Brett

Roger - Steep, loose, rutty, off-camber hills are difficult to go down precisely as we intend. One result of this is our feet come off the pegs in an effort to adjust our line, or just 'save it'. Try putting the bike in first gear and turning the engine off. Use the clutch for your rear braking force since your foot may not be available. Careful brake modulation is important and clutching also does a better job than a hurried foot.

I believe it's road manners improved some as well, but chiefly my desire was increased sure-footedness in the dirt and that is exactly what I got! I will let Eric know that you would like to chat with him about this ...

Might I recommend Eric Shapiro. In our SSC group we call him "Mr. Suspension". I don't know if he would be interested in this side-work, but his qualifications are in order: Within the SSC alone we have 6 KTM 950s and he's done fork work on many of them, including our SDAR President & his own SEVERAL times. He and Tony first helped me install the Eibach constant rate springs for good improvement. Most recently he replaced my seals when setting up my forks to his latest shim stack specifications. As many of you know, the 950 is mostly a dirt bike to me and I'm pretty in tune to suspension characteristics. I truly didn't think such a large improvement could be made, but WOW ... what a difference! The front is now so compliant it's like night & day! I can now crash at higher speeds than ever!

More on BMW's New F800GS: http://www.motorcycledaily.com/23november0...w2008f800gs.htm

All the chat is over here: http://www.dualsport-sd.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=1852

Yep, we all need to answer the question: Am I an "Adventure Rider" -or- "Adventure Writer"? I love the guys on ADVrider with 8 thousand posts I wonder which one they are?

That's a CRAZY amount of miles!!! On a mexican bus? OMG!

It's pretty important to make sure those parts get there, so don't trust shipping them when you should hand deliver them (just to be sure). So load them onto your bike and head South. You'll have to go through Laguna Hanson on the way since it would be a shame not to. After spending the first night at Mike's Sky Ranch , continue on through San Filipe and the dirt into Gonzaga Bay. You could go further than that, but why rush things? The important thing is to remain focussed on your mission of getting those parts down there, and that requires some quiet-time for reflection. Staying focussed, you remind yourself of your motive for staying the next night in LA Bay: "In the morning, I'll take the 120 mile dirt route South to HWY 1 to avoid the military check-point in Guerrero Negro where the guards may confiscate these bike parts, and I can't let that happen". "I know if I avoid this delay I'm sure to get these parts to Santa Rosalia by nightfall". After delivering the parts (and feeling really good about your selfless deed), you head back North. You have to do the dirt route again since the guards check both directions and you didn't get your tourist card on the way down. About 60 miles into the dirt you should probably stop for the night at the palapas at San Francisquito. You will have had an arduous trip thus far, so be careful to not wear yourself out because tomorrow is going to be a long day. After you finish the dirt into LA Bay, you should keep going to get back to Gonzaga Bay for the night. After all, by the next night you need to get to San Filipe. You don't want this to take all week do you?

Zina & all ... Give us the story and pics here http://www.dualsport-sd.com/forums/index.php?showforum=8

< See avatar - The Arai XD is a great helmet! Glad ya'll made it home OK ... and lost bolts just add to "adventure" ... Is that second pic at the El Cortez is San Filipe?

Although some who have not read the earlier pages are being repetitious, I do like the reminder about the tow strap. If you cannot source one in time you may borrow mine. I think it's a Moose and is in a small pouch.

