EuroKClub
General forum area => The Euro K Club Lounge => Topic started by: Coully on January 31, 2019, 09:36:27 am
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joined up last month,anyone else a member?
the monthly magazine seems good ... and the meet ups ,... well at least there's one in Inverurie (only 12 miles from me (ish) ), going to try and get on one of the weekends time permitting and to me that'll be justification of joining for a year.
deals wise, there's nae many for up this neck of the woods but hey ho.
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I've been a member since 2007 and have attended quite a few of their overseas trips.
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I used to be a member in the 80’s and early 90’s but I got fed up going on runs where the pace was slow enough to be, in my opinion, dangerous On one of the final runs I went on I was actually overtaken by a little old lady driving a 1300 Escort. I though “I didn’t buy a 1000cc motorcycle for thisâ€!
I hope it’s improved since then.
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Eeek, that's a little worrying. I'll need to get myself along to the monthly meet and see what's what.
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Did not know there were that many of us up here to have a meet? Can you PM me details. Bike been in garage for a few weeks now. But cant wait o get back out.
Did see some one this morning setting off from Boddam on bike as I passed the junction. Minus bloody 6 degress. Not for me im afraid.
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Ask Steve Parry about his banning, I got myself on a warning for asking a question. The admins, John King and Bill Smithson are, I feel getting too old and starchy to attract younger members. The forum through traffic is getting less and less and the forum shows signs of dying, only my personal opinion of course.
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it looks like a lot of older folk, true enough.... says me being 36.
Thats my only worry/query...
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Back in the days I used to be chairman of the London section of the BMW Club.
Eventually when most of us fast riders had graduated to VFR750s I decided to leave the Club. As well as VFR750s a group of us had discovered the Nürburgring and eventually the Nürburgring Riders Club was formed, but that is another story.
My last BMW at that time was a K75s. When I got the VFR I vowed never to get a BMW again and look at me now!
At that time there was a lot of bickering going on in the Club with a few troublemakers causing lots of bother. Somehow it seems to happen sooner or later in most clubs and it can be a bit of a pain. When I came back to BMW with the K1200S I did join the BMW Club again and didn't bother to renew after a year. There was very little there to interest me and the bickering was still going on full time.
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Yer banned! Again!!
Regards, the scratchy head admin bod 8)
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Starchy not scratchy ???
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I always found starchy to very scratchy... ;D
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I always found starchy to very scratchy... ;D
You've been doing it wrong ;)
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Try telling that to my old drill instructor 8)
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You had to be instructed on how to use a drill :o ;D ;D
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I joined for a year but the magazine content was enough to put me off. Bone dry, with 80% ancient BMWs.
At that point, 5 years ago, it seemed to offer much less than I can get here. And Brian's subscriptions are infinitely better value than £32/year.
It could just be I don't really have much interest in other BMW models (other than the odd loan bike amusement).
By the way, at 36 years young, you may be assumed to be the waiter at the coffee stop. ::)
Maybe the club has come round a bit since then. Please let us know!
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It's still the same Rich, no real interest in any of the newer models, and even these "newer" models are 10 or more years old.
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it seemed to offer much less than I can get here. And Brian's rate are infinitely better value than £32/year.
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By the way, at 36 years young, you may be assumed to be the waiter at the coffee stop. ::)
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A coffee for me, Richard, Brian is paying 8)
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They are meeting near me this month. I might go by car and suss them out. Maybe I'm old enough for them now. Any older and it'll be Harleys.
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They are meeting near me this month. I might go by car and suss them out. Maybe I'm old enough for them now. Any older and it'll be Harleys.
Go by bike, and show them a real BMW!
I always assumed people gravitate away from Harleys with increased knowledge, rather than towards them with increased age.
Maybe I just don't know enough Harley riders to extrapolate.
Which now gives me an excuse to drag out this old chestnut:
There are only two types of people in the world, those who can extrapolate from incomplete data...
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I still fancy a K1200RS. Perhaps I should join.... ;D
P.S. Nearly all group ride-outs by there very nature are slow, dull and somewhat boring.
