Wistful memories of the BMW meeting in Garmisch-Partenkirchen
Created: 08/02/2022, 07:00
Cool atmosphere: the new BMW Motorrad Days at the Berlin exhibition center.
© BMW, Jörg Künstle
The BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen enjoyed cult status.
But the Munich carmaker decided to move the meeting to Berlin.
The fans are anything but enthusiastic after the premiere in the federal capital - and mourn the old days in Werdenfelser Land.
Berlin/Garmisch-Partenkirchen – for 18 years they were an integral part of the events calendar in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
In some years, the BMW Motorrad Days attracted more than 40,000 visitors to the market town.
Almost two years ago, however, the car and motorcycle manufacturer based in Munich decided to relocate the popular biker meeting to Berlin from 2021.
A decision that still causes great displeasure in the scene.
New edition at the Berlin exhibition center
For many, the BMW Motorrad Days in Garmisch-Partenkirchen were simply cult.
After the planned first edition in the capital had to be canceled due to corona, it now took place at the capital's exhibition center at the beginning of July.
A look at the social networks and various Internet forums reveals a tendency: Many BMW fans are already mourning the event in Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
In the GS Forum, a meeting place for owners and fans of vehicles of the motorcycle series of the same name, an emotional discussion about the new venue broke out just a few weeks after the premiere in Berlin.
"In my opinion, Berlin could only lose to Garmisch.
In Berlin it was the concrete desert of the exhibition center, in Garmisch directly in nature," writes one user.
Many bikers particularly miss the exit opportunities around Garmisch-Partenkirchen.
"It's a shame, Garmisch was always great," says another forum member.
Because of such voices, the question arises as to whether the relocation of the Motorrad Days was the right decision.
For Dominik Schaidnagel, spokesman for BMW Motorrad, there is no doubt: "From our point of view, the Berlin location is perfect for the BMW Motorrad Days," he says.
As an international metropolis, Berlin offers a wide range of cultural activities and numerous exit options in the surrounding area.
"In addition, the heart of international BMW motorcycle production has been beating in Berlin with the Berlin plant for five years," he says.
Almost every BMW motorcycle has Berlin air in its tires.
"A return to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is not planned."
The first users are already speculating online that the event will return to Werdenfelser Land in the coming years.
Schaidnagel immediately puts a stop to such mind games: “A return to Garmisch-Partenkirchen is not planned.” However, BMW has noticed the feedback from the community and wants to take this into account for the second edition in Berlin.
In addition to many negative voices, there are also visitors who believe that Berlin deserves a second chance: "Once everything has settled down, Berlin can also be great," writes another user, but also emphasizes: "Um there is a lot to do to achieve the ambience of Garmisch.”
Many users now see the BMW Club Days, which will take place in the market town for the fourth time next year, as an alternative to the Motorcycle Days in Berlin.
This meeting was originally set up by the local BMW Club in 2020 to accommodate the many motorcycle enthusiasts.
The format was well received by the bikers and attracted up to 150 participants again this year.
While there is often written about a counter-event on the internet, it is important for those responsible to emphasize that this is merely a supplementary event: "We definitely don't want to compete with the Motorbike Days, we want to be a catch-all for everyone, who don't make the journey to Berlin," explains the chairman of the BMW Club Garmisch-Partenkirchen and Oberland, Christian Pomplun, and emphasizes:
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The many negative voices on the net have not escaped Pomplun.
That's one of the reasons why the Club Days 2023 could be even more popular in the scene than before: "I'm currently expecting around 300 to 400 participants," he says.
Then, for the first time since the last edition of the Motorbike Days, there will also be a small marquee on the local mountain.
Almost like old times.
Tobias Schwaninger