I'm doing (Accidential) jumps now.

[scottzilla]

I understand nobody reads this crap but it's kinda like therapy for me.
"Dirt Lovers" is to STN what the replacement Anderson Window parts shelf is to Home Depot.  

So I had a busy weekend crashing the KLR.  Sitting here Monday morning i'm feeling my age; lots of soreness, swelling and bruising.  Yes, I had sex last night.
The 10 yr old Distanzia's are cupped in the front and wore to the wear bars in the rear and are more useless than ever.  I'm waiting on word for a ride later this month.   If this falls through, i'm finally mounting the knobbies asap.  I don't want to do long hwy miles on Knobbies, especially unbranded knobbies.  I do not even know if they are DOT approved.
The uphill sandy stuff has gotten harder and is resulting in lots of "oops".

It's ok though.  I'm getting away with stuff that doesn't seem right.

I bought some knee pads because with all the crashing I do I figure it's just a matter of time before I start wrecking my legs.  I'm having some trouble with riding gear; it's too warm for textiles and prefer levis.  The pads fit right under your pants and are pretty comfortable.  
I took this shortcut that I normally pass because it has a few downed trees.  I'm putter along in 2nd gear, probably doing around 35 mph and see this:
 
yes-thats my bike in the background.  I rolled up on this rise but didn't realize it was dug out a good 3 feet deep on the other side.  This was not visible until you were already on top of the hole.


The front tire soars for the sky.  I handled it like any dirt bike guy that didn't know what to do would do-I locked up both brakes.
Yup, grabbed both brakes, not that the front mattered as it was now a good 5 ft in the air.  The rear was still planted though, and dragged to the top of the "Ramp".  The front tire came falling back to earth and I suddenly realized I was now looking straight down and about to faceplant.
With both brakes depressed firmly, I was surprised the impact was not nearly as bad as I though.  The front suspension collapsed and I continued straigh off the right side, landing on my knee.
I felt an immediate sharp pain and muttered , "What the fuck"?

[scottzilla]

The hole was probably 6-8' wide and 3' deep.  At first I thought someone had sabotaged the area to prevent asshole like me from using the trail.  I then realized a bunch of kids probably dug it out to DO JUMPS.  I mean, duh.



I'm really happy the knee pads arrived and I chose to wear them.  I hit my knee hard and it's sore two days later.  I have no doubt I would have done some pretty serious damage had I not had knee protection.  Not bad for $12

you can see the little impact damage in this pic:

Doesn't look like much but hard plastic is a lot tougher than your knee cap.

After moving an egg bound club footed Eastern Painted turtle off the road, I moved on to the next disaster.
   

I was on a familar trail and noticed my regular route crossed paths with a more heavily traveled dirt bike trail.
I came to the intersection where I would normally stay straight but saw the knobby tracks take a right.  Not satisfied with the amount of crashing I had done I decided to take the right.
Not sure who the hell rides in these trails but they are better than me.  I crashed 6 times.  Within a few hundred feet I was looking straight down.
pics don't do it justice.

The trail went straight down and of course, back up again.  I was exhausted and couldn't afford another crash.  I was afraid I would not be able to pick the bike up again.

I stopped taking pictures.

Looking back on my failed jump I realize I am gay.

[Cablebandit]

This report has it all.  Scottzilla crash shots and Turtle Karma all in one.

[garry]

I always read the Zilla dirt reports. At least you're out there crashing. My DRZ has yet to leave the yard this season. Got new knobbies mounted and new lower gearing, so it should be much better in the woods and suck even more on the street.

[Rincewind]

What would Monday be without Scottzilla KLR Krash Reports?  

[scottzilla]

This report has it all.  Scottzilla crash shots and Turtle Karma all in one.

Needs bible scripture.

[black hills]

when in doubt gas it.

haven't got the 990 too far off the ground yet, but hoping to work up to it?

[DogBoy]

I rolled up on this rise but didn't realize it was dug out a good 3 feet deep on the other side.  This was not visible until you were already on top of the hole.

Uhh...where do you think the pile of dirt in the middle of nowhere came from? Spring dirt migration?  

Glad you're having a good time. Look into some closeout dual sport pants or those over-the-boot mx pants. Better than jeans and cooler than textiles.

[sammyseaman]

Not sure who the hell rides in these trails but they are better than me.  I crashed 6 times.  Within a few hundred feet I was looking straight down.
pics don't do it justice.

People on real dirtbikes and not big bloated D-P bikes  

  I love these crash reports. Keep 'em up  

[kurtw]

 

Whatever you do, don't put knobbies on for riding in the dirt!
After learning to ride it on worn-out Distanzias, who knows what crazy things could happen if your tires actually hooked up and found traction!!!  

[DNA]

Love it - keep posting up the crash reports.

 

[scottzilla]

Uhh...where do you think the pile of dirt in the middle of nowhere came from? Spring dirt migration?  

Glad you're having a good time. Look into some closeout dual sport pants or those over-the-boot mx pants. Better than jeans and cooler than textiles.

ok, listen buddy.....
I never considered where the dirt came from.

[mxvet57]

This report has it all.  Scottzilla crash shots and Turtle Karma all in one.

You forgot the "i'm gay" part.

[scottzilla]

You forgot the "i'm gay" part.

I look at that avatar pic of you soaring through the air and think, "What a man".

[sammyseaman]

I look at that avatar pic of you soaring through the air and think, "If only I had a real dirtbike like mxvet".

 

[Cvergi01]

Looking back on my failed jump I realize I am gay.

well, knowing is half the battle  

[stromgal]

I know I'm incredibly foolish for asking this, but how much difference would it have made to have a lighter bike?

[scottzilla]

I know I'm incredibly foolish for asking this, but how much difference would it have made to have a lighter bike?

I have not been critical of the klr heft in any of my reports. I joke about the tires. Bottom line, I honestly think if you put me on a klx/WR 250 that weighs 200 pounds less I would be crashing less, that's for sure. You get into tight stuff and and it's a handful.  Furthermore I have used my strength to save lots of falls. Matter of fact I use my size and strength to NOT crash at least once every ride. So IMO, the klr's heft is a big issue when riding in the dirt.  
If your question is specifically asking about the failed jump attempt I say I could have been on a bmx bicycle and still screwed it up.    on pavement I am ready for anything you throw at me.. Off road, I'm stil new enough that reactions have not become instinctive.  I'm working on it but I am the limiting factor.  

[1moreroad]

Nice ride report, but I somehow get the impression that you're about 200 yards from a neighborhood street where the local 10 year olds ride their BMX bikes.

 

Whatever you do, don't put knobbies on for riding in the dirt!
After learning to ride it on worn-out Distanzias, who knows what crazy things could happen if your tires actually hooked up and found traction!!!  

He'd get deeper into the woods and farther away from civilization before really f**king up.  With Scott, that might or might not be a good thing.

when in doubt gas it.

All you can do.  That and hope for the best.  I rode through a puddle that I thought was just a few inches deep.  Until it swallowed my front hub.  Gas it and hang on.  My riding buddy almost fell over because he was laughing so hard.  Then he rode around the puddle.

[stromgal]

As a friend of mine said: "The better the bike, the further I am from civilization when I bin it."

[sammyseaman]

As a friend of mine said: "The better the bike, the further I am from civilization when I bin it."

Nice!  

[Poustman]

I'm still new enough that reactions have not become instinctive.  I'm working on it but I am the limiting factor.