Finally got it off road

[burnoil]

Yeah, my friends thought I was nuts. I was supposed to control it with meds, but I'm lazy and, well...you know how that goes. My med, in this case, is turning out to be my Tenere, but it only makes it worse, as it turns out.

Anyhow, got out to Santiago and Silverado Canyons today with my neighbor and his XR600. It was good fun and the 1200cc pig is surprisingly well-planted in the dirt. Yes, even with the stock BattleWings it does amazingly well. I need some new hoops, though. BattleWings do not like rocks. I am riding fairly slow in the vids as it took me awhile to get used to the bike in the dirt. This is NOT my KTM 450EXC, for sure so I adjusted my riding style to match. Umm...still slow. Give it time.

Some boring vids of the ride. I guess you had to be there:

http://youtu.be/1yWT6H2v5Vo

http://youtu.be/2KIzMBS24jg

 

[GrahamD]

::012::

Well since I get so little riding time, I pretty much go to noob mode every time I go out on the dirt, so I get it.

Get a bit stoopid after a while though. The bike does intimidate at first but you learn to go with the flow and then it surprises.

Main thing is that you enjoyed yourself and got home safely. ::008::

 

[BaldKnob]

Very nice, Oil! Your speed looked appropriate for the tires and mass of the machine you were riding. The stock Bridgestones do fairly well in good conditions, I just couldn't trust the front end in loose dirt/rocks/sand. Not so with the K60s. Try turning the TC off next time out, you may find better drive over washboard/stutter bumps and more consistant throttle when you want to give it the beans. My question to you is, how did you manage that steep downhill at the end of your 2nd video? I'm sure the ABS was doing its job but it looked like you were carrying a lot of speed.

 

[burnoil]

Very nice, Oil! Your speed looked appropriate for the tires and mass of the machine you were riding. The stock Bridgestones do fairly well in good conditions, I just couldn't trust the front end in loose dirt/rocks/sand. Not so with the K60s. Try turning the TC off next time out, you may find better drive over washboard/stutter bumps and more consistant throttle when you want to give it the beans. My question to you is, how did you manage that steep downhill at the end of your 2nd video? I'm sure the ABS was doing its job but it looked like you were carrying a lot of speed.

Yeah, the downhill section was a little hairy, but not too steep, but my 39 years of desert riding out here in SoCal kicked in and I was able to translate some of that into the bike. I was standing and gripping the seat/tank junction with my knees. This allows you to be standing (with knees bent a little), but you actually steer or lean the bike with your knees and legs. You still have a healthy command of the bars, but that just helps what your knees/legs are doing. This also puts you into an "attack" stance on the bike. I never once touched the brakes on the way down...it was all done with throttle and engine breaking in the appropriate gear. The bike was surprisingly flickable with that method. I'm quite sure I would be more confident with better tires.

 

[Gcontroller]

Nice work did you air down the tires at all?

 

[burnoil]

Nice work did you air down the tires at all?

Yeah, aired down a bit as I had a mini compressor with me so I could air back up. Not sure how much difference it made on those tires since I had never run them before. I am sure it helped some.

 

[snakebitten]

Really nice place to ride!

So that is close to home? Man, if I could get their within an hour or two, I might stay on knobbies full time. I don't mind $$ on dirt. The return in FUN is worth it. But burning down tires on the tarmac irritates a bit.

K60's to the rescue.

Can't wait to see what you say after you ride her with some bite. It's crazy how fun the pig can be.

 

[burnoil]

Really nice place to ride!

So that is close to home? Man, if I could get their within an hour or two, I might stay on knobbies full time. I don't mind $$ on dirt. The return in FUN is worth it. But burning down tires on the tarmac irritates a bit.

K60's to the rescue.

Can't wait to see what you say after you ride her with some bite. It's crazy how fun the pig can be.

Yeah, it's only about 40 minutes from me so pretty easy to get to. Another member has some K60s for sale so I may pick those up and then go try them out! So much fun!

 

[klunsford]

Glad you got it dirty... Mine stays that way.... Everytime I clean it up I turn down a dirt of gravel road or just ride the trails around my housing area. I guess it was just meant to stay dirty... ::025::

 

[rem]

Some boring vids of the ride. I guess you had to be there:

http://youtu.be/1yWT6H2v5Vo

http://youtu.be/2KIzMBS24jg

Nothin' boring about that, Dawg. Nothin'. ::008:: R

 

[Gcontroller]

Yeah, aired down a bit as I had a mini compressor with me so I could air back up. Not sure how much difference it made on those tires since I had never run them before. I am sure it helped some.

Tell us about your mini compressor thinking about getting one and leaving the hand pump at home.

 

[burnoil]

Tell us about your mini compressor thinking about getting one and leaving the hand pump at home.

Well, I have my patch kit with enough C02 cannisters to fill one tire then I have my mini compressor, a crappy Slime unit. If the Slime dies and I absolutely need air, I'll dig into the C02. So far the Slime is ok as long as you let it rest a little and not get too hot.

These aren't the best solutions, but better than nothing for now.

 

[t1j2f3]

Anyhow, got out to Santiago and Silverado Canyons today with my neighbor and his XR600.

I was curious about your route since you rode pretty close to home. Did you take Santiago canyon to Silverado canyon? If so did you turn around somewhere in the middle of nowhere or does it connect to the 5 or 15?

 

[burnoil]

I was curious about your route since you rode pretty close to home. Did you take Santiago canyon to Silverado canyon? If so did you turn around somewhere in the middle of nowhere or does it connect to the 5 or 15?

Yes, we went down Santiago to Silverado. It'll eventually hook you up via Main Divide Road to Indian Truck Trail and then onto the 15 on the other side of the mountains, but we did turn around since it was getting very rocky and I did not trust the BattleWing tires to fare so well leading up to Santiago Peak. I probably could have pushed it, but decided on caution until I get new hoops.

I think we stopped right around here: +33° 42' 55.75", -117° 33' 3.47" (33.715487, -117.550964) (Drop that into Google Maps)

Also, you can continue down Main Divide to 74 (Ortega Hwy) which could take you to the 15, as well.

 

[Mark R.]

I used to live in Silverado Canyon, across the creek right at the Silverado Cafe. I did not realize the road was paved so far up past the last houses. Good video.

 

[okiegtrider]

Nothin' boring about that, Dawg. Nothin'. ::008:: R

agreed!

This is why I need a Tenere. ::024::