I tend to video most of the events I participate in as well as weekend rides with friends. So I thought I would create this thread and just add videos to it over time. Hope that's allowed here. This past weekend I rode in the Michaux DS ride in south central PA. It was my first time participating in this event. The trails were great and the big bike held its own! Enjoy the videos and laughs at my expense. There was a bit of traffic in the beginning. Fast flowing single track with an optional section. I finally caught the 2 stroke KTM guy. My camera doesn't capture the steepness of some of these hills. The last optional trail of the day. The rocks were never ending and it kicked my ass. All the mishaps from the day.
I was there, although I was on my WR, not the 610. The 610 would have been fine on most of the stuff, but a couple of the more difficult options would have been a workout. Did you ride the first one after lunch, the 3-mile-long long rock garden? It was super fun on the ring-ding, but I think I would have been cursing on the big bike... Shame, I don't remember seeing you there. I saw a few other guys on 2-stroke Huskies, a couple of 310s, and two guys on Terras that seemed to be having a bad day, but I didn't see any 610s/630s. This was my first year riding this event, and it had some really great trail. If they do it again next year I will be there for sure!
Hey I was at this too. also on my te630... I had a rough time all day because I am still really crappy at all of this. i waited a long time to go out because i did not want to look like a stupid newb clogging up the works on my big bike. I didnt do any of the optionals and had a awful time on the rocks. I cant do downhill rocks to save my life. Was just ahead of sweepers I think. I did climb a hill i never thought I would be able to climb in all my life in the very beginning of the ride when everyone took the wrong turn or something. I was quite proud of that. Did better a this than I did at the durty dabbers... ended the day with a flat rear though and no means to change it so I had to hitch a ride back with one of the radio guys after I was left trying to hitchhike on the road when my tire came off the bead trying to limp back... didn't make lunch... i really suck... packed up. dragged my bike up on my trailer. went home :/ I am REALLY glad to see someone else with the skill can do it. I came back and immediately started looking for a smaller/lighter bike...
Geez, sounds like you had a rough day. At least you were out there giving it a shot. You can't get better if you don't try. Now that being said, if you're new to this type of riding, I'm not sure the 630 is the right bike to learn on. My previous bikes before the 630 were a DRZ400, XRL650, WR250R, KTM250cxw and KTM530XC-W. Out of all those bike, I think the WRR is the easiest to ride. Albeit it's a bit heavy and under powered but it's very forgiving. You might want to check it out.
I think that a 610/630 would be fine for this ride, except for some parts of the optional sections. I would have ridden my 610 in all of the options if I had brought it instead of my WR, you just have to go a bit slower and more deliberate. I prefer to get on the pipe and jump off rocks, instead of just rolling through stuff, so I brought the little bike. Just stick with it and try to work on riding smooth and clean, speed will come. Don't get discouraged, it's a bit tough going at first, no way around that. How much air pressure were you running in your tires? Definitely shouldn't get a flat riding conservatively in there.
I did hit a few rocks really hard. I was worried about keeping the front end lighter so i didnt piss up the FRONT wheel so i tried keeping weight back on the rocks? Maybe that is what did me in.
Did you shred your valve stem or pinch a tube? 15 psi should be fine in the rocks. I was running 12-13 on my smaller bike. It's a good idea to keep the front light in some circumstances. You definitely want to weight it for turn in, but if you're blitzing through a rocky straight section of trail, for example, yeah, stay on the power and keep the front end somewhat light. Sometimes flats do just happen.
Looks like some great riding! I was pleasantly surprised by the off-road riding in western PA when I was at the BMW rally a couple summers ago.
Some more video from the same ride. I figured I would upload this so I could clear out my camera memory. Not some of my best riding.
^^wow its not really entirely obvious at some points where that path is supposed to be? "Did you shred your valve stem or pinch a tube?" I am not sure yet. I have not taken a look at it as I have no tube to replace it with and no money to puchase one at the moment till I get paid tonight. Also doe not help I have never actually changed a tire thus far in my short bike riding life. Thats about to change though.
Looks like you may live close to me. I'd be happy to show you the process if you want. I'm in DelCo. PM me if you like.
I asked Baron if he would like to meet up and ride in the pines for some practice sometime. You should join us. I'm right across the Commodore Barry Bridge in NJ.
Love to, keep me in the loop. Though, I'm probably racing next Sunday (beehive enduro), and then I am booked every weeked until late October, so I'm not sure when I could make it.
I will NOT be doing beehive on the 610, it would be on my WR, so I am sure it won't be too bad. We'll see, I am still on the fence, depends if anything comes up. I will 100%, absolutely, definitely be at hammer. There will probably be a crew of about 10 of us, I will have my 610 (blue/yellow) and my WR. We'll be camping somewhere.
