Gs Safari

[wozzer]

Just watching this on YouTube https://youtu.be/CTxqwMsbWqY
Looks great fun. Is there a UK equivalent?
How difficult is it to off road a 1200GS, some of the speeds these guys are getting on some of the shingle roads would terrify me. Just looks like the front end would wash away, is it the bike that's good or the riders?

 

[kurienp]

Don't know of a UK equivalent, but the bike is supremely capable and of course, it is the riders as well. Have considered doing the Australian one once at least.

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

 

[Oldrat]

Off-road skills is the place to start

 

[ReGenesis]

As above.

 

[Warlord]

As above.

However, BMW Off-road school will not prepare you for real UK Off-roading. It'll help teach you the basics, but it's all on Nursery flat hard-pack tracks. I've done Level 1 and Level 2 foundation.

It's a different ballgame when you go out into UK Trails with deep ruts, rocks, boulders, tree roots, steep cambers, deep mud.

For that requires a lot of technique, skill and experience.... but is really enjoyable.

Training is recommended from TRF (Trail Riders Foundation) at Sweet Lamb Adventure Bike Academy. Here its cheaper, but you use your own bike.

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

The 1200 is very capable offroad and easy to ride. The problem is two fold. It is only capable if you are. You don't need to be a Dakar legend but you do need to be properly trained if you don't have a background in mx, enduro or trials. Sweetlamb is absolutely the place to go especially with your own bike. I've been going there for around 18 months now and been there about half a dozen times or more. Forget spending money on a bike, training is far better value.

The boxer twin is the best big bike for a novice because it's carries it's weight low making it easy to handle and pickup but with big Ktm's are better once you have some skill and can handle a big bike offroad.

There is loads of stuff going on for big bikes if your minded and you can follow the TET if you're reasonably competent on a big bike.

The other problem is fitness and riding efficiently.

Out of the boxer twins the hexhead gs is the one to use better choice of tyres and lightest.

Rally moto do events for big bikes and the ORS also run UK weekenders on their bikes. People like ride the wild offer great offroad guiding for big bikes.

 

[ReGenesis]

As above.

However, BMW Off-road school will not prepare you for real UK Off-roading. It'll help teach you the basics, but it's all on Nursery flat hard-pack tracks. I've done Level 1 and Level 2 foundation.

It's a different ballgame when you go out into UK Trails with deep ruts, rocks, boulders, tree roots, steep cambers, deep mud.

Guessing you haven't done L3 yet. Or even the actual L2?
L2 is not "all on Nursery flat hard-pack tracks."
You'll do deep water, steep hills, recovery on them, deep ruts, crossing them , etc.

Other bonus is it's their bike. Drop yours on a 40 degree scree slope and you will be crying. Yes it is more expensive however there is no repair bill afterwards.

 

[Mr Derek]

We did hills, recovery on slopes, no hands riding, deliberately locking brakes and more on level 1 last year, all in torrential rain and high winds and I'd never ridden off road before. The gs is far more capable than I'll ever be. Just about all of us dropped the bike, most of us more than once. One chap even dropped it on a roundabout on the ride to the arena. First time on nobblies, I'd guess. It was a brilliant couple of days, but exhausting.

 

[wozzer]

Thanks chaps, some excellent advice there. I'll seriously consider doing something off-road, just not sure it will be with my shiny steed though, not brave enough yet!

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

Drop yours on a 40 degree scree slope and you will be crying.

Sorry but that's a bullshit catchall that's perpetually pedled on forums. I've dropped my gsa loads of times even on a solid rock slab in the peaks. Picked it up and rode off no damage. Decent crash bars do their job.

Though granted that statement may be true of some bikes if they are not properly protected.

1st rule of riding big bikes offroad. Expect to drop it. So using a brand spanker on a pcp deal is not the smartest idea.

Equally until you get over the fear of dropping your own bike it will hold you back. The ORS cannot teach you that!

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

just not sure it will be with my shiny steed though, not brave enough yet!

Get some decent crash protection Inc all over head guards and you'll be fine. The guys at sweetlamb won't have you doing anything too difficult to begin with because they understand people don't want to damage their bikes. If someone does drop their bike it's usually a low speed topple. Their philosophy is to teach you the basic balance, clutch, throttle and brake controls precisely so you don't drop it.

The GS heads protect the foot levers so as long as they are sorted it's all good. Trust me if the doom merchants are to be believed my Gsa would have been written off long ago. I dropped it 4 times on Sunday Greenlaning in the rain at one point on a rocky incline. Even had to spin it round on its side 270 degrees to go back down to have another go.

 

[Warlord]

Guessing you haven't done L3 yet. Or even the actual L2?
L2 is not "all on Nursery flat hard-pack tracks."
You'll do deep water, steep hills, recovery on them, deep ruts, crossing them , etc.

Other bonus is it's their bike. Drop yours on a 40 degree scree slope and you will be crying. Yes it is more expensive however there is no repair bill afterwards.

FFS....

