You can't off road on a GS !

[MartinB]

Yeah, we've heard it all before. The GS isn't really an off road bike, you'd be better off with a KTM or something !

Try telling these boys

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p.s. I don't like to show off but this guy said he HAD to film me

 

[earthmover]

Now that looks like fun!
Mark

 

[SilverFish]

I like his technique to stop the front wheel digging into the soft sand - just pull a wheely!!

If it was me, I'd have been off every 10 yards!

Skills + Experience + Confidence x GS = Awesomeness!!!

Mike

 

[Bryn]

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[Tuono1961]

Considerably more talent than I will ever possess. I would definitely die attempting that.

Notice how relaxed he appears on the bike. Maybe thats the secret " Don't panic Captain Mainwarring"

 

[Pukmeister]

I'd rather be on the KTM thanks.

Some guys down under get to do a hell of a lot of off-road riding, which is probably why they are so good at it.

 

[sycomoto]

thats not off roading

bit like a dusty road, all smooth and no water wheres the mud, big climbs etc. now go get yourself up monsel head and show us how good yer really are

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

Awsome clip, total respect!

 

[Shurv]

Monsal head, that takes me back, done that one many times.A nice tough one.

 

[stevec]

The point is though...

you could take a Pan European down that trail, albeit not at those speeds. A proper dirtbike would be flat out in 6th, sliding those bends and riding the berms. Riding soft sand is simply a matter of keeping the weight back and nailing the throttle. The trail in the video was dry, level and flat...the problem with a 1200GS will arise as soon as you reach a gnarly piece of terraine that requires some deft handling and throttle control. The GS has twice the weight, twice the power and torque and half the agility and suspension required.

This proves that you can ride a GS offroad. It also begs the question, why would you want to?

 

[Timolgra]

It also begs the question, why would you want to?

Because you can

 

[Dave Cr]

Tried off roading for the first time last year, with my wife as a passenger too. The GS was great on gravel tracks and through shallow rivers but struggled, with Tourance tyres, to cope with wet slopes. If I had had some more off road experience I think I could have gone further and faster.

 

[Brian ROSEN]

A lot of fun

Obviously you need experience to ride (even) like that - and remember that a 'Paris Dakar' expert would be traveling LITERALLY at twice those speeds.
I have been flat out on rough country on a bike - but that was a BSA and I was in the army and it belonged to His Majesty. As we smashed them up we sent them away 'BLR' - beyond local repair, hoping to get a Matchless as a replacement....but all we got were more BSA's or Nortons (all side valves if you know what that means!) It was good fun though and we were paid to do it. (And my present pride and joy stays ON the road.)

 

[elefantman]

I wonder how many people having watched that clip will now go out and bin their bikes trying to do the same

 

[Brian ROSEN]

Not to be dropped

You cannot learn to ride a horse without occasionally falling off - and perhaps some of you can remember it was much the same with roller skating, skiing wind surfing etc... that is whu we wear protective clothing for all these. So if we are to ride our bikes off road we must expect them to be dumped on the ground sooner or later; look at the Touratech catalogue and you will see how vulnerable various parts of the bike appear to be and if you really want to ride off road there are a lot of items to be dispensed with and a lot to be added. Riding off- road is a serious and expensive business - but well worth it.
I am a relatively careful rider but not so long ago I stalled an 800GS and it fell, on the road, at about 3 mph. The damage cost 2500€ to mend (thank you AXA for my 'protected bonus'.) I will stay upright and on the road on my 1200GS to the best of my ability.

 

[stevec]

You cannot learn to ride a horse without occasionally falling off - and perhaps some of you can remember it was much the same with roller skating, skiing wind surfing etc... that is whu we wear protective clothing for all these. So if we are to ride our bikes off road we must expect them to be dumped on the ground sooner or later; look at the Touratech catalogue and you will see how vulnerable various parts of the bike appear to be and if you really want to ride off road there are a lot of items to be dispensed with and a lot to be added. Riding off- road is a serious and expensive business - but well worth it.
I am a relatively careful rider but not so long ago I stalled an 800GS and it fell, on the road, at about 3 mph. The damage cost 2500€ to mend (thank you AXA for my 'protected bonus'.) I will stay upright and on the road on my 1200GS to the best of my ability.

That's the point. There's an absolute ton of stuff (literally) that should be removed from a 1200GS before ridong it offroad. Even then the bike is still unsuitable due to the vulnerability of a myriad of parts that will break or bend in the event of a fall. Simply the weight of the thing is going to cause damage. Riding the 1200GS offroad is like enetering the Tour de France on a Mountain Bike...possible, but why would you?

 

[Steve the Kiwi]

Calling that "offroading" is a bit strong softroading yes but not offroading. like the others have said where's the knarly bogs and slippery logs, steep rocky accents?

 

[Spout]

That's the point. There's an absolute ton of stuff (literally) that should be removed from a 1200GS before ridong it offroad. Even then the bike is still unsuitable due to the vulnerability of a myriad of parts that will break or bend in the event of a fall. Simply the weight of the thing is going to cause damage. Riding the 1200GS offroad is like enetering the Tour de France on a Mountain Bike...possible, but why would you?

In nearly 30 years of riding GSs off road I can honestly say that, apart from the usual dings, scratches and dents, I've only had a couple of smashed indicators and one holed cylinderhead cover.

And I bet I've scored higher on the "fun per challange" rating than my pogo riding mates have had over the years.

So my question is, why would you not ride a GS off road?

 

[Deleted account AWRT]

Obviously you need experience to ride (even) like that - and remember that a 'Paris Dakar' expert would be traveling LITERALLY at twice those speeds.
I have been flat out on rough country on a bike - but that was a BSA and I was in the army and it belonged to His Majesty. As we smashed them up we sent them away 'BLR' - beyond local repair, hoping to get a Matchless as a replacement....but all we got were more BSA's or Nortons (all side valves if you know what that means!) It was good fun though and we were paid to do it. (And my present pride and joy stays ON the road.)

Jesus Brian, How old are you if you were in the Army riding bikes under King George?? Respect

 

[Benjamin M]

If you can't take a GS off-road, then why is that chap signaling for the bush?