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Choose Wisely ... Sprockets and Gearing

9/28/2017

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Gears!
If you’re wondering how to properly gear your bike to run better, or be more responsive you’re not alone. Gearing your dirt bike is a compromise ratio and as soon as you change your conditions, you might need a new compromise. Here are our best guidelines for this process.
Sprocket size and final driveLets learn some lingo.
Gearing up and gearing down are just not the same; make sure you know the end results of both. You can gear up by using a smaller rear sprocket or a larger countershaft/front sprocket. Gearing up adds more speed and decreases the final drive ratio. You can gear down by using a larger rear sprocket or a smaller front sprocket. Gearing down reduces speed and increases the final drive ratio.

Gearing UP = More Speed
Gearing DOWN = Less Speed

So, what’s the final drive ratio? It just means how many turns the countershaft has to make in order to turn the rear wheel around once (Acceleration). A higher drive ratio corresponds to a lower gearing and more turns of the countershaft for every rotation of the wheel, and a smaller drive ratio corresponds to higher gearing and fewer turns of the countershaft for every rotation of the wheel. Which setup means your engine is working slower? The answer is a higher gear ratio because it turns your wheel with fewer turns of the countershaft.
So, the bottom line is, what are you trying to achieve?
For more bottom end and faster acceleration, use a small countershaft/front sprocket or large rear sprocket. For every 1 tooth that you change on the front sprocket is like changing 3 to 4 teeth on the rear (and that’s true for higher gearing ratios, too). This configuration creates that smaller gearing ratio that works best for tracks with lots of turns, few long straightaways, like Arenacross, and tight trail riding.
For more top end and faster top speed, use a large countershaft/front sprocket or smaller rear sprocket. This creates a taller gearing ratio that’s best for high speed situations without many tight turns like wide open desert racing. Since you get more action from changes to the countershaft, adjust the rear sprocket by just 1 or 2 teeth for a subtle change.
Gearing changes based on conditionsSo, what kind of changes in riding conditions might merit a gearing change? Quite a few actually. Here are some of the principles to keep in mind:
  • Never adjust your gearing by more than one tooth at a time.
  • If you’re changing your tires for a certain track, realize that your traction might be different. An increase in traction might call for a gearing change.
  • If you’re riding through conditions that make you build revs slowly and labor more — like hauling through sticky conditions — your motor might be getting yanked down too much and your gearing might be too tall.
  • If you’re riding at a higher altitude than normal, you might need to gear down to allow for free revving.
  • On the other hand, if you’re too low with your gearing, you’ll be shifting constantly and your wheel will just spin on terrain that’s dry.
  • Riders with engines that are geared low at an optimal level will need to shift less and enjoy more free and responsive performance.
  • Riders with engines that are geared more on the tall side will enjoy more control, but may rely on the clutch more.
  • Taller gearing is most useful for off-road courses.
  • In general, lower gearing means moving through the gearbox’s spread faster and shifting more — and vice versa.
  • Always remember that you’ll need to adjust your chain based on the manufacturer recommendations to compensate for any larger or smaller sprockets.
  • Keep one-tooth and two-teeth larger rear sprockets and a one-tooth lower countershaft with you so you can change gearing on the go without changing your chain length.
  • Don’t bother to swap out a used sprocket for a fresh one if your drive system is shot; you’ll just be wearing out your new sprocket fast.
  • Always remember that your gearing goal for speed and performance is to rev freely, stay hooked up, and remain just responsive enough to get through a rhythm section cleanly.
Maintenance, drive chain components, and gearingWith experience, you’ll soon be able to see the signs of drive parts that need to be replaced — and no one needs to lose a chain right as they pin it up a hill. Before each ride, do a visual check.
You can physically check whether your chain is worn by measuring how far apart the pins holding the chain together are spaced. This works because there is a “service limit” for how much the chain should stretch; your owner’s manual will tell you what the service limit is.
It’s also time to replace your chain if you see any of these signs:
  • chain links with a wear pattern that’s flat looking on the bottom and top;
  • the chain fails to cycle through smoothly;
  • loose, easy side to side play
  • rust or corrosion on the chain.
Next look over the sprockets. It’s time to replace them if you see any of these signs:
  • cupping at the base of any tooth;
  • teeth leaning
  • worn teeth.
Finally, look over the drive chain components, including the guide, rollers, and slide. Make sure you have the right drive train tools to fix the drive parts that need to be replaced if you see any of these signs:
  • chain cutting into the slider;
  • exposed metal; or
  • sprocket bolts that are loose.
If you find that any of these drive parts need replacing, it’s a good idea to replace them all. That’s because they have to work together and the parts that touch each other tend to create wear patterns on each other. If you put a new part in next to a worn part, the new part will wear down faster than it should thanks to the existing wear pattern on the older part next to it.
The bottom lineNo matter where you’re riding, as an experienced racer you’ve probably felt the difference between gearing that was just so-so and gearing that was completely dialed for your track. Fortunately, learning how to decide on gearing gets a lot easier with experience. Understanding the cause and effect of the front and rear sprocket is the most important part; once you’ve got that down, it’s all trial and error.

*Credit Medium.com and BTO Sports


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1970 HONDA CT90 TRIP TO THE MOUNTAINS OF CLOUDCROFT, NM ** 2 DAYS & 400 + MILES

9/28/2017

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A LITTLE ABOUT ME:
I love travel and adventure. Meeting new people, experiencing new places and yes motorcycles. Motorcycles of any kind. Basically anything with two wheels and a source of power. My spontaneity involving motorcycles has been both a blessing and a curse at times.
About 4 weeks ago I was involved in a very bad accident involving a barbed wire fence that some sick f*%$ had run across the trail that I frequently ride and train on with my KTM enduro bike. Thankfully I always wear all the gear including a neck brace, which I am convinced saved my life. After the last month being laid up and depressed I decided I needed something to do so...
I woke up and thought: why don't I take a ride on the Honda 90. I'm almost fully recovered and feeling pretty good. Why not?

THE PLAN:
To ride the little Honda 90%-100% off road from Santa Theresa, NM through El Paso, TX all the way up to the highest peak in Cloudcroft, NM. Cloudcroft sits at about 8,600ft and just outside of town where camp will be setup is at around 9,600ft. I am curious to see how the little Honda all loaded down is going to do in this elevation.

THE BIKE:
An all original untouched 1970 Honda CT90 with no modifications other than a set of chrome shocks for asthetics. It currently has 7,013 miles on it. I recently installed new wheel bearings and seals, tires, tubes, rim strips, cables, a few gaskets to stop the leaks, chain and sprockets and an updated headlamp that you can actually change the bulb out on. Is it the fastest, definitely not. The most practical, nope. Is it capable of traveling farther than the outskirts of the town I currently live in, we will soon find out.

