends in March next year cost. I knew what the cost was at the previous so we have time if we apply ourselves. rallies at Morton Morrell and the fire service It would be good for the classic vehicle college, we agreed a price for the venue with ‘industry’ while having a negligible effect on Framlingham that was about 25% cheaper the public purse. than the fire service college. When Mark Ok, I’ll come clean and admit to a personal negotiated a price with Ellesmere college the interest, having recently acquired a 1979 cost of the venue was about the same as for R100RS, the bike I posited a few editions ago Framlingham, so the private schools have (October 2010 I think it was) as being possibly proved to be a very good value option and the best all round bike ever built, even to this both Framlingham and Ellesmere provided day. excellent facilities in pleasant surroundings. I will end by saying how much I enjoyed The price of a room at Ellesmere college was the visit to Ian Clarke’s Open Day a while ago a bit higher than we had hoped but it was still where he exhibited his collection of vintage only the same sort of price as a Travelodge and classic BMWs. It was an excellent day room for two people so I do not think it was where I learnt a lot by talking to him and many excessive, though I am hoping to have the other very knowledgeable people. Ian made us rooms at a cheaper price for Framlingham. feel very welcome and I really appreciated his They both also provided food that was of altruism in providing not only a great show good quality and value and perhaps it is but also lunch and refreshments throughout because they are private schools that they the day. Many thanks to him and his team. I provide such good food, especially when wonder how he is getting on with building his compared to the poor quality meals provided 22 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 It’s renewal time

From Les Madge, the National Membership Secretary

Hello Everyone. Yes it’s that time of year processors at this time is the possibility the again, the renewal notice for continued someone new has taken on this role, as you are membership of The BMW Club is included in well aware section AGMs are held at this time the November Journal. This time the single of year. membership fee has increased by a modest At the 2013 AGM I will be standing down £2.00 to £27.00 for full UK and €40.00 as Membership Secretary, but if required (£32.00) for Overseas and Irish Republic will support the new membership secretary, Members. If you renew by Standing Order you at least until that person is familiar with will also receive a new mandate to give to your the administration and their role in general. bank. At this time of year section processors Family pressures do not allow me the time have a particularly busy time dealing with that is really needed to do this job properly. all the renewals so your cooperation will be Safe riding, very much appreciated. Another pressure on Leslie Madge

Torque Reaction are used each year on the National Rally, but by the fire service college, Morton Morrell and there has to be a limit as it is unfair on those Myerscough college in the past. I know that I members who do not attend and the National am opening myself up to criticism if the food Committee has decided to try and run these is not good at Framlingham in 2013, but after type of events in such a way as to make seeing the food they served up for the price them break even. This will be the plan for they charged in 2009 at Framlingham I have Framlingham, but if the attendance is as low every confidence in the staff at Framlingham as it was at Ellesmere then the rally will make college. a loss. Unfortunately I do not have a crystal The attendance at Ellesmere wasball so I cannot predict the number that will disappointing, but in the present economic attend but I doubt we will get over 600 people climate it is not surprising. There were a few as we had at Framlingham in 2009. If the mistakes made, such as charging £10 for day economy improves and we have better weather visitors as it should have been £5 which I next year it would be nice to see 500 people think is very reasonable. I do not see why the there - I live in hope. day visitors should not contribute towards the Framlingham 2013 “Back to Skool 2” will cost of the event as they are after all getting the be camping on flat ground and about 150 benefit of visiting the national rally and all the rooms available. We will endeavour to keep facilities that are provided. the costs down and the numbers up. Rhys does mention using club funds to Cliff Batley. help finance these events and make them more Vice President and affordable. I do agree and some club funds East Anglia Secretary.. The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 23 Dubrovnic meets the Adriatic

View over Salzburg

24 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 A Motorcycling Adventure to Croatia, Bosnia & Lake Garda John & Marilyn Greaves The bike was serviced at 48000 miles and Germany and into Austria, staying at a lovely kitted out with two new Michelin ‘Road Pilot’ B&B on the outskirts of Salzburg. We had tyres, which could only mean we were all set planned a two-night stop so that we could for our June trip. Marilyn, Artie (the bike) and explore the old castle and town, which are myself were heading initially for Dubrovnic, well worth a visit. After the heritage bit, we set via Mostar in Bosnia. From Dubrovnic we off south through Austria on the most scenic were going to head up to northern Croatia, motorway I have ever had the privilege to ride, and then on to Lake Garda in Italy. and headed for the border with Slovenia. We We had been to Croatia and Dubrovnic were away for a month, and the only rain we with the RT in 2009, and had found the encountered was through the mountains of Adriatic coastline, the people and the welcome Austria and Slovenia. However, the rain soon all irresistible - so we planned a return visit, passed as we descended the hills and headed with the addition of Mostar. for Novo-Mesto, which was our destination We stopped at Folkestone and took an for the night. early crossing under the channel, refreshed Leaving Slovenia you are also leaving the after a good night’s sleep, and set the TomTom EU, so you have to stop at border crossings for our night’s destination at Brumath, close and show your passports. However, as in to Strasbourg, on the boarder of France and 2009, the process was efficient, polite and Germany. Despite the fact that it was very straightforward. warm, almost unusually warm for northern We followed a route through the famous France, the four-hundred miles went by Plitvicka Jezera national park, meandering effortlessly, and we soon found ourselves at through forests, past waterfalls and medieval our pre-booked accommodation, enjoying a villages - eventually arriving at the coast, refreshing shower, followed by good food and staying just south of Split. From Split we could wine. get to Mostar in Bosnia for lunchtime, and In your own way, when you travel across spend the afternoon and evening in the old Europe, you feel like you are doing something town, which again is well worth the diversion different or special. We met a couple in their from the route down the coast of Croatia. seventies, one of them on permanent oxygen, Mostar, or at least the old bridge, is driving to Corfu via a ferry in Italy. It turned a UNESCO World Heritage Site, like out they had done the trip a few times since Dubrovnic. The bridge,‘Stari Most’, was badly they were refused travel insurance to fly - so damaged in the wars with Croatia and Serbia, they drove! but has been painstakingly rebuilt back to Next day, (a Sunday), we rode across its original magnificence and is well worth The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 25 Stari Most Bridge, Mostar

visiting. Just a word of advice - Bosnia is barely mapped, and Mostar is completely un-mapped on TomTom and Garmin sat-navs. Also bear in mind that European travel insurance does not cover Bosnia, and that you need a ‘Green Card’. From Bosnia we comfortably arrived at our next stop, Dubrovnic, where we were staying for three nights of amazing historical culture. If you ever get the chance to go, do so. It provides ‘snap-shots’ of times from the 11th century onwards and is steeped in history. The walk around the city walls takes about two hours and captures much of Southern Croatia, with endless views over the deep blue Adriatic. After two relaxing hot days in the old town, we headed up the coast towards Zadar, following the coast The old town of Dubrovnic road - slower than the motorway but 26 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 Western side of Lake Garda

far more rewarding. We continued up the coast, finally arriving in Istria, a northern peninsular of Croatia, where we parked up for a week near Porec. After a week of relaxation, sun and holidaying, we crossed into Italy and headed west to Lake Garda. We have been to Italy before on the bike, once travelling clockwise around the country, and the second time exploring Tuscany, but this was our first visit to the Italian Lakes. It was now mid-June, and every day was in the low 30s Celsius. Like most areas of any country, each region has its own idiosyncratic customs and dialects. The Lakes region was no different, making it all the more interesting. The clockwise road around Lake Garda is a real biking road, with breathtaking views, deadly drops, and unrestricted views from the right-hand side of the road, all making it well worth the three or four hours it takes A typical Lake Garda dwelling The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 27 Club Exclusive Ticket Deal! “Advance Offer” Book today- Save £’s & beat the queues! 16 17 18 NOV The Footman James

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Sponsored by Official Partner In Association with to ride. The lake is so big that it has waves and we headed for the Alsace region of France. a small tide -you feel that you could be beside We stayed in the small village of Kembs, not the sea at times! Apparently the roads get a million miles from Mulhouse and Basel. gridlocked in July and August, but they were We keep promising ourselves to go back and reasonable in June, with very few hold-ups. explore this region of France in more depth. After leaving Lake Garda we headed to We have been through the area a couple of Switzerland, via Brescia, and then followed times now, and it has an appeal that makes us the road past Largo Lsecoa, before heading want to return. north to the border with Switzerland. We We spent a couple of days working our way climbed the Passo del Bernina, towards St across France to the tunnel, and so back to Moritz, then on through Fluelapass to Davos. England. You soon know that you are back The weather was fine, with clear skies, so the home, with the potholes and traffic, but you views were panoramic and unforgettable. have to come back some time - at least we can Although we have been through start planning our next big bike trip. Switzerland on the bike before, I still find For the interested, our bike - a R1200RTSE it strange that the temperature can be 25 2007 model - covered 3800 miles, traversing Celsius, with deep blue skies, but at the same seventeen borders and seven different time there are permanent snow drifts only countries. The bike returned 61.4 mpg yards away from you! according to the instrumentation, and never After an expensive but scenic stay in Davos, missed a beat.

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The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 29 RIDE FOR THE ADVENTURE

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30 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 The Vintage Register - An Update The response to Peter Ardron’s letter last month I didn’t know quite what to expect when I this later. penned my letter for last month’s Journal The other most important points raised in concerning suggestions for the future of the the feedback are as follows: Vintage Register. What I definitely didn’t Quite a few members said there was no expect was to have 24 emails or phone calls point in owners of older machines being in the within 36 hours of The Journal hitting the BMW Club because The Journal was slanted doormat. More arrived in the following week. towards the newer bikes and there was little of Even less expected was that the feedback any relevance to them. I received was unanimously positive and I A minority suggested the V.R. should was left on a real high over the shared desire break away completely from the main body to get the V.R. back on track by sharing the of the Club and establish ourself as a separate workload. I even had a phone call from the organisation. delightful Kath Washington, the wife of one Many people expressed their frustrations of our Founder Members, thanking me for about the perceived lack of communication my involvement and filling me in on the role in the V.R. Newer members weren’t sure she and her husband played in supporting whether they were in the Register, others the marque in the days before the V.R. was in didn’t know how to join. Several people existence. It was also good to have John Lawes didn’t know the rules on eligibility (neither solve the mystery of the missing Technical did I until someone put me right on the articles. I believe his letter is published Forum recently). Many bemoaned the lack elsewhere in The Journal and shows that the of any perceived service to them - help with workshop manuals which people thought we spares, technical advice, literature or even used to own were, in fact, never ours - just awareness of other BMW members they could his own personal, property which he allowed approach either Nationwide or in their area the members access to. Thank you to all who was completely lacking. They had little idea of bothered to get it touch. It was incredible what was available or how they could obtain useful to hear your views and reassuring to it. ‘Disappointed’ and ‘Let Down’ were the know how much many of you want the V.R. phrases used frequently by newer members to flourish. when talking about their feelings towards the Feedback was remarkably consistent. There V.R. was universal agreement that something must Only seven owners of post ‘69 bikes got be done to reactivate the V.R. and no-one in touch so perhaps this is too small a sample disapproved of the ‘committee’ approach. to judge by, but all five said they felt the club Those people who did make a comment on catered for pre 69 bikes and then for modern this were unanimous in their support for this bikes, with a big gap where the later airheads approach. Several people volunteered their and early K’s should be. services in one capacity or another - more on Many (most?) said they wanted contacts The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 31 and occasional meetings at local level as well as communication so that people can easily at National level. The idea for more open days find any information they need about the and rallies around the country was welcomed. V.R. Nick Fearn is activating the ‘Vintage The loss of Malcolm McNair’s newsletter Register’ tab on the website so that members was clearly mourned by many and I was can have access to all we can tell them about repeatedly asked whether something along the V.R. Pages on the website will give general these lines could be reinstated. information on eligibility etc and then allow Almost everyone commented on the need members to access more detailed and specific to build up our resources and/or to establish a areas. Details of forthcoming events and national machine register. shows will be listed, as will the inventory of A surprisingly large number stressed tools available for hire through Peter Dunn the need to update ourselves and make as well as the (hopefully expanding) library information and services available catalogue. These details will also be made electronically. The counterbalance to that available periodically through The Journal for was a few who were worried they would be those of you who don’t have a computer. excluded from information because they As a corollary to that, it has been suggested weren’t computer literate. that the V.R. establishes a presence on Twitter Finally, a large a percentage of respondents and/or Facebook. Let’s face it - everyone else asked for the establishment of Model and his dog is already on there and these Specialists who could be contacted for social networking sites must be the future. No information and advice about particular bikes. business can afford not to have a presence on both nowadays and it’s a direction in which we So What happens Now? have surely to travel. There’s a big BUT here, From the reservoir of people who though - who would do it? I’ve never been volunteered to help in one way or another we on Facebook or Twitter in my life. If you are intend to form a small team, comprising: younger-minded than I and think you have • Robin Walker - Secretary V.R. the necessary skills and enthusiasm then we’d • John Winn - Co-ordinator and NCM love to hear from you. Representative in Robin’s absence. Secondly, we want to make new members • Peter Ardron - Library and Resources. feel welcome and at ease in the V.R. As a • Mike Lunn . first step John Winn is to compile a welcome Other people have volunteered for roles pack for new members, giving them all the and it was tempting to have all volunteers as information they need to start networking members of the committee but too large a within our community. team would be counter-productive. It was felt Thirdly, I believe the BMW Club should be that four was a sensible number, though we are the prime source of knowledge on all things completely flexible on this. to do with the marque. Members should be Inevitably it will take longer than we would able to find within our archives everything like to do some of the things that need to be they could possibly need and should have done. Structures and networks have to be in neither need nor desire to search elsewhere. place before increased services and activities Robin is currently cataloguing what resources can be provided. But there are things being we hold and this will be published as soon done now that should make the V.R. a more as it is available. My priority is to increase accessible and useful place. and make available technical information Our first aim is to create channels of for pre-69 bikes. This is not because I am 32 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 prejudiced against the later bikes ( I still own rebuilt particular models and feel competent and regularly ride a 1981 R65) but is simply to offer the benefit of your experience to because we have to start somewhere and there others, then please - we need your help. Just are far fewer copyright issues with this early give me a ring on 01673 844519 and we’ll add material than with the later. I can only appeal you to the list. You can, of course, like Mike, to members with material which might be be a specialist for more than model. useful to help with this. If you could send a Next, two members have offered to scanned copy of what you’ve got, or loan the organise Open days or rallies. Details of these material to me for scanning then that would will be publicised when things are finalised. be a huge help. There is a more specific and But we need more. If there is anyone able to detailed appeal elsewhere in this issue. offer other V.R. members a ride-out in their Robert Freeman, alias the Jolly Jester, has area, a camping weekend, a local get- together done much work for the club already with - ANYTHING!!! - then please give me a ring his detailed investigation of AFN records on 01673 844519. (for incluion in a forthcoming issue). He The Newsletter is more problematic. In has volunteered to augment this with the the past this was posted as a separate leaflet, establishment of a Machine Register, which alongside The Journal, and went solely to will be of far greater importance than merely V.R. members. This is clearly and without allowing us to trace individual machines, or to doubt what the respondents are hoping will know how many of each model there remains happen again. Having spoken to Dick Boyd in the country. Its main benefit will be to allow and Stewart Lowthian I doubt this will be Robin to trace others with similar machines in the case. There is a strong argument that it is a members’ locality or even nationwide. This wrong for non-V.R. members to be subsidising should help problem solving and also build our register in this way when they get none up networking and the sense of cameraderie of the benefits. The club no longer has the which people report to have become lacking financial resources to spend on what is, after in the V.R. There will undoubtedly be data- all, a minority group. The separate newsletter protection issues to look at and we must could be reinstated but this would mean an ensure that members are happy about this. additional cost that would have to be found No-one will be forced to contribute details from V.R. members. Do we wish to have an if they choose to remain anonymous, for additional fee for belonging to the V.R? I example, but I believe this register will have an suspect people would not be willing to pay and enormous beneficial impact on the V.R. in the might even leave the club because of it. Let’s longer term. hear your views on this, though - anything Fourthly, there was a clear call from is possible, so long as it’s paid for! Personally, members wishing to have contact with a I feel a strong argument against returning Model Specialist, in addition to the invaluable to a separate newsletter lies in the fact that assistance Mike Fishwick is able to offer. Mike we become a club within a club and other Lunn has volunteered to cover the R66 and members know little of what we’re doing and Mike Delacoe the post ‘69 airheads and K’s. so aren’t tempted to join our ranks. I would This is a good start, but we need others to cover prefer the Newsletter ( let’s continue calling it other models. I don’t imagine this to be an that for the time being anyway) to be a part of onerous task - merely answering the occasional The Journal for everyone to read. Hopefully model-specific question which members don’t it might get us some new converts over time wish to ask about on the Forum. So, if you’ve as other members come to share our view of The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 33 A 1937 R5, one of the first motorcycles to used telescopic front forks, photographed at Ian Clarke’s Hog Roast (see Torque Reaction) by Bruce Preston

the older machines as not merely rideable, but and takes on the role. thoroughly enjoyable. In order that we can Finally, we need to meet the call for more save the Newsletters and file them -as many local activities and networking. A few people did in the past - these pages could be stapled volunteered to be local representatives and as the middle pages of The Journal and easily all had different ideas on how they could pulled out. It will be a while before we could help. For some this meant being a point of reinstate the newsletters, so let us have your contact (particularly for newer members), thoughts on this. others saw themselves as organising events, More pressing, is the question of who or as co-ordinating and reporting back such would write the Newsletter anyway? Malcolm events to the V.R. so that clashes don’t occur is a talented and knowledgeable individual and publicity given. We would love this local and his talents are not easily duplicated. The approach to grow and develop. Each area will Newsletter will, we hope, re-emerge - but be different and respond both to the demands it’s exact nature must reflect the skills and of the members and the enthusiasms of the personality of whoever takes over the post. I reps - but each will enhance the experience of imagine that the role of Newsletter editor will owning a BMW and of belonging to the V.R. be one of not so much editing as compilation. Again, we need more volunteers for this. If Stewart Lowthian has kindly offered to lay you can contribute in any way then please get out the pages for us and so we are looking for in touch. someone who can be a conduit for members’ Many thanks once again for all your articles and views. This should make the task contributions. It really has been a very much less onerous and if you think you can rewarding experience for me to read and help then please get in touch. Enthusiasm and to hear your comments. Those of us on the a willingness to nag others for articles are more committee want nothing more than for important skills than technical knowledge. the V.R. to flourish and I believe that with Some form of purely V.R. focused newsletter your support our group can become a more is clearly demanded by our members but it prominent force in the BMW Club. can’t happen unless someone steps forward Peter Ardron 34 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 What ARE brakes? - What do they actually DO? Graham Parker’s explanation of a vital feature

