The Club Logo

What is the general opinion of the new logo/badge - whatever you want to call it.

I have read the issues around it can understand the need for it - but - it still looks like a bowl of sphagetti to me?????

A new Forum - Club Issues: Club Logo - has been created.

Okay, I'll give my 2c...
I think the logo looks great and will only take some time getting used to! (I am actually starting to like it more than the old one.. )
Doesn't look like a bowl of spaghetti to me... If it does look like that to you LeRoy, then you must have had a problem with the old logo as well, because in essence it is one and the same thing - only rearranged.
But, everyone is entitled to their own opinion, and this is mine..

Leroy

Similarly to the previous logo, we repacked the logo to fit with BMW Corporate Identity requirements. It is essentially the same logo and if you do not like it, you obviously did not like the previous logo either.... In any case if you participated at the AGM you would have been able to cast your vote in that regard. The logo has been accepted by our Club members at the club's AGM via a voting process.

Not sure what all the fuss is all about regarding the change. It has been communicated several times over the past year and half at our social evenings by myself and Richard.

The logo is also been formally approved at the Clubs Africa AGM on Sunday 15 March. The format is the same for all the BMW clubs internationally. We have until 2010 to conform to BMW CI requirement or we might have had legal problems, should we want to use the BMW roundel (which is a TM) as part of our logo.

So in essence we can complain all we want regarding the format, but if we want to stay a BMW club that is the rules, and we have to stick to it.

We could always move away from BMW and become the Pretoria BeeEM MC club or something ridicilous like the Pretoria Whiners and Moaners that sometimes also ride bikes Club, but I think that will not go well with our members....................

You are also welcome to drive an initive to change the logo, within the specified CI rules, should you strongly feel that you dislike spaghetti...

yes, let's change the name to RWLP MCC.............Riders-With-Loud-Pipes MCC

afraid too little too late.......done and dusted......voted for and decided on...........innie bed Sarie

no complaints from this side.........I say, "flip-die-manne-en-maninne-mettie-dikbrille......... let's ride


no name or logo will prevent me from "sharing in the riding pleasure"


nou so lus ek gaan ry sommer off road

HAHAHAHA Jamie - ek laaik jou attitude.

Actually we did not vote for or against a new logo, but rather just decided whether the new logo would be white or black spaghetti...

The rectangle, vertical bars, font and roundel were enforced by our sponsors, so as long as they sponsor, I'll be happy with their logo

At any rate it's better than being told to include Luke Watson in your rugby team

on a point of order.........

two votes were casted:

1. the acceptance or rejection of the proposed new logo; and

2. should it be black or white

I note your point and stand corrected. And congratulations with your 800th post on the forum!

Pieter left out one thing in his post above. If we want to change our logo, the only part we allowed to change is what appears on the blue rectangle block of the whole logo. Other than that NOTHING else.

May I also add something...

It is difficult to accept that a sponsor to the value of R5000 per annum have so much power over our club to enforce a change of logo. If I sponsor our club with R20000 per annum (for which I will beg from the bank manager as a loan), will I also have so much power? I think not

It will rather be the BMW name and logo that we like to wave on our logo that allows us to be moved toward this change.

Personnally I am not married to the BMW name and logo in our club's identity. It is rather the 'Shared riding pleasure' that made me join the club. The fact that I ride a Beemer as most members do means little. In fact, it is not a prerequisite to own/ride a Beemer to become a member, and some bikers from outside have mentioned that they feel uncomfortable in our company! I will not shed a tear if the Club ever decides to distance itself from the BMW-logo identity

Regarding the 'spagetti'. It took me about two months to decypher our logo. It just meant nothing as I tried to read it from left to right. It was only when somebody explained it to be in Hebrew/Arabic mode that I made out the screen, rider & wheels! I like it and hope it will never change. The fact that the colour changed from black to white is very positive.

Now that I spilled my beans (spagetti) I still bow to the Club rules and decisions...

Oh, I do like the white spaghetti.

It is unusual, not the run of the mill corporate logo. It is cleverly designed, congrats to the person who did the design and to the one who came up with the idea of using curves to create a ghostly image of a bike and rider. To me, the ghostly white lines represents the spirit of riding, being wild and adventurous. As with adventure good friendships are formed along the way, which actually goes very much in line with the club's moto.

The black version, to me it got lost in the dark blue, especially once you move back away from the logo to view. The white gives good contrast against the dark blue, allowing it to be more visible at a greater distance than the black version. To me it just makes sense to have the best viewing distant range, after all we want others to be able to identify us as members of a wonderful friendly club.

I think the bike and rider is like those 3D pictures you used to get in the HUISGENOOT (ja ek het al 1 of 2 keer die Huisgenoot gelees): Some people see it some people don't!

I have no problem with the new logo and understand that we had to change it. I'd prefer the old logo simply because its roundness made it look more like a badge to me... But the new logo is, although much the same, is very different and I think should be viewed on its own. Not compared with the old one!

It is in our nature to be against change, but in most cases change really is as good as a holiday!

Gentleman What is the Fuss??????
The badge will not change me and nor will it make me unhappy to ride under the clubs badge and banner.
Lets be proud of what we have and enjoy what we got.
shjoee that is my 2c .....piece

It is not only that spnsoring of the money to our club, (we can just increase the membership fees with R40 per member) but rather the affiliation to BMW clubs international that makes it advantageous to adhere to the BMW CI requirements. It gives us more bargaining power at BMW and also a chance to network with our international peers.

Should we lose the BMW identity we would be like any other MC club and I am not sure if I would still be as proud member.

