jimi

Maybe take it to Travis at the Jeep Shack? I feel like he's done a ton of these.

I've tried to give local shops business, but like you said, it's tough. I needed tires for the GS. Call SD BMW, which I have bought multiple bikes, and known some of the people there for 30 years. I think they were just shy $600 mounted. I mean, damn. It hasn't worked any better with dirt tires. They don't have anything in stock, have to order, like I would, they are half again more, tax on top, and install isn't free. It's easier in general to get them online. Only times I've had trouble is when websites don't make necessary distinctions, like when the tire is offered in both a tube and non-tube version (TKC80s). I have one of the Kauritmoto tire tools, and mounting is easy to do myself.

I paid the extra, and ordered the original from Estonia. The Baja No Pinch guys really ripped him off, and I just bring myself to get one from them.

Another vote for the HDB handguards, but I will add that there is one thing people have run into on these bikes, myself included, that I'm not happy with. KTM has that long ass straight metal tube that comes out of the clutch master, that will be exactly in the way if you do the whole HDB setup. You can fix it by replacing the clutch line with one that has a bend in it, but that is a pain in the ass. I sort of rotated my clutch a little, but it still puts a bend in the line that is sharper than I would like. Obviously if you go all in with the Rekluse and toss the clutch, then there is no issue. I guess bars with a different bend may make a difference here as well.

Handguards, radiator guards, skidplate, sharkfin, better seat. Tank if you need the range (will require desmog in order to fit), heavy duty tubes, The headlight sucks if you ride at night, so maybe spring for a Baja Designs replacement if you do. For protective stuff, I think Bullet Proof Designs makes the coolest stuff.

This video is pretty good for showing the dropoffs they are talking about. The trail is a lot rockier now than you can see in the video. Last time I was on it, a few months ago, I was just bouncing around the whole last half of the trail. It's not that steep, but the nastiest rocky sections are all on the downhill side, which made for a little pucker. I'm not a fan.

Not sure how much South Bay is charging for Motorex, but you can find it online ~$65 shipped for a 4L. Yeah, still not cheap, but more like $20 for oil, and $8 for the filter, assuming you don't buy in bulk. For what it's worth, the guys at Rekluse recommend Rotella. I've used it in other bikes in the past with no ill effects. I've seen people in the massive 500 EXC thread on advrider say they only change their filter every other oil change, so at the 30 hour interval. As long as the oil meets spec, it really shouldn't matter where it comes from.

Sounds good.

Definite maybe. I have to at least try to get to any of the rides where I have a chance of keeping the other riders in sight.

Just some food for thought. My last big getoff I ended up on my back with the pack between me and the ground. Fortunately there were others there to summon help but if I had been alone there's no way I would have been able to reach a Spot in\on my backpack. Probably an unusual event but real none the less. Same thing happened to me on the trail. I'm on my back, bike on my leg, and my InReach was in the pocket of the Camelback I was wearing. I managed to get out from under it all, but for a few minutes I was worried I was stuck, and it would have been tough to get to anything. I've since gone with a front mounted solution.

Wish I had seen this. I ended up cleaning the garage all day...

=0-*Is it just me, or am I the only one that looks at their kits and has a hard time coming up with how they can cost what they are. I'm pretty sure that you can get a Sena bluetooth 2-way adapter for the radio, and a Sena headset on the helmet, and have a lot more functionality. Maybe I'm wrong. I've been wanting to get something for my FT1D, but figured it made more sense to go wireless, so it would be easier to move between helmets/bikes.

Started out from home today, and just sort of crusied around on the KTM. I ended up near Otay Lakes, took it to the Country Store. I had no real routes in my shitty little GPS, so just sort of winged it. I ended up on some access road, then onto Minnewawa Truck Trail. I saw on the GPS that Otay Truck Trail went off to the right, so I followed it. Next time I looked at the GPS, I wasn't actually on any road, just sort of in clear space. Comforting. Anyway, the road clearly was maintained, and looked like it went somewhere, so I kept going. Eventually, it banked around, and put me going North again. I figured that if it kept going that way, I'd run into 94, and would at least know where I was. As I got near 94, I could see some kind of event going on, a few people milling around, including Mr. BLM. He hustled over, and was mostly definitely not happy with me. Demanded my drivers's license, telling me I was in a closed area. I began with explaining where I had started out, and had no real idea how I had gotten into a closed area, because honestly, I never once saw a sign to that effect. He told me that I must have passed a bunch, and was not buying my story. I grabbed my GPS, and showed him the route, or what there was of it, and anyway, he cooled off some. I kind of wanted to tell him to go close some of the fucking gates I went through if the area is off limits, but he was being cool by this point, so I kept my mouoth shut. He gave me my license back, and opened the gate for me to get onto 94. Feeling like I dodged a bullet, I enjoyed the ride back to Jamul and beyond till I was home. Looking at the map now, I can see that maybe staying on the Minnewawa Truck Trail till it turns into Otay Mountain Truck Trail would have been the thing to do. Another day.

Define backyard. I've never made it up there because of their hours and location, which for me, is like an 80 mile round trip. Looks like a cool store, but wish they'd at least open one Saturday a month. I love to support local businesses, but it's difficult when I'd have to take half a day off work to do it.

I would like to ride there as I haven't yet. I'll see if I can haul my ass out of bed that early. It's been a long week.