I have many bikes but at the moment the Honda is the only one I can manage with my hand still being mangled from the accident. I think to many people these days over analyze what bike, what gear, what spare tools etc... that they never actually get out and experience what they think it is they wanted to do in the first place.
That's why I am posting this here. To hopefully inspire others to get out and live life a little. Even if its just a little more. Get out of your "comfort zone" and see what awaits...

I will do my best to document the entire trip with video and photos.

I WILL BE TAKING THE FOLLOWING WITH IN A DRYBAG STRAPPED TO THE RACK:
Go pro batteries
Tent (First Ascent Stargazer 2)
Sleeping pad (NeoAir)
Sleeping bag (First Ascent synthetic 20 degree)
Camp chair (REI)
Camp pillow (unknown brand that packs tight and light)

I will strap an extra 1 gallon Rotopax to the rear rack under the dry bag.

IN THE FRONT WOLFMAN PANNIERS I HAVE:
EDIT:
I removed these prior to departing, stored items in the dry bag and ditched the MSR bottle. 
20oz MSR fuel bottle
A few tools
Spare tire tube
Master chain link
An MRE (food)

I WILL BE WEARING:
BMW Rallye jacket, with hydration system in place
Cell phone in pocket
Cell phone backup battery pack in pocket (hopefully this combination will last at least a few days?)
Wallet in pocket
BMW Rallye pants
Spare underwear in side pocket

BMW Rallye gloves
Alpinestars tech 2 boots
Jitsie Trials Helmet with Oakley Sunglasses

I hope you guys will join in on this post for the adventure. I won't have anything except for my cell phone to communicate with so updates may have to wait until I actually get back.
WISH ME LUCK!

POST RIDE:

Hello everyone I am back!

So the trip didn't go quite as planed but was still a great time. I started off riding about a mile down the road and then back to the garage thinking I could fit the contents of the front bags in my dry bag. I was correct so I removed them and fitted a small tank bag for my gopro equipment and ball cap at the same time. This also kept additional weight off the front end (in my test run the day before it really didn't have any affect on the steering or the crappy, undersprung pogostick forks).
The first section of the trip was far more pavement than I hoped for but it brought me to some neat places. There is a scenic mountain drive that skirts the upper part of the mountain overlooking the east side of the city. This picture is from the top of it. You can see the giant X on the left hand side. Everything out there is Mexico. Sorry for the perspective as I couldn't back up to take a better photo in fear of being ran over:

I made my way through the busy city streets and all the way to the FAR east side where I stopped for coffee and fuel one last time. There were about 20 more miles heading East on pavement before I could get onto the dirt road/trail that leads North.
About 17 miles in my back tire locked up solid on Hwy 62. I directed the skidding bike to the side of the road. The first thought I had was maybe the rear brake was jammed but I pushed the pedal and pulled the lever and all was well.
Then I tried to kick it over to restart it. Nothing, the kick start pedal wouldn't even budge. Not even a little. I thought maybe I ran it to hard and it seized up? In the mean time I checked the oil level. Perfect as I always pre-measure and then dump oil in when changing. Still within spec I put the dipstick back in and got back on the bike. I could see or smell nothing wrong. I proceeded to kick it again still nothing. I sat stumped for a few minuets and the tried again. This time it was tight and slow and then let loose. I kicked it a few more times and it started up as if nothing happened. A little paranoid at this point I kept on going but took it a little slower (how much slower can you go on a CT90?)
I made it to the dirt road and was heading North. Semi trucks were hauling what I think must have been feed or some kind of winter crop down the road. Dust so thick I had to pull over and stop because I couldn't see a thing. A few of the truck drivers were nice enough to stop before I reached their cloud and waved me on through. Luckily this didn't last long as they pulled off the road heading in another direction.
The big trucks were definitely not doing the road or me any more favors. Washboard roads and a CT90 are not a good combination. A lot of this section was leading slightly uphill. The CT90 struggled to hold speed with the roads being so rough and I struggled to keep the bike on the road.

I had hit a very large washed out pothole that launched me and the bike into the air. The rear end swung sideways and landed hard. I probably looked like a cross between Jeremy McGrath laying down his signature (back in the day) tail whip and maybe superman as I landed with no feet on the pegs. I held it together and didn't go down. The forks hit so hard when I landed I remember them making a very distinct pounding sound three times as I bounced trying to keep it together.
After my near death experience I stopped on the side of the road and inspected the little 90. The bike was fine and I was a bit shaken and my hand hurt and sore from the accident a month earlier.
I took a rest, opened my MRE, ate a package of cranberries, drank some water from my camelback and was back on the bike. A few more miles down the road the terrain became much more smooth.
Just as I achieved a reasonable pace and comfortable with the smoother dirt road the back tire locked up again and the bike stalled. I was now about 76 miles total into the journey. Same as before check check and recheck. Everything seemed to be in order. Was it maybe the clutch overheating? The motor? Ugggg frustration...
At this point I really needed to make a decision and it was not an easy one. Do I keep on going in the wrong direction with the risk of being stranded farther away from civilization (part of the adventure) and possibly doing serious damage to the bikeor do I turn back and hope I can make it at least close to the edge of town?
After letting the bike sit for about 10 minutes it once again started in the same manner as before and I turned back.
This happened 2 more times before I got back to the paved road and both times produced the same results as before. After about 152 miles I was back to my starting point. Somewhere along the way my blinkers and any other electrical switch I used started to short out the motor so I stopped using them. I noticed while sitting in traffic the neutral light becoming very dim and at times was non existent. At this point I am limping the bike home but didn't have any further issues with it locking up.

Back at the garage I drained the oil and started the tear down. I pulled out the clutch for inspection. PS: the phillips head bolts really suck. Everything looked great and clean how it should. I then took the oil screen out. WOW was it clogged. I held it up to the sun and you could barely see through it at all. Now I had not cleaned it because the previous owner told me that he had just done it. When I brought the bike home I changed the oil straight away before even riding it and took his word about the screen. Since I only put on about 100 miles since then I assumed (never to do again) that it was alright.
I then cleaned off the screen and re-assembled the bike. See before and after photos below.