The BMW identity invites a certain type of person to our club and our image, culture and Club "personality" has been carefully built around it for the past 15 years. Not sure that we can maintain this club culture, atmosphere and spirit over the long term if we lose the BMW identity.

pdekoker wrote:......The BMW identity invites a certain type of person to our club and our image, culture and Club "personality" has been carefully built around it for the past 15 years. Not sure that we can maintain this club culture, atmosphere and spirit over the long term if we lose the BMW identity.....

I deliberately evaded touching on this aspect……..as……….well let’s say it might potentially be controversial but whether we agree or not, it’s so true.

The BMW common denominator has its own (built in) macro benefits/image/culture/philosophy/member selection criteria etc, etc……..choose one, a combination or all.

AND THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH A SNOBBISH OUTLOOK!

I’m not saying we are all prime citizens here……heck, I mean just look at me for an (bad) example .

Try to book a venue for ABC Motorcycle Club and there is automatic resistance from a fair few facility owners……..tell them it’s the BMW club and their attitudes are noticeably different. Why?.......it might be a perception thing but it’s very real……the BMW identity is projecting a certain image and although this image brings some responsibilities, I believe it’s beneficial to us as a group..........................

sê/vra maar net??????

I am a paid up member of the club. However, I will never place stickers or badges on my bike or person to articulate that affiliation. My reasons are many, varied and deeply personal.

The club is simply a place where like minded people gather to pursue a shared passion. This would be the case regardless of name or brand. When I purchase my KTM one day, I would still want to ride with the group, not because it is the BMW club but simply because I have made some friends.

This whole 'club vs country' is quite pointless, if you paid your money to be a member you have to comply with the rules\logos. If you don't like the rules\logos, don't pay next year! There are literally thousands of like minded riders in this beautiful country so pays your monies and takes your choice!

My 10c
Morpheus

I am not too perturbed - you would never have caught me being associated with a BMW image before. Dunno why, probably just that 'typical BMW driver' is not stated in a positive way.

But funny enough, the only reason I bought a Dakar and became a BMW motorcycle convert was that it was the only bike in its class with ABS - that simple. Only after I bought it I started reading that people actually debate the merit of ABS on tar? I get the off-road debate though.

Anyway, I don't mind what the logo looks like - although I do find the BMW badge a bit strange there on the side. But really doesn't matter. If people don't like it, let's design our BM logo, something like this...

Unless I am missing something, the same vigorous debate that was followed when the previous logo was designed and adopted was not folowed here. If this logo was the only one imposed by BMW then the message should go back to them that it lacks imagination because there is very little that one can do with a borderless rectangular block when heraldary and the production of regalia is concerned. No identity is inspired with the present form.
If BMW wants to promote the BMW brand that is fine but let us just stick to the BMW "spinning propeller".

Wow. I just read this thread for the first time - I cannot believe the level of seriousness at which the logo is approached. This is my 2c worth:

I ride BMW because I love the quality and the lifestyle it offers me. This approach puts me into contact with people that share the same values as I do, that embraces everything that BMW stands for. I enjoy spending time with these people at club meets, at the Challenge and just greeting a fellow BMW rider on the road.

I do not give a flying vark about the logo. The logo itself means nothing on its own. It will be given meaning by the way that we conduct ourselves as responsible riders, as courteous users of highways, byways and gravel. If Richard or Jamie or Colin stops somewhere to help another person (even in a car) and wears the logo - the next time that person sees the logo anywhere, the person will be reminded of how he/she was assisted and will view whoever wears the logo with the same respect. That is how a logo starts becoming a brand.

Many years ago, the rector of University of Pretoria, professor Perreira, was asked by a student why he still drives a Volkswagen Beetle. The student commented and said that the Beetle does not live up to the status that the professor has achieved. Prof Perreira replied and said that the beetle does not add or detract from his status, instead, he adds or subtracts status to the beetle.

Research has shown that automotive brands are the most recognised.
For a bit of perspective on how others handle their clubs logos, Google search the Porsche clubs, the Audi clubs, the Alfa Romeo Clubs etc.
One element remains common through them all - protection of the brand identity and the context wherein that branding may be used.

For those of you who didn't know (and those who have forgotten already although the man only died a year and a month ago) the late Honourary Member Brian Cannoo designed the logo after extensive consultation processes with members involving 14 different designs.

At that time, BMW had started strengthening their branding process and use of the roundel ('spinning propeller') within the border of the club badges was prohibited.
A number of shapes were permitted (I recall 5) which DID promote diversity, I agree.

So the previous exercise was the process of DEVELOPING a brand in order to get away from the roundel.
As members, we accepted Brian's design of a stylised motorcyclist on an RT - reminiscent of the Motoman on some BMW gear - after much discussion and debate.

This year's process was merely ADAPTING the club logo design from a semi-circle blue background into a rectangular blue background and the stylised rider from a black figure into a white figure that improves contrast within the new BMW Corporate Identity context. The whole process was consulted world-wide with the umbrella bodies over two years. BMW Clubs Africa, the umbrella where under our club resides gave extensive inputs including the lack of diversity and the problems associated with printing, embroidery etc.
The negotiations are concluded. The deal is done. The ink on the contract is dried.

Now, can we focus on what makes this club a Club - the 'Shared Riding Pleasure' and the camaraderie of riding excellent motorcycles?

Different people different idees - got what i was aiming for - comments on the spaghetti - tend to agree with Renier - not much could be done with the little we had to do something with.

As Richard said - the contract has been signed and the ink has dried. So lets enjoy the new logo