The simple answer - they slow you down. on your vehicle heat up and you slow down. The complex answer - brakes are designed But if you keep using the brakes, the rotors, to change the velocity of your motorcycle, or drums, stay hot and get no chance to cool i.e. slow it down or hold it stationary. The off. At some point they can’t absorb any more common misconception is that brakes squeeze heat, so the brake pads heat up instead. In against a drum or disc, and that the pressure every brake pad there is friction material held of the squeezing action is what changes the together with some sort of resin, and once velocity, i.e. slows you down. Correct - but this material starts to get too hot, it starts to this is only part of the equation. Brakes are vaporise, forming a gas. This gas cannot remain essentially mechanisms for converting energy between the pad and the rotor, and it forms from one form to another. a thin layer between the two, whilst trying When travelling at speed, your vehicle has to escape. The pads then lose contact with kinetic energy. When you apply the brakes, the the rotor, reducing the amount of friction, pads/shoes that press against the brake rotor resulting in brake fade. The remedy, of course, or drum convert that energy into thermal is to stop the vehicle and wait for the brakes energy, via friction. The cooling of the brakes to cool down. As the brake components cool dissipates the heat and the vehicle slows down, their ability to absorb heat returns, and down. It’s a basic law of thermodynamics, also the next time you use the brakes, they should known as the law of conservation of energy. work OK. This states that energy cannot be created This type of brake fade was more common or destroyed - it can only be converted from in older vehicles. Newer vehicles tend to have one form to another. In the case of brakes, it less ‘gassing’ from the brake pad compounds, is converted from kinetic energy to thermal but they still suffer brake fade. energy. A grasp of the principles of energy ... “So why does brake fade still occur”? ... - I conversion is critical in understanding how hear you ask. and why brakes do what they do, and why they This is still to do with the pads getting too are designed the way they are. hot. With newer brake pad compounds, the pads transfer heat into the calipers once the Brake Fade rotors are too hot, and the brake fluid starts If you ride a motorcycle you are probably to boil, forming bubbles within the fluid. familiar with the term ‘brake fade’, used to Note that air or gas is compressible - brake describe what happens to brakes when they fluid is not. When you apply the brakes, the get too hot. A good example is when you are air/gas bubbles compress, instead of the fluid coming down a mountain pass using your transferring the motion to the calipers. No brakes, rather than your engine, to slow down. caliper motion - no braking effect! As you start to come down the pass, the brakes So how do the engineers design brakes The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 35 to reduce or eliminate brake fade? In rotors than your average road bike. A larger older vehicles, they gave that vaporised gas rotor has more material in it, so it can absorb somewhere to go. For newer vehicles, they find more heat. More material also means a larger some way to cool the rotors off more effectively. surface area for the pads to generate friction Either way you end up with cross-drilled or with, and therefore better heat dissipation. grooved brake rotors. While grooving the Larger rotors also position the point of contact surface may reduce the specific heat capacity with the pads further away from the axis of of the rotor, its effect is negligible. However, rotation. This provides a larger mechanical under heavy braking, once everything is hot advantage to resist the turning of the rotor and the resin is vaporising, the grooves give the itself. So in summary - the larger rotors - the gas somewhere to go, so the pads can continue better the stopping power. to contact the rotor, allowing you to stop. Different Types of Brakes The Rotor (Disc) All brakes employ friction. Friction If a brake rotor was a single, cast blank of produces heat, which is central to the kinetic steel, it would have very poor heat dissipation energy conversion process. How brakes create properties and would leave nowhere for the friction varies according to the design of the vaporised gas to go. Because of this, brake system, as described below. rotors are typically designed with features to help them cool down as quickly as possible, Bicycle Wheel Brakes as well as dissipate any gas from between the A basic type of functioning brake that you pads and rotors. can see working, and is easy to understand. The Brake rotors can be split into four types, construction is quite simple and its operation namely: obvious. Rubber brake blocks are attached to 1. Basic brake rotors – utilising a plain, a pair of calipers, which are pivoted on the flat rotor frame. When you squeeze the lever and pull 2. Grooved rotors - the grooves give more brake cable, the pads are pressed against the bite and thus more friction as they pass sides of the bicycle wheel rim. The rubber between the brake pads. They also al- low gas to vent from between the pads and the rotor. 3. Grooved, drilled rotors - the drilled holes again give more bite, but also al- low air currents to pass through the brake disc to assist cooling and ventila- tion. 4. Dual ventilated rotors – (not usually fitted to motorcycles) same as above, but with two rotors instead of one, and with vanes in between them to gener- ate a vortex, which further cools the rotors - effectively ‘vacuuming’ gases away from the pads. Another option is to use a larger diameter rotor. Race bikes typically utilise much larger 36 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 creates friction, which creates heat, enabling case of a single-leading-edge system, it’s the the transfer of kinetic energy that slows you part of the pad closest to the actuator. The down. action of the drum spinning actually helps to draw the brake pad outwards, due to frictional Drum Brakes – Single-Leading-Edge forces, which causes the brakes to ‘bite’. The A more complicated type of brake is the trailing edge of the brake shoe makes virtually drum brake. The concept here is simple - two no contact with the drum at all. semicircular brake shoes sit inside a spinning This simple geometry explains why it’s really drum which is attached to the wheel. When difficult to stop a vehicle rolling backwards if you apply the brakes, the shoes are expanded it’s equipped only with single-leading-edge outwards to press against the inside of the drum brakes. As the drum spins backwards, drum. This creates friction, which in turn the leading edge of the shoe, in effect, becomes creates heat, which transfers kinetic energy, the edge, and therefore doesn’t bite. which slows you down! trailing The actuator in this case is an elliptical Drum Brakes – Twin/Double-Leading- cam. As it is rotated, it forces against the brake Edge shoes, causing them to expand outwards. A return spring pulls the shoes back away from The drawbacks of the single-leading-edge the surface of the brake drum when the brakes style of drum brake can be eliminated by are released. adding a second return spring, and turning The single-leading-edge refers to the the pivot point into a second actuator. Now number of parts of the brake shoe which when the brakes are applied, the shoes are actually contact the spinning drum. Because pressed outwards at two points. So now each the brake shoe pivots at one end, simple brake pad has one leading and one trailing geometry means that the entire brake pad edge. Because there are two brake shoes, there cannot contact the brake drum. The leading- are two brake pads, which means that there edge is the term given to the part of the brake are now two leading edges. Hence the name pad which does contact the drum, and in the double-leading-edge.

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 37 Disc Brakes Disc brakes are much better at stopping a vehicle than drum brakes - which is why you’ll find disc brakes on the front of almost every motorcycle built today. Sportier vehicles, capable higher speeds, require better brakes to slow them down - so you’re also likely to see disc brakes on the rear of such vehicles. Disc brakes are essentially a two-part system. Instead of the drum, you have a rotor, and instead of the brake shoes, you have a brake caliper unit. The caliper unit contain one or more hydraulic pistons, which push against the back of the brake pads, clamping them together around the spinning rotor. The harder the pads clamp together, the more friction is generated, which in turn means to the wheel, and the rotor is attached to the more heat, resulting in more kinetic energy carrier using float ‘buttons’. The other method transfer - which changes the velocity and slows of floating a brake rotor is to have the rotor the vehicle. bolted directly to the wheel itself, without a Standard disc brakes have one or two carrier. In this design the bolts have the float cylinders in them - also referred to as one buttons built into them. or two-pot calipers. Where more force is The float buttons allow the brake rotor required, three or more cylinders can be used. some freedom to move laterally, but restrict Sports bikes may employ four, or even six-pot the angular and rotational movement as if they systems, arranged in pairs. were bolted directly to the wheel. This small The disadvantage of disc brakes is that they degree of permitted lateral motion (which can are extremely intolerant to bad machining. If be less than 0.03mm) is just enough to prevent you have a regular disc rotor which is offset vibration in the brake system. by so much as 0.07mm, that slight warp/ As the calipers are mounted solidly, any misalignment is going to spin through the warping or misalignment in the wheel or brake clamped calipers at high speed. The resulting rotor mounting face can be compensated vibration will be at best very bad, and will be for because the rotor will ‘float’ laterally on felt through the hand brake/foot brake. To the float buttons. The side-to-side vibration combat this problem, which is particularly is therefore separated from the carrier by critical on motorcycles, ‘floating’ rotors were the float buttons. So now little or none of developed. the resulting motion is transferred into the Standard brake rotors are cast in a single suspension or steering. piece, which bolts directly to the wheel or drive plate. If the mounting surface of the Brake Pad Compounds wheel or drive plate isn’t perfectly flat, you’ll Most pads used to use asbestos - good for get vibration at speed. Floating rotors are heat transfer but very bad for our health. typically cast in two pieces – these being the Manufacturers are constantly looking for rotor itself, and its carrier. The carrier is bolted new and improved ways of producing friction 38 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 material. Manufacturers now use a variety properties. They do not fade as readily as other of combinations for pad materials. The pads pads, they cool faster, last longer, and are very themselves are made up of a friction material silent - the sound they generate is outside of that is bonded to a backing plate. The brake the human range of hearing. The light colour piston within the caliper pushes against the of the pads can also help make the wheel look backing plate, and the friction material is in cleaner. turn pushed against the brake rotor. The material combinations used in the Brake Squeal pads typically fall into the following broad ‘Squealing’ brakes indicate a problem that categories. requires attention. Possible causes include the following: Organic 1. The friction material has worn away These pads are well-suited for day-to-day and the backing plate is pressing onto work due to the fact that they wear well, are the rotor. quiet in use, they do not damage the rotors, 2. The brake pad is not located correctly and they produce low levels of dust ‘spoil’. against the caliper piston. They’re favoured for your average motorcycle 3. High-frequency vibration between the because they work well when they are cold. pad, the caliper piston and the brake However, they do not work so well when they rotor. get hot. Some vehicles have problems with brake squeal resulting from design/pad choice. Semi-Metallic/Sintered In some cases, simply changing the pads These pads are a good compromise for for those of another manufacturer can cure both road and track use. They seem to be the the problem, as different pads have slightly pad of choice for sports motorcycles. They do different harmonic frequencies. The BMW not work as well as organic pads when they R1100 is a case in point. Even from new are cold, but they do work well when hot. the brakes squealed. BMW first redesigned Occasionally, the weak link in semi-metallic the brake calipers and rotors, and then just pads is the bonding material that holds the switched to a different manufacturer for the friction pad to the backing plate. There have pads - with the result that the problem was been occasions where the friction material has solved! parted company with the backing plate. Solving Brake Squeal Metallic This can be achieved by placing a copper- These pads are typically reserved for racing. based grease, such as Copaslip – which is They squeal and suffer from heavy dust spoil. extremely resistant to pressure and heat - on the They are very abrasive on rotors and do not back of your brake pads. The idea is that this work very efficiently when cold. creates a small pocket of lubrication between the front-side of the brake pistons and the Ceramic back-side of the brake pads, thus preventing Ceramic pads also incorporate some metal the high-frequency squeal. Copaslip works fibres - about 15% compared with about 40% well in the short term. However, over the long for semi-metallic pads - but they use copper term it can have an adverse effect on the rubber instead of steel, and therefore cause less wear, dust-seals of the caliper pistons. This can lead in addition to having better heat transfer to the seals deteriorating or failing completely. The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 39 Single-Circuit Hydraulic Systems This type of brake system is used on some motorcycles and comprises of a system of plungers, reservoirs, pipes/hoses and hydraulic fluid. Single-circuit hydraulic systems have three basic components, namely: the master cylinder, the slave cylinder and the reservoir. These components are linked together using hydraulic hoses/pipes, and the system is filled with a non-compressible hydraulic fluid. When you press your foot on the brake, or squeeze the brake lever, you move a small piston assembly in the master cylinder. This piston in turn displaces hydraulic fluid, and because the brake fluid cannot compress, the displacement is instantaneously transferred through the hydraulic brake line to a cylinder, where it acts on the piston assembly - pushing it out. This occurs in the brake caliper, with the piston acting directly on the brake pads. One potential problem of this arrangement is that heat from the brakes can be transferred back into the brake fluid.

40 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 Dual-Circuit Hydraulic Systems (Note - From there on, the system performs just like Not Twin-Circuit Hydraulic Systems) the secondary circuit described above. Dual-circuit hydraulic systems are fitted to The advantage of this system is that some motorcycles, including BMWs. These the brake pedal/lever can be placed just systems have two separate circuits. One is about anywhere you like, as it is no longer the command circuit - that’s the one that you encumbered by the ‘plumbing’ that comes activate with your hand or foot. The second with a hydraulic circuit. is a separate circuit controlled by an onboard To combat rider complaints of a lack of ‘feel’ ‘computer’. That’s the circuit which is actually in the brakes, most brake-by-wire systems have connected to the brakes. As you apply the a reverse-feedback loop built in. This measures brakes, you send a pressure signal via the the pressure being applied to the brakes on the command circuit to the brake ‘computer’. This secondary circuit, and actuates an electrical measures the amount of force you’re applying, resistor in the pedal/lever assembly to provide and using a servo/pump arrangement, applies resistance. This is required due to the fact that the same force to the secondary circuit there is no physical connection to any part of in order to activate the brakes. If you do the brake system at all. something stupid, such as trying to slam the brakes on at 100 mph, the computer will Mechanical Advantage realise that this could result in a skid or spin. Mechanical advantage is the reason that In such cases the system will ‘decide’ not to you can often stop a motorcycle using just two transmit the full pressure down the secondary fingers or light foot pressure. In its most basic circuit, and instead will use speed data and the form, mechanical advantage is the ratio of ABS sensors to determine the optimal brake force-in to force-out in a mechanical system, pressure required to maintain control of the expressed as: bike. Mechanical Advantage = Effort Torque / The advantage of a dual-circuit system Load Torque. is that the command circuit never gets heat For example, a 20 kilogram weight - transferred into it, due to the fact that it is positioned 1 metre from a pivot point, can lift totally separated from the brakes themselves. a 40 kilogram weight - positioned 0.5 metre The disadvantage is that you now havetwo from the pivot point, on the opposing side. hydraulic circuits to maintain. The effort torque and load torque calculations relate to the force, in newtons (N), and the Brake-by-Wire Systems distance from the pivot point. Torque is The most advanced braking systems are therefore measured in newton-metres (Nm). those referred to as ‘brake-by-wire’. These are A newton is the amount of force required to a direct copy of those systems used on some accelerate a mass of one kilogram by one metre racing bikes, and are very similar to the dual- per second. On earth, where acceleration due circuit hydraulic systems described above. to gravity is 9.8 m/s², the force exerted upon a However, instead of the command circuit mass of 1kg is 9.8 N (usually rounded up to 10 being hydraulic, it’s replaced with electronics. N). The equivalent imperial notation ispound- The brake pedal/lever is connected to a force-foot (abbrev. lbf.ft), commonly referred to hypersensitive rheostat – which is a component as foot-pounds. 1 Nm is equivalent to 0.737 that measures electrical resistance. The foot-pounds. more pressure that you exert, the greater the The diagram following shows a simple lever electrical signal sent to the brake computer. system on a pivot. The load torque is 200 Nm, The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 41 The BMW Club Regalia and Merchandise

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Order on line at Order on the Club web site and pay by credit or debit card. or order by post www.bmwclub.org.uk/merchandise (Cheques payable to The BMW Club) to:- Cath Broughton, 17 Strawberry Hill, Telephone enquiries to Cath Broughton on 01604 416 896 Northampton, NN3 5HL. Please give your membership number when ordering by Calls between 9.00am and 8.00pm please. post. You may also pay using postal orders. Sizing information is available on the 42 Email enquiries to: [email protected] BMW Club Journal • November 2012 web site or by phone. Sorry, we cannot take orders over the phone. The BMW Club Regalia and Merchandise

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Order on line at Order on the Club web site and pay by credit or debit card. or order by post www.bmwclub.org.uk/merchandise (Cheques payable to The BMW Club) to:- Cath Broughton, 17 Strawberry Hill, Telephone enquiries to Cath Broughton on 01604 416 896 Northampton, NN3 5HL. Please give your membership number when ordering by Calls between 9.00am and 8.00pm please. post. You may also pay using postal orders. Sizing information is available on the Email enquiries to: [email protected] The BMW Clubweb Journal site or • November by phone. 2012 Sorry, we cannot take orders over the phone. 43 and the effort torque is also 200 Nm. Advantage = Effort Torque / Mechanical Advantage = Effort Torque / Load Torque - Load Torque - which is now which in this case is 200/200, which equates to 1 – i.e. the 300/200, which equates system is balanced (see diagram below). to 1.5. Any mechanical If we increase the weight on the effort side to 30 kg, instead advantage value greater than of 20 kg, but leave everything else the same - the load torque is 1.0 results in the effort having still 200 Nm, but the effort torque is now 300 Nm.Mechanical the advantage. In this case, a 30 kg weight, which is lighter than the 40 kg load, is able to lift this load off the ground (see middle diagram left). Using this basic law of physics, you can now see how it is possible to generate enough force using your fingers, and/or foot, to stop a motorcycle. This principle is illustrated in the diagram of the lever-operated cam brake (see lower diagram on left). The illustrated system has four levers. The middle two levers have no mechanical advantage as the levers are connected the same distance from the pivot in each case. However, look at the pedal. On the pedal we have a force applied 20 cm from the pivot, but the other end of the lever is only 5 cm from the pivot. This creates a mechanical advantage of 4 on the brake lever (20 cm / 5 cm). At the other end, the lever attached to the cam is still a lever system – even though it is bent. The input lever is 10 cm long, but the cam is only 4 cm across - or 2 cm to the tip from the pivot. So at the brake cam we have a mechanical advantage of 5 (10 cm / 2 cm). So across this entire system we have a total mechanical advantage of 20 (4 44 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 x 5), comprising a factor of 4 from the brake two complementary parts, namely the input pedal and a factor of 5 from the lever and cam. and output sides. The brake pedal/lever The units of force used are irrelevant – the forms the input, and the brake caliper/piston mechanical advantage factors are multiplied comprises the output. together regardless of the units used. For both the input and the output parts of Getting back to bikes, imagine that when the system: you’re braking, your foot is pushing on the Pressure = Force / Area – and the pressure is brake pedal with about 60 lb (27 kg) of force. the same at all points in the system. Through the brake pedal, this force is amplified For example, if you apply 20 kg of input 4 times to 240 lb (109 kg), and through the force to the brake pedal or hand lever, and the lever & cam it’s amplified a further 5 times, system incorporates a master piston of 12.5 from 240 lb (109 kg) to 1200 lb (545 kg). So mm diameter (6.25 mm radius) and a caliper though you pushed the pedal with 60 lb (27 piston of 20 mm diameter (10 mm radius), the kg) of force, the cam inside the drum brake is result is 51 kg of force at the caliper piston, being forced out against the brake drum with which is transferred onto the brake pads. 1200 lb (545 kg) of force. The relevant calculation is:

F2 = A2/A1 x F1 Mechanical Advantage Applied to Where:

Hydraulic Systems F1 = 20 kg – the input force 2 Most braking systems now rely on A2 = 3.14* x 100 (10 ) 2 hydraulics, which have some disadvantages, A1 = 3.14* x 39 (6.25 ) including the fact that although hydraulic (* Approximation of the value of pi.) fluid is incompressible - a hydraulic system Then: is compressible. Interconnecting hoses can F2 = (314 / 122) x 20 = 51 expand when under pressure, effectively The two pistons in this example create reducing the mechanical forward movement the mechanical advantage. Now you can used to apply pressure to the brake pistons. understand why it is so easy to stop the bike However, good quality over-braided hoses with so little effort from the rider. eliminate most of this problem and give good brake feedback to the rider. The use of hydraulics results in a slight change to the equations above, but the concept of mechanical advantage still applies. The principal equation is: Pressure = Force / Area. If you apply 20 N of pressure to 1 m², it’s equivalent to applying 200 N of pressure to 10 m². 20 N of force divided by 1 m² of area generates a pressure of 20 pascal (Pa). Similarly, 200 N of force divided by 10 m² also equates to 20 Pa. If you now think in terms of a hydraulic braking system, it becomes clear how mechanical advantage works for you. The braking system can be considered as The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 45 The 2012 Thatch Rally Reg and Margaret Moule enjoy Irish hospitality