After I reassembled the bike and added the proper amount of new oil and noticed as i turned on the key that the neutral light was still out. I proceeded to remove the battery cover and saw just as it came off so did the ground wire that was attached to the battery tray. I screwed it back on and there was my light, as bright as it could be! (This also solved the issue of the blinkers and lights not working and killing the motor) I kicked it over and she fired off like always. I put on my helmet and rode down to the car wash to hose off the days dust. 
For now everything seems as it should be and it runs great. 

My final thoughts about traveling on the CT90: 
Although I didn't make it to my destination I still has a great time. The bike broke and revived itself a number of times and didn't fail to get me back home. 
These bikes are phenomenal. Like little tiny under powered two wheeled lawn mowers that will put a smile on your face and everyone elses face at the same time. 
They are simple and simple to work on. They are not fast and they are not meant to be ridden fast. They will carry your weight and the weight of any gear that you want to stack on them. The only limiting factor here would be the capacity limits of the tires. Remember though, the more weight the slower it will go. 
The only thing holding this bike back from serious (slow) adventure in my opinion would be the suspension. Again focusing on slow. I personally felt like I had pushed the machine to its limit and maybe beyond. The main key here is to SLOW things down. Enjoy the scenery and terrain. 
I come from a desert riding/racing, enduro and adventure touring backround and ride everything from a KTM enduro bike, Speedbrain Rally bike and everything in between. This made it hard for me to go that slow because mentally I am not used to it. I had to keep reminding myself that this is not a racing machine. 
In the end even at those slower speeds the adventure was just as good on this small displacement bike.
I think for someone looking for a budget bike wanting to bop around town or ride at a reasonable pace on trails there likely isn't a better beginner machine out there. Seriously. Its easy to ride, no clutch twist the throttle and go system makes this bike just a touch more technical than a scooter due to having to actually shift gears but a hair less complex than a motorcycle with a clutch. 

I had a blast on the CT90 and I think anyone, beginner or expert, who swings a low leg over one definitely will to!

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1/2 Continental Divide Trail Ride

8/2/2016

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Day 1

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Kelly and I were up promptly at 6am and excited to get the trip started. The night before we gave the bikes a "once over" and found Kelly had a bolt that holds the rear sub-frame onto the main chassis missing. A quick trip to the hardware store and we were back in business. We departed Anthony, TX topped off the tanks and were heading for customs border station in Antelope Wells to start the official Continental Divide Trail ride! On the way out to Antelope Wells I saw 4 rattlesnakes on and alongside the road. Yes, Live ones, EWWW. There was also a raging bull that had gotten out of its fenced area and was abviously not happy about us passing through his territory. We arrived in Hachita, NM with the idea to top off the tanks and behold, no fuel and a closed down station. We continued on to Antelope Wells down a 47 mile road to nowhere. Along the way we saw a gentleman on a mountain bike who we found out from his ride at the border that he had biked the entire way from Banff, Alberta Canada and was just finishing as we were about to begin. It was a total of 174 miles for us to reach the border from our start point. Next we needed to find the closest fuel station. This was another 60 miles north in Lordsburg, NM. Kelly was going to stop and put in his extra can of fuel before hand but I really wanted to know the range of our bikes when there were completely loaded down with gear. 55 more miles up the road we met hwy 10. I decided that at 240 or so miles that before getting onto the interstate and risk running out of fuel that we had better stop. I dumped my 1 gallon rotopax into the tank and got onto the hwy. About a mile down the hwy I noticed that Kelly was falling behind. I assumed that he ran out of fuel and i was correct. I didn't wait for fear of crazy NM drivers and being stopped along the hwy. I also knew that he had a 1.5 gallon auxiliary can with him. Kelly pulled into the fuel station about 3 miles up the road and met me at the pump. I ordered a coffee and relaxed in Denny's and then we made our way onto Silver City, NM and fueled up once more. We passed a huge open pit mining operation and it really reminded me of my hometown of Eveleth, MN. This is where the official trail-head of the continental divide trail began.  The weather was still a little rainy but was great because it kept the dust down on the trail. Another 20 or so miles we stopped for lunch and I setup my camp chair and relaxed. We came to another section of trail shortly after with a sign that said no service and poor quality road for 120 miles. At the 365 mile mark we stopped for the night at the Boulder Creek Campground. This camp in the middle of nowhere was absolutely amazing. We stopped and setup camp for the night here. Shortly after setting up the tent and getting settled I stripped down, yes completely naked, and was able to take a VERY cold "bath" in the small stream that passed through camp. Unbelievably refreshing is how I would describe it especially after a long, hot, sweaty day on the bike. I dont think I have ever felt more connected to nature than after my "bath". This place was awesome! After a good hot MRE I went to bed full and happy. ​​

Day 2

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It was sad to have to leave the Boulder Creek Camp. Such a serene place. I stumbled out of my tent at about 6am to be greeted by a beautiful brisk morning. Kelly and I packed up our gear, rearranged some items in the panniers and were off again. Back on the dirt path. There were many small stream crossings that had some decent sized boulders that we dodged around. About 10 miles down the road we came to a section that on the right hand side dropped down almost a straight 800-1000 feet. I definitively wouldn't want to loose control on this trail! Shortly after this I saw what I thought was an antelope but as I approached and the animal began to flee i saw it was actually a jackrabbit! I have never imagined a rabbit being so large! The views from the top of the mountain were incredible. It was hard to believe that we were in New Mexico. Trust me it isn't all desert here. The Gila national forest is breath taking. We stopped a few times along the way for photos and to stretch out. Once for a flock of wild turkeys and some horses. We came to an intersection and were at the Beaver camp with a decent size ranch behind it. About a tenth of a mile down this trail we came across about 75-100 elk that were traveling together. They were quite spooked by our bikes and ran away before I could get my camera out. Kelly has photos that I will eventually upload to here. We traveled on down the trail through some potholes and muddy sections until we came to a spot that in my eyes will forever be known as hell on earth. The "extraterrestrial" mud that we encountered really was an "encounter". I have never in my life experienced such a sticky substance that clogs everything it touches instantaneously with concrete like abilities! I was about 200 yards in when my front tire stopped spinning because it was so jammed with this extraterrestrial mud! Shortly after the front tire stopped moving I looked like what I could best describe as a baby giraffe, who had just been born, trying to walk as I tried to hold the bike up. My feet found no grip and that was it, she went over. It took everything in me to pick the bike up and get back on it. I fought it for another 10-15 feet and she went over again. This time the pannier suctioned into the mud and I couldn't budge it. Kelly was about 100 yards behind me and ran over to help. He claimed that his bike wouldn't move. I quickly formulated a plan for us to get mine out and onto somewhat firmer ground, which was another 100 yards or so up the trail and then focus on his. This was definitely going to take some serious teamwork. We were both sweating and hot! I found a rock to place under the already enlarged kickstand pad on my bike and it still sank about 6 inches in this crap! We walked back to Kelly's bike and it didn't move. Not because of the mud this time but because his clutch had glazed the plates and it wasn't going to move again until they were replaced. We were stuck! I spent the next 45 min clearing the mud from my bike. About 10 min later a man in a pickup was passing through on his way to Truth or Consequences, NM (yes that is actually the name of a town).  He advised us that the mud would last for another 3 miles but would dry up in an hour or so with the sun shining on it. He was kind enough to let us put Kelly's bike into the back of his truck and tow him out of there back to town. This took about an hour to unload his gear, load the bike and then reload the gear. I turned my bike around, muddy concrete bits flying everywhere as it flung from my tires, and made my way back down the few hundred yard pass that just took the life of Kelly's clutch. I backtracked down the trails, ahead of Kelly and his broken KLR, that we had just navigated and finally came to a paved road. I noticed that my pannier was flopping around and stopped at a small station about 50 miles down the paved road and pulled out my toolkit. I was able to fix it as the mount had become dislodged when it suctioned into the mud. I stopped in Truth or Consequences, NM for a coffee and waited for Kelly and his in tow bike. About an hour later I texted him wondering where the hell they were as a considerable amount of time had passed. Turns out the guys truck that had his broken bike in the back had blown a tire! What a day. We managed to find parts that won't be available until Wednesday. I decided that from T or C that I would just ride back to my original starting point as it was only about 120 miles away. We parted ways, Kelly heading toward his cousins near Hatch, NM and me back to Anthony, TX. Before I left town I pressure washed the rest of the mud from the chain and wheels so it wouldn't shake as much going down the interstate. I arrived back in Anthony, TX around 5:30pm and had finished the day with about 260 miles. I hate pounding pavement with TKC80 tires, my rear tire is almost worn out already! ​​

