Shep
Shep of the Dessert
I liked the way it didn't go over any branches,they just turned to dust under the weight
A demonstration of what you can do with a GSA
- Thread starter Mav
- Start date
snerkler
Registered user
I will take you out on some easy trails if you want Snerkler??
Just 25 mins from you here.
That's a very kind offer. I might take you up on that when my arm's better. Thanks
WindyChuffer
Registered user
Good watch. Would love to do some proper off roading on my GSA but I can't get covered on my income protection and I'm not in a financial position that allows me to take the risk.
Keep the videos coming though
Why would you need income protection insurance to take a GSA off road?
Get some training, where proper boots etc, ride within your ability and you'll be fine. Those chelsea tractors are damned fine machines off road (provided you stay away from the mud!).
snerkler
Registered user
There's always a risk of an off no matter how careful you are, and a broken leg/hand/arm would mean minimum 6 weeks off work for me. My income protection doesn't cover off road riding or track riding, only road riding. I can't afford 6 weeks off with no pay
WindyChuffer
Registered user
I take it you don't ride on the road then... In my experience the effects of "offs" on road are a great deal worse than those off road.
And besides, the riding we do "off road" in the UK isn't actually off road as the Road Traffic Act applies. We merely ride on un-metalled roads.
Out of interest, what do you do that would mean off work for 6 weeks with a broken bone? I drive a desk, so it wouldn't stop me.
snerkler
Registered user
Yes the off's on road do tend to be worse, but my income protection covers me for road riding, so if I get injured riding on road at least I'll still have some income coming in.
As for the road traffic act applying to off-roading is there something that states what 'off-road' is covered by this. I guess this would be a very grey area with the insurers though.
I'm a Chiropractor so my hands are my livelihood, but I also need to be mobile on my feet.
WindyChuffer
Registered user
No its not a grey area at all. Do some googling, post some Q's on this forum. You'll get to the bottom of it v quickly, then you are in a position to understand the t's and c's of your policy correctly. The TRF will also help you on this if you are a member (if not, join); in fact, they will be the most knowledgeable I would have thought. I'd also talk to the insurer to get them to define what they mean by off road and get their response in writing. Where there's a will there's a way.
snerkler
Registered user
Yes - The bike is capable
Yes - The rider is very capable
Yes - The bike is (Kind of) built for it.
However it s a £13k bike which at the end of the day's riding will be knocked about, scratched, dented and scraped. Yes I hear you cry "but that's what the bikes there for, riding" ................ Until you come to sell it and nobody wants to buy it because it's all knocked about and abused looking. I know I wouldn't buy a bike that I thought had had a hard life.
I'm not denying that it's a great video showing someone doing something decent with a very big bike but .......
....... Would you?
Buy a DRZ 400 for £1300, have a great time trail riding it with greater ease and when you're bored sell it on for £1250, after all a few knocks and scrapes are expected on a small trail bike eh
Wait for it ....
Yes - The rider is very capable
Yes - The bike is (Kind of) built for it.
However it s a £13k bike which at the end of the day's riding will be knocked about, scratched, dented and scraped. Yes I hear you cry "but that's what the bikes there for, riding" ................ Until you come to sell it and nobody wants to buy it because it's all knocked about and abused looking. I know I wouldn't buy a bike that I thought had had a hard life.
I'm not denying that it's a great video showing someone doing something decent with a very big bike but .......
....... Would you?
Buy a DRZ 400 for £1300, have a great time trail riding it with greater ease and when you're bored sell it on for £1250, after all a few knocks and scrapes are expected on a small trail bike eh
Wait for it ....
illustratedman
Registered user
Thanks for the advice, I'll look into this. What's the TRF?
trail riders federation. Give it a google
WindyChuffer
Registered user
Absolutelely fekkin yes. Have ridden from London to Spanish Pyrenees 3 times on 1200GSA, spanked it off road and rode home. All doing the HUMM. The first time I was on a 3 month old 09 plate GSA in 2009. This year I was on a 1 month old 11 plate 1200GSA with 1,000 miles on the clock and came off twice. Am doing The Vince this year, again in Spanish Pyrenees; will be on the 1200 again. Have also done quite a bit of green laning in the UK on my 1200 around Salisbury Plain, Dorking & Wales.
