Hi Ladies, and also Gentlemen,
thank you for your warm welcome!
Of course I like to tell you whereabouts I come from, about my bike and more (if it's not too indiscreet
)
I am 40 years of age, live in Solingen/Germany/Europe/World (homeland of the R65) and work in a medical / paramedical profession. My first R65 was built in '83, the other one in '82. Ones plate is authorically registrated for Summer season and is a naked-bike with windscreen, the other is for the Winter-Season and has a pichler-fairing (the old TX one, made with GRP-Material (not PVC-plastic). I usually change them in November, when temperature goes beneath 0 centigrade (then, the airhead shows its great advantage as foot-heating).
My biking 'career' started in '86 with a 400GSX Suzie, which I kept until last year. But we parted friendly and I gave her into good care (hope, she still is). Also last year I bought my two BMW's and sold the car and decided to live my dream, that started when I had the Suzie very freshly.
So, here I am
I like to add something; maybe I can introduce the original nickname for our bikes to you
(
Rich just learned it in the german board):
In Germany, the BMW-Airhead is called "Q". That refers to the pronounciation of the letter (in german like "coo"). Explaination: A very famous german test-driver for Cycles throughout the 50/60's gave the name "Gummikuh" ("rubber-cow") due to the elevator-effect when pulling the throttle. A cow uses to rise the same way, with the hind-legs first. And "rubber" due to the soft suspension of the fork and frame the early BMW's used to have (the testers name: Ernst "Klacks" Leverkus: "goes like a rubber-cow"). This abbreviated into "Kuh" (cow) and further into "Q". So, we Airhead-Drivers could be seen as Cow-Drivers in a sense (yiiiiiiha *g*). Non-BMW Drivers say it as a cussword, the elder say it with respect and the owners use the letter Q in a smoochy way
. I proudly wear the letter Q on my number-plate (like many of us here in germany). Those, who own a "big one" (R80 and above) refer to their R65/45 as "my calf".
have fun, regards
Stefan
