Picture Of The Month! Australian Countryside! (Click Image for a Larger View)

Every month customers send us killer photos and I see no reason to keep them to myself so what better way to say thanks for sharing than to post them in this Picture of the Month spot..

Our July POTM was contributed by my good buddy, Kendrick Pavey. He says of this shot..“This shot was taken near Tintaldra/Snowy Mountains, Australia. I purchased the bike off Bikepoint.com.au, then got a plane ticket to Canberra and rode home via the Snowy Mountains to Melbourne (the interesting way). I met some friends at Tintaldra on the Sat night after a pretty easy 550kms and we did a similar distance back home via the Murray River Road and the Maroondah Hwy. I peeled off down the Melba and suffered a bit of holiday traffic but the K made short work of the tin tops in every overtaking area. Weather was great for April, low to mid 20Cs with cooler patches in the hills but nothing the heated grips couldn't fix!!"

If you would like to contribute your own"worthy" shot for our newsletter, here's what I'll need. First.. just email me 1 or 2 of your best digital shots. It'll need to be at least 800x600 in size or larger and preferably A. Of a BMW K1200S or K1300S, K1200RS, K1200R, R Sport, S1000RR, or any model year K1200GT or K1300GT and B. In focus.

California Superbike School & BMW S1000RR's!
(As pilfered from July 2010 Motorcyclist Magazine)

Keith Code knows his chit. In my youthful years I read and then re-read his now legendary "A Twist of the Wrist." Hate to blow my own horn (not that there's anything wrong with that lifestyle), but it turned me into a damn good rider. A few years ago, I advanced my rider education to the next level by attending his California Superbike School and learned more in 2 days than I had in the previous 30 years of trial and error riding on my own. Amazing. If interested in my experience at the school, check out my write up.. "the Perfect Curve." Keith is solely responsible for changing my life. With that said, I have to admit I was one of the naysayers questioning his judgment a few months ago when it was announced that they were scrapping the fleet of Kawi 600's in favor of the insanely powerful BMW S1000RR as their training bike of choice. I actually thought it was a joke when I heard the news. Just got the following info from my friend, Keith, He says..

"Several months ago, when I announced that the CSS would start using the the most powerful superbike ever built.. the S1000RR with traction control and race-ABS, there were many strong opinions questioning my sanity. I based the decision on what I've been telling people for years... that it's not horsepower that causes crashes.. it's rider errors in applying core technical skills and now I have proof to back this up.

As of April this year, more than 400 students have run close to 50,000 track miles at 4 racetracks on the new BMWs. This training was conducted in all sorts of weather including rain. We run all first sessions in "rain'mode" limiting the bike to "only" 150hp, but after the first ride our students are allowed to go to full power.. The results? Compared to the 600's we've used for the past 30 years and 12 million miles, our crash ratio has been reduced by 400% making the S1000RR the best high performance training aid ever invented. I rest my case"

Radar Detector False Alert Solution– USB Cable / Godsend? or Crock of Shite?

How many times have you been innocently (wink wink.. nudge nudge..) riding down your favorite twisty road, crack your throttle open, and a few seconds later your radar detector goes to Defcon 1... screaming for you to slow down?? Instinctively, you are all over your brakes with a pronounced sphincter indentation in the seat before you realize that the warning was bogus. DOH!

On some bikes, hitting the horn triggers these false signals. On some bikes, decelerating via engine braking sets them off. I've heard quite a few well thought out theories of what causes this phenomenon from cell phone towers to the Bush administration. I've always thought the problem was a current draw issue. Extra draw on the battery causing a current drop causing the detector to go off. Other people.. smarter than myself.. say it's an electrical noise issue.

Every bike I have owned has had the problem no matter what brand radar detector I was using at the time. My new Passport 9500ix mounted on both my BMW K1200S and Ducati 1098 does it. My V1 before that did it. My Passport 8500 did it before that. I've been begrudgingly living with the "falsing" problem for years. I just accepted the fact that like congressional spending or a swollen prostate.. it's just something I'd better get used to. I had heard that Valentine (for a fee) will tweak your detector to make the problem less in-your-face, but I'd also heard that this process makes your detector less sensitive to "real" alerts. Not a trade-off I'm willing to make with my speeding inclinations. I spoke to the geekoid tech guys at Escort and they were as useless as firm pouting breasts on a nun.

Last week a customer of mine mentioned in passing that he had the same problem with his detector. He casually mentioned he fixed the problem and wanted to know if I ever had the problem and if I'd like the fix.. I almost fell out of my chair, regained my composure, then said.."sure.. I'll give it a try." He promised to make one up for me.

