What about the sound quality and loudness of the SRL3. In your previous review you mentioned that it might be too silent. Other users commented about options to improve the loudness (app settings, firmware update, HD Voice settings). What is your latest opinion about this?

There is no way I’d ride one of those monsters in those conditions. I’ll take my TW200 all day long in wet grass, muddy puddles and sandy soil.

There are basically two things you can do to improve your experience. Use earbuds like Alpine MotoSafe Pro and chin curtain. The foam earbuds blocks everything including human voice hence diffficulty in listening to music.

Elephants performing ballet…

I’m always baffled by how often the oldest and least experienced riders are the ones getting these extremely powerful bikes that they cannot pick up.

I was told to stay on top of bike don't let it fall on you. 66% of motorcycle injuries are the ankle from bike falling on rider. Been looking for sandy dirt roads to ride on before riding 2 tracks up north. Plenty of dirt roads but not many have sand traps. Moved up from my old 360 enduro to adv bike. The horsepower is taking some getting used too.

thanks for that grandpa... come back inside now

I'm a Steve also. Just got a Vstrom 800 DE as my first adventure bike. (my experience is with big Harley baggers). Promptly dumped it on a remote road in heavy sand and got temporarily trapped under it. I won't be going alone like that again. I'm 69.

I love my Kawasaki Versys-X 300. At 60 km/h in 4th gear on a gravel road, I never want more horsepower. Less is more.

29:56 the bike is on road ...

Surely this is the first time most of these riders have ridden off road.

Start with a lighter DS bike.

I’m sure I’d find out if I could actually get out for an adventure!

Instructors are helpless, they know all those people bought the very worst bike to learn offroad on but have no choice to try their best helping those misguided customers survive the ordeal

Thank you! Very informative.

why not buy a tractor? Wanna be Paris-Dacar riders......... ?? BMW want customers like you.... keep the good work . China motors love you.

Does the analogy apply "When in doubt flat out" With riding a GS off road?

Great video my friend I am planning on getting a KTM. 500. I need to find out if there are any riding clubs to ride with.

I loved my Karoo 3s. Cornering was great, felt solid. I am dancing all over the highway on the 4s. Feels unsettling, serious shimmy when on concrete with straight groves. I would love to have been able to buy another set of 3s.

Stupidest bikes ever ffs. This is why dirt bikes where invented ppl... not a heavy bike like an adventure bike.

Why do you guy's insist on driving such heavy bikes ....I'm 65 ,and I ridden most of my life on dirt bikes ( 500cc) I'd NEVER drive such an overweight bike off road.

Great examples of why you should train to ride a big bike off-road.

I am 58 and ride my 1989 Suzuki katakana everyday, even in the rain, almost better than sex. Smiles.

Yep having done the BMW thing in my youth I have now settled for the CRF300 Rally. Buy the bike that does what you need and nothing more. There’s no need to ride off road on a bike that can double the speed limit. Save the money and buy a electric trial/dirt bike with the savings Good video

no.

Are you aware that the Sena has a boosted volume setting? I have mine set to the boosted setting for the same problems you have, not least bad tinnitus. The setting can be found in the App.

Hi everyone, despite the obvious choice of choosing a lighter motorcycle to start off-road driving, many people like you take a big trail. This major mistake wastes a lot of time. On the other hand, it is essential to have good physical condition and a sense of balance. For 4 years from July 2019 to August 2023 I had the T 700 Teneré with which I made many solo off-road adventures. the weight remains a major problem and in the event of a fall you exhaust yourself lifting the motorcycle several times in the same day (this theory applies to all levels of riding). In May 2023 I ordered an AJP PR7 "6 months waiting" (T 700 sold)(I am a lover of single cylinders) and I continue to this day to have many solo adventures. I have just returned from a raid in Morocco of 3500 km of sandy, dunes, pebbles and river trails. A motorcycle which has been designed to go off-road is optimized for this use fork shock absorbers, protections weight 160kg (full tank of 17L included) for 65hp (racing model) you tire much less. this choice of motorcycle is the good compromise between a 300/400cm³ and a large trail of 700cm³ or more. after all this chatter come see the 1st episode of my solo raid in Moroco kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gbeWZdWB1pa4aWQ.htmlsi=bgw0S4pBLORc32YK

I know I shouldn't laugh but, you know I did.

I have the PackTalk Bold from JBL/Cardo for 5 years now. I always wear 35db ear plugs (foam). And it's the only intercom that is powerful enough for highway and such. I'll be a GT Air III soon but will transfer my Packtalk.

Mids 50s is not old if you have kept fit. Don’t let a number reduce your fun. I recommend saving cash and get a 250 off roader like crf and a Ninja 1000sx or alike for road fun. When I am mid 60s maybe I will change my mind. Thanks for the insights mate.

