Flying Monkey Adventure Rally

[Covered in Dust 163]

Work in progress

OK here is a picture of Curtis cleaning a cow pie from his front wheel before

fixing his flat. Note the ultra trick wooden peg bike stand. It looks precarious

but I've seen it work twice now with no bikes on the ground yet.

Covered in Dust

[Fabless 0]

Strega was just lost in thought.

I came from a KLR (and a V-twin sports bike before that) and thought this bike would be even easier to ride when I got it last year, since it's about 50 pounds lighter, has better suspension, a better engine... Which it certainly would be had I kept on riding the same level of difficulty. But somehow I fell in with a crowd on even lighter bikes, who like to ride harder trails than what I'd come from, and the 690 was a handful to learn on. It's only recently that I started to feel comfortable on it during difficult sections. Clutch control, and relaxing the arms, is essential when climbing to filter unintended throttle input. As Chris can attest to, I've gone through a few replacement bits including a dinged fork tube, all part of the learning proce$$.

Notwithstanding, I thought the 690 matched the terrain we were on during this trip, and I had a ton of fun riding it. It's a good compromise, capable on trails and fast in more open scenarios as well as asphalt, not too heavy to pick up, possibly a perfect adventure bike in this sense.

-Fabless

Fabliss,

Nicely Done! Thanks for taking the time to put the report together.

So what was Strega mad about?

That 690 is a pleasure, ain't it. A little extra work in tight quarters, put with a little room a delight. No messen with you once your hit an open road,

Bagstr

[Covered in Dust 163]

This is something rarely seen on the trail. A picture of Roger smiling, this was taken just after Hobiee's bike fell over

and Roger was feeling pretty good about that.

CiD

[Strega 0]

Something needs to be done about that hair...

[paulmbowers 236]

[Covered in Dust 163]

Curtis hard at work on his tire and someone's boots doing what they do best.

CiD

[Covered in Dust 163]

This is the only picture I could find of Crawdaddy actually riding. I believe

alcohol may have played a part in this pic and that's all I'm going to say about

it.

[Covered in Dust 163]

OK here's a Pic of the legendary "Girl's Bike" Chris did a great job

of finding fun trails.

CiD

[Covered in Dust 163]

Hobiee looking for lunch, you can see that he doesn't miss many meals.

CiD

I should be nice he still has my bike and riding gear.

[Covered in Dust 163]

Here's Deb looking good for the camera.

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I think Deb looks a little better on the horses than C-Diddy.

[Covered in Dust 163]

Gotta love a zillion miles of open trails in Utah.

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Some old guy posing. I think the altitude was getting to me.

[Covered in Dust 163]

The sign says it all.

CiD

[tlking6 0]

Here's Deb looking good for the camera.

Thats the knarliest elbow pad I've ever seen!

[Bagstr 287]

Paul,

Thanks for clearing this up.

Fabliss,

Keep an eye on that group you have Fallen In With.

[Crawdaddy 96]

Edited all the stuff Roger, Curtis and I rode and added in one add'l wrinkle from Samir (Natural Springs and out the bottom of Bryce Canyon). Haven't ridden the ~160 SW track yet....picked that up from Gil a long time ago.....

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?p=19239812#post19239812

[hobiee 28]

Hobiee looking for lunch, you can see that he doesn't miss many meals.

CiD

I should be nice he still has my bike and riding gear.

Thats a low blow grandpa ! I am wearing armor.

[Crawdaddy 96]

OK here's a Pic of the legendary "Girl's Bike" Chris did a great job

of finding fun trails.

CiD

This pic was snapped on Asay Knoll......waypoint set/photo icon added in the tracks I posted

[Strega 0]

The left turn 'Covered in Dust' couldn't make...

[Crawdaddy 96]

The left turn 'Covered in Dust' couldn't make...

Set a waypoint for Straight Canyon in the tracks I posted......unfortunately it's more like "Straight U-Turn" .........there's a locked gate just past the water crossing with a bunch of "no trespassing/private property" signs........we tried to take it as a short cut over to Bear Creek but.....no dice

[dsfox 0]

Began the adventure Wed when jonathan and I left at 5 am.....Big thanks to him, who came and loaded bikes and took ALOT of gear and an "extra" bike for my upcoming 12 day journey...THANKS JONATHAN!! my mechanical mishaps a couple days before the big trip threw several unwanted wrinkles into what was a smooth plan.....Also huge thanks to All American KTM in Ramona, who did a RUSH gasket repair so I could bring KTM #2 on the adventure..

First morning, took the 3 mile hike to OBSERVATION POINT in Zion National Park...well worth the hike....toroweep kind of cliffs, dramatic views of zion......jonathan, .new friend Bill and steve's dog Mollie, joined the hike...

notice the hiking trail IN THE CLIFFS here...this trail goes down to zion valley..we didn't do that one this time...

more to come later..