BMW-K goes...Dirt Riding???

[Lawn Dart]

Or, the alternate Subject Heading:  My name is not Ricky Carmichael...

So my younger brother, Mark, gives me a call.  Seems he's all excited about the new(er) dirt bike he'd just bought and, given that the purchase of any new machine with two wheels deserves glorious attention, he calls me up and tells me all about it.  Obviously I'm all   and   and excited for him.  

But deep down I'm kinda   .  

It's a freaking DIRT BIKE!  WTF do I know about dirt?  Oh, they can't go 100+, knobbies that don't stick for crap, 30 measley horses.  Oh, and I don't have a death wish.  Yes, IMO, dirt riding is a deathwish.  And I don't have one.  I like the precision of a set of sticky Metzlers and a clean, clear pieace of asphalt.

A dirt bike.  No, it's a two-stroke bong-smoking oil burning dirt bike.  

And it hits me - he's got his new bike...AND his old bike!  He's going to sell his old bike to pay for the new(er) one...but it ain't sold yet.  

"So, ahh, when are you taking me out riding?"  I ask.    Lovely.  This weekend is free.  Fuck.

Have I mentioned that I rather dislike dirt?  It's, ummm, dirty.  And tires don't stick.  And they smoke and stink.  

"Sounds Good" I reply.  

Well, there goes the last vestiges of my sanity.  Allow me to explain the extent of my dirt riding:  about 70 miles chasing Dante out in Custer.  A couple of firetrails (aka, Shortcuts), a sandy wash (Two-up, on street tires, on the RSL - yeah, that was fun.) and some mud.  Dirt = Death...or at least a quick trip to the ER.  Yeah, I've got a GS now but really, I'm not fooling myself into thinking that I'm going to be spending my life on firetrails!

So today, Saturday, we head out at 5:30 am to the Silverwood area near Gorman.  I think.  Hell, I'm driving but he's navigating.  We arrive and unload the bikes.



It's some kind of Yamaha.  It's got two-wheels and a motor.  Some YZQXQYZ 250-stroker.  It's about 40 inches of seat height, 230 # wet, and the bike I'm riding has a kick-starter and won't idle for shit.  I can barely, and mean barely, get my leg over enough to kick this thing over.  I swear my hips are not meant to bend that way.  



Suited up, we ride!


My Bro.  29 years old, 6', 180#.  Yep, he's single ladies.


So we go riding along on the dirt.  I roll about 10 feet away from the car and the damn front tire is slipping all over the damn sand.  Great.  I get to start on loose sand.  I hate sand.  I know all of about three things about dirt riding.  In order:

1.  The front brake will kill you.  Don't touch it!  Use the rear to slow down.
2.  To steer the front, shift weight to the back tire - that keeps the front light and plants traction to the rear tire.
3.  Pray.  A lot.

Oh, and #4:  Look up on occasion and actually SEE where my Brother is taking me.  Like, straight up a fucking mountain!  



So I'm following along and next thing I know my front wheel points upwards, gravity starts to take over, and I see that I have only one choice:  gas it!  I manage to get to the top where my brother looks at me and says "I didn't think you'd follow me!"  Fuck you kid.  He makes me do it again for the photo op.



Two brothers.   Kickin' it.



We make it back to camp for a quick breakfast break.


At this point we've been out on the road for around two hours and I'm feeling ok.  The bike is sliding around but the roads are pretty firm.  He tells me that we are going to take the other road next time.  

Now I wish I had more pictures, but this next one pretty much did me in.  Getting up was easy.  Actually, it was easy for me - my Bro dumped it about 20 feet from the top - caught the front in a rut.  It took him 5 minutes to get the bike stood up again and turned around.




It was the getting down that nearly did me in!  It was ugly steep, rutted, rocked, and rotted out going down.  I stalled the bike and due to the angle, couldn't get it restarted.  Not that I really wanted to!  I had to cover 200 yards of absolute crap steep terrain that would have given my FJ (4wd) issues.  I skidded, slipped, stuttered, and took 20 minutes to cover those 200 yards.  

But damnit I didn't fall in that crap!

Unfortunately it also did me in.  My fear complex took over and next thing I know I'm deep into tunnel vision, panicking, and every inch of slip drives the seat farther up my ass.  Simply put, I'm done.  FUBAR.  And I haven't crashed yet.  We turn around.

