CBBaron

If you can afford it and don't mind the extra maintence modern full suspension bikes are better pretty much every where. 

That said I ride a Spec Fuse (similar to the Roscoe) and it does everything I want it to do on local trails. 

Riding off road the biggest thing I would suggest is get out of the seat. That is true for full sus or hard tail. The full does make it easier to ride up rough trails in the saddle but going down its always better to be standing an allow the bike to move under you.

Also play with tire pressures. It probably works better with a lower pressure than you expect. Especially for plus bikes. I've ended up at 12psi front and 18 rear on my 3" High Rollers. The stock Ground Controls required a couple more psi. A good low pressure gauge helped to dial in the best pressure.

On 12/2/2018 at 2:42 PM, Helmutt said:

We planned to go with the Gatorskins, but without any prior experience with them I just wanted to make sure we're not setting ourselves up for failure.   Just wanted input from those who've run them before and get some real world feedback about them or similar brands

Gatorskins are a good tire for what you say you want. Durable long lasting and puncture resistant. I ran them for a few years commuting and a coworker has done the same. Both of ours are/were the 28mm version. I think the Schwalbes were a little better in the wet but I had them on a different bike in wider width. 

Why not Gatorskins? They are available in 700x32.

Personally I prefer a little wider. I usually run 38-42mm on my gravel bike. Compass tires are really light and fast and comfortable in those wider sizes but not the most durable. 

Schwalbe tires have always been very tough for me. Marathon Racer or Marathon Supreme are in the right size range. Durano would also work. Schwalbes are a little expensive though. 

Kind of last minute but a friend and his dad invited me to join them riding the MABDR https://ridebdr.com/MABDR

We started with 400 miles of slab Sunday, mostly I77 but we did take a detour over "Back of the Dragon". Three bikes on knobbies with riders cold and stiff from hours on the freeway don't have quite the pace I did last time with a group from here but it was still a fun pass. 

The route mixed gravel and dirt forest roads with fun and/or scenic paved rural routes. The other riders were on BMW 1200GSAs while I rode my DRZ supermoto with knobbies. The freeway sucks on the DRZ especially in the cold but on the challenge sections the light weight made for a fun time. 

We finished the 1000 mile route Friday about lunch. We got a hot meal at a local diner then slabbed it home before the rain moved in.

On 10/11/2018 at 10:51 AM, B-Mac said:

I agree Tim.

Sometimes our needs must be met. I got this box free when I purchased my 2014 V-Strom. I have only use it for trips to the shooting range but it's a nice item to have on hand.

Slick mount B-mac. That looks much better than the ones cantilevering the box out behind the rear tire. 

OTH that is a fugly looking box, especially on such a slick looking machine. The Vstrom is atleast similarly fugly

17" wheels and a 180 rear would not fit the look. 

I would hope that a styling variation with 17s would be planned for the future. Would seem to help amortize a basically new platform if it sells.

13 hours ago, theroamr said:

I downloaded the permit and just need to know where to get inside the park to ride some good dirt and gravel roads. I assume there off 83 somewhere. Any ideas?

Learned something new, I was supposed to have a permit to ride the roads in AEP. I was exploring back roads down south last spring and ended up in this area. I only guessed it was AEP lands because I had heard of the AEP lands and the terrain was very different than the surrounding area. There appeared to be many roads and 2 track with various levels of maintenance. It really wasnt clear what was a road and what was a path that might go nowhere. 

I need to print a permit and go back there again, preferably with someone as there was no cell service and some area were quite remote.  

Flushed coolant and replaced with Engine Ice.

And replaced the exhaust

I broke off a couple bolts on the stock muffler when cleaning the spark arrestor so I used that excuse to replace the system with an FMF Q4 full exhaust. It is definitely lighter and looks better. Will give it a ride today to see how it sounds and if I can notice a power difference.

19 hours ago, motocat12 said:

harley got their streetfighter and diavel mixed up.

I knew I had seen that bike before

Looks and awful lot like the HD "street fighter"

Interesting that Ducati making a cruiser and HD making a sportbike end up at the same place 

On 7/18/2018 at 1:39 PM, 2talltim said:

Hey did i see you a couple weeks ago on the outskirts of Mount Vernon on Rt 229? Waved at a guy on a DR like yours wearing hi viz. 

unlikely, last time I was down that way was last week in May. And I was wearing an MX jersey and helmet  (yellow ofcourse)

I got me some. That is 3 oil changes for the DRZ

I'm just shocked there is a review of any of these machines. I think the last one I saw in a magazine was in print at least a decade ago. 

