Mikey777

In many countries, motorcycles are a tool of necessity....these girls are pretty good and have probably been riding since they were little around the farm. I would like to send them some helmets thought, even plastic ProTechs.

What was the purpose of his show? That is what I want to know. To make money (possible succeed)? Spread the experience and joy of motorcycling (fail), to spread faith (fail) or to satisfy this guy's ego (succeed)?

I watched it and have to agree with CID. He took people, some with no more experience than riding a freakin' scooter, on some trails that require a higher skill level. It was a pretty severe endangerment in my opinion. Some were so unskilled that they could not safely ride on the road. One crashed on the road in a group ride scenario due to pure lack of skill and ended up in the hospital. This guy, as a pastor, thinks way to highly of himself. I don't like people like that.

Last time I was there, I was eyeing an engine cowling that with some glass on top would make a really cool table.

Mikey Likes It.

Cool bikes. You should buy one.

Feeling your pain. The Maxxcross Desert IT rear is an bitch to put on. The sidewalls are very stiff and inevitably your rim is going to get scratched up. I find it easier just to go slow, use a bead buddy, and take small bites with the irons when you get to the last part of getting the last 8 - 10" of lip of the tire under the rim. Changing a tube in the field is not nearly as bad has having to mount the tire.

Can anybody recommend a shop for some repairs to a steel wheel? The lip is folded over pretty badly in one spot. It is a fairly rare wheel off a military trailer so it is worth fixing. It is the same type of wheel off a USMC Mighty Mite which are ultra lite jeeps made in the 60's.

Bruce...can you pm me his contact information?

Bruce, if you can find another one that would be cool.

Looks cool already.

Good video showing the helmet manufacturing process. Approximately 100 people will touch that helmet before it leaves the factory in Japan.

On Saturday I did a solo dez ride in Anza Borrego and ended up with a flat front tire. Fortunately, I was prepared and had everything to fix the flat...tools, extra tube, CO2, and a hand pump as a backup. (It is kind of nice changing a tire without your buddies giving you that look to hurry up). When I got home I was planning on torquing everything to spec and noticed the bead looked a little off. So I removed the wheel and deflated to reset the bead....and out came a decent amount of sand from when I replaced the tube. Not quite a handful, but not enough for me to say I had a lot of sand in there. Anyway, I dumped out what I could, cleaned the remaining sand off the wheel seals, axle shaft, and fork and reassembled to spec. So lets say I didn't do this and I was still riding around with some sand inside the tire. Bad thing? No big deal? Self balancing tire? Abrasive and asking for trouble? Kind of a stupid question, but I feel like asking it.

I pretend to ride a '13 KTM EXC 350f. After spending a decent amount of time with other riders, I wish I had the 500. They are less finicky, the weight difference is nominal, and there is just more there when you need it (and you will need it). Did a BDR on the 350f and got dogged on the long climbs. In the tight twisty single track it is nice to have a light bike, but that is really more about controlling your rear brake and having good clutch control.

Vanjoosten is a good rider, so that bike has not spent a lot of time getting slammed into the dirt. Hard to fine one that is as clean and set up as nicely as that.

Great write up on a shitty injury.

LB's suggesting of making some flat spaces and using a pipe wrench has worked for me on many stripped heads. Works like a charm. You can also grind a small notch on the high left side and hit down with a hammer/screwdriver which will drive the head down and starting turning it counterclockwise. Left loosey....I would not put any WD4-0 or any lube on it before doing this since you are just making the surface harder to grip.

Covered in Sarcasm.

Nice write up and photos...

Corral Canyon is big bike friendly if you stick to the perimeter roads. It is very similar to riding in baja with some sand, ruts, and rocks here and there and is a great place to practice big bike dirt road skills if getting ready for a BDR. I have a sneaking suspicion Randy is thinking about veering off into one of the smaller trails, which some are "big bike doable" with skills but not necessarily big bike friendly. Like Randy said, be prepared to drop, pickup and repeat.

Nice vid. I especially like the low and slow parts through the trees and rocks. I often find those more challenging than sand/jumps/up and down obstacles. Another big challenge is off-camber turns on a big bike. Big pucker factor for me. It has helped riding with LB over the last couple years. I've put any pride aside (there is no pride when you are splayed out in the dirt under your big bike) and flat out ask about techniques. Mastering rear brake and feathering the clutch is key in most of these low and slow scenarios.

Nice field expedient bike stand.

The group came together at the Pine Valley Gas Station. Eleven riders in all. 3 big bikes (two 990's and a 1090R) and a mish mash of little bikes. Mostly SDAR regulars and a couple new guys. Derek aka DWreck91 was the newest noob, shiny new rider with a shiny new DRZ400. He did fine. The route was Pine Creek Road to Sunrise Highway and then down Thing Valley Road, to La Posta, to the 8 Freeway. Somebody went down on Thing in front of me but it wasn't anything gloryful that needed to be photographed. A rider also lost his gas cap on Thing and our fearless leader, Darren aka 350Thumper , went back to help look for it. The group waited about 20 minutes or so for the missing gas cap down near the 8. (I lost a gas cap on a SDAR baja ride a couple years ago, it happens.) While waiting for the gas cap, LB said the word BBQ and my mind wandered from riding to food. LB and I busted out of the ride and grabbed some lunch at Grand Ole BBQ. We then hit the 8 over to Wild Cat Canyon to Ramona. LB has been missing his PD riding days so I kept making siren noises (woo, wooo, wooo) all day to keep his spirits up. No pictures from me.

I might also recommend changing your profile pic from hippy axe murderer to something....well something less hippy axe murderer.

Derek: Nice to meet you today on the noob ride. I am in the Scripps Ranch area, so pretty close. Next time I jump out to Ramona for a little bike ride I will hit you up. Lots of good riding close by.