Trails Newbie - Getting into greenlaning, help!
Discussion
Evening all,
So one of many itches to scratch is to try a bit of greenlaning and I've decided that this year I'll give it a go. I've been riding on the road for around 6 years, currently own a 5vy Yamaha R1. Never ridden off road before.
So anyway to commit myself to getting on with it I've bought myself a dual sport helmet (Shark Explore-R) but that's about as far as I've got. I'm going to need new boots presumably (recommendations please!), but what about jacket/trousers? I have an Alpinestars Andes Drystar textile suit, will this do, or is there something more 'off-roady'?
Bike wise I've been looking at the Honda CRF250L as I want something lightweight, and you can pick them up a couple of years old for around 3k. This would be my max budget, open to any other suggestions. Don't fancy a 125! I envisage keeping this for 2-3 years then maybe look at some of the adventure touring range (ala Africa Twin) for a longer trip somewhere south.
Finally, is the TRF the organisation to join for group ride outs etc? Not really got any local mates who do this so would be on my own for the most part.
Really, any tips advice etc would be much appreciated!
Cheers!
tldr; new to greenlaning. what kit do I get, what bike do I get, where do I go for rideouts?
So one of many itches to scratch is to try a bit of greenlaning and I've decided that this year I'll give it a go. I've been riding on the road for around 6 years, currently own a 5vy Yamaha R1. Never ridden off road before.
So anyway to commit myself to getting on with it I've bought myself a dual sport helmet (Shark Explore-R) but that's about as far as I've got. I'm going to need new boots presumably (recommendations please!), but what about jacket/trousers? I have an Alpinestars Andes Drystar textile suit, will this do, or is there something more 'off-roady'?
Bike wise I've been looking at the Honda CRF250L as I want something lightweight, and you can pick them up a couple of years old for around 3k. This would be my max budget, open to any other suggestions. Don't fancy a 125! I envisage keeping this for 2-3 years then maybe look at some of the adventure touring range (ala Africa Twin) for a longer trip somewhere south.
Finally, is the TRF the organisation to join for group ride outs etc? Not really got any local mates who do this so would be on my own for the most part.
Really, any tips advice etc would be much appreciated!
Cheers!
tldr; new to greenlaning. what kit do I get, what bike do I get, where do I go for rideouts?
Fleegle said:
keirik said:
TRF is made up of 50% really nice people and 50% of people with huge issues and chips on their shoulder.
Prior to joining the TRF, I thought it was made up of miserable old farts who went only marginally faster than miserable old ramblers. Fortunately I was proved wrong and pleased to say that the Surrey mob warmly welcome new members and are very active in having regular runs at all levelsAs for the crashing, suppose I better get used to it!!
Charger500 said:
I've been doing loads of Green Laning over last few years... I prefer Enduro but I had some midweek time on my hands and found getting out for a blat on the lanes was good fun... sometimes frustrating but generally OK.
Getting involved with your local TRF group will be the best way to go... go on a few rides with them and you'll either love riding with them or hate it. either way you'll usually find a splinter group that do TRF rides and do private stuff too. I hate riding with the TRF but was lucky I had a mate locally that was very social and he use to do loads of rides with local TRF, he would get information on routes and then I would ride with just him. I always disliked riding with groups, and whilst the majority of TRF people I came across were OK like any group you're gona find the odd muppet that can spoil your day.
TRF, you will get good advice, you will get organised rides, you will get information on routes and an understanding of how the by ways laws operate and some groups do riding skill courses.
The TRF is a funny organisation, the regional groups are usually pretty good, however the umbrella organisation quite often has lots of in fighting and over bearing control from the directors but to be fair they do a great job at fighting for the rights of ways etc. and are generally steering the organisation in the right direction.
I'd highly recommend getting a GPS, some people use phones etc. but I found a Garmin 600 GPS with a powered mount the best tool. This is the most common GPS used and will give you the ability to track routes for your own use at a later date, you'll also find lots of people to trade .gpx files with and the Garmin makes that pretty easy.
Kit, like everything buy the best you can afford, and keep an open mind that you may get more into it than you thought... everyone I introduced to Green laning ended up doing Enduro's within a year, so I'd buy kit accordingly... I'd ride in full Enduro/MX gear for Green Lanes, some of the Green lanes I rode were has difficult as an Enduro race
Here's what I would wear for a Green lane ride, there are obviously cheaper (or more expensive) options to all of this but just to give you an idea: -
Helmet - https://shop.1stmx.co.uk/motocross-protection/moto...