He explained thusly..." The bike generates enough electrical noise that it causes false alerts on the Escort or Valentine. I corrected this by replacing the power cable with one that was shielded and had ferrite cores/chokes on each end. I made mine by cutting the ends off an old USB cable and crimping on an RJ-11 connector. No more false alarms. Took longer to run the cable than to make it. Works like a charm."

Could it be that simple? Less than 5 days later I got a small package in the mail with my new modified USB cable. Took me about an hour to remove the power cord on my bike and replace it with the new shielded USB version. One end had the standard RJ-11 phone plug on it.. the other a hot wire and ground. With high expectations tempered with a smidgeon of cautious optimism, I went for a short ride. For over an hour I did my best to trigger a false warning. Nada.. zip...No false warnings. Encouraging!

The next day I went for another ride to my favorite "hooligan" section of the BRPW where I ALWAYS get falses. All in the name of research, (which is what I had planned on telling the officer) I kept the revs up, the knee down, and the tires smokin' for about 30 minutes. The results? More falses.. Detector went off 5 times total. 2 of those times it could have been a cop disguised as a tourist in an unmarked vehicle.. it's possible... Twice the 9500ix went off a few seconds AFTER I gave my horn a couple of beeps (which I do when I enter any tunnel on the BRPW). Once it went off while innocently cruising then decelerating quickly.. Shaka..when the walls fell.

My gut feeling is that the falses have been reduced by 40-50% by the new cable, but that is totally unscientific.. Due to the fact that 2 times it occurred after using the horn, I am still inclined to believe MY theory that it's a "current draw" issue... not only engine noise.. Is the USB modified cable a messianic sure-fire cure? Not on my bike.. Another well thought out theory goes down in flames. My holy quest continues.

6 Cylinder BMW K1600GTL Spotted: First Look!
Contributed by Miles Miller over at www.I-BMW.com)

Sprechen sie Deutsch? Me neither. Looks like this shot is the real deal. The upcoming (and long overdue) BMWK1600GTL with the rumored 6 cylinder engine is a reality.. According to the German article in www.Touren-Fahrer.com, the bike is said to weigh just 25 lbs more than the current K1300GT. If so, that's in the ball park and a lot less than the previous LT. Supposedly a goal for BMW was to pair the weight of the big bike by about 100kg's. Also note the power is about the same as the GT with a lot more torque from the slant/6. Me likey. Here's some commentary from my good buddy Miles who found this info...

“ The fairing shares much the same RT look - even the windscreen appears to come directly from the RT. And a bit of good news, it inherits one good thing from the GT - those terrific mirrors. Also, looking at the wheels; these appear to be the swirly ones from the "S"; I.e. the six inch wheel and probably the 190 rear tire. The picture was snapped in L.A. which means BMW sees the bike as aimed toward the U.S. market. The vents. presumably for the cooling of the six cylinder engine reminded the article writer of the C-14, but they are more subtle here. Can't tell for sure, but the wheelbase does look long. But even so, the rear seat doesn't look like the G.W. Queen seat by any means. And it looks like the top case with its large backrest can be detached. "

The K1600GTL is scheduled to be unveiled at INTERMOT in Cologne in early October. If you can't make that one, it will also be at EICMA in Milan in early November.

Product Review: 2010 Reevu MSX1 Helmet .. You Say You Want A Revolution..

I've been following the development of the Reevu MSX1 rear viewing helmet like John Hinkley, Jr for the last 6 years. Reevu claims that this is the "world's first motorcycle helmet with a built-in unbreakable rear-view mirror system." I've always thought that if they could perfect the design, it would revolutionize the helmet industry, sell like a cure for cancer, and spontaneously cause world peace and/or orgasms. My expectations were high to say the least.

Over the last few years I'd sporadically contact the guys at Reevu to see what kind of progress they were making. Incrementally, things were constantly marching forward. A few weeks ago I spoke to a fellow rider in Europe that had just bought the new Reevu MSX1 and he simply loved it. Then I saw an in-depth product review of the 2010 MSX1 in webBikeWorld.com Apparently the helmets are finally in production. Woohoo! I immediately contacted my source in the UK, figured out what size I'd need, then ordered two helmets for evaluation. The Black Metal and the Silver. They also come in a matte finish but I didn't care much for that.

Just for a second..(take longer if you like..) Imagine “at a glance” being able to see if there's a trooper on your ass... Imagine “at a glance” sitting at a stop sign and being able to easily see if that cell phone wielding soccer mom coming up behind you in her 5000lb SUV is actually gonna stop before knocking you into East Pakistan. Imagine “at a glance” Megan Fox naked in a hot tub with her slightly sexier twin sister...er... where was I? O, yea... Imagine the possibilities. If the MSX1 is as good as they claim it is... a new dawn in helmet development may have arrived. A game changer. We shall see.

