‘It’s no Chelsea tractor’
Just how good is the new F850GS off-road for a novice?
I have to admit that I’m not really the off-road type. Sure, I was a dirt bike junkie as a kid, but my love for off-road dwindled as I got into road bikes and life on tarmac became the preference. That hasn’t stopped me from the odd jaunt down some green lanes, though, and riding the F850GS has opened up a whole world of opportunities. Wanting to get under the GS’ skin properly, I loaded up with luggage and headed to the BMW Off Road Skills centre in Wales to see what the bike can do when the road runs out. Nervous was probably an understatement, especially with me nursing bruises from a track highside. But after a 240-mile ride to their Ystradgynlais base, I was soon leaving the road behind at their Walters Arena facility, and brushing up on simple bike control and body position techniques. Once I’d relaxed I started to forget that I was on a 229kg road bike with indicators, lights and a numberplate. So much so that the GS was soon hitting the 1:3 gradients without me giving it a second thought. We’re talking the sort of hills you couldn’t walk up, and yet standing on the wide pegs, you just open the throttle and find yourself at the top. Loose rocks, gravel, dirt, you name it, the 850 serenely glides over the lot. While it is on the tall side for my 5ft 5in stature, it’s easily manageable thanks to its wellbalanced chassis and grunty engine. The new engine’s torque delivery means it’ll chug around in third gear on slow sections with ease. Ground clearance was never a problem either and the suspension brushed off more extreme terrain without breaking a sweat. Hitting the faster sections was even more eye-opening. Enduro mode is superb, and we didn’t turn off the traction control or ABS at any point. It allows plenty of spin to get you out of a rut or up a hill and the ABS is more than capable of anchoring up to a stop without any issues. In addition to that if the rear-end does step out, the electronics hold the slide, allowing you to stay on the throttle.
The F850GS flattered me on the rough stuff and boosted my confidence ten-fold. So much so that I’ve already been looking at my nearest green lanes. I’m genuinely blown-away by how capable this comfortable road bike is once the tarmac runs out. This is no Chelsea tractor, it’s a genuine adventurer.