kato

Nice. As an alternative and for someone who feels somewhat mechanically inclined but aprehensive about takling such job alone (as i was) i dont mind helping out (with the Doo or/and with the beer). Done mine a couple months ago (parts from EM who also let me borrow the tools), it went smoothly. note: surprise when i opened my engine cover (gen 1 klr w/ 30k miles) the doo was broken in 2 pieces (one of them loose inside the case!!) and so was the spring. I suggest installing the torsion spring instead of regular spring, as Mike suggests (its the round spring on the right photo above). see you around!

Great photos, i hope to get to ride in the area soon as well. Just finished ordering that map from amazon thanks for the tip.

Its looking like I can make it, but gotta find the motivation to ride out.. Is meeting time @ 8 or 9 in the am? Or both?

My plan was also to get a fly trekker or fx-39 as they looked/felt good. Upon looking around I came across a fulmer adv and liked it. there is some distortion and it is a bit noisy, also moves around a bit at speed on head checks but i think most dual sport helmet do that (due to sun-visor). I don't have much to compare it with but it felt right on my head, about same quality as the other 2 mentioned above in the same price range. you can also wear goggles with it. and it was different so why not, I bought it for around 150. only issue is they re a bit harder to find as they can not be purchased online (as per fulmer policy, they require customers to actually try before buying which makes sense for helmets). anyway, that s not a lot of new info but i noticed you also have a fulmer right now so i thought I'd shim in. my next one will probably be the fx-39 though, gets the best reviews. check also the revzilla videos, pretty good to give you an idea, like the one on this page: http://www.revzilla.com/dual-sport-helmets also if you do have the $$ go try out the shoei/arai at cycle gear. different ball game. paul knows.

Good meeting you Justin, see you again on trails soon. plus we're neighbors I also live in San Carlos. But hey looks like you guys had fun too, I'd love to get the info for that little "wet valley" to the Cricket Wireless Amphitheater, never been there before and I ride around there pretty often that second pic you posted reminded me of those 2 dude in the civic (I think it was) looking for a place to shoot.. "you can make it!" ahah that was funny

IN! x2 (if it happens any day but saturday)

nice one!! lark was empty as well yesterday, was a good day for riding

Awesome ride yesterday, thank you Dave for organizing. sorry didnt take many group pics but here's my lil' recap as well as my solo part of the ride in the afternoon. Starting at 8am on a clear day we explored a fair bit of Otay (so clear we could almost touch the Coronoda Islands from the the antennas) and the gate at the bottom was opened so we were able to ride all the way to Barrett Junction. I got to ride behind tvscum and his 900 scrambler for a little while in Otay, he did a good job in the ruts and crossing the rocks @ marron with such low clearance, I enjoyed that, great looking bike! Passed the (dry) river bed we met with Beezz and a buddy (Im bad with names sorry) on the big KTM adventure and we all rode to Barrett Junction. it was about 10:30am then and after chatting for a few at the cafe we split with some of us going east and the rest heading back west on this superbowl sunday. I was part of the group heading east and after a few minutes, thanks to Paul's GPS file, we entered the "fence trail" on Humphries Road in Tecate. At this point it was 5 of us: the leading V-Strom, 3 KTMs including a 950 adventure, and my klr. Fun exploring this area! The Border Patrol just waived (would have been funny if they stopped us and asked for IDs: 2 Americans, 1 Italian, 1 Romanian, 1 Frenchy), on we went. My first pic of the day by the old railroad tunnel entering Mexico (that old rusty gate is actually a super secure intl border): Beez and our two other buddies turned around somewhere south of Campo while Dave and I managed to ride the fence as well as a few off trails all the way almost to Boulevard. the precise location we re-entered pavement is California 94 & BIA Road 15 which means we rode the fence trail for a good 20 miles. Dave mentioned trying to take it to Jacumba next time, I hope to be able to make that ride. Anyway, upon re-entering the 94 Dave and I split, I think it was around 12:30, he headed west while my plan was to push to McCain valley. And since I was all by myself now I took the leisure to stop every now and then to snap more pics. First things first, quick pit-stop in Boulevard to feed a couple gallons to the KLR and a pint to myself Then quickly back on the dirt, entered McCain. All new to me so yea, an old mine, stepped one foot inside and turned around. And the spectacular Sacatone Overlook from where I could see the Salton Sea as well as the old railroad, again, nested in the mountains. I read that with binoculars (more like telescope) one is able to see this from Sacatone overlook: But I didn't have binoculars so what i saw instead was this (the railroad, and apparently the old cars, almost dead center on the pic. Salton Sea on the top left), not bad: Next I lost myself in the many trails of lark canyon, I must admit that I felt a bit unsafe riding there by myself with the klr (the broken levers on the side of the trails added to the mood, but I didn't add my broken levers to the trails), so I applied the old saying: When in Doubt Gas it. It worked again and again for me that day. I also learned that riding in sand is a bit like riding with a flat tire, I mean two flat tires, only worse. Weight back, squeeze tank with knees, let the front dance around. Oh, and gas it. Did not cross one single bike in Lark (or any of the trails we/I rode that day matter of fact), only saw a couple parked trucks by McCain road and that's that. It was starting to get late and a bit cold so I decided to head back, plus I had been alone for too long at that point. Took me more than 30 minutes just to find my way out of lark canyon (!) and west bound on the 94 I was. about 10 miles later I came upon the junction @ the old railroad Museum and with less than 15psi in my tires i felt better on dirt, I hooked a left (Paul, thanks again for the GPS track) and a few minutes later I was back at the border fence. Many more BPs at that time of the day, about 1 every 1/2 mile.. I got stopped once and was asked the usual "what are you doing here" & "where are you coming from and heading to" questions. Seems the BP had a hard time believing my answers as he probably saw no point of riding a motorcycle all day through dirt roads.. I was nice and polite, he looked me up and down, smiled, and just said "ok man.. well good luck". This particular BP was pulling one of those trailer thingies that erases foot prints on the trail (you were right Dave). Here is the old railroad bridge/border we all visited together earlier on, different angle and later in the day: I followed the fence more closely this time around and made it almost to the actual border check point in Tecate, this is how far I took the trail (Googlemap does not show most of the trails by the fence unless you 'satellite mode' it btw). At one point in Tecate i was riding in wilderness on one side of the fence while looking at kids playing soccer in the street in front of their homes 10 feet away from me right on the other side of the fence.. Anyway, from that point I jumped back on Tecate rd and from there to the 94 west and home by 5pm (9h total ride, 8h on the saddle, 200 total miles with about 150 on dirt). Good times, good meeting everyone and good seeing you again Brian. Till next one.

