Sunday Dec 2: School Creek

[troy]

This Sunday is Rick's birthday! Let's help him celebrate by riding School Creek!

WHAT: Trail Ride
WHEN: Sunday, Dec 2, 10am
WHERE: School Creek OHV Area

A map to the riding area. Point "B" is the main parking lot. If you need more help, see this post.
http://binged.it/TBMUmO

There is a main parking lot that you hit first. There is a second beach parking lot--let's try to meet and park there. From the main parking lot, turn right and head E to the beach parking lot. We'll setup the RideForum compound!

Get there when you can and ride until you want or need to go home. Pack your lunch. Birthday cupcakes and cookies will be provided. Latest intel suggests these folks might show up:

• Rick (Birthday Boy!)
• Kim (Mrs. Birthday Boy)
• Stu
• Troy
• Mike H. (Troy's Bro-in-Law)
• Kyle
• Luc
• Daryl
• Safiri (Mike A.)
• Savage
• Bob

My guestimate is that I'll arrive closer to 11am. I'll be driving a tan Ford F-150 pulling a trailer and bunch of orange bikes.

The forecast for this weekend (Dec 1 & 2) looks great for riding! Lows around 50 and highs in the 60's. Some sunshine and low chance for rain.

I know I'll lean towards trails rather than roads. Hmmm....options...

Wonder if my brother would go riding with me at School Creek this Sat or Sun?

First weekend of the winter session at Eagle Ranch.

Always enjoy Bird Man's trails.

Hmmm....

[kendall_smith]

Hmm....choices, choices. I'd love to take advantage of this unseasonably warm weather, but unfortunately I've managed to mangle both of my hands the last two weekends. Last weekend I hyperextended the index finger on my right hand riding my KTM and this past Sunday I put one of the sprocket teeth on Alissa's KLX through the fingernail on my left middle finger while cleaning the chain! I wasn't too bummed at the time thinking that winter was coming and I'd have time to heal up, but now it's going to be almost 70 on Sunday. Figures!

Have fun with whatever you decide to do. Post some pics so I can come along from the couch!

[Rusty Jug]

RJ will be hitting Eagle Ranch!

But probably on my street tires, so it will be a slow trail ride, just not enough time in the day to change my tires this week!

[troy]

...and this past Sunday I put one of the sprocket teeth on Alissa's KLX through the fingernail on my left middle finger while cleaning the chain!

OUCH!

[Rick]

Note to Kendall: First gear only, never grab the top half of the chain.

Troy, It's my birthday Sunday and there's nothing I'd like more than spending it with friends at School Creek.

[Stu]

Your birthday Sunday? Then you get to choose where to ride. I would prefer Perry (or Bender's place) but the NEXT weekend is the time I will celebrate my birthday so I get to choose then, right?

Stu

[kendall_smith]

Note to Kendall: First gear only, never grab the top half of the chain.

I wish I could say I was doing something as dumb as cleaning the chain using the engine running, but I managed to do it under my own power! I was in a bit of a hurry as it was getting dark and I still had a lot to get done. Needless to say, I didn't get anything else done that day!

[troy]

...while cleaning the chain...

What is this "cleaning the chain" you talk about?

Seriously, I never clean my motorcycle chains. I just spray lube on before a day's ride. I get a year or so out of a chain before replacing. I buy el-cheapo chains. Knock on wood, I've never broken a chain on the trail...yet. I do see products being sold to help a person clean his motorcycle chain, but it has never inspired me to actually clean one.
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthre ... 282&page=2
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=442325

So do you guys clean your chains? Why? I assume to get better life out of them or perhaps just to make them look sparkly.

[jasoomian]

The forecast for this weekend (Dec 1 & 2) looks great for riding! Lows around 50 and highs in the 60's. Some sunshine and low chance for rain.

I know I'll lean towards trails rather than roads. Hmmm....options...

Wonder if my brother would go riding with me at School Creek this Sat or Sun?

First weekend of the winter session at Eagle Ranch.

Always enjoy Bird Man's trails.

Hmmm....

I'm in for some roads if you feel you might lean that way. It'd be nice to get one last trek down some twisties before the weather gets to bad. And AR is pretty close and has some great places to ride (as you and others well know.)or even somewhere up around the Columbia, MO area (craving some WhiteCastle like you wouldn't believe.)

