Through a special agreement with BMW MOA, every purchase of BMW items made at a BMW Motorrad dealership based in the United States or online at SHOPBMWMOTORCYCLES.COM between December 1 and December 31, 2024 can qualify for the rebate. Purchasers MUST be a BMW MOA member at the time of purchase and submit documentation within 60 days of the purchase date to support the claim. (Hint: Use the handy form below to submit your rebate request.)

In this streamlined process, no participation or agreement from the selling retailer is necessary. Claims for rebates will be managed by the MOA and members are free to support the dealer of their choice where Original BMW parts, gear and accessories are available. The rebate is currently scheduled for the remainder of 2024 but can be withdrawn by BMW Motorrad USA at any time.

Claims for qualify purchases can be submitted below and will be processed within 60 days for payment to the BMW MOA member.

Terms & Conditions

• Existing BMW MOA members who purchase BMW Motorrad Original Apparel, Original Accessories, Original Parts, Original Classic Parts, Original Service Parts, and Replacement OEM Parts purchased in store at an authorized BMW Motorrad dealership or online at shopbmwmotorcycles.com and receive 20% back.
• Offer excludes all new motorcycle sales, bicycles, ConnectedRide Navigator, Battery Charger Plus, R 1300 GS/A accessories, shipping, tax, services, labor and/or additional dealer charges.
• Complete the online claim form and provide your original BMW dealer invoice.
• Claims must be submitted within 60 days of invoice date to qualify for rebate.
• 20% discount payout is based on the total invoiced retail price of products invoiced at the time of checkout.
• Offer valid for purchases at authorized BMW Motorrad dealers in the United States or online at shopbmwmotorcycles.com.
• Offer not valid on merchandise purchased prior to November 30, 2024 and cannot be combined with any other offer, discount, or promotion.
• Incomplete submissions will not be accepted or fulfilled.
• Rebate is paid by BMW MOA check. Please allow 60 days to receive your rebate check.
• BMW of North America reserves the right to modify or discontinue this offer at any time without notice.

VALIDITY OF OFFER: Offer valid for purchases made at US BMW Motorrad retailers or online at shopbmwmotorcycles.com. Offer is void where taxed, restricted or prohibited by law. Offer is valid only for BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Members (MOA) with a valid MOA membership at the time of purchasing eligible BMW Motorrad Original Apparel, Original Accessories, Original Parts, Original Classic Parts, Original Service Parts, and Replacement OEM Parts in accordance with the terms herein. ©2024 BMW of North America. The BMW trademarks are registered trademarks.

Check the status of your rebate online at bmwmoa.org/page/rebates-status

From now to December 4, enjoy exclusive savings*:

• $50 OFF when you spend $300 - $499.99 with promo code HOLIDAY50
• $100 OFF when you spend $500 - $999.99 with promo code HOLIDAY100
• $200 OFF when you spend $1,000+ with promo code HOLIDAY200

Shop online or visit your local BMW Motorrad dealer to grab these limited-time offers and Make Life a Ride.

*Terms and conditions below apply!

• All items available while supplies last.
• Prices exclude taxes and / or shipping and handling charges.
• Offer valid from 11/20/2024 through 12/04/2024 11:59 PM (EST).
• Tax and installation not included.
• Dealer delivery times may vary.
• Enter Promo Code at checkout to determine eligibility.
• Promo Code offers are not stackable (i.e. multiple coupon codes cannot be applied to a single order, including 10% BMW MOA member rebate)
• Offer excludes all new motorcycle sales, bicycles, ConnectedRide Navigator, Battery Charger Plus, R 1300 GS/GSA accessories, hard parts, chemicals, shipping, tax, services, labor and/or additional dealer charges.
• Limited time offer. Offer expires on 12/04/2024 at 11:59pm (EST).
• Orders submitted after the offer period ends do not qualify.
• See your local BMW Motorrad dealer for details.
  

The Fontana Village Resort in Fontana Dam, North Carolina, served as the home for the men and women who constructed the magnificent Fontana Dam in the 1940s. The resort is undergoing a $70 million renovation and was recently designated as Official Destination of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America. The resort lodge rooms have been updated and numerous cabins are complete or in the process of being updated. Tent and RV sites are still available at the Dam Campground. 

Arrive anytime on Friday and join us for a reception in the Recreation Hall. We’ll have a hot dinner with cool drinks and a cash bar available. This will be a great time to mingle and make new friends as we tell tall tales, kick tires and take names!

Plan your Saturday adventure along the great roads and interesting spots which beckon no matter which direction you go. The almost endless list of roads includes the famous Deal’s Gap, the Cherohala Skyway and the Blue Ridge Parkway. Suggested rides vary in length so you can choose what best fits your schedule for the day.

Whatever you plan for Saturday, make sure you are back at Recreation Hall in time for a fantastic North Carolina-style barbeque dinner. Be prepared to share details of your day’s adventure with those at your table! We’ll give away over $500 in great door prizes, too, so book your Fontana Getaway now as space is limited and we anticipate this Getaway will sell out quickly.

