1150gs off-road /green laning

[Brows]

Hi folks just interested in your thoughts,I use to several years ago go off-road /green laning on the Ktm 400 now having the gs really fancy the challenge it's just the weight thing that's in the back of my mind .ive been told tkc 80 tyres are the tyres of choice is there any gs owners local to me in Gloucestershire that take there gs off road .
Darren

 

[timeandtide]

Speaking personally I think you'd enjoy it much more on a KTM/lightweight trailie.
Don't know how old/big/strong/fit you are but they are heavy bastards to pick up!
Just my twopenne'th

 

[KMD]

Speaking personally I think you'd enjoy it much more on a KTM/lightweight trailie.
Don't know how old/big/strong/fit you are but they are heavy bastards to pick up!
Just my twopenne'th

I'd have to agree. Any ride I've been on which has had the BM's has always ended up with the guys on the yammy WR250F's, Honda CRF 250/450's, KTM380's etc waiting around while the lads on the big BM's struggled to pick them up from something the smaller bikes had just ploughed through. Forget Ewan and Charlie, they're best on the road.

 

[Smug]

Give it a go. The TKC80 tyres are what you want. I think that the challenge off riding a R1150GS off road is great.

Try and get someone else with a big bike to go with you. No good trying to mix it with riders on small off road bikes. They won't understand the challenge of riding your bike off road. Strictly speaking it is not off road but an untarmaced road.

 

[Flipfly]

Bollocks, get out there and have some fun. I've owned several trail bikes and they have their place, but green laning should be pony trekking on a motorcycle not an enduro event. I've done most of Derbyshire on an 1150 and yes they are heavy but they are also very stable and the adventure is in the challenge. Enduro bikes are too easy on most lanes, leading people to ride too fast and upset the walkers and wildlife and then the lanes get closed. There is very little challenge out there on a pogo, they were designed to plough through anything. The GS is great fun off road and very very capable in the right hands.

Good advice on having a wing man though just in case it does end up on it's side.

 

[Nin]

I'd have to agree. Any ride I've been on which has had the BM's has always ended up with the guys on the yammy WR250F's, Honda CRF 250/450's, KTM380's etc waiting around while the lads on the big BM's struggled to pick them up from something the smaller bikes had just ploughed through. Forget Ewan and Charlie, they're best on the road.

Pah! On the right lanes those weaklings can't keep up. Pick your road and you'll feel like a motorcycling God. Pick a narrow steep wet rutted stepped track and all you'll do is sweat and swear.

On the right tracks the GS is an incredibly capable machine, as others have said all you need are some TKC80s and a willingness to get it dirty, scratched, etc

PS that's based on about 10 yrs of riding them off road, so by no means a comprehensive experience.

If I were starting from scratch with big bike laning though I'd get a KTM 990 or 640.

Whatever you do, enjoy it