Brand new Beemer for Jack

From left Tauranga Ulysses branch co-ordinator Marius Swanepoel, national committee member Wayne Painter and Jack var der Meer with his new bike. Photo: Andrew Campbell.

Jack van der Meer was going to ride his new bike home from Totara Street in Mount Maunganui where he picked up his prize from Mount Motorcycles, to Otumoetai – the long way round.

With a 350km range in the tank of the Brand new BMW F800GT, the ideas for a few diversions were nudging him as he took the keys for motorcycle he won in the annual Ulysses Club raffle.

'I do quite a lot of long day-rides of 200-300km,” says Jack, before accepting the keys from national committee member Wayne Painter.

The raffle is the Ulysses Motorcycle Club's annual fundraiser says national committee member Wayne Painter.

The money is spent on subsidised rider training, similar to the training day the Tauranga branch has organised for May 29 where club members receive eight hours of professional training for $50 from Pro Rider, the biggest motorcycle rider training company in the country.

That's the whole idea of it, says Wayne.

Jack's winning ticket was drawn in Mosgiel at the club's AGM and rally on March 24. Jack already rides a BMW, a 96 R11 with the traditional boxer engine and shaft drive.

The new bike is a BMWs mid-range sports tourer that offers a good size bike, full size pillion seat and comfort for all day riding. The parallel twin engine provides a claimed 90bhp with a belt drive.

Jack says he chose BMW out of the assortment of available bikes because he is a touring rider and his current bike is really good and comfortable on the road.

'So that's one of the reasons, it suits my riding style,” says Jack. 'It is a shaft drive on the other bike, so now I will have to get used to the belt drive.”

At $21,790, the BMW is among the top end available rides on the prize list of 29 bikes. Jack had to buy his own paniers. For price it is topped only by the BMW F800GS at $21,990, the Yamaha XT1200Z Tenere at $21,999 and the Suzuki GSX R1000A at $24,995.

The Ulysses Club which is for riders over 40, began in Australia in 1983 and crossed the Tasman four years later.

The club has grown to 28 branches spread throughout New Zealand, and now has over 3000 members. Branches arrange rides and social functions for the club members in their location.

As well as the founding club in Australia, there is a sister club in South Africa, and fledgling branches of the club in Canada, Germany.

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