Sat 6/23/07 Lawrence> Atchison> White Cloud, 250 Miles

[flashstromer]

This poor girl....she had a good reason to look afraid.



The rest of my photos are at:

http://glfamily.smugmug.com/gallery/3048397#165922836

[BadCompany]

[BigO]

My friend from Ohio and I rode from Concordia to Marquette to visit the museum and I thought we had a rough time until I saw your pictures. We had some mud and soft gravel roads until we got into Lincoln County on the way home, but nothing like you guys had. We did find some interesting roads on the way home. I have a few pictures on Google.

picasaweb.google.com/rideklr

The museum is an interesting place to visit.

[carlrf]

Darn, bent the front rim pretty good on the KLR. One of the cement low water crossings had an extremely abrupt ledge I didn't see till I hit it. Just another hazard of the sport I guess.

[safiri]

Darn, bent the front rim pretty good on the KLR. One of the cement low water crossings had an extremely abrupt ledge I didn't see till I hit it. Just another hazard of the sport I guess.

Answer to the problem: Hammer. A big hammer.

Oh yeah, take the rim off of the bike before you do this!

[carlrf]

Darn, bent the front rim pretty good on the KLR. One of the cement low water crossings had an extremely abrupt ledge I didn't see till I hit it. Just another hazard of the sport I guess.

Answer to the problem: Hammer. A big hammer.

Oh yeah, take the rim off of the bike before you do this!

Right! Thanks. Next time the wheel is off. Looks like the rear may a have a small ding as well, from the same evil piece of cement.

[safiri]

Darn, bent the front rim pretty good on the KLR. One of the cement low water crossings had an extremely abrupt ledge I didn't see till I hit it. Just another hazard of the sport I guess.

Answer to the problem: Hammer. A big hammer.

Oh yeah, take the rim off of the bike before you do this!

Actually, you may want to place the rim on the concrete floor of your garage, with a 1x4 or similar peice of wood between them. Use a peice of hardwood (oak, etc) between the ding and the hammer. The wood helps spread out the blow. If it spreads it out too much, then ditch the wood and bang away. Good luck.

If the ding is outward, you way be able to use a large vise. That is a bit more controllable than the hammer.

[Hank Moody]

Darn, bent the front rim pretty good on the KLR. One of the cement low water crossings had an extremely abrupt ledge I didn't see till I hit it. Just another hazard of the sport I guess.

Answer to the problem: Hammer. A big hammer.

Oh yeah, take the rim off of the bike before you do this!

Wow, this is my answer when things don't work A BIGGER HAMMER!!

I really enjoyed the ride with Troy and Kevin! Great routes Troy! Also I can't believe the number of riders that showed up Lets do it again!

[tp_cracker]

Darn, bent the front rim pretty good on the KLR. One of the cement low water crossings had an extremely abrupt ledge I didn't see till I hit it. Just another hazard of the sport I guess.

That sucks, I haven't even looked at my bike since I parked it. Back is sore from picking the KLR up at least 5 times. Last time really messed it up, but thats for another day to fix. Its still rideable, so thats all that counts. Gravel roads and some dirt roads were a blast, the mud sucked a$$. Didn't get to enjoy the lookout much, since I was trying to clean the mud off the bike so it would ride like a bike, not a tractor.

[Greenboots]

That was a MUCH bigger turnout than I expected. I figured maybe five or ten guys would show up. We have to start posting these rides two weeks in advance. Paolucci's was a blast. Great meeting a bunch of guys I only know from screennames.

225 miles. Pretty much rode the entire intended route, minus a couple of minor shortcuts. Rode mostly with Dave O. The Electrician and Safiri Mike and Tracy the Hayden Fan. Like everyone else, the Stranger Creek mud had worn me down, and I was worked when we got that sweet Amoco 92 Octane in Wathena. From Wathena, it was me and the E. and I knew the roads north and west of Wathena would be totally different, because they are mostly sand and drain better. I was basically right. We hit the usual deep sand ruts and some short stretches of slick mud but mostly it was good traction and pretty soft third gear stuff between Wathena and White Cloud. Also some dry high speed gravel, dust free. Great conditions for my Dunlop D908 Rally Raids, they are wearing very well.

Dave and I hung out at the overlook about an hour before tearing back south to Lawrence on almost all gravel. I'm talking about brisk straightline travel with a purpose. I despise riding pavement and I can make as good or better time on gravel. We were in Lawrence at 8:30 PM, only 30 minutes behind. Not bad for such a long muddy slog in the morning, and a lot of long winded breaks. We stopped at Johnny's and threw down a Johnny Wilson Burger and a couple beers and called it a very good day.

That gummy mud laced with pebbles cost me $11 at the car wash on Sunday! But that's not too much to spend on my baby. Man, I love that SXC. I'm never selling it. Not for $10,000. I'm gonna be riding that bike when I get old.

[flashstromer]

One question:

CAN WE DO THIS AGAIN?!!!!....MAYBE SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER?


Dog....that was a blast of a day.....finished off my June with over 1000 miles and every ride having some minimum maintenance roads included.

Glad to meet you guys.

[JaySoy]

Darn, bent the front rim pretty good on the KLR. One of the cement low water crossings had an extremely abrupt ledge I didn't see till I hit it. Just another hazard of the sport I guess.

Time for the 18" front mod...

[BadCompany]

A few more pics

[carlrf]

Darn, bent the front rim pretty good on the KLR. One of the cement low water crossings had an extremely abrupt ledge I didn't see till I hit it. Just another hazard of the sport I guess.

Time for the 18" front mod...

I have seen this before and can't imagine those spindly forks handling that much more tire wheel combo!

[troy]

It will with this over-priced fork brace for the KLR650:
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Brand/K ... 0brace.htm

[carlrf]

It will with this over-priced fork brace for the KLR650:
http://www.dual-star.com/index2/Brand/K ... 0brace.htm

I think that fork brace would have killed me in Saturdays mud! It would have had to come off for me to get out of there. Everythings a compromise!

[xr-nut]

I guess with rain, Im reaaaallllly sorry i missed this one. sounds like you all could have used some mud riding lessons from the ol'xr!

hey carlf, that fork brace would have saved your hide. carry speed in the mud and the fork brace keeps your front tire clean, slices it off like a knife! ask t-roy and safari!

[troy]

I guess with rain, Im reaaaallllly sorry i missed this one. sounds like you all could have used some mud riding lessons from the ol'xr!

hey carlf, that fork brace would have saved your hide. carry speed in the mud and the fork brace keeps your front tire clean, slices it off like a knife! ask t-roy and safari!

Um...yeah, but by "speed", xrnut means 60MPH and standing on the pegs while the bike dances all over underneath you. I don't have the testicular fortitude!

[safiri]

I guess with rain, Im reaaaallllly sorry i missed this one. sounds like you all could have used some mud riding lessons from the ol'xr!

hey carlf, that fork brace would have saved your hide. carry speed in the mud and the fork brace keeps your front tire clean, slices it off like a knife! ask t-roy and safari!

Um...yeah, but by "speed", xrnut means 60MPH and standing on the pegs while the bike dances all over underneath you. I don't have the testicular fortitude!

XR's lesson months ago must have rubbed off ... although the one picture of me in the mud is with feet as outriggers, I managed to ride quite a bit of it standing on the pegs. That all went to hell each time the bike went sideways.