BMW1200GS in free fall

[MagicAyrtonforever]

Flipping excellent.. that there takes some balls :-) runaway bike ...

[vanRijn64]

Hmmm, I never left my ABS on while 'off road' on my older R1200GS (One of the ones with the servo assisted brakes) but on my 'new' 08 R1200GS I have been leaving the ABS on while off-road and it works fine, although you have to use the front as well if you want to stop (so yes, they will still take off on you like in this video if you only use the back) so ABS in straight line = good, ABS going around corners = Bad for obvious reasons. It depends on your speed, turn it off for the slow stuff.

[obaidCarkey]

@vanRijn64

what does ABS actually do for a bike in a situation like this?

[vanRijn64]

@obaidCarkey Steep downhill descents? It depends on your riding style but assuming you want to ‘take it slow’, you can just hold the rear brake on and let it turn slowly in ABS (Kind of like the automatic hill descent in modern 4x4s) letting you just focus on where you are going (clutch in). This works fine unless the hill is very steep, in which case you will also need the front brake, in which case the ABS stops the front from wanting to fold up underneath you (keep it mostly straight though).

[vanRijn64]

@obaidCarkey Also, about half of the new 'big adventure bikes' have linked brakes, this lets riders negotiate down slopes with both feet on the ground while still having access to their rear brake. Even if you are a top gun there are times when doing the duck walk is the sane thing to do on these bigger bikes, they are not XR400s. So I guess the ABS + Linked brakes can be 'A' solution to a problem that the rest of the bike brings to the party. Not something I want on my XR if that makes sense.

[drwilms]

woooohooooo better than any roaller coaster :D

[dominique5462]

Hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha­h

[nasonguy]

Why not just put the bike in first gear and let it engine brake down the hill?

[calorenzoni]

Juvenil !!!!!

[tosgem]

"let the front wheel go, let the front wheel go!"

Sage advice, but hard to take in in a fraction of a second.Luckily he seemed to let it go anyway.

[vanRijn64]

@tosgem Why let it go? He was hardly moving and he had ABS on so as long as he kept going in a straight line he cold jump on the front all he wanted with no risk... Letting the front go really only applies when you don't have ABS or you are going around a corner with ABS (It will still wash). The sage advice would have been "Engine brake!" or "Get on the front and stay straight!". The ABS will stop you just fine if you use front and back, but back only is nearly useless. Depends on the rider.

[tosgem]

@vanRijn64 Why let it go? Because the front wheel was locked up and he was sliding down hill. You can say whatever you want about ABS, in the strategic timeline you can think about when to turn it off and when to turn it on. But the evidence on screen is that the front is locked and he's sliding down hill. That's a tactical timeline issue, you have moments to respond. At 0:26 it's just locked up and "bulldozing" as the bystander says. The thing to do here is let the front brake go. Which he did.

[vanRijn64]

@tosgem I cant see it locked. He clearly has his right foot on the ground which means if he is braking (and he clearly is) he is using the front brake leaver which, because it is a linked brake bike, is also applying the rear brake. The hydraulic balance of the brakes usually has the front lock first on flat ground but as he is heading down hill (a steep hill) the back would lock first, well and truly, I cant see the front but the ABS is clearly doing its job on the back so bulldozing it is not.

[vanRijn64]

@tosgem Although, I do stress, that if you turn at all while the ABS is kicking in, you will probably dump the bike. As I said in my comment, stay straight. Where the 'Don't use the front' really went bad was that the rider had his feet on the ground AND the clutch pulled in, the sec he let go of the front he went into 'free fall' at which point the rear brake only + road tires + ABS = no chance to slow down. Heck, rear only + road tires = big trouble if you let it get going. Speed hurts more.

[vanRijn64]

@tosgem Sorry for digging up a 6mth old comment by the way.

