October 2009 President's Message

Summer is fading fast, and temperatures are falling. So are your motorcycle tires up to the task of cold, wet roads? Have you ever tried to "google" winter motorcycle tires? Find any?
While researching tires for my Subaru Outback, I learned a lot about winter automotive tires. And since we BMW riders like to ride regardless of the time of year, I thought I'd share some of what I learned. Winter tires have rubber compounds that are very pliable especially in cold temperatures. They have highly porous or hydrophilic rubber that adheres to the wet film on the ice surface. And they have thousands of sipes cut into the tread to increase traction.
What does this mean to us? Well, your normal performance motorcycle tire that grips the track with tread temperatures of 200° is incompetent as its tread compound becomes like "hard plastic" at below 32°. So if you ride your bike in the winter, don’t ride it like you ride in the summer. For example, if you ride it to work and take this one curve at a particular speed in the summer, slow down in the winter even if the curve is clean and dry. Because the road surface is cold, and your tire may be cold as well. Remember, your tire contact patches with the road surface are about the same size or smaller than the palm of your hand! We want that cage driver to think, “That guy has balls to be riding.” not “Serves you right you stupid @##, of course you’re going to fall, it’s winter.” Keep the shiny parts up.


Chad “Skid” Gillen, Prez

September 2009 President's Message

It's September, so that means Hawes Biker Days on the 12th and 13th! If you've never been, it is a must, just make sure and follow the directions given in the flyer. Mapquest and Google maps will send you north and west of Beaver Creek when it is actually south and west of Beaver Creek. Sadly, due to working special events such as Germanfest and the 1/2 marathon I will not be able to make it this year. The girls really wanted to go and camp too.

Saturday Sept. 19th is the day set aside for the trek to Bob's Bar in Martinsburg NE. This also happens to be the BMW MOA open house. I actually have that weekend off due to training and would like to ride to the open house if anyone is interested in going along. Anyone mind if the Bob's Bar date gets changed?

A great suggestion was brought up by Mary Hawes to have regular club meetings again, as this hasn't been done in years. I believe quarterly meetings should suffice, and would like to invite all club members to my house on Monday, Sept. 28th at 6:45 PM. Topics to bring up could be: Annual meeting, "who stole my chair?" and "Boy, it's nice out, let's Ride!"

Lastly a friend of mine and former BMW rider has an R1150RT windshield (stock) that he would like to part with. Beemerboneyard wants $85.00 for them. He would probably part with it for a pack of smokes. If you are interested contact me and I'll put you in touch with him.

Ride safe.

Chad Gillen, Prez
bmwr1150r@sio.midco.net

August 2009 President's Message

July has been a busy month for me at work with all the special events I have to work so I really haven't got a lot of riding in lately. Basically I've ridden back and forth to work, and Heidi and I went to Larchwood IA for a Wednesday night Ride & Eat. I had to work Hot Harley Nights for the first time, and it was the first time I have ever seen it. It took over an hour for all the motorcycles to empty out of J&L's lot for the parade to downtown! I saw a couple of trikes in the parade that have full bodywork and you steer it with a steering wheel! In my opinion, I call that a three wheel car not a motorcycle. I did see a few Beemers parked downtown which made me feel not such an alien amongst all the chrome and loud pipes. Maybe next year we should meet downtown before the parade, and try to take up a block with our Bavarian pride?
2008 was a banner year for people taking the MSF Basic Rider Course, and 2009 is looking like it is going to be the opposite from what I've been told by my fellow ridercoaches. So if you know of someone that wants to learn how to ride, and is interested in the course, tell them to sign up now. Course dates are starting to get cancelled for lack of interest. They can either call the South Dakota Safety Council at 605-361-7785 or go to the website at www.southdakotasafetycouncil.org.
Ride safe.


Chad Gillen
www.autobahnsociety.blogspot.com

Big Sioux Riders Events Calendar

Here is a list of some of the events for the Big Sioux Riders. I don't know about you, but my eye, or should I say my stomach is drawn to the 28th of July for a trip to Bob's Bar!


July 9 BSR Bikers at Biker Night in Bronson, IA. Lets see how many BMWs and sport/touring bikes we can get there folks!!
July 11-12 - Adventure Riding GS201 from Bak BMW, Sioux City. Class, Campout, and Adventure Riding Challenge. $50 fee includes class, camping, dinner, beverages and door prizes. All makes/models welcome. Call for registration.
July 12 Heart of Iowa BMW Club's Annual Ride-In, Isaac Walton League at Ahquabi, Second Sunday of July
July 16-19 37th BMW MOA International Rally, Johnson City, TN
July 23-26 BMWRA Rally, Canaan Valley State Park, West Virginia
July 28 - BSR Summer RTE - Bob's Bar, Martinsburg, NE. Leaving Casey's Parking near Southern Hills Mall at 6:05 PM, or meet us in Martinsburg at 6:45 PM for giant cheeseburgers, and fryes.
August 7-9, 27th Huskerally, Franklin, NE
August 21-23 28th Annual Baxter Cycle Motorcycle Rally, Marne, IA
August 29th - Victory Open House, Bak BMW Victory, Sioux City - Demo rides, food and door prizes.
September 1 - 4 - Curve Cowboy Reunion, Ramkota Hotel and Convention Center, Rapid City, SD
September 6 GLMC's Buffalo Run Road Rally, Milbank, SD
September 12-13 Hawes Biker Days Campout, Beaver Creek, MN
September 18-20, 10th Annual IBMWR Eureka Springs Rally. Contact Harv Read 262-878-3557 hread2@wi.rr.com
October 10 - BAKTOBERFEST, Bak BMW, Sioux City - Demo rides, food and door
October 9 - 11 - Falling Leaf Rally, Potosi, MO

