KIP

Thanks guys for joining me and posting a ride report. Next time I will bring my camera. Glad that everyone made it back safe and without any serious injuries. Good job to Lucien and the others that took the led and slowed the group when we encountered other trail users. Special thanks to Craig for running sweep.

Meet in Julian at 9:00 am at Norm's Gas Station, Take Banner to Chariot / Oriflamme Down thru the Squeeze / Dropoff / Fish Creek Spend sometime at Ocotillo Wells (Lunch) Blowsand / Devils Slide Cut Across trail thru Badlands over to Borrego Springs. Probably Flat-track back from there. The Ride that I always want to do but never have had time too do.

Someone bring a tow strap!

Yes it is cold! I rode the KLR up here from Vista last night. Cold but beautiful Stars. 40 degrees F right now. I am awake if anyone needs to call - I most of you a PM with my Phone and Address. Should be room to park a few vehicles in my nieghborhood. Come by anytime after 8. We will ride to Norm's and Gas Up at 9. So far it looks like Boston Mangler - Maybe tntmo - Maybe part of ride XR650lbum - yes Marbee 40 Pyro Bruceh Papaalex

Someone please bring a camera and post a ride write up for me - I left mine down the hill.

The weather (wind) could be a issue. Today I rode out to meet some non-plated friends in Ocotillo Wells. The wind picked up really Bad and we spent a couple of hours inside the Blu Inn while sand-dunes formed in the parking lot. You could not see more than 20' infront of you. 606s will work great - just expect lots of soft freshly blown sand! OH Yeah - it was cold too - Freezing black ice cold on the mountain and very cool in the desert today - dress warm

I will PM you with my address and phone number - parking available in my nieghborhood (Kentwood in the Pines) = KIP. As with any ride the leaders pace will not have to be matched. Whoever leads will stop and wait for the last guy and designate someone to ride sweep. Our pace may be quick in wide open washes where it is safer to do so. Expect safe and sane speeds on corners where we could meet hikers, horsebackriders, and other off-roaders. We will stop to enjoy the scenery and the beautiful desert. The challenging part will be the squeeze and Dropoff and the distance traveled in dirt/sand, but there are bailout points. I am thinking about adding Grapevine Canyon and Jasper trail on the end of the ride if time permits. How Big of a Loop can we do From Julian With Maximum Dirt and Minimum Highway? Don't forget my Tubes Paul

Plenty of bailout spots - S-2 or Split Mountain - I guess it depends on what time and where you have to work. I have only done the Oriflamme part of this trip on a bike - Down Chariot and Up Rodrigus. That takes 1 to 2 hours from Julian and Back depending on stops. My intention is to go to Ocotillo Wells - eat lunch and then dirt over to Borrego Springs if we are up for it. Flat-track from Ocotillo Wells to Julian is 35 miles (40 to 50 min ride) if you want to bail at that point. You could join us and gauge our progress at S-2. From S-2 to Split mountian is probably a 2 hour ride.

Happy New Year! I am stuck at work tonight giving me lots of time to reflect. I have been very blessed this year. I bought my Parents old house in Julian which led me to purchasing My first dual-sport bike. I had sworn off 2-wheelers years back due to a painful due crash on a YZ490. I have been blessed with a year of injury-free riding. I have also been blessed to find such a great group to ride with. I am proud to associate with the riders on this site. They look out for one another and offer help and encouragement. The ride leaders wait for the slow riders and everyone is accounted for usually with an experienced rider riding sweep. Reading All of the post I know that things can get bad in this sport - sometimes due to things beyond your control, and often because of circumstances well within your control. After sliding off a turn on Banner and reading about Kawee's injury I am making a New Years Resolution to Slow Down on roads where opposing traffic is likely. My other resolution is to wear more protective gear. I hope to go on Many More rides with the group in 2007. Take Care tonight and party safely.

Welcome to So Cal! This time of year the desert is the best place to be. I may go out to Ocotillo Wells on the 14th but That will be with the kids and quads. We were out there today - very busy. Anyway If you do any rides other than the 14th please post them with their own thread - even if it is a day before the ride. Many of us go riding at the last minute and we Should use the buddy system when possible.

Don't count on the 650 having more guts than the 525. The power to wieght ratio is probably close. The 650 will cost less and XRs have a good advantage over the XLs. KTM makes sweet bikes that are usually ready to go straight out of the box - a great choice for lots of dirt. XRs weight could help on the freeway. Your choice - both fun - depends on how important $ is and where you plan to ride.

Sorry - Working 12 hour graves all weekend - did ride Grapvine Canyon and Jasper Trail on a solo ride Thursday. Very little dust out there since they got some rain. Should be a good weekend for desert riding.

BM, On the way out Vintage DR was leading on that 350 most of the way. After having that pesky little bike running up my tailpipe the whole time I decided to let him lead while I took up the back on Rodrigus. Good riding Vintage DR I will take one of those same bikes for the price you paid! Fun Ride on our little loop, would have loved to go down the squeeze and dropoff with Steve and the gang but had to get back home.

