Dual Sport rides...

[Semper Gumby]

...I havn't been riding too much this summer other than to and from work on the R65 but....

...I did do a Dual Sport ride on the 1969 BSA Firebird last week with my friend Chris Racette and his BMW 1200GS.  In north Georgia we road to Helton Creek Falls and then farther east to FS283 to FS79.  Some of these roads were more rocks than dirt and gravel.  Chris camped while I stopped of to see my son at camp in Tocca GA with my wife.  Since it was too late to drive back to Atlanta we ended up spending the night in Cornelia GA.  Here are some pics..

Water crossing east of Helton Creek Falls -  I did about 5 or 6 crossings this day one of which was quite muddy.  No spills which is good as I am new at this dual sport thing.



Picture of the Forest Service Map showing the route FS283 to FS79.  We travelled from the upper left hand corner to the lower right.  Of the map at the bottom is Helen GA.



As I was saying I spent the night in a hotel with my wife...and the Firebird.  The bike got moved indoors after a couple of locals and a pickup truck, who were talking about robbing a bank and not getting caught, took an unholy interest in the Firebird...and no I didn't get any oil on the carpet!



Hope y'all are having a fun summer.  

TTFN,

[montmil]

Hey, Bill... Was probably your wife watching cartoons on the motel room television, right?  

And you're not the first guy to sneak his scooter into a motel room.
 Â      "Coy, How did you get that Harley up to your room?" -Ray Stevens

Monte

[Semper Gumby]

Naw it's just what came on...Power Puff Girls I think...

Ground floor room...I just walked the bars through the door!

 

[nhmaf]

Wow - I know that I'd cringe at the thought of riding such a nice looking Beeza through the water and mud like that!     That's what those BMW GS bikes are for !

I kinda liken looking at many of the BMW GS bikes folks bring to the rallies that are so pristine, you KNOW that they have never seen even a fire road in their lives, but the owners just gotta have "the look"... sorta like some Hummer owners who never taken their chrome plated Hummers off the pavement!

The GS challenge at the rally this year was pretty good.   One of the best riders in the competition rode an old style airhead R100GS, compared to the newfangled R1200/R1150GS bikes there, he didn't have as much torque, but he had a much lighter bike, and he rode that same bike from CA.

[msbuck]

Hey Mike,

What was the GS challenge all about at the rally?  I met the guy that headed up the GS course and training there at the MOA National...amazing!

[Bengt_Phorqs]

Has anyone modified an R65 to be an effective dual sport machine?  I know that when I bought my first R65 15 years or so back Perry's in Ft Worth would modify them for use on his Mexico tours but I never saw one.

[Rob Valdez 79 R65]

Has anyone modified an R65 to be an effective dual sport machine?  

I never got around to modifying it, but...




And that is with low bars.  you have to want it bad.

[Motu]

I used my dual sport bikes mainly for gravel roads - so I built my R65 Streettracker with the aim of being excellent in gravel.I've just made a 2 into 1 out the left side with a Supertrapp.

[Semper Gumby]

Motu-  Love the Dunlop K70's on that Mono.  It looks mean.  

Every now and then I get a wild hare and start looking at R100GS Bumblebee front ends.  They keep going for big bucks though....  Looks like about a grand to convert the front of the R65 to one.  At least then I could get a real dual sport tire on the front of the R65.

Right now my only option looks like two Bridgestone TW-302 rear tires: 4.60-18 on the rear and a 4.10-18 on the front.  <sigh>

[Motu]

Out yesterday in the last official days of winter (spring starts tomorrow).I hooked up with some dualsport riders,but split off and went my own way as usual.On some really nice back roads,seal and gravel - this road has been prepped for the forthcoming NZ Rally,it's normally used for the WRC round,but NZ has been dropped this year.That's a long stretch of straight road around here....

Just love the K70's for this sort of stuff,and am much more confident on the hard tight twisties too....the skinny stock front feels nervous to me.

[Semper Gumby]

+1 on the larger front tire Motu.  I have a 110/90H18 Macadam on the front which is of comparible size to your 4.00H18 K70.  It really makes the difference for me and my heavily loaded down bike.  I am not surprised that it also works for you on hte gravel roads.  The K70, though much maligned, work really well on the BSA's.  Something about that taller profile and the narrow rim design....

Here in Georgia I would never leave my helmet in the grass  --  I would be too afraid of Chiggers (little red nasties).

http://ohioline.osu.edu/hyg-fact/2000/2100.html



About the size of the tip of a pencil....

[Motu]

The only dangerous creatures in New Zealand have 2 legs.

I had to go to the city today,so changed over to my road wheels.Back to back comparison is interesting - the bike is much more flickable with the fat K70 on the front.I ride it on the front wheel,it has tremendous grip,I just turn and the rest of the bike follows.The 90/90 front tyre feels nervous,and I am running wide on exits - using the same style on the same bike,my riding is messy and it takes more effort to consistently do good lines.I don't have to think with the streettracker tyres,point and shoot...I am much more confient with them.

[Semper Gumby]

+1 on the 90/90 front tire nervous handling....not my cup of tea.

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