adventurelog Is that what I think it is? By Shawn Thomas #91122
“IT IS INDEED.” A waiter appeared,
refilling my cup with obscenely strong coffee. I guzzled it down, abandoning the usual treatment of sugar and cream. I
was fresh off 34 hours of flights, lay- overs and bus rides, and was exhausted. I leaned sideways in my chair, my face almost touching the decorative glass window. Outside, a courtyard sprawled in all direc- tions. Concrete paths edged in local flora led to hotel rooms, swimming pools, and a massive golf course. In the center stood an open meeting area, lined with permanent con- crete seating and decorative ponds. A stage signified the focal point, and on it, the reason I was there. “I’ve never seen one in person.”
Tom smiled. He was my handler, there to help navigate us through a country foreign to me. “Tomorrow we’ll give you a full run-down on the bike. Today is all about getting you acclimated to the time zone.” Indeed the time change was a
killer. South Africa was fully nine hours ahead and literally half way around the world from home. But I didn’t come all this way to sleep. “I’d like to go check it out, is that okay?” I hopped up and made my way
toward the courtyard, Tom following in haste. We passed by the lobby as workers hung an event banner: “WELCOME TO THE R 1200 GS PRESS LAUNCH – JANUARY 21, 2013” Outside, the weather was hot and
sticky. Mist sprayed from nozzles overhead, cooling us as we walked along a footpath toward the stage. I
58 BMW OWNERS NEWS September 2015
GS, and I had since dedicated myself to knowing every nook and cranny of each model that carried the moniker. We were aware that a new GS was coming, and no one was more excited than I. For months I had scoured the web for every spy photo and article on the machine that I could find and had become a self-proclaimed expert on the bike. This had led to an offer to be at the South African Press Launch. That
snorted a giggle as we passed a sign, a crude drawing that urged patrons not to feed wild monkeys. “As far from home as I can get,” I said to no one in particular. As we approached the stage, I drank in
the R 1200 GS. There had never been a machine I had more passion for (save for an elementary school fling with a Nintendo). Ten years had passed since I rode my first
phone call from BMW had reduced me to a squealing, slobbering mess. A group of men stood around the motor-
cycle, clad in lab coats. One was mumbling in German as the others scribbled on clip boards. “Who are those guys standing with the
bike?” Tom regarded them. “Those are the designers and engineers who developed the new GS. There are several waves of Press folks coming to ride the bikes, and they are here to prep the machines between events.” I gaped. Before me stood the fathers of
the GS. I wasn’t worthy. I stumbled up the stage, arm extended. The engineers looked up at me, taken aback by this charging American. “Shawn Thomas,” I said, vigorously
shaking the first tentative hand. “I am super mega honored to meet you!” “Err—Nice to meet you too Shawn.
You are here for the Press Launch, yes?” “I am!” I gestured to the bike. “Mind if I sit on it??” They looked at each other, a hint of
wordless exasperation playing between them. Finally, one beckoned me to the GS, and I bounded forward. I stepped on the peg and swung over, coming to rest on the seat. “Riding posture is neutral, relaxed.” I
mumbled, taking mental notes. “Good handlebar position, display is easy to see.” I looked up at the engineers and
pointed at the Windshield Adjustment knob. “Tell me, why did you put this on the right side of the bike? Wouldn’t you want it on the opposite side, so you didn’t have to use the throttle hand to adjust it?” One of the designers spoke up. “It’s
designed to be adjusted with your left hand. We set it at an angle so that you could comfortably reach across and set it where you like.”
discovery
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