A change in direction for a trackday junkie!!

[Leong]

20 November 2007, I get a PM from clmintie inviting me to take his KDX200 out for a few laps around Ardmore - I'd never been off road on a bike before. Thoroughly enjoy the challenge - Thanks Phil! Noted the kids about my son's age who lapped me in the first few laps. Perhaps my son David could do this...
5 December 2007, In Queenstown with the extended family I have an afternoon off and choose to do an adventure tour with Off Road Adventures. Had an awesome time despite falling off 4 times - 3 in muddy water, and once trying to avoid a loose rock on a steep uphill climb - I was told that later you just ride over these. Check out their website and video on www.offroad.co.nz. The guys there were fantastic - very experienced at handling the different skill levels so everyone enjoyed their time and great with instruction. And it's a great way to get a fix if you're there doing the holiday thing without your toys. I'd have to rate that as one on the most exhilirating experiences I have ever had - far more than on any road bike. Absolutely shattered still after an hour, we were at the Gondolas and with all the shops closed I couldn't buy a drink of any sort - I must have looked desperate as when the shop assistants said they were closed and refused to sell me a drink, the manager stepped in and gave me a Powerade with his compliments!

Doing lots of trackdays mainly at Taupo have taken me away from family more than I should have over the last year so I decided to get David, my 11yr old son and I dirt bikes so we could do this together. What to buy was a difficult decision at the time. I've enjoyed Honda Riders Club events at the track - they've treated me well despite my riding a Suzuki, and I knew they had the Honda Kids Club, Camp Outs and a Trail Ride series that I would like us to do, preferably on Hondas!! Of course Botany Honda have always looked after me well despite having a Suzuki and having only done 1 of my 3 bike purchases thru them. Dave and Danny were very helpful in giving David his first motorised ride on two wheels on a CRF50. We decide that a CRF70 would be the best bike for him, and a CRF230 for me. However, I was impressed with the DR-Z250 that I rode at Queenstown. After long discussions with Matt at Colemans I decide that the DR-Z is more suitable for me with its better suspension, noticeably more power and ability to register for the road. Because Matt can get us a JR80 during this holiday period (CRF70s are out of stock till 7 January) we end up buying another two Suzukis. So on the 29th December we picked up the bikes....

So far I've only ridden the DR-Z on the road and I'm impressed - It's SO maneuverable thru the twistie stuff. No wonder those motards are so quick thru the twisty stuff at the track!! Almost got rid of the chicken strips, but am unsure just how much grip there really is on these knobblies - Dunlop Enduro D903s. Also don't think theres much chance of me losing my license on this like I did with the Gixxer http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/showthread.php?t=32493. Given I'm running it in reasonably gently, it seems to need quite a bit of throttle to stick to the speed limit. No problems passing the slower cages tho, unlike my old VTR250!!

The Suzuki JR80 is just the perfect size for David but a downside is its manual gearbox - Here's David's first two days on the bike......

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[clmintie]

Sneaky little bugga, aren't I.... :innocent:

You are going to have sooo much fun with David, won't be long before you can't keep up with him.....

Ardmore soon?

The mini track at Harrisville will be brilliant for him and the people very welcoming... We'll see you there, no doubt!

Below, pic of the 20th.......

[scott411]

welcome aboard, hope to see you at some rides soon,

[skelstar]

Awesome stuff Leong!

[xwhatsit]

That's fantastic. Your son looks the part, doesn't he! Offroading always seems so family-friendly. What a lucky wee fella :D

I can't believe you ditched the Hondas, though :(

[telliman]

now gr81;s got someone to race!
good stuff buddy.

[boomer]

O for awesome mate :D

:first: way to go !

[DMNTD]

Huge respect to you for being such a great dad mate!
Oh and congratulations on expanding your motorcycling,something more of us should be doing.

[Buddy L]

Leong you will have a real blast on the off road bike. i reckon more fun then the road bike, unless on the track.
And as you say alot more family orientated.
The Dr-Z 250 still motors long fast in the right hands, and is a good learners bike which will take awhile to out grow.
Well done
and welcome to the dirt side.
if you need any help with dirt stuff, just ask, as you have helped me out heaps when i crashed the road bike.:)

[Buddy L]

your son is a very fast learner, from not riding to be changeing gears and keeping very good blance.
Soon be out on the trail rides having heaps of fun

[GR81]

now gr81;s got someone to race!
good stuff buddy.

