Picture Of The Month! Majesty of the Grand Tetons! (Click Image for a Larger View)

Every month customers send us killer photos and I see no reason to keep them to myself so what better way to say thanks for sharing than to post them in this Picture of the Month spot..

Our January/Feb POTM was contributed by .. Sam Halren ..of Eden Prairie, MN. He says of the shot... "Attached is the photo of my K1200GT. The shot of the Tetons was taken with my iPhone since we forgot to bring the camera battery charger along. Our good camera died 2 days into a 9 day trip. We were leaving Jackson, Wyoming early in the morning of Aug19 going north on US89. It was a beautiful morning, high popcorn clouds, temperature in the high 40’s. The group (10 bikes, 15 people) wasn’t showing any signs of stopping for the obvious photo op, so we (wife & I) pulled off into a turn out to take the snapshot. There wasn’t anyone else there, either. If the weather is right, Grand Teton catches the morning light, looking much closer than it really is. Completely lucking out on the weather, we never even considered donning our rain gear on the whole trip."

If you would like to contribute your own"worthy" shot for our newsletter, here's what I'll need. First.. just email me 1 or 2 of your best digital shots. It'll need to be at least 1024x768 in size or larger and preferably A. Of a BMW K1200S, K1300S, K1200RS, K1200R, R Sport, S1000RR, K1600GT, or any model year K1200GT or K1300GT and B. In focus.

2012 BMW S1000RR! What Would Jesus Ride?

Yea yea.. we all know that the baddest motorcycle in the milky way galaxy is the BMW S1000RR. Every review says so so it must be true. If Jesus rode a bike... it would probably be the RR. So how does BMW improve on that?? If you've been wondering what 2012 modifications have been bestowed to the uber bike.. wonder no further.

- only 2 curves for throttle control (one for rain, one for the other modes)
- 163 hp in rain mode
- modified airbox with larger intake
- throttle with "short" actuation, spring with lower rate
- catalyser now within the primary silencer
- optimized throttle cutoff in slick mode
- chain now with 45 instead of 44 sprockets
- Link bracket has been put 4 mm higher
- wheel base minus 9.3 mm
- steering head angle minus 0.1 mm
- off-carriage- plus 2.6 mm
- offset minus 2.5 mm
- fork overlap- minus 5 mm
- mechanical steering damper with 10 steps
- 3 instead of 2 curves for power and torque (rain, sport, race/slick)
- optimized wheelie detection
- sphincter pressure warning light on dash
- dimmable instruments
- new functions: "best lap in progress" and "speed warning"
- heated grips
- longer lasting erections
- new colors

1. Another one bites the dust.. Just heard from my good friend, Ken Zeller ..the Big Kahuna at Evoluzione.. In case you've been living under a rock, Evoluzione has been making high performance air filters and peg lowering kits for the K1300S, K1200S, K1200R, etc. for years. They've officially closed their doors. Damn... Hate to hear this as he was the "definitive" high-performance go-to guy in the industry. Buenas suerte, mi amigo.

2. As of December 8, 2011 BMW Ducati of Oklahoma City is closed. Another victim of Obamanomics? Our best wishes to owner, Ryan Tupps and the staff in their future endeavors..

3. If you are wiring up multiple aftermarket accessories to your steed, be they horns, lights, GPS, radar detectors, flux capacitors.... this little device should make things easier... it's a Multi Connector Device that attaches to your battery terminals to make wiring cleaner and easier to access...

4. Want to start the new year out with some motorcycle related reading material? You might want to check out.. 'The Making of a Motorcyclist".. a new book by Gordon Bunker. According to the press release spiel... "The Making Of A Motorcyclist recounts the author’s lifetime of adventures riding BMW motorcycles (with brief flirtations on a Ducati, a crotch rocket and others) from coast to coast and border to border of the United States. You’ll meet fascinating people, experience some out of the way places and the joys, the important life lessons and a romance or two with a motorcyclist on the road." If you try it.. let me know if it's any good.

5. Best Sportbike 2011: BMW S1000RR proclaims Motorcycle USA's staff...Once again it took to honors in their 2011 Superbike Smackdown VIII Track and Street comparison reviews.

6. Rumor: BMW to Race in MotoGP? Now wouldn't that make things interesting.. Just imagine the trickle down technology... Sweet...

7. Marco Melandri talks BMW. World Superbike runner-up Marco Melandri discusses his first impressions of the BMW S1000RR and reveals why he cannot partner Max Biaggi at Aprilia.

2012 Texas Hill Country I-BMW Rally: April 16-19, 2012 (New!)

Location: Hwy 39 near Hunt - 22 miles from hwy 83
Where: River Inn Resort in Hunt, Texas
When: Monday thru Thursday, April 16th thru 19th (arrive Monday - leave Friday)

Prices stay the same as last year. 2 night minimum stay. 1-800-841-0501 or 1-830-238-4226 ask for Cindy. A one bedroom is $60.00 plus tax, some do have sofa sleepers. Lodging is limited, so Book early to guarantee a room. You can secure your reservation with AMEX, MasterCard or Visa....7 day cancellation policy, however there is a $25 service charge. They all have a refrigerator and microwave.

Agenda: Meet. Ride. Talk, Eat. Ride. Talk.

2012 Blue Ridge Parkway I-BMW.com Rally: May 17-20, 2012

Where: Wattstull Inn, just north of Buchanan, Virginia
When: May 17th thru 20th, 2011 (Thur – Sun)

Call Wattstull Inn for reservations.
540-254-1551 / Mention: i-bmw group
SPECIFY ROOM TYPE - single, double, king.. / Rooms are 68 (ish*) per night plus tax (*2011 rates)

Blue Ridge Parkway info and maps can be found here and here

Alternate Lodging (info only) : Super 8 – Bedford or Days Inn – Bedford or Peaks of Otter Lodge

The 13th Annual I-BMW Deals Gap Rally: October 4-7th, 2012

Where: Fontana Village Resort
Nearest town: Robbinsville, NC
When: October 4th-7th, 2011 [Thur-Sunday]
Reservations: Direct 800.849.2258

20 lodge rooms w/ 2 queen beds/ns: $85+tax - 6 2br cabins with 1 queen and 2 twin beds/kitchen/ns: $120+tax When calling, specify room or cabin. Lodge rooms are in the Garden units with parking outside the door. Cabins will be either the Laurel or Hemlock cabins. Reservations for blocked out rooms will end 45 days prior. Saavy? Free Pirates Lair tees to all attendees who get speeding tickets. Woohoo!! Be sure to mention i-bmw group when booking.

NOTE: I-bmw.com is not an official sponsor of any posted events. Event participation is the sole responsibility of the attendee. Motorcycle riding is potentially dangerous and can result in personal injury or death or lots of velocity awards.. You and you alone are responsible for your own safety. Ride within your own ability. It's called.. "personal responsibility."