motoxusa

Thanks guys for sharing the ride and the photos. I grew up in SoCal, and spent over 30 years their, and that where I learned to ride and race a motorcycle. I now live in Florida, but not many hills. There are a lot of places to ride, especially if you like sugar sand. I'm heading for the Rocky Mountain next Friday, and plan to explore the back roads and trail for the next 6 to 8 weeks. I've spent a fair amount of time in the Rockies and have only scratched the surface. When I visit SoCal, I try to set up a ride or race with my nephew, who lives in Poway. He's with California Fish and game, and really knows some of the neat places to ride in both the mountains and the desert. Thanks again for Sharing your experiences.

Thanks for sharing. Wish I'd been there.

This is an adventure you'll talk about for a long time. It's hard to forget the fact that you might have been a picnic for a bunch of buzzards. Those kind of rides build character.

Randy, last night I read your trip report and viewed all of the great photos that you took on your High Sierra Adventure, and I am jeolous. I grew up in San Diego and spent a lot of time on the high desert and mountain areas in and around where you rode. It brought back so many good memories. I fall in the category of your new friend, Dale, that you met on your trip. I'm 70 years old, and still going strong. I just got back from an 8-day off-road ride to the Copper Canyon area of Mexico. It made me feel like I was still a teenager, except for the crash in the mountains on the last day. Things like that seem to hurt more and last longer as you get older. Actually, I broke my fibula, but didn't know it until 3 weeks later. Just think, you've got at least another 40 years of good riding in front of you. Lou W Dixie Dual Sport Riders, Florida

I recently purchased a 2004 Suzuki DRZ400S. After riding motocross for years, and getting a few to many bangs and bruises during the last few years, I decided to stop racing and start doing some off-road riding. I read all of the reports about dual sport bikes, and finally decided on the DRZ400S. I wasn't real sure that it would have sufficient power to haul around a 200 plus rider, but the reports indicated that it had plenty of power for someone that wasn't interested in breaking any speed records. They were right, it does have plenty of power for this old man. Not what my Honda CR500 had, but enough. It's not too bad on the rode as long as you don't go on any extended trips. I find myself standing up now and then to get the blood flowing. It cruises along nicely at 70 an hour (will exceed 100), which is plenty fast. It does get a little wishy washy if a big rig flies by you, or you get too close to the back of one. I was also caught in a bad thunderstorm and was almost blown off the highway. Definitely not a cross country road cruiser, but it will get you from trail to trail very nicely. Speaking of trails, my first venture was on a sandy road, and I will say the Trail Wing tires are not made for deep sand. I've since installed Kenda K670 Trackmaster II's, and it makes a world of difference. They are DOT rated so you can also use them for the street, but they are a little shaky on the road, and I would hate to make a panic stop on wet pavement. The suspension is very soft, in fact too soft for me, even though I haven't bottomed out yet. I think some stiffer springs are in order. The electric starter is a blessing, especially compared with having to kick my CR500. I do wish that it had a kick starter on it, just in case of an emergency. I would hate having to bump start a 4-stroke. The DRZ400S is certainly built for tall people, which is no problem for me at 6'5". Smaller riders will struggling to get both feet on the ground. The gearing is a bit tall for off-road riding, so I've changed to 14/47 sprockets, which work well. It limits your rode speed to about 70, but that's fine. All-in-all I'm pleased with the DRZ400, but haven't tested it on any big hills with lots of rocks. That would be the ultimate test. I would recommend the bike for someone that loves off-road riding, especially dual sport riding. Let's hear from some other riders.