Welcome to the Montana BMW Riders Club Website
About The Club
The Montana BMW Riders Club is an informal group of motorcycle riders located in and around Montana. We are fortunate to have such incredible riding opportunities in our state and enjoy riding here and other places throughout the world. Even though our name says BMW, all makes of bikes and riders of all abilities are very welcome.
Once a month, especially in warmer weather, we descend upon a remote destination, accessed by terrific roads, for a meal and socializing. See our Ride Schedule for our next gathering spot. Other scheduled rides, riding contests, and a Tech Day (weekend of maintenance and repair) are usually planned during the riding season. Our club places an emphasis on safety and offers members an opportunity to receive scholarships or partial reimbursement for rider skills improvement training.
A monthly newsletter is published, emailed to the members, and posted on the website, filled with suggested rides, activities, photos, and entertaining stories from your peers. We are financially supported through membership dues and our advertisers in the Newsletters and website. Please support those advertisers that support us. All officers and staff serve voluntarily with no financial assistance from the club.
We are a chartered club with the BMW Motorcycle Owners of America and the American Motorcyclist Association. You do not need to be a member of these clubs to participate in our functions or to join our group. Our club bylaws may be downloaded at this link. We hope to see you on the road!
BMW Motorcycle Owners of America Charter #: 155 https://www.bmwmoa.org/
American Motorcyclist Association Charter #: 6930 https://americanmotorcyclist.com/
Contacts:
If the email links below don’t take you to your email client (some don’t support this) you may just copy the link into your email to contact Club officers and staff. We look forward to hearing from you.
Officers:
President: Larry Manchester email
Vice President: Bill Clark email
Sec/Treas: Al Murray email
Staff:
Newsletter Editor: Richard French email
Web Master:
Contributors:
Club Historian: Kim Lemke email
Mileage Contest Coord: Larry Banister email
BMWMOA—Reg. Coord.: Tom Moe email
BMWMOA—Ambs: Kevin Huddy email
Annie Huddy email
News from the Club
Be sure to check out this month’s Newsletter. A few great ride reports and Part 2 of
Dave Fishbaugh’s Morocco trip with some good insights into unintended dismounts and health care while traveling far from home.
President’s Corner
I moved to Missoula in 2005. The phone company offered me a promotion to come to Missoula as Lead Engineer. I was not seriously looking to leave Wyoming. I was born and raised in Wyoming and started my career there. I married my wife in Riverton, and my son and daughter were born in the Cowboy State. I had two brothers and many friends living near my little country acreage with the two story log house on Weathervane Lane. I had everything a man could ask for. My kids had left the nest so the offer to move to Montana was tempting. My wife and my daughter, who was in college at the time, rode with me to Missoula on the 4th of July weekend in 2005 to check out the town before I accepted the offer. On the drive up I kept thinking I would turn the job offer down. Why would I leave Wyoming, what could Missoula and Montana possibly offer to lure me away? We spent two days in Missoula exploring the area. We met many great people, and even made it down the Bitterroot Valley as far as Stevensville. On the drive back to Wyoming my pickup truck was silent as we cruised down I-90. Then my wife said, “You need to do this!” My daughter let out a big “Yes!” I accepted the job and the rest is history. It was the best decision I have made other than marrying my wife.
I was thinking of my journey to Montana as I rode with Ken Senn up Highway 12 to Lochsa Lodge a couple of days ago. The Super ‘T’ was running well, the scenery as always was great. The air was cool with the feel of winter approaching, the color in the trees was amazing. The Philly Cheesesteak sandwich at the lodge made the day. I felt like I was in paradise. But I have felt that way on many roads, all over this great State. As a motorcyclist I cannot imagine another place to live with so many great roads. Every summer riders come from all over the U.S. and the world to ride in our backyard. This summer I rode with five good friends from our Club over the Beartooth Highway, down into Wyoming to Jackson Hole and over Teton Pass into Idaho. We rode through my old stomping grounds, just a few miles from where I lived on Weathervane Lane. The ride was great, good roads and great scenery. But I looked forward to getting home to Montana. My home.