Day 3

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This post is being brought to you from the Starbucks in Canutillo, TX. Today I was up at 7am and managed to wash all of my riding gear, recharge the GoPro batteries, headset and phone, wash the bike completely, scrub and service the chain after the mud excursion yesterday probably claimed 30% of its life, dry my tent, remove the rotopax mounts from the panniers, go to the post office, stop at ACE to pick up silicon and rubber grommets to patch my panniers and post this post at Starbucks. I am removing the rotopax carriers as they are to heavy and I really don't think I need 3 gallons of water with me. I am also taking the opportunity to jettison some other items from the bike to save weight. The plan as of now is to wait for Kelly's clutch parts to arrive and then get back on the trail. I am ready for the second launch! ​

Day 4

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Day 4 started out with me searching for a new tire. I then rode around the El Paso area for a bit to test my new packing scheme. I came back and repacked the bike once again and moved some of the gear around the panniers to improve the center of gravity. Even after taking off the Rotopax mounts and containers from the bottom of the panniers the bike still felt unusually heavy. This really is a never ending battle of trying to pack the items that are readily needed in a convenient manner.
Kelly sent me a text message and said that they were picking up the parts for his clutch in Las Cruces. I ended up calling a buddy of mine, Jaime, from Las Cruces Motorsports and he thankfully had a new rear tire for me. I hadn't planned on replacing the TKC80 until somewhere near the end of Colorado but with all the pavement riding, as we dealt with Kelly's broken bike, I wore the rear out fast.  
I hopped on and rode leisurely to Las Cruces, NM and strapped the new tire onto the back of my bike. It was over 100 degrees at this point and it felt like I was melting. Damn desert!
After riding to Power House Motorsports across town to meet Kelly, he was nowhere to be found. I spend about 2.5 hours there getting to know the guys and looking around the dealer. The dealer is really nice and the guys were all very friendly. 
We left there around 3pm and started toward Hillsborough, NM where Kelly's bike was. I had planned on putting the new tire on in Colorado but after traveling an extra 100 miles with a spare tire strapped to the bike I decided to just put the darn thing on where we stopped. It was much easier than dealing with a huge heavy tire strapped onto the rear of the bike. I removed the old and slapped the new tire on with some spoons and we tinkered with Kelly's bike until about 11pm with no luck of making it move. This was not a great feeling as I figured the trip was over at this point. After this long and disappointing evening, I died out and went to bed. Kelly went back out and tried to sand the new plates and buttoned up the majority of the lower end, I think this was the third time that the KLR was apart and together. PS: Kawasaki-get a clue and redesign your damn KLR so you don't need to drain the coolant every time you want to remove the clutch cover! I don't think Kelly even went to bed tonight...

Day 5 

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Kelly's Bike runs and it even moves! I woke up around 7am to find Kelly already out in the shop still working on the bike. It was almost put back together, I'm going to say this was the 4th time? 
We finally departed Hillsborough, NM around 11am after our water packs and bellies were full. We decided to stop about 30 miles up the road in Truth or Consequences, NM to wash the rest of the sinful New Mexican extraterrestrial mud off of Kelly's bike and make sure it wasn't leaking anything. The plan was to ride to Socorro, NM and cut across but the dreaded KLR was acting up yet again. This time sputtering alongside the highway. It proceeded to run poorly for another few miles and even stop completely at times. I jokingly told Kelly that if he hadn't bought his bike at Walmart that we wouldn't be broken down every few miles. My faith in his KLR was running on fumes almost like his bike was acting. 
When we arrived in Socorro, NM we fueled up and decided that it would be best to head for Albuquerque, NM just in case the KLR died and needed more parts. We made it to Albuquerque and then made our way towards Santa Fe, NM. About a mile outside of Albuquerque on Hwy 25 his bike sputtered and died out again. Please let there be a dealer that can fix this! 
I remembered a power sports dealer in Santa Fe from my previous travels through there. I directed Kelly and his Kawasaki "Walmart" KLR to the dealer who even serviced Kawasaki bikes. We spoke with a gentleman by the name of Craig who was pretty awesome and definitely knew his bikes. He went out to the Kawasaki and did some serious voodoo magic to it and from then on the KLR was permanently upgraded to a Sears Roebuck bike and no longer carried the burden of "Walmart". 
FOOD! We were famished from the long day of touring the highway and found a Panera Bread restaurant in Santa Fe to eat at. We sat outside as it was absolutely beautiful. Kelly had a sandwich and chips and I helped myself to a tasty Army MRE that I had stashed away in the bike. 
The plan at this point was to head toward Chama and stay at Floyds. On the way to Chama we came across a section of the CDT trail that had camping so we decided to camp instead. We pulled into camp pretty late with the sun going down. After setting up my tent I stripped down, grabbed some soap and stepped carefully into the shallow river that had the most slippery rocks I have ever had to navigate. After the long day in 100+ degree heat I had reached a level of stink that was thought to be unattainable. I call this the nuclear stink stage. The New Mexico heat will do this to you. I am finding this river bathing thing to be pretty refreshing. 
This was the first night that we had a campfire too! 
Total Miles 317

