The BB off-road thread
Discussion
gazzarose said:
Gladly no, the conditions just getting into the car park looked bad enough there. It was the WTRA Snowrun up in Llandovery. It was supposed to have been 3rd Feb, but ironically it was cancelled due to snow, so it was this Sunday. Cracking day, but a bit of a baptism of fire have it as my first ever event, but good fun tho.
Eta posing picture
Yeah I saw lots of things on the facebook page where a number of people weren't happy, can't please everyone though!Eta posing picture
Nice work, how did you get on?
Good wheelie shot but looks a bit damp
Anyone local to Dorset fancy a bimble around at a track n trail next month?
http://www.trackntrail.co.uk/Tenko%20Freeride.htm
7th April, I've booked up as I haven't touched the KTM since the last one!
http://www.trackntrail.co.uk/Tenko%20Freeride.htm
7th April, I've booked up as I haven't touched the KTM since the last one!
MotorsportTom said:
Anyone local to Dorset fancy a bimble around at a track n trail next month?
http://www.trackntrail.co.uk/Tenko%20Freeride.htm
7th April, I've booked up as I haven't touched the KTM since the last one!
It’s a great event Tom, well worth doinghttp://www.trackntrail.co.uk/Tenko%20Freeride.htm
7th April, I've booked up as I haven't touched the KTM since the last one!
Me and my lad rode Butts quarry at the weekend(Derbyshire) and had a really good day out.Mixture of enduro and MX track,slightly moist in places and rocky in others.
Conclusion from the day though is dad(ie me) is an idiot for buying his inexperienced son a KTM 250F as his first bike.The reasoning behind this purchase is it's a four stroke so he can leave it in 2nd/3rd and just plod round the track without worrying to much about constantly changing gears.Big mistake.
It's to tall and to heavy and he struggles to pick it up on uneven ground.The puzzle I now have to solve is what to get him next.He's to big for an 85cc and not competent enough to handle the power band on a 125cc.
I've been looking at Honda's CRF 125F but they appear to be like hens teeth.
Any suggestions other than trail bikes??
Conclusion from the day though is dad(ie me) is an idiot for buying his inexperienced son a KTM 250F as his first bike.The reasoning behind this purchase is it's a four stroke so he can leave it in 2nd/3rd and just plod round the track without worrying to much about constantly changing gears.Big mistake.
It's to tall and to heavy and he struggles to pick it up on uneven ground.The puzzle I now have to solve is what to get him next.He's to big for an 85cc and not competent enough to handle the power band on a 125cc.
I've been looking at Honda's CRF 125F but they appear to be like hens teeth.
Any suggestions other than trail bikes??
We're off to Haggs Bank for March Moto Madness on Friday. Did some shakedown running on Sunday. Will be my Africa Twin, a 1290 and hopefully the 790 Adventure R. Should be good!
Pals did a wee vid from Sunday. https://youtu.be/4YsylOnud8c
Pals did a wee vid from Sunday. https://youtu.be/4YsylOnud8c
How much to short is he for the 250f? There are low seats available for them. Is it an SXf or EXCf? If its the SXf with linkage rear suspension you may be able to get a lowering kit for it, if its an EXCf you can have a spacer put in the rear shock to lower it.
Have you looked at big wheel 85s as well as small wheels? There a that little bit smaller than a 125 size. The 250f you have will be the same size as the equivalent 125 and no smaller than other 'full soze' bikes.
What year is the 250? I had a '10 EXC-f 250 on a carb and loved it, then on a whim I changed it for a 350f and that's even better, but if I could only have a 280f I'd be more than happy. Quick enough if you ring its neck but docile enough and low revs for gentle trail riding.
Have you looked at big wheel 85s as well as small wheels? There a that little bit smaller than a 125 size. The 250f you have will be the same size as the equivalent 125 and no smaller than other 'full soze' bikes.
What year is the 250? I had a '10 EXC-f 250 on a carb and loved it, then on a whim I changed it for a 350f and that's even better, but if I could only have a 280f I'd be more than happy. Quick enough if you ring its neck but docile enough and low revs for gentle trail riding.
Sunday 7 April. Bagshot Training ground.
http://aldermaston-nomads.org/?page_id=650
Anyone looking for a great day's entertainment.
Burger van, toilets...
http://aldermaston-nomads.org/?page_id=650
Anyone looking for a great day's entertainment.
Burger van, toilets...
gazzarose said:
How much to short is he for the 250f? There are low seats available for them. Is it an SXf or EXCf? If its the SXf with linkage rear suspension you may be able to get a lowering kit for it, if its an EXCf you can have a spacer put in the rear shock to lower it.
Have you looked at big wheel 85s as well as small wheels? There a that little bit smaller than a 125 size. The 250f you have will be the same size as the equivalent 125 and no smaller than other 'full soze' bikes.