:Oi: :Pokey:

[ArcherWC]

now gr81;s got someone to race!
good stuff buddy.
Na GR81 still has to figure out what that twisty thing on the right hand side is

[Jorja]

If you want to,bring your boy up to Mangawai. He'll have 5 other kids to ride with and its a nice easy (soft) track. I'd have to speak to Frosty but he's always got a spare kids bike ready and waiting.

[BarBender]

Dad just got bigger for some young fella.
Well done Leong.:niceone:

R

[kiwifruit]

great move Leong :yes:

[Leong]

Thanks guys!!




Ardmore soon?

The mini track at Harrisville will be brilliant for him and the people very welcoming... We'll see you there, no doubt!

Yep, hopefully Ardmore next Wednesday.... and Harrisville tomorrow. See ya there.


I can't believe you ditched the Hondas, though :(
Nor can I. The guys at Botany aren't too sore. Offered to trade the Suzis in when I'm ready for the real thing!!


Leong you will have a real blast on the off road bike. i reckon more fun then the road bike, unless on the track.
And as you say alot more family orientated.
The Dr-Z 250 still motors long fast in the right hands, and is a good learners bike which will take awhile to out grow.
Well done
and welcome to the dirt side.
if you need any help with dirt stuff, just ask, as you have helped me out heaps when i crashed the road bike.:)
Cheers!! I reckon all these codes are fun when you get to know other like minded people. An yes, I think I'll need some help. I think the seat height thing is more important off road... and as you know I'm vertically challenged - may have to make some compromises with the suspension


your son is a very fast learner, from not riding to be changeing gears and keeping very good blance.
Soon be out on the trail rides having heaps of fun
Yep, I think he's doing well, but then I'm biased!! However, since then we've broken two Front Brake levers and one clutch lever!! Lucky I've had practice fixing these on the spot......or at least making the bike rideable. Still, like they say.... if you don't fall off once in a while, you're not trying!!


If you want to,bring your boy up to Mangawai. He'll have 5 other kids to ride with and its a nice easy (soft) track. I'd have to speak to Frosty but he's always got a spare kids bike ready and waiting.
Cheers Jorja. SHould be able to make it. I've replied to Frosty's PM from earlier.

[Buddy L]

[QUOTE=Leong;1365912]
Cheers!! I reckon all these codes are fun when you get to know other like minded people. An yes, I think I'll need some help. I think the seat height thing is more important off road... and as you know I'm vertically challenged - may have to make some compromises with the suspension


Yep, I think he's doing well, but then I'm biased!! However, since then we've broken two Front Brake levers and one clutch lever!! Lucky I've had practice fixing these on the spot......or at least making the bike rideable. Still, like they say.... if you don't fall off once in a while, you're not trying!!QUOTE]

The best thing i have spent my money on was a set of unbreakable leavers, I would break a leaver on average every other ride. Save's money in the long run. And you can swap them from bike to bike:woohoo:.

As for lowering your bike, their are different length linkages that you can get for the Dr-Z, just like road bikes. Ask back at Colmans and they may have brands that they can get in for yourself.

[trumpy]

Great move Leong. Get in with the young ones as soon and often as you can. They're with you for a shorter time than you think........seems only a few years ago that I was looking for primary school for my little girl.:spudwhat:

Now she's 22 leading her own independent life.......(apart from the bills I still seem to get to pay etc) :scratch: despite that I wouldn't have missed it for the world.

Same with my fifteen year old son....we have done a lot of trailrides together (all the central N.I. monthly ones including Desert Storm 3 times with him), the Greg Powers kids/family camps were great fun and improved his confidence hugely.
Had a couple of anxious moments: once as he dissappered down an unseen tomo (not to deep fortunately...its the scream more than the crash that's hard on you as a parent) :Oops:and once where I lost him on a long loop at desert storm while on his 65 (he followed the wrong group thru a slightly different route thru the bush. Took about 5ks to realise he wasn't in front of me as he should be so had no option to just sit and wait and get updates from passing riders as to his progress. When He finally arrived he was knackered but extremely proud of himself that he ridden on his own through a quite technical section.:2thumbsup.......he wasn't the only proud one.:niceone:
Experiences that will stick with you for a long time even if he stops riding at a later point. Sometimes they do - (my son did.......he's now spending 8 to 9 hours a day trying to become a rock star:spudguita....our family room has been turned into a recording studio and becomes impassable for large sections of the day. Still I know where he his and I actually like a lot of the music he does (and vice versa.....although he doesn't like to admit that particularly in public)
Have fun.

