The GSC is open for prev entrants

[Trailrider]

BMWPE, why tell them anything? You know the area and EC for example, it's a beautiful place with tremendous riding opportunities to organise the most spectacular rides.
I have proposed it before and we can arrange our own rides with all the back-up if people wish for it. You don't need to go to their or any other branded event, all D/S bikes even smaller trail bikes welcome.

Some people, I included, enjoy the company of the different kind bike brand riders and that they are from all walks of life, rich, poor, palookas, clever or just ........well whatever, and we don't have to pay the cost associated with a branded event.

Well said! 

Yeah, but .... we have to catch up with the Honda riders! 

Fixed! 

[sillystunt]

soooo,the chat goes on.
two of my riding buddies have pulled out of the challenge,seems that the cost was just to much.
its a sad day when riding a bike becomes to expensive.
lets hope that the challenge is worth all the interest,see you all there.

[michnus]

Well, take it like this, have you ever entered a competition where you can get the change by skill of winning a R130000-00 bike and only pay R2500 for the ticket?

You don't get better than that

You would be stupid to not to go, I am not that good so I am wasting money on even trying

[BMWPE]

The reason for going to the Challenge is to ride and meet like minded people our ride back was even better,
5 days of riding awesome!!

The skills challenge is for a handfull of riders to compete (not in that category)
What would the 2 oceans run  be like if only a handfull entered
Want to see skills go and see Footups trials
Why should we pay for the prize  of a bike
IMHO the skills challenge should not even be part of the GS challenge.

[Steady]

Just to clarify a few things which have come up in this thread.

The new G bikes are allowed.
The skills challenge will be divided into weight classes apparently. Probably 3 or 4 classes so new g bikes in one, f bikes another and r bikes a 3rd. Might have a separate class for the adv bikes or combine the g and f bikes.

So I doubt that there will be 3 or 4 HP2's on offer as prizes.

Let's see how many ride the XChallenge 1000k's to get there.

[michnus]

I might be wrong but the R bikes have kicked the F650 and HP asses for them.

[Excalibur]

650 Dakar was the champion last year.

[FortyZA]

Yes that did happen.  Last years winner was on a 650 but had to ride his ass off to stay ahead of the GS 1200 and GS1200 ADV (Hein rode an almost flawless round against the German instructor)

[Steady]

650 Dakar was the champion last year.

I might be wrong but the R bikes have kicked the F650 and HP asses for them.

Perhaps there was a rider involved in this?

[michnus]

very small part, the R-bikes are just that good

[Steady]

very small part, the R-bikes are just that good

Aaaah!..... that would explain my abilities then.

[Obi -Wan]

Just a comment as regards the prizes. Whilst we criticise Simon Fourie for the sometimes sub-standard quality of his magazine, I have noticed that the Bike Rallies organised by Bike SA are not expensive to enter and your entry automatically puts you in line for a very nice prize and you need not display any skill whatsover.

Now I know that a Bike Rally and the GS Challenge are very different events but  Bike SA seems to be much more in touch with their clients than BMW is.  Unless you absolutely commit to developing your riding skills, the average GS rider ( I include myself here ) has no chance of winning anything at the GS challenge .

BMWPE - I take your point about riding with like-minded people, but at the end of the day you will typically ride with your mates, see a few old friends and maybe meet new ones. The problem arrives in how are you going to meet new people in a group of 400 riders all going in the same direction, trying to avoid dust, the worst obstacles and the   
guys who all want to prove that their HP2 will get back to camp first?

There were 6 of us planning to go this year - we figured R1500 entry each - Thats a 15% increase over 2006  by the way - We find the cost has increased by 92% -  now none of us is going.  The real issue is not the money- this leaves a sour taste because no matter how much infrastructure you need to run this thing, the cost is simply not justifiable.

[IceCreamMan]

Just a comment as regards the prizes. Whilst we criticise Simon Fourie for the sometimes sub-standard quality of his magazine, I have noticed that the Bike Rallies organised by Bike SA are not expensive to enter and your entry automatically puts you in line for a very nice prize and you need not display any skill whatsover.

Now I know that a Bike Rally and the GS Challenge are very different events but  Bike SA seems to be much more in touch with their clients than BMW is.  Unless you absolutely commit to developing your riding skills, the average GS rider ( I include myself here ) has no chance of winning anything at the GS challenge .

BMWPE - I take your point about riding with like-minded people, but at the end of the day you will typically ride with your mates, see a few old friends and maybe meet new ones. The problem arrives in how are you going to meet new people in a group of 400 riders all going in the same direction, trying to avoid dust, the worst obstacles and the   
guys who all want to prove that their HP2 will get back to camp first?

There were 6 of us planning to go this year - we figured R1500 entry each - Thats a 15% increase over 2006  by the way - We find the cost has increased by 92% -  now none of us is going.  The real issue is not the money- this leaves a sour taste because no matter how much infrastructure you need to run this thing, the cost is simply not justifiable.

Last years challenge was 1600 as i recall

[JourneyMan]

Last years thread on GSC.

Interesting reading!

It was R 1450 (If correctly qouted) and some gagged on their beers! Some not.

[JourneyMan]

..and some feedback.

http://www.wilddog.za.net/forum/index.php?topic=2874.0

I'm a dof outjie but even I can 2+2 = 1. (Personal opinion)

All about expectations and what you make of it. Some enjoy. Others not. Some made it better by doing their thing as they wanted it.

Personally. No go. Two Dr's with 800+ people was enough.

[Steady]

Entries now open to anyone who has not been yet, limited to 800 participants this year.


Rules of the Event


Right of admission is reserved

No vehicles with/without trailers allowed

No tents bigger than a three man tent will be allowed

No alcohol to be brought onto the event site

There will be a dedicated cellphone / battery charging area. This will be strictly monitored because of the electricity constraints. Any phones or batteries charged outside of the charging areas will be confiscated. Please ask for details at the registration desk
 
Jawol.

[Plothond]

There will be a dedicated cellphone / battery charging area. This will be strictly monitored because of the electricity constraints. Any phones or batteries charged outside of the charging areas will be confiscated. Please ask for details at the registration desk [/color]
 
Jawol.

Faaark me - schnoeps !!!!!!

I could probably charge 200 cellphones on my little 2kva gennie
Maybe they should push the fees up to R 3000.oo each and include cellphone charging

[Trailrider]

There will be a dedicated cellphone / battery charging area. This will be strictly monitored because of the electricity constraints. Any phones or batteries charged outside of the charging areas will be confiscated. Please ask for details at the registration desk [/color]

What? Why?

[JourneyMan]

Entries now open to anyone who has not been yet, limited to 800 participants this year.


No vehicles with/without trailers allowed

 

Edit: Ok. No vehicles. Forgot. 

[The TRANSPORTER]

 Just my opinion,never been on a GSC,decided im going this year come what may,plan is that my friend and pal PATMAN is going with. Im going for the fun,break away,just relax part(hopefully) and meet some WD's in flesh. Wanna see and experience what everybody talks about it afterwards......