Book Review: The Art of BMW - 85 Years of Motorcycling Excellence

 I recently arranged a deal with motorbooks.com whereby they'd send me books I showed an interest in and they let me review them in my examiner.com byline.

The regular readers of this byline of mine know I favor the BMW Motorcycle Marque almost to a fault so my first book review should come as no surprise to you.

      

  
The book's author is Peter Gantriis and the wonderful photography is by Henry Von Wartenberg.  It is a coffee table type book in that its main attraction are the beautifully photographed motorcycles made by BMW from the first model in 1925, the R32 to the 2007 R1200S motorcycle.  All of them are beautiful machines in their own right.

Now, while the photographs are great, the author's writings on the history of BMW and the particular tidbits of information on specific models is what makes the book a must-have book for any BMW Motorcycle enthusiast!

Some snippets from the book's information that I found personally interesting:

Origins:  The first motorcycles made with the BMW M2B15 which was the first version of the famed Boxer engine were the Flink and the Helios, both of which never caught on due to weak frames.  The engine was loved but the frames were lacking.  Max Fritz was given the job of designing a proper motorcycle frame by BMW and the result was the R32, it was the start of a legendary marque.

The R32 was the first motorcycle to have the M2B33 (a descendant of the M2B15) side-valve boxer twin that produced a modest 8.5 horsepower.  It was mounted transversely across the chassis, virtually the same layout used in every BMW Boxer since.

 picture source: Wikipedia History of BMW Motorcycles

1941:  The R71:   Regular readers of mine also know I ride a Ural Sidecar Rig, the first versions of which were a direct copy of the BMW R71 made for the German Army before World War II.  Here's some tidbits I found interesting:

Designed primarily as a sidecar motorcycle, the R71 was designated to replace the aging R12.  Its power came from the familar side-valve 746cc engine fed by twin Graetzin carburetors.

The final run of R71s was made in the spring of 1941, the exigencies of the war forced this line of motorcycles to end and the military version, the R75, came out at the same time that spring.

                                                        picture source: bmw-motorrad.com

The r90S, BMW's high-performance flagship, appeared in 1974, and it caught the entire motorcycling community by surprise.

 R90S from Bob's Old Bike Ride #7

With its remarkable new fairing and beautiful paint finish, the R90S set new styling standards-not just for BMW, but for the entire motorcycling industry.

It is the R90S's style and flair that I sought to emulate by attaching an "S" fairing onto Brigitta, my 1987 R80 Beemer.

 

 Brigitta, my R80 BMW wit the S Fairing of the Iconic R90S BMW

In sum, this book is the perfect coffee table type book for the motorcycling enthusiast who wishes to illustrate to non-cognoscenti the beauty he or she sees in the BMW Motorcycle Marque.  Though some technical details are inherently unavoidable as you are reading about riding machines, the photographs take center stage for the reader.

I will be reviewing other books about the BMW Boxer twin motorcycles, each book increasing the level of technical detail and complexity it relates to the reader.  I see this book as the "gateway" book into the world of BMW motorcycles, it is "eye candy" for the motorcycling enthusiast in your life.

 This book is distributed by motorbooks.com, if you end up buying the book due in part to this review, please let them know.

Uraling and hiking with my family in the Rocky Mountain National Park

This past Sunday was the final day of our stay in Estes Park, CO as we visited the Rocky Mountain national Park (RMNP).  The day before, Saturday, had been spent riding up Fall River Road (dirt road that spanned part of the park before the advent of Trail Ridge road; and also riding up and down Trail Ridge Road to and from the tourist town of Grand Lake, CO.

Sunday however, the main objective was to do some hiking from the Bear Lake Trailhead, as a family.  We rose early, had a quick bite and coffee and rode to the Bear Lake Trailhead's parking lot before it filled up for the day.  Note:  the parking lots for all the trailheads seem to fill up quick on nice days like we had this past weekend, get there early if you can.

You get to Bear Lake Road via the Beaver Meadows Ranger Station off of US36 and CO66 junction.  You "bear left" soon after transiting the Ranger toll booth and soon your twisting and turning your way on a two lane paved road through heavily forested areas.  At the end of the road is the trailhead's parking lot and this magnificent view of Flattop Mountain:

The view from the Bear Lake Trailhead Parking lot

A closer view of Flattop Mountain

I parked next to the family minivan and used it as a storage point for my riding gear.  Once all four of use were ready, we walked up to the starting point for the trails.   We elected to try the Alberta Falls hiking trail as it was about 1.1 miles to the falls.  I have to say, next time, I'll wear hiking boot, my Oxtar motorcycling boots did fine but there was some "slop" in the boots.

