First adventure with Brutus - BMW R1100GS

The warm weather is approaching and I wanted to take Brutus my 1996 R1100GS on a first adventure ride mixing long distance, long stints on pavement with off-roading through the mountains and even some river crossings. The bike impressed me with it capabilities considering I found myself biting of more then I thought I could chew with the road getting a lot more technical and difficult then I thought I could cross with the experience that I have. But the bike shined and got me through everything and we made it home in one piece.
The route:
www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mi...
Check out my video how to take a route from Google My Maps and put it into maps.me so you can ride the same route as I did: • Creating KML files in ...
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Take care and ride safe!

[@plymouth1970]

Just came from work on my R1100gs, now watching your adventure 😁

[@johnmignano7872]

Can't beat those heart stopping thrills and spills, you got your money's worth on Brutus with more to come

[@RideWithAlex]

Defenetly 😁

[@pauldegruijter1285]

40 years biker, sometomes proud 😂

[@THE-APEX]

Spring thaw mud has a mind of its own. Thanks for taking us along.

[@RideWithAlex]

Glad you enjoyed it 😁

[@pauldegruijter1285]

Very nice me 1150gs, pfff awsome

[@pauldegruijter1285]

Better not solo

[@GPgundude]

I think you did a fantastic job in the rough off road sections ! Just wanted to say thanks for a great video!!👍👍

[@RideWithAlex]

Thanks 👍

[@ygeia_trws]

We can say you are giving Brutus the beans through these trail crossings and that's definitely rewarding and fun!!! Thanks for the documentary (that was a workload!) and for the 3rd person view of the river crossing😉😍🙏!!

[@RideWithAlex]

Glad you enjoyed it, it's definitely feature film length but it was such an experience and I wanted to share the full experience not just fragments.

[@danpos1971]

You need the Paris Dakar bike :) I remember watching the Paris Dakar rally race back in the early 1980's when I was a kid. BMW won the first few top places. One rider was killed in an accident, and I was shocked how fast and crazy those guys rode. Ever since then I have thought the BMW Boxer twin was very cool. Then in my 20's I would go watch the Vintage TT races. The British bikes ruled the track, but the BMW boxer wins did well also. I had a Bonneville since I was 17. Since then I wanted to get a big boxer. I enjoyed your video. You must have had a good workout handling the big BMW through that road :) Thanks for the video.

[@RideWithAlex]

Indeed it was quite a good workout, who needs the gym 😂. In thr Dakar I think they raced the R80GS, would love to have a go on the bike that started it all.

[@JVBNorway]

That 50cc video is how i discovered your channel and I have been watching every video ever since. Nice to see how far you have come in just 2 years! Keep it up👍

[@RideWithAlex]

Thank you for the support, indeed my riding has evolved a lot in the past 2 years.

[@TheGloucestersausage]

Brilliance

[@nicktdm5703]

Love the vocalisations...as soon as you talk to the bike, you're in a relationship! Love my GS, Swiss army knife bike and tons of character...love it so much...even washed mine yesterday!

[@RideWithAlex]

I know, once you name them and talk to them the emotional bond is formed. 😁

[@zzz3010]

Love the . At the end!

[@rikt350]

Love it Great bike

[@RideWithAlex]

Thank you!

[@MrRatchaphruek]

Great adventure Alex, It doesn't matter what you're riding, as long as it's fun... 🛵 💨

[@RideWithAlex]

Exactly 😁

[@allanotoole3304]

This is brilliant 👍🏽🍺. Al

[@steves6614]

Great ride and commentary. I have an 1150GS Adv and love it.

[@RideWithAlex]

Thank you!

[@gosolobox]

Subscribed and following along for a while now, it is good to see you out for a ride on it. I have a 2005 1200 GS named "Heinrich'. Ride safe..

[@RideWithAlex]

Good name :D

[@sfjboom]

Like the way you share your thoughts while riding. My 1997 r1100rt doesn't like mud, so I'll always keep her on the tarmac. But the riding and comfort is pretty much the same as if it were Brutus.

[@RideWithAlex]

As far as I know the frame is the same the suspension is different.

[@pauldegruijter1285]

Absoluut nice BMW1150GS 😂😊

[@RideWithAlex]

It's an 1100 gs

[@MarkoMarcello]

Great video Alex.

[@RideWithAlex]

Thank you! 😁

[@rb196441]

Great video Alex. Really enjoyed it 😎

[@RideWithAlex]

Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. 😁

[@nicktdm5703]

Alex...give Bret Taks / Mototrek a watch...great technical bids👍

[@RideWithAlex]

I'll look him up, thanks.

[@kc95gs]

Thank you for posting your GS videos, I enjoy them very much. Also, I think the audio is much more clear and understandable when your visor is up. When the visor is down, I find it a bit muffled and mumbling. Cheers!

[@RideWithAlex]

I know but i can't ride with the visor up because of the wind. I am looking into getting a different helmet that should sound better.

