UNSTOPPABLE was created in 2008 by 180 Amsterdam to advertise BMW Motorrad motorcycles. The campaign emphasized the GPS device on the bikes by encouraging riders to use it to create “drawing” via the Google Maps website. Instructions for taking part were given on a website, which explained how users could begin by mapping out their drawings on the site.

Coordinates were then supplied, which, when trasfewrred to the bike’s GPS device, would instruct participants where to drive in order to create their drawing o the map. The website also offered a section where users could upload their journeys, photographs and film to share with others.

TV Campaign

One of four films from BMW’s new campaign about GPS drawing. See the rider write ‘unstoppable’ on a map of Montevideo, Uruguay. Featuring motorcycle globe rider Sebastian Klein and the new BMW F650GS

One of four films from BMW’s new campaign about GPS drawing. See the rider draw a sailboat in Cabo Polonio, Uruguay. Featuring professional motorcycle rider Dirk Thelen-Farber and the new BMW F800GS.

One of four films from BMW’s new campaign about GPS drawing. See the rider draw a bridge off-road north from Rocha, Uruguay. Featuring professional motorcycle rider Dirk Thelen-Farber and the new BMW F800GS

One of four films from BMW’s new campaign about GPS drawing. See the rider draw scissors on a map of Montevideo, Uruguay. Featuring motorcycle globe rider Sebastian Klein and the new BMW F650GS.

High performance in its sporty perfection — this is the new BMW HP4. On the race track or on country roads — the BMW HP4 combines athletic flair and riding dynamics.

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“Yesterday was the Kalbarri Death March, haha.. It started off well, nice fast 100k stage, fast and flowing. Second stage was a reverse of an earlier one, and halfway through I lost the back brake cable. Ironically, brakes allow you to ride faster. At first I used some fence wire to bodge it, but could never really get enough tension so it was really just to hold the brake pedal up out of the way. As someone pointed out, its a BMW and therefore doesn’t really need a rear brake. Just downshift and BBBWWOOOAAA down you go.
Fixed it at service.

Stage three was a 200k that at 80ks into I hit a dip and broke the left footpeg off. I found out later this is where the #14 yamaha crashed, and also Manuel. I went back and found the footpeg remains, and someone later pointer out it’s a BMW and comes equipped with two substitute footpegs sticking out from each side. I used some more fence wire to sew the peg remains back on the bike, but it just barely worked. Not proud to say I borrowed the footpeg from #14 bike which was there, in case the bodge job I did failed somewhere over the rest of the stage. It only kind of worked, I was forced to sit most of the rest of the way, or stand on one foot, and when I got back to camp I gratefully returned the borrowed yamaha peg.

The final 20ks were just brutal. As I said I saw Ivan (a very surly Ivan) at km 112, not interested in making convo of any sort, and at km 140 I found Dave Blight who was nursing his bike through a series of electrical shorts brought on by dumping too many times. We rode out the final k’s together, and when we finally reached the finish, I looked over at him and spontaneously starting giggling like a little girl. Couldn’t stop for about ten minutes. Arguably the hardest ride I’ve ever done. They save the best for last.”

Jason’s effort was rewarded with the ‘Andy Caldecott Award’. Andy Caldecott is an Australasian Safari legend who passed in the 2006 dakar rallye. Ross Briggs snapped this picture of Jason with his finishers medallion.

Granted, Team Rooney may not have finished the Safari in the top three. But the fact that a 1983 Bmw that Jason had never even ridden only days before the event was able to conquer such a grueling event is testament to the man and the machine.

Well done Jason and Paul, I hope this blog provides you with a useful record of your extreme undertaking!

For anyone that wants to read the full adventure I have posted the whole episode here reconfigured into chronological order.

Lucky Stu

Today “the Australasian Safari competition moves to Jimba Jimba Station, Winderie Station, Wooramel River, Hamelin on the coast between Carnarvon and Kalbarri and then south to the Murchison river finishing in Kalbarri. The 431km of competitive stages includes red dunes, fences, saltbush flats, river crossings and typical rough outback station roads” (Courtesy Australian Safari)

Today’s leg 6 has three special stages as outlined below:

SS13 through ‘Winderie’ Station is 114km

SS14 through ‘Carbla’ Station is 111.64km

SS15 takes the team to ‘Hamelin Bay’ for a final 205.52km

That’s a days total of total of 434.17km in special stages.  It’s the second last day, and the last day of big specials (Leg 7 specials are two at less then 30 and 20km respectively). That’s a fact I’m sure Jason is well, well aware of.  If he were not busted, bent up and fully exhausted by now then there is something wrong with him. Have you seen any of the video footage of the riders? Man they are stuffed!

