I like panniers for their security and getting the weight nearer the centre of the bike than a top box does. The luggage capacity, whilst overkill for weekends away, is unfortunately necessary for my business travel, so I'm stuck with them. Their impact on filtering (and your confidence to do so, af...

I like your thinking. A relatively softly tuned 500-650cc twin, with a 21" front and an 18" rear would make a great alternative to the smaller capacity, more highly strung (and consequently much higher maintenance) trail machinery that some people turn into dirt-oriented adventure bikes. I...

I wild camp all over the shop; the best roads are in the remote areas where wild camping is very easy and being disturbed is very rare.

I don't agree with what you have said here -- when I did the Level 1 course at the ORS last year, we were in mixed groups. There was no segregation by type of bike; the group I was in was a mix of 1200s and 800s (no 650s). When I did level 1, on mine there were two groups, one with 12s, one with tw...

Yep! My GS couldn't get off a bowling green in the morning jew in July with those Battlewings on! I know the difference proper knobblies tyres make... ...but the Battlewings (as are most road tyres) are more capable offroad than you'd think. In dry conditions, they're pretty good and they're compet...

Henke (F800GS)

Had a look on the BMW off road school and they give the impression its harder to get on with off road than the 1200GS for a Newbie rider. Anyone got aftermarket crash bars etc they'd reccomend. Going to the Stella first time this year and fresh out the box so good chance I'll drop it. Thanks Firstl...

A great video of a brilliant bike. Beautiful dismount, by the way. I was, however, disappointed that you didn't ramp off the gravel pile.

A plus one for me to the, "it'd be nice if it could be off by default".

I find the issue of waterproofing easily resolved if you stick a couple of dry sacks or even better, waterproof compression sacks in the panniers. Out camping, you can take the sacks out and keep the panniers on the bike, saves time strapping stuff down again. Very good tip. Now that you mention it...