Would it be in bad taste to ride GW to rally?

[PMonk]

Am considering attending rally but recently bought an 07 GW ABS for two up traveling. I have 04 RT for my solo riding.

Not going to knock LT's it is just that the Honda filled what I wanted in a two up bike at this time. I also also am fond of Electraglides, but the heat issue kept me from buying one.

I have attended State and local rallies in New Mexico and the Houston Club's Hill Country rally several times and found that there were always people on other makes having a good time. I haven't attended a national rally and am curious if other makes are welcome.

[dancogan]

I'm sure your GW will receive many admiring glances. It will not be considered bad taste, as you can find almost every make and model at the national rally. ;)

[SNC1923]

Not at all.

It's not what you ride, it's that you ride--to a rally!

[SheRidesABeemer]

Ride what you got. Heck some people take the car...:dunno

[Bob_M]

Put a couple of BMW roundel decals on the tank an no one will be the wiser

(honestly bring the wing. the worst that can happen is that someone will give you a little ribbing before buying you a beer)

[Rapid_Roy]

I thought the Brand X riders had to buy the beer? :laugh

Since you own a Beemer though, you will have to sponsor yourself.
Can you vouch for you?:stick

That has to be the longest no ever.

[rocketman]

Good Grief YES!

Didn't you read the GW bashing thread?:brad

(JUST KIDDING!!!)

RM

[social commentary=off]

[judjones]

Put a couple of BMW roundel decals on the tank an no one will be the wiser


OTOH, I ran my /5 for a couple of years with Honda badges on the tank. Harley riders amazed me with their credulous simplicity:
"I didn't know Honda made one of those."
"It's a pre-Gold Wing prototype."
"Oh. Cool"

BMW riders just got pissed:
"You can't do that."

I have not ridden a BMW to a BMW rally since 2003. Still have fun. My KLR and my DR650 always get looked over pretty hard. John Coons brings his ever-popular off-road golf cart to the Hiawatha Rally. At the National, there were areas with so much orange it looked more like a KTM rally. Don't worry for a minute about riding a Gold Wing.

[Paul_F]

Why not? I took a friend with me to the Vermont Green Mountain Rally this past September. Besides many people striking up conversations about his GW, one person even offered to buy it! If it is your two up bike, enjoy the ride to Gillette. See you there.

[rocketman]

OTOH, I ran my /5 for a couple of years with Honda badges on the tank. Harley riders amazed me with their credulous simplicity:
"I didn't know Honda made one of those."
"It's a pre-Gold Wing prototype."
"Oh. Cool"

BMW riders just got pissed:
"You can't do that."

I have not ridden a BMW to a BMW rally since 2003. Still have fun. My KLR and my DR650 always get looked over pretty hard. John Coons brings his ever-popular off-road golf cart to the Hiawatha Rally. At the National, there were areas with so much orange it looked more like a KTM rally. Don't worry for a minute about riding a Gold Wing.

My response to that would have been along the lines of "what do you mean I can't, seems to me I just did!" ha ha!

RM

[kreinke]

I'm sure your GW will receive many admiring glances. It will not be considered bad taste, as you can find almost every make and model at the national rally. ;)
I think at West Bend I saw more V-Strom 650's than F650's.

[PMonk]

the responses confirmed what I knew about BMW folks.

My wife was the one who thought it would be awkward. I already thought of putting BMW roundels on the GW and claiming the people I bought it from assured me it was a BMW. (joke)

To be fair, I f I ever go to a Honda Rally solo I would have ride my RT! They are both fantastic bikes just in different ways.

BTW, I owned a 2000 LT and it was a fine machine. My wife really missed the comfortable ride after I sold it. Looking back I wish I had kept both. and my 04 gold and white FLHTCUI, and my R75/6. That's why I ain't parting with the RT.

[osbornk]

the responses confirmed what I knew about BMW folks.

My wife was the one who thought it would be awkward. I already thought of putting BMW roundels on the GW and claiming the people I bought it from assured me it was a BMW. (joke)

To be fair, I f I ever go to a Honda Rally solo I would have ride my RT! They are both fantastic bikes just in different ways.

BTW, I owned a 2000 LT and it was a fine machine. My wife really missed the comfortable ride after I sold it. Looking back I wish I had kept both. and my 04 gold and white FLHTCUI, and my R75/6. That's why I ain't parting with the RT.

I rode my various BMWs to several Honda Hoots and was welcomed by everyone. I stopped going when the it changed from predominately Gold Wings to cruisers with loud pipes.

