What mods to take GS offroad?

[Ecklund]

It's the BMW's that get stuck...

BAJAZUKI:

Mods:

"Sacrificial" - read "less rare" gas tank
80/20 tires on a spare wheel set
A pipe I didn't care too much about getting chipped etc (Swapped my Yoshi to this one for the trip) - I would have fabricated a guard for it if we were doing bigger bumps so it couldn't get flattened.
Handguards (a stronger set of bars may have been useful too but I didn't bother - those are bikemaster Daytona's)
Bar risers - so you can reach the bars while standing up
A headlight guard and fairing - you don't really need this.
Some 3 point crash guards.

We did a bit of sand & gravel. Nothing too extreme.

Looks like a great bike.

Whatever you might have given up in road handling, and I'm not saying you did, were well off-set by the increase in off-road capability.

Hampshirehog's idea of a slightly lighter bike with the 500 sounds interesting too.

Then again XR650s are pretty cheap...

 

[Motojoe2492]

I take my 83 GS850G on the trails around Machias, ME. All just re-purposed train tracks now ATV trails. I put a dual sport rear tire on this year and loves it on and off road, next year I'm going with a matching set. I might add a few PSI to my forks and stiffen the rear enough to keep off the gravel, but the only real mod I want to do in the way of going on those groomed trails is lifting the front fender. That will give the all terrain look while not rolling rocks between that and the tire, ruining the fender lol.

 

[Steve]

Congratulations on your bravery for taking the heaviest GS off-road. :encouragement:

Rather than adding air to the forks, you would be MUCH better off in the long run to change the springs. One of the forum favorites is Sonic Springs, made and sold by one of our members, Rich Desmond. I have them in my 850G(K) and really like them. Depending on your personal gavitational attraction, you might want the 1.0 or 1.1 rate springs. Because of my gravitational attraction and the fact that I hung a 30+ pound fairing on the front, I have the 1.1 springs.

It would also be good to upgrade your rear suspension to match the front. Given that you will be encountering some less-than-glassy-smooth areas on your rides, get something that has a selection of spring rates available. Make sure the lowest setting will handle your weight, then you can crank in a bit more preload if the situation warrants it. Hagon shocks are about $215 or so for the pair. Talk to Dave Quinn at Dave Quinn Motorsports, let him know how you plan on riding the bike. He will select the shock bodies with the proper damping rates, then will select a spring rate that should work. They will come to you fully-assemble, ready to ride. I think he allows one spring rate change for fine-tuning at no charge, so order them when you will have a chance to try them out.

.

 

[Tracker]

Have the same idea, 2003 Yamaha r1 was donor for front and rear suspension along with foot controls. Got everything fitted then after welding is done finish work started

 

[zuluwiz]

I went cowtrailing once or twice with my old GS1100E, and blew the fork seals. Fork gaiters would be a good idea as well.
Better yet would be a good off-road bike like my old XT500 Yamahammer.

 

[Guest]

DO NOT PROVOKE!!
i could pit a sqare four of the aforementioned...

And, I can tell you, is pretty confortable, both in the way of stress to the wrists and actual sitting position.

Hard hitting on the pockets though, with a mere 7Km/L (drove on the pipes)

P.S. you forgot the Intruder, Marauder, Volusia

Vstrom, TL, SV, VX.............

 

[Lorenzo]

Vstrom, TL, SV, VX.............

...T5 (Guzzi)

https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-nRR6D61D...ulXwLKrht48/s1600/gda_guzzi+%282+di+32%29.jpg

 

[Chuck78]

Rent or buy a BMW GS...

Sorry I did not read all of the replies, but that is a heavy bike to be taking off road. If you are just talking about dirt roads that are not very rugged, then that is a different story, and would be doable but not really the best idea versus other bikes, but it is what you have as you said.