The $149 event fee includes a Friday night welcome party and dinner with cash bar, Saturday night dinner and awards with cash bar, over $500 worth of door prizes and a special MOA gift. The Getaway event fee does not include lodging. Register for the event online at bmwmoa.org/event/fontana25. For information on accommodations or to make your room reservations, contact the resort at (828) 498-2211 and be sure to mention you are reserving space for the BMW MOA Getaway. More information on the resort can be found at FONTANAVILLAGE.COM and rates will be guaranteed through February 21, 2025.

Visit our Event Calendar for more info on more events!

While supplies last, you can even get a free pair of socks when you spend over $100 at the MOA Gear Store. We'll help you arrive in style at your next motorcycling event.

Not only do you get free embroidering and shipping on all the MOA Lifestyle items, but for a limited time you can get special pricing ($74.99) on this warm and versatile hoodie. The deal runs through November 10, 2024, so don't hesitate!

The Cliff Hanger Pullover Hoodie features maximum warmth, a natural stretch, high breathability and tremendous comfort. Its cotton/polyester fleece construction features an adjustable drawcord hood to snug out the cold when you need it, and the jersey-lined hood and kangaroo front pocket will keep your hands warm too. All the screen-printed inks are PVC- and phthalate-free for your safety, and of course that snazzy MOA embroidery looks sharp anywhere you go.

The Cliff Hanger Pullover Hoodie is available in sizes Small through 3X Large, in three color schemes—black/camo, Imperial blue and fiery red. Order easily through the dedicated MOA Lifestyle portal and stay warm all year round! Orders take approximately three weeks after the order date; members will receive updates as the order progresses.

First up is the most popular item in the MOA Lifestyle Collection - the Klim Maverick jacket.  The Maverick Down Jacket is lightweight and highly wind resistant, adding essential warmth to any situation. It’s packable for travel, versatile for use as a stand-alone jacket or under an outer shell, and features subdued sensibilities that make it perfectly suited as a motorcycle layer. To reduce down loss, the Maverick uses engineered seamless baffles without stitch holes to keep down in place. An added benefit of this construction technique is reduced snagging – this is important for motorcycle use. The Maverick is your go-to jacket for everything from mountain passes to the office.

The Maverick jacket is available for $249 in size small through 3X-large. Three colors are available - the most popular Potter's Clay, Pewter and Stealth Black. The BMW MOA member price of $249 includes embroidered MOA logo on the chest and free shipping. Orders take approximately three weeks after the order date and members will receive updates as the order progresses.

Order your Maverick Jacket before September 27 for best availability of size and color!

Potter's Clay	Pewter	Stealth Black

The Airhead 247 podcast is joining a great line up of moto-focused podcasts produced and distributed by the BMW MOA. Hosted by MOA member and BMW Owners News contributor, Daren Dortin, the popular podcast features conversations with independent mechanics, product developers and aficionados of the classic airhead BMW motorcycles produced from 1970 to 1995, also known as the “Type 247 boxer.” 

If you are an Airhead rider, you will recognize many of the guests in this series, including Hans Muth, Chris Hodgson, Matt Parkhouse and Hans Christian. If you’re generally a motorcycle enthusiast, this a great opportunity to add some knowledge to your database and enjoy some great motorcycle talk.

To learn more about Airhead 247 and listen to the latest episodes, visit airhead247.com. Or catch up on the latest Airehad247 episodes below.

WILLIAM PLAM

William Plam from Boxer 2 Valve joins Airhead247 to discuss German traffic laws, German beer and the process of registering and maintaining a motorcycle in Germany. We also have a short recap of William’s adventures at this past year’s MOA National Rally. George Thomas from Air Support BMW also joins our chat this week to discuss shipping parts—something many of us do on a regular basis.

Hans Muth (part 1)

Airhead aficionados know Hans produced designs for legendary BMW motorcycles including the R 90 S, R 100 RS, R 80 G/S and R65 LS. Muth’s work and landmark styling were key to helping BMW maintain viability with its Motorrad division in the 1970s and early 80s. One note about this interview—the audio signal we had for Hans leaves a bit to be desired and we apologize for this on the front end. Yes, it sounds like it's coming thru the original trans-Atlantic cable—but—we had one chance to get Hans for this and had to roll with it. Normally we’d not air audio with this signal quality but we are making an exception and for good reason.

Hans Muth (part 2)

Part two of our conversation with Hans Muth, hosted by Upe Flueckiger. Upe and Hans discuss paint colors for the RS, BMW marketing and the birth of the R 80 G/S.

If you haven’t registered for the Rhythm & Rides Reunion yet, don’t wait any longer. We’re giving away a set of Metzeler tires to ten lucky winners between now and the end of the year. Winners will be selected every two weeks from everyone registered for the National Rally at the time of the drawing. The sooner you register, the more opportunities you have to win!

To register for the National Rally, go to rally.bmwmoa.org and click “Register Now” on the homepage. The best pricing of the year is available now and if you have already registered, you will be included in the drawings.

Remember, the sooner you register, the greater your chances of riding to the Rally on new rubber!

