Lets start planning

[toadl]

I talked to a salesman from Larson's in Cambridge, MN (KTM dealer).  He said KTM has only 100 dealerships in the United States and it cost $1.6 million to tour with the show.  So it cost about $16,000/dealership.  He did say he was excited about KTM's future, but it's expensive to enter new models in the U.S. market.  So you wont be seeing any 250cc duke's in the near future.  I told him I'd like a 690 Adventure.  He said there wasn't much of a market. 
I was suprised the Baja bike had Halogen headlights.
I'm excited to see the motorcycle show at the Fish n Fry this summer.

[Osnabrock]

I'm excited to see the motorcycle show at the Fish n Fry this summer.

Hear, Hear!

[flexlarson]

Im 99% in but theres that 1% chance I wont make it. Ill be on the KTM or whatever I may pick up before then.

[sam i am]

A question for you folks:

I'm not a DS rider and really only like to ride single track or the tighter two track.  I also do not have a plate (or a bike worthy of a plate), so if I stay at the FnF, I'll have to haul the bike down to probably the Pilots Knob area in order to "legally" get to the good riding.  Is there any other like-minded (i.e. plate handicapped) people like me planning on going to the rally?  Or is the rally really more of a DS adventure?

Also, have you guys/gals seen the new 2012 MVUM (here)?  Looks like they marked a lot more single track!!!   

[Lonesome Dave]

Hey Sam, I see 8575 near Roubaix Lake looks really cool and goes a long ways.  Have you ever been on it?  Considering 6238 about kicked my ass last year I'm a little more hesitant!!     LD

[Bogus Jim]

Or is the rally really more of a DS adventure?

I think you'll find quite a few riders who'd be willing to start at a trailhead and do a non-street legal ride on the tougher stuff. We usually split up into 2 or 3 or 4 groups in the morning, and depending on the group, ride anything from single track to asphalt. You just have to fall in with the right group. A group went to Devil's Tower once, which is a nice DS ride for those who haven't seen that area.

I'm glad that more single track is open on the 2012 map. On the original "record of decision" map there was over 90 miles of single track, I believe, but it is taking a while to get it all marked and open, apparently.

[sam i am]

Hey Sam, I see 8575 near Roubaix Lake looks really cool and goes a long ways.  Have you ever been on it?

I don't think I've been on that one...and yes, it does look like a lengthy piece of single track.  It's definitely on my to-do-list for when the snow melts.

I think you'll find quite a few riders who'd be willing to start at a trailhead and do a non-street legal ride on the tougher stuff.

Excellent.  I was afraid that I would be riding solo when everybody else takes off on their plated DS bikes.

On the original "record of decision" map there was over 90 miles of single track, I believe, but it is taking a while to get it all marked and open, apparently.

Yeah, I remember seeing that map.  I was really excited that they were going to include that much single track, but was quickly disappointed when the 2011 MVUM came out with only a handful of single track trails marked.  While riding this spring, I came across a forest ranger on his lunch break.  I stopped and asked him about the plans for the MVUM.  I think he mentioned that it's going to take a while for all the single track to get marked because all the other non-single track trails can be GPS marked with an ATV or side-by-side (which pretty much anybody can operate).  But the single track obviously needs to marked via dirt bike (which requires some experience on two wheels) or via foot.  I guess the forest service lacks rangers who can ride a scooter?  I'm not sure if this is true, but it might explain the delay in getting the trails marked.

[Osnabrock]

I'm looking forward to finding this again.

I'm pretty much committing myself to mainly trails this year but don't know which bike to bring.  Most of the tracks I know are near Johnson Siding and some lake west of there. 
I'm still looking forward to riding the DS route to Devils Tower as well.  Perhaps a ride to Jewel Cave for a crawl around too one of these years.

[sam i am]

I'm looking forward to finding this again.

Ahhh...that's trail 6238 that Lonesome Dave mentioned.  The spot at about 3:30 in the video is actually where I came across Dave on his Tdub this summer.  The little hill climb just after that spot is pretty fun...unless you dump your bike at the top. 

[The Yeti]

OK, let's do this thing!