Hello W and welcome to SDAR! You will find no shortage great folks here that are always willing to help out a new guy with whatever advice you can assimilate. There are also no shortage of rides for all levels. So keep checking this forum and have a great time! http://www.dualsport-sd.com/forums/index.php?showforum=4

Zina & Clayton ... John Mark & Brit. Thanks for joining us last night for beer & pizza. We enjoyed having you guys and chatting about your upcoming trip. Hope it was useful to poor over the map and talk about your options. I like your tentative plan: 1) Laguna Hanson to Mike's 2) Through Peurtecitos to Gonzaga Bay 3) Day trip to Coco's / check out the campo at Bahia Calamajue' 4) Back through Peurtecitos to San Filipe 5) Home through either Laguna Hanson or the cenic part of 3 north of Ensenda If you go to Calamjue', please let us know if it's worth seeing and take some pictures Don't let Alfonsinas put you in crummy rooms if bottom story ocean front is available Some of those good rooms have 2 beds and some have 3 beds

Poin taken, Kevin - but plenty of this prep is useful up here too ... and some experiences you just can't get North of the border

Hello Zina. I don't know who you are, but obviously Tony does. I DO however totally dig your stable! Glad to know Brett offers the secure feeling of GPS coordinates. Take it from another Brett that I have to agree with Tony concerning the nightly stops. 1) San Quintin evokes no "adventure" in me, but Coyote Cal's Hostile is pretty cool. http://www.coyotecals.com/ Chris: We were given the total cold shoulder at the Old Mill by the proprietor. She had room but told us to go away ... couldn't figure it out? Stayed next door at Don Eddie's which was a total dump. I like riding on the beach too, but didn't take a liking to San Quintin itself. Zina, if you opt for San Quintin, better get reservations at the Old Mill. 2) A short jaunt South from the hostile finds the dirt to Valle De Trinidad, then another short jaunt South for the dirt into Mike's. 3) Staying at Puetecitos would be criminal when Alfonsinas on Gonzaga Bay is some of Baja's best. For only a 5 day trip, this location is like eating desert. 4) Back North through Puetecitos into San Filipe. 5) Tecate

My friend Eric just bought the new Fuji camera, but returned it since the images were not nearly as good as my old Kodak 6490. So he bought the new version of the Kodak and brought it on our 8 day Baja adventure. SUPER improved - same great lens - 12X - weighs half as much - took GREAT pics!

I was one of our 6 with wsmc99 and would like to add a couple of things ... HD tube in front at least to avoid a pinch flat. Run FULL pressure! There are hidden rocks between Puertecitos and Gonzaga and the dirt between El Arco and LA Bay that will destroy your front rim. Bring spares of both tubes. A front tube in the rear is for emergencies, but may fail during the trip. Bring Under Armor & Exxoficio underwear to launder and hang out each night. A 2 ounce laundry soap bottle works for several days in a bathroom sink. After four annual Baja trips I've settled on a mesh jacket with a high warmth liner from a street jacket to go from 100+ to VERY cold. Also, water shoes pack very small but work well for just about every thing. Might be a shame to get tourist cards if you're going no further S. than San Ignacio since it's barely into Baja Sur. You can avoid the guard station doing the dirt through El Arco / LA Bay, but keep in mind you'll have to go dirt both down AND back or you'll still be paying and spending the time. We ALAWAYs carry the BEMCC card and a Sat phone. When you're in a death-dealing situation you can place a call and someone will come get you and bring you back to an American hospital. It IS your "ambulance ride out there in dirtsville" Water purification tablets: Yes! Did I say extra bungies, zip ties, duct tape, safety wire, and epoxy steel putty? If you're up for Palapa camping as you say, try San Francisquito - no mummy bags needed. Best water on the sea of cortez! Concerning a route and destinations I completely agree with Tony. To hit some good spots (which are southern) and still have time to get back home, you need more time.

You really should not have brought the home BBQ, Troy. Are you adding weight to be like a big adventure bike so you barely make it out? I know that only a fool would try such a thing!

