Ride and Talk - The BMW Motorrad Podcast

On track, they’re rivals. Off track, they’re teammates. Toprak Razgatlıoğlu and Michael van der Mark join Head of BMW Motorrad Motorsport Sven Blusch and host Nicky Ettlinger to share stories of team spirit, the unseen moments behind the timing sheets, and one foolproof way to make sure Toprak turns up at your event! Don’t forget to subscribe, like, and comment on this and other Ride and Talk epis...

Join us as we sit down with Bernt Haberland, the visionary designer behind the iconic BMW Rallye Suit. In this episode, Bernt shares the story behind the Rallye Suit—widely regarded as one of the most legendary motorcycle riding suits ever created. He also delves into his personal journey, his passion for design, and what it takes to create premium riding gear for motorcyclists. Don’t forget to su...

Coming up on the next BMW Motorrad Ride and Talk Podcast: The new R 12 and R 12 nineT, and the young woman who played a big part in bringing them to us. Take a listen! Hello my friends, I’m Shawn Thomas, welcome to the latest episode of the BMW Motorrad Ride and Talk Podcast. Recently during a trip to Munich, my producer Louise Powers and I had occasion to meet Carina Hoefler, the product Manager...

Easily the best part about hosting this Podcast is meeting the people who create and influence the motorcycles we love. Sergio Fossa and Christian Geis are two fantastic examples. Hello my friends I’m Shawn Thomas, welcome to our latest episode of the BMW Motorrad Ride and Talk Podcast. Sergio, Christian and their team were tasked with creating the next generation of middleweight Adventure Motorcy...

That was Reiner Fings, Product Manager for the BMW R 1300 GS Adventure. You may remember hearing him in a previous episode last year, where we discussed the standard R 1300 GS. Hi everyone I’m Shawn Thomas, welcome back to the BMW Motorrad Ride and Talk podcast. BMW Motorrad is calling this “The Year of the GS” for good reason. In all we have seen significant changes in nearly every model in the G...

There are many amazing places to ride in South America, and Colombia is definitely among the most notable. With breathtaking mountains, cities, villages and microclimates, Colombia is a place that will provide even the most avid explorer with memories to last a lifetime. But what’s it like exploring in Colombia? Today, my producer Louise Powers and I sit down with Micho and Sara, Colombia natives...

What is an Expedition Leader, and what is the path to becoming one? Follow along as 8 individuals from around the world test their mechanical, medical, tour guide and leadership skills in the newest training program from BMW Motorrad.

Markus Flasch took over as Head of BMW Motorrad in November 2023. Markus was already a well-known figure at BMW Motorrad, having been at the helm of the M division when it was decided to introduce the first M motorcycle, the M 1000 RR. As the new head of Motorrad, Markus has already begun to make an impression as an innovative and decisive leader. But what is his vision for the brand, and how does...

Coming up on the next BMW Motorrad Ride and Talk Podcast: Sitting down with HansA. Muth, one of the most celebrated designers in the history of BMW Motorrad. Take a listen! That was the voice of HansA. Muth, describing his process for designing the ever-evolving motorcycle platform. Hans’ legacy spans 50 years and can be seen even in today’s modern BMW motorcycles. Hans and I took a tour of the BM...

Looking back at the last 30 years, it’s hard to think of anyone who has had a larger influence on what we see as BMW Motorrad, than Edgar Heinrich. A designer with a vision, Edgar has brought to us the modern look and feel of several iconic BMW Motorcycle models. During our interview I was stricken with Edgar's knowledge and passion, but most of all the humility of a man who began with a simple lo...

There are many important roles that comprise the creation of a new motorcycle. But it’s hard to think of any role more critical than that of a product manager. Throughout development, this individual works with all of the people involved in the project, shaping the product from a concept to the motorcycle that we as riders ultimately see and experience. This is the role that Reiner Fings has playe...

Part of the magic of motorcycle riding is meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary things. Their stories inspire us to go to new places and take on adventures that we may not have otherwise considered. Recently one of our podcast listeners suggested that my producer Louise Powers and I interview Jason Gale, a motorcycle enthusiast who lives, rides and organizes riding groups in his home country...