Almost there man….Keep it up Jason and GO GO GO!

P.S. By the time I get back to this blog it will be all done and dusted so for up do date results keep an eye out here. Lucky Stu

Ross Briggs snapped the picture below of Jason navigating the rocky terrain of Leg 4.  The toll on vehicles for the day was high and to make matters worse the leg was ‘unassisted’ (4 bikes suffered mechanical issues in SS9 and were unable to complete). When Paul saw Jason bringing her home he cried “bloody beauty!”, the rocky sections had destroyed the Big BMW’s tyres.

Jason is holding up to the grueling rally as well as anyone, blisters causing him the greatest discomfort.  Day five is a big one taking the team touring around Gascoyne Junction for an anything but leisurely 450km, not including the transport.  The leg is composed of two specials as follows:

Special Stage 11. ‘Gascoyne’ 147.25km

Special Stage 12. ‘Bidgemia’ Station 301.39km

Talking to Paul you can hear the dry dust in his voice, behind it though, you can feel the excitement of the rally…GO Team Rooney Go!

When light weight, massive power and razor-sharp handling are combined, the result is known as HP – High Performance. The new HP4 is BMW Motorrad’s first 4-cylinder model to wear the HP badge. Based on the S 1000 RR, a purebred factory motorcycle has been developed – made from the very best materials and molded into unparalleled design.

Pure power:

The lightest 4-cylinder engine in the segment provides uncompromising power with an output of 193 bhp and a maximum torque of 83 lb/ft. The new exhaust silencer provides a higher level of torque in the mid-range, so there is power available where it’s needed most to deliver stunning lap times.

Pure intelligence:

With the world’s first ever dynamic suspension system DDC (Dynamic Damping Control), the HP4 is the most advanced production sporting motorcycle ever built. DDC automatically adapts the suspension damping to the situation at hand. Various modes are available to choose from: Rain and Sport for public roads, Race and Slick for the race track. The further enhanced Dynamic Traction Control on the HP4 supplements this perfectly. It can be finely adjusted in Slick mode to dial in the perfect balance between system support and rider control. The result is transparent feedback, maximum traction and optimum acceleration.

Pure exclusivity:

The new HP4 comes into its own with its refined paint finish in white and Racing blue. The HP4 will only be available in limited numbers through 2014.

THE BEST OF THE BEST.

For riders looking for an extra level of refinement, the is the HP4 with Competition Package. It’s loaded with additional HP components: HP brake lever, HP clutch lever and the HP rider footrest system. The HP belly pan, HP license late holder and the HP fuel tank trim are made entirely of carbon fiber. It also features Racing blue aluminum forged wheels and a sponsor sticker kit.

The HP4 Competition also has the consecutively numbered fork bridge engraving with HP logo. This makes each and every machine unique. The Competition Package will be highly exclusive with very limited numbers available.

BMW Site

Video uploaded by U tube user motorcycle

Consequently the final stage of day 3 was missed, stealing a 100% stage completion goal away from the team as well as giving them a 12hr penalty. But before it did Ross Briggs snapped this picture of Jason lazing around on the beach!

It was a pretty hard stage for everybody and at the end of it the casualty list looked like this:

The longest casualty list from any stage so far.  Far from being deterred our intrepid hero plans to ride hard (rather then hard push) todays sections. Paul and Ken have the bike back up and running and Jason has pulled himself off the beach, stretched his legs, pulled the bugs from his teeth and wiped the sand from his eyes. A whole new day!

Picture above courtesy Australasian Safari.

Day four is two sections:

Special Section 9 through ‘Coorayala’ Station is 155.7km

Special Section 10 ‘Kennedy Ranges‘ is 132.3km

How tired must these guys be already?!

GO team Rooney! Go Jason you bloody beach bum!

(ok just to show Jason is not at all a beach bum here he is playing in the dirt. Images by and courtesy of Tony Young)

Still , at the end of Day One the Team is about two hours behind the race leaders. An awesome effort with all things considered, and we have only just begun.

Today is even larger with two specials, the first being 278 and the second 238km. Here is Jason during yesterdays special (picture courtesy Ross Briggs)

Tomorrow the team will make the 400km journey north to Geraldton and prepare for a prologue start at around 2.30 Saturday afternoon.  After that the fun really begins as the race heads out to Kalbarri, then Carnarvon and Gascoyne Junction.

