Advice re trail riding with a GSA

[GrinningGSer]

Pics, do not show slopes, and this one was not a steep one, but I still lost it. When picked up, there was a large pudle of oil on the ground and a bashed in head protector, with a hairline cracked rocker cover underneath.

Total cost of repair £30 rocker cover(courtesy of John Armstrong of this parish)
plus approx £68 for a new head protector. Not a single scratch anywhere, even on the bars, so I do wonder what the bars actually do.

 

[Horse1200]

Id just like to add my thoughts. I love the gsa for offroading, ok you will fall off at some point, but as ive found that your body knows your about to fall off and the adrenalin is set pumping round your body, helps to pick up the beasty when she is taking a nap. (Works for me grab it quick and get it back up right.)

My beasty regulary goes off road.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Again, thanks for the contributions; really appreciated.
Excellent photo, Horse! That would take me just aaaaaaages to get clean .
You guys might like to hear that I took the GSA for a mild off-road foray just yesterday ... FOR THE VERY FIRST TIME!
Shit myself climbing a loose rocky incline ... but .... me and the bike stayed together ... and upright! Maybe more by luck than judgement, since I inadvertently opened the throttle just a little too much during the ascent .
On more level bits, bouncing in and out of holes demonstrated how superb the suspension is. Managed to stay standing on the pegs most of the time.
Left hand ached from two finger clutch operation. Felt tense by the end of a steep (for me) descent and the aforesaid rocky ascent.
A steady run along a gravel forest road was fun. Some of the gravel was freshly laid and therefore quite loose.
As said before, running new Anakees at the moment.
Had taken off the panniers and fitted Rigged Roads aux lamp guards.
Set my ESA to single rider, cos that's the lowest. The off road settings were too high for my lack of confidence.
Weather was dry and warm up here in the north of the Peak District yesterday.
For anyone local, I rode along Ovenhill Road between Chinley and Birch Vale and then the track throgh the forest on Hoo Moor to the west of Fernilee reservoir in the Goyt Valley. Done both these before on my, previously owned, 650 Dakar.
A combination of skills learnt at last year's off-road course and a recent read of Robert Wicks' & Greg Baker's excellent, "Adventure Riding Techniques" (Haynes, 2009) helped, I'm sure.
Having my seat lowered by Tony Archer within the next couple of weeks; it's just a bit too high for easy, feet down manoeuvres. Hoping the ability to get more foot on the ground will improve my confidence.
Still hovering about whether to go on a Moroccan trip in the Autumn.
Any more comments?
Cheers
Geoff

 

[Stevie73]

Left hand ached from two finger clutch operation.
Geoff

Might be because your bars are in the standard position . I found that the brake ever and the clutch were too high up on the bars when stood on the pegs for comfortable use, so I've tipped the bars forward a few CM to get the levers in a more comfortable position for off road, and on road too. When I'm stood up now, the levers are easily operated without having to change my position. It feels a lot more natural....

 

[Fanum]

Shit myself climbing a loose rocky incline ... but .... me and the bike stayed together ... and upright! Maybe more by luck than judgement, since I inadvertently opened the throttle just a little too much during the ascent .

That's probably WHY you managed to stay on Geoff.....on some routes, and particularly ones that are loose and rocky, 'attacking' it is the best (if not only) way to get up

We tend to find that attitude is a good 50% (if not more) of the 'ability' of a rider offroad- we've had people who have done some pretty technical sections, then for whatever reasons, (looking over the edge for example) they've lost a little confidence and all of a sudden, their riding has turned to pants, even on much simpler sections.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Steve - thanks, the "bits wot hold the bars on" on my 08 GSA can be turned through 180 degrees, meaning the bars are mounted slightly further forward. P'raps I'll try this.
Bill - thanks for your comment. Even though if felt a bit hairy, your comment does make sense and (I'm sure you don't need me to say this given your experience & knowledge but ...) it fits exactly with the BMW Off-road tuiton, AND the wise words in, "Adventure Riding Techniques".
Much respect for your knowledge mate.
Cheers
Geoff

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Just as an aside, Bill (Fanum). Did I see you riding away from the Woodbine Cafe, in Hope, today (Sat 13th) astride a Jap dirt bike around 3.30ish? I was passing by with SWMBO in our Subaru Forester. Leastwise, the guy getting onto said bike looked like your illustrious image on your website.
Geoff

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Just thought I'd bump this thread up again, firstly to see if anyone else wanted to comment. Feel free.
And, secondly, to say that, as a result of the very helpful and positive replies to my initial post, I've today booked on the World of BMW's Moroccan Desert Adventure in Sept/October this year. Whoopee !
Still some nerves, but, what the hell ... life's for living eh?
Cheers all
Geoff
PS Have also stuck a note of my booking in the Moroccan travel section for anyone else from this parish who's off on this tour to be in touch.

 

[Geoff Crowther]

Just a note re my previous past. Did consider Moto Morocco's excellent, competitively priced, tour but the BMW one suited me better on dates.
If you're in the market, give 'em a call cos I think they have room on their Nov trip.
Cheers
Geoff