Theres something really quite satisfying about taking a new bike off road....
I'm no off road riding god, but I can throw the 1200 around without much fear, but then have had quite a bit of training (BMW Off Road school 4 times) and done a fair bit of off road. Haven't really come off much. And when you do its the head protectors and crash bars that take it, and those are replaceable for not a lot of money. To be honest have done more damage coming off the bike on the road in the past.
I hate riding the GSA in the mud and sand though.
I also have a G650XC for the harder stuff, but to be honest, could do with a smaller bike; but I like it 'cos of the 6K service intervals.
I see bike and cars as tools, and tools are to be used but also looked after maintenance wise. Am not into mint vehicles at all; can't get over those folk that spend hours polishing their bikes, keep them mint and fret about going out in the wet. Each to their own...
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Not quite as good as this guy!!!!<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/CjRxIy0QJ18" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
jasext
Registered user
Yes - The bike is capable
Yes - The rider is very capable
Yes - The bike is (Kind of) built for it.
However it s a £13k bike which at the end of the day's riding will be knocked about, scratched, dented and scraped. Yes I hear you cry "but that's what the bikes there for, riding" ................ Until you come to sell it and nobody wants to buy it because it's all knocked about and abused looking. I know I wouldn't buy a bike that I thought had had a hard life.
I'm not denying that it's a great video showing someone doing something decent with a very big bike but .......
....... Would you?
Buy a DRZ 400 for £1300, have a great time trail riding it with greater ease and when you're bored sell it on for £1250, after all a few knocks and scrapes are expected on a small trail bike eh
Wait for it ....
Precisely!
He's a bit good eh .....
A well ridden GS would have him though!
(Oh yeah, that's the whole point of this thread eh!)
Yes - The bike is capable
Yes - The rider is very capable
Yes - The bike is (Kind of) built for it.
However it s a £13k bike which at the end of the day's riding will be knocked about, scratched, dented and scraped. Yes I hear you cry "but that's what the bikes there for, riding" ................ Until you come to sell it and nobody wants to buy it because it's all knocked about and abused looking. I know I wouldn't buy a bike that I thought had had a hard life.
I'm not denying that it's a great video showing someone doing something decent with a very big bike but .......
....... Would you?
Buy a DRZ 400 for £1300, have a great time trail riding it with greater ease and when you're bored sell it on for £1250, after all a few knocks and scrapes are expected on a small trail bike eh
Wait for it ....
I agree with you have said here. After having my 05 1200 for two years I took it on stuff like that in the video. Part of it was just to see were I could take the bike and what the Bike could do. But after worrying about doing some serious damage to the bike, I bought a 530 KTM for that type and harder riding. It's a lot more fun on 250 lb bike that does not mind being dropped over and over again. I have also ridden with guys on 950/990 ktm's who take their bikes on trails that I would never in hell take a GS on. But for overall riding were I live on the coast of B.C., I love my GS.
The DRZ 400 is great dualsport bike, if not the best. But it does not have the fun factor of a Husky, Husaberg, KTM, etc. A lot guys over here start off on a DRZ or KLR and then they ride with guys who have the high performance european bikes and they end up getting one too. They more often than not keep their DRZ or KLR as well.
I concur. It certainly puts you in the mood, but I think anyone could do it. Nice dry track. No Trial Type penalty points for a Dab here and there. Better if it's someone else's bike though
Having spent 2 days at the BumWee offroad school on a G650X - a bit too tall for me - it is really impressive what can be done on a bike. A wee shot on a GS12 during the session left me with the feeling that the GS12 was too big and heavy offroad for a wimp like me, but it could easily bulldoze it's way down any track. As long as you can get your feet down and avoid falling off too much it's just a nice run in the park
Nice clip all the same
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