My Africa Twin

[Andi_archer]

Yes ruts are not my friend either I end up with the front tyre waving madly from one side of the rut to the other. I've told to add speed as above to stabilize the bike better and to bring weight onto the front wheel ... we shall see

Oh and as taught look well ahead to plan a better route not down at obstacles, which will cause you to hit them

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

I did a lot of cross country mountain biking 20 years ago. Nothing since except 2 days at BMW Off Road School.

I did stand, and lean back. So thats a start.

Speed might be my friend, but gravity was taking the piss and my 'friend' was trying to kill me.

Once I've got my forward planning confidence, and from experience I know what to expect, I'll have more faith in speed.

Until that time, speed is definately going to ruin my day on a 250kg hammer.

It's only my first time out, so it's going to look painful to hardened green laners.

But I'm willing to learn, albeit on the wrong bike, wrong skill level and wrong age.

Just keep trying and applying advice until my skills get better.

Just like learning how to ride all over again

Loft the front wheel............ to change ruts

Will a DCT AT wheelie??

 

[Warlord]

Will a DCT AT wheelie??

Yes.

At my skill level, this technique is fastest route to A&E

 

[Warlord]

....look well ahead to plan a better route not down at obstacles, which will cause you to hit them

That's proper Jedi level of skill.

So all I have to do is not look at obstacles and I won't hit them... got it. "Close your eyes Luke... use The Force.."

Ok... got it

 

[Warlord]

... hang on a minute.

So far, in the UK's most hostile terrain, deep mud ruts, on a two wheeled 250kg hammer.

Advice is...

1) Don't look at the ground

2) Go as fast as you can

Do you lot work in Private Healthcare?

 

[Andi_archer]

Yep speeeeed and force ........or drive a Bulldozer hee hee

 

[Warlord]

Crash Sit Rep

Ok, Crash Report - Incident 11.11.17.001

Gave the bike it's first wash today and assessed the damage. I promised Nutty some dents and scratches, well here they are.

Firstly, some notable points

1) If someone said to me that I was going to crash my bike on BOTH sides, and to guess which components would be damaged. I would guess, broken hand-guard, broken indicators, scratched exhaust, scratched pillion handles or rear fairings.

But in my case, no scratches to hand-guards (which really surprised me). No broken indicators. No scratched exhaust (except a small scuff). No scratched pillion handles or rear fairings.

So that guess would have failed.

2) What actually took a lot of impact damage was my right hand side rear brake pedal, footrest and engine bars.

I am SO GLAD I bought the footpeg shield from Camel Adv, as I really think it would have been broken off on my first drop. It's so vulnerable. I had read about footpegs being broken off easily as there is a cast alloy 6" brittle mount. So the shield did it's job perfectly.

3) The Altirider Lower Crash Bars actually supported my rear brake pedal being whacked hard. Not something I would have expected, but the design of the lower bars actually supported my brake pedal as well. Which is a huge benefit as it keeps you mobile and working.

4) Engine Bars also took a big shunt. Enough to bend them in half-inch but kept the fairings and panels untouched, not even a scratch. The reinforcement bars were shunted backwards one inch. But I'll leave them in place as I may not ever be able to get them back in position now they are bent. The lower bars, protected the rear brake pedal, and although it was bent inwards, the bars protected it.

5) My cheap replacement foot-pegs were brilliant, really grippy. Took a battering and worked well.

So all superficial scratches really, no actual bike damage. So onwards and upwards

 

[Warlord]

More Pics...

You can see the scuff damage on the Camel Adv footpeg shield here...

 

[crotchrocket]

Good to now about the Camel ADV peg protector. I'm amazed the AR bars bent in like that. I read reports of other bars bending and stayed well clear, but would have thought for the money they would be sturdier. That really just leaves the Outback Motortek bars as decent off road protection. I currently have rugged roads lower bars with bark busters as its a road bike for the moment, but If I do put some knobbly's on I will get the Motortek bars rather than the rugged roads uppers.

 

[Warlord]

Good to now about the Camel ADV peg protector. I'm amazed the AR bars bent in like that. I read reports of other bars bending and stayed well clear, but would have thought for the money they would be sturdier. That really just leaves the Outback Motortek bars as decent off road protection. I currently have rugged roads lower bars with bark busters as its a road bike for the moment, but If I do put some knobbly's on I will get the Motortek bars rather than the rugged roads uppers.

Yeah, I've changed my mind on crash bars, and in fact don't mind them bending a bit as that absorbs the initial impact and gives the bike frame less to deal with.

So bending is good.

The Altrider bars totally protected the panels though, not a scratch. and the lower crash bars are thicker as well. So they're good.

