Motorcycles

[UrbanComposition]

I'm headed out for an all-day Intro to Dual-Sport/ADV Riding class. I'm looking forward to learning some skills off-pavement and then taking a ride up into the Sierra Foothills/Gold Country on a guided tour. Hopefully I return with all limbs intact.

How did it go? I wouldn't mind taking one of those classes myself. When I went offroad to Prewitt Ridge I dropped the Scrambler twice and I'm positive it was user error

 

[VaderDave]

How did it go? I wouldn't mind taking one of those classes myself. When I went offroad to Prewitt Ridge I dropped the Scrambler twice and I'm positive it was user error

It was great! We went over to the local OHV park for the morning (Prairie City OHV) and practiced low-speed maneuvers while standing on the pegs through cones and over small logs, then did a bunch of loops on the park's obstacle course. In the afternoon we headed out to some back roads in Amador County. I was able to hold my own on the paved roads, but discovered that as soon as I went off-road I had to slow down quite a lot to keep any sort of control. That's the first time I've ridden off-road so hopefully with practice I will be able to improve. I was definitely the slow guy on the dirt. I was on my F800GS and the bike was certainly a lot more capable off-road than I was.

 

[KTMMotorrad390]

 

[KamoteJoe]

Let's see those DGR fits! I'm not cool enough to roll with riders with nice cameras so I propped up a trash bin before I headed out

 

[Neognosis]

rode from Rochester, NY to Phippsburg, Maine last week in one day. It was great and my bike did really well.

 

[gnatty8]

rode from Rochester, NY to Phippsburg, Maine last week in one day. It was great and my bike did really well.

Hell of a ride, not just in terms of time - I'll bet the scenery this time of year made it tough to focus on the road!

 

[Neognosis]

It was a really nice ride, especially through New Hampshire and Vermont. Took me 15 hours to get there. ON the way back, I broke it up into two days, and it was MUCH more pleasant.

 

[michaellosauro]

rode from Rochester, NY to Phippsburg, Maine last week in one day. It was great and my bike did really well.

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Love this. Those VT and NH roads are so good. I'm doing an Iron Butt from Albany, NY to St Louis, MO in 2 weeks, then another trip from Albany to NC two weeks later. Not letting winter win just yet.

 

[VaderDave]

Has anyone used tank grips (those adhesive pads with grippy/rubbery surface) on their motorcycles? I don't need them on the GS but when I ride the Scrambler it seems like I slide forward every time I hit the brakes.

 

[UrbanComposition]

Has anyone used tank grips (those adhesive pads with grippy/rubbery surface) on their motorcycles? I don't need them on the GS but when I ride the Scrambler it seems like I slide forward every time I hit the brakes.

I had them on the Thruxton but took them off. They’re useful if you break hard, but if not...

 

[VaderDave]

I've got 'em on order--I will give them a try and see how I like them.

 

[John Doe]

Has anyone used tank grips (those adhesive pads with grippy/rubbery surface) on their motorcycles? I don't need them on the GS but when I ride the Scrambler it seems like I slide forward every time I hit the brakes.

Stop treating your seat with Armor All.

 

[VaderDave]

Stop treating your seat with Armor All.

LOL that's what it feels like. It's probably just because the bike is new (less than 1000mi at this point). I almost feel like I ought to scuff it up with some fine-grit sandpaper.

 

[samtalkstyle]

Has anyone used tank grips (those adhesive pads with grippy/rubbery surface) on their motorcycles? I don't need them on the GS but when I ride the Scrambler it seems like I slide forward every time I hit the brakes.

My old Z750 used to do this chronically. The seat surface was too smooth and I replaced it with something more textured.

 

[VaderDave]

I just picked up the GS from the shop--I took it in for its 45Kmi service. I'm quite a few dollars lighter but the bike is running great. One nice thing, though, is it's not running waaay better than before, so that tells me that the PO took decent care of it. The shop guys told me that everything checked out and they didn't even have to touch/adjust the valves, so that's good. I've put about 3500 miles on it since getting it in early March(?).