Are Beemer guys loaners?

[IRONMAN]

Whenever I am at a rally or some other function that brings riders together the Beemer guys always seem to keep to themselves. It is not unusual to see large groups of bikes together but I canÔÇÖt remember ever seeing more than three BeemerÔÇÖs at the same time. Even when the Beemer guys ride with a group they tend to hang towards the back and spend more time socializing with other Beemer riders they run into than their own group.

I know we are all different but are most Beemer riders loaners or are we more interested in riding than stopping every 50 miles to look at each others chrome and share the glory of our new pipes?

We have a reputation for being arrogant or snooty. I think it is because as a group we are a little more serious about our riding than other groups. A lot of riders will do a 100 mile poker run and say Wow that was a great ride. To me 100 miles is a snack. I am ready for the next 200 but everyone else wants to call it a day and head for the bar.

Just curious what others think.

[kbasa]

I hate loaning things.

I dunno. I like riding with folks. I think it's fun.

Riding motorcycle is this thing we do alone together.

[MarkF]

I just came back from a 2,800 mile trip to the BMW RA Rally in TN. I rode every mile solo and it was great. Start when I want, stop when I want, ride the speed I'm comfortable, no worries about the other riders. But, when I was camping or at the rally I liked being with other riders. I like meeting people, hanging out, discussing bike, life, food, etc.

[cjack]

I just came back from a 2,800 mile trip to the BMW RA Rally in TN. I rode every mile solo and it was great. Start when I want, stop when I want, ride the speed I'm comfortable, no worries about the other riders. But, when I was camping or at the rally I liked being with other riders. I like meeting people, hanging out, discussing bike, life, food, etc.

This is me too. Although it is Viki and I on our bikes. We have traveledl with another couple or two, but they were very compatible with our style of riding.
One thing when we are alone is that often you get involved with answering (sometimes dumb) questions from the folks you meet in the gas stations, resturants, etc. Viki is very personable, I on the other hand am kind of wanting to keep to my thoughts, check the map, talk with Viki about what we just saw, or where we think we want to ride next. So I have learned to stop and just wait. Smile. Etc. I guess that is where the arrogant label comes from...but I don't think of it as that, just that I don't want to forget the stuff I wanted to do or say while we're stopped. I guess a bike to bike comm system is the answer to alot of this, but kind of hate those wires. As an EE, and a Ham Radio guy, I could do it all (Viki has a Ham license too), but like Viki said once when she saw the area behind my Ham operating desks, "I thought this was called wireless!".
Waiting for Bluetooth helmets I guess.
Jack Hawley

[Kbrick]

Whenever I am at a rally or some other function that brings riders together the Beemer guys always seem to keep to themselves. It is not unusual to see large groups of bikes together but I canÔÇÖt remember ever seeing more than three BeemerÔÇÖs at the same time. Even when the Beemer guys ride with a group they tend to hang towards the back and spend more time socializing with other Beemer riders they run into than their own group.

I know we are all different but are most Beemer riders loaners or are we more interested in riding than stopping every 50 miles to look at each others chrome and share the glory of our new pipes?

We have a reputation for being arrogant or snooty. I think it is because as a group we are a little more serious about our riding than other groups. A lot of riders will do a 100 mile poker run and say Wow that was a great ride. To me 100 miles is a snack. I am ready for the next 200 but everyone else wants to call it a day and head for the bar.

Just curious what others think.

I have ridden in groups, but more than 3 people and its a train. I guess by nature I would be called a loner, like it was said before I prefer to run my own pace.

[JohnHall]

Yes, we're loners.
There must be something that draws us to this type of bike. I am frequently asked to join in a group ride that my company organizes on holidays. They all gather on their "American Chopper" rides and hit the highway for a nice 60 mile ride to a restaurant, usually with a stop OR TWO on the way. In the mix of riders are several who just got their bike from a cousin and haven't been riding that long. They always want to ride duces (like they saw on CHIP's as a kid)....a killer dangerous situation.
I've had my bike for 16 years and have rarely ridden with others mainly because I don't seek out riding partners, don't need them. The reason I ride is a great brain clearing therapy that only a few seem to understand and statisically those people seem to ride BMW's.
About 15 years ago I was riding through Olathe KS in January and saw a sole rider on a GS in one of the worst snow storms I can remember. I in the comfort of my company truck was warm and snug. I can only remember one thing from that encounter....I gotta get a GS .
I have recently ridden with a coworker who is like minded and we have plans of trying some of the Ironbutt events. He rides a Honda but he's still OK, I drag him to BMW dealers at every opportunity. You don't have to be a loner all the time but don't feel the need to join up with a group for validation.