Day 6

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New Mexico / Colorado / New Mexico / Colorado! 
This morning when we woke from camp we were both ecstatic to get onto the trail. At 7:30 we pulled out of camp and onto the CDT. The first section could best be described as bumpy, rocky, muddy, rutted and very harsh. These by far were some of the roughest trails I have ever encountered. Kelly managed to dump the KLR a few times and was no longer an off road virgin. I managed to jam my leg while dodging a running dog about 2 miles in, where the heck did he come from? We must have seen 1000 chipmunks on this section scurrying across the trail. 
Kelly managed to jump a cattle guard and sink his bike into a mud hole that almost claimed the KLR forever, it was DEEP! We met 3 mt. bikers on the trail that were doing small sections of the CDT every year. I give these guys so much credit for being able to mountain bike for days on end. 
Kelly was like a little kid in the mud puddles as I tried to dodge them and ended up catching a stump and slightly bending my kickstand and then shortly after whacked my pannier into a tree. Luckily neither of us or our bikes sustained any major damages during this section of treacherous trail. 
We arrived in Chama, NM after crossing into Colorado and then back into New Mexico around 1:15 where we fueled up the bikes and ate at Feliciano's Home run pizza. An Italian restaurant ran by Mexicans, go figure. 
Chama, NM has a really neat steam railroad that made me think of my best friend Bryan back in Minnesota. He is a big steam powered nerd and would have loved this! I can picture him talking to these old farts for days about the steam train. 
After lunch we were back on the trial. Shortly after I hit a rock so hard it jarred my teeth and I was sure I bent my front rim. Luckily no damage other than what felt like a slight concussion. 
I can't remember where we were exactly but the trail became sandy and almost impossible to navigate the heavy bikes through. I rode up onto the desert and started making my own trail through the bush. After a mile or so the sand cleared and we were on some pretty awesome single track. I was sure that I blew my rear shock out on this section even going as slow as I was. It bottomed out on everything. I imagine running this part of trail on a dirt bike would be an absolute HOOT! The trail ran into a decently maintained forest type road that was much smoother and kind of a relief. I saw a sign that said natural arch and stopped to wait for Kelly. We both agreed, with enthusiasm, to check it out. After getting there the decision to hike to the top was unanimous. What an awesome spot! 
After our hike we found some really nice dirt roads that were 80 mph of fun until we reached our campground. 
While pulling into the campsite Kelly managed to dump the KLR over in the parking lot. I had to get a picture as we had just ridden the craziest trails today and could never have expected this. We both laughed, he got back on and we pulled into the site. 
It had just started drizzling rain as we setup our tents. We listened to music and waited for the rain to stop before we ventured out to the water spigot that was about a mile down the road. With our headlamps on we walked to the water house to find that everything was locked up and there was no water. Total bummer, we walked back and went to sleep. ZZZZZZZZZZZZ
Total Miles 257
Total Miles so far 1,409

Day 7

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Last night it rained all night until about 5:45am. Other than closing my eyes I really didn't sleep at all. We were packed up and on the trail by 7:30am. 
The start of the day was on some really great 40-50 mph back roads / trails. When we finished this section there was about 7 miles of paved road and then back onto the trail. The start of the trail was great and had these huge sweeping turns that you could fly through then the mud came. I suppose the all night rain contributed to the trails being almost impassible. I was 5 miles into the rough rutted road covered in slimy mud when I stopped to wait for Kelly. When he caught up I asked him if he wanted to continue or turn around, he quickly replied turn around. I 100% agreed with him because of the condition of this trail. It would likely have taken us an entire day to get through 30-40 miles of this. 
I blasted out back to the entrance of the trail and waited again. While I was sitting there a man on a WR250 rode up. I could tell he was higher than a kite and spoke in the stereotypical stoner voice. This is Colorado after all. The lost hippie on a bike asked me if I was on my way to the rainbow festival. I tried to explain that I was riding my motorcycle on a journey from Mexico and I could slowly see his eyes glazing over. "Whoa maaaaaan" but are you going to the rainbow festival? I didn't know what this was and asked if it was a gay thing? He got all mad and said "Nooooooo Maaaaaan!!, theres a bunch of hot chicks with long armpit hair who don't shower for days, playing drums and we all get super high!" Makes sense to me, although I don't know how much higher this guy could have gotten. Kelly was pulling up as the lost hippie was leaving and we both decided to ride to Gunnison, CO instead of partaking in the mini Woodstock. 
On our way out and riding down these awesome winding mountain roads I was thinking to myself: shit, I should have gone to the rainbow festival as I had't bathed myself for 2 days and would probably have fit right in! 
When we got to Gunnison we stopped for Kelly to shop for a new jacket and got some breakfast at Your Mothers, or Mammas Restaurant. I cant quite remember the name but the food was fantastic and the portions were enough for 2 days worth of sustenance. The waitress was really cute but extremely forgetful and flustered. I think it must have been her first day. We gave her a bit of a hard time but tipped her very well. 
On the way out we stopped for fuel and an old man on a vintage triumph pulled up next to me. How do I keep attracting these weirdos? I couldn't understand a word this guy was saying. He had no teeth and kept revving the piss out of his bike while he was talking / shouting to me about how his bike is the best bike ever built.  I felt like I was experiencing some type or sensory overload. I put my helmet on and shouted for him to ride safe. I don't know if he could understand what I was saying but I really did want him to ride safe. He wasn't wearing a helmet and didn't seem quite coherent enough to walk down the street let alone ride a motorcycle!
We found our way to the KOA "Kampground" on the edge of town where the ADV rider rally was going on. Had I known about this earlier I would have planned to stay there a few days. What a crowd and HOLY adventure bikes! It was like Daytona adventure bike edition! I was in motorcycle heaven! 
We rode out of Gunnison and made our way down some of the absolute best and most beautifully twisty mountain roads. These were the roads in the dreams of those who dream of motorcycle roads. I still can't get them out of my head. We came to a section that we were going to cut across that took us back onto the dirt and through a neat little village called TinCup. What a cool place. It was like a lost little world back in the mountain. The trail that heads out toward Buena Vista started out great, tight and twisty. Then about another mile in came to the edge of a small lake and became very very rocky. Baby head sized rocks littered the trail and made for quite an interesting ride. We came to the other side of the lake and stopped next to a group of ATV riders. I asked them how long the rock crawl lasted and they said about another 3 miles and gets way worse and steep. From what I could see ahead of me the ESPN rock crawl rigs would have been challenged. We both voted to turn around yet again. We rode back out to TinCup where Kelly got suckered into buying Gatorade from a little girls "lemonade" stand and then back to the road where it was paved for about another mile and then turned into dirt again. This steep climbing section took us to about 12,200 feet and was yet another amazing ride through the twisty switchback mountain roads. Colorado is really growing on me. I love it here! 
Once we reached the top we had to go back down. The opposite side of the mountain that heads toward Buena Vista, CO was all paved. This made for an exhilaratingly quick high speed descent from the mountain pass! We fueled up in Buena Vista and kept going North to Leadville. We pulled into Leadville and Kelly was arguing with me that we should have stopped 19 miles back in Twin Lakes, CO. I told him he was crazy. We were trying to find the trail head for Mt. Elbert and the campground that sits at the trail head. I knew we were near it because the .gov site said its in Leadville, CO. We pushed on another few miles toward the mountain and were still not sure where to go. I saw a man in a little yellow Porsche pulling into his driveway. I stopped and introduced myself and asked him if he knew where the campground might be. After a few minuets of talking Kevin invited us to camp in his yard and even offered a shower and dinner! How on earth could we pass this up. His wife Amy showed up after about an hour and I think she was a little confused about the situation at first. Two random guys setting up tents in her front yard. After we showered we sat down and had a few beers. These two were amazing. Kevin and Amy are truly what makes trips like this worthwhile. We really need more Kevin and Amy's in this world! I couldn't thank them enough for their hospitality. 
We talked for a little longer and decided we should go to bed and get some sleep before our summit of Mt. Elbert tomorrow morning. 
Total Miles 237

