BMW Motorrad has revealed the bikes to be used in next year's International GS Trophy which will be held right here in New Zealand.
As we've already reported, the 2020 edition of the International GS Trophy makes a departure from tradition with the bike of choice moving away from the full-sized GS - currently the R 1250 GS - to the mid-sized F 850 GS.
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 anodizing on the USD forks and cross-spoked tubeless-spec wheel rims.
For the GS Trophy, BMW has also delved deep into the options list for the F 850 GS and selected a long list of equipment to help riders make the most of the middleweight GS during the competition.
Sure to make the most 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 6.5” 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.
Mathias Horn, one of BMW's Project Leads for the 2020 GS Trophy has plenty of good things to say about what riders can expect with the 2020 event, including that due to our countries unique geography in his perspective that it will be like having two GS Trophies held in one event - with one in the North Island and one in the South. Check out the full interview below.
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.
