Newbie Intro from Mike in Seattle

(NOTE: I have submitted this "intro" to a number of sidecar-related lists and boards. Since I'm sure many of you are on the same "other" lists, please excuse me for the repeats - this should be the last!)

My name is Mike M. Paull, and I live in Seattle, WA. I'll provide a link to a brief bio later. Up until last year, I was an avid two-wheeler, having owned about 30 bikes over the years, to include a three-year stint in 6-hour endurance racing back in the mid-70's. I made the switch from fine Japanese street/sport touring bikes (there was an MR250 Enduro in there somewhere) to the wackily weird but lovable BMW marque in the early 90's. In Beemersville, I have owned" a '91 K1, '93 R100GSPD, '00 R1150GS, '02 TT39 F650S Dakar, and '03 R1150GS Adventure.

Several years ago, I decided to retire and start moto-adventuring as a "full-timer". My first major tour was with Helge Pedersen and GlobeRiders in 2002, on his World Tour from Shanghai, China to Munich, Germany. It's a long and convoluted story, but I would up being Helge's partner in doing "all things GlobeRiders". Last year, while guiding the same tour, I was involved in a tragic accident in Russia, one day from the Ukrainian border. Long story short, one rider died during his medivac home, another suffered severe leg and hand injuries (but is now mobile and in town for a job interview this week!), and as lead rider, I had a long list of "poly trauma", to include a below-the-knee amputation of my left leg, all due to an impatient cager who decided to make an illegal pass on a blind "no way out" curve.

Anyway, with the support of family, friends and many that I've never met, I'm ready to get back onto a saddle, only this time, on three wheels. Thus, a sad entry into this marvelous and new-to-me sport, but one I already relish and totally look forward to.

I plan to begin touring again next year. In preparation, I have commissioned a sidecar that is being built by Pete Larsen at Liberty Motors in Seattle, WA, right in my home town. The tug is an '05 BMW R1200GS, and the chair is an EZS Rally "L". Due to my unique requirements, I wanted to keep the TeleLever (no leading link), keep the stock ground clearance, use BMW cross-spoke wheels all around, have the narrowest possible track, and have a field-detachable sidecar in order to pass through the mandated X-ray inspection for air cargo transport. Many conflicting requirements. To accommodate my disability, a Pingle electric shifter is being installed. The EZS team in Holland did a remarkable engineering and fabrication job involving many custom machined parts and weldments to make it all work, and Pete is building an even more remarkable rig, which amongst other mods, sports a rear R1200GS cross-spoke wheel on the car.

I was able to take it out for my first test ride yesterday (3-hours, oh baby!) and all I can say is, I'm blown away. Right now, it's urban street cred butt-ugly (all the panels off, no paint, al the guts exposed,etc.), but it handles the twisties, rough stuff and freeways magnificently within the performance constraints of high ground-clearance and a very compliant suspension (required for off-pavement use). It tracks so well that it doesn't need a steering damper, and it motors straight and true hands-off at freeway speeds. I expect it will take a couple more months to complete all the details down to the paint (to include a full belt-line perimeter bumper/brush guard for the car), but it will be worth the wait!

The rig Pete is building will spend about 4 months out of every year being shipped back and forth between tours. In addition, I wanted to begin training as early as possible during this remarkable summer we're having here in the (always) Great Pacific North(but often)WET, so....

For a 2nd and back-up rig, I've gone forward to the past and have put an Ural Gear-Up on order. I expect to take delivery in two weeks. Since IMWA is located right across the pond in Redmond, WA, I had a great meeting with them a few days ago, and have been assured that one