The Adventures of Tyson and Hobbes

[flyboats]

Originally Posted by Petrolburner

No shit! I think I'm going to start a poll titled, "Who thinks Tyson should run a set of real dirt tires if he's going to keep trying to ride it like a dirtbike?" Is anyone else curious as to what he can actually do on an adequate set of tires? Or is this like NASCAR and we're just waiting for the crash and pictures of broken bodywork?

I'll second that!

[flyboats]

I did get a flip up full face and love it. Much better than my 3/4 and easy on and off with glasses, cooler when just a quick fill and go gas station break. Now I'll have to get Shellie a new one too.

Good RR. Boy, I'm getting to see a lot of country I've never been in.

[av_mech]

Originally Posted by BeezaBoy

Tyson,
I'm really enjoying the ride report. I've been using your thread to compile a list of "must do" rides.
So much to do, so little time!

Excellent photos too!

-Tom

Originally Posted by JaxObsessed

Excellent job Tyson! Thanks for putting your photos up!!
I am now (this very second) officially IN on a Divide ride next summer, and your photos did it! Now I have to pick the right bike! 800gs, 800xc, or my 650gs thumper. I am like a kid in a candy store!!!

If you guys have specific questions, I'm more than happy to answer them. I found a great way to do research is just type in the name of the pass you want into google, and see what the 4x4 guys have posted. Traildamage.com USUALLY has really good info. They fucked me on last weekend's ride that I'm about to write.

[av_mech]

So here was the weekend again, but Terry had left for Idaho. This left me with out a riding partner. I guess I'll just head to Breckenridge for the weekend and hang out with Westlake. You'll remember him from when I got hit with the broom.

I did my research on the net and I wanted to take Webster Pass. Then, I started reading about Red Cone which is kind of a side trip from Webster and intersects Webster Pass right at the summit. It's basically the back way into Keystone. This is the report I read to get my info. HERE. Doesn't sound so bad. A steep descent. No problem. We did Schofield last weekend. I'm feeling good about this.

Saturday morning I take off towards the hills. I wish there were some more routes out of Denver. 285 and I-70 are getting old.





Off on the dirt already. Just about 60 miles from home. I turned off of 285 onto 60. It's Fall!













Here it is. The intersection. I had kind of a weird feeling. I should really learn to listen to these feelings.





Red Cone was challenging from the get go!! This is less than a hundred yards into the trail. And this isn't one little section. The entire road is like this. First gear only.



Pee break.



There were several Jeepers getting past this really rough spot. (You can't see it in the pic.) They let me go through. Lots of comments such as "What the hell are you doing up here?" "Street tires?" "How heavy is that?" Yet another clue.

I made it past the obstacle. It wasn't pretty and I had an audience. But, I made it.



After that it got really loose. The rear just wouldn't grab. It was steep too! Once momentum is lost on a big bike, it's pretty much over.



I had to take a walk up around the corner to see if it got better. Nope. More of the same. I took this one looking back down at Hobbes who was starting to get pissed at me. This is only about a mile into the trail.



The colors were pretty, at least when I could see them in those few moments when sweat wasn't stinging my eyes.



Now I'm tired. I had to pick Hobbes up twice and this is a serious workout. I'm up on the pegs and front tire slides off a rock and I start to lean to the left. Then, I hit another rock and it jacks the bars all the way over to the left. I tried to grab the brakes, but it was too late. CRUNCH!!

At least I had the clarity to take a pic. Then the sinking feeling starts. Mainly in my wallet. "How much is this gonna cost?"



A few zip ties later and I think I'm ready to continue.



I discovered I had another problem. This bike has a very tall first gear. Which is great when you need to be in first and going, say, 10 miles an hour. Anything below that is a bit tough in circumstances like I was in, i.e. steep, loose, and rocky. The clutch takes a lot of abuse. I put the bike in gear and let out the clutch, but it didn't move or snub. I could rev the bike and get it to move, almost like an automatic transmission. Time to let Hobbes cool off.

I sit on the side of the trail as the Jeepers catch up to me. The guy in the lead truck tells me I'm not even half way and it's more of the same the rest of the way. Decision made. ABORT!!! ABORT!!

I enjoyed the peacefulness of my surroundings while I gave Hobbes a break. About half hour later I get ready to go. The clutch situation isn't any better. I decide to head down the hill in neutral (it's steep enough!) and let the engine run to hopefully get some more heat out of the oil and clutch plates. The radiator temp has never wavered during the entire 8000 miles I've had Hobbes. Including this disastrous attempt at Red Cone.

I make it back to the highway with out really ever having to put it in gear. I get on the highway and I can only hold about 50 mph before the clutch starts to slip.

My crooked windshield and gauge cluster.



