Joining the ADV club...

[Cincinnatus]

Hey, folks!

I'm getting a GS Adventure in January (K1200R is a financial money-pit) and want to get some miles (aka lots of miles) off pavement. I've had lots of practice taking my street bikes off-road (voluntarily and involuntarily) so I'm familiar with the basics, but want to get a dedicated bike (with ADV/dualsport tires) and get dirty.

This should be fun, amirite??

 

[Cincinnatus]

Wow, 34 views so far and no comments...

 

[NB0tt]

Congrats on the complimentary hi-viz Aerostich and white Schuberth!

 

[Cincinnatus]

No Aerostich, I like my hi-viz Klim and First Gear stuff, and the helmet is a Scorpion in Battleflage.

 

[Maddevill]

Jah, you must use ze Klim gear or you vill be banished from ze BMW clubs!

Mad

 

[Tom G]

Start going to the gym. This beast is heavy to pick up. Otherwise they are very capable. The rider not always though. I have 150k mi on the clock and still going strong (on the pavement for me).

 

[ScottRNelson]

Make sure the bike has a GPS on it. I'll be happy to send you some GPX files of good dirt roads to ride in the Sierras. Unfortunately there is almost nothing interesting less than 100 miles from where you live.

If you want to ride that thing to Idaho next year, I can show you hundreds of miles of great dirt roads.

 

[dravnx]

Get the Starbucks app loaded on your Iphone.

 

[Farmer John]

Brian Garrahan has ADV specific classes.
http://garrahanoffroadtraining.com/

 

[Chill]

Get the Starbucks app loaded on your Iphone.

Best advice yet. And farkle the fuck out of that shit. EVERY piece must have a story. "Oh that lanyard? Right... It was a dark and stormy night..."

 

[dravnx]

Attend the Jimmy Lewis class and then attend the Advrider Noob rally that weekend. Serious good advice.

 

[Cincinnatus]

Best advice yet. And farkle the fuck out of that shit. EVERY piece must have a story. "Oh that lanyard? Right... It was a dark and stormy night..."

Well, I'm moving the Clearwater Darla's, the Skene Design PhotonBlasters, the headlight modulator, and the Stebel Nautilus from the K12R to the GSA, and getting replacement stickers for all my BARF memories, so there's that.

 

[Cincinnatus]

Get the Starbucks app loaded on your Iphone.

Android, and I loathe *$.

 

[berth]

Yea, honestly, get some training. As beastly as these things are, there's actually a lot of not necessarily intuitive nuance and technique involved. Learning that earlier than not is a better plan. Already have a bunch of $$$ spent on the machine and gear, put some more in to that soft squishy thing you wrap the helmet around.

 

[MtnRider]

Android here too so I'm going to have the best information to share

I rode my '07 GSA to Alaska (10K miles in 5 weeks) and rented a KLR in South America for several miles and weeks.

I started on a KLR and quickly realized I wanted a larger and more comfortable bike for the long hours on asphalt when not playing in the dirt hence the GSA.

I've been riding a day or two but predominately on the street so the dirt was a new experience (if I'm being honest with myself). I went to Rich Oliver's Mystery School (twice) and had a blast each time and look forward to attending again. I used the skill I learned there on a TTR 125 and 230 on my GSA. I believe you can attend less and more expensive training and get quite a bit of knowledge that will help when handling these large beasts in the dirt and other fun surfaces.

Be honest with yourself, do not get in over your head and try to ride with someone who is a better rider than yourself. Learn techniques to pick up the bike, work on it with the tools you plan on carrying, invest in a pump and plug kit and consider soft luggage if getting into serious off-road environments.

Gear...there are a few schools of thought here. I've got a two-piece Darien from Aerostich. It works but could be better. Klim is nice but almost too much for me yet I would not turn it down. I'm now leaning toward wearing body armor with a shell (Mosko Moto) for several reasons. When it gets hot the shell can come off and I'm still protected, the armor won't move away from where it needs to protect and more mobility.

Helmet....I like the peak on the ADV helmets not only because of the look but also the use when riding into the sun but by no means need one.

