The big idea
There is a new culture amongst GS owners who purchase their bikes, not for ride off-roading, but rather for touring the highways and byways of this beautiful country. However, having a GS does give a rider the edge when traversing terrain not suited to road bikes, or accessing places where road bikes just cannot go. The objective of the BMW GS Eco 1000 is to encourage GS owners to make, possibly for the first time, their first excursion off-road, and discover a way of exploring South Africa in a way they had never dreamt of.
The event will have five start points around the country, and three overnight stops, culminating in a grand GS Gathering at Gariep Dam. There will be no prescribed routes to any of the destinations, and riders will be able to plot their own adventure, working within a set of guidelines laid out by BMW Motorrad. And, as with all BMW events, help will never be far away, whether it is medical, bike recovery or technical. All those participating in the BMW GS Eco 1000 will have travelled at least 1000km by bike, on-road and off-road, from leaving to arriving back home.
Celebrating the GS
It all began in 1980 with the first production model of the R80 G/S. The biggest endurance motorcycle at the time, the R 80 G/S was ideally suited for road use and for tackling rough terrain. BMW thus paved the way in an entirely new market segment for large-displacement touring enduros. The R 80 G/S and its successor, the R 100 GS, quickly became remarkably successful machines in the BMW range. In particular, "serious" motorcyclists the world over regularly cover global distances and prefer BMW's enduro machines when riding through desert terrain.
This year BMW Motorrad celebrates “30 years of GS”
Any questions can be directed to a preferred dealer. Find yours here and ask for the Eco 1000 Champion. They will help you plan your routes; advise you on safety equipment, what to do whilst on the road, and everything else you need to know.
All about Eco 1000