Middle Tennessee DS Ride Schedule Q2 2010

[sandalscout]

Originally Posted by MrTwisty

Sounds stupid and egotistical to me. I'd be willing to bet any of them a 6 pack that they can't. I've seen some really good riders on GSA's, but the weight is limiting no matter how good you are. The undisputed king of big bike off-road is the KTM 950/990, but a good rider will be able to take a 530 to places even the 950/990 will never go.

Yep, that was my line of thinking. Essentially, when I asked WHY?!?!! would someone want to ride some of this super technical stuff that they were riding, I never got a good answer other than "Obviously, you aren't a good rider." No argument from me there!

[mrxinpa]

I enjoy the hell out of riding my VStrom off road on crap most others think I 'm whacked for bringing a bike like that out "wherever" some people don't feel appropriate. Sure it's a handful and in no way could I ever think of riding it as fast or on as technical of terrain as my EXC.

Here in the NJ Pine Barren it's nice to be able to run a 1000cc bike on dirt roads, jeep trails and yes whooped out singletrack. Never would I try and hang with the small bikes but you put a GSA out in those woods and I'll take my VStrom right in with them.

You would never enter the C Class in an Enduro with that bike an HP or even a 950Super Enduro. That doesn't take away from the fact that it might be a blast to try and make a cool loop on the Enduro course just to see how far you can push man and machine.

[teambft]

Yep....its all riding......I had a V-Strom 650 converted for offroad in Colorado....it was a hoot. Used to ride my 525 with a guy on his 1150GS. I was amazed where he could take that damn thing......dont get me wrong, he had issues at times and was completely exhausted at the end of the day.......but he still rode.

[2fast4u]

Originally Posted by mrxinpa

I enjoy the hell out of riding my VStrom off road on crap most others think I 'm whacked for bringing a bike like that out "wherever" some people don't feel appropriate. Sure it's a handful and in no way could I ever think of riding it as fast or on as technical of terrain as my EXC.

Here in the NJ Pine Barren it's nice to be able to run a 1000cc bike on dirt roads, jeep trails and yes whooped out singletrack. Never would I try and hang with the small bikes but you put a GSA out in those woods and I'll take my VStrom right in with them.

You would never enter the C Class in an Enduro with that bike an HP or even a 950Super Enduro. That doesn't take away from the fact that it might be a blast to try and make a cool loop on the Enduro course just to see how far you can push man and machine.

Yes like riding a 650 Ninja in the LBL 200.
Smart move? But was fun and plan on doing it again. (Only if its dry )

[Wallachian Spikes]

Originally Posted by teambft

There's a good DVD some guys from Colorado put together as well - Dual Sport Riding Techniques. Not sure what bike you have, but I thought it was a bigger bore DS....650??
This DVD was put together for riders of the bigger, heavier bikes and offers some really great tips. If I can track it down, you're welcome to borrow it. I used it when I was riding my 950 SER and 990 ADV in Colorado.....or, when those bikes were riding me

Thanks everyone for all the responses to my question. I'll search "the google" & see if I can find a copy of this DVD you speak of. It would be cool if you found it but, I'd probably still buy my own copy if I enjoyed it.

I ride a KLR 650, a 450 EXC (non-plated) & sometimes my daughters KLX 140. I'm interested in classes for on & off road techniques.

HappyCRNA: The school in Alpheretta, Ga. sounds like a good idea for both myself & my daughter. I'm around twenty miles West of the Tennessee river but, I might be able to make a short vacation of it.

[Wallachian Spikes]

Originally Posted by sandalscout

There is a very cool, but sort of "snobbish" 4x4/travel/offroad website that I used to hang out on called ExpeditionPortal.com. Meet some great guys when I had my Jeep, much more my speed of offroading, versus the more traditional "let's see how much shit I can break climbing this hill" local mentality.


