This is my first adventure bike so I write this without any expectations of how serious the adventuring will get so let's see what happens. So far so good, took it for a spin last Sat up to Kinglake, found some dirt and the off road modes seemed to work ok, couldn't get the brakes to lock up. A bit of dissapointment getting back on the asphalt  after the dirt but being on a new bike it was all good. Just waiting for the panniers and maybe we can do a country pub run one weekend? 

Looks good, Robbie.

I'm gettin' jealous now!

Bergs getting very jealous, Ive had to separate them.. they are sleeping in separate sheds.

Not being able to lock the brakes would have interfered with your "slide into the corners sideways and drive off the apex to the next corner" style of riding Rob 

So this BM does not have an off switch for the ABS on the rear brake and the traction control?

ABS can be switched off which is good and will probably do that. As for sliding into corners she's a big girl to be getting sideways Ken, could get hairy!I

When riding the GS650 in Iceland, I switched the ABS off every time we went near a gravel road.  having the ABS do its thing on loose terrain just felt weird!

The bummer with the BMW's system is that you have to de-activate it every time you stop the bike, so it's easy to forget that you haven't turned it off.

I guess over time I will get used to switching it off for the dirt and agree totally it is a weird feeling having the brake lever vibrating under your foot as it releases and engages.
What I do need is any advice re adventure riding gear and what people are using.

I did have my tongue in cheek re the sliding and squirting Rob, I know your a fairly gentle rider. But I've seen plenty of people sideways on GS1200 etc but I would not attempt it myself on one of those, but on your GS800 ? Hmmm 

For some tips on riding gear the latest issue of Australian Motor Cycle News has a fair bit of info for adventure bike riders. The BMW stuff is really good but you need a bank loan.

So what bought this adventure riding thing on Rob?

PS - 8 to go

Hoping to get it sideways, one step at a time.
I was looking at getting a road bike for weekends and realised I would probably regret not being able go off-road, so it's wait and see what happens Ken, no plans for a trans continental journey yet.....

Rob wrote:
I bought an RST Adventure Pro riding suit.  Sounds wanky, but consists of jacket and pants with zip in/zip out thermal and waterproof layers, as well as removable Kevlar armour.  The suit was brilliant in the cold of Iceland, most of the time I just wore a pair of bike shorts under the pants and a skivvy under the jacket.  At worst I wore some thermal pants and a puffy vest as added warmth, but that was on REAL cold days.

The gear was comfortable, practice and relatively inexpensive.  I bought 'run-out' model which cost les than $400 for both items. Definitely recommend you look at that, or something similar.