PressClub Canada · Article.
BMW Motorrad and Metzeler climb the world's highest active volcano with series production BMW R 1300 GS models.
15.12.2023 Press Release
From sea level to over 6,000 metres in less than 24 hours on the adventure icon.
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BMW Group
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Author.
Marc Belcourt
BMW Group
Munich. Barely two and a half months after its world
premiere, the new BMW R 1300 GS proves its outstanding off-road
expertise and unique robustness in South America. From 6th to 7th
December 2023, starting from sea level on the Nevado Ojos del Salado -
at 6,893 metres the highest active volcano in the world - a fleet of
fully equipped
BMW R 1300 GS models managed to reach an altitude
of more than 6,000 metres in less than 24 hours. The climb, which is
very difficult for riders, bikes and tyres, culminates in the
notorious “Rock Channel” on the northern flank of the Nevado Ojos del
Salado, where the expedition climbed to 6,006 metres in just 19 hours
and 22 minutes to reach a maximum altitude of 6,027 metres.
The backdrop for the expedition, which represents an extreme
challenge for man and machine, is the Circuito de los Seis Miles in
the Atacama Desert in Chile, the highest active volcano chain in the
world, to which the Nevado Ojos del Salado belongs. The four
standard BMW R 1300 GS models set off on 6 December at 3.00 pm local
time from Bahia Inglesa, a town near the port of Caldera on the
Pacific Ocean in the Atacama region, to climb the Nevado Ojos Del Salado.
International team of drivers.
The destination
was finally reached on 7 December at 10.22 am local time. Equipped
with Metzeler Karoo 4 tyres, the BMW R 1300 GS models started from sea
level on the coast of the Pacific Ocean, followed by the ascent
through the Atacama Desert to the Circuito de los Seis Miles and
finally to the slopes of Nevado Ojos del Salado on the border between
Argentina and Chile. Riding the BMW R 1300 GS were Christof Lischka,
BMW Motorrad Development Manager, Salvatore Pennisi, Metzeler Test and
Technical Director, Michele Pradelli, Italian Extreme Enduro Champion
and tester for Italian magazine InMoto, and Karsten Schwers, tester
and journalist for German magazine MOTORRAD.
A further unique feature of this expedition was the decision to
undertake it with standard motorcycles and standard tyres. It should
also be noted that this result was achieved with 19" front
and 17" rear tyres, showing a new dimension in the world of
adventure riding.
Christof Lischka: “With this extreme ride up to more than 6,000
metres, the new
BMW R 1300 GS has shown what it can do and what
it is made for. 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 tyres. It was important for us to emphasise these core
competencies of the new GS once again with this expedition.”
Standard BMW R 1300 GS with off-road tyres.
The
new BMW R 1300 GS is fitted with Metzeler Tourance Next 2 tyres as
original equipment ex works. For dedicated off-road use, Metzeler
Karoo 4 tyres are available as an option, and were used on this
expedition. With the Metzeler Karoo 4 tyres, the
BMW R 1300 GS
offers even better riding characteristics both off-road and on
adventure tours. The multi-purpose tyres offer exemplary off-road
traction and can be used on everything from sandy or desert tracks to
the deepest mud. They also work perfectly
on- and off-road with
the advanced rider assistance systems of the new BMW R 1300 GS.
A challenge for man and machine.
The climb to
Nevado Ojos del Salado is an extreme challenge for both man and
machine. Considerable physical and mental effort is required of the
expedition participants. After all, the climb is be completed in less
than 24 hours. In addition, the participants reach an environment
above 5,000 metres that is very inhospitable to humans. The
temperatures are very low - around -10 °C during the day and -20 °C at
night - and the oxygen content is low.
Long-term preparation and prior acclimatisation to the region
are therefore essential. In the days leading up to the expedition,
several base camps were set up at different altitudes and a simulation
was carried out on Mount Etna in Sicily, the highest active volcano in
Europe. Specific medical tests and checks at the University of Enna,
in cooperation with the health authorities of the province of Enna,
were also part of the preparation of the expedition participants.
At over 5,000 metres above sea level, the cold and low air
pressure place particularly high demands on the electronic control of
the air-fuel mixture of the Boxer engine, but also on all other
vehicle components of the new BMW R 1300 GS. The chassis and tyres are
also put to the test by the varied terrain with stony tracks, unpaved
roads, endless sandy areas and sometimes even ice and snow.
“I am delighted that we were able to take on this challenge with
the new R 1300 GS and mastered it with flying colours. On such
adventurous rides, the new GS has already demonstrated its great
off-road expertise in standard trim and shown what it can do in
extreme situations,” concludes Christof Lischka.
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Tim Diehl-Thiele, Head of Communication BMW Motorrad
Tel.:
+49 89 382 -57505, Tim.Diehl-Thiele@bmw.de
Jens Lemon, Head of Communication MINI and BMW Motorrad
Tel.: +49-151-601-23635, Jens.Lemon@bmw.de
Internet: www.press.bmw.de
E-mail: presse@bmw.de
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