mn-msta.com
General Category => General Banter => Topic started by: Ray916MN on October 24, 2010, 06:09:26 PM
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Just committed to purchase a 4th bike. Picking it up next Sunday.
Gonna need to buy dirt gear.....
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Details!
And pics!
(Congratulations!)
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Broken bones take longer to heal as you age... ;D
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Yamaha WR426F.
47hp in an under 300lb wet bike.
Been reading Charlie Coons trip reports here (http://www.ccoons.com/)on on advrider.com for inspiration. Got a boat load to learn.
Charlie's group goes to Copper Canyon in Jan/Feb . No way I could do a trip of this magnitude so soon.
MSTA has a ride in Moab in April. Wonder if I can learn enough before then to do it. Thinking eventually Alcan highway and Hyder too.
A newb at 50. That's one way to keep feeling young. Hitting the ground will not be the way...
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So is this a dual sport or more od an enduro off road bike? Anyways congrats on your new toy.
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Cool!
You are going to have a blast!
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I glad to see that you are findly going off road. Should be a nice bike for you. But for me when you go off road with anything there is only one type of motor. TWO STROKE BABY. You seen my bike a KTM 200 EXC. 198 pounds wet and 50hp. Every time I let some one ride it that has a 4 stroke they buy a 2 stoke right after. Have a nice dirty ride. I myself will never be with out a dirt bike.
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So is this a dual sport or more od an enduro off road bike? Anyways congrats on your new toy.
It is an enduro meets dual purpose bike. An enduro model, it has an oversized gas tank, and street tags to make it usable as a dual purpose bike.
I glad to see that you are findly going off road. Should be a nice bike for you. But for me when you go off road with anything there is only one type of motor. TWO STROKE BABY. You seen my bike a KTM 200 EXC. 198 pounds wet and 50hp. Every time I let some one ride it that has a 4 stroke they buy a 2 stoke right after. Have a nice dirty ride. I myself will never be with out a dirt bike.
Two stroke would be great, except, they can't be street licensed anymore, and many of the places I'm hoping to ride are difficult enough to get gas in, forgetting about 2 stroke oil...
Actually I was thinking hard about getting an air cooled bike, as many of the places I'm hoping to ride are places you don't want to break down in, so ditching water cooling is recommended. Couldn't get myself to have even less power. Hope this isn't a decision I end up regretting on some remote trail in Mexico with a smashed radiator or leaking water pump...
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When riding in those remote locations, you'll want to take things like JBweld, radiator hose repair tape, liquid tape, tire plugs and patches, spoons for changing tires, basic tools to repair your bike, hose clamps, short lengths of steel rod, small mallet or ball peen hammer, first aid kit.
Other things to think about: satellite phone, emergency GPS spot tracking device,
I'm sure there are other things I'm not thinking of, but if others chime in, I'm sure we could figure out everything you would need to take with into some remote location so that you can get back out.
Helps to watch Long Way Round, to see what kinds of things can happen on an offroad bike trip.
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Everything made sense except for "short lengths of steel rod."
What do you do with the rods? Defend yourself against small animals with sharp teeth?
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You can use the rods along with the hose clamps to brace things that get broken or cracked, kind of like a splint
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Got it. Clever.
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I have ridden out West and never carried any of that stuff. I did have a tool belt to do some repair like a flat or something. Only on one ride that was 150 miles between anything I did pack gas. I found that all that stuff just drags you down.
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Yeah, but he's talking about riding in Mexico (I'm assuming Copper Canyon) and you are in no man's land there
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Already got a tool kit and spares list going. No big deal figuring out what you need to bring.
Frankly I thought the Long Way Round guys did it all wrong. Chose way too complicated and too much bike. Brought entirely too much crap and had to struggle with hundreds of pounds more than necessary. The proof was the failure of their cameraman's bike ABS processor and being forced to abandon it because of the problem. The success he had with the locally sourced Jawa, over 100lbs lighter, easier to repair and much easier to ride. Simple, light, easy to fix technology. Exactly why the guys I know who do this type of riding regularly all seem to say air cooled is the way to go.
Putting together a tool kit, bears the same kind of thought in my opinion. Light, simple, basic stuff. More focus on things like a spare master link, levers and cables and tools like mini-vise grips.
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They wanted to use KTM's, but KTM wouldn't support them, they didn't think they could make it.
