To sell or to keep thats is the question??

[Project System]

Hi All,

Im at a bit of a crossroad with my 2007 adventure which I bought last October. Its been sat in the garage due to other projects and work, but since march I have been riding it, but here my problem, I ve dropped it 3 times, once at lights and once in a service station carpark, and luckily there has been someone to help me pick it up!!

My garage has a ever so slight slope, great for riding into garage, but trying to tug it out the garage with an ever so slight incline is a real job, managed it twice, but felt sure I was going to pull a muscle!!

And Yes I can flat foot - just about as have quite thick boots. Ive come from a sports bike , so would appreciate any advice on is this just a technique problem that will be mastered in time, or does anybody else face this problem. thanks got for GS adventure crash bars!!

 

[er-minio]

but trying to tug it out the garage with an ever so slight incline is a real job

Does the bike come with an engine?

 

[Wreford Miles]

First tip roll it backwards into the garage
Second tip, it's not the bike its you
Third tip, if you enjoy the bike when you are moving give it time as the confidence and technique will come
Fourth tip, watch some YouTube clips on how to pick it up

 

[Neil W]

Put a standard gs seat on it, makes a world of difference

 

[Nice 'n' Fat]

If I'd dropped my bike 3 times in as many months I'd be thinking it's the bike's way of telling me it needs a new owner

 

[alex_rsa]

After spending a weekend riding with somone of shorter stature the GS can be an absolute pain to move. He was not flat footed and the number of time he nearly dropped the bike was plenty. Small things like a three-point tern on a narrow lane had him teetering from one side to the other. Trying to push the bike backwards with a leg that was already fully extended was not possible.

Try a lower seat before you give up on the bike. A couple of centimetres lower may make a world of distance.

I'm 6'4" so I have no personal experiance with a GS being too tall

 

[Project System]

thanks for all the comments, I have actually had a low seat fitted, but it is just the share girth of tugging it backwards and forwards, on the move its fine

 

[Project System]

I have the manual rear suspension adjustment not ESA, not being mechanically minded, do I fully wind it in to lower rear suspension?

 

[NigelM]

I know exactly what you mean. Been caught out a few times now trying to back the beast up a slight incline, it's not easy for those of us who are a little vertically challenged (5'9", 31" inside leg).

However, I have now got the hang of thinking carefully about my exit strategy before I park it anywhere. Always leave it facing up and incline. There is usually a way of doing it.

As far as your garage is concerned, just back it in and drive it out.

 

[Rockred]

Stick with it, as has been said go in the garage backwards. And when out and about, chose where you park so that it is easier to just saddle up and away when you leave.

 

[mikeyboy]

Moving big bikes about confidently takes practice,don't ride into places you can't ride out of,and always park facing uphill

 

[DervMan]

How about rotating the bike on the side stand while it's in the garage then simply drive up the slope. Works for me...

Here's an example.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dhpeeEjheEE

I do it the from the other side, but you get the gist.

 

[Greenman14]

How's your low speed riding? Maybe some practice in a quiet car park would held you get comfortable with manoeuvring it feet up? You could always swap it for a GS, provided 200 miles between fuel stops is ok.

 

[oyster]

Don't Sell

i've had my Gs 5 years, i learnt a few lessons while touring two up with Camping gear, approach, direction, kerbs ,surface, kit your wearing, so many things to consider, but all things you need to "experince" and adapt to,one of my favourite soloutions
if i've relaxed to much, is to walk along with the bike running in gear with clutch control, as at 5' 10" inside leg 30" i sometimes
can't climb aboard
i also have a Sports Bike, so i'm constantly recalibrating my brain, brakes,power, handling etc between the two rides,makes
life interesting

 

[Bendy toy]

I canny flat foot on both sides so NEVER try to paddle the bike backwards.
If the garage slopes out then simply drive the bike in. To get it out put into gear and walk it back with side stand down. Use the clutch to stop it running away.
If the garage slopes inwards then back the bike in.
When you stop in traffic always keep one foot on the rest. The bike is more stable that way and you create a handy tripod with leg and wheels. I usually keep left foot on the footrest. That way I'm less likely to drop into a gutter or dropped drain cover.
Turning around in a narrow lane is fine on a level road. On a hill you may well have problems. But frankly so would anyone other than Swartzenegger.
The bike would benefit greatly with two side stands but tell that to the traditional (simple?) minded designers who never heard of Brought Superior.

 

[davegs]

I canny flat foot on both sides so NEVER try to paddle the bike backwards.
If the garage slopes out then simply drive the bike in. To get it out put into gear and walk it back with side stand down. Use the clutch to stop it running away.
If the garage slopes inwards then back the bike in.
When you stop in traffic always keep one foot on the rest. The bike is more stable that way and you create a handy tripod with leg and wheels. I usually keep left foot on the footrest. That way I'm less likely to drop into a gutter or dropped drain cover.
Turning around in a narrow lane is fine on a level road. On a hill you may well have problems. But frankly so would anyone other than Swartzenegger.
The bike would benefit greatly with two side stands but tell that to the traditional (simple?) minded designers who never heard of Brought Superior.

Boughs?, Vincents also have two stands very good idea for what was once slagged off as being "too heavy.!!!!!

 

[Mad_Accountant]

There is some great advice here.

One foot down, making a tripod, is more stable than two feet down.

Make the side stand your friend - always fuel it on the sidestand (make sure it is in first and rolled as forward as it will go) as petrol stations are a number one drop zone.

It is better to avoid u-turns in narrow roads by either a: riding on round the block or b: doing a 3-point turn by riding to the centre of the road, rolling back on the camber then riding off. You have then turned a u turn into two right turns.

Finally - don't carry too much fuel, why fill the full 33 litres if you don't need to?

If it cheers you up I dropped mine in my drive, it landed on my priceless C1 and knocked that over into my hedge. That was a good evenings work!

If you can get a second opinion about your "manual handling" from someone who knows, preferably someone who has completed the BMW off road skills course (because that is the first thing they teach you)

Please don't give up on it - they are great bikes. They just require a little more planning than most.

Ride safe (and upright)

 

[JohnnyBoxer]

There is some great advice here.

One foot down, making a tripod, is more stable than two feet down.

Make the side stand your friend - always fuel it on the sidestand (make sure it is in first and rolled as forward as it will go) as petrol stations are a number one drop zone.

It is better to avoid u-turns in narrow roads by either a: riding on round the block or b: doing a 3-point turn by riding to the centre of the road, rolling back on the camber then riding off. You have then turned a u turn into two right turns.

Finally - don't carry too much fuel, why fill the full 33 litres if you don't need to?

If it cheers you up I dropped mine in my drive, it landed on my priceless C1 and knocked that over into my hedge. That was a good evenings work!

If you can get a second opinion about your "manual handling" from someone who knows, preferably someone who has completed the BMW off road skills course (because that is the first thing they teach you)

Please don't give up on it - they are great bikes. They just require a little more planning than most.

Ride safe (and upright)

I haven't ever done the offroad skills course, am I missing out when it comes to manhandling my bike?

U turns - are they hard?

 

[Bendy toy]

U turns - are they hard?

They are on a single track with no verges and a 12% slope.

 

[Andy63]

Why not level your garage floor and get trolley stand so you can rotate it once in, My neighbour does exactly that.

I push my GSA into the garage and reverse it out but I never move the bike unless I am sitting on it much less chance of dropping it.

However I have dropped it on a number of occasions but I have never considered changing it because of that.