Back From BMW’s Biker Meet |
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File under BMW Events Personal
Author: Mike Werner
Location: Paris, France
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Right, just back from a 3,000 Km ride. Paris to Munich to Garmisch for the BMW annual motorcycle meeting. Then onto the Dolomites for a nice ride.
As for the BMW Motorcycles event, I must say, I was disappointed ! It was nice to have a large gathering of motorcycles, and it was a nice party, but the organization and events left a lot to be desired. If BMW calls for an "International" event, I'd expect a lot of foreign motorcycles, but 99% where German. The largest foreign group was Italian.
The exhibitions and accessories manufacturer tents were small and there were not that many of them.
Many of the after-market suppliers were there, but had small tents to show a few done-up motorcycles, and sell you a few pieces, but in most cases, you could not get them there on the spot,-they'd mail it to you.
I expected after-market brands such as Touratech, Wunderlich and others, not only to have their stuff on sale, but also to fit them on your bike on the spot. If you go to one of the larger USA based biker meets, usually, they have large trailers where they fit your purchased items free-of-charge on your bike. Not here ! I'm in the market for some extra lights, but none available.
The only "stand" that did on the spot changes was Metzler tires. You could get your motorcycle fitted and balanced with new tires.
As for the BMW organization, it was not flawless, even in its fourth year. On Saturday they told us that the motorcycle park was full and to find a park outside. After a long walk in the blistering sun, we arrived at the motorcycle park to find it half empty !!
When we were escorting a friend in her car, we tried to follow the BMW car park signs, but these ended in no-where, with no car park visible, the friend left disgusted !
At the press lounge, there was no communications facilities, hence I could not "report" directly from Garmisch....
Suggestions to BMW:
1. Rotate the event in different European countries. Make it really international, not German with a few foreigners !
2. Ensure proper communications between different groups working, and good procedures for flow control and parking.
3. Get the parts manufacturers to sell and install their items. No sense buying something that you can't hold immediately in your hands !! And then have to go to your dealer to have installed !
4. Get better show areas, when you organize stunts and other spectacles. Would be nice to have a real sitting area...
5. Have a communications board, where people can leave messages for other bikers you are looking for.
6. Have a motorcycle first aid center (my R1150GS had a problem which I had to take to a dealer on Monday).
7. Have internet facilities (many foreign bikers went riding, and having internet for planning would have been nice).
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