Adventure touring' is a new term that describes the possibilities afforded by street legal motorcycles that also have the ability to travel off the pavement. Usually, adventure touring bikes are more oriented toward the street than more traditional 'dual purpose' motorcycles. Adventure touring bikes are standards with an offroad bent
BMW marketed just such a bike fix several years, the GS 80 It never sold well. and finally it was discontinued During 1988. BMW reintroduced its adventure tourer with a boost to 1000cc and a brand new high tech rear suspension Surprisingly, over one third of BMW s US sales during that year were R1OOGS models. Used GS80s now command a high resale price
The AMA s Board of Trustees were scheduled to meet in Las Vegas right after the big Barstow-to-Las Vegas desert hare and hound. Since I was to be there, why not participate in the companion two-day dual sport ride? I picked up an R100GS from BMW on Thanksgiving Day (not an easy logistical task, in itself).
Friday at 6 a.m. I presented myself at Foothill Yamaha-Kawasaki in Tujunga, California. It was dark, cold, and raining. I thought it never rains in Southern California. Route sheets were the roll chart variety. Ever seen a roll chart on a BMW? This method proved excellent!
At sign-up I noted that most of the dual sport bikes were more dirt oriented than street oriented. Rumors of miles of sand whoops, had me asking myself if I hadn't bitten off more than I could chew. After watching a Cagiva pull in loaded two-up, I decided I should quit sniveling and get started.
13.25 miles later the dirt began. 5.25 miles later my right saddlebag fell off (I was carrying my 'meeting clothes'). Can I snivel yet? Nobody else had saddlebags-I felt like a full dresser lost at the wrong rally.
14.25 miles later we were riding in fresh snow and fog. If it never rains there, how can it snow? I still had 200 miles to go before my hot shower.
Day one was spent in the mountains and fog. I spent over an hour wandering around Cajon Summit in the fog, unsure of whether I was on the track or not. There was some pavement-even 1.25 miles of interestate. A pleasant ride through the San Bernardino National Forest and on to Apple Valley followed. The last dirt mile was deep loose gravel and sand.
How can such a nimble, light bike get so heavy so fast? I looked forward with some trepidation, to the second day desert leg.
Day two dawned dry, bright, and 38 degrees. 213 miles of uncertainty lay ahead. I had badly scratched my face shield, wiping the fog and condensation off the inside and outside, on Day One. Riding straight into the sun on a hardpacked road for 12 miles, at-let's say 55 mph-was a pure act of faith, given the gauzy view caused by the sun on the scratches.

At about 32 miles out, I learned what a "rough wash" was. I learned for three, long, wallowing miles. It is amazing how much one can sweat at 38 degrees. The more experienced on their dirt-oriented dual sport bikes, danced past with seemingly no effort. Only 180... more... miles.
Things got better quick. The vistas were grand. Loose sand covered the road in places, but the BMW tracked through well enough. I learned to keep my speed up, after getting stuck to the hubs.
All too quickly, we pulled into Las Vegas. The BMW was not the best bike for the course we covered, but it is a testimonial to the breed's versatility that it did so well. There were several other R100GSs entered. If I could only own one motorcycle, it would be an adventurer tourer.
District 37 put on a great run. Everyone got goodies with their run memorabilia. Door prizes galore were passed out. This type of dual sport run is catching on. Over 300 adventurer tourers rode from Ohio, Texas, and elsewhere to ride this dual sport event. Since this event is limited in size and is popular, you had better get your entry in early for 1989. What better way to work off some of that Thanksgiving turkey?! For an application, send a self-addressed stamped long envelope to: 1989 District 37 AMA B to V Dual Sport Ride, 3550 Foothill Blvd., Glendale, CA 91214; or call 818/249-2141.

Dal Smilie is BMW MOA's Treasurer. He also serves on the American Motorcyclist Association's Board of Trustees as its Secretary. Dal is also the president of the American Motorcycle Heritage Foundation which is building a National Motorcycle Museum, Hall of Fame and Archives. Currently, he has been doing a lot of Adventuring Touring' on a pristine GS 80 he purchased.

	Dal Is Running for Re-election
		Dal Smilie is Running for Re-election to the AMA board of Directors.