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First Burgman "Whack Pack" is July 15th, 2007. We will "officially" start at 0800 (8:00 AM)
 Ready to store some oil!
What the heck is a 'Whack Pack'? Read on.
Back in the early 90's, there was a group of Beemer riders in Virginia, just outside Washington DC, that used to get together very regularly to teach each other how to maintain their BMWs. They had a 'shack' behind one member's house that eventually housed an electric lift, more tools than most motorcycle shops had, a couch or two and a 'fridge' always filled with soft drinks and beer; and yes, even an EGA unit (exhaust gas analyzer), a laptop with the latest BMW technical advice, schematics on every bike they ever made, and the ability to plug a bike in to diagnose problems. Whether it was a simple fluid change or a valve job on a 16 valve K bike, or a spline lube, or a ring job on an airhead, this crew could get it done.
A "treehouse" of epic proportions. People used to come from all over the US to attend the "Shack Pack". It is still famous to this day......
Several miles away, another group started the "Quack Pack"...a bunch of 'quacks' that used to get together at someone's garage and do laid back 'tech' sessions....just to teach folks how to do the basics.
I came back to Georgia inspired...and started the "Whack Pack".... in the south, if something didn't quite fit, you'd take a ballpeen hammer and whack the shi+ out of it until it'd fit; ergo, the name "Whack Pack". For quite a few years, Beemer riders from the ATL area, Tennessee, South and North Carolina, Florida, (Texas and California one weekend) would find my garage and we'd have a session on the 'easier' stuff...how to change your fluids, how to bleed your brakes, how to plug a flat tire, how to detail your bike, etc.
It was a reason to just get together...to teach someone something they didn't know, we'd have Beemer mechanics on-hand for the more technical aspects, but mostly, it was to socialize, look at each other's rides, get ideas, eat something, and get to know each other a little better.
I have decided to raise this idea from the ashes...there are a lot of Burgman owners in the ATL area and more so, in the SE US.
And I'd like to see this idea spread outside Virginia and Georgia. Just think about it a little. There is a ton of knowledge amongst many riders out there...and there are a bunch of newer riders who would like to know the basics...even if they never, ever change their own oil, it is 'empowering' to them to at least know how to do it. And many female riders, who didn't hang in garages as they grew up, really need to know a few basics...and the 'Whack Packs' were always well attended by our female riders (and they were some of the best tire pluggers and oil changers out there...once they learned the basics).
So I am offering a 'Whack Pack' session at my house in July. I hope a few of you can come.... the first session will be "Fluids...How to Change Them".
This will include motor oil, oil filter, tranny and final drive. I won't go into bleeding brakes until I can secure a true 'wrench" to be on hand... but I guess we could undertake radiator fluid if you feel the need.
I will have the basic tools you will need to change your fluids. The only thing you need to have is the fluids and filters you plan on changing (I'll have plenty of shop rags and everyone goes home with new one one).
If you have a shop manual, throw it in your trunk...I have no experience with a 400...but they are sure welcome to come.
Even if you do not ever intend to do your own oil/final drive changes on our own at your home, come on by and learn how to do it...just in case. Or if your bike is close to needing one, come on by and I am sure someone will be more than happy to help you do it...and you leave with a bike with fresh fluids.... and whether you use dino oil or synthetics...that choice is thoroughly up to you.
But most importantly, you will leave here knowing something about your bike you may not have known, plus, you will have a few friends out there you didn't have when you arrived. That, to me, is the most important reason for having these "Whack Packs". Plus, there is always somebody that has a some cool 'mods' to their bikes that you have either read about here or have heard about...and it is your chance to see it in person. Or to sit on that Russell seat or Mayer seat or Corbin seat; or sit behind that Clearview barn door or Givi shield.... or.......
The date chosen for the first Burgman "Whack Pack" is July 15th, 2007. We will "officially" start at 0800 (8:00 AM), but the garage door will be open at 0630 for you early arrivals; and if there are any out of towners that want to come in early, I have 4 rooms upstairs not spoke for (two have beds, one is an office with a soft carpet for sleeping bags and one is a bonus room with space for at least three "floor campers"). It will last as long as needed...we'd usually finish up by one or two o'clock, but a few ran into the later afternoon. Just don't show unannounced at 5 PM, OK?
Rain or shine, this will happen. Since we are in a "Fifty Year Drought" here in GA, I am not expecting any rain that weekend.
Feel free to PM or e-mail me about this if you have questions. These pack sessions will be planned out as we go, and hopefully we will have more technical ones as we proceed. I am looking into getting a local dealer to supply a mechanic for the more 'complicated' ones....like bleeding brakes and adjusting valves and changing fork oil....but we'll start out with the easy stuff. Plugging tires and detailing bikes will be the amongst the next ones planned.
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...and if you spy someone with the "Emergency Trunk Release" on their bike, we'll be able to fit you up with one in just a few minutes too...stuff like that happens at these sessions too.... you just never know!
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