The trails run through thick pine forests so you're in the cool shade most of the time.  Still, even in the coolness of the shade we soon were shedding our outer layer.  We walked with no rush, allowing the boys to climb the occasional rock as we came upon it.  There were other folks on the trail but you didn't get that crowded feeling at all.

After a slight climb, we finally got to Alberta Falls, we'd been hearing the roar of the falls for quite a few minutes beforehand and had been anticipating viewing the fall for several turns in the trail.  Just before the falls, Miles aka Thing Two engaged this squirrel in a "staring contest" where the object is to see who blinks first:

Staring Contest!

The squirrel won by the way.  These suckers act quite unafraid of the hikers, I think previous people have ignored the "no feeding the wildlife" signs and caused these squirrels to act like beggars.

The Winner of the staring contest

A few more feet and we were at the Alberta Falls, and they were quite the sight.  Yes, they are worth the short hike by the way.

Alberta Falls

The Chang Gang at Alberta Falls

I decided to walk up further to the top of the falls to see what was there and the boys came with me.  Martha decided to sit it out at the falls and enjoy the scenery at that level.  The climb was not hard at all, mostly making our way up through the many boulders and rocks.  We got to the top and saw this:

At the top of Alberta Falls

The boys and I rested for a bit and then headed back down to rejoin my wife.  We elected to return by the way we'd come and took the shortcut to the free bus shuttle by Glacier Gorge trailhead.  You see, the return trip back to Bear Lake would have been uphill most of the way and we're just not the energetic type of hikers!  : )

 Downstream of the Alberta Falls

A short wait, with bathroom breaks worked in, and we got onto the pretty full bus for the short ride up to the Bear Lake Trailhead and our vehicles.  We broke for lunch at the minivan and watched as latecomers in their cars searched sometimes in vain for parking space.  Did I mention you have to get there early?

After lunch we went back and chose the less than one mile hike around Bear Lake.  It's quite the nice lake and the path around it is well maintained and mostly flat.  The predominant terrain feature, besides the lake itself is a nice view of Flattop Mountain.

The view of Flattop Mountain from Bear Lake

Marthacam: Did I mention Miles likes to climb rocks?

Marthacam: Bear Lake

Marthacam: Bear Lake

It rained light on us briefly as we circled the lake, quite refreshing actually.  Soon enough we were done with the hiking and I geared up once again for the ride home while Martha got the minivan and boys ready for their ride home.

Here's some of the sights both Martha and I saw on the way out of the RMNP:

Marthacam: Near Moraine Valley

Near the Moraine Valley

We both took the CO7 route out of Estes Park since it was more scenic being as its part of the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway.  Road conditions were good, traffic was light and the weather was warm, it would get quite warm as I got to Denver.

Natasha on CO7 with Long's Peak in the far background

Natasha on CO7 with Saint Malo's Church in the background

I made it home by 3:30PM, my wife and sons having arrived before me by about 30 minutes.  Less than 300 miles of riding all weekend but I felt a bit tired nonetheless.  Natasha however did great!  No issues except for some minor backfiring when doing engine braking.  I hoped you enjoyed the photos of the trip to the RMNP by myself and my family.

Uraling with my family in the Rocky Mountain National Park

My loving wife, two sons and I met up in Estes Park this past Friday, they'd ridden up during the afternoon and I after work.  We were staying at the Tyrol Inn in Estes Park and we were going to explore The Rocky Mountain National Park's roads.    

Saturday, after a hearty breakfast, I had Miles, my #2 son or as my wife calls him: "Thing Two" rode off in the sidecar with me and we made our way to the Fall River Entrance to the Rocky Mountain National Park, from this point forward to be referred to as RMNP.

My loving wife and Patrick, #1 son or Thing One, rode the family minivan along the Trail Ridge Road since it was rumored "better" for cautious drivers.  Ironically, it would turn out rougher (due to construction) than the "oh don't take a motorcycle there" Fall River Road!

Here's a couple of shots by Martha as they rode along Trail Ridge Road:

Marthacam: You can see the valley portion of the RMNP far below

Marthacam: One of the many mountain peak ranges visible from Trail Ridge Road

Marthacam

The weather was partly cloudy and warm down near Estes Park, it would steadily become more overcast and colder as the day wore on but still not bad at all.  I think the lowest temperatures we experienced were in the high 40s, low 50s at the highest point on Trail Ridge Road at the Alpine Visitor Center.