The Basics: The rear-view mirror is actually very clever. The mirror is permanently located just above the rider's eyes in the brow of the helmet, hanging down above the eye opening. It's kinda in a "peripheral vision" area... not your line of sight. It is adjustable so the rider can adjust the angle to suit is needs. You just reach up and adjust the mirror with your hand (like you would in your car) before you ride. It stays where you set it. If you need it a little higher or lower in the helmet, a little tool is included for that adjustment. You set it once and that's it.. no matter if you are switching bikes or not.

The top of the helmet liner is sculpted so that there is a line of sight back from the mirror through the clear top section at the rear of the helmet. The mirror system is manufactured from a reflective polycarbonate material rather than glass. Unlike glass, this material is almost impossible to break and is lighter, providing additional safety and comfort to the wearer. Put simply, this system (called MROS..Multiple Reflective Optic System) effectively ‘bends’ the light around the shape of the head – all within the molding of the helmet. The objective.. to provide a clear view of the road behind. The entire optic system itself is made from bulletproof polycarbonate, which is much lighter and safer than glass or metal, yet is virtually unbreakable.

Finish & Look: The first thing you notice when you lift it out of the box is that the helmet looks spanktacular with very sleek lines and subtle graphics.The materials inside and out look expensive. The helmet looks like it's covered with multiple layers of clearcoat giving it a magnificent, deeeeeeep finish. Better than any helmet I can recall. The helmet doesn't look any larger than any other helmet which kinda surprised me. Sleek and sexy are the adjectives that come to mind.

Fit & Comfort: The MSX1 is comfortable from the get-go with a very classy looking light gray interior. It's plush, but it's no Aria. The inner padding appears thinner than most, but you'd never know it once it's on. The helmet has a fully removable liner and Reevu offers mix-and-match cheek pads and/or liner that are available to custom fit the helmet to the owner's head. I ordered a size large according to their sizing chart and it fit perfect. It feels comfortable with no noticeable pressure points. So far I am impressed.

Noise Level: My other helmet is a Nolan N-103. It's the most quiet flip-up helmet I've ever used. I always wear Hearos blue earplugs. The MSX1 was quieter than the Nolan, but it should be considering it's a full face closed helmet. Having not used a closed helmet in years I can't compare it to any other, but I can say.. the helmet was VERY quiet by my standards.. No buffeting.. no wind noise.. no whistling. I suspect this has everything to do with the sleek aerodynamics.

Weight: One of my main worries about the Reevu? How much would the sucker weigh with all the foofoo gadgetry? Everyone knows a heavy helmet will make your neck tired, your shoulder blades burn, and your wife cheat. When compared to the BMW SportIntegral Carbon Fiber Helmet (possibly the lightest on the market) or some of the other composite or carbon fiber helmets on the market today, the MSX1 would be considered heavy. However.. for those who are currently using flip-up helmets like a Scuberth C2, Nolan 102 or 103, or HJC Symax.. the difference is minimal. My Nolan 103 weighs 4lbs 2oz.. the Reevu .. 4lbs 1oz. Want to compare the weight of the MSX1 to your own helmet? Check out this waaaay cool helmet weight chart at webBikeWorld.

Aerodynamics & Venting: Venting is average to worthless at best. Reevu offers a small cheesy looking chin vent and another slightly less cheesy looking vent on top and they do little more than collect bug guts, but.. the shield stays anywhere you put it so if it's hot.. you can just leave the shield cracked. In the interest of ...er.. thorough testing, I subjected the helmet to 150mph winds and it was very aerodynamic with no inclinations toward moving around or readjusting vertebrae. Bottom line.. the Reevu MSX1 slices through the wind like a hot knife through a lawyer.

Ease of Use in Daily Mortal Life: The helmet comes with a decent ratchet type strap. Not as cheesy as a prehistoric double D-ring, but not as good as the push-button quick-release straps on most modern helmets. Amazingly.. no instructions come with the helmet instructing us how to remove, change, or re-install a shield. Hmm.. Guess the manufacturer thinks we're smart enough to figure it out on our own. Guess they are unaware of the pathetic American educational system. .. but I digress. As I ordered an optional dark shield (at $30 more) I had to figure it out on my own and honestly... it was chimp easy.. Very intuitive. Much easier to change than any HJC, Shoei, Shark, or Nolan and certainly easier than any Arai which are only slightly less complex than the Antikythera mechanism. More on the shield itself momentarily.

