The Spartanburg Rides, October 2008

by Joe Majsak

Westchester Beemer #12114

BMWMOA #143915

Friday, Oct 10, 2008

The day began with the alarm clock going off at 3:30A. The goal:  ride from White Plans, NY to Greenville SC in one day.  My GPS delivered the news:  thirteen hours and change to cover 833 miles.  The original plan was to spread the trip across two days, with an overnight in Front Royal, VA.  That changed when a work obligation keep me in Stamford CT on Day One.

I was on my way to the BMWMOA “Spartanburg Rides”, a three-day instructional event held at the BMW manufacturing and testing facility.  I had learned about the event in “BMW ON” (Owners’ News), the monthly magazine for BMWMOA members.

This was by far my longest tour since purchasing a 2007 BMW K1200LT in early June 2008.  I had logged over 200 hours in the saddle and nearly 10,000 miles since then – catching up on the thirty years since my last (and first!) motorcycle, a Suzuki 125cc.  I had a ten hour, 645 mile one-day loop between White Plains and Lake Winnipesaukee, NH in July under my belt. 

Marcos C. and Larry M., two other Westchester Beemer members, were also headed to Spartanburg.  Traveling separately, we planned to reconnect for dinner on Friday and then participate in the rest of the event together.

Three “on-bike” courses were offered in addition to three non-riding seminars.  I signed up for two activities; “Seasoned Rider”, a non-riding seminar of twenty-five participants on Saturday morning from 9:00A to 11:00A designed to inform riders about the effects of aging on motorcycle riding.  The second was an Experienced Rider Course (“ERC”) of ten riders, conducted by an excellent team of local Motorcycle Safety Foundation instructors.  That was a Sunday event, starting at 9:00A and ending at 2:00P. 

By the time the weekend was over, I managed to add a third course, “On-Road Rider Training.”  This turned out to be the most exciting and challenging experience of the weekend.  Running from 2:00P to 6:00P on Saturday with thirty riders broken up into three squads, it was conducted on the BMW Performance Center test track by BMW Motorrad racing staff.  This was a crew of enthusiastic instructors with a lot less gray hair than their “seasoned” students!

• The Weather on Friday was sunny, starting off in the low 50s, but climbing up into the low 70s by the estimated time of arrival. 
• The Gear:  Shark RSI full-face helmet w/ J & M headset, BMW Boulder jacket, BMW Summer Pants, BMW Air-Flow II gloves and BMW Air-Flow boots. 
• The Route: I-287 across Tappan Zee, I-287 south in NJ to  I-78, then south on I-81 from Harrisburg to Roanoke VA.  Switch to I-77 from Roanoke to Charlotte NC, and pick upI-85 for the final leg from Charlotte to Greenville, SC lodging destination.

I headed out of my driveway in total darkness at 4:00A.  I expected to be a bit uncomfortable for the first few hours due to the temperature – and I was right!  The first leg before refueling near Harrisburg PA left me stiff and in need of a quick cup of coffee at the refueling stop convenience shop.  Traffic was thin, and the ride became a lot more interesting once the sun climbed over the horizon. 

By the time I crossed into Virginia, six hours and 350 miles into it, the novelty had worn off.  Mentally, I needed a break from the Interstate grind.  I veered off I-81 at New Market VA, refueled, and headed west on US211.  It was an awesome curvy climb from the I-81 valley right up into the Blue Ridge Mountains, with sweeps and tight twists.  I turned south on US340 for a sixty minute “back road exercise” before reconnecting with I-81 at Exit 213 near Howardsville VA.  I arrived at the Marriott Courtyard hotel at 5:00P to the happy sight of Marcos’ and Larry’s bikes in the parking lot.  Quick shower, and relaxed dinner at California Dreaming Restaurant with Marcos and Larry.  I was surprised that I wasn’t more tired, and chalked it up to the LT’s great ride.

Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008

Marcos, Larry and I started with a huge breakfast at the Marriott, refueled, and then off to the BMW facility.  Marcos and Larry shared with me their amazing tour of the BMW Zentrum Visitor’s Center on Friday.  State-of-the-art museum and typical first class consumer experience delivered by BMW.

