Picture Of The Month! Scenic Northern Scotland! (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 November POTM was contributed by photographer extrordinaire and purveyor of www.Sport-Touring.eu .. Gijs van Dijk .. aka ‘Mo'Gas’ of the Netherlands. He says of his contribution .."This shot was taken late afternoon at Dunnet Head, the most Northern part of Scotland, essentially between John O’Groats in the East and Thurso in the West. It is showing the view from the cliff due east, towards John O’Groats. It was a dry and beautiful day, just a little chilly at around 45-50F and with threatening but harmless clouds all day. The roads are absolutely magnificent and quiet and the views, like all over Scotland, jaw dropping.The bikes in both photos are my R1100S and my K1200S. I was riding the K1200S myself, and a good friend visiting from the US was riding my R1100S. We had an absolutely ball the two weeks we have been riding there. "

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 or K1300S, K1200RS, K1200R, R Sport, S1000RR, K1600GT, or any model year K1200GT or K1300GT and B. In focus.

2011 I-BMW.com Sierra Goldrush Rally: Did It Make You Wet?! (Promoted by www.I-BMW.com )

The 4th annual west coast I-BMW.com rally ..aka. the 2011 Sierra Goldrush Rally was another roaring success although there was some serious (read: Biblical) rain. Even still.. I wish I had been there. Unfortunately, .. those idiots in Washington have kinda skewered my foreseeable travel plans so the California rally is off my radar for a while. If you missed it you should be kicking yourself in the cajones (not an easy thing to do) as I hear it was again.. one fun event..

Having attended the first years rally, I can wholeheartedly say that California roads do not disappoint..They have some of the best roads in the country. Scenic vistas, mountain lakes, gigantic trees, hobbits, wizards, gays, and the wonderful smells of riding at high altitude.. Amazing.

Thx to the effervescent Charlie W.. aka Kneedragger (over at I-BMW.com) for stepping up to the plate yet again and making the event a continued success. I've posted all the rally pics I could pilfer from I-BMW in the Pirates Lair Photo Gallery. Look for the album cleverly titled.. the Sierra Gold Rush Rally 2011 Enjoy.

2011 I-BMW. com Deals Gap Rally: Fall Colors Rule! (Promoted by www.I-BMW.com )

The 2011 I-BMW.com Deals Gap Rally was again the center of the known universe last week and krikey did I have a great time.. Just a few weeks ago, with all the excess work I've been saddled with under Obamunism,  I was actually thinking about canceling.  The time, the money, the work-load once I get back home. Geezz.. Over the last few years, attendance has been down. Many of the old gang no longer show up and I understand.  Priorities change. Bikes come and go. Money is tight. What was once a 100+ bike event has now turned into a smallish 30-35 person gathering at best.

Over the last 12 years I've made all 12 DGRs and all but 2 or 3 BRPR events. I've made the Texas rally 2 or 3 times and even the SGR rally once before the economy crashed.  I have accumulated some great memories (and speeding tickets) through the years and cultivated some great friendships, but as I've done Deals Gap over a hundred times .. apathy has reared it's balding head....

With that said... this year was different...  I enjoyed this years event as much or more than the previous 11. Yes.. the Fontana Resort is now a great place to stay compared with what it used to be. The recent (and on-going) renovation has made a night and day difference.  The room rates our group got ($85 a night) was unbelievably cheap for this time of year... That was just icing...  I honestly can not remember any better weather for any rally I've ever attended. Also icing.

Other than crushing the life out of one innocent squirrel gathering nuts for his winter stash and having a run in with a caravan of psychotic Victory Vision Riders (follow the thread here.. but be forewarned.. it gets ugly) ...it was the best time I've had at a rally in years.

Congrats to Dangerous Dave and Michael Brumfield who by achieving well deserved "velocity awards," will receive FREE tees from Pirates Lair. Our humble way of rewarding bad behavior. Dave chose one of the appropriate "I Have a Speeding Problem"  tees donated from our friends at ( LegalSpeeding.com.) Michael will receive either one of our Pirates Lair Plundering tees, one of our Plundering hats, or a Pirates Lair Gift Certificate for $25. Way to go, boyz.