Goggles - http://ripnroll.co.uk/hybrid-goggles/fully-loaded-...
Body Armour - http://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com/product/new-sp... - http://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com/product/action...
Knee Braces - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Troy-Lee-Designs-Cataly...
Boots - https://www.dirtbikexpress.co.uk/boots/motocross_b...
Clothing - https://shop.1stmx.co.uk/motocross-gear/2018-fox-m...
Winter riding top - https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/klim-klimate-p... or https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-Military-Army-M...
Gloves, I would generally wear lightweight MX summer gloves year round (with knuckle protection), but in the depths of winter would need to switch to a warmer glove.
I tried a dual sport helmet a few times but if you are doing it right you'll be sweating your nuts off, I found an MX helmet worked best for me...
I'd also get decent hand protection - https://www.dirtbikexpress.co.uk/bike_parts/motocr...
I would be very cautious of riding on your own until you are comfortable with it all... last year alone I think I had to help 4 people get back to civilisation after a fall and a break.
One last thing to consider... whilst some TRF people seem to enjoy breaking down and changing punctures etc. at the side of the road for me this is a nightmare, and it would piss me off no end waiting around for people to do this... everyone I rode with used Mousses... Mousses are like a solid (but soft) inner tube, so you can't get punctures. There are debates that will go one until the end of time about pros and cons of them but in 10 years I never had to stop to fix a puncture!!!
Wow excellent, thank you! Really comprehensively covers much of what I was looking for! The forcefield armour range does look good, I'll check it out. Have also been recommended elbow protection so I'll see if I can get one that includes all that.Getting involved with your local TRF group will be the best way to go... go on a few rides with them and you'll either love riding with them or hate it. either way you'll usually find a splinter group that do TRF rides and do private stuff too. I hate riding with the TRF but was lucky I had a mate locally that was very social and he use to do loads of rides with local TRF, he would get information on routes and then I would ride with just him. I always disliked riding with groups, and whilst the majority of TRF people I came across were OK like any group you're gona find the odd muppet that can spoil your day.
TRF, you will get good advice, you will get organised rides, you will get information on routes and an understanding of how the by ways laws operate and some groups do riding skill courses.
The TRF is a funny organisation, the regional groups are usually pretty good, however the umbrella organisation quite often has lots of in fighting and over bearing control from the directors but to be fair they do a great job at fighting for the rights of ways etc. and are generally steering the organisation in the right direction.
I'd highly recommend getting a GPS, some people use phones etc. but I found a Garmin 600 GPS with a powered mount the best tool. This is the most common GPS used and will give you the ability to track routes for your own use at a later date, you'll also find lots of people to trade .gpx files with and the Garmin makes that pretty easy.
Kit, like everything buy the best you can afford, and keep an open mind that you may get more into it than you thought... everyone I introduced to Green laning ended up doing Enduro's within a year, so I'd buy kit accordingly... I'd ride in full Enduro/MX gear for Green Lanes, some of the Green lanes I rode were has difficult as an Enduro race
Here's what I would wear for a Green lane ride, there are obviously cheaper (or more expensive) options to all of this but just to give you an idea: -
Helmet - https://shop.1stmx.co.uk/motocross-protection/moto...
Goggles - http://ripnroll.co.uk/hybrid-goggles/fully-loaded-...
Body Armour - http://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com/product/new-sp... - http://www.forcefieldbodyarmour.com/product/action...
Knee Braces - https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Troy-Lee-Designs-Cataly...
Boots - https://www.dirtbikexpress.co.uk/boots/motocross_b...
Clothing - https://shop.1stmx.co.uk/motocross-gear/2018-fox-m...
Winter riding top - https://www.revzilla.com/motorcycle/klim-klimate-p... or https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/British-Military-Army-M...
Gloves, I would generally wear lightweight MX summer gloves year round (with knuckle protection), but in the depths of winter would need to switch to a warmer glove.
I tried a dual sport helmet a few times but if you are doing it right you'll be sweating your nuts off, I found an MX helmet worked best for me...
I'd also get decent hand protection - https://www.dirtbikexpress.co.uk/bike_parts/motocr...
I would be very cautious of riding on your own until you are comfortable with it all... last year alone I think I had to help 4 people get back to civilisation after a fall and a break.
