Pretty GS! Photo: Wil Stillens
This Fan Friday we talk to Wil Stillens, 41, out of Riverside, California. Wil is a manufacturing engineer that specializes in 3D modeling, prototyping and manufacturing, as he makes tools, fixtures and a vast array of complex objects including medical devices, electric motors, fruit packaging equipment and parts for the off-road and motorcycle industry. Wil’s been riding a BMW R 1200 GS since 2007, after moving on from his cruiser and dirt bike phase. Before that he raced mountain bikes “almost professionally”, which is how he met his wife.
Wil is currently the proud owner of a 2010 R 1200 GS (the first AltRider bike decked out at RawHyde by the way), a 2017 R 1200 GS Adventure, and a nice mountain bike with flat tires.
“The GS is truly a magnificent machine- it is by far my favorite motorcycle. Lots of comfortable tarmac to technical dirt it will do it all.
As for how Wil discovered AltRider, here’s the tale:
“So… I bought that AltRider stickered up 2010 GS, bike and had been riding it for awhile.I really liked this AltRider stuff. I had never heard of it before but was impressed because the products handle the abuse on the fleet bikes at the ranch and that is a huge deal! I was teaching an intro class at RawHyde every class I would show my bike to every customer ‘buy these bars, look around at which bikes are NOT broken’. There was a photo in your product book awhile back of my bike upside down with one beat up AltRider Skid Plate doing its job. I ride a lot in different places for the company on different bikes, a GS with AltRider components is an awesome set up.”
Wil enjoys riding at too many spots to list, but a start of the few of them would include Death Valley, Big Bear, the entire Sierra Nevada range, Frazier park area, any coastal route, Starbucks, Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Arizona, CDR and BDR. His dream rides are just as varied: “Dream ride… Titus canyon in November, Cerro Gordo, CDR, BDR, Alaska, any ride with friends or soon to be friends are the best but seriously I can’t pick one specifically.”
Keep on venturing and enjoy the ride.