During the month of September, first responders can renew or extend their membership at special rates by visiting bmwmoa.org/frontline. Also, if you know of someone who serves the community but isn’t an MOA member, please invite them to take advantage of the savings. It’s the least we can do to say, “Thank you for your commitment to our community.”

When renewing, please submit a photo of yourself in uniform or work environment if your organization allows it. We’ll publish a selection of photos and recognize MOA members who serve and make riding BMW motorcycles safer for all of us!

There is a place that, for a moderate fee, will allow you to drive right through the base of one of these giant trees. You can even stop to have your picture taken if you like. Being a dutiful tourist, I of course waited in line for my turn, made friends with the young couple behind me while we hung out for about an hour, pulling forward a car length at a time every now and then. It was a place for stereotypes to thrive. Large, multi-generational families with multi-generational cameras would stop for 10+ minutes while they arranged themselves in different poses. The car in the middle of the tree. Themselves in front of the car. Behind the car. Just the car. Without the car. Each person. Then the entire family. Then with their family and the other family they were traveling with. Then just the couples, then just the kids—all the while frantically yelling directions at each other to get the most natural and relaxed-looking shot.

After that madness was satisfied, the next car would drive under the tree and the whole process would start again. Then there were the angry, skinny pseudo-athletic couples who would walk to the front of the line and tell the people currently at the tree that they were taking too long and being rude, not being considerate of all the people having to wait in line. Then they’d walk back to their car telling everyone as they passed what they had just done, looking for—and receiving some—nods and muttered approvals. Then there were the overweight couples who seemed content to just sit there with their car idling in order to satisfy air-conditioning requirements while they snacked mindlessly on the goodies they brought along, congratulating themselves on their preparedness. “God Bless America for Potato Chips, Diet Soda, Air Conditioning and our Forethought” is what their silent, knowing glances at each other seemed to say. The young family with small kids; momma would get out of the mini van and explore the forest with a toddler in each hand while da-da would wait in the hot minivan, surviving the aroma of stale orange juice, spilt milk with just a whiff of filled diaper, just in case the line moved forward a car length. He sat, tense and afraid of what the unhappy skinny couple behind him would say or do if he didn’t pull his van forward within the allotted 20 seconds. After about 30 minutes in the hot lineup in full riding gear, keeping the bike balanced and not really having a good place to keep my helmet, I found myself wishing I was in the air-conditioned van with the couple enjoying their snacks and diet soda and nodding with eager agreement at their wise decision to be so properly prepared. I spent a total of 60 seconds (or less) getting my picture taken—which felt more like a duty than an experience by the time I reached the poor tree.

How it must hate us. To be surrounded by its majestic, silently brooding brothers while it is the centre of all this unwanted attention. Almost every car or rented minivan would bang their doors against the side of the hollowed out tree trying to get out for picture time. Seeing as the mirrors cleared by a mere inch on either side, I’m not sure how they figured the doors would open wide enough to let them out, but almost every vehicle that stopped in the middle of this poor tree would leave its mark in the form of a tiny dent, one more wound against many in the hollowed-out spectacle. It was one of those bittersweet moments for me, to see something so strong and ancient, somehow wise and resilient, reduced to a freak show for the easily amused. I felt a little ashamed to have taken part in this frivolous event and yet, the picture of me on my bike in the middle of this massive tree with my arms spread wide almost touching the hollowed-out sides is one of my favourite pictures. California Dreaming indeed.

The idea of 13 riding days and a couple days off so Tricia and I can explore Portugal sounds exactly like one of those things we definitely shouldn't miss. A trip like this isn't about big miles, it's about discovering the depths of Portugal's soul. You've probably all heard of the city of Lisbon, but what about Porto, a city in northern Portugal and like Lisbon, right on the Atlantic coast? Or Guimaraes and Evora, inland cities with medieval atmospheres and deep history? I can't think of a better way to visit places like these I might not otherwise find myself in.

Tricia and I are excited to invite you along with us on this unique opportunity with IMTBike, and clockwise loop around Portugal starting and ending in Lisbon. Thanks to IMTBike, we don't have to book any of the hotels (some of which are converted castles!) or learn much Portuguese beyond please, thank you, where is the bathroom, I'd like two beers and would you mind taking our picture. (Sign up on Duolingo to get the basics, it's just good sense when travelling internationally.)

The riding avoids the big roads and we're the most excited about being able to ride through the many small burgs along the way, where we'll get to sample a foreign, but yet not so far-away culture. There's nothing like this kind of trip to remind you how much we all have in common, and how wonderfully most people respond to motorcycles around the world.

IMTBike has a web page with all the details, plus photos of previous tours, and they've set it up so it's easy for MOA members to register via a dedicated web page. You can choose from a number of BMW motorcycles, from the G 310 R on up to the K 1600 GT and everything in-between. IMTBike covers breakfast and dinner on riding days and hauls the luggage in their chase van, freeing you up to focus on riding and absorbing everything around you. IMTBike will even pick you up at the airport!