Life creeps up on us doesn’t it, work, hobbies, to call my bluff, gales and heavy rain engulfed business, family, you know what I mean. So the whole of England & Ireland to the extent Margaret & I decided to break the chain and that the Swift Ferry was in danger of being have a rest and hang the consequences, we cancelled, so a Hotel in Dublin was arranged, were on the verge of burning out. We tried to just in case. Guess what? It was cancelled and get 3 weeks away from the rat race, we only we sailed some hours later on the “Fast Cruise” managed 6 days, but what a magnificent 6 ship Ulysses that dumped us into the rush hour days we had. traffic in Dublin at 1745. Joy & Rapture, this A last minute plea to the Irish Section got really was not an ideal start to our trip. The us booked in at the Thatch Rally at Tralee Bay ordeal lasted some 75 minutes of roasting hot Holiday Park, Irish Ferries were consulted engines, solid traffic going nowhere, suicidal and a deal on the fast Swift Ferry arranged bus and taxi drivers all trying to get into gaps and Margaret insisted she wanted to ride her that a cyclist could just squeeze into and to R100GS so we decided to go on two identical crown it all, it was pouring with rain. Huh! bikes. Only problem being my GS had been The hotel loomed into view, the only problem under a cover up the side of the garage for was finding the entrance off the N7 Naas Rd, almost 2 years and it needed some TLC, new and after lunatic U turns in rush hour traffic tyres were fitted, MoT attained, Taxed on we finally arrived absolutely shattered. A the internet and panniers dragged out from warm & friendly welcome awaited us and we under years of weeds at the back of the shed. settled in after the concierge insisted the bikes Perfect or so I thought! We decided to sail on were parked in front of the main entrance the Wednesday so we had no rushing around so they could be watched at all times. This I over the water, how wrong could I get that? liked. A quick shower & meal and collapse Well, the good old UK weather was the first into bed were the order of the evening. Next morning we reloaded the panniers on the bikes and set off South West in the direction of Tralee where were invited to stay with Liam & Trish Ryan. Breakfast was taken at the Gandon Hotel Junction 15 M7. Highly Recommended by Mr & Mrs Reg. On leaving the breakfast stop I noticed oil all over the rear of the back of my panniers and wheel, exiting from the bevel breather. A slow run down the back road we found a jet wash and drained some oil from the bevel, which had mysteriously risen above the fill 46 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 point. This done and the residue cleaned off several other Club Members had seemingly with a very efficient jet wash system, we set off had the same idea. Time rolled by and we went back on the motorway at reduced speed with in search of lunch, again this was a seafood all sorts of ideas racing through my mind as extravaganza at Spillane’s Seafood & Steak to why this had happened. Margaret kept an Bar, our meal was enjoyed in the sunshine eye on the back end on a regular basis and outside while we watched the last competitors reported all was well. of the local Triathlon competition finish the Arriving at Liam’s house we settled in and road race outside the pub. As always it was a set about investigating the problem. Oil was wrench to get ourselves motivated to move drained and replaced in both the rear drive from the idyllic settings we had found, but & gearbox and to date I can report that it back on the BMW we headed back to the still hasn’t recurred. Only explanation I can cottages. Saturday evening we all sat down offer is that the back brake must have been to a 3 course dinner, again excellent food and binding and the oil got hot and expanded, but service from the Hotel, a brief presentation I suffered no lack of response to the speed or was made and gratitude expressed to all the acceleration to confirm this. hard working club officials who had put the We arrived at the venue early on Friday event on and made it run like clockwork. Then to be warmly welcomed by Elaine who had the musicians set up and Irish Reels and songs everything under control, bags unpacked were played well into the night. A jolly good and while the sun shone we rode over the time was had by all. Connor Pass to Dingle for lunch, we arrived Sunday breakfast was started in gloomy at Deirdre’s Café on recommendation of a rainy conditions but by the time coffee was local barman. I can heartily recommend the being served the sun was out and lifting chowder at Deirdre’s; it surpassed Monks the spirits of the early travellers who left in Seafood Bar at Ballyvaughan. The run back to nice weather to return home. We dawdled Camp was a slow affair, taking in the scenery somewhat, we only had 15 miles to go as we at every opportunity, each bend in the road were staying with Liam & Trish on Sunday threw our visual senses into overdrive, the night, deciding to run up to Dublin Monday sun on the mountains, beaches and ocean had for our boat back to Holyhead. We made good to be seen to be believed. An evening spent time and managed a quick visit to the Jeanie making new friends, greeting old friends and generally having a great time. Saturdays breakfast was taken with the whole of Tralee Bay on show from the window of the Seven Hogs Hotel, which served us with excellent food, all included in the entry fee of the Rally. We decided to forego the organised ride out in favour of a short run to the beach where gliders were being launched as the tide receded, revealing a huge stretch of flat sand, ideal for landing and taking off. We rode the GS over to where all the planes were marshalled and found The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 47 Johnson, an replica immigrant ship I watched being built at Blennerville in the late 90’s. This ship was built in the old style and was famous for arriving in the New World with every one of her passengers in good health, unlike so many others, where they suffered from all kinds of mishaps during the exodus after the famine. Our Fast Ferry duly arrived on time and all went well with the sailing, a bit lumpy in places, but that’s the Irish Sea for you. The run home across Anglesey was interesting with an enjoyable event, Margaret & I would like to the wind blowing up from the South West thanks everyone involved for putting the time and great care was needed crossing the bridge and effort into yet another memorable Thatch to the mainland. Has anyone else experienced Rally. the road surface over this bridge? Its was like riding on oiled ball bearings, Margaret was convinced she had a flat tyre and stopped mid way! Once on the A55 with the wind at out backs we settled into a nice 65-70 mph in glorious evening sunshine all the way to Oswestry, where the daylight started disappear and by the time we hit Shrewsbury the moon was rising and it looked splendid, golden in colour and seeming huge on the horizon as it slowly rose over the Wrekin. As always its great to arrive back home after 48 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 The Mercia Section Saltburn Hotel Weekend

Keith and Ruth Jackson enjoyed the weekend

Thirteen Club members came to the Victorian intriguing addition to the town’s attractions is sea-side town of Saltburn by the Sea, the work of an unknown knitting enthusiast Cleveland, and had a thoroughly enjoyable who has adorned some of the railings along time. The Saltburn House offered great the pier and also some near to upper terminus value for money, the rooms were clean and of the cliff railway. There is a remarkable comfortable and the food was both excellent display of imaginative figures and scenes and, perhaps more important to some of us, representing events of 2012, including many plentiful! Overall, we wanted to have a relaxed Olympic events and a figure representing a and informal event and we’d like to think we nude Prince Harry appeared shortly after he succeeded. was photographed in Las Vegas. A pleasant first evening was had in the bar, The remaining seven of us went on a run getting to know each other and working out to Eden Camp, a WW2-themed museum where to go the next day. The group ‘clicked’ near Malton, about 75 minutes away. Local immediately and we were soon feeling like old lad Phil Hollick, who helped organise the friends. Four opted for the Beamish Open weekend, led the way down the coast road Air Museum, about an hour to the north. It from Saltburn to the outskirts of Whitby. has a lot to offer so they headed off shortly There are some terrific views to be had on after breakfast and spent the entire day there this stretch, especially when approaching without seeing everything it has to offer. There was an agricultural show being held in the farm area and they talked a lot about the combined skills of a shepherd and his dog. They’d also spent a lot of time in the town zone. Two members stayed to explore the delights of Saltburn, which is an unspoiled, Victorian seaside town that was planned and developed as such from 1860. The beach is usually popular and was full of people making the most of the sunshine. Leading up from the old harbour are the park and gardens, with a long- established miniature railway for children of all ages. There’s also a funicular railway to avoid long flights of steps up from the beach to the town and its quaintness is enhanced by the stained-glass windows in the carriages. An The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 49 and passing through Sandsend where the apart from the usual blind car drivers and road runs right alongside the beach. From maniacal motorcyclists – sheep! There were Whitby Phil turned inland and we rode across hundred of the things, seeming to be all the moors towards Pickering and Malton. crowding against the carriageway. None did The weather was perfect and the moors were offer to run into the road but, as we all know, definitely at their best, with the rich green of sheep have not been bred for intelligence so no the fields contrasting with the deep reds of chances were taken! the heather. The huge mass of the radar tower About half the group left on Sunday at RAF Fylingdales dominated the skyline morning but those who stayed were lucky along one stretch, making even the bulk of my that entertainment was close by. The annual K1200LT seem insignificant. Saltburn hill-climb was being held along one Eden Camp was built to house German of the steep and twisty roads leading up from and Italian prisoners of war. Afterthe harbour area. It’s been held for many, many decommissioning in the fifties, it was used for years and used to be fully competitive but has a while as industrial units but it’s now been recently been turned into a demonstration turned into a very interesting and informative event for vehicles built up to 1975. The entries museum. Its remaining huts have been a were in several classes for two, three and four sequence of displays that take you from the wheels and it seemed that “run what you brung” rise of Hitler and the Nazis through to the end was the order of the day. One of the more of the war, plus some with a particular theme, unusual vehicles was a pushbike fitted with a such as giving you a feel for what it would have Wall Auto Wheel whose rider demonstrated been like to be in a U-boat being attacked that the period phrase “light pedal assistance” with depth charges or life in a blitz bombing could easily become “heavy pedal asistance”! raid. Some of the group took themselves off Early cars ranged from various types and ages for a further run after lunch while the rest of Austin 7 to a couple of touring Bentleys of us stayed another couple of hours and still while a TT Panther, a lovely BSA Empire Star didn’t see all it had to offer. with boat-shaped sidecar and several KSS & I led the run home, using the GPS I must KTT Velocettes were among the pre-WW2 admit, and we went through some charming bikes. Later classes included a number of villages, such as Hutton le Hole and Castleton. Jaguars, Triumph TRs and a Mini Marcos by This route across the moors had other dangers way of a souped-up 3-litre Mk3 Ford Cortina. Post WW2 two wheelers included Triumph twins, a couple of Velocette Thruxtons, several ohc Nortons and AJS 7Rs and a few specials were included by way of a couple of Tritons. Most people were content to just ride up the hill and show off their charges but one or two demonstrated how quickly you could get up the hill. A Scott absolutely flew up the track and its distinctive exhaust made it quite plain that the rider hadn’t eased off at any point. Many thanks to everyone who attended for making it such a good time. Feeback has been very positive and we have booked the hotel for the weekend of 20-22 September next year. 50 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 German Jottings The pages of Motorrad interpreted by John Bentall

Once again, it is time to pit the new machines wheels limited lean angle and let the machine on the market for the 2012 season against wobble a bit, so the turn-in was not as precise the best and most challenging roads that the as motorcycle. By contrast the F800R seems Italian and French Alps have to offer. Editorial made for the Alps, the BMW rider always staff and guests from Italy, Sweden and French felt fresher than the others and ready for the test four new machines in each class and the next pass. Steering correction was hardly ever winner in each group goes forward into the needed in the corners. Thanks to miserly fuel final against last year’s winner, the 1200GS. consumption, it offers the best fuel range and, There are no 0-60mph tests here, rather an being the lightest, is also easiest to park at the uphill acceleration test from 15 to 45 mph in end of the day. The Honda does not like to be second gear carrying a pillion, followed by a rushed and its modest power seems to hamper similar, downhill braking test. The in-gear progress – there is no chance of that marginal acceleration test is carried out at the top of a overtake before the corner, especially uphill. Col to check that the machines pull cleanly at The answer is to slow down at little at which altitude. point when the machine really begins to make The first group of machines contains the sense. Brakes, clutch and steering are light and Bimota Brivido, BMW S1000RR, Ducati smooth to use. The Kawasaki is 30% more Panigale and the Kawasaki ZZR1400. powerful than the Honda, but unusually This group is not really in its element in for a twin, there is not a great deal of low- the mountains. The Bimota has an uneven down torque. It is much happier above 6,000 throttle response, a heavy clutch and very rpm beating even the BMW in the 2nd gear powerful brakes unassisted by ABS while the acceleration test. Panigale is irritatingly noisy, gets extremely In the Funbikes group, the Kawasaki Z1000 hot under the seat but performs very creditably Versys came top ahead of the Husqvarna on these roads. The “S” version tested is not Nuda 900R, Aprilia 1200 Dorsoduro and as comfortable as the base model and the KTM 690 Duke . The Nuda was rated as a much criticised hole in the torque curve is better Alpine bike than the BMW F800R, but not noticeable under these conditions. The comfort, passenger accommodation, lack of BMW is altogether more refined than the ABS, traction control and weather protection Ducati, but cannot offer the day-long comfort marked it down. The Triumph Speed Triple of the calm, responsive Kawasaki which goes R won the Naked Bikes group ahead of the through to the next round. Next up are the KTM 990 Superduke R, Ducati Streetfighter BMW F800R, Honda NC700S, Kawasaki 848 and Morini Corsaro Veloce. ER6-n and Yamaha TMax (since the BMW The Enduro group was contested by the scooters were unavailable for the test). The Suzuki V-Strom 650, Triumph Explorer, Tmax proved an amiable, sweet-handling Honda Crosstourer DCT and Guzzi Stelvio companion in the Alps, but its power deficit 1200 8V. The Suzuki was the easiest by far could not be entirely masked by the CVT to negotiate through the Alpine twisties transmission. Once the pace hotted up , the 15” thanks to its light weight and good steering The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 51 feedback. Despite its lack of power, a very Power delivery is extremely smooth, which well- spaced gearbox, excellent throttle sounds unexciting but is a great asset in the response and a feather-light clutch allowed Alps, and it will certainly shift once the engine it to keep pace with the Guzzi. In contrast, is allowed to rev. the Guzzi feels large and heavy (282kg) as The Triumph’s 50lbs of extra weight if hewn from solid oak, a mountain partner compared to the GS is not noticeable in the for those who prefer a hands-on approach. hairpins bends of the pass roads, where the The rumbling and snorting noises emitted Triumph exhibits the excellent handling as it traverses the passes give the bike a soul characteristics of its competitor. The motor that makes objective assessments seem rather has every desirable characteristic for an trivial. There is enough torque to the leaving Alpine tour, and will regularly leave the others the Honda Crosstourer standing when laded standing on uphill runs. The only minor with pillion and luggage. The Guzzi is solid, weakness is that the ABS cuts in quite early, stable and comfortable, but hardly nimble, which results in the longest braking distance and requires plenty of concentration through of any of the machines on test. tight hairpins. The contest between the group winners The Honda weighs in at a hefty 295kg, but resulted in a final shootout between the its bulk soon disappears on the move. The Explorer and the GS. Both had their strengths test crew were interested to see how the DCT and weaknesses - the Triumph had the better transmission coped with the Alpine landscape. engine and the GS the better handling; the One soon learns to let the motorcycle choose BMW suspension would tramp over very the best gear through the corners, with the bumpy surfaces and the heavy Triumph could exception of extremely tight hairpins. Here do with more comfort and agility. In the end the gearbox will unfailingly change down to there was a 3-3 draw verdict amongst the test 1st under 13 mph (20kph) and this can cause crew – so was it now down to the toss of a the riders brain , which is still in 2nd gear, to coin? No need - a joy shared is a joy doubled – miscalculate when applying power at the exit, and so the result was declared as the first draw with an ensuing lurch from the machine. In since the Alpine Masters test was inaugurated these circumstances it is best to change gear in 2005. manually with the paddle of the gear pedal. Honda Moto Guzzi Suzuki Triumph Crosstourer Stelvio 8V DL650 Tiger DCT Explorer Fuel consumption – Passes 44 48 64 53 Tank Range in miles - Passes 210 341 280 236 Acceleration 0-88 mph 6.2 7.5 5.8 6.6 Acceleration in top gear at 1700m 9.1 9.6 11.5 7.8 from 31-62mph Acceleration uphill 2nd gear from 15- 7.5 5.7 6.9 4.7 45mph with passenger Braking distance from 45-15 mph 27.5 28.1 28.5 30 downhill with passenger

52 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 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? 54 Where We Meet 54 A complete list of regular section events,with adresses, dates and contact details 55 Diary of Events - October & November 55 Find out what’s on in the next few days/weeks 58 Around the Compass 58 Events coming up which may need booking, including UK and European Trips/weekends 59 The Social Scene 59 The National Social Secretary invites us to be sociable 62 Section & Register News 62 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

2012 BMF Discount Code - BMW12C196

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 53 Where We Meet Please send Where We Meet changes to the Editor

EAST ANGLIA: The Shoulder of Mutton, Halstead Road, 1.00pm. The Tynwald Inn, St Johns, Isle of Man, 3rd Ford Street, Aldham, Essex CO6 3LL, 12:00, 1st Sunday. The Tuesday, 7.30pm. The Border Rose, Rochdale Rd, Walsden, Shoulder of Mutton, Halstead Road, Ford Street, Aldham, Todmorden, 3rd Friday, 7.30pm. The Harraby Inn, London Essex, CO6 3LL, 12:00, 3rd Sunday. The Three Tunns, Rd, Carlisle, last Monday, 7.30pm. Wethersfield Road, Finchingfield, Essex, CM7 4NR, 12:00, OXFORD: The Harcourt Arms at Stanton Harcourt, 2nd 1st Wednesday. The Lamb and Flag, Main Street, Welney, Tuesday, 19:30. The Fox and Hounds at Sunnyside, Theale, Cambs, PE14 9RB, 12:00, 3rd Wednesday. Also various Nr Reading, RG7 4BE, 4th Tuesday, 20.00. Uffington Village meets through the year, so please see the Diary Of Events Hall, Oxfordshire, winter Sundays,14:00. The Churchill Arms IRISH: Cork meet at 6.30pm TexOil Petrol Station, at West Lavington (A360) Hight Street West Lavington SN10 Glounthaune, every Tuesday night – April-Sept, Group 4JB, first Thursday of the month at 7.00 1 (Advanced): Conor O’Leary 0872594784 conor@ SCOTTISH: 1st Sunday @ Spittal of Glenshee Hotel, olearystone.com and Group 2: Liam Quinlan 086 8252774 Glenshee, Perthshire PH10 7QF at 12.30pm. 1st Monday [email protected] Dublin Meeting – Last Thursday @ Meldrums Hotel, Ceres, Fife KY15 5NA at 7.30pm. 2nd 8.00 pm, West County Hotel, Chapelizod; Jim Sweeney Sunday @ The Bankfoot Inn, Bankfoot, Perthshire PH1 [email protected] 0872300736. North West Meeting – 2nd 4AB at 12.00 noon. 3rd Sunday @ Buccleuch Arms Hotel, Sunday, Coffey’s Café, Carrick-on-Shannon, 12.00 noon; High Street, Moffat DG10 9ET at 12.30pm. 4th Sunday @ Patrick Munnelly 086 3383499 email: [email protected]. Hopeville Social Club, Harlaw Road, Inverurie at 12.30pm. Limerick meeting, 1st Thursday, 8.00pm. Woodfield House Hotel, Ennis Road, Limerick Pat Mulcahy 087 2377312. SOUTHERN: The Rising Sun, 27 Spring Lane, Colden Common, Winchester, SO21 1SB, 20.00 second Tuesday. Section meets are as rideouts and are irregular, LONDON: The Seven Stars, Newark Lane, Ripley, Surrey, GU23 6DL please see their website and the Journal Diary for meets. 20.00, alt Tuesdays. The Half Moon, 32 London Road, Peter Jones 07710887958, Nick Fry 01438749913 for Petersfield, GU31 4BE, just North of Petersfield on the old advice. A3, alt Thursdays. Fox and Hounds, Fox Lane, Wimborne, MERCIA: Repton Village Hall, Askew Grove, Repton, Dorset. BH21 2EQ. Tel 01202 872881, 20.00 3rd Thursday. Derbys DE65 6GR, see diary for dates and times. The “Old Gits” Loomies Diner on A32 at West Meon Hut cross Clock Warehouse, London Road, Shardlow, Derby. DE72 roads A272 & A32, Hampshire first Wednesday, 12 noon. 2GL, 2nd Wednesday, 1900hrs. The Dog, Henley Road, SOUTH EAST: ‘The Bull’, Lower Road, East Farleigh, nr Mappleborough Green, Studley, B80 7DR, 2nd Thursday, Maidstone, ME15 0HD, 1st/3rd Wednesdays, 20.00. ‘The 1930hrs. New Inn. Wolvey Road, Bulkington CV12 9JF, Roebuck’, on the B2124 at Laughton, 2nd Friday, 20.00. 1st Tuesday, 19.30hrs. Brunch/ Breakfast at Windy Ridge Borders meet, last Friday, 20.00. Lunchtime meet,noon last Cafe, Winkhill Leek ST13 7PN, 1st Sunday from May to Sunday. See Diary for details. October, 1030hrs. Hoar Park, The Craft Village, Nuneaton Road, Church End, CV10 0QU, every Wednesday at 0930 SOUTH WEST: Jamaica Inn: PL15 7TS. At Bolventor, off hrs for breakfast. Last Wednesday of every the month. The A30 east of Bodmin (signed from A30). The Weary Traveller, Bradford Arms, Ivetsy Bank, Wheaton Aston, Stafford. ST19 Station Rd., Cullompton, EX15 1BQ. 100 yards from M5 J28 9QT 1930hrs on the A318.The Canal Inn, Wrantage, Taunton, TA3 6DF All meets 12:00 as per calendar of events. MIDLAND: All year round gatherings The Three Kings, Saltersway, Threekingham, Lincs NG34 0AU, 01529 240249, ULSTER: Corr’s Corner, Glengormley, Co. Antrim, 8.00pm 1st Tuesday 7.30pm; The Old Reindeer, Main St., Edingley on first Tuesday (except January & July). Wednesday Notts, NG22 8DE, 2nd Thursday 7.30pm; The Griffins Head, evening runs Corr’s Corner, 7.00pm from beginning of April 28 Wilby Rd, Mears Ashby, Northants, NN6 0DX 3rd Tuesday to end of August. Sunday/Wednesday morning runs 11am 7.30pm; The King’s Head, Kingsway, Tealby, Lincs LN8 3YA, Corr’s Corner throughout the year, weather dependant. 01673 838347 3rd Thursday 7.30pm. Winter gatherings The WESTERN: The Hood Memorial Hall, Devauden, Chepstow. Community Centre, Great Lane, Greetham, Rutland and The NP16 6PL, 13.30hrs, 2nd Sunday. New Inn, Claines, Rangers Cycle Clubhouse, off Islington Road, Towcester, Worcester, 2000hrs, 1st Tuesday. The Lamb Inn, Iron Northants occasional Sundays, October to March. Alternating Acton, 19.30hrs, 1st Wednesday. 99 Neath Road, Rhos, Breakfast meets see Diary or Forum for details. Pontardawe, Swansea SA8 3EH, 19.30hrs, 4th Wednesday. NORTH EAST: ‘The Travellers Rest’ in the village of Witton YORKSHIRE: Cracoe Village Hall BD23 6LQ on B6265 Gilbert just off the A691 on the road to Lanchester at north of Skipton through Rylstone, 1st Sunday, 12 noon. 19.30hrs 1st Wednesday. The Wagon Inn, 3 miles NW of The Cubley Hall Inn, Mortimer Road, Penistone, Sheffield, Ponteland on A696, NE20 0DH, 19.30hrs 3rd Wednesday. S36 9DF, off A629, 2nd Sunday 12 noon. The Bear Inn, Unless otherwise noted all runs start from Durham Services, South Cave, HU15 2AS on the A1034 off the A63, Brough, Bowburn J61 A1(M). 2nd Monday, 8pm. Squires Cafe Bar, Sherburn in Elmet NORTHERN: The Briars Hall Hotel, Burscough, 1st Friday, LS25 5LQ, on the B1222 from the A1 or the A162, 3rd 8.00pm. Skipton Market Place, Skipton, 2nd Tuesday, Tuesday, 7pm. How Stean Gorge Cafe HG3 5SF north of 1.00pm. Rixton Community Hall, Manchester Rd, Rixton, Pateley Bridge near Lofthouse, 3rd Sunday, 12 noon. The Warrington, 2nd Sunday November to March, 1.00pm. Bikers Café Fimbar Road Fridaythorpe Driffield YO25 9RX Chipping Village Hall, Chipping, 2nd Sunday April to October, last Saturday, 12 noon

54 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 Diary Of Events: November & December November = December = Weekends = Red Text Diary of Events closing date is the 5th of each month

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.

