BMW Motorrad dealerships around the UK are gearing up for BMW’s nationwide customer event on 08 March. BMW’s New Season Launch takes place on Saturday 08 March and one of the highlights of this year’s nationwide event will be the first appearance in Motorrad showrooms of the all-new F 650 GS and F 800 GS models. From this date Motorrad dealerships will be offering customers a first opportunity to test ride two of the most eagerly anticipated BMW motorcycles in recent years.

With the up-rated 2008 models of the R 1200 GS and its Adventure derivative already launched, the latest additions to BMW’s ground-breaking adventure sport genre are the sophisticated parallel-twin F 650 GS and F 800 GS .

F 650 GS
The F 650 GS, despite its familiar designation, is a completely new machine. Along with its bigger brother, the F 800 GS, it is powered by BMW’s hi-tech and highly praised 798cc parallel-twin engine – albeit with 71 hp in a softer state of tune than in the F 800 S and ST street versions. This configuration provides plenty of power with excellent fuel economy. The bike’s low seat height and light-touch controls make the F 650 GS an easy to handle all-rounder, ideal for everyday use, and perfect for newcomers to motorcycling.

F 800 GS
The all-new F 800 GS expands BMW Motorrad’s class-leading tradition into the middleweight adventure sports category. The overall package combines balance, low weight and full 85 hp power with excellent ground clearance and long suspension travel. The result is a machine with impressive off-road performance combined with outstanding touring capabilities.

Technically, of course, there is much more. However, the most pleasing specification must surely be the price. The F 650 GS and F 800 GS retail at £5,495 and £6,695 (OTR) respectively.

To celebrate the New Season Launch, visitors to BMW’s UK dealer showrooms are eligible to enter a draw for the chance to win a place on the World of BMW ‘Roads to Morocco’ tour in April. The winner of the draw and a pillion passenger will explore the excellent and diverse roads of a truly beguiling country on a BMW-supplied R 1200 GS. They will also be able to enjoy the atmosphere of countless bustling souks, and stimulate their individual taste buds on Morocco’s unique and aromatic cuisine. It will be the trip of a lifetime for one lucky couple and worth over £2000.

BMW Motorrad Marketing Manager Tony Jakeman said: “BMW Motorrad is offering this fantastic trip to Morocco to mark BMW’s ‘Year of the Enduro’. Appropriately, the new F series GS models are ideal for adventure motorcycling, but are also comfortable in an urban environment. We would encourage customers to try these, or any of our range of exciting new motorcycles, for themselves. Besides, who would want to miss the chance of a free ride to Morocco?”

The New Season Launch is a BMW Motorrad event held specifically to introduce existing and future customers to the company’s new 2008 products. Taking place at every Motorrad dealership across the UK (Scotland excluded) the event features all new BMW motorcycles; the newest clothing in the Rider Equipment collection; a full range of touring accessories; information on new BMW Insurance products and incentives, and dedicated loans and packages from BMW Financial Services.

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Billed as an invite-only sneak preview event, the first theatrical screening of just-completed vintage British motorcycle documentary Brittown became a wild event Thursday night when the expected turnout burgeoned to over five-hundred people and excited attendees nearly overwhelmed the staff in order to grab the free gift bags in front of the historic Laemmle 4-plex theater.

It was meant to be an invitation-only sneak preview event, but the first theatrical screening of just-completed vintage British motorcycle documentary Brittown became a wild event Thursday night when the expected turnout grew to over five-hundred people and excited attendees nearly overwhelmed the staff in order to grab the free gift bags in front of the historic Laemmle 4-plex theater in Santa Monica, California.

The theater manager closed the doors when it became obvious that the largest theater in Santa Monica was about to overflow. “That’s the wildest screening I’ve seen yet since I worked here,” said an exhausted Laemmle Theater employee that had handled the concessions stand for the event.

The main sponsors for the event: Paul Frank Industries, Bass Pale Ale, and Mooneyes were just as excited about the turnout and the response to the film. “Paul Frank was honored to be represented in conjunction with such a fine film,” said Paul Frank CEO and co-Founder Ryan Heuser after the screening.

In addition to the special Brittown/Paul Frank shirts and tote bags given to the audience, Mooneyes provided their signature decals, with local bistro La Bottega providing trays of delicious cookies for the moviegoers.