Agreed, they overloaded the bikes with too much video equipment, and that first gen ABS on the BMW's sucked, because if it goes south, you lose the brakes. The new gen 2 abs is just like the rest, if it goes out, you just lose ABS, not your whole braking system.
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Not only did they over load their bikes, they picked bikes that were way too heavy to begin with.
Here are the wet weights of a variety of bikes they could have picked. Of course some of them don't include as much gas capacity and none of them include bags, but even with these added it is clear they could have picked bikes which would have been roughly 200 lbs lighter.
R1200GS 570
KTM 990 528
KLR650 440
DR650 390
XR650R 350
KTM 690 Enduro 336
Me, thousands of miles of challenging riding including deep sand, mud, and ruts day after day, hard to imagine carrying an extra 200lbs being an advantage.
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Dualsport trips are like backpacking. The 1st trip your thinking is, it would be nice to have that, oh I could use one of those. You start to realize really quick that your just carrying a bunch of dead weight. Weight is your enemy and can make what would have been a fun day allot of work. Only take what you really need. Travel with someone. If your going to have any extra weight, make it water.
George
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Nice bike Ray, though not the most comfortable on long d/s rides. Is it the electric start version?
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Nice bike Ray, though not the most comfortable on long d/s rides. Is it the electric start version?
Yeah, I read that it isn't very comfortable, but then again everyone say 916s aren't comfortable either. :) I'm more concerned about the about the 39" seat height. I rode a KLX300R, which has a 36" seat height and that was fine, but I'm sure another 3" is going to completely preclude touching both feet simultaneously. Probably throw a lowering link and softer seat foam on it. Get off road boots with thick soles.
It is a kick start only bike too... Going back to the gym starting next week and taking the Marsh's dirtbike riding courses in the spring.
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I thought you bought a dual sport bike. You bought an enduro bike. A real dirt bike. Way to go. I'll go ridding with you anytime with that bike. Just go buy a plate for it and tell them you need it for insurance. I have one on my bike. Get a trail sticker at the same time.
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Congrats on the new bike, Ray! Glad to hear you're finally gonna get dirty! :)
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Yeah, but he's talking about riding in Mexico (I'm assuming Copper Canyon) and you are in no man's land there
No man's land indeed. To quote Paul Streeter, "Going boldly forth where some people live every day." Or something like that.
Anyhow, you can leave the ball pean hammer at home, they have plenty of rocks in Mexico. They have welders too if you crack your frame or need to fab up a hardtail.
http://vimeo.com/13611503
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Picking it up Sunday.
Does that mean we can't go riding dirt on Sunday? Actually, places to ride this weekend are in short supply. Most of the state forests are closed as of November 1. Nemadji would be open but it is closed for gun deer season. The real option would be Arkansaw Cycle Park which has some trails that aren't bad. Allon is certain to pipe in and offer a "dual surface" ride. If you are available Sunday let me know.
Dick Roles
Gonna need to buy dirt gear.....
[/quote]
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Oops,
Arkansaw Cycle Park closed for the season.
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Yeah, but he's talking about riding in Mexico (I'm assuming Copper Canyon) and you are in no man's land there
No man's land indeed. To quote Paul Streeter, "Going boldly forth where some people live every day." Or something like that.
Anyhow, you can leave the ball pean hammer at home, they have plenty of rocks in Mexico. They have welders too if you crack your frame or need to fab up a hardtail.
[url]http://vimeo.com/13611503[/url]
Nice video! Good to see Rick. I thought we lost him to the IBA.
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Oops,
Arkansaw Cycle Park closed for the season.
Thanks for the offer Dick. Going to do the Swan ride on Sunday.
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I plan on getting the red bike out from it's semi retirement tomorrow :).Though, if I remember correctly, not sure if I have enough rear tire for a full day.
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Saw your bike today. It looks pretty good a little ruff around the edges but in good shape. You have the right guy fixing it up for you. Your going to have a blast on that thing. Can't wait to see you ride it.
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Saw your bike today. It looks pretty good a little ruff around the edges but in good shape. You have the right guy fixing it up for you. Your going to have a blast on that thing. Can't wait to see you ride it.
Definitely a used bike, but given that I'll be learning and crashing appears to be part of learning to dirt ride buying something pristine would've been foolish. Hopefully Lloyd doesn't find anything mechanically wrong that I missed and I didn't buy too much of bike to learn on.