2010 BMW F800GS: crash report

By

f800gs-crashed

Half way through our 3,500-mile+ ride through Labrador, Wes crashed the BMW F800GS heavily, sending it cartwheeling down the gravel road at highway speeds. Hundreds of miles from the nearest hospital, much less a BMW dealer, how did the bike fair? Click below for the feature:

Crash Report: 2010 BMW F800GS

  • slowestGSXRever

    go go gadget duct tape

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      That’s really all we needed to take.

      Cold? Wear duct tape!

      Flat tire? duct tape!

      Bear attack? Throw the roll at them!

  • BN.

    Grant, you do a great job with the photos on these. I’m not a photographic genius, but I know it’s good work when I can put myself there and smile (or cringe).

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Grant Ray

      Aww, shucks.

  • Robert

    Great photos and feature Grant and Wes.

  • http://www.thisblueheaven.com Mark D

    So what was the reaction from BMW what you rolled the bike back to their shop with it looking like that?

    I would assume they expected some damage; after all, if that’s not a great sell for an adventure bike, I don’t know what is!

    • http://www.facebook.com/beastincarnate Ben W

      BMW Rep: “Triumph was right! This man is poisonous!”

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      I texted them from the next town, they were totally cool. You’d be surprised at the rate of attrition for press bikes among journalists.

  • Kevin

    Wow! The bike cartwheeled, and no fluids leaked and it started up again first try. Damn those Germans can build a solid bike.

    Glad to hear bike and rider fared well.

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      Phew.

      The little puddle you can see under the tail is from the jerry can that was strapped there. It leaked even when it was upright. Don’t buy CARB jerry cans!

      • http://mdynamic.tumblr.com Mdynamic

        That’s really impressive. Not that CARB jerry cans suck, I already knew that. Looks like it was an unforgettable adventurer. ;)

  • gregorbean

    Did you guys get free beans from Oslo for sticker placement? My girl’s brother works at one of those Oslo’s in Brooklyn. Good stuff! Oh, and nice report. Glad you’re okay, that was a good spill! Good ol’ solid BMW.

    • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

      Ha, the only stickers we put on there were the Kriega and Hammarhead ones, the rest were from our buddy Clark, who we borrowed the boxes from.

  • NickK

    A year ago, my beloved K1200S went off a Malibu canyon road with me with it. It didn’t fare nearly as well, but I’m not blaming BMW.

  • Tim

    Glad you fared well. Looks like you owe your buddy a new pannier, but could be worse. I want a GS badly, but ride a KLR 650 outfitted with SW Motech goodies due to economic considerations. That and the only BMW dealer within 200 miles of me is staffed by arrogant assholes who looked down their noses at me when I rode up on my CBR one day. They pointed out the Honda shop was down the road! Pricks won’t get any money from me, no matter how much I want a GS. I would consider a Tiger, but wouldn’t you know it, same dealer is the only Triumph shop, too! Come on, Kawi, drop a Versys engine in a KLR frame and sell it for $7K..!

    • http://www.smartcycleshopper.com/author/doug-dalsing/ DougD

      I cannot begin to understand how the motions you say the motorcycle took only resulted in that little damage.

      • http://hellforleathermagazine.com Wes Siler

        I just can’t figure out why the clocks popped off.

  • http://www.tripleclamp.net Sasha Pave

    Glad you didn’t get banged up too bad!

    The beauty of Jessies is that you can pretty much fix ‘em with a hammer, a 2×4 and in the worst cases, a roadside welding shop.

  • Njall

    These bikes are very capable and get through even worse crashes than this. We have used F650 and F800 for three seasons now in our adventure company, Biking Viking, and can report similar damages. The best protection for the radiator is the crash bars from Hepco Becker.

  • TuffGong

    Fatehunnert!!!!!!!!!!!