Steve Saunders Goldwing Forums banner
Cancel

Multisurface motorcycling......

1479 Views 12 Replies 9 Participants Last post by  93Wing, 
Cousin Jack
imported post

Today, my wife is helping her mother and sister setting up the clothing exhibits at our county fair...... which gives me some "bach time." I spent it just rolling over our local roads on my KLR 650, some paved, some broken paved, and some gravel roads! There's a curious freedom when you can ride 55mph on gravel. Whole new experience, although it mimics the freedom I felt as a boy back in distant time with my fat-tired Schwinn, which no road could defeat, regardless of the surface!

The terms "dirt bike," and even "dual-sport" are becoming rapidly dated.... the new bikes roar down freeways and the cool, hidden gravel with equal aplomb.The new world is "Multisurface!" If you can only get one bike, make it a KLR, a DR 650, A DL Wee Strom, or the XL650.... won't give up much if you do! And it definitely catches my attention when I can buy four (4!) new KLR's for one new Goldwing......Can even ride them two-up! Here's a great site for the new type of riding......

http://multisurfacemotorcycling.com/index.htm

(and here's a pic of my buddy Fred and I on an earlier gravel lark.........)

Attachments

See less See more
Save
Like
Status
Not open for further replies.
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
Winger77
imported post

You got me thinking CJ,,,,,,,,,, and thats dangeruos :DBut I can understand the fun with a dual sport. We don't have as nice of dirt roads like in your pic. But it would make for some desent new scenery for me. Hmmmmmmmm.
Save
Like
W
imported post

My wing and shadow are both multi surface, it's two and half miles of gravel before I can find a paved road. Occasionally the shadow even finds its self in hay fields and pastures.
Save
Like
B
imported post

My "multisurface" bike is a '05 CRF450X, plated as an MC (converted to street legal)with a add on brake light, mirror and horn (bare legal requirement in AZ).



I love dual sporting.....but lean more to the offroad, the plate is really only to "connect trails"......though I do ride it around town once in a while.



I still thing the ultimate dual sport is the XR650R (not the "L", which is basically the old 600R with a magic button). It is not street legal and has to be converted. But, once done........it's a bike that can run at 110 all day long......or tractor along single track at 1/2 mph. It can take anything you can throw at it offroad (it is, after all, still the most winningest bike in the baja 500 and baja 1000--rapidly being overtake by the CRF450X though), yet it does not suffer a bit from extended high way riding.



I've known guys who entered the baja 1000. Rode their street legal XR650 to Ensenada for the start...........ran the race to Cabo.........then rode the bike home. Just for fun!
See less See more
Save
Like
Bob W
imported post

We could use that here in Chicago. Between the pot holes, the rough grooved ready for ashpalt roads and the newly paved roads you coulod use knobby tires and an off road suspension.
Save
Like
clpete
imported post

I used to ride my CB 900 on gravel a lot, but I try to avoid it on my wing. It’s a whole different experience when you can spin and slide the back tire around a corner spitting gravel. Something I wouldn’t do on my wing and would do with caution on the 900.

During a few motorcycle trips we have ended up in areas where it was a destination or jump off spot for these types of bikes riding gravel roads or trails. It really would be a lot of fun. There are some great destinations that are down dirt or gravel roads and some trails systems, around here, that go for hundreds of miles.

I’m not sure that these bikes and the riding required is conducive to riding two up and the areas were you can go also may require that you are riding with another bike. I’d like to do it, but time, money and commitments will most likely keep me on my 4-wheelers. They’re very family friendly.
Save
Like
B
imported post

clpete wrote:
I used to ride my CB 900 on gravel a lot, but I try to avoid it on my wing. It’s a whole different experience when you can spin and slide the back tire around a corner spitting gravel. Something I wouldn’t do on my wing and would do with caution on the 900.

During a few motorcycle trips we have ended up in areas where it was a destination or jump off spot for these types of bikes riding gravel roads or trails. It really would be a lot of fun. There are some great destinations that are down dirt or gravel roads and some trails systems, around here, that go for hundreds of miles.

I’m not sure that these bikes and the riding required is conducive to riding two up and the areas were you can go also may require that you are riding with another bike. I’d like to do it, but time, money and commitments will most likely keep me on my 4-wheelers. They’re very family friendly.
Click to expand...
Hey Neighbor..............I live out by Tombstone.



Eric
Save
Like
clpete
imported post

Bish wrot
Hey Neighbor..............I live out by Tombstone.

Eric
Click to expand...
Hey Eric,

Last week I moved back to Utah. I was supposed to be in Az until February, but things fell apart. But have a shot for me at Big Nose Kates. I really enjoyed the area while I was there. Guess I need to change my profile.
Save
Like
Cousin Jack
imported post

clpete wrote:
Bish wrot
Hey Neighbor..............I live out by Tombstone.

Eric
Click to expand...
Hey Eric,

Last week I moved back to Utah. I was supposed to be in Az until February, but things fell apart. But have a shot for me at Big Nose Kates. I really enjoyed the area while I was there. Guess I need to change my profile.
Click to expand...
-- Big Nose Kate, Doc Holliday, Virgil..Morgan..Wyatt Earp, Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, Billy Claibourne, Curly Bill Brocius, Johnny Ringo, Turkey Creek Johnson, Johnny Behan, John Clum, Sherm McMasters, Tommy of The Deuce...... damn, Arizona ghosts are colorful....

I wonder if their voices and gunshots stillecho in the Arizona night wind? Hope so....
Save
Like
B
imported post

Cousin Jack wrote:
clpete wrote:
Bish wrot
Hey Neighbor..............I live out by Tombstone.

Eric
Click to expand...
Hey Eric,

Last week I moved back to Utah. I was supposed to be in Az until February, but things fell apart. But have a shot for me at Big Nose Kates. I really enjoyed the area while I was there. Guess I need to change my profile.
Click to expand...
-- Big Nose Kate, Doc Holliday, Virgil..Morgan..Wyatt Earp, Ike Clanton, Billy Clanton, Tom and Frank McLaury, Billy Claibourne, Curly Bill Brocius, Johnny Ringo, Turkey Creek Johnson, Johnny Behan, John Clum, Sherm McMasters, Tommy of The Deuce...... damn, Arizona ghosts are colorful....

I wonder if their voices and gunshots stillecho in the Arizona night wind? Hope so....
Click to expand...



CLPete, will do!



Cousin Jack.......depends on how many brews you've consumed at Big Nose Kate's.
See less See more
Save
Like
cyclewizard
imported post

I just bought an 06 KLR650, lime greem with tons of farkels on it.
looks like the wing is going to get parked for another 15 yrs.
This bike is a gas to ride...lol
Save
Like
84GrayWing
imported post

CJ the KLR is a great bike. I got to test ride one from the local Kawasaki shop in OKC (House of Kawasaki) They're a great bunch of guys there. The salesman said take this bike out for about an hour, don't just ride it up and down the street. So I went out and found some gravel roads and was really impressed. Looks like you're having a great time.

Jeff
Save
Like
93Wing
imported post

I need a multisurface bike for the farm..........



HEY Honey, guess what I want to buy.....
Save
Like
1 - 13 of 13 Posts
Status
Not open for further replies.
Steve Saunders Goldwing Forums
A forum community dedicated to Honda Gold Wing owners and enthusiasts. Come join the discussion about reviews, performance, modifications, troubleshooting, maintenance, and more!
Full Forum Listing
Explore Our Forums
Goldwing Technical Forum General Motorcycle Discussion Forum New Members Introduction Forum For Sale/Wanted Forum Events
Top