Thx to the absolutely prehistoric Bert Brumfield (over at I-BMW.com) for stepping up to the plate and booking the event. I've posted all the rally pics I could pilfer from I-BMW in the Pirates Lair Photo Gallery. Look for the album cleverly titled.. the Deals Gap Rally 2011. Enjoy.

Lastly.. I am finalizing the deal with the Fontana Resort this week for the 2012 DGR rally which will be held on October 4-7th, 2012. Will make a formal announcement at www.I-BMW.com as soon as the ink is dried on the contract. Be watching for it if you are interested in making reservations...Save a room for me!

Pirates Lair Plundering Hats! What To Wear.. Pirate Style!

Just last month, WikiLeaks spilled the beans about our latest limited edition Pirates Lair Plundering Tees. This month we announce our new Pirates Lair Plundering Hats. These are the first hats we've produced in 6 years. Balding? Sunburn easily? Born ugly? Or just want to impress the ladies? Here's a way to protect yourself from the elements while simultaneously gaining our gratitude by supporting the economically pummeled Pirates Lair!

The front of our plundering hats (similar to pic at right) features the Pirates' Lair logo in a very sexy font over authentic clip-art swords for a timeless metro-sexual design. On the back.. our URL under the bold words.. Substance Over Image. If I have to explain what they infer.. you aren't worthy of our hat. You could ask the nearest Harley rider..

Each "Port Authority" brand hat is 100% cotton, unstructured, with a low profile so even if you wad them up in your tank bag or backpack they'll come out relatively unscathed. Each has an adjustable brass closure snap in the back and a nearly 3" long bill. Long enough to satisfy even the most discerning cap aficionado. All the sewing is done in the USA by bona fide, documented Americans.

To make decision making easy, we offer our hats in one stylish color... Dark Charcoal. The material is stone washed and they look damn cool. They are a lighter color than black and darker than gray. Just right for alluding border patrol. And just in time for the holidaze, too! The perfect gift for Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, or that special person's birthday or anniversary. The Pirates Lair Plundering hat... the simple, elegant solution for helmet hair or lack thereof.

1. Here's something for all my fellow Reevu Helmet fans out there. The latest version is out now and with some damn fine looking graphics..The RV MSX1 Reevu has been approved by DOT, South American INMETRO, the Australian NBR74:71 test, as well as the British ACU Gold racing certification. LIke the previous version, it has fully interchangeable liners and cheek pads, with tinted visors front and rear. The new version helmet also has the option of two nose guards large and small and is ready to accept blue tooth system. They are offering the new lid at an introductory price of £249 and shipping internationally for ONLY £19.99. In case anyone missed it.. I did a full review of this revolutionary helmet in our July 2010 Cheesy Newsletter. Once you've tried a rear view mirror in a helmet.. it's hard to go back.

2.. Wunderlich America has a new offering for the BMW K1200RS/GT owners looking for alternative handlebars.. Check out their Sportego Bar Conversion Kit w/ Bars The kit replaces the original upper triple clamp with a beautifully machined and anodized part to which the included 22mm handlebar is attached. The handlebar is powder coated silver and it is designed to accept the original BMW heated grips without any drilling or other modifications. Handlebar weights are also included with this kit. Very cool although pricey.

8. Looks like American Machine has stopped producing BMW risers and peg lowering kits for the venerable K1200RS and first generation K1200GT... See blurb in next section.

9. Techmount just had an across the board price hike on all their products... .

10. ZTechnik is looking out for the the new K1600GT and K1600GTL.. They just released some sweet looking carbon fiber parts which are interchangeable to both bikes. As of today, they are offering a carbon fiber tank protector, a gas cap cover, and a rear luggage rack trim application. ZTechnik sells to all BMW dealers with the lone exception being.. yep.. you guessed it.. Pirates Lair.

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.com 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."