Adventure knows no limits
At the age of 16, Oskar Schneider was involved in a serious accident and lost his left arm. However, the entrepreneur and Munich resident, who is now 53, quickly found his way back onto a motorcycle. Thanks to the automated shift assistant, he can now fulfil a long-held dream of riding a BMW GS – enjoying the feeling of limitless freedom on two wheels to its fullest. “For me today, riding a motorcycle represents freedom, peace of mind and a feeling of fulfilment that I can’t do without,” says the man born in South Africa, whose life has been influenced by his passion for sport, cooking, and exploration, as well as by motorcycles.
Riding motorcycles is your biggest passion. That’s what makes it even more tragic that you lost your left arm in an accident at the age of 16. How has this traumatic experience affected your relationship with motorcycles?
The accident was a huge setback – I was just at the start of my motorcycle career. However, instead of taking my joy in riding motorcycles away, it simply strengthened my will. Just three weeks after the accident, I had converted my moped and set off riding around out property again. In a way, motorcycles never stopped being important to me – it was just difficult for a long time from a technical perspective. The accident didn’t destroy my relationship with motorcycles, in fact it has intensified over the years.
The automated shift assistant was a real game-changer for me.
”What happened after the accident – what motivated you to get back on the motorcycle?
What happened after the accident – what motivated you to get back on the motorcycle?
The technology hadn’t come very far back then – so it was just a pipe dream to begin with. Over 20 years later, in 2010, I learned that it’s legal to ride a motorcycle with a prosthetic limb in Germany. That’s when everything changed. Within three months, I had a prosthesis, an automatic motorcycle, and my driving licence. I never lost that dream, but I had to wait for the technology to pave the way.
How did you feel when you rode a motorcycle for the first time after the accident?
How did you feel when you rode a motorcycle for the first time after the accident?
It was like coming home. For the first few kilometres, I felt like I was flying – after 20 years without my motorcycle, I knew right away: this can be a part of my life again. I started small, I slowly got accustomed to riding in traffic – but the second I was back on the motorcycle, I knew: this won’t turn out to be just a hobby; this will be a big part of my life again.
How has BMW Motorrad’s automated shift assistant (ASA) changed your life?
In November, I was able to ride the new 1300 GS with ASA – and it was a game-changer. I had wanted to ride a GS for a long time. For me, the GS represents the pinnacle of motorcycling. ASA is what made it possible for me. Not only because it makes manual gearshifting accessible to me, but also because it enhances the overall riding experience – safer, more fluid, more relaxed. I’m really looking forward to testing it out off-road.
What do you like most about the ASA?
That’s easy: the combination of control and comfort. It’s more than just an automatic – I can change gears manually, but without having to engage the clutch. That gives me some autonomy back. Additionally, it also massively reduces the physical and mental strain – I’m able to focus on the road ahead more.
Have there been any situations that you wouldn’t have been able to manage without the GS and ASA?
Definitely – our tour through South Africa with some old friends is a good example. They were all riding BMW GS bikes, and I was on an automatic scooter. Trying to climb Africa’s gravel slopes while sitting on a scooter was… shall we say: demanding. I had a completely different experience with the 1300 GS and ASA.
What does riding motorcycles mean to you today – does it mean more to you than it did before the accident?
Today, it’s more than just a mode of transport or a hobby for me – it’s good for my mental health. My job in the media industry requires a lot of creative energy – and when I sit on a motorcycle, it’s like turning a switch. All of my thoughts just fall away. It’s almost meditative. It also symbolises overcoming hurdles – both mental and physical.
What roles do courage, technology, and community play in your story?
What roles do courage, technology, and community play in your story?
Without courage, I would never have touched a motorcycle again. Without technology, it would never have been possible. And the community – I’m still getting started there. My partner is my biggest anchor. She even got her licence so that she could ride with me. Of course, my friends in South Africa played an important role too – they have been a source of inspiration for me from the outset.
What reactions do you get from other bikers or other people when they hear your story?
What reactions do you get from other bikers or other people when they hear your story?
Many people are surprised, sometimes they’re speechless, but usually they find it inspiring. I’ve noticed that my story gives others courage. The motorcycle community is warm, helpful, and welcoming – even if I’m not as deeply involved in it as I’d like to be.
What would you say to other people who have had to give up something they’re passionate about due to misfortune?
What would you say to other people who have had to give up something they’re passionate about due to misfortune?
Never give up too soon. Sometimes it takes time, sometimes you have to wait for the technology to catch up, too – but your own strength of will is the key. I’d never have thought that I could ride a motorcycle again. Anything is possible – maybe not right away, but at some point. Often sooner than you might think.
