San Diego BMW Motorcycles plans Sept. 19 Palomar Mountain group ride

San Diego BMW Motorcycles will lead a scenic group ride to Palomar Mountain on Saturday, Sept. 19, with riders meeting at the dealership in Kearny Mesa before heading through North County and back via Highway 79 and Interstate 8. The event is open to all brands and aims to mix local riding scenery with a lower-freeway route for participants.

Why it matters: - The ride gives local motorcyclists a chance to join a planned route through some of North County’s best-known roads. - San Diego BMW Motorcycles is positioning the event as open to all riders, not just BMW owners. - The route is designed to deliver a scenic mountain ride without a long stretch on Interstate 15.

What happened: - San Diego BMW Motorcycles will host a Palomar Mountain group ride on Saturday, Sept. 19, as part of its 2026 Group Rides series. - Riders will meet at 8:45 a.m. at the dealership at 5673 Kearny Villa Road in San Diego for coffee and donuts. - A safety briefing will follow, with departure set for 9 a.m. - The group will travel east on state Route 52, then north on state Route 67 through Lakeside and Ramona. - The ride continues on Highway 78 into Santa Ysabel, then north on Highway 79 past Lake Henshaw. - Riders will climb East Grade Road to a regroup stop at the Palomar Mountain General Store. - After time at the summit, the group will descend East Grade Road, reconnect with Highway 79, and return south toward Interstate 8. - The route then uses Interstate 8 west and a short stretch from Interstate 15 to state Route 163 north to return to Kearny Mesa.

The details: - The ride covers about 165 miles. - The route includes valley highways, a forested climb to more than 5,000 feet, and a back-road return. - Riders will have an optional short look toward Palomar Observatory at the summit. - The dealership says riders of every brand, including Harley, Honda, Ducati and other two-wheeled machines, are welcome. - Spouses, partners and newcomers to group riding are encouraged to join. - Tracy Donohue, general manager, said the routing lets the group enjoy Palomar Mountain without spending the afternoon on the interstate. - Ride highlights will be shared on the dealership’s Instagram, YouTube and Facebook channels. - Riders can call 858-560-2453 or email marketing@sdbmwmc.com to RSVP or get ride details. - San Diego BMW Motorcycles says it offers sales, service and apparel for BMW Motorrad riders in the San Diego region.

Between the lines: - The event is built as a community ride as much as a product or brand showcase. - The inclusive invitation broadens the audience beyond BMW loyalists and may help the dealership deepen local rider engagement. - The choice of roads suggests the dealership is trying to balance scenery, group accessibility and a controlled pace.

What’s next: - Riders will gather Saturday morning and depart at 9 a.m. - The dealership will post ride content after the event on social media. - Interested participants can use the RSVP contact information ahead of the ride.

The bottom line: - San Diego BMW Motorcycles is using a scenic Palomar Mountain loop to turn a Saturday ride into a community event open to the wider riding public.