Bass Pale Ale took on the after-party duties by providing free beer and glassware to all who crammed into the world-famous King’s Head Pub afterwards.

Scott Di Lalla & Zack Coffman (Photo by J. Miller)

“We wanted to say thanks to all the people that helped us on the project and give them a fun night of celebration,” said one of the film’s directors Zack Coffman. “We sent out invitations and tickets, but word kind of got around that the film was going to show and the next thing we new it was filled over capacity.”

“Honestly it was a bit surprising, in a good way, that the film would draw so well even on a Thursday night,” said the film’s other director Scott Di Lalla. “It feels good after nearly a year and a half to finally show it and have a great night for everyone involved.”

When asked about their plans for the film, Di Lalla elaborated, “As we field offers from distributors and consider plans for a world tour of the film, we’re moving forward immediately with our plan of releasing a special edition of the DVD directly to our core audience through our websites www.brittown.com and www.choppertown.com.”

Regarding their plans for a Brittown tour Coffman added, “Screenings of the film will be more like cultural events than just traditional sit-down screenings. We want people to bring out their bikes, eat good food and enjoy the goodies brought out by the sponsors…and of course enjoy the film!”

Featuring an insider’s view of the SoCal Britbike culture including vintage motocross, dirt track, road racing, custom street bikes, and even a wild vintage lingerie beauty contest, the film has struck another chord within the growing Triumph motorcycle and hipster communities. The release of Brittown comes almost two years to the day since One World’s first film Choppertown: the Sinners stormed onto the indie scene by winning several Best Documentary awards and launched a film making movement within the biker community not seen since the release of the seminal biker films “Easy Rider” and “On Any Sunday“.

PICS: GINA WILSON

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Brittown delves into the rambunctious So Cal subculture that centers around building vintage Norton, BSA, and Triumph motorcycles and racing them on weekends followed by drinking lots of beer and playing music all night long.

Brittown features legendary underground mechanic and Britbike connoisseur Jeff “Meatball” Tulinius from the Hell On Wheels bike shop in Anaheim, CA.

The film chronicles several months in Meatball’s life as he runs his old BSA in vintage motocross races, embraces the legacy of Steve McQueen on his vintage Triumph Cub desert sled with the No Gooders Motorcycle Club, flies down the Willow Springs raceway on his Norstar, and uses all his skill to rebuild an old 650 Triumph Bonneville motor into a blazing road-ready screamer … all while juggling his responsibilities to his family and his rock band Smiling Face Down.

From Scott Di Lalla and Zack Coffman, directors of the award-winning custom motorcycle documentary Choppertown comes their second intimate inside look at biker culture, Brittown: a British motorcycle documentary film. One World Studios is a fully integrated media company specializing in the production and distribution of films, DVDs, music CDs and books; online and through traditional distribution methods. Check out the Brittown website for more information, t-shirts, etc.

continue reading "BRITTOWN: A LOOK AT BRITISH BIKE CULTURE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA"

BMW Motorrad dealerships around the UK are gearing up for BMW’s nationwide customer event on 08 March. BMW’s New Season Launch takes place on Saturday 08 March and one of the highlights of this year’s nationwide event will be the first appearance in Motorrad showrooms of the all-new F 650 GS and F 800 GS [...]

read full story of "BMW MOTORRAD UK’S NEW SEASON LAUNCH FEATURES ALL-NEW F650GS & F800GS"

Billed as an invite-only sneak preview event, the first theatrical screening of just-completed vintage British motorcycle documentary Brittown became a wild event Thursday night when the expected turnout burgeoned to over five-hundred people and excited attendees nearly overwhelmed the staff in order to grab the free gift bags in front of the historic Laemmle 4-plex [...]

read full story of "SNEAK PREVIEW OF NEW BIKER DOCUMENTARY BRITTOWN NEARLY CAUSES RIOT IN SANTA MONICA"

Brittown delves into the rambunctious So Cal subculture that centers around building vintage Norton, BSA, and Triumph motorcycles and racing them on weekends followed by drinking lots of beer and playing music all night long. Brittown features legendary underground mechanic and Britbike connoisseur Jeff “Meatball” Tulinius from the Hell On Wheels bike shop in Anaheim, [...]

read full story of "BRITTOWN: A LOOK AT BRITISH BIKE CULTURE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA"