I'm legal!

[MacWildcat]

No, you dirty old men, I didn't just turn 18......

I finally got up the nerve to try tagging my 2002 KTM 400 EXC. I hedged my bet as much as possible, blinkers, new taillight, DS tires. I even threw on a current tag from my old DR650. Busy time at the DMV right now so I had to park half a block away. I decided to unload it and increase my odds by riding into the courthouse parking lot.
The inspector gave it a thorough looking at while he was verifying the VIN. Since there is no "off-road only" stickers on these KTM he didn't find what he was looking for. Another tense moment when I got inside and the DMV person couldn't pull up the bike on their computer system. She made a call for the correct designation. They ended up asking me all the questions to complete the classification...."Yes maam, it's a dual sport motorcycle". I walked out with a shiny new tag.

Now I just have to wait to recover from surgery to ride the bike, talk about motivation. I have neck surgery next Monday to fuse several vertebrae and deal with a bone spur. Hopefully I'll up to a ride in Arkansas this fall.

...... good thing it's not a Harley. I might still have stalker issues with Troy!

[slimtrader]

good job and congrats!

[safiri]

Welcome to the dark side of orange.

[Stu]

Your DMV office is easier to deal with than mine here in Douglas county, home of the morbidly obese clerks that want to deny everything to anyone that is fun. However, persistence and I did get a tag for my '09 KTM 300 XC-W 2-STROKE!! I bought Sicass Racing's lighting kit for it and it is about as legal as you can get, uh, lights and stuff wise. It is a real thrill to be able to ride it in Lawrence, home of the green deniers.

Stu

[MacWildcat]

Took the 400 EXC for a shake down ride this morning. First chance I had to ride the bike on roads for a extended distance. I was pleasantly surprised, I was expecting a twitchy ride that would be pretty tiring. This bike actually felt better on gravel than the KLX400, I think the lighter weight and better suspension made the difference. I rode 70 miles and averaged 50 mpg, pretty good considering a couple sections were pavement and highway speed.

I got into some roads(s?) on the west side of Tuttle creek I hadn't been into recently. Lots of eroded out roads in steep canyons woods canyons, felt like I was back in the Ozarks.
Now I just have to endure the 2 - 2 1/2 months of recovery before I can ride again. It's going to be tough! But hopefully I'll feel better when I start riding again. Sucks to have numb hands and arms after only a couple miles. Off-roads has really been difficult, I was going numb in less than five minutes.

[Kware]

Good luck on the surgery Larry and God's speed on the recovery. I had to have my shoulder cut on back in April. It's still not 100%, but it is getting a little better each month. Street bike riding has not been an issue, but I am sure off road would still not be much fun.
Again, hope it all goes well for you and you are flying down the trails in AR soon.

I was in Conway AR last week for work and I am actually headed back there tomorrow for a short overnight trip. Can't wait for the colors to change.

[MacWildcat]

I'm sure I'll get down there somehow this fall. To really appreciate the versatility of a motorcycle, you need to drive a car over the roads to White Rock mountain. It took us 1 1/2 hours from Turners Bend one way. We were one week late for the fall color. When we got to the top of White Rock, the fog was so think you could only see 100 feet. Made the drive even more interesting. I would love to stay in one of the cabins for a weekend. Just spend some time decompressing, hiking, etc.

[Savage]

Glad you got it legal! Sorry my Hipo bud couldn't help you out.

[MacWildcat]

....for sale 48 old male. Very recently fused, plated and de-spurred. Modern medicine is crazy! Was eating solid food the evening after the surgery. Back home from surgery after only 24 hours. Bad news is that it might be six months before I'm cleared to ride a motorcycle again. Like the wifey says "You play, you pay.

[Hank Moody]

Ask your doctor if the gentle compression from off road riding will help to stimulate bone growth?

Seriously, I used to work for a spine surgeon and you will need every bit of 6 months for a soil fusion. Doing your exercises is the most important thing. So I would do them in front of your new KTM as motivation! Good luck with your rehab