Meet Cal Jeffers, CAL's featured customer for November 2005
Customer: Cal Jeffers
Age: 60
 Years In The Saddle: I started in 1975. At that time since I had never even been on a motorcycle before, my Atlanta BMW dealer let me take a two mile test ride on a 350 Honda. After that "extensive" introduction and orientation, he felt I was good to go on my first bike, a brand new silver – grey BMW R75/5. I remember that bike very well and how much it sounded like a Volkswagen.
I took an eight year sabbatical from motorcycling from 1993 to 2001. This was due to a mishap I had in which I managed to total my 1989 Gold Wing. I just wasn't ready to get back on after that accident. However I heard the siren call in 2001. After seeing the shiny, new bikes being ridden to work I was again smitten by the lure of two wheelin' on the open road. So I began looking. The first bike considered was the Wing, but I could not get the deal I desired. I then came to visit Cal BMW and Carolyn; got the deal and the rest is history.
What do you ride?
I currently ride a mauve 2001 K1200LT with a Birmingham, AL license frame. The license frame is a reminder to me of the five times I have traveled cross county via motorcycle. Of those times, two were on my BMW. It has a navigation system, and a BMW ComSystem. I chose the ComSystem primarily because music is a very large component of my motorcycling experience. At the time (2001), the ComSystem was considered the best BMW audio solution. Though a bit pricey, I have had no major problems with my sound system.
Prior to the "LT" I have owned the aforementioned Gold Wing SE, a Honda CB900C, a flaming orange Honda CB750 and the initial R75/5.
Modifications to motorcycle
I added one of those $75 Official BMW cup holders. It is not as crazy as it looks or sounds. It is really quite useful in carrying paper cupped drinks home. It will accept any sized cup I have come to find out.
Motorcycles currently owned
My LT is the only one.
My favorite bike is
My 2003 Boss Hogg with the Chevy engine (ha, ha); no the one I have.
Dream bike
An "LT" with a cassette player, a more affordable audio system and a practical hybrid drive system.
The best ride I ever took was
It was in 1990. I was on my way to the Grand Canyon on my "GL". It was such a beautiful warm summer day; golden in fact, I could see from one side of the desert valley to the other. My second best ride was on my K1200. It was in 2002 and I was traveling at night from Southern Virginia to Florida. It was so quiet that night; just the sounds of my music and the 1271 cc engine. That, too, was special.
Advice for experienced riders
"Do not ride any faster than you feel comfortable; do not out ride your ability."
|