[jmerlino]

One of the things I like about Beemer people is that they like to ride. There's nothing that drives me battier than standing around.

I don't care if it's solo or in a group, I just want to ride. For long trips, I think I think I prefer going solo, or with one other rider. I tend to get frustrated in larger groups because I can't ride my own pace.

[IRONMAN]

Yeah I am kind of like the rest of you. I like to ride for the sake of the ride. My girlfriend and I ride with a club when time permits but I find myself getting frustrated when we spend an hour and a half a Ruby Tuesdays when it is 75 and sunny. I like the fellowship of hanging out and BSing with other riders but when it is time to ride then lets ride!!!!


I was beginning to think something was wrong with me Glad I am not the only loner

[BobFV1]

I'm pretty much a loner on any touring ride - for short stuff around town I will sometimes ride with a buddy, or meet them somewhere.

[dick]

Each time I take one of those personality tests for work I test as an introvert but I am not sure that makes me a loner.

I like to ride with other folks but I do tend to be rather picky about who they are. It is a ride not a hand holding exercise - if you miss a turn you should be prepared to get your ass where you need to be without getting pissed off at the other folks on the ride. Organized club rides are another creature altogether.

As noted above - I could also be a loaner but I am really particular when it comes to loaning stuff.

[RevWillie]

I guess that the best way to put it is this:

While riding the motorcycle, Beemer owners are generally loners...you will not see groups of BMW's much larger than 4 bikes in a group on the road. Granted, there are occasions of multiple BMW's in a large group, but they have occurred very few times in my experience (usually during a National).

However, when NOT riding the bike, then Beemer owners do group together. The National Rallies are a good example, and I see it happening every Sunday at our Biker's Breakfast down here. Generally, BMW riders are very socialble and enjoy the company of "involved" riders (riders who ride, not pose as riders)

[85801]

I would guess most of us are busy in every day life, so it it relaxing to just ride. I answer questions for a living, so when I ride, silence, looking at scenery, and daydreaming are cool things to do. Before you know it, the yellow light is on.It's good tharapy and a lot more fun than sitting on the couch.

[iRene]

My husband, for example, is no loaner, he's a KEEPER!

[PacWestGS]

I'm with 'him/her'. Oh wait a minute that's another thread. I have to know you pretty well before I'll loan anything out. But, as far as riding goes, just me, just me and my wife on pillion, or just me and a freind on a less than 300-mile day. Well, that should pretty much summarize it, 'Just Me'

I'm pretty much a loner anyway, I work and play well with others, but I prefer to be by myself or with my wife; why complicate things they get that way without any help from others.

It's supposed to be relaxing, or mind clearing, not worrying about if the last guy/gal in the ride is still back there, "I don't like to ride in the rearview mirror, my attention has to be ahead and thinking forward." When I stop doing that, it is time to 'Pose and shine the chrome and watch others ride by. (non-ETOH) (EDIT: Maybe that's why all the RUBs and Ricky-Racer types need to stop all the time, they need to wait for the inexperienced to catch up, by the time (with exceptions) people can afford a Beemer they don't need to wait for people and they will ride in smaller, more skilled groups, just my opine)

[BRADFORDBENN]

I think the hard part is that there are so many different riding styles, so finding riders with the same riding style is hard. Also most BMW Riders like to ride to meet friends where they the covort and have fun.

I know that there are very few people I will ride with cause finding people with the same riding style is hard. I ride a little conservative for some people. That is fine with me and fine with them. We then meet up further down the road.

I think the reason that you see less groups of BMW is we as riders are more likely to drop out of group if it doesn't fit our riding style; where as many other brands don't have that feeling. Not casting dispersions, just a different I have seen.