The BMW Off Road Riding Skills day , running for the first time in Riverhead Forest , attracted a range of riders of all abilities to learn how to get the most out of their adventure machines .
BMW GS owners ventured from across the North Island to attend the first BMW Off Road Riding Skills day . Postponed multiple times because of ‘ rona , the training finally took place at the Old HQ in Riverhead Forest , just outside of Kumeu . The idea behind the Skills day was to improve riders ’ fundamental handling skills . Many riders who came along had been riding for many years , but had never completed any kind of low speed handling training , except for during their licence training where they ’ d had to negotiate some cones - and they ’ d likely have been doing that on far smaller and lighter bikes than a BMW GS model . Four skills stations took riders from riding around in a circle , to figure of eights , a slalom , riding a plank through to braking hard on gravel using their different ABS modes . The level of enthusiasm from all the riders was great to see , and that never waned even when the heavens opened and they were left doing the skills on wet grass - which got really rather slippery near the end . Every rider went away having learnt something , even the most capable riders saying they ’ d had a great day and practised riding skills they ’ ve not done for years - and that it was genuinely worthwhile . This was the first level of the skills training , and a couple more levels are in the pipeline . So , keep an eye on the GS Rallye and Kiwi Rider Facebook pages for details of the other courses . For now , take a look through the pics of the day .