Consider the challenge: Adventure riding on large, heavy bikes can be difficult. It requires a higher skill level and knowledge to handle them effectively on rough terrain. Additionally, some adventure bikes come with tires that are better suited for pavement than off-road riding.

Looks like a very well kitted machine. Sounds great too.

Just purchased a new Shoes Neotec 3 today Steve after 5 years with the Neotec 2. I had a Sena 10 unit on the N2 which is now 11 years old and has never missed a beat. When looking at the N3, the salesman told me about the Sena SRL3 integrated unit. I figured that a new helmet and comms will be a treat. I fitted the SRL3 to the helmet today and wished I had asked the sales guy to do that. Refitting those damn cheek pads with the wiring in place was a real challenge. It is pouring rain where I am this week, so I might leave my road test for a less miserable day. My custom moulded ear plugs worked well with the Sena 10, so fingers crossed that the new unit works just as well. Another good review mate!

But these outings in the woods are a war bulletin!

bulli mentioned!!!! rahhh

Awesome! I want to switch over have ridden all my life started with standards and sport bikes and now Harley's but these Adventure cycles are a different beast so I'll definitely take a class!

Nicely edited and put together video! I find the use of the CB radio very strange, however I'm sure the CB radio range is further that mesh alone. I have no idea how you and your mates ride but if your mates have mesh connection, you should definitely give that a try for the sake of clarity and volume. I've only ever ran the built in comms on both a Sena 20S Evo on bluetooth and now a Cardo PackTalk Edge on Mesh (since my friends use Cardo's) and never had any issues with clarity or volume when in range. I found on the Sena 20S Evo at max volume to be sufficient with earplugs and the Cardo is louder for sure and have it around 80-90% volume with ear plugs. I'm not sure if my hearing is as bad as yours but I think it is since I badly need hearing aids as well, just can't afford them right now.

Will the BMW wonder wheel control the Garmin like it does when using NaviV/VI?

Seems to be road riders deciding it's great idea to go adventure biking. Off-road motorcycling is hard with a dirt bike, first time off-road riding with a large road bike is nuts.

I’m one of those that binned the VI and went back to the V, far better in my opinion.

4:50 is absolutely hilarious 😂

I greatly appreciate both videos in this series. I've probably watched them 20 times to make sure I got it right because it was not obvious. You should narrate books if you have not considered it. Your voice is calming. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and the great video.

Awesome video. Very skillfully put together and very informative. I have had a fair number of bmw adventure bikes but stop riding in my mid 50ties Miss the bike riding and may get back on now 10 years later. Thank you for a very thoughtful presentation.

Sorry guys Old fat riders trying to do the dirt withe big heavy bikes it don’t work get light bikes or give it away altogether ,jimmy WA a bit of a comedy show

Good review, I’ve been using a Shoei GT Air 2 for the past 5 years, I have reduced hearing in my right ear following a bout of shingles so a quiet helmet is something I’m after when I replace next year. Have to say good that GT Air 2 has been I’m disappointed Shoei haven’t moved things on much, my Air 2 has the SLR 2 fitted and I find it feeble at higher speeds - the problem with the GT 2 & 3 Shoei drive you down one road regarding comm’s and I think Packtalk is just a superior product, both in sonics and overall performance. Anyway, thanks for the review it’s helped me make my mind up.

I am Profoundly Deaf from a Bike Accident in 1980 and have the same issues as you Steve. Your cheap over the counter Ear Plugs are the Wrong choice as I have used them and found that they are too noisy for Road use. Having used Ear Plugs with Noise Filters dedicated for Motorcycling is your next step up to Better Hearing !!!! whilst Riding. I now use the Alpine Hearing Protection by Motosafe and come in Two Hearing Levels. It is the Ear Plugs with NOISE FILTERS that you need to wear and they will take you upto 120kph+ before it gets too noisy. For around town my Moulded Earplugs are ok but like your current Protection not satisfactory. Please enjoy your Riding like me Steve..... 🙂

I'm 50 and I thinking about buying my first bike with a motor. I can no longer pedal more than 40 km. Thanks for the interesting and honest video.

the only thing missing is Benny Hill music in the background.

“Poor buga ” and “Shiver me timbers” 😅. And a good time was had by all.

Well done, you picked two excellent squads to get trained by ( incidentally Greg is probably the god of knowledge on the Yamaha WR250R which used to be their choice of smaller machines). Having owned every style of adventure bike from underwhelmingly powered 250s, middle sized 400-650 "old school" Dominators, KLX650s, DRs & DRZs to an Africa Twin CRF1000 I'm a massive fan of lighter is better if you like the really snotty stuff to play in. There's exceptions to this but the majority of us aren't Chris Burch. Any bike can be an adventure bike if you are willing enough but some are better than others.