The ambitious American on the old BMW is attracting some interest and plenty of support. One visitor, riding a HPN BMW dropped in to say howdy and ended up performing a dash on his own steed to grab the crew a required tank rubber.

Paul tells me that both the bike and Jason are performing brilliantly and they sure sound to be having a heap of fun. That there is what it’s all about. Here’s Jason with the beast in another picture courtesy of Ross Briggs. Ross deserves a special mention as he has kindly let  me use his images of Jason and the Rooney team on my blog. Thanks Ross, your images are always fantastic.

Lucky Stu

Jason is one of a small crew of international competitors taking up the challenge.

Paul has the 6×6 Landrover loaded with the badass r65 and is already making his way to Western Australia.

Go Jason!

Sept 2012

6000 mile service

While it was in the shop it needed 2 new tires (Back had 2 punctures and front was starting to get an egg in it?).  The tyre pressure gauge had done its job well and I knew there was a problem before it went in the shop.

July 2012

purchased a new tax disc holder. Purely for cosmetic reasons

March 2012

Fender extender front and rear

The Front Fender is something I put on all bikes I purchase. It really does help protect the engine IMHO.

I believe that earlier RT’s had the rear fender as standard but I had to order one (part number 71 60 7 694 184) from the local BMW. Just another way to get a few quid from you

I took a few pictures of before and after. When I was looking for the fender on-line there was no pictures I could find of it installed.

Pictures before

Front of RT before Fender extender

Easy to fit with just 4 self tapping screws

 1934 BMW R7 ( Vintage Motorcycle | Art Deco Motorcycle )wins Best of Class at Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance 2012 
The BMW R7 motorcycle was judged Best in Class in the German Motorcycles category at the 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance, held Sunday, August 19th on the Pebble Beach Golf Links in California.The award was received by Karl Baumer, Head of BMW Group Classic. “The BMW R7 is one of the most extraordinary motorcycles in our collection,” noted Baumer upon receiving the award. “We are delighted that the effort to bring the BMW R7 to the Pebble Beach Concours was rewarded with Best in Class for Motorcycles.”The BMW R7 motorcycle was created in 1934 at the height of the art deco movement which heavily influenced its design. It was created as a concept but never put into production making this R7 the only one of its kind in the world. It had not been seen for nearly 70 years when it was discovered in 2005 whereupon it was restored by BMW Group Classic. It is now a part of BMW Group Classic’s extensive collection of significant BMW cars and motorcycles.

The 2012 Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance featured motorcycles from Germany. BMW Motorrad, the motorcycle brand of BMW, will celebrate its 90th year of motorcycle production in 2013.

[Source: BMW USA]

 2013 BMW HP4 S1000RR | BMW and its BMW Motorrad division is introducing the first four-cylinder motorcycle, the BMW HP4, for model year 2012. A technical and engineering progression that started with the very first HP model back in 2005, the HP4 harnesses the same water-cooled four-cylinder in-line engine found on the BMW S 1000 RR. Able to generate 193 horsepower, BMW added “Rain”, “Sport”, “Race” and “Slick” modes for an even power distribution despite the ride conditions. Race ABS, along with Dynamic Traction Control, both optimized for two wheels, there is even a Launch Control function like those on high-end performance cars. Already the lightest among four-cylinder superbikes at just 199 kilos, more weight can be taken off with its Competition Package of carbon fiber elements and special alloy accessories. The BMW HP4 will be arriving at the BMW showroom near you shortly. SOURCE

Custom motorcycles are often about sacrifice. As looks improve, functionality suffers. And most of the time, it doesn’t matter, especially if a bike is only ridden for short blasts, or down to a local watering hole. But it’s good to see the occasional long-haul machine given the custom treatment—like this 1978 BMW R80/7 from Crowe Customs of Portland, Oregon.

 BMW F800FT DIRT TRACKER
A BMW flat tracker? It looks like Ron Wood has taken the 798cc twin found in the BMW F 800 series and dropped it into one of his gorgeous flat track frames.

The bike had its first outing at the fairgrounds in West Liberty, Iowa running in an AMA race. It looks like BMW is going to get into competition wherever it can and I have little doubt they’ll be a contender.As I mentioned before, Ron Wood flat track motorcycles combine simplicity and function into a beautiful bike. Now, if they would just make them street legal.

They say that behind every great man is a great woman, and this certainly appears to be the case with Manuela Raffaeta, the fiancée of World Superbike rider Marco Melandri. After the BMW Motorrad Days warm-up party at the BMW Museum, Manuela returned there the following day for a photoshoot on a BMW bike that made Superbike history more than 35 years ago.