Just got in from spending the weekend on the trails at Coal Creek OHV area in Oliver Springs, TN. I absolutely love this place. I doubt you can ride every trail they have over the course of a 3 day weekend (it's something like 250miles total). Just too many miles and not enough daylight. I took a couple of spills by either overriding my ability or going too fast and finding a mud-covered smooth rock with the front tire in a turn. The bike handled everything I threw at it without pause and took me places I would have never tried on my old bike. I received ALOT of compliments on it from both my ride group and people we met on the trails. I got separated from my group once and they commented later, they 'heard' me coming and knew it was me by the exhaust tone. I only have a few pics - as I was too wrapped up in riding and didn't even think about grabbing the camera while I out here. I did manage to put 75 trail miles on my bike though. I think I saw another 250S out there at the trail-head, but didn't have time to turn around and talk with the rider.

Here's me and a friend after getting to the top of trail 22. It's at the end of our 2nd day and we're flat worn out.



He's my friend coming down behind me on a wicked loose rock trail that was rated 'difficult' (trail 23).



Group pic on a hill top

 

Dang that looks like fun!

 

Sharp rocks at the bottom......bring it on.

 

great pix, lotsa rocks

 

That was just that one hill with all the rocks - though we did run in to a few more but they were nothing like that one. Most of the hard parts were sloopy 'slick as snail snot' mud drenched ruts that made things difficult. I had a great time and counting the days til we go back and attack it again.

BTW - I went thru one mud hole that came over my seat. Bike didn't even skip a beat and pulled me right thru it. It would do the same thing on some VERY steep hills that were covered in slick mud. Just a 'chuga-chuga' at low rpms in 2nd gear all the way up. The gear swap made a SERIOUS improvement with this bike's performance.

 

Mate my bike is stock (engine, gearing, suspension, exhaust) and I have climbed some awesome hills and the bike handled it all so easy and I was scared before I went up them. This bike ROX

 

I rode my bike in stock form on some local trails and thought it sucked. I was actually a little disappointed with it when I first rode it. I thought it was adequate for touring around going from a gravel road to maybe a moderate trails on the easy side - but really didn't have things sorted out for where I choose to put a bike. IMO - the stock tires are terrible on terrain I frequent and I had to rev the **** out of the bike to get into the engine's nature powerband while on a trail. Now - new tires, gear set, and new found hp and tq .. it's right where I want and need it to be and the perfect bike for me. With all that, I can still pull it onto the road and drive down to the store if I like. Again - in my opinion.

 

Mine could do with lower gearing and better tyres, but its not bad enuff for me to change before they are worn out. Oh yeah did I mention I have the 300 kit sitting there just waiting to be put on sometime .... when I decide the bike is no longer powerful enuff ... for the moment I don't need it [8D]

 

Wha the? Now you're agreeing with me? I get it, you're frugal. That's cool - nothing wrong with it. Im not, and I would rather spend some $$$ and have some better tires, steeper gearing, and added hp/tq for when I take my bike offroad - which is most of the time for now. It makes the ride sooooo much more pleasurable. I never said the bike could NOT go where I want to go ... but it definitely wasn't all it could be and I'm not good with mediocre. I changed that.

 

What I said was the bike is good enough for me stock, later on when I get to be a better rider I will add better stuff (and stuff is worn). I also commute on mine so I don't want full on knobbies and I need to keep road gear on the bike most of the time. I bought my bike as a duel purpose bike which it just happens to do very very well. [8D]
This bike ROX