[tosgem]

@vanRijn64 no need to apologise dude, it's the internet ;-) Peace

[Hoshibandit]

Was the shit ABS turned on? Seems like, because no blocking rear brake which could be very useful offroad.

[NULUSIOS]

OK I read the explanation but this doesn't say much. He risked his life and the bike's good name (good name for a reason - I own one for years) because you didn't take the time to get to know the bike before doing this. Take the time to what... press the button that says "ABS"? DOH! RIP top box, after all that box version is not for this use. Anyway... at least he didn't drop it while going down.

[edog200]

@NULUSIOS We mean no harm to BMW. We are bike riders first and film makers a distant second and what happens....happens. This trip was so memorable and there is no doubt Philippe's roll down this hill is the best! The latest video posted (yesterday) on channel edog200 records our second visit to this hill. I would encourage you to view that video.

[GatewayBMW]

That brought tears to my eyes I laughed so hard :D Glad it ended ok.

Lesson: Come to a complete stop, press and hold ABS button till ABS light comes on, proceed.

That said, you can ride with us anytime. Impressive decent!

[djrichardgrant]

Couldnt stop laughing watching this. So loud my flatmate asked what I was watching! You could just see that he couldnt get his balance to get his feet on the pegs and use the back brake instead of the front, this whole video I imagined in my head a moment after he started on that downhill, when it started gathering momentum and with his only way of slowing appearing to be the front brake, I was amazed to see him get down in one piece. Great stuff, Thanks. Richard-Scotland

[MentallFloss]

I love the "Oh my god" comment and the case flying.

Glad it ended ok and kudos to the rider, I've got one also, actually a gsa and know how hard it is to ride these bikes on this terrain.

I'll certainly remember this one and switch off the abs next time I go down something similar

[avzeolla]

great to see some lads having fun on bikes...

[threadersmal]

Just came across this vid again and read all the comments

Very Funny some of them

Lets just say I was on this ride as well,with the OTHER RENTAL BMW 1200GS and pretty much experienced the same free fall without the top box falling off.After that we worked out how to switch the ABS off and pretty well experienced no more troubles after we got off that Very Steep track.

For any of you to say we lacked technique come Enduro riding with us anytime :)

We lacked BMW knowledge simple as that

[edog200]

@threadersmal Ah Mal, great to see you are still trawling the site. That ride was still my most memorable. We need to ride together again.

[threadersmal]

@threadersmal

Sorry its still funny :)

BTW looking at a 640

[MfalmeVTold]

He fucking survived!!! Hell yes! Damn, what an adventure this had to be for him.

[Jasonhalls]

Someone should teach that guy to ride. Why did he go barreling down that hill? On terrain like that he should have been standing on his pegs to keep his center of gravity in the center and help the suspension work properly. He also should have been using his rear break and not the front. What a noob!

[edog200]

@Jasonhalls Dear Jason. There is a well known Australian song sung by the band Australian Crawl called 'Things don't seem to be going right.' It is a long story but in summary he had no choice. He had been on the bike mere hours. Did not know about the ABS switch and so he HAD NO BRAKES

[edog200]

@edog200 Things don't seem by Australian Crawl is on youtube.

[steinert]

@Jasonhalls

Perhaps you do not understand the comments?

This bike was driving with ABS, the driver could not put it off.

Then you have on the dirt down this hill insufficiant activity of the brakes.

[dinosoreis1]

Ohhh that could have been bad and expensive way to hold on!

[GatewayBMW]

Briliant!

[turismofreak]

still scary looking....stayed calm and in control...

on slicks...wow...bravo man...

[pacoGS]

The ABS isn´t desconected you are a great freaky jejejejejeje

[turismofreak]

what a save...well done...

( i love the part where the saddle box fliy's off...Ha...)

Maybe BMW can adress this weak point...Ha...

Cheers...

[MightyWizard1970]

well done he survived ! ! !

[dzoni30]

the king :))

[ririshow]

Well ok then! Yet when you go off for a fun ride with pals, leave yr cases at home!!!

