TRAVERSE 14
touring. The surrounding Carpathians contain some of Europe ' s remaining large areas of relatively undisturbed forest, with wolves and brown bears among the wildlife found in the region.
The R 12 G / S gets its chance For the first time in GS Trophy history, BMW selected the R 12 G / S as the competition motorcycle. That choice was significant. The R 12 G / S is deliberately different from BMW ' s larger, more technology-heavy GS models. Drawing inspiration from the original R 80 G / S, the motorcycle uses BMW ' s air / oil-cooled boxer engine and shaft drive, while its specification is aimed squarely at off-road riding. For the Trophy, the bikes were equipped for the conditions with long-travel suspension, off-road tyres, protection and BMW ' s Enduro Pro riding mode. The production R 12 G / S has 210mm of front suspension travel, 200mm at the rear and 240mm of ground clearance, along with a 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear. That specification was put to work almost immediately. The Romanian route provided little opportunity to simply sit back and let the motorcycle do the work. Riders had to constantly shift their weight, pick lines through rocks and gravel, manage loose climbs and deal with mud and water.
The R 12 G / S ' s comparatively stripped-back approach also fitted neatly with the“ Back to Basics” theme. Rather than being a technological showcase, the competition bike was being asked to demonstrate something much more fundamental – whether a large-capacity boxer could be controlled effectively when the road disappeared.
By the end of the six days, it had been through almost everything Romania could throw at it.
Germany holds its nerve Going into the final day, Team Germany had an 11-point advantage in the men ' s competition over Team Europe. That was enough to provide some breathing room, but certainly not enough to relax. The final challenges ultimately decided the outcome, with Germany maintaining its consistency when the pressure was highest.
TRAVERSE 14