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GS can do!

Why cast wheels??

Cheaper than spoked probably. Given that few of these bikes will ever see rough duty that might damage a cast wheel, it makes sense. Maintenance free and you can go tubeless as well.
 
Tubeless is a good point, I was thinking weight and strength.
 
Tubeless is a good point, I was thinking weight and strength.

You're thinking from a dirt bike perspective. It is more likely the designers are thinking urban commuter perspective. It looks like a nice bike, but the price is likely gonna be pretty high. If the seat height is not too high, it could be popular with the inseam challenged crowd.
 
A little fodder for my GS brethren... [might not be work safe because of language in parts]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ql6kjr1Pgs"]BMW R80 G/S vs. R1200GS: Riding the Original ADV | ON TWO WHEELS - YouTube[/ame]
 
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[ame="http://youtu.be/aTvYAcJOx3s"]The Raiden Files - Portland to Dakar - A Riding Movie - YouTube[/ame]
 
I wish!
 

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For sale on Adv Rider, if I had the 3 grand, might take a chance on it!?
 

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I had a 1200GSA and now a 1200gs nice bikes but dirt bike they are not

I basically agree but a lot of folks will prove us wrong! Not sure it's really "fun" but they do it.
 
Bring it
 

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I understand challenges and having fun but why take a huge bike into that stuff?
 

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I understand challenges and having fun but why take a huge bike into that stuff?

Definitely an overseas photo. That could be considered a highway in some countries and the only road available to take you to Starbuck's. Lol

_
 
I understand challenges and having fun but why take a huge bike into that stuff?

Oh, I can understand that. Sometimes you might be cruising along and it is muddy, but the mud just isn't deep and the ground underneath is actually relatively firm... until you hit one of those spots... Back when I had my 1150, I got into a few tight spots because of nasty mud... :huh2:
 
I understand challenges and having fun but why take a huge bike into that stuff?


I can't imagine pulling up to the edge of that on a 500-plus pound motorcycle and thinking " Yeah, I can make this".


Back when I had my 1150, I got into a few tight spots because of nasty mud... :huh2:

And maybe, a few times after you moved to the 1200...

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:tab Yeah, that was a crazy stretch of road :lol2: I still can't believe I only went down that one time and no one else went down at all :twitch: There were quite a few pucker moments on that road!! :eek2: That was some serious "quality" mud in the pic above :puke:

:tab That little stretch in Utah after we left Heber City caused some serious puckering and praying as well before we decided to turn back. I wasn't real sure I was going to make it back up the hill and had Sarah saying over and over on the intercom, "I wanna walk up!!" :lol2:
 
Here are a few shots from some other rides...

Randy on his 2005 1200 GS, I was still on my 1150 but made it through without any trouble
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This was actually coming back out after having already ridden through to a dead end on the shores of Lake Conroe down near Kelly's Pond.
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I took the luggage off and had a nice sit down to relax before dragging it to a point where I could lift it. Shortly after this, I started carrying one of those little folding army shoves :-P
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These shots are from a little road out just North of Richards. I was exploring to put together a route for a group ride. Going into this, I had no problems. As I neared the end of the road, I slid down off the crown in the center of the road into the muck on the side of the road. I then spun out back into the middle while trying to recover.
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I decided to turn back and things only went from bad to worse...
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Not five feet later I slid sideways again... right into a culvert! :doh:
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My right leg was pinned between the bike with a FULL tank of gas and the side of the ditch. I sat on the road and shoved with my left leg to free myself. Fortunately, I had my cell phone and GPS so I was able to guide Beth and a friend in with a truck to come save me... "Hey honey... You know that long handled tool with the big curved blade on the end of it... yeah that one... Can you grab that and some wire cutters, call Paul, and start heading toward Richards? Yeah, I'm fine..."
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After a little brush clearing and fence trimming, I was able to ride out through the pasture, flinging black bog mud everywhere, until I reached a nearby gate. Then we went back to repair the fence (which was in worse shape before we started than it was after we left it).

This next series was from North Carolina, not far from Franklin. The GPS said there was a road here!!

Not too bad at the beginning and not real wet...
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Until we got to here
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That's me on the 1150
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There there was this time I was going to take a short cut on the way back from the Bike Show in Dallas... :doh: Everything was going great until I crested a slight rise and the road went from nice packed gravel to troll snot on the backside of the hill... Once again, I slid down off the center crest into the ditch. Once again, I had to go for help. I found this guy up the road a bit, he was trying to get his truck unstuck from mud in a pasture and decided to take a break to come help me :lol2:

You can see the nice packed gravel surface here
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The view from the crest...
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I was doing pretty good trying to keep it under control as I was slowing until I got right about here, then it all went sideways...
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The final resting place. This is that mud that once it touches you, it sticks unless scraped off. I felt like I was walking on platform shoes after a few minutes! :lol2:
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Once freed, I had to spend a wee bit of time clearing mud from the front fender so the front wheel would turn again. This is probably what caused me to lose the front end right before going into the ditch.
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That really big chunk was lodged on top of the back wheel just behind the rear shock. It took some doing to get it out!
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With gloomy skies coming toward me, I opted to head back to I-45 and haul on home the safe way :zen:
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Despite what you might think from seeing these pics, I have never been a big fan of riding in the mud. It was not long after these experiences that I started shopping for a lighter bike, the 1150 being my first ever "dirt bike". I stumbled into a nice deal on a KLR 650 and was amazed at the difference in weight! I did not fare any better in the mud with the KLR... :doh: I now have an even lighter KTM 530 EXC... It too does not like mud.

I was watching the Dakar highlights last night and I am just flabbergasted at the ability of many of those riders to blow through really nasty slimey mud like it is nothing at all!! :brainsnap I just cannot fathom how they are able to maintain control and keep the bike from just sliding right out from under them :shrug:
 
I understand challenges and having fun but why take a huge bike into that stuff?

Kickstand broke off earlier that morning. Mud can serve a purpose. Sand also workers well, especially if a little damp. I've often parked a bike in mud because wet soil will not support a kick stand dependably. Well, there are also those times I wasn't ready to park, but that's another story.

TM, if you want to play in the mud, get some aggressive tires. I've seen many experienced riders attempt a ride on a rainy day and dump the bike a half dozen times because they had the wrong tires for the job. Experienced riders figure it out sooner or later, or spend a lot of time healing and a lot of money fixing things that should have never broken.
 
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