by Mick McDonald

It’s been over a decade in the making however Compass Expeditions has just received the keys to its 100^thBMW motorcycle, the vast majority purchased from BMW Southbank. 

Established in 2007, after a successful charity ride across Russia, the owners, Mick McDonald, Jerry “Truman” Cook, Ryan Heath & Brendan Barbetti have morphed what was supposed to be a small venture to raise much needed funds for Friederichs Ataxia Network, into a multinational motorcycling touring and rental business. 

Compass Expeditions are renown for running tours to some of the most remote corners of the earth & one of only a select few operators in the world who run epic 80 plus day expeditions across continents and certainly the only bike operator on earth who runs rentals, epic expeditions and standard motorcycle tours. 

“We are very proud of what we have achieved” says Mick McDonald, founder of Compass Expeditions, “all the more so considering we are an 100% owned Australian company taking on the world” continues Mick. 

In the initial years of running tours in South America Compass Expeditions bought all their bikes, BMW 650 GS’s, from Southbank and shipped them to the South American continent, kept them for two years before replacing with another fleet purchased from Southbank.

On joining forces with Australia’s preeminent motorbike rental agency, Bike Round Oz, meant Compass Expeditions expanded its fleet to include 800, 1200 & RT and DR 650s.

Compass Expeditions is extremely happy with the performance, reliability and longevity of the BMWs and coupled with the ongoing support from BMW Southbank perhaps another 100 BMWs may be a not too distant reality.