Adventure in Ohio?

[blackdiamondmike]

Originally Posted by indypup

Hey Luke, you ever heard of Dayton Dirt Riders Club? It's south of Dayton in Moraine. They have 40 acres and I think they just charge a yearly membership fee for riding there. I emailed them but was wondering if you or anyone else that lives close to us have heard about them.

I've ridden there a number of times. It is extremely challenging and like Luke said is full of rocks and roots. Lots of hills and extremeley slick mud and leaves all over the place. When you have a membership, you get a sticker and the combination to a gate and can come and go as you please. I think it was about $130 a year. The good news is that if you go there often and practice, Southeast Ohio enduro courses would be cake. I quit going because I got tired of picking up my WRR every 100 yards and once thought I would have to abandon my bike in a ravine. -Mike

[sion]

Originally Posted by cannonrider

Off 800&22 Smyrna Ohio

Skull Fork...not one of the ones I have yet, but on my list...thanks



meanwhile, Steve (BigOhio) and I got out yesterday for about 75 miles or so...was a nice day and Steve wanted to test out his sore shoulder...so we went tear-assing around the Hocking Hills for a while, then stopped at the Millstone for a beer. As I was just about home, maybe half a mile away, I started hearing a fairly loud clattering from the engine on my Sabre...got home to find my left foot and shin and the left side of the bike covered in oil. It was almost dark, and dinner time, so I just put the bike in the garage and decided to wait until today to look at it.

when I got home from work today, this is what I found:



which explains both the oil and the noise (if I'm reading the schematic correctly, thats the valve rocker arm shaft). I put it back in and tightened it up, and refilling the oil, started the bike and all seems to be well....no untoward noises noticed as of yet. Lucky for me, the frame tube kept it from falling out completely. There are 8 of these on the bike, but only this one and the same one on the other side wouldnt fall out and be lost. Anyway, I checked all the others for tightness, and am now going out for a test ride.

[invisible monster]

Good times at Wayne today! Thanks to Craig for leading the group.

It was not nearly as busy as I thought it might be given the nice weather and free entry.

My 690 worked well until I started to get tired. Then I began making mistakes and inevitably went down a few times. Tweaked my ankle on the last one. Decided I better call it a day before I did some real damage.

I'm kicked back on the couch now with a beer.

Looking forward to some pictures!

['Flagger]

Originally Posted by invisible monster

Good times at Wayne today! Thanks to Craig for leading the group.

It was not nearly as busy as I thought it might be given the nice weather and free entry.

My 690 worked well until I started to get tired. Then I began making mistakes and inevitably went down a few times. Tweaked my ankle on the last one. Decided I better call it a day before I did some real damage.

I'm kicked back on the couch now with a beer.

Looking forward to some pictures!

Indeed.

Thanx to all for letting my mini-panzer tag along.

Had a good ride home 78/555/669.

[Benly]

Originally Posted by invisible monster

Good times at Wayne today! Thanks to Craig for leading the group.

It was not nearly as busy as I thought it might be given the nice weather and free entry.

My 690 worked well until I started to get tired. Then I began making mistakes and inevitably went down a few times. Tweaked my ankle on the last one. Decided I better call it a day before I did some real damage.

I'm kicked back on the couch now with a beer.

Looking forward to some pictures!

It was good meeting everyone today. Good day to test out the new bike and the old shoulder. Thanks to everyone for continuing to wait for me to catch up so I would not miss a turn, especially Byron.

[swingset]

Originally Posted by 'Flagger

Indeed.

Thanx to all for letting my mini-panzer tag along.

Had a good ride home 78/555/669.

You win the hardcore big bike prize, well done muscling the 800 on those trails.

I had a great time, trails were perfect and it was fun to blast along and hit some air...I think I was off the ground more than on it. My butt isn't sore from sitting it's sore from getting slapped by the seat so much.

Casualties are my cool home-made skid plate, which took a big hit I think on a rock ledge, I heard something pop and sure enough the plate is in two pieces now...but it did it's job cause there's no damage to anything. $11 well spent.

And my water pump seal is leaking again...worked for a couple hundred miles, but today it was puking after we came to a stop. The shaft was a little notchy when I changed it, and I didn't pull the head to fix it figured I might get lucky and it would work but no dice. Looks like I'll have to tear into that this winter.

