Times have changed...?

[kschilk]

I got a dual-sport, for the same reason I thought everyone got them for.....dirt! I've been off the street for years...I think I traded-off my '78 XL350, in 1980. Back then, everyone I knew that had a dual-sport, raced MX and the dual-sport was used mostly for between-races, don't-have-to-load-it-up-and-haul-it-to-the-track playriding. We still rode 'em like our MX bikes, even though they were weak on power and handled like a dishrag. They saw street action, only long enough to get to a track, trail or stripmine and every ride home, included a good hour at the carwash.

I re-entered the dual-sport world in late April and have been riding frequently, on public National Forest trails. Oddly enough, I seem to be the only dual-sport out there! :confused: Oh sure, I see the occasional stripped-down or baja'd-out dually but not one, is still street-legal. I've covered hundreds of miles on these trails and I'm clearly the only one out there, with turn signals (I pull the mirrors, naturally). It seems odd.

I pretty much blew it off, at first...figuring they were out there but I apparently, though against all odds, had simply not crossed paths with them. Then I noticed that while I was riding, other riders were looking at me like I was an alien or something....a definite "what the #$%* is that" look. I've also noticed that I'm beginning to draw spectators, mostly riders that camped along the trails for the weekend. It's pretty weird.

I also recall a strange incident. When I applied for my riding permit, at the Ranger Station...they didn't know how to "classify" my bike! :rolleyes: It was ironic, really. ATVs are required to have registration and insurance, to get a riding permit....bikes aren't. So here I am, with a licensed, registered, inspected and insured bike...it just totally screwed-up their day. It took a good hour of phone calls and radio conversations, before they got the OK to write-in "street-legal motorcycle". That leads me to believe that likely, I was the first to get a permit for a dual-sport.

Am I really the "odd man out" here?! I gotta' wonder....if your main intent isn't to ride in the dirt, other than gravel or dirt roads...why a dually? The newer dual-sports are much more dirt-capable but they seem less street friendly, than in the days of yore. As far as relatively smooth dirt or any gravel road...I'd rather be on a lower, heavier street cruiser. I see lots of dual-sports on the highway...some with saddlebags and as much as a half-fairing and I gotta' wonder "why"?! Seriously....I'm not tryin' to be a smarta** or anything, I'm just curious.

[CB750F]

I re-entered the dual-sport world in late April and have been riding frequently, on public National Forest trails. Oddly enough, I seem to be the only dual-sport out there! :confused: Oh sure, I see the occasional stripped-down or baja'd-out dually but not one, is still street-legal. I've covered hundreds of miles on these trails and I'm clearly the only one out there, with turn signals (I pull the mirrors, naturally). It seems odd.

I pretty much blew it off, at first...figuring they were out there but I apparently, though against all odds, had simply not crossed paths with them. Then I noticed that while I was riding, other riders were looking at me like I was an alien or something....a definite "what the #$%* is that" look. I've also noticed that I'm beginning to draw spectators, mostly riders that camped along the trails for the weekend. It's pretty weird.



That is weird. You'd think you'd see a good many on a dirt bike trail. Less hassle riding there than loading one up and driving to the trail to ride. I always dreaded that part of going riding. Loading bikes isn't the most fun thing.

ATVs are required to have registration and insurance, to get a riding permit....bikes aren't.

Same here for PA. I have my ATVs insured and registered (required if ridden off land owned or leased by you). Had I owned a dirt bike I wouldn't have to do either, except we don't have much for public state owned dirt bike trails ( much less than ATV trails) but a few pay-to-ride places. There is some for the Allegheny national forest and I believe they require a permit.

You're right though. I see quite a few dual sports on the road and very few of them look like they've been off road. If i had one I think it would see tons of off-road duty.

