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FJRing it off road

Posted by Kenn Stamp

Saturday, 11 August 2007

Page 2 of 2

Now we were told that the road up to the cabin was unpaved and the person that lives at the bottom of the hill said we could park the bikes outside of their house and take a car up and down the mountain. You can imagine my response to leaving my bike sitting in a strange place for a week. Besides, it cant be that bad, can it?

This is the point where not only did I learn that an FJR makes a livable light duty off road bike but should put in the warning about trying this at home.

Having never been to the Georgia mountains before I was unaware of exactly what type of roads we were referring to. You see in Georgia (and probably all states that aren't terminally flat) they have dirt roads that they half-heartedly throw some gravelly rocks on. Fire road, Forestry service road, "Mary mother of God what kind of road is this?" road, or numerous other names that roads like this go by are unknown in the state of Florida. We have road and "off-road" in Florida and none of this in between stuff.

While at the Walmart I did decide that we would take the trunk off the bike and my wife (call her Diane) would ride in the car with Shawn and his family (wife Michelle and son Ryder)(there will be a test on names later) up to the cabin.

Off we go to see what this road has in store for us. Apparently, when roads in Georgia were laid out there was a moratorium on straight lines. Now this is a good thing for those of us who like curvy bits of asphalt, but not good when you want to get from point A to point B as quickly as possible and instead are taken to point Q's house for tea and cakes and a lively game of bridge. Going up this mountain (at least at first) was one of those times that you didn't want tea and cakes and would have been happier if Q choked to death and you could bypass the whole thing.

Four miles. That is the length of this rock strewn dirt road. Up a mountain. This is the path of the rock strewn dirt road. One car width. This is how wide the road was. Some parts were probably around a 30-35 degree grade with 90 degree turns in the middle. The locals drove this rode like their first name was Colin and they were trying out for a WRC race. The corners were blind and the road was narrow and dusty and you couldn't see a bloody thing if you were following somebody up or down the mountain.

The first time up the mountain I took it pretty easy. Once we got up there we unloaded Shawn's bike from the trailer and he followed me back down the mountain so he could get a feel for it solo before we tackled it 2 up. Going down was infinitely worse than going up. I told Shawn that whatever happens don't touch the front brake! To which he replied "no #$#% Sherlock". Sometimes I feel very unappreciated.

We made it down to the bottom and turned around to go back up. Now I don't know if it was because I was feeling more comfortable, or if it was the old competition thing, or what, but I started really having fun going back up the mountain. I was standing up, sliding the back tire around the corners, kicking rocks back at Shawn's helmet (oops sorry) and in general acting like I was riding a 250cc dirt bike and not a 650 pound 1300cc sport touring bike. One thing to keep in mind is that I have only ridden an actual dirt bike like once before. Practically no experience at all in the dirt and I am tearing it up! Of course it probably felt like I was tearing it up a lot more than I actually was.

I really learned a lot that trip about how to handle a motorcycle when conditions are not so great. It reinforced the need not to panic when you feel the front end start to slide. I also learned how much you can have the back wheel can step out of line on loose surfaces and still be in control. I used to read about all the "experts" saying how much better racers were if they came up from dirt biking because they had a better feel for what a bike can do before it loses control. I never believed them until this trip.

It is amazing how one experience even after 15 years of riding can teach you so much about bike control. You are never too experienced to learn something new.

Now where can I find those kinds of roads here in Florida?

Kenn Stamp

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