Jotski
Registered user
How does the new GS compare to the GS adventure for offroad riding - does anyone have any offroad adventure touring experience 
Offroad touring
- Thread starter Jotski
- Start date
Pisser! 
PDiddy
Registered user
A few in the LC section rode over a gravel carpark to pub, but that's about it...
Not all of us only venture as far as Tesco's -
I spent a day giving the new GS some abuse - I have to say, the new ABS is some kind of voodoo magic. To use it, is like cheating - we went down some pretty steep descents, in mud and rocks, and it never skipped a beat, controlling the descent all the way down. So in that respect, the new ABS makes the new bike streets ahead.
The different style of engine, combined with the traction control, makes for a very different style of riding, particularly when trying to pull away. I'm used to relying on all that low down torque that available on the older GS - the new GS wants you to give it a lot more beans to get going. I'm not sure that it's worse, as so much needing some time to get used to.
In terms of crashability, there were 6 WC 12s, they all went down at some point, and none needed repairing to get home...
HTH
The different style of engine, combined with the traction control, makes for a very different style of riding, particularly when trying to pull away. I'm used to relying on all that low down torque that available on the older GS - the new GS wants you to give it a lot more beans to get going. I'm not sure that it's worse, as so much needing some time to get used to.
In terms of crashability, there were 6 WC 12s, they all went down at some point, and none needed repairing to get home...
HTH
Jotski
Registered user
It's good to hear the abs works well in the dirt, I'm guessing the main difference with the adventure will be ride height and range. So all bikes went over and all ride home is encouraging! I was concerned the rads would be mangled but maybe the engine bars hold them off the ground in a spill. Is the new really capable of world touring or is the adv a much better choice ? My guess is the non adv is a better all rounder...
Hmmm, this one didn't go home under its own power and I reckon it needed more than a bit of epoxy resin to mend the case.
Off road on steep descents you are still better turning off the ABS, the brakes have loads of feel.
The traction control in enduro mode is amazing, on fire roads you can give it a right handful and do enormous fishtails without it getting out of hand, but turn it off and the power is awesome, you really need to show it some respect.
The WC really flatters average riders off road with all the aids turned on, so much so, that when you get back on a lesser bike you will have to make lots of adjustments to how you ride.
Off road on steep descents you are still better turning off the ABS, the brakes have loads of feel.
The traction control in enduro mode is amazing, on fire roads you can give it a right handful and do enormous fishtails without it getting out of hand, but turn it off and the power is awesome, you really need to show it some respect.
The WC really flatters average riders off road with all the aids turned on, so much so, that when you get back on a lesser bike you will have to make lots of adjustments to how you ride.
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smithdt
Registered user
So has the tappet cover been pushed back by the force of the impact, or had it been unbolted and is just sitting there?
Jotski
Registered user
hard smash, do you know if the bike hard crash bars?
I can imagine fire trails and wider tracks are good for the GS but I cant imagine riding single tracks/ruts and steep decents without the attached pic occuring, the bikes surely too heavy for that and if you did find a point of no return the GS would have a mass advantage over the ADV !
The rear bolt was removed to see what the extent of damage had been caused, you can still see the front bolt still threaded in the case albeit a bit bent, the impact also made the cam chain come off.
No crash bars were fitted, a rock jutting out of a deeply sided sunken track caught out the rider, just unlucky I guess.
It doesn't take away the fact that these bikes are absolutely amazing off road, they are just like a large enduro bike, I reckon that most people that buy them will never experience what they are truly capable of and they are really missing a trick!
No crash bars were fitted, a rock jutting out of a deeply sided sunken track caught out the rider, just unlucky I guess.
It doesn't take away the fact that these bikes are absolutely amazing off road, they are just like a large enduro bike, I reckon that most people that buy them will never experience what they are truly capable of and they are really missing a trick!
