Africa Twin goes over a ledge, WARN XT17 winch recovery

Although it hasn't been available for several years Paul and I still carry a WARN XT17 with us when we train. In 19 years we have never used it for a student at an Adventure camp but just like aid gear you carry it for the one time it's really needed. Today was the day we needed a winch.
The Honda Africa Twin was winched up the "cliff" with the winch paul stows on the BMW R1200GS he teaches on. It may not be a fancy new R1250GS or the R1300GS but it still gets the job done.

[@gonegliding2966]

Wow...first time I've seen Brett without a hat! Great recovery guys!

[@Doctoberfest]

Whoa no hat?!? Blasphemy!! 😂

[@dtrex392]

He musta really wrestled with that…….no hat!…..but the content was so compelling that it won out over vanity…… 😅

[@BretTkacs]

Not really... Vanity is something people assume about me 😉

[@Jonnyca21]

@@BretTkacs Interesting that people would assume that, you have never come across as vane to me in any of your videos. To each there own I guess.

[@paulrobbertze587]

That's what I was going to say

[@dommotos]

I though the same thing. I think he got some hair implanted and wanted to show us 😂

[@SWTrailsAndWheels]

Thanks for reminding me why I should keep my WR250R for Adventure Riding.

[@SigmaSheepdog]

Warn definitely needs to start manufacturing those XT17's again.

[@BretTkacs]

I wish they would

[@josecaeiro2631]

Winching should be done with extreme caution. I’ve seen steel cables snap under pressure and cut small trees of their bases. Also know of a few fatalities with winches. There should always be a dampener on the cable, and nobody should approach the cable unnecessarily…

[@BretTkacs]

That's why we use a synthetic line instead of a cable

[@TwoTubesADV]

Hats off to you Bret, absolutely no situation phases you and there is always a solution at hand.

[@BretTkacs]

😁

[@nathanboeger978]

This time literally!

[@TwoTubesADV]

@@nathanboeger978 in knew there was a pun in there somewhere 😜

[@johnhoaglun1]

A great video. We have heard you talk about the winch for a couple of years so it was interesting to see it in use for a recovery that had a good outcome.

[@AF-O6]

You make everything look so easy and so fun. I am truly envious of your perpetual happy attitude!

[@Jonnyca21]

I love my WARN XT17, glad I got one when we still could. On a smaller bike currently but hold on to it knowing I will end up with a bigger bike again at some point... (want a GS Adventure)

[@ghettojohnny]

I did the same. Found one a couple of years ago for my DR650 and the Transferred it to my GSA when I got one.

[@AdventureGlide]

Nice job recovering the AT! Bet that was a wild ride. Thanks for sharing the recovery tips. Another great video Brett!! 😊

[@ryanmalone2681]

Looks like you’re still hanging out in Appalachia. Glad to have you here adventuring

[@zakparrish]

Amazing job. Cool to see the rescue operation.

[@ParkerHale06]

Thank you very much Bret. Myself I own a winch that I could hang from a tree with straps. I find it a bit big to carry with me but this video would probably have me find a way to carry it, depending on where I plan to go and how I plan to reach this "where". Again thank's

[@enduromotorradtouren]

Usually you don't need the tools you have with you onboard ;-) I've never thought about taking a winch with me, Bret, but now after your video... It's really steep. Thanks for all your efforts, Günter, Nürnberg/Germany

[@naturalfitness]

Great teamwork and communication! Way to stay calm in a bad situation.

[@PA-Tammy]

So happy I have 10 bikes in my garage but I would miss my AT

[@gpin2623]

Hi Bret, I’m from Austria and I actually own a R1250GS, I prefer to ride alone. A Warn XT17 is part of my equipment for several years (and also a RT15 as a back up). The XT17 is the guarantee for me to lift up the GS without to have to consult a chiropracticer afterwards😉. Br Georg

[@0HARE]

Very nice work on the recovery, and on the explanation. It didn’t hurt that you had a group of hefty guys there to provide some muscular assistance.

[@trinisailor2925]

Another awesome video w/Real Training Value! I would love to train for a few of these scenarios. Thanks again Bret.

[@LazyJack2003]

1.) Great to see the rider was not hurt. Plenty of trees around. 2.) Very interesting to see the recovery. Do I need to bring a winch now? Hmmmm....

[@Petesmotoadventure]

Another great video. Sage advise at the end, I can buy another bike so I let it go.

[@ecalzo]

Always good stuff and good info even in bad situation from you Bret and Co. Thank you from Italy Guys

[@rodentsadventureriders1157]

Hey Bret, you forgot your cap trying to save the bike... No big deal! Keep cool and enjoy... 😉

[@ChaiNinja]

People don’t understand until they have experienced it. Your body is more precious than your bike if you can get out and know that you will be fine doing so. I recommend you do so. Speaking from two accidents both which I jumped off my bike

[@RayzGarage]

Excellent video Bret

[@idude2216]

I'm surprised the little motorcycle battery had the capacity to complete the pull without the motor running.

