Boxer Shorts, November, 2004 - 1 of 4
Random Thoughts
by Kit Wise
For some reason, perhaps because I have been
up that ladder painting the house so much
during the last few weeks, time has gone
by all too quickly this month, and I don't
have one coherent idea to write about. But
I do have a few quick things to mention.
VOTE
This is the month for selecting new officers
for the Yankee Beemers. Nominees' position
statements and the ballot are included elsewhere
here in this month's Shorts. We have somewhere
between five and six hundred members, and
yet, last year, fewer than 100 cast ballots
for officers. If you are not too exhausted
by deciding between Bush and Kerry (an easy
choice, by the way - who rides a BMW?), take
the effort to participate in club elections.
LOUD PIPES
You should know that one of my frustrations
this past year as President has been the
negligible response I have gotten to these
monthly columns of mine. Perhaps I expect
too much, or perhaps they just aren't worth
responding to. But I am gratified that I
have heard from many about last month's column
on the subject of loud pipes.
EVENTS OLD AND NEW
Last month saw the inauguration of the Yankee
Beemers Green Mountain 400 Rally. Many members,
and non-members, participated. Reports are
that all (with perhaps one sore exception)
had a great time. Thanks to Rob Nye and Max
BMW for making this possible. On the same
day many members enjoyed European Motorcycle
Day at Larz Anderson Museum of Transportation.
A few people even managed to get to both
events in the same day!
WILL BMW EVER GET IT RIGHT?
I suspect most of us are members of the Yankee
Beemers because we ride and admire BMW motorcycles.
But it sure is disappointing that BMW should
introduce an enticing new product like the
K1200S and then immediately pull it back
because the cams are all defective. And the
oil heads still surge!
SWITCH TO KTM
If BMW can't get it right, then we could
try KTM. But I have to say that the marketing
video that KTM has out on the Internet for
its new 1 liter street bike is about the
most irresponsible piece of promotion I have
ever seen. Yes, I like to go fast, but the
video presents street riding of the very
kind that I absolutely abhor when I see young
squids on their crotch rockets doing wheelies
down the highway. Anyway, I have a Ducati
on order.
YOUNG AND OLD
Shorts Editor Victor Cruz tried to help me
out by suggesting a few topics that I could
write about this month. One of his ideas
was that I imagine what the club would be
like in 20 years. Hmm, let's see - 5,000
members, 100 active; average age 76; most
popular bikes, still the R75/5 and the K75;
monthly meetings still at Stone's Public
House. Actually I am very encouraged that
we have many new, younger (I mean under 30)
members this year who seem undaunted by the
idea of riding with the old goats. We might
be reaching a tipping point that will start
the average age to trend downward.
POPULAR BIKES
Last year I did a tabulation from the membership
database on the bikes that members own. The
new list is included in the Blue Book, which
you should have in your hands now or very
soon. The R1150GS has displaced the R1100RS
as the most popular bike in the club, which
doesn't surprise me after my trip out west
on the GS. What amazes me is that the count
of R75/5s has gone from 24 to 32, still good
for third place. This change may be due to
more complete reporting in the database,
but it remains very impressive that a 30
year old motorcycle is so well represented
in the club. Actually, if you lump the various
models of K75 together, we have a total of
42! What a great bike the K75 must be, even
if it does suck.
NEXT MONTH
Next month will be my last as President,
so I hope to have something more coherent
to say. Until then, VOTE!
Kit Wise
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