July 2009 President's Message

First of the all, the issue of Bylaws brought up at the annual meeting has caused a lot of angst amongst the club. Of course the biggest issue is changing the BMW ownership clause. However, other good ideas were brought up such as free club membership after turning a certain age. I have heard an equal share of members for changing them and for not changing them. I would like a consensus from the club before moving on. I kindly ask that all members drop me a line (email, mail, or phone) just simply saying "yah" or "nay."
Secondly, and sadly due to the issues of the bylaws, Larry Flower has resigned from his office as Treasurer and has left the club on his own will. To me he will still be considered a member of the club, and should be welcome to our functions. Gratefully Tom Melick has accepted my offer to take over Treasurer duties for the rest of the year. Please thank Tom the next time you see him.
A new German bakery opened three weeks ago on Main St. in Canton. It is called "Railhaus Bakery & Delicatessen" and a friend of mine and I rode down to check it out the other day. Due to waiting out the rain, we got there later than expected. Luckily they had two leftover bratwurst from the lunch hour. We had to have them on Kaiser rolls due to the buns being sold out, but they were still very good. We each had a strudel as well, with me having apple and my friend having cherry. Everything was very delicious and fresh and I suggest you check it out. Horst was not there at the time, but his wife Teresa said they would be interested in staying open late on a Saturday if our club wanted to come down for lunch of brats and pork steak sandwiches. Too bad they are not open late enough for a Wednesday Ride And Eat.
New club recruitment business cards were ordered and have come in. They are the same as before except for addition of the blog website, and a shiny gloss covering to protect them from moisture. See Deb to get some to pass around. I have already dropped some off at PowerBrokers, but would appreciate it if members could make sure that other dealers such as BAK, Judson Cycle, Sturgis BMW, and BMW Motorcycles of Omaha, have some to pass out to BMW buyers from our area.

Ride Safe,

Chad Gillen

Sgt. Chad Mechels Memorial Benefit Poker Run
Saturday, June 27, 2009

$25.00 per hand or Two Hands for $40.00

Sponsored by The South Dakota Sheriffs' Association

Pre-Registration call 605-297-3426 or 605-361-2887 and leave a message

Registration between 10:00 AM and 12:00 Noon at the Turner County Courthouse, Parker, SD and ready to leave at 12:00 Noon.

Food and Beverage upon returning

Cards will be dealt upon return
1st Place $100.00
2nd Place $75.00
3rd Place $50.00

(This event is open to all types of vehicles)

June 2009 President's Message

Basic Rider Courses are in full swing now and will be going to mid October. If you know someone who wants to learn to ride this is the best way for them to learn the basic skills and strategies to be a good motorcyclist. Once they complete the class their completion card will waive the riding and written test at the SD driver exam stations. Also Experienced Rider Courses are underway in Rapid City and Pierre, and I plan on adding some in Sioux Falls soon now that the ERC range is open. To see the course calendar go to www.southdakotasafetycouncil.org.
Lastly we are in need of more business cards to hand out for recruiting. We need something that is a little more weather resistant than what we had before. So we need something more than what Staples can provide, like an embossed type card or similar. Does anyone have a line on a good printer in town?

Ride Safe.

Chad Gillen, Prez

I would like to personally apologize to Larry Flowers and all of the members of the club for not getting my facts straight before printing the May President’s Message. I was incorrect in stating that he has never owned a BMW motorcycle. Larry owned a BMW in the past, but he did not own one at the time of joining the Autobahn Society. Which is still in violation of membership criteria of the 1977 bylaws, and still a reason to examine our bylaws. Again, I am sorry for not getting the facts straight before writing my message. The last thing I wanted to do by becoming President was to anger or begrudge anyone. I love BMW’s, I love riding, I love our club, and I want to see it grow.

Chad “skid” Gillen, Prez
www.autobahnsociety.blogspot.com

May 2009 President's Message

First and foremost, let me start by saying that amending the bylaws was not my idea. This task was put onto me at the annual meeting. Now it has come to our attention that there are two sets of bylaws, one circa 1977 and one circa 1988. It has also come into question, which one we are operating under, and to me that is one good reason to go through the bylaws again. Also we currently have a member and officer of the club that is not and has never been BMW owner, but nothing was done to prevent this and now a precedent has been set. Which is a second good reason to go through the bylaws. And any suggested amended bylaws will be voted on by the membership of the club before acceptance. So the bylaw committee will continue to meet and come up with something that everyone will agree on.
Next, is a reminder to be careful riders and set a good example for others to follow. In the last month I have arrested two motorcycle riders for DWI, one Beemer & one HD, and both had twice the legal limit for blood alcohol content. I have investigated one sportbike injury accident that easily could have been a fatality. And I know three scooter riders that wrecked their scooters on simple right turns at intersections. So lets be careful out there and not be a statistic.
Breakfast at Arlene’s in Alcester was a success. At least in the sense that those who came had fun, and the food was great and cheap. We all know that BMW riders love a good deal. Sadly only eight Autobahners and only ONE Big Sioux Rider showed. The Big Sioux Riders should plan the next group meet, I say.
Lastly, I’m looking for pictures and logos to put on the blogspot website. If you have some in .jpeg or .gif format please send them to me so I can post them and dress up the site.


Chad “skid” Gillen, Prez
www.autobahnsociety.blogspot.com