K11 Owners Group

Off the grid · Last edited by Off the grid on Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:08 pm; edited 1 time in total

1st ride report:

(preface) Met up with a fellow ADver who lives locally and we hit some really close ATV trails, some loose stuff with some great turns and singletrack thrown in.

1. LOVE the bike. I mean really really love it. fooking rip-snorting beast. The grin factor is just unbelievable.

2. HATE the kickstart. I mean I hate it more than I would hate my mother in law if my mother in law was like they are in the movies hate. I busted, bruised and skinned my shin and ankle to all hell kicking that pig over.

3. This sucker is tall. At 6'3" with a 33" inseam I am no slouch, but dayum it's like mounting an Amazon hooker.

4. I am an out-of-shape, tubby, not-ridden-a-real-dirtbike-in-years bitch. I need to re-learn my braking and riding technique. Grabbing a handful of front brake may work on the beemer, but it dumped me 2x today, much to the delight of my riding partner. I am a sore mofo tonight, and will be tomorrow when I go out again. Nothing a few Soma and Advil cannot handle though.

5. FIRE! Yes, fire. After my last biff attempting to climb a sandy, off camber steep incline I had no business even trying, the bike was on it's side a bit before righting. At the bottom of the hill I kicked her a few times to no avail. Buddy kicked her, I smelled gas, on the next kick heard a backfire and then saw smoke from the airbox! I tore off the cover and saw that the fucking air filter was on fire! I can only deduce that she was flooded bad, I didn't follow the flooded kick technique and the backfire ignited the gas-soaked air filter. Thank the 8lb, 4oz babyjesus that I had a bottle of grape sugar free Kool aid with me. (don't ask) End result? I am out an air filter and the side plate is singed a bit.

....and I am humbled. Severely humbled. I knew there was a lot to learn, but damn I feel like I am 14 climbing atop my CR125 again for the first time.
I'm not going to lie....the kickstart better get better, fast. Because at 40 I don't have to patience for that shit. Call me a pussy, but I don't want to kill myself trying to start a bike.

*Epilogue* With a bit more education (and the starting procedure in my map case) The bike starts in 1-2 kicks now. Smile

Went out yesterday to practice some wheelies. Errr...I mean....riding technique. Yeah, that's it.

Further postings as events warrant.

After picking her up from shop....the rack was solid as a rock...bike didn't move an iota.

View of the cockpit.

Rear bag came with it, but I took it off because I was destroying the seams with my leg every time I got on/off the sucker. You literally have to put your foot on the left peg to mount this bike. I picked up a front fender bag and tankbag to supplement.

Oh yeah, that whole part about "saving money"? Total BS. I am blowing through cash like the last days of the Bush administration. But the fun factor is unlike anything I have felt in a long, long time.

And in the end, when we are all on our deathbeds, it's all about the stories anyway.

Cool

(I've also entered a few enduro races/rides in April/May Shocked

)

PSS: BRP=Big Red Pig
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

Saltcreek · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 3:49 pm Post subject:

Let me get this straight. Your first ride you dropped it twice and set it on fire once and you sound like a $5000 hooker just left? I'll be on craigslist searching for dual sports...
_________________
Jim

1994 K1100LT Mystic Red, bfd, 37000 miles, sold Sad

2009 Wilderness Systems Zephyr 155 ST
2002 Litespeed titanium

Off the grid · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 4:10 pm Post subject:

Pretty much true....and loved every second of it.

Absolutely cannot wait to go out again.
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

SugarHillCTD · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject:

Gee, maybe I should "stick with the brick". At least it hasn't caught on fire........yet.

Hey Dave, what ya' got planned for your second outing? Mr. Knievel never did make it over the Snake River- maybe that should be in your gotta' do list.

endoman100 · Posted: Tue Feb 24, 2009 6:30 pm Post subject:

Off the grid
You're a braver man than I Cool

at 44 soon to be 45 and at 270 I don't think I would servive doing that on a dirt bike. sounds like fun. and all i can say is ..you tha man Cool

_________________
In the words of the stones
Time Is On My Side
Yes It Is
1993 K1100RS

mnb

mike toon · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 3:12 am Post subject:

I'm glad you're having such a good time on that XR Dave. It's gonna take more than sleep to wipe that smile off your face.

Yes-sir-re-bob the fun factor in these Dual Sports can't be conveyed through words alone. I just turned 63 (and 260) and I'm not done yet. There are a lot of trails and a huge desert at my back door and I plan on seeing all of it in my lifetime.

I was pleasantly surprised when I asked the seller where the kick starter was and he said "electric". Don't know if I could handle a kick start on my tall bike.

I changed my rear turn signals to smaller ones because I kept hitting them with my foot getting on. MX boots do help my 72" height a little though. I like your rear lights.

