BMW Motorcycles Can Go Anywhere– Even the World’s Highest Active Volcano
Many motorcycle brands build bikes designed to get off well-trodden paths and roads. Even Ducati and Harley-Davidson offer ground clearance and geometry to tackle seriously aggressive terrain for 2024. However, BMW motorcycles have a history of conquering the rises and falls of the most challenging routes. What’s more, BMW chose to pit its R 1300 GS against Ojos del Salado in Chile, a worthy adversary for the adventure bike.
The BMW motorcycles conquered the Nevado Ojos del Salado in under 24 hours
BMW, in partnership with Metzler, sent its R 1300 GS motorcycles up against the tallest active volcano in the world: Nevado Ojos del Salado. The volcano, which means “Eyes of Salt,” isn’t your average afternoon of off-road riding.
For the German car and motorcycle marque to meet its goals, it pitted the R 1300 GS against over 6,000 meters of altitude gain in under 24 hours. Fortunately, the model’s 145-horsepower 1,300cc twin Boxer engine and off-road-ready build were up to the task. The team covered 6,006 meters in 19 hours and 22 minutes.
“The new BMW R 1300 GS has shown what it can do and what it is made for,” said Christof Lischka, an Extreme Enduro Champion and part of the multinational test team. “It masters off-road and adventure riding as well as a sporty pace on tarmac and long tours. Even in standard trim with off-road tires.” It’s an important distinction. The R1300 GS models tackled the climb on Metzler Tourance Next 2 tires with 19-inch fronts and 17-inch rubber at the rear, per BMW media.
BMW claims that the staggered setup is “a new dimension in the world of adventure riding.” It’s not quite right, though– the Harley-Davidson Pan America rides on 19-inch and 17-inch staggered wheelsets with Michelin rubber. Still, we aren’t seeing Pan Americas racing toward the caldera atop Ojos del Salado.
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