Sign up: 2014 GS Trophy Challenge USA Qualifier

LIMITED TO THE FIRST 200 TO REGISTER!

Great fun, great people, great riding! Just simply passing on the information for those who might be interested. See you there!

If this doesn't make your heart speed up and make you want to go ride right now, check your pulse!
http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/us/en/index.html?content=http://www.bmwmotorcycles.com/us/en/fascination/gs_trophy_2014/gstrophy2014_event.html&notrack=1

You were missed in NC, Mr. Alvarez....



.

Thanks Ian, I really wanted to go and see you all but I had just spent two extended weekends away riding at the Morton's Spring Fling and three days at the BMW PC. I wanted to spend some time with the wife and kids. I hope to see you in Sept! Are you going to enter "Mighty Whitey" again or bring the HP2?

I'm in!!! Just got my confirmation e-mail. I know I don't have a chance of winning but for $200, it will be worth the experience. I'm going to have FUN!!!

Anybody need a roommate?

FYI...If it's anything like last year, your "roommate" will be a big field full of tents and men snoring!

The HP2e isn't what you bring for tight going... it's a smash-over-the-open-country machine.

If I go, I'll no doubt ride the R80G/SPD+, and hopefully be able to follow the course a little better this time....

No camping on-site this year. :huh

.

Being my first year, I have what might be a strange question. Do they change either the course or the scoring based upon which bike you are using? I ask because I had planned on bringing my 2008 GSA but now my father-in-law has suggested that I could use his 2007 G650X Challenge. Obviously, this is a better off-road bike but it is also one that I have never ridden and I'm just wondering if there is any reason I shouldn't start riding it now to get used to it before the event. Do they make things easier for the bigger bikes?

I have no idea what they will do this year, things might be 100% different. Last year the only requirement was that the bike must be a BMW GS, 650 or larger, any year. The skills challenges, routes, obstacles and performance grading was the same if you were on a GS Adventure or a 650 Funduro. Once the top 12 guys were chosen, everyone had to ride one of three provided F800GS's.
Regardless of the bike you take, I would recommend the following:
1. Practice very tight, V-E-R-Y slow, 180 degree lock to lock turns on both pavement and dirt.
2. Get used to deep and loose gravel and sand.
3. Practice some single track, tight woods trails at slow speed.
4. Practice your steep uphill climbs and decents.
5. Become excellent at track stops. (completely stopping the bike for 1 to 2 seconds and resuming motion without putting your feet down or stalling)
6. Become very good at crawling the bike slowly along, in a straight line, at a snail's pace without stalling or touching the ground.
7. Prepare to have fun!

Great stuff Eddie. I'm practicing all of this, but am a bit concerned about the "track stops." Completely stopped for 1 to 2 seconds? Completely? I have a hard time figuring this one out. I'm pretty good at my slow speed control and can bump along in traffic better than most but a complete stop is very different than "almost completely stopped." Is there a trick I don't know about? Does this involve turning the front wheel back and forth?

Yes, it's a complete, motionless, stop. No fancy tricks, just come to a full stop, I like to use the rear brake to settle the bike, look w-a-y ahead not at the bike or 5 feet in front of yout tire, balance the bike with your feet, knees, bodyweight, and bar, then pull away...practice makes proficient. Practice on hard and soft surfaces, not sand or deep gravel.

Yeah, but in the event last year, you needed to use the front brake, too, because the trials stops were on a steep downhill slope.

Rear only and your bike slid forward.

Looking forward to this event...

Signed up and practicing Going to come prepared this year

I still have trailer space from Fredericksburg VA for anybody willing to share the fuel costs and split a hotel room in SC.

IN!!

I signed up mainly because I miss the food.

Well Hell, If Blur's going guess I'll have to as well!

Well..... that's at least one person's ass I'm gonna kick!

See if I buy any more bikes from you! HA!!!

You're just jealous I kept hugging Debbie and didn't give you one.

So, let my little mind wrap itself around this. A competition for GS's?
Would a complete beginner be able to ride with you? I have no experience in riding offroad at all. Is there a beginner class?
Is there money to win? Anyone want to gamble against someone who has never ridden before. Nod nod, wink wink. Trials balance, what is that? Would one have to balance oneself? I wonder how a person could ever do that? Would you bet that a complete beginner could do something like that?
OK, maybe I've watched a trial before, maybe ridden 1 or 2 (Hundred) and maybe I ridden a Enduro or so before, maybe a little roadracing thrown in.
This sounds intriguing!