And on the way back we have to cross 6" deep supersoft silty sandy dirt.  We crossed it going out, no problem,  but now I'm just about seeing red.  I came in, started to turn and...stalled the bike.  I dropped my right leg down and felt it sink...fuck it.  

I dump the bike at zero miles per hour and walk off the machine.  

I make it back to the FJ, load up, and get changed.  It's been one helluva 4 hours of riding.  I'm not sure but we may have covered 40 miles of dirt and I'm flat out exhausted.  Was it fun?  I'm not sure really.  I think I was far too uptight during the whole event to let myself go and have some real fun.  I'm just a noob at this dirt thing.  

But I may be back!  It's far easier to play on a 230# Dirtsmoker than a 500# GS!

Peace!

[M.Brane]

 Looks like fun!

 *ducks*

 


 Seriously it can only serve to improve your confidence when you venture into lower traction situations on the GS.

 I haven't been on a dirt bike since I was about 14. I wanna get one for the kid, and of course that means I'll need one too. I better get up to speed quickly or I'll be getting roosted by a 7-year-old.

[TheCloser]

Robert,

You gotta learn to embrace the dirt!  I spent most of my life in the desert and mountains riding dirt bikes and eventually racing motocross before the idea of riding on asphalt even got in my head.  You just can't find the freedom on the street that you can on the dirt and when you fall down, dirt is far more forgiving.  

Enjoy!

[mtrider16]

Too cool.    Yes you can use the front brake, thats why there is one on it.    You just have to be a little more cautious of it than your RS.  

Glad you had fun day out with the bro.

David

[Lawn Dart]

Robert,

You gotta learn to embrace the dirt!  

When I'm face down in a grave I'll be more than happy to embrace the dirt till the end of days!  

I do agree with you 100% - the freedom, the lack of people, the great empty - it is worth it!

[bluepoof]

I was laughing my ass off in empathy that whole report.  That's how I felt the whole week in Australia..."what in the HELL am I doing? I'm going to die and no one will ever find me because I will rot into this damn dirt in the middle of nowhere...."  

[Lawn Dart]

I was laughing my ass off in empathy that whole report.  That's how I felt the whole week in Australia..."what in the HELL am I doing? I'm going to die and no one will ever find me because I will rot into this damn dirt in the middle of nowhere...."  

Oh how true!  

And now I'm torn...do I dare stick TKC's on the Panzer and go exploring???  Gee, I've only got another 50 payments to go on it...

[bluepoof]

do I dare stick TKC's on the Panzer and go exploring???  

I'm partial to Mefos myself...

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Way to go, Robert!    Keep at it and your enjoyment will quickly outpace your anxiety. And yeah, the front brake can be used. I just told Trina not to so that she wouldn't panic and grab at while in Custer  




Oh, and send your brother up this way, will you please?  

[Mac]

That looks like a lot of fun. I really wish we had riding areas like that out this way.

If things work like I'm hoping, I may be able to play in the BLM areas around Palm Springs later this year.

[photomd]

Ummm...dirt's fun!  

Don't fear the front brake,

We'll be able to fly!

 

[Lawn Dart]

That looks like a lot of fun. I really wish we had riding areas like that out this way.

If things work like I'm hoping, I may be able to play in the BLM areas around Palm Springs later this year.

Mac, given that I live not more than two hours from Palm Springs I'd like to offer a couple of things...

1.  Palm Springs is the center of Hell during summer.  120+ is, ummm, normal.  Winter is quite nice though.
2.  Do give me a buzz when you come out!  I'll see what I can do to join ya!

[Lawn Dart]

Oh, and send your brother up this way, will you please?  

I'm workin' on it hon!  I'm pretty sure I can get him up to the next WCRM, but if that's too long to wait the House of "K" always has a spare room for ya!

[dinolee]

It's like looking at the movie poster for 'Twins' with DeVito and Schwarzenegger...  

 

A couple of more trips with your Bro and you'll be hanging out at ADVRider... mark my words.  

[XLR8]

Cool report!

The first time I rode my DS last spring was down a powerline access road in the middle of the desert. I was doing OK until I hit the badger holes the size of Alaska. I love it though. It's a great diversion from pavement.

