Motorcycling, Off roading and Green Laning

Hugh Jardon · 07 October 2005, 08:07

So is there anyone out there who wants to meet up to go green laning now the winter is drawing in. I use a DRZ 400 Enduro and a friend uses a DR350. We are not out and out professionals, just out to have a laugh and some fun on the mud. So if you are up for it then drop me a message. Now the wetter weather is coming we can get out on the mud.......is good to have sports and pasttimes for the different weathers

I do also have an XLR250 R that will be selling in the next month or so if anyone is interested as its a cheap way into off roading

cheers

chris

Jono Garton · 08 October 2005, 17:54

If you fancy a weekend in North Wales we have some great trails. I have a Honda XR 650 and my best mates rides a Xr 400.

Hugh Jardon · 08 October 2005, 21:10

Hi Jono

thanks for the invite that would be a lot of fun as I love wales both for the fab roads on the Tl 1000r and for the off roading.

i dont have a bike trailer yet but have been considering getting one so a trip to wales would be very possible then.

i observed a bike fitted to the back of a tow bar today which i think is vary precarious and i would never do that

will keep in touch as would love to take you up on your offer

cheers

chris

Jizm · 10 October 2005, 19:59

I'm up for some of that, I use a WR426 which I convert between motard and enduro as mood predicts. got a transit aswell so transport not a problem.

Jiz

calum mckenzie · 11 October 2005, 00:07

I would love to go out to play but it is a bit far to come down, I have a Honda CRF450X an amazing tool but it is quite hard to find places to go without hassel unless I decide to race or enduro it. And who would have expected that problem in Scotland unless someone here knows different.

Hugh Jardon · 16 October 2005, 16:01

Here are a couple of the babies

the KLX is in the garage under wraps currently

the XLR is for sale soon if anyone interested, is fab condition and runs perfect with 4k miles only

codprawn · 18 October 2005, 03:41

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/mid/4349544.stm

"A boy of 13 was among those caught by police in the Brecon Beacons targeting illegal motoring by off-road drivers.
Altogether more than 30 in vehicles, such as motorcycles and 4x4s, were stopped during the one-day campaign.
The teenager, who was with his father, was reported for driving offences and given an official warning."

Of course this nasty evil little juvenile deliquent should have been locked up - terrorising old people and where was his father when all this was happening???

codprawn · 18 October 2005, 03:43

Never mind - Fuhrer TONY will stop things like this with his ASBOs.........

John Kennett · 19 October 2005, 10:35

Actually I've been thinking about getting a bike. My youth wasn't as misspent as it might have been, and the nearest I have come was riding a Honda City Express with a pizza box on the back (those of you who have met me can imagine how ludicrous that looked!).

I occurred to me that for roughly the price of a basket-case Searider, or about half the cost of a medium sized outboard, you can buy a two wheeled rocket machine. It seems that even a slow bike will outpace a fast car 0-60, and run all weekend on a few quids worth of petrol.

Quite fancy a F650 Dakar (for the added option of a bit of off-road dabbling), but I suppose I ought to decide on a bike school first before I get too carried away

John

Jono · 19 October 2005, 10:40

Join here... spend yer money on one of them 650 "playthings" then yearn after a full-sized one.....

http://www.ukgser.com/forums/ or... pass yer test on one of them thar "direct access thingies" and come and borrow my DR to play in the mud... I need a laugh..

John Kennett · 19 October 2005, 10:54

What's a DR?

John

Mark Halliday · 19 October 2005, 10:56

I am sure you are all responsible types and understand about the types of unclassified roads, bridleways and footpaths, and which you can drive, ride and walk on.

Even so the following links may be of interest.

http://www.glass-uk.org/
http://www.byways.org.uk/
http://www.laragb.org/
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000037.htm
http://www.openaccess.gov.uk/S4/html...ccessLand.html
http://www.juracid.demon.co.uk/greenlanes/index.html

A few more at
http://www.hbro.co.uk/Greenlaning/Greenlanes.htm#lara

If you want more than just getting wet, get wet and muddy.

Jono · 19 October 2005, 11:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

What's a DR?

John

One of these... mine ain't so clean...seeing as some "Welsh Wannabbee" hooligan used to tear arse around the Llyn on it....

Hugh Jardon · 19 October 2005, 18:56

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Halliday

I am sure you are all responsible types and understand about the types of unclassified roads, bridleways and footpaths, and which you can drive, ride and walk on.

Even so the following links may be of interest.

http://www.glass-uk.org/
http://www.byways.org.uk/
http://www.laragb.org/
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000037.htm
http://www.openaccess.gov.uk/S4/html...ccessLand.html
http://www.juracid.demon.co.uk/greenlanes/index.html

A few more at
http://www.hbro.co.uk/Greenlaning/Greenlanes.htm#lara

If you want more than just getting wet, get wet and muddy.

some great links here

cheers

Hugh Jardon · 19 October 2005, 19:01

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Actually I've been thinking about getting a bike. My youth wasn't as misspent as it might have been, and the nearest I have come was riding a Honda City Express with a pizza box on the back (those of you who have met me can imagine how ludicrous that looked!).

I occurred to me that for roughly the price of a basket-case Searider, or about half the cost of a medium sized outboard, you can buy a two wheeled rocket machine. It seems that even a slow bike will outpace a fast car 0-60, and run all weekend on a few quids worth of petrol.