Cool a ride for all!!! Sounds like Carguy is doing a private ride? BM there is a bit of sand toward s2 if we go that far - its optional so we can discuss that tomorrow. Drilled out my Gas Cap lock, Put the new MT21 on the rim. Still have to bolt it on the bike tonight. Good luck to HP with your skidplate (good idea - ask chiefgunner!), . hope you and any later riders have a safe-fun-ride.

Talked to Boston Mangler (BM) tonight and he asked me to post for him. Meeting time is 7:30 in Ramona at Mobil and 8:30 at Norms Gas Station In Julian Ride will be pavement up to Julian/Banner then through Mesa Grande on the way back to Ramona Dirt will be the short loop through Oriflamme down to S2 then back up on Rodrigus - those that want to go desert exploring can continue from S2. Similar to Carguy and Sandiegolands ride where I stole all their riders when I broke off to go back home -- http://www.dualsport-sd.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=319 -- Sorry Guys, I felt bad. As someone said it is BMs ride but that doesnt mean that some of you guys cant meet up later and do the same route. Just post here to let everyone know how many to look for in Ramona at 7:30 and How many in Julian at 8:30 or a later group?

Two more for the ride, I meet you guys in Julian around 8:30 at Norm's Gas Station in Julian. My friend from work will be riding my KLR. He may ride it up from the North County on Sat Morning - I will post if he is going to hook up with the other KLR in Ramona. Lunch at my Place after the ride.

XR650l bum and KIP in Julian. But XR650l bum got a call and had to leave - his kid was sick and needed to be picked-up from school Clickable Thumbnails I went ahead and rode Oriflamme and Part of Rodrigus The Bald Knobby made things interesting- I think the back end tried to pass the front a couple times. Lots of throttle and lots of dust since no one was following. If a solo rider falls over on a sandy corner and no one was there to see him, did he fall at all? Took a different route out of Rodrigus that followed a very soft and steep pole line road Fun Ride on the KTM - Lost my Tank Key, Lost 3 out of 4 front fender bolts - probably due to the weight of the new fender bag. I have to work the weekend again so ride safe guys. If anyone finds a KTM Gas Tank Key on Oriflamme let me know.

That is a trail that I do all the time , I have explored a lot of the side trails and found a few mines like the one pictured. You can spend a whole day picking around back there - the only problem is that some of it is private property mixed in with BLM and State Land. I need to get a really good map. Great pics! I have been itching to do this trail!

10:30 at Norms Gas station in Julian sounds good - it will give me time to put a new tire on.

from Julian it is 8 miles of pavement down Banner to the gate. Dirt from there some of it rough. It is a short dirt loop that doesnt take that long. Anyway it is 52 degrees up here at 6:30 am with clear skies. Looks like a good riding day.

I might do a little jaut down Banner to Rodrigus and Oriflamme -- Julian would be my start and end point - morning ride. If anyone else is interested let me know

KLR Tech Day was a great event. I picked-up my freshly purchased KLR in Cuyamaca and met Pyro, Stevehof and Jay from our group along with a bunch of great guys from 650.com and Leftcoastklrs. At least 5 chain tensioners were replaced and every one of them had a broken spring. Even Pyro's 06 with 7800 miles. Lots of Tech Support - Here is Aarron (sorry if the spelling is off) from leftcoast Helping me with the carb modifications and adjusting the valves on my newly aquired machine On my first day of KLR ownership I : Checked dohickey (allready been replaced), Checked Valve Adjustment ( OK), Modified and reset carb (Good inprovement) Pyro we did this after you rode my bike so now it is better. Upgraded (Replaced) Swing-arm bolts, Installed Low profile Magnetic Plug, and the best of all -- installed a filter center tube -- Mine was MISSING You guys with KLRs that missed this event must be a bunch of---- Thanks to All of those Great KLR Guys - Buddy in Julian, Bill (dohickey manufacturer and guru) Mark 2 - who rode all the way from Nevada, and everyone else that worked so hard on this event.

Please no brand or model bashing - I love Hondas and have owned 3 different Honda 3 atvs. The KLRs are a good all around bike but they do have weaknesses. I am just shocked that Kawasaki has not made this modification -- true no Kaisen here - I thought the continuous improvement was a Japanese thing? Maybe bikes from Germany or Austria are the way to go.

This looks like a good place to test my photo posting. Not an action shot just my Bike Thanks Carguy for telling me how to do it

Ok guys I am pissed about having to work all weekend but I did get a new camera and now I am trying to learn how to post pics - Here was the extent of my Saturday riding. Hope this works and sorry for throwing it on your ride write-up<a href="http://photobucket.com/" target="_blank"><img src="http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q315/paulfundad/paulspics007.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting"></a>