What year is the 250? I had a '10 EXC-f 250 on a carb and loved it, then on a whim I changed it for a 350f and that's even better, but if I could only have a 280f I'd be more than happy. Quick enough if you ring its neck but docile enough and low revs for gentle trail riding.
it's not that he's too small for it (5'10")in theory,he just really can't throw his leg over it on uneven ground,I can't get my head round it and find it quite frustrating to watch.Have you looked at big wheel 85s as well as small wheels? There a that little bit smaller than a 125 size. The 250f you have will be the same size as the equivalent 125 and no smaller than other 'full soze' bikes.
What year is the 250? I had a '10 EXC-f 250 on a carb and loved it, then on a whim I changed it for a 350f and that's even better, but if I could only have a 280f I'd be more than happy. Quick enough if you ring its neck but docile enough and low revs for gentle trail riding.
It's also heavy for him to pick up as he's built like a whippet,still growing and not filled out yet.i gave him a go on mine on sunday(KTM 300 EXC) and to my surprise he handled it quite well and said he enjoyed riding it.I'd never let him on it before as I thought he would struggle with the power and sure enough a couple of laps later he nearly flipped it going up a hill and landed on his arse,glad I had the go-pro on.
I think my best bet is to get him to sit on an big wheeled 85 and a 125 and see how he feels,at least he'd be able to pick them up when he falls.
Expensive business this MX riding. 
Thanks for the reply gazzarose.
Hes taller than me and to be honest I struggle a bit with my 350 on uneven ground if I need to get on or paddle through off camber ruts but I've just bought a lower seat for it to try and see if that helps.
As for picking it up, there does seem to be a knack to it. I'm about 5'8 and 11 stone soaking wet, but after falling off nearly constantly for the last 3 years it has got easier to pick the bike up, it's about getting in the right positon and using your legs. There's plenty of videos on YouTube of petite girls lifting dirt bikes into the backs of pickups so it's doable.
Is the rear sag set correctly? My 350 was set too hard and it made a big difference having it a bit sofer, even dropping down 10mm! If say to persevere with the 250f. 85s are really peaky and not nice if your too tall for one so you end up sitting too far back, they spend all their time trying to do back flips. A 125 will be the same size as the 250f but maybe a couple of kg lighter.
As for picking it up, there does seem to be a knack to it. I'm about 5'8 and 11 stone soaking wet, but after falling off nearly constantly for the last 3 years it has got easier to pick the bike up, it's about getting in the right positon and using your legs. There's plenty of videos on YouTube of petite girls lifting dirt bikes into the backs of pickups so it's doable.
Is the rear sag set correctly? My 350 was set too hard and it made a big difference having it a bit sofer, even dropping down 10mm! If say to persevere with the 250f. 85s are really peaky and not nice if your too tall for one so you end up sitting too far back, they spend all their time trying to do back flips. A 125 will be the same size as the 250f but maybe a couple of kg lighter.
Gee68 said:
I need to look at his suspension as i've not touched it yet.He's only ridden it three times so I was kind of dodging it till I saw if he was keen or not.
Just had a text off him and he's looking at pit bikes now,kid's,drive you up the bloody wall.
Definitely fiddle with the suspension first! Just had a text off him and he's looking at pit bikes now,kid's,drive you up the bloody wall.
As gazza said, mine was also set up too hard and going back to factory settings on the front alone helped on my KTM. Couldn't be arsed pulling the shock out to re-set the preload but it wasn't a million miles away.
I'm 5ft 10 with short legs and can struggle sometimes too but it's noticeably easier with slightly softer suspension.
Andybow said:
It’s a great event Tom, well worth doing
Good to know Andy! Absolutely itching to ride the bike again. Hopefully I will have an MOT on it soon for a couple of green lanes as a couple of friends are making noises about finally getting around to using their recent purchases.
MotorsportTom said:
Not only am I booked in for the track n trail at Tenko a week sat but also going to have a gentle bimble around Cheddar MX track tomorrow with a mate from work.
Not sure if it's anyone's cup of tea or how many locals there are but.... anyone else likely to head over?
We will be at Grantham moto 101 track sunday if anyones about,we're easy to spot,two KTM's at the back of the novice group.
Gee68 said:
Bit of a trek for me i'm afraid.
We will be at Grantham moto 101 track sunday if anyones about,we're easy to spot,two KTM's at the back of the novice group.
No kidding! That's fecking miles away We will be at Grantham moto 101 track sunday if anyones about,we're easy to spot,two KTM's at the back of the novice group.
We have something in common... riding KTM's at the back end of the novice group
MotorsportTom said:
Anyone local to Dorset fancy a bimble around at a track n trail next month?
http://www.trackntrail.co.uk/Tenko%20Freeride.htm
7th April, I've booked up as I haven't touched the KTM since the last one!
I’m sailing in Spain until the 5th and potentially in Monaco from the 7th but if by some miracle I’m at home then I will definitely be keen. I’ve only ridden the WR once on the road since we went out in January and have been thinking of selling it so think I need to ride it to change my mind!http://www.trackntrail.co.uk/Tenko%20Freeride.htm
7th April, I've booked up as I haven't touched the KTM since the last one!
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