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Silver
May 12, 2001

Suzuki lover number one!
Welcome to the dirtbike thread! For chatting, pictures, movies, questions, and whatever else we see fit to put in here that concerns dirtbikes. Making a new thread as the title of the other thread "Transitioning from street to dirt" is kind of misleading. So here we are at a new thread for dirt bikes and riding dirt/rocks/sand/trails/mx tracks/enduros/whatever.

While I have a ton of motorcycle racing type links I don't really have that many dirt bike links. So I'll update as people post good links and stuff. The two I have are:

Links:
http://brotocross.com/
http://yamahaenduro.com/

Forums:
http://ktmtalk.com/
http://www.advrider.com/
http://www.thumpertalk.com/
http://www.crfsonly.com/

That's what I got. Anyhow, I figure to kick off the thread, make your first post in the thread your state, how long you've been riding, bike, types of terrain you ride, and any other type info stuff. I'm going to first post this thread with my info to leave this post free to expand with relevant information as it's added to the thread.

:cheers:

Silver fucked around with this message at 22:05 on Jan 2, 2013

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Silver
May 12, 2001

Suzuki lover number one!
State: Oklahoma
Riding: totes newb, 5 times out on the bike thus far for day rides.
Bike: 2004 KTM200EXC. Also because I now own a KTM I have to look down upon anyone who doesn't also ride a KTM. So I've been told.
Terrain: Trails, Sand, Gravel. On the list are a few places with lots of rocks as well.
Other stuff: Right now just learning as much as I can. Also want to participate in a race series they have here in OK called ATV Motion which looks really fun. The end of this year they'll also have a race thing called the Gold Rush which I plan on trying to participate.

Safety Dance
Sep 10, 2007

Five degrees to starboard!

Dirt + Bike = Dirtbike, even if it's a big fat dual sport.

Dirtbike * Gravity + Leg in the absence of other people around = I'm hosed.

(the one on the left is broken)

State: Georgia
Riding: Newbie. Can generally be found hooning up and down trails.
Bike: 2001 Kawasaki KLR 650
Terrain: Entirely tarmac right now. I want to take a dirt riding class and ease back into it.

Ponies ate my Bagel
Nov 25, 2006

by T. Finninho
State: California, Central coast
Riding: Old hand just getting back into it. Used to do MX now ride for fun.
Bike: 2007 DRZ400SM
Terrain: Dirt, fire roads, Gravel, Mud, rocky and anything else.
Other: Looking in to doing some enduro/harescramble type racing at some point.

FlerpNerpin
Apr 17, 2006


This is the dirt thread bro the pavement pansies thread is that'away!



Western, WA
Two years dirt recently, two years as a kid
2009 YZ250F
Ride mostly seasonal lakes and dust clouds

P.S. Thumpertalk not being in the OP is silly

Silver
May 12, 2001

Suzuki lover number one!
Oof, yeah will add thumpertalk. Forgot about that one. I never go there because I think they layout is dumb. Adding now though.

shacked up with Brenda
Mar 8, 2007

Yeah I used bold motherfuckers

State: Vermont, but all New England really.
Riding: Weekend warrior. Competed in trials for 3 years, race the new england championship hare scramble series.
Bike: 2011 GasGas XC200 Six Days
Terrain: Mud covered rocks and roots. No dirt.
Other stuff: Got a dealer sponsor so I'm contractually obligated to do well this year in hare scrambles. This means I'll actually go to more than 3 or 4 a year.

Pic of the old (stolen) KTM:

NitroSpazzz
Dec 9, 2006

You don't need style when you've got strength!


Location: Knoxville TN
Riding: ~2 years as time allows
Bike: 1998 KDX200, 2005 GG TXT 300 Pro
Terrain: Uh...anything that happens to be on the trail. Rocks, sand, mud, gravel, any other poo poo.

NitroSpazzz fucked around with this message at 14:30 on May 15, 2012

shacked up with Brenda
Mar 8, 2007

Sometimes bros need to get pumped up.

