Some Rocks, Some Drops..

[Mellow]

I did about 20 miles of dirt roads yesterday going to see my parents in SE Oklahoma.

17 miles was pretty much hard packed dirt, gravel and sections of sand or bigger rocks.

The 1st 1/2 mile of the last 3 was a bit tougher.

Sorry for the video quality, it was mounted to the fairing and it's rubber mounted so it bounced around a lot, next time I'll mount to the crash bars or helmet.

The video doesn't show the rocks all that well, that section was solid rocks, no dirt or grass and the smallest of rocks was in the softball-sized range. Most were smooth and at first it looked like I could just roll right over them.. Well, maybe a more experienced rider could but this was my 1st real try at seeking these types of adventures... next time, I'll turn around. The bike was just eating up the previous miles like it was nothing so I was feeling a bit more confident.

As for damage, the skid plate has a couple good dents in it, the crash bars have scratches and the kickstand has a little part that you're supposed to use your foot on to deploy it, the ST has that too, that was bent upwards and snapped off when I tried to bend it back. Just as well as on the Tenere that part was always in an awkward place and I just used the foot of the kickstand.

Enjoy the video.

Some Rocks, Some Drops

 

[Venture]

???

Mellow, that was badass. That creek bed was scary from where I was sitting, way to push through. You impressed me.

 

[colorider]

Dang Joe - looks like you bit off a mouthful with that creek bed!! Looked to me that you were not standing up on the pegs, which may have helped some. I did an excursion similar to that on a R1150GSPD and it was a handful.

::003::

 

[Mellow]

Dang Joe - looks like you bit off a mouthful with that creek bed!! Looked to me that you were not standing up on the pegs, which may have helped some. I did an excursion similar to that on a R1150GSPD and it was a handful.

::003::

You're right, typical novice mistake... It was all I could do get get any momentum and at one point I was just trying to duck-walk it over the rocks as I knew I was beyond my abilities, I edited out the spots where I was just stuck trying to get over big rocks and I kept killing the bike or just rocking back and forth. All I was thinking was 'I have a loan on this bike, don't trash it' LOL.

When I first pulled off the pavement, I turned off the TCS, wow!... I think I burned off 1/4 of my rear tire playing around with that and having fun with power slides.

I didn't know what the best setting for TCS was in this rocky situation but I'm thinking you shouldn't go fast enough for it to matter anyway, any thoughts there?

I was trying to truly crawl over the rocks but having 'street bike mentality' all I saw were rocks where the smallest of which would tip over a typical street bike so I couldn't believe I was in this situation and amazed the bike really wasn't the limiting factor, I was. (maybe not so amazed ))

One thing about the ABS.. earlier on the ride I had to go up a small mtn/hill area (this was near the Talamena Scenic Drive) and then had to head down that hilly area, I was scooting along at 30-45 mph... had to scrub off speed.... hit the rear brake and it would slide along with the abs being activated. Whatever Yamaha did works really well, you start fish-tailing as the rear tire slides and the abs kicks in enough to 'really work well'... it's almost 1/2 abs and 1/2 non-abs.. I don't know if other abs bikes do the same thing..

 

[snuffcityrider]

Great vid. Y'all need to crush your gravel a little finer...

 

[GrahamD]

Good on you for pushing the envelope, chewing like crazy getting back on the horse and videoing the hole thing. ::26:: ::003::

4 out of 4.

Getting out of your comfort zone is what Adventure is all about, even in your back yard. ::024::

Cheers
Graham

 

[Twitch]

Thanks for posting Mellow…good video of some real treacherous terrain.

One question from a sand flea, do you guys that navigate that sort of terrain air down for that and how do you want your tires to respond to that surface? I guess that’s two questions.

 

[colorider]

Thanks for posting Mellow…good video of some real treacherous terrain.

One question from a sand flea, do you guys that navigate that sort of terrain air down for that and how do you want your tires to respond to that surface? I guess that’s two questions.

I'm sure the "experts" will chime in, but I would be hesitant to air down too much on rocks such as those for fear of damaging the rims. I'm guessing that something other than 90/10 tires would have helped too!!

 

[Mike Sisson]

Impressive!!!

That would have scared me on my DRZ!!! ???

 

[mobyfubar]

So the video ends before you get to the ST-Owners meetup at the end of that road? ::025::

You did way better than I would, for sure! ::008::

 

[spklbuk]

Keep this up and we are going to have to have a poll for you a new forum handle. ::001::

 

[Koinz]

Mellow - Consider yourself "Experienced" now or at least you have experienced it. You know the old saying, if you don't fall you're not trying.
I am most definitely a novice so I applaud your effort. ::012:: ::012:: ::012::

 

[Yamaguy55]

Well, Rocky, you just made Expert. I went down some very steep, loose rock covered stuff Friday. Not sure I'd do that stretch again, but the Tenere took it. While a big, heavy beast, it can certainly take some serious nasties. Gets better with every ride.

Good video, and good riding. Like I said: "you just made expert."

 

[mobyfubar]

Well, Rocky, you just made Expert.

::025::

 

[Yamaguy55]

Well: he did! ::008::

 

[Kevhunts]

Kudos Mellow! I think you handled that well. ::012::

 

[Mellow]

Thanks for the comments.. you always question putting out a video like that which shows you as anything other than a perfect rider but I think the important part is I was impressed with what the bike would do... I edited-out the parts of the video where I was stuck on big rocks and was trying to get over them and I'd kill the bike a bunch of times. I never smelled the clutch or felt the bike was working anywhere near as hard as I was.

The altrider crash bars and skid plate worked very well and the rest of the bike didn't get banged up either, I was expecting broken turn signals or something more major if you want to classify that as major.

 

[eemsreno]

Good job Mellow, I had to wait till I was at work to watch , our internet is too slow at home . That looked like a great trail.

 

[Dirt_Dad]

That was some pretty hardcore stuff. Obviously you learned something from it. Even if it was just learning what you don't want to do next time, that's still a valuable lesson. Rock on...

 

[snuffcityrider]

After my first ride with the Ten on gravel roads, I can appreciate those bolders that you rode through. Don't think I'll be trying that just yet. Great job of getting through those rocks. Going back anytime soon?