73 degrees F + new bike + no rain + day off = + new dirt bike friends + sore ****

Please note, the sore **** wasn't from the new dirt bikin' buddies, just from lots of time on the KLX today. Just to clear that up, not that any of you would have taken a swing at that softball I lobbed up.

I read in one of my magazines that you should replace your helmet every 5 years. I also read that it should be snug enough that when you are wearing it, it should just move your head when you try to wigggle it, but not the helmet. My old one was kind of loose in that respect, and I bought it in 1995, so I drove up to Competition Accessories in Springfield today to shop for a new one. They have the biggest selection in the area. I ended up getting a Fox helmet, around 139.00, not too expensive, but it felt good on my dome. Certainly an improvement over my last dirt style helmet.


I also picked up some dirt biking pants, I really like the "bombs away" style. They are from Shift. They had some matching jerseys, but none in my size. I am going to have to go online to find one because I thought they were really sharp. I bought another Shift jersy that didn't clash with the pants too badly. I got the pants on sale, 20% off, they are from 2007, old stuff I guess. My gain. Here are the pants:


I had a good time on the trails today, but people were leaving as soon as I got there. I got some trail riding in before everyone left. I had to watch the Pitt-UConn game, that cost me some time riding with other people at the trails. I don't like to do serious trail riding alone, so I left and did some street riding, went out for another 30 miles.I hit an indicated 67 mph, my highest yet. Wasn't trying for a top speed, didn't get on the highway, so I broke the law some, I'm very naughty I guess. It was quite windy today, that coupled with the Michelin AC-10 tires make high speed runs spooky, so I backed off quickly. I stopped at the local bar for a pitstop and had a beer at about 5:30. Regret that, after I drink, I don't ride anymore, and I just spent the next 5 hours there. I could have squeezed out another hour of riding maybe. But it was a good day.

 

It was supposed to storm Saturday night, and it did north, but it stayed dry here. It was cloudy and very windy this morning, with the threat of T-storms. It's only an 8 milre ride to the trails, so I took my chances and rode out there again today. I think the threat of severe weather scared off a lot of people, but there were about 4-5 guys with trials bikes that showed up, also some guy with a Honda CRF450X (I think) and his young son with an XR70 were there. That was it. The trials bikes guys were riding the expert trails that I didn'y want a part of, so I rode around some with the 450 guty and his son, and did some riding on my own. Probably for about 2 hours, with an eye on the sky. After I felt some raindrops, I headed for home. Probably a good idea, the weather got worse from there. We had a tornado watch until 7:00 pm. But the weather never did get severe here. Better safe than sorry.

One thing I did notice about my bike is that it doesn't like the ultra low rpms. I noticed that on some tricky (for me and my meager skills) downhills sections, I often stalled out. Maybe it has to do with the Kustom Kraft 330 kit, I think it has a racing piston? I probably stalled out in the tricky sections well over a dozen times this weekend, and I did use the clutch. It does have strong low end power, it really pulled me up some hills nicely. It just doesn't like to stay running super low, like it did before the mods. That little tradeoff in creeping ability is worth it, I love the way the bike pulls everywhere else in the rpm band. Someone suggested that I could get back some of the low rpm creeping ability with a jetting change, but I don't know which way to go.

I have a 6 day work week awaiting for me in the morning. It will be dry tommorrow, so an evening street ride could be in order. It will rain on Tuesday, then it is supposed to be dry through next Sunday, but quite a bit cooler, like around the upper 40s. So next Sunday, hopefully I'll get some more hours of dirt riding in.

 

I'm glad you cleared that up, I had my bat on my shoulder ready to knock it out of the park. As far as the helmet goes, if you can chew gum with your helmet on and not bite the inside of your cheeks, then its too large or the cheek pads need replaced. At least that's what I think. I tried to chew some beef jerky a few weeks ago with the helmet on and bit right into my mouth, so I think I'm still good. On the other hand you don't want it so tight that your face turns purple. What gears are you running on the bike?

 

I have stock gearing. I wasn't trying for a top speed, I've never had it on the highway yet. But 67 was the highest indicated reading I have taken the bike to, it had lots of juice left over. It has strong acceleration in 6th gear compared to how it was stock.

I think the helmet fits just right. A medium was very snug, almost painful. The large was also snug, but with no discomfort. It did pinch my cheeks in a bit, which I was told is about right.