- BMW Motorrad GS Safari. The Great
Divide Explored -
The 2012
BMW GS
Safari
was a
brilliant
success
with 170
BMW
riders
traversing
the
magnificent
back and
off-road
scenery
that
feature
on The
Great
Dividing
Range.
Between
Ballina
and
Foster
on the
NSW
coast,
the
Safari
riders
got to
sample
some of
the best
Adventure
roads
Australia
can
offer.
Two days
prior to
the
kick-off,
forty
riders
availed
themselves
of the
opportunity
to brush
up on
their
Adventure
riding
skills
at the
pre GS
Safari
Off Road
Training
Course
at Yamba.
This
extra
training
proved
invaluable
in the
coming
week as
rider's
skills
and
confidence
reached
new
heights.
After
setting
out from
Ballina,
the
first
couple
of days
provided
an array
of
terrain
to
explore,
mixed
with
occasional
showers
and even
hail to
keep the
'Safari-ists'
on their
toes.
The
showers
kept the
dust to
a
minimum
as the
sun came
out as
riders
headed
down the
Old
Kempsey
Road to
bask in
the sun
at the
idyllic
Georges
Creek.
It is
places
off the
beaten
track,
like
Georges
Creek,
that
realise
the
benefits
of
owning a
BMW GS.
Heading
to Port
Macquarie
an
optional
"difficult
section"
was
available
to
riders
who
wanted
to
challenge
themselves
further.
The
first
short
sand
section
was deep
and
rutted
and
after a
few
riders
got
through
cleanly,
others
found it
more
challenging.
There
were a
few
sandy
sections
mixed in
with
undulating
double
track
that
kept
riders
honest.
The
tough
day
ended on
the
beach
where
riders
got to
watch a
spectacular
demonstration
of
riding
in sand
by BMW
Motorrad
marketing
manager
Miles
Davis
and
listen
to tips
and
advice
on how
to try
and
master
the
mysteries
of sand
riding.
On the
penultimate
day
there
was the
'GS
Challenge'
where
riders
were put
through
nine
varied
skills
tests at
the Port
Macquarie
MX
track.
The
increased
confidence
and
ability
of all
the
riders
had
grown
far
above
their
expectations.
The day
ended at
Port
Macquarie
for
dinner
where
Rock
Motorcycles
unveiled
the
brand
new F
700 GS
and F
800 GS.
The
final
day of
any BMW
GS
Safari
is
always
mixed
with
sadness
that it
is over
but also
with a
deal of
satisfaction
at
having
pushed
and
achieved
the goal
of
riding a
GS
through
some of
the most
magnificent
roads
and
scenery
in
Australia
with
like
minded
GS
riders.
As
riders
enjoyed
the
final
dinner
they set
their
minds to
what the
next
ride
would be
and
looked
forward
to the
next BMW
GS
Safari.
The mix
of
participants
is
extraordinary,
some on
their
first
off road
adventure,
others
are
ex-pro
riders.
The
youngest
a 19 y/o
girl
riding
with her
father
and the
oldest
being 72
years
young
and
riding
with his
son in
law. But
out on
the
trails
they are
all
joined
by the
joy of
riding
their
bikes
through
incredible
scenery
and
terrain.
That is
the why
the GS
Safari
is such
a
popular
event.
General
Manager
BMW
Motorrad,
Australia
and New
Zealand,
Tony
Sesto,
enjoyed
his time
on the
BMW GS
Safari.
'Magnificent
scenery
from
behind
the
'bars of
a BMW GS
motorcycle
and far
from the
normal
day to
day work
schedule.
The BMW
GS
Safari
is a
brilliant
event,
every GS
rider
should
do it at
least
once, or
every
time as
some
do,"
said Ton
