Two BMW riders plan a carbon-neutral motorcycle adventure
Swiss citizens Mark Dembitz and Clarisse Von Wunschheim are planning to ride their BMW F 650 GS motorcycles from Beijing to Istanbul to drum up awareness of global climate change. Along the way, the duo will stop at schools and universities to "teach children and students about global warming, motivating them to join us in being aware of their impact on the environment and in making small changes to their lives that will contribute towards a better and cleaner world for everyone."
Of course, traveling nearly 10,000 miles (16,000 kilometers) across eight countries on a pair of motorcycles will generate quite a bit of carbon emissions. Don't worry, the duo has a plan to keep things under control. "We will be keeping an accurate log of daily time and distance traveled as well as fuel usage, and the quantity and quality of petrol," Mark said. "Based on this data, we will be able to approximate the quantity of carbon dioxide we emit along the ride. We will then secure credits to offset our carbon emissions."
Mark and Clarisse plan to start their journey on May 4th. Click here for their official website, which they'll update during their travels.
[Source: Going Global via BMW Motorrad Blog]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
GoodCheer 3:00PM (4/08/2009)
Here's an idea: Leave the motors & gas in Beijing and go by bike. The trip would be a lot more meaningful and challenging, and you'd save money on those carbon offsets.
Reply
Yikes 9:07AM (4/09/2009)
Not only more meaningful, but they will not be suckers for this "carbon offsetting" bullshit.
PowerCell 3:10PM (4/08/2009)
"I'm gonna waste approx 445 gallons of fuel riding a pair of crappy BMW's for 10k miles... but it's cool, I'm sending Big Al a check, so the pollution and waste don't really exist."
Some people... no, make that most people, are just plain stupid...
Reply
Gordio 3:37PM (4/08/2009)
This is really dumb. Two peopel can't even accomplish much anyway. It also gives the bad message that pollution can be bought out.
Reply
jharlan 3:49PM (4/08/2009)
Does this sound a little self serving to you? These folks are big on symbolism and tiny on action. I applaud the decision to go on a magnificent motorcycle road trip, but am skeptical about the environmental slant. I wish I was going along, though.
Reply
contact 4:26PM (4/08/2009)
Some people will come up with any reason to ride their bikes 10k mile. Says a lot for motorbikes though. I know some guys who rallied together and drove cross country on scooters to raise food for shelters in every town they passed through. Just get on it and ride. You don't HAVE to have a reason!
Reply
James 4:59PM (4/08/2009)
This is incredibly stupid. It is sort of like buying indulgences for your sins.
This is just a stupid excuse to go for a tour on their motorcycles. They are hoping some idiot will donate some money to help them buy their beer each night while they party.
Reply
jim 5:03PM (4/08/2009)
"It is sort of like buying indulgences..."
My thoughts exactly and I bet if you go to their trip website there is a 'donate' button.
vfx 5:48PM (4/08/2009)
I would be happy and impressed if they bought a coupla Zeros and made the trip. Otherwise, ride a tandem bicycle and save all that record keeping paper.
Reply
paulwesterberg 6:46PM (4/08/2009)
To make this a green carbon neutral trip these bikes are powered by marketing bullshit.
Reply
steve 7:07PM (4/08/2009)
Offsets are just indulgences - you could use a Hummer. It would be better if they were really using ultralow carbon vehicles to show what is possible.
Reply
PowerCell 7:15PM (4/08/2009)
They're running two bikes, that on a good day, get around 45 mpg cruising. So that averages out to 22.5 mpg. Now with traffic and stops and starts, that 45 will likely drop down to 37, leaving the combined average of 18.5 mpg... sweet! Way to embrace the planet jackasses!
Look, if you wanna ride, just go ride. But don't push this "carbon neutral" bullshit on the rest of us.
Reply
Chris M 7:53PM (4/08/2009)
So, it would use less gas and produce less CO2 if they drove a Prius, instead. Or even less with electric bikes, or a lot less if they bicycled.
A pretentious "Do as I say, not as I do" effort. I agree on the "indulgences" part, sort of the notion that we can always buy our way out of trouble, if we're rich.
But exactly where does these "carbon offset" payments go, what do they do? Do they actually do any real "carbon offsetting" or is it just an elaborate fraud to soothe someones guilty conscience?
jim 10:15AM (4/09/2009)
Since I own the same model I know the mileage. Typical mileage over a year of ownership is 60-62 MPG, best tank 68 MPG, worst tank(s) 55MPG achieve running 70-75mph into a headwind of 20-25 mph.
The BMW F650 gets better mileage than most scooters that have half the displacement. That said this is still a stupid, self indulgent trip. If you want to do a trans Asia trip, do it and drop the sanctimonious green BS.
BlackbirdHighway 7:59PM (4/08/2009)
I'm gonna go eat an ice cream cone and pay somebody else to go on a diet for me.
Reply
Gordio 10:30PM (4/08/2009)
beautiful.
randy 11:59PM (4/08/2009)
so they are paying indulgences to ride, what gives?
Reply
JDred 8:32AM (4/09/2009)
I can't add too much that hasn't already been said other than this trip is the epitome of a self promoting "Useless Gesture".
I wonder if Mark will be writing of the carbon offsets as a business "expense"? ANd Jim you were right, they do have a donate button. I wonder how I can send them a can of BullS*** repellant?
Reply