Advice wanted re new KTM toy!

[Muttley]

Finally got round to buying on of these KTM toys so i now need to get some kit.

Any advice from the monster club dirty weekend group? I'll need a lid , boots something water and mudproof........

There's a long list and christmas is comming!

http://www.mutters.f2s.com/misc/ktmmmmm.jpg

[SazzaG]

Yehee, welcome to the orange club!

I'm sure other UKMUCers will be along soon to give you advice.

I would recommend:

Alpinestars Tech 4s with the enduro sole (more grippy than most)
Any decent motocross helmet (I've got an Airoh) plus goggles
For winter, I just use old waterproof road bike stuff. No point in spending loads of money, especially in the early days, as you'll be falling off a lot in it! Also, by using an old road jacket, you don't need bodyarmour.

I think you should get yourself down to the Dirt Bike Show at Stoneleigh 7-9th December. Plenty of bargains to be had there!

Of course, you could go the whole hog and dress yourself like your bike:

http://www.rogandsaz.co.uk/Orange.jpg

[Rogerg]

well done mutters - orange is the way forward!

along with the above - Knee protection - if your trousers don't have good protection get some decent knee guards.

for all day trips a camel back is a must for keeping hydrated.

thermals for winter riding - socks.

Jack up stand for maintenance.

Maps - Sarah's copied up all of Jens maps so has all the trails marked in Sussex, Hants etc

Did i mention I've got some super moto wheels for sale??

there is talk of trip in the hampshire sometime in the near future - would be great to meet up.

[Stafford]

KTM now do a toaster as a handy accompaniment amongst other items.

http://www.dirtbikebook.com/acatalog/OrangeEquipment.html

[SazzaG]

Shhh Stafford, you're spoiling Roger's Xmas surprise!

[CK & AK]

Got the right colour then Mutters me old chum :D - you coming out to play on Sat with it? (gissa go Mister???)

[Muttley]

Cheers 4 the advice , so a lid and goggles rather than a Arai Tour X visored jobbie?
Haven't got much in the way of wet weather gear, just an oversuit cos i don't do rain!...... untill now...
Any shops you can recommend for some browsing?

@rse, already got a set of KTM supermoto wheels, did a sm trackday at Lydd on WR250 and 450's a couple of years ago which was awesome fun.

And that Dirtbikebook link leads to a very bad place

[Muttley]

Should be out CK, might put the knobbly wheels on the monster!

[Nickj]

Beer crates used to be the biz as stands, the modern flimsy plastic ones not so good though. The old classic R-Whites were tops! Also acted as a good place to keep stuff.
Knee protection?? Never did as it's the rotational damage and hyper extension of the knee joint that causes you real problems (the first destroys your cartlidges, the second your cruciates which is very bad news :thumbsdown: ).. for that knee braces are good. There's always falling off, so best thing is don't. Getting knees/hands/body hit by roosted rocks might be a problem, answer is if you're following someone you aren't infront (In trail riding you shouldn't get this as no one will be going that quick or applying that much wellie)
If your trail riding try and use some gentler tyres, the more you rip up the surface the more likely downgrading the route in the future is. Besides theres heaps more fun to be had riding a knackered trials tyre with minus zero grip through axle deep mud than an MX or enduro tyre with virtually no grip.
You can do the whole south downs mid winter on a knackered X11 without any real hassle plus time for pub stops for light refreshments.

Oh never ever get anything that matches the bike or any other item of clothing unless someone forces you to (eg sponsorship) LOL

[Muttley]

I've definitely around for that Stonleigh show and i'm up for the Hampshire trip too.

All i've got to do now is get fit and grow some longer legs!

[Muttley]

Oh never ever get anything that matches the bike or any other item of clothing unless someone forces you to (eg sponsorship) LOL

Think i'll make my own, purple shell suit and some egg boxes should do the trick.

[Muttley]

You can do the whole south downs mid winter on a knackered X11 without any real hassle plus time for pub stops for light refreshments.


Now that sounds more like it, pubs...
good point on the tyres, i used to run a 175 yam and it's trail pirellis were real good fun on the road too.

[Nickj]

Superb and you won't worry about getting it liberally covered with the UK's finest sticky mud LOL Well you hope it's just mud!! Ladybird might still have a bit of spare fabric to fashion a jacket from!!

A good exercise is a length of broom stick, fix a foot or two of rope to the middle and add a weight (.5 kg will do). If you want to be flash add some old h/bar grips. Use your wrists to wind it up and down. Repeat... repeat... repeat
Wave arms in air when your forearms pump up and it starts to really hurt.
It's simple to do and less painful than having the same happen to your arms when out riding.

And bag of sugar (no cheating and using the equivalent in sweetners mind) sit and raise legs till knees are about straight lower. repeat till bag falls off or boredom/pain intervenesLOL Will strengthen your knee muscles a treat. Throw in a few 'sitting against the wall with no chairs too'.

[Nickj]

South downs gives you a good range of pubs, essential when you're out playing. It's a great shame Rons still not at the Red Lion (Chalton) you could walk in in any state and get an honest welcome.
On Tyres I used to get mine pre-knackered they're surprisingly good specially when trickling. All the army land used to insist you raced on them, sheesh they had tanks rip up trenches BT would be proud of and us teeny bikes were classed as 'damaging' the ground.
They work OK in mud and sand, fine to trickle with but they walk around a bit at speed. Then again at 60 odd on soft sand nothings very stable LOL

[SazzaG]

The problem with the South Downs is that there are no legal trails left in Sussex (good job Jen's not around - she might start ranting about the government!). However, hop over the border into Hampshire, and it's the trail rider's playground! Damn that wet chalk though.

