Gas Gas releases an electric trials bike. http://www.gasgas.com/2012_electric.htm
Tuesday, December 27, 2011
Monday, December 19, 2011
Tahuya... with Special Guest Star
Swamp Monster and Ghostface KLR rode dirt bikes on Sunday with TDC Special Guest Star Ruthie. She did well. So did the dudes.
Special Guest Star Ruthie had the distinct pleasure of riding the unstoppable TDC XR250R. Ghostface KLR is quoted stating "I was damn impressed with how well she did for her first dirt bike ride ever. We took her down some fairly tough trails and she kept making it over everything. She was pretty exhausted by the end of the day. Never once did she not make it over any nasty roots. It was impressive."
In addition to the usual extremely sick, tight, and twisty single track that is usually ridden on a hardcore TDC Tahuya ride, a dirt road straight section was encountered. Swamp Monster's CRF250X actually hit a GPS-verified 63 mph -- a first for that Honda.
Here are the tracks that got laid.
Download this track (.gpx format)
Special Guest Star Ruthie had the distinct pleasure of riding the unstoppable TDC XR250R. Ghostface KLR is quoted stating "I was damn impressed with how well she did for her first dirt bike ride ever. We took her down some fairly tough trails and she kept making it over everything. She was pretty exhausted by the end of the day. Never once did she not make it over any nasty roots. It was impressive."
In addition to the usual extremely sick, tight, and twisty single track that is usually ridden on a hardcore TDC Tahuya ride, a dirt road straight section was encountered. Swamp Monster's CRF250X actually hit a GPS-verified 63 mph -- a first for that Honda.
Here are the tracks that got laid.
Download this track (.gpx format)
Thursday, December 15, 2011
Tahuya... More GPS Tracks
On December 4, 2011, Swamp Monster, Ghostface KLR, and MotoBum hit the trails of Tahuya State Forest for more dirt bike riding fun.
Ghostface KLR's Gas Gas EC300 proved once again to have as much power on the trails as a Honda CBR900RR with a pipe, carb mods, and a big-bore kit. His ride was supposedly easier to control with the freshly installed G2 Throttle Cam System 400. It wasn't. MotoBum test rode the bike down Randy's Water Stop. After 30 feet he stopped, handed the machine back, and said "yeah, that's awesome."
Swamp Monster sat out the last bit of the ride after getting a bit banged-up on the leg during a near-crash. He was resting in the truck when The Man (law enforcement official) showed up to issue the $99 fine for not having a Washington State Discovery Pass displayed. He tried to sweet-talk The Man out of issuing the mandatory enforcement fine. It didn't work.
MotoBum almost became Swamp Monster II during the final leg. A piece of lumber floating in a deep, long, puddle washed out the front end of his WR250F, throwing him down to the left. The piece of lumber had been ridden over no less than three times on this ride. Having taken him by surprise, he fell down... but only onto an embankment and not under water. He got up. He backed out of the deep water. He started the thing. He rode.
Here are the GPS tracks from the first leg of this ride.
Download this track (.gpx format)
Ghostface KLR's Gas Gas EC300 proved once again to have as much power on the trails as a Honda CBR900RR with a pipe, carb mods, and a big-bore kit. His ride was supposedly easier to control with the freshly installed G2 Throttle Cam System 400. It wasn't. MotoBum test rode the bike down Randy's Water Stop. After 30 feet he stopped, handed the machine back, and said "yeah, that's awesome."
Swamp Monster sat out the last bit of the ride after getting a bit banged-up on the leg during a near-crash. He was resting in the truck when The Man (law enforcement official) showed up to issue the $99 fine for not having a Washington State Discovery Pass displayed. He tried to sweet-talk The Man out of issuing the mandatory enforcement fine. It didn't work.
MotoBum almost became Swamp Monster II during the final leg. A piece of lumber floating in a deep, long, puddle washed out the front end of his WR250F, throwing him down to the left. The piece of lumber had been ridden over no less than three times on this ride. Having taken him by surprise, he fell down... but only onto an embankment and not under water. He got up. He backed out of the deep water. He started the thing. He rode.
Here are the GPS tracks from the first leg of this ride.
Download this track (.gpx format)
Tuesday, December 6, 2011
Rusty Nipples
Nipple_0747
Originally uploaded by groader
The decision to re-spoke the wheels for the '74 Triumph T100R has been made. I was hoping they wouldn't need it. I removed the 30+ year old tires and tubes to find rust and corrosion (of conformity) all over the spoke nipples and inner rim. Dang.
Other than the extra time and money powder coating the rims and buying new spokes the project is going well.
Pictures of freshly painted parts ready for assembly are in the Flickr set.
Friday, December 2, 2011
Ultimate ADV Motorcycle Requirements
What are the requirements for the ultimate ADV motorcycle? The Dirty Crew weighs in.
Last Minute Ryan
My "top three" [sic] high-level requirements are:
MotoBum
Here's my initial Ultimate ADV requirements list:
Swamp Monster
I agree with MotoBum, but would like to add:
Ghostface KLR
Last Minute Ryan
My "top three" [sic] high-level requirements are:
- Style
- Super comfortable
- As light as possible; no more than 400 pounds unladen
- As simple as possible to work on; no 4-hour oil changes need apply
- Decent suspension travel and ease of adjustment; KLR 650 is the bare-bones minimum benchmark here
MotoBum
Here's my initial Ultimate ADV requirements list:
- Dry weight: 300 lbs
- Range: 300 miles
- Easily obtainable fuel source
- Energy storage replenishment time < 5 minutes
- Power: ~50hp with wide powerband
- "Clutchable" drive
- Low maintenance, easy maintenance
- Great wind & weather protection
- DOT knobby tires
- 21" front wheel
- Long suspension travel for rough roads and light off-road use
- Highly comfortable
Swamp Monster
I agree with MotoBum, but would like to add:
- 6 speed
- Smooth at highway speeds
- Adjustable suspension for carrying loads
- Capable of "Doing the TON"
- What kind of oil? ANY
- Does it wheelie? Yes!
Ghostface KLR
- With a matching "helment" [sic].
Thursday, December 1, 2011
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)