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They are meeting near me this month. I might go by car and suss them out. Maybe I'm old enough for them now. Any older and it'll be Harleys.
Go by bike, and show them a real BMW!
I always assumed people gravitate away from Harleys with increased knowledge, rather than towards them with increased age.
Maybe I Just don't know enough Harley riders to extrapolate.
Which now gives me an excuse to drag out this old chestnut:
There are only two types of people in the world, those who can extrapolate from incomplete data...
In 2015? My wife and I crossed the entire USA from Florida (East) to L.A. (West) on a rented 2014 Rootbeer Red, Electra Glide Ultra and it was just about the perfect bike for that journey and I genuinely missed it when we returned home.... 4500 miles in 12 amazing days and nothing broke or fell off, although the oil pressure gauge did work loose in the bezel, meh. Performance dropped off when it was really hot, which it was in Death Valley even in March and also at altitude, Lake Tahoe which was chilly, but at 80mph and above! it sucked down on its haunches and just glided up the highway like its name suggests it could. The banging stereo was also a real boon. Not a bike for Scottish goat tracks, but for crossing the Continent of the USA. Just the fecking job.
(https://image.ibb.co/dxNcUS/Cooler-in-the-shade-cropped.jpg)
I also have the memory of getting caught speeding, 85 in a 70, on a loaner Glide from Edinburgh Harley the February previous to our USA trip as a get to know you ride, on the A1 by Police Scotland. Although I was cautioned. They never did prosecute me because - I was a nice man enjoying a nice motorcycle on an empty road. What's the harm? ;)
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They are meeting near me this month. I might go by car and suss them out. Maybe I'm old enough for them now. Any older and it'll be Harleys.
Go by bike, and show them a real BMW!
I always assumed people gravitate away from Harleys with increased knowledge, rather than towards them with increased age.
Maybe I Just don't know enough Harley riders to extrapolate.
Which now gives me an excuse to drag out this old chestnut:
There are only two types of people in the world, those who can extrapolate from incomplete data...
Very, very funny! Hadn't seen that one before. I must mix with the other sort...
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I still fancy a K1200RS. Perhaps I should join.... ;D
P.S. Nearly all group ride-outs by there very nature are slow, dull and somewhat boring.
Hm! You should try the Old Gits if that is what you think.
Or even the Wrinklies run... 8)
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I still fancy a K1200RS. Perhaps I should join.... ;D
P.S. Nearly all group ride-outs by there very nature are slow, dull and somewhat boring.
Hm! You should try the Old Gits if that is what you think.
Or even the Wrinklies run... 8)
Most Old Gits runs are anything but slow! Removal of chicken strips and damage to hero blobs are not uncommon events. :D I think that even Tom found the pace acceptable! ;)
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The rate of a ride tends to be the inverse of the number of people taking part.
Two is quick, three or four and it eases off, five or more and you need to take your time getting that many people past the mobile chicanes.
But that's fine, it's still fun, and every now and then things open up nicely!
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Judging by the 2nd magazine received ...it's old airhead models . A shame really .
They've got my £35 for the year, me and assoc member (the wife) ...but by the sounds of things...doubt it's worth renewing :P
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Judging by the 2nd magazine received ...it's old airhead models . A shame really .
They've got my £35 for the year, me and assoc member (the wife) ...but by the sounds of things...doubt it's worth renewing :P
No! Now stop this negative self-talk.
Buy yourself (and the wife) an ounce of Old Shag each (or Clan for the lady if she prefers) and a couple of old pipes from the local tat shop.
Assuming you (and she) are not already hirsuitely adorned, nip to the local fancy dress/party shop and invest in a couple of cheap and nasty stick-on beards. (NB Don't get the sexy, neatly-trimmed variety for reasons that will become obvious when you get there.)
Pop along to the 'do' in old wellies and Barbours with a couple of old Cromwell helmets as props. (Obviously do NOT ride there! Go in the car.)
Introduce yourselves as lord and lady muck and enjoy the reception you get. And remember, you are fully paid up members so you can cause as much mayhem as you like...
We all await the report of the outing with a really good PS from herself.