Anyway, there are a number of guys on there that are convinced that they can go almost anyway that a 530KTM can, but they do it on GSAs. I don't think that they always ride that way, but they have this air that they CAN do it with a GSA, and do from what I've seen. My argument was WHY? It's rougher on the bike, not as fun, wears you out, etc. Of course, a lot of them are near the desert, but not all. Still, doesn't sound like fun to me, and that's why I ride.

Shame on you sandalscout. As a fellow KLR rider I thought you would understand the appeal of riding a HEAVY pig all the places the real dirt bikes go.

[sandalscout]

Originally Posted by Wallachian Spikes

Shame on you sandalscout. As a fellow KLR rider I thought you would understand the appeal of riding a HEAVY pig all the places the real dirt bikes go.

I miss my XT250 sometimes. There is a decent chance that I'd still have it if it had 5 more HP and was 5 inches taller.

The KLR is probably 130 pounds heavier than it was.

[TroyJ650]

Originally Posted by sandalscout

I miss my XT250 sometimes. There is a decent chance that I'd still have it if it had 5 more HP and was 5 inches taller.

The KLR is probably 130 pounds heavier than it was.

Trust me, you made the right move.

As for a GS-A keeping up with a strong single in the woods, it's against the laws. The laws of Gravity, the laws of Physics, and any law associated with common sense. With a GS-A, you are talking about twice the weight of a 530. I will go so far as to bet a CASE of beer that there are places a 530 will go in Turkey Bay that a GREAT GS-A rider would never attempt.

.....but I would LOVE to see somebody try to prove me wrong!

[threadkiller]

Originally Posted by sandalscout

I miss my XT250 sometimes. There is a decent chance that I'd still have it if it had 5 more HP and was 5 inches taller.

The KLR is probably 130 pounds heavier than it was.

Cough, cough... you need a DRZ!



I guarantee you the only thing that will get a GS-A into Sequatchie is gravity.

[jeventures]

I've had my 950ADV back there before...not all the way down the gulf but a few of the boulder-ed creek crossings. I have much more fun now that I have a 450 EXC. There is a reason some of the GSA and 950 guys have winches on their bikes...when 500lbs goes down...it's a royal PIA to get back up.

Originally Posted by threadkiller

Cough, cough... you need a DRZ!



I guarantee you the only thing that will get a GS-A into Sequatchie is gravity.

[MrTwisty]

Anybody that thinks they can ride their GSA anywhere I can ride my 450EXC needs to meet me at Highland Park.

[ihatefalling]

Hey I've always wondered about those big BMWs . . . .the way the motor sticks out, if you drop the bike, does it knock the head / cylinder loose from the case?


Knib High football rules !

[wparkinson]

Originally Posted by threadkiller

Cough, cough... you need a DRZ!



I guarantee you the only thing that will get a GS-A into Sequatchie is gravity.

Don't be hating.........

[TroyJ650]

Originally Posted by ihatefalling

Hey I've always wondered about those big BMWs . . . .the way the motor sticks out, if you drop the bike, does it knock the head / cylinder loose from the case?


Knib High football rules !

I've seen videos of the bikes going down hard on the cylinder, and the rider would just pivot the bike around on the head to get it in a better position to pick up. I'm not saying they ain't tough, they are just too big and heavy to do what a real dirt bike can do. There are sections of deep, loose gravel that can swallow a slow moving bike. A 100 h.p. GS rear wheel will dig in, a EXC (even a DRZ) would skip over the top.

I'm not saying there is not a BMW Boxer motor bike that can be ridden like a dirt bike, I think it's called an HP (?) The GS is just too heavy.

[sandalscout]

Originally Posted by TroyJ650

I'm not saying there is not a BMW Boxer motor bike that can be ridden like a dirt bike, I think it's called an HP (?) The GS is just too heavy.

HP2.... those are sick bikes, but still more than I'd want to man handle around offroad. There is a report on here with a guy who built a 1200 (I THINK it was a normal GS) and ran an enduro on it. Unfortunately, all of the pictures disappeared many moons ago, but the descriptions made it seem as thought it ended up upside down a few times. If I recall correctly, the bike finished the enduro, and the guy stripped it down and parted it, it was so jacked up afterward.