[ririshow]

This is ridiculous! Why on earth did he keep his top and side cases???? It just add weight located high up, it is cumbersome and it looks real ugly.

[edog200]

He did know he was going to take on something so rugged.

[dogfooddave2000]

This guys a hero! Very funny! Riding A GS Bronco style. Go for it dude! lol

[edog200]

Go to the edog200 channel and look for the most recent video to see this guy riding the trails of Barrington.

[dogfooddave2000]

Will do. Keep it up. Love this shit.

[edog200]

I couldn't help but notice your nationality. I have some of that heritage in me ! :)

[dogfooddave2000]

I bet u do lol! The Bronco definately has!

Keep on rocking dudes!

Born to ride but destined to fly.

[ANGELOSEPITHEMIOU]

wow shit! I would've shit myself! I can ride a bike well but if that happened! lay it down! I had dream the other night I was on a bicycle being pulled by a motorbike and it would'nt stop! I woke up just before the crash! ?????!?!?!?!

[andreels]

that is funny !! :)

[imaketheroad]

hahahaha,

more training in other small Motorbike!

Hahahaha,

the bag fly over on his, hahahaha.

[Lukc9]

man he has some balls

[hankgs]

Let's see, No Knobbies (idiot), Doesn't know how to disengage the ABS system (idiot), Doesn't lock the left vario bag (idiot)... 3 idiot's = 1 MORON

[edog200]

Steady on. The guy you should be cranky with is the tour leader. This guy had only been on that bike a couple of hours on road and the tour leader took us into a difficult place. He did not know he was going to need nobbies. He did not know how to disengage the ABS. He wasn't familiar with vario bags. He an excellent dirt rider.

[dogfooddave2000]

I agree the video does the guy a disservice. Bet he knows the whereabouts of the abs now. Good video and good fun. Good sports here too. Lots of hope for the dude! Battery on my GSA let me down yesterday 2 miles into woodland! Bikes almost 2 years old with only 10k. My back is killing me today!!

[flyboybill]

Get goes to show all that money and cant turn off the ABS, thats the first thing i ask where that is. Really the laughing is how stupid are you, bong bong down the hill with wheels that wont go to the stop position, what if your were on a road learning the bike, right off the cliff, woops i didn't know where the ABS switch was. But I guess when you got it you mise well spend it.

Actually the ABS is great on roads, so smooth you can just squeeze the shit out of the brakes with no worry of up.

[LatiTea18]

hahaha.... bmw....

KTM

racing

[Lullquetotlove]

Lool !!!!

It was a happy end: he survived and the top case was able to fly a great looping, free at last.

[PhilippeKTM]

After 8 months, I just had a look again at the vid and I am still laughing my head off about the whole thing. Believe me, I prefer my KTM 520 in this sort of snoty downhills and I don't want ever..ever.. an ABS on a dirbike. Predominantly on rocks that looks like ball bearings

At the end of this 6 days epic, the rental bike had a scare but no scarf

[cinatit41]

forse un percorso meno inpegnativo ?come inizio

[effe2]

Very funny!

[edog200]

There is more where that came from. OUr next ride is the 5/6 December. Subscribe and see how we go. Video will be on youtube within a couple of days of our latest ride.

[grdrummond]

haha should have brought a dr650

[edog200]

ha ha ha ha, he didn't guy it. It was a rental!

[dolomitiforever]

1- don't go offroad riding with a GS if it's the firts time you see dirt

2- turn that damned ABS off

3- leave the adventurous trails to experts

4- what a jerk....

[edog200]

4- is a bit tough. He didn't know he was going to have to do that....he had no choice or the bmw would still be there.

[dolomitiforever]

I guess it was not so easy with a GS. I personally rode my GS on dirt and gravel ( sometimes mud )and it wasn' t fun although I have some dirt riding skill ( motocross background ): I prefere using my GS on the Alps raods, lots of curves , lots of fun ;-)

[johanlondon]

good save!

