Ride Report 11/26/06 Probing South...

[Thunderchild]

I've been registered here for awhile but I've just been lurking most of the time. I really enjoy seeing everyones ride reports, so I figured I'd post one too.

Took a fairly long ride Sunday since the weatherman said it's going to get nasty by next weekend. Freezing rain and blowing wind. Oh, the fun!

The ride totaled 141 miles by the GPS and 151 by the tripmeter on the KLX. Hmm... wonder which one is right?

I traveled from my home county of Wichita south through Archer and into Young County. I laid my route out using Google map and USA Photomaps, a freeware Topo map program. I would say less then 10% of the roads were paved. No way to avoid the paved roads when getting near a town.

The weather was hazy and cloudy with a temp. around 60-65 degrees and a wind out of the South around 20-30 MPH. I got beat to death by the wind going South, but it was a free ride coming back North. [:D]


Left the house around 9:00am after several cups of joe. Ready to ride!

Out of town and on the road to Archer City. County Seat of Archer County.
http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/bike_1.jpg


Welcome to the metropolis of Archer City, Texas. Notice the ribbon on the sign. The wind was wicked!

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/archer_sign-1.jpg

Archer County Courthouse.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/archer_ct_house.jpg



The Royal Theater. A local historical group spent a lot of time and money bringing this old theater back to life.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/royal.jpg


Noticed that I had lost my taillight when I stopped to get some gas. Turns out the filament burned out. No biggie. Just got a new #1157 while I was paying for the gas. Off on the 2nd leg of the trip, to Graham, Texas. Young County Seat.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/gas_1.jpg



I had about a 10 mile stretch of nothing but straight road headed due South. Boring as heck, but made some good time. Have I mentioned the wind yet?

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/long_road_south-1.jpg


Some of the local geology.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/rocks.jpg


A change in terrain the further I get South.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/farmhouse.jpg



An abandon rock house in Young County. Lot's of old houses around this area are made with the native sandstone rocks.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/rock_house.jpg


The road the rock house was on. This is all you get in Texas for Fall colors. [:)]

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/wood_bridge.jpg


Getting close to Graham. Ran out of dirt road options and had to pick up the pavement for the last 5 miles or so.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/redtop_road.jpg

Red Top Cemetery on Red Top Road.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/red_top_cem.jpg


Got into Graham and topped off the tank and had some water. Have I mentioned the wind yet?

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/gas_2.jpg

The K & N root beer stand in Graham. A semi-famous Texas landmark.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/root_beer.jpg


Graham High School, the only high school in Graham. Both my wife and my dad went graduated from GHS. (Although many years apart) [;)]

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/ghs.jpg


Young County Courthouse in Graham. The town has a very nice town square. Real Mayberry kind of place.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/young_ct_house.jpg


On the way back home somewhere between Nowhere and BFE.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/xroads.jpg


Field Expedient Repair on the GPS. The GPS III model is known for having a battery door that starts to stay open after some time. Well that time was today with mine. The unit keep going on and off in the most irritating manner. I'm lucky I had my whole tool kit with me. A dime was too skinny and a nickel was too thick, but two pennies was just right to keep the door closed.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/pennies.jpg


Action shots!

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/side_1.jpg

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/me.jpg


Back to Archer City and I've seem to have found the local High School hangout area on the edge of town.


http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/graff_2.jpg

All in all a fantastic ride! I'm glad I got at least one more in before the weather gets bad. The KLX is a fantastic bike for this kind of ride.

A final picture of the GPS trip meter at the end of the trip.

http://i142.photobucket.com/albums/r100/willum556/gps.jpg

The bike is washed, the chain lubed, and the ride report posted. Time for tacos and beer!

[thumper]

Nice write-up and pics:clap: Cool bike:rider:

[punk_emo_tx]

Great ride report.

Geez how good is your next one gonna be!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I like that Action shot.

I also like the reality of the graffiti but I think one of those pictures might get pulled.

[XR650Rocketman]

Nice report and pics Willum.....Thanks for sharing!!!

I did delete the one graffiti pic....The report didn't suffer one little bit though.

Good job.

Steve

[Thunderchild]

Oops! Sorry about the picture. I guess I should have blurred some of that graffiti out. :doh:

[Greasemonkey]

Now for something completely different.What do you think about your bike.Been kinda looking them over.Seats a little tall right?

[Hemibee]

Nice report. Enjoyed and looking forward to the next one.

[Thunderchild]

Now for something completely different.What do you think about your bike.Been kinda looking them over.Seats a little tall right?

It's not a bad little bike as long as you weigh under 190 or so. Makes very little power in stock trim, but doing the free mods (desmog, rejet, maybe a new pipe or drill the exhaust baffle) really opens it up. Also went to a 13T countersprocket instead of the stock 14T. A pumper carb is becoming a popular mod for the KLX250S. It comes stock with a CV.

The stock tank is real small, 1.9 gallons. That's about a 100 mile range or so if you're really getting on the gas.

I'm 6' even and I can put both feet on the ground without having to shift on the seat. If I was any shorter, it would be a problem. I know that Kouba makes some lowering links for the KLX.

[dbdolan]

Nice report, I love this time of year.

[MaxxTraxx]

i think I know what they are, but what mirrors are you using and do you like them? Feel safe riding in moderate to heavy traffic with them?

[XR650Rocketman]

i think I know what they are, but what mirrors are you using and do you like them? Feel safe riding in moderate to heavy traffic with them?

Those mirrors are from www.dualstar.com and they are really great as long as you are not much overweight....We usually mount them lower and look under your armpits with them.....they work well and are always out of the way....Many of us use them on D/S bikes now.

Steve

[Thunderchild]

Pretty much what Steve said. The wider in girth you are, the harder time you'll have seeing what's behind you.

I can't see directly behind me with the mirrors. I always turn my head around enough to see my taillight before I change lanes, etc so that's not a big deal. The only time I feel a bit nervous is when I'm making a left turn and trying to keep up with what's coming up behind me.

The left mirror gets a bit of buzz above 65mph or so. I just lay my thumb on it to dampen it some if I need a clear look. They are sure nice and unobtrusive for dirt riding though. That's where I spend most of my time.