http://www.bmwmoa.org/features/milan07.htm • In the Dealer Showroom: March 2008 • Compact, lightweight concept • New chassis with steel tube trellis frame and double sided swingarm • Powerful, tune for torque parallel twin (798cc with 85hp and 83 lb/ft of torque) • Dry sump lubrication • Dual sport specific running gear • Lowered seat height due to narrow design and varying seat heights • Switchable ABS • Chain drive • Telescopic USD 45mm fork • Wide range of accessories for both off road and touring use Specifications F 800 GS Engine Capacity cm3 798 Bore/lift mm 82/75,6 Power kW/HP 63/85 at engine speed min-1 7 500 Torque Nm 83 at engine speed min-1 5 750 No. of cylinders 2 Compression/fuel :1 12.0/Super unleaded (95 RON) Valve/gas control dohc (double overhead camshaft) Valves per cylinder 4 Diam. inlet/outlet mm 32/27,5 Throttle valve diameter mm 46 Mixture preparation Electrical system Generator W 400 Battery V/Ah 14-Dec Headlights/rear light W Starter kW 0.9 Power transmission/gears Clutch Gears Primary transmission 01:01.9 Transmission, gear stages I 01:02.5 II 01:01.8 III 01:01.4 IV 01:01.2 V 01:01.0 VI 01:01.0 Rear wheel drive Transmission ratio 1:2.625 (16/42) Chassis Frame design Wheel suspension, front wheel Upside-down telescopic fork, fixed tube Ø 45 mm Wheel suspension, rear wheel Spring travel front/rear mm 230/215 Castor mm 117 Wheel spacing mm 1578 Steering head angle ° 64 Brakes front Double-disc brake Ø 300 mm rear Single-disc brake Ø 265 mm Wheels Spoked wheels with aluminium rims front 2.15x21 rear 4.25x17 Tyres front 90/90-21 54 V rear 150/70-R17 69 V Dimensions and weights Total length mm 2 320 Total width with mirrors mm Total width without mirrors mm 870 Seat height inches 33.5-34.6 Dry weight lbs 392 DIN tare, ready to drive lbs 455 Perm. total weight lbs 975 Tank capacity gallons 4.2 Travel data Fuel consumption (MPG) At 56 mph 62 mpg At 74 mph 45 mpg MSRP $10,520 Standard Equipment / 100% Options Closed loop 3 way catalytic converter with oxygen sensor Chain drive Complete stainless steel exhaust system Hydraulic rear spring preload adjuster Spoked wheels Electronic immobilizer Single wire system (Can-Bus) Power Socket Adjustable brake and clutch levers Available Equipment Comfort Package $475 ABS $890 Clear Turn Signal Lenses $60 Anti Theft Alarm $235 Center Stand $150 Low Seat $0 Available Colors Dark Magnesium Metallic Sunset Yellow

Darn it Rad ... I wanted to meet that guy after hearing about your Alaska adventure with him . But as you know, I and 5 of your other friends are leaving tomorrow for our annual Big-Bike-Baja-Adventure.

I always thought it was about going fast and keepig your weight off the front end, but JL can't be too far off base! I'll give that a try this weekend. Thanks Brett! There's a place for the "fast" technique, that's for sure! JL focuses on all the other times. His schools often specialize in big adventure bikes like the 950. It's almost impossible to keep the front light on those big pigs, and going fast is sometimes out of the question.Anyway, let me know what you think ...

From the Jimmy Lewis School: Stand (if you need to dab, stand back up immediately) Steer with your feet. Sand riding is all about balance, you cannot fall if you are perfectly balanced. He made us do drills to make it "sink in" because you can't always go fast in sand (especially on big bikes) since there are corners and other variables. He took us to a sand dune area with the softest and deepest sand I had ever ridden. We had to make turns while in 1st gear and barely moving. Another drill was making us wildly move the bars back and forth to prove they don't do anything. The point was, if the sand makes the bars move a lot it won't matter, so don't try to control it because that may through you off balance. Remaining perfectly balanced and steering with your feet was the focus of the exercise.

Goon on ya, Gunner! I like to think of how many innocent people you may have saved by teaching him a lesson. He might not try that again any time soon -vs- getting away with it and continuing to beat and rob people.

I'd love to ride with you and your Gas Gas, but I gave up the motorized stunts that I was pictured in (above), and now I just ride a bicycle. Sorry ...

Dave, What is the red ring on your throttle grip? Brett