mrorange

A little late but thanks for doing the ride with me and the photos!

Another great ride report. It was good to see you, Langley, and Powell at the rally. Thanks for attending. Any time your in the neighborhood let me know. The dry weather up here always makes me thirsty. Don’t forget to visit Alpine Beer Company. Their Duet is a really good IPA. Ride safe.

Great posting. Now I know why I didn’t use my camera much. You did all the work.

I had the same thing happen with a fairly new Shoei last year. I nailed a tree branch with the top of my head up here at Keysville. Had to purchase a new visor. Knocked me off the bike too. Amgems told me about the ride Saturday night. I grew up riding up there. One of my favorite things to do during the summer when it got to hot was to do night rides at McCains Valley. The single track stuff is really fun in the dark even with a stock headlamp. You might want to give it a try. Ralph

Kind of looks like it. Now add a kick starter. Ha!

Ever try firing a semi auto on its side? Even without limp wristing cycling is tricky. Loud noises scare my KTM too.

I knew I was forgetting to share something. The Barewood is closer, .3 miles. The Lakeshore is .9 miles away. I was up there last weekend and I made a GPS track so some other riders I know could find their way around once they got to the ELK’s. Both places from the outside very look good to stay at. The brewery in Kernville is 4.1 miles away. The riding up there can be very nice. Lots of good, fun, but challenging single track. Plenty of very good dirt roads. Most in the forest. In the last couple of years I have done this ride the desert section is all fast dirt road. When you get to the trees is when you can decide what you want to do. We usually do some single track until my buddy gets tired and then bail on dirt road. Last year one of the sweeps showed us a short cut to dirt road. This year is different in that it is a two day ride. It is also being held later in the year so it should be cooler. Not in the high 90’s. My dad lives up at Lake Isabella so I have started spending a lot of time up there. I was working up there last week and was hoping to do some single track riding but the local guy I know is on the injured list. It helps to go with someone who knows the trails or have a route chart. If this sounds like your kind of dual sport sign up soon. They usually have a rider limit. Also if you do this ride then you should be a member of the Stewards of the Sequoias. It’s free to join. They are the organization that maintains the trails and fights to keep them open to multi use access. http://stewardsofthesequoia.org/ If you want a copy of the motel GPS send me a PM. Ralph

There's a better way to keep the engine cool in deep sand - OPEN THE THROTTLE! This will also help keep you upright He does have a point.

It almost sounds like an EnduroCross event. We could have some huge truck tires or telephone poles laid out to ride over. I'll put the bike down for sure, I'm in! You could do last years LA-B to V and then attend the Maxxis Endurocross held at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, NV in November, 2007 Orleans Arena Maxxis EnduroCross Saturday, November 17, 2007 • 8:30pm Tickets: $45, $37, $29 http://www.maxxis.com/products/motorcycle/...ails.asp?id=178

The GPS tracks for this ride will be in the Members, GPS section as soon as I figure out how to attach the GPS file. I get an error stating "that file extension is not allowed"

Here's a scan of the instructions that are in my Magura clutch service kit. The kit contains a large syringe, short length of tubing and two different diameter threaded barb fittings. I think the barb fittings are for applications that don’t have a bleeder valve such as a hydraulic clutch conversion kit for a Honda. If you need large syringes with a taper tip you can purchase them at Marshall’s Industrial Hardware, 8423 Production Ave, San Diego, CA 92121. Not cheap. McMaster-Carr (www.mcmaster.com) has almost everything in the world of hardware. Not cheap but great service. I have read that you can purchase them from veterinarians also. I have never (disclaimer) serviced or bled my clutch but this is what I remember when checking out the information on www.ktmtalk.com and the instructions in the kit. I always enjoy reading instructions from people who have never actually done the job before but here goes: Attach the tubing to the syringe barrel tip and fill syringe by drawing the fluid into the syringe through the tubing. Purge all the bubbles out of the tubing. Remove the cover and diaphragm on the master cylinder. Attach the tubing to the bleeder valve on the slave cylinder. Open the bleeder valve and push fluid slowly through the system until the bubbles stop appearing in the open master cylinder. Close the bleeder valve. Check fluid level in master cylinder and install diaphragm and cover. Check that the clutch system has pressure (no air in the system). HYMEC_Bleeding_and_filling_for_all_models.pdf