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Ask Steve Parry about his banning, I got myself on a warning for asking a question. The admins, John King and Bill Smithson are, I feel getting too old and starchy to attract younger members. The forum through traffic is getting less and less and the forum shows signs of dying, only my personal opinion of course.
I totally agree, I joined the forum last year with a view to becoming a member of the club, I had an R1200GSLC at the time and dared to criticise a BMW dealer who had been rubbish. I got a PM telling me the post was removed and I was not allowed to be negative to any BMW dealer or indeed BMW UK, who were also crap by the way!
After I explained I was being totally honest and 100% factual in what I had put, and could also provide emails from the dealer and BMW UK to support my remarks, I was told it was still not acceptable to criticise BMW. Was this guy for real?? :-X
I asked for my account to be deleted and I have never looked back.
I cannot speak for other members, but I could not be a part of a forum where you cannot be honest or critical of a manufacturer for fear of chastisement or ban even though you are being civil but factual. The admin were a disgrace, but it's their forum, and they have ran it into the ground from my point of view.
These are the kind of old farts I used to laugh at when I was younger and was into sports bikes, now I'm older and have a K1600GTL and I actualy feel sorry for them, they have kind of lost there way along the road.
James
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I totally agree, I joined the forum last year with a view to becoming a member of the club, I had an R1200GSLC at the time and dared to criticise a BMW dealer who had been rubbish. I got a PM telling me the post was removed and I was not allowed to be negative to any BMW dealer or indeed BMW UK, who were also crap by the way!
After I explained I was being totally honest and 100% factual in what I had put, and could also provide emails from the dealer and BMW UK to support my remarks, I was told it was still not acceptable to criticise BMW. Was this guy for real?? :-X
James
I think the complication is that they are affiliated with BMW, and are scared to criticise them.
The official BMW logo and an insurance ad is on the website. Follow the money, as they always say.
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Money? Now there's an idea 💡 8)
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When are the subs due, Brian?
Are you putting the rates up from 1 pint per meeting? ;D
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I think its going to be a pint and a tot this year... 8)
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tot .... of night nurse?
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tot .... of night nurse?
Same effect, but more pleasant taste. So I've heard. :P
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When you are of a mind, a tot of almost anything is better than no tot at all :o
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I totally agree, I joined the forum last year with a view to becoming a member of the club, I had an R1200GSLC at the time and dared to criticise a BMW dealer who had been rubbish. I got a PM telling me the post was removed and I was not allowed to be negative to any BMW dealer or indeed BMW UK, who were also crap by the way!
After I explained I was being totally honest and 100% factual in what I had put, and could also provide emails from the dealer and BMW UK to support my remarks, I was told it was still not acceptable to criticise BMW. Was this guy for real?? :-X
James
I think the complication is that they are affiliated with BMW, and are scared to criticise them.
The official BMW logo and an insurance ad is on the website. Follow the money, as they always say.
I always understood that the BMW Club was totally independent of BMW.
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I think the complication is that they are affiliated with BMW, and are scared to criticise them.
The official BMW logo and an insurance ad is on the website. Follow the money, as they always say.
I always understood that the BMW Club was totally independent of BMW.
Why would an independent club have an advert for official BMW insurance on its website?
At some monetary level there is definitely a link*. It may be minimal (like BMW pay for the web server, or offer club members a discount), but it's definitely there.
The bit I remember from 5 years ago is some worry about denigrating the BMW logo used on the website & magazine with criticism of said logo owner via the forum. But maybe I read too much into that, and they're just control freaks.
*From http://www.thebmwclub.org.uk/abouttheclub.asp
The BMW Club is affiliated to The BMF and maintains links with BMW AG, BMW (UK) Ltd, other BMW clubs around the world, and The International Council of BMW Clubs.
And from https://www.bmw.co.uk/global/legal-notice
BMW AG is the ultimate parent of BMW (UK) Limited and BMW Financial Services and references to “BMW AG†are to Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft whose address is Petuelring 130, 80788 Munich, Germany.
