How Fast Have You Been Off Pavement?

tntmo

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Nov 10, 2017
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San Diego, CA
As mentioned in the thread that spurred off into this one, I took the Tenere up to 100 mph going south out of Inuvik on the Dempster Highway. It was a beautiful clear day, the gravel highway was in great condition and I could see several miles ahead of me. I guess anything "could" happen but anything could happen on my walk to the mailbox as well. I just wanted to do it, so I did. Not too much later, the skies got dark and it started to rain. The road was like goose poop on oiled glass. Found a place to set a tent up for the night and waited it out after slipping and sliding around for a couple miles.

I also had my old KTM 520EXC at 100 (indicated on the Vapor digital speedometer) on the dry lake bed out near El Centro, CA. No idea how accurate the speedometer was, but that bike could move pretty quick.

All that said, I'm not really a speed demon. Just sometimes feel like letting loose a bit.
 
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ballisticexchris

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Your right about one thing Chris, you will never have to pick up my bike. You will never ride with me. ( I have serious doubts you ride at all). It is starting to make sense, as why perfect “strangers” would lay a beating on you . Although it has taken a while as I’m not a very smart man.
You have no idea of my riding ability or experience. I like it that way.
 

Ladlesport

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Parkland County Alberta, Canada
I'll feel okay doing 145km/h (90mph) peak speeds (GPS) on loose (read: freshly grated) gravel on straight hilly sections on the S10. About the same on the 350EXCF too but the S10 has a little more grunt up at that speed.
 

Tenman

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Dec 7, 2013
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Natchez Ms USA
Good grief, your 100 times worse than any Mother. Good thing you put street tires on your bike. You can always blame them.

She’s working well for me.
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He needs to go to work for OSHA Jeez I'v been 90 on gravel and dirt many times. I've topped mine out on Heidenaus, Mitas, Battlewings and Tractionators. I'm not a full time lugger.
 

PhilPhilippines

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Philippines
I rode at 197mph on scree and fir cones in a force 11 gale.

However, the other day I saw "so-called" professionals going over the centre line by 6 inches for a superior and earlier view - now THAT IS SUICIDAL and to be righteously indignant at such foolhardy practice and wanting to beat on them was the normal and rational reaction...
 

Dirt_Dad

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I sure do miss my KFX700. That was a screamer!!
Full throttle, long flat distance - GPS never said the KFX700 could get over 68 MPH. I was entertained.

I doubt I've been any faster than 85 MPH on any off pavement section. I rarely have a dirt place conducive to super high speeds. Plus I tend to only ride at speeds that satisfy me. Even on pavement I've been over 100 only two or three times. Just not my thing I guess.
 

StefanOnHisS10

Converting fuel into heat, noise and a bit motion
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Something around 80km/h-ish has been my max on a hard packed sand road. The bike had no problem going faster, i didn't feel like it though.
Very little possibilities to do so in the Netherlands. Public accessibel dirt roads are rare here unfortunatily.

Stefan.
 

Madhatter

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Mar 25, 2013
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buda texas
I think 62 or 68 but that was along time ago , 62 on the Tenere and 68 on the dr650 (tkc80 tires ) . tires are a big factor in going fast on what ever surface . where i currently live you have to travel a long way to find gravel anything . I prefer a more modest speed these days on gravel roads as I mostly ride on more street biased tires . my buddy told me that he did a 98 mph scream on gravel . I was that's cool till its not then what ?
there is all kinds of riders on this forum , the good the bad and the .......... \
everyone who rides with me thinks I'm a slow rider ( mak10 asked me once "do you always ride slow " ) I ride slow and at times I've been known to pin its ears back , but it is always when I feel that's what I want to do . I don't follow into peer presure traps , I ride my ride that makes me happy . its my bike my money my life , and my pain if I fail . at 63 I would like to ride when im 64 and on till I cannot safely do so . if your a talented rider and feel like ripping it up , power to you . at most group rides (I don't do group rides as a rule ) some one usually gets hurt. over there head and in trouble . who wants that ?
I know talented riders when I see them and Mak10 is the most talented rider I have ever road with bar none (sorry guys , not had a chance to ride with most of you ) I would follow him anywhere (cause I couldn't catch him for sure ) mak10 road his Tenere on slick rock in Moab (I wouldn't follow him there ) . movie quote "a mans got to know his limitations " I know my limitations and try to ride within my ability , im in this for the long haul ..... a man I know parked his gold wing at 80 decided it was time , I hope I make it that far.
 
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ballisticexchris

Guest
Full throttle, long flat distance - GPS never said the KFX700 could get over 68 MPH. I was entertained.

I doubt I've been any faster than 85 MPH on any off pavement section. I rarely have a dirt place conducive to super high speeds. Plus I tend to only ride at speeds that satisfy me. Even on pavement I've been over 100 only two or three times. Just not my thing I guess.
In stock form KFX700's were very underpowered. With some simple jetting, air box mods, exhaust, clutch/weights and pulley work those could be made to go well over 100mph. I had mine geared for quick acceleration in the midrange and trail duty.

As far as speed most sane riders don't ride beyond the parameters of their machine or trail conditions. I have ridden with many pro level riders that will not even consider blasting down a dirt road in a pleasure riding environment. If you are not racing what's the hurry?

Here is an example of a crash by using poor tire selection on top of riding too fast for conditions. He was lucky to walk away. If you look closely his front tire simply tucked out from under him with no warning.

 

holligl

Find the road less traveled...
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Nov 13, 2015
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IL/AZ
Not sure, let me go find out...

Actually, it all depends on the road. 90 is pushing it for me on pavement, but I've been over 75 on smooth off pavement.
 

WJBertrand

Ventura Highway
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Jun 20, 2015
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Ventura, CA
My fastest off-road ride was probably around 80 MPH or so, but it was totally unintentional. As a past contributor Motorcycle Consumer News (MCN - RIP). I got invited to a number of track test days at various tracks around California. On this particular day MCN was comparing 600cc Supersport bikes up at Buttonwillow raceway. I was taking my turns on the Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki doing laps. I was getting braver and braver on the brakes for right bend at the end of the straight, which immediately doglegs to the left and up over a rise. Just as I began to tip the Kawi in to the right (still trail braking) Editor Lee Parks zipped by me on the inside. I had no idea there was enough space there for that to happen! Anyway the startle and distraction made me completely miss the turn. I had to stand the bike up and brake as hard as possible on the remaining pavement, which wasn't much since I'd run well wide. No choice but to let off the brakes, stand on the pegs and ride it out off into the infield dirt, weeds and even some mud. You really can't brake or turn much on semi slick tires on dirt, but somehow I rode it out and got down to a safe foot paddling speed without crashing. Mud all over the tires so I had to be careful re-entering track and staying away from the lines the guys were using. We had quite the clean up job in the pits getting all the mud off. That's when I realized the mud was not only on the bike...
 
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ballisticexchris

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Just as I began to tip the Kawi in to the right (still trail braking) Editor Lee Parks zipped by me on the inside. I had no idea there was enough space there for that to happen!
LOL!! That comment reminded me of an Enduro event District 37 had out at Gorman (Hungry Valley). I was expecting to do really well as I had been riding the trails there for years and knew every inch of the park. I was riding as fast as humanly possible in a certain section I had been on dozens of times. All of the sudden this dude flies by me on the inside using the wall as a berm.

I was left in awe at how fast a pro level rider really is. I mean to tell you some of these riders defy gravity when it comes to going fast. Even when I was a lot younger I could not ride at that pace.
 
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