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Laurel Highlands rally report

Photos by Jason Kaplitz

With a weather forecast that was right in the middle of my comfort zone—mid-40s to the low 60s—I decided to attend the BMW MOA-sponsored Laurel Highlands BMW Club event over the weekend of September 22-25, 2022 in Somerset, Pennsylvania. Actually, I registered about three weeks before and was going no matter what the weather, but it turned out to be perfect in my book. Registration was a bargain at $25, with discounted motel rooms at the really nice Somerset Comfort Inn. It could not have been easier. I was able to pay for the rally right through the link provided by the MOA.

The MOA provided some nice swag including a stainless Hydroflask for all registrants. Since I have been riding my Honda Silverwing scooter a lot lately and it is in need of a new rear tire and a low beam headlight bulb, I decided to take Big Red, my R 1200 GS. This is my trusty steed that has been to all the states except Hawaii and all the provinces of Canada except Newfoundland. It has over 175,000 miles on the clock and every time I throw (well…scrape) my leg over it and take it on a trip, it still brings smiles to my face. Even though I don’t have to shift the scooter, the R 1200 GS always feels like a well-worn pair of slippers and I simply melt back into its routine and operation like I ride it every day. While I really do not need those extra 600ccs of displacement over the scooter, it sure is nice to have them always at the ready. As most of you know, when they are there, you find ways to use them! Since my experience in August with a tractor trailer ejecting a 20-foot section of guard rail into my lane at speed, I find I spend a lot less time anywhere near these 40-ton rigs. It is nice to get past or away from them with an easy twist of the right wrist.

Friday dawned nice and cool, so I threw the electric jacket in the saddlebag along with its heat controller. I never did need it, being “well insulated” myself, but it is always nice knowing that if the shivers start I am only a quick stop away from total comfort. I decided to take make life easy and took the turnpike out, so I could get there relaxed, check in and have some time to mingle with the attendees, many of whom arrived on Thursday. I am not sure what the total attendance was, but it was north of 80 with a large contingent or riders from Canada and others from Ohio, Illinois, Indiana and even Tennessee.

Never hold a BMW rider back from a buffet line!

I met Jean and Ross Copas, Canadian BMW MOA Ambassadors who have traveled all over the world on motorcycles. As fate has it, I had actually met them years ago back in Daytona at the Bullow campground and they had just returned from riding South America on KLR650s. They were on BMWs at the time and I asked them why they had taken KLRs. Jean told me that with the remoteness and at time lawless parts of some countries, they wanted $5,000 bikes they could simply walk away from if they had problems instead of $20,000 BMWs. They said they actually had this happen on their trip across Russia and had to leave a KLR behind when it had a counterbalance shaft bearing go bad and no parts or repairs were possible. They were invited to leave the bike with the local Hells Angels chapter for storage in case they could return. They just left it there and a friend from Europe retrieved it some time later and parted it out. They have some amazing stories and are super nice people. I think Jean said they have been to 164 countries.

The rally registration included dinner on Friday night catered by a local food truck; it was delicious and plentiful. The organizers also provided adult beverages and snacks on Saturday night. Many folks were organizing rides for the day and eating arrangements for the evening on Saturday night, but I was committed to riding home Saturday night as I was scheduled to be the video director at our church that weekend. Since I don’t drink and ride ever, I decided to go on the Saturday ride to the Flight 93 memorial and then work my way home on some back roads. Many of the Canadians were concerned about rain forecast for Sunday, so I think some decided to head home a little early and others were planning on staying until Monday.

One group decided to head to the Roadkill Cafe down in Artemas, just above the Maryland border. I was going to go, but decided to go the way of the Flight 93 memorial instead. I have been to the Original Roadkill Cafe on the old Route 66 near Winslow, Arizona, and this one seems to be along the same theme—“You kill ’em, we grill ’em.” I thought I might try the “too slow doe,” but it will have to wait for another ride. It is not far from there to Wahnita Lodge, so maybe I should get on the stick and get something organized.

On the way home I decided to hit one of my favorite out-of-the-way restaurants at the intersection of Routes 75 and 641. While getting off the bike, I got my boot hung up on my sheepskin seat cover and ended up putting too much weight on my side stand, breaking it off. Down I went with the bike. GSes are made to take naps, so nothing else was damaged except my pride. Fortunately, no other riders were around and only an Amish couple in a buggy saw me.

BMW club rallies are all about smiles and great views shared with friends both old and new.

While lifting the bike, I strained some muscles in my back, so I was on the Tylenol routine for a few days. Have you ever tried mounting an R 1200 GS with no side stand? I ended up balancing it beside a curb and got on that way, then used a stool when I got home with some help from my wife. It gives me more appreciation for what Jack Riepe went through when he was riding and had similar issues getting on and off his bike. Hopefully, I will find a replacement kick stand from Beemer Boneyard or Rubber Side Up. I would love to get one of those aftermarket ones incorporating a spring-loaded extendable leg so you could select how upright the bike sits, but I’m not sure they make them any more.

The newer GSes are very vertical and I can easily step on the left peg and scrape my right leg over the seat. My bike is the original R 1200 GS imported to the USA and it leans way over on the side stand and even more so since I installed HyperPro shocks, so I cannot mount it that way. I wish I was younger and more nimble to learn the Chris Jackarino method of putting your left foot on the peg, letting out the clutch and swinging your leg over the seat while you ride away. I just don’t think I have the athleticism left in me to do that at my age, and I sure don’t want to endure the crashes trying to learn. I don’t heal as fast as I used to.

In any event, it was a great weekend, with lots of interesting people and super nice riding areas to explore. I did see a few familiar faces and met a lot of new folks, some of whom spoke a little funny, but I could get along thanks to my years of working for Toronto Dominion (TD Bank).

 

2 thoughts on “Laurel Highlands rally report

  • Ah to be young and flexible. She makes mounting that bike look so easy.

    • Hey Bruce
      Great report. Great rally. The price, hotel, terrific food and excellent riding all made for a great week end and we did not get any rain until we got almost to the Canadian border.
      Russel Roode
      2008 R1200R

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