He's a beginner wanting to do some off-roading. You don't start at Level 3... you start at Level 1.... and Level 1 isn't enough to prepare you for most UK country lanes.

They don't have you in deep ruts, deep mud, heavily rocky areas straight away. At first it's mostly focused on bike balance and control in an easy environment.

At £550 per Level, you need to be about £2000 invested before you get good at it... and even then, you won't be practiced at it

When I went out with Blueranger and his mates, I was out of my depth inside 30 minutes on the trails they were on.... admittedly I was on an Africa Twin with Automatic gearbox, but I've since seen a few of my noob mates all fail and fall quickly in ruts and mud.

I've since taken Bluerangers advice and booked into Sweet Lamb for 4 days (2 in August, 2 in September), highly recommended by TRF also.

Plus, I've become a member of TRF and since been out on two guided off-road tours, and buddied with a like-minded KTM bikermate so we can practice with a bit more safety (rather than each of us riding alone).

Actually riding UK Country Lanes (admittedly the severity and hardship varies from region to region) is nothing like beginner BMW ORS Training. Not the Level 1 and Level 2 Foundation that I went on.

 

[Warlord]

Just a reality check.....

I was out recently on a brilliant 'day out Safari' in the UK (in fact, one of the R1250GS members from here as well)

This was organised by an expert, for off-roading to the coast using legal Byways. He's 30 years experienced, and a TRF guide. We were out about 10 hours.

It was designed for 'Big Adventure Bikes' on easy trails in good weather and dry. BUT, there were ruts, and mud, and shale, and rocks in sections.... but nothing bad.

DAMAGE

- BMW F800 Rear Tyre Shredded from slate cut (and had to be recovered) as couldn't be repaired
- Africa Twin DCT *not my bike, Crashed and smashed the handguard, damaging throttle play. Had to be removed (see pic below) and throttle repaired. Rider cut hand also.
- KTM 1090 Adventure, Smashed sidestand switch (and had to be recovered) as couldn't be repaired (he was sat for hours waiting for recovery vehicle)
- BMW R1250GS smashed front wheel on rock, dented rim and tyre kept deflating....

So nearly half of the bikes were damaged, and these riders were capable people on fairly easy trails. So be prepared

Not on this ride, but my mate on his Vstrom crashed 4 times in mud and wrecked his bike, smashed footpeg off, smashed wing mirror off, smashed foglight off, scratches everywhere

I'm not trying to put you off, as I LOVE RIDING OFF-ROAD.... but it isn't a fairy tale and you need to be a bit nuts !!

 

[Warlord]

This'll be your reality for a while

My advice is get training, and don't ride alone.

Find someone with experience to guide you first. They'll be able to give you tips, tricks, and may be helpful in repairing your bike if it needs it.

But that's all from my own experience, and is only my opinion.

 

[Warlord]

People have critisized me for posting this picture, as they said I was showing off....

In reality, it's one of a few pictures where I'm upright and actually having fun blasting up some baby rock steps

To me, this picture defines EXACTLY what I wanted to be doing on my Africa Twin. More of this please

 

[Warlord]

..... and this was just feckin scary as it was very slippery, very steep downhill and lots of tree roots bucking the bike in every direction except straight ahead

But even all this, is considered EASY STUFF.....

 

[Warlord]

I was on a dusty dry trail not so long back.... and there was a protruding rock ahead of me followed by a trickle trail of engine oil.... for quite some time.

Never saw an actual bike broken down, but oil was fresh. Hope they realised before getting back on the road and racing off !!

... so get a good skid plate capable of heavy hits

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

When I went out with Blueranger and his mates, I was out of my depth inside 30 minutes on the trails they were on.... admittedly

To be fair to you Warlord the lanes we started on were intermediate big bike lanes but.. When I criticise the ORS and others like it, that day illustrated my typical findings of alumni.... Some important basic skills missing seems more about giving you the advbike experience.

I'll hold my hands up and admit I misjudged what Level 2 gets you and it put your safety and wellbeing at risk and I am sorry that happened. Since then I've been out with quite a few more who have done it and I continue to see people come up short in key areas.

I bang on about Moly and his team out of shear enthusiasm if it wasn't for them I'd have given up riding big bikes offroad long ago. I've no commercial gain from promoting them I just want people to.go out and enjoy riding their adv bikes offroad and experience the same joy and satisfaction.....not to mention the faces on the pogo riders faces....

 

[wozzer]

Blimey, some scary tales there. And my bike is a Pcp deal! It would probably be foolish to have a go on mine, I might ride mine to wherever they offer hire bikes and drop there's constantly

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

Blimey, some scary tales there. And my bike is a Pcp deal! It would probably be foolish to have a go on mine, I might ride mine to wherever they offer hire bikes and drop there's constantly

Offloading a big bike is a long term prospect. Pcp doesn't matter if your going to buy it out and keep it.

Trust me when I say...you'll bond with the bike and won't want to let it go. Just remember all those issues didn't happen to one person.

Correct me if I'm wrong Warlord but when you came out with me you dropped your AT 4 times and nothing broke?