60 mile loop...

[jsb223]

Did'nt get to ride Saturday, too much stuff to do around the house.

Decided to fight the wind Sunday...

Did a 60 mile loop, mostly paved, that included one short stretch of dirt
and took me by some short dirt hillls and trails...

First hills on the DRZ and first hills in about 25 years.

I had no problems but I did take it very easy...

I do have one question, there are miles and miles of hard packed gravel roads
around here and I fell like I'm driving on ICE all the time. I can only keep and pace of about 35-40.

Is this a decent pace on this type of road?

Will experience and confidence help pick up the pace as I get more miles under my belt?

BTW, the wind was near horrible...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/jsb357/routes/3-26-06_trip.jpg

[xrrider]

yeah,
first timers on dirt or after a layoff riding on the loose stuff we tend to hang on too tight. need to let the wheels search without too much input just enough to stay between the ditches. you'll get used to the bike moving beneath you.
A.C.

[waverider]

That all sound normal. What tire pressure were you runnning?

Don't worry about the rear end of the bike feeling loose, that is just part of being in the dirt. When in doubt, just twist the throttle and pin it and it will straighten back up.

Before long you will be slinging that bike around in the dirt like it is nothing.

[Photojojo]

It helps to stand up on the bike in the gravel sometimes. Tire pressure can make a big difference to, but you didn't really ride enough dirt to justify dropping it down much IMHO.

[Mudshark]

Did a 60 mile loop, mostly paved, that included one short stretch of dirt
and took me by some short dirt hillls and trails...
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v51/jsb357/routes/3-26-06_trip.jpg

Looks like a nice little ride... where is it, I don't recognize the area?

[jsb223]

Looks like a nice little ride... where is it, I don't recognize the area?

East of Waco...

[okpc]

What tires? If they're the stock tires ditch them, they're not called "deathwings" for nothing.
okpc

[Mudshark]

East of Waco...

Nice ride. One day when I stop adding stuff to my bike on the weekends...
I might get to ride it :rider:
This weekend I'll add a dual output stator with better lighting.
The weekend after that I'll see if Sleepy Weasel and me can set someting up.
around the Frisco / Denton / Lewisville area.

[jebus]

try more weight on the rear wheel. i just put 30 lbs. worth of panniers on my klr and it's like nite & day on gravel - rides like a dream, no walky-walky.