Chicago Region BMW Motorcycle Owners Assoccrbmw

1969 marks the year Chicago's own prestigious BMW motorcycle club entered into existence.

Now 38 years later, The Chicago Region BMW Owners Association boasts over 200 plus members making it the largest and most active BMW Club in the region and which enjoys a rich heritage of accomplishments and history.

BMW motorcycle riders in the early days of the Association had a different attitude from the riders of other brands. The BMW rider consequently had to have a different motorcycle to express this difference, one that would distinguish himself from the bad boy image, and somewhat defiant personality traits of the motorcycle riders that so characterized the bikers of the sixties and seventies.

Ted Strobl's garage in the alley behind his house was a
meeting place to go have your bike fixed free of charge!...
and still is today! Picture taken in 1969.

He also had to have a machine that could run for long distances and be very dependable, so in many cases he became somewhat of a loner as BMW motorcycles made up to only one-half of one percent of all of the other riders at that time, and dealerships were rare, in the Chicago area.

Some of the BMW riders however went to other brands to protest of the lack of good BMW dealers in the Mid-west and also lack of good service in the seventies. At least 15% of the original members of the Association rode other brands of bikes, British and Italian motorcycles, Harley-Davidsons, Hondas, Yamahas and an assortment of other imported brands. After a few years however this all changed and the club became an association of BMW owners only.

This organization began as a result of BMW motorcycle owners frustration with the lack of an adequate number of BMW dealers in Chicago to serve the rapidly growing numbers of BMWs in the area and the lack of qualified service technicians of these unique motorcycles. Even though BMW riders rode together years before the founding of the club there was a need for the riders to maintain and service their own bikes and to order parts directly from various manufacturers. The riders also wanted a club to be able to exchange ideas and information about a whole lot of motorcycle related subjects, such as camping, bike accessories, coordinated rides, etc.

The early days of camping with members proudly
displaying the club's new banner. Quite a few
women riders were active Association members.

Over the years many technical changes occurred, engine size capacities of 600-750cc grew to present day levels of 1100-1200 cc, brakes from early drum types to double loaded disc brakes with vastly improved suspension systems which enabled BMW riders to go farther and faster.

Todays club member may have on his bike,a computerized global positioning mapping system, satellite telephone, a built-in music system plus heated apparel enabling him or her to travel in great comfort and longer distances. The new rider can access information on bike technology, rider destination information , global riding opportunities all via the Internet at his finger tips. All information now is also shared in the Association via the monthly newsletter, the web site and through individual dialogue from its many members.

A family of like minded riders got together to formulate the Association that to this day plans rides, helps members maintain and service their bikes, plan camping trips together, and enjoy monthly meetings and in theses ways make new friendships with fellow riders who own BMW’s.

This is a unique and culturally diverse group of people, male and female who celebrate the joy of living through such activities as consumer interest items, annual awards dinner, slide shows of international trips, technical hands-on seminars, vintage rides and technical sessions, club picnic, first Friday get together, Saturday rides, many scheduled rides and the yearly BMW MOA National Rally, and a whole lot more.

Every Sunday BMW riders would meet at
Hal's Drive-in for coffee and ride together
to parts of Wisconsin or Illinois. Drive-in was
located at routes 22 and 41, and became
Art's later, then Gee-Gees and
finally the Highland House
where bikers of all brands meet today.
(Editor's Note: Sadly, Highland House
has also closed their doors

In retrospect The Chicago Region BMW Owners Association in it’s first two years helped the BMW Owners Motorcycle Owners of America organize their national club by including our second club president as one of their directors and providing the technical sessions with our own CHI-Tech group.

To this day we support their National Rally each year by providing a few volunteers from our club. We take great pride in the fact that over the years we are not just members of motorcycle club but good friends and riders with common interests... so please visit our monthly meeting and see why this club is so unique.