last time I checked, a KTM 450 E/XC isn’t a dual sport. the dual sports that I’ve seen in this club were #2’s 350XL, #86’s and #1101’s XR650’s, and #680’s DRZ400. all of those were big heavy bikes. remember also that they need to have DOT tires, batteries, lights and so on to be street legal.
my question is whether or not members of this club will plan to ride the type of trips #86 is proposing. these would actually be more flexible than snowmobiling because we can connect trail sections with road sections which you cannot do on a snowmobile. many members have commented that this would be fun to do but they are not willing to sacrifice off road performance (so some have said they would only do it if they could keep a trail bike as well).
as I evaluate how much fun I’m having riding tight technical off road only rides on my 214 pound bike, I contrast that against how much fun I would have riding gravel roads, cart paths through state forests, and simply using back roads to connect more small off road riding areas together for new and longer adventures. for me, I will not be able to dedicate any more time to motorcycle riding than I do now, I hope it’s never less, but at times it could be. so what I’m trying to determine is not really a question of equipment, but instead is a question of if I would get more enjoyment out of the flexibility of that type of riding while sacrificing (let’s be honest) some off road performance.
The biggest strike against the dual sport argument is that I am SCARED TO DEATH to ride on public roads on a motorcycle (and that comes from ALL OF YOU that have done it and told me stories). The biggest selling point is as we continue to lose off road riding area at a rapid pace, it’s the idea of how much more opportunity we’d have in terms of where we can ride. I do love the pumping station but how many times can we ride the same limited trail system every year. this is the bulk of our riding. it’s also why I cherish the fall rides so much and insist we try for new places each trip. just for variety and so on. as we get older, I bet this will become more attractive to us all.
so I’ll restate the question more accurately: Are WPR Dirt Members interested in trail/road rides? this, I believe, is the question #86 is actually pitching to us (keep in mind this is coming from a guy that is still faster than most, if not all of us in the trail and he might as well be on a friggin’ Gold Wing!) I am going to copy this discussion to the WPR2 Dirt Forum for further open discussion, it is an important one and should continue.
#2, do you think we should have a WPR Dirt meeting? that could be a great forum for #86 to really sell his ideas. Taking a lead from the Snow Side, I might suggest that he present a mock trip, complete with route maps, hotels (for overnights), eateries and destination sites and etcetera so as to persuade other members to think his ways.
#5 (they may not actually weigh 400lbs. but it sure will feel like it coming from my bike)
From: bill polewarczyk [mailto:billp996@hotmail.com] Sent: Wednesday, May 31, 2006 11:00 AM To: lafalamd@yahoo.com; John_Bangrazi@adp.com; rmilkowski@nutfieldtech.com; wymanlake@comcast.net; darrin_farnsworth@adp.com; scott.garny@us.didata.com; daveskidoo@earthlink.net; MyOutdoors@charter.net; ChWoodward@tycoint.com Subject: Re: Ride 6/1
i agree with 86, my ktm 450exc doesn't weight anywhere close to 400 lbs.
The last time I was invited to go snowmobiling, I went. That was about 6 years ago (thanks again #10, that was great). Some of us are lowly municiple employees and can't affort a multitude of excessively expensive self-indulgent hobbies.
No takers on Friday or Monday during the day? Woody, thanks for the Friday evening offer, but I will probably just go during the day while the kids are in school.
KTM 400 or 450EXCs don't weigh 400'.
#86
PS - I just took a buddy at works new Vulcan for a ride. I gotta figure out how to afford a second excessivelly expensive self-indulgent hobby!!!
----- Original Message ---- From: John_Bangrazi@adp.com To: rmilkowski@nutfieldtech.com; John_Bangrazi@adp.com; lafalamd@yahoo.com; wymanlake@comcast.net; darrin_farnsworth@adp.com; scott.garny@us.didata.com; daveskidoo@earthlink.net; billp996@hotmail.com; MyOutdoors@charter.net; ChWoodward@tycoint.com Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 2:49:37 PM Subject: RE: Ride 6/1
1101 don't be so defensive, I was actually talking about #2 but now you reminded me that your Big Mama was also a dually. so tell us, does 86 have something here or is it a devious strategy to get us all to be smashing thru the woods on 400 pound gorillas?
#5
From: Robert Milkowski [mailto:rmilkowski@nutfieldtech.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 2:29 PM To: John_Bangrazi@adp.com; lafalamd@yahoo.com; wymanlake@comcast.net; darrin_farnsworth@adp.com; scott.garny@us.didata.com; daveskidoo@earthlink.net; billp996@hotmail.com; MyOutdoors@charter.net; ChWoodward@tycoint.com Subject: RE: Ride 6/1
I can't do this Fri or Mon 6/5, sorry. are Thursday's no good for you?
