Adventure touring motorcycles, or ADVs, certainly seem to have struck a chord with the Indian motorcyclist. Over the last few years, there have been a spate of launches in the ADV segment, from entry-level models to full-size adventure tourers. While there are ADVs at different segments and price points for the taking, it's important to also learn the basics of off-road riding, to make sure you get to enjoy your adventure ride to its potential, as well as get more comfortable when you do decide to leave the tarmac behind for the more gnarly stuff.
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The introduction of the G 310 series in 2018 helped BMW Motorrad get scores of new riders under its fold and introduced adventure riding to a whole new category of riders, some of them looking to upgrade from the popular 150cc segment, and others looking for a versatile touring bike, which is relatively light, easy to handle and with adequate performance. However, a majority of these new buyers know little about the challenges involved in off-road riding and the special skill set needed to saddle up a tall bike like the G310 GS, which may appear intimidating to riders with less experience.
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We had an opportunity to attend BMW Motorrad's GS Experience 2024 - Level 1 Training recently, attempting to equip the riders with few such adventure riding skills. The training was delivered by certified trainers from BMW Motorrad International Instructor Academy. BMW Motorrad has been conducting this rider training program for its GS series of bikes in India since 2019. GS Experience 2024 is scheduled to take place in 13 different cities in India, offering an excellent opportunity for GS owners to check out the prowess of their bikes at specially curated adventure tracks, practising important riding skills under the guidance of experienced trainers. The list of cities include - Pune, Mumbai, Surat, Kolkata, Indore, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Chennai, Lucknow, Kochi, Bengaluru, New Delhi and Chandigarh.
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Our day in Pune started with getting to understand the bike and the importance of seating ergonomics and adopting the correct posture, particularly important for avoiding unnecessary fatigue or a safety hazard when on an adventure trail. Professional ride experts cum trainers then lined up a series of drills in an attempt to hone the targeted skills and sensitise the participants of their relevance in adventure riding. The difficulty level kept going up with every forthcoming activity. The focus was on correcting and perfecting the basic riding skills essential to gain mastery, before proceeding ahead to the Level 2 Training.
A tiring day under the sun helped the riders appreciate the importance of balance, vision and control, while tackling natural trail challenges like ruts, inclines, loose gravel, etc., Participants were awarded with Level - 1 certificates at the end of the day. Initiatives such as these are key to developing a safe riding culture and important for developing a new breed of responsible riders, better prepared for the challenges of adventure riding.
GS Experience also acts as a gateway to the much-hyped GS Trophy event that also takes place every year in India. BMW Motorrad recently announced Namibia as the destination for The International GS Trophy 2024. The best riders from the GS Trophy India event would be pitted against the best in the world picked up from similar events carried out in countries where BMW Motorrad is present.