[@timgruchot2162]

I was thinking The same thing

[@veiledallegory]

I like the new you without the hat. Everyone grows. I guess now is your time!

[@Where2Adventures]

Thanks for the detailed information. I hope I am never in his position but if so I hope I have the talent around me like he did.

[@hrvojecolic8274]

Good job. Gonna have to get the winch myself. Almost needed it last week...

[@PeterBaumgart1a]

Should have called Matt's Offroad Recovery! (Or at least become friends with his channel!)

[@ddavis2390]

I don’t like to see an Africa Twin hurt. But I think I’m more disturbed and maybe even trigged to see Brett without his signature hat.

[@dabit4840]

I have 30 meters of Dyneema rope stowed to some frame tubes. It's light and it does not take otherwise-useable space this way. If I ever need it I won't have a nice winch, but by twisting with a stick you can also move things inch by inch. Or use it to tow another bike. Or...

Bravo! U know why.

[@airfoil]

This is a first for me, haven't seen a winch on a motorcycle before.

[@Crazy-Chicken-Media]

I don't do a lot of off-road riding but when I do this is my biggest fear.

[@renanmuller8385]

My fear is not even losing the bike. But falling with it and not being able to ask for help. Imagine riders passing you by and not even knowing someone is down there. Scary stuff.

[@advwxyz]

My XT17 is on my bike. Self recovery when alone is a thing.

[@ralphheger1180]

Had the same situation with my Norden a week ago. No chance without a farmer and his winch.

[@UncleWally3]

One thing not mentioned is, as opposed to using a winch, the $ cost of a towing company recovering a bike. Also, what would be worth a discussion is recovery insurance. Thanks!

[@ghettojohnny]

I love my Warn XT17. I Found one after your other Videos on the Other Channel(Mototrek). It's came in handy so many times. Fortunately never used it on myself. Ha ha I've only had to change the Synthetic Rope and that's it. Great Video as Usual.

[@BlueADV214]

I have contacted and been ignored by Warn about bringing back the xt17 for a while. Working on testing a replacement soon… Hope it works and will put the test/review on my channel.

[@nathanboeger978]

I always see you with a hat or helmet. It's strange to see you without them.

[@backcountry4life]

Winch saves the day!

[@orpaztron]

Holy Moley! Bret- you forgot to beret :) and thanks. another great video 🍺🍺🍺

[@yorkchris10]

Helge Pedersen used multiple pullies in the Darien Gap. I've never seen a wheel winch for a motorcycle. It'd have to be singl-sided swingarm.

[@bnjpayne]

Has anybody looked at the badlands winch? If Warn won’t step up somebody else will they have some good light weight winches

[@DansADV]

Another Great Video

[@tosa-ranch2234]

In lieu of a wench, have you considered a light weight 3:1 or 5:1 mechanical advantage rope system? It would depend on the strength and number of riders you had with you, but it’s undoubtedly lighter than a wench and could fit in the same space. Plus, it doesn’t require electricity. 🤷🏼‍♂️

[@BretTkacs]

I used to carry a 3:1 with me but a winch is almost the same weight and space and works for solo extrication

[@keithhtidwell]

You should add a new ADV (winch) Certified sticker to the mix

[@davidsonneman1121]

Nice work. Throw one of your jackets over the cable so if something in the system fails thing dont fly back and hit people

[@BretTkacs]

That is synthetic cord, not cable

[@Meatlove]

On this episode of rich people on heavy bikes. 😉 I do get you guys, these bikes are very competent, comfortable and so on. But if it was me riding in the forest, it would be on an old, cheap, lightweight dirtbike. I think you can get a lighter bike back on a slope like that, with a couple of helpers.

[@BretTkacs]

A bicycle would have been even better than a light bike 😉

[@mullins6429]

Great video Bret. Thank you. I need one of those Tshirts!! Are they for sale??

[@pappaclutch3266]

The badlands 2500 winch ain’t bad once you replace the steel cable with rope

[@justaguy4788]

Maybe you can ask Warn to make them again

[@TweedSuit]

You know it's serious when the cap comes off.

[@BretTkacs]

🤣

[@happytrails1963]

Good job

[@murraehaynes3182]

Nice…been looking for one for awhile

[@BretTkacs]

Like finding pupic hair from a unicorn

[@murraehaynes3182]

@@BretTkacs 🤣

[@plen_for_nothing]

I think Africa twin has very weak upper cowl stay bracket(located at front of main frame pipe) this need to be enforced by some mild metal piece and welding.

