Sandpit-first ride after 3 months

[Reckless]

Well I got back on the bike after 3 months or so! There where 4 of us, so had some company for a play on a what turned out to be fine, rain free afternoon. With the weather not looking so good on Sat and I haven't been on the bike for a while we decided to try the Sandpit, Haven't been out there for a year or so and never to the new carpark area etc.
I must say isn't this Auckland city screwed! Motorway jammed at Ellerslie on S/Hwy 1, then again at Rosebenk road on S/Hwy16 at 11:00 on a Saturday!! They should start sacking people for the cock up they call the Auckland transport system!!!
Anyway Sandpit new carpark was easy to find and well set up got there just after lunch and left about 4 or so. My hour meter showed 2.5 hours in the saddle. So not to bad for the first time out in the sand for an old bugger thats only ridden MX for 2 years after a looooonnnggg time away! I must say my first impression was that the sandpit was much better organised and looked after, the second one was, shit I hate that deep sand. Anyway we ventured out and did some yellow tracks, then the convict track. Then we found some red arrowed tracks through the forest. Looked like no bikes had been through and the only guide apart from the red arrows on the trees where what looked like a quad had gone though and flattened the flax/grass. It was bloody great! I must say the Ktm exc handled that stuff much better than the Cr250 would have. Stand up, 2nd gear, slow, torque type stuff and no clutching it. Shit I'm glad I picked the Ktm 200 nice light 125 chassis and Ktm have done quite a good job on the engine. I had been adjusting the power valve to take some of the hit out of it and it works a treat! I reckon after a while getting used to the power valve adjustments you can dial in any setting you like. E.G. xx setting for fast open stuff, x setting for tight technical or real muddy tracks where you don't want the 2 stroke hit. My setting gave smooth power but still easy to lift the front over those nasty slippery roots on a 45° across the tracks.
Then we went for a hoon on the MX track I only did a lap or so as I buried the front and tossed myself over the bars. Then to the sand bowl and on out through the cutting on the other side and through the forest for a while. Then a last loop god knows where but on the blue and yellow trails. I must say by this time I wasn't loving the sand but planing along quite nicely over the top and a reasonable speed in 3rd or 4th gear thinking if I came out here more often and got better at this I might even get to like the sand. Once you get fast enough to sit on top of it like a water skier its not to bad. Then I started to fall off, 3 times soon after each other and I knew I was to shagged to anticipate and correct the bike quickly enough over those whoops and I was gonna get hurt soon. So I stuck it it 3rd, stood up quite straight legged and kepted it plaining over the top of the sand on the green tracks to home.
All in all best tracks we did where the red ones in the forest over and around those flax type plants, bloody great!
The sandpit was as good as I have ever seen it! Good on ya KTM boy!
The only pain was a little from my AC joint I shagged in the road bike accident at xmas and only towards the end of the ride. Kidney stone removal operation 100% good.
Love the Ktm 200 exc very very under-rated bike. Once I put the straight taper needle in and get Danger to go over the shocks it should be brilliant for my Son. Now I can't wait for the 08 Ktm 200 exc if I can get it!

Damn its good to be back in the saddle! Oh did I say I loved the Ktm 200 !!!

Looks like its gonna be to wet for Ardmore on Wednesday BUGGER!!

[Danger]

You must be talking about the new trail, I think its called the Caterpillar? Hook a right at the intersection (two red arrows) and its a good trail to finish the ride on. Its taking a while for it to get worn in but its fun like it is. Lots of tight turns.
I was riding with the Silver Fox last week and he jumped on my 200 for a blat (telling me to watch out for the torque on his 300) only for him to be surprised at just how much torque the little 200 had. To be fair his 300 was not jetted correctly and was down on midrange due to that fact. But the beauty of the 200 is you can scream it like a 125 or torque it on those tricky tight climbs out of corners with tree roots all over the place.

[Reckless]

Yeh Danger there where some quite good tricky steep down and ups in the gullies as well. Was a good trail so different from the deep sand ones.