We hope you'll be able to join us on this fantastic tour, which runs from March 30 to April 13, 2025. IMTBike is eager to fill this tour with MOA Members, and we're looking forward to seeing who will join us on this journey!

Scan this QR code to register now.

The Deschutes County Fairgrounds offered the MOA a beautiful facility with more than 300 acres of lush, green space for tents and the entertainment stage and more square feet of meeting space for seminars, meetings, and meals than we could use. Most amazing of all were the distant panoramic views of the Cascade Mountain range, including the seven snow-covered mountain peaks of Mt. Bachelor, the Three Sisters, Broken Top, and Mt. Jefferson.

I arrived in Redmond on the Sunday before the rally was set to begin to help with setup and preparation. I expected to be one of the first to arrive, but soon discovered I wasn’t. Already there were Rally Chairs Sam Garst and Reece Mullins, along with a platoon of volunteers all eagerly looking for an opportunity to lend a hand. As opening day approached, the once empty spaces filled with the tents; their colors reminded me of an Easter basket filled with colorful jellybeans sitting upon a lush bed of green.

By Thursday, 125 vendors lined the walkways and filled the arena as motorcycles continued to roll in. By the end of the week, nearly 5,000 rally attendees passed through the gates. All told, more than 200 riders advanced their skills through training offered by the BMW Rider Academy, Touratech-USA, ChampU, Ben Dragoo, and Team Oregon. Over 80 seminars informed and entertained, while generous MOA rally attendees donated more than $12,500 in Karol Patzer’s name to the Mountain Star Children’s Relief Fund.

As is always the case with our National Rally, old friends got reacquainted and new friendships were forged. Lucky MOA members Cory Ziegler, Timothy Murphy, and Tony Clasen won new M 1000-series motorcycles, while 18 others took home impressive grand prizes. Even first-time rallygoers Lynn Chadwick and Kendra Summers took home a new set of tires! But don’t take my word for what a great experience the Ridin’ to Redmond National Rally was, here are some of the comments posted on the Rally app:

“Wonderful rally. Heartfelt gratitude to the organizers and volunteers. For the first time, I felt welcomed, took courses and got tips to be a safe rider, made friends, and got inspired to ride long,” said Dheeraj Manghnani.

Ronald Gregory described his time in Redmond by saying, “Enjoyed my time at the rally and getting there was part of the fun, as always. Nice to spend time with Beemer folks. (I) met new people, had random conversations with others, spent too much money, saw new places, and had a blast. Safe travels and see you in Lebanon next year!”

“A truly magnificent rally! Thanks to the rally chairs, volunteers, vendors, and participants. MOA is a great place to meet friends you never knew you had,” -Paul Novak

“Thanks for a great rally. Only my second in 29 years! The world may have changed quite a bit since 1995, but the BMW MOA community continues to be something special,” said Rick Pannemann.

A sampling of images from the 2024 National Rally can be found beginning on page 32 of the August issue of BMW Owners News, while a complete Rally report will be available in our October issue.

Still kicking yourself for missing our annual get-together? Registration is already open for the 2025 MOA National Rally slated for Lebanon, Tennessee. Visit rally.bmwmoa.org to sign up.

The next big event for the MOA comes in early September when Motorrad Fest gives spectators the opportunity to watch the best law enforcement motor officers in the country compete on Friday and Saturday in the Authority Bike Shootout for Law Enforcement Agencies riding BMW motorcycles. At M’Fest, spectators can take their own Authority training provided by the BMW Performance Center, and even "Compete Against the Pros" on Saturday afternoon. For more information, visit bmwmoa.org/events.

I look forward to seeing you down the road.

MotoDiscovery has been exploring the roads of Mexico with loyal BMW MOA members since 1981. What better way to observe this four-decade long relationship than to join a MotoDiscovery tour of Mexico with BMW Owners News contributors Dustin and Janel Silvey? 

The Oaxaca Dia De Muertos ("Day of the Dead") Adventure tour through Mexico will run from October 28th to November 9th, 2024. The tour is a paved road tour and will take advantage of great secondary roads in Mexico. But, it's not just about the riding. Relax each evening with your tour hosts, Dustin and Janel Silvey.

As seasoned world travelers and acclaimed video documentarians, they will be sharing the tour experience in the pages of BMW Owners News. As a special bonus, Dustin, a world-renowned adventure photographer and motorcycle enthusiast, will be generously offering tips on how to hone your photography skills to fully capture the magic of this unique event. The tour finishes with a very special stop at the Dia De Muertos celebration in Oaxaca, Mexico!

The tour begins in Mexcio City before traveling to Cholula where you will stay overnight in a luxurious hotel at the base of the world's largest pyramid. The next day, the tour will take a direct route to Mitla, a city within driving distance of Oaxaca Centro and main plaza for two nights.

Oaxaca has earned a worldwide reputation for its art, weaving, and cuisine. It is also home to mezcal, the high-octane nectar of the gods. Cemeteries will come alive with the setting sun as indigenous natives gather around the graves of loved ones and give offerings to the spirits. Reuniting with the motorcycles, the tour will then ride what is arguably one of the finest riding roads in Mexico to descend from the heights of the Sierra Madres to the Pacific Coast and then will enjoy two nights on the ocean’s edge at Quinta Bella Huatulco.

