The War Pig is Complete............I Think!

[eatpasta]

Out of curiosity, when/where are you ever going to need a steering stabilizer?

I mean, unless you plan on doing trackdays or 80 mph through sand all the time.....

[BigDave75]

I find that 15 to 20 mph in ruts and mud it prevents a lot of unintentional quick turns.

I had one on my KTM XC 300 and it made a huge difference at lower speeds.

[eatpasta]

Originally Posted by BigDave75

I find that 15 to 20 mph in ruts and mud it prevents a lot of unintentional quick turns.

After riding a GS for 50k I was unaware that they COULD make a quick turn



quick fall maybe....

[Lensgrinder]

Originally Posted by eatpasta

After riding a GS for 50k I was unaware that they COULD make a quick turn



quick fall maybe....

In sand they like to make unintentional quick turns all the time, which results in a quick fall(Dirt Nap).

[BigDave75]

Originally Posted by Lensgrinder

In sand they like to make unintentional quick turns all the time, which results in a quick fall(Dirt Nap).

Sounds like just about every ride on my KTM in sand!

[BigDave75]

http://emob182.photobucket.com/album...g?t=1358724268

[def]

Originally Posted by Lensgrinder

In sand they like to make unintentional quick turns all the time, which results in a quick fall(Dirt Nap).

Then, why not just stay outta the sand?

[Lensgrinder]

Originally Posted by def

Then, why not just stay outta the sand?

When you ride in the southern California desert it's difficult to avoid sand.

There are allot of sand washes that lead to great views, and having been a desert rat for some 30 years, riding in these sand washes is just part of the deal.

Also, if we take that point of view we might as well just buy only street bikes and forego the adventure bikes all together.

[kellymac530]

EXACTLY Lensgrinder!!!
In Cali, especially So Cal, there is no way to ride off road and avoid sand. We even get silty soft sand in our mountains. The top soil gets dry and ground up and turns powery and sandy. Drought years are worse for sand, but there is always sand. Our legal riding areas are somewhat limited as there is SO much privately owned land. The public lands usually roll up to harder packed hills, but almost always run down into lower sandy sections.

If you can not learn to deal with sand you have 2 options in So Cal....buy an RT and stay outta the dirt, or stop riding all together....I guess there is also the Starbucks only option...not me though. Sand it is....power and speed up, weight back, but not ridiculously back you still need control, and relax so that the front can wander a bit. You need to "guide" the front in the direction you want to go, but let it wander and track through the sand. DO NOT try to muscle the front end through the sand, it WILL dig and plow that way. Just my $0.02 from 42 years of So Cal sand from Glamis to Pismo, Octotillo Wells to Desert Hot Springs and Palm Springs, from Cleveland Nat Forest to Kennedy Meadow and more.

[WindSailor]

Originally Posted by kellymac530

Sand it is....power and speed up, weight back, but not ridiculously back you still need control, and relax so that the front can wander a bit. You need to "guide" the front in the direction you want to go, but let it wander and track through the sand. DO NOT try to muscle the front end through the sand, it WILL dig and plow that way.

I've never had my GSA in the sand yet. But I used to have a 250YZ and I could go anywhere in the sand (without paddles); even where hopped up 4x4's couldn't go. The trick here on the coast is similar - power up - speed up - and stay 'on top of the sand'. If you slow down then you'll plow and your toast. We used to get a good 10' of air coming up the back side (steep side) of the dunes. Only trouble was we occasionally got lost. And we had to be careful of what we called 'witch holes' - drifts that created depressions that weren't nice to go through at 40mph+. Still a lot of fun back then.

A little hijacked here... but not bad.

[hardpackrider]

+1

AdventureDesigns cylinder guards... and their custom fit Cycra hand guards..



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[Lensgrinder]

This is a good arguement for a steering stabilizer.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=857697

[Pongo]

Bike looks great,
I have recently put a heated sargent seat on my GSA and I love it. I am not sure that BigDave would have put the extra 300 bucks to heat the thing in California, but maybe.
I am 6'5" and find the seat is not as high as my factory high setting. I can feel the edge of the "dish" of the seat on my thighs but it is not uncomfortable. Mine only has 300 km on it still and is quite firm but I do like it alot. My Wife is quite comfortable on the back as well.
I think some different pegs are next for me.

[BigDave75]

Originally Posted by Lensgrinder

This is a good arguement for a steering stabilizer.

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=857697

I saw that as well Lensgrinder, not everyone believes in them but I have had great success with steering stabilizers/dampers both on road bikes and dirt bikes. I figure the GSA is a little of both so why not.

[BigDave75]

Originally Posted by Pongo

Bike looks great,
I have recently put a heated sargent seat on my GSA and I love it. I am not sure that BigDave would have put the extra 300 bucks to heat the thing in California, but maybe.
I am 6'5" and find the seat is not as high as my factory high setting. I can feel the edge of the "dish" of the seat on my thighs but it is not uncomfortable. Mine only has 300 km on it still and is quite firm but I do like it alot. My Wife is quite comfortable on the back as well.
I think some different pegs are next for me.

Thanks for the kind words.

I found the same thing with it being a tad lower than the stock seat in the high position. I really didn't justify the seat being heated or not heated by the cost, I have just had heated seats in the past and never used the heat.

If I was way up north with you it would be a must!