BMW ORS Level 1

[Warlord]

BMW Off Road School.

Don't know what to expect but just enrolled for end of September Level 1.

Hire Bike chosen : 2017 BMW R1200 GS.

Booked hotel for 2 nights so I'm onsite fresh for Day 1.

Anyone else doing this?

 

[gramshep]

Hmmm very expensive mistake..... because you'll want to do stage two, then the Brecon off road weekend and then you'll imagine yourself to be an off road god and take your own personal GS and stick it in places you wish you hadn't.
Brilliant fun, good luck I loved it. Full gamut of emotions from weeping with frustration to nearly wetting myself with laughter...
f you want a dry (cheaper) run sign up for the Touratech weekend on 5th -7th May this year. They let you play on the same tracks and rumour has it Ducati will be there with their off road school/bikes. Have fun.

 

[Warlord]

Haha.

Great. Sound advice, thanks

I just hope it helps me improve my GSA handling confidence.

 

[gramshep]

Certainly will do that, it will also open your eyes to what these things can do. Huge variety of skills learning intermingled with blasts around the forest with various options to take. Humbling when you think you are pressing on and Simon Pavey comes by on a GSA on the back wheel, going twice as quick.
Instructors are great and do not take themselves seriously but push you and let you find your own limits both in skill and bravery wise whilst at the same time making it look easy. I loved it and would/will go back again.
Try the Touratech day as you can take your own GSA out on the tracks. Its all Walters Arena they use in Ystradgynlais. Go with an easy group, although I recommend a headlamp guard as the guy in front always loves spinning the wheels!!! Well they do if its your son on his Tiger...lol

 

[Warlord]

Thanks.. looking forward to it now.

 

[richardbd]

Did this two or three years ago - great fun and tremendous learning experience.

One thing I remember - I was really (I mean REALLY) knackered at the end of two days and was seriously glad I had the car to drive home in, rather than having to ride. If I went again, I might even stay the extra night...

 

[gramshep]

Good point, it is a good workout. I was a really fit 60 yrs at the time but you do spend all your riding time standing up except the road transit. There is very little standing around and it is all day for two days. We had to walk one guy up at lunch on day 1. If you have penchant for flinging your steed on the ground, you are expected to pick it up on your own while helpful advice is dispensed by the rest, except if you get a GS completely upside down in a ditch, we felt obliged to assist then!!. We rode there and back (stayed at Simon Pavey's guest house) but riding back to Gloucester was quite a subdued experience, even my mega fit son was knackered. Can I have a go on the GS Dad? Off he disappears, Cruise control,1200cc long legs and I am sat on his Tiger thinking I've gone soft...

 

[Warlord]

I'm taking the car.

Booked hotel for night before so I'm fresh and onsite for day 1.

Hotel is same as Evening Dinner location for end of Day 1.

End of Day two drive home. But I can stay with family an hour away if knackered, so should be planned ok.

 

[Warlord]

......and then you'll imagine yourself to be an off road god and take your own personal GS and stick it in places you wish you hadn't.

Like this poor guy..

https://youtu.be/3mHcnpI1SUc

 

[Caesi]

Great fun. Enjoy.
I stayed an extra night as would have been too tired to ride back.

 

[Neavey]

You'll have a blast, and get to ride the new Rallye.

+1 for the Touratech event if you can make it, they use the same site so it will let you know what you are in for.

 

[stick]

Like this poor guy..

https://youtu.be/3mHcnpI1SUc

Would love to know what tyres he had on , as with proper off road tyres the bike would have cruised up that little mud road ...

 

[Santa-2512]

Would love to know what tyres he had on , as with proper off road tyres the bike would have cruised up that little mud road ...

Tourances,

i think it says in the comments

 

[chasbmw]

I was glad that I said that I had some off-road experience (farm bikes 50 years ago+ various dirt tracks in Aussi etc40 years ago)! Because in the novice groups there were a couple of people who could barely ride bikes who took up all the instructors time so that they spent a lot of time hanging around.
+1 on fitness


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[daviedevs]

BMW Off Road School.

Don't know what to expect but just enrolled for end of September Level 1.

Hire Bike chosen : 2017 BMW R1200 GS.

Booked hotel for 2 nights so I'm onsite fresh for Day 1.

Anyone else doing this?

Im doing the same course on 6/7th August.

 

[Oldrat]

You'll love it Steve, but as has been said, it'll grab you and before long you'll be doing L2.

I promise that you'll be gobsmacked at just how capable the big old lump of a GS really is off road.

If you are using their gear then its hassle free, especially day two when your own is stuff is still soaking wet.

If you are confident on a GS and have done any off road before you might get away with not doing the L1, I did. But it was a steep learning curve.

 

[Warlord]

You'll love it Steve, but as has been said, it'll grab you and before long you'll be doing L2.

I promise that you'll be gobsmacked at just how capable the big old lump of a GS really is off road.

If you are using their gear then its hassle free, especially day two when your own is stuff is still soaking wet.

If you are confident on a GS and have done any off road before you might get away with not doing the L1, I did. But it was a steep learning curve.

I've done Mountain Biking in South Downs for years, on 20-30 mile rideouts. But that was 15 years ago when I was fit.

I've not been offroad with a motorcycle before and with the weight of a GS.

So I'm happy to start on the bottom rung and move up slowly I think.

See where that takes me...

Happy to give it a go...

 

[stolzy]

I chose an F650 and was very glad I did.

Anyone else on the course when Novice broke his leg in the first 30 mins?

 

[gramshep]

I chose an F650 and was very glad I did.

Stick to your choice, the only times I was wishing i was not on one was when we did that "Oh dear I've stalled on a really steep hill and need to turn around and go back down exercise!" and when I fell off in a wet ditch and was trying to pick it up "Before any body saw me."
What will become quickly apparent is the gulf between the bikes potential competence and your present competence. What is even more satisfying though is pretending that at the end of the two days that gulf might have narrowed a bit. Have fun.

 

[oldnfat]

As with others....this is a great weekend...depending on how fit you are I would strongly advise getting some leg exercises in. Sitting against the wall, lunges (over!) etc are well advised for a few weeks before hand as are some stomach crunches. Not essential but it will help with the enjoyment and retaining the ability to walk at the end of day 2.

Enjoy.