[@DIZAZZO]

This is such a coincidence, i went on a little adventure ride today when i was on my way to pick up my wife 200 km away from home, i choose some dirt roads and went for it, but at the end of the last stretch of dirt road, i dropped my Royal Enfield Himalayan at the same side that brutus in the thumbnail, man, i had to write this while watching the video, the roads that i was, looked exactly like the ones in the beginning of the video. Well, lets cut to the chase, i went to the limit of the road to give room to a truck, the bike slip on the sand and dropped, and when i tried to pick it up, i bent the handle bar. Ok, now I'll finish to watch the video. Cheers from Brazil.

[@RideWithAlex]

It happens, but the fun factor makes you want to do it again 😁

[@plymouth1970]

I run the Heidenau K60 Ranger now on my R1100gs, if you want to get more milage and have a good 50/50 tire go for the Heidenau K60 Scout, running them for years on my K75c and K75rt, rear tires last 9000 km, front tires last much more. I like the Rangers on the GS, they have a softer compound then the Scouts.

[@RideWithAlex]

I was thinking of the Michelin Anakee Adventure, but my current tyres still have a lot of life left in them so I won't be changing them soon.

[@cliveperkins8304]

Alex, just discovered your channel. I have a 1997 R1100GS that I bought in 1999. It only has 34000 miles on the clock. Just about to get it road worthy again after not using it for 2 years. I bought a new Harley Davidson in 2021. My GS is part of my family. I had a test ride on a 1250GS and could not tell the difference in real world traffic here in the UK. I solved the ABS issue by upgrading to a Lithium battery. This has a higher voltage than lead acid. You may find that the voltage from a standard lead acid battery is not enough to initialise the ABS system after starting the engine. Some mods I have done over the years - Touratech Zega panniers with mini rear indicators. Denali spot lamps. Will change out the halogen headlight bulb to LED as you have done. Just a great bike for touring. I don't see the point in upgrading to a new GS when this one is so capable. May be with getting a service done at a authorised BMW dealer. I had a leaking air inlet to the injector my dealer fixed. I then had a more power. These are very rare bikes now. May be worth taking the tank off to inspect the wiring harness as I found some chafing to the wires when I installed my spot lights.

[@RideWithAlex]

My ABS has a busted wire under the tank, i know for sure, it's not the battery, i just can't be bothered to go through the loom wire by wire :))

[@JohnAlot]

HEED crash bars. Nice addition. Saved my heads multiple times as people like to kick bikes over in New York City. They think my 26 year old GS is a rich man's bike

[@RideWithAlex]

I really like them too. The bike feels well protected.

[@pauldegruijter1285]

Jawel 😊

[@aleXpeed1]

M-am uitat la tot clipul, pe bucati, evident 😅 . Faină călătoria, cu mai multe peripeții noroioase decât m-aș fi așteptat, sincer. Chiar mă întrebam ce naiba ți-a trebuit drumul ăla la un moment dat la ce hal de noroaie erau 😂, că stăteam ca pe ghimpi de-mi spuneam "aoleu, hai c-o scapă pe valea asta și sper că o mai poate ridica dup-aia" sau "hai că e prea mult, poate caută o alternativă" cum a fost atunci cu BBT în noroi la deal, de v-ați blestemat zilele de numa' hahaha 🤣. Oricum, te-ai descurcat de minune! Aștept următoarele clipuri!

[@RideWithAlex]

Atunci cu Marius aveam alternativa, aici nu aveam este singurul drum asa ca ori asta ori inapoi acasa =))))))) Nici eu nu ma asteptam sa fie atatea noroaie, speram sa fie uscat.

[@dc85337]

Say what you will - that monster of a bike handled it all and "did it!" And with slippery tires! Not too many bikes can say that. Try it with a Gold Wing!!!

[@CristiBucerzan]

Now that u have a better suited bike and more offroad experience,u need to get back to Georgia and tackle that mountain road :p

[@RideWithAlex]

That would be something 😂

[@pauldegruijter1285]

Fucking experience!

[@keithfox4204]

Great video,some road you took the gs on,my 96 r1100rs would,nt like it much.

[@RideWithAlex]

😂

[@10167663]

Wow.... Alex, my utmost respect! I know what you did in that mud. And with the street tires! Also have a 2001 BMW R1150GS and am only 1.68m tall. You entertained me quite a lot and honestly I suffered with you. I prayed you didn't have a heart attack. Respect again. You did very well.

[@RideWithAlex]

Thank you, it was a bit more extreme then I thought it would be :))))

[@user-ii5cg7nv3w]

I am going to buy a gs 1100 and I am 1,68 tall too.Have u change the seat with a lower one? It is difficult to handle?Among the motorcycles I owned there were an xt600 and africa twin and had no problems. I hope the same for the 1100.Thanks a lot!

