So I went to the BMW dealer...

[fredz43]

I have been a member of a BMW club, the Springfield (IL) Milers BMW MC, for over 20 years, in spite of owning only one BMW for a few months in that time. I guess they are not your typical BMW club, as they really don't care what you ride, although a friendly jab in any direction about someone's choice of bike is considered good sport. Probably 50-60% are on BMW's but the rest of us are on a variety of makes. It is more about the mutual enjoyment of sport touring riding and generally having a good time and not getting too serious about anything.

Springfield hasn't had a BMW dealer for some years and these guys have to ride about 2 hours to St Louis or farther to another dealer in Iowa. St Louis had three different BMW shops in the last 10 years or less and I haven't had much of an opportunity to interact with the latest. The original one, though was a friendly place and I used to enjoy riding my Japanese bike down with one of my BMW buddies when he had to get service (often). We would ask the sales guy if we could take a couple of demos out for a ride and we would always be welcome to take a couple of them out for a few hours ride while they worked on my friend's bike. Great fun, but I never rode a BMW that I fell in love with on those rides. My ST's both 1100 and 1300 always felt better when I rode them back home after those demos.

 

[joedec]

I agree with how I'm treated by some hog dealers and riders, but the clubs are a marketing tool. And a very good one. What Harley is today, is because of great marketing.

Yamaha also has a club of sorts. I have a link to it. Take a look at both and tell me which one is marketed the best. I don't belong to riding clubs, but Hog is the one I would consider. Just because of marketing.. This is of course my opinion and yours may differ.

http://tinyurl.com/3upqkg6
http://www.startouring.org/about.aspx

Me I would go with the Yamaha for two reasons; all brands are welcome, no alcohol rides.

... Jeff

 

[markjenn]

Third, they are the only manufactures that promote clubs that don't allow any other brand.

What BMW club doesn't allow another brand?

- Mark

 

[joedec]

This is from the BMW of Americas Chapter here in Northern California.

"Membership
Any person 18 years of age or older who is a legally registered owner of any BMW motorcycle and who attends two previously
announced General Members Meeting in any six-month period as a rider or passenger on a BMW motorcycle shall be eligible for
membership. The prospective member shall make application for such membership during attendance at such meeting by stating
his or her desire to become a member."

 

[markjenn]

This is from the BMW of Americas Chapter here in Northern California.

"Membership
Any person 18 years of age or older who is a legally registered owner of any BMW motorcycle and who attends two previously
announced General Members Meeting in any six-month period as a rider or passenger on a BMW motorcycle shall be eligible for
membership. The prospective member shall make application for such membership during attendance at such meeting by stating
his or her desire to become a member."

This is just one chapter of a much larger organization (BMWMOA) which has no requirements for ownership of a BMW. I checked the membership applications of a couple of other chapters of BMWMOA and found no such restriction. These chapters are very loosely associated with BMWMOA - there are hundreds of them which can set virtually any rules they like.

http://www.bmwmoa.org/club/chartered_clubs/search_clubs

I'm not going to make a huge research project out of this, but I suspect you can find individual clubs for all sorts of Japanese motorcycle organizations that impose their own restrictions on ownerships.

To somehow get from this one chapter's individual policy to infer that BMW as a mfg officially supports only clubs that restrict ownership is a ridiculous leap. I'll also point out that although BMWMOA doesn't require ownership for the national organization, the name of the organization is BMW Motorcycle OWNERS of America. To be calling a chapter elitist because they don't take in non-owners strikes me a little like calling the Girl Scouts discriminatory because they don't allow boys.

- Mark

 

[Koinz]

I agree with Markjenn, I've been to several moa rallies and the last few on my vstrom. I think the stiff collar breed is making way for the real motorcycle enthusiasts of any brand, although i know several BMW brand loyalists out there that spoil the excitement of just enjoying some cool bikes.

