Apex Track Day with BMW 1300 GS

Last month, Apex Racing Academy, which also organises motorcycle track days nationwide, rang me up with an irresistible invitation — to participate in one of their track days at the Buddh International Circuit. A full day at the track is nothing less than a pilgrimage for me. So, naturally, I couldn’t say no!

However, there was a big problem - I didn’t have the ‘right’ bike for the job. I contacted a couple of manufacturers, asking them to loan me a track-appropriate motorcycle, but had no luck…until I rang BMW.

‘So, do you have the S 1000 RR in your press fleet?’

‘No, sorry, we don’t have it at the moment. We only have the R 1300 GS and F 900 GS. Want either of those?’

A GS…for a track day? At first, I chuckled at the thought. But then I figured, what the hell…there was no harm in trying. If I were to embarrass myself on the track, I might as well do it with the biggest tool in the shed.

Track Attack

Apex Racing’s track days are a fairly straightforward affair. You can take a complete package with training sessions or opt for open track sessions. For a two-day session, the former costs ₹71,000 while the latter will set you back by ₹49,000. Sounds steep, but with 240 minutes of track time over 12 sessions and a chance to ride on a MotoGP/FIM-certified track like BIC, it’s excellent value.

I participated in six sessions spread across a day. There were four batches, and riders were segregated based on their skill set and motorcycles. Group 1 was for pros riding Panigales and S 1000 RRs of the world, whereas Groups 2–4 catered to intermediate and novice riders, or those with smaller-capacity bikes. Since I was on a GS, I was placed in Group 3—but I still had a couple of Panigales and Ninjas for company.

I focused on reacquainting myself with the BIC layout on my first outing. A few laps in, and I started to get into my groove. As the day went by, I started going faster and faster, feeling more confident and in tune with the track and the bike. And that’s the beauty of track days – it’s all about the track time and practice you get to do without any distractions. This was the biggest takeaway from the track day with Apex Racing. I had ample time and space to work on myself and get up to speed in my sweet time, rather than being rushed into it. What also helped was that the groups weren’t crowded with riders. There were just 8 – 10 riders on the track at any given time, which meant lower chances of bumping into others.

Now, the R 1300 GS might pack a 1,300cc boxer engine making 144bhp and 149Nm of torque, but let’s not kid ourselves—it’s not a superbike. And on a circuit as vast as the BIC, I expected to be obliterated by track-focused machines. But holy hell, that wasn’t the case!

Sure, a couple of Panigales flew past on the straights. But I could keep up in the corners—and that’s what stunned me. Despite weighing as much as a medium-sized whale (240kg), the GS’s ability to attack corners is awe-inspiring. The way it tipped into turns and held its line left me speechless. Its balance and mid-corner stability were simply sublime. It was so planted and surefooted on the long flowing corners of the BIC that my jaw was virtually on the floor!

Then there were the brakes and electronics. The front brake offered superb bite, progression, and feedback, while the electronics stayed out of the way, never cutting in abruptly. No fishtailing, no brake fade. I was braking ridiculously late and still hitting apexes — at one point, even out-braking a Ninja 6R down the main straight! I couldn’t stop laughing inside my helmet. And remember, I was on stock Michelin Anakee dual-purpose tyres. Still, the grip levels blew my mind. The lean angles I achieved had even seasoned track riders following me doing double-takes.

Of course, it wasn’t all perfect. The top speed seemed to be capped at 225km/h. That’s more than enough for an ADV, but I felt like a sitting duck on BIC’s kilometre-long straight, where superbikes easily breach 300km/h. The quickshifter also wasn’t the slickest, with gearshifts not feeling as seamless or smooth as I would have wanted. And quick changes in direction aren’t the GS’s forte either, thanks to its tall stance, 19-inch front wheel, and sheer bulk. Still, it wasn’t all that bad; it has slow steering, but that doesn’t mean it’s unwilling to play along.

All in a (Track) Day’s Work…

When I rolled into the pit lane on the GS at the beginning of the day, I thought I looked silly, for this motorcycle is meant for crossing continents or exploring the Himalayas, not for sniffing apexes or setting lap records. But motorcycling isn’t about what’s logical. It’s about squeezing out joy from wherever you are and whatever you’re riding.

Lastly, I may not have set the track on fire with scorching lap times or scraped my elbows, but if you talk about ‘aura’ points, I don’t think any other motorcycle came close to being as cool as the Triple Black R 1300 GS at the track that day. In the end, it’s all about having fun. And boy did I have it by the bucketloads! If given another chance, I would take it on a track day without a care in the world.

Special props to Apex Racing Academy for letting me play the fool. While we are at it…, Apex—can I please do this all over again when you’re back at BIC later this year?

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I had ample time & space to work on myself and get up to speed in my sweet time rather than being rushed into it