[kschilk]

Actually, the forest trails I was referring to are the Allegheny National Forest ATV/Bike Trails. :D I'm in Venango County, Oil City to be exact. I thought that even on leased land, you had to have the insurance and registration. It's all bs, really...I don't think it's fair at all and other than a revenue generator, I can't see a reason for it. If ATVs need it, why not dirt bikes...but being PeeYay, one of the most problem child states of the nation....I'm sure it's coming.

[jag13]

In my area the number of trails is somewhat limited but I usually see a D/S or two riding them. Mostly quads though (legal in my area to ride them on the roads,*except highways and interstates.) As far as gravel and dirt roads go, you may think a heavy cruiser would be as good or better but in reality it isn't so. On a strait road they are fine,but if they get even a little loose on a gravel curve the greater weight(even though lower) and rider seating position makes it much harder to recover. As far as registration, in MN. it is easy. You just get an OHM sticker and put it in the top corner on your license plate, done.

[CB750F]

Deffinatly PA's off road laws are confusing at best. If I recall right from DCNR's web site it's you have to have them registered and insured when used on land you don't own or lease. You can get a limited registration to be used to ride on land you own or lease (insurance not required) but most folks don't bother getting it. My insurance for 2 ATVs is fairly cheap.

I agree, whats good for ATVs should be good for dirt bikes so they can use the ATV trails also (plus increased revenue for the state's off road budget which should help with tourism and or increase the trails). Then again ATVs pay the same registration and that money goes into the same kitty as the snowmobile's fund but ATVs can't ride on any snowmobile only trails.


So were you at Marionville bike trail in the ANF? I've always wanted to check out ANF with my 4 wheeler.

[kschilk]

Then again ATVs pay the same registration and that money goes into the same kitty as the snowmobile's fund but ATVs can't ride on any snowmobile only trails.

That's the part that irritates me the most...why they let snowmobiles on most backroads but not ATVs...they both appear to be paying the same. I don't own an ATV or snowmobile but still, it just isn't right.


So were you at Marionville bike trail in the ANF? I've always wanted to check out ANF with my 4 wheeler.

I've had my dually (XR650L) on the Bike Trail a couple times, just dyin' to hit it on my CR480. It's rough, in some spots...the worst section is the end closest to Marienville, on the South side of 66 where it goes off of Forest Road 226. Anyway, the first couple of miles are lame but the next 10 miles, is solid boulders...'til after you cross Forest Road 124. If you're goin' on a quad, I'd skip that first part...start from FR124. The part of the trail that loops around on the North side of 66, isn't so bad but it's still pretty rocky. It's cool, though. I mostly run the Pig's Ear loop...it's also one-way but alot faster and has tons more jumps. Timberline is pretty weak, mostly but there are some cool sections. The bad thing about Timberline, is that it's two-way and usually crowded with slow riders. The literature says a maximum speed of 25 mph on the trails but except for Timberline, most everyone is doin' a good bit more...especially on Pig's Ear. When you see Pig's Ear, it's obvious that they weren't really thinkin' 25 mph. :D

[CB750F]

I'd love to hit up ANF sometime with the Raptor. :D

[kschilk]

I'd love to hit up ANF sometime with the Raptor. :D

I posted some pics on myspace at myspace.com/sosnovy ...in the "Riding The Forest Trails" album. Nothing great, I was alone and just snapped a few pics, wherever I could stop & click one off. Unfortunately, I couldn't get any of the gnarliest parts....too hard to stop & restart in some of those places. There's 1 or 2 shots of the beginning of the boulder section.

[CB750F]

Whenever I get out that way I'll let you know. Might be awhile though.

[kschilk]

Whenever I get out that way I'll let you know. Might be awhile though.

Cool! :) Actually, I need a few days to heal...doctor says weeks but I'm sure he was referring to the time it'll take, before I can run at full speed again. :D Believe it or not, there really is a limit to how much air you can land from, on a pit-bike! :o From now on, nothin' but the big stuff...those li'l things are too dangerous!

[CB750F]

I'm hoping to get out that way next year. Watch those pitbikes!