From there, the tour will begin to tackle more of the great roads Mexico has to offer, as we make our way back to the Valley of Tepoztlan. Along the way, we will enjoy some great stops with the focus on riding, culture, and some amazing cuisine. Then we return the bikes at our last luxurious stop and either spend a few extra days in Mexico City or head home.

Join MotoDiscovery and the MOA on this grand tour as we search out the Day of Dead celebration, hone our photography skills, ride some amazing Mexican roads, and make some new friends. To reserve your spot on the tour, visit MotoDiscovery's website.

Although designed as a benefit for MOA members in Canada, the rebate does apply to anyone who purchases directly from AdMore Lighting, regardless of residence. To qualify for a rebate, MOA members should complete the form below and submit a receipt from AdMore Lighting indicating the items purchased and the amounts paid. Rebate checks will be processed within 60 days for payment to the MOA member.

When renewing, please submit a photo of yourself in uniform or in service if your Service's policies and regulations allow it. We’ll publish a selection of photos and recognize MOA members who serve and make riding BMW motorcycles possible for all of us!

SUBMIT YOUR PHOTO

MOA member Brian Hinton (#135269) had an idea last year for a new way to store motorcycle gear that would be sturdy, functional and even a little elegant—the Helmet Head. It’s even patent pending! He sent me a prototype for feedback, and I refused to return it to him, because yeah, it’s that great of an idea, backed up by excellent execution.

The Helmet Head mounts directly to a wall, and because it’s made of 3/16” carbon steel and a bit hefty, you’ll want to mount it to a stud (which gives you an excuse to go buy a tool, as stud finders work pretty well these days). The mounting bolts look big, but they’re unobtrusive once installed properly. Installation was a breeze, though I took my time and used a level to make sure I got the unit installed perfectly vertical. I made sure to drill guide holes so the stud didn’t splinter, something I consider important when working with wood.

The graceful curve of the helmet holder makes it easy to mount any helmet—simply put your helmet on the holder like you would put it on your head, with a slight front-to-back rocking motion and then slide it gently into place. Leaving the face shield open promotes air circulation, and I found the interior of my sweaty helmet dry the next day without exception, something that didn’t always happen with the Helmet Hitch, as that unit puts the entire neck ring of your helmet flat against the wall and cuts down on airflow (and incidentally, can over time leave black smudges on the wall).

The hooks hanging from the horizontal bar of the Helmet Head allow hanging jackets, pants or gloves—rider’s choice—and you won’t worry about anything happening to even your heaviest leather jacket, as the steel hooks are securely fitted to the bar. Even though I’d like the hooks to be ever so slightly larger, I can easily hang my riding jacket on one side and my insulating layers on the other side. Slightly larger hooks would make things a little speedier for me, but this is a personal preference, not a slam on Brian’s design. Larger hooks would probably look weird in context given the smooth design of the unit.

With its laser-cut preciseness, hand-bent curve and powder-coated durability, the Helmet Head will look good no matter where it’s mounted—house, garage, shed, workshop, wherever. That, plus its made-in-the-USA bulletproof construction, make it a great purchase for any rider. With a secure mount into the studs, you’ll get years of easy, elegant service from your Helmet Head—both now and when the patent comes through.

Find out more about Helmet Head at helmethead.net. Pricing is $109 for just the helmet storage, $119 for helmet storage with jacket hooks. For a limited time, use the discount code BMWMOA when you check out online for a 10% discount.

Since the 2023 Grand Coddiwomple has now officially finished, we can announce the winner of this year’s contest. That winner is Bob Fulton! Bob finished with a grand total of 23,300 points! Congratulations, Bob! In second place was Terence Hamill, with 20,100 points, and in third was last year’s winner, Sharron Zoyhofski, coming in with 19,600 points.

Congratulations to those who made US 50 feel a little less lonely this year and rode all the way from Maryland to California. There were six of you who accomplished this feat, and you will be getting an additional certificate to document this achievement! Great Job!!

1. Sharron Zoyhofski
2. Douglas Olin
3. Bob Fulton
4. Jerry Gilbert
5. Neil Hejny
6. Larry Troutman Sr

Also, The Ridge Line challenge proved to be quite a challenge to a lot of riders who attempted to get to all 25 sites on Skyline Drive and The Blue Ridge Parkway! However, only 9 riders managed to get all of them! Congratulations! You will be getting a certificate to commemorate this achievement!

