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U dont like them?better ride one first
U dont like them?better ride one first
I dont bounce anymore either!I have a little X300 Versys, and also a V-Strom 650 for the dirt. Rode all the dirt all in my younger years with a KLR650 and a DR650. Don't do much 4x4 jeep trails anymore just, a few county dirt roads. It hurts when I fall down.
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It hurts me too, so my plan is to continue to learn how NOT to fall down.I have a little X300 Versys, and also a V-Strom 650 for the dirt. Rode all the dirt all in my younger years with a KLR650 and a DR650. Don't do much 4x4 jeep trails anymore just, a few county dirt roads. It hurts when I fall down.
I did some roads around Telluride on a carburated XL250 in the 80's. Lots of rocks made it difficult and I was much younger at the time. Was at the top of Bridel Vail Falls 2x. Black Bear is nasty and dangerous. I was told this By the Mayor of Telluride Who was a good friend of my dad at the time. There are many passes with varring degrees of difficulties that would test your skills before hitting the crazy ones. Those passes are just as scenic and should be satisfying. The Colorado back road adventure route maps trails and bypasses around difficult passes if chosing to do so. Besides best laid plans can be detoured by weather. Are you planning this year?Spent most of the afternoon watching guys tackle Black Bear Pass on YouTube.
I'm convinced if you don't get off the tarmac in CO, you're missing much - if not MOST - of what it has to offer.
I'll have my will updated before I ride my GSA over Black Bear.
And I still may never do it... those steps on the back side, going down to Telluride, should be reserved for the likes of Ned Suesse, Bret Tcaks, Jimmy Lewis or Chris Birch.
I actually haven't found any videos of GSs trying it, although one guy did it on a KTM 1290, and it kept overheating. 3 friends did a series of CO Rockies videos on their GSs, but they agreed to pass on riding that pass, after scouting the first mile.
I'll call Jim Hyde and get his opinion.
I'll need massive amounts of seat time and peg time (standing) on the big GSA before I even entertain the idea. And I have yet to fetch it from Kalifornistan; not enough time.Those passes are just as scenic and should be satisfying. The Colorado back road adventure route maps trails and bypasses around difficult passes if chosing to do so. Besides best laid plans can be detoured by weather. Are you planning this year?
I have seen videos of a GS doing it falling multiple times. Usually someone helping to pick up the bike. If your going solo better get a smaller bike. I would try some other easier passes first. You can do a number of passes in a week. Souds like you need a case car.I'll need massive amounts of seat time and peg time (standing) on the big GSA before I even entertain the idea. And I have yet to fetch it from Kalifornistan; not enough time.
I posted similar in the Riding forum over on ADVrider, and said "there's probably a good reason I haven't found any YouTube videos of GSs coming down the steps on the back side of Black Bear pass."
I could see a Chris Birch doing it, and a select few other pro riders, but one mistake in a number of areas would be a quick death.
Seen KTM 790s, one KTM 1290 SA, and several smaller 250/350s succeed. Even then, it is horrifically sketchy in some critical parts, with a vertical face on the left from which there would be no recovery. Truly taking one's life in one's hands.
But people, even on *gasp!* motorcycles, defy death all the time, in many different ways.
If you come across this again, please PM me with some links.I have seen videos of a GS doing it falling multiple times. Usually someone helping to pick up the bike.
If you come across this again, please PM me with some links.
I've been looking specifically for GS attempts, haven't found them. I've seen "similar" GS trips, but not on Black Bear Pass.
I'll definitely not hit BBP as an early foray.
That would be a coup' de gras, not the "let's just give this a go and see what happens."
Good luck to anyone who attempts that Pass. They will certainly need it!Look at all the loooooose rock ,go to 3:40,
While we often quip "I'd rather be lucky than good", I'm of a firm belief if you don't have lots of experience and supreme confidence, some mad offroad skillz on a big ADV bike, INCLUDING steep downhills on loose terrain, you're toast.Good luck to anyone who attempts that Pass. They will certainly need it!
I have a good friend that use to ride the Colorado 500 out of Ouray. He did Black Bear on a R100GSPD BMW way back when. He stripped the bike as much as he could but left the 9 gallon tank on the bike. He only filled it up about half way for that ride. My buddy was an excellent mountain rider. A good jeep tail pass to start with would be Hagerman Pass or Cimarron Pass. Or Mosquito Pass, or Webster Pass into Red Cone Pass. Conquer these and a few others (There are many dirt passes) before you try Engineer Pass or Black Bear. Here are a few pictures of my pass riding on my R100GSPD, KLR650 and DR650s. Of course I was a bit younger back then. The DR and the KLR are the bikes one wants for the Back Country Passes. It is a lot steeper and rockier than the pictures portray. Mountain 4x4 pass riding is a lot different than trail riding at the lower altitude trails back east.
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or doesn't....this is nasty stuffAnd remember, everything is impossible until someone does it.