BMW reflect on 2016 BMW GS Safari
The recent 2016 BMW GS Safari was a huge success with 200 riders traversing the glorious off-roads of the Great Dividing Range around the NSW-Queensland border and hinterland.
The ride started from Queensland’s Gold Coast after the traditional welcome dinner at Jupiter’s Casino. It was to be a journey that would test skills but also create lasting friendships and memories.
Supported by the dedicated BMW GS Safari support team, a nine-person TV crew and a handful of journalists enjoyed the delights of the new F 800 GS Adventure. The riders headed south on the lesser-known gravel roads towards their first overnight stop at Tenterfield, the birthplace of Australian federation.
From northern NSW, the Safari headed back into Queensland with Toowoomba, Kingaroy, and Rainbow Beach the overnight stops before the final day of riding the rainforest roads into Noosa and the magnificent final dinner.
Over the week’s riding, the terrain varied from great twisty roads to sand, as well as narrow pine forest tracks. The route was made more testing by hot weather and dust. As GS Safaris go, this was one of the tougher ones.
“This year’s GS Safari was a great event. It provided challenging terrain and conditions at times and really pushed some of the riders to their limit. The route surprised many with its variety and the heat made the first beer each night taste even better. As usual, the first timers were really excited to have completed their first event and many new friendships were made.” said Miles Davis, BMW Motorrad Australia Marketing Manager.
The farewell dinner at Noosa was a celebration of a week of riding and adventure, spirits were high and many stories shared.
BMW Motorrad Australia General Manager, Andreas Lundgren, was there hosting the members of the press. “For 23 years the BMW Safari events have been providing pure motorcycling adventure and the 2016 BMW GS Safari lived up to this amazing legacy. To see BMW GS riders of all ages (21 yo – 68 yo) enjoying stunning scenery on BMW motorcycles from a 1983 R 80 G/S Paris Dakar to current models was a terrific experience. Over the week, the riders enjoyed each others company and when times got tough helped and encouraged each other to make it through to the end of the day and a well-earned drink. It is what Making Life a Ride is all about,” said Lundgren.
In what has become a BMW Safari tradition, funds were raised for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, a vital community service for both tourists and residents of outback Australia. Over the week, through several impromptu raffles and events, $5,700 was raised.
In early 2017 the magnificence of the 2016 BMW GS Safari will, for the first time, be seen as a five part series on Free to Air TV.
2017 BMW Safari events have been announced. The GS Enduro will return to Cape York in August, a GS / TS Safari will take place in Western Australia for the first time as well as several smaller events that will also take place.
More information is available on www.bmwsafari.com
