Do you ever take your RSV "off road" ?

[Yama Mama]

When we were in the Badlands we wound up on this gravel road.

 

 

We did okay until a road grater came the other direction and almost plowed us into a build up of loose gravel.

 

Yama Mama

[VentureFar]

Yep, done many many miles of off roading on the Gen 1's. Have done miles of sandy back roads while ghost towning out in Arizona and the Utah mountains, also LOTS of two trackin the Grand Canyon area.. All fully loaded with tent and bags and most of the time with a rider on the rear. I jumped on a two track one time at the end of the Spear Fish Canyon ride while out in sturgis, it all began with a "short trip" on gravel to see some falls, ended up doing some single trackin, came out in Wyoming about 25 minutes from Devils Tower - all day in the mountain woods but a BLAST!!!

One of the reasons I still ride a Gen 1 are the mid frame foot pegs - I ride alot standing up just like I did racing motocross.. Stay on the pegs, if your a dirt biker you KNOW how to handle sand - throttle on keeping the front end light, for cornering its throttle and rear brake application (not a bad idea to carry xtra pads if your going cross country). Run max air both front and rear in your boingers and set the rear shock at position four, I also run 15 wt in my forks when I go west - they are surprisingly well valved!! . Of course, these bikes are NOT dirt bikes or, for that matter, dual sport bikes. You gotta use your brain when it comes to mud/river crossings/steep hills - if it looks like you might get stuck and your alone DONT DO IT (I got stranded for two days in the out back of Utah once cause of mountain rain - not good - you NEVER want to get one stuck!). Gravel roads are a HOOT on these babys, very controllable on the hot shoe, just got to remember the xtra weight of the bike..

Couple years ago I spent 3 weeks checking out old coal mines in New York, Penn and the Virginias on mine, lots of two tracking and woods riding. One of the things that I learned about on that trip was how low the pipes hang on these bikes - destroyed a set of pipes. While off roading watch for rocks and roots and remember - this aint no CRF your ridin...

Wonder if anyone makes an aluminum skid plate for em hahahh

Have fun

Puc

 

No one told me they make knobbies for Gen 1s.

I would have gotten one had I known :-)

[cowpuc]

No one told me they make knobbies for Gen 1s.

I would have gotten one had I known :-)

 

LOL, I am sure that is doable and I think it it would be AWESOME!! And then toss in some Kold Kutters and hit the lakes on it next winter - THAT would be a blast!!!

I gotta hunch the real hard part would be finding DOT knobs for it so it would still be street legal (here in Michigan they are pretty strick about that stuff)..

[dacheedah]

Need to put tracks on it, I had a short ride in loose sand and had the sensation I was goin down the whole time and I knew if I stopped I was in trouble. Not a fan of gravel and take that fairly slow, faster than a crawl but not by much.

[VentureFar]

I just checked with a motel owner a the entrance to Guanella pass road in Grant co.

He said that the unpaved area is very hard pack and well groomed. Said they just laid magnesium "something" down to bind the dirt.

The other area is very old pave and just just marred with pot holes.

I am now cool with the road.

Great responses from everyone.

Oh- the motel operator said " I hope you are not riding a Harley" said if you get a rock in the belt drive you are out of luck.

Ha ha not me! But my riding partner will be. Wonder if I will have to ride two up to get him out of there :-)

Thanks all.

VentureFar...

[Flyinfool]

Sounds like your buddy should pack a spare belt and enough tools to change it.

[VentureFar]

Take Imodium with you ,,,,, and,,,, take it FIRST.

 

I hope not but an ounce of prevention is worth a pound .....in your shorts.

VentureFar...

[Gary N.]

I did this one with my RSV, two up and fully loaded.

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTfhANTfqZU]Great Roads: Top of the World Highway - YouTube[/ame]

[VentureFar]

Good on ya! That must have been a fantastic trip.

I am looking forward to an Alaska ride but on an Adventure bike, not my RSV.

VentureFar...