650 or 1200 for the BMW off-road course?

[DLI]

Hiya

Just wondering if anyone has done the level 1 course on a 650 and then a 1200 (or vice versa)? Reading through the posts it looks like some people have done the level 1 more than once ...

I did the Level 1 a year ago and am looking to go back and do it again (I found it a pretty full-on couple of days the first time and haven't ridden much since then so really don't think that I'm ready to go to Level 2). Last time I was on the Dakar and am having all sorts of debates with myself whether to do it on the 650 agiain or have a go on the 1200

Any thoughts?


David

 

[Mutley]

Why are you doing the course?

Is it to learn to ride your GS off road?

Or to ride off road at all?

Or just for fun?

If it's the first then I'd suggest a 1200. If it's the other two then there is no point in fighting the bigger bike.

Of course some would suggest you need to learn to ride a smaller bike first

 

['Nuffsaid]

I did the Level 1 in April on the GS12, on the principle that I should learn to ride the bike I have rather than another bike, then have to re-learn it all on my own GS12. Like yourself, I am going back to do the level 1 at the end of June (on the 1200). I really enjoyed the bike , it is great knowing that the bike you use to ride around on the black stuff is also really competent off road - surprisingly manoevorable and fun to ride, there wasnt one person on my last course that regretted the choice of the 1200 ...........

 

[bigchris]

GO FER THE 1200!

Honestly, I loved the x range, and the 650gs, but oh my god, i was glad I was on the 12. Its not as big or difficult to ride as you think, and you'll be glad of the extra torque it produces on the slopes...

 

[araspitfire]

I did the level 1 on a 1200 last week... This is following dropping mine into the road (fully loaded for camping... ran it out of petrol while pulling a slow U turn) at Llangollan the Week before, and twice in Norway the year before.... Once similar to above, once at 25km on a gravel road...

Trepidation was not too strong a word for the way I felt on Day 1.

In the end I loved every minute of the course... never picked up the rented 1200 once (after the pick-up exercise)... and felt I was doing some pretty advanced (for me) balancing and slipping around with it...

When I tried the XChallenge and F650 during the "meet and greet" hour, I really liked getting back to the 1200... I was used to it's power delivery, and the extra size was more than offset by my increased confidence on it...

Al...

 

[Magwych]

I too did teh Level One in April on a 1200GS - first time I had taken a bike off road ( intentionally) since thrashing my Malaguti Monto moped throuh my mother's rose garden back in 197? something....

I had been dreading the choice of 1200, questioning the wisdom of choice; but at the end of day one was pleased I had...

I would definitely do it again...The R1200GS is far more capable than I am, there were several occasions when I could not beleive where I was expected me to ride the bike.

On the second day we got to have a go on other bikes, the G650 was great, but the 1200 felt better when I swapped back.

The biggest concern with the 1200 is the weight when picking it up. Fotunately I do not have to do that apart from as an exercise. The cameraderie that forms during the course does mean that you are unlikely to be left struggling by yourself, though.

Whatever you finally opt for I hope you enjoy it as much as both I and JackieG did.

 

[VAL. H.]

Like yourself, I am going back to do the level 1 at the end of June (on the 1200).

I too did the course last year. Did it on the 650 'had a great laugh '
I also had a couple of goes on the 1200gs and the 12ADV I thought they were better than the 650 'and the 650 was good'

I'm going back again at the end of june with the guys from NOG '24th 25th' (Nuffsaid, you on this one too??)

I'll be on a 1200

Val.

 

['Nuffsaid]

I'm going back again at the end of june with the guys from NOG '24th 25th' (Nuffsaid, you on this one too??)

I'll be on a 1200

Val.

Val,

Have checked diary, am there on the 5/6 July - leave some tread on the tyres on the1200 for me! I am praying for good weather as well, when I was there in April it was bone dry, just fantastic - I imagine it is a tad more slippery after a shower .... Can't wait - am planning (all being well) on getting a Level 2 some time .....

 

[DLI]

650 or 1200

Is it to learn to ride your GS off road?

Or to ride off road at all?

Or just for fun?

If it's the first then I'd suggest a 1200. If it's the other two then there is no point in fighting the bigger bike.

Of course some would suggest you need to learn to ride a smaller bike first

Actually I'd agree with the suggestion that I need to learn to ride a (smaller/any) bike first But, then again I'll probably never really "know" how to ride

It's a really good question though becasue when I thought about the answer I realised that I'm thinking of the 1200 because the end goal is that I want to do a long trip (either through south america or africa/middle east - I'm still playing with the logistics of either choice in terms of time and money required etc). I don't think that it'll be off-roading all the way with travel gear on the bike and all but it will involve a bit of less than beautiful roads and then I want to be able to do some green lanes with the bike in the meantime and afterwards ....

The thought behind the 1200 was that it's possibly better suited to that kind of adventure trip than the 650 - although I'd be happy to hear whether people think that that's a load of

Cheers

David

 

[Alan1963]

I did level 1 twice, first on a 650 and then on a 1200. I had some nerves about choosing the 1200, but it was a good decision. I actually found it easier to ride - the torque made the trails much more simple and relaxed.

And as for picking it up - the boxer engine means it doesn't fall as far - so add the help from all the rest of the people on the course and it made no difference at all.

Take the 1200 - you'll love it!

 

[Rhinoboy]

I'm booked to do level 1 in june (16-17th) on a 650, cus that's what i was thinking of buying, now i'm leaning towards a 1100, is it easy to change the booking to a 1200 ?

 

[DLI]

I'm booked to do level 1 in june (16-17th) on a 650, cus that's what i was thinking of buying, now i'm leaning towards a 1100, is it easy to change the booking to a 1200 ?

Depends on what bikes they have "in stock". It's easy enough - ring 'em up and ask if its possible to change. If they have a 1200 that's not already been booked for those days they seem to be able to just say "yep, we'll swap the bike booking" and you're all sweet. Might as well ask ...


Cheers

 

[jonothan]

I had booked the Level One with an F650GS but, as I own an R1200GS and because one became available, I swapped over when I arrived last weekend after I was persuaded that I should do the course on a familiar machine.

Whilst the 1200 is bigger, I found it very manageable. More power, more torque and I never fell off it once!

I am very pleased I went for the bigger bike.

J