How It All Started by Mike and Kathy Muensterman

When I was a young lad in the mid 60's, my 2 brothers and I bought a 60cc motorcycle that had gears we could shift.  WOW.  We rode that bike in the woods at home.  Our Mother didn't mind, we were at home and she knew what we were doing.  We were tough kids, bouncing off trees with few injuries.  First: it was too quiet so we cut the muffler in half to make more noise.  Second:  no traction so we added the smallest knobby I've ever seen on a motorcycle.  So my odyssey started.  I went to bigger and faster bikes the following years.  Soon came marriage, children, house payments, car payments and so on.  As the years rolled by we realized our children were grown and ready to go out on their own.
We had our business, doing well, so we decided to buy our touring bike.  We soon realized our old friends no longer ride. 

Kathy and I dated on a 1973 750cc BMW.  Kathy's father never knew, motorcycles were a taboo.  So Kathy would meet me in town and off we went on the Beemer.  My future wife was hooked. 

Several road bikes later, we were taking short trips only.  Children and beach toys will not fit on a motorcycle but a station wagon does fine.  Soon we informed our children that we (Dad and Mom) will be taking trips, 2 up, on a 2 up bike.  Now what bike?  No brainer.  BMW LT 1200c.  1999 first year out and we were ready.  Traded a k75 for our LT.  Off we go on a few trips.  Great wife but needed some good company to share that last sweeper with.  So here we are many Beemers around but not a club. At our business I started asking customers what they rode and if they knew of any Beemer riders (Names, address, and, etc.).  I started calling numbers from the anonymous MOA book.  Set a date to meet with a nice short ride of 220 miles and eats after.  Wow at least 30 bikes showed up mostly Beemers.  All had a good time.  So here we go. 

Next step: Our club.  We scheduled to meet for supper at a local restaurant and discussed beginning of our club.  Here we are 2 years later we have a name, Bavorak Motorrad Riders, officers, dues, but the most important part of this story is the great people Kathy and I have come to know and love.  The stories they share, not just riding stories, but of their lives.  The ups and downs that life sometimes gives you determines what path you take  in life and how you handle it.  So why start a club?  The reason is simple to get to know your fellow riders.  You may have much in common with him or her and what brand they ride has little to do with their life experiences.  But Beemer riders seem to tell better stories and laugh more.  As to me when life starts to fail, as will happen to all of us, its the rides (life) that we will look back on and remember.  Yes, and remember that long sweeper on Hwy. 80, in West Virginia, on that cold and rainy day in early May, my life was great.

Mike and Kathy Muensterman
President Bavorak Motorrad Riders
MOA Chapter 290
Evansville, Indiana