Mirror Mirror: It's important to note that the image in the mirror is not a perfectly crisp (like glass) like you'd see when looking at a car rear view mirror. The surface of the polycarbonate mirror panel isn't as perfectly smooth as a glass mirror, so there is an ever so slight distortion in the image although the image is NOT distorted.. It's plenty clear enough to tell what make and model car is creeping up behind you and if they have blue lights. The image you see behind you actually appears in "real" distance, unlike your side mirrors which show images further back.. ie.. the images are closer than they appear. Worried about headlights at night? I was too, but according to their literature, the image is about 2-3 stops darker than the ambient light due to the mirrored rear cover and the deliberate use of tinted material to mute headlights at night. FYI.. no I have not yet tested the helmet at night..

Testing on the BMW K1200S: IMHO.. the K1200S has the best factory mirrors of any bike I've ever owned. I've never had issues with not knowing what's behind me although I did have an unmarked trooper sneak up on me a few months ago and pull me over for passing on a double yellow. DOH! I simply wasn't paying attention. Would the Reevu have prevented that close encounter? Probably. With that said, using the Reevu with a bike with first class mirrors like the K1200S seemed like more of a novelty than a useful safety weapon. Yes.. it did give me a greater view behind, but not so much that you'd need to toss your old helmet to go by the MSX1. Perhaps I'll change my tune after a few weeks of use. Or not.

Unlike other reviews of this helmet, I adapted to the mirror system almost instantly. Perhaps I'm slightly more evolved than my peers.. Perhaps I'm just more like a cockroach. No matter.. My personal learning curve wasn't steep. It's actually a revelation to glance up in the top of the helmet and see what's going on behind and it makes riding with any other helmet seem like something is missing. Imagine getting in a car without a rear view mirror. You'd instantly miss what you'd been taking for granted. Same with the Reevu. I still use the rear view mirrors on the bike as one can never have too much situational awareness, but even the best rear view mirrors will not give you a 180-degree image of directly behind the bike like the Reevu MSX1. The only issue I will have to get used to and adapt to is .. I found myself spending a second or so longer than I should have looking into the little mirror. This is dangerous. I had to consciously make myself "glance" rather than look. I have no doubt that I'm doing this due to the fact that at the moment, the mirror is a foofoo novelty. I have no doubt that after a few weeks I'll be using the Reevu mirror just like my side mirrors. No more.. no less. Overall.. testing on the K1200S was uneventful. I neither felt like the mirror system was a nuisance or a revelation. It just felt "normal."

Testing on the Ducati 1098: IMHO.. the 1098 has just about the worst mirrors of any bike in the Milky Way Galaxy. Second only to the MV Agusta F4's. Their only purpose is to make the bike street legal. They are as useless as fish-net stockings on a badger. Apparently the Italians have different priorities. A cross we all bare. If you think I had high hopes for this revolutionary helmet on my Ducati.. you'd be right. I should mention that I'd recently been talking with the people at Ant Racing about installing a rear view camera on the Ducati as I'm sick and tired of never ever knowing what's behind me. Mostly because what's behind me usually has blue lights, a badge, and a ticket book. No longer. Using the Reevu MSX1 on the Ducati was everything I had hoped and dreamed for. So much so that I have permanently squashed all plans for a rear viewing camera on the bike.

After the first day's testing on the Ducati, I was spoiled by Reevu's patented Multiple Reflective Optic System. I could find no downsides to using the Reevu on the dedicated sportbike. I'd even go so far as to confidently proclaim "Top O the world, ma!!... er.. I mean... the world would be a safer place for all sportbike riders if they used these helmets. For once the hype is backed up by the technology. I will certainly be singing the praises of this product to my sportbike brethren.

I did find one issue with the optional $30 tinted shield that bugged the crap out of me. Homey don't ride with no stinkin' clear shield. As I mentioned, install was intuitive, but the quality of the optics of the shield is poor. IMHO.. total crap. When sunlight hits the shield at almost any angle, it hazes up.. It actually looks like it's fogging up or to be more accurate.. it looks like your are riding near a forest fire... through smoke except without the burning eyes and coughing. I stopped multiple times to clean the shield but nothing helped. I think whoever Reevu has commissioned to produce them is just using cheap materials. I have other helmets with dark tinted shields.. HJC, Nolan, etc and those dark tinted shields are as clear as glass no matter what. I will be mentioning this to Reevu. Perhaps I got one out of a bad batch?

Cost: Retail for the Reevu MSX1 is currently all over the place while US distributors jockey for position. I've seen them range from $368+ shipping to $500US on Ebay. Reevu is currently taking applications for US vendors so once a network is established, prices should stabilize. I told Reevu that I wanted at least a full month of evaluation before I'd even consider selling them. They were fine with that showing me that they are confident in their product. It takes more than a pretty face, promises of hope and change, and a commitment to fundamentally change the way we look at helmets in America to sway this pirate, gosh darnit.

