Newbie from the IL/WI state line

[Paper]

Howdy all!! :hi1:
I'm a 20 year + MC camper, but always looking to share info and learn new stuff, too!!
I service paper machines at paper mills all over North America, and like to get out a few weekends every summer for a few nights in a tent, rather than in a Holiday Inn Express..

My current steeds are a 05 DL1000 V Strom and a 2002 KLR650. I'm a former BMW rider and am still a life BMWMOA member..

Usually, if it's a long trip, or two up, the Strom goes.. If it's only a couple nights and within 500 or so miles from home, the KLR goes.. I usually try to do one week long vacation on the bike, tenting it the whole time, and then hit a few local bike rallys. My favorite being the Wisconsin Moto Guzzi Club's rally at Lake Joy Campground near Belmont, WI

Anyway, I'm looking forward to being a part of the group here..

My bikes:
My KLR ready for a ride to the National BMW rally a couple years ago in Lima, OH.. I left the BMW in the garage and rode the KLR for kicks..
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h276/djpagel/SmallTourin20KLR.jpg

Here's the V Strom before I strapped the tent and sleeping bags to the rack..
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h276/djpagel/S4200004.jpg

[mongo]

Welcome Paper! This is a good bunch of rider/campers here. Hope you enjoy your stay.

[Trailace]

Welcome Paper glad you found the site.

You got a couple of nice rides there. I will be looking for a 650 or smaller duel sport this spring. (I hope)

[funny-biz]

Hello, Paper!

I'm in Port St. Joe, former home of the late St. Joe Paper Company. Welcome aboard, looking forward to hearing some of your advice.

[Mellow]

Welcome to the site!

[Paper]

Hello, Paper!

I'm in Port St. Joe, former home of the late St. Joe Paper Company. Welcome aboard, looking forward to hearing some of your advice.

Hey Funny-Biz,
I changed the slice lip on the the headbox on one the machines at St. Joe, years ago.. Former Beloit guy.. Former as in past tense, not former work.. :D (Sorry everyone, paper machine joke)

Trailace,
The KLR's a fun bike, rock solid, and pretty cheap to purchase.. It's a good ol' mule, and 250+ plus miles between fillups doesn't hurt, either.. Not bad off road, if you air the tires down. I'm currently running Michelin Anakees on it (great street, not so great off road) and had a good time riding the trails up by Houghton and Copper Harbor, MI a few weeks ago.. The trails were wet, slippery, or sandy, or all of the mix and I plugged through it just fine.. Here's a pic of one of my riding buddies after I had already passed through..

http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h276/djpagel/S4200150.jpg

Very fun street bike, too.. I blame my KLR for becoming a non-BMW rider. My R1100R sat in the garage all last summer, other than one 2-up rally trip and a ride around Lake Superior.. Other than that, the KLR got most of the miles.. If you get a chance, take one for a ride.

The V Strom's just gonna get me in trouble with the law, someday..
:rolleyes:

[STeveGray]

Hey, Paper. Welcome. I've been very tempted by some of the dual sports they're coming out with now. I'm on an ST1300 and love it but it was definitely a happier bike on the street than it was when I took it out on some fire roads. :rolleyes:

You know, Paper, you're going to have to change your user title pretty soon. You don't stay new here for very long. :D

[Trailace]

BMW Will have 3 new 650 bikes out soon saw a few black and white picturs today. Maybe they will be something I could deal with. :rolleyes:

[Paper]

BMW.. Grumble grumble grumble.. :mad:

Don't get me wrong.. I don't have a problem with the bikes, or the riders.. It's the company and how they treat dealers..

I know of way to many BMW dealers that have given up or went under because BMW requires them to be BMW only, and BMW pretty, with the new building in their cookie cutter BMW shop layout..

I've been a BMW rider since 1986, and have owned up to 4 of them at one time. I'm also a lifetime BMWMOA member and have close to 200K BMW miles.. But, as you can see, I don't own one anymore.. (although I'm kicking around buying back a 1986 R65 I sold a friend a few years ago):rolleyes:

Also, I'm not, in any way, telling anyone not to buy BMW... I'm just not happy with the company, personally..:(

Here's my last BMW.
http://i66.photobucket.com/albums/h276/djpagel/R1100RQuarter.jpg

[msscull]

Welcome from Texas

[mongo]

BMW Will have 3 new 650 bikes out soon saw a few black and white picturs today. Maybe they will be something I could deal with. :rolleyes:


From what I hear BMW is going to import the new 800 series of rides. They now offer an F800 S and ST, and the GS version is on the way. From what i also hear they are 90+ HP, being powered by a paralell (best spelling I can come up with! ) twin, manufactured by rotax. Rotax is known for bulletproof engines.

[mongo]

Sorry for the thread hijack, I just think this is going to be one hell of a ride.

[Mellow]

No problem with the hijack, that's a sweet looking bike.

[Trailace]

From what I hear BMW is going to import the new 800 series of rides. They now offer an F800 S and ST, and the GS version is on the way. From what i also hear they are 90+ HP, being powered by a paralell (best spelling I can come up with! ) twin, manufactured by rotax. Rotax is known for bulletproof engines.

I hope they do it would be on my list.