I think the 200 is all the power I'm going to need for a while, nearly as much as the Cr250 and the 125 Chassis size, better brakes, braided lines make it a better package. I certainly couldn't tap it out at any time on Sunday and I did try a few times. I reckon the 200 would make a better cross platform bike (MX and Enduro) than the 300 because as you say you can scream it like a 125 if you want to but it will still dig you out of a hole in second with virtually no revs on.

[camchain]

Good report on what sounds like an excellent day Reckless. (You might have seen my mate out there on his big yellow HL500 Yamaha). Keep riding the sand, you'll really start to like it the more you do it. Excellent for fitness and also good for the quick and deft reactions required for slippery winter riding. A mate of mine won't ride Woodhill but I reckon he's missing out big time. We are really, really fortunate to have a place like this to ride at. Ditto to Danger - Support the Sandpit. Those guys have done an incredible job breathing new life into it.

You jokers enjoying the EXC 200 is causing some discomfort. Sold the KLX 3 weeks a go and going a bit stir crazy without a bike (getting more work done though, just as well as don't have enough cash yet for better bike).

Camchain is over-tensioned (but still rattling) and lurking about on Trademe a bit too often now. NO decent EXC200s' in Nth Island for months! Now looking at 250fs and the odd RM250 like Danger's. All the tidy late model EXCs still seem to be in the Sth Island and languishing without buyers to boot. Nice '07 250 just sitting there for $7500 ono. That '06 200 in Ashburton has dropped to $6500.

Check this: A dealer on Trademe is selling brand new Gassers for rock bottom prices ($7500 for EC200) - but in Christchurch of course. WTF?!

Any news on that leased '08 EXC200 Reckless?

[Ktmboy]

Thanks Reckless,

We now have a world renown and very experienced course designer on board. "Chop"

He is in demand these days so is very hard to track(no puns please) down.

We have one more track finished complete with logs and some neat down hills and just have to arrow off. We are purposly leaving a log across the entrance to signify that it is indeed red. Chop is putting in another red course as well (when he can get time off from his design duties with "Uncle") which does have one hell of an expansion chamber crushing log.

Picture of Chop c/w his bush attire.

[camchain]

Looks like Chop (pictured in green Long Johns) may be related to the Undies man? Any recent sitings of this elusive creature KTMboy?

Mate rang me on Sunday reporting his recent exporations of the new tracks. Painful to listen too as bikeless at present! Really keen to get out there and get amongst it, keep up the great work.

[chop]

Thanks for that Ktmboy. It is indeed a chamber killer but thats part of the fun!!! That is indeed a nice photo however the chap bears a striking resembilance to yourself

[Reckless]

No news on the 08 200 yet I just called my guy and all is well but the new 09 range isn't in yet so might have to wait till then to get it. He may not want to give up his 08 early B4 he gets the 09 model. We still have to agree on final price yet as well although I've been given a ballpark.

I just did a T/Me search no Ktm 200's came up although when they are there they seem to sit for a while. Everyone wants the big 300 and 450cc bikes I suppose. Makes me worry a bit about resale. I still think $6500-00 for that Ashburton one is to much for an 06 bike with the 09's coming out in a few weeks.

The old yellow Yamaha that sits on a rack on his vans rear tow bar. Olins twin shocks on the rear of it. If thats the one he was pitting next to us. Followed me all the way back to Pakuranga Plaza where we went different ways. Didn't get a chance to talk to him as he seemed to know damn near everyone out there and was always either out riding or talking to someone.
Seemed like a nice guy though.

The Ec 200 has all the fruit on them. Good bikes I think, but haven't ridden one. Only $400-00 to get one to Auck but depends if they are an 07 or 08 model. I couldn't find them when I did a search but if he's still got some new 07 200's probably only worth that price. They have a following but I wouldn't go there myself.

[daytona 2]

man the best track at the sand pit that coastal road and ...it not challenging but its fun to throttle it and get the 4 stroke roar...


buy he way ktm boy..at the moment the blue tracks are easyer than the yellow tracks...not as much deep sand on the enduro tracks..lots of fun

[camchain]

Hi Reckless. Trademe search throws up weird results. Eg. You get different bikes if add/remove space between model name and engine size eg wrf250 - wrf 250. Search funtions drive me nuts. It's piss poor and easy to fix, just bad code writing.

