since 1976
since 1976
Auto Bavaria, the largest retail and service organization for BMW, MINI and BMW Motorrad in Malaysia recently organized its first ever exclusive riding event overseas – the Auto Bavaria Ride to Khao Yai. In conjunction with BMW Motorrad Day in Thailand, the 6-day by invitation only bike expedition for Auto Bavaria customers from 7th to 12th November enabled the 20 participants the unique and priceless experience of taking their BMW Motorrad models on an approximately 3000km adventure starting from the Auto Bavaria Glenmarie showroom to Khao Yai in North Thailand and back.
BMW Motorrad, which refers to the wide selection of BMW superbikes had participants show up on their proud rides that included the R 1200 GS, R 1250 GSA, S 1000 XR, R 1200 GSA, R 1200 RT and the R 1250 GSA.
The Klang Valley convoy met on the first day at the Auto Bavaria Glenmarie Showroom as early as 4.30am and they safely crossed the border by 11am. The convoy then gathered at the Vista Hotel in Danok, Thailand, where the riders met up with the Auto Bavaria Penang team.
Together, as a larger convoy, the participants then flagged off again, with sightseeing stints along the way that included a stopover and photoshoot at the Route 41 Cowboy Town. The journey continued with refilling and rest at Nakhon Si Thammarat and Suratthani before finally settling in for the day at S22 Hotel in Suratthani. The last few kilometres to Suratthani was challenged by heavy rain and flooded roadways, and these allowed the Motorrad owners a chance to put the BMW bikes through a durability test.
The second day started with a ride to Prachuap Khiri Khan for lunch. The convoy then continued on with a scenic ride through Ratchaburi and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya before reaching the destination point, Splendid Hotel in Khao Yai. The entire distance travelled, thus far, is well over 1500km, a sound testament to the reliability of the Motorrad bikes for long haul rides with no breakdowns. After a stopover at MF Motorrad Rama II in Bangkok, the riders got to enjoy the privilege of being escorted by Thai Traffic Police and a Thai Marshal as outriders for the continued ride to Khao Yai.
The following day was designed for touristic exploits with a ride to catch a glimpse of the monumental statue of the revered 16th century Thai monk, Luang Phor Thuad. The ride continued with a coffee break at MidWinter Green, a quaint tourist attraction with unique European architectural influences at Nakhon Ratchasima. This was followed by a ride to 8Speed at Khao Yai, the selected venue to celebrate Motorrad Day for this particular excursion. 8Speed is a motor track that caters to the cravings of bikers who wish to push their bikes to the limit.
The next morning saw the Motorrad bikers check out of Splendid Hotel for the next leg of the adventure. The journey continued with refilling and rest at Nonthaburi and Phetchaburi before stopping for lunch at Cha-am, Hua Hin. The ride commenced through Prachuap before reaching the final stop in Thailand, the Nana Beach Resort in Chumphom. A Gala Dinner was hosted at the resort by Auto Bavaria as an appreciation to its loyal customers, and provided the platform for the Motorrad bikers to mingle and build upon the camaraderie. The party-like atmosphere was complemented by a great ambience, a sumptuous barbeque, and energetic life music.
The fifth day saw the convoy pushed on from Nana Beach Resort to Chumphon, followed by a stopover at the PTT Transformer, where a life sized “Bumble Bee” Transformer greets tourists at Suratthani. The ride continued through Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phattalung before halting for the day at Crystal Hotel in Hatyai.
The final day, 12th November 2019, marked the end of the expedition with breakfast at the hotel before safely crossing the Sadao border back into Malaysia. “The itinerary is very well done and it is enjoyable to all,” said Derek Clyde, one of the participants. “It is a great effort by Auto Bavaria, going the extra mile to provide a riding experience that no one else can give.”
The success of the Motorrad to Khao Yai has Auto Bavaria vowing to organise more such events, be it locally or abroad, for its Motorrad customers. The whole journey places focus on an exclusive riding experience with great hospitality that Auto Bavaria believes only it can provide. There were a number of support cars, a rescue van and a technical crew to attend to breakdowns and minor checks throughout the trip. Pit stop crews were also ever present to provide the Auto Bavaria customers cold drinks and wet tissues. To top it off, a professional photographer and video crew were also present to immortalise the memories for the participants.
BMW Motorrad owners who want to be a part of these future events can visit BMW Motorrad Auto Bavaria Facebook or Instagram for updates.