Day 8

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​Last night was COLD. I can't remember a time when I was so uncomfortably cold and shivering all night. 30 degree temps and no socks, don't ask. I got out of my cocoon like sleeping bag state that I was in at 5am. No sleep again. Kelly and I rode out to the trail head of Mt. Elbert and parked our bikes. We started the ascent at 7:00am sharp. Here are some Mt. Elbert stats:
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Mt Elbert:
9.0 Miles
9,743 Starting Elevation
14,443 Summit
4700 Elevation Gain
18.40 Trail Difficulty Rating (Strenuous)
11,900 Tree line

Along the way we met some pretty awesome people. Stephen, Steph, Greg, Amanda, Jan and her boyfriend that never spoke because he was too hung over! There was also a guy at the top that helped me out and gave me 2 bottles of water as I had ran out on the way up. He pretty much saved my life and I should have remembered his name. If you ever read this leave a comment below! You know who you are.
After our epic summit we started the descent. About half way down I was feeling the affects of the altitude, developed a serious headache and started to loose my legs. Actually my muscles felt ok but my knees were giving out. By the time we hit the bottom my knees were shot. Walking was a chore. We hopped on the bikes and packed up our gear from Kevin and Amy's front yard. 
After a long hard day of hiking and climbing all I wanted was a hotel room. I didn't even care where it was. While looking at my bikes NAV system I realized that I was pretty close to Breckenridge, CO. I have never been there and I am sure glad that I had the opportunity to go! I set the course straight to Breck and was off! 
I opted for a room at the River Mountain Lodge as it was $200 less than the one next door. This place is expensive! 
I got settled in took a shower, started our laundry and then ordered a 16'' pizza, 10 chicken wings and a salad. After 20 min of looking like a caveman there was no food left. I ate everything and immediately slipped off into a food coma induced sleep. 
Total miles 65

Day 9

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​This morning I woke up in Breckenridge, CO! This place really is amazing. I really didn't even want to think about leaving here. First thing this morning was to go to the front desk and see how long I could delay checking out of this room. All I wanted to do was explore the town. Noon checkout it was! I made a pot of coffee in the room and set off. I walked from one end of town to the other and back. I have never seen such a nice place, so many neat shops and restaurants and absolutely no corporate chains. Everything in this town seemed to be privately owned and screamed quality. I seriously don't want to leave!
Unfortunately we needed to get back on the trail so at 11:45 we departed the River Mountain Lodge and started off in the wrong direction. About a tenth of a mile down the road Kelly's bike had started loosing another sub frame bolt. We pulled over at the ice rink, something else that made this town awesome and he tightened it down. Once heading in the right direction I said one last sad goodbye to Breckenridge and we were off. 
I feeling of extreme boredom came over me as we rode down the desolate dirt roads and all I could think about was getting off this trail to explore some more cool mountain towns. My legs were also so sore from the previous days climb that I didn't think it was safe for me to ride too much off road because I could barely hold my motorcycle upright. Kelly and I finished a few sections of the trail and I told him that I was going to take the next section of road and meet him in Steamboat Springs, CO. I am glad that I did because I came into a little mining town that had pretty much been deserted. There was a "shrine to mining" display in the town center. I snapped a few photos and rode on to Steamboat Springs where I stopped at a fuel station and was greeted by two very beautiful forest workers in a big ford truck. I rode to the edge of town through the main street and into a park area where I waited for Kelly. When he arrived I told him that I wanted to part ways in efforts to not hold him up from doing the trail so that I could do some scouting in all these little towns. We shook hands and wished each other well and were off again in our own directions. 
I rode to the Wyoming border that evening and decided to setup camp and settle in as it was getting dark quickly. 
Total Miles 243

Day 10

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​After another long cold lonely night of debating the future of my travels at the halfway point of the trip I decided that due to the amount of time already spent on the trail that I was going to pack up and head back toward Texas and make this journey a two part adventure.
I made my way south and stopped for coffee and a ham and cheese danish at a really cool little coffee shop. 
The rest of the ride was really beautiful until I was just North of Santa Fe, NM where the blistering heat attacked me again. 
I ran out of fuel about 2 miles North of Socorro, NM and was happy that I packed my extra 1 gallon gas can and kept it full. After a long day, 756 miles on the 650 I was ready for bed. 
Stay tuned for a trip packing recap, new bike build and some crazy surprises! 

Total Miles today 756 
Total Trip Miles: 2,710

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2016 HUSQVARNA FE350S RIDE REVIEW

6/27/2016

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Today I had the opportunity to test the new 2016 Husqvarna FE350S street legal enduro bike. In my limited miles of riding this bike, I have gathered enough information to formulate a professional opinion of the bike. Remember opinions are like assholes, everybody has one and its still in question whether or not I am a professional. 