I pull over when I am faced with a slight incline and I know I don't have a chance. Time to call in the Calvary. I made arrangements for a coworker to make the hour drive to pick my broke down ass up. I call my brother to tell him of my stupidity. I'm glad I did!!

Now I've got a pretty good base knowledge of motorcycle maintenance and troubleshooting. But, I missed this one. Trevor asked if I had any free play in my clutch lever. That thing was tight as a bitch!!! I made the adjustment, and it took a lot. A short test ride confirmed that I hadn't completely smoked my clutch!! Back in business!

Now what do you suppose I'll do? Head back to Denver or continue on my weekend trip with a worn clutch and broke to shit front end?

[purplesage]

Holy crap!!!

[Mercury264]

Friggin awesome

Not the damage, the fact you try this shit.

Bravo

[av_mech]

With the clutch adjusted and the Calvery called off, I was back on track to Breckenridge for the weekend. I could have just taken the highway, but what fun would that be? Lets do some dirt!

Off I go down the road I just came limping down. Headlight assembly bouncing on the fender and cocked off to the left. We aren't taking Red Cone this time. Webster Pass is the ticket.



Webster Pass high above.





It was somewhere after this stream crossing that my last remaining shock mount broke. The only thing holding my headlight on was a zip tie and the wiring.





I love the shades of red the underbrush turns during fall. It is a stark contrast from the yellow leaves of the aspen.



This is Red Cone. Yes, I was trying to get to the top of that and ride the trail that follows that knife edge ridge.













The North side of Webster Pass. I came up from the South.



Looking off to the Keystone area.



That's the trail I would have come down on from Red Cone. It really was pretty damn steep. It still would have been easier coming down that than what I had to get up to come down. Damn you Traildamage.com!



The road I came up. Headlight a bouncin'!







This is Radical Hill. If the switchbacks aren't enough to scare you, follow the road up to the top right of the picture. Now that is a hell of a hill climb!! I won't be attempting that. Today......





I really love this photo for some reason. One of my favorites from the ride.





Back on the pavement after I passed Montezuma.





Lake Dillon from Swan Mountain Road.



Just a little crooked. I really need to spring for a photo editing program.



I made it Breck in one piece. Hobbes was in pieces. Little tiny black pieces of shattered plastic.

Zac and I got steak and beer. Ribeye on the smoker for two hours! Friggin awesome. Nice chill night this time. No brooms involved. Just some food, beer, and friends.

I woke up the next morning hoping that the friction plates had cooled off completely and it would give me adjustment back. No cigar. I went to the lower adjustment on the crankcase and gave some adjustment back in the lever. I really wore some off those plates.

I watched part of the Bronco's game and got ready to leave. I obviously needed to get home before dark and I obviously had to watch the Packers play the Bears for the afternoon game. I'm from Wisconsin and FUCK the Bears!

Leaving Breck in the morning. It's still home sweet home when I see those mountains.





Almost to Frisco.



An uneventful ride on I-70 and home to watch a victorious Packer team make Culter cry.

[av_mech]

The aftermath...







$291 for the headlight assembly. Not bad considering when I destroyed the same assembly on my KLR, it was $275 from Kawasaki. I wouldn't have been surprised if Triumph wanted $500. $291 is a good deal. Well, not really. But, you get the logic.

$145 for the bracket. I thought this was a little steep. I wish it was aluminum or steel. I could have bent/welded that back to normal. The stupid thing is cast and just snapped. No fixin' that.

$25 for the front windshield mounts. And last but not least....$75 for overnight shipping so I can get the bike put back together for the weekend. The peak fall colors this weekend before the snow flies is worth the $75 bucks to me. Can't put a price on happiness. Besides, Tyler came down to Denver to work and rode his 1200 GS. I've got somebody to go with this weekend! Must see pretty colors in the mountains!

I will also be changing the brand new oil that I put in just before this ride. I need to get all that crap out of there that came off the friction plates. It is $224 for the kit with the friction plates and spacers. I just got a quote on this. I'll wait til they are really fucked to change them. I'm sure it'll be before the recommended interval.

One thing that I found weird about this clutch thing was the symptoms. I overheated the clutch in my KLR doing a crazy climb in Idaho. When I got to the top and pulled in the clutch, it wouldn't completely disengage. The bike wanted to creep forward. On the Triumph, when I put it in gear and let the clutch out, the bike sat there. I gave some gas and the rpms climbed past 5000 before the bike moved. Seems a little opposite, doesn't it? I'm totally open to thoughts or facts as to why this happened this way.

I've never repaired, fixed, or troubleshot a clutch before. On the bright side, it looks straightforward to replace the plates. Easy access. Just a few bolts. I will also add that since I adjusted the clutch cable at the lower point on the case, the bike seems to operate just fine. The specified amount of free play at the lever and 6 threads of adjustment left at the lever. Not much left on the case adjustment.