[Leong]

The best thing i have spent my money on was a set of unbreakable leavers, I would break a leaver on average every other ride. Save's money in the long run. And you can swap them from bike to bike:woohoo:.

As for lowering your bike, their are different length linkages that you can get for the Dr-Z, just like road bikes. Ask back at Colmans and they may have brands that they can get in for yourself.

Phil showed me some very trick unbreakable levers at Cycletreads today - $200ish - are these the ones you're talking about? Thats about a tenth the cost of the bike! (for one, I think). Have had to grind down a "closest fitting" one to get the bike running, and have run some plumbers tape under the brackets so there's a bit of give if they get knocked again.

Definitely need to do something about the ride height. With my MX boots on I can't bend my ankles, so I'm even shorter than when I have my road boots on!!


Great move Leong. Get in with the young ones as soon and often as you can. They're with you for a shorter time than you think........seems only a few years ago that I was looking for primary school for my little girl.:spudwhat:

You're not wrong there!!! Hard to believe David will be at High School next year, and Kathryn will be at intermediate.... Seems like yesterday that we didn't even have the kids!!



Experiences that will stick with you for a long time even if he stops riding at a later point. Sometimes they do - (my son did.......he's now spending 8 to 9 hours a day trying to become a rock star:spudguita....our family room has been turned into a recording studio and becomes impassable for large sections of the day. Still I know where he his and I actually like a lot of the music he does (and vice versa.....although he doesn't like to admit that particularly in public)
Have fun.
Too true...

[Jorja]

Leong I wouldnt spend money on fancy levers.Bark busters are heaps cheaper and save your hands if you fall off.Don't buy the cheap ones though.They seem to do more harm than good.

[xwhatsit]

Well we know the 250 goes on the road now! He's already begun to round the knobblies off :lol:

[Buddy L]

Have a word to "scott411" from Mr Motorcycles im sure mine were around the $100 mark.
Im on my third set of handle bars after the first two sets bend under extreamly hard impacts with the ground and still havent bent or broke the levers yet.
Their is a couple of grades of levers, mine were the cheapest ones i think and come with a couple of years of guarrantee, as well.
And ill take them off when i sell the bike and by another.

[Leong]

Have a word to "scott411" from Mr Motorcycles im sure mine were around the $100 mark.
Im on my third set of handle bars after the first two sets bend under extreamly hard impacts with the ground and still havent bent or broke the levers yet.
Their is a couple of grades of levers, mine were the cheapest ones i think and come with a couple of years of guarrantee, as well.
And ill take them off when i sell the bike and by another.

Will do. Think I've just realised that I now have three bikes to spend money on....Hmmm

[dammad1]

Since I started using barkbusters I have never broken any levers and they have sure saved my hands when bouncing of off trees.

[Blackbuell]

Welcome to the Dirt Side,you will enjoy ,it good being on both sides!!!!

[Leong]

Leong I wouldnt spend money on fancy levers.Bark busters are heaps cheaper and save your hands if you fall off.Don't buy the cheap ones though.They seem to do more harm than good.


Since I started using barkbusters I have never broken any levers and they have sure saved my hands when bouncing of off trees.

Cheers for that!! We did get some barkbusters (retail $169). Went to Harrisville today. Only David's second time on the dirt, but we can't really count last time as he only did a lap or so. He came off on the watered areas a few times, first lap, including spinning a full 180 degrees as he tried to move off in the wet clay. Learnt a lot today and after the first five minutes or so didn't come off again. Did heaps of laps, timed at 2mins, just so I can monitor his improvement. The Barkbusters proved their worth as far as I'm concerned!!

Then we came home and he washed his bike, cleaned and oiled the chain and air filter and checked the 2 stroke oil. :clap:

[Kendog]

Awesome, sound like a lot of fun. Well done :niceone:

[FROSTY]

Hey great news dude. Im finding dirt riding much more family orientated and my "body Knowledge" of a bike sliding around under me is great to have.
My bunch are heading up to mangawhai next thursday and david is more than welcolm