 

[joedec]

Mark,

No need to get snarky about it. I have no desire to join the BMW club or the Girl Scouts.

Everyone has their own experience, I have been uninvited to events and it's a pain. I have a old buddy that is completely a BMW enthusiast and we can't go on any BMW events because I'm on the wrong bike. Not very hospitable to "guests".

Also the "club" is only one of the reasons BMW owners give the impression of being elitists. This is I know because I am one, but it has 4 doors, still can't go on those rides. >

... Jeff

 

[fredz43]

Sometime in the early 90's the national BMWMOA rally was near me, in Duquion, IL. A friend and I rode our Japanese bikes down there to check it out and take a few demo rides. There was a BMWMOA stand where they sold shirts and other BMW items. We were checking out some shirts and liked a rather risque one. While looking at it, a lady working the stand asked if we were BMWMOA members. We both replied that we weren't. She asked if we had BMW's. We replied that we did not. She asked if we had $20. We both replied that we did. "Close enough" was her reply. Since I was a non BMW riding member of the Springfield Milers BMW MC I decided to go ahead and join, mostly for the magazine.

 

[markjenn]

No need to get snarky about it. I have no desire to join the BMW club or the Girl Scouts.

I apologize if my comments come off as snarky. But I do think you're perpetuating invalid stereotypes that cut across all brands of motorcycles. And many of the S10 enthusiasts come across just as much elitists with their derisive comments about other brands - pot, kettle, black.

For the most part, it is all part of the good-natured fun we have poking at other brands and everybody is entitled to think their dog is the smartest, their kids are the cutest, and their wife the most beautiful. But I'm going to point out where I see things that I think are being factually mis-represented, such as saying that BMW as a brand discourages clubs from admitting non-BMW owners.

- Mark

 

[joedec]

I apologize if my comments come off as snarky. But I do think you're perpetuating invalid stereotypes that cut across all brands of motorcycles. And many of the S10 enthusiasts come across just as much elitists with their derisive comments about other brands - pot, kettle, black.

For the most part, it is all part of the good-natured fun we have poking at other brands and everybody is entitled to think their dog is the smartest, their kids are the cutest, and their wife the most beautiful. But I'm going to point out where I see things that I think are being factually mis-represented, such as saying that BMW as a brand discourages clubs from admitting non-BMW owners.

- Mark

I can appreciate that. I did look around here and found "The Monterey BMW Riders" who claim they welcome guests on all brands. Maybe I need my buddy to relocate his membership.

Do you have a BMW?

... Jeff

 

[keeponriding]

I would ask us to consider that some of the motorcycle brands use the clubs to perpetuate a certain rider profile for loyalty;

HD sells lifestyle. On one of my last visits to my local dealer years ago they had seemingly hundreds of branded t-shirts/jackets/bandannas/underwear in stock, but were out of stock on some gaskets I needed.
BMW may be selling "elitism"...BMW buyers being more discriminating than your "run-of-the-mill" mc rider...which might also make riders more prone to feeling elitist amongst fellow riders (I also have a BMW car).
Triumph is selling history and the thrill of early riding....though I'm not sure standard Triumph riders have the ability to get to rallys.

My all-time favorite bike was a BMW....took a licking and kept on ticking....but I've been priced out of the market and my local dealer is not someone I choose to do (expensive) business with.

Not sure I could place an identity on Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki or Kawis....other than bullet-proof operation. I sure don't get the same marketing energy from Honda Owners of America that I did from HOG (who emphasized group rides, rallys and motorcycle safety)

 

[rem]

Both Harley and BMW have done an exceptionally good job of marketing. Especially Harley. Regardless if you like their bikes or not, their advertising is second to none. You gotta give them credit for that. It's like anything else ..... if you promote something hard enough, people will buy it. I don't care for Harleys that much myself, and I'm not even sure why, but one of my best riding buddies has one and loves it. He is a very nice, low key kind of guy and does not fit the "profile" but he is very fond of his bike and has had no problems with it. And so it goes. Gibson banjos used to be the best made banjos on the face of the earth. Today, in my humble opinion, they are not worth owning. Their quality has plummeted, but people new to the world of banjovia immediately think of Gibson. What's my point? I dunno. It's early. Gimme a break.


