We are excited that we will once again be able to attend the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Rally. The last two summers have put us far away from their locations. This year it’s just up the road in Burlington, VT July 20-23. We usually do the “ride in and tent camp” thing, but now that we have the trailer we are considering taking the mobile party zone with us.
Greetings! We also combine Airstreaming and BMW motorcycling. A lot of our riding is on backroads and forest service roads in the mountains in Wyoming. The Airstream gets parked next to a mountain lake, and is the perfect baecamp for fishing, kayaking, and of course, riding the motorcyles.
We tow the Airstream with the truck, and pull the bikes on a special-purpose motorcycle trailer with the SUV. We won't make the rally on the east coast, but will read about it in the BMW MOA magazine.
Well you know that the new Airstream Basecamp is designed so that you can remove the table and park the bikes inside between the dinette benches. Those Airstream guys think of everything.
I to ride and camp however I ride a Harley. to combine my two passions our tow vechule has an 8 foot bed that holds the bike quite nicely.
We attended the international rally several years ago and you will find lots of great roads to ride on ,do not miss smugglers gap nice tight twisties just whatch out for the boulders that pop up out of nowhere.
Basecamp appears to be a great choice for those of us who want to take it with you.
I have attache a photo of the rig loaded up and ready to travel.
Hello Itowair:
I like your setup. How does it handle on the road - does the Harley make the gravity center a little high? Also, do you have any tips on how you load and unload the bike? My motorcycles are probably 50% of the weight of your Harley, and my m/c trailer is pretty low to the ground compared to your pickup bed - and even so I'm always a little tense when the bike is off the ground.
Too bad they don't make an Airtream version of the 'toy haulers' that are becoming popular!
Bob
The rig tows just fine. I often catch myself going a bit to fast on the expressway. as for center og gravity I notice no differance with or with out the bike. Please note that ours is a very big truck it is an F250 with a V10 even with the bike and trailer we have room to spare as far as tow capticity goes.
As for getting the bike in and out it is a bit nerve racking. I have a set of ramps that are designed for big bikes in big trucks. It is a three ramp system center for the bike rated at 1200lbs and two side ramps rated at 600lbs. This makes for a 38in wide ramp, so I ride up and roll down.Up is not to bad but rolling down is a wierd feeling. The ramps fold out to 10 ft long so they are not to steep , they fold up to half that length so they fit in the bed with the bike. I have a Pringle wheel chock mounted in the bed and use front and rear tiedowns. One draw back is I can only get one bike in the bed since the ramps take up the rest.
The truck gets around 10miles a gallon and the bike gets around 30 so when we get to where we are going it is a lot better to get around with the bike.
We checked out the BMW dealer last Fall and were dreaming bikes. (We have the cars, but not the bikes).
Check with us if you make to the Scusset Beach Rendevous this June. We'll check the schedule and see if we can make it up to VT. Even a quick overnight would be fun.
Ah yes ... MOA Rallies! I was a member for many years ... I think my number was #22257. Finally sold my last Beemer to a good friend right before I hit the road fulltime.
I've included a photo ... this bike began life in '83 as an R80RT. Sold off the bags and fairing and converted it into an S model. Bored out the engine to 1050cc, San Jose Phase 4 heads, dual plugged, European sport cam, San Jose braced swingarm & fork brace, Preogressive shocks, and Del Orto carbs. The ultimate Air Head!
Good thing I have riding rights when I visit my buddy.
Dang - that's a fine looking pair. I take it your flying brick is in your past? Every time my BMW ON comes in the mail, I get the hots for a new one. But then I logon here and start thinking about generators again. If I were more decisive I'd be broke. (r)
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