Hakuba BMW Rally 2012 August 25, 26

[haildamage]

EDIT: Several Kansai Guys will be there!

not sure yet that i can make it but i thought i'd post the date so that we can start thinking about it. its at the end of august instead of the beginning this year for a change.

we had an awesome time last year, so hopefully we can expand the numbers this year!

[JamesK]

+1, planning to make it. And for anyone who's not previously camped with Haildamage, I can tell you he packs/brings everything, a real boyscout and is great company

For the Tokyo based contingent, I have the no Hwy route I built last year which takes you all the way from Hakuba into Ebina without ever touching slab, and they are all nice Twisty Butt worthy roads too. I'll post a screenshot tonight.

[Guy Jinbaiquerre]

I went to this in 2010 and had fun; might go again this year.

For those of us doing (or considering doing) the Sakhalin trip, the ferry gets us back to Hokkaido on 21 August, so there's still plenty of time to get over to Hakuba for the BMW fest.

[Guy Jinbaiquerre]

+1, planning to make it.

You've got plenty of time to trade in Suzie Q on an F800GS, or maybe a single...

[Twinrider]

Count me in.

[haildamage]

I went to this in 2010 and had fun; might go again this year.

For those of us doing (or considering doing) the Sakhalin trip, the ferry gets us back to Hokkaido on 21 August, so there's still plenty of time to get over to Hakuba for the BMW fest.

btw, was at the Motorrad dealer today and he said the F800GS and 650GS twins are still selling like crazy. there arent enough to go around worldwide this year. all of the 2012 model bikes meant for japan are already spoken for by dealers! they didnt have one in the shop and the next one due in is already sold!

and thanks for the compliment james. i really enjoyed camping with you guys as well. hope i can make it this year. it depends on how i can work it into my tohoku tour.

[chozzer]

+1, planning to make it. And for anyone who's not previously camped with Haildamage, I can tell you he packs/brings everything, a real boyscout and is great company

For the Tokyo based contingent, I have the no Hwy route I built last year which takes you all the way from Hakuba into Ebina without ever touching slab, and they are all nice Twisty Butt worthy roads too. I'll post a screenshot tonight.

+1 on this sounds like fun. Please share that route JamesK!

[JamesK]

This is the snapshot, but I can send the GPX file if someone wants one. It takes about 3 hours to slab it up there from Tokyo and about 14 hours to get back

[haildamage]

i think it is important to point out that you dont need to ride a BMW to go to and enjoy this rally! the stunt shows and overall atmosphere make it a blast for just about anybody. even TWs wife really enjoyed it!

[JamesK]

i think it is important to point out that you dont need to ride a BMW to go to and enjoy this rally! the stunt shows and overall atmosphere make it a blast for just about anybody. even TWs wife really enjoyed it!

And they even let Hardleys in there

[Twinrider]

And they even let Hardleys in there

I'm surprised they let your tuna boat in, so old school it doesn't even have a 6-speed tranny, factory cruise and heated seats like the BMWs and Harleys.

[haildamage]

BUMP: here is the separate thread for the BMW rally

[Guy Jinbaiquerre]

I'll be going to this on the way back from Sakhalin... I think Chozzer and possibly Jav may join me. Guys?

[chozzer]

I'll be going to this on the way back from Sakhalin... I think Chozzer and possibly Jav may join me. Guys?

Yes I am in. Will be riding the rong way round home.

[Jav]

Almost a shame to be in Hokkaido and not tour, but then if everyone is going to do this rally, will do it also. Sakhalin
to Hakuba and three days to get there. Sound like a good chance for some twistys.

[Guy Jinbaiquerre]

Almost a shame to be in Hokkaido and not tour, but then if everyone is going to do this rally, will do it also. Sakhalin
to Hakuba and three days to get there. Sound like a good chance for some twistys.

Jav, we get back to Wakkanai in the afternoon on the 21st. I will be doing some touring in Hokkaido on at least the 22nd and maybe the 23rd, before arriving at the rally on the 25th. It depends on how much real touring (not just expressway blasting) we want to do in Honshu as we head south to the rally.

There are two specific things in Hokkaido I want to do, though: Ride route 334 (twisty and scenic), and get a photo at the easternmost point of Japan, Cape Nosappu (I went close by last summer, but didn't get a photo at the easternmost spot). I am flexible otherwise, so if we can plan a route that includes those two things, I'm up for it. We have half of the 21st, all day on the 22nd, 23rd, and 24th, and the morning of the 25th to get to the rally in Hakuba. That's plenty of time for a nice tour route in Hokkaido and Tohoku before making a beeline for the rally.

[Twinrider]

So... who's going to attempt the hill climb?

[Jav]

Already signed you up.............

[Twinrider]

If you guys are coming on the 25th, earlier would be better to claim a camping spot. I'll probably aim to get there on Friday.

[Guy Jinbaiquerre]

If you guys are coming on the 25th, earlier would be better to claim a camping spot. I'll probably aim to get there on Friday.

Yes, I'm planning to get there on the morning of the 25th.

I showed up not too early on the Saturday of the event in 2010 and had no problem getting a camping spot; there's lots of room. Although showing up earlier would help if you want to get a particular spot, like so all our tents can be next to each other.

TR, maybe you could try to claim a bigger area with a few tarps on the ground, for Saturday arrivals?