2012 BMW Motorrad GS Eco What a Ride!

 

It sounded like a great idea and after shuffling around a number of commitments, I happily found myself at the BMW Motorrad dealership in Midrand on a Thursday morning, with 15 other excited BMW riders. We roared out of Johannesburg and made our way to Clocolan, arriving around 4 p.m. There was a fantastic buzz amongst the riders who were registering for the event, and we were all looking forward to what our hosts had in store for us.

 

After registration I eagerly went in search of the different routes on offer over the next two days. A choice of tar and dirt routes that allowed both the hobby and trained professional riders to demonstrate their riding capabilities. What was interesting to see was that most of the routes were through the local farms. From a riding perspective, this is what made the event so memorable for me. I believe that the organisers' good relationships with the local people were the reason why so many of the farmers allowed us to experience the beautiful landscapes and special places the routes took us on to their farms, while trusting us to do it in a responsible way.

 

It was amazing to be welcomed by a couple of hundred sheep or cattle as you came over a hill, or take a moment out on the banks of the river to share a story that had just happened.

 

As we all gathered for dinner that evening, it struck me that this event was predominantly attended by small groups of good friends who shared a similar interest. What I also discovered was that if you were on your own, like I was, it would not take long before you received an invitation to join a group for dinner or a ride the following day. So no matter who you were or where you came from, the common denominators that bound us together were our passion for riding BMW motorbikes and sharing our experiences. Very often the same stories were repeated, and everyone listened to them with as much attention and interest as they had when they first heard it. I guess we all just like a good Beemer story!

 

Day one

A group of riders and I decided to ride the Orange 2 route, even though we weren't too sure how technical it would get. The route was a combination of easy off-road riding and a difficult technical section. This technical section also formed part of the Red route and was really steep and narrow, with little room for error. This resulted in a bit of a bottleneck building up due to a great deal of scouting and debating on what line to take, and whether one should walk or ride your bike down. I attempted it and except for a little mishap at the start, I managed to ride down without any incident. This left me feeling really exhilarated and on an absolute high, though quite exhausted.

 

What I really enjoyed about the technical or challenging sections was when everyone in the group stopped, took off their helmets, and started talking and sharing their experience. "What line did you take?" "How was that boulder right in the middle of the line?" These comments would then be followed by compliments, much laughter and jokes. There was just this fantastic sense of excitement and energy in the air.

 

Some of the rides also took part in the GS Skills Challenge, where they showcased their riding skills by overcoming seemingly impossible obstacles in a limited area. For example, riding on a slope, opening a gate with one hand while moving the bike with another hand, bike weight balancing movements, pushing a big rim into a goal post setting, and riding onto a seesaw, amongst others.

 

Later that evening everyone got together over a beer or cold drink, to debrief the entire day's experience. A fantastic dinner was prepared by the friendly locals, after which I retired to my tent tired, but satisfied.