Perchance you can talk Erik into coming as well since he's got that DL1000 sitting in the garage just waiting for a trek.

I had no real destination in mind, at least not yet, I just wanted to get out on the road while the weather was nice.

[kendall_smith]

...while cleaning the chain...

What is this "cleaning the chain" you talk about?

So do you guys clean your chains? Why? I assume to get better life out of them or perhaps just to make them look sparkly.

I was just wiping it down with a WD-40 soaked rag to inhibit the corrosion that occurs after washing a bike and not drying the chain off. My chain maintenance basically consists of hosing the dirt out of it while washing the bike, blowing it dry with compressed air, putting some WD-40 on it to prevent rust, and keeping it adjusted correctly.

I like your school of thought on just buying cheaper chains (possibly) slightly more often. Hell, I've even considered going with non o-ring chains and just replacing them more often, but haven't quite committed. Maybe when I'm due for a chain, I'll give it a shot.

I've been using the same chain maintenance methods for over 15 years and this past weekend was the first time I've ever gotten an "injury" from it. Like I said- I just got sloppy in my hurry to get things done and screwed up.

If you've got some extra time and a love for gory motorcycle maintenance injuries, google "hand caught in motorcycle chain". That will make sure you never use the engine running, bike in gear method of cleaning a chain if not scare you out of even touching your chain ever again.

[allkidd]

The forecast for this weekend (Dec 1 & 2) looks great for riding! Lows around 50 and highs in the 60's. Some sunshine and low chance for rain.

I know I'll lean towards trails rather than roads. Hmmm....options...

Wonder if my brother would go riding with me at School Creek this Sat or Sun?

First weekend of the winter session at Eagle Ranch.

Always enjoy Bird Man's trails.

Hmmm....

Are you thinking one day, either Saturday or Sunday, or, are you thinking two days somewhere? Whenever I start thinking of going to school creek I look at the mileage, 166 miles each way, and figure that is a long way for one day of riding. My preference would be Eagle Ranch...90 miles.

[ozarksrider]

I'm in town for sure this weekend, and am wanting to ride some gravel and maybe asphalt. Riding some twisties actually sounds like fun for a change; been a while.

Problem is I don't really want to overnight anywhere.

Chris

[troy]

Argh...lots of directions and different desires here. I'd love to do ALL of the suggested options...but....

I'm looking for a one day trip. I have some family obligations this weekend, so I don't want to be gone 2 days. Starting in the KC metro, you simply can't get down to the good stuff in MO and AR and back in one day. So that road ride option is out for me.

Scottie, you should take Erik over into AR for a day trip. Go eat at the Oark Cafe or something--run him down Hwy 23 and across 215 to Oark, AR. He'll be blown away. In fact, here is a sub 400 mile loop from Owasso to Oark to Natural Dam and back to Owasso. The highlights of this route are Hwy 23 (Pig Tail Trail), Hwy 215 (along the Mulberry River--incredibly scenic), Oark Cafe (almost a religion to stop and eat here), Hwy 21 (great scenery and twisties), Natural Dam (an interesting water feature--you might miss this one without a waypoint), then some nice roads back home.
http://binged.it/SgU5Cp

I've done probably a dozen one-day trips to School Creek (Milford Lake, W of Junction City, KS)--the drive is not bad at all. It's 2.5 hours on I-70, so you end up spending 5 hours round-trip on the road, and I know that sounds bad, but....all I can tell you is every time I've done the day trip, I've had a blast and been glad I went. Except for the time I gave myself permanent whiplash, messed up my ankle, and ended up on crutches for a week. (Thanks for taking care of me, Daryl! Thanks for loading my bike, Kyle!)

Rick, I really want to celebrate your birthday on Sun, but as it turns out, I have 3 reasons that Sat works MUCH better for me. 1. Church on Sun. (I get pretty messed up without a regular dose of churchin') 2. Bro-in-law can't go Sun. 3. Daughter is out for several hours on Sat anyway, so I wont miss much daddy-daughter time if I ride on Sat.

Rick, would Sat work to celebrate your birthday at School Creek?

Note that my lousy brother, KC, who lives just outside of Manhattan, has not responded here in the forum or to my text message. I'm definitely scratching him off the Christmas shopping list.

RJ, if you ride Eagle Ranch, would it be Sat or Sun--I'm betting Sun because of restaurant duties.