Yep, its always been nice with BP. A couple days ago i entered pio pico and rode to the power plant and met a bp on quad while riding the non graveled dirt trails around the prison/power plant (off main trail) He just waived.. and he was riding up these tarils pretty hard also! (Having fun) 8am @ jamul's ampm station, im on an older klr, looking forward to this ride!

Well this is dhillr's ride and he knows the area. i posted this map only for reference from otay to Barett junction In my case i'll keep going east to campo but didnt plan on going any further to those gates

My plan for sunday was to follow the border fence from otay to campo (if BP cooperates) and then in the afternoon ride some easy stuff in McCain/lark to practice sand. Maybe i can meet you guys for part of the ride. For the start in otay Paul was mentioning a trail leading to the fence that is accessed from somewhere in between the submit and the powerplant, fyi. Here is a map he made: http://dualsportmaps.com/?link=102275

i'll join you hopefully on another ride thanks, looks fun enjoy!

wekert and calnub hooked me up with some knobbies (606 rear, sr244 front), they have some life left in them and made a world of difference for me in Coral Canyon.

sorry that's not what i meant at all, i just wouldn't want to be slowing anyone down. was thinking about going there solo after missing the sunday ride but after doing some homework yesterday i came across a post that made me think twice about it. but then again i also found this one which really made me want to go. will you be going through the tuff stuff (squeeze/diablo etc..)? how long do you plan on riding?

i like to think that i can manhandle the klr on dirt pretty good (or I'm "Really Trying Hard" like the status says) but have no dez/sand experience so far, and couldnt make BS's ride last sunday in Lark. yea, do feel free to tell me to go fly a kite

he's only learning. The accumplished "adventure rider" would be ON the bike at this point, engine runing, ready to take off in a cloud of dust immediately upon landing.

looking forward to the report as well! Wish i could have made it, i might head out there tomorrow ot tuesday actually

going up to Palm Desert early March for the BNP Paribas tennis tournament and instead of carpooling with the boys I thought I might as well make this a lil' adventure on the KLR. I plan on going through Ramona but I never explored past Mesa grande yet, this is what i came up with so far: http://goo.gl/maps/TeKBg ('G' is "california riding and hiking trail" but i have no idea what it is). Also I don't know if Lake Henshaw TT is (will be) open. After lake Henshaw isnt there a better way up through Toro peak that would shoot me up to palm desert? Note that I'm not looking for stuff too hard or technical, more of scenic (preferably dirt) routes since I'll be carrying a bag and riding by myself.. what do you guys recommend?

ok sounds good. and that gpx has it all. I m all set thank you guys.

and when the answer was "didn't you go ride last Sunday?" the ex-wife jokes from a couple days ago resonated but then she added "it's your daughter's bday party at 11am that day" and I agreed she got a point, I doubt I can make it back by 11 from lark.

As the older guys say, "i need to check with my wife".

Size 10 matching your bike's color, close to where you live: http://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/mcy/3525026180.html

pro pic/rider!

Your map is way too small, try this one. http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_MEDIA/stelprdb5276734.pdf I think the route your looking for is after we passed Corral Canyon campground we went up Spur medow trail (801) > Los Pinos Rd (16s17) > Espinosa Trail(4e03) > Corte Madera Rd (16s05) > Skye Valley Rd to 4 Corners hope this makes sense nice! fun trails and still quite challenging at times (for me at least), single track is he funnest thing i've ever done on a bike so far! thanks again for this ride BS, i hope i can join next one as well