BMW INTERNATIONAL GS
TROPHY BIKES REVEALED
B
MW’s International GS Trophy heads to
New Zealand in February, and with the
bikes needing to make their way here from
Germany on time they’ve already been outfitted
for the adventure ahead of shipping to Aotearoa.
Based around the F850GS (rather than
the GS-A model) the 2020 Trophy will see
the flagship GS – in this case, the R1250GS
Adventure – missing out on being the bike of
choice for the international competition.
In total, BMW Motorrad is shipping 140 bikes
to New Zealand from the German factory, an
increase of 26 bikes over the last event in 2018,
with each bike in an exclusive specification
just for the International GS Trophy.
All 140 bikes are identical in keeping with the
competition aspect of the GS Trophy, with each
adorned in its own one-off black and yellow colour
scheme with special GS Trophy graphics – including a
New Zealand Flag – for the 2020 edition. In contrast
with the black/yellow is gold anodising on the USD
forks and cross-spoked tubeless-spec wheel rims.
For the GS Trophy, BMW has also delved deep into
22 KIWI RIDER
the options list for the F850GS and selected a long
list of equipment to help riders make the most of
the middleweight GS during the competition.
Sure to make a difference for riders are the
inclusions of a host of electronic aids, with
BMW’s dynamic suspension adjustment and
DTC traction control systems, Gear Shift Assist
Pro quickshifter, and 6.5in TFT screen with BMW
Motorrad Connectivity and the Riding Modes
Pro (Dynamic/Enduro/Enduro Pro) all part of the
built-in tech on offer on these exclusive bikes.
BMW is also, and quite naturally, outfitting all the
bikes with an aggressive set of off-road rubber
and bike protection to ensure the bikes – which
are guaranteed to take a hammering – make
it to the end of the eight-day competition.
Sadly, it doesn’t look like we’ll have a local team
of riders to represent us in our home GS Trophy.
To date, there are 18 teams confirmed to date
including riders from Australia, Argentina, China, the
USA and United Kingdom with an all-female team
and regional teams representing the Middle East,
North Africa and South-East Asia included as well.