Joining the ADV club...

[HadesOmega]

Yeah it's a 2-day event but you can start on the first or 2nd day if you want. You should get start riding at the crack of dawn if you want to make it at the end of the day. You finish in Las Vegas and then have to figure out how you are going to get back home. I stayed over at a friend's house and rode back the next day.

LAB2V is the hardest/longest dualsport ride I have ridden in. Almost 500 miles of mostly dirt riding.

Check out Familiy Off Road Adventures Yosemite Dual Sport ride. That's the first dual sport event I rode in and its probably the best for beginners.

 

[rrrdbw]

Hey Cincinnatus,

If you haven't already committed to the BMW GSA, you should look into the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Coming from sportbike, dirt. Supermoto , and adventure background i purchased a 2018 GSA. She is a great bike, would take you to hell and back. I know this from experience. Is capable of riding way beyond mere mortal skillset. I found that when riding with fast sportbikes, I was loosing grounds on the straights. I can keep up with majority of riders but the GSA tops out about 120 with full panniers. Might not be a priority for you since you will be riding in dirt. Another pro to the KTM 1290 adventure is the weight difference. Alot lighter than a GSA. Slap after market skid plate, adventure tires, and some crash bars she will kick ass in the dirt. Also GSA alot more expensive.

I thought i was a true BMW guy when I got mine. Unfortunately I lost my BMW GSA to the Paradise "Camp Fire" last year. After some serious soul searching , youtube research, and what I really wanted in a bike. I chose the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Only small difference between the R/S model. Wheel size, some suspension component and crash bars. Did I mention the KTM has 160 HP compared to GSA 125 Hp. Almost identical electronics.

Not trying to change your mind, just some constructive feedback. Also if you do decide on the GSA I still have my brand new BMW NAV VI I might be willing to give you a hell of a deal on. Just got a new one from Garmin after some screen issue. Nov 7, 2018. She only has 1 trip ride on her. You can see my route from Paradise to Chico, then from Chico to Paradise. First and last ride on Nov 8, 2018.

 

[Cincinnatus]

Hey Cincinnatus,

If you haven't already committed to the BMW GSA, you should look into the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Coming from sportbike, dirt. Supermoto , and adventure background i purchased a 2018 GSA. She is a great bike, would take you to hell and back. I know this from experience. Is capable of riding way beyond mere mortal skillset. I found that when riding with fast sportbikes, I was loosing grounds on the straights. I can keep up with majority of riders but the GSA tops out about 120 with full panniers. Might not be a priority for you since you will be riding in dirt. Another pro to the KTM 1290 adventure is the weight difference. Alot lighter than a GSA. Slap after market skid plate, adventure tires, and some crash bars she will kick ass in the dirt. Also GSA alot more expensive.

I am committed to the GSA, so there's that. I grew up on Yamahas, had a KZ1100A3 rescue that I never loved (it never loved me back, so there's that), then got the K1200R that's now too expensive to fix, and I've been riding since 1978 or so. Lots of street miles, if there's a group ride I sweep it. I do love the acceleration and speed, but I do like the control. I've ridden a 990 KTM and it's a pure blast, I know where you're coming from. I want to take mine camping, fishing, and exploring all over the place, and I'm pretty sure the GSA will be right for me. Yeah, I know it's a heavy beast, but that goes with the territory, and I'm ok with that.

I thought i was a true BMW guy when I got mine. Unfortunately I lost my BMW GSA to the Paradise "Camp Fire" last year. After some serious soul searching , youtube research, and what I really wanted in a bike. I chose the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Only small difference between the R/S model. Wheel size, some suspension component and crash bars. Did I mention the KTM has 160 HP compared to GSA 125 Hp. Almost identical electronics.

Not trying to change your mind, just some constructive feedback. Also if you do decide on the GSA I still have my brand new BMW NAV VI I might be willing to give you a hell of a deal on. Just got a new one from Garmin after some screen issue. Nov 7, 2018. She only has 1 trip ride on her. You can see my route from Paradise to Chico, then from Chico to Paradise. First and last ride on Nov 8, 2018.

I'm really glad you survived the Paradise fire, is your family up there too and how are they? I had a friend who lived up there with his wife & daughter, they were able to GTFO before their house burnt down to the ground. He had his rifles, a great model train setup, lots of nice stuff. He & family are now down in Boca Raton, FL, and will never come back to CA. Too many memories, lost friends, etc... Yeah, interested in the Nav 6, but retail is $950, so unless it's a smoking deal, I can use my Android. Yeah, I know it integrates into the TFT and all that, but I'm a student at Cal Hayward. Not broke, but not rolling in dough. :teeth

My truck got sideswiped by some jerk a month ago and I rented a 1250GS from Dubbelju for the week my truck was getting fixed. Really nice bike, handled very nicely, great acceleration, brakes, etc. Didn't have time to play with the cruise control or any of the ESA ride modes, tho. Did go up & down on Redwood Road down here a few times, it's a blast...

Thanks for the input, I do appreciate it! :thumbup

 

[Cincinnatus]

Don't listen to these guys. Get out there and have a blast. That big GS is probably going to be way more fun than your K1200 in the dirt.

My buddy rails his off road...