1. Sharron Zoyhofski
2. Michael Papp
3. Sean Alabaster
4. Bob Fulton
5. Jay Shannon
6. Sid Bordelon
7. Timojhen Mark
8. Larry Troutman Sr
9. John Smith

Everyone else who has finished with the qualifying score of 300 points will receive a certificate of completion along with a commemorative pin with this year's Coddiwomple logo on it. In addition, the MOA has graciously obtained donations for us to have a prize drawing. In appreciation of squirrels everywhere, the following people have been randomly selected and won the following prizes:

Cool and interesting numbers

• We received a total of 10,348 submissions. That’s a lot of photos that were submitted and judged.
• Of the 389 riders who registered, 169 finished the contest with the 300 minimum points needed.
• The challenge with the most submissions was The Count to Fifty challenge, with 4,070 submissions. You all took no prisoners with this challenge, that’s for sure! It was very popular!

Everybody had some grand travels this year! We enjoyed looking at them through your camera lenses. It was good getting caught up with those of you who returned to Coddiwomple with us again!

A big thank you to all the volunteers that helped this year. We truly couldn't have done this without all of you. Thank you for all the hours spent looking at photos, managing emails, and the like. You honestly had no idea what you were getting yourself into when you answered the call, and we appreciate it that you stayed around once you did!

We are looking forward to having all of you participate again next year. Registration will open on Groundhog’s Day February 2, 2024, and the event will start at midnight on April Fool's Day, April 1, 2024, and end at midnight on Halloween, October 31, 2024.

If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to email coddiwomple@bmwmoa.org.

Sincerely,
The Grand Coddiwomple Committee

Here’s the list of finishers for this year’s Grand Coddiwomple:

Flag #, Rider, Total Points
51, Bob Fulton, 23300
24, Terence Hamill, 20100
1, Sharron Zoyhofski, 19600
28, Douglas Olin, 17700
116, Jay Shannon, 16550
40, John Frick, 15550
26, Jane Bixby, 15200
123, Neil Hejny, 14750
53, Jerry Gilbert, 14400
255, Larry Troutman Sr, 13550
202, Sid Bordelon, 12150
256, John Smith, 11900
20, Michael Papp, 11400
54, Richard and Tammy Peebles, 10350
60, Roy Jackson, 10300
35, John Gehlenborg, 10200
66, Jeffery Foster, 9100
165, Paul Ackerman, 9000
21, Sean Alabaster, 8550
78, Wayne Edkin, 8200
94, Mitchell Miller, 8100
239, Garland Mattingly, 8050
115, Johannus Moolenschot, 8050
73, Jeffrey Kramer, 8000
322, Greg Camp, 7900
10, Larry Bloomenkranz, 7800
346, Galen Reinholt, 7500
79, Brian Ellis, 7350
228, Joe Timmins, 7000
119, Geoffrey Wizgird, 6350
152, Mary Begley, 6300
37, David Graves, 6150
4, Steven Marsolek, 6150
260, Gary Miller, 6100
108, Martin Benson, 6050
120, Jeffrey Green, 5950
74, Rick Harvey, 5850
142, Robin Hyde, 5750
257, Eduardo Martinez, 5600
81, Gene Vanessendelft, 5600
89, Paul Hawthorne, 5450
339, Jim Kerr, 5400
46, Michiael ROC ROC Shannon, 5400
211, Timojhen Mark, 5350
392, Ed Pedi, 5350
338, Brian Worsley, 5200
32, Ken Johnson, 5100
42, Brian Burdette, 5100
329, Kathryn Smith, 5050
109, Charles Coons, 5050
110, Annette Schroeder, 5050
140, Bill Edwards, 5000
323, Brian Merrifield, 5000
246, Brett Gorham, 5000
350, Randy Bornhorst, 4650
95, Michael McKaskle, 4400
5, Martin Lewis, 4300
261, Elisa Ivanich, 4300
86, Doug Meloche, 3700
44, Randy Bishop, 3600
212, Stanley McPartland, 3600
25, Rich Sichler, 3150
27, Bill Stranahan, 3150
3, Michael Blotzer, 3000
271, Bob Owen, 3000
375, James Spencer, 2950
61, Tim Argo, 2850
12, Anthony Ignasiak, 2850
6, Thomas Tacke, 2500
56, Albert Wolff, 2300
59, Martin Mondock, 2300
96, Jeffry Smith, 2250
97, Tom Wilmotte, 2200
30, Edward Gullo, 2150
353, Tami Bakke , 2100
136, Guy Wallace, 2000
69, Tim Seawel, 1950
234, Stephen Abell, 1850
17, Don Wreyford, 1850
326, Brian Muir, 1850
127, Hank Pfister, 1800
342, James Bowen, 1700
269, Chet Hepburn, 1550
316, Garrett Wright, 1500
321, James Sidlofsky, 1500
184, Jorn Velaers, 1500
217, Amer Khan, 1400
291, A.C. Almarode, 1300
22, Peter Mikolaitis, 1250
135, Mark Bartreau , 1250
8, Thomas Noble, 1200
103, William Caskey, 1200
118, Bill Van den Noort, 1200
92, Nat Peplinski, 1150
328, Terry Church, 1150
332, Ed Miller, 1100
156, Steve & Melissa Reeves, 1100
16, Carl Schultes, 1050
301, Victor Cruz, 1050
2, Wes Fleming, 1000
244, Jeffrey Harbaugh, 1000
279, David Schklar, 950
64, David Post, 900
240, Thomas Jerdon, 850
62, David Davis, 800
132, Charles Banks, 700
294, Gary Allmond, 700
137, Russ Ristine, 700
88, Scott Leinen , 650
52, Timothy Schwartz , 650
355, John Wayne , 650
312, Michael Makowski, 650
65, Michael Nielsen, 600
38, Richard Russell, 600
401, Mark Tuggle, 600
164, Stanley Cheeseman, 600
39, Meg Russell, 600
134, Larry Burns, 600
87, Nicola Place, 600
121, Ryan Lanci, 550
374, Kenneth Finley, 500
309, Curtis Lenderman, 500
133, Anita Hawk, 500
254, Ric Magrath, 450
285, Mitchell Pearson, 450
201, Nicholas Stokes, 450
236, Daniel Yorkston, 400
58, Jeffrey Severson, 400
295, Malcolm Weatherbie, 400
224, John Riopko, 350
216, Mark Pomerinke, 350
76, Josh Pava, 350
104, Brent Starry, 350
238, Michael Cornett, 350
146, Jeff Martin, 350
41, Bill Walker, 350
377, Kevin Backs, 350
90, Paul Stanford, 350
128, James Burger, 350
112, BJ Herman, 350
155, Glenn Scott, 350
233, John Crittenden, 350
45, Mark Rickards, 350
241, Erin Hoxie, 350
396, Cole Mills, 350
270, Dan Heffern, 300
404, Jospeh Payne, 300
302, Don Edmonds, 300
209, Rich Barnhart , 300
394, Rodney Anderson, 300

