BMW snobbery

[marcmax]

I recently joined the local BMW owners club and attended a club meeting several weekends ago. Maybe I am being too sensitive but I got the distinct feeling that I was looked down upon because I was on an airhead instead of the latest and greatest two wheeled wonder from Bavaria. There were a couple of other airhead riders there ( I have met them at different rides) and I still enjoyed myself. Yet I still got the feeling that I was somewhat less because I wasn't kitted out in the latest riding gear, with enough electronics gear aboard to launch a space shuttle, and a fuel tank the size of a small tanker truck.

I have been to several gatherings of Airhead club members and always felt like I was welcome but here I felt like I was just tolerated. Needless to say I won't be going back to another meeting and will let my membership lapse.

Does anyone want to comment? Similar or different experiences? Just had to get it off my chest.

[Bob_Roller]

I have observed the same thing as you have .

That's why I let all of my club memberships expire .

I ride my own ride, regardless of what any other riders, BMW or other makes thinks of my bike or my attire, let alone me .

[wilcom]

When you pay $15,000+ for a $10,000 motorcycle ya pretty much have to have your own group of folks to tell ya how smart you are.

Steer clear of them whenever you find them..............

I know, that's stereo typing, but at my age,  I have to make fast judgements, ya never know when the last ride is coming......LOL

[k_enn]

Actually, I have experienced the opposite.  My local BMW mc club is pretty open minded.  I never felt I was looked down upon because I ride an old airhead.  It even seems a few of the oldtimers wished they still had their old airheads.  Some of the younger guys look at me as being brave for riding such an old bike.  Although some joke about other brands, they are not snobbish about them (we have several guys that also own HD, Honda, Guzzis, and other brands).  I found that it just took a couple of meetings for the members to get to know me and loosen up a bit.  

But like Bob (and I suspect like a lot of BMW riders), I am not all that big into doing things as a group.  I almost always ride by myself.  I choose gear that I like, not stuff that others think is cool.  Yes, its nice to keep in touch with others who know what events are going on in the area (charity runs, antique bike shows, etc) and to down a few beers with some company, but I think a lot of us are people that do our own thing.  

k_enn

[Barry]

There is no BMW club branch near to me so I'm not a member but I know someone who rides with them and even though newer bikes predominate they are not a bit snobbish in fact my mate doesn't even ride a BMW. I think that's unusual and  I'm sure different groups vary considerably in members and leadership.

I'm not overly keen on riding in a group anyway after having had some scary moments riding faster than I should have. The age of the bike (and rider) is not up to the standards of the modern stuff.

Over the years I've known of several accidents including 2 deaths of riders who were riding in a group. It had profound effects on the other group members including some hanging up their boots never to ride again.





  

[marcmax]

I really don't know what I was thinking of when I joined the club. I have always ridden alone or with a loose group of friends that are all riding something different. I guess I was expecting more comradery and less one upsmanship.

I ride what I ride because it makes me smile. Every time I fire it up and head out on the road I know I will enjoy myself, whether it is sunshine or rain, fast or slow.

I am a member of this forum for the same reason. I enjoy the fact that we are all here for the same reason. While I may never meet any of the other members I know that if we did pass on the road we would probably stop, admire each others bike, tell a few stories, maybe ride together for a while and then be on our merry way.

I guess I was looking for a local version of this forum.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

I joined my local BMW club back when the R65 and I were young, and all there were were airheads.
Jump 15 years into the future (11 years ago) and I come back after 5 years living in another State, and I felt the same feelings as you, Marc.  But I am not all that social, anyway, so it is nothing I really miss.
I was never all that "tight" with any of my "bros" in the club anyway, so no real big loss.

[Julio A.]

I'm a 18 year old that rides an Airhead, where most of my peers that ride bikes have crotch rockets like the Yamaha R6's and Honda Fireblades.
Most people say it's hard to believe that a young person like me would even be interested in such a classic bike; especially since most of my peers do strive for the most latest and high performing models.

I'd say, let's see what their jap bikes would look like in 30 years.

So far, I've never ridden with the local BMW club. But there are some who still ride airheads there.

