New toy = bike #6

[Testarossa]

Someone told me I'm too old to learn to ride a dirt bike, so this:  1983 Honda XR350R, sun-bleached but in fine mechanical shape.

[wirespokes]

That'll show em!

[oldbike54]

 Another board member , albeit one much younger than most of us dinosaurs , also just purchased his first dirt bike , very similar to that . Have fun , riding in the dirt is the best way to become a better motorcycle rider .

 Dusty

[zebraranger]

I use to have one, fun bike for the trails.

[tazio]

Mine was a 1985 XR350R.
Wonderful bike!

[giusto]

"Have fun , riding in the dirt is the best way to become a better motorcycle rider"

 Dusty
[/quote]


Amen to that Dusty!! I started on a little 1972 Honda SL 70 and I learned to make that thing just about flip...I'm sure that gave me my bike legs and balance. I loved that bike and rode it everywhere

[twowheeladdict]

 

[lucian]

  Dirt riding is a blast,  unfortunately here in southern Maine all of the trails and pits we used to ride are being gobbled up by developers. We now have to load em on a truck and travel to the outskirts.It's getting harder to find places to ring them out. I sold an RM several years ago for this reason as it became an all day event to take a ride. Great fun and miss it. 
 One things for sure , If you don't feel old yet, you will shortly.
 
  Ride sane and stay intact. 

[Penderic]

 

Heres my tiny toy car I that picked up on Tuesday:



  I've just gone from driving a big diesel big pickup, as my daily driver for 14 years, to this light weight, 200 hp+ pocket rocket! 3 days later and I am still trying to adapt to the size and power differences.

Just like the first time you switch bike types - takes a bit of practice to overcome your muscle memories of years of practice. I should take my little baby Ferrari to a speed track nearby and get some lessons from a pro. I want to be able to handle surprises when driving near the limits.

Its got three optional power modes in addition to the stock "Sport" mode, and I am scared to switch the power mode! I left it in its lowest econony setting and non- sport mode.
The first few times I tried a bit of throttle above 3500 rpm and had the turbo boost kick - yikes! Rocket ignition and blast off - good thing it handles like it is glued to the road. I am not used to throwing 4 wheels around like a big go kart! Yet! I am on a small rural island with hilly curvy roads, lots of wildlife like deer and the, ahem, legal speed is only 30 mph. That is a sane speed for here. I will run out of straight road by the time I get into third gear but it is giggle inducing fun launching this car up the many steep hills and carving around the many curves. Going to be a blast this summer!

And I couldn't believe how cheap these used Fiat 500's are! The used hi-performance ones, like the Abarth model, are on the market going from $7500 to $10000 US. Cheap. Tons of accessories. Factory Mopar race parts available through the dealers. There are fan clubs that like to go on organized rallies and rides (like the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Dragon and whats the other one? Snake something? Forgot. But there are lots here on some new roads through the mountains on Vancouver Island ... my backyard sorta. Gonna tinker with it, and buy and adjust stuff on it, learn more about it from the user base ... thats part of the fun..... getting the one new toy can evolve into a new hobby with new social connections.


Don't get stuck in a rut. Get a new hobby. Join a club! 


Road testing video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=moy2pxmqu0c 

  Penderic

[Roebling3]

The SO has one. She is very hard on cars of any size - in many ways. Still it has nearly 100K and it's all original excepting 2 front wheels and 3 barely worn tires. Beware of your minimum ground clearance and the limited space betwixt rims and tread. :)  R3~ 

[Testarossa]

So far I've learned that the bike is TALL. Tippy-toe on one side only to the ground, which means I have to kick-start before mounting up and will have to get comfortable releasing the clutch slowly and swinging aboard while rolling. The compression release is cool -- makes the bump start smooth and easy if I have a downhill run to work with.

Will try to take a couple of inches off the seat height by trimming the seat foam and softening the preload (can clean the air filter in the process).  I've already raised the fork tubes an inch. Can't expect to dab so I'm going to have to learn to balance well at really low speeds.

This takes me back to being eight years old and learning to ride my 16-inch balloon-tire bicycle. 

[giusto]

hey Penderic

can you send along that Guzzi photo....I amazed first time I've seen that one.....pm email it to me so I can pull it out

Thank much!!


Giusto

[Testarossa]

I cut the seat-foam down about an inch-and-a-half (made it narrower, too), and cranked most of the preload out of the shock/spring unit -- about 3/4-inch worth. I don't understand the Pro-Link geometry well enough to predict what that should do at the end of the 21-inch swing arm, but I can now put both feet on the floor. New problem of course is that the sidestand is now a bit too long. It works but barely. I'll have to cut it and weld the foot back on, or always stop with the sidestand in a hole.

[Testarossa]

The weather cleared and I made my first 20-mile loop into the National Forest trails, following a neighbor on his KTM 450.  This bike is way more capable than I am and handled a several stream crossings, over some sizeable rocks and through a long muddy ditch without throwing me. With the lower saddle, I've learned to mount and dismount safely, if not with grace.

Teething problems: It wouldn't start on Friday. It took a couple of hours to figure out that the kill switch had frozen in grounded position. Threw it away and was back in business. Need to clean and lube all the control cables.