[pax maac]

In response to the original question of "why a dually if not to go offroad", I am looking to get one because the roads where I live are very poorly maintained and you never know what kind of conditions you will run into, as well as I'd like to have a bike that can go offroad if the opportunity comes up. But I admit that most of my riding will be onroad, probably with saddlebags and my wife on the back. It just strikes me that the best bike for the conditions I will encounter onroad here would be a dual sport. Now I just gotta decide which one!

[dewaine]

In response to the original question of "why a dually if not to go offroad", I am looking to get one because the roads where I live are very poorly maintained and you never know what kind of conditions you will run into, as well as I'd like to have a bike that can go offroad if the opportunity comes up. But I admit that most of my riding will be onroad, probably with saddlebags and my wife on the back. It just strikes me that the best bike for the conditions I will encounter onroad here would be a dual sport. Now I just gotta decide which one!

I have never seen saddlebags on a dual sport. Can it be done??

[pax maac]

I have never seen saddlebags on a dual sport. Can it be done??

By saddlebags I mean hard cases, luggage or those semi rigid bags they sell, not actual leather cruiser style saddlebags. Of course here in Mexico you see all kinds of homemade contraptions for carrying cargo on a bike. If you can dream it, someone can make it, usually for really cheap too. Safety is not high on the priority list.

[kschilk]

I have a set of Cortech saddlebags, my wife got 'em for me. They're molded to fit along the sidepanels and have an insulator on back, to protect from the exhaust pipe. They're probably the way to go, for dually SBs but I dunno' if I'll ever use 'em....maybe for hauling my gear to a remote fishing hole or something.

[dewaine]

I have a set of Cortech saddlebags, my wife got 'em for me. They're molded to fit along the sidepanels and have an insulator on back, to protect from the exhaust pipe. They're probably the way to go, for dually SBs but I dunno' if I'll ever use 'em....maybe for hauling my gear to a remote fishing hole or something.

Thanks for the information! That is good to know! I don't think I would have thought of that. I found some online, and some of them look like they are made for dirt bikes.

[kschilk]

I think she got them from Iron Pony, though I can't swear to it. They're pretty trick, they even come with rain covers. Mine are red, to match my Honda but they probably come in other colors.

[big joe]

I got my DR650 to ride with my son off road (TTR90) and also so I could ride it to the office. I look like a freak coming in with a bug-specked tie to the office but I am laughing at my co-workers as they are spending $100 week on gas to do what I am doing for $20.

[dewaine]

I got my DR650 to ride with my son off road (TTR90) and also so I could ride it to the office. I look like a freak coming in with a bug-specked tie to the office but I am laughing at my co-workers as they are spending $100 week on gas to do what I am doing for $20.

I was thinking the same thing, but I will probably take a change of clothes with me. I am wanting to get a dual sport (WR250) so I can take a dirt road to work that is actually a more direct route than the surface streets. But I am wondering about how dusty I might get..:cool:

[North]

Were I live there are a lot of Dualsport Bikes. Check out this site:

Just keep on clicking on the picture to change it. You will see all kinds of bikes and some of the places we ride.

http://www.dualsportbc.com/index.html#


Here's a picture of my back.:)

And the 08 spring newbie ride.

[diableri]

Were I live there are a lot of Dualsport Bikes. Check *snip*
And the 08 spring newbie ride.

This is an awesome site! I just lost nearly 30 minutes doing nothing but looking at all the pictures. I'm so jealous!

One of those shots of just a glacier is absolutely stunning. I'm from Central CA and have back country back packed to Palisades and it's amazingly worth it. I so wish there were places with low enough populations here that you could have big DS rallies or even legally ride for that matter. There is just too many of us here and not enough are responsible enough to leave the place like we find it. :(

Thanks for that link, I'll check back to it often. The Baja trip sounds like my perfect vacation! Hope you guys have fun!

[jag13]

Cool site! Very nice pics! A+++