So, I was an idiot.
I went out for a late season solo ride that ended up with me getting the bike (GSA) into a position where I had to push it back before I could try to turn it around. I was on a muddy, very short (~4feet), piece of trail between an abandoned road and an open road that I used to be able to ride across and go between the concrete blocks that closed off the abandonded road. Turned out the blocks had been moved and the gap was now about 1.5 inches narrower than my cylinders so I was sorta screwed with my front wheel between the blocks and no way to go but back.
In trying to push the bike back to get it turned around, I managed to drop it onto its left side then, after picking it up, managed to drop it onto its right side (it WAS muddy) and I fell into a puddle before I finally got it turned around.
The whole time, I was cursing to myself that BMW needs to put a reverse gear onto the GS. If you actually use a GS to go exploring on new trails (or even if you park it facing slightly downhill in a parking spot) you know how hard it can be under even ideal conditions to push it backwards.
Wouldn't it be nice to have a reverse gear? I know Goldwings have had an electric (driven by the started motor?) reverse and I seem to recall some other bikes (Harley's?) did too - so I don't think it would be too hard to provide and shouldn't add too much weight.
Seems to me that it would be useful for a wide range of things (moving the bike in the garage...) and I'd certainly pay extra for it.
I went out for a late season solo ride that ended up with me getting the bike (GSA) into a position where I had to push it back before I could try to turn it around. I was on a muddy, very short (~4feet), piece of trail between an abandoned road and an open road that I used to be able to ride across and go between the concrete blocks that closed off the abandonded road. Turned out the blocks had been moved and the gap was now about 1.5 inches narrower than my cylinders so I was sorta screwed with my front wheel between the blocks and no way to go but back.
In trying to push the bike back to get it turned around, I managed to drop it onto its left side then, after picking it up, managed to drop it onto its right side (it WAS muddy) and I fell into a puddle before I finally got it turned around.
The whole time, I was cursing to myself that BMW needs to put a reverse gear onto the GS. If you actually use a GS to go exploring on new trails (or even if you park it facing slightly downhill in a parking spot) you know how hard it can be under even ideal conditions to push it backwards.
Wouldn't it be nice to have a reverse gear? I know Goldwings have had an electric (driven by the started motor?) reverse and I seem to recall some other bikes (Harley's?) did too - so I don't think it would be too hard to provide and shouldn't add too much weight.
Seems to me that it would be useful for a wide range of things (moving the bike in the garage...) and I'd certainly pay extra for it.