[@RideWithAlex]

@@user-ii5cg7nv3w it's a bit difficult to handle but with practice amd experience anything is easy

[@user-ii5cg7nv3w]

@@RideWithAlex Thanks a lot man,greetings from Greece!!!!!!!!

[@osimnod]

Congratulations on your inaugural proper off-road ride! Switching to a more aggressive tread ought to increase your confidence in the muddy sections and not cost you much in durability. I can't help but wonder how you would have fared if you had tried a F650GS as a stepping stone from the 50cc scooter before the big R1100GS. I have a KTM 640 Adventure and it's very capable off-road but not meant to be a highway mile muncher.

[@RideWithAlex]

I am currently looking into upgrading to a set of Michelin Anakee Adventure tyres. Should fair a bit better off road.

[@exgtt2061]

Fantastic vid 👍 do you have bears in those woods?

[@RideWithAlex]

Actually yes, but i didn't see any.

[@exgtt2061]

Man I’m terrified of them, you should keep the biggest cannon you can fit on the GS 😂

[@RideWithAlex]

@@exgtt2061 neah, just rev the engine and you scare them away.

[@sotos7pallini383]

Hello Alex from Greece sym adx 125 test drive please soon

[@RideWithAlex]

As soon as it will arrive, I'll film it!

[@pauldegruijter1285]

The older gs are great, value for mony , GS gelande Strasse

[@Aufbikeunterwegs]

Do you have another expansion in your Brutus? Or the Orginal?

[@RideWithAlex]

What do you mean expansion?

[@Aufbikeunterwegs]

@@RideWithAlex sorry, suspension

[@RideWithAlex]

@@Aufbikeunterwegs stock 30 year old suspension :))

[@Aufbikeunterwegs]

@@RideWithAlex My bmw gs from 98 is Orginal. 104.000km und the first coupling. You and your motorcycle it's the best example, that old bikes is OK. Today eyerybody needs not more. TFT Display not really. Drife Mod no way. Sena inta no... Back to the future.....

[@Mihaita191]

Salutare! Care e traseul? Îl recomanzi și pentru un începător care vrea sa exploreze ceva lejer? Daca nu, accept și alternative în limita timpului liber :). Spor în toate!

[@RideWithAlex]

O ok traseul, daca nu prinzi noroi e foarte ok, la mine priblema a fost noroiul, in principiu mare parte a fost din valra Doftanei o iei in sus către Brașov

[@Mihaita191]

Și pana la Valea Doftanei pe unde?

[@RideWithAlex]

@@Mihaita191 o sa încerc sa pun un link cu traseul maine seara, ca e pe ocolite :))

[@Mihaita191]

Apreciez mult! Mersi! Multe drumuri frumoase îți doresc și spor în toate!

[@RideWithAlex]

@@Mihaita191 mulțumesc :)

[@sorinconea8743]

Salut Alex ! Ce înălțime ai ?

[@RideWithAlex]

1.75m

[@puiucozma3530]

saluare Alex! momentan fac scoala moto. m-am uitat la clipurile tale de ceva ori 😃. as vrea sa imi iau ceva de 300-350 cc. nu mai mult. as vrea sa merg la munca zilnic vreo 50 km dus-intors (in Bucuresti) si sa ies in weekend la ceva plimbari. nu vreau sa ma tem daca ma prinde ploaia sau daca vreau sa merg pe un drum pietruit. as inclina intre un scuter SYM Cruisym 300i si 3 motociclete SYM NH-T, ZONTES 350 X2 si ZONTES 350 T2. As vrea sa stiu care e pararea ta. sper sa imi raspunzi! eu am undeva la 1.73, si nu sunt foarte corpolent sa o lesin :)) (mi-au placut rau de tot clipurile cu Marius in Azerbaigjan)

[@RideWithAlex]

Sincer as merge pe Cruisym. Nu e de off-road dar se descurca fara probleme pe un drum de tara :)

[@k1ngbud1st91]

1:04:35 unde este drumu asta mai exact.. ai putea spune traseu pe localitati, este genial

[@RideWithAlex]

Link catre tot traseul www.google.com/maps/d/edit?mid=1n3x3Rcy5yuDwteTyYy_63v90deAobSM&usp=sharing

[@sniperule2004]

1.16 I dare you Go with one hand!

[@RideWithAlex]

😂

[@sniperule2004]

@@RideWithAlex Cand ma iei si pe mine la o tura dinasta epica? am niste cizlmulite pliabile (ca niste parazapezi ca sa nu te mai uzi la picioruse!)

[@RideWithAlex]

@@sniperule2004 vedem pe unde mai ies.

[@TeoBlu]

Wtf GS? Alex I know rode SIM moped from Bucharest to Milan in sleet, rejecting comons from the finest ladies of the night Europe has to offer. This is hi-jacked account.

[@RideWithAlex]

=))))) I want to see how the other half live, but on a budget as always. Don't know why I have a sudden urge to go to Starbucks though :/

[@mobyhunr]

And so you start your tire education

[@RideWithAlex]

Yep 😂