(my emphasis in both cases)
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When I was involved with the BMW club many years ago there was some “tie in†with the BMW “mothershipâ€. I think BMW allowed use of the BMW name (as in The BMW Club) and provided approved club logos etc. that did not infringe trademarks. There was a big fuss because the original club logo had the roundel in it (apparently with BMW permission from when the club started) but no one could find any evidence of this permission so BMW were “encouraging†(read strong-arming) the club to adopt the BMW approved logos.
I think there was some other minor financial support from BMW to the club but couldn’t be sure of the details. As a member though, you were still allowed to be critical of BMW!
Any organisation that does not allow (let alone, encourage) its customers to be critical of it is likely to wake up one morning and find it has significantly fewer customers. Nothing is ever perfect but understanding where your customers think improvements can be made is marketing gold dust.
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I'm definitely not avoiding doing real things but I went to Companies House as that's always good fun...
In their Memorandum and Articles of Association, the third bullet talks about why it exists and says for the first sub-section:
To be independent, and therefore promote the interests of the Company as a Club
But I dunno exactly what that "to be independent" implies, given there's then a crap load of other line items about assisting and establishing things that have the same core goal as theirs.
Ok my willpower is sapping as I can't copy-paste a stupid ass scanned pdf so I'll probably give up soon, this wasn't as fun as I'd hoped.
Anyway, the badge bit:
(https://i.imgur.com/ZJkmYN3.png)
Oh yeah, and their site says
It is totally self-financing and is completely manufacturer independent.
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I'm not sure of all the bits surrounding this, all I know is their attitude was very much like an old school master and it was not a nice place to be if you had your own opinion - and I actually like the bikes! I just don't like the some of the politics and sycophantism that goes on there.
I have no axe to grind though, it was not for me and I voted with my feet, and looking at their numbers I'm sure most others do this after joining up also, which is sad, but entirely understandable under their current leadership - it's not a club, its a dictatorship. :-X
James
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... it's not a club, its a dictatorship. :-X
Where's Brian when you need him?
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Who the fark is Brain?
And I thought I was a dictatorshit...
...it's just that no one listens or cares >:(
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I think the complication is that they are affiliated with BMW, and are scared to criticise them.
The official BMW logo and an insurance ad is on the website. Follow the money, as they always say.
I always understood that the BMW Club was totally independent of BMW.
Why would an independent club have an advert for official BMW insurance on its website?
At some monetary level there is definitely a link*. It may be minimal (like BMW pay for the web server, or offer club members a discount), but it's definitely there.
The bit I remember from 5 years ago is some worry about denigrating the BMW logo used on the website & magazine with criticism of said logo owner via the forum. But maybe I read too much into that, and they're just control freaks.
*From http://www.thebmwclub.org.uk/abouttheclub.asp
The BMW Club is affiliated to The BMF and maintains links with BMW AG, BMW (UK) Ltd, other BMW clubs around the world, and The International Council of BMW Clubs.
And from https://www.bmw.co.uk/global/legal-notice
BMW AG is the ultimate parent of BMW (UK) Limited and BMW Financial Services and references to “BMW AG†are to Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft whose address is Petuelring 130, 80788 Munich, Germany.
(my emphasis in both cases)
I can assure you that the BMW Club is totally independent from BMW. When I was a member BMW forced the BMW Club to stop using the BMW roundel under threat of court action.
If you look at the BMW Club web site it states quite clearly "It is totally self-financing and is completely manufacturer independent".
BMW insurance will pay to advertise on the BMW Club web site the same as others such as Motobins do.
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That makes their attitude about negative marque comments even more difficult to understand.
I'm not really a 'joiner' of clubs so have never looked into it, but what exactly do you get for your subscription, apart from heavy-handed censorship and immoderate moderators? :)
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Maybe it's like a very amateur version of this "influencer" thing on the instagrams, where they're hoping if they only say good things they'll get free stuff... have you seen that Lego Technic GS they got?! I'd definitely say i love their shaft drive that's tried to literally kill me twice to get my hands on that :P
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a monthly magazine, that has folks trips written up in it. in fairness i only give it a cursory glance or have given the 1st 2 issues i've received. Admittance to the meets etc i think or the get aways they have booked. there are some discounts to be gotten from dealers or retailers , alas for me .... sweet f a for up here or relevant to me alas.
