A journalist replaced a rider at BMW's Performance Center in South Carolina, facing challenging motorcycle exercises over two days. Despite initial struggles on skid pads and off-road sections, he improved and joined the advanced group on a trail ride in northern Georgia. The event offered skill-building amid winter downtime.
The journalist, sidelined by winter home repairs like door shimming and bricklaying, accepted a last-minute invitation to BMW's Performance Center in South Carolina as a replacement rider. There, an official highlighted the massive eight-million-square-foot car factory nearby, which produces models without manual transmissions. After a weak cappuccino, the group geared up with instructors including an ex-cop, a no-nonsense Australian woman, a burly mute rider, and a diminutive former road racer. He selected an F900 GS for the drills.