Braintree, Essex CM7 4NR 12 noon November N. East Durham Amateur Rowing Club. Social 1 Irish Limerick meeting Woodfield House Evening. 7.30 pm. Hotel, Ennis Road 8:00 PM Pat S. East Clubnight at The Bull,East Mulcahy 087 2377312 Farleigh.8pm. Oxford Natter night. Churchill Arms, West Southern Old Gits, Loomies Cafe, West Meon Lavington SN10 4JB 7.00pm Hut, A32/A282 2 Northern Evening natter meeting at The Briars Western Evening Meeting – The Lamb Inn, Hall 7:00pm. Vera Hunt. 01257464429 Iron Acton.1930 hrs Denis Bradbeer – 2-4 S. West 21st HIPPO RALLY. See Around the 01454 775786 Compass for details. 8 Mercia Natter Night 19.30hrs The Dog Henley 4 E. Anglia Pub meet - The Shoulder of Mutton. Road, Mappleborough Rd. Studley. Halstead Road, Ford Street, Aldham, B80 7DR Essex CO6 3LL Midland The Reindeer,Main St, Edingley. NG22 London Ride out for lunch at The Bell, Stilton 8DE Pub meet 7:30pm leaving Hemel Hempstead at 10:00am Southern The Half Moon, 32 London Road, Midland A5 Rangers clubhouse, Islington Rd, Peterfield, GU31 4BE Towcester, Northants 12 noon till 3pm. 9 S. East The Roebuck at Laughton.7.30pm Winter meet with hot food and drinks . 11 E. Anglia Duxford - Remembrance Sunday - John/ Janet Winn 01604-631043 The Imperial War Museum. Duxford, Northern Section Meeting at Rixton village hall Cambs CB22 4QR. Meet 10-10.30am 1.00pm. Peter McCombie. 01228 at the airfield map through reception 594792 and shop. Scottish Monthly Meet: Spittal of Glenshee Irish Leinster Ride-out Spa Hotel (near Hotel, on the A93, Blairgowrie, PH10 Lucan) 10.00 am Jim Sweeney 087 7QF. Tel: 01250 885215. http://www. 2300736 email: [email protected] spittalofglenshee.co.uk 12:30 PM Irish N.W Area Meeting Coffee’s Cafe Western Cafe Meeting at Blooms Garden Carrick on Shannon, 12.00 noon. Centre, Bath Road, Haresfield, GL10 Patrick Munnelly 086 3383499 email: 3DP 11.30hrs Denis Bradbeer - 01454 [email protected] 775786. Please note the change of Midland Lunch meet, Greetham community date from Section’s printed diary. centre, great lane, Greetham, Rutland. Yorkshire Marigolds Hot Snacks PLUS Bring & Tea/ coffee hot food from 12 noon Buy, Village Hall Cracoe 12 noon Midland Remembrance day meeting at 5 Scottish Natter nite: Meldrums Hotel, Main the Imperial War Museum,Duxford. St, Ceres By Cupar Fife, KY15 5NA. Admission is free, meet at Cambridge 01334 828 286. 07:30 PM services A14 9am. Steve Foreman 6 Mercia Natter Night 19.30hrs New Inn, Wolvey 07770827574 Road, Bulkington CV12 9JF. N. East Sunday Lunch ride-in. Bluebell Inn, off Midland The Three kings ,Saltersway, the A6076 at Stanley. 12 noon. Threekingham, Lincs.NG34 0AU Pub Oxford Section AGM, Uffington village hall, meet 7:30pm 1.00pm soup and snacks, AGM starts Ulster Club Meeting. 8pm Corr’s Corner. at 2.00pm Western Evening Meeting – New Inn, Claines, S. West Pub Meet 12-Noon. Jamaica Inn, Worcs 20.00 hrs Bob Dunn – 01384 Bolventor, Cornwall, PL15 7TS 390344 Scottish Monthly meet: Bankfoot Inn, Main St. 7 E. Anglia Pub meet - The Three Tunns, Bankfoot (on the A9 nr Perth), PH1 Wethersfield Road, Finchingfield, 4AB. 01738 787 243. 12:00 Noon

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 55 Western Monthly Meeting Devauden 13.30 hrs. Yorkshire Natter night Squires Cafe Bar, AGM Come along and support your Sherburn-in-Elmet. 8pm Club. Find out the latest developments. 21 E. Anglia Pub meet - The Lamb & Flag. Main Yorkshire Lunchtime meet 12 noon. Cubbley Street, Welney, Cambs PE14 9RB Hall Inn, Mortmer Road, Penistone, N. East Social get-together at The Waggon Inn, Sheffield S36 9DF. Off A629. nr. Ponteland. 12 Yorkshire Natter night Bear Inn, South Cave S. East Clubnight at The Bull,East Market Place. 8pm Farleigh.8pm. Photo Competition 13 Oxford Natter night, Harcourt Arms, Stanton 22 Southern The Half Moon, 32 London Road, Harcourt 7.30pm Peterfield, GU31 4BE Southern The Phoenix Inn, Twyford, SO21 1RF 23 Scottish St Andrew’s night Dinner, Ceilidh and Southern The Seven Stars, Newark Lane, Ripley, B&B. See calendar on Scottish Section Surrey, GU23 6DL website for details. 14 Mercia Natter Night 1900hrs The Clock 24 Yorkshire Lunchtime meet The Bikers Cafe, Warehouse London Road, Fimber Rd. Fridaythorpe YO25 9RX Shardlow,Derby’s DE72 2GL 12 noon S. East Midweek run from Coopers Tun. 24-2 Dec Southern MOTORCYCLE LIVE Wells.10.30am 2012 @ NEC - Check out our BMW 15 Midland The Kings Head, Kingsway, Tealby Club Stand Lincs. LN8 3YA pub meet 7:30pm 25 E. Anglia Cafe Jaqui - 52a North Street, Sudbury, Southern Fox & Hound, Dorset, BH21 3EQ on Suffolk CO10 1RD 10am the B3073 7:30 PM Mercia Repton Village Hall. Askew 16 Northern Natter night, meals available, at The Grove,Repton,Derby’s. DE65 6GR. Border Rose, Rochdale Rd, Walsden, From 1000hrs Hot food served from Todmorden 7.00pm. Alan Stretton. 11.30hrs Coffee & Tea from 10am 01706 656606 S. East Lunchtime at Hadlow College Cafe. 16-18 Vintage Footman James Classic Car & Bike TN110AL.Run 1pm Show, NEC Birmingham, B40 1NT S. West Pub Meet 12-noon. The Canal Inn, 16-18 Western Hotel Weekend at the Cavendish Wrantage, Taunton, Somerset TA3 Hotel, Exmouth, Devon. See Around 6DF. the Compass for details. Scottish Monthly meet: Inverurie Hopeville 18 E. Anglia Pub meet - The Chequers. 7 Church Social Club, 34 Harlaw Road, Inverurie Road, Wimbotsham, Norfolk PE34 AB51 4SR. 01467 621478 12:30 PM 3QG 12 noon 26 Northern Evening meeting at the Harraby Inn London An informal, unplanned Ride-out from Carlisle 7.30pm. John Bell. 01228 Beaconsfield. Just turn up. 10:30 AM 535173 Midland Midland section AGM The Community 27 Oxford Natter night, The Fox & Hounds, centre, Great Lane Greetham, Rutland. Theale, Nr Reading, 8.00pm Doors open 10:30am Meeting starts at Southern The Seven Stars, Newark Lane, Ripley, 11am sharp. Cold Buffet to follow. Surrey, GU23 6DL Oxford Slot Car racing Pinewood Meet Yorkshire Natter night Gildersome Conservative Newbury warf for ride to slot cars meet Club, Street Lane. Gildersome 8pm 9.15 Depart 9.30 (to arrive approx 28 Western Evening Meeting – 99 Neath Road 10.45) John Hillier 01189332152 Rhos, Pontardawe, Nr Swansea 19.30 S. East The Thomas`s Ride out. Depart 10am, hrs Brian Price – 01792 862152 Layby Opp. Oakdene Cafe Wrotham. 29 Irish Dublin Meeting. West County Hotel, A20/M26 (01227 366827) Chapelizod. 8:00 PM Jim Sweeney S. West Pub Meet 12-noon. The Weary 087 2300736 [email protected] Traveller, Cullompton, EX15 1BQ. 30 S. East Borders.7.30pm. Dog & Duck.Plucks Scottish Monthly meet: Buccleuch Arms Hotel, Gutter Nr. Stourmouth. CT31JB. High Street, MOFFAT, Dumfriesshire, DG10 9ET. 01683 220003.1:00 PM December Southern Slot Car Racing with Oxford Section, 2 The Pinewood Centre, Old Wokingham 1 Southern Southern Section Xmas Party Details Road. Wokingham. Berkshire on the Website Calendar Trish Bond: RG403AQ 01372 378196. Yorkshire Lunchtime meet How Stean Cafe, 2 E. Anglia Pub meet - The Shoulder of Mutton. Lofthouse. 12 noon Halstead Road, Ford Street, Aldham, 20 Midland The Griffins Head, Mears Ashby, Essex CO6 3LL Northants.Pub Meet. 7:30pm Midland Christmas lunch with charity raffle at Northern Evening meeting, The White House, The Community centre, Great Lane Peel, Isle of Man 7.30pm. Andy Brown. Greetham, Rutland. Doors open 12 01624819088 noon Tickets only, contact Graham or

56 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 Sally Cluley on 01572-813639 N. East Sunday Lunch ride-in to Richmond’s Scottish Monthly Meet: Spittal of Glenshee Old Railway Station Restaurant. 12 Hotel, on the A93, Blairgowrie, PH10 noon. 7QF. Tel: 01250 885215. 12:30 PM Northern Section Christmas Party at Rixton Yorkshire Marigolds Hot Snacks Village Hall village hall 1.00pm. Peter McCombie. Cracoe 12 noon. 01228 594792 3 Scottish Natter nite: Meldrums Hotel, Main Oxford Indoor meeting, Uffington village hall, St, Ceres By Cupar Fife, KY15 5NA. 2.00pm. 01334 828 286. 07:30 PM S. East Christmas Lunch. Poultwood Golf Club. 4 Mercia Natter Night 19.30hrs New Inn, Wolvey Noon. (book with Rosemary/Soc.Sec Road, Bulkington CV12 9JF. by 21stNov.) Midland The Three kings ,Saltersway, S. West Pub Meet 12-noon. Christmas Carvery. Threekingham, Lincs.NG34 0AU Pub Venue TBA meet 7:30pm Scottish Monthly meet: Bankfoot Inn, Main St. Ulster Club Meeting. Christmas Dinner. Bankfoot (on the A9 nr Perth), PH1 4AB. 01738 787 243. bankfootinn. Western Evening Meeting – New Inn, Claines, co.uk? 12:00 Noon Worcs 20.00 hrs Bob Dunn – 01384 390344 Western Monthly Meeting Devauden 13.30 hrs Christmas Party. Raffle prizes needed 5 E. Anglia Pub meet - The Three Tunns, proceeds to Charity. Wethersfield Road, Finchingfield, Braintree, Essex CM7 4NR 12 noon Yorkshire Lunchtime meet 12 noon. Cubbley Hall Inn, Mortmer Road, Penistone, N. East Carolyn and Peter’s Quiz Night. Sheffield S36 9DF. Off A629. Durham Amateur Rowing Club 7.30 10 Yorkshire Natter night Bear Inn, South Cave p.m. Market Place. 8pm S. East Clubnight at The Bull,East 11 Oxford Natter night, Harcourt Arms, Stanton Farleigh.8pm. Guest Speaker. 8.30- Harcourt 7.30 pm 9pm Southern The Phoenix Inn, Twyford, SO21 1RF Southern Old Gits, Loomies Cafe, West Meon Hut, A32/A283 Southern The Seven Stars, Newark Lane, Ripley, Surrey, GU23 6DL Western Evening Meeting – Lambers Christmas Meal. The Lamb Inn, Iron Acton.1930 12 Mercia Natter Night 1900hrs The Clock hrs Denis Bradbeer – 01454 775786. Warehouse London Road, Please not this is a change of date from Shardlow,Derby’s DE72 2GL the Section’s printed diary. S. East Midweek run from Coopers Tun. 6 Irish Limerick meeting Woodfield House Wells.10.30am Hotel, Ennis Road 8:00 PM Pat 13 Mercia Natter Night 19.30hrs The Dog Henley Mulcahy 087 2377312 Road, Mappleborough Rd. Studley. B80 7DR Oxford Natter night. Churchill Arms, West Lavington SN10 4JB 7.00pm Midland The Reindeer,Main St, Edingley. NG22 8DE Pub meet 7:30pm Southern The Half Moon, 32 London Road, Peterfield, GU31 4BE 14 Northern Natter night, meals available, at The Border Rose ,Rochdale Rd, Walsden, 7 Northern Evening natter meeting at The Briars Todmorden 7.00pm. Alan Stretton. Hall 7:00pm. Vera Hunt. 01257464429 01706 656606 9 E. Anglia Christmas Lunch. The Flying Fortress, S. East The Roebuck at Laughton.7.30pm Mount Road, Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk IP31 2QU. 16 E. Anglia Pub meet - The Chequers. 7 Church Road, Wimbotsham, Norfolk PE34 Irish N.W Area Meeting Coffee’s Cafe 3QG 12 noon Carrick on Shannon, 12.00 noon. Patrick Munnelly 086 3383499 email: Irish Leinster area Christmas lunch. [email protected] Bookings Anne McDonald [email protected] London Mystery Ride- out which will be a London An informal, unplanned Ride-out from mystery right up until the day leaving. Beaconsfield. Just turn up. 10:30 AM Hemel Hempstead at 1030 hrs. Mercia Repton Village Hall. Askew Mercia Mercia Section Christmas Lunch. Grove,Repton,Derby’s. DE65 6GR. Appleby Inn. A444 Nuneaton Road, From 1000hrs Hot food served from Appleby Parva. DE12 7AP. Lunch 11.30hrs Coffee & Tea from 10am available from 1200hrs. Pre-booking essential with Colin Ainsworth 07799 S. West Pub Meet 12-Noon. Jamaica Inn, 653789 Bolventor, Cornwall, PL15 7TS Midland A5 rangers clubhouse, Islington Rd, Scottish Monthly meet: Buccleuch Arms Hotel, Towcester, Northants 12 noon till 3pm. High Street, MOFFAT, Dumfriesshire, Winter meet with hot food and drinks . DG10 9ET. 01683 220003. 1:00 PM John/ Janet Winn 01604-631043 Yorkshire Lunchtime meet How Stean Cafe,

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 57 Lofthouse. 12 noon Peterfield, GU31 4BE 18 Midland The Griffins Head, Mears Ashby, 21 S. West End of World Ride. Meet at Woodleigh Northants.Pub Meet. 7:30pm Hall, Chirton Bishop 10:00am. Ring Northern Evening meeting, The White House, Mark 01626 335621. Peel, Isle of Man 7.30pm. Andy Brown. 23 E. Anglia Hartford Mill, Hartford Marina, Hartford, 01624819088 Huntingdon, Cambs PE28 2AA. 11am. Oxford Natter night, The Fox & Hounds, Scottish Monthly meet: Inverurie Hopeville Theale, Nr Reading, 8.00pm Social Club, 34 Harlaw Road, Inverurie Yorkshire Natter night Squires Cafe Bar, AB51 4SR. 01467 621478 12:30 PM Sherburn-in-Elmet. 8pm 26 Western Boxing Day Bike Meet @ Tipputs Inn 19 E. Anglia Pub meet - The Lamb & Flag. Main on A46 near Nailsworth.From 11.00 Street, Welney, Cambs PE14 9RB Janet Wilson – 01225 858876 N. East Social Evening/tyre kicking session at 28 S. East Borders.7.30pm.Chestfield Barn. The Waggon Inn nr Ponteland 7.30 pm. CT53LU S. East Clubnight at The Bull,East 29 Yorkshire Lunchtime meet The Bikers Cafe, Farleigh.8pm. Games Night. Fimber Rd. Fridaythorpe YO25 9RX 12 noon 20 Midland The Kings Head, Kingsway, Tealby Lincs. LN8 3YA pub meet 7:30pm 30 S. East Lunchtime at Brookside Grdn Ctr. Cafe,E.Peckham.TN125JG Run 1pm Southern Fox & Hound, Dorset, BH21 3EQ on the B3073 7:30 PM S. West Pub Meet 12-noon. The Weary Traveller, Cullompton, EX15 1BQ. Southern The Half Moon, 32 London Road, Around The Compass Please send Around The Compass changes to [email protected] with “Compass” as the subject

2nd - 4th Nov. S. West Section. Hippo Rally. The Beddgelert Rhino camping and hotel/B&B Colliford Tavern Bodmin Moor, This is always a weekend will be the usual no nonsense, make exciting weekend with a good a crowd, rideouts and your own fun event that you have come to know evening meals with entertainment. More details on and love over at least the last 22 years. If you website or contact Sally on 01395 597725 are a bit of a softie and have money to burn, find comfortable accommodation in the village 16th - 18th Nov. Western Section Hotel Weekend by typing “accommodation in Beddgelert” into at the Cavendish Hotel, Exmouth, Devon. Two any search engine. The main meeting point will nights bed, breakfast and evening meal, Standard as always by the Forestry campsite 1m north of twin or double rooms at £128.00 singles £78.00. Beddgelert (costs £6-£8 per head/night) and the Sea View on twin or double add £28.00 For further Saracens Head Hotel in the village where you can info and booking form contact Denis Bradbeer, find accommodation and good food and beer, and Western Social Secretary, Tel 01454 775786 Email entertainment on Saturday night. There is no need [email protected] £10 pp deposit by to book the campsite unless you are turning up in a April 30th and final payment by 31st August. tin tent. The Northern section hospitality tent will be 1st Dec. Northern Section Pre-Xmas Party at on site to provide some shelter and refreshments if the Best Western Garstang Country Hotel & Golf it’s not too windy (we can’t afford to lose another Club. For those who would like to meet up and one!!). Call Rhys on 07765702276 for more details. enjoy a good night there are 3 options: Option 7th - 14th Sep. 2013. Mercia Section self catering 1.....Party Night/Meal at the hotel costing £26 per holiday in new chalet style units in a holiday park on person. Option 2....Party Night/Meal + £70 per the South coast of Brittany in the resort of Benodet. room overnight B&B (£35 per person/£20 s.s.) for Each unit is fully equipped for self catering with those who wish to stay over on the Friday night of sun loungers and BBQ. This is a venue we have the party . Option 3....Party Night/Meal + £70 per used before. The site is quiet with indoor and room overnight B&B on the Friday, PLUS for those outdoor swimming pools, tavern, restaurant, coming a distance and wanting to extend their stay shop, takeaway and gymnasium and is within to include the Sunday night a further £70 per room easy walking distance of a large supermarche and (again only £35 per person for bed & breakfast). plenty of off-site restaurants. Cost £280 per couple Contact Bob Crawley at [email protected]. - £100 deposit will be required. For further details, co.uk or on 01573 223203 for bookings. contact Colin Ainsworth 07799 653789 - email 22nd – 24th February 2013 Northern Section. [email protected]

