Have you ever agreed to something and then immediately realised exactly what you’ve signed yourself up for? That was me on a Friday evening when I got a phone call from BMW. The message was simple: a slot had opened up for the hill climb at the legendary Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Naturally, I said yes. But as any motovlogging creator knows, saying “yes” is the easy part. Actually getting to the start line? That’s where the real story begins.
The “Morning Person” Struggle is Real
The journey to Goodwood didn’t start with a luxury hotel. Instead, I found myself waking up in my half-renovated camper van, feeling… well, definitely not like a morning person. After a quick “sick call” to the boss (don’t tell anyone!), I was ready to hit the track. Or so I thought.
The Great Helmet Crisis
If you’ve ever done a track day or a competitive event, you know the importance of the ACU (Auto-Cycle Union) sticker. In the rush of travelling abroad, I’d dropped my main road helmet. No big deal, right? I’ll just bring my backup.
Wrong. It turns out I was signed up as ACU, and my backup helmet didn’t have the required sticker. With only 30 minutes until my slot, we were running around like panicked penguins. We found one helmet, not cleared for bikes. We found another…too big.
Finally, with minutes to spare, we found a lid that fit my noggin and cleared scrutineering. But the drama wasn’t over; I was now officially running late for the start of the hill sprint.
First Ride: The BMW 450 GS
This wasn’t just any ride; it was my first time sitting on the brand-new BMW 450 GS. No pressure, right? Just a legendary hill climb, thousands of spectators, and a bike I’d never ridden.
As I rolled up to the starting line, the nerves were hitting hard. If they had made me wait five seconds longer, I think I would have cried and made a run for it! But then, the light turned green.
Performance on the Hill
I hesitated for a split second, knocked it into first, and then shifted into second. That’s when the “bike brain” kicked in.
- The Power: For a 450, she has some serious pep. The transition through the gears felt intuitive, even under the pressure of the sprint.
- The Handling: Despite a minor mishap where my mirror got knocked by a guideline at the start (leading to a very flappy ride up the hill!), the GS felt stable and responsive.
- The Comfort: BMW knows how to build a comfortable bike. Even in the heat and the adrenaline of a race, the ergonomics felt spot on.
The Verdict: Can I Do It Again?
By the time I reached the top, the adrenaline was surging. My hands were shaking, I was covered in sweat, and all I could think was: “I want to do that again.”
The BMW 450 GS is a lot of fun. It’s accessible enough for a first-time ride under pressure but has enough character to make a hill sprint feel like a total blast. I’m definitely going to be hitting up BMW to loan this bike for a proper long-term review, hopefully with fewer helmet-induced heart attacks next time!
Watch the Full Chaos
If you want to see the “panicked penguin” run, the mirror mishap, and the actual footage of the hill climb, check out the full video here: Goodwood Festival of Speed: BMW 450 GS First Ride.