I hope you all got to ride to your heart's content this riding season. We may have a few days yet to get out on our bikes but Mother Nature is in control of that. My bikes are in the garage gassed up on battery tenders ready to go if the weather permits.
I am thinking of rides for next year. I need to get a new road Atlas as I wore out my old one. I know, I am old school. I like paper, GPS and the internet are nice but I enjoy leaning over a map with a good cup of coffee. Start planning folks, the 25 riding season will be here before you know it. Safe travels,
Larry Manchester, President, Montana BMW Riders
CLUB’S ANNUAL MILEAGE CONTEST
Guys and gals….
You, hopefully, remember the notice I sent in last month’s newsletter concerning the ending of the annual MONTANA BMW RIDERS Mileage contest along with the spread sheet showing who is officially listed as participating. Well, the contest comes to a close October 31st and you will have until November 15th to turn in your ending mileage, in writing, in order to be included in this year’s contest. By writing , it needs to be by snail mail sent to me at:
102 Ironwood Place
Missoula, Montana 59803
Remember to give me your individual motorcycle(s) as well as their mileage as of October 31, 2024. I’m looking forward to receiving your entries and getting this year’s winners done in time to be announced at our annual Christmas parties.
Thanks again for participating.
Larry Banister Mileage Contest Coordinator
2024 RIDING CONTESTS
2024 MTBMWRiders Mileage Contest
Guys and gals….
You, hopefully, remember the notice I sent in last month’s newsletter concerning the ending of the annual MONTANA BMW RIDERS Mileage contest along with the spread sheet showing who is officially listed as participating. Well, the contest comes to a close October 31st and you will have until November 15th to turn in your ending mileage, in writing, in order to be included in this year’s contest. By writing , it needs to be by snail mail sent to me at:
102 Ironwood Place
Missoula, Montana 59803
Remember to give me your individual motorcycle(s) as well as their mileage as of October 31, 2024. I’m looking forward to receiving your entries and getting this year’s winners done in time to be announced at our annual Christmas parties.
Thanks again for participating.
I remember a ditty as school age kid…it went something like this….” Springs sprung, falls fell, schools here, oh hell.” Now that I am beyond school, it probably should be…” Springs, sprung, falls fell, riding is done…. oh hell”!
While the days are still nice (the GRiZ game on Saturday Sept 21st was particularly spectacular weather wise), the day-light hours are much shorter, daytime temperatures are not so high, and nighttime temperatures are much better for sleeping. Put this all together and I believe it is safe to say that fall is upon us and the riding window is closing.
Our annual Montana BMW rider’s mileage contest officially ends on October 31st. I am attaching my mileage contest roster for this year. This list includes all the names and motorcycles and beginning mileage (a/o 4/1/2024) belonging to those of you who turned in your beginning mileage within the window of opportunity to be included in this year’s contest.
Having seen all the rides that were reported in the club newsletters this summer, I am expecting some great mileage results reflecting the “miles of smiles.” I need to have your ending mileage on your respective rides, in writing, NLT November 15th. This date is to allow for the final cumulation of mileages and the calculation of the winner and the average mile winner in time for the winners to be announced at our annual Christmas gathering(s).
You can mail your final totals to me at: 102 Ironwood Place, Missoula, MT, 59803, or email or text them to me.
Remember there are three winners: 1) the individual with the most accumulated miles during the contest season (April 1 to October 31); 2) an average mileage winner…that person who’s accumulated miles is the closest to the aver-age mileage accumulate by all participants; and 3) after eliminating the first two names, a third name is drawn from the hat as the “at large” winner. Overall, the winner gets a check of $75 from the club and his/her name placed on our mileage plaque (value priceless!), the “average mileage winner” and “at large” winner each get a check for $50 from the club.
I will include another reminder in the November newsletter, but when it comes out, you will only have 2 weeks to get your ending mileage turned it to me. By putting this in the October newsletter, you will have some time to get your last rides in and your mileage recorded.
I am looking forward to hearing for all of you before November 15th.