58 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 The Social Scene What’ s happening out and about, brought to you by the National Social Secretary

It is the time of year when section AGMs national rally every year, please just ask your have just or are about to happen. I expect national committee representative to put it on that your sections the national committee highly motivated meeting agenda. It social secretaries can be discussed and will be putting the if the committee votes final touches to your to accept this then we meetings. I use this will have a free national report to thank these rally each year. The dedicated social conclusion might be a teams in advance for bitter pill to swallow contributing to the because subscriptions will national main events possibly have to rise to calendar. cover the costs. It’s your I respectfully club if you really want acknowledge Robert change get involved and Rhys Jones comments in October’s Torque circle in your diary 20th April to attend the Reaction and I thank him for mentioning the 2013 National AGM at Billing Aquadrome alternative basic type of event. I am open and in Northamptonshire. (Booking forms will actively welcome all types of social activities. be in this Journal in the new year.) Please I invited all sections to host the event. I then remember, if you want a free lunch you must appealed to all sections. Out of 15 sections, book it. no single section came forward. Thanks The most important aspect of organising to the National Social Team a super event any rally, in my opinion, is the correct venue. was organised and this gave members the I arranged the 2012 National venue and the opportunity to attend a national rally. We did location was chosen because it was relatively what we said we would do. central. I attempted to keep on target with In club life change is good. Resisting costs and noted that not all members wish change is the easy option however, sometimes to camp or want to have anything less than 5 it can be worthwhile to discuss and contribute star reducing down to 2 star accommodation. ideas to a concept to improve it. I work within In truth, we are all as different as the bikes the guidelines set by the National Committee. we ride. All our expectations and standards If the National Committee had said OK, we are different. We all have different incomes will hold the rally at no cost to the members, and expenses and I believe this uniqueness then the so-called “Posh school” venue he is a feature of this fantastic club and is not a comments on might not have become an issue detriment. The really impressive part is we all and I wonder how many more would have come together just for one reason. come along for a free rally? If you want a free Standing up to the critics is part of club The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 59 life and generally one characteristic that I career however, I must devote more of my find fascinating. I have been delighted with free time to my family. I am “Granddad” to the amount of “thank you” and “well done” three and “Dad” to five and “husband” to one. comments that have been directed through I am their social secretary and they require this Journal to the whole of the “Escape to me to give more of my time to their events, Ellesmere” team. something has to yield. My day job often requires me to be away 2013 and beyond. from home during the week. I arrive back home for the weekend, the various jobs like I have decided not to stand as National mowing the lawn and other duties that are Social Secretary at the next AGM. I have pinned to the fridge door still need to be done. made the national committee aware of my Now with the report of this new intentions. My reason for not standing is information please consider who will be best nothing to do with the club critic’s or anything placed to take on the role. Give it a go! anyone has said on the Forum. One of my jobs The job description is quite specific the included being trained as a sales representative hours are long and the pay is awful. However, and quite a valuable lesson was “how to handle the club has some super people in it and I rejection”. Nobody actually likes rejection but expect with the right advert and enough please keep it all in perspective, we are only a notice a replacement will be forthcoming. motorcycle club! Safe riding until next time. I am not complaining that I have a busy Mark Dutton

60 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 61 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.

thanks go to him and Will Spray, who organised East Anglia Section and led the ride outs. Judging by the feedback I hope that by the time that you are reading this and photos that I’ve seen, it was a great event, your new Social secretary will have been voted in held amongst stunning scenery with some brilliant at the AGM and he or she will be beginning to put attractions. together the coming year’s calendar. Please try and Our Christmas Lunch will be at the Flying support them as they try to create an interesting and Fortress, Rougham, Bury St Edmunds on the 9th December, cost £12.00 per head if booked by the exciting 2013 for the section. 1st December, £18.95 after the 1st December. This last year, my first and only year as Social Contact Dave Massey on 07411 327544 Secretary was a real challenge for me, and it gave I’m sure that next year will provide more exciting me a proper appreciation of the work & dedication events and adventures. that previous holders of this post have put into it. Safe riding. Speaking to committee members from other sections and other clubs, I don’t think that it has Tim Robinson been an easy year to inspire people to take part. East Anglia Social Secretary. The weather, for most of the year has at best been [email protected] unpredictable and at times just plain ‘orrible, and I don’t blame anyone for preferring to stay indoors and keep the bike in the garage. I also think that Irish Section the financial constraints and uncertainty that a lot of people find themselves under at the moment September has been a quiet month, in part because doesn’t help. The cost of fuel and servicing alone I have been away abroad a lot, and was unable to must make everyone think about twice about the get volunteers to help with the monthly run. Can miles that they do. Having said all this, I think that I ask Irish members please, to volunteer their we have managed to have some very successful services, and help with the organising, and planning events throughout the year. of the monthly run. You have my phone number The standard Sunday pub and cafe meets were and e mail, it’s here in the journal. I can hear the sprinkled with a few new venues. Some of them stampede of helpers already, haha.. but seriously worked, some of them didn’t. But it’s always worth it’s YOUR club, all help is welcomed. We make it trying somewhere new. happen, we are the members. My rant is now over! Banham rally in May, although down on the Our annual “Thatch Rally” held this year in Co numbers attending, managed to pull together Kerry, has just ended, and by all accounts it was members from several sections and despite the a rip roaring success. The attendance was 48 cold evenings provided the usual good company (some of it sober) and late nights with plenty of mud for the off road contingent (there were a lot of freshly polished very shiny GS’s et al that got very, very dirty). In July we ran a certificated riders 1st Aid course which seemed to go well with the people who attended. The course covered first response at the scene of an accident and I think that all who attended felt that they would be more confident to get involved if they were to witness a road accident whilst out on their travels. The East Anglia trip to the Pyrenees in September seems to have been a great success. Unfortunately, despite being involved in the initial setup of the trip, at the last minute personal circumstances stopped me from actually going. Fortunately Mark Handley volunteered to step in and take over the running of the event, which he did at very short notice. My

62 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 lakes, and great biking roads. That evening Jim McGrath, who had recently bought a GS, and re-sprayed it in Irish post office GREEN, found himself being asked, when his next delivery was being made. A bright spark (Brendan) had stickers made in the official post office way, and pasted on Jims bike.(see photo of Jim and Eileen) poor Jim had all sorts of post jokes fired at him during the rest of the stay. The day ended with a slap up dinner in the Seven hogs restaurant, and after the usual presentations we were treated to good music and a long enjoyable night ensued. I enclose an email from one of our visitors which I feel sums up the whole event perfectly:- “Just a brief email to thank and congratulate your members, including visitors from England, Scotland BMW club on a job well done. We had a great time and Ulster. Our location was chosen by our ever in Tralee. Accommodation excellent, food and drink enthusiastic and inventive Chris Wright, and yet 1st class and the welcome second to none. It was again he came up trumps. What a fabulous place our 1st time away with the Irish section and we had the “Seven Hoggs”, Tralee Bay Holiday Holiday a real good time. The runs along the highways and village was. Great craic, great food, and great bye ways, and bye ways off the bye ways !!! were biking. Some of us came down on the Thursday (no great . And the weather on that day was (I am sure ) extra charge) and did a run on the Friday, (see photo normal for the time of year. The fund raising scheme of Jim, Brendan and Chris,)Most members arrived of getting the Irish postal (an post) service to send that day, and were welcomed with a big dish of hot a postman along to drop of the letters along the Irish Stew, cooked by Elaine Simpson and assisted way was very innovative, hopefully we will not be by guests Chris Rollinson, John & Gerry Chandler, delivering parcels next year though…… and not forgetting chief veg chopper Shane Noble. Thank you, and we wish you all the best J. Also on the menu for our arrivals was a heart Alwyn & Barbara Telford warming Irish Hot Whiskey, ably dispensed by our Guest of Mick Ganly” treasurer Brendan Lang. The following day we had run which was led out Our next event is North west Hotel weekend in by Con O’Leary from Cork section, but just before lenanne, and our AGM, which will be over by the we set off Brendan spotted a soft rear wheel on time you get to read this. Report in next journal. Teddy Larkins bike,(see all the helpers in the Slan, enclosed photo, sorry I mean advisors) which he Jim promptly fixed. But back to the days event,..WOW! What an amazing run Con led us on, we went Jim Sweeney over the Connor Pass, (not for the faint hearted) 08723-00736 what amazing views, then out towards the Blasket [email protected] Islands (worth a google) an ancient monastic site about 3 miles off the coast. By this stage the sun was blazing and we had Lunch at restaurant on a London Section place called ”Inch beach” which incidentally is at least 2 miles long J. Con then continued his magical Not having much to write about last Month I missed mystery tour of North Kerry, via some beautiful the print deadline while trying to conjure up some interesting, factual, prose (or make some up) – alas I was too late but no matter as only one member noticed. Since the last News Article we have had two Section Ride-Outs and the Section Hotel Weekend ; Pete Bolsover led us out to Amesbury, seven bikes and a nice lunch with only half an hour of rain on the way. The September Hotel Weekend eventually took place over the weekend 28th - 30th September in Weymouth (not Lludlow, dropped through lack of interest, which would have been more adventurous) Nevertheless three couples (Sue & I, John & Debbie Lynch and Ian & Tim (not what you might think)) had a very pleasant three days in good weather on

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 63 the Jurassic Coast enjoying a Saturday Ride out, wonderful Gardens near Holmbush in St. Austell for good food and good company (and some beer). a refreshing soft drink. Throughout the weekend we were only rained Some of our party had opted to go in their cars for on once for about half an hour on the way down various reasons. approaching Andover for lunch. There were 12 rooms booked for our party and (Apparently, according to Grahame, we should we all met at Tricky’s near Redruth and had a good not have lunched in Andover – we should have meal with plenty of chat and banter, joined by Chris gone, er, somewhere else – the name escapes me. I and Colin Camp who are our unofficial tour guides have made a mental note to ring him for instructions for Cornwall, because, as residents, they know all in future ) the highways and more importantly the byways for Despite one London Section members misgivings cracking runs out. They always come up trumps! a very nice (85 mile) route was planned and The scorching weather continued for our ride navigated to Motor Museum at Beaulieu getting us out on Saturday to Marazion, Lands’ End and St. there in little over two hours including a fag (weak Ives, where most of us indulged in a pasty and ice bladder) break at Loomies Café approximately half cream, which were great. The car drivers joined us way; unfortunately the “group” was not large enough whenever possible. to operate the “drop off system” as it would not have Sunday saw us riding to Padstow for fish & chips worked with only 3 riders ( Phil Morrin, Moir and first and then to Newquay, from where we had a nice time out with us Section Member Alan Bennett ) and stroll to a small harbour. Unfortunately one of our there was not a drop of rain in sight. riding couples suffered from a fault on their bike The next Ride-out will be on Sunday 4th and had to be loaned a car, but they managed to November for Lunch at The Bell at Stilton. Please join us at Padstow.Many thanks to Colin and Chris do try and make it. for their hospitality and superb rides out as always, Thinking ahead to next year your Committee also for the coffee and goodies we all devoured will be meeting soon to prepare next year Diary of attheir lovely home! We enjoyed great rides, good Events and in this respect I (we) would welcome company, good food and beautiful weather. any input from the membership with regard to Ian McNaughtons run to Prickwillow Pumping possible venues, events, routes etc. The last few Station Ely Cambs started from Melton Mowbray. outings have attracted poor turnouts and so it could The participants had a good dry ride through the be argued that what is on offer is not desirable – country lanes of Leicestershire and Cambridgeshire. your views, therefore, would be useful. On a previous reccy, the Cafeteria was well manned Semi finally, we need to hold the Section AGM and selling lots of home made pies etc. Sadly on before the end of December ( I think – will check ) the actual day, only snacks were available, the visit The last few have been poorly attended and held in was nevertheless an enjoyable one. Ian selected a Hertfordshire ; If a London venue would suit people quicker route for the return journey and thanked all better please let me know your views and I will those that supported the run. arrange one – failing that I will arrange one similar to previous venues and post details on the Section Website by the 5th. November. Finally finally, Section Christmas dinner - perhaps all you regulars could provide me with dates that you are available and your preferences for location, I will then organize and post details on the Section Website and in the next Journal. Go carefully Peter Jones 07710-887958 [email protected] Mercia Section Better late than never they say hahaha!, with several attempts to email this report to me, finally I have it! Keith and Ruth’s Hotel weekend to Saltburn in the Dave & Imirs report of their Tricky’s weekend in North East was a great success, Keith sent me a Cornwall; Travelling down in good weather made report but I’ll leave you to read that as he’s sending a nice change from the wet, miserable weather we it in as a separate article for the Journal. had all suffered for weeks and we had a thoroughly The last weekend of September is the date enjoyable ride down through some lovely we enjoyed the 20th. Anniversary of the Mercia countryside, once we had left the M5, stopping at a Section. We chose to hold the celebrations at the

64 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 this event.

Look out for the Christmas Lunch at mid-day on the 9th. December at the Appleby Inn next month. We had 84 here last year. No need to book, we order as much or as little as you want from the menu all reasonably priced. I would however appreciate a call if you intend coming along. I need to let them know how many seats I need! Ok! That’s all for this month folks see you soon. Colin Ainsworth

07799 653789 [email protected] Roman Way Hotel, a venue used many times in the past. My sincere thanks to Vi Sheldon for taking this on and coming up with the venue and making all Midland Section the arrangements and thanks to Ian McNaughton for sorting out the 60’s band. A Tribute To Lee Pehl Originally we intended holding this over two nights, however, most of the members only wanted Lee Pehl sadly lost his battle with cancer on the Saturday night. The rate was a very reasonable 10th October. Kath and I first met Lee and Brenda at our first Midland section meet 20 £35 each which included bed, breakfast and the years ago. They have been members since the evening meal. Andrew Taylor Hutchinson arrived 80’s. We have had some great holidays and on Saturday morning and led a few on a ride out times together, and he was like a brother to me. to RAF Cosford, here they witnessed the fly past We were always being told off by our wives for of the Vulcan Bomber, thanks for that Andy. Most acting like naughty schoolboys. He loved his of the party arrived around tea time Saturday and biking and his 1200RT, and I shall miss seeing congregated with drinks in the reception area. It his bike in my mirrors. I am sure that those who was so good to see some of the original members knew him will all miss him dearly, and our hearts there. Hello to Alan and Yvonne Bullock and good and thoughts are with Brenda and Family. to see Colin & June Wilkinson. The bar opened at Norman Piff seven and the fun started! Wine was supplied by the Section to accompany the meal and the food Hello again, and welcome to my last section news. was served at 7.30pm. By the time we’d finished As reported (before the event!) in last months eating I think it’s fair to say that we’d all had a couple journal, the Hardhurst farm camping weekend was and everyone was in good spirits. The Band struck indeed a great success. The weather was great, a up about 9pm! Whoohoo! With the first chords good ride-out through the peaks, and the Jim and strummed a few ran for the door hahahaha! the George Midland BBQ all went down well, so well rest of us, (the brave and adventurous) after being I will probably do it again next year. Again, special pinned to the walls with the sound waves, started thanks to George for storing and transporting the bopping around the floor. Jeff and Molly Lane were Marquee etc., it really is appreciated. the first on the floor, swinging to the sounds of the Jim’s ride to Turville, the home of the Vicar of Rockin Wrinklies?? Actually the band were called Dibley and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was also well ‘Burn Notice’ Mostly 60’s numbers here but the two attended, and we all ended up in the garden of the couples showing everyone how to jive properly local pub in sunshine. Another good day out, and were, Dave Harris, Imir Frazer and Sue and Terry especially gratifying to see some new members Slack, nice moves all! Karen and David Slater joining us. were giving it some enthusiastic hip shakes and The 7th October saw the start of our winter meets, Mark Wyman displaying some neat footwork! Dave with approx 40 people turning up at Towcester for Smith was dragged on to the floor by wife Sue who the soup and Janet’s wonderful cakes. A good time seems to have developed a liking for swinging from was had by all, and the car park was full of bikes. the chandeliers? I’ll tell you later if you ask nicely Thanks to John and Janet, Cath and Norman for all hahahaha! The band did 3 sets and by midnight, the hard work. most were reasonably well oiled and cream Sunday November 11th is remembrance day, crackered. A great night I think all who were there and I am planning to go to Duxford Imperial War would agree. Breakfast was a more sober affair Museum, where the Remembrance service to and everyone departed for home after a leisurely commemorate those who have lost their lives in breakfast. Many thanks for all those who supported active service will be held. This is an informal day

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 65 out, and Duxford has free admission for this one with the dishes etc, nuff said. day. I will be at Cambridge services on the A14 at Moving on, with thoughts of our Christmas 9am if you would like to join me for the service, and celebrations, hopefully you will be able to find the a look round the exhibits afterwards. various options either on the northern section web Last call for the Midland section AGM, to be held site or within November / Decembers journals. My on the 18th November. I believe all the committee mate, KELSO BOB, is putting feelers out to see how are prepared to stand again, bar one (ME!) so a many might be interested in having a do based at volunteer social secretary is needed please. Again, Garstang, as per last year, and my other mate MR all help will be available as required, please let John BELL, ( yes I do have two mates, hard to believe I Winn or myself know if you are interested. know ), is organising a do, at Carlisle’s Harraby Inn, The normal pub meets as in the journal are Garstang will be Dec 1st and Carlisle will be Thurs. still taking place, and the regular Greetham and the 13th Towcester Sunday lunch meets are going strong. I have just received the details of how our national Obviously the diary gets a little thin this time of rally performed this year, unfortunately it made a year, but two dates for your diary are as follows:- loss, the attendance was quite low at 250 .It had Christmas Lunch in aid of the Air Ambulance been budgeted for about 500. I’m sure we all have will be held at Greetham Community Centre on our thoughts on why this was. Sunday 2nd December 2012. Full Christmas Lunch Moving on yet again, I wish to re-iterate my thanks + Dessert + Coffee & Mince Pies £12.00 pp at 1.00 to all of you that helped by organising our various pm run outs and events over 2012. I am now beginning This is a Pre-Booked lunch only, raffle prizes to collate next years Diary of Events. I hope to have welcome. Please contact Sally & Grahame Cluley that completed by the end of December, and so Tel: 01572 813639 would be well pleased if you could mail me as much The Midland section post Christmas Dinner will info as possible before then. be held at The Solo Club Sleaford on January Thanks again to all of you for all you help and 19th 2013. To obtain more details, copy of menu, guidance through out the year. Remember things phone Bill Rodgers on 01526 834480. Mobile can only get better. 07557668223. or E mail bill-rodgers@btconnect. The real Biking Viking com Finally, although you will have a new soc.sec. Peter McCombie next year, I need to get the Diary of events calendar [email protected] printed by January, so any rides, weekend events etc you have in mind, PLEASE let me know A.S.A.P., North East Section so we can get started planning for next year. Until next month, Stop Press! Bodger Owing to circumstances which have made our monthly meetings at the Durham Rowing Club Steve Foreman untenable, we are moving from there to a new 01536-722048 ‘home’ with effect from the meeting in December. 07770-827574 This new venue will be at a pub called ‘The [email protected] Travellers Rest’ in the village of Witton Gilbert just off the A691 on the road to Lanchester. So Northern Section the Quiz will NOT be at the Rowing Club. This is the time of year when we are starting to think Greetings to one and all, By the time this section about where we may go to next year for our biking news goes to print we will have had our A.G.M. at holiday(s). A welcome relief from the horrendous Chipping, hopefully it will have been a lively event weather we have had during the back end of with everybody going home feeling happy, and with September and planning ahead brings nice ideas of loads of new ideas, for promoting our section of the what may come when we are away next year. club. Could this just be wishful thinking on my part. The meeting at the Rowing Club was a little mmm ‘different’ this past month because we could not As of November we are moving back to having actually get into the Rowing Club building due to our monthly meetings at Rixton for the winter. Lynn an internal function being held. (nice of them to tell has asked me to remind you that 9th Decembers us in advance!) Fortunately the weather was fine, meeting will be a Jacobs Inn do. if a little chilly, so we just held it outside instead. I Last months Chipping meet seemed to go well pressganged two new members to join in and lead with our first crafting session, many thanks to Vera runs next year so thanks in advance guys. for laying it all on. Lynn didnt get to see much of it The regular Sunday Lunch ride in this last as she was chained to the kitchen lol. So lets hope month was to a new venue – ‘ The Railway Inn’ at a few of you guys and gals can take time out to help Acklington. Again a nice fine and warm afternoon

