Do you ever just have one of those incredible riding days that you wished could last a lot longer? Today was just such a day.

When I was 15 my cousin and I (who were best of friends) used to ride dirt bikes all over Southern Maine. He had an XR and I had a KX. He and I rarely see each other any more and if we do, it's usually for a funeral or some family function every 2 or 3 years. Needless to say, we have grown apart over the past 25 years.

He now lives in Virginia but came up this week to visit his folks. I knew he had an XR600 that hadn't been started in about 3 years so I told him to get it running and bring it with him. He has been working on it feverishly for the past month to get it ready for the trip and he even bought his son a CRF100 (he's 14 years old). His XR has been fully upgraded. All new plastic, the baja kit, plated, Trailtech Vapor, FMF pipe, new jets, new tires, new excel rims and a new front end off a CR500 (that hasn't been installed yet).

I took the day off from work today and we hit the trails. My KLX, his son's CRF, and his XR. Here is a picture from the beginning of the day... note how clean the bikes are!





We staged ourselves at his sister's house who has a huge trail system only minutes away. Luckily the sign didn't say "no dirt bikes."



The trails were a mix of dirt roads (unfortunately very little of those) and lots of tight, muddy, rocky, rooted, double track. Here are a few pix







I still haven't done the carb breather mod (I know, I know...) Here is me after going into a deep puddle. I went through it one time and barely made it. I should have known not to try it again on the way back but did I listen to my inner monologue? No. Bike died in the middle.



Here is what it looked like from the other side



Here is me pulling the spark plug trying to get it started again... Team Red 1, Team Green 0



Saw lots of wildlife. Here is a porcupine just walking away. He wasn't running at all. He could have cared less if three loud bikes pulled up right next to him




Ok, more to come, not sure what the limit on pictures is...

 

Thanks.
looked like a good day.

As for a picture limit.
Check out a Deej ride report.

 

Ok, back with you...


The XR was a BEAST. He went through everything. There wasn't a puddle, mudhole, steam, etc. that could stop him... until this one...



We had to haul the bike out manually. It about killed us. His son and I WENT AROUND IT!







We came across this really cool quarry out in the middle of nowhere. It had a crane laying across it. I'm not sure how it was mined because the trails leading into it were old to say the least...







Here is my cousin and I at the quarry



Here is one of all of us together...



I went through this TWICE on my KLX. No stalling that time...



My cousin Mike and his son Ryan




Well, that's it. We had a BLAST. I wish he lived closer, we'd do it all the time. I felt like I was 15 again. Although, I have to say, each time we stopped (there were frequent rest breaks), he and I were sweating like crazy and huffing and puffing. His son was totally relaxed. I don't remember trail riding as excercise Apparantly when you're pushing 40 it is...

 

Oh yeah, here i am on the XR600. That bike has CRAZY power. I don't think I could handle it in the woods. It's just too much. Plus I'm on my tip toes. The front wheel comes up like it's being repelled by the earth's magnetic core. I would like a few more ponies in my KLX but not that many...

 

Great report! Great pics!
I gotta do that T-mod myself

 

nice dude thanks for sharing

 

outstanding post. Those are the days are the best. There never seems to be enough of them. Thanks for sharing

 

Sure looks like a great day for a ride. (then again aint they all )

20 pictures per post

 

Thx. Armycopter. Good Times!

 

great ride report. those are the ones you remember for life. personally, i havent forded that much water, but i had the water damn close to the top of the air box and havent had a problem with water getting into the carb. ya, i should probally do the t mod, but im lazy.