The ranger at the gate to the park shook her head and clucked.  Apparently she wanted to make sure that I understood that park personnel "did not recommend taking a motorcycle up Fall River Road".  I assured her that my Ural Sidecar rig could handle it and off we went.

The road turned out to be quite tame in comparison to other roads where I've taken motorcycles.   It was nice packed dirt and not very rough terrain at all.  The "many switchbacks" that park literature warned about were not bad at all, easy to negotiate whether on two or three wheels!  Yes, its narrow in parts but since they've made it a one way road, no worries about oncoming traffic coming down the road!

A sidecar rig's passenger's nickname is "the monkey".  I can tell you that was quite the fitting nickname for Miles.  He kept hitting me on the right leg asking me to climb the rock formations we rode by.  Finally, my leg hurt enough that I stopped and let him climb up this retaining wall to the next level of the trail.

I'll admit it made me a bit nervous seeing Miles climb higher and higher but he did fine.

As you can see, nice level hard packed dirt road, very nice for the Ural

Our own look at the valley below where we'd started.  

That mountain to the right shields us from view by folks on Trail Ridge Road.

Our closest encounter with the park's wildlife:  

A yellow-bellied Marmot.  

This one was no coward though, he'd been eating something on the road and did not retreat as I came to a stop next to him.  I turned the engine off after about a minute and then he scooted up into nearby rocks to keep watching us.

The requisite shot, by Miles, of the Pass sign we saw as we rode along Fall River Road

Here's Miles posing with Natasha as we neared the bowl shaped depression next to the Alpine Visitor's Center on Trail Ridge road, which lies on the other side of the mountain.

Miles takes my picture, he's pretty good eh?

Climbing away from "the bowl"

Did I mention he likes to climb on top of rocks?

One last shot of "the bowl" from the rocky outcropping where Miles climbed the rock above

As you can see, not much snow remains on Fall River Road. 

Plenty of folks before us though, leaving their mark.

Last look back at the Fall River Road, just before we got to the Alpine Visitor Center.

We met up with my loving wife and #1 son Patrick at the Alpine Visitor center. After a brief break, I swapped monkeys and now had Patrick as my sidecar companion.  We rode on US34 towards Grand Lake for lunch, my wife ahead of us most of the way.

 Marthacam: One of the views from the Alpine Visitor Center

Marthacam:  Patrick and I leaving the Alpine Visitor Center

 Patrick at Milner Pass

 Patrick must have not slept well in the hotel the night before because he fell asleep about halfway down to Grand lake!  He woke though when I stopped after having spotted a crowd of vehicles parked on the shoulder of the road, the family minivan included.  Turns out everyone was gazing at this moose:

Marthacam: This moose is probably wondering why all the people are gawking at him

After a nice lunch in Grand Lake, and some easygoing walks along the lake and shops of the town, we headed back towards the RMNP.  Miles was again my monkey and we rode up towards the Alpine Visitor Center where we'd arranged to meet back up with my wife, Patrick and the minivan.

Marthacam: Fooling around at the RMNP's sign near Grand Lake

The first glimpse of the RMNP's mountains from the Grand Lake Entrance to the park

Miles and Natasha with some of the peaks visible to you when riding up from Grand Lake

At the Alpine Visitor center, I swapped monkeys once again and rode eastward towards Estes Park with Patrick in the sidecar rig.  The weather had turned cooler but we were both well bundled up against the windy conditions.

Marthacam: Patrick gets his "rider briefing" from me at the Alpine Visitor Center

Marthacam: Ready to ride....

More peaks for viewing from Trail Ridge Road

I liked the way the rain clouds crowned this mountain range

Some of the magnificent mountains visible from Trail Ridge Road

Hmmm, that looks like rain coming our way

One last shot of the incoming front's clouds

We met up with my wife and Miles at the Falls River Visitor Center where she took both boys with her to do a little shopping in downtown Estes Park.  It had rained lightly on both Patrick and I as we made our way slowly back to Estes Park through the RMNP.  Of course, Patrick wouldn't know since he once again went to sleep on me in the sidecar!  Must be something soothing in the way Natasha's motor sounds and how the sidecar felt as we rode along.

That's my son, fast asleep, never even noticed it rained on us on the way down

Marthacam: A well rested Patrick

I went back to the motel, checked the oil on Natasha worked on this posting.  A pretty good day's worth of riding with my favorite two monkeys taking turns riding in the hack.