[Dave Ross]

in reply to: R1100S exhaust? #6339

I think oilheads are call ed oilheads because a lot of them use oil. Mine certainly does. My K75 S used to go 10 000 on .5 of a litre.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Small addition to the fleet #6336

Added to the fleet last Monday evening, an adventure bike (2004 XT250) for Jo  😀

Neat bike, that's what Gerda needs. Will  Jo be taking part in the Ride? Gerda's tyre problem has been driving me nuts. Finally I've found a set of Karoos for an acceptable price, they'll be knobbly enough for Vege.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Oilhead GS ridden the way some of us can only dream of #6325

I hope I didn't give the impression it was me. I posted it because of the Tourance tyres going up a hill. I've looked at it a few times since wondering if I would be brave enough.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: New G650X – lighter, stronger, faster – yeah #6300

😀  well, I sure hope you'll be well ahead of me

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: AGM 2006 #6272

Malcolm_G wrote:

I find the “reds under beds” mentality quite humourous. Of course there are folk who have held positions in the club before and they along with many others have been instrumental in guiding the club to it’s present situation. They have a long lasting and keen interest in the club and want to see it prosper and grow. Do you seriously think they should sit quietly by when they disagree with an issue – come on Alex. Sorry to repeat myself but the AGM is the very forum where these issues should be raised in order for issues to be crystal clear and be recorded for all to see in the minutes.

Sorry Alex, we see this quite differently so I guess we'll just have to wait and see. 🙄

It's got nothing to do with the reds under the beds mentality. People have every right to speak their mind. What annoys me is that there was that people do not take the opportunity to discuss these things during the year.

I am no longer part of the executive, but I felt sorry for Dick having to put up with this. It is not easy to react when you are standing up the front and get bomarded with people who demand instant answers on issues that you didn't even know were going to be an issue. How this helps to make things crystal clear I cannot see. I know I am not the only one who thought that it was a bit rough.

Dick, like myself is relatively new member. I certainly appreciated the guidance I got when I was secretary. However, I felt the tone of some members was hostile, more in line with your reds under the beds analogy.

What did they think the executive was trying to achieve with the fee increase? Go on a holiday to Fiji? The executive has been working very hard and have been giving up a lot of their own time. I feel that they deserve a less intense atmosphere. All people have to do is to stay informed during the year and voice their concerns as they arise. Then they can be disussed at the AGM in a civil manner.

It is hard to be prepared and provide satisfactory answers to people's concerns when you don't see these things coming. Expecting new members to step up and take on office is one thing, but then you've got to accept that they may do things differently to the folks who have been instrumental in guiding the club and have a lasting interest.

New members haven't got the luxury of having twenty mates sitting in the background supporting them.

I will think twice about putting my name forward in the future and I am sure that I am not the only one.

Again, it is not the fact that people speak their mind that annoys my, it is how they do it. I understand that you have to be reasonably thick skinned to take on a position in a club and I also believe that Dick handled the meeting very well. As I am no longer on the executive it doesn't really concern me, but I felt that the tone of the AGM was inappropriate and so I am writing this for all to read.

Anyway, this is my opinion and these are my feelings on this topic and although they won't be shared by everybody I felt the need to mention it.

Cheers,
Alex

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: AGM 2006 #6269

Malcolm,
I think the organisation depends more on the few who are willing to do some work. We have a newsletter and a website. Surely there are plenty of opportunities available for prior discussion. The last few AGMs I have attended were nothing like it.

I think these people had an agenda prior to the AGM and could have easily asked questions in advance and would have been able to receive better researched answers. I know that Dick had mentioned the fee increase in advance. Surely these people can understand that the club is much easier to run with a healthy balance. You just never know what comes up. The money should and will be used to subsidise club events such as the AGM and others. People who attend benefit fron this, the others won't.

As for the online payment system it is obvious that we are having problems. However, it is important that we take a longer term approach. The reason for having it was to streamline accounting processes, this has backfired in the short term and will need to be addressed.

However, compared to the newsletter our web effort is dirt cheap. The website pays for itself and the online transaction cost is minimal. Had we know that people had concerns like that it would have been possible to show the actual costing of these things.

I know that a lot of people have had past positions in the club and some are still backseat drivers. They have got to realize that being active doesn;t mean to create a storm in a tea cup at the AGM for a few minutes.

As stated in the beginning, there is more than one forum available as well as the phone numbers and email addresses of the executive.

I couldn;t help but notice how quiet it got when Dick called for candiates. I am sure that quite a number of people thought that they could do without the hassle we got. Past glory is fine, but what counts is today and tomorrow, the rest is history.

Cheers,
Alex

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: AGM 2006 #6267

I’ve got one just like it Malcolm. Unfortunate the serenity of the picture was no reflection of the AGM. One or two people in there were on a mission.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: BMW Motorrad – Product Range, New Models and Features #6301

That’s a good link with lots of info. I wonder when we’ll be hearing rumours about these bikes in New Zealand 😆

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: New G650X – lighter, stronger, faster – yeah #6296

That guy is doing quite well up the hill on his dual purpose tyres, if only vege could see this. Oh, I can help him there 🙂

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Resene Paints Discount #6291

Great work Ingel. I should have bought a Resene instead of a BMW 😀 I like Resene paints, they are a good product.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Old HP #6243

The bike was delivered today. Of course I had to hopp on it straight away. It’s a neat bike, now I get to do a bit of wrenching. I am planning to tidy it up a bit. First up I’ll have to find new or good used headers. So if you know of any for sale let me know.

I had neve ridden an airhead befor, so this was a brand new experience for me. The gear box shifts smoothly, and it idles well. I like the low down torque , it can just putt putt along at a crawling pace.

I can see myself having a lot of fun on this bike. Got one more picture, but not a very good one.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: First impressions – F800S & ST #6257

We had a great time running in these bikes. Luckily the weather held off until almost the end of the ride. The roads were dry for all the fun bits.

The bike handles really well and has excellent brakes. It took me a little while to get used to the riding position compared the 1150GS. Once I had settled in it turned out to be quite comfortable.

The engine will obviously need a few more K's on the clock for it to loosen up, but it has quite a bit of torque, so riding it in running in mode wasn't a chore.

I am sure these bikes will turn out to be very popular. Here is a picture of them all lined up, waiting for a rider.

I have more pictures on my camera, but can't find the transfer lead.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Check out this road !!!! #6261

Never seen anything like it.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: First impressions – F800S & ST #6253

Hi Garry,
you had me worried there for a moment, I thought I may have missed it :-). What an excellent report you have written. You should send it to the editor and sell it to a magazine.

I can see one of these bikes parked in our garage, but I am not sure who would get to ride it. I hope the weather holds up, see you soon.

[Dave Ross]

in reply to: Old HP #6240

Jim,
the bottom two pics are wishful thinking. The bike at the beginning of the thread is the one I have bought.

Cheers,
Alex

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