Madison WI Area Meet & Greets / Gatherings

[naginalf]

Originally Posted by SomethingAwesome

Hi, all,
I've finally pulled the trigger on a motorcycle, after many years of admiring from afar, knowing I was dangerous enough on four wheels. Just wanted to post a quick hello, I've been lurking for a while now, and I'm looking forward to meeting some good folks, and riding with you. I'm painfully aware of my inexperience, but I want to learn. I'm hoping I can show that buying my first motorcycle at 29- and having it be a new, heavyweight adventure bike to boot- doesn't have to make me a poser, lol.

Looking forward to getting to know you all!

SA

What bike didja get? Not a bad idea to put that in your sig as well, just a suggestion tho. If you know of any trails in the area, we can both be noob posers . Are there such a thing as trail posers? Oh yeah, they're the ones on atvs .

[snowjob]

Both of you should head straight for the Tri-County Cheese Trail. It is a good introduction to trail riding on a bigger bike. Really flat, straight, wide, etc. Makes a nice 1/2 day loop from Madison.

I don't expect many Madison M&Gs in the next week. Everyone is either already at CADVR or headed up there next week.

[naginalf]

Awesome, sounds good to me, thanks for the tip! I'll head there tomorrow (today is a tech day, adjusting valves and balancing crabs). If anyone wants to join me lemme know.

[naginalf]

Originally Posted by snowjob

It is a good introduction to trail riding on a bigger bike. Really flat, straight, wide, etc.

Hey wait a minute... You calling my bike "big" or sumfin?!

Yeah, she's may look like a beast, but at only 500lbs, most of it low, she's got it where it counts (no remark about women intended).

[SomethingAwesome]

I bought a Tiger Explorer 1200, so it's a big jump up from... nothing. :) Can't get the pics yet, even though it's bought, it's still being held at the dealership for me until I get home from Baghdad at the end of the month. Course, I suppose there's no shortage of TEX photos around the net, I aim to get mine off the pavement and dirty as quick as my abilities allow. I'll definitely make the Tri-County one of my first trips, maybe Labor Day Weekend. Naginalf, I'll definitely change the sig right away, thanks for the tip.

Have fun at CADVR, I'm hoping to get there next year!

[Zaboo65]

Hi SomethingAwesome and naginalf! Congrats on the new purchases! The Madison M&G gang are really nice, you can get a lot of good advise and hear some good stories.

I have yet to do the Cheese Trail but Snowjob is always photographing it, mentioning it and I think he does most of his motocross training there. I'd like to ride it sometime and now that my wife has a bike we might do just that. Post when you are going if you would like company (wife is riding a 200 and is very new to motorcycling so it would be slow back roads there and back).

There is unfortunately not a lot of unpaved options that I have found around the south central area. Nice back roads but not too much gravel.

The T.W.A.T. was recommended to me (thanks Zora) for a first off road trip with a bigger bike and it was a blast. It seemed perfect for getting used to non-pavement riding, gravel roads and fire roads mainly with a little sand in a few places along with some wonderful paved back roads in the driftless area.

I might do Cannon's UPAT in early October if you are interested (the big bike route).

[naginalf]

I should never say I'm doing something unless I have formal plans. Although if people were going there I'd have just skipped the maintenance that I somehow managed to not get done yesterday. And last nite I caught up on some much needed sleep, so now I'm finally up and I'm off to balance carbs and stuff. I did manage to get the manometer built tho.

I too was hoping to do the TWAT when I wore through these old sahara tires and got some new TKCs or Shinkos, whichever my pocketbook allows. I would say I'd go to the cheesehead trail next weekend, but I'm headed for the airhead tech day.

Ok,just looked at your UPAT link, and I saw just 2 pics before saying to myself, "F*%$ YEAH!!!" This is why I bought this bike. Lemme know when yer going, I am so down for that. Ah, shit. Then again, I need so much gear for a serious ride like that, and I'm not sure I'll have the money. Next year.

[Dave in Wi]

Originally Posted by zora

Super bummed about this. I buy 90% of my stuff through them. They have always beat interwebz pricing and were as friendly and helpful as could be. I know a lot of you guys go there too.


Madison Motorsports Closing

This is truly sad news. I'd better get over there soon, I need a new rear tire. I'll have to explore my options now, as I seem to be going through a tire or two a year now.

[MoreCheese]

Originally Posted by snowjob

. . you should head straight for the Tri-County Cheese Trail. It is a good introduction to trail riding on a bigger bike. Really flat, straight, wide, etc. Makes a nice 1/2 day loop from Madison. . .

Umm, can any bike do the Tri-County Cheese Trail? I have a Yamaha V-Star 650 with 5.5 inches of front suspension and 3.9 inches of rear suspension, not as much as some bikes but more than others in the cruiser category. The bike has floorboards, no foot-pegs, so standing up in rough sections is difficult. It goes OK on gravel roads but throw some bigger bumps at it and the lack of suspension really becomes a problem.

Also I see there is "Aggresive Enforcement" of loud exhaust. My bike is louder than stock but not in the obnoxious category that allot of cruisers are. Suppose I should make it more of a stock volume level before trying out the trail (providing the bike can navigate the trail).

[Dave in Wi]

Originally Posted by MoreCheese

Umm, can any bike do the Tri-County Cheese Trail? I have a Yamaha V-Star 650 with 5.5 inches of front suspension and 3.9 inches of rear suspension, not as much as some bikes but more than others in the cruiser category. The bike has floorboards, no foot-pegs, so standing up in rough sections is difficult. It goes OK on gravel roads but throw some bigger bumps at it and the lack of suspension really becomes a problem.

Also I see there is "Aggresive Enforcement" of loud exhaust. My bike is louder than stock but not in the obnoxious category that allot of cruisers are. Suppose I should make it more of a stock volume level before trying out the trail (providing the bike can navigate the trail).

The trail is an old railroad bed that is pretty smooth, although it does have some rougher areas. If you are careful, suspension and clearance-wise you should be OK. However there are some areas of really loose gravel, these might be a little challenging.

As far as the exhaust, I'm not sure what to tell you. I've read the warnings, but all the times I've been there I've never seen any type of enforcement.

You will need to pick up a trail sticker.

[snowjob]

Originally Posted by Dave in Wi

....but all the times I've been there I've never seen any type of enforcement......

I have! First time out, I got stopped because I was not paying real close attention to speed limit while coming into town. Just go slow through towns and you will be fine. As for exhaust, I suggest shooting for the 96db/2m limit. I have never been bothered if a bit higher than that, but it is the single biggest item that puts offroad riding at risk.

I think your suspension will be fine if going the speed limit on the trail (30mph). I was doing a bit more than that and had a few bottom-outs on the XT600 before getting a new rear spring. As Dave said, there is some loose parts towards the south end of the trail.

[MoreCheese]

Thanks for the information Dave in Wi and snowjob. When I find a free half day or more I will try out the trail.

[SomethingAwesome]

Originally Posted by MoreCheese

Thanks for the information Dave in Wi and snowjob. When I find a free half day or more I will try out the trail.

Ditto! And thank you!

[Soliok]

Originally Posted by Dave in Wi

You will need to pick up a trail sticker.

Where would I get a trail sticker? I'm in Chicago, but have a cousin who lives in Madison, and I would definitely be looking to check this trail out on a weekend visit. Thanks in advance for any assistance you can offer.

[OU812]

You new members have come to to the right place! Great people in this Madison area.