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On August 13th I am leaving KC on my bike and riding to WI to meet my brother-in-law to ride the Trans Wisconsin Adventure Trail to Lake Superior. Before I leave on that trip I need to to get my 18,000 mile service and new tires. I had about 700 miles to go before the 18,000 miles service and about that much left on my TWC 80s. I did not want to replace the tires any sooner than needed in order to get my money’s worth so I decided to go on a weekend trip no matter how hot it would be, but where? I do some work in the Hermann, MO area and know the area is beautiful, there were a few geocaches that looked appealing and Hermann has a brew pub that I have not visited so I decided to head that way Friday afternoon.

In Hermann, I stayed at a wonderful place for the night. Normally $250 + a night, I got it for $100 and that included a bottle or wine and a nice breakfast.

The brew pub closed at 6:00. I have never heard of a brew pub close that early! That was a disappointment. I did get to sample their beer at another place.

After riding around Hermann,


I headed south picking up a few geocaches.



I got to the Rolla area and decided to ride toward Houston, MO to see a friend.

When I tried to leave my bike would not start. I had power but it would not turn over. The code on my instrument panel meant my key would not being accepted by my bike. It was the same key I have always used.

My friend, who owns a dealership, lent me a truck to drive my bike back.
On the way back I stopped at the Lake of the Ozarks for gas. I tried my bike and it started. I tried it a number of time and started every time. It was getting late so I decided to stay the night in the area and and if my bike started in the morning I would go to Houston if not I would go home.

I finally found a room at a Motel 8 after checking 6 other motels first but they were all booked. The price I paid for the room was greater then what I paid in Hermann.

In the morning, I tried my bike again and it started right up so I headed back to Houston. When I got to Houston IT WOULD NOT START! Nothing I could do to get it started. I WAS PISSED. I thanked my friend again and headed home in his V10 F350 Ford King Cab pickup, getting maybe 9 MPG in the beast.

I’m dropping off my bike at the shop on Tuesday for a scheduled valve adjustment AND fixing the key problem. I’ll also be making another trip to Houston much sooner the anticipated to drop off the beast.

Hermann is a great place to stay and as I thought, the area is a wonderful area to ride. There is a good mixture of gravel and twisty asphalt and as you get closer to Houston there are a lot of forest roads to ride. IF anyone wants to get it a try in the future please let me know. I want to go back…..when it is cooler.

If interested here is a link to additional pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/ajayhawkfan ... dHoustonMO

Awesome (beginning of the) trip! The spouse and I spent some time in Hermann. Great town.

Be glad the key issue didn't rear its ugly head while on the trans-WI trail. I wonder if there is a way for the dealership to disable this lovely little feature via the Mo(ron)Tronic or whatever computer they are using now? Would make your bike easier to steal, but it wouldn't leave you stranded.

I was thinking the same thing....turn the program off!!! For the problem to happen it happened in the best place it could happen.

My wife, Jodi, & I enjoyed a 3 day anniversary weekend in Hermann a few years back. It so happens our anniversary is in October, which is a very lively time around Hermann and the vineyards! We stayed at the Second Creek Farms Bed & Breakfast, and we can recommend it! It is a relatively new place but is build like an 1850's log home. It is very cool nestled in the woods in a hill overlooking the farm. It is about 19 miles South of town down the curvy and hilly Hwy 19.

http://www.secondcreekfarm.com/pages/home.html

If you go to Hermann in October, there is a lot of beer and wine flowing.

Eddie, SORRY to hear about your starting issues. Breaking down is one thing, but then to fake you out like that--that's just mean!

Speaking of sweltering in August, WHY is the Sturgis rally in August?!

In Hermann I stayed at the Inn at Hermannhof. http://www.hermannhof.com/Inn/Accommoda ... ennedy.asp It is part of Hermannhoff Winery. It is a wonderful place to stay and would recommend it highly however normally it is very high priced.

Btw, your starting issue--that's why I don't buy a new BMW GS. All those pesky issues. Or could it be the $20K?! I'm jealous of your machine--starting or not.

I haven't been through Hermann on a bike, but I have driven the area. Very nice place to visit. A lot of scenic roads, some of which made me wish I brought the bike. Can't remember the name of the place I stayed. It's one of those places that I'm wanting to go back and visit again and it's not that far from KC.

I dropped off my bike this morning. My starting problem (EWS light, the bike does not recognize the key) has been happening a lot to newer BMWs and BMW issued a technical recall. A tech recall is when the would replace the part the next time the bike is in for service. The owner does not get notified of the recall. I think that system sucks. Everyone that is effected should be notified of the potential problem. I was lucky were it happened to me. I am sure others have been screwed having a bike not start in the middle of nowhere. That would ruin a trip that took months to plan.

ajayhawkfan wrote:I am sure others have been screwed having a bike not start in the middle of nowhere. That would ruin a trip that took months to plan.

Wow. Considering what that bike is designed for--epic journeys to BFE--yeah, owners should be directly alerted. Glad yours happened where it did and is getting fixed. Since your BMW is basically falling apart, I'll trade you my V-Strom if it helps you out.

troy wrote:

ajayhawkfan wrote:I am sure others have been screwed having a bike not start in the middle of nowhere. That would ruin a trip that took months to plan.

Wow. Considering what that bike is designed for--epic journeys to BFE--yeah, owners should be directly alerted. Glad yours happened where it did and is getting fixed. Since your BMW is basically falling apart, I'll trade you my V-Strom if it helps you out.

If it happens while I'm in BFE I may take you up on it.

ajayhawkfan wrote:

troy wrote:

ajayhawkfan wrote:I am sure others have been screwed having a bike not start in the middle of nowhere. That would ruin a trip that took months to plan.

Wow. Considering what that bike is designed for--epic journeys to BFE--yeah, owners should be directly alerted. Glad yours happened where it did and is getting fixed. Since your BMW is basically falling apart, I'll trade you my V-Strom if it helps you out.

If it happens while I'm in BFE I may take you up on it.

So this is what I am visualizing:
1. Ajayhawkfan's BMW breaks down in BFE. He hits the "Come rescue me, Troy" button on his Spot Messenger. That sends an automated message to Troy, which includes the lat/long.
2. Troy hurriedly packs and loads that waypoint into his GPS. Hits the road.
3. AJHF takes Troy's Vstrom, leaving Troy alone, in BFE, with a broken down BMW.
4. AJHF returns, Troy is never heard from again.

Troy, not so sure this setup is a good deal for you!

safiri wrote: So this is what I am visualizing:
1. Ajayhawkfan's BMW breaks down in BFE. He hits the "Come rescue me, Troy" button on his Spot Messenger. That sends an automated message to Troy, which includes the lat/long.
2. Troy hurriedly packs and loads that waypoint into his GPS. Hits the road.
3. AJHF takes Troy's Vstrom, leaving Troy alone, in BFE, with a broken down BMW.
4. AJHF returns, Troy is never heard from again.

Troy, not so sure this setup is a good deal for you!

I don't see your problem.

I thought you guys were my friends.

I think a true friend would have left Troy with a spare key, just in case the first one did not work!

troy wrote:I thought you guys were my friends.

What gave you that impression?

ajayhawkfan wrote:

troy wrote:I thought you guys were my friends.

What gave you that impression?

I don't know. I guess it was the way your tongue felt in my ear. It seemed like you really meant it.

I'll probably be deleting this later. Don't bother quoting it because I'm the site admin--I can delete your posts, too.

That had me ROTFL!!!