Quite fancy a F650 Dakar (for the added option of a bit of off-road dabbling), but I suppose I ought to decide on a bike school first before I get too carried away

John

ooooh careful what you get

if you fancy some off road i would get started with a reasonably light weight bike so you can practice and have fun in relative safety, if you go for a big onroad/off road traily bike it can be a lot of a pig in the rough.

my advice would be do your test, get a cheapish second hand good traily or enduro, go have fun and learn bike handling and sliding around on the mud etc

and if you can afford it get a road bike at some stage or a road orientated bike.

at least with an cheapy offroader you can drop it and learn and not do any real damage so to speak.

dont go for the old trailies with no suspension unless you are vertically challenged as they are not up to a good bashing really. go for something with a reasonable suspension and tyre setup.

xlr/klr are a good starter bike in the 250 range before you go for more horses

codprawn · 19 October 2005, 20:23

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mark Halliday

I am sure you are all responsible types and understand about the types of unclassified roads, bridleways and footpaths, and which you can drive, ride and walk on.

Even so the following links may be of interest.

http://www.glass-uk.org/
http://www.byways.org.uk/
http://www.laragb.org/
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2000/20000037.htm
http://www.openaccess.gov.uk/S4/html...ccessLand.html
http://www.juracid.demon.co.uk/greenlanes/index.html

A few more at
http://www.hbro.co.uk/Greenlaning/Greenlanes.htm#lara

If you want more than just getting wet, get wet and muddy.

The problem is they are rapidly closing more and more of the LEGAL routes - just pushing laws through with no opposition.

There is (was) a lovely track running through the Black Mountains above Brynamman. Really wild scenery - the track has been there since the Bronze age but lately is has all but vanished as nobody is allowed to drive on it anymore!!! Of course horses and carts used to use it - then came cars and 4x4s - now it's just sheep!!! Wonder if it is anything to do with the fact there are signs everywhere banning offroading - apparently you have to have PROOF it was used by motor vehicles since 1920!!!

John Kennett · 19 October 2005, 20:31

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

if you fancy some off road i would get started with a reasonably light weight bike so you can practice and have fun in relative safety, if you go for a big onroad/off road traily bike it can be a lot of a pig in the rough.

xlr/klr are a good starter bike in the 250 range before you go for more horses

I must admit I've always had a bit of a hankering for something in Mean Green!

Realistically though I'd probably spend more time on the motorway than in the dirt. I'm certainly not planning to audition for Kick Start any time soon.

My single most imortant criteria is probably the height of the bike. A KLR or KLX would certainly fit the bill, but I'm guessing that they're a bit more dirt orientated than I'd be looking for.

What other bikes should I be considering?

John

Hugh Jardon · 19 October 2005, 20:59

for the road my tlr is a good bet, here is a pic of it packed in the garage and one with my daughter taking it for a spin.

if you are new to biking i would suggest a trailie for the winter with not too severe tyres and then you can have fun and get the feel for it, but if you will do a lot of road work and rarely on the mud then perhaps consider a road bike, if you are tall however you will need to carefully consider which you go for, mine sits high and my friend is very tall and he has an R1.

for your first bike get an older one for around 1-1.5k 500 or less and get your skills in place before venturing up the cc scale would be my advice

if you are quite tall then a trailie with the suspension pumped up would be ideal, my friends Dr350 is a bit low

good bikes to consider are as follows

KLX
KLR
XLR
XR
Later DR
DRZ might be a bit much in E spec or maybe ok in S spec

Have owned all of above, would recommend a 250 to start with and then progress up once you have your bike handling skills sorted

i would steer clear of 2 strokes due to noise, some folks love em i hate em personally. I can go all sorts of places i shouldnt but i dont get moaned at much, on a 2t you will get more attention. i know the drz enduro is not quiet but mine has been quietenend down a bit more so i can creep around

however

on the road i have a full system of Yoshi RS3 oval carbon babies, they sound the dogs nuts, not much sounds better, TTS /PDQ has sorted it for me as well. Had the bike from new and nothing has tempted me away except the Aprilla racing but not prepared to splash that cash and then full system on top.!!!!!

John Kennett · 19 October 2005, 21:40

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hugh Jardon

for your first bike get an older one for around 1-1.5k 500 or less and get your skills in place before venturing up the cc scale would be my advice

Sounds sensible. Not sure Jono would approve though

Quote:

if you are quite tall then a trailie with the suspension pumped up would be ideal, my friends Dr350 is a bit low

I'm a bit more than quite tall. Unfeasibly tall would probably be nearer the mark! I'm pretty sure it's going to be a trailie/enduro style machine

Quote:

on the road i have a full system of Yoshi RS3 oval carbon babies, they sound the dogs nuts, not much sounds better, TTS /PDQ has sorted it for me as well. Had the bike from new and nothing has tempted me away except the Aprilla racing but not prepared to splash that cash and then full system on top.!!!!!

Sorry! Absolutely no idea what you're talking about. It's like a completely different language . . .

< Edit: Google tells me that it's an exhaust pipe. Will I get excited by this sort of thing if I get a bike?

>

John

Hugh Jardon · 19 October 2005, 22:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by John Kennett

Sounds sensible. Not sure Jono would approve though

I'm a bit more than quite tall. Unfeasibly tall would probably be nearer the mark! I'm pretty sure it's going to be a trailie/enduro style machineSorry! Absolutely no idea what you're talking about. It's like a completely different language . . .

< Edit: Google tells me that it's an exhaust pipe. Will I get excited by this sort of thing if I get a bike?

>

John

yep all £1500 of em, and if you were to hear em singing under speed then you would get excited, even the mrs gets excited but the kids get scared and the house vibrates, car alarms go off, but they are a safety feature in my mind if you like speed then nothing beats a decent bike........

http://www.jbracing.co.uk/yoshi.cfm

mine are oval carbons.

by the way is this a pic of you?

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...magesr&start=1

feel free to give me a call if you fancy any views or input