VIDEOS TO PUMP YOU UP;
2012 John Day GP Preview: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkJm1QqUFiY
Kilbarger Project: http://vimeo.com/16602962
2010 GNCC Highlights: http://vimeo.com/16260518

EDIT: Can we two stroke bias this thread as much as possible?

shacked up with Brenda fucked around with this message at 23:56 on Mar 7, 2012

Beve Stuscemi
Jun 6, 2001




Location: Milwaukee, WI
Riding: Since age 7. Started on dirt bikes.
Bike: 1975 Kawi 250
Terrain: Anything, there arent many opportunities to ride offroad in the MKE area.

clutchpuck
Apr 30, 2004
ro-tard
Region: Washington State (wet side mostly, though I see some Pearrygin and Chelan DS-centric camping this summer)
Riding: Navigating mud seas since January 2012
Bike: well-abused 1976 Yama DT175
Terrain: forest service roads, dirt pits, whatever random single track isn't gated

I don't have a particularly-capable bike but I do enjoy dinging around on the 2stroke wherever I can get it. People complain about Harley dudes sticking their nose up at their non-Harleys, but the DT gets about as much attention as I can handle.

https://yamahaenduro.com is a pretty great resource for Yamaha 2-wheeled 2-sroke knobby-tire'd knowledge.

Deeters
Aug 21, 2007


State: Connecticut
Riding: 11 years since my dad put a bike under the christmas tree
Bike: '84 KDX200, but that could change soon
Terrain: The only trail riding I've been on in CT is both rocky and muddy, but I'll try anything

So first question of the thread, does anyone have a piston, cylinder, or even whole engine for a pre-89 KDX? My dad blew mine up when we took it on the ice a couple weeks ago.

Silver
May 12, 2001

Suzuki lover number one!
Added Yamaha enduro to the links in the OP.

Also I'm thinking we can have a video links part in the OP as well. Only the baddest raddest videos Bro'est videos in there voted on by participates in the thread and limited to a max of 3 vids.

This video isn't a candidate but it's our local ATV Motion series. At least watch the start as the dude who got the holeshot misses the turn and they all end up in a field turning around with guys looking around going "what the gently caress???"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rr4rqTMo5PI

GI Joe jobs
Jun 25, 2005

🎅🤜🤛👷
Location: Seattle+
Riding: 2 years + kid stuff
Bike: KTM 690

I bought a fancy dual sport and realized I like dirt a lot. I've been making it work, riding ORVs and racing a few harescrambles. Previous years I pushed myself but wasn't anywhere near race pace, but I plan to do better this season. Fitness and skillz...

I plan to break into motocross in the next year, considering that come August I'll have more access to MX tracks than ORV parks.

GI Joe jobs
Jun 25, 2005

🎅🤜🤛👷
Double posting. :dealwithit:

Everyone watch this movie. All of the Moto series have real good footage.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jwc9S9v5v8Y

shacked up with Brenda
Mar 8, 2007

That's a great photo. A friend that knows how to shoot a camera is priceless.

Tape Leg
May 8, 2003

We were all delighted, we all realized we were leaving confusion and nonsense behind and performing our one noble function of the time, move.
Location: Sacramento, California
Riding: Every weekend for 4 years. Don't race as much anymore, but still do the occasional enduro or cross country. Otherwise, I look for the hardest most hosed up looking single track I can find.
Bike: '07 Honda 250x
Terrain: Single track and more single track. As high in the Sierras as the snow will allow. If the snow keeps us out of there, we head to the coastal hills.
Other stuff: My youtube:
http://www.youtube.com/tapeleg3
123 videos and counting.


GI Joe jobs
Jun 25, 2005

🎅🤜🤛👷
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2mI7NL54yP8

Skiers vs MX

shacked up with Brenda
Mar 8, 2007

My buddy Chris bought a 2005 KTM 250 SX with woods ridin' mods. This is his replacement for his KDX which was stolen at the same time as my KTM mid last year.

The first thing he does? Crash it at the top of 2nd:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nw_ndyzyFk

clutchpuck
Apr 30, 2004
ro-tard
Did some trail riding at Walker Valley today. Ran into some nasty hail a couple hours after we got there so we decided to pack up and go. My truck almost didn't make it up the (gentle) hill, exiting the park.

NitroSpazzz
Dec 9, 2006

You don't need style when you've got strength!


VTNewb posted:

My buddy Chris bought a 2005 KTM 250 SX with woods ridin' mods. This is his replacement for his KDX which was stolen at the same time as my KTM mid last year.

The first thing he does? Crash it at the top of 2nd:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nw_ndyzyFk

Seems like the proper way to break in a dirtbike to me. I know the first time out on my new (to me) dirtbike I crashed multiple times and it's always ran great since.

FlerpNerpin
Apr 17, 2006


clutchpuck posted:

Did some trail riding at Walker Valley today. Ran into some nasty hail a couple hours after we got there so we decided to pack up and go. My truck almost didn't make it up the (gentle) hill, exiting the park.