I'm waiting to hear back from Gary & Michelle at the FnF, but I'm sure they'll accomodate us again this year (for our 4th annual spring rally!). Get your tents aired out, de-winterize the RVs and get your bikes oiled, lubed and rubbered - the official sign-up thread will be popping up shortly!



As usual, I'm excited to see the old familiar faces - as well as meet some new riders. But...I'm hesitant to ride. Not sure what is going on in my mind - it's been two years since my big crash after all - but I can't seem to overcome this feeling of.....well, I guess it comes down to a lack of confidence in my riding skills, and the fact that my body hates me now. It just doesn't heal like it used to. 

Two years after, I still have pain in my back from the Camp 5 crash - a daily reminder of two seconds of stupidity. Sometimes I feel more nervous than I should when I think about taking on some of the trails we used to. I sometimes think that I don't have any desire for the technical side of riding anymore - but, maybe I still do and I'm just trying to fool myself because I'm scared of crashing again.

Anyway, I'm rambling. Just don't be surprised - and don't give me any sh*t - if I decide to ride around on the easy stuff. 

Really looking forward to spending some time with you great folks, regardless of what (or even if) we ride!!!!

[The Yeti]

A good way for me to be able to attend this Rally is to bring my Family.  Renting a Cabin.  So is the plan to Start on Thursday and end on Saturday this year?  I noticed last year it was Friday to Sunday.  Is there a good place for a PW50 to ride near by?  I'm guessing the FishNFry does not encourage little kids riding around.  I should let you know, the PW50 is not my ride, its for my kids.

Actually, last year was Thu-Sat as well. Some arrive on Thu, most on Fri. Some leave Sat, most stay until Sun morning.

Riding a PW50 around the campground wouldn't be frowned upon as long as they stay under the 5mph speed limit.  Like loingrader sez, the trails are literally across the street.

[The Yeti]

Does DDSR get any special rates at FNF?

 

Last year was: Tents - $7 per person/night, RVs/Campers - $20 per night. They do deals for us on the cabins too, but I don't know what those prices were. Joni or Scooby would know, they've both stayed in one.

[The Yeti]

I live within walking distance of fnf now so I have no excuse not to make it.
Looking forward to riding with you all again

Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

YEAH! 

[The Yeti]

Hi to everyone, getting ready for this years spring fling. Gonna leave the big GS at home this year and trailer newer KLX 250, I know trailering isn't right but it's to far for it. But I'll be ready for camp 5 and other tear shit up places.

I hope to make the rally myself, but will be just be getting back from a 2500 mi. ride the week before, so we'll see.  Will steal back my WR250R from my kid this year if I'm able to make it.  As far as Camp 5 and the other 'tear shit up' places, I'll be back at the cabin with a tasty beer in my hand waiting to see what kind of shit you tore up.   

Good to hear you're back in business, Joni.

I'll be right beside you with a cold one! Just keep the immovable obstacles outa my way!! 

Hope you can make it for real, would be good to see you again Scooby, missed you last time around.

[The Yeti]

I was at the International Motorcycle Show this weekend in Minneapolis and bumped into Dr Psycho and his son Jake.  We must run on the same schedule because I ran into him last year as well.  It made me think a little more about my plans for this year's Spring rally.
It sounds like I'll be coming out with a couple of the same chaps from the cities that came out last year.  There may be one more stray as well.
I really liked the singletrack that we rode last year and would like to do more of it again, now that I have a better idea of where it's found.  I know that we'll be trailering out if this is our plan. This would also mean some additional trailering to get to the singletrack in the South as to not burn out our tires, or our engines, on the pavement. 
I'm sort of ashamed about the fact that it wouldn't be quite the same dual sport adventure that brought me out to The Hills three or four years ago but I'm sure it will still be fun.  Please don't mock me. 
We'll see how things pan out.

John - we would never mock you...to your face. 

This thing called DDSR is an evolutionary sort of thing - it'll become whatever it needs to become. Seems like there are starting to be lines drawn, keeping people in their comfort zone. I'm all for it - I like people to enjoy the ride, whatever they want to ride. If you want to push the envelope, there are plenty of opportunities during a DDSR rally, just don't feel like you HAVE to.