Recent Rides

Motorcycling in Peru

Details: Written by Craig Littlefield

In April of 2013 Jan and I signed up for a motorcycle tour of Peru. It was arranged through Peru Motors in Arequipa Peru. We were gone for 19 days. We rode a F800GS over 2000 miles in 11 days of riding. Go to my website to see all the photos at http://home.comcast.net/~craig.littlefield/photos/peru/peru%201.htm.

Craig Littlefield

2013 Inagural MotoGP at the Circuit of the Americas

Details: Written by Deryle & Wanda Mehrten

If you are a motorcycle race fan then you knew that the MotoGP, with the ultimate motorcycles and best riders in the world, was at the Circuit of the Americas in Austin, Texas the weekend of the 19th to the 21st of April. The best of the best duked it out in the good old USofA.

You had to see, hear and feel Marc Marquez, the youngest rider on the MotoGP circuit, to believe just how outrageously fast he was. He was definitely the best of the class the whole weekend and took home the win Sunday. Wanda and I were rooting for Americans Ben Spies, Colin Edwards and Nicky Hayden but it's hard not to root for the winner ;)

Marquez showed off his new riding style - elbows out is old hat, it's now elbows down. Amazing. And the bikes are so loud we had to wear ear plugs anywhere near the track or in one of the many grandstands. We watched the qualifying from turn 15, right down on the front row. The sound was body shaking, absolutely amazing.

The ride out to Fredericksburg, Texas and back, our home base, was basically a dash with 80 mph speed limits on I-10. From Fredericksburg to the Circuit of the Americas was about 95 miles one way, all through Texas Hill Country roads with 70 and 60 mph speed limits. Took us about an hour and a half each way. (Well...I did make a right when I should have made a left coming home Saturday so we did about 25 extra miles that afternoon. Still good riding ;)

Friday night and Saturday night we partied with our way kewl Uncle Paul. We ate and drank like Kings and Queens. A total hoot! No issues with tires or the '08 K1200GT, she turned over 81,000 miles coming home. The new clutch basket and new clutch pack performed like they should. A most excellent ride.

Next it's the AZ Beemer Rally in May back in Heber this year. Then in June it’s the SEAT Overnighter in Prescott. Then comes the long ride of the year, the BMW MOA Rally in Salem, Oregon the third weekend in July.

Ride smart...

Deryle & Wanda Mehrten
Sierra Vista, AZ USA

April SEAT Lunch at La Casita

Details: Written by Deryle & Wanda Mehrten

Quite a good crowd came to the April SEAT Lunch at La Casita in Mammoth. La Casita does good food and most of the folks who where there knew there would be good food, a good ride and good company. A few wind gusts here and there, but not bad.

There were several new K16s in the parking lot and a couple of older K16s in the parking lot! So far no new R Waterhead. I believe John Cartwright of Iron Horse Motorcycles took a new R Waterhead out to Ende for a spin around the track. Maybe he'll bring one to the next SEAT Lunch.

Here are some pictures of the lunch and all the great folks who joined in. Mark you calendars for the May lunch in Hereford at Mimosa on the 12th of May. Ride smart...

Jeff Dean Honored...

Details: Written by Allen Moore

At our regular March lunch it was our pleasure to have as our special guest, Sue Rihn-Manke,BMW MOA Director - Ambassador. Unbeknownst to most, she was attending in order to bestow a rare honor to our own Jeff Dean- the Gerhard Knöchlein BMW Classic Award. This award honors individual club members who have been particularly instrumental in preserving and disseminating the history of the BMW marque. The award is made to owners who keep their historic BMW vehicles in a perfect condition and who allow the public access to them.

We can't think of anyone more deserving than Jeff. Congratulations!