I'm happy anyways

So far, If I had to buy crash bars again, I would continue to buy Altrider.

 

[Warlord]

Just to add... I'm also impressed how well my Kriega Luggage has held up.

No damage, all good.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

Yes.

At my skill level, this technique is fastest route to A&E

I dunno why you lot think it's a good idea to learn to ride offroad on a £10k, 250kg 1000cc bike.....................when a really good 100kg, £1200 used 250cc will do a better job all round

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

... hang on a minute.

So far, in the UK's most hostile terrain, deep mud ruts, on a two wheeled 250kg hammer.

Advice is...

1) Don't look at the ground

2) Go as fast as you can

Do you lot work in Private Healthcare?

Yep, look as far as you can ahead and wheelie over obstacles.................got it

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

when a really good 100kg, £1200 used 250cc will do a better job offroad

fixed....

Said 250 would be awful on the motorway and lacks any of the finesse of an adventure bike as you well know JB...an adventure bike saves the hassle of a van / trailer.....ride there - ride offroad - ride back.

There is a satisfaction that comes from using these bikes as they were intended from the factory.

£1200 to buy the bike, plus insurance, plus tax, plus MOT plus trailer or van...pays for quite alot of replacable parts and protection.

Take my recent excursions over the the pennines....2 - 2.5 hours each way of motorway riding.....no problem for the GSA.
No vehicle to have to get back to or excruciating misery from slow motorway ride....just ride home in comfort when ever.

I also wouldnt want to tempt local scrotes to break into my garage after such a bike....I've thought of going down this route many times, but all the decent lanes are over an hour away on motorways / fast a roads and I hate being wind blasted. It would be no fun and would take the edge of any ride.

It makes complete sense using these big bikes offroad, you just have to accept you will drop it and you will damage it so take necessary precautions.

 

[Warlord]

I dunno why you lot think it's a good idea to learn to ride offroad on a £10k, 250kg 1000cc bike.....................when a really good 100kg, £1200 used 250cc will do a better job all round

It isn't harming anyone. We're having fun. What's the problem?

I don't want to ride for hours on a 100kg used 250cc shitbox getting to and from these lanes.

I don't want a van or trailer either.

I'm happy messing about with my muddy HAT doing stuff with my mates on equally inappropriate machines.

Until I'm fed up of falling off it.

 

[Warlord]

Blueranger... couldn't have said it better myself.

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

fixed....

Said 250 would be awful on the motorway and lacks any of the finesse of an adventure bike as you well know JB...an adventure bike saves the hassle of a van / trailer.....ride there - ride offroad - ride back.

There is a satisfaction that comes from using these bikes as they were intended from the factory.

£1200 to buy the bike, plus insurance, plus tax, plus MOT plus trailer or van...pays for quite alot of replacable parts and protection.

Take my recent excursions over the the pennines....2 - 2.5 hours each way of motorway riding.....no problem for the GSA.
No vehicle to have to get back to or excruciating misery from slow motorway ride....just ride home in comfort when ever.

I also wouldnt want to tempt local scrotes to break into my garage after such a bike....I've thought of going down this route many times, but all the decent lanes are over an hour away on motorways / fast a roads and I hate being wind blasted. It would be no fun and would take the edge of any ride.

It makes complete sense using these big bikes offroad, you just have to accept you will drop it and you will damage it so take necessary precautions.

I guess I am lucky, the Dales lanes start within one mile of home and I can get a decent 120 mile loop in, on the XR400 on B&C Roads

Who rides motorways on an Adv bike anyway - surely you don't go on a m/way............do you??

 

[Deleted account 200123001]

You are very lucky JB. If I lived where you do then I would do as you have. But different geography means different reasons.

I also like to get out and see the different parts of the country. I wouldn't be content with riding the same lanes.

With these bikes you can ride lanes anywhere. Cumbria, Northumberland, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire. Distance isn't an obstacle.

 

[Warlord]

You are very lucky JB. If I lived where you do then I would do as you have. But different geography means different reasons.

I also like to get out and see the different parts of the country. I wouldn't be content with riding the same lanes.

With these bikes you can ride lanes anywhere. Cumbria, Northumberland, Yorkshire, Lancashire, Cheshire. Distance isn't an obstacle.

... and you get to ride home in comfort, heated hot grips covered in mud with huge smile on your face.

I'm happy with that.

 

[flatdog]

... and you get to ride home in comfort, heated hot grips covered in mud with huge smile on your face.

I'm happy with that.

10/10 for your efforts.

Who wants an underpowered off road bike revving flat out on motorways for 60 miles…I wouldn't

Its a compromise but I reckon you've got a pretty good set up for your needs.

My compromise is fit knobblies on the 1150gs and wait for help.