[JaxObsessed]

Thanks for the heads up about the 4x4 forums, and for the offer of questions answered. I have just begun the process and will need expertise from folks with their wheels on the ground out there!
Maybe we could hook up for a pass or two.


6, I like the KTM's, but for some reason they just never made me drool. I have no idea why.



edit: Sorry about Hobbs' woes. Thanks for the updates!!

Still catching up... you are prolific :+)
Seems like you could use a smaller cs sprocket or a larger one on the rear. I have found that having a variety of cs sprockets really help! I have 14, 15, 16 , and 17 tooth sprockets that give me a nice variety of low/high end goodness.

[av_mech]

Originally Posted by JaxObsessed

Thanks for the heads up about the 4x4 forums, and for the offer of questions answered. I have just begun the process and will need expertise from folks with their wheels on the ground out there!
Maybe we could hook up for a pass or two.


6, I like the KTM's, but for some reason they just never made me drool. I have no idea why.



edit: Sorry about Hobbs' woes. Thanks for the updates!!

Still catching up... you are prolific :+)
Seems like you could use a smaller cs sprocket or a larger one on the rear. I have found that having a variety of cs sprockets really help! I have 14, 15, 16 , and 17 tooth sprockets that give me a nice variety of low/high end goodness.

This is the first time I have been defeated by a mountain with the Tiger. Rest assured I will conquer Red Cone armed with a smaller front sprocket and knobby tires.

[JaxObsessed]

Sounds more like a tight clutch cable stopped you, not the mountain. From what I have read and seen so far, I have confidence that the mountain would have been conquered!!!

[flyboats]

Originally Posted by av_mech

The aftermath...







$291 for the headlight assembly. Not bad considering when I destroyed the same assembly on my KLR, it was $275 from Kawasaki. I wouldn't have been surprised if Triumph wanted $500. $291 is a good deal. Well, not really. But, you get the logic.

$145 for the bracket. I thought this was a little steep. I wish it was aluminum or steel. I could have bent/welded that back to normal. The stupid thing is cast and just snapped. No fixin' that.

$25 for the front windshield mounts. And last but not least....$75 for overnight shipping so I can get the bike put back together for the weekend. The peak fall colors this weekend before the snow flies is worth the $75 bucks to me. Can't put a price on happiness. Besides, Tyler came down to Denver to work and rode his 1200 GS. I've got somebody to go with this weekend! Must see pretty colors in the mountains!

I will also be changing the brand new oil that I put in just before this ride. I need to get all that crap out of there that came off the friction plates. It is $224 for the kit with the friction plates and spacers. I just got a quote on this. I'll wait til they are really fucked to change them. I'm sure it'll be before the recommended interval.

One thing that I found weird about this clutch thing was the symptoms. I overheated the clutch in my KLR doing a crazy climb in Idaho. When I got to the top and pulled in the clutch, it wouldn't completely disengage. The bike wanted to creep forward. On the Triumph, when I put it in gear and let the clutch out, the bike sat there. I gave some gas and the rpms climbed past 5000 before the bike moved. Seems a little opposite, doesn't it? I'm totally open to thoughts or facts as to why this happened this way.

I've never repaired, fixed, or troubleshot a clutch before. On the bright side, it looks straightforward to replace the plates. Easy access. Just a few bolts. I will also add that since I adjusted the clutch cable at the lower point on the case, the bike seems to operate just fine. The specified amount of free play at the lever and 6 threads of adjustment left at the lever. Not much left on the case adjustment.

Glad you had enough sense to turn back. I was worried, but then if you hadn't made it, you wouldn't be writing about it. (I get into movies too. Easily entertained I guess. )
I assume you won't be happy until you change tires and conquer (enjoy) Red Cone!

[bretedge]

Damn dude...you're riding some seriously rough stuff! I wheeled Red Cone in my Taco and that hill you showed a pic of is steeper and looser than it looks. Pretty gnarly. I'm impressed with your riding skillz. I think I need to get out and ride some harder stuff - and soon! Sorry about the damage to Hobbes. Hope you get it fixed up quick!

Regarding the gearing, I find first gear too tall as well. I need to decide whether to lose a tooth or two up front or to go bigger on the back. Looking forward to seeing which direction you go.

[Petrolburner]

I'd drop a tooth up front and put the knobbies on. You would have made it with knobbies and probably wouldn't have crashed either. Handling well for having street tires is not the same as handling well.

[WaywardSon]

Dude,

You are crazy in a good way Great to see family out riding & hope Dad is fully healed. Great report and pics...thanks for taking the time to include us.