[drcollie]

I too, have a R1200GS.

However, I have basic off-road riding skills which your man doesn't! Its not the ABS thats his problem, its that he's trying to ride down a hill with his arse in the saddle rather than being o the pegs.

[edog200]

I find it difficult to agree with you. The video doesn't give an appreciation of the steepness of the hill. Secondly, that was the first time the rider had been on a BMW1200GS and the first time they had taken it down a very steep hill.

[drcollie]

I've been down steeper than that on my GS12. You have to pick a path and ease it down or if you're a decent rider familiar with the bike simply ride it down, on the pegs all the way. Downhills are a mind game, don't lock the wheels, get your weight up and back, and they're no problem. ABS is not a factor in my experience.

[MikeTrimboli]

Yes,he should be on the pegs, though getting from arse to pegs from standing on a steep loose hill on a big bike requires commitment. He got off his arse further down whether he wanted to or not. But ABS is a problem in this terrain. The roads down there are loose and rough. Riding any bike in that terrain will result in a locked front in normal riding regularly and without a problem. With ABS you lose all control of your braking. Remember that pics/vids make hills look easier than they are.

[edog200]

Before speaking of off road skills of this rider it may be worth watching a few more videos on channel edog200 of him climbing rock ledges, tackling drops offs and steep descents. You'll pick him wearing the same gear. On another note are you suggesting ABS wasn't a factor in his difficulties?

[yautja898]

Drcollie, you might find it surprising how steep this hill really is.

Video never does a hill justice, and especially with a road tyre & ABS on, i would have hated be on that bike in this situation.

Props to the guy on the BMW.

[drcollie]

Steep is even MORE reason to have proper technique. Hey, glad he made it down...but if you know how to ride off-road, you know the right way to come down the steepest of hills. And that was not the way. Maybe he just goofed up on this one...happens to the best of 'em.

[yautja898]

And how can proper technique be accomplished with a topbox on the back, stopping you from standing on the pegs and getting your weight back?

[drcollie]

On your best day, on the steepest hill, you can't get your Arse that far back to be impeded by a top box on an R1200GS. My last comment on this one,its obvious that you don't know downhill technique.

[yautja898]

I find your arrogance hilarious.

I've done my fair share of Enduro riding, far worse than this hill has to offer.

Proper technique would not have made this hill any easier.

[herrdirektor1969]

hihihi, great vid !!!

[eatpasta]

Right on!!! Im not sure how you saved it going down that long bit at the end but nice riding!!! Turn off the ABS next time....

[MitcheyBabes]

So much class. Off road tyres???

[edog200]

Our guide, interpret mate, thought the track was ALOT easier. You know what thought did. All is history now. The rider normally mounts a Kato520 and is very good. You can here me groan right at the beginning of the descent. I thought he was going to eat it big time.

[lecon44]

hey grandpa your to old , stay at home with  grandma is safer for you

[edog200]

Ah son, life has a funny way of catching up with you. I look forward to seeing what you are doing at 50!

[Luky1Jay]

I hope his kids send him to a nursing home. Oh wait, people like that stay virgin untill the end of time.

[sqd8r]

GOOD WORK

[Peterholla]

Ha Ha ha!

[mattmantheogre]

Congrats on saving it! Amazing skills, given the circumstances.

[breezemont]

You made it, so no harm done!

[PhilippeKTM]

I could not dis-engage this f*@#ing ABS. The funny thing is that it stops working 2 days afterward for unknown reasons...

The box survived the fall without a scratch.

It was also much less impressive on board of the bike that as a bystander. Well we are only young and stupid once...

[NomadRip]

...but it is up to you to decide how long that youth lasts :-)

Great fun and video! *I* was scared LOL

[steinert]

@PhilippeKTM

... but i must say its really hard stuff.... you were really a little crazy ;-)

Believe me: you had big luck.