February 21, 2006 Any motorcyclist embarking on worldwide travel or riding in difficult conditions has a tough decision to make when it comes to their choice of protective rider clothing. It's easy for a clothing manufacturer to claim that their products are good enough to wear for riding around the world or even competing in events such as the infamous Dakar rally. However it is far better to let those who actually wear them in these situations to comment on their effectiveness. Perhaps it is no coincidence that last year saw many adventure and competition motorcyclists choose to wear BMW Motorrad's Rallye 2 suit. It is an uncompromising item of equipment for serious riding and is designed to resist and beat climatic adversity, physical abuse and extreme terrain. Now, BMW Motorrad has launched the brand new 2006 Rallye 2 Pro suit – a direct replacement for the popular Rallye 2, and the first BMW textile suit to offer enhanced body armour across the shoulder, elbow, back, knee and hip areas.
Simon Pavey is a regular Dakar rally competitor and chief instructor on BMW's Off-Road Skills courses in the UK. He entered the 2006 Dakar with Charley Boorman and both riders wore the new BMW Rallye 2 Pro suits:
"The main thing I always notice when competing in the Dakar is regardless of the type of motorcycle being ridden, the vast majority of privateers are wearing a BMW riding suit. The new BMW Rallye 2 Pro suit was the perfect answer for me thanks to its specially designed venting systems perfect for heat; along with gore-tex inners for the wettest of days and a water hydration system built-in,” said Simon.
He added: “When you are competing in a demanding event such as the Dakar, you need to have confidence in what you are wearing. The newly improved CE-protectors are more hi-tech and better shaped to suit the body, which undoubtedly contributes to an increased level of comfort and protection.”
Herbert Schwartz is the Executive Director of Touratech and a well-known 'globetrotter'. He has ridden BMWs all over the world and was one of the first to experience the outstanding capabilities of the new R 1200 GS Adventure.He recently travelled extensively in Central America on the new Adventure, where he also made many of the photographs incorporated in the 2006/7 Touratech catalogue.
"The Rallye 2 Pro equipment is the only realistic option to ride in. I recently rode from Delhi in India to Tibet and the temperatures we encountered went from 52°C in India with a humidity of 75-80% down to minus 15°C through the mountains on the way to Tibet.
"If it's hot it's perfect because I can open all the vents and just have a t-shirt on underneath and then with the Gore-tex liner in it is perfect when it's freezing cold. The Rallye 2 Pro suit is just about unbeatable."
As well as its purpose-designed efficiency, the new Rallye 2 Pro has a number of thoughtful and practical features. These include a removable hip bag; a retrofittable drink facility; strategically-sited reflective material; leather grip-patches at the knees; removable protective padding and back protector; optional chest protector; a plethora of pockets; a start number pocket (also for map storage); a windowed sleeve pocket; and removable sleeves so that the jacket can be worn as a waistcoat.
The new BMW Rallye 2 Pro suit will be available throughout BMW Motorrad’s global dealer showrooms from early March in grey/blue or grey/black colour options. The suit is priced at UKP395 for the jacket and UKP280 for the trousers.
In some markets, customers can now take advantage of a ‘try before you buy’ service.