I couldn't make it last month( the work thing ) so I guess the title should say Deals Gap visited. I drove Minzila and my brother trailered our BMW motorcycles. We rented a house in Bryson City N.C. It turned out to be a small family reunion. We arrived Saturday evening and spent time with the folks. Sunday morning we took the bikes and headed to "The Gap". Lesson # 1, do not go on a weekend day if you have a choice. Besides the dozens and dozens of bikes, we encountered a BMW Z3 club, a Honda S2000 club and a handful of Miatas. Again, unless you think you can qualify for "the Isle of Mann" don't go on the weekend.

The ride was exceptional. You won't see much scenery because your eyes should be glued to the road. Another "must see" road is the Cherohala Scenic Skyway. ( Highway 143 ). While driving Minizila back on that road I was passed by a late model Ducati, he passed me on a double yellow so the chase was on. For the next 10 miles or so, all he saw in his mirrors was me and Minzila. He could briefly pull away on what few straights we encountered but with some late braking I never let him get away. After a few miles I beeped and gave him the "thumbs up", he did the same. I'm sure I'm the only one of us telling this story.


If you're a flatlander like me, you owe it to yourself and your MINI to go to the mountains. You don't know what you're missing untill you do. I put 1.5k on the MINI and about 400 on the bike. Both performed flawlessly.

Maybe next time I will get to go with the club, but for now I have the Dragon stickers on my bike and Minzila.

I go to the mountains every year ( therapy ) but this was the most fun I've ever had.
Motor on
MB

_________________

 

GORGEOUS /5!

I've got a '71 /5, looks nowhere as good as yours, but is a heck of a lot of fun to ride.....

 

That's my brother's /5. Mine is the R1100RSL. He does keep it very clean. That was his 1st ride in the mountains, but not his last.
MB

 

I love my /5 and never thought I'd want to get a bigger or faster bike, then I took a testride on a Triumph Sprint ST....

Now I've got both in the garage. :smile:

Unfortunately some old injuries are haunting me with arthritis, and I'm only 35 years old, so I don't get to ride too often.... and having the MCS parked next to them makes it easy to just drive off rather than ride when the weather is less than perfect.

 

Boy, we just got a new BMW Motorcycle delarship in town, I think I will pay them a visit this week!
The last bike I had was a '79 650 BMW, a bit underpowered for two people and the nose was tad too light, but a noce short run bike.

 

I don't like BMW's of today as much as their bikes built up to the late 80's, too much money for what you are getting when compared to other brands, but if my girlfriend were to come around and ask me to help her buy one I'd seriously be looking at the F650 series bikes.... just bulletproof bikes, light and agile, and easy to ride. Not overly complicated with gizmo's and things you don't need... the perfect first bike in my opinion, not too much power or weight and not a bike you will likely grow out of.

I have a soft spot in my heart for all things Moto Guzzi too, but no dealerships closer than Memphis to Nashville so wouldn't want to deal with service and warranty work via trailer.

Aprilia (sp?) is making some fine machines, and I LOVE the CapoNord....

and MV Agusta.... their new Agostini replica is da bomb....

 

BMW bikes of today are expensive, but think about what you are getting. Anti lock brakes, fuel injection, electronic engine management, paralever and telelever suspension. The list goes on. I've been using BMW cars and motorcycles since the mid 70's.Each generation just keeps getting better. I expect the same from my MINI.
MB