Search the Community

BMW Motorrad is launching the BMW Motorrad Street Air by Alpinestars, an advanced airbag system offering comprehensive upper body protection and the freedom to ride a motorbike in both on- and offroad situations. MUNICH/ASOLO – September 29, 2016 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – BMW Motorrad is launching the BMW Motorrad Street Air by Alpinestars, an advanced airbag system offering comprehensive upper body protection and the freedom to ride a motorbike in both on- and offroad situations. The technology adopted from the current Alpinestars Tech-Air® street airbag system – a system requiring no motorbike-mounted sensors. The airbag system of Alpinestars utilizes a sophisticated algorithm that detects imminent danger with the greatest precision and inflates the full upper body airbag to provide a highly effective crash protection system, ahead of the first impact. The BMW Motorrad Street Air Dry by Alpinestars textile riding jacket is designed to interconnect with the Alpinestars airbag system vest and is an essential component for the system to be fully operational. It offers instantaneous inflatable upper body protection to the back, kidneys, chest and shoulders – the most exposed areas in a crash. It is also fully independent, incorporating its sensors close to the rider’s or passenger’s body means the airbag activates without the need for a triggering wireless signal to be sent from the bike. This jacket is the first safety product to be launched under an exclusive agreement, between BMW Motorrad and Alpinestars and is available for both female and male customers in different colorways from October 2016. Key features of BMW Motorrad Street Air by Alpinestars: Full airbag inflation in 25 milliseconds for protection during crash impacts and loss-of-control situations when riding but also in stand-still situation – for example a rear impact while waiting at traffic lights. Function is independently of the need for sensors to be installed on the bike and the subsequent need to link a specific motorcycle to the airbag system. Immediately ready for use and no time is wasted in setting up electronic pairing between rider and/or passenger and motorcycle. Rider can easily switch between motorbikes without reconfiguring or reinitializing. Placing sensors near to the body means the airbag system can be used on road or for off-road adventure-touring. No need to deactivate the system if leaving the road for off-road trails or to stop in between to change settings. Changing surfaces while adventure-touring therefore presents no problem. System is protected by a durable and water-resistant casing which, when worn under a compatible outer jacket, means the airbag system is fully weatherproof. BMW Motorrad and Alpinestars offer the freedom to ride any bike on any surface at any time and can be used for on-road riding and off-road riding with any type of BMW motorcycle and also with all BMW scooters. BMW Motorrad is the only motorcycle manufacturer to have developed the complete range of rider equipment ever since the 1970s – from motorcycle helmets to rider suits, boots and gloves. In doing so, high priority is attached to maximum comfort for the rider and passenger as well as minimizing the potential consequences of accidents. BMW Motorrad has always regarded motorcycling and safety as being inseparably linked and anchored in the “Safety 360°” principle. “Safety 360°” breaks down the overall concept of safe motorcycling into three facets: safety technology in the vehicle, safety deriving from rider equipment and safety through rider training. Alpinestars has been innovating motorcycle riding technology for rider protection, performance and comfort for over 50 years. The Tech- Air™ airbag system, which forms the basis of their active safety cooperation with BMW Motorrad, is the result of Alpinestars’ intensive research and development which commenced in 2001. For decades, both companies have maintained a leading role in active and passive motorcycling safety. This new cooperation, between BMW Motorrad and Alpinestars, is now extending their position further through this joint development agreement.