After less than 2 weeks of testing .. here are some preliminary random observations.. Dreams of a motorcycle helmet with a functioning rear view mirror system is now a reality. The Reevu MSX1 seems to be everything they claim it to be and actually delivers on it's promises and at a reasonable price. How refreshing is that? If you own a sportbike with crappy mirrors..i.e. R1, Gixxer, S1000RR, Ducati, Aprilia RSV4, Honda CBR, etc etc.., the Reevu MSX1 might just rock your world. What you can't see behind you can kill you.. or give you a ticket. IMHO..the Reevu MSX1 is a major achievement in helmet design and execution and is easily worth the asking price. Even if the helmet did NOT have the mirror system in it, it would still be a damn fine helmet by anyone's standards. It's comfy, looks great, quiet, and is beautifully crafted. Pinch me.. I must be dreaming.

No .. I'm Not Kidding .. Another BMW Recall! I'm Laughing at the Superior German Intellect! .. Yet Again..

BMW is recalling certain model year 2007 through 2009 R1200 and K1200 series motorcycles manufactured from August 2006 through May 2009. Due to the current routing of the front brake lines, it is possible that during riding and therefore the associated vibration, the brake lines could be under strain. If the vibration/strain is significant, the brake line could split and start to develop a leak. If this goes unnoticed, and the brake fluid reservoir runs empty, the front brakes could fail, increasing the risk of a crash or death.. or lawsuits against BMW. BMW will notify owners and dealers will install new brake lines, containing a “sleeve” along a portion of the lines free of charge. The safety recall is expected to begin during July 2010. Full details with a list of models .. Click Here..

Model Year: motorcycles manufactured between August 2006 and May 2009.
Models affected: 2007-2008 K1200GT, 2007-2009 R1200GS Adventure model, the R1200GS, R1200R, R1200RT, R1200ST
NHTSA Campaign Number: 10V276000
Mfr's Report Date: June 15, 2010

Summary and Consequences: If this goes unnoticed and the brake fluid reservoir runs empty.. the front brake will fail followed by ..well.. use your imagination.

2010 Sierra Gold Rush K12 / K13 Rally: Sept 12-15, 2010

Where: Sonora Days Inn, Sonora, California
When: Sept 12th thru 15th, 2009 (Sun – Weds)

A pre-rally is planned in Downieville, CA at the Riverside Inn: Rooms are reserved for Sept. 8th through 10th. September 11th will be a travel day to Sonora, an easy and beautiful day's ride south of Downieville. Lodging here is very limited... there are only a handful of rooms available, so if you plan to attend the pre-rally you should make your reservations immediately. Tell them that you are with the I-BMW group!! If they are booked up when you call, there is other lodging available in Downieville, and everything is within walking distance:

For booking at the actual Sierra Gold Rush Rally call the Sonora Days Inn at 209-532-2400. Tell them that you are with the I-BMW group. If you talk to someone who is clueless about our group, ask to speak to Tracy. We have rooms reserved here for Sept. 12th through 15th, with the 16th optional. Make your reservations now!

The 11th Annual Deals Gap K12 / K13 Rally: Sept 23-26th, 2010

Where: Microtel Inn
Robbinsville, NC 28771 US
When: Sept 23rd thru 26th, 2010
Reservations: Direct 828-479-6772 or Toll free 888 771-7171 or email.

Be sure to mention i-bmw group / If you have any issues.. ask for Sue. This motel won't hold us all, so make plans now! I have.

Group Rates $58.46 for a queen bed & around $64 for 2 beds per night plus tax / MC, Visa , Amex , Disc
24 hour cancellation notice / Area Maps
Alternative Lodging: San-Ran Motel Located in downtown Robbinsville on US 129 1/8 mile down from the Microtel. Covered bike parking. Paved parking for trailers. Reasonable rates. Clean and motorcyclist friendly. 828-479-3256

2011 Blue Ridge Parkway K12 / K13 Rally: May 12-15, 2011 (New!)

Where: Wattstull Inn, just north of Buchanan, Virginia
When: May 12th thru 15th, 2010 (Thur – Sun)

Call Wattstull Inn for reservations.
540-254-1551 / Mention: i-bmw group
SPECIFY ROOM TYPE - single, double, king

Blue Ridge Parkway info and maps can be found here and here

Alternate Lodging (info only) : Super 8 – Bedford or Days Inn – Bedford or Peaks of Otter Lodge