New dirt rider on a dual sport- ?'s

[CuriousMike]

I recently went from street bike to dual sport, hoping to mix my love of street motorcycles and riding mountain bikes.

I picked up a DR 650 which seemed to be the best 50/50 street/dirt mix of the dual sports.

Anyhow, I'm finding out that since I didn't fall out of a diaper and into dirt motorcycling, I have lots to learn. (Where to ride, what equipment is important for the bike, what gear is important for dirt ( dirt helmet, pants, boots, elbow pads... wow))

A friend took me out to "Frank Raines" park out on Del Puerto Canyon, and I spent about an hour riding around.
My impression is this is a lot more work than I expected.

I just wanted to ride dirt trails on the bike... not looking for MX.

I'm hoping someone will say "Frank Raines is not indicative of a park for a beginner".

From reading some of the threads in here, it would appear Hollister is by far the best place for beginner trails.. but it's also far away.

How does Carnegie and/or Metcalf rate for beginner dirt rider looking for trails ? I've driven past Carnegie on my street bike, and it just seems like it's a solid wall of a hill ?

[JoeBar]

Hey Mike, try the MSF dirtbike school (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=21429
) ;)

Doc Wong (http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=53) also has free dirtbike clinics, usually during the weekends!

[Farmer John]

Originally posted by CuriousMike
I'm hoping someone will say "Frank Raines is not indicative of a park for a beginner".

Consider it said.

Metcalf would be good, Hollister would probably be better.

Pierre's comment on the Doc Wong dirt clinics is spot on!

Watch this sub forum as well as Doc Wong's & make it a point to get out with either group.

[pelikan]

I would HIGHLY recommend the doc wong clinic. if not goto holllister, by far the place with the easiest trails. the only thing you'll like at carneige is the open space they have, but that gets boring after a while. (it's flat).

im heading to hollister this sunday for a bit, I'd be happy to show you around. I'm on a dual sport, but playing with my suspension lately so I'll be taking it easy.

you got the basic dirt gear?

[CuriousMike]

pelikan,
Thanks for the offer... this weekend is out for me, but I might ping you in the future for some advice and or ride.

The Doc Wong thing looks good... the MSF thing looks too beginner-ish. I'm a solid street rider, and it looks like they start just as the MSF street course does ( i.e, "Here's the brakes, push the bike..." etc.) I'm hoping more to start "Here's how to position yourself on the bike... when to stand, how to weight the pegs, when/where throttle control matters..." ... the friend that took me out to Frank Raines gave me some good starting advice.

Do you ride your bike down to Hollister or trailer ?
( FWIW, I'll be riding to anyplace I go. I have a feeling this isn't the smartest move for dirt riders, but I guess I have to learn. )

I just ordered a bunch of crap from an online web shop-
pants, jersey, helmet, goggles, gloves, boots and elbow pads.
Total of about $380 shipped worth of gear... not bad considering I spent that on a jacket for road riding.

The one ride I did out Frank Raines showed me my on-road textile gear + helmet was too hot; the helmet in particular wasn't right - a visor just doesn't do it.

[pelikan]

mike, no doubt, it seems there is a weekly DirtyBARF meeting, so I'm sure you'll get somebody to ride with you.

I trailer my bike down mainly for two reasons.

#1 My bike is less street oriented now. The turn signals, mirrors and gearing aren't hard to move back, but wearing down my knobbies on the freeway isn't too appealing. Plus the ones I have make a bike that was shakey at 70 to a bike that is shakey at 50

#2 Gear, food, change of clothes, storage, etc... Dirt helmets suck on the freeway, the wind on the visor snaps your head back. And after a days worth of riding, it is nice to sit in a car and hydrate on the way home. Last time I gashed my arse and a two hour ride on the freeway would of killed me. Of course if I was closer than 'hours away' from ANY state park, I might change my mind.

Again, I'm sure if it's an issue somebody can help you out and bring down your dirt gear, if not you and your bike :)

Lastly, the Doc Wong clinic sounds exactly like what your looking for.

And, finally, don't forget to consider knee pads.

[pelikan]

ok, seriously, this is my last post. one of these days we should organize a real dual sport ride. Some backroads, some fire trails, some camping, etc... That sounds like hella fun.

[CuriousMike]

A ride thru Northern California last year inspired me to go dual sport.

Riding on twisty roads on my 'Busa was great... but seeing all the side roads into the forests... the "Camping... 7miles down this dirt road"... got me pretty fired up to mix motorcycling and dirt.

Thanks for the tips --- ( I'm gonna wait and see if the pants I ordered come with knee guards... if not, I'll throw those in the mix, too.)

[Shotline]

Hi Mike,

I went to Hollister last weekend for my first outing in the dirt and I had a great time. I got an old '86 (jeez, '86 is old?) XL600 with enduro tires and still had a great time. There are several begginer trails that are pretty much flat with a few small jumps here and there. The intermediate trails are not that hard either. Still pretty much flat but alot twistier/sandier/rockier and they throw in a few steep downhills but nothing that was too crazy.

Not having been to any other parks it is hard for me to suggest any but I can say that Hollister was great for me and I had no dirt riding experience.

Good luck and hope to see you out there some time.

[JoeBar]

Mike,
The Doc Wong clinic is great! For my very first dirt ride I went to Metcalf. It is very small compared to Hollister but plenty for a first time! To get used to the bike and to riding on something else than asphalt, I went to a small closed area where you can ride in circles. After a few minutes I felt like I was ready so I took trail #1. What a blast! I must have done it 10 times in a row! I was addicted to dirt riding!!! :cool :teeth

So now that I just sold my street legal dirt bike to get a dirt-only bike, you guys start talking about dual sport rides? :wow :x Seriously, that sounds great and I wish I could join. Pelikan, I am sure there will be several BARFers interested in a BARF Dual Sport ride and, since you started the idea, I think that you should create a new "BARF Dual Sport rides" thread! What do you think? ;) :teeth