I've had the KLX (my first bike) for about 2 years, but hadn't actually taken it off road (not counting a hair pin turn I missed in the hills one time), after 4 and a half thousand K's of road experience, the time seemed right for a weekend away to explore some dirt.

It was a good weekend, turns out I suck at riding on muddy, slippery or hard packed roads covered in loose gravel, but some how managed to keep the bike up right and not fly off any trails through my complete lack of experience and confidence, for the entire 150 km trip.

Travelling through a sleepy country town with bitumen divided roads was another story. For what ever reason, I am having great difficulties riding with my MX boots (I haven’t really won them before this trip), I jut cant get use to them. So it seems I took a corner a little too fast, didn't do anything that I would normally do, like brake or lean and accelerate, etc instead I decided that hitting the center gutter and flying off the bike was a better alternative.

If the medium strip was paved rather then the softest dirt I have ever come across, the outcome may have been a little different. As it were I performed a perfect role, right shoulder first, up on my feet and hands in the air for a perfect finish.

The bike mostly landed on the dirt side of the medium strip, with the front fork guard being the only part of the bike to hit the concrete.

Damage to me, surprisingly, none, I was however wearing amour under a dri rider jacket with all three layers (it was cold).

Damage to the bike, front fork guard did its bit and gave its life protecting my fork, while the foot peg was bent, as was the brake lever.

Pretty disappointed with myself, but the outcome wasn't all that bad.

Take care out there.





-Justin

 

Glad your ok!

 

So that's what its like to have a get off. I heard about them. I'm at 11,500 miles and have yet to experience that. And I ride trails and loose gravel roads a lot. Glad you're OK, and I like the descriptive way you write.

 

Nice! Now get out there and do it again!

 

+1,, glad your ok though... I had my first get off on my bike ummm about 20 min after I bought it lol

 

Stay in school kids, and don't do drugs

 

Hahaa, werd.. I've launched my bike off of small cliffs before. These bikes are REALLY tough. It takes a LOT to break them.

I crashed hard in third gear a couple weeks ago onto some boulders. I got the crap beat out of me, but the bike was fine.

If you're not breaking things, you're not riding the bike hard enough

 

Its always a good day when klx gets more damage than the rider. Kawi parts are a whole lot cheaper than human parts!

 

and you get into much less trouble by stockpiling Kawi parts!

 

Haha you know I've heard that for over three years on this site, and I have to say that while its a catchy saying, I disagree 100% with it. don't get me wrong, I'm not getting defensive, and I absolutely get on it every where I go, highway and off road. In fact off road in the right gear and right up to 8 grand the bike is a power house. But for me I bought the KLX to have fun, stay safe and to be able to look back 20 years from now and still have a great bike. Now that being said, there will be a day when I break something hopefully on the bike and not me, but I guess I was raised to take care of what you have, and I work hard to get the things that I have as well. So for all you guys that thrash your bikes, that's OK, I don't look down on anyone for that, just have fun and come back alive every day. But for me and my bike I just want it to last. Besides I'm too broke to replace broken parts....there you have the real reason I take care of my bike so well.