Oh dear...

There's a 2009 KTM 250 EXC sitting in the conservatory until I clear a
bit more space in the garage. We picked it up this evening and even
though the plan was to take it out tomorrow I couldn't resist the
temptation of a green lane less than 4 miles from home so off I went.

100kg of off road 2 stroke certainly handles a lot better on the dirt
than 200kg of road biased 4 stroke but getting the bastard airborne over
a small hump I normally creep over on the Tenere was a bit of a shock.
It wheelies for fun and it was great being able to just pop the front up
over any small lump I hit though I may have been a bit stupid doing this
wearing trainers, combat trousers and a nylon jacket.

All I need to do now is sort out paying the tax so I can use my company
van to lug it around in rather than having to hire one whenever I want
to go outside Bedfordshire and it's game on.

 

Uh oh...

 

It'll look good with studded tyres. All I need to do is beef up the
subframe a bit so I can put some decent panniers on it and change the
gearing so it'll pull 65mph then we're sorted.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Andy B

What could *possibly* go wrong?

 

I could write a list if it helped.

Over the last year and a bit I've had more minor injuries than in the
last ten.

That's all thanks to off road bikes... and stupidity.

I've just managed to fall onto a pile of rubble, more sore bits on my
elbow and hand.

Still at least the KTM 200 runs well enough with its new piston and
looks better with a bit of blood on it.

 

Using the patented Mavis Beacon "Hunt&Peck" Technique, Stephen

A comprehensive one?

Ah, but that's because you're getting old.

See above.

Excellent! A blood sacrifice, they like that.

You're an admirable example to us all, and we thank you for it.

 

You'll also develop a finely tuned throttle control but if you don't at
least it's easier to pick up....

 

Hit the ice... hit the powerband... hit the floor.

 

#Fell in line.

 

BT,DT, got the scars on my elbow...

--
Ivan Reid, School of Engineering & Design, _____________ CMS Collaboration,
Brunel University. Ivan.Reid@[brunel.ac.uk|cern.ch] Room 40-1-B12, CERN
GSX600F, RG250WD "You Porsche. Me pass!" DoD #484 JKLO#003, 005
WP7# 3000 LC Unit #2368 (tinlc) UKMC#00009 BOTAFOT#16 UKRMMA#7 (Hon)
KotPT -- "for stupidity above and beyond the call of duty".

 

It'll be easy. Stick on a 20l tailpack and a rucksack and you've got the
luggage sorted. We'll not be camping next time we go so all that's
needed is a sleeping bag, spare clothes and a toilet bag.

 

Please tell me you're not considering Nordkapp 2 on a 250EXC..?

 

Heh.

 

<googles>
*nice*

 

Heh yes I recall ending up looking like this off a DT175. It took ages to
heal and cost a shitload of overtime.
http://img91.imageshack.us/img91/9528/roadrash1.jpg

 

I'm not that stupid.

Unless Steve takes his 200 as well.

 

I prefer not to dwell on what can happen if it goes wrong. Most of us
ride in jeans and trainers almost as often as we do in the 'proper' kit
and as long as I keep getting away with it I'll keep on doing it.

 

I ride to the shops in jeans & trainers - I never go for a hoon in them.

 

I've never fallen off while out for a hoon, but I've fallen off twice
while popping out to the shops (or equivalent).

 

I've fallen off while popping to the shops too, but only at relatively
low speed. That's the difference in my book - a 30mph crash will still
hurt lots & break bits of your body if you hit something, but the
tarmac surf won't do /too/ much damage in jeans. Sliding down the road
at 80 otoh is likely to see you losing large chunks of flesh whether
you hit something or not.