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1. I am not ready to ride Carbondale
2. I can pick up the Africa Twin exactly 4 times in one hour before I get cramps.
3. Hand guards are important.
4. You should make sure your bike will not slide back into the mud hole that made you fall when you pick it up.
5. I am not ready for Carbondale.


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What did Paul say when you showed up with that big bike to ride there?

Be careful.


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Ouch! The creek bed run wasn’t tough enough for you? Mud can be a soul crusher. eBay has good cheap parts like brakes, clutch and mirrors, don’t ask how I know.


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I have a short memory.


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I gotta say kudos to you for at least giving it a try, and the willingness to learn.

I have double take mirrors on my 690, https://www.doubletakemirror.com/

As for handguards - Highway Dirt Bike Ultimate Handguards: https://www.highwaydirtbikes.com/

I read somewhere that they now make handguards for the Africa Twin, you might want to call or e-mail them to be sure.

Ed M wrote:I gotta say kudos to you for at least giving it a try, and the willingness to learn.

I have double take mirrors on my 690, https://www.doubletakemirror.com/

As for handguards - Highway Dirt Bike Ultimate Handguards: https://www.highwaydirtbikes.com/

I read somewhere that they now make handguards for the Africa Twin, you might want to call or e-mail them to be sure.

I already ordered barkbusters and folding mirrors.

The trails were totally manageable, it was the mud that killed me and specifically the fact that the ruts were 8-12” deep so I would just get pinned in a rut and plop into the soup. I think I will go back (once I get my protection package beefed up) and do a better job scouting the “puddles” because it was fun trying to work the trails.

I think there were manageable lines through the stuff I dumped in if I had taken the time to scout them first. Maybe not but you never grow if you don’t push yourself a bit.


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Folding mirrors of some kind are really required for that kind of riding. I broke both of mine a couple of years ago & 990 OEM mirrors are not available. The highway dirt bike mirrors have never failed and its amazing how often I find them "folded in" from smacking branches, bushes and landing in mud/sand. HDB setup is really nice. Takes hits even on pavement and never has a had a issue. The only thing I don't like about those mirrors is riding in traffic, they lie about how far people are behind you.

Mud is just one of those things you never know until your in it. It can easy even if deep (sticky thick stuff) and not so slick, or like ice (wet clay with sandy mud above it is slick snot). It's just a gamble.

Sorry for a newb question - What/Where is Carbondale?

Carbondale KS. Sante Fe trails.