66 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 so we all ate outside, and a good meal it was too. It John King was reasonably well attended and it is a venue that will be looked at again for next year. John King The big run of the month which was changed 07833 705652 from what was printed in the diary to one that was [email protected] postponed from July 1st due to ‘Bikewise’ Initially there were 9 bikes (including a couple Graham Oxford Section and Lidsay from the Scottish Section who were on holiday in the area. We set off from Scotch Firstly I’d like to apologise for part of the journal entry Corner into Richmond, up Swaledale and over the not going into the Journal, for some reason the last moors leading to Kirkby Stephen. Then is started page I wrote for the October issue wasn’t printed, to drizzle as we climbed up into the clouds. This not sure what happened. Fortunately I wrote most drizzle quickly turned into fine rain as we climbed of what was happening in October/November in the higher but didn’t dry up as we descended into the September edition so hopefully no one missed out valley. We stopped for a tea break at a lovely cafe on any of the events. in a converted schoolhouse in the village of Tebay Apart from the normal natter night we had a bit (recommended) and watched as the rain started of a restful September with just a couple of events. with a vengeance. It was really wet and windy as Here is a report from Tim. well so collectively we decided to call it a day and On the 9th of September Tim Read led his went back home by our various ways. Cotswold Ride-out that finished up at the STEAM The Waggon Inn was well attended with at least Railway Museum in Swindon. We were blessed 20 members being there at one time or another. It with bright sunny weather and 11 members on 9 was a bit of a chilly ride home that night after I had bikes met at Buckland Services on the A420. The managed to get my lights to work (a long story don’t morning was spent meandering around Cotswold ask!). lanes through the picturesque villages of the Leach The following weekend we had Graham’s and Coln valleys. We then headed down through 2nd camping weekend at Warren campsite near Cirencester and on to our lunch stop at the Red Bamburgh. I had fully intended to go, but the Lion, Castle Eaton, which is the first riverside problem with my headlight persisted so had to cry pub on the Thames. After an excellent lunch we off. It was better attended than the spring weekend headed on into Swindon and the Steam museum, with 4 Yorkshire members, 1 from London, 1 from surprisingly without losing anybody on one of the the Scottish and 14 of our own, making up the many roundabouts we needed to negotiate. The numbers. By all accounts they had a very cold night museum was enjoyed by all, particularly by the but that was made up for by the weather during the retired railway man and grown up train spotters in day and they had a ride into the Borders around the party, although Rosemary did prefer to visit the Whiteadder, then returning to a welcome bar-b-que. shops at the adjacent Designer Outlet Village. Phil Oughtred’s ride on the 26th of September Thank you Tim for organising the ride out and was regretably cancelled because of the horrendous Rosemary I hope you spent lots of Davids’ money, weather the day before with many roads in our and filled up in the panniers!! region being flooded and remaining closed. As we The other event on the 20th September where all know, even after a flood has subsided, there some of our members went to was the opening of a is always a mass of debris left so Phil quite rightly New Bahnstormer Motorrad branch. Here is a brief played safe. report from Steve Moxey:- The last run of the year took place on the 30th “Bahnstormer Motorrad have opened a new September, lead by Tim Gorman. Sadly only 5 branch in the Thames Valley at Maidenhead. This riders turned out for what was to be quite a nice is the only BMW dealer on the M4 corridor between day. They meandered over to Gilling east and had a London and Bristol so it should be an important break and a cuppa and looked at the Model Railway location for BMW motorcycle owners. The Oxford then over the Heartbeat Country at Grosmont to section attended the launch and recruited 9 new look at the real thing – Sir Nigel Gresley on the members over the weekend, thanks to John North Yorkshire Moors Railway. Resplendent in all Wheeler and Rosemary Hicks for their great work its glory and then a bit of lunch before heading back and Bahnstormer for hosting us at the dealership” home again. Events coming up, normal natter nights at the I am mostly up to date with the diary for 2013 and usual venues. The 11th of November is the AGM just need to ‘top and tail’ saying who about who is at Uffington Village Hall. 1.00pm for soup and doing what and when. There are a few changes, Snacks the AGM will start at 2.00. This gives you with a couple of new ideas and a few new members the opportunity to have your say since it is YOUR to lead ride outs. It is always nice to have someone club the committee are always on the lookout for else’s take on where we may get to. new committee members. I will be standing down Ride safe everyone. from Social Secretary if you are interested in

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 67 becoming a committee member just email /speak to one of the committee. The committee welcomes all constructive comments and will endeavour to do their best to help the members get the most out of their Club. 18th November Slot Car Racing this is being organised by John Hillier it’s at Pinewood and if you are going straight there you need to be there for 10.45 John will lead a ride out to Pinewood from Newbury Warf meet 9.15 to leave at 9.30 please ring so he will have an indication of numbers and for more info John 01189332152 9th December Indoor meet at Uffington Village Hall 2.00 more details to follow The December Natter Nights may include Xmas his tip for keeping warm in the night. It was at that Dinners this will be confirmed later. point Tom B called Alan a dirty ‘b...... ’!! After a lot of laughter the conversation then moved effortlessly Wendy Ottaway on to discuss the merits of various neck sizes on [email protected] plastic bottles – needless to say a lot of boasting followed. Scottish Section Glencoe: A brilliant weekend with a large number of Club members Gathering in the Glen. A mixture of Hello folks. By the time you read this our AGM will be camping, hobbit houses, hotel and B & B. Some folk over and the autumn leaves will be falling and if the were making a longer weeked and had arrived on constant rain keeps up creating very treacherous Thursday others were staying on until Monday. The roads and pavements. ride up was showery but superb and we arrived dry. The Glenshee lunch meet is usually worth the As we fell out of the Glencoe Hotel on Friday evening effort of struggling into the gear and “springing” the rain came down in sheets. Unfortunately Tom B’s on and off the pillion. We normally take the A909 “blow up” tent developed a leak and after spending from Burntisland and pick up the M90 just before the night in a water bed he decided to ‘bail’ out and Kinross. Then the good bit begins with a blast up the head for home. Saturday morning was wet but most motorway and the big sweeping bends down into folk headed off for some great riding. Marjorie, Eric, Bridge of Earn then across the FriartonBridge and Jim and I set off later in the morning for a ride to take the A85 into Perth pick up the A93 heading for checkout the Resipole Caravan and Camping Park Scone Palace. Glimpsies of the River Tay on the at Loch Sunart, Acharacle. We stopped in Onich for left always brings back good memories of canoeing petrol, the guy in the petrol station said “it is going and sometimes swimming down this great river, to be wet this afternoon” Jim asked what was it this over the bridge at Kinclaven and past the tallest morning then? And received the reply “that was very beech hedge in the world then onto Blairgowrie. wet”. We went across the Coran Ferry and followed Stop at the garage where Jim usually finds some Jim’s dodgy memory to Loch Aline where we had unsuspecting BMW owner to sell club membership to do a u turn and go back to pick up the Strontium to. On to Bridge of Cally heading for Glenshee, Road and then on to Resipole. It was a fantastic ride remembering to watch out for the bend after the on mainly empty roads some single track and apart Pottery sign. It is one of my favourite rides and the from taking the wrong turn and nearly getting wiped first Sunday in September was no different a grand out by a few sheep trouble free. ride and a lot of fun and laughter before, during and after lunch. The main topic of conversation was camping and the merits of the latest innovation for female campers was discussed, namely a “bog in a bag” (don’t ask) which prompted Alan M to relate the tale of Tom B’s first camping experience with the Club at Glenluce several years ago. Apparently Tom had not camped since his army days. Alan was woken in the night by Tom’s squeaky mattress and tent zips. In the morning Tom complained about the cold and frozen tent zips. Alan being the helpful person he is shared his solution for not having to unzip sleeping bag and tent when needing a “...” in the night. Alan, who always goes the extra mile, also shared

68 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 everyone tucked in to lunch and drinks in the beer garden, basking in sunshine. One or two asked if there was another destination after lunch but as all had seemed surprised when I mentioned Ludlow after breakfast, we called it a day and went our separate ways. Our second report has been sent in by Eve:- A disappointing turnout - where were all those fair- weather riders who did not go on the French trip..?? Greg led a group of 4 bikes in all, on a myriad of smaller roads through the northern and southern parts of the New Forest on Sunday 16 September, crossing the path of hundreds of cyclists (yes, it was the Bike Ride for Orchid Cancer Care, with a It was Rodney (Dick) Boyd’s 70th birthday on the choice of 3 routes from Brockenhurst!). Starting off Saturday. Being Scots and very generous a few of at Rownham’s Services, we stopped briefly at the us sang happy birthday and managed to present ancient Knightwood Oak, and then continued to him with a cupcake, card and candle to blow out. Barton-on-Sea for lunch at the Beachcomber Cafe. To continue the ‘mystery’ theme to our recent rides, Thinking back over the past year we seem to be Greg had arranged a cream tea at Setley Ridge plagued with rain at our events! Do we have a jinx Vineyard, near Brockenhurst. Brilliant day, pity not amongst us? more came along to enjoy it. Might be worth saving Mr Grumpy has challenged me to abandon hotels the route, to repeat when more members may be and B&Bs in 2013 and join the campers. Well a new available! (can’t guarantee the cream team, though, tent had already been purchased and as my 46th nor the sunshine!). Thanks to Nick and Greg for wedding anniversary present from Jim was “a bog these runs. in a bag” I may well take up the challenge. If the David and Myfanwy Williamson offer the following rain continues to come down in 2013 Richard and I report after 10 days in France on a Southern Section may well have a competition to see who can be the event. grumpiest. In September 15 members of the Southern Reminder: 23rd November St. Andrews night Section made their way to Trois Masions north of Ceilidh at the Lanark Mill Hotel. Bergerac for a week with Tim and Sarah Austin. If anyone out there would like to contribute to the We stayed on their small holding/ gite complex Section news I would be most grateful. and enjoyed a wonderfully relaxing week in largely Take care. glorious weather. We were fed and watered to a Judy Lepley standstill with most people complaining that by the 01592 874592 end of the week their riding kit has shrunk in the hot [email protected] weather. Nothing at all to do with the fabulous food and the odd beverage…honest!!!! When we could summon the energy to move we Southern Section went canoeing, visited troglodyte caves and were shown around a paper mill which made paper out of Although we are getting close to the end of the linen. Myfanwy and I were the victims of a concerted year, I still have a few events to tell you about, as plan to get us wet during our spell drifting down the September was quite a busy month. I was not able river while everybody else remained largely dry. to attend either of the New Forest runs, but have received the following reports. Here is the report from Nick about his mystery run:- 12 people on 8 bikes met up at Lily Langtree’s tea shop on a beautiful sunny day and started by rearranging the furniture before starting the day with a nice cuppa. Suitably refreshed, we set off across country using the drop off in favour of the bog off system and arrived safe and sound at Crofton Beam Museum. The pumps weren’t in operation today so we settled for drinks and ice creams and wandered down to the canal to watch the narrow boats. Onward again through some nadgery lanes to the Barge Inn at Honeystreet (a community pub situated on the Kennet and Avon Canal) where

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 69 How unfair was that; but we will be ready for you all smaller group than normal although John Cornel next time!!! The other 2 visits were fascinating and managed to get from there to The Manx GP to join served to stretch our minds and add a bit of culture Shaun for a “varied week” I expect we will discuss to the weeks proceedings. We can report that the National at our AGM as it seems we need to everybody had a wonderful time and we send our suggest what we would like to see in the future? thanks to our host Tim and Sarah for their tireless John Smiths coastal run to Pett Levels near Rye work to make the week a success. And do you know was a beautiful day out, thank you John, he took what the riding gear is just as tight in the cold and a large group on his coastal run, he knows all the wet of England. good roads and made best use of them. Again Following the AGM in October, there will be quite planning good food and weather. We ended at a few new committee members dedicated to making Headcorn where some sat in the sunshine. Southern the best section to be in! I will give you The Coopers Run led by Keith and Debbie was more details next month, but you can check out all supported by a dozen bikes to Birling Gap with the new names on the website. another nice run by the coast, ending at Wessons Now into November, and only one thing on the for tea and cakes. calendar to tell you about. Oxford section have Ron Rugman’s run to the vintage car rally and invited us to join them at a Slot Car day. This is Museum of Rural Life was also a successful day at Wokingham on 18TH, starting at 11.00hrs, cost out, thanks to Ron.(Although a “blip” occurred on £10.00 per person for 2 sessions. Anyone who is the corner marking system, need to look at how to interested, please contact John Hillier at JOHN@ to reduce big gaps in runs?) hillier-peco.fsnet.co.uk or check out the website. The “Bring your GS” Clubnight, enticed some fine Our only other event this year is our section bikes although it was too dark to talk and kick tyres, Christmas Dinner on 1st December. You should we decided to award the oldest GS an award which have already booked and paid by now, but there is went to Bill Hallers very well kept R80GS. always a slight chance we may be able to fit you in. Four of us in tents and John Burton in his Camper Just ring Trish and speak to her very nicely!! 01372 enjoyed good weather and White Hart hospitality 378196. with great food and beer at The Rother Valley I have been asked by Jon Riche to let everyone campsite. We even had day visitors in Tony Simpson know of a change of meeting place for the natter and Ian Campbell. John planned some scenic rides night. The small group who normally meet at the both Friday and Saturday. The weekend was an Phoenix, have moved up the road to The Rising enjoyable relaxed break but could do with more Sun, 27 Spring Lane, Colden Common, Winchester, support from further afield, maybe publicise more SO21 1SB. This is still on the second Tuesday of next year. Congratulations are in order for Paula Duff having each month. passed her CBT this month, just as well Kelvin has Well, Christmas will be upon us very soon and two bikes as they could soon be fighting over the another year will be over. There are a lot of events K or R. already lined up for next year, so there will be no A Big Thank You to all who helped make the excuse to hibernate for too long. Section a (hopefully) enjoyable place to be. Your Take Care. new committee will have made itself known by now Gerri and all the best to them all. Noel Robertson Over the last year we have tried to introduce new [email protected] activities, BSB`s at Oulton Park and Snetterton Trackdays only inspired two of us and camping is supported by only a few diehards but the day trip to Gerri France and the Red Kite weekend were very well [email protected] supported. Lets look forward to new plans for 2013. 01895-446896 (not after 20:00hrs please) South East Section September has been a busy month for club runs and events. We kicked off with the harvest supper held at Matty’s field. Once again we were very lucky with the weather and had a lovely evening with good food and friends. Club nights have been well attended at the Bull where we welcomed “New” members Peter and Denise and another Peter to their first clubnight. The National at Ellesmere was attended by a

70 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 We are painfully aware the website has been crutches will go soon so she’s planning the first run out of action all year, as nobody is able to work out on her bike. I showed the pictures I’d taken of our current one I asked the National Webmaster to the damage to the trike. build one attached to our national site which we will For those who didn’t know, my trike is off the be able to use, I am told this is near completion so road, the fuses blew on the way to the section watch this “webspace”. BBQ. Investigation showed the wiring loom, relays, Coming up ignition switch and control box were burned out. Still November showers ? I’ll be back on the road by end of September. It was Allan&Linda Thomas`s Ride Out.18th good to see so many of you at the pub meet as 21st photo competition so start looking for your there was also a camping weekend on. This shows BMW bike related, amusing, action, and scenic that the section members can support two events shots. on the same day. Thanks to those who came, we Christmas lunch on is 9th.Dec.so please book look forward to seeing you all again. Ride safe. with Social Secretary ASAP. Chris & Sylv. Mark (peanut) organised the Peanuts Symonds Shaun Mulligan Yat Ride Out. Well what a difference a week makes! 01634-241215 I first tried to lead this run on Wednesday 29th [email protected] August but was met with rain of biblical proportions! However I hastily rearranged it for the following week Section Social secretary and many thanks to John Robinson who got the new Lou Warner date emailed out so quickly. In perfect motorcycling 01622-678997 weather, 8 riders embarked on the journey up the [email protected] M5/M4/M48 Traffic was light after most schools had returned, and in blazing sunshine we rode in convoy across the old Severn Bridge and into the racing South West Section town of Chepstow, what a lot of people don’t realise is that under the racecourse lies one of the most In the early hours of Monday 24th. September ex spectacular cave systems in Europe, Otter Hole. southwest section member Tony Norman aged just We then embarked onto the twisty Wye Valley Road 63 years lost his battle with cancer. Tony had been (A466) and our first port of call was the spectacular living with leukaemia for some time but a recent ruins of the Cistercian Abbey at Tintern and is one tumour discovered in the brain was to be the final of the greatest monastic ruins of Wales. Here we straw. During his time in our section Tony spent time also stopped for a light lunch at the White Monk on the committee assisting where ever he could, Café that has a superb selection of delicious cakes/ including assisting his wife Kay with the onerous sandwiches, and someone even said the full English task of section treasurer. …Sorry Welsh breakfast was superb! Suitably If ever there was a situation that needed attention refreshed we continued up the A466 taking in the Tony would always be one of the first to volunteer fabulous scenery and eventually to the castle town his services. Although not a BMW Club Member of Monmouth, here we turned right into the Forest for several years Tony still took an interest in BMW Of Dean and back into England. Our next stop was Club matters and would frequently contact me to the spectacular Symonds Yat Rock, a pillar that hear about the activities within our section. towers 500 feet above the meandering Wye below Our thoughts at this time go to Tony’s wife Kay. it. Apart from Ron Lyle and myself none of the party Les Madge had ever visited the rock before, the view from the Christmas is coming so thoughts turn to those top really is stunning especially when blessed with long wet winter evenings, at least we haven’t got the superb weather we had. Descending back down to think back very far, June, July, August and now through the woody paths we stopped at the log September, but we do have something nice to cabin in the forest for ice creams and a cuppa. From look forward to, the Christmas lunch, on Sunday here we headed down into the Village of Symond December the 9th at 12.00 noon. This year we are Yat East and into the county of Herefordshire. The trying The Post Inn in Whiddon Down, Devon EX20 little village is brimming with tourists but we arrived 2QT. To make life easy for all concerned we have just at the right time ( 4pm ) and found parking a arranged for members to ring and book their place doddle. Again we took refreshments and admired with the Post Inn, their number is 01647 231242, the Pride Of The Wye going out on her final journey the menu can found on the Southwest’s website, of the day. The day was a roaring success and soon looks pretty good. we were heading back down the A466 and across Chris Crocker hosted the pub meet at the Weary the Severn Bridge where we parted company and Traveller on 16th September, this was well supported went our separate ways. Myself, Ron, Charles and with 14 attending. We were pleased to see Helen Bryan rode together down the M5 and stopped for Beer who is recovering from a recent operation, the coffee at Taunton Dean services, many thanks to