[@flyterlucki]

We had been once in a situation like this, we made a manual winch out of trees and some rope, it worked. But I was thinking what you make if you get in this situation and don't have a winch or don't know how to make one from trees and rope. I think if you are not alone the other motorcycle can pull, tow, you out. I think can be a solution as long S you have some rope with you. I used to never leave whit out rope.

[@UncleWally3]

Should have a dozen of these for rent @ Deals Gap!

[@retiredbiker]

This makes me wonder if one can’t convert one of the small atv winch’s into a portable unit like this.

[@Bobcatz1870]

Always great content. Was the bike not running to feed the winch? Is that not hard on the bike battery?

[@Jonnyca21]

I upgraded to an AGM battery on my BMW back when I had my XT17 mounted on my bike, currently on a smaller bike, and it would run the winch fine without the bike running. Not sure how much winching I would have had to do to feel like I would have needed to start the bike as I only ever used it for a few smaller pulls like this one.

[@josmith4531]

In a different video, they run the bike to keep from killing the battery. This one really doesn't look like they had to pull it very far.

[@TLE1977A]

Quick, take a screen shot, Brett's head is naked!!! Haha

[@mickleblade]

Thank for sharing

[@fozzyber1]

No hat? What have you done with Bret? Love the vids

[@CommieHunter7]

Is the winch more generally useful than a section of rope and a carabiner?

[@ghettojohnny]

Makes it easier once it's setup. I have a hand held remote to use on others bikes as well a bar mounted one for my bike. I've used it multiple times on other people's bike .

[@CommieHunter7]

@@ghettojohnny oh, sure. I agree, in that scenario, it's the easiest. But, it's limited to a bike recovery, and it's heavy. Other kit can do the bike recovery, and is multi application, with less weight.

[@advwxyz]

@@CommieHunter7 I feel naked without my winch alone. It is your own personal level of risk. A three to one block and tackle on that slope- nope. Not when alone.

[@espero7757]

Why don’t you start the engine for power where the winch is connected to?

[@BretTkacs]

Didn't need too

[@andrewpeter6128]

Fascinating. I would have guessed the amperage draw would have run down the battery

[@advwxyz]

@@andrewpeter6128 I run my engine while winching. Also, on that typo of recovery... winch ten seconds, wait ten seconds. There are tricks to winching that not all know about. Read the manual.

[@andrewpeter6128]

I’d be interested in knowing how many amps those winches use…and how many amps these bikes make (especially at idle). After all; both the electrical and extraction is just simple physics.

[@thetessellater9163]

You had enough manpower there to have picked up the bike and threw it up the hill !!! 😉

[@vladimirpetrov8918]

the better the SUV, the longer it takes to go for the winch.

[@heimvegen5295]

Interesting! Thanks! 🙂What sort of weight is that winch? Should be able to make/adapt something similar 🤔Does it have a synthetic or steel wire? Another question here is what sort of boots were the winch up crew wearing and how did they perform in those circumstances on that terrain?

[@BretTkacs]

8lbs

[@iglesiasminondo]

lose the hat Bret. cut your hair short and forget about it. great rescue video. that winch rules.

[@sspirito3130]

Throw a jacket over the cable, it will act as a damper in case something snaps!

[@BretTkacs]

Itst not a cable, it is a synthetic line

[@ritterkeks]

so what should we call this kind of recovery action then? PORR? or BORR? :D

[@malanthrope]

same situation I had a week ago - NO WAY to go up

[@mikemills5144]

So was the bike able to ride home?

[@BretTkacs]

Yes... Only the prebroken turn signal fell off, a few new scuffs and we had to put sidestand spring on. It tumbled 3x on the way down.

[@Sasqmoto]

Im bald, wondertwin powers activate!

[@a.k1311]

Gs always to help/support 😂

[@daisyanddad2148]

Hi, how do I stop whisky throttle when I stand while riding off road?

[@Rolandmotocom]

Lucky oldfart

[@BeyondWrittenWords]

What happened to the driver who drove it there?

[@BretTkacs]

He is the guy towards the end talking about "sending it"... He was fine

[@ridermanpatel4112]

They dont make motorcycle winches , i have been looking , no one make these things

[@shaundisch2020]

Video of it going down?

[@BretTkacs]

It would have been spectacular. We started the recovery and then I thought to do a phone recording. If I had a film crew this could have been really good...

[@ea5761]

Lots of buddies standing around not helping …..

[@tsconver]

Where do we get the shirts?

[@BretTkacs]

We are getting preorder names on Patreon. Christina is working on getting them up on the website www.BretTkacs.com

[@baldandbiking]

I kinda wish I could have seen the crash

[@BretTkacs]

It would have been spectacular

[@FluxExplorer]

Pretty disappointed. I watched that whole video and never saw a wench. I want my money back 😂

[@saanko8742]

You shaking camera (not hands) , get an iPhone 🎉