Get on the ADVRider forum if you haven't already. The wealth of knowledge is astonishing....you know similar to what you find here on BARF

What other questions do you have?

Sam

 

[Cincinnatus]

Android here too so I'm going to have the best information to share

I rode my '07 GSA to Alaska (10K miles in 5 weeks) and rented a KLR in South America for several miles and weeks.

I started on a KLR and quickly realized I wanted a larger and more comfortable bike for the long hours on asphalt when not playing in the dirt hence the GSA.

I've been riding a day or two but predominately on the street so the dirt was a new experience (if I'm being honest with myself). I went to Rich Oliver's Mystery School (twice) and had a blast each time and look forward to attending again. I used the skill I learned there on a TTR 125 and 230 on my GSA. I believe you can attend less and more expensive training and get quite a bit of knowledge that will help when handling these large beasts in the dirt and other fun surfaces.

Be honest with yourself, do not get in over your head and try to ride with someone who is a better rider than yourself. Learn techniques to pick up the bike, work on it with the tools you plan on carrying, invest in a pump and plug kit and consider soft luggage if getting into serious off-road environments.

Gear...there are a few schools of thought here. I've got a two-piece Darien from Aerostich. It works but could be better. Klim is nice but almost too much for me yet I would not turn it down. I'm now leaning toward wearing body armor with a shell (Mosko Moto) for several reasons. When it gets hot the shell can come off and I'm still protected, the armor won't move away from where it needs to protect and more mobility.

Helmet....I like the peak on the ADV helmets not only because of the look but also the use when riding into the sun but by no means need one.

Get on the ADVRider forum if you haven't already. The wealth of knowledge is astonishing....you know similar to what you find here on BARF

What other questions do you have?

Sam

Hey, Sam! arty

I've been riding since 1978, all street bikes, last was a BMW K1200R.

I've been absorbing the Mototrek videos with Bret Tkacs, great stuff.

Emailed Brian G regarding his classes, asked for ADV help. (check)

I've got the plug kit and the inflator, tools, and used to carry a first aid kit (and know how to use it). Red Cross & Army Combat Lifesaver qualified.

My ego isn't a problem, I usually sweep on group rides. I used to have a FindMeSpot and might get another newer. Shepherd/flock attitude.

Moto is coming with the luggage frames but not the aluminum cases, I was impressed with the Mosko gear both on the Mototrek videos and at the Moto Guild event last Friday, looks like great gear and I really don't want to damage myself with aluminum hammers to my ankles/shins. Bought a Scorpion Battleflage ADV helmet and have a pair of A* Toucans, plus Helimot gloves.

I've been on the ADV Riders site since 2013, so there's that.

I'm tempted to get a Leatt device or similar, I've had one major concussion and (probably) several others and I'm starting to wonder what damage another will do to me. To quote the Three Stooges, "I'm trying to think but nothing happens".

 

[Cincinnatus]

Make sure the bike has a GPS on it. I'll be happy to send you some GPX files of good dirt roads to ride in the Sierras. Unfortunately there is almost nothing interesting less than 100 miles from where you live.

If you want to ride that thing to Idaho next year, I can show you hundreds of miles of great dirt roads.

Hey, Scott! Good to hear from you! I'd appreciate the GPX files, thanks! Not sure I want to pay $950 for the BMW GPS device, but we'll see what happens.

I'm sure Mines Road is different on the GSA compared to the K12R. Ditto for Morgan Territory & Calaveras, not to mention Palomares!

 

[boney]

Get the Starbucks app loaded on your Iphone.

I can send you the GPS file with every starbucks in the US and a little icon so it shows up on your GPS all the time.

Us BMW riders must stick together.

Just read the rest of the thread.... Maybe you'll want every Forest Service Campground in their database instead.

 

[budman]

Congrats Peter

A new chapter of moto fun to unfold!!

 

[HadesOmega]

LAB2V starts in 2 days great way to get your feet err dirty. I have seen R1200GSA do LAB2V I heard one's frontend got destroyed.

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