Taking the XR650L into the dunes tomorrow...

[CLAY]

We'll see how this goes.  I switched to the rims with the knobbies.  Back in the day I rode two-smokers in the dunes a few times- this will be new!  I'm a bit nervous.  The pig is big...

[Sport-Touring]

[Kneescrubber]

Indeed it is. Just keep the throttle pinned.  

[stromgal]

Hope your back and legs are up to the task of repeatedly righting the bike.  


(and hope I'm wrong about the righting!)

[CLAY]

Well, we both survived.  She's a handful but she really does well- PLENTY of power.  I could climb any hills I wanted.  I spent all the quality time between 2nd and 3rd gears- it's the most stable and well into the power there.  Some videos:
This one is deceiving- the big hills are really steep:


Here's a teeny jump with her.  My form probably sucks in all ways, but it was a blast:


The crash video later.  

[CLAY]

...and the one that didn't go so well    :

[coho]

Ugggghh, I hate loose surfaces, especially sand. Even with the clownlike balloon tires on the TW, sand makes my butt clench.
No me gusta. 

[DNA]

Looks like big fun.
Someone's almost ready for Dakar!

[CLAY]

Ugggghh, I hate loose surfaces, especially sand. Even with the clownlike balloon tires on the TW, sand makes my butt clench.
No me gusta. 

Slow speeds were MISERABLE.  Getting in and out it's a pretty long stretch of 15MPH.  That was work.  Once in there and at speed (25-40) it's like riding on bridge grates- the front end wanders and wobbles a bit, but if you relax a little it goes just fine.

It honestly was an experiment- I kind of thought I would take it up, fund out it's too big a bike and the sand is too hard, and I'd head back down.  I ended up riding it all day.

Looks like big fun.
Someone's almost ready for Dakar!

   It was fun though.  I'll be back.

[scottzilla]

Welcome to my sandy world.  

[Kneescrubber]

...and the one that didn't go so well    :

 


I would never have thought there would be sand hills of that magnitude in Michigan.  

[CLAY]

I would never have thought there would be sand hills of that magnitude in Michigan.  

Dunes.  We have 200-300 of miles of them along the lake- but only one place where you can publically play in them with moto-vehicles.  

[stromgal]

 publically

HAHA!   /Nelson    

[bomber]

Ack!

Sand kicked my tail up one side fo Wisconsin and down the other last month . . . .. .

'Course, the Distanza I ran was likely about 40% to blame ;-}