Sales
Hiya! My Name is Shawn, I'm your friendly neighborhood BMW Motorcycle Sales Consultant.
Motorcycling is in my blood. I've been on 2 wheels since I was 13 (1989), when I got a shiny new Yamaha 50cc scooter. Unfortunately I never bothered to check the age requirements for scooter riding, and within 24 hours managed a hefty ticket from the local PD. Nevertheless I was hooked!
I eventually graduated to a 1982 Kawasaki KZ 1000. I bought it for a $150 bones, and spent considerable time restoring it. This was a crash course in mechanics, bodywork, and patience. After a few months (and ALOT of $$$) I managed to get it up and running. But my time on it was short lived. On a cool April evening, while riding along the California back roads, I was hit head-on by none other than MY OWN CAR (ask me about it sometime, I'll give all the gooey details).
After a few months of recovery (and coming to grips with the loss of both my car and bike, both of which were totaled), I began searching for my next motorcycle. This time I went for a 1984 Kawasaki Ninja ZX900. It was on this machine that I learned the subtle nuances of motorcycle riding. And since it was my only mode of transportation, I put many, many miles on it.
It was right around that time (1998) that my new girlfriend, Honami, got a job as the bookkeeper at BMW Santa Cruz. This exposed both of us to a whole new world of Motorcycles and enthusiasts. It was not long before we were joining the owners on weekend rides. Oftentimes they would loan me a BMW to ride, and I began to understand why BMW was the best there was.
Fast forward to 2003. I was a District Manager in the Consumer Electronics field. I loved my job, and was certain that I would retire from that job. But Fate had other plans. Silicon Valley was in a tailspin, taking jobs down with it. I was laid off, a development that was a surprising as it was devastating.
That's when BMW Santa Cruz approached me with an opening in Sales. Leaving management was tough, but I figured, what the hell. After all, we were talking about a job working side-by-side with my riding buddies, and of course new wife, Honami. Not to mention working in Motorcycles; and not just any, but super-mega-cool-BMW Motorcycles! I took the job, hit the ground running and never looked back.
Since then I have owned 3 BMW's, all GS's: a 2003 F-650GS, 2001 R1150GS, and finally a 2006 R1200GS, quite possibly the greatest motorcycle ever built. I use the GS for every sort of riding: Touring, Sport, Dirt, even the race track. In fact, my bike and I were featured in a BMW Advertisement, which circulated thru many Motorcycle magazines. Maybe you've seen it!
I enjoy several hobbies, including Music (I'm a drummer), Video production, and of course, motorcycling. I also have a delightful new daughter Hailey.
I feel that Motorcycles are the essence of freedom and the pursuit of joy. I work hard to ensure your purchase experience follows that same path. So come in, have a cup of coffee with me, and let's talk bikes... Rock on!
Shawn Thomas
