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Climbing the world ’ s highest active volcano is not something for the fainthearted , throw in a fleet of the newly released BMW R1300GS and you have a challenge worth taking on .
A little over two and half months since the launch of the new flagship GS , the challenge was set ; twenty-four hours between December 6th and 7th 2023 to reach near the summit of Nevado Ojos del Salado , a 6,893 metre volcano that sits within the Atacama Desert in Chile .
The uniqueness of the challenge was intensified by all of the bikes being standard as they rolled out of the BMW factory , including standard Metzeler tyres fitted to a 19- inch front wheel and 17-inch rear . It added an aspect that all riders were up for .
“ Even in standard trim with off-road tyres it was important for us to emphasise the core competencies of the new GS ,” explained BMW Motorrad Development Manager , Christof Lischka , one of the expedition riders . “ It masters off-road and adventure riding as well as a sporty pace on the tarmac and long tours .”
Backdrop for the expedition , considered one of the toughest rides for both man and machine , was the Circuito de los Seis Miles which includes the final push , the notorious “ Rock Channel ” that sits on the northern flank of the famed volcano .
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