BMW off road course booked but.....

[Nutty]

I'm booked in for my first taster of off roading in 3 weeks, but I've pulled some muscles in my lower back . As per my other thread, I'm meant to be riding around the UK on 30th July (for charity), but am concerned that if I do the off road course at the beginning of July, that I will cause more damage to my back (picking the bike up 50 times ), or worse. I was originally booked to do the course on a 1200, as that is what I ride on the road, but they can change me to a 650 or 800 as they are lighter, then move up to a 1200 on the Sunday.

As I've never done any off road riding, what advice would my fellow tossers give? Should i stick to the off road course in July, or wait and do it once I get back?

 

[Taff]

I was recovering from a back problem when I did mine.

Can you change to another date?

 

[Nutty]

I was recovering from a back problem when I did mine.

Can you change to another date?

I can, but was really looking forward to it. The next date they can do a Saturday & Sunday is in October.

How was your back during/ after the course?

 

[rocky burns]

It will either cure or kill you Get out there and play, you'll forget all about it!!!!!

 

[Taff]

How was your back during/ after the course?

I was recovering at the time I was booked onto the course. I didn't tell my doctor I was going otherwise she'd have had a fit.

I was on a 650 Dakar (that's what I was riding at the time) and my back stood up pretty well. It started giving me grief towards the end of the day, so during the break I pissed off round the back of the cabin - only to find about 3 or 4 others sprawled on their backs already. There were a couple on my course that struggled through various health issues or just old age (I'm sure some were in their 60s) but others in the group helped them out. Nobody got left behind.

Even though towards the end of Day 2 I took a 1150 round a circuit, TBH I wouldn't have done the whole course on a 1150. I really wouldn't like to pick one of those up on those inclines.

If I was doing it again, I'd ask for an 800. I'm not sure if you can change bike mid course; we had the same bike for both days.

 

[dancerdave]

I did the level 1 course last weekend and I've got a bad back. The back wasn't a problem but I cracked a rib
I rode a F650GS and it was brilliant for a newbie offroad but believe it or not the 1200 was easier to lift out of the dirt
We were able to try all the bikes on the second day and in my opinion the G650GS was horrible and the 800 too tall. The F was great to start on but the 1200 was also very good and what I will pick for level 2.