One last thing to consider... whilst some TRF people seem to enjoy breaking down and changing punctures etc. at the side of the road for me this is a nightmare, and it would piss me off no end waiting around for people to do this... everyone I rode with used Mousses... Mousses are like a solid (but soft) inner tube, so you can't get punctures. There are debates that will go one until the end of time about pros and cons of them but in 10 years I never had to stop to fix a puncture!!!
Good tip on the mousses, will investigate those!
Thanks to everyone else as well - I really know nothing about this stuff so all info is good info!
Blackpuddin said:
bennyboysvuk said:
If you're just trying it out and trying to get some thoughts together, I'd recommend going on an Ady Smith KTM day. Not only is it utterly brilliant, but you'll get the opportunity to ride all the bikes from the 125 to the 500, learn some new skills and also push your own boundaries as far as you want.
http://www.adysmith.co.uk/
That looks awesome, thanks for posting. http://www.adysmith.co.uk/
graham22 said:
cbmotorsport said:
larrylamb11 said:
I will get roasted for this, but I think it's worth pointing out the other side of green-laning.....
For a lot of people that live in the countryside green-laners are a bloody menace and you have to expect to be greeted with hostility and worse if you happen to bump into any locals. Regrettably it appears there are a LOT of have-a-go hero's who don't bother to do the research about where you can and can't go, ride where they like and generally treat anywhere off the black top as their own personal playground where anything goes. Not surprisingly this really pisses off the locals and has fostered hostility between them and anyone / anything off the beaten track - a problem that has only got worse as it has become more popular and more accessible through cheaper kit. As always, the mindless few wreck it for the responsible majority and everyone gets tarred with the same brush by the lowest common denominator.
Don't allow yourself to feed this problem and make every effort you can to hold yourself up as an shining beacon of exemplary behaviour off-road - don't give the anti's any ammo basically. That means double check before you go that the lanes you are planning to ride are actually open (and to bikes) and that there aren't any TROs on them. If you get there and find they are actually in a bit of a mess, don't exacerbate the problem by pressing on regardless, find somewhere else or go home and wait until they aren't so boggy - don't forget it's an offence to damage the surface of the highway (which includes byways) and if your riding is going to chew it up the right thing to do is to give it a miss, irrespective of what everyone else is doing / has already done. Ride responsibly, no rooster tails of dirt spraying out behind you, expect to meet horses, cyclists, dog walkers and ramblers, ride accordingly and be prepared to stop, switch off and wait for them to get past (horses particularly are remarkably stupid and skittish animals that often seem to take great fright at bikes!). If you are planning to ride with a group, don't go in a big one - again locals hate big groups of noisy off-road bikers streaming through their sleepy villages, far better to ride in 2s or 3s and easier to stay under the radar. On the subject of staying under the radar, noisy off-road bikes attract grief - antsy observers assume you are going far too fast because of the noise, they upset animals and give away your position. Far better to swerve the grief and get the quietest bike you can, you'll be surprised how much less agro it will attract.
I know someone is going to say this, so I will answer it now - yes, you have the right to ride the byways just like anyone and yes, so long as you are doing it legally there is nothing anyone can do about it, no mater how noisy your steed.... it's just a question of how enjoyable the ride out is. Having some irate cotton-top screaming abuse at you while he waves his walking stick can leave a really sour taste and spoil an otherwise great ride. If you don't really care about that then crack on fella ..... but accept that you will be adding to a growing problem that could ultimately lead to these pursuits being more tightly controlled or even banned. Accept that we all have a part to play and do it in a way that's sympathetic to those people who's back yard you are playing in and you'll not only have a better overall experience but hopefully do something to help secure it for the next generation. It's not all 'hop on and hit the dirt'.....
Best post yet. For a lot of people that live in the countryside green-laners are a bloody menace and you have to expect to be greeted with hostility and worse if you happen to bump into any locals. Regrettably it appears there are a LOT of have-a-go hero's who don't bother to do the research about where you can and can't go, ride where they like and generally treat anywhere off the black top as their own personal playground where anything goes. Not surprisingly this really pisses off the locals and has fostered hostility between them and anyone / anything off the beaten track - a problem that has only got worse as it has become more popular and more accessible through cheaper kit. As always, the mindless few wreck it for the responsible majority and everyone gets tarred with the same brush by the lowest common denominator.
