First-ever "The Bucky" Dual Sport Ride - near Madison, WI
#32
01-02-2010 | 12:46 AM
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 63
From: Fond Du Lac, WI
1st Gear Member
.....Byron, Illnois/Leaf River - - - Dual Sport/Enduro Ride
:Byron, Illnois/Leaf River - 2009 - Dual Sport/Enduro Ride
A year ago, I rode the Byron/Leaf River ride on my 1988 R100GS. The Leaf River Dual Sport course was run on about 90% of the famous Leaf River enduro loop. This Enduro route was similar to the Brush Popper's Cow Patty Enduro which I rode a month earlier.
I guess that was when, I had a mind changing Revelation. I realized that the BMW was a great dual sport bike, but not an enduro machine. The BMW just doesn't have the ground clearance to make it over stumps and through deep mud without some help from my riding partner MMMotorcycle. At my age of 57, I decided to try not to make it a practice to ride enduro courses on my BMW.
That is when I bought my 2006 KLX250s. This and the (muddy) Bucky were my only two rides on the Green Machine. I usually dual sport on the Airhead GS.
The Leaf River DS ride was originally scheduled for November 1, but because of record rainfall was postponed till November 15. Mid November around this part of the woods could see us riding ice and snow instead of rivers and mud.
The route was a 27 mile loop with the option to run it twice. Dan 888 (young & fast) has a KLX250s just like mine and Dan ran the route twice :thumb
I guess that was when, I had a mind changing Revelation. I realized that the BMW was a great dual sport bike, but not an enduro machine. The BMW just doesn't have the ground clearance to make it over stumps and through deep mud without some help from my riding partner MMMotorcycle. At my age of 57, I decided to try not to make it a practice to ride enduro courses on my BMW.
That is when I bought my 2006 KLX250s. This and the (muddy) Bucky were my only two rides on the Green Machine. I usually dual sport on the Airhead GS.
The Leaf River DS ride was originally scheduled for November 1, but because of record rainfall was postponed till November 15. Mid November around this part of the woods could see us riding ice and snow instead of rivers and mud.
The route was a 27 mile loop with the option to run it twice. Dan 888 (young & fast) has a KLX250s just like mine and Dan ran the route twice :thumb
Originally Posted by BENRON
most exciting thing I saw-- He *almost* made it all the way across the bridge-
He was fine, and finished the ride
- - -
This was my first time doing the event. To gauge the difficulty, I'd have to say that its a 30 mile loop, of which 25 miles are the kind of stuff you'd find on the "hero routes" of other dualsport rides in the area. Tiring on a KLR... But very fun
I'll be back
- - -
This was my first time doing the event. To gauge the difficulty, I'd have to say that its a 30 mile loop, of which 25 miles are the kind of stuff you'd find on the "hero routes" of other dualsport rides in the area. Tiring on a KLR... But very fun
I'll be back
:thumb
#33
01-02-2010 | 12:50 AM
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 63
From: Fond Du Lac, WI
1st Gear Member
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Hit F11 for Full screen viewing
Originally Posted by sideshow
Great ride, well marked and put together.
How hard can it be to go 30 miles? Sitting at one of the stops about 1.5 hours in, the GPS was checked. "We've gone 8 miles."
Was fun to watch BENRON's KLR650 in the mudslides. Like a motorboat with a broken rudder
Best line of the day overheard near the stream crossing:
"Are you one of the organizers?"
"no."
"Well we got to get those guys a chainsaw."
How hard can it be to go 30 miles? Sitting at one of the stops about 1.5 hours in, the GPS was checked. "We've gone 8 miles."
Was fun to watch BENRON's KLR650 in the mudslides. Like a motorboat with a broken rudder
Best line of the day overheard near the stream crossing:
"Are you one of the organizers?"
"no."
"Well we got to get those guys a chainsaw."
Originally Posted by madwrench
One of my buddies said that to one of the Forest City Riders members many years ago at the enduro. His response:
"A chainsaw? So....you want us to drop MORE trees over the trail?"
"A chainsaw? So....you want us to drop MORE trees over the trail?"
#34
01-02-2010 | 12:51 AM
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 63
From: Fond Du Lac, WI
1st Gear Member
.....Byron, Illnois/Leaf River - - - Log Jumping/Enduro Ride
Originally Posted by Too Many Toys
LOL I told the guys riding with me that I was going to file a formal complaint, there was one fallen log that they failed to include in the trail
Quite a few trees to duck under too. I bonked my helmet more than once
I couldn't count the number of logs/ trees we went over. Some of them were big enough to bottom out the bike
If you werent going over them you were going through them, rubbing bark off with your barkbusters
[/IMG]
I think they hired the local beavers to clear the trail
Above: Dan888's (3) photos
#36
01-02-2010 | 12:56 AM
Thread Starter
|
Member
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 63
From: Fond Du Lac, WI
1st Gear Member
********************Leaf river - - - ducking trees
Originally Posted by f650gsa
. . .This was my first attempt and I was a bit disappointed that I could not finish it . If you noticed a black BMW F650GS that was me . I rode the first section and my riding skills , the weight of the bike , the single track and not having a riding partner to give me a hand in need didn't go along very well . I apologize if you guys had to wait for me to move aside and many thanks to the riders that helped me out in times of need . Even I had a rough time I enjoyed the full of it and I'll be back but not on a 400lbs bike . I finally realized that my 650GS is too much to hassle with it on single track so it's time to get me a real single track toy . I rode TAT on the same bike but let's not forget that TAT is not a single track adventure and most of the sections are relatively easy . . .I love the bike and it performs well on wider trails since I swapped the suspension and converted the bike into a Dakar ( longer forks and shock and 21" front wheel) but the Sunday ride finally proved that I should stay away from difficult single track and get for this type of rides a lighter bike .
f650gsa, nice meeting you
& you are right, it's great to have a riding partner
Originally Posted by f650gsa
The biggest issue on this rides was the trees going over and under . The bike will not fit under those trees so I will have to lean it over and going over the rear tire will slide to the side and off it goes . Then try to lift up a 400lbs + all by myself ! I am still in a long process of learning to ride much better off-road and single track is my next move !
***********************************The Leaf