A few months back my family and I scheduled a trip to Portland, Oregon to see my wife's dad who was turning 95. Frank is one of the remaining WWII vets who saw battle in Europe, including the Battle at Anzio. Frank Watts holding sand from Iwo Jima Beach. The sand was personally collected by his grandson who was in the Marines at the time. He gave it to Frank for his birthday last month (7/26), thanking him for inspiring him to serve his country. Awesome moment! We love you Frank! As luck would have it, my best friend (Steve Claus) also had to be in Portland for his father's 73rd birthday. We've known each other for over 35 years and have logged many, many off-road miles together. However, for the last 5 years, we've not lived in the same state, so we don't get to ride together. Wait! Once we take care of family stuff, this is an opportunity to ride! I called Steve and told him that we needed to rent some bikes. Of course, he was all in (as always). I did some googlin' and zero'd in on a rental company in Portland that looked like they'd be able to hook us up with a couple of ADV bikes. I soon discovered that even with 60 days notice, everyone was booked out! I guess staging in Portland and riding to Alaska is on the bucket list of just a few, and it was killing my riding plans! I dialed my butt off and found one bike, but not a pair, or dates/times that would not work. I was getting discouraged! Then, a name popped into my head; someone that I came across in running ThumperTalk.com: Uwe Deimer, the owner of AdMo Tours! Duh, why didn't I think of him first? I'm old, so it happens... Long story short, Uwe was also booked up, but he took the time to broker out a deal with a vendor in Klickitat Washington named Cascade Back Road Adventures & Rentals. I got to know the owner (Coit Stone) a bit, learning that he's a passionate off-road guy that started the business not all that long ago, so that he could live close to his mother with health issues. Not a big outfit, but he did everything promised and the two BMW F800GS machines he brought were well outfitted, maintained, and ran flawlessly. Good job Coit! We'll do business with you again in a heartbeat! Oh, and Coit delivered the bikes 100 miles each way to us just outside of Portland, Oregon for a reasonable fee, so don't hesitate to contact him if you stage in Portland. He'll make it happen. At Love's Truck Stop in Troutdale Oregon w/ Steve Claus, where we staged from. So, where'd we go? That's where Rever comes in... As luck would have it, the day we rode was the hottest all week, with temps reaching the mid 90s in some places. Being from central Florida, a welcomed retreat from the summer heat/humidity. Steve, being from high elevation and dry Colorado, didn't necessarily agree! One problem that I have in gathering content for ride reports is that I'm having so much fun riding, I don't take as many pictures as I probably should. So, I'm sure that this report simply won't do the ride scenery full justice. But, I suppose that's probably the case with most rides. Crown Point was our first stop of the day. Unusually calm winds and very, very clear. Pic is looking to the east. Steve Claus and yours truly. Pic is looking to the west, towards Portland, OR. From Crown Point to the last on-ramp to I-84 there are several beautiful waterfalls, some of which you have to hike to to see. We were out to ride, so we only took pics from the road... Steve Claus @ Latourell Falls Bryan Bosch @ Multnomah Falls Sorry, didn't notate the name of these falls. Just a couple of miles east of Multnomah falls. PS - Don't park in the dirt anywhere along the Columbia River Scenic Highway. Ranger Rick almost lit us up with some federal tickets for this "stunt"! Smooth operator Claus silver tongued our way out of it. Getting closer to Lost Lake on the NE side of Mt. Hood (Steve Claus) Lost Lake, Oregon Interesting fact! Lost Lake drains itself every year! Steve testing out some non ADA compliant wonky-ass steps Da money shot! - Lost Lake, Oregon w/ Mt. Hood in the background Solera Brewery in Parkdale, Oregon for some food, relaxation, and cold beer! Ok, no beers. They sure sounded good given the hot day, but not a good mix with motorcycles. Service was a bit slow, but we were in no hurry, food was excellent, and I really like to frequent local establishments vs. chain stores. Walk out the back of the place and there are tables overlooking a fruit tree orchard w/ Mt. Hood in the backdrop. Great setting! Timberline Lodge Ski Resort - Mt. Hood Oregon (looking south towards Mt. Jefferson) Lodge look familiar? I didn't take any pics going down the mountain b/c I had my Go Pro running. But, I later learned that they suck at filming with dead batteries. Where's the face-palm emoji? Before I forget, a big thanks to the folks at Sena for hooking us up with a pair of SMH10 bluetooth headsets. I've known how awesome they are, for whatever reason, I've never taken the plunge. Old habits I suppose. My ride with Steve really took on a whole new dimension by being able to talk and laugh during the whole ride. Don't get me wrong, it would have been fun regardless, but the Sena communicators seriously added to the whole experience. Don't wait to get some like I did. I've been missing out! We finished up the long day with a dip in the Sandy River. Water was coooooooold for this now Florida boy, but after getting used to it, it felt refreshing. Great way to end an awesome day with my best friend! But, now I'm itchin' something awful for the next adventure! It's never enough, is it? 👍 Steve, what's next? COBDR is in your backyard my friend. Or, maybe the Tennessee mountains?

