Dual Sport rides

[Paul Danik]

Greetings,

   Just sitting by the wood burner with a coffee and the latest issue of American Motorcyclist, and happened to start reading the Dual-Sport/Adventure Series schedule, and got to wondering  I know some of you folks ride these events and would appreciate hearing any comments that you might have about them.

   I have heard some folks mention that some vintage machines can and do ride these event, any comments?

   Just how many miles are they, and what sort of make up is the mileage, tight trails, dirt roads, ect.

   What machines are you folks using?

    What are some of the most unusual machines you have seen "on the trail" ?

   What all do you need, a plate and headlight, or

   If a vintage bike was to be used, what events, if any, are more vintage friendly?
 
   On the fun meter, how do you rate them?

Thanks in advance for your comments.

Paul

[Kip Kern]

Paul

I rode that series for about 4 years during the late 90's.  Some of the most fun I have ever had on 2 wheels.  Started riding a Husky 350 4 stroke for a few then bought a 400 LC4 KTM.  On an average, we would have about 300-400 riders and cover about 300 miles in 2 days.  Racer Productions put on some of the best events and man, did we see some crazy sites at some of the checks.  I still remember a bar wallpapered in cash money during a check in Tennessee!  Friday evenings prior to the ride would be a Tech class on how to set up your machine by Mark Hyde, Scott Summers or someone else who rode the Six days or GNCC.  A bunch of fun![]  At the time, didn't see too many vintage machines.

[wfopete]

Paul,

I have not rode any of the AMA rides however I do quite a bit of D/S riding on a KLR650 here around Arkansas and I have a blast doing it. The routes can take you through some great areas!

Keep in mind how the ride has to cater to the bikes involved.  When you have a BMW GS1200 level of bikes running the route can't be to tuff. You will see everything from under 250cc bikes on up. The AMA states that the routes are set up by local riders.  Arkansas used to put on a AMA D/S ride that was not big bike friendly.  If your riding a vintage bike your biggest issue might be the distance and logistical support.

Personally I wouldn't want to waste a vintage 2 cycle motor in a D/S event unless it was specifically designed for vintage bikes.

On the right bike and right ride the fun meter can get pegged! Here is a post that you might enjoy. I think you will find some familer names and faces.

http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=525072

Pete Petrick
175 Jackpiner
Slow but Good

[johnacapp]

Paul,
I am currently planning on riding as many of the events as I can.

To answer you're Question,
You need a bike that has a current registration, street legal/plated, current AMA membership and the entrance fee. Usual around 100$ but that covers 2 days of riding often lunches and most times some type of meal at the end. The distance is usually 200-300 miles (in 2 days). Oh yea often you can also do just one day if you so choose. Always on weekends too.

As I tell my wife "it is as much fun as you can have morally and legally"

To all,

If anyone out there is planning on trying a dual sport (Ohio, Pa, or Virginia) please let me know!  

[p3mn256]

paul   call me and i can fill you in . steve barber

the baby burr is oct 6,7 2012. is vintage friendly . the harder sections have bypasses.  you get lunch both days a ktm sponcered hog roast sat nite. breakfast is sold by 4h and is really good and cheap. you know the facilities are the same as the isdtrr we put on in 09. you don't want to miss this one . we had 300 riders 3 out of last 4 years,
call me i want to talk to you about something else anyway.  
614-582-7821 steve

steve barber

[derek martin]

In the 90's my brother and I rode the Kentucky Trail Rider's LBL AMA dual sport ride on legalized big modern thumpers (XR600 and KLX650R) several times and always had a hoot. Like the above comment I wouldn't put the wear and tear on a vintage bike due to the mileage involved. Back then the TVA controlled the Land Between the Lakes and the quality of trails available was good. I haven't ridden it since the National Forest Service took over - I'd say it speaks volumes about the promoting club's organizational capabilities that this event is still held. I've recently got my KLX450R inspected and legalized by the Illinois Secretary of State and am hoping on riding this year's LBL dual sport and maybe some others. I believe the AMA now has a separate series for the BMW GS riders which are more road oriented and the original dual purpose series is still hopefully more dirt oriented.

[tlanders]

I rode one on my Piner in 2001. It was a Lynn Burton organized AMA Dual Sport ride in Arkansas. Other than the Reunion Rides, it was the most fun I have had on a bike.

[Lew Mayer]

I rode the Michaux Dual Sport a couple of years back on my Jackpiner.
The rocks were not kind with four inches of rear travel.

Lew Mayer

[Big Mac]

I rode Day 1 of the Blackdog Mt Hood DualSport (OR) put on by Tom Niemala on a '77 GS6 250 in 2006-- over a 4,000 foot pass on 60 miles of pavement, 30 miles of single track and 30 miles of dirt road including a section of the Barlow/Oregon Trail. Was able to put the big bulky dualsports to shame on the single track and lots of fun on dirt roads. Not much fun ringing it out to maintain 55mph and taking on highway hills. Hope to do it again this year on an old LC4 I just bought.
 
Not my wheelie in this shot, but somewhere I've got a photo of my muddy GS6 at this same spot at Trillium Lake, beautiful- http://blackdogdualsport.com/Pics/08-02_MsN_Cover.jpg

[tlanders]

I rode one on my Piner in 2001. It was a Lynn Burton organized AMA Dual Sport ride in Arkansas. Other than the Reunion Rides, it was the most fun I have had on a bike.

[Lew Mayer]

I rode the Michaux Dual Sport a couple of years back on my Jackpiner.
The rocks were not kind with four inches of rear travel.

Lew Mayer

[Big Mac]

I rode Day 1 of the Blackdog Mt Hood DualSport (OR) put on by Tom Niemala on a '77 GS6 250 in 2006-- over a 4,000 foot pass on 60 miles of pavement, 30 miles of single track and 30 miles of dirt road including a section of the Barlow/Oregon Trail. Was able to put the big bulky dualsports to shame on the single track and lots of fun on dirt roads. Not much fun ringing it out to maintain 55mph and taking on highway hills. Hope to do it again this year on an old LC4 I just bought.
 
Not my wheelie in this shot, but somewhere I've got a photo of my muddy GS6 at this same spot at Trillium Lake, beautiful- http://blackdogdualsport.com/Pics/08-02_MsN_Cover.jpg