11th BMW Motorrad Days : Special Feature

In the shadow of the German Alps lies a small resort town called Garmisch-Partenkirchen. They stop traffic on the streets a couple of times a day to let the cattle to and fro from the grazing meadows – it is that sort of town. In the middle of the European summer though, for three days, the town doubles in its population. If you’re wondering why a biker should be reading about this, the answer lies in the reason for this annual spike in activity. The reason is motorcycles – 30,000 BMW motorcycles, to be precise.

Its fifth year running, the Motorrad Days mark a celebration of the motorcycle lifestyle as tens of thousands of bikers descend on Garmisch-Partenkirchen to have the time of their lives – not just from Germany, but also Austria, Italy and Switzerland, which are all just a quick ride away through some stupendous mountain passes. And they are rewarded sufficiently not just by the ride, but by throwing them in the company of thousands of like-minded bike lovers, all ready to ride hard and party harder.

The announcements for the impending bash began on the highways around Garmisch itself, as groups of riders large and small trickled into the town on BMWs of all shapes and sizes. From pretty classics that ran like clockwork to the latest track-scorching S1000RRs, all braving the untimely German “monsoon” (which happens every afternoon, as one jovial biker told me) – it was clear that when it was for the love of riding and for the company of riders, few things could hold this bunch back.

And why not. With stunt performances, shows, parties and endless opportunities to get involved – on and off the bikes – three days were barely enough time to experience everything. No wonder the BMW Motorrad Days event has grown, over the last five years, as a regular on the European biker’s calendar. It’s not just a question of feasting on Bavarian delicacies though, for the hardcore riders there were enough activities to keep themselves occupied. including off-road riding on a purpose-built enduro park created just for visitors, where more than 700 riders tried various BMW Enduro models – bunched under the GS range - and received expert instruction from a team of expert riders. Husqvarna also hit the spotlight with top riders showing off their skills on a specially-built dirt track with some impressive jumps.

The stars of the BMW badge were all there in full force at the company’s biggest annual event too. Some of the loudest and most enthusiastic crowd reactions were won by the globally acclaimed freestyle motorcycle athlete Chris Pfeiffer, who exclusively uses a custom-made BMW F800R for all his stunts. One of the highlights of the show was when he and his mountain bike-riding counterpart Igor Obu teamed up to perform in tandem. Stars from the BMW World Superbike Championship and FIM Superstock 1000 Cup, including Troy Corser, James Toseland and Ayrton Badovini were also present, and drew massive crowds at autograph signing sessions.

It’s not all fun and games though. The Motorrad Days have also turned into a great opportunity for the Bavarian bikemaker to bring its brands – BMW and offroad-supermoto special Husqvarna - closer to its customers. The experience of buying and owning motorcycles is a matter which is very closely related to the heart, and apart from the sensations that a motorcycle bestows upon its riders, events like these are critical factors in shooting up brand loyalty for niche brands like BMW Motorrad and Husqvarna. The event certainly is a big contributor towards creating this bond with the brand, and as the BMW motorcycle range goes on sale in India through Mumbai-based importers Navnit Motors, this is a fact that most certainly applies in a local context as well.

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As the rock shows in tents around the ski-slopes stretched on into the wee hours of the night, one thing was obvious – bikers all over the world are made of the same, fun stuff. In a small Bavarian town, a German band belted out rock classics created by American musicians, and riders from all over the world joined together to scream the words out.  They’re sure born to be wild, and nothing is more telling when thousands assemble in one place to celebrate their common passion – being in the saddle of a motorcycle.