BMW F800GS

[Paul Neate]

So, if you pick the GS12 for your first course with them, they'll take you on less tricky stuff than if you'd picked an F800GS.

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).

The latest brochure from ORS indicates the 800's off-road capability as medium/high and ease of use as low and most suitable for Levels 2 and 3, while it gives the 1200 as medium capability and medium ease of use and suitable for all levels. Everyone on my course who switched from the 800 to the 1200 for a try-out found the 1200 easier than the 800 over the same tracks.

[herman]

We had mixed groups of machine too,groups were more sorted for ability/confidence I think with a few people changing groups at lunch. Funny tho as I found the 800 easier and it would be my choice if I were to go again. Bloody ABS nearly killed me tho.

[Ceri JC]

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 two of us on 800s and the rest on X bikes.

On subsequent courses/day in the dirt they also segregated based on bike type. Not to be rude, but there was no way any student I saw was even close to the level of ability where they were going to get a GS12 up the hillclimbs we were doing on the X bikes. Even the instructor wasn´t 100% he´d get a GSA up there, which is saying something.

EDIT: Herman, was the ABS not disabled then? All the bikes I've ever used with them have had it disconnected, if the bike was fitted with it (IE ABS warning lamp indicator on and brakes functioned as normal ones)?