Haha, I was at walker... come to think of it, pretty sure I saw you on the fire road.

clutchpuck
Apr 30, 2004
ro-tard

Spiffness posted:

Haha, I was at walker... come to think of it, pretty sure I saw you on the fire road.

Oldest crappiest bikes there, can't miss us.

Speaking of which, can you clue me in to some mellow trails I might find there? Yesterday was my first time at Walker, my bro and I just picked a random trail and it got too gnarly for us real quick, that's when we decided to see how far the forest road went.

clutchpuck fucked around with this message at 01:06 on Mar 13, 2012

shacked up with Brenda
Mar 8, 2007

Getting ready for Sandy Lane. Tightened up all my spokes, rejetted, new air filter and of course:

Moto Punch
Feb 3, 2009
State: None - Auckland, New Zealand.
Riding: Since late '07...Or '08? Can't remember now.
Bike: 2007 YZ 125. First learned to ride on an '84 XR250, then bought my first bike, a DR-Z 125 (4 stroke), then moved to an RM100 (bored out 'zuki dupe of the KX85), and now the YZ, which I love. The build quality on yammys is really nice.
Terrain: Sand pine forest, beaches/doonz, Clay mx tracks, occasional clay pine forest.
Other stuff: Haven't ridden much in the last year due to being a poor student, hoping to get out on Sunday depending on whether I come across any problems doing my top end tomorrow. Breaking in new pistons sucks. Done a couple of harescramble type races for fun, but mostly ride recreationaly.

At my cousin's track at her house. I have a super chopped seat and a lowering link, and it gets me by ok:



Edit: My usual riding spot, the sandpit, is a sand-based forest by the sea. Here's the dune part of it (nicknamed 'The Superbowl'):

Moto Punch fucked around with this message at 11:26 on Mar 16, 2012

elwapo
Feb 17, 2012
Where: MA (moved back from CO last summer and need to find places to ride in New England)
Bike: none (left my XR400 back in the mountains...that makes me sad)
Riding: for a couple years
Terrain: anything sounds good now...rode mostly alpine singletrack and desert trails

shacked up with Brenda
Mar 8, 2007

Race tomorrow!


AncientTV
Jun 1, 2006

for sale custom bike over a billion invested

College Slice
I feel like I should think that is cool, but I have absolutely no idea what it is supposed to convey. Endurance mile markers, mayhaps?

Silver
May 12, 2001

Suzuki lover number one!
Yeesh, so I kinda know what that is, but do you have to hand rotate or does it do it for you as you go?

Went riding at Gruber today. Goal was to not hit any tress or bury myself in mud, I was slow(newbie) but I achieved it.

This is the overlook, a sheer cliff that below it is train tracks. Little whiskey throttle here and you're bike has a nice little fall, then it gets ran over by a train.

Only registered members can see post attachments!

shacked up with Brenda
Mar 8, 2007

AncientTV posted:

I feel like I should think that is cool, but I have absolutely no idea what it is supposed to convey. Endurance mile markers, mayhaps?

Sorta! It's an indurance route chart. The left column is the minute you're on. The middle column is the mile you need to be at on that minute, and the right column is the average speed to achieve such a thing.

Silver, you gotto hand rotate it.

Ponies ate my Bagel
Nov 25, 2006

by T. Finninho

VTNewb posted:

Sorta! It's an indurance route chart. The left column is the minute you're on. The middle column is the mile you need to be at on that minute, and the right column is the average speed to achieve such a thing.

Silver, you gotto hand rotate it.

I've seen them used, but I was never able to get used to one when I tried it. You don't find it distracting?

Silver
May 12, 2001

Suzuki lover number one!

VTNewb posted:

Sorta! It's an indurance route chart. The left column is the minute you're on. The middle column is the mile you need to be at on that minute, and the right column is the average speed to achieve such a thing.

Silver, you gotto hand rotate it.

*Endurance.

Do they make ones that you don't have to hand rotate? If not I'm going to make one and I'll make my millions!

shacked up with Brenda
Mar 8, 2007

Ponies ate my Bagel posted:

I've seen them used, but I was never able to get used to one when I tried it. You don't find it distracting?

Well, it's nearly god drat impossible to ride through nasty single track and keep track. Essentially I'm cross referncing this chart with a computer on my handlebars. I can only really do it on the firecut roads When you're in the nasty single track you're behind anyway so you just GoGoGo.