Anyone who visits the USA will quickly come to realize how big the country is, and how challenging it can be to choose where to go and what to see. This is especially true for those who wish to ride an adventure motorcycle and go beyond where the pavement ends. To help solve this problem, a group of motorcycle enthusiasts founded the Backcountry Discovery Routes, a non-profit organization dedicate...

Designing the newest and most cutting edge BMW motorcycles. Take a listen! Ever since my passion for BMW Motorrad began, I’ve had an insatiable desire to understand the inner workings of the company. Throughout the years, I’ve tried to piece together the journey that each motorcycle takes from concept to reality. Some of these steps are of course highly confidential, and therefore very difficult f...

Coming up on today’s BMW Motorrad Ride and Talk podcast: Customizing our motorcycles using both time honored techniques and cutting edge technologies. Take a listen! Recently during a trip to Munich we sat down with Ben Ott with Motoism, a company that specializes in custom motorcycle parts design and manufacturing. My producer Louise Powers and I were given a tour of their facility, and talked wi...

Many years ago, I was taken on a tour of a facility that manufactures BMW Helmets, hosted by Udo Wattendorf, part of the helmet development team at BMW. Throughout the day Udo showed us how BMW helmets are designed, tested, and built. This was easily one of the most fascinating professional experiences I’ve ever had, not the least of which due to the knowledge and enthusiasm radiated by Udo. Today...

Those of us that follow the history of BMW know that Munich, Germany is where it all started. More than 100 years ago, a small group of designers and engineers were producing airplane and vehicle engines, and in 1923 developed and sold their first complete, production motorcycle. 100 years later, the very first building inhabited by BMW still stands, and now features a museum dedicated to vehicles...

Sometimes when we meet a person who’s engaged in something extraordinary, we might look at them and think to ourselves, “I want to be more like this person. I want the drive and courage and skill to do what this person is doing.” Last July, my producer Louise Powers and I met Kris Hall at BMW Motorrad Days in Berlin, and I thought to myself, “Kris is one of those people.” Unlike those who seem bor...

Coming up on today’s BMW Motorrad Ride and Talk Podcast: An exclusive discussion about an unprecedented new M series motorcycle, the BMW M 1000 R. Take a listen!

While at the BMW Riders Association Rally in the USA, we sat down in front of a live audience with Aaron Rankin, Ricardo Rodriguez, and Melinda Justice, all senior instructors at the BMW Performance Center in Greer, South Carolina. Together we discussed many aspects of motorcycle coaching, emerging technologies, changing demographics, and the importance of coaches being students as often as possib...

World Travel, the path to making it happen, and a new book from Sam Manicom! Recently we found ourselves in the USA at the BMW Riders Association Annual Motorcycle Rally, where none other than Sam Manicom was the keynote speaker. We were given the unique opportunity to interview Sam about his life and experiences. This is the second time Sam has agreed to join us on the Ride and Talk podcast, and...

Coming up on this BMW Motorrad Ride and Talk podcast: Words of wisdom from some of the competitors, media and marshals of the International GS Trophy 2022 in Albania. Take a listen! We sincerely hope you enjoy this podcast. Make sure you don’t miss another one by clicking the ‘subscribe’ button now. In fact, why not get in touch and tell us who – or what – you’d like to hear on a future show. It c...

Recently we found ourselves in Germany, and had a chance to spend several days in the city of Berlin. Now like any big city, there are a LOT of motorcycles. And where there are so many motorcycles, there is a need. A need to store bikes, a need to work on bikes, and of course the desire to meet like minded people. Enter Craftwerk Berlin, a community garage and co-working space that allows people t...

It takes a special kind of commitment to ride a motorcycle, and that is especially true when we ride internationally. But Jess and Greg Stone took this a step further, and brought Moxie along for the ride. Weighing in at over 34 Kilos, Moxie is a large German Shepard that has logged thousands of kilometers on the back of Jesses motorcycle. While on their international adventure, Jess, Greg and Mox...

We all know the exhilaration that comes from riding a motorcycle. But what does it mean to ride fast, so fast even that you become a world record holding motorcycle rider. Well today, we are sitting down with Erin Sills and Trev Richter, of Hunter-Sills Racing. Together, Erin and Trev take us through what it takes to prepare themselves and their BMW motorcycles for riding on salt flats in the Unit...