Keep the dual-sport plugs coming - they're working! I am absolutely feeling something that I can only identify as JEALOUSY!! and you know what that leads to Mr. Jones.
I think playing the snowmobiling card with some of the members is the way to go (the particular member knows who I'm talking about but I must remember that he DID own a dual-sport a time ago and I didn't follow). although you not owning a snowmobiling (or even coming when invited) certainly doesn't help your cause. remember, you have to practice what you preach in order to be most effective.
#5
From: Darin LaFalam [mailto:lafalamd@yahoo.com] Sent: Tuesday, May 30, 2006 11:48 AM To: Robert Milkowski; John_Bangrazi@adp.com; wymanlake@comcast.net; darrin_farnsworth@adp.com; scott.garny@us.didata.com; daveskidoo@earthlink.net; billp996@hotmail.com; MyOutdoors@charter.net; ChWoodward@tycoint.com Subject: Re: Ride 6/1
How about Friday? Or Monday the 5th? Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?
#86
(Shameless dual-sport plug ALERT!!)
PS - Rode my bike to work today. Washed it and cleaned the air filter. Should be a nice ride home.
once again, i agree with 86. my bike is not a factory dual sport either, but with minimal effort it can easily become one. since #5 has pointed out that we are losing more riding areas each year, the only options i see are to join in on organized events or dual sport the bike and ride anywhere. hence the reason that i bought it. i will most likely have it dual sported by next year.
#5, my bike is NOT a factory dual sport bike! It is an XR650R, the bike that has won the Baja 1000 the last 5 years in a row. You can take ANY dirt bike and turn it into a dual sport with a little effort and $$$ (even a 2-smoke if you really want to). All you need is a horn, mirror, break light from both brakes, tail light, tag light, and DOT tires. With those things fitted, you could get an inspection sticker! I used a kit from Baja Designs for about $400. It adds a whopping 3 to 4 pounds to your bike. The battery pack is 8 AA NMH batteries. I put a sticker over the sentence on the Certificate of Origion that says "Not intended for highway use" and registered it like any other road bike. And with DOT knobbies as good as they are now, there is NO off road performance disadvantage to the average rider. Jeremy is using the same Kenda Trackmaster II DOT rear tire on his CR450 that I use because he LIKES it.
My arguement is, instead of going one place and riding around in circles for 4 hours, adventure rides would be cool. I am having great fun doing them solo, but a small squad of dual sports would be a blast.
Here is a ride senario.
The rules: 1. Always choose a dirt road over a tar road. 2. Always choose a cart road over a dirt road. 3. Always choose a trail over all else. 4. Try not trespass were we aren't wanted any more than absolutely necessary.
We leave one of our houses at 7:am. First stop, breakfast (think how cool that little breakfast joint is going to look with a half doesn't bikes in front of it!). Phase 2, "Day's Primary Objective" - lets get to Doanes Falls in Royalston on as few tar roads as possible. Maybe we stop at Cycle design in Philipston on the way. Who knows what the ride to Royalston brings. May find cool new trails or riding areas. May get way off our intended course because we find cool riding. No big deal, we just hop on the road to get headed back towards our primary destination. Jump in the water at Doanes Falls for all who are interested (just need to have thrown a suit and towel in your back pack, no big deal). Next priority, lunch. Cute blonde waitress with a tight skirt and perky personality eyes #680 in his stylish retro pink zebra striped riding gear. After lunch, we check out the motocross track in Philipston/Templeton (whereever it is). From there, we realize we can take trails and dirt roads thru Lake Dennison area to Winchendon. We hit Pumping station on the way thru and do a lap. Stop for gas (no premix necessary for your nice new 400EXC you picked up on Ebay). Cute girl on a moped at gas station winks at #5 and tells him what a nice bike he has. Make it home on trails, dirt road and tar as necessary by mid afternoon and the wife is happy.
Coolest part, every time you go out, you track with a GPS. Before you know it, you have a network of trail you didn't even know existed! Target destinations can get further and further as knowledge of trail network grows.
Overnight trips like your snowmobile trips would be cool, too. Possibilies are endless. The coolests thing is, instead of going around in circles, you are having fun riding and exploring at the same time. Adventure riding!
NOW GO GET THOSE BIKES STREET LEGAL!!! And change from Thursday night rides to Friday night!