[scotty_b]

Not in a BMW club, but several yars ago I joined the PCA ( Porsche Club of America ) I got the same attitude you expressed. They all had new 993's, Boxters etc. and could have cared less about some 25 y.o. with a 944 and a 914. Jump forward 12 years and the members list has thinned out to the REAL car guys that love seeing the older cars, many of the long term members have older ones I work on now. I found that at least in the Porsche world, you have the show offs, and you have the guys that really care about and get the cars. The show offs have the newest car, don't know how to drive for shi*t, and usually dissapear after a year or two. ( when they have been shown up on track day by a 30 y.o. car ) The passionate guys stay around and appreciate ALL of the members rides. Try starting a meetup group in your area for airhead owners only 8-)

[dav]

The passionate guys stay around and appreciate ALL of the members rides.  8-)

You hit the nail on the head there Scotty, that is what a club should be all about, guys/gals who love bikes of all shapes & sizes.

[darrylri]

I think when you visit a general BMW club, you'll find that most of the people have bikes of recent vintage.  That's just natural.  And it's also natural that people will chat with others that have the same or similar bike.  Little of the items that fit or are useful on an R65 work on an R1200GS... or S1000RR.  

There's a thread going on over at the BMW MOA forum about "Changing the Guard", where the guy who started it noted that at a largish rally this spring (the Blitz to Branson), there was not a single airhead bike in attendance and the oldest bikes were 90s oilheads.  (Still as much as 17 years old, the original R1100RSes are not spring chickens any more.  We have to face up to the fact that our 30ish year old bikes are getting to be vintage vehicles.  In fact, if you happen to see the VJMC - Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club - at a show, you'll see that our bikes are as old as nearly anything they're showing!)

If you're like me, somewhat introverted, it can be a chore to strike up a conversation with a stranger, especially when there's not too much in common to chat about.  ("Nice riding weather today, eh?"   )  Naturally, here in the safe confines of the R65 forum, we have a lot to talk about.  

The combination of factors above can lead people to feel that they're being ostracized when it's just as likely that people on the other side don't have much to share.  If you stick it out a couple more meetings, I'm pretty sure that you'll find at least a couple people to share breakfast with.

Although I have the luxury of choosing from a variety of BMWs from pretty new to pretty old, I love riding the R65.  A group of friends come down to my house in July each year from Seattle, to go to the MotoGP at Laguna Seca.  They're on a variety of modern hardware, all of it with 100+ HP.  I led them a merry chase around the hills here, and although I got a lot of good natured ribbing about riding the R65, I told them to just let me know when I was holding them up... it didn't happen.  

[wilcom]

"Changing the Guard", where the guy who started it noted that at a largish rally this spring (the Blitz to Branson), there was not a single airhead bike in attendance and the oldest bikes were 90s oilheads

Darryl hit it on the nose, for me anyway. The bikes are changing and so are the people. Not good, not bad..... just different.

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Like Groucho Marx once said "I don't want to be a member of a club that would have me." Actually I chose to become a member of the local BMW club because I enjoy the technical expertise.  I've also made some nice acquaintances.  But, Mrs. Phorqs and I don't ride with them as we choose to go our own way.  I like Guzzi's also and enjoy the wildgoosechase forum, but I'm not a member of any Guzzi club.  

Like Monte says, you gotta ride your own ride.  He and I are friends and live fairly close to each other, share meals with our spouses, and have been known to take trips, but we don't ride together.  So my take is as long as you're having fun and growing from the experience, then continue to pursue it.  When it become a chore or onerous, then it's time to move on.

[nhmaf]

I belong to the granite state bmw riders club, and  they are a pretty good mix.  There are the folks who always have the latest BMW bike, and quite a few riding oilheads and bricks, and a few, including me, riding airheads.    I don't attend all the functions, and mostly we have regularly scheduled "dinner events" at various places at predetermined dates all around the state, and one just shows up there at the appointed time, sometimes riding alone or in groups.   I tend to not like riding in larger groups or with alot of people whom I am unfamiliar with anyway.   For the most part, I get smiles and thumbs up from many of the members when they see my ride my "red-headed step child" R65LS into the parking lot!

[Lucky_Lou]

I am not a member of any BMW club  but  i know folk who are though, i have met up with people in the Gabfesters forum who seem ok to me being more add hock.One thing that stops me joining the BMW riders is the increasing numbers of  Charlie and Ewan wannabees in their matching spandex suits.
I ride what i want when i want and wear what i want, the money i save doing my own servicing and repairs goes to my others toys of the bang variety.
Lou