XRs and DRs are very popular here in CA.

_________________
Current Bikes
1993 K1100LT
1976 GL1000 Naked
1981 GL1100 Naked
2000 DR650 Dual Sport

rydor · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 10:14 am Post subject:

That chit looks fun!

mike toon · Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2009 1:12 pm Post subject:

And that first XR pilot is a girl. Proves everyone can have fun!
_________________
Current Bikes
1993 K1100LT
1976 GL1000 Naked
1981 GL1100 Naked
2000 DR650 Dual Sport

Off the grid · Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:09 pm Post subject:

Had a blast today, about 4hrs of riding.

Some observations:

1. This club I joined is very well organized and marked.
2. Met a few great people.
3. Some of the trails I was on I had no business being on as out of shape as I am and with a 650 no less. There were some very technical trails!
4. Towards the end of the day I stayed on the main trail and hit the motocross track again and again to work on technique. It helped.
5. I am going to be very sore tomorrow.
6. I am selling the XR and getting a smaller bike. (with E-Start!)

Some pics!
Start of the day...raring to go!

Good turnout

Lunch break...see the guy pulling the wheelie?

Well he got a talkin to!

Met up with Joe and jawed for about a half hour...good people!

In the trails

This poor sods throttle stuck and he wailed a tree. Other than a tweaked knee he was ok. ATV was trashed though.

The beast resting

More beast

Me in action at the motocross track....great for building your skills. (or in my case, last thereof)

Check out my sweet air!

Niccce berms on the track

More sweet air! (not)

Time to go...man I am going to be a sore amigo.

PS I went home and put the XR up for sale....it sold in 5 mins. It is simply too big and too powerful for the type of riding I want to do. (see flea market in ADV)

Not going to be without a bike for long!

-Dave
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

owrstrich · Posted: Sun Mar 15, 2009 11:32 pm Post subject:

rodger that o t g...

you will get it sorted out... i know where there is a yamaha rd400 for sale for 2.8 k $...

i will pass on it if you want it... kinda like passing on the baby blue streak to shoganai...

im just a dogooder i guess...

j o
_________________
yeeeeeehaaaaaaa...

Mystic Red · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:08 am Post subject:

I have Honda CT110 Trail.... just yankin' your chain, Dave. Laughing

_________________
Scott Hespelt, '94 K11LT
K11 OG #466

Off the grid · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:03 pm Post subject:

/shakes fist at you guys!
_________________
Bane of your existence since July 2006
2007 Triumph Tiger ABS. "Sabertooth"
2009 Husqvarna TE610. "The dirty Italian mistress"

jpberens1994K1100RS · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:12 pm Post subject: bike rideing

Neat story, thanks for sharing all that.

GEEZ you are big as a bear!! Howzit a 600 dirt bike can beat you up while you beat up your 1100?
Kidding, offroad is cool, but I was always bashing myself up off road 30 years ago, so's now if I go off road it's my boots only. Or I flupped up and left the road.

You going to get your K1100LT back soon from the mech?

I was BUSY this weekend working/riding my 93 RS. Will post pics in a couple days.

New shock and those AMAZING CATZ ambers are all set now. Thanks to Drake for the very cool install idea.

Later....
_________________
1993 K1100RS that I'd rather be riding FAST!
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge

mike toon · Posted: Mon Mar 16, 2009 1:27 pm Post subject: Re: bike rideing

Marti · Posted: Wed Mar 18, 2009 7:35 pm Post subject:

[quote="Saltcreek"]Let me get this straight. Your first ride you dropped it twice and set it on fire once and you sound like a $5000 hooker just left? I'll be on craigslist searching for dual sports...[/quote]
A point beautifully put; sounds like I need a dirty bike cos can't afford the hooker.... used to have a wife Very Happy

_________________
Cheers,

Marti
Ex K1 Ex- K100RS Ex- K1100RS Ex R1150RS
Ex Wife Smile

Ex Pan European
R1150RT Ex-R1100RS
R1150RS Miss the K11RS Sad

LordGondor · Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:29 pm Post subject:

Hey Dave,
I like the rear carrier you had for the XR. Did that work for your LT too? Or is the LT too big. Wondering if those would work for an RS.
- Beau
_________________
93 K1100RS
60K miles now. 30K by me.

Off the grid · Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 3:33 pm Post subject:

Stoked Steve · Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 6:50 pm Post subject:

Johnny O has one that handles the LT/RS. It's on my wish list....
_________________
Steve
Virginia Beach, VA
93 K1100RS Mystic Red SOLD
12 Suzuki DL650A VStrom

LordGondor · Posted: Thu Mar 19, 2009 7:05 pm Post subject:

Sounds nice. How much are they? Wonder how long I have to save for.
_________________
93 K1100RS
60K miles now. 30K by me.