I learned that down in Jersey where they don't have rocks or hills they make it hard by having endless miles of sub handlebar squeezes. Everyone was baffled that I didn't have my bars cut down. It was very strange for me because I wasn't breathing hard or anything, but it was really nasty in there.

In the end I got seventh in my class. I don't know how many were in it, but when I asked the guy updating the board he said "a ton" so I'm pretty happy. I was going so god drat slow in the squeeze sections.

shacked up with Brenda
Mar 8, 2007

Bike with scorecard taped to the front pre-race


Buddies and buddies bieks:


It was the 75th anniversary of this race. Met Jack Penton (badass). They had some vintage bikes out:






Kony Kid
Mar 16, 2012

Roll chart is used in conjunction with a computer that you program for every race. The computer will keep track of your mileage and time. The roll chart will give you a quick glance at the upcoming mile markers that could possibly have a checkpoint.

You see, the checkpoint locations are unknown to the riders until they find them while following the course. However checkpoints can only be located when the beginning of a minute lands on a whole tenths of a mile (example: .10, .20, .30, NOT .17). If you aren't "on time" or at the exact mileage at the exact time specified (within a minute) you are penalized points. The rider with the least points at the end of the day wins!

the rules are confusing to the newcomer. However in reality the enduro is basically 4 to 7 short races throughout the day. These races are broken up with easy riding transfer road sections and gas/food stops.

Silver
May 12, 2001

Suzuki lover number one!
Ahh, right on! Thanks for the info Kony Kid. Makes sense.

Vids from last weekend. Newbies rolling sloooowww. First one is long, skip through or whatever. It's at Camp Gruber in OK. Some fun stuff. I kept it way low in the power band the whole day though as my goal was to not throw myself at trees or into mud puddles.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zvT1EcMGLmY

This one is shorter with a stepped hill climb and our 4 wheeler buddy getting buried in a mud hole. I even get out of second on a straight!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Hv-bS76t0A

It's going to rain like 5-7" this week so most of the riding spots will probably be hosed. It's ok though as I want to go head up to a field up the road from me and do some drills. Slow riding, standing on the pegs, figuring out the bike on the whole type stuff. It tends to surprise me when it hits the power band so want to just get more comfortable on it on the whole without worrying about trees n poo poo. Basics basics basics. :cheers:

Vork!Vork!Vork!
Apr 2, 2008

vork!vork!vork!vork!vork!vork!
vork!vork!vork!vork!vork!vork!
vork!vork!vork!vork!vork!vork!
vork!vork!vork!vork!vork!vork!
put new tires on the kx, a Michelin starcross sand 4 on the rear and a soft Pirelli on the front. also laced a new rim on the rear

all kinds of bite in the corners, these tires are gnarly bro


also made some brackets for the hand guards because the aceribis ones are garbage and I could not find any strong ones that were compatible


this happened earlier this winter:


Runs a little better now!

Deeters
Aug 21, 2007


Somebody found a link for a free subscription to Dirt Rider for anyone who's interested: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?noseen=0&threadid=3415037&pagenumber=27#post401843761

Silver
May 12, 2001

Suzuki lover number one!

Deeters posted:

Somebody found a link for a free subscription to Dirt Rider for anyone who's interested: http://forums.somethingawful.com/showthread.php?noseen=0&threadid=3415037&pagenumber=27#post401843761

Not picking it up, but thanks for a kick rear end link. :cheers:

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UFS207
Oct 29, 2005
State: Alabama

Riding: Off and on since I was a kid (mid to late 90's). Didn't get "serious" about it until maybe 6 years ago. Have run a few Hare Scrambles and did pretty poorly.

Bike: 2001 KX125 with a KDX220 motor swap. Google "KDX hybrid", they are actually a fairly common build. I found detailed instructions for the swap over at kdxrider.net.

Terrain: Hardpack (red clay), rocks and sand in thick southern pine/deciduous forests. Singletrack preferred but I also enjoy the faster quad-width trails. Quite a few places to legally ride at both private clubs and ORV parks in the talladega national forest. Southerners are cool like that.

Bonus pic of the last harescramble I ran before tearing down my KDX220 to build the hybrid (DNF'd; note the popped rear and hand-me-down riding get up):



VTNewb: How you like your gas gas? There's a local dealer near me that has a few leftover '10 and '11's for sale. They have a 2011 EC 250 marked down to the point I'm somewhat tempted.

Never read anything bad about the bikes overall other than they can be difficult to source parts for and are a little cramped for taller riders.

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