I have a desire to do the WABDR next summer but am honestly a bit intimidated by the big bike. Even with years of off road riding the iron pig has me a bit out of sorts. Have any of you done the BDRs on the big GS?

You might want to get some big-bike ADV training. Expensive but will give you the confidence you're looking for.

Assuming you're in the PNW you can look at:

Brett Tkacs (looks like he's operating out of Idaho now, was in WA previously)

ADV Motorcycle Training

ADV motorcycle training with Bret Tkacs delivers expert instruction to enhance your adventure motorcycle skills, confidence, and control both on and off-road.

brettkacs.com

or something a bit cheaper

ADV Rider Safety Training | Classes

A google search turns up some others.

 

You might want to get some big-bike ADV training. Expensive but will give you the confidence you're looking for.

Assuming you're in the PNW you can look at:

Brett Tkacs (looks like he's operating out of Idaho now, was in WA previously)

ADV Motorcycle Training

ADV motorcycle training with Bret Tkacs delivers expert instruction to enhance your adventure motorcycle skills, confidence, and control both on and off-road.

brettkacs.com

or something a bit cheaper

ADV Rider Safety Training | Classes

Thanks. I’ve looked into that. The adventure safety training looks like they use small bikes. I’ll look into Brett Tkacs. I think I just need more saddle time on the gs. I am in the PNW.

A google search turns up some others.

 

Your buddy is offering good advice. You are somewhere near 70 years and the GS is a heavy rig.

Even though you have a great amount of dirt experience, the GS is a handful in the rough.

I seek out groomed fire roads for a majority of my offroad. Beyond this, it's real work.

 

Your buddy is offering good advice. You are somewhere near 70 years and the GS is a heavy rig.

Even though you have a great amount of dirt experience, the GS is a handful in the rough.

I seek out groomed fire roads for a majority of my offroad. Beyond this, it's real work.

Pretty much what he told me this evening lol. Even when I ride my 84 IT200 I’m not near as comfortable as I think I should be. Lol. I have no issues on the gravel or forest service roads around here but as soon as any technical stuff shows up I kind of stiffen up when I’m on my GS. I started looking at the mid sized bikes this evening. Even the 900gs is a big bike. Lots to think about. Thanks for your thoughts.

 

Husky 350 looks to be a brilliant bike. And unlike the KTM variant, the Husky offers linkage based rear suspension which really improves compliance. Great second bike.

 

Yeah. 350 is a good sized bike. I’ve always had a soft spot for Husky’s. My last bike when I was racing was a 79 390 OR. Loved that bike. Turned me into a brand snob lol.

 

I’d personally choose a KLX300 or CRF300L Rally, but for a multi day trip off pavement anything 350-400 pounds or lighter would be a good choice IMO.

For sure a heavier bike can do it but you have to be comfortable with picking it up when you drop it and determine if you really want to wrestle a big bike day after day, or bypass the tougher sections. I have way more fun off pavement on a lighter bike.

The only downside to the light bikes is if you have days of interstate to get there. Then a Tenere 700 or Transalp may be a better choice and bypass tough sections as needed. Make sure to break in your MX boots ahead of the trip and carry a Garmin InReach.

 

My issue with lighter bikes like the 300 to 450 dual sports is the inability to carry enough gear for multi day rides.

 

ADV off roading seems to have it's own unique skill set. Take a few classes and practice some and then you will have a better handle on what you are comfortable with. Consider that you will be adding even more weight to the bike with your gear.

After doing the above, I've been surprised at what the GS can handle off road if your technique is good. It's also pretty unforgiving if your technique is not.

 

I feel I’ve got the skill sets just lacking in saddle time on the big bike. I can pick the bike up and maneuver it on dirt roads pretty well. The added mass can be a bit intimidating on loose down hills lol. The only training course close by uses small bikes which I don’t need. I’m thinking of looking outside my area for a course that actually trains on the big bikes.

 

If you are camping, check out some of the light / ultralight backpacking gear. You don't need to haul a ton of weight to be comfortable. But you are right, a 250-400 class bike has a penalty, especially on the highways and elevations of the west. That being said, there are plenty of people that have done long distance tours on 250s.

