Hello Louis, I hope you are enjoying the bike. IMHO it's pretty close to the best weight and size for us mere mortals with a few years behind us! Thank you for stopping by and commenting! - Frank
I'm as frugal as the next guy, but I never start a big trip with old tires. And yes, that sometimes means spooning off tires with a fair amount of life left in them, but like you, I ride solo and want everything I can control to be on my side. Also, being even older than you, I'm done with a twin cylinder ADV bike for this stuff unless I'm riding with others. I'm making a few mods to my KTM 500EXC to make it a bit more ADV focused and riding it. Just yesterday I was helping a buddy pick up his 300 Honda on a steep rocky single track and it was plenty for a couple old guys who are in decent shape to handle. If it was my Africa Twin, or even a 790 KTM, we would have got it done, but it would have sucked. Timely video as I'm planning on riding the BDRX next season. Keep up the great work and thanks for your efforts!
The large rocks on gravel doesn't look like much fun to me. Glad you made it OK and good that you are enjoying the route. I agree that a nice fresh rear and a fresh front with some good knobs is always appreciated. Thanks Frank!
Hello Ozark, I had a great time. I had been two the Black Hills twice before but had not found any area with dirt that was this much fun. Add in the perfect weather, and it was great. Thank you for stopping by and commenting! - Frank
Had a very similar drop situation recently on my 790 and yep, in some circumstances its an absolute beast to lift (such as on a hill). It's fairly easy to get it off the ground, and it's very manageable once you're over that tipping point, but that point just before it tips to balance is a real challenge, feels like all the weight just suddenly increases 10 fold.
Hello Louis, I have two friends running them now, and I absolutely plan to buy a set the next time I need tires on either of my bikes that use their size. Hopefully we will see them add the 390 tire sizes. - Frank
@@OneOldManRiding ha! Just wait till you see how much I struggled with the SM1000!!! Old, tired, and unskilled equals some poor riding!😂😂 You made this look easy, but I was looking at the terrain….
@@Motoramblings A Gen 1 VStrom is a handful on a trail! You should look at Marketplace and consider a DR650. Its a near perfect bike for that sort of riding! - Frank
@@OneOldManRiding I had a DR, it would have been perfect for that ride! I traded it for the 2012 VStrom because I just didn’t do enough adventure riding to justify having the DR over a bike that does so much better on pavement…. If I could afford 3 bikes…..😂😂
Rocks, real ROCKS in gravel is my nemesis. I can do it (just) but I don’t call it fun after a few miles. And that’s with decent tires. It’s a skill thing. Or more accurately, a confidence thing. And the fact that I struggle to lift my bike, a Norden, makes it all the worse. Sure, practice pick ups in the back yard isn’t impossible, but throw in loose footing, and uneven inclines and the game changes. Especially for another old guy. 😰
Old man, YOU sold me on a KTM 390 Adv as my late in life return to motorcycling for “blue highways / mild off road exploring. Adv Matt, too !!!
Hello Louis, I hope you are enjoying the bike. IMHO it's pretty close to the best weight and size for us mere mortals with a few years behind us! Thank you for stopping by and commenting! - Frank
That would be a blast to have the DR650 on those trails, like you said a dual sport would be perfect.
Hello Dave, is there a rocky and or muddy trail that one would not want a DR650 on? Sadly Suzuki hates us all! Give us an updated bike! - Frank
@@OneOldManRiding I do agree on that. Only China seems to be listening.
Frank...It happens to the best of us. Great video.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! - Frank
I'm as frugal as the next guy, but I never start a big trip with old tires. And yes, that sometimes means spooning off tires with a fair amount of life left in them, but like you, I ride solo and want everything I can control to be on my side. Also, being even older than you, I'm done with a twin cylinder ADV bike for this stuff unless I'm riding with others. I'm making a few mods to my KTM 500EXC to make it a bit more ADV focused and riding it. Just yesterday I was helping a buddy pick up his 300 Honda on a steep rocky single track and it was plenty for a couple old guys who are in decent shape to handle. If it was my Africa Twin, or even a 790 KTM, we would have got it done, but it would have sucked.
