Dual Sport bug....

[Speeddog]

As a discussion point....

I've not done heaps of mud riding, as I've lived in Southern California my whole life.
But I've done a good bit, and spent lots of time riding in the dirt.

I can't see how muddy it really is, and even that is dependent on what kind of dirt it is.

But in this situation, ignoring the oncoming ute, which actually did limit your line choice a bit...

My first choice would be the green line, second would be the yellow, third would be the orange, and last choice red.

Green looks best due to some vegetation offsetting the sliminess of the mud.
Yellow goes through almost no water.
Orange looks about as good as the yellow, but the proximity to the downslope is a concern.
Red goes through the most water, which is of unknown depth (which I've found to occasionally hold a wheel-sized hole, leading to close visual inspection of the front fender and subsequent body/ground contact).

Line choice seemed improved at about the 9 minute mark.

As I wasn't there in person, I may be taking through my hat.

[ungeheuer]

Speeddog, I agree with your analysis (ignoring the ute).  

But....  you fail to take into account that my ability in these conditions is backed by.. an appropriate level of confidence      

And the DR... it aint a lightweight  .

So whilst green does look good in theory... it's the high point of a slimy ridge.... and I'm concerned about slipping off down into the adjacent rut, getting crossed up and losing control.

Ditto yellow.

And while I agree with your thoughts re the red line.... its almost always the choice I (possibly unwisely) make.   Can't slip to any lower depth than the low point.  And yes, there's the risk that its 12' deep... or has some unseen obstacle lurking within the murkiness.  

And the orange line?  Same deal as green, but due to the proximity of The Edge to the left.... I'm very, very wary of orange.

Being in Australia my natural road positioning is to keep left.... yet you'll notice just how often I choose the right side of the track.

Its fear of The Edge.

Pretty steep, muddy long way down over The Edge.

[Speeddog]

I had a small suspicion that the green line wasn't as good as it looked.

The proximity of the orange line to the edge is indeed worrying.

All safety margins depend on the riding conditions.
I began dirt riding on motocross tracks.
Obstacles were the same every lap, help was close by, so I adopted rather slim margins.

Later, I started riding dirt roads much like that one.
Oddly enough, with the same slim safety margins.
A few hard falls riding solo led me to widen the margins.
That, and I don't bounce nearly as well as I used to, so margins continue to widen.   

The best way of dealing with The Edge is to not look at it.
Granted, 8 million times easier to say than to do.

I've found it's easier to deal with marginal traction while standing or crouching on the pegs.

[koko64]

I'm paying attention to all this, taking notes and maxing out the Health insurance.

[ungeheuer]

Later, I started riding dirt roads much like that one.
Oddly enough, with the same slim safety margins.

Riding your motocross tracks, you had already developed dirt riding skills to give you that confidence   

A few hard falls riding solo led me to widen the margins.
That, and I don't bounce nearly as well as I used to, so margins continue to widen.   

In these conditions when I fall (not that I did this time) it's always low speed topple-over embarrassment due to ponderous indecision  .  No bounce required.

The best way of dealing with The Edge is to not look at it.

Agreed.

Granted, 8 million times easier to say than to do.

Hence my chicken-shit avoidance tactics.....

I've found it's easier to deal with marginal traction while standing or crouching on the pegs.

Agreed again.  And its something I generally do to good effect.... but when I'm really having an "oh shit" moment in slow muddy conditions like these.... even though I know standing up on the pegs is the most effective strategy....  I find myself sitting, paddling my feel along the ground like a 3 year old attempting to ride his big brother's bicycle  .

I'm at my worst in mud.  Over the couple of years that I've been dirt riding I have actually got reasonably competent and can scoot along pretty good so long as its dry.  I should get out in the mud more coz nobody ever got good at anything by doing less of it.

[Speeddog]

I've not gotten very good at riding in mud, as we seldom get enough rain to make much of it.

If you can find a low risk area to practice riding it while standing, where you're not going to end up down in a ditch or under the wheels of a ute if you make a small error in judgement.....

If you can get access to a smaller/lighter mount to practice on, that will speed the learning process IMO.

I've ridden a good bit on an XT600 with proper dual-sport tires, and it did respond to the techniques I had learned on dirt bikes that were 100 pounds lighter.
It just didn't respond as quickly and as emphatically, and was harder to gather back up when it went pear-shaped.
You can still learn the techniques on a beast, it's just more difficult.

[ungeheuer]

Some sound advice there Speeddog. 

I keep thinking I "need" a lightweight dirt ride....  but I'll persevere in mastering the Pig... it does so much so well (but excels in none).

[The Mad King Pepe']

What a boring video! I kept waiting and hoping, but you didn't go down even once. 

Instead of just a lighter bike, have you thought about a Trials bike? Saw a video that got me thinking:



sorry, I meant this one got me thinking about learning riding techniques on a Trials bike: 

[The Mad King Pepe']

Oh, and I sold the F650 and got a WR250X 

[koko64]

That's a weapon.

What's the maintenance schedule like on those?

[ungeheuer]

What a boring video! I kept waiting and hoping, but you didn't go down even once. 

I knew you'd be disappointed with my shabby effort 

Instead of just a lighter bike, have you thought about a Trials bike? Saw a video that got me thinking:

Can't argue with any of that   

A trials bike for me would make some sense.....  can ride it around our woodlot/forest... a neighbour of mine is very into trials machines....  so advice is easy to come by.... 

Oh, and I sold the F650 and got a WR250X 

Nice 

I've been wondering if it's WR250R brother would be an effective lighter option for me..


...problem then is that I'd also want an effective heavier XT1200 Super Tenere... to handle the cruisier side of the dual sport equation....  Two bikes in place of the one pretty good compromise I now own in the DR650.  Its why I just keep coming back to where I already am  .

[koko64]

Pics bro pics!
GK

I don't think it will happen. The vendor is avoiding me big time after saying he would deliver the bike on three occasions. Most likely it means he sold the bike to someone else or has decided to keep it.
I'll find another.

[The Mad King Pepe']

What's the maintenance schedule like on those?

Oil change every 3000 miles or so; valves every 26,000 (twenty six thou, not a typo); you only need to rebuild the engine if you ride for several thousand miles in third world countries with poor gas (~70-ish octane).

I've been wondering if it's WR250R brother would be an effective lighter option for me..

...problem then is that I'd also want an effective heavier XT1200 Super Tenere... to handle the cruisier side of the dual sport equation....  Two bikes in place of the one pretty good compromise I now own in the DR650.  Its why I just keep coming back to where I already am  .

I was actually looking for a WRR, but found the WRX for much much less, so I jumped on it. Difference is mainly the wheels, many people buy a second set and just swap them.

The DR is a great do-it-all bike, if I ever do a RTW trip, the DR would be my top choice: simple, reliable, easy to fix, tolerates cheap gas, an anvil of a bike (and weighs the same ). The WRR has nowhere near the torque, so you really have to rev it, whereas the DR just goes. However a WRR and an XT would be a nice combo: best of both worlds! 

[koko64]

Oil change every 3000 miles or so; valves every 26,000 (twenty six thou, not a typo); you only need to rebuild the engine if you ride for several thousand miles in third world countries with poor gas (~70-ish octane).

Good you got the "cooking" model. The high performance models have scheduled servicing in hours rather than miles from what the dirt guys tell me. Sounds unburstable.

[Scoober1103]

This was my last dirt bike. Great fun but I do prefer my two strokes for the bush!

IMG_0429 by scoober11031, on Flickr