We often go over to Wiltshire, where you can ride for days without seeing anyone else. A trailer is useful for that! My little CRF230 only has 20bhp on a good day, and with the knobblies it's not much fun to ride on fast roads. Great on the trails though!

Muttley, have you had the KTM lowered? If you're a bit teetery, it can give you loads of confidence having it lowered. You can always return it to normal height later. Being of the short-legged disposition myself (as you know) I had the CRF lowered, even though it's one of the lowest trail bikes around. Doesn't cause any problems with the kind of trails that we ride.

Anyway, if you're going to Stoneleigh on the Saturday, watch out for a bunch of us.

Just get out there and get muddy! I love trail riding, and it's thanks to UKMOC that I've got into it.

[Muttley]

Haven't played around with the bikes settings yet, there's clearly loads of preload on and not enough sag. Forks can't move up through the yokes tho' did you have the forks modded on yours then?

Plenty of gravel strewn trails left in surrey, we call 'em roads!

[SazzaG]

I'm no KTM expert, but I thought you could drop the forks on an EXC. Mine's a Honda, so of course it's easy and cheap to maintain, and doesn't break down...

I'm sure the orange mob can help you with that.

[robht]

Welcome to the dirtier side of motorcycling Mutley!

Nice bikes KTMs, but they can't do side stands...

I believe the KTMs are not so easy to lower as most of the jap bikes because they don't use a linkage in the rear suspension therefore ruling out getting a different one. But I'm no Orange expert...

As Rog suggested, we're planning a ride in Hants. Once I'm back from Wales next weekend I'll peruse the maps and sort out some dates if you're up for it - it is the most fun you can have on two wheels - what ever the weather.

If you can get hold of a trailer or van, Wiltshire is a good place to begin riding, I'd be happy to show you round.

[Julie]

Hey Welcome to the UKMUC!

Ruths also in the UKMUC now as well since she bought a DRZ400E last month. In fact we have just come back from a great day out on the Viking way today mud Mud Mud!!! Lovely.
Wales next week and salisbury last week. Perfect!
You must join us is wales next time. The UKMUC is growing isnt it.

The tourX is a good helmet you can use it visor up with goggles for off roading.

If you can get totlly waterproof gear (alpine stars) as you won't look back - buy cheap buy twice.

Dirt bike show is the bext bet and we are all heading up there on the saturday see you at the show?

[Julie]

How about one of these!?
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/black20beauty200082028Medium29.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/black20beauty200102028Medium29.jpg

[archiebob]

if any one would like a ride out in the peak district i would be happy to show you around in exchange for a trip out in your area

[Julie]

I'm often out in the peaks.
What do you ride? when are you next out?

[Fodder]

Cheers 4 the advice , so a lid and goggles rather than a Arai Tour X visored jobbie?
Haven't got much in the way of wet weather gear, just an oversuit cos i don't do rain!...... untill now...
Any shops you can recommend for some browsing?

@rse, already got a set of KTM supermoto wheels, did a sm trackday at Lydd on WR250 and 450's a couple of years ago which was awesome fun.

And that Dirtbikebook link leads to a very bad place

I had forgotten all about rain:D
Alpine stars do some great stuff especially the boots. What works for me is the alpine stars armoured mesh top, and then just wear what the weather dictates over the top of that. No need for a big bulky padded jacket then and with selected layers you can be as waterproof/cool as you like. Mind you for half of the year over here the armour on its own is too warm.
After looking at Jens touring Arai, I would say that is the way to go and have added one to my christmas list.


Heres a couple of pics of a ride I did yesterday, superb scenery but the last seven miles were a sandy riverbed steeped each side with rocks, interesting squirming, intense concentration/arse clenching and that trail riding friend a puncture.

Don't forget the UKMUC north american chapter, we meet most sundays at my house, don't bother with waterproofs.

Nice bike Muttley.........you're gonna love it.

Fods

[Pedro]

Any advice from the monster club dirty weekend group? I'll need a lid , boots something water and mudproof........





Mmmm, how about a nice tarpaulin? Should keep the mud off and fit nicely....



:chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle: :chuckle:







I'll get my coat....

[Julie]

Hey Fods they are great photos! Miles away from our weekend trail riding in the East Midlands....
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/Julie_and_Ruth_3rd_November_2007_00.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/Julie_and_Ruth_3rd_November_2007-1.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/Julie_and_Ruth_3rd_November_2007_01.jpg

[Julie]

What not to wear!!!

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/WestonBeachrace.jpg

[JMo]

You crazy kids - I wish I had the facility to download some of my pictures so far... God this countryside is BIG!

xxx

[Julie]

The monster went off road!
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/215685935-M.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/215685744-M.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/215685511-M.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/215686022-M.jpg
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/215686153-M.jpg

[Julie]

http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j87/Julie-horne/215684120-M.jpg

[Julie]

if any one would like a ride out in the peak district i would be happy to show you around in exchange for a trip out in your area

Just put two and two together!
WElcome to the club Richard. How do you like the monster?Club member JMo is jenny who was on our ride out in the peaks.

[Muttley]

Well, i've finally got to ride the KTM!
My old insurers didn't cover them so i had to wait out the last two weeks of the policy. I could ride my monster and my`priller and any other bike i didn't own ..... so the only bike in the country that i couldn't ride was the new one....aaarrrggghh!

The verdict so far, on road it's insane! how much grip do knobbly tyres have again?

Fods, i take it those pics arn't from Crawley then?

Rolll on the show.

[Nickj]

Always seems like a lot till they let go!!
Depends on the tyres, ones for hard ground not so good, soft ground are more flexible and walk a bit more so feel really lively but to have a bit more grip on road