1974 September

In July, I mentioned the hassle that Bill Marshall #517 went through in shipping his BM back to the States. You can avoid this hassle by flying your bike on a reputable airline. I have yet to hear of anyone having their bike damaged by flying it (except if one fails to use an airplane). It may cost more, but there is less risk involved, and you can have your BM within two days after you have delivered it to the airline.

TWA offers a special package deal for flying motorcycles back to the States – in fact, it’s the best I’ve heard of. For a set price, depending upon the destination and whether or not the bike is equipped with a fairing, TWA will crate it, fly it to an international airport in the States, and then deliver it to the local airport nearest your home, either by air, rail, or truck. From Frankfurt, W-Germany to New York, for example, it costs DM800 ($320 at DM2.50 = \(1), without fairing, and DM850 (\)340) with fairing. Arrangements should be made in advance to insure your planned arrival date, by calling TWA at Frankfurt (0611)-6902217.

Lufthansa will fly your BM back to the States at a cheaper rate than TWA; however, crating service is not included (and none can be found close to the Frankfurt airport). Although the German freight tariff prohibits palletizing, Lufthansa will palletize your BM for flights to New York or Boston only. They use two methods for figuring the rate; charging the higher of the two. The first is the actual weight of your BM and the pallet, assessed at DM2.67 per kilogram (200 kg minimum; 1 kg = 2.2 lbs.), from Frankfurt to New York, for example. Figuring roughly 210 kg for the average BM and pallet, it would cost you DM561 or $224. The second method is based upon volume-weight using the following:

Make your arrangements by calling Lufthansa at Frankfurt (0611)-6902135 or 6902137, and ask for Herr Sauer.

While we’re on the subject of flying, the June issue of “Consumer Reports” has an interesting article on the least expensive ways of flying to and within Europe. Some of the savings suggested would easily pay for the transport of your BM as well.

Will Price #3034, who was scheduled to leave our shores in September, surprised us and left in August instead. Will was one of our Mannheim riding buddies, and we will miss him. Larry Blake #3667, from Bitburg, left in August, and Bill Ringwald #3574, also from Bitburg, will leave in September. Bill and his wife Sue plan to tour the States for one entire year on their trusty BMW. That should be quite an experience!

Back in May, I mentioned that Miles Reichenbach #1838 had taken possession of an R90 S, and that he had promised me a ride on it. The other day, that dream became a reality with the two of us zapping down the Autobahn from Kaiserslautern to my home in Roxheim on each other’s bikes.

Rosalie and I are off to Greece for three weeks in September.

Auf Wiedersehen