Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: $Revision: 1.6.2.16 $; site ISM780.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!ucbvax!decvax!yale!ISM780!darryl From: darryl@ISM780.UUCP Newsgroups: net.travel Subject: Re: Transportation in Europe Message-ID: <36600005@ISM780.UUCP> Date: Tue, 16-Jul-85 09:38:00 EDT Article-I.D.: ISM780.36600005 Posted: Tue Jul 16 09:38:00 1985 Date-Received: Thu, 18-Jul-85 07:06:48 EDT References: <62800001@hpfclr.UUCP> Lines: 36 Nf-ID: #R:hpfclr:62800001:ISM780:36600005:000:2033 Nf-From: ISM780!darryl Jul 16 09:38:00 1985 /* Written 6:47 pm Jul 12, 1985 by hollombe@ttidcc in ISM780:net.travel */ >About 12 years ago I set out to live a long standing dream of touring >Europe on a motorcycle. [ ...goes on to describe a terrible nightmare] You have my deepest sympathy. Of course, a part of the great feeling of riding a motorcycle is the fact that you are doing something different, more dangerous, less secure, but depending more upon yourself and your abilities to get you through tough times. The BMW marque is well known for reliability, but no manufacturer is exempt from lemons, and it certainly sounds like you got one. I rented two different BMWs in Europe, and I am just now breaking in my second here. The biggest problem I encountered was on the '79 R100RT we had in Germany -- one cold morning I had left the choke on (it's located down on the engine, not on the handlebars like my R65 had), and rode a couple hundred miles, cursing and complaining that the bike was broken and was going to ruin my vacation. Just as we were about to find a BMW dealer in Rotweil, I discovered the choke... I have a hard time taking breakdowns seriously these days. They are just a difficult situation that makes life interesting to live. Motorcycles do tend to break the ice in Europe; practically everyone started out on one or on a moped there, but not everyone drives. Even a big bike is narrower than the smallest 2CV, and can fit through alleys lined with parked cars. And yes, you must expect to ride in the rain, but once again, this is a challenge to enjoy, not to be miserable about (how many get to enjoy the smell of wet grass in a light mist in the Scottish Highlands? It's no wonder they can make such wonderful Whiskey out of that stuff!) As I said previously, it's not for everyone, but I think it's the only way to go! --Darryl Richman, INTERACTIVE Systems Corp. ...!cca!ima!ism780!darryl The views expressed above are my opinions only. P.S. Perhaps followups are more appropriately placed in net.cycle?