Although a  popular benefit of the MOA’s Roadside Protection program, member feedback indicates there is room for improvement in the claims process. Accordingly, the MOA has elected to directly administer the Tire Hazard Protection program rather than outsourcing to a third party.  The MOA Board of Directors believe this change will dramatically improve member satisfaction with the reimbursement claim process.

Changes in the administration of the program will not affect the towing benefits or service network currently provided by NationSafe Driver. For roadside towing or assistance, members should contact NationSafe Driver at (866) 454-4260. Members who have the MOA’s Platinum coverage including tire hazard protection will find an online submission form at bmwmoa.org/tire to submit claim.  

Beginning January 1, NationSafe Driver will no longer accept tire reimbursement claims and will inform the member they do not have tire hazard coverage through NationSafe Driver. All questions concerning the tire protection plans should be directed to the MOA’s Membership Team at (864) 438-0962.

Along with the change to the administration of the tire reimbursement claim process, the MOA is launching a stand-alone Tire Hazard Protection policy. MOA members can now purchase the Tire Hazard Protection without roadside towing benefits. The Tire Hazard Protection plan allows for two tire replacements per year for damage caused by roadside hazards. Coverage for the Tire Hazard Protection plan is $50 per year for MOA members and $79 per year for the general public. 

Over the years, Norm has owned four BMWs: a 1970 R 75/5, a 1976 R 90 S, a 1987 K 100 RS, and his current ride, a 2001 K 1200 RS. All purchased new. He's also got an R nineT on the way!

Through the years, Norm has ridden in 45 states, parts of Canada, six countries in Europe and New Zealand.

Norm Phoenix (right) with MOA Secretary Chad Garcia.

Norm joined the Chicago Region BMW Owners Association in late 1970 and the BMW MOA in 1972; to this day, he remains active with both. In the Chicago club, Norm has served as president, secretary, treasurer and director. Since leaving that board, he has been an active member of Chitech, the club’s technical committee, serving four years as its chairman and many more as assistant chairman.

“I can’t be active in an organization without giving something back in time and effort,” Norm said.

During the 1970s, Norm co-authored a series of articles for BMW Owners News titled “BMW Electrics.” He has presented technical seminars at National Rallies on tune-up procedures and troubleshooting the Airhead charging system. Norm has also volunteered at many National Rallies, assisting with Registration or Tally and Awards. Most recently, Norm has been the Committee Chair for Pioneer Events.

In the 36 years Norm worked as an electrical engineer, he moved around to five different companies in the Chicago area. As a result, he spent most of those years with just two weeks of vacation. BMW MOA National Rallies provided the theme and destination for many of those vacations. Norm said he relishes his involvement with both his Chicago club and the BMW MOA as much now as I did when it all began back in the ‘70s. 

Few other members of the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America have exhibited a higher level of dedication and support to our membership and the BMW marque than Norm Phoenix.

BMW has many fans and friends, and some of them are quite extraordinary. Their personal commitment goes far beyond the call of duty. For this reason, BMW acknowledges their commitment as passionate ambassadors of the BMW brand by
awarding them the title of Friend of the Marque. The only requirement is that the person should be a member of a recognized BMW club, such as the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America.

One of the highest honors in the BMW community, only a small number of BMW MOA members have ever received this award. The title is so prestigious that there are fewer Friends of the Marque than there are former U.S. presidents.