Since we've started this project bike, the most frequent question I've been getting is "so how do you like the 990 vs the GSA?" I can tell you it's been a lot of fun! I really like what is obviously better off-road handling and the highway comfort is not as bad as I expected (my Seat Concepts seat sure helps!). While I love my GSA too, I can't say that I'm missing it that much yet. There are a few interesting surprises though that I didn't expect. For example, I thought the 990 was like 100 lbs lighter or something but the specs show the dry weight is just 32 lbs lighter! Also, the 990 has loads more travel, right? Nope. Only with the 990 (R spec suspension from Konflict) has front/rear travel of 248mm/248mm vs the GSA's 210mm/220mm! My stock 990 Adventure came with 210mm/210mm; about the same as the GSA (less in the rear). The center of gravity is also much higher and that, combined with less front end feel (suspension is so good), and you'd best be light on that front brake or you're going to low-side really damn fast! Ask me how I know! The gearing is also taller than the GSA's legendary tractor gearing, but that's easily addressed with larger rear and smaller front sprockets. Bottom line: Much better in the dirt and not as bad on the highway as expected. Pro's: Lots more off-road fun, feels more powerful, nimble, suspension doesn't bottom out (my TFX Suspension on the GSA doesn't either anymore) Con's: Really tall, taller center of gravity, taller gearing, sucks gas big time when you're on the throttle. * I should note here that this switch was due to type of riding I like most. I was looking for something not similar to the GSA but 21/18" wheels, more travel and more dirt-able. The 990 has not fallen short of my expectations, I can assure you.

Hey everyone I'm Erick, I'm 25 and live in Northern New Jersey. Right now I'm smack dab in the middle of the greatest adventure Ive ever been on. But first let's rewind a bit. Consciously or not I've been building up to this trip for a very long time. Sometime around 2013-14 I watched long way round on Netflix and ever since then the gears inside my head have been turning. At the time I had no bike, no friends with bikes, and almost no street riding experience besides riding 2smokes on back roads in upstate NY. Truthfully I had very little practical knowledge about motorcycles, so I turned to the Internet! I found out I could take a class locally for $299 and leave a licensed motorcyclist, for which I immediately reserved a spot on the roster and had a great time doing it. Even though I could already ride a bike since I've owned quads and dirt bikes the class was still absolutely worth the investment because of the experience level of the instructors (both were motorcycle police instructors). Some of what I've learned there has already saved my life. I realized that I absolutely could not at the time afford the venerable R1200GSA as my first set of wheels and that a smaller more manageable bike may be better anyway, so I set to figuring out what bike was realistic for me. As it turned out the 2014 F700GS at my local dealer was the one. She fit right, she was priced right at the top of what I could afford and she rides like a champ. I picked her up on April 28, 2015. (I left on this journey exactly 1 year and 1 day after picking up my first and currently only bike) Put down 12 k miles and Farkled her out over the next year and here we are. Literally living a dream I once had after watching long way round for the 87th time and thinking I could never do an adventure like that. So having no experience, or bike, or living in an over populated area like NJ, or not having anyone to go is not an excuse. If you want it bad enough you can make it happen for yourself any way you can on any bike that you love with whatever gear works for you. To be honest I had never been so nervous in my life as the day before I left for the trip. Though I spent a week riding solo from my home to PEI Canada in late September and that was a great little 2k mile shakedown but this trip is over 4 times longer in duration and covers much harsher terrain and climates. Needless to say there was a lot of pre trip anxiety about what to bring, how to pack and what sort of things could go wrong. I had originally planned to leave on May 1st but some good Harley riding friends wanted to go camping together before I set out. Days 1-2 April 29th was the day I left home and me and 4 friends camped for 2 nights in the Delaware Water Gap forest. Going there my gps failed me and took us to a totally wrong destination in pouring rain at 10 o'clock we finally got to the site no thanks to me or my GPS. The whole time I was racked with nervousness about the trip especially because an enormous storm was headed across the Midwest, basically crushing my entire path with 30s-50s and hard rain which would continue to plague me each day into the 5th morning of the journey, significantly slowing my progress. Having my friends there with me on day 1 and 2 was awesome it helped me get over the anxiety of the trip and transition into it. So far the trip has gone something like this: May 1 day 3 My first solo day was a total bust. I broke down my campsite in the Delaware Water Gap under pouring freezing rain, said goodbye to my friends and set out working my way southwest hoping to get into Ohio. Within 100 miles my Klim suit, my schuberth c3pro, my Irish setter boots