Timely video as I'm planning on riding the BDRX next season. Keep up the great work and thanks for your efforts!
Looked like a cool ride Frank, TMM tires definitely have their limits in mud, I’m thinking next set for T700 will be Tusk 2Track
Hello Dave, heck, the Motoz Adventure failed to handle this sticky mud. The TMM performed BETTER! The Motoz filled in and became a slick. - Frank
I agree with you Frank. 😅
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! - Frank
The large rocks on gravel doesn't look like much fun to me. Glad you made it OK and good that you are enjoying the route. I agree that a nice fresh rear and a fresh front with some good knobs is always appreciated. Thanks Frank!
Hello Rob, Sir, this would be SO MUCH FUN on your DR650! Put on s some knobs and you would not even slow down! - Frank
Looks like you had an adventure! Thanks for the video.
Hello Ozark, I had a great time. I had been two the Black Hills twice before but had not found any area with dirt that was this much fun. Add in the perfect weather, and it was great. Thank you for stopping by and commenting! - Frank
Such roads are fun. By the way Mitas are made in Slovenia too. Had them on the Bandit 650 that I recently purchased.
Hello Gregor, thats awesome, I had no idea they were made in Slovenia! Those folks are making an awesome tire! - Frank
Video of the drop or it didn't happen! Nice video man, looked like a fun day out riding. 🏍
Hello Dave, sorry, I had the camera off, because who would drop a bike like that? 🤣 That's like putting a bike down on a parking lot! 😎 - Frank
Yes, they are. Opinions are divided. Some like them, some hate them. 😅😂
How could you hate the rear tire! Grabs anything, including mud, and lasts a crazy long time! - Frank
Had a very similar drop situation recently on my 790 and yep, in some circumstances its an absolute beast to lift (such as on a hill). It's fairly easy to get it off the ground, and it's very manageable once you're over that tipping point, but that point just before it tips to balance is a real challenge, feels like all the weight just suddenly increases 10 fold.
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! - Frank
Maybe give Tusk dual track tires a look the next time around….
Hello Louis, I have two friends running them now, and I absolutely plan to buy a set the next time I need tires on either of my bikes that use their size. Hopefully we will see them add the 390 tire sizes. - Frank
Frank made a great choice 😊 🤵♂👰
Sure looks like fun!! But it doesn’t look easy…..
Well Patrick, my limited skillset has been known to make things look more difficult than they are! - Frank
@@OneOldManRiding ha! Just wait till you see how much I struggled with the SM1000!!! Old, tired, and unskilled equals some poor riding!😂😂
You made this look easy, but I was looking at the terrain….
@@Motoramblings A Gen 1 VStrom is a handful on a trail! You should look at Marketplace and consider a DR650. Its a near perfect bike for that sort of riding! - Frank
@@OneOldManRiding I had a DR, it would have been perfect for that ride! I traded it for the 2012 VStrom because I just didn’t do enough adventure riding to justify having the DR over a bike that does so much better on pavement…. If I could afford 3 bikes…..😂😂
But was it a dip or a deep?
More deep than dip this time.
Rocks, real ROCKS in gravel is my nemesis. I can do it (just) but I don’t call it fun after a few miles. And that’s with decent tires. It’s a skill thing. Or more accurately, a confidence thing. And the fact that I struggle to lift my bike, a Norden, makes it all the worse. Sure, practice pick ups in the back yard isn’t impossible, but throw in loose footing, and uneven inclines and the game changes. Especially for another old guy. 😰
Thank you for stopping by and commenting! - Frank
Dropped 300 rally twice in 3500kms , both times at rest , putting foot down and nothing there.
It happens! Thank you for stopping by and commenting! - Frank