BMW Motorrad Partners with Backcountry Discovery Routes on new Oregon BDR

BMW Motorrad USA has announced its second partnership with adventure motorcycling non-profit Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) on its newest route: Oregon (ORBDR). This is the second BDR route on which BMW Motorrad has collaborated, the first being the Wyoming BDR, released in 2022.

The ORBDR represents the organization’s 12th route for adventure and dual-sport motorcycle travel, with free GPS tracks, travel resources and Butler Motorcycle Map scheduled to accompany the film’s debut.

“BMW Motorrad is proud to partner with Backcountry Discovery Routes once again, and for a second time in two years, in the creation of the new Oregon BDR. In 2023, BMW Motorrad celebrates its 100th-year anniversary and also marks 43 years of BMW GS motorcycles. This is the perfect time to share our passion for the adventure and dual-sport riding communities and show our continued support for the BDR organization and what they stand for,” said Luciana Francisco, head of brand and marketing, BMW Motorrad USA. “We look forward to both new and experienced off-road enthusiasts being inspired by the scenic routes of the ORBDR.”

To launch the new Oregon route, Backcountry Discovery Routes and BMW Motorrad will kick-off with a film premier event in Portland, Oregon, and selected BMW Motorrad dealer events on Saturday, Feb. 4. Additionally, over 70 film screenings are planned through spring 2023, hosted by dealers and clubs around the country.

Oregon BDR Feb. 4 film premier locations can be found by visiting https://ridebdr.com/events/.

The ORBDR expedition film features members of the BDR team and special guests from BMW Motorrad USA, Mosko Moto and Edelweiss Bike Travel as they take a first run on the all-new ORBDR. Starting in the high desert landscapes of Southeastern Oregon and exploring north into the Cascade Range, the crew tests its endurance, riding cross-state through 750 miles of lava rock, silt, sand and steep mountain roads. Highlighting the state’s many natural wonders, including hot springs, pyroducts, caverns, buttes and glaciated volcanoes, the route and film showcases why traveling by motorcycle is one of the best ways to discover the backcountry of Oregon.

“I grew up in the Pacific Northwest and have always been fascinated by volcanoes. The ORBDR is a route filled with natural wonders of the volcanic kind. We designed the ORBDR to show off different regions of the state and keep the route ever-changing. Oregon has vast high desert in the southeast, sparse pine forests in the central part of the state and densely forested mountains in the Cascade Range. It almost feels like three BDRs packed into one,” said Bryce Stevens, Oregon route architect and BDR co-founder.

Joining the expedition team in Oregon was Ricardo Rodriguez, lead motorcycle instructor at BMW’s U.S. Rider Academy in Greer, South Carolina. Rodriguez is a graduate of BMW’s rigorous International Instructor’s Academy and has been teaching on-road street survival, adventure off-road and authority riding skills since 2010.

“The BDR Team has set out on a fantastic mission, helping keep public lands accessible to the adventure community. I am very proud and excited about the relationship between BDR, BMW Motorrad and the BMW U.S. Rider Academy. Having the opportunity to be a part of the Oregon BDR has helped build my experience as a rider and a coach. Overcoming the challenges along the ORBDR reinforced to me the value of the skills we teach daily at the U.S. Rider Academy,” said Rodriguez. “Backcountry Discovery Routes offers properly trained riders an opportunity to put their skills to the test. The Oregon BDR is a challenge and reward riding adventure.”

The Sturgis Motorcycle Museum and Hall of Fame recently named Marilyn Stemp and Steve Piehl to its board of directors.

Stemp is a pioneering figure in the motorcycle industry, founding IronWorks Magazine with her late husband, Dennis, and becoming the first female editor of a nationally circulated, mainstream motorcycle magazine. She also revived their trade magazine, Iron Trader News; edits the monthly Kiwi Indian News; contributes to several powersports media outlets; and is the founding editor of Sturgis Rider Daily. Stemp is a noted editor and writer of several motorcycle-focused books. Her consistent support for charitable efforts in the industry include the annual Biker Belles Celebration, Las Vegas BikeFest and as campaign chair for the Sturgis Motorcycle Museum’s development plan in 2014. She co-founded the Flying Piston charity events taking place in Daytona and Sturgis each year and is a National Ambassador for All Kids Bike. Stemp was inducted into both the Las Vegas Motorcycle Hall of Fame and the Sturgis Museum's Hall of Fame in 2018, and in 2022 she was recognized as one of the Top 100 Women in Powersports by DealerNews.