and Mechanix gloves (both probably not the best choices of equipment) were completely soaked through. It was 37 deg F and when I realized my hands could barely operate the clutch and brake lever and visibility was down to probably 10-20% makes for a dangerous mix I decided to get off the road and dry out. I pulled into a gas station/subway restaurant where I met 3 members and a prospect of a widely known and rather infamous MC who were making their way back to Ohio. Turned out they were really friendly guys and told me about the motel 6 down the road they stayed at the night before and recommended I try there first for a room. I got 2 subs and gassed up then took a quick shiver down the road to the motel 6. The guy who owned it was an incredibly nice man he gave me a double room for 40$ and offered to comp me a free night the next day if I decided to wait out the storm. He said he would never turn a motorcyclist away in a rain storm even if they had to camp out in the lobby. He even had me park the bike under the entrance awning and placed cones there to keep cars away from the Furiosa (my bike is named Furiosa) . Once I got into my room I realized it was only 10 am and I had time to clean and dry all my gear before heading out the next day. I washed all the gear in the tub and hung it all around the room and cranked up the heat. Worked like a charm. May 2 day 4 Much better day today only on and off rain and 55 up to 70 degrees at one point. I met a fellow adventure rider I'll call him Nicolas for anonymity sake. Nicolas has been an adventure rider for 25 years and him and brother both owned 1150gs and he currently has a ktm 950. Not too shabby at all! We talked for 20 or so minutes at a rest area about places he had been that I will be going to. About an hour after talking to Nicolas I realized I had been riding through the rain smiling and thinking about nothing at all just singing along with the music inside my helmet. Absolutely care free for probably the first time since I was old enough to understand English. Potholes and gas was all I had on my mind. I managed to sprain my ankle pretty seriously today by almost dumping the bike like an idiot and planting my left foot then running it over with the touratech pannier. Despite that little incident today was a great day. I've made camp for the night at buckeye lake KOA(37$) the entire tent section is deserted and I've got it all to myself. May 3 day 5 KOA's are awesome I woke up In a drizzle got a hot shower the use of an immaculate bathroom. I start out the day under lite mist at 8 sharp headed west for NE St Louis KOA. The ride was pretty uneventful some sporadic rain this morning but it passed by afternoon and was in the mid 60s and cloudy most of the ride. I met a lot of nice people interested in my bike because if all its luggage and they would ask where am I coming from, where am I going and how many cc the motor is. The friendliness and kindness people show to a person traveling by motorcycle is incredible! I guess because they perceive it as a more dangerous and more difficult task than it really is and because adventure bikes are rather rare in comparison to other categories. Whatever the reason may be; I have yet to meet one single unkind or rude person in 5 days. Remarkable. Tonight I'm making camp at the St Louis KOA as planned and it's a pretty sweet spot to pitch a tent. Water electric and wifi for 27 bucks all under a nice aluminum awning with a BBQ and a picnic table beside it. Can't really beat that. Tomorrow should be a big day into Kansas. Thanks for reading I will try to make nightly updates from here on! Instagram- @erickbhunter SPOT Tracker

The solution for carrying more cargo on BMW adventure bikes Sandpoint, ID, December 18, 2015 - Black Dog Cycle Works (BDCW) announces their new BDCW Pillion Rack for BMW R1200GS and GSA Liquid-Cooled motorcycles. For solo adventure riders, a great solution for carrying more cargo is to replace the passenger seat with an integrated rack. BDCW's new rack puts the additional weight immediately behind the rider where motorcycles were originally designed to carry it, making it the ideal location. By moving the weight forward from the rear of the bike, riders should expect greatly improved balance and control. The BDCW Pillion Rack is a highly functional, rugged yet beautifully-machined product that greatly increases the carrying capacity of the Big GS. And, it works especially well with the BDCW Multi-Function Rear Rack for the GSLC or GSA-LC, but is compatible with most rear racks from other manufacturers, as well as the factory grab rails on the standard GS and GSA. Avid adventure riders will appreciate how the BDCW Pillion Rack mounts to their bikes. "Unlike other versions on the market, we intentionally engineered our rack so that it doesn't use the mostly plastic stock keyed release system. We found that the stock release doesn't take to the off-road punishment many of our customers give their bikes. Ours bolts directly to the frame." says Kurt Forgét of BDCW. The BDCW design has several notably unique features and benefits: A great compliment for the BDCW Multi-Function Rear Rack for either the GS-LC or GSA-LC Made of industrial grade gauge 1/4" aluminum Bolts to the frame for solid mounting-designed to take a beating while securely hauling gear Quick and easy removal with four bolts to replace the passenger seat Generous-sized perimeter holes give multiple tie-down points for gear Compatible with the factory grab rails for both the standard GS and the GSA. Anodized hard black for a durable finish Spacers and stainless steel hardware provided Approximately 12" wide x 14" long Designed, tested and manufactured in the U.S.A. MSRP: $195.00