All three of us participated in the Seasoned Riders seminar, sitting at a table with three other riders.  It was an informative class, with a combination of videos and group discussion questions following each clip.  We had one Harley rider in the session, which led to a lively discussion regarding the “safety value” of loud pipes.  Great amusement!

Marcos and Larry had signed up for the On-Track class that afternoon.  I was quickly talked into joining them.  The class was challenging, fun and rewarding.  It was 100% “on-bike” conducted on the BMW auto test track.  The three of us were permitted to stay together in one of the three squads.  We practiced panic-stopping at 50 mph, in addition to a variety of slow-speed maneuvering exercises.  I tipped the LT over during a figure eight exercise, and I was not the only one practicing my “squat & lift motorcycle” technique.  Marcos really came into his own, and went home beaming with his third place finish in the final exam.  This consisted of an individual time trial, combining all the elements of the skills taught to us.

The official closing Dinner that evening was a well-organized but comfortably casual event at the Marriott Greenville.  It was well-attended, with round tables of ten.  The three of us sat down with some familiar faces from the On-Track session, and also enjoyed connecting with other riders, too.  New York, West Virginia, New Hampshire – nice mix of folks with a common interest in riding.

It was an early night for all.  The On-Track course took a lot out of all of us, probably more mental than physical.  I wished Marcos and Larry a safe trip home as they were departing first thing on Sunday morning.

Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008

Another colossal breakfast at the Marriott, checked out, and then back to the facility for the Experienced Rider Course.  I was one of ten riders, all male, ranging in age from the 40s to the 60s (I’m 53, but appear remarkably younger).

I had completed the MSF’s Basic Course in May, so the routine felt familiar.  An exercise course would be laid out by orange cones, an instructor would describe and demonstrate it, and then the ten of us would go to work.  We had fairly extensive debriefings after each exercise (ten to thirty minutes), and I think we all learned more from those debriefings than from the actual roadwork.  Good news – I was not one of the “tip-over” riders on Sunday. 

Lunch was also a great experience, as we were the only folks left at the Spartanburg event at this point.  We had the cafeteria to ourselves, and spent sixty minutes and then some, talking about experiences and solutions.  We actually had to persuade the instructors to move the class along, and ended the day at 4:00P, two hours beyond what was expected.

Once dismissed with certificate in hand, I rode from Greenville to Columbia SC where I met up with a childhood friend and spent the night.  Another 90 miles on rolling countryside, all Interstate.  It was a nice way to unwind after the concentration of a seven hour maneuvering-class experience.

Monday, Oct. 13, 2008

Up at dawn, took I-77 from Columbia SC north across the state line into North Carolina.  Exited I-77 at Fancy Gap, on the recommendation of one of my ERC pals.  Refueled, and jumped on the Blue Ridge Pkwy.  Stopped at a roadside market for a sandwich and a dose of local hospitality.  The Blue Ridge Parkway lived up to expectations, with incredible scenery with plenty of turnouts to admire mountains and valleys.  The speed limit was a very appropriate 45 mph given the narrow roadway, one lane each direction.  But with hundreds of miles ahead of me, I decided to switchover to something quicker.  VA8 just east of Connors Grove, to US221, to US29, to VA151, to VA6, to I-64, to I-81, to I-66 arriving at the Hampton Inn, Front Royal.  Ten hours, 500 miles.  There were plenty of great twists and sweeps along the way, which made for a day full of variety between Interstate and back roads.

Tuesday, Oct. 14, 2008

Hoofed it home on super-slab, heading off on I-66 westbound to I-81 north.  I grew tired of retracing my outbound steps, so decided to follow I-81 up to Wilkes Barre and Scranton PA before picking up I-84 eastbound.  Very enjoyable trip with nice climbs up and down the Pennsylvania Poconos, with a number of great vistas.  I pulled into White Plains in the early afternoon, 445 miles and seven and one-half hours later.

This was a terrific experience.  The LT lived up to its reputation as a very comfortable, reliable touring machine capable going all day long at highway cruising speeds.  The BMWMOA event was well-organized and executed.  And the riders we met from around the country were a lot of fun.  I’m looking forward to the 2009 BMWMOA International Rally in Johnson City, Tenn., next July, which is a few hundred miles northwest of Spartanburg and in great mountain riding country, too.  Marcos, Larry and I have committed to this event, and two other members have “joined the pile”, too.