In the manual (Art. Nr. 3.210.50 04/2002) for my 2003 KTM EXC it states the front and rear brakes use DOT 5.1 brake fluid. The reservoir cap on the front brake master cylinder says to use DOT 4. I guess they are compatible with each other as far as seals and hoses are concerned. I think (disclaimer) that DOT 5.1 can handle higher heat. The manual says: BRAKE FLUID: KTM fills the brake system with SHELL ADVANCE BRAKE DOT 5.1 brake fluid, one of the beat currently available. We recommend that you continue to use it. DOT 5.1 is based on glycol ether and of an amber color. If you do not have DOT 5.1 for refilling, you may use DOT 4 brake fluid. However, you should replace it as soon as possible with DOT 5.1. Never use brake fluid DOT 5. The color of this silicon oil-based product is purple red. The gaskets and the brake hoses of KTM motorcycles are not designed for DOT 5 brake fluid. Refilling the front brake fluid reservoir* Loosen screws (2) and remove lid (3) and membrane (4). Place hand brake cylinder in a horizontal position and fill the brake fluid reservoir to 5 mm (0.2 in) below the rim with clean brake fluid DOT 5.1 (e.g. Shell Advance Brake DOT 5.1). Replace membrane and lid, tighten screws. Rinse off spilled or overflowing brake fluid with water. Warning - Never use DOT 5 brake fluid! It is based on silicone oil and of a purple color. Seals and brake hoses must be especially adapted to it. Refilling the rear brake fluid reservoir When the brake fluid level has dropped to the MIN mark, you need to refill the brake fluid reservoir. For this purpose, it is recommended to remove screw and to pull the brake fluid reservoir outwards. Unscrewing the cap (7) and the rubber bellows (8). Add brake fluid DOT 5.1 (Shell Advance Brake DOT 5.1). until it reaches the MAX mark, then screw rubber bellows and cap back on. Rinse off spilled or overflowing brake fluid with water. Warning - Never use DOT 5 brake fluid! It is based on silicone oil and of a purple color. Seals and brake hoses must be especially adapted to it. I use a Motion Pro Hydraulic Brake Bleeder (Part No. 08-0143) when playing with the brakes. It is just a one way check valve with tubing but you can do the work by yourself. Some people use a large irrigation type syringe and force the brake fluid from the slave cylinder (bottom) up to the master cylinder (top). It is just sort of an easy way to remove the air bubbles but you have to be careful not to pump brake fluid all over your bike. It does all kinds of damage to painted surfaces and other materials. I guess maybe KTM was getting a kick back from Shell that year? Just remember to never put brake/hydraulic fluid in the Magura clutch master cylinder. Use only Mineral Oil or Magura Blood. I have never had to add or change the oil in my clutch but I did purchase a Magura Oil and Bleeder kit. It was like $10.00. On ktmtalk.com I recall (disclaimer) you can purchase mineral oil at any drug store.

All I have to say is Utmost respect to you Uberpig riders! I have a hard enough time with my 300 pounder Can't wait till next tme Cam (when it's MUCH cooler ) Next time we do the route in reverse. Down the steep hill first. Up the less steep hill second. You guys still did a good job. You were 2/3's of the way to the top. By the way. I went for a drive on Sunday and stopped at the place were we got onto the interstate. There were two more younger sheep grazing around the stone walls. That's seven Big Horn in one weekend. That might beat my Silver Caynon record.

Turn 'em upside down and they all look the same.

Turn 'em upside down and they all look the same.