Don't allow yourself to feed this problem and make every effort you can to hold yourself up as an shining beacon of exemplary behaviour off-road - don't give the anti's any ammo basically. That means double check before you go that the lanes you are planning to ride are actually open (and to bikes) and that there aren't any TROs on them. If you get there and find they are actually in a bit of a mess, don't exacerbate the problem by pressing on regardless, find somewhere else or go home and wait until they aren't so boggy - don't forget it's an offence to damage the surface of the highway (which includes byways) and if your riding is going to chew it up the right thing to do is to give it a miss, irrespective of what everyone else is doing / has already done. Ride responsibly, no rooster tails of dirt spraying out behind you, expect to meet horses, cyclists, dog walkers and ramblers, ride accordingly and be prepared to stop, switch off and wait for them to get past (horses particularly are remarkably stupid and skittish animals that often seem to take great fright at bikes!). If you are planning to ride with a group, don't go in a big one - again locals hate big groups of noisy off-road bikers streaming through their sleepy villages, far better to ride in 2s or 3s and easier to stay under the radar. On the subject of staying under the radar, noisy off-road bikes attract grief - antsy observers assume you are going far too fast because of the noise, they upset animals and give away your position. Far better to swerve the grief and get the quietest bike you can, you'll be surprised how much less agro it will attract.
I know someone is going to say this, so I will answer it now - yes, you have the right to ride the byways just like anyone and yes, so long as you are doing it legally there is nothing anyone can do about it, no mater how noisy your steed.... it's just a question of how enjoyable the ride out is. Having some irate cotton-top screaming abuse at you while he waves his walking stick can leave a really sour taste and spoil an otherwise great ride. If you don't really care about that then crack on fella ..... but accept that you will be adding to a growing problem that could ultimately lead to these pursuits being more tightly controlled or even banned. Accept that we all have a part to play and do it in a way that's sympathetic to those people who's back yard you are playing in and you'll not only have a better overall experience but hopefully do something to help secure it for the next generation. It's not all 'hop on and hit the dirt'.....
You'll quickly learn that you're not very popular riding a bike off road in the countryside. You will be shouted at, people will claim that you can't ride here, it's a footpath/bridleway etc etc when it's a Byway. Stop, be friendly, point out to them it's a Byway. Avoid confrontation if they persist, but always be friendly. Stick to the path, don't veer off because that bit over there looks more fun, byways get closed for these reasons. As has been said, always stop and switch off for horses, as much for your safety as theirs. Always have in your mind that round the next corner there could be 35 members of the local rambling club, covering the whole path...so ride accordingly. Expect some interest form the police, and a regular tug. There are a lot of people turning up in vans and riding non road legal bikes on byways, and they give everyone a bad name.
The TRF are good at advising best practice, and want as many lanes to be open as possible, so heed their advice.
if you're in Bristol, lock up that bike, and don't advertise you've got one.
Have to say that horse riders on these lanes are different to the 'slow down I have every right to be on the road' brigade, I think they are up against the ramblers and such like too.
Never a problem stopping & switching off engine for these, usually some banter to be had, many are fit & wearing tight jodhpurs too
moto_traxport said:
Watching this with interest.
I've just moved to south of Bristol and my biking future could involve knobbly tyres - almost had it with normal biking on the road and track stuff seems massively infrequent and needs horrendous amounts of investment for an ever diminishing return.
OP - Keep the thread updated with your progress if poss.
Well I've bought the helmet... so I'm committed now!! Completely agree re. track - too much expense and I do so few days a year that I feel my efforts could be better spent elsewhere. Keep the R1 for trips to Europe, Wales, Devon etc and have the 250 as a dick around bike! I've just moved to south of Bristol and my biking future could involve knobbly tyres - almost had it with normal biking on the road and track stuff seems massively infrequent and needs horrendous amounts of investment for an ever diminishing return.
OP - Keep the thread updated with your progress if poss.
In the spirit of keeping the thread updated - had first TRF ride with Gloucester TRF at the weekend. Really good fun, far more so than I expected actually. One (to be expected) drop, no damage to the bike... only my pride!
Must say I noticed the weight of the CRF and as most people in this thread alluded to I think as I get more into it I will end up chopping it in for a lighter machine but it will do for now. It's got a pair of fresh Michelin Trackers on so I need to get them properly scrubbed it at the very least!
Must say I noticed the weight of the CRF and as most people in this thread alluded to I think as I get more into it I will end up chopping it in for a lighter machine but it will do for now. It's got a pair of fresh Michelin Trackers on so I need to get them properly scrubbed it at the very least!
Edited by Bordtea on Monday 8th June 18:56
Edited by Bordtea on Monday 8th June 18:57
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