[ajayhawkfan]

I was just wiping it down with a WD-40 soaked rag to inhibit the corrosion that occurs after washing a bike and not drying the chain off. My chain maintenance basically consists of hosing the dirt out of it while washing the bike, blowing it dry with compressed air, putting some WD-40 on it to prevent rust, and keeping it adjusted correctly.......

Last summer while riding around Lake Michigan my wife ran out of chain lubricant for he GS-650. I ran into a hardware store and picked up some WD-40. When we got back to Engles they recommended that I use anything both WD-40. Their point was a chain needs lubricant and WD-40 is a degreaser that will removed the needed lubricant.

Has anyone else heard that before?

[Scott_B]

If memory serves, the "WD" in WD-40 stands for "water displacement", which would make its primary function a rust-inhibitor rather than a lubricant. There are several articles online which seem to back up the idea that it's not an ideal chain lubricant.

http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/ho ... lubricants

After reading this article, maybe we should start carrying this on trips involving water crossings...

[troy]

Last summer while riding around Lake Michigan my wife ran out of chain lubricant for he GS-650. I ran into a hardware store and picked up some WD-40. When we got back to Engles they recommended that I use anything both WD-40. Their point was a chain needs lubricant and WD-40 is a degreaser that will removed the needed lubricant.

Has anyone else heard that before?

According to this guy
http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=765282

WD-40 is safe for the o-ring rubber. He goes on to point out that the solvent in WD-40 is basically Kerosene, which chain manufacturers (according to him) recommend for cleaning chains. So it seems like WD-40 is like cleaning and lubing in one. I've definitely heard from folks that just use WD-40 to lube their chain.

I think WD-40 would make a fine off-road chain lube. You've probably noticed "Off-road" chain lube next to regular chain lube. The difference is that the street-designed lube is stickier--made to last longer on the chain. Sticky chain lube, however, is not ideal for off-road because of all the dirt that would stick to it. So off-road lube tends to have more solvent and be slippery and oily. It is understood that you are expected to lube before every ride in off-road situations. Disclaimer: I don't know anything.

I am 99% sure that WD-40 is better than nothing.

[kendall_smith]

Man, did this thread take a weird turn from weekend riding plans, or what! Maybe instead of riding this weekend we should all get together and debate the conundrum of dino-based oils vs. synthetics. Sounds like a hoot!

Personally, I use the WD-40 for the water displacement and corrosion prevention. In an o-ring chain, the lubrication is supposed to be contained INSIDE the inner diameter of the o-rings, meaning that it should in theory lube the chain for the entirety of it's lifespan. In my experience, running chain lubes/waxes/etc. has basically only caused crap to stick to the chain, which I would assume isn't ideal.

If my chain gets really nasty and needs to be de-greased (which shouldn't be an issue if you aren't putting "grease" on it), then I'll use kerosene to clean it up. This is a technique I use more on the bicycles since their chains get lubed since they aren't o-ring chains. Not to mention, since I am the motor on those, I can tell that a lubed chain tends to make it easier to pedal than a dry chain, as well as shift smoother.

In the end, it comes down to whatever works for you, but I personally don't use chain lube anymore on the motorcycles.

[gagnaou]

Watching this thread! I'd love to get out and ride!

[troy]

Watching this thread! I'd love to get out and ride!

Luc, you could be a catalyst in my decision to head to School Creek....are you saying that if some of us head to School Creek this Sat, you would come ride, too? Or are you teasing me.

[jasoomian]

Scottie, you should take Erik over into AR for a day trip. Go eat at the Oark Cafe or something--run him down Hwy 23 and across 215 to Oark, AR. He'll be blown away. In fact, here is a sub 400 mile loop from Owasso to Oark to Natural Dam and back to Owasso. The highlights of this route are Hwy 23 (Pig Tail Trail), Hwy 215 (along the Mulberry River--incredibly scenic), Oark Cafe (almost a religion to stop and eat here), Hwy 21 (great scenery and twisties), Natural Dam (an interesting water feature--you might miss this one without a waypoint), then some nice roads back home.
http://binged.it/SgU5Cp

I 'spoke' with Erik a few moments ago, and unfortunately (for me not the big bad world), this is his guard weekend, so he's out.

Maybe this can be the weekend I finally get down to the Ouachita National Forest Third times a charm, right?

You kids have fun on your fancy bikes, ya' hear?