Manhattan to Moab or City Blocks to Slickrocks

[juames]

[x1valin1x]

Ok everyone, so I have made it to Colorado. I learned along the way that when I have a mission to complete I don't like to rest until that mission is completed. I treated getting out there much like a trucker haha. I only stopped to sleep or get food and when I stopped to sleep, I slept right off the highway ready to get up and start driving again.

On the way out I saw a lot of corn fields. I bought a gas can from Wal-mart that had a hole in it. I found out it had a hole in it when I started to fill it up. Later I returned a gas can to Wal-mart and got a new one.

I ended up driving a lot at night because I felt like I never did enough miles during the day.

When I made it to Colorado I was lucky enough to meet up with my Uncle John who had a friend named Gary that let me leave the bikes at his place. I had to take the bikes out of the bed of the truck and ditch the trailer because the truck started making funny noises on the way down so I wanted to drop it off at a garage and get it checked out.

So far Colorado has been great, I saw some elk.

[Flanny]

Originally Posted by x1valin1x

Ok everyone, so I have made it to Colorado. I learned along the way that when I have a mission to complete I don't like to rest until that mission is completed. I treated getting out there much like a trucker haha. I only stopped to sleep or get food and when I stopped to sleep, I slept right off the highway ready to get up and start driving again.

On the way out I saw a lot of corn fields. I bought a gas can from Wal-mart that had a hole in it. I found out it had a hole in it when I started to fill it up. Later I returned a gas can to Wal-mart and got a new one.

I ended up driving a lot at night because I felt like I never did enough miles during the day.

When I made it to Colorado I was lucky enough to meet up with my Uncle John who had a friend named Gary that let me leave the bikes at his place. I had to take the bikes out of the bed of the truck and ditch the trailer because the truck started making funny noises on the way down so I wanted to drop it off at a garage and get it checked out.

So far Colorado has been great, I saw some elk.

Yee-Haw - Righjt on Tom! Good to know you're there already. That's Fan-F-in-Tastic!

[B-Rod]

Great first post

[DR. Rock]

do us proud!

Gregor, whatcha packin' to catch photons? Same rig as the trans-lab or even more stripped down?

[toofast4uu]

Tom!! You are da man!!! Great job getting out there so quickly!!




Christian checking in here.....Man, I am stoked!!!

I still can’t believe that I’m actually going to ride in MOAB!!! None-the less ride my own bike!!!! Unfuknbelievable!!!!

Gregor’s not kidding when he mentioned he’s the “Planner and Instigator” of the group….LOL….and he wasn’t taking no for an answer… After declining multiple times, and going into work and witnessing a few lay-off’s, I went home and worked out a deal with my wife…It wasn’t easy... (in her words…”What are you crazy? Less then five months ago, you left me for 14 days!!! and you want to do what?? Your out of your mind!!!" Last May, I had just completed a 3,000 mile, 14 day off road ride from Phoenix to San-Francisco…That was to be the ride of the year for me… .and as far as she was concerned…that was it….for a long time.. But somehow..even Gregor was able to twist her arm.. This was just too good of an opportunity to turn down… and somehow, we sold the idea of an extended weekend to her....and I jumped at it! Ticket booked...that was Oct. 6..only two weeks ago.. These guys from NY don't kid around!!

That was “Part I”…I’m thinking we’re going to Dual Sport the 950’s and 650’s…Not this time….Within a few hours I’m getting links to you tube videos which quickly show this aint gonna be no dual sport…. and learn how technical the riding is out there…. We’re bringing the little bikes….

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjTVF...layer_embedded





So now it’s time for Part “II” and the work begins…(bike preparation-because if you’re prepared, you won’t need it…);

• Re-jet the carb, and thankfully James Dean (JD Jetting) personally comes to the rescue…
• Next up we’re told that trials tires are the trick for riding out there….so Vee Rubber to the rescue…compliments of my friend Gary at SDR Race Tools
• a few orders to MSR Racing (for a XC backpack, fender bags (to store my MSR fuel cells), and some more protective gear)
• Soften up my suspension by swapping out my stiffer “Sand” springs, for the softer “Rock” springs….
• And add on the Tugger Straps….(each day, someone in the group shares a link to a You-tube video…You gotta see the step-ups….I can’t believe some of the technical stuff….these will definitely come in handy…

The next two weeks are spent trying to figure out how to get my 2 stroke to meet the gas range of everyone else’s bike in the group... As of now, I’m somewhere in the 70-80 mile range…depending on how hard we’re on the throttle…and how the altitude affects my tuning… we’ll see how it goes… Nothing a 2litr bottle can't fix...

Guys, I can’t thank you all enough for including me on this trip …Rest assured, it’s going to be epic!!! By this time next week, the first day of Moab will be complete...i can’t wait until Friday!!!

Now to start uploading the GPS...and packing my bags...

[sakurama]

Originally Posted by DR. Rock

do us proud!

Gregor, whatcha packin' to catch photons? Same rig as the trans-lab or even more stripped down?

I have a job in Aspen right after this trip so I'm packing a full Canon set up (there's more but that's what I have laid out now). I don't know if I'll want to carry 50lbs of glass on my back when I ride but I'll carry something. I also picked up a new POV for this trip: the Drift HD170 which should be fun to play with.

I think we have about 5-6 POV cameras between us so I think we're covered. Flanny is bringing the Flannyvision world along too. Tom has some Canon's as well and I think everyone has a point and shoot.

We are an embarrassingly high tech crew balanced out nicely by Gino who won't read his email.

This will be fun.

Gregor

[gary5410]

Awesome....have a great trip!!!!!!!!!

[La Donna Fugata]

WOW

Have a great time guys. Looking forward to this ride report.

LDF

[DR. Rock]

Originally Posted by sakurama

...I'm packing a full Canon set up...This will be fun.

Gregor

Christ, that weighs more than you and your bike combined!

I'm curious to see what you actually end up carrying, and can't wait to see what you squeeze out of the kit.

We want action, drama, humor, and good looking babes* like yer last RR.

*something tells me we're not getting this one, nohow, noway...

[Country Doc]

Does that all fit in your tankbag?



Looking forward to your reports!

dc

[CosentinoEngineering]

I hope we'll have get a little riding in amongst all the picture taking.....

[toofast4uu]

Guys,

I'm diggn those load up vids!! nice!!

Gregor,

You should have told me you were bringing a camera ..we could have mounted up these 40L pelicans to the Berg

[JohnHa]

Christian, I'm reposting that video since it looks a bit screwy. And adding a bonus one too.

[famoadv]

Hope you get some riding done in between all the picture-taking But I'll be hoping for lot's of images!