Event?

[Banus]

Just wondered if this Forum (F800 Riders) ever held an annual get together or event to meet up either for a day or weekend? I see we have a large enough worldwide membership to make it worthwhile but maybe there aren't enough in the UK?
All other Forums I've been a member of over the years seemed to organise something just once a year but cant see anything for us?

[notacop]

Good idea, you can be the catalyst. You pick a where and when and see who shows up. Different BMW groups have gatherings at the various BMW rallies and at the MOA NAtional and RA National events. The 650 single, "Chain Gang" posts it's intentions on their website.
I'm headed to Mariposa for a BMW rally this month after a firefighter reunion in Tahoe. In June going to Colorado for a VStrom rally one fellow from St. Lake organizes.
Nothing fancy, just locate a campground and invite other to join you. Some prefer a Hotel/motel cus they don't do dirt, weenies!

[Daboo]

Like he said, pick a location and date. See who shows up. I just recently joined two other forums that don't mind people coming along on different bikes. This Friday, I'm heading over to Idaho. A couple weeks later, I'm going to Eastern Washington. This guy is just having riders camp in his backyard. There's a motel down the road that those who want to, can use.

You don't need much. Just a motel, and perhaps a local campground in the vicinity. A location that you want to ride in. I did something like that years ago when heading out for a day long ride. I'd mention it on the forum and then see who showed up. Even if no one else showed up, I got a ride to somewhere I wanted to go to anyway.

Make sure to take pictures to make everyone who didn't show up jealous that they missed out.

[Dave May]

I tried to see what interest there was in the UK for a R1200R get together but it didn't get very far. As a gentleman of leisure I'd be up for a little get together, it's just a matter of finding a common meeting place and some dates. Anyone else in the UK interested?

[notacop]

In a bit of transparency, My wife and I did the food for the South Coast BMW riders for a few years. I was pres of the club in 91-92 if memory serves me right.
The club put on the rally and the members volunteered at meal time to serve folks and put on the poker ride.
We found it great fun and met some fun folk.
Now they are so involved in themselves there is no spirit of Do It and the rally has fallen by the wayside.

[Norfolk UK]

Anyone else in the UK interested?

This thread hasn't attracted many UK responses yet, but you can add my name to the list. Just put up a date and location. If I can be there, I will !

Ian

[WildWilly]

I always thought a great meet-up for the U.S. would be the annual BMWOA rally. This year it's in my back yard, Des Moines, Iowa. All this would require is a date and a location for F riders to meet.

[Daboo]

To make a long story short, I'm going to a rally for Honda ST owners in a couple weeks and just came back from a rally for Kawasaki Concours owners. There's some lessons to be learned from those groups that we can use.

The Kawasaki "COG" rally was simple, yet a lot of fun. They arranged for a motel/KOA that was used as a base of operations. As with a MOA event, it was up to you to book your own room, but the prices were decent at $69 a night. Everyone gathered out in the parking lot and pulled up lawn chairs that were there for each room and sat around telling stories, looking at bikes, (changing someone's rear tire), and drinking their favorite beverages. Saturday night was a nice barbecue. The dinner could've been better, but at the price for the weekend at $5, it was wonderful. Plenty of long twisty roads with no traffic around with fantastic scenery. The important part, was the people. Next, the riding. They made a point of welcoming new comers. Even a simple thing like including your town on your name tag, worked wonders. I went to a BMW MOA event and there was no effort to help you find anyone from your area. And no one really went out of their way to introduce themselves to you. I tried to get to know others, but left really only knowing one other person...a guy who lived about 2000 miles away in Canada. Nice guy, but I doubt we'll ever see each other again.

Also, someone had typed up some directions and included a simple map to about six or seven nice day long rides in the area. Simple, yet effective. There was nothing at the MOA Getaway, just some verbal instructions that only a local who already knew the routes would understand.

The Honda ST owners rally is in someone's back yard. Yup. His back yard. He lives in Eastern Washington and owns a couple acres. He's making it available for campers and there's a motel nearby for those who don't camp. His wife is doing something I think for breakfast one morning, and we're going to a restaurant for another morning. Cost? A donation.

The point of all this is that it can be done rather simply, and at low cost. I think all of us like riding with someone else, but finding someone "compatible" is not easy. Simple rallies like these two can be fun events. I suspect that you'll get several people who will come and are just waiting for someone to organize the event.

Chris

[Flook]

I tried this some years back, I wish you luck. The lack of enthusiasm was astounding, I have left it open in the groups side, and still the same responses.

Flook

[WildWilly]

I feel that it has more to do with low numbers to begin with. Here in the states BMW has less than 10% of the market. I'm sure the F800 is a small percentage of BMW sales. There are not enough of us to count as a minority. Factor in a location and a date that works for a lot of folks and it becomes a moot point. I'm thankful we have this forum to hold online rallies . . . . .

[Flook]

If a date is set, that wont be suitable for around 98% of UK guy's, set the meeting place, and the majority again will then complain it is too far to come, arrange overnight or weekend stay, will be seen again as too far to travel or not suitable and will they accept dogs??, wrong weekend, pre booked elsewhere, will it be sunny?? if not we wont be coming. The list is long, but, if you are made of sturdy stuff, have an engaging smile, don't care who turns up or not, and you do not mind spending your hard earned on deposits for around 10 bikers, who say they will, but wont supply any non refundable deposits. Then go ahead, I for one would like to come, but I now spend a lot of my time away in my Motorhome, and not much on the bike. So that could be me out (sorry).

That is the main reason why I don't post here that often, I am away most of the time.

Flook

[Banus]

My best friend (and BMW biker who currently rides a K1600 GLT who I tour Europe with a few times a year and has had every model except a GS) has just spent £18k on the new Triumph Tiger and £46k on a 2014 motorhome to trailer it to Bolzano - Dolomites for the next 3 weeks. Arrived in Caen this am and currently sat up by a river drinking cold beer from his own fridge half way through France. Estimated saving on accommodation alone for the holiday in the region of £2000+ which will pay for another holiday. I too will be investing at some stage and it easy to see why they're so popular.

[Daboo]

I am continually amazed at the local COG (Concours Owners Group). They jump at the chance to meet up with each other and ride. I noticed one of their forum members was from Seattle, so I PM'd him. We're meeting on Sunday.

It's the total opposite of what you're talking about, Flook.

Chris

[Daboo]

Another follow-up on this. I just attended a rally over in Eastern Washington that was put on by Honda ST owners...the ST1100 and ST1300 sport-touring bikes. They were an incredibly friendly and welcoming group of riders. Mature, and not stupid too in their riding style.

My point is that just because you own a BMW, doesn't mean you can't find other groups in the area to ride with.

Chris