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 71 Ron who kindly picked up the tab. It was getting being damaged by the wind. Adventure Bike Rider dark by the time I got home but Bryan from Fowey had organised a similar event that weekend in informs me that his total mileage for the day was a Ullapool, so some of those at Glencoe had decided staggering 401 miles! Also it was nice to meet some it would be worth a visit, only to be met on the way new faces, John Lear from Paignton and Geoff there by those leaving the event, it had become just Owen from Yeovil, also Chris from Ottery brought a bit too adventurous for some of the participants. along a friend on his Moto Guzzi but my sincere Show time and the NEC Motorcycle Live is fast apologies, as I cannot remember his name. Peanut. approaching, thanks to our President, Dick Boyd, for Looking forward, we’re coming up to the Hippo securing an offer the club and it’s members couldn’t Rally all the details are in the Journal, we have refuse; discounted tickets and a free club stand organised a trip to BMW Ocean at Plymouth on with support from BMW Motorrad UK. We have got the Saturday, with a local ride, meeting at Ocean at our tickets, flights booked, excuses readied, and it 12.00 I haven’t planned a ride with this as members looks like a good year to visit with a host of new are coming from different areas. Plus we have our models from several manufacturers; pride of place regular pub meets. going to BMW and the very new R1200GS already shrunk down from 1250, possibly to do with the Don Rabson environment. My 12GS is an early ’04 model, when 01840 212913 launched I would have described it as the mad [email protected] scientist version of the venerable boxer flat twin, this new one appears to have moved on again by Ulster Section. a similar margin; don’t believe all the hype, it’s not the first R1200GS to have the clutch running in oil. As anticipated our AGM, 2/10/12, was over in a flash The December meeting Tue: 4/12/12, is of course with nothing radical happening, all main offices as our Christmas Dinner once again at The Templeton before and a few changes to the committee. John Hotel, Templepatrick, 7-30pm for 8-00pm, £15 P.P. Sloan was master of ceremonies, presiding over payment in full and menu choices by our November the required procedures to arrive at this surprising club meeting, or to any officer or committee member outcome, if we had no rules we would be Italians, in the meantime. A very enjoyable evening which if we had too many rules we would be Germans!! includes the presentation for our Photo Competition, Main office bearers: Chairman Paul Gregg; handing over our contribution to this years charity; Secretary Charlie McConnell; Social Secretary National Association for Bikers with a Disability Norman Shearer; Treasurer Colin Graham; Tool and a great ballot, we also invite staff from Hurst’s Hire Johnston ( I know who that is) Stewart; IT Guy Motorrad. Richard Herron; Archivist Billy Owens and National At this time of the year the 2013 Diary of Events Committee Rep: Bob Barker. Along with the above is being mulled over, an almost final version is with the committee consists of, Charlie Carruthers, Jim Hill at Hurst’s Motorrad, who once again are Sam Glenn, Shane Noble, Leslie Allan and Billy very generously providing both the A5 and Card Owens, being joined by Gordon Magee and Robert versions, we hope to be able again to have it with McGookin, welcome to the underworld to you both. you at the Christmas Dinner. Which looks like the Stepping aside from these arduous tasks are, end to another enjoyable year of motorcycling, the Tommy Atkinson, David Neely and Jackie Hunter, next event will be 2013 New Years Day Run, as I’ve all of whom we thank for their time and efforts at this run out of stuff to tell you; here’s one of those wacky, level to make the section the success it is today. zany items that often end the News in an attempt to The section is just a few members short of 200, it cheer everyone up. It appears that someone has has been steadily increasing against the National found the boney bits of Richard III buried under a trend of decreasing numbers. car park, near his remains was a tablet of stone Meet and Eat in September was moved to bearing the inscription, A Car; A Car; My Kingdom the Ulster American Folk Park, Omagh, from the for A Car!! Scribbled beneath this a barely legible Pedlars Rest, Omagh; a recent visit to the later scrawl, A Space; A Space - - - found it to be unsuitable at Sunday lunchtime, Norman Shearer. too much food apparently!! The run to the venue [email protected] attracted 12, with a further 8 going direct, which sounds like how this Meet and Eat is meant to work, well done everyone, the Carrot Cake got a big vote Western Section of approval, all in all a good event. The Scottish Section Glencoe Gathering attracted 14 from the August Rally at Ellesmere College. Ulster Section, the weather started poor, then went Much has been written elsewhere regarding the to dire, overall numbers were down for this end of National Rally at Ellesmere and so I will not add year Scottish event, camping became less popular my comments to them. Ali and I had a nice time as as the weekend progressed with reports of tents I think many others did. The venue is impressive

72 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 of singing as we passed) Then a climb again and up over the Bwlych and headed to Sarn to join the M4 and a quick blast down the motorway and into Cardiff. There we had a very good welcome from Kevin Baddely of Riders, munched on burgers and had a good old natter with the other members who met us there. I think there were about twelve of us there altogether and nice meet up with new member Peter Wood again ( I hope you get the throttle problem on your bike sorted). It was a good day out. Colin Ross writes about Celebration BBQ on 9th September. This event was to celebrate the 45th Wedding Anniversary of Denis and Jean, but they had second thoughts as Denis decided to swap the BBQ tools with a fine, flat, well kept camping field next to all for a holiday in the Dordogne (not an easy decision ammenities. These included a very nice, glass !!!!) Rather than cancel the event Susan, Sandy, covered swimming pool a stones throw away. The Roger and Colin stepped in although Roger was Terrace Bar adjacent to it supplied free drinks, abit reluctant as his family had reservations of him cheap snacks and everything in between. The cooking on a BBQ. As it turned out we were able College building themselves are very fine. We to celebrate a warm and sunny day which makes a enjoyed the large (and rather monastic) dining change this year. With two BBQ’s going they soon room, the picture lined corridors and of course the filled up with whatever members had brought to massive, hammer beamed, cathedral like hall. This cook while helping themselves to the ample side was where the evening entertainment took place. dishes on offer. As many of the “regulars” were away A huge multi-piped church organ presided over the on holiday it was expected that numbers would be proceedings from its lofty perch. Apart from the high down but that was not the case as 25 turned up cost of this venue, I would be happy to visit this with a significant number of new faces which bodes place again. Well done everyone. Oh and before I well for future events (we must be doing something forget, thank you to the Christian Motorcyclists for right). their Sunday morning service in the (rather fine) Many thanks must go to Roger for stepping in to Chapel accompanied by music. man a BBQ and he will now be able to put his new 1st September – New BMW Model Launch. skills to use when he gets home. Thanks also to Our local BMW dealer, Clarks of Rednal, invited Susan, Sandy and all the others who helped with The Section to participate in the launch of the two the preparation and clearing up. Definitely another scooters (C600 Sport & C650 GT) and two bikes event for next year’s calendar. (message from Ali (F800 GS & F700 GS). Susan and I went along with and Chris who would also like to thank Sue for various items for display in the hope of recruiting the ‘extra side dishes’ she provided, and to all that some new members. Unfortunately of the two helped us with the tea making as we feared we new scooters only the C600 Sport was on display might have to rush off to Weston Super Mare for as examples of the C650 GT seem to be in short another event). supply. The launch however did not attract many Have to also mention that Ali and Peta Warrilow visitors as we only had the opportunity to speak with came to the rescue of 2 men nearby who were two potential members in three hours! One of these struggling to change a tractor wheel/tyre. They had lost his license and the other was emigrating enjoyed their mugs of tea and sandwiches offered to Gozo. So all in all not a very successful day for by the 2 ladies. The two men really appreciated this BMW, Clarks or The BMW Club - Colin Ross. gesture. Denis: I hope you have better luck this weekend? 19th September Meeting at Boothes Cafe, Regards Porthcawl. Colin 3 bikes left Severnside View Services, and after Ride out to ‘Riders of Cardiff’ on 1st September a pleasant ride to Porthcawl met up with 5 bikes at from Brian Price Porthcawl esplanade at 11.00 and had a leisurely There were four of us who met in the sunshine at coffee, before setting off back via the coast road Abergavenny bus station for a breakfast snack and to the Knap for lunch. Travelling on the old coast a cup of tea. It was very nice to meet new member road the first stop was at Nash Point Lighthouse, Chris Davis. Also members Barry Winter and Mike for a good look around ( it still has a working fog Wescott. We took the scenic route down the A40 to horn which is tested once a month) worth looking Brecon and then the A470, cutting across the Dam at it’s web site. Before travelling on past Atlantic busters road to Hirwaun then up over the Rhigos College, St Donats, Llantwit Major, then back on and down into Treorchy ( you could hear the echoes the main road before turning off to Aberthaw home

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 73 of the famous Blue Anchor Pub, into Rhoose, we negotiate if any payment was required. swept past the back of Cardiff Wales Airport. Into At last year’s AGM we agreed not to continue Barry and after a quick stop at the Knap, on to Barry with a Christmas dinner as the general feeling Island for Fish and Chips and Ice Cream. Weather was most of us were too busy with other things at sunny and hot, had lunch outside John’s Cafe that time of year and also most eating places were on the esplanade. Our thanks go to Mike and Liz oversubscribed and rather like school dinners! With Denton for showing us the way. that in mind I am looking to suggest a New Year A notice for your attention from Denis if it is Lunch to be late January early February. This would not too late. be a good time for us to meet up and welcome new 24th November to 2nd December is the members and old friends. The Sunday lunchtime MOTORCYCLELIVE event at the NEC. Our meet at The Cubley Hall at Penistone seems a President Dick Boyd has got another 50 discounted popular venue so I may make enquires there, as it tickets for sale at £14.00 each. If you want to take seems fairly central to our section. But, as always, advantage of this offer please fill in the attached am open to suggestions. form and sent it to Dick at the address given. It We didn’t make the Moto Piston again this year, would probably on a first come first save basis. but we have travelled several hundered miles had a good time despite the weather here in good old Denis Bradbeer blighty. [email protected] Time to get the thermals out. Elaine Yorkshire Section 01274 832309 [email protected] Sunday 4th November it’s our famous Bring and Buy event, This year we will also be running a raffle so if you have any odds and ends you want rid of Vintage Register bring em along. They don’t have to be motor bike related, homemade jam, Sloe Gin etc but nothing alive please. Usual hot Snax available from 12 noon Robin Walker but the hall is open earlier for you to set your stall [email protected] up. Many of our section enjoyed the hospitality of the Midlanders at Hope some weeks ago. We had a fab weekend, hot weather and breathtaking scenery, especially Bodger’s moonie. Thanks for a great STAINLESS STEEL SILENCERS 10 YEAR GUARANTEE weekend. The silencers listed are manufactured by us to original specifications and produce Talking to Dennis at The Bike Shed last Saturday comparable noise levels. German TUV approved. 14 day money back guarantee. he tells me the Continental Trip Martin organised SILENCERS BMW 5/6/7 SERIES 38MM ...... £272 .76 PR was a huge success. I Hope one of you who went BMW R100RT .RS .RCS 38MM OR 40MM ...... £272 .76 PR BMW R45/65 & LS ...... £272 .76 PR will write a report for the journal. Or send me the BMW R65/80/100 MONOSHOCK ...... £272 .76 PR copy and I will put it forward to the editor. BMW R100/GS PARALEVER TYPE ...... £305 .89 EA BMW R80GS/ST ...... £286 .01 EA I am now starting to collate our section diary for BMW R69S ...... £305 .89 PR BMW R50/60/2 1955-68 ...... £286 .01 PR 2013. If you want to continue enjoying ride outs, BMW 1200GS WITH LINK PIPE ...... £222 .56 EA camping, hotel weekends etc. please let me have EXHAUST PIPES your dates and venues ASAP. The deadline for BMW 6/7 RS RT RCS SINGLE BALANCE 38MM/40MM . .£168 .57 ST BMW 38MM TWIN BALANCE ...... £193 .20 ST printing the DOE is end November. And as it needs BMW R45/65 SINGLE BALANCE ...... £168 .57 ST BMW R45/65 TWIN BALANCE ...... £193 .20 ST proof reading and checking prior to that date. You BMW R100/80GS .ST/PARALEVER ...... £158 .15 ST can see that October is a busy month both for Alan BMW R65/80/100 MONOSHOCK ...... £168 .57 ST BMW R50/60/69s ...... £189 .40 ST who handles our section Diary printing and me as BMW 1200GS EXH .PIPE + CAT ELIMINATOR ...... £279 .33 ST social sec. Even if I am not still your social sec. It’s COLLECTOR BOX/BALANCE PIPE, ETC BMW MONOSHOCK H PIECE (COLL BOX REP) . . . . . £112 .70 EA only fair that I get as much in hand as possible, so if BMW R80GS/ST COLLECTOR BOX ...... £123 .11 EA you are going to do any social event, please, please BMW GS PARALEVER Y PIECE (COLL BOX REP) . . . . £137 .32 EA BMW R100R Y PIECE (COLL BOX REP) ...... £137 .32 EA let me know in good time. BMW 1150GS Y PIECE (COLL BOX REP) ...... £178 .04 EA BMW SINGLE BALANCE PIPE (STATE MODEL) . . . . £ 32 .65 EA It’s again been suggested to me that we try to BMW TWIN BALANCE PIPE (STATE MODEL) . . . . . £ 56 .34 ST get more interest, over the winter months, at our STAINLESS STEEL CLAMPS ...... £6 .15 EA STAINLESS STEEL ANGLE BRACKETS ...... £13 .26 PR regular meeting places by looking at having guest STAINLESS STEEL PUSH ROD TUBES ...... £36 .93 ST EXHAUST SPANNER BRASS ...... £24 .62 EA speakers. Maybe motor cycle travellers; past racing ROSE NUT ...... £12 .30 EA motorcyclist or anyone who would like to come BMW SHOCK SHROUDS /5,/6, KONI ...... £29 .83 PR along and give us a talk on another topic. If you are All prices exclude VAT. For mail order (UK) add £10.00 B98 0RB Lane, South Moons Moat, REDDITCH, Worcs KEIHANS SYSTEMS,Unit 24, Padgets interested and could help please get in touch with Email:[email protected] Web: www.keihan.co.uk Tel: 01527 518525 Fax: 01527 518526 me, I would be happy to see to any booking etc and

74 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 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 normally available to trade advertisers. 1. Note – adverts are NOT accepted over the phone – 7. Please note the copy deadline in the Journal and please send them by post or email to the Mutual Aid understand which edition it applies to before querying Officer whose name and address are on page 3. Please why your advert doesn’t seem to have appeared. Please remember to include your full postal address. submit your advert well before deadline date if at all 2. All adverts should be readable, well punctuated and possible.The BMW Club cannot be held responsible for unambiguous. If writing, please use capital letters for the quality or availability of items or goods or for any clarity. If e-mailing, please only use a simple font such arrangements for delivery or payment. as Arial or Times New Roman. NO ATTACHMENTS 8. Adverts from non- members are accepted at a fixed cost PLEASE! of £16 (including V.A.T.) for up to 65 words plus your 3. The maximum length is 65 words, excluding your phone phone numbers, name and email address. For further numbers, name and email address. If you wish to use information, please contact the Mutual Aid Officer. more than 65 words your option is to pay for the advert at 24p a word (including VAT) for the whole advert. 9. Neither the Club nor the Mutual Aid Officer can advise In that case, we would need payment with the advert advertisers regarding the value of goods offered for sale. when submitted. Note – one advert/month per Mutual Neither can the Club or the Mutual Aid Officer recommend Aid category. Adverts may be edited where deemed suppliers of goods or services to members. necessary by the Editor. Business Advertisement (Disclosure) Order 1977 4. In your advert, please include your forename, phone Any advertiser who places an advertisement concerning number(s) and an email address if available. the sale of goods being sold in the course of business shall 5. You must include your name, full address, Section and clearly indicate this fact. This applies whether the advertiser membership number. These will not be published (unless is acting on their own behalf or for another party. If you have requested) but we will check membership. reason to believe that you have been misled as to the status 6. Mutual Aid Adverts are accepted for a one-month insertion of any advertiser, please inform your local Trading Standards only. Any subsequent submissions are the responsibility Department and the Editor immediately. The fine for breaches of the advertiser. of this order is up to £1,000. Note: Mutual Aid closing date is the 1st of each month

R65 - 1982 - 52,000 miles. Laid up in 1992 and Motorcycles For Sale now totally refurbished. Powder coated frame and wheels, engine bars. New twin discs, stainless “K” Series hoses and exhaust system. Screen, Hagon shocks, K75RT ULTIMA - 1996 - Silver. Really nice condition, progressive fork springs. Comfort seat (original hard to find a better example. 64,000 miles. ABS, available). All new frame and wheel bearings, heated grips, comfort seat, pannier frames but no sensible mods. MoT May and currently Taxed. panniers. Currently on SORN but can be sold with Rides well. I cannot ride two bikes, so £1,550 o.n.o. 12 months MoT. £2,000 (no offers). Rhys 07765 Norman 01884 841357 or e-mail nfleet@tiscali. 702276 or e-mail [email protected] co.uk after 10th November. (Devon). (Gwynedd). R65 MONO - 1987 - 48,000 miles. Maroon. New tank and seat. MoT April 2013, six months Tax, K100LT - 1989 - Accident damaged. Complete RT bars fitted to improve comfort. Good all around and runs. Not Taxed or Tested. Reasonable offers. order. No ABS or other complicated kit to go wrong. Must be collected. Tony 07712 545065 or e-mail £1,600. Alun 01793 821776 or 07944 960422 [email protected] (East Sussex). (Swindon). “R” Series R80 - 1993 - Black. 34,000 miles. In excellent R60/2 - U.K. bike registered April 1960 - Old and condition. Completely original, probably one new registration documents. Present owner 17 of the best examples available. Twin plugged years. Very good, reliable and cosmetic condition. gas flowed. Selling as I am retiring abroad next Stainless exhaust system. 17,000 recorded miles. year. Reasonable offers. Michael 01727 863342 Original transferable registration and engine/frame (evenings). (Hertfordshire). numbers. E-mail photographs available. £4,500. R80GS - 1993 - 29,000 miles. Four months Tax, John 02893 378219 or e-mail johnsloan60@ 10 months MoT. Recent tyres, battery, clutch and hotmail.co.uk (Nothern Ireland). throttle cables. Braided brake hose. Tall screen,

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 75 stainless silencer and centre section. Wheels rebuilt miles. Good tyres. Currently on SORN but can be with stainless spokes. Tool roll. Powder coated sold with 12 months MoT. £2,000 (no offers). Rhys engine bars and rocker covers. Well cared for and 07765 702276 or e-mail robert.rhys@btopenworld. in great condition. £2,995. Barry 01516 487324 com (Gwynedd). (Northern). R1150GS - 2003 - 26,000 miles. MoT’d and Taxed. R80RT - 1990 - (Ex Spanish Police, now unfaired.) Blue and white. Good condition. Always garaged. Black. Tax and Test. 65,000 kilometres. Recent s/x Heated grips, front driving lights, matching Baglux gear box, clutch, front and rear oil seals, timing tank cover, Touratech extras, BMW panniers. All chain. Nearly new tyres, single seat, fly screen, filters, plugs, alternator belt changed within last hand guards, full luggage and some spares. Nice 3,000 miles, last of twin-plugged 1150 models. tidy Monolever Boxer. Recent full service. Well worth £4,550. George 01306 713158 (evenings) or e-mail a look at £1,400. For further details, photographs [email protected] (Surrey). etc. contact Lew 01670 819849 or e-mail lewcow@ R1150RT - 2004 - 47,200 trouble free miles for two btinternet.com (Northumberland). owners only. Blue, ABS, heated grips, single key R100R CLASSIC - 1995 - Black (including frame). ignition, BMW panniers and top box. Tax and MoT Limited edition in excellent condition and completely until July 2013. New tyres. Unmarked and in a very original. Only 20,400 miles. MoT, Taxed, full service good original condition. Reason for selling - fallen in history. Very reliable collector quality. (Selling as love with a GS. £4,000. Alan 01619 737514 or e-mail bike not used enough.) £3,995 offers. Robert 07747 [email protected] (Manchester). 620660. (South West London). R1150RT - 2004 ‘54’ - 28,650 miles. Six speed R100RS - 1981 - 83,000 miles. White. In possession gearbox. SH. Silver. Electric screen. ABS brakes. of current owner for 23 years. Garaged throughout Panniers with liners. Top box. Datatool System 3 this period. 12 months MoT and Tax. Stainless Alarm. Garmin Streetpilot 2610 sat. nav., old but steel exhaust system. Good condition. £1,500 still get’s you there. Disk lock. New battery. Radio o.n.o. For photographs or further details please get cassette. Factory fitted heated grips. Autocom in touch with me. Trevor 07766 326720 or e-mail intercom fitted. Headlight protector. Always garaged. [email protected] (Reason for sale - I am no Now under SORN. £3,950 o.n.o. Ken 01227 792796 spring chicken these days and prefer my R65 which or e-mail [email protected] (Whitstable, Kent). is lighter). R1200GS - November 2006 - 9,200 miles. Blue/ R100RS MONO - 1987 - 44,000 miles. Fitted with silver. One owner from new. Excellent condition, full RT type fairing from new. Pearl white. Service service history. Tax and MoT. ABS, heated grips and history. Uprated lights, heated grips, luggage etc. new battery. BMW panniers and tank bag. BMW Sell or swap, cash either way. Mark 07837 572828 standard seat plus low seat. £6,500. Graham 01162 (Nottinghamshire). 531481 or 07973 534652 (Leicester). R100RT CLASSIC - 64,224 miles - 1995 Tax, MoT Bits & Bobs until 29 March 2013. New battery never used. New tyre never used. Serviced, panniers, very good BMW MOTORRAD BOXER CUP LEATHER condition. Reason for sale lack of use. Only 533 JACKET - Unused, U.K. size 44. Silver, black, grey miles since 2007. £2,495 o.v.n.o. George 07778 with white flashes. Unexpected gift in past. Hence, 980361 (Nottinghamshire). F.O.C. to whoever can collect or pay for P&P! Malcolm 01189 787115 or e-mail malcolmsmith@ R1100RT - 1995 - Blue. This bike is in almost mint doctors.org.uk (Wokingham, Berkshire). condition apart from some brake fluid damage to the paint on one side panel. It comes with panniers BMW PANNIERS - Fits K75 and K100, with inner and heated grips and ABS and has done 44,000 bags (new), pannier rails and ‘D’ lock BMW fits