Larry Banister, Montana BMW Riders Mileage Contest Coordinator
Ride Schedule
Join us at one of our monthly lunch rides at various locations throughout Montana. Guests are always welcome. Come for a meal, comradery, talk bikes, travel, visit, and just have a fun time. Forewarning here, but you will likely find that you would like to join the club and take advantage of all our membership benefits.
NEWSLETTERS
The club publishes a monthly electronic newsletter that is emailed to all members. Each issue is also archived and linked in our website for anyone to view. We are all proud of the work our editor is doing in compiling club news, contributions from staff, members, and advertisers. Ride stories, ride maps, equipment reviews, fun photos, and other items of interest to club members are all included each month. Click on a month to open past newsletters in a new window. Check them out!
2024 Event Links
As you become aware of other events do shoot me an email and I’ll get them posted. MTBMWRiders is providing these event links as a service only and is not sponsoring these events. The club accepts no responsibility or liability for anyone’s attendance in these events.
additional 2024 Events will be posted as dates are released….
May 18th MTBMWRiders Tech Days
@ Huddy Outpost, Helena, MT
Jun 13-15 Riding to Redmond
BMW MOA National Rally
Redmond, Oregon
Jun 20-23 44th Chief Joseph Rally
Grant County Fairgrounds
John Day, OR
Jun 20-23 Black Hills Rendezvous
Spearfish, South Dakota
Jun 27-30 Touratech Rally
Plain, WA
https://www.touratechrally.com/welcome
Jul 13-16 Cascade County Rendezvous
Cashmere, Washington
Jul 19-21 MTBMWRiders Gravely Ride
Southwest, MT
click here for more information and here and here for updates.
use the below form link to sign up for this ride:
Jul 20-23 Top O’ the Rockies Rally
Paonia, Colorado
canceled Mike McPeak Memorial Rally
by fires Nakusp Municipal Campground
Nakusp, British Columbia
Aug 8-11 50th Stanley Stomp
Lowman, Idaho
Aug 15-17 26th Annual BEARTOOTH RENDEZVOUS
Red Lodge, Montana
Aug 18-21 Mountains and Museums Ride
Begin in Redlodge on the 18th and tour Wyoming
Hosted by Larry Manchester—details here
Membership
Montana BMW Riders welcomes new members of all riding abilities and you do not need to ride a BMW motorcycle to join and reap the benefits of membership. As you can see from this list of bikes owned by members, we have a diverse interest in bikes and riding styles.
BMW: 92, Suzuki: 8, Harley Davidson: 7, Honda: 6, Kawasaki: 6, Yamaha: 6, Triumph: 5, Ural: 4,
KTM: 3, CANAM: 2, MotoGuzzi: 1, ROKON: 1, Vespa: 1, Royal Enfield: 1
Members may be partially reembersed for participating in motorcycle training classes. Follow this link for more information. The website for Montana’s Rider Training courses is http://mmrs.helenacollege.edu/brc.htm
Submit your request for reimbursement here
Our club encourages safe riding practices and promotes rider training. Most members are advocates of ATGATT (All The Gear All The Time) and you will seldom see members riding without their safety gear.
Our goal is to make our riding passion as safe as possible, with an objective of being able to ride to the next lunch date.
If a 6 year old rider like the one in the photo can have the where-with-all to dress appropriately, we should let that peer pressure be our guide..
Other membership benefits include:
Participation in raffle drawings at monthly lunches
Email receipt of Newsletters prior to website posting
Participation at Huddy’s Tech Days to take advantage of a well equipped shop and the expertise and advice of club members (whether solicited or not 😁) while conducting maintenance or repairs on your bike
Participation in club riding contests that are educational, challenging, and fun
The likelihood of finding a compatible riding partner or two and the motivation to take those dream rides
Enjoy the comradery and tales of a great, young of mind, diverse bunch of motorcycle riders
$15 for a yearly membership is a tremendous value and if you are at all lucky in our monthly raffles or take advantage of our training scholarships you could well make money on the deal. However, the financial outlay really is secondary to the experience and enjoyment you will have participating in this club. Please consider joining our group….we’d love to have those new stories on rides and at events.