If you like the product and the dealer has a good rep and treats you well, you're made the right decision. It's a very personal decision, and affiliation with a "club" or a "group" or "lifestyle" should not really enter into it. Except for the Super Tenere, of course, which we all know is the best bike on earth and anyone who doesn't get one is a dipstick and has absolutely no class whatsoever. 8)


Let's keep an open mind. R

 

[colorider]

Except for the Super Tenere, of course, which we all know is the best bike on earth and anyone who doesn't get one is a dipstick and has absolutely no class whatsoever. 8)


Let's keep an open mind. R

This REALLY does sum it up!!!!

 

[rem]

Damn Right !!! Just call me ... Tenerem ..... well, if you want to. R

 

[HoebSTer]

Rem, hey Tenerem sound like a good name!!! What does Rem mean for you anyway!!!! Here's the the good and bad dealers out there!! Sometimes it takes a bad one for us to find the good ones!!! I remember once while riding through Sturgis on my Honda ST1100 for the start of the rallye. I was stopped to snap a photo of Mt Rushmore, when some bikers walked up to me. I thought I was going to get harrassed or something, when they bend over look at my engine area where the valve covers poke out of the side of the bike and ask, "Is that motor in there sideways?"" I say yep sure is and explain what the whole bike is. They seemes pretty friendly and curious to my bike they have never seen before. It was all good coming from a biker!!!!

 

[keeponriding]

To echo Rem, the Harley mystique sells bikes....they have become expert at selling sizzle not the steak.

After owning and riding them I find them fragile, fun for short distances, and not conducive to my kind of riding...however, as solid a performer as my little 700cc Honda is, it doesn't turn heads. Not sure the ST will turn any either, except for our friends riding BMWs.

 

[rem]

I agree. Bikers are pretty much of a friendly bunch. More and more of us in the codger phases of our lives are getting into it. I was gonna try the rowdy stuff .... shave my head, get some tats ... but I didn't think I'd be able to find a skanky, chain smoking old gal who would be willing to ride behind me, so I gave up the notion. Probably just as well .....


Rem is the first half of my middle name ... it's what I answer to. Except for my wife ... I don't even answer, I just get up and do what I'm told. R

 

[colorider]

I remember once while riding through Sturgis on my Honda ST1100 for the start of the rallye. I was stopped to snap a photo of Mt Rushmore, when some bikers walked up to me. I thought I was going to get harrassed or something, when they bend over look at my engine area where the valve covers poke out of the side of the bike and ask, "Is that motor in there sideways?"" I say yep sure is and explain what the whole bike is. They seemes pretty friendly and curious to my bike they have never seen before. It was all good coming from a biker!!!!

Great story Jeff!!!! I'm sure almost ALL of the early ST1100 riders had the experience where people (including MC riders) would walk up and say "Nice BMW". It happened to me MANY MANY times. Back then, and maybe to some extent now, many Honda dealers had never even SEEN a ST1100.

 

[Venture]

... but I didn't think I'd be able to find a skanky, chain smoking old gal who would be willing to ride behind me, so I gave up the notion.

I got ya covered on that - we'll get you one of those "If you can read this the bitch fell off" shirts to wear. Problem solved.

 

[rem]

I've seen those. Aren't those great ???


Early this spring, a friend of mine who is a Harley rider came into her shop. She told him of my woes regarding not being able to get my bike out of my driveway yet due to the snow. He told her, with a cheeky grin, "he can ride on the back of my Harley". My wife, with a perfectly straight face, said "he doesn't ride bitch". What a woman !!!!! R