Riding on two wheels gives you the freedom of choice. Enjoy travel, training and meeting like-minded people. Ride off-road, on road or on track. The World of BMW has a range of experiences to keep you riding all year long.
The World of BMW creates motorcycling experiences for every type of rider - on or off-road. The 2006 activities far exceed any programme of the past and are geared towards helping motorcyclists do what they love best. and that's ride. There are off-road, on track, rider training and touring programmes. The list is (almost) endless.
BMW Off-Road;
If you have not tried off-road riding before - or even if you are experienced - the World of BMW has an off-road adventure to suit everyone.
In 2005 the World of BMW's quality instructors taught over 600 people to ride off-road. During the two-day Level One course, participants are trained at the magnificent 4,000-acre Walters Arena enduro park in south Wales.
BMW Motorrad's top instructors (including Simon Pavey) teach participants all the basics of off-road riding on a BMW F650 GS, F650 GS Dakar or R1200 GS. There is also a Level Two course and a one-day Brecon Beacons Adventure for motorcyclists that have ridden off-road before.
The Level One BMW Off-Road Skills course will be run on the following dates. The Level Two course will also be run on the dates marked with a *.
24-25 March
26-27 March
28 March - Brecon Beacons
29-30 March*
14-15 April
16-17 April
21-22 April
23-24 April - WOMEN ONLY
12-13 May
14-15 May
17-18 May*
19 May - Brecon Beacons
9-10 June
11-12 June
30 June -1 July
2-3 July
12-13 July
18-19 July*
20 July - Brecon Beacons
15-16 August
18-19 August
20-21 August
19 September - Brecon Beacons
20-21 September
29-30 September
1-2 October*
3 October - Brecon Beacons
BMW Tours;
The World of BMW offers a professional motorcycle touring programme that will take participants to Europe and beyond. There is a variety of World of BMW tours available to suit all types of riders and budgets; short and long tours; and tours with a more social approach. All of the details are arranged for participants in advance. Simply, turn up and ride. The 2006 calendar will include:
17-22 May - BMW Motorrad Power Cup race, Le Mans
May (tbc) - Enduro Heaven, Erzberg, Austria
8-13 May - South-West Ireland
16-25 May - Monaco Historic Grand Prix
19-22 May - Luxury Champagne Weekend
28 May - 9 June - Northern Spain and Portugal
7-14 June - BMW Motorrad Power Cup race, Cataluyna
4-11 June - Tour Director's Selection
22 June - 7 July - Baltic States
26 June - 12 July - Viking Roads and Fjords
29 June - 8 July - Austria and the Tyrol
7-9 July - BMW Motorrad Biker Meeting
16-31 July - Miles of Beauty
4-13 August - Easy Riding to Ardeche
4-16 September - Italian Lakes and Mountain Passes
9-22 September - Slovenia and Croatia
1-17 October - Roads to Morocco
BMW Rider Training - Direct Access, advanced and refresher training;
Learning to ride a motorcycle comes naturally to some and not so for others. Either way, it's a good instructor who brings it all together and helps the pupil become a confident new motorcyclist.
For 2006 the World of BMW will offer Rider Training including Direct Access courses for anyone over 21 to obtain their full motorcycle licence. Pupils with absolutely no motorcycling experience, right through to people who have already obtained a CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) are catered for in the range of courses available.
Double Guinness World Record holders Kevin and Julia Sanders will manage this new BMW Rider Training programme, which will be based at the World of BMW Rider Training Centre in south Wales (the same building where the BMW Off-Road Skills course is based) and take place on the fantastic roads this area has to offer.
Students can take part on a three, four or five-day course, depending on their level of riding experience. The courses are all about learning to ride a large-capacity motorcycle in preparation for obtaining a full motorcycle licence. Students will take their motorcycle test the day following the course.
Even though Kevin and Julia Sanders are renowned for their motorcycling adventures - setting the world records for the fastest navigation of the world by motorcycle and for riding the Americas continent in the shortest time - the duo have been managing a motorcycle training facility in their home town of Cambridge for the past 15 years and have taught hundreds of people how to ride motorcycles and pass their tests.
Therefore when BMW Motorrad decided to develop the BMW Rider Training programme and the Direct Access course, Kevin and Julia Sanders were the obvious choice. They run a first-class training operation and know all about BMW motorcycles, products and services. Kevin (who will be the chief instructor) has achieved the qualifications of DSA instructor, RoSPA Gold and a Diploma of Advanced Motorcycle Instructors. He is also an IAM member.
The Direct Access courses will start in April 2006 and run right through the year. There will only be two students per instructor and participants will start on a 125cc motorcycle to achieve the CBT and then quickly progress to riding a BMW F650 GS motorcycle.
The BMW Rider Training Direct Access training courses include bike hire, loan of BMW Rider Equipment (helmet, jacket, trousers, gloves and waterproofs), petrol, insurance, CBT (if applicable) and one DSA (Driving Services
