First enduro H&H on 310 - awesome!

Well did my first enduro / H&H on the 310 today..
the track was on fast sandy fields that were whooped & bermed the more they were rode with tight woods, small bogs, drop offs & inclines..
I race in the clubman & am just about intermidiate level.

The day was awesome. I was a little nervous before the start but had already decided to go at my own pace, have fun, and come back in one piece.. all achieved

On the straights the bike pulls to the moon through the sand & the suspension felt awesome. the back end was so stable through the whoops & sand ruts.. at high speed 50-60mph or slow speed there was a proper mix of machinery and i got to say if i let any of the expert/ championship riders through before the woods i would try and stay with, once back in the open i could accelerate and stay with pretty much all bikes on the whooped rutted straights no probs. The bike was so stable it would rip across the fields, my cornering technique let my down though. sand berms are well, different but towards the end i was starting to get the hang of them.. drift in, hit the berm & nail it on the exit.. the engine was great had no bogging anywhere just perfect,
Through the trees the track got tight and in some places deep whoops.
loved this in second gear, lugging along, tight turnes jumping in and out of huge whoops.. awesome.. front suspension was brilliant & plush for this and clearly was getting full travel but never bottomed.. Im sure it got better through the day too! My dealer had adjusted & set rear rebound the day before to what he recommended and it was just planted.. throughout the whole day I never once felt the bike got out of control even in 5th / 6th across the rutted whooped out fields. it gave me massive confidence.. it felt stable and compliant soaking up the bumps.. when i thought i was coming into corners into breaking bumps way to fast the suspension just dealt with it settled the bike no problems. as i said gave me loads of confidence.

The boggy bits were fun picking the right lines is the key.. but each lap you need a different line.. great fun ..

steep inclines.. first gear, find a line, and power up.. most of the time the front wheel just a few inches off the ground the back just going where it wants to get to the top..
Had about 5 offs.. two where roots had been exposed and front wheel washed out.. one up an steep incline trying to find a gap in between other riders that have fell.. & two on sandy berm corners where i didn't gas it quick enough after sliding into the berm and came to a quick stop!
My seat came of on one off.. it seems the retainer screw at the front that the seat clips into has vibrated out.
and on two occasions the standard handguards had folder round and trapped the front lever part on.. did take off after one fall not knowing this was alright on the straight as the moter was lofting the wheel slightly on the sand and i thought i broke the motor as it was really struggling.. soon found out it was the brake though when i slowed to go through the timing gate & in front of the spectators when i just went staright over

Had a great day.. the bike was awesome, and we had so much fun..

some pics of the bike post 3hr enduro..

http://www.cafehusky.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4081&stc=1&d=1269245829

http://www.cafehusky.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=4082&stc=1&d=1269245590

AJ

Great report, thanks for posting

AJ it sounds like you had a ball. Great ride/race report.

Sounded like great fun. This is coming up on my 3rd summer riding. Trying to get the nerve up to try one.
Notice you only have roost deflectors on your bars, dont need bark busters for that stuff?

Yeah we had great fun..
Im still up from the excitement of it all.. looking for my next one..
I did keep looking back to keep out of the serious guys way.. but as one said to me afterwards us good guys will find a way past.. do your own race, you have every much a right to be on the track as me ... great advice.. from a top chap... next time im looking forward only, not back.. wing nut do it, go at your own pace and most of all have fun.

regarding the roost deflectors hand guards.. I did look at all other roost protectors and the original ones were by far the stiffest roost deflectors

im on the fence with proper hand guards at the moment, there is more chance of me falling off than hitting a tree and my thoughts were about getting my hands caught behind the bars... and causing more hurt!..
i know its the lesser of two evils..

im guessing that its not really a problem as lots of people use guards not roosters..

AJ

great report! and those yellow plates you guys use over there look really great on the bike.