MTBMWRiders Club bylaws may be accessed with this Link.
The form below may be used for new members to join or to update information on your current membership. Please make any changes to your contact information or bike ownership so we can keep our listings current. We welcome your membership in Montana BMW Riders and thank you for joining us. Twelve month membership is by calendar year.
To join or update, please complete and submit the following form and mail a $15 check to the address below.
Payable to: Montana BMW Riders
To this address: MTBMWRiders
Sec/Treasurer
36 S. Last Chance Gulch L-8
Helena, MT 59601
12/1/2023 Update:
Our Sec-Treas, Al Murray has now made it possible to pay your dues electronically.
This is accomplished using the VENMO app on a mobile phone. To get started, scan the QR code shown below right and download their app to your mobile phone. Next follow the instructions to set up your account using a debit card.
When you are ready to pay your 2024 dues, you will see a location to type in the business. In this area type “Montana BMW Riders Club” and identify it as a ‘BUSINESS’, and you should see a business profile as shown on the lower right.
It is very important that new members also complete the membership form below.
If you do not complete the membership form and pay with Venmo, we have no way of knowing who you are or your contact information so that you may receive our monthly newsletters and other communications. It would be great if all renewing members would also fill out the form to update their bikes and other changes; but it is imperative for new members to do so.
Follow the instructions for payment.
For questions, call ALBERT MURRAY, Secretary-Treasurer
Thank you for completing the fields below. Required fields are indicated with an asterisk.
Member’s Classifieds
Only current MTBMWRiders Members may have ads listed on the website. This is a public site and non-members are welcome to visit and respond to these classifieds. Please use due diligence in vetting purchases so you are not subject to fraudulent transactions. MTBMWRiders Club cannot assume any liability for a transaction gone awry.
Email the Webmaster to submit listings for the website.
Please adhere to the following guidelines when submitting your ad:
• Ads submitted to the Newsletter are not automatically posted to the website since not everyone desires this. Just send the webmaster your email with submitted ad photos and text if you want your ad posted on our website,
• let us know when you no longer need the ad posted,
• ads will expire after four months if we don’t hear from you to extend,
• Please limit your number of photos for the Newsletter as pages are limited. If you want more photos, I can add more on the website,
• and thank you for sending in those ads. I think they add to our Club’s benefits and may help you pass on those items no longer needed to a fellow MTBMWRider member.
Links to Email and phone are used to minimize exposure to scammers. Just mouse over the links and the address or phone number should show up in the lower left of your computer screen.
CURRENT LISTINGS
New Motorcycle Gear
My wife thought she might like to ride but never did so this gear, never used, is for sale.
OlympiaAirGlide 4 jacket size Size L
Slider Jeans size 12
TourMaster boots size 39
MensOcelet Racing adventure/offroad boots size 10 – like new.
Make reasonable offers and pay for shipping and its yours.