Tourstart is a web and app solution where users can instantly see a tour on both platforms. In addition, users can transfer routes to the BMW Connected app or download a .gpx file to share with fellow riders. Tourstart Transfer software is also available for easy transfer to any other GPS device. No matter how you prefer to create a route, the new app contains an option to meet your needs.

To claim your free access to the web and app, go to tourstart.org/pro and use the voucher code MOA24x. (The voucher code box is in the lower right portion of the screen below the Terms & Conditions box). All tours previously created in the Tourstart app are available in the new version and the creators of Tourstart are available to help users by email at jap@tourstart.org.

Enjoy the twisted rides!

One of the highest honors in the BMW community, only a small number of BMW MOA members have received this award. Ray Zimmerman (#3297) of New Market, Alabama, is the latest BMW MOA member to receive this distinction, based not only on his long history with BMW motorcycles, but with the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America as well. 

Ray Zimmerman (right), with Ted Moyer, who is the current Executive Director of the MOA.

Ray was 15 years old when a neighborhood friend gave him his first motorcycle ride on a 1965 Honda Dream, and he was hooked immediately. A few years later, Ray bought his own bike, a 1971 Honda CL350 and put many miles on that Honda. But after a year and a half, Ray began searching for something new, something better.

Ray’s search took him to many dealerships near his Alabama home, but while looking at a Kawasaki in the showroom of a multi-line shop, he saw his first BMW motorcycle in person. Ray left the shop that day with a new interest in BMW motorcycles. After researching the brand, he began looking at them more closely and was taken aback by the high level of engineering built into the bikes. After one test ride, he realized he had to have one and was soon the owner of a brand new 1973½ R 75 /5. With that bike, Ray began riding seriously and started taking multi-day trips with it. Soon after, Ray joined both the BMW Motorcycle Owners of Alabama and a newly formed organization, the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America.

Two years after buying that bike, Ray and his wife Lorra took a cross-country trip from their home in Alabama and spent the next two weeks riding to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and then to Denver, Colorado, before riding back home. It was the couple’s first of many long-distance trips together. Enjoying spending time riding together soon became a passion for Ray and his wife, and the couple began riding to BMW Club rallies, their first being the Four Winds BMW Riders Club in western Pennsylvania. 

“I was so excited attending that first rally,” Ray said. 

While they lay in their tent, Ray recalls his wife asking him just after midnight, “You know what you forgot to do yesterday?” With a puzzled look on his face Ray asked what it was. “Wish me a happy birthday,” Lorra said.

Describing himself as “always one unable to say no,” Ray’s volunteer service with the BMW Motorcycle Owners of Alabama has included serving the as their newsletter editor, treasurer and president. 

From his first R 75/5, Ray’s next BMW was another R 75, but this time a newer /7 model and over the years, nine other BMW motorcycles followed including a 1965 R 69S, a 1993 K 1100 RS, a 1999 R 1100 RT, a 1976 R 90S, a 2001 K 1200 LT, an R 100 RS, an R 1100 S, an R 80 /7 and a 2004 R 1150 RS. BMW motorcycles have taken Ray to all of the lower 48 United States and to many rallies. Ray is also a certified Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructor and enjoys seeing other riders operate their favorite motorcycle safely while enjoying the freedom of two wheels.

Professionally, Ray’s career included more than 30 years in the United States Army in both active and reserve assignments before retiring with the rank of Colonel in 2000. 

Ray has also been named a BMW MOA Ambassador. Ambassadors are highly experienced and capable members chosen by their MOA peers for their ability to promote the BMW MOA and foster a sense of camaraderie among our members. Serving as official representatives of the MOA at various functions, Ambassadors also act as emissaries for the BMW MOA in their communities and while on the road. To date, fewer than 250 of the more than 26,000 BMW MOA members have received this commendation.

Around the time of Ray’s retirement from the Army in 2000, the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America was looking for their first Executive Director. After an Executive Search committee examined more than 30 candidates, with his experience as a long-time BMW rider, years of work in management and planning, Ray was chosen to lead the BMW MOA.

As he had in his other jobs, Ray hit the ground running and began riding across the country visiting BMW dealerships and BMW MOA Chartered Clubs and attending their rallies. When he began with the organization, the BMW MOA had a membership of 32,000 members and over the next eight years, through the hard work of the club and under Ray’s leadership, membership numbers of the club topped 40,000 as he managed a budget of more than 3.2 million dollars.

During his tenure with the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America, Ray began to streamline club operations and oversaw the moving of club headquarters to a new location in St. Louis. Ray organized and began hosting an annual BMW MOA open house, attracting riders as far away as California, Florida and Texas while offering food and refreshments. A local BMW dealership brought motorcycles by to offer test rides, and door prizes were offered to attendees. Ray was also a frequent contributor to BMW Owners News, and over his tenure worked hard to strengthen the club’s relationship with BMW Motorrad in both New Jersey and Germany.

Of all of the jobs he held over his long career, Ray says his work as BMW MOA Executive Director was the most demanding, and though he worked long hours, he said it was the best job he ever had because he was able to do what he truly loved.

Congratulations to Ray Zimmerman and his deserving recognition as a “Friend of the Marque.”