If i can get on one of the rally weekends this year i will consider job done i think and not bother renewing , i'm not much of a joiner either but it seemed ok , but if i rock up and am far and away the youngest then that may take the wind from my sails .
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You are so guache and naive Matt...but that is one of the beauties of youth.
But you have no excuse 8)
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from the "conditions of membership"
"The BMW Club - Our Ethos
The BMW Club Forum is an integral part of the BMW Club UK (Also a Limited Company) and as such has a duty to use this name responsibly so that it does not cause the club any embarrassment or damage. Like it or not, we also have a responsibility towards the BMW Company as a whole and this must be reflected on the forum which is our public window to non members, showing our values and how we conduct ourselves.
__________________________________________________________ "
I seem to recall the sp was as BMW contribute financially it the club that was why the admins stopped any criticism of the products
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C'mon Steve give the new guys a run down of your banning ;D ;)
I was put on a warning for telling Bill Smithson to "lighten up" :o
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Like it or not, we also have a responsibility towards the BMW Company as a whole and this must be reflected on the forum which is our public window to non members, showing our values and how we conduct ourselves.
So wrong. It should really be a responsibility to praise BMW where deserved, and take them to task them where not.
If nothing else, the fact that we're discussing it here without censure gives me a warm smug feeling.
You can have two tots, Brian. Just remind me of my promise before I'm pissed. :P
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You can have two tots, Brian. Just remind me of my promise before I'm pissed. :P
I thought that when you had Brian on a promise you had to be pissed!!!!!
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So wrong. Twice!
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Any of you lads make it this far north , I'll buy you a nip...a large one
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tot, nip. If it does not mean what I think it means, I don't understand what you're all saying. If it does mean what I think it means : English is "just another Dutch" (of, if you prefer) Dutch is just another English :D
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Tot and nip are terms for an alcoholic drink, often whisky but not exclusively ;)
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You can have two tots, Brian. Just remind me of my promise before I'm pissed. :P
I thought that when you had Brian on a promise you had to be pissed!!!!!
Me too!!
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I'm not really a 'joiner' of clubs so have never looked into it, but what exactly do you get for your subscription, apart from heavy-handed censorship and immoderate moderators? :)
Sadly that is about it.
I was looking at it as I like to get away the odd weekend, but I don't want to be tenting in a field any more. So far I've got 4 events booked through the Harley club as my mates are members - I like the way they hire a band and hotel and make a weekend of it (I park up and don't go on the ride outs!). I was kind of hoping the BMW club done a similar thing - totally wrong, they do old, dull, boring and chastisement pretty well though. :-\
So I'm on here, the GTL owns site and the GSer site, but still going for Harley events :'(
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Take a look at our Wrinklies trip, it may suit you ;)
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Take a look at our Wrinklies trip, it may suit you ;)
It's just going to be too much to fit this in as I'm at "The Gathering" in Dunoon on the Friday and meeting up with friends to get there in Scotland on the Thursday. Perhaps next year?
James
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Sorry for reviving an old thread, but I was considering joining the BMW club. I think their site says something like 'GS and other BMW motorcycles' which doesn't bode well, given my deep seated hatred of boxers. So it could just be £32 to get banned within a week. Anyone else have any recent experiences?
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John King is a bit of a tyrant and it really is a site for the old pipe and cap lot
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Always seemed OK to me, I've been a member for around 20 years. Whilst I don't attend many of the events these days, in the past I've been part of the once annual trips overseas with the East Anglian Section and always found things to be very well organised, with some interesting destinations and very high attendance levels.
As I don't ride in groups anyway, preferring to make my own way to the meeting points/overnight stops, the situation referred to on Club Runs has never been a factor for me.
The tool hire facility also has its uses, and the monthly magazine is well put together with articles that I find informative.
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Ask Steve Parry about John King. He's OK as long as you toe the party line. I can only speak as I find as can you.
Also K bikes are not well represented on the BMW forum. Their knowledge is very limited and they normally refer K owners here.
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Their knowledge is very limited and they normally refer K owners here.
Where you can get banned with no actual reason...