Call Tom Moe
7/27/2024
1988 BMW R100GS
$6,800
Owned 7 years
24,800 miles
Tires need to be replaced
Comes with original seat as shown and Corbin saddle in excellent shape (covered with wool blanket)
Recent owner maintenance
Owner coached by Bob Clement in Roberts, MT
Located in Helena, MT
Contact new member Phil Smith by phone
7/22/2024
Gallery
You may click on any image to open and scroll through the photos
Ride Photos
Lunch Photos
Ride Repairs
Ride Maps
Ride Tracks
miller-ck-8-mile
Suitable for a dual-sport or adventure bike. Route is about 70 miles. Ride consists of paved local roads, Forest Service dirt and 2-track roads, and US Highway 93. The route begins and ends at Walmart on the south side of Missoula. The ride crosses over several saddles with views into the Welcome Creek wilderness area and the Rock Creek drainage. The last saddle, 8 Mile saddle, provides views of the Bitterroot Valley and the northern Bitterroot mountains. Dirt roads can be rocky and full of potholes. The ride is suitable for advanced beginners and potentially requires some quick thinking to avoid obstacles. The ride includes long assents and descents. John DiBari
St Regis-St Joe
Suitable for dual-sport or adventure bikes. Route is about 194 miles. This is an easy overnight or long one-day ride. There is great camping along the St. Joe River in designated Forest Service campgrounds. The ride consists of Interstate highway, paved local roads, Forest Service dirt and 2-track roads. You can jump on the route wherever you want. I rode to St. Regis, MT and over the divide to Avery, ID (gas is available in Avery). I rode counter clockwise around the west loop, then counter clockwise around the east loop to Superior, MT (so I didn’t quite finish the figure 8 the route makes). Lots of up and down over ridges and into valleys. Great views of the Bitterroot Mountains and St. Joe River. Some dirt roads are wide open gravel, others are rocky and rutted. FS Road 1244 had a lot of downed trees cut out by previous users. It was a good reminder to carry a saw, just in case. The ride is suitable for advanced beginners and potentially requires some quick thinking to avoid obstacles. The ride includes long assents and descents. John DiBari
Big Belt Ride
Duck Creek-Confederate Ride takes off Hwy 284 along the east side of Canyon Ferry Reservoir. This is a 72 mile ride, mostly dirt forest and ranch roads with about a 15 mile paved stretch along the east side of the ride (Hwy 360) near White Sulfur Springs. Some rutted and loose gravel in sections but nothing technical or difficult. Just pay attention and OK for big dual sports. Elevation range 4123’ to 7666’. Leave Hwy 284 about 35 miles south of Helena or 13 miles north of Townsend. Lance Lerum
Elkhorn Run
Weasel Creek Road out of Winston and back to Townsend on Indian Creek Road. Winston to the top, midway in, is quite rocky and might be best left to dirt bikers or more experienced dual sport riders. 26 miles, 3833’ elevation gain, 7739 max elevation. Nice scenic country if you stop to look around so you can see something other than the rocks in the road. Options to branch out on another road up top that will take you to the Eagle Guard Station, Crow Creek, and on to Radersburg. Lots of options in the Elkhorns. Lance Lerum
Advertisers
The following businesses provide financial support for our club, assisting us in financing our website and club activities. Please support these local businesses as your needs arise. We appreciate their support and thank them.
Click on the ad to open All Moto Tire’s website.
Innovative Solutions Group
PROFESSIONAL MONTANA WEB DESIGN AND SEO SERVICES
HELPING PUT OUR CLIENTS AHEAD OF THE COMPETITION SINCE 1994!
25 years of providing professional Montana web design and development services has taught us what works and what doesn’t.
This business is owned by one our MT BMW Riders Members.
Website link here
CLARK INDUSTRIAL, INC
It is always great to have one of our members advertise their business with our club. Many of us know the Clarks from our lunch meetings, but did you know that we now have a member that can weld that GS frame you broke from carrying too much weight, just like Ewan and Charley? And to powder coat all those bits to truly make your farkles stand out is an added bonus. Find them at their website and on facebook.
BROWSING BISON BOOKSTORE
Once the stories have been told and the campfire has died down, the perfect end to the day is to crawl into your room, tent, under your rock, wherever, and pull out a good book to read until it hits you in the face three times and time to call it a day. Jesse and his crew can likely find you that perfect book to pack along on your next ride. Stop in at one of his three locations and support a fellow mtbmwriders member. Follow this Link to the bookstores’ website.
Big Sky Motorsports
BMW, KTM and Kawasaki sales and service.
The only BMW dealership in Montana and a long time sponsor of our club.
Link to website
Lochsa Lodge
Visit the Lochsa Lodge while traveling one of the best riding roads in the area. go to their website at this link
Mountain Hot Tub
After that long ride a good soak may be just what is needed to relax and cure those aches.
Mountain Hot Tubs will likely have what you need.
website Link
Vibrant Hearing
If you are ready for custom in-ear monitors or improved hearing protection out on the road, you should consider Vibrant Hearing to address your needs.
Windermere Insurance Agency
Bob Pauley has been a Montana BMW Riders Member located in Hamilton, Montana. If you are planning a move into or out of the Bitterroot Valley Bob can likely assist in with your real estate needs.
website Link