Why BMW?

I am a BMW fan. Why? I think it all goes back to years ago when I read an article that discussed how many miles people were putting on BMW bikes. I was just a kid when I read the article, but it made an impression. When it was time to get a bike as an adult I had a pretty open mind about what I'd get. First I sat on a Harley Sportster. It was ok, but it just didn't feel right. I'm not sure what was off, but something wasn't feeling right. I looked at a couple other bikes, both Yamaha and Honda, but nothing blew me away. When I first looked at the BMW I wasn't sure either. It was so big, that even though I really liked the way it looked, I didn't know if I could handle it. I took my MSF class on a Yamaha, though, and it was so easy I knew I could go to something bigger without any trouble.

I didn't fall in love with my F650 GS until after I had ridden it a few thousand miles. Now I feel like I have a connection with the bike that goes beyond what a non-rider would ever understand. It is almost as if the bike responds to my thoughts and I don't have to make the little corrections as I'm riding down the road. Would I have a similar connection with any bike I rode a lot? Maybe. But I haven't ridden a different bike a lot, only this one.

We've taken the bikes over thousands of miles. I've ridden in dirt and mud. I've ridden rough gravel. I've ridden perfectly smooth highways, and I've ridden chip seal back roads. The bike has never given me any problems. I've had to replace tires and change oil, and it has all been done without a problem. Maintenance has been easy and there hasn't been a lot of it. Would that be true of any bike? Maybe. But I haven't changed the oil on a different bike, only this one.

Then there is the vain side of me. It isn't a big part, but I'd be lying if I said it doesn't give me a little thrill to know I'm driving a BMW. It's a bike I love and it makes me smile every time I think about it. I'm a Beemer girl. Would I ever give my loyalty to another brand? Maybe. But for now I'm completely loyal, a one bike woman. But I did see a really cool looking dirt bike the other day...