It's not about where you come from. It's about where you go.
There's always something magical about leaving the past behind, to change your life, or simply see something new. Those who take long motorcycle trips gain new perspectives, see new things and learn about themselves and the world around them. Biker, author, and globetrotter Andreas (Andy) Salazar is no exception. He often sets out on his motorcycle to discover new paths and to give his life that crucial drive. Over the years he has learned that it is important to keep reinventing yourself. To find out what he means by saying all of this, we joined him on his tour of the western USA with the new K 1600 B. What we learned: "It’s not about where you came from, but where you’re going next."
Andreas Salazar
The journey is the reward.
The journey is the reward.
Andreas Salazar's life is like a motorcycle tour: full of twists and turns. In search of the American dream, his parents emigrated from Columbia to the US, where Andy Salazar grew up in Los Angeles. He encountered his own American dream while working at a brewery. His colleagues there awakened his passion for motorcycles.
He went for countless road trips on his bike, constantly in search of new discoveries and things to see. His longest and most impressive trip took him all the way across the northern USA to the east coast, down south and back to Los Angeles. His brief but striking words about the trip: "Every day was an adventure. I felt like in heaven."
Now he was back on the road again, this time on the K 1600 B from San Francisco to Pyramid Lake, Nevada. Not only did he have new experiences, he also got to fully test the touring capabilities of the new bagger with its 6-cylinder inline engine.
One bagger. One biker. One tour.
For Andy Salazar the streamlined contours of the BMW K 1600 B with its impressive 160 horsepower and a backdrop of amazing scenery are the perfect conditions for cruising across the western USA on a journey of discovery. "The first thing I noticed about the bagger was the quality. The handling, the speed, the comfort – everything about the K 1600 B felt high-quality and technologically superior."
The bike
The K 1600 B: when are you going on tour?
The K 1600 B: when are you going on tour?
Do you regularly set off on your bike to discover the world? Then the K 1600 B is the perfect motorcycle for you. With 6 cylinders, extraordinary performance and impressive power, it leaves no doubts – your journey begins now. You and your bike become one with the road thanks to its characteristic bagger contours. The chopped windscreen, striking rear and comfortable footrests give your bagger an unmistakeable appearance. The package is topped off with a range of innovative technology. With so many comfort features, the BMW bagger leaves no doubt: This motorcycle takes cruising to another level.
THE TOUR
Retrace his journey now with the Rever app.
The Rever app lets you cruise Andy Salazar's route. Get the tour on your smart phone and discover the western USA on a motorcycle.
From San Francisco to Lake Tahoe.
From San Francisco to Lake Tahoe.
Despite its reputation as "fog city", the sun is shining in San Francisco on the first day of the trip. Perfect conditions for Andy Salazar to kick off his tour on the bagger. The feeling of freedom familiar to anyone who's ever ridden a motorcycle sets in as soon as he rides out over San Francisco Bay. From here he heads east along the Sacramento River to the small town of Rio Vista. Time for his first rest stop. The popular burger joint in the town centre has an authentic diner feel and serves great burgers.
After the meal it's back to the amazing scenery. Andy Salazar loves the Ice House Road with all its ups and downs and winding country roads through unspoilt nature. All of this is no problem for the bagger: "The K 1600 B handles the curves perfectly, it's really easy to control. To be honest, the most impressive thing was the way it handled." Standing at a look-out point, Andy takes a moment to enjoy the rugged, unspoilt landscape around him. Then it's time to get going again. After all, you can't have an adventure while standing still. And the next highlights are soon to come...
From Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake.
From Lake Tahoe to Pyramid Lake.
Andy Salazar's next stop is Lake Tahoe, west of the Carson Range, elevation 3317 m, in the eastern Sierra Nevada. The region offers fantastic views of untouched nature, and Andy wants to fly high. A winding mountain road takes him to Tahoe Summit, where he stops to enjoy the view once more.
After this high-altitude adventure, it's time to cool off. The Truckee River, with its cold, crystal-clear waters, is just what he's looking for. After a quick dip, Andy Salazar is ready for Highway 50, which takes him from Reno to Pyramid Lake in Nevada. The long ride is rewarded with a sensational sunset, the kind you see in Hollywood films. Andy Salazar's words about his trip are equally moving: "It's that feeling of having the world in front of me and all around me. Searching for the next adventure on the BMW bagger is simply an amazing feeling. It's freedom, that's the perfect word for it."