Here goes:
First things first, I like the fact that the bike has a key but the placement is in such a spot that it instantly became annoying. As it started up, I couldn't believe how quiet the bike was. Like a little sewing machine humming away. I swung a leg over and much to my surprise the seat was extremely comfortable. Ergonomics felt a little cramped (I'm 5'9") but can be adjusted to some extent. Adjustments I would like to see: bar clamps mounted in the hole on the farthest forward mount of the top triple (I am really just whining about this) and the bars either raised or at least rotated a bit forward to give it a more upright feel, especially while standing. These are both personal preferences. 

My initial thoughts on the clutch, as I slowly released it, creeping forward out of its parking spot was that it felt smooth, very smooth. Maybe even a little to smooth. A hydraulic clutch seems to make any bike feel more refined, and the feel of this clutch hit that mark. Husqvarna, I tip my hat to you.

​I turned out of the dealership, moving from the asphalt to the dirt. The feel and feedback from the steering was light, agile and forgiving. Now were in the dirt so lets get serious. I rolled hard on the throttle and much to my dismay was quite underwhelmed with the power. Yes, underwhelmed. I was hoping the front end would have popped up, as I twisted the tits off of the throttle but all I received was dismal forward acceleration. Now, I have to keep in mind this is a 350cc bike BUT claims around 46hp from the factory. After reading the specs, on paper, I guess I had higher expectations of such a lightweight (about 240lbs) and certainly, what seemed to be, a well powered package, again on paper. Don't get me wrong, it has enough power and torque to get out of its own way but after comparing a few different bikes with like HP it just wasn't what I thought it was going to be. 

After riding the dirt path for several miles at speeds up to 80 mph, while producing smooth power, this speed proved to be murderous  for the little 350.  I understand that this is a 350 but I needed to know its limitations and capabilities to properly formulate my opinions. I slowed a little and found the smoothness of the bike was far beyond what I had expected, no real funny buzzing or vibeyness even at 70-80 mph. Good job KTM, I mean Husqvarna. I wouldn't want to buy this bike to hammer on for long periods of high speed (think desert racing, highway riding etc...). This isn't the purpose of the bike anyway. I do feel that it is capable enough to ride for stints on the highway to get you to your off road destination. I just don't think it would be wise to operate at speeds higher than 60-65 mph for any period of time on the open road. 

I didn't really know what to expect being that this is the first bike I have ever ridden that has a polyamide subframe, Husqvarna's fancy way of saying it has a plastic subframe. It felt great, probably because I was riding a brand new bike. Granted, I wasn't sending it into space or riding the dealers demo bike to its eminent doom filled death in a pit of boulders. I guess the "plastic" subframe did its job either way and I really don't think it felt any different than one made of aluminum.  

The suspension soaked up everything my 190lb body could give it and at speeds. I should mention that the new WP 4CS forks and WP DCC rear shock are amazing. I really feel that this setup is one of the best if not the absolute best currently in the enduro market. I hit a G-out around 70 mph that would have sent most bikes squealing and begging for mercy but like a good whore the Husqvarna just kept on begging for more. No bottoming and no funky death wobble. 

A desert racer it will never be but I am positive that with proper gearing what it could be is the ultimate woods machine. I say this because in stock form it seemed that after a short time at speed one would become tired by having to work so hard to keep the front end up. It doesn't wheelie well on demand, again at speed, and unless you are abusing the clutch it probably never will. But of course being the professional that I am I would never abuse a dealer demo  :) I really hope that this slight power wheelie problem can be cured with proper gearing because if not I would leave me a little disappointed in bike. 

As I rode off the dirt and back onto the pavement I was sad to have to give the 350 back. It really is a fun bike that fills a certain niche in the enduro market. I parked it in its spot, hit the engine stop button got off and walked away. After a few steps I turned back one more time to look at it, like I was looking at a big breasted blonde passing by and noticed that the taillight was still on. Ahhh, that annoying key that I had already forgotten about placed on the goofy side mount near the fork just became the deal breaker. Someone please make a relocation kit for it. 

Conclusion:
​Overall, I do like the bike but think it was just a little bit under powered for my taste. For some riders this lack of power may lead to being able to ride the bike more to its capability making them faster than their competition. Especially in tight technical riding sections. For others, especially new riders looking to get out and have a great time it will prove a great platform to grow into.
I have spend the last year riding in the desert and don't feel that it would be a bike that I would add to my stable just yet. When I move back north or at least someplace that has obstacles other than cacti it will be highly considered next to the KTM EXC-F 350. If I had tested this bike in Northern, MN say at the Gilbert OHV park, my feelings for the bike may be a bit different. This is a place where speed is not needed. Where the nimble, lightweight 350 would shine like a 10 foot tall menorah and there would be no competition. 
I think it could be better with proper gearing, some raisers for the handlebars, a skidplate and some real hand guards.  Add the above to this light, nimble properly suspended Husqvarna and it could be your next hardcore backwoods racing weapon. For those of you teetering between the 350 and the 500 heed my advice. Get the 500. 


ALWAYS REMEMBER the proper equation for motorcycles one should own is always M+1
M being the current amount of motorcycles. (My version of "new" math).

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Ultimate KTM 2 Stroke Build...

4/8/2016

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2015 Enduro America KTM 250 XC-W Ultimate Enduro Build
Rear Disk Guard
Fastaway Footpeg (Left) Stock Footpeg (Right)
Tubliss Installation
Rear Grab Handle
Headlamp Guard
Front Brake Guard
GPR Stabilizer
GPR Stabilizer Installed
Maxxis Desert IT with Tubliss System
P3 Carbon Pipe Guard and Skidplate
Acerbis 4.1 Gallon Tank
Acerbis Tank
KTM Powerparts FMF Spark Arrestor
Rekluse LHRB Top
Rekluse LHRB Bottom
Rekluse LHRB modified Brake Sleeve and Line
Completed KTM 250 XC-W
Stock at the Dealer being setup
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KLIM DAKAR PRO JERSEY REVIEW

11/2/2015

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I have now had the Dakar Pro Jersey from Klim for about a year. I have been off the bike more times than I would like to admit and the jersey shows no significant signs of wear and has held up to some serious abuse.
The construction quality is as amazing as it gets for the $140 price tag. The stitching is very heavy duty and the materials used to construct this jersey are what make it worth the extra dough.
The main reason for my purchase of this jersey over anything else offered on the market was the fact that it has actual forearm padding. The Cordura covered pads on the forearms, shoulders and oblique/rib cage areas help to prevent cacti from stabbing you in the arms and other body parts. I say stabbing because swiping one while turning or on a tight trail at 60+MPH, is the best description of what they feel like. Once you experience these protruding from your arm you will be happy you spent a little extra on a jersey like the Dakar Pro. Don't ask me how I know this. 
The jersey itself is very lightweight and will keep you cool during the warmest of days. There is plenty of airflow through the chest and arms where the material is still very robust but much lighter than the cordura elsewhere.
I have to give this product two big thumbs up. If you are fed up with poor quality jerseys that last for 6 months of riding before they are shredded and are in search of the best and longest lasting jersey that money can buy look no further than Klim's new Dakar Pro jersey. 
If you would like to purchase this jersey click the amazon link below:

​Author: Scott J Surla
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BMW G650GS SERTAO "THE BIKE"

7/23/2015

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​The BMW G650GS has been a staple in the adventure touring world for decades. In 2012 BMW relaunched the 650 with new inspiration in the form of a more off road competent model, the Sertao. The Sertao replaced the iconic Dakar which was a previous version of the 650 Sertao. With more suspension, ABS and heated grips standard it was the beginning of a beautiful relationship. Soon after the purchase of a new 2014 Sertao I set out to build the ultimate adventure touring motorcycle. I wanted it to be the best of reliability, capability, functionality and comfort. The Sertao to me is one of the most, if not the most, utilitarian bike on the market with a touch of modern flair. It incorporates new age technology and engineering that most bikes on the market can only dream of. Fuel injection, ABS and an LCD gauge display to name a few. This bike has it all! 
I started my build by outfitting it with protection, gear carrying capability and lighting functionality. Below is a list of the accessories that I have fitted:
Touratech-
  • Garmin Zumo 665LM
  • GPS Mounting Adapter
  • Headlight Protector
  • Dual Xenon Fog Lights
  • Handlebar Risers
  • Kaoko Cruise Control
  • Radiator Guard
  • Fork Guards
  • Aluminum Engine Guard
  • Engine Guard Extension
  • ABS Sensor Guards
  • Engine and Fairing Crash Bars
  • Kick Stand Support
  • Center Stand
  • Foot Peg Relocation Kit
  • Pivot Pegz
  • Locking Oil Filler Cap
  • Stainless Steel Heel Guard
  • Rear Brake Reservoir Guard
  • Stainless Chain Guard
  • Wheel Sensor Cover
  • Rally Pinion Gear Guard
  • Progressive Fork Springs
  • License Plate Reinforcement Plate
  • Tank Bag
  • Waterproof Tank Bag Cover
  • Stainless Steel Luggage Rack
  • Zega Pro Topcase Kit with Locks
  • Zega Pro Pannier System Kit with Locks
  • Pannier Carrying Straps
  • Last and most important of  the Touratech accessories, a Touratech Bottle Opener!
NON TOURATECH-
  • Givi Tall Windscreen
  • Rotopax 1 Gallon Gas Can and mount
  • Rotopax 1 Gallon Water Can and mount
  • Continental TKC 80 Tires Front and Rear
  • Rok Straps x 4
  • Saddlemen Adventure Trac Seat
  • Bikemaster LiPo battery
  • BMW 10wt Fork Oil
  • Multiple GoPro Mounts
  • Rekluse Z-Start Pro Clutch Kit
  • Yamaha YZ450F Fork Conversion (Forks rebuilt, re-sprung, re-valved and cut 1 inch shorter)
  • RATEL Engineering Custom brake caliper cradle, ABS mount, fender support bracket, horn bracket kit, axel and spacer and triple spacer

I think that concludes the list of accessories. This bike should now be capable of traveling the world and back, multiple times. I guess time will tell...
The following are my personal opinions of the bike:

  • Awesome fuel mileage
  • Comfortable for long distance trips
  • Lightweight (for a touring bike)
  • Great carrying capacity
  • Capable of comfortable highway speeds even when loaded with gear
  • Plenty of power even when loaded with gear and supplies for multi-week trips
  • Off road capability


All in all the bike is awesome. Other than a few exceptions you have the ability to make small adjustments, add a few cool accessories and turn the G650GS into a worldwide capable touring machine!

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2009 BMW G450X

1/1/2009

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​I have had the urge, going on 7 years now, to buy a BMW G450X Enduro motorcycle. On Monday I became the official owner of a 2009 with about 40 hours on it. I would have purchased one new but unfortunately BMW doesn't make them anymore. I had to drive to Dallas, 700 miles away to get it and I am so glad that I did. I arrived at around 11:30pm and met Zach Wright, one of the coolest relatives I have, at Fox and Hound for a Blood and Honey beer and some wings. It is probably a good thing that the Revolver brewery is not close to me nor do they distribute in this area. It would likely be the end of me. So good! 
Zach was nice enough to let me stay at his place to get some sleep. The next morning I woke up at 6:30am and drove to Plano where I met the owner of the G450X. Ron, probably the biggest "cool kid" I've ever met! I think he was in his 50's and had the spirit and mentality of a 18 year old boy. His shop was the manliest man cave I have ever seen, tools galore, hot rods, a hoist, cool cars, dirtbikes, a side by side. I was so distracted by the awesomeness of his collection that I wasn't even paying attention to why I had come there in the first place. To buy a g450x! We talked for a while, I handed him a pile of cash and I was off to pound another 700 miles of pavement to get back to Hell Paso.  This is seriously the most boring drive ever! 
With a 1,400 mile trip out of the way I finally had the opportunity to properly test it out this morning. WHAT A BIKE! This one came to me in stock form and I really think that it would be ready to enter a serious enduro race as is. Other than some much needed suspension adjustments, to get the bike dialed in, it was perfect. My only complaint thus far is that the seat is far too slippery and it needs a better mirror. Back to the ride...
I set off on a dessert trail that backs up to the RV park. I quickly realized that I am not 16 anymore and am definitely out of shape. Arm pump set in and I slowed down after about a mile of hard rough trail. Man this thing moves! I cannot believe the amount of power from a 450. 
Growing up racing in the early 90's I can say that the technology in motorcycles has changed so significantly that the bike almost does all the work for you. Get into trouble in a sandy section, rocky section, huge washout? Twist the throttle a little more and get your ass back on the fender, no problem. Wheeeeeeeee. This is seriously more fun than a grown man should be having.  
To sum up my experience thus far: This bike is a fucking riot and I probably need better life insurance!

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    Worldwide Adventure Guide

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