[bobs98]

At a recent Chromeheads gathering in New York, one of our members rode his Gold Wing with a sign on the windshield:

R1800LT.

Go for it!

[kreinke]

I look at rallies as kind of a motorcycle version of wine tasting.

Wouldn't it be boring if the winery only served Zinfandels? The variety and "bike candy" is part of what makes rallies fun.

I've kind of turned over a new leaf with the Harley bashing....and trying to refrain.
But they all pretty much look the same and the riding gear looks the same. Group rides look like one continuous line of black leather.

Our rally rides tend to have more variety and are a little more colorful. I'm waiting for someone to custom order some 'Stitch from Duluth with a different color on each panel.
http://www.ponyrific.com/partridgeponyrific.jpg

[BeemerMike]

Am considering attending rally but recently bought an 07 GW ABS for two up traveling.

I have attended State and local rallies in New Mexico and the Houston Club's Hill Country rally several times and found that there were always people on other makes having a good time. I haven't attended a national rally and am curious if other makes are welcome.

From what I've been reading in other threads, it seems that there will be at least a few BMW riders who will NOT be going to the rally next year. Mmmmmm . . . I guess you can have one of their spots! ;)

I am in the "Houston Club" (BMW Club of Houston, Ltd. - MOA #12), and as you noted, we welcome other makes at our rally. We're there to have a good time with bikes and friends . . . we're not there to be snooty. BTW, our rally moved from the Hill Country to Smithville this year, so now it's closer to you.

[Rapid_Roy]

I look at rallies as kind of a motorcycle version of wine tasting.

Wouldn't it be boring if the winery only served Zinfandels? The variety and "bike candy" is part of what makes rallies fun.

I've kind of turned over a new leaf with the Harley bashing....and trying to refrain.
But they all pretty much look the same and the riding gear looks the same. Group rides look like one continuous line of black leather.

Our rally rides tend to have more variety and are a little more colorful. I'm waiting for someone to custom order some 'Stitch from Duluth with a different color on each panel.
http://www.ponyrific.com/partridgeponyrific.jpg

:laugh :bow
I want one!

[BradfordBenn]

Bring the GoldWing.

I went to West Bend on my VFR, and to quote someone

People will come up and look at you like you have brought fire down from the mountain.

He was right.

[PMonk]

BTW, our rally moved from the Hill Country to Smithville this year, so now it's closer to you.

I had to miss this years rally due to conflicts but I did attend last year and have attended whenever I could. This is a fun Rally and looking forward to it next year!

PS, since my bride don't camp, I will be on the RT

HI HO Silver

[ghostridery2k]

Hi evryone.i got the same problem,im planing to attend next year rally but i was wondering if other makes going to be welcome.My friend fom Austria will be wisiting for a two monts and hi want to go with,so i got to use my other bike wich is kawasaki z750s.Hi is big bmw fan so hi will ride my K75.This is his first trip to US and we want to do some riding.
this is my kawi,what you guys think?
http://i215.photobucket.com/albums/cc118/ghostridery2k/toysfortots2016.jpg
:bikes

[rkasal]

Bring it. They're great bikes. A couple of the guys I'm ridng with/meeting are on other brands (none of which are, thankfully, assembled in America).

Regards,


Randy Kasal

[r11rs94]

Bring it. They're great bikes. A couple of the guys I'm ridng with/meeting are on other brands (none of which are, thankfully, assembled in America).

Regards,


Randy Kasal

isn't the GW assembled in America?? :usa

[riderR1150GSAdv]

Any and all brands are welcome! You may get a ribbing :D but it is all in good fun. Show up and enjoy yourself!!:buds

[atoms]

I rode my Uly to the National in West Bend and it was entirely fine. More than fine actually. I reckon I got more questions about my bike due to it being sort of unusual. Everyone that mentioned it or asked about it did so in a manner that made me glad that I decided to ride the Uly.

[rkasal]

isn't the GW assembled in America?? :usa

My understanding is it is the only motorcycle made in America. That one other brand is only assembled in America but as long as someone has a big patch on their back and a trailer, they're a biker.

None of the guys I'm riding with or meeting there are on GWs but a GW is a great bike!

Regards,


Randy Kasal

[captcarl]

Make sure you show off that great sound system on your GW... Nothing like it...
Carl (R1800LT rider)....

[gambrinus]

'Wings are cool rides. Faster than you'd think for such a big bike, but they WILL move.. Bring it to the rally and then just offer to race any knucklehead that gives you grief about it. I plan on dragging my two cousins along to the rally, one of them is on a Honda of some sort and the other is on a Harley. It's all about hanging with cool folks and having a good time.

RW