Missouri Adventure Riders Thread

[DirtFarmer]

Originally Posted by Jonathan75

I would like to go and get to know some folks and get to see some of the country.

Ride 115 miles west on 54 to the Stampede, giddy-up.

http://www.backroadstouring.org/kansas/

[toondebt11]

Just tired of looking at Dirtfarmers post for the last week! guess everyones posting on the bridges site! See you all on the trail

[DirtFarmer]

Originally Posted by toondebt11

Just tired of looking at Dirtfarmer

I heard that

[this is a RV]

Originally Posted by toondebt11

just tired of looking at dirtfarmers post for the last week! guess everyones posting on the bridges site! see you all on the trail

+1

[Oh2RideMore]

Riding the versys along back roads to St Anthonys on Sunday. Planning on hitting the picnic lunch and then head back via 2 lane back roads. Swinging bridges ride will have to wait. Looking forward to seeing some of the riders out at lunch on Sunday.

[MizzouRider]

See you at the church. I'm thinking of skipping breakfast, so I have room for a third piece of apple pie. Ha

[BillsburgGS]

New to the STL area and a question came to mind suddenly on Saturday as I was cruising down a rare dirt/gravel road out in near St. Peters... "are there any poisnous snakes I need to worry about in MO?

Saw two three foot black snakes that wriggled off the road before I got close enough to check them out. Good thing I was riding like a sissy or I could have run up on them pretty fast. Probably harmless but thought it was worth asking.

In VA where I just moved form you had to keep an eye out for rattlers in forests and copperheads near fresh water. In state or national parks it was always a good idea to give a snake good clearance at least until you identify it as not being one of those two.

[Oh2RideMore]

On our ride out to St anthony today, along the 42 bypass near vienna, a coperhead was crossing the road. 200 ft later was a black snake. Not sure you would have to be worried about em, as most snakes will just slither away. Mocassins might not run, so stay away any black triangular headed snake. Also known as cottonmouth, see here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Agkistrodon_piscivorus

[pkforbes87]

In the last 3 months of owning her, I have ridden the DRZ just about every single day. Love this bike. Sips gas, zips around town quickly and effortlessly. 99% of my transportation needs can be covered by wearing a backpack and riding, so why even move the gas-guzzling car!?

Anyway, I finally got the chance to go with a few friends to get into some dirt. I've ridden on the street for 5 years, but no idea what I'm doing in the dirt. We all went to Finger Lakes north of Columbia, MO on hwy 63.

There was a ton of mud, and being my first time getting into that kind of off road area, I dropped the bike a few times. I think 4 drops total within about the first hour, but the rest of the day was all good. I started getting the hang of things quickly, and the sun drying up all the slop on the trails helped too.

Towards the end of the day, I even ventured over to the track. Yes, the DRZ is a pig on a motocross track, but with my limited dirt experience, ignorance is bliss.

I do have a couple observations, one of which leads me to a question for you all. The forks seemed to bottom really easily on landings (maybe the DRZ isn't really supposed to be jumped that far?) Gonna look at tightening up the settings or possibly getting my hands on some stiffer springs. I only weigh 135 lbs, shouldn't need anything stiffer than stock! I didn't have any problem with the rear suspension at all. And my next observation.. while floating through the air minus the effects of gravity, this bike sputters and coughs almost every time. Soon as I get back on the ground, she'll pop once and come alive again. I assume that's caused by the fuel in the bowl floating (no pun intended) but I've never heard of a "real" dirt bike having that issue. Is there any recommended fix?

[sieg]

Glad you're having some fun off road. Those forks, and that bike aren't made for jumping. (IMHO) Stiffening them will help but at the cost of making it less plush on rocks and roots. It shouldn’t cough while in the air even though it ain’t a real dirt bike. Are you sure you are not over revving it against the rev-limiter? Otherwise maybe is the float level? From the looks of your brake lever hand guards may be a good investment too.

[pkforbes87]

Yes, hand guards are on my list. Just not in the budget right now. That lever didn't even get bent off road. When I got this bike, it had kenda street tires on it and sat a lot more upright on the kickstand. Wind blew it over one day in the school parking lot.

I know I'm not overrevving through the air. Will probably stick to trails for a while with the drz and just look for a cheap dirt bike. I missed an 01 rm125 for $250 a couple weeks ago. Total basket case, needed a piston and plastics. Given the choice, I think i'd like a 250 4stroke but beggars can't be choosers!

[DRZ Charlie]

The 3X3 mod for the DRZ will open up the air box and fix the hesitation for you, go to thumpertalk.com and search for the 3X3 mod. There are a number of reliability and performance fixes that should be done on the DRZ


Charlie

[pkforbes87]

The PO told me that the 3x3 mod has been done, stock muffler with slightly modified internals (I don't know the details of the muffler mods, but in my experience it does sound a little throatier than I'd expect from a 100% stock bike), and a jet kit installed. I'm also unsure of the jet kit used. The bike starts easily, settles to a perfect idle, and responds well at any rpm. The issue while in the air is the first time I've seen any kind of hesitation in throttle response. There's a slight popping on decel, but only under considerable engine braking with the throttle closed.

I guess I should open up the airbox and verify, but everything else I was told about the bike has turned out to be accurate, so I have had no reason to doubt the story I was given.

That sucks hearing that I should take it easy with the jumping on this bike. Oh well, trails should be more fun once I find my way back when they're not as muddy as they were on Saturday.

[kanur]

Bidwell Creek Road which connects hwy W W and hwy T has a ton of trails going off of it. Does anybody on here ride that area?

I'm always on the 950 when I'm there but I think I may have to take the 400 ECX and go exploring.

[lfs225]

Originally Posted by kanur

Bidwell Creek Road which connects hwy W W and hwy T has a ton of trails going off of it. Does anybody on here ride that area?

I'm always on the 950 when I'm there but I think I may have to take the 400 ECX and go exploring.

It looks like a good place to go exploring.