Jotski
Registered user
Thats a good point Trekker these bikes are designed for offroad use and do a bloody good job of it, mainly experienced by past or current dirt bike riders
I wonder if most of the people that complain about the bike on this forum are just sunday corner shop riders that are afraid to get the bike dirty
Ive ordered a few parts to protect the bike for some offroading, im in Australia and there is plenty of territory on the door step to adventure. Im still in two minds about getting the 2014 adventure LC vs the 2014 GS LC
I wonder if most of the people that complain about the bike on this forum are just sunday corner shop riders that are afraid to get the bike dirty
Ive ordered a few parts to protect the bike for some offroading, im in Australia and there is plenty of territory on the door step to adventure. Im still in two minds about getting the 2014 adventure LC vs the 2014 GS LC
Jotski
Registered user
Thats a good point Trekker these bikes are designed for offroad use and do a bloody good job of it, mainly experienced by past or current dirt bike riders
I wonder if most of the people that complain about the bike on this forum are just sunday corner shop riders that are afraid to get the bike dirty
Ive ordered a few parts to protect the bike for some offroading, im in Australia and there is plenty of territory on the door step to adventure. Im still in two minds about getting the 2014 adventure LC vs the 2014 GS LC
I wonder if most of the people that complain about the bike on this forum are just sunday corner shop riders that are afraid to get the bike dirty
Ive ordered a few parts to protect the bike for some offroading, im in Australia and there is plenty of territory on the door step to adventure. Im still in two minds about getting the 2014 adventure LC vs the 2014 GS LC
you will never use all that power off road. most 1200 owners never go off road, thats from BMW themselves so there is no criticism in making it a road orientated bike if thats whats selling. have you considered a different bike if your keen to go off road like the f800gs (or ADV)
Jotski
Registered user
I considered the f800 a very agile great bike in the dirt but lacks power for me on road - when I rode the f800 back to back with the 1200 on road it was like night and day. What I am after is great power for on road but the ability to take the bike through the bush and outback to do some exploring off the beaten track - range is therefore important hence the adventure but fuel cells and the 20litre tank will suffice.
For offroad and really crappy trails I have got a dirt bike - there's no way I would want to lug the 1200 down some wet clay rutted trails no matter how many electronic gizmos it has !
I think it all boils down to what type of riding you want to do and if you are likely to be on your own, the 1200's are both big and heavy to turn around when the trail narrows and you think it may be wise to go back.
You cannot compare the current GSA to the new WC model purely because of the weight and the new rider aids.
It will be interesting when the new GSA is released to see if they have managed to keep the extra weight down to a minimum or if BMW think that is doesn't matter because most will be only used on the road.
I agree with Jotski, you cannot compare the 800 to the 1200, the big boxer engine makes much nicer power which in turn makes it ideal for both road or off road riding.
I have always thought that it is difficult to have one bike to do all jobs, there is always going to be a compromise, I'm hoping my KTM 1190R is going to put me more in the middle ground so that I can tackle a wide variety of riding as and when opportunities allow.
You cannot compare the current GSA to the new WC model purely because of the weight and the new rider aids.
It will be interesting when the new GSA is released to see if they have managed to keep the extra weight down to a minimum or if BMW think that is doesn't matter because most will be only used on the road.
I agree with Jotski, you cannot compare the 800 to the 1200, the big boxer engine makes much nicer power which in turn makes it ideal for both road or off road riding.
I have always thought that it is difficult to have one bike to do all jobs, there is always going to be a compromise, I'm hoping my KTM 1190R is going to put me more in the middle ground so that I can tackle a wide variety of riding as and when opportunities allow.
PDiddy
Registered user
As a keen trail rider I wouldn't want to take either an 800 or a 1200 off the beaten track, that's not to say that I couldn't or haven't taken my 1200 trail riding in the peaks and in Northern Spain -
The 1200 is a very capable long distance adventure tourer - 
david a hall
Registered user
As a keen trail rider I wouldn't want to take either an 800 or a 1200 off the beaten track, that's not to say that I couldn't or haven't taken my 1200 trail riding in the peaks and in Northern Spain -
And it helps if there is a small boy to ride it up the steep bit
PDiddy
Registered user
And it helps if there is a small boy to ride it up the steep bit
Well, he is better than both of us -
david a hall
Registered user
Well, he is better than both of us -
do you have any pics?
PDiddy
Registered user
Adventure touring in Northern Spain
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