[sagerat]

I've just started dualsporting with the KLR and can see the of dirt, particularly in the desert.

Looks like a blast.  And not to worry about dumping it, the bikes are built to take it and are cheaper if things go awry.  Bets on how long until the GS is up for sale?  

[MRCLEAN]

Ok, so for those of you who don't know me, I'm BMW-K's younger, better looking brother, lol. Anyway, I would just like to point out that although his report is fairly accurate, he does exaggerate at times! I'll admit, I was the first of us to drop my bike, but it didn't take me 5 minutes to turn it around. I'm not a $#^^Y, I can handle a 230lb bike. And no bro, Silverwood is nowhere near Gormon either.

I had a great time getting him out there to ride for the day. For once I get to show him something he hasn't yet experienced.

Since then the old 1993 YZ250 has been sold. I'm going to miss that bike. It may have been 14 years old, with a blown out suspension, but it was the fastest 250 around. Hands down. That motor hauled ass. Thankfully though the bike has been sold to a good friend who I'm sure will get good use out of it for his first bike as I did, and with any luck will also keep it in decent shape.

My newer bike is an '01 YZ250. Starts first kick, much better suspension and shifting, just a tighter bike all the way around. Still its no YZ 450F, but I'm also not ready to make payments on a toy just yet.

P.S.  MOTHER G season is just around the corner! (That's Glamis people!) Got a dirtbike or quad with paddle tires? Hit me up and we'll go ride. I plan on riding in Glamis 1-2 weekend trips per month from November thru April.

[XLR8]

Ok, so for those of you who don't know me, I'm BMW-K's younger, better looking brother, lol. Anyway, I would just like to point out that although his report is fairly accurate, he does exaggerate at times! I'll admit, I was the first of us to drop my bike, but it didn't take me 5 minutes to turn it around. I'm not a $#^^Y, I can handle a 230lb bike. And no bro, Silverwood is nowhere near Gormon either.

I had a great time getting him out there to ride for the day. For once I get to show him something he hasn't yet experienced.

Since then the old 1993 YZ250 has been sold. I'm going to miss that bike. It may have been 14 years old, with a blown out suspension, but it was the fastest 250 around. Hands down. That motor hauled ass. Thankfully though the bike has been sold to a good friend who I'm sure will get good use out of it for his first bike as I did, and with any luck will also keep it in decent shape.

My newer bike is an '01 YZ250. Starts first kick, much better suspension and shifting, just a tighter bike all the way around. Still its no YZ 450F, but I'm also not ready to make payments on a toy just yet.

P.S.  MOTHER G season is just around the corner! (That's Glamis people!) Got a dirtbike or quad with paddle tires? Hit me up and we'll go ride. I plan on riding in Glamis 1-2 weekend trips per month from November thru April.

See you in Chester!  

[Lawn Dart]

And no bro, Silverwood is nowhere near Gormon either.

LMAO!  I was just happy enough to stay upright most of the time.  Silverwood, Gorman - hey, why not make it Death Valley!  I have no idea where the heck I am!

[mtrider16]

A couple of more trips with your Bro and you'll be hanging out at ADVRider... mark my words.  

What makes you think Robert hasn't been there already?  

David

[R.Markus]

Dude, you're outfit cost twice as much as that bike.  




That's what riding is about, pushing yourself as far as you can. That was a good report.

You can ride some boring ass street bike all day for a week and go home feeling like you never really did anything. You can ride in the dirt for four hours and feel like you got run over by a truck 10 times. That's where it's at. Dirt is wonderful.

[mtrider16]

Dude, you're outfit cost twice as much as that bike.  

+1    I was thinking it, but decided that Robert didn't need any more razzing from me.  However, since you broke the ice...

David

[1KPerDay]

Good stuff, K.

[Lawn Dart]

+1    I was thinking it, but decided that Robert didn't need any more razzing from me.  However, since you broke the ice...

David

Cuz' I'm just all about da BLING!

LMAO!  You can razz me on this one!  Just don't get me started on Dry vs. Wet Weights!  

[Mrs. DantesDame]

LMAO!  You can razz me on this one!  Just don't get me started on Dry vs. Wet Weights!  

Are you referring to you or the bike?