76 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 inside pannier. Two sets of keys. Good condition. XSmall (52-53cm). Pearl white. Very little use. £170 bargain. Givi top box (new), B33 33 litre, £70. Less than a year old. Complete in box with new Keith 01782 274955 (Stoke-on-Trent). visor and manual. A1 condition throughout. Owner has replaced with identical helmet of slightly larger I'll even pay postage! FOR DISPOSAL (FREE) - size. £325 o.n.o. plus P&P. Ken 01993 706030 BMW battery charger for pre-CanBus bikes. With or 07887 600103 or e-mail [email protected] instruction leaflet. I had it for an R850R, works (Oxfordshire). via the power socket. Comes without plugs. Rather someone uses it than I dump it. Neville WUNDERLICH FRONT MUDGUARD EXTENDER 01635 253483 or e-mail [email protected] - For F650/800GS, part number 8110108, new, (Newbury). boxed, never fitted. £24 including P&P. (Reason for sale - swapped the bike.) Carl 01709 872602 or

GIVI TRK46N TREKKER TOP BOX/SIDE CASE - e-mail [email protected] (Rotherham). Can be used either way so lid opens fully or partially. Excellent condition, only five months old and hardly used. Plate and fittings included to fit an F650GS. Wanted To buy new, it would cost approximately £230, BMW MOTORRAD 2 PIECE RED LEATHERS - XL without the fitting plate that’s included, so looking for to XXL. Made in 1990s by Protec. K1 front fender offers in the region of £100. Buyer to collect. Jane extender for U.S. market and what have you for 07968 266187 or e-mail jane.scott31@btinternet. K1S–K100RS single hump sports seat, later type, com (Derbyshire). 1987 on. Ian 01322 881969 (Derbyshire). HEIN GERICKE VOYAGER - Zip together Gore- BMW - R65, R80 and R100 Basic, GS, RT and RS Tex® jacket and pants. Removable thermal linings. models, any condition, cash waiting, can collect. Ian Jacket black/blue, size M, pants black size L. Good 01694 723546 (Trader). condition. Cost new in 2003, £362, accept £150. Helmet - Caberg Just One Plus, flip-up, size M 57- COMPLETE - Rear bevel drive assembly with 3:1 58cm. White, new spare visor. Good condition, new gearing (33/11T) plus a matching speedometer, 2003, accept £50. All items plus P&P. Phil 01796 suitable for a twin shock, drum brake R100 model. 472369 (Perth). Prefer to buy low mileage items in good condition with little or no spline wear. Can collect and pay R51/3 BING CARBURETTOR - 1/22/62 (right cash. Dave 01179 570926 (Bristol). hand), £95. Left hand exhaust pipe, good, £50. R67-R51/3 rockers, £30 pair. Hand change lever, £15. Stainless steel cross-balance pipe, new, £10. R51 pistons, 68·4mm, £50 pair. R25/3 carburettor, 1/24/42, £75. All plus postage. Patrick 01789 773801 or e-mail [email protected] (Warwickshire). R80GS KEIHAN STAINLESS EXHAUST PIPES - Very little use, £95 plus P&P. Barry 01516 487324 (Northern). R1200GS ERMAX TOURING SCREEN - 57cm tall - 10cm more than standard. Slightly tinted. Perfect condition, £35. Standard GS screen, new, £30. Original silencer, £30. Derek 07885 457123 or e-mail [email protected] (Cheshire). SCHUBERTH C3 LADY FLIP UP HELMET - t: 01333 429451 m: 07734 683429 e: [email protected] w: scotiasidecars.com

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78 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 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) 07835 653199 Visit us @ www.manxmotorcyclehire. Accommodation & Touring co.uk NORTH WALES. - Conwy Valley, detached UK & R.o.I. bungalow in Llanbedr y Cennin village, beautifully B&B GLAISDALE. Near Whitby. 3 x twin refurbished, sleeps 4. Idyllic position, secure rooms, en-suite. Garage for motorcycles. www. garage, private garden, conservatory, central lanesidebedandbreakfast.co.uk Tel: 01947 897 272 heating, woodburner. Tel: 01492 650764, Web: www.conwyvalleyholidaycottage.co.uk , E-mail: A68 Jedburgh. Quality B&B IN THE BORDERS. [email protected] 4 Star accommodation. All rooms en suite/private facilities. Fabulous views over the town and only a Europe 5 minute walk to the centre. Secure off road bike parking. Friendly hosts Chris & Amanda, Club AE AVENTURES BASED NEAR TO SPA. in a Members. £29.50 - £45 pppn. Tel: 01835 862216 quiet village providing B&B and half board, secure Email [email protected] www.airenlea.co.uk garaging, recommended touring in the Ardennes & Eiffel and escorted Nurburgring experience. BED AND BREAKFAST MOFFAT SOUTHERN Motorcycling adventure only 3½ hours from Calais SCOTLAND. B & B, garage parking, wonderful that’s a bit special. See www.aeaventures.com biking area. One mile from M74 J15 on Edinburgh Phone/Fax Neil or Ann on 0032 80398788 email scenic route. Why not break your long journey here [email protected] or spend a few days riding the local roads, enjoying the hills and bends. Club member. Chris 01683 AUSTRIA. S/C fully equipped Chalet & Apartment 220378 see www.buchanguesthouse.co.uk) (Sleeps 2-6). Superb touring roads & mountain passes. Excellent amenities. Secure parking. Close GLENCOE – HIGHLANDS. Ghlasdruim B&B.All Italy/Slovenia Discounts for bikers - phone/mail ensuite rooms, secure off road parking. Maureen for details. Liz Cannard. Tel/Fax 0043 4769 26415 01855 811593 [email protected]. www.alpine-dollshouse.com co.uk B&B Germany - The Beautiful ISLE OF MAN B&B. Available for Manx GP. Westerwald. Tudor Home. All facilities for Near Ramsey. Spacious double / twin with private Bikers, Drying room ,secure parking, Bar ,evening bathroom. Secure parking. Tel: 01726 61642 (05/13) meals, all rooms on suite .Fantastic roads great rides Mosel ,Rhein Valleys The Dambuster Run, KESWICK LAKE DISTRICT B&B. Elegant Victorian Nurburgring and much more... Special for BMW town house with a contemporary feel. Run by Robin owners 5 nights for the cost of 4. www.vinecottage. & Clare (GS & R1100R riders). Situated in a quiet de email [email protected] 00492742911728 cul-de-sac in the town centre, with off-street parking and superb biking roads. Tel: 01768 773347. www. B & B IN FRANCE. Stay with Mike and Heather ellergill.co.uk Fishwick in Daglan, a beautiful village close to the Dordogne river, surrounded by castles, fortified LAKE DISTRICT B&B IN BOWNESS-ON- villages, ancient towns and more! Canoe on the WINDERMERE. Panoramic views of Bowness river, enjoy long lunches by the river, explore traffic- and lake. En-suite. Covered/lock-up parking. free roads, or just laze around. We offer safe Leisure facilities. 015394 88658 Web: http://www. parking with a double ensuite room at 45 Euros and abovethebay.co.uk a twin or double ensuite room at 40 Euros per night. LAKE DISTRICT. holiday bungalow – comfort for Breakfast 8 Euros, 3-course dinner with aperitifs four plus garage. Ideal touring location & available and wine 18 Euros. We are more than just a B&B April to November. Member owned. Tel: 01695 – we regard our guests as friends. Email for full 422210 information on [email protected] Manx Motorcycle Hire. Ride classic BMW B&B Normandy-France. 3 en-suite Twins in the Isle of Man. Based in Jurby, you can bedrooms, great roads, lovely region, perfect for enjoy the beautiful Manx roads riding classic BMW weekend escape, 10% discount on B&B rates Boxer Twins on the most famous circuit in the world. for club members, call 0033233640023 www. Collection from the Airport or Ferry Terminal can maisonlaudiere.com be arranged. Please contact us : tonypoulter@ BRITTANY - TOP QUALITY MOBILE HOMES. manxmotorcyclehire.co.uk Tel: 01621 868930 or on coastal 4 star site in this tranquil region. ideal

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 79 for family holidays or Section rallies. Great biking (0)233-589025,Email: [email protected] Web area with masses to do and see. Big savings on Site: www.petit-illyria.eu.com ferry costs. www.benodetbreaks.com or call Steve NORTH PORTUGAL- MINHO VALLEY. Penedes Jackson on 01543 473089 Nation Park and Galicia. Interested? We offer DORDOGNE – self catering and B&B farmhouse self catering and luxury B&B both with accommodation with pool and secure pools. Come and sample the real Portugal see garage. 40 miles south of Limoges. From our Website. www.portugal-holidayvilla.co.uk. Tel €25 Euro per night. Tours and Trail Riding. www. Maggie on 00351-251648107 or Mobile 00351 dordognemotorcycleholidays.com or phone Charles 911595902 on +33 (0)553 501 239 SOMME B&B AND BATTLEFIELD TOURS. Our FRANCE - LOIRE VALLEY. B & B plus ideal gite comfortable B&B in a secluded farmhouse just 100 for two - north of Saumur. Tranquil location - Use miles from Calais offers beds for 8, plus secure, of pool/hot tub. Evening meals available. Covered covered bike parking, trailer and workshop. Evening parking. tel: (0033) 241821184. www.theloireaffair. meals come highly recommended! NEW: fully co.uk equipped, self-catering apartment sleeps 6. Take a FRENCH PYRENEES. Self contained apartment battlefield tour of Somme or Ypres with GS riding in 200yr old farmhouse near Lourdes. Secure author and military historian www.martinpegler.com parking. Old Gascony, high mountains and Spain or Phone: 0033 (0)3 2286 5672 on your doorstep see www.flyride-pyrenees.com SOUTHERN BRITTANY. Close Redon 3 spacious, Tel: 0033(0)562354526 comfortable gites, set in 3 acres of tranquil grounds GERMANY SPECTACULAR HARZ MOUNTAINS which may be rented separately or altogether for a TOURS. Biker only B&B established 15 years. Let larger group: Sleep 2 – 16. Secure garage parking Greg and his R1200S be your guide to some of the for bikes. Contact: Anne & Dave Chapman Tel: best Biking roads in Europe. 200 year old beamed, 01732-456459 e-mail: anneanddave.chapman@ newly renovated 10 bedroom B and B. All rooms virgin.net (12/12) ensuite. Courtyard garden for drinks and food. BBQ evening Saturdays in the season. Local beers SPAIN – TORREVIEJA. Luxury 2 bedroom and wine. Come and meet bikers from Denmark, apartment. Enclosed terrace. Satellite TV. Sweden, Holland, Germany and UK. Large locked Landscaped garden. Communal pool. Restaurants, garage for 20 bikes. Trained mechanic on call. 2 bars, shops. www.villamartin-apartment.com mins walk from lively local town with bars and restaurants. Run by bikers for bikers. Special rate Rest Of The World for BMW club members. Email gregoryniven@t- NEW ZEALAND 2012/2013. Guided Motorcycle online.de www.harzbiker.co.uk Tel 0049 5524 3749 Tours in North Island and South Island, plus short MOTORCYCLE HOLIDAYS IN BRITTANY tours Motorcycle rentals can be arranged. www. FRANCE. A choice of accommodation , 2 bed twowheeltouring.co.nz Tel 64 9 431 5909. cabin, 5 bed wood house or 6 bed cottage. Robert Scott (1/13) Situated in Central Brittany in 20 acres of our own land including valley, woods and stream. An ideal Services base from which to explore mystical Brittany along uncongested roads. Prices from £30 per night. We LYNBROOK INSURANCE. for Special Member’s have garages and extensive workshop facilities. terms including Classic & Modern Motorcycle Discounts on Brittany Ferry Crossings. Email: Insurance (all makes) Tel 0845 130 4662 or 01277 [email protected] 206285. Also Travel and Europewide Breakdown/ www.countrysideholidaysinfrance.co.uk Tel: 0033 Recovery Tel 0151 336 5881 (quote Lynbrook) 296 365480 (12/12) NORMANDY / BRITTANY BORDER - Gourmet MOTORCYCLE DELIVERY SERVICE. Properly Bed & Breakfast. Close to Mont St- Michel equipped high top van with full insurance. Club large elegant 200 year old town house restored Member offers professional and personal service. and renovated to a very high standard. Individually Dave Kelly 07790 255060 www.biketransporter. designed en-suite bedrooms, guests dining co.uk (3/13) room, drawing room, lounge and conservatory for the comfort and hospitality of our guests. With Accessories & Spares landscaped walled garden and secure garage parking. Gourmet dinners are our speciality let us Stainless Steel Fasteners. Part or full kits pamper you and tantalise your palate for a truly available, most models covered. SAE or e mail memorable dining experience. In the town of Saint- [email protected] for list. Chris Shaw James just off the A84 auto route, twenty minutes Engineering 24 Station Road, Halton Holegate, from Mont-St Michel and the beautiful coastline Spilsby, Lincs, PE23 5PB Tel: 01790 755515 with scenic routes and great biking roads. Tel: 0033 Mobile: 07702 862508 www.shawstainless.co.uk 80 The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 for servicing, repairs, rebuilds & engineering. Servicing Tuning packages to suit your requirements. New & used spares. Tyres fitted & balanced while you wait. Servicing and repairs, ADVENTURE BIKE SHOP. (Callers by appointment only) Phone/Fax 01795 old and modern bikes serviced, bikes prepared for 538282 Faversham, Kent that round the world trip, we don’t offer a loan bike but we are about half the price of the local BMW FERALWORKS CLASSICS (BRISTOL) BMW dealer and the coffee is free. The Adventure Bike SPECIALIST. Independent qualified engineer with Shop, Unit 19 Inca Business Park, Acton, Sudbury, over 30 years BMW experience for all your servicing Suffolk, CO10 0BB, Tel- 01787 372901 & repair requirements. Specialist in 'Airhead' BMW twins but all models catered for. See the January '12 ANDREW SEXTON. NORTH OXFORDSHIRE Journal star letter! 10% Labour discount to fellow WARWICKSHIRE, GLOUCESTERSHIRE BMW Club members! Collection available. Large BORDER. BMW Quality service, repairs, restoration stocks of BMW used spares available & BMW's and special tuning work, on all models. Collection bought for cash. Contact Dave on: 0794 1950 266 and delivery arranged. Tel 01608 730111 or 01454 851 461 email: dave.feralworks@gmail. B.E.M.W. For competitive prices on: Restorations, com repairs & spares. Spares for vintage/classic BMW’s INDEPENDENT BMW SPECIALIST DORSET. from 1935. CJ750, copies of 1938 BMW R71, from Servicing and repair centre. Qualified technician £3,455. Some new 1957 models in stock, LH/RH with 20+yrs experience. Diagnostic testing and sidecars plus OHV machines available. Machine after service date resets. Studley’s Motorcycles tools for the small/home workshop, including in Dorchester, Dorset. Tel: 07884 180968 www. Chester Multi Function lathe/mill/drill. Parts made studleysmotorcycles.co.uk to pattern or drawing. S.A.E. for specification and services or visit our website. 2 Forman Street, MOBILE MOTORBIKE SERVICES. Professional Derby DE1 1JQ. Phone/fax 01332 298523. Eves & repairs and servicing for all BMW models at realistic w/ends 01332 824334, www.bemw.co.uk) prices. We offer a mobile service within a 40 mile radius of Nottingham. Call Jim Hill on 0797 123 Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire. and 6087 or 0115 9727153. www.ifixyourbike.com surrounding counties BMW motorcycle servicing , repairs & restoration Steve Grover t/a Motoscot NORTH EAST. Independent BMW Specialist. Full senior BMW Technician (ex service manager at service & repair for all models up to present day. Slocombes of Neasden for over 20 years) BMW Factory trained senior technician. Mobile service diagnostic equipment and special tools on site Loan within 60 miles of Sunderland. Now breaking bikes. bike available collection/delivery service arranged. Call Mike Kendrick 0191 510 0265 or 07828 281003 Will also service/repair all makes, models Phone SCOTLAND NEAR GLASGOW. Mostly Bricks & 01582 419812 or Mobile 07843 056201 Email Boxers. Independent BMW specialist. Professional [email protected] www.motoscot.co.uk motorcycle servicing and repairs at realistic rates. Agreed labour cost restorations. Phone Jim Downie & Surrounding Counties. BMW BERKSHIRE. 01505 850341 or 07973 326928. bricksnboxers@ Motorcycle services. K, R & F Series. Independent aol.com BMW Specialist Servicing, Repairs & Spares. Collection & delivery. Weekend work & loan bike THE BOXER MAN – THE INDEPENDENT BMW available. For all enquiries please contact Garry SPECIALIST. Full Service, Repair & Restoration Webb Tel: 01344 860580/07770 444794. Email facilities for R and K Series machines. Mobile [email protected]) service available within an 80 mile radius of LEICESTER. Call Phil on 0116 2668913 or 07860 CARDIFF MOTORRAD. Wales' Number One 588076, www.boxerman.co.uk (12/12) Independent BMW Motorbike Specialists BMW Factory Trained Technician Services - Repairs - Diagnostics - Tyres - MOT's All Makes Welcome 10% off labour to all club members Please call Mike on 07843528377 or 02920 565666 E-mail: [email protected] CENTRAL LONDON BMW SPECIALISTS. All models to date 2v, 4v, BMW Diagnostic equipment, ex dealer Tech, 30 years exp. Servicing, repairs, insurance work.Tyres, spares FROM stock. 5 star workshop - full facilities.BMW authorised supplier. Bikes bought/sold - see Biketrader web page. Jap & German 102 Druid St, London SE1 2HQ Tel:0207 237 2299, www.japandgerman.co.uk CRAY ENGINEERING. BMW Twins road & race performance specialist. Fully equipped workshop

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 81

VOTED no.1 MAIL ORDER SUPPLIER Established 1989 That’s not just BMW but ALL mail order suppliers. Enough said! BY THE READERS OF ‘RIDE’ MAGAZINE

• Established 1989 • 14 day satisfaction guarantee • Used parts carry a 6 month warranty • 10,000 new part lines on the shelf • 1,000s of BMWs broken • UK’s largest supplier of BMW parts • 12,000 sq ft of pure BMW • NEW, SECONDHAND AND RECONDITIONED BMW PARTS • • FAST MAIL ORDER • • SALVAGE COLLECTED NATIONWIDE •

We cover all BMW motorcycles from 1970 to the present day 1200GS etc. Remember-all our sales sta are riders themselves. Between them there is not much they don’t know about your bike! We are quite happy to give you the benet of this experience and to recommend the best manuals and guides for your needs. There is usually no need to pay somebody else to do your servicing, upgrades or repairs when we can give you a wealth of experience and the choice of new, secondhand and reconditioned parts. Many of our new parts o er a huge saving on dealer prices. We can provide you with service items, replacement parts, accesso- ries and performance parts. We have the largest range of parts available anywhere in the UK - in fact we are not aware of anybody, anywhere in the world, who can o er our range and depth of stock. Planning a trip - ring us for advice on spares etc. to carry. Remember, we distribute world wide so we can deliver emergency parts to you anywhere. If you want it we’ve probably got it! If not and BMW make it we can get it for you. Try us! UTAG datatag • Odyssey Batteries • Remus • Ohlins • Carbtune Tyres • Ultraseal • Keihan • Ilmburger • Rugged Roads • etc. etc.

0845 458 0077 International: 00 44 1484 353600 Fax: 00 44 1484 353604 Visit ourwww.motorworks.co.uk new shopping basket site at

The BMW Club Journal • November 2012 83 BMW Motorrad

The Ultimate R 1200 GS Riding Machine

ONE WORLD. ONE R 1200 GS. Five continents, five riders, and the new R 1200 GS – welcome to the ultimate riding experience that you too can be a part of. Be one of 5 people to take part in an event that will be the first of its kind in the world. 5 tours across 5 continents are up for grabs on the new R 1200 GS, and all you need to do is tell us why you would make the perfect GS ambassador.

One World. One R 1200 GS, the tour of your life. Are you ready?

Find out more about the new R 1200 GS and the One World tour by visiting www.bmw-motorrad.co.uk

026587_R 1200 GS_One World_210x148.indd 1 12/10/2012 14:25