[BigOhio]

Originally Posted by invisible monster

Good times at Wayne today! Thanks to Craig for leading the group.

It was not nearly as busy as I thought it might be given the nice weather and free entry.

My 690 worked well until I started to get tired. Then I began making mistakes and inevitably went down a few times. Tweaked my ankle on the last one. Decided I better call it a day before I did some real damage.

I'm kicked back on the couch now with a beer.

Looking forward to some pictures!

Yep thanks guys, had a great time and the shoulder/arm held up better than expected. Also, watching you on the 690 brought back no-so-fond memories and made me remember why I have a 450 now. Not nearly as much fun getting to the riding, but that thing would wear my butt out on the trails. Now if I could just find a good F800GS or KTM950 Super Enduro...

['Flagger]

Originally Posted by BigOhio

... Now if I could just find a good F800GS ..

[BigOhio]

Originally Posted by sion

Skull Fork...not one of the ones I have yet, but on my list...thanks



meanwhile, Steve (BigOhio) and I got out yesterday for about 75 miles or so...was a nice day and Steve wanted to test out his sore shoulder...so we went tear-assing around the Hocking Hills for a while, then stopped at the Millstone for a beer. As I was just about home, maybe half a mile away, I started hearing a fairly loud clattering from the engine on my Sabre...got home to find my left foot and shin and the left side of the bike covered in oil. It was almost dark, and dinner time, so I just put the bike in the garage and decided to wait until today to look at it.

when I got home from work today, this is what I found:



which explains both the oil and the noise (if I'm reading the schematic correctly, thats the valve rocker arm shaft). I put it back in and tightened it up, and refilling the oil, started the bike and all seems to be well....no untoward noises noticed as of yet. Lucky for me, the frame tube kept it from falling out completely. There are 8 of these on the bike, but only this one and the same one on the other side wouldnt fall out and be lost. Anyway, I checked all the others for tightness, and am now going out for a test ride.

Doesn't sound that bad, figured you blew it up trying to keep up with me coming up Revenge Road...

[BigOhio]

Originally Posted by 'Flagger

I know, I know. Looking for a cream puff, but if you still have it in a month or so let's talk...

[EJV]

I enjoyed the weather today. No pictures, except the screenshot.
I chickened out on the "middle" of Stone Quarry Rd. The leaves were pretty slick (with street tires).
I randomly hit a few dirt roads. Chased (passed) a few Harleys. Quite a few Harley types and Amish Buggies out today.



The leaves made me chicken out. Sigh.

[invisible monster]

Originally Posted by BigOhio

, watching you on the 690 brought back no-so-fond memories and made me remember why I have a 450 now. Not nearly as much fun getting to the riding, but that thing would wear my butt out on the trails.

Today was an experiment for me. I wanted to see how the 690 would be on the trail. I figured Wayne would be a good place since the trails are wider and more flowing. Also, I had just ridden my 250f at Wayne a few weeks ago and I would have that as a comparison.

You are right, it wore me out. Not surprisingly it wore me out way faster than the 250. The 690 is heavier and has so much more power. It also has a very limited turning radius. This is the one that bit me on the last get off before I headed home.

So the experiment taught me what the bike is capable of, which is quite a bit to be honest. However, I think I will continue to use the 690 for gravel road exploration duty and my 250f for trail riding.

[sion]

Originally Posted by BigOhio

Doesn't sound that bad, figured you blew it up trying to keep up with me coming up Revenge Road...

you were definitely getting after it.. I was able to catch up a couple times only cause you got stuck behind a cage...the Sabre's suspension just cant handle those roads (especially Clearcreek) at the same speed your GS can

[vivid dadas]

Sion,

That bridge is actually on "Covered Bridge Road," it's the one I told you about between my house and Crow. If we get a nice day and you come up we can get 3 or 4 bridges pretty easy.

[Mikef5000]

Holy fricken wow I had a blast at Wayne today! Swingset, great ride and great pace! Like you, I was airborne constantly. The place is much easier to navigate than perry; I might consider a pass next year for my Thursdays off.