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ADV/DS ride Lake Berryessa/Knoxville OHV/Rayhouse Rd.

9/9 DS Ride

I'm in....I'll link up with you guys at my driveway on Knoxville Road again. Looking forward to it!
 
I won't make it. On-call again this weekend.

@ 103: I had K60s for the last ride. I think you'll like 'em. They're no knobbies, but they're a helluva lot better than pure street tires.
 
@ 103: I had K60s for the last ride. I think you'll like 'em. They're no knobbies, but they're a helluva lot better than pure street tires.

I ran Heidi K60 Scouts (a 50/50 tiye) all of this year: much better in the dirt than Pirelli Scorpion Trails (a 90/10 tyre), and surprising grip in the rain and leaned over in the twisties; but watch out for rain grooves and metal grates on bridges. Now I just run DOT knobbies like Kenda Trackmaster IIs (K270) or Dunlop D606s which are still comfortable in the rain and leaned over on dry slab.

My opinion is: it's easier to ride a bike set up for dirt on the slab, than riding a bike set up for the street on the dirt. BTW - my current set up on plated dirt bikes is a Trials (Pirelli MT43 DOT) rear and an intermediate knobby in front (Pirelli MT21 DOT). ADVrider thread on Best DOT Knobby: http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=587795

Heidenaus are Bias-Ply (not Radials) with really stiff sidewalls: An absolute beatch to spoon on with tire irons. 32-24psi for Heidenau K60 is about right for ADV bikes. The stiff sidewall (and Bias-ply) affects leaned over traction.

Heidenaus are unidirectional. But they last quite a long time: some claim 14,000 miles...Review: http://petriemotorsports.wordpress.com/2011/07/14/heidenau-k60-scout-tires-a-review-on-a-big-bike/

Note that the 140 rear thread pattern is different from the 150 rear. Fronts are the same. I would opt for the 140 pattern if possible. BTW - K60s are not the same as K60 Scouts.

Heidenaus use same thread pattern as MEFO but with a stiffer sidewall. Both come from the same factory. MEFO may be less expensive.

Got my set on sale from Chad and Karsten at ADVenture Designs

Note: 150 Rear has solid center thread (and sucked in the snow and mud):
100_9808__21212_zoom.JPG


other sizes (130 and 140) have broken center:
100_9804__89657_zoom.JPG
 
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I'm keeping an eye on the fires in the Capay Valley. Hwy16 is closed. That means no access to fuel after Cache Creek.
 
Greg - So should we plan for alternative refuel at Lower Lake (CA-29/CA-35) or is Cache Creek Casino still available as a refuel at the 80 mile range?

OMG a 7.92 fuel tank for the Triumph Tiger 800!
Triumph_Tiger_80_4ff27c669401d.jpg


I'm keeping an eye on the fires in the Capay Valley. Hwy16 is closed. That means no access to fuel after Cache Creek.
 
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Greg - So should we plan for alternative refuel at Lower Lake (CA-29/CA-35) or is Cache Creek Casino still available as a refuel at the 80 mile range?

If Hwy 16 is closed, going to Lower Lake via Morgan Vly Rd. works for me. But don't change anything on my account. There are always options. We can discuss this at the meetup spot on Sunday.
 
I'm keeping an eye on the fires in the Capay Valley. Hwy16 is closed. That means no access to fuel after Cache Creek.

Last I heard it was nearing 85% containment and expected to be 100% before the weekend.:party I don't think it will affect us.:teeth
 
Thanks for the info. I have a 120 and a 130 (both 17" because I started with a motard and later realized I'm interested in ADV riding). I'm still trying to figure out what pressure feels best though... The max load is around 600lbs at 41 PSI or so IIRC, and my bike fully loaded (with me on it too) is probably 450-475 lbs, or like 225 per tire (though it's probably not an even distribution of course, and changes as you ride, also, here I'm assuming that the max load rating is for each axle, not the whole vehicle). Do you have any tips on calculating or finding optimal tire pressure, or know of a good thread covering that?

Cameron - On the Bias-ply tyres on a light/mid-weight DS: 14-24psi. I would err on the lower pressure due to Bias-ply tyres having stiff sidewalls.

The 15>psi run on knobbies (DOT or not) assume you have rim locks. On my dirt bikes, I may air down as low as 10psi, and in soft sand air down to 8>psi. I've done fine at 15-18 psi on the street with DOT knobbies on the DR250, ATK 605, KTM450, KDX200, and Husaberg 470. All within your KLR250 unladen weight range.

I DO NOT recommend going below the 24psi on the heavy ADV bikes regardless of tyre or rim locks; you may bend your rims (even if wire spokes) on a hard impact.

Radials/Tubeless are a different story with more flexible sidewalls = higher pressures. but more grip on the pavement when leaned over.

How much pressure? Check the tyre manufacturer recommendation (different for each manufacturer and tyre model); and the Vehicle Operators Manual. Here's a link to the SBR Annual Tire Pressure Question: http://www.southbayriders.com/forums/showthread.php?t=54050

Tuning? Here's a good quick guide: http://www.procycle.us/info/guides/wheels-tires/tire-information-0211.html
 
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been wanting to do this and it's finally during a weekend I'm in town. :party see ya @ *$
 
This has been killing me for months. I want to join the club, but am having a tough time selling my ride. Patience...wooohsaaaahhhh....
 
Thanks for keeping me on the PM list. I'm working this Sunday, however October is looking pretty good.
 
:( Other projects demand my time this weekend, not sure if I'll be there, but If I'am, I'll just ride the slab section then rush back home.
 
From Caltrans website.
http://www.dot.ca.gov/cgi-bin/roads.cgi


Update road conditions.
This highway information is the latest reported as of Saturday, September 8, 2012 at 20:19 .
SR 16
[IN THE CENTRAL CALIFORNIA AREA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.

[IN THE NORTHERN CALIFORNIA AREA]
NO TRAFFIC RESTRICTIONS ARE REPORTED FOR THIS AREA.
 
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I was hoping to make this despite having a lot of prep work to do on the bike for an upcoming trip. Unfortunately I wasn't able to finish in time. I still need to finish changing my rear tire (breaking the bead on a 150 series Pirelli by hand is not fun...and by not fun I mean "ridiculously difficult and annoying"). I really need to buy a portable bead breaker. Anyway, if the ride is still on, enjoy and I'll be there next time.
 
breaking the bead on a 150 series Pirelli by hand is not fun...and by not fun I mean "ridiculously difficult and annoying"). I really need to buy a portable bead breaker. Anyway, if the ride is still on, enjoy and I'll be there next time.

Eldrick - Use your side kickstand! (assuming you have the centerstand)

[YOUTUBE]uzgHVjXZwoM[/YOUTUBE]​

Safety warning - use a tiedown to 'lock' your centerstand towards the front tire.
 
If you don't have a center stand; three tire irons is the way to go. Take little bites and go all the way around..

I think changing the tire often before it starts to stick to the rim is also a good idea. Don't let it sit on there for 6 months..

I want to go on this ride but I don't have anything worthy of riding in the dirt at the moment.. Next weekend I'll have the YZ450F. :teeth

C

Eldrick - Use your side kickstand! (assuming you have the centerstand)

[YOUTUBE]uzgHVjXZwoM[/YOUTUBE]​

Safety warning - use a tiedown to 'lock' your centerstand towards the front tire.
 
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