Cornish, ME (October 21, 2015) -- Adventure motorcycling is exploding, and for a big chunk of ADV riders, BMW's best-selling R1200GS is the perfect globe-trotting tool, except that it comes with a handlebar only Gumby could love. Coming to the rescue is HeliBars' new Horizon Rebel AT Multi-Axis Adjustable Handlebar Kit, just released for 2014-2016 BMW R1200GS and GS Adventure motorcycles. These uber-versatile bars adjust the big enduro's ergos in any of three planes to dial in a more controlled ride on that beastliest of Beemer adventure machines. This Horizon setup allows a highly customizable seating posture that dramatically boosts both long-distance and around-town comfort, with the taller bars making for lower-effort maneuvers in tight confines. The Rebel AT's patented, three-axis-adjustable design strikes at the heart of the GS's ergonomic quirks, which many pilots cite as the too-low and -wide stock handlebar shape. These innovative HeliBars allow wrist angle to be adjusted both forward and back -- over a generous, 7-inch range -- as well as up and down, enabling a more upright riding position, so riders are in better command of their sometimes unwieldy Bavarian Boxer. Adventurers will immediately find that optimal wrist angle in gnarly terrain or a Starbucks parking lot makes for less stress and smoother weight transfer. The Horizon bars' 30-inch width is 3 inches slimmer than the stocker, allowing pilots to make super-tight turns on the road less traveled - all the way to the steering stops -- without having to reposition themselves, which can be a real boon at low speed. As for added leverage -- which everyone craves on a 525-pound, 55-inch tall motorcycle -- the Rebel bars offer it in spades, thanks to their width and a more rearward positioning. What's more, the big Beemer's levers and controls can be adjusted in mere minutes for challenging off-road conditions, then re-tweaked when hitting the pavement. With custom adjustability like that, GS riders can make the next state line before lunch in comfort. Made from high strength tubing, investment cast alloy steel and solid, 6061 billet aluminum, the rigid, flex-free design helps riders better decipher the nuances of front-end feedback. Engineered to fit ABS and non-ABS models, the HeliBars are bolted on with high-quality Allen-head hardware. The burly risers match the grand-touring machine's stout, rugged look and require no modifications to install. What's more, they're kit is engineered to accept all factory electrical components and retain the stock hydraulic lines to minimize complexity. Engineered, tested and manufactured in Cornish, Maine, the Horizon Multi-Axis Adjustable Handlebars, and all HeliBars products, are backed by a 100% satisfaction guarantee via Heli's 30-day return policy and come with a one-year warranty. Please visit HeliBars.com for more information about HeliBars' innovative product line or call 800-859-4642. Additional company-related news is available on its Facebook page and YouTube channel. Defining Features Direct stock replacement Fits ABS- and non-ABS-equipped bikes No modifications necessary for installation Position-adjustable up and down, forward and backward, inward and outward Independent wrist height and reach adjustability for ultimate rider fit and comfort Allow brake and clutch lever angles to be adjusted in minutes Taller and more rearset than stock and other aftermarket handlebars Minimized wrist, shoulder, neck or back pain caused by extending beyond the comfort zone 30-inch width allows full turns to the steering stops Improved leverage and handling, especially at lower speeds Rigid, flex-free design and high-quality construction 100% satisfaction guarantee via a 30-day return policy One year warranty Engineered, tested and manufactured in Cornish, Maine Retail Price: $595.00 More images Press release distributed by PowersportsPressRelease on behalf of Heli Modified

WASHINGTON, D.C. – October 1, 2015 – (Motor Sports Newswire) – RECALL Subject : Engine Control Unit Software may cause Low Idle Report Receipt Date: AUG 24, 2015 NHTSA Campaign Number: 15V537000 Component(s): ELECTRICAL SYSTEM , ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING Potential Number of Units Affected: 1,060 All Products Associated with this Recall Vehicle MakeBMW ModelG 650 GS 2013 – 2015 G 650 GS SERATO 2013 – 2014 Manufacturer: BMW of North America, LLC SUMMARY: BMW of North America, LLC (BMW) is recalling certain model year 2013-2015 G 650 GS motorcycles manufactured March 8, 2013, to March 2, 2015, and 2013-2014 G 650 GS Sertao motorcycles manufactured March 8, 2013, to May 23, 2014. The affected motorcycles may stall when they are idling and the clutch lever is pulled in. CONSEQUENCE: If the engine stalls, there is an increased risk of a crash. REMEDY: BMW will notify owners, and dealers will install a revised version of the engine control unit software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 16, 2015. Owners may contact BMW customer service at 1-800-525-7417 or by email at [email protected]. NOTES: Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.

BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy Female Team selected after international qualifying event in South Africa. Stephanie Bouisson, France, Amy Harburg, Australia and Morag Campbell, South Africa, will form the first ever female team in Thailand in 2016. Munich/Johannesburg. From 13 to 15 September at the Country Trax Off-road Riding Academy in South Africa ten female GS riders from UK, France, Spain, Iceland, USA, Canada, Brazil, Thailand, Australia and South Africa have been battling it out for the ultimate prize – a place on the first ever female team to contest the 2016 International GS Trophy in Southeast Asia from 28 February to 5 March 2016. After an intense series of 13 separate challenges held over three competition days, France’s Stephanie Bouisson emerged as the overall winner, followed by Australia’s Amy Harburg in second place, with South Africa’s Morag Campbell close behind in third. All three ladies will go on to make BMW Motorrad history by forming the first ever female team to enter the BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy – the fifth edition of which will take place in Thailand next spring. From the very start of this unique ‘qualifier’ held at Country Trax the spirit and sense of camaraderie among the ten ladies has been inspiring, given that they come from all across the globe and are united only by their love of riding BMW GS motorcycles. A worldwide search earlier this year for a trio of lady GS riders to form a team to contest the International GS Trophy finals produced a staggering 119 applications by girls from 29 different nations, all keen to show that they had exactly what’s needed to represent their country – and also their gender – in the most famous competitive off-road customer motorcycling event in the world. From the initial applications, a jury decided on a shortlist of the ten most suitable females to go to South Africa for the qualifying event. The ten girls came from all continents (Europe, America, Africa, Asia and Australasia), with ages ranging from 26 to 46-years-old. The International GS Trophy female team qualifier officially got underway on Sunday 13 September at the Country Trax Off-road Riding Academy, using BMW R 1200 GS bikes equipped with Original BMW Motorrad Accessories to protect against the rigours of off-road competition riding. After all, the tasks the girls would face would be every bit as tough as all other GS Trophy qualifying competitions, and in this case, virtually identical to the recent South Africa ‘national’ qualifying final held at this same venue. No sooner had the girls arrived than the challenges began – the first one being a race to pitch their tents for the night – against the clock. Further challenges on the first day included ‘Blindfold Cone’, ‘Fritz-garden’ (in homage to “Fritz”, the only person to complete this course with a 100 percent success record) and ‘Rope the Tree’. A welcome dinner followed but this wasn’t the end of the riding for the girls, who had one final challenge to complete – ‘The Maze’ – despite it being completely dark outside. Late in the evening the rankings were added up and the top three girls announced. Australia’s Amy Harburg had taken an early lead, while local lady Morag Campbell was in second, with Jennifer Huntley from the UK in third. Day two started early for the multi-national squad of ladies, with a photo-shoot with their respective national flags, and interviews before the first of many challenges they would face throughout the day. These included ‘The Forest’; ‘The Rocks’; ‘The Mud’ and the imaginatively titled ‘Suffer-Ring’ later in the morning, all against the clock of course. The afternoon saw the girls take on the ‘Up and Downs’ enduro skills course before the final challenge of the day, simply known as ‘The Oval’. With so many challenges completed and just about every kind of skill level tested, it was to be expected that the positions in the rankings would change dramatically. The surprise of the day was France’s Stephanie Bouisson, who not only came first overall on the day, but also leapt from fifth to first place in the overall standings. Second of the day was Australia’s Amy Harburg, who remained second overall, while in third for the day was the UK’s Jennifer Huntley, who slipped one place to fourth on the leader board, behind local lady Morag Campbell. On 15 September – the final morning of the competition – there remained only