 

I have the light weight camping gear from my backpacking days. I’m looking at a few different options right now. I have done the first section of the WABDR on a 1090 KTM. Big bike but with dirt bike handling. I sold it because I didn’t want to do 4-5,000 miles on the bike. I had done a couple of 2,000 mile rides on it and I just wanted more highway comfort. Hence the 1250gs. So I’m thinking about the Honda crf450L, the CFmoto Ibix 450, or just training hard on the gs and limiting my rides to the less technical portions, ie; forest service roads that see some maintenance. Lots for me to think about. But as was said earlier, I am on the short side of 70 and my hardcore technicals days are behind me. I don’t heal like I did 50 years ago and usually limp away from crashes instead of walking away.

 

My issue with lighter bikes like the 300 to 450 dual sports is the inability to carry enough gear for multi day rides.

Depends on model and structure of the subframe. Yes on some of the super light bikes you have to go rackless but many can handle soft luggage as big as your GS.

I don’t heal like I did 50 years ago and usually limp away from crashes instead of walking away.

Limping sure beats riding home with broken bones!

 

I have a couple friends in their 40s and 50s and they have Yamaha 250 and Honda 300 and done several BDRs. One time a friend came with them on a KTM 1290 Adventure bike. Made for some good stories and lucky they brought rope so the 3 of them could pull it out of ditches!

 

Reading your post and various replies it’s like I wrote it myself. I’m 68 and have done a whole lot of off-road riding over the past 55 or so years as well as on road. I bought a 24 R1250gs in February this year and have fallen over 7 times now. Lucky for crash bars the bike is unmarked. It’s just so tall and so heavy. I’ve been riding most weekends on all sorts of roads, beaches, paddocks etc. and situations to try and familiarise myself with it. I came back into my yard last Sunday and thought, with my rebuilt confidence, I hadn’t fallen over for ages, I’d just ride over that bit of rough ground in my yard. I never thought to change from road to enduro. I got the front wheel over a 12” ridge and went to give it a slight burst to pop the rear over and the traction control stalled it. Down I went, No 7. I’m seriously thinking of downsizing but suspect the new 900 is just as tall.

 

Well it does seem like we’re pretty parallel here lol. I was out this weekend on some logging roads and it got me seriously thinking of day long 2 track riding and came to the conclusion I need something a lot more dirt worthy. I’m checking out a Honda xr650r this weekend. Looking at something like that for a BDR bike. Something I can do a hundred plus miles of asphalt on to get to the routes.

 

My bike of choice for the BDR's is a KTM 690. It's light enough to handle the rougher stuff, carries the typical camping load well and can do 75 comfortably on the tarmac. You could possibly rent one or something similar for the BDR. The 690 is about 100 lbs lighter than a T7

 

When I first bought my 14 GS, I quickly learned about the need for Enduro mode when off pavement. My friend had just cut a driveway into a piece of property he bought. It was large fist size rocks that were not packed down well. I pulled onto his driveway in Road mode, stopped, and shifted to first gear. Every time I tried to pull forward, the engine would cut out and die. I finally switched to Enduro mode, and drove down the driveway without issue. The GS does a great job of negotiating gravel, and moderate forest roads, with an older rider like me. For sketchier offroad work, the DRZ400 is the ticket for me. Not as light as some dual sports, but, 317 lbs. feels like a feather after getting off the GS.

 

I’m 55 and I thank you for posting as I think you’re my future. I have some ideas for you: first is the BMW school. I used the one just outside Greenville, SC. You can fly in with your gear and they will shuttle you to the hotel and school. You use their GS and get very high quality instruction on dirt, sand, gravel, hills, ruts and so on. We had 8 students and 3-4 instructors. Worth every penny. Then you can evaluate your skills on the exact bike.

Second - it’s a big bike, but the guy who tried the 800cc with a normal vertical cylinder layout had a harder time. So I think personally the middle 650-850cc bikes appear perfect for interstate and off pavement, but they are probably a false compromise.

You are 70. I ride with my church motorcycle group with guys 55-72. This may be one of your last big off pavement rides. BMW has made over a million GS/GSAs. Life’s short. If you really want to do this and the size of the bike is an issue, sell it and get a 300 cc, super light gear, and bring a lot less stuff. (People travel on bicycles with three outfits total - one to wear, one drying they just washed from yesterday and a spare).

Then when you are done with technical off pavement, buy another GS.

Imagine you are 85 and not riding anymore at all (or have a trike? lol) - what memory do you want to have?

I highly recommend the BMW off road riding school.