Caution: 10+ minutes of epic fail ahead. 
[video=youtube;hRi6dCcIiRY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRi6dCcIiRY[/video]
[video=youtube;hRi6dCcIiRY]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRi6dCcIiRY[/video]
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My frist attempt at off-roading a V-Strom DL650. :P
- Thread starter TekNinja81
- Start date
patw
Well-known member
http://www.cmts.org/
These guys can show you how to handle your bike off-road. You'd probably be doing a trail that smooth in 2nd gear, WoT
Tires make a huge difference, the V-Strom comes with really street oriented tires, I run Avon Gripsters on my dual sport (KLR-650) and I do some moderately hairy stuff: http://motorcycle.motorcycle-superstore.com/motorcycle/Avon Gripsters
Just some stuff:
- For the hills, you're in it to win it... Scooch up as far as you can to the tank, lean forward and hit the gas.
- Your suspension is pretty decent on that bike, those bumps are features, hit them faster
- Don't try to back down a hill by duck walking. You were very close to a tipover. If you're totally hosed, get off the bike and walk it down by leaning it up against you. Keep it in gear, and just let out the clutch when you want to move.
- Speaking of tipover: They will happen, a lot. After a few months of doing it, I just recently started going off-road and not falling every time. They tell me that means I'm going too slow and have to wipe out at speed now
- Scratches: They also happen, a lot. You have to decide if that's what you want to do to your bike. With KLR, it was easy decision, they're fugly from the factory, and mine is old. The V-Strom looks new and has nice paint and plastics and such. Much harder decision.
If it makes you feel better, he's my 2.5 minutes of failure:
http://www.youtube.com/behohippy#p/u/1/mqgvxI9FayY
These guys can show you how to handle your bike off-road. You'd probably be doing a trail that smooth in 2nd gear, WoT
Tires make a huge difference, the V-Strom comes with really street oriented tires, I run Avon Gripsters on my dual sport (KLR-650) and I do some moderately hairy stuff: http://motorcycle.motorcycle-superstore.com/motorcycle/Avon Gripsters
Just some stuff:
- For the hills, you're in it to win it... Scooch up as far as you can to the tank, lean forward and hit the gas.
- Your suspension is pretty decent on that bike, those bumps are features, hit them faster
- Don't try to back down a hill by duck walking. You were very close to a tipover. If you're totally hosed, get off the bike and walk it down by leaning it up against you. Keep it in gear, and just let out the clutch when you want to move.
- Speaking of tipover: They will happen, a lot. After a few months of doing it, I just recently started going off-road and not falling every time. They tell me that means I'm going too slow and have to wipe out at speed now
- Scratches: They also happen, a lot. You have to decide if that's what you want to do to your bike. With KLR, it was easy decision, they're fugly from the factory, and mine is old. The V-Strom looks new and has nice paint and plastics and such. Much harder decision.
If it makes you feel better, he's my 2.5 minutes of failure:
http://www.youtube.com/behohippy#p/u/1/mqgvxI9FayY
Haha, yeah, I felt bad riding the clutch so much there, but I wasn't sure how the rear wheel was going to react in the dirt/sand. Hard to tell from the video, but especially when I got myself wedged sideways across the trail, the wheel was spinning and fishtailing/slipping around -- had my feet out just to help try to control that. Definitely need more practice, and perhaps in a less restrictive space.
Tires make a huge difference, the V-Strom comes with really street oriented tires, I run Avon Gripsters on my dual sport (KLR-650) and I do some moderately hairy stuff: http://motorcycle.motorcycle-superstore.com/motorcycle/Avon Gripsters
- Your suspension is pretty decent on that bike, those bumps are features, hit them faster
If it makes you feel better, he's my 2.5 minutes of failure:
Aye, I've currently got the Metzler Tourance EXP's on the Wee, and they definitely aren't ideal for that kind of trail. That said, they handled surprisingly well considering my total lack of experience riding in such conditions. I've done some gravel/dirt roads before on the Ninjas, so that helps I suppose. I want to get some knobby tires next season when I've got more road time with the Wee, although I probably should have just started off with them seeing as I'm already trying the fun roads..
Nice vid btw.|
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