That rough 06 exc200 in Huntly which I thought was sold, is back up again.

I really have my heart set on an EXC200 but the Gassers always rate so well even compared to the venerable KTMs. Dare I say it, but I have the feeling the Gasser may even handle better out of the crate than the KTM? (Uh-Oh I sense a repremand might be coming from Katoomers)

I reckon the unfortunate brand name was a real marketing blunder. Here in NZ we tend to shy away from anything a bit out of the ordinary. Noticed Husky have had a price drop as well.

Thumbing through latest Kiwi Rider at SuperMkt last night saw Gas Gas importer ad with EC200 at $7000! It has to go on my possibles list at that price. I know they are good machines. Rudecopp seems to be real happy with his.

The ChCh dealer has the higher price on first page, if you go deeper you see the actual price - as if they are too embarrassed to admit it. The worry is that this might be a going out of business 'fire sale' - no more parts backup? (Like what happened to the VOR?!) As far as resale goes nothing seems to be moving very quickly at the moment anyway. Have noticed increase in amount of used dirt bikes on Trademe. Strapped for cash = sell toys.

The YelloYam. Yeah that's the guy. It's basically a works replica machine from the late 70's. HL500 is based on TT500. It's a beautiful bike. He built it himself from parts from US,UK and Aus. He's a good bloke and pretty damn quick on it too.

Good luck with that lease job. '09s can't be too far away now. Apols for the pry and it's your biz, but tempted to ask what ballpark $ is and does she have a sister?

[Ktmboy]

Qoute; really have my heart set on an EXC200 but the Gassers always rate so well even compared to the venerable KTMs. Dare I say it, but I have the feeling the Gasser may even handle better out of the crate than the KTM? (Uh-Oh I sense a repremand might be coming from Katoomers)


Didn't take long, did it.
Absolutely no comparison IMO. I road a few Gassers before I bought my EXc 200.
Maybe the suspension set up wasn't right. Bus and a Ferrari.

[Danger]

Ditto on that one KTMboy.

[Reckless]

Havn't ridden a Gasser so you'll have to go with Ktm Boy and Dangers recommendations. I don't personaly no Ktm boy but I'm very sure Danger wouldn't put Ktm in front of the Gas Gas unless he genuinly thought the Ktm was better! even though he owns a Exc200. Also there's the problem of finding a Gas gas man when you try and resell! Depends a bit if its a keeper or you want to move it on in a year or so I guess.

I got all impatient and offered that Huntly guy $5500-00 cash when he first put his bike up, was going to get into the car and go down and get it that day. Now don't know what he'll except but I'm waiting for the one I have an option on. They say the first offer is always the best, anyways his loss!
No the 08 hasn't got a sister as I asked when 2_slo was looking for one-sorry mate! Still kicking myself for not going for that 07 a few months ago for $6500-00. Who knows about the 08 they might put huge money on it, or it might be a pig, and I might be cussing them for making me wait so long and end up with nothing. I'll PM u my ballpark. I'm pretty much hoping my good mates rep there will lead to a good deal for all concerned. But life has a habit of not working out like that sometimes. AH well, we shall see!!!!

[camchain]

Hmmm. Some more food for thought there. Not a big fan of public transport. Really - that different?! Thought they'd be real similar.

The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on camChain

[Rupe]

Hmmm. Some more food for thought there. Not a big fan of public transport. Really - that different?! Thought they'd be real similar.

The Rain in Spain Falls Mainly on camChain

I wouldn't buy into it to much, you know those ktm riders seem to be up their own arses after all mine has the same front end as a ktm. Have a look on thumper talk for a more balanced opinion.

By the way ktm boys, did you see which enduro bike won an 11 enduro bike magazine shot out???? It wasn't the ktm as it came middle pack

Anyway why don't you demo one of each camchain, as it will be more down to personal preferance. If you like the ride, and the price is right go for what you want.