2025 New Zealand GS Rallye

2025-11-11 by Andrew Holmes

A few weeks ago I loaded up the new-to-me BMW G450X and headed South to Whanganui for the 2025 New Zealand GS Rallye. This was the first big trip I've done on this bike so if I'm honest I was a wee bit nervous about it all - would I be coming home on the back of a tow truck? Would my butt survive that absolute plank of a seat? Only one way to find out!

leaving home

Here she is all loaded up for the drive South with tools, spare tube, wet weather gear, spare gloves and a 1.5L fuel bottle for emergencies in the saddle bags and my tent, sleeping bag, inflatable sleeping mat and pillow in the Giant Loop Rouge bag strapped to the top. I wore a backpack with my camp clothes, toiletries and hydration pack as I didn't want to strap too much on to the back as I'm still not sure how strong that sub frame is (I'm sure it would have been fin as I rode down on smooth tarmac, not rutted out gravel roads).

cockpit

Here is my navigation set up for the trip - you can see the Beeline navigator in the centre of the handle bars and the route sheet for the rally on the left.

I figured it would take me about 6.5 hours to get there but I didn't account for all the time I'd have to stop to stretch my legs and get some blood back into my butt cheeks - not gonna lie towards the end I was getting very uncomfortable on that seat, having to stand up on the pegs to get some relief! According to my Beeline I was on the bike for 6:07 hours but it took me just over 8 hours to travel 481km, so almost 2 hours of breaks. I finally arrived, got my tent and bed set up then socialised a bit with the other riders before heading to bed early. I was feeling a bit creaky after many hours on the bike so was a bit worried about how I'd feel the next day, but woke up refreshed and ready for the ride.

After breakfast and a rider briefing we mounted up and headed out for our 360km loop. It wasn't long until we were rolling down gravel roads and settling into the rhythm of the ride. It was very dry and dusty, so the first hour was a bit harder riding in the pack, but over the day everyone spread out a bit and I often found myself riding alone for stretches.

The bike initially felt a bit nervous and twitchy on gravel, but I soon relaxed and started to trust it moving around underneath me. I've ridden many thousands of KM on gravel on my KTM 790 Adventure R so was used to the heavier, more planted adventure bike, so getting used to a light weight enduro took some time. Standing up on the pegs it felt far more planted, and I found it was easier to flow along (plus it gave my butt a break from that seat!).

vista

It's subtle but note in this picture I've shifted the saddle bags rearwards a bit to give myself more space when standing - I felt before that when standing I was being pushed forward. The views were spectacular along the route, flowing through lush farmland. Just before lunch there was a breakout "challenge" section for those feeling up to it, so I figured I'd try the little BMW on some single track. I was geared a bit too tall for this sort of thing but I figured if people were getting through on T7's and GS's then I should be able to on an enduro bike despite my mediocre abilities. Turns out I needn't have worried, it was relatively easy on the small bike (though some people on larger ones were having fun trying to get up some of the steeper muddy hills!). It was good fun, and the ideal bike for the trail, but my fitness definitely needs improving though! I was really feeling it in my legs and arms by the end, panting and puffing.

single track

After lunch there was an easy 100km back to home base, most of it on tarmac (but what tarmac it was! Curvy, fast, a total blast to ride, I loved it!) and just like that the ride was over. Shower, dinner, the Rallye wrap up and off to bed early again. The next morning I left relatively early and just banged out the miles heading back North to home and arrived mid afternoon tired, sore but happy.

So how was the bike for "lightweight adventure" type work? It actually wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be - the seat is brutal, but otherwise it isn't too uncomfortable and is a real blast to ride on flowing tarmac and gravel. I reckon some supermoto wheels on this bike would be epic. I travelled a total of 1,394km and it barely burned any oil (only about 50ml, I carried a spare 200ml bottle fully expecting to have to use it so was pleasantly surprised when I didn't need it), had plenty of power even in the low power (41hp) mode I had it in for fuel economy and could cruise at ~100km/h without any problems. It was definitely more fun on backroads, as to be expected, and over 12 fill ups I averaged 4.47L per 100km. A larger tank wouldn't go amiss, but having the spare fuel bottle mean I wasn't worried about running out. Would I do it again though? Honestly, probably not, at least not that far. I think a smarter man would have trailered the bike down to Whanganui and then done the ride, and trailered it back home again. Next year the Rallye is being held in Mangawhai which is relatively close to home, so I can do it as a day trip, but if it's any further than that I reckon I'd take the 790 Adventure, or put the little BMW on a trailer.

All in all a very fun long weekend, and the bike performed flawlessly. But man, that seat!