two challenges to complete, but with the stakes so high, and so much to lose (or gain), decisions had to be made on whether to take big chances or to play it safe. The first challenge – ‘Elephant Turn’ – required the girls to ride approximately 50 metres through deep sand, turn their bike around a cone and then return to their starting point. The second was simply entitled ‘Skills Challenge’ yet it was anything but simple. There were a number of tough trial style obstacles to overcome on a flowing circuit designed to expose any weaknesses in riding technique, including a 360-degree ‘coffee-grinder’ pipe, a see-saw, a log-jump, riding the pavement, deep ruts and parallel logs, to name just a few. When the challenge was completed by all ladies, the marshals and judges took their leave to collate the results, while the ten competitors all embraced and offered each other words of encouragement completely in keeping with the true Trophy spirit. Their final challenge was to strike their tents, pack their bags and await the results. The results were not long in coming, with all the competitors honoured for their amazing efforts during the course of the hard-fought, yet hugely entertaining qualifier. Commenting on this GS Trophy experience, head of BMW Motorrad Marketing Dr. Ralf Rodepeter praised all the ladies for their phenomenal efforts and commitment, stating that: “All these ladies are winners, just to have made it to South Africa to compete in the qualifier. There has been a true spirit and sense of camaraderie shown by all the competitors, who have been fighting until the end but have supported each other throughout all the challenges. For sure there have to be three lucky ones who get the chance to go to Thailand, but all ten should consider themselves winners for the way they have come together as a family and demonstrated the unique GS spirit. We truly hope that these amazing ambassadors will take this passion back to their respective countries and riding communities, and will encourage even more women to embrace the GS lifestyle.” Overall standings and points: Stephanie Bouisson (France) – 1931 pts. Amy Harburg (Australia) – 2098 pts. Morag Campbell (South Africa) – 2153 pts. Jennifer Huntley (UK) – 2824 pts. Inga Birna Erlingsdottir (Iceland) – 3046 pts. Iciar Tatay (Spain) – 3280 pts. Caroline Stevenson (Canada) – 3415 pts. Kim Krause (USA) – 4146 pts. 👍 Rosa Freitag (Brazil) – 5621 pts. Dusita Nasuriyawong (Thailand) - retired. BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy Female Team Qualification, Kim Krause (USA) Statements from the three winners: First place: Stephanie Bouisson (France). “I did the GS Trophy France qualifier event last May, and some time after this, my friends told me to try to apply for the chance of a place at this new women’s qualifying event. I thought ‘why not’ because I wanted to experience South Africa. I was really surprised to get through and was really looking forward to a great new adventure, making new friends and riding over here. To have actually won the qualifying event is incredible for me and I’m very proud to be representing all the lady riders around the world at the International GS Trophy in Thailand next year.” Second place: Amy Harburg (Australia). “I was so excited about coming here for this qualifying event. I had high expectations for myself, but it was hard to gauge what the other girls would be like until we were all together. But my expectations were definitely exceeded by the time we’ve spent in South Africa and to actually make the team is amazing for me. I can’t wait to go to Thailand and show BMW enthusiasts worldwide how these GS bikes can be ridden and what we can all do together. My team-mates are incredible so I can’t wait to be part of the first ever women’s team with them.” Third place: Morag Campbell (South Africa). “My expectations coming to this GS Trophy female qualifying event were to have fun and enjoy myself, but I didn’t realise just how much I would learn in the process. It’s been a whirlwind of people offering their help, sharing their knowledge and helping me experience a real sense of community that’s just been amazing. I think I’m still in shock really to have made it to the final three. There are five months ahead of us now before the main event so I’ll be learning new skills on the GS and keeping in touch with Stephanie and Amy. It’s going to be awesome!” EN_BMW_Motorrad_GS_Trophy_Female_Team.pdf