Issue 136 : August - September 2004
BMW's Motorrad
Farmyard Party
European HOG Rally
World Ducati Week
Triumph Speedmaster
Boom Trikes
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BMW's Motorrad
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The Hills are Alive...Ian Kerr investigates the European bike scene's best kept secret, BMW's Motorrad  Garmisch-Partenkirchen in Germany sits south of Munich and just north of the Austrian border. It is a typical Bavarian town; that is until the first weekend of July each year. Then it turns into a mecca for BMW enthusiasts the world over with the running of the annual BMW Motorrad Biker Meeting. However, this is one of the best kept secrets in the world, despite 30,000 turning up for this year's event because it could take a lot more. With an excellent road network linking it to all the surrounding towns and villages, it really is something of a motorcyclist's dream town. Roads that are rarely straight with challenging bends and spectacular views as they climb up and wind down the picturesque valleys shed of their normal blanket of snow. For three days these play host to some high mileage BMW's as they spend time in the area at the event organised by BMW for their clientele. Like any Harley or Ducati event there is a site around which the event focuses, but from then on it is up to riders what they do with their time. To find out what was on offer I joined the initiated and rode into town on an 1150 RT with a few friends.
Predictably the site consisted of various vendors offering parts and accessories, including of course the long distance traveller kit for the GS range. Speakers and companies offering adventure tours were in abundance as one might expect from a brand that has promoted itself as the choice for the world traveller. You get used to seeing performance exhausts on sale at most events, but to see them on offer for BMW's shows how the brand image is gradually changing. There was also an emphasis on their racetrack presence with the Boxer Cup being heavily promoted to show the tarmac sporting side, as well as their prominence in the off-road events. Having said that, a fair proportion of the assembled did look like stereotypical owners in their branded riding suits and crash helmets! When the sun went down though and the massive beer and food tent came into its own it was a different story! There was some very unstaid behaviour and 'Gary and Gerry' rocked the stage (in fact the valley!) with their own music and covers of well known rock classics. When the lighters came out around midnight you could have been forgiven for thinking you were at a rock concert, that is apart from the large beer glasses!
Those that stayed on site had fashion shows, talks and lectures, trials riding displays and food stalls to keep them happy prior to the massive Saturday afternoon parade around the town. A service tent helped any with problems, while a tyre bay sorted out those who had worn their tyres out getting there. The evening? Well it was back in the tent for a German 'oompa' band called Blechblos who just switched from traditional German music to heavy rock. Sounds mad, but everyone was still dancing on the tables at 1.00am and were still singing along to Deep Purple classics in between lubricating their vocal chords with foaming beer. Sunday for those who saw it was a repeat of Saturday, although many just set off through the German countryside on their way home. Vintage fans got a treat though with a Vintage parade complete with many classic BMW machines from the fifties and sixties in the afternoon. Despite the organised events, some of the best fun could be found looking around the bike park for the unusual, like the 'chopped' BMW and the classics. Speedos were also a good source of information like the GS that had over 344,000 kms on the clock! Mostly though it was like looking at a living history lesson in how BMWs have evolved over the past decade. It was a superb weekend from every point of view. Like all the other events, it made little difference what you arrived on as long as you joined in. This year BMW certainly rocked Bavaria and hopefully made sure the secret is out of the bag so more people can enjoy their hospitality in the future. Ian Kerr |
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There was no problem finding the venue as the approach roads were like a BMW main dealer's showroom. By the time we made the main site area on the Friday night the event was well under way and it was just a case of filling in the registration form. No fees to pay, no need to arrive on a BMW, it was just a case of get your welcome pack, which included a useful route book and then enjoy yourself.
Although there were organised guided tours, Saturday saw us take the short hop down to Austria for a few different mountain passes. We were not alone and everywhere you looked, BMW's were either parked up enjoying the views, or just blasting along the roads in search of another set of twists and turns.