Adventure Bike Rider

I've been seriously considering getting back to a road only bike. 99% of my riding is on the road and I'm not enjoying my off road riding, I think its a case of I'm just not that good at it I consider myself a half decent road rider, I can hold my own on a trackday but when I get off road I feel totally useless and I really don't know what to do about it? I have looked into the BMW off road school but the cost is £480 each level, plus your accommodation, fuel to get there (I'm in the East of the country,thats in the west) so its soon over £600. Maybe I should just "get more seat time" in the dirt? I just don't know.
So when this weekend out with my road riding mates I found myself pushing the 800 (on Karoos) right to the limit and thinking "I could do with another 100hp!" So I then find myself ogling a K1200R in my local dealer!!
I feel like an ex smoker being tempted by the odd cigar, I know if I had a 160hp+ bike it would only be a matter of time before, well you know what...........
Decisions, Decisions...

i do miss going mental now and again but if the old bill catch you going fast and its very very easy on a biggin , and you will , banned even going to jail (the soaps on the floor, the shower floor , oh dear comes to mind ) nice but no thanks for me (nore the showers thanks)

i have a road bike myself, i thinking of selling mine, as i find that it is all i can do to keep it under 100mph and if i dont sell it soon i wont have a driver licence left

This is my fear, the 800 will send me to jail easy enough, but not as easy as something that trounces 170mph

To be honest up to about 7-8years ago I lived on fast Ducatis, up early on a Sunday morning to get a good fast rideout before the traffic got busy, then home for lunch after I've had my speed fix. It was getting faster and faster every week, with a crash every other weekend, some leaving people never riding again so I made a decision to sell my beloved Ducatis and get a Buell, still handled well but sub 150mph, but that didn't stop me as I tuned the Harley lump to over 100hp at the wheel So I got the GS1200 and discovered off road riding and eventually ending up with the 800 hoping my off road riding would improve but it hasn't, and it's frustrated me to the point of possibly calling it a day and getting back on the speed train............

Well I'm not surprised if you are struggling with the BM 'off-road' (green lane?)

It's big, heavy and not really designed for it. Unless you are an expert off-road then weight and power are your biggest enemies.

I'd either swap it for a road bike, or get a lighter trail bike, or go one an off-road course like the Yamaha one where you can ride a trail or enduro bike. A 250 will be plenty, honest.

At the moment you've got a jack of all trades bike that won't excel at anything. They can be ridden well off-road...but they aren't really suitable unless you've acquired the necessary skill set.

See the problem is Richard I like to go to Europe and I don't want to do that at 55mph on a 250, the 800 will cruise 80+ no problem and unfortunately I'm not in the position to run 2 bikes. The frustration is I see other people on similar bikes, sometimes bigger, coping a lot better than I do. I think the GS is a great all rounder and on road rubber (mines not) it would give any sports bike on a back road a run for its money, trust me on that one.

Richard Simpson wrote:


True words

Keep the 800GS for roadriding and touring and buy a £1000 250 trailbike

I have bought another XR250, after an absence of 8 years and i'm lovin' it............

Also got a competition Trials bike and it's good fun too, in the depths of winter

Pure road riding would bore me silly, never go above 80-90 nowadays

Gb,
Reckon you need to become the master of one rather than the jack of all. Turn the GS back into a twisty monster with road rubber which will still get you across the grass to your camp site & probably still up the Stella if you take it slow & steady. A lighter bike is a hell of a lot easier to off road, you reckon these Dakar gods learnt to ride on GS's? Honda 50cc aged 5 admittedly

Money saved on not running on knobblies for a year? Enough to buy a battered but still usuable green laner to fall off on a regular basis It's a win win situation & you will probably improve dramatically. Either that or just bimble & enjoy it rather than make it a challenge?

I'm in the same position, can only run one bike & if I break it at the weekend I can't get to work come monday morning. Green laning loses some of it's charm when there's that kind of pressure attached

By the way, how the feck could you buy a DFS sofa out of the sale?

If you got a motorway out side your door get a road bike , iv had a few MV'S KAWASKIS BUELL SUZUKI HONDA YAMAHA don't bother on these shit roads.

For what its worth I would agree with buying a cheap small bike for the lanes. I bought a £800 serow and am enjoying the lanes a lot more on it than I was on the DL our the van van. I am also using it for commuting and it gives better mpg and I actually enjoy riding it. the knobblies keep you focused on road. By my reckoning the bike will end up paying for itself in a year our so.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

GB..
If you ride on the roads at 80mph with knobbleis they wont last very long ..for our pyrenees we rode at 65-70 to conserve the treads and did 2-3k and they where half worn then..

I learnt to ride green lanes on a Ta650 not the best choice but do able..the weight is the limit..not ability or tyres..on gravel and wide tracks they are fine to get out and explore BUT on ruts a small enduro is best as its easier to pick up and easier on the rider..

I am slowly..yep stubborn coming to realise I have to limit where I ride..still got a bad back after 2 weeks from my last tumble on a enduro that would have not happened..

the big bikes 650c+ are best for gravel and wide trails both uk and europe..even morroc they are fine..

P4ulie wrote:


I think you have found it, I commute everyday on my GS as well and that could be the problem, I feel that pressure. The GS is so economical and saves me queuing in traffic (I hate driving) its the perfect commuter, and probably the best all rounder you can buy, but I don't think the GS is a good enough road bike for just a "road bike" I think I need to improve what little off road skills I have with the 800 or get shot of it and get back on a 1200cc+ road bike.

But I am weary of what problems high speed road bikes bring, and that keeps me from outing the GS.

Tramp wrote:


I normally run K60s which last longer than any other tyre I have tried,plus they didnt let me down on a trackday, but I put a set of Karoos on to try and help my off road riding and they did help, but when they are worn out the K60s will be going straight back on.

Whats stopping you running several cheaper more focused bikes rather than one jack of all trades? Unlimited farkling and if you break one you have another for Monday