There is something to be said for the theme of the article, thats why I'm riding my DRZ. It kind of splits the difference between these and the euro dirtbike models. 

After a 66 mile gravel ride this weekend

I tore down the drive train. The chainring was missing a couple teeth and the rest of the narrow wide ring was all very narrow. Might explain dropping the chain many times during the ride.

Since the BB was also very gritty and the crankset was described as vintage by the chainring manufacturer, I decided to replace the whole crankset. New SRAM GX 30tooth on its way.

13 hours ago, Casper said:

Only 25hp though... and dirt bike maintenance schedule. 

False news. Some Euro dealer listed the CRF250L hp on the CRF450L. Honda says in the 40s, they won't list hp specs on a dirt bike. 

The DRZ is basically unchanged since early 2000s. The good news is OEM and aftermarket parts are easy to find. The bad news is its heavy and/or underpowered compared to the more premium dual sports. However it is inexpensive and easy to work on. 

Justin you should ride it. There are some great places to ride a dual sport near you. It alot of fun exploring the back roads in that area. That price is barely a down payment on a KTM or CRF450.

3 hours ago, Pauly said:

Nevernind. I saw orange and immediately thought Roscoe. I didn't know you were mainstream enough to buy Specialized. Lol

LOL, if I bought new I was buying a Stache, but reviews are pretty good on the Fuze and this one came up for a great price. Gotta love guys who go through new bikes every year or 2. They make for some great deals  Bicycles or motorcycles.

The TAT is fairly challenging on a motorcycle that will be really tough, though probably not as bad as the Tour Divide

Water in the west will be an issue. I know there are stretches which require a 200 mile range for fuel out there. As long as they don't hit mud in Oklahoma or snow in the mountain passes they should be OK. I think OK will be brutal on a bicycle.

I currently plan to ride the western half of the TAT next year, 

On 5/23/2018 at 7:34 PM, Pauly said:

Got my Kona back. First ride of the year. First since @TimTheAzn rode with me last year. Felt great to be in the woods again. I didn't even crash today.

Not crashing, Is that a first for you

I decided I was riding the trails enough it was time to get an actual MTB.

Got this for a great price from a local on facebook.

19 hours ago, max power said:

What tires?

Shinko 244 in the front and Shinko 700 on the rear. I set them both up tubeless. I had no problem with the street tires tubeless on these rims but they were a better fit for the width of the rim. We shall see this week on the Shinkos

9 minutes ago, Qman said:

Why 17"??

That's what the bike has. 

I swapped the Pilot Power RS tires, for something hopefully a little more off road worthy. ?

If I find myself doing enough off road I will look for some 21/18 wheels.

Before the change.

Adventure ready?

Installed my skid plate and 17" knobbie tires in addition to the USB and heated gear ports I added over the weekend. 

Hope to take dirt roads down to WNF near Marietta on Thursday and camp the night. 

I was surprised how much the knobbies changed the look of the bike. Hopefully they are equally effective at changing the capabilities.

This is my gravel machine (Pilot Power RS). Stand up, let the bike move beneath you and lean the bike into the turn, you will be fine.

23 hours ago, max power said:

Can’t ride two bikes down

Why not?

15 hours ago, Pauly said:

Tried my luck at beating the front after work and snagged a quickie. Obligatory mid-point pic as evidence I still own a bicycle. About half a mile from home the front caught me and damn near put me into a curb. Wow! Very unnerving as I wasn't ready for such a strong cross wind. Still beats not riding. 

I think it needs shallower drops. Maybe a Nitto Noodle is in order? 

Nice!

That storm seemed to come out of nowhere. Beautiful afternoon with calm winds then blowing and windy a few minutes later.

I like the Salsa Cowbell for shallow drop bars. They were on my Warbird before the crash now on my Crosscheck.

On 4/24/2018 at 6:24 PM, Qman said:

I'm next to you in new Philadelphia, look me up!  Not exactly into the SM scene, but ill push my big GSA to its limit!

That Duc is not really a SM (too big and heavy) but still is a sweet looking vehicle. 

Welcome to the site Jade

I hope to make it.

Weather doesn't look too bad, though I will probably get out the heated gloves.