Somewhere deep in the bowels of teh BARFs, I posted video of my dirt ride from Hecker Pass Road to Rt 17, going thru a campground, into sand, gravel, hardball, and general shitty roads. Lots of fun, never dumped it. :teeth Way back in the day, I rode my RD400F from Waianae around the northwest tip of Oahu out to King Kamehameha's lighthouse. The road was/is sand, coral blocks, rocks, and general pain. Then back out onto the North Shore. Lots of fun getting all the sand out of nooks & crannies afterwards... :teeth Yeah, street bikes can do dirt, just not as well as bikes designed for dirt. arty :laughing

 

[Cincinnatus]

Here's the original post - https://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=456308&highlight=hecker

YT didn't like the length of the video so it bounced it, and my external storage croaked, so the original videos are gone. :cry

I guess that means I just HAVE to re-run that road. Curses!!! :teeth

 

[ScottRNelson]

I can keep up with majority of riders but the GSA tops out about 120 with full panniers.

Trying to figure out why this is relevant... :laughing

I have no idea what my KTM 1090R tops out at, but the tires are only rated for 99. It's a safety issue rather than a power issue.

 

[Cincinnatus]

I took the K12R up to around 155 on the way to Hawthorne, NV about ten years ago. I think that I won't need to do that again. :teeth

 

[Heywood]

Hey Cincinnatus,

If you haven't already committed to the BMW GSA, you should look into the KTM 1290 Super Adventure S. Coming from sportbike, dirt. Supermoto , and adventure background i purchased a 2018 GSA. She is a great bike, would take you to hell and back. I know this from experience. Is capable of riding way beyond mere mortal skillset. I found that when riding with fast sportbikes, I was loosing grounds on the straights. I can keep up with majority of riders but the GSA tops out about 120 with full panniers. Might not be a priority for you since you will be riding in dirt. Another pro to the KTM 1290 adventure is the weight difference. Alot lighter than a GSA. Slap after market skid plate, adventure tires, and some crash bars she will kick ass in the dirt. Also GSA alot more expensive.

I am committed to the GSA, so there's that.

I've been eyeing the new Tiger 900. Did either of you consider a Triumph? From what I'm reading, the 800's and maybe the 1200's really transfer the heat to the rider but I'm reading that maybe that's been fixed with the split radiator on the 900. It looks like they're really going after the GS/A market.
If Kawi made the Versys in an 800 that would be perfect for me. I don't really need a liter bike but I want more giddy up than the 650 on my current Versys. It's mainly a commuter with a few trips per year.

 

[Cincinnatus]

Yeah, but my uncle is an engineer and he told me that triples are inherently unstable. :x

:teeth :laughing

 

[Heywood]

Yeah, but my uncle is an engineer and he told me that triples are inherently unstable. :x

:teeth :laughing

Oh, absolutely! Unsafe at any speed. That's why I want one, so I can do doughnuts and wheelies down Ralph Nader's street.
I think it was his Dad, not his uncle. Or is your uncle also your dad who's a degreed Engineer from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo? If that's how your family rolls, that cool by me :rofl

 

[Cincinnatus]

Oh, absolutely! Unsafe at any speed. That's why I want one, so I can do doughnuts and wheelies down Ralph Nader's street.
I think it was his Dad, not his uncle. Or is your uncle also your dad who's a degreed Engineer from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo? If that's how your family rolls, that cool by me :rofl

:teeth

One of the oldest jokes on BARF, TBH. :laughing

 

[1962siia]

How much fun did the HD rider have? :laughing

His day improved a lot when a guy I was riding with found his bag that bounced off his bike and returned it to him. :laughing

Maybe we should schedule a big bike Berryessa Knoxville ride. Not sure if the second sunday ride is very active anymore, but its a good place to get comfortable on the ADV bike.

 

[Cincinnatus]

I had to take a refresher CMSP course for Uncle Sam many years ago and two of the other attendees were a full colonel and his wife who showed up on their Road Glide or whatever. He was embarrassed to admit that the kickstand fell off the bike on the ride to the course.

I didn't laugh too hard, I liked the guy. :rofl

I had a spare bungie cord and gave it to them for the duration.

 

[Tom G]

His day improved a lot when a guy I was riding with found his bag that bounced off his bike and returned it to him. :laughing

Maybe we should schedule a big bike Berryessa Knoxville ride. Not sure if the second sunday ride is very active anymore, but its a good place to get comfortable on the ADV bike.

My GSA made it once, we are not supposed to push our luck. I bailed on Rife Road though.

 

[Cincinnatus]

I live to push my luck. :teeth

Berryessa sounds great, I've run those roads a lot, and the Cucina Italiana is a great place for lunch. Free minestrone soup for motorcyclists, too. arty :teeth

 

[1962siia]

Well once you get the bike we can get a group of folks and go ride. Not recommended if it’s wet. It can be super snotty mud up there off road.

 

[Cincinnatus]

Well once you get the bike we can get a group of folks and go ride. Not recommended if it’s wet. It can be super snotty mud up there off road.

Isn't that part of the adventure? :teeth

I'm getting mine with dual sport tires installed, so it might be fun... arty

 

[ScottRNelson]

I'm getting mine with dual sport tires installed, so it might be fun... arty

The TKC-80 or something else?

Not all "dual sport tires" are great off road.

 

[Cincinnatus]

Might be Karoos, I'll find out on delivery. Very likely not to be Shinkos.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Might be Karoos, I'll find out on delivery. Very likely not to be Shinkos.

The Karoo 3 isn't bad. The shinko 804/805 is decent, but the 804 front is about two steps down from a TKC-80 for steering in loose stuff. I also like the Heidenau K60 Scout, all but the price. I don't actually know what my next set of tires will be for my KTM. Gotta be something good in the dirt and "good enough" on the street.