Ducati Sporting Club UK > General > Idle Chat > As winter approaches, my thoughts turn dirty ...

[Jools]

Only to say that unless you sign up with a bike club and get to do a bit of Enduro or MX the number of places you can offroad is pretty limited in the SE and getting smaller all the time...thanks to Janit Schtweet Portah and all her rambling fanatics.

My brother helps run an off-road club and finds it more and more difficult to get venues for Enduros and stuff.

I haven't done any green laning for years but I do remember doing the entire length of the Ridgeway many years ago. Don't know what the current situation is but you probably couldn't do it now

Oh and get ready to have forearm pump and feel like you've just played a game against the all blacks after a hour or so

[jeff st4s]

2 strokes with the on/off power are more draining to ride regarding concentration, whereas 4 strokes are smoother and easier to get on with as a novice offroader, that's what I found out when I went to Wales recently for a weekend training.
Road 250 and 400 KTM's and a couple of 200/250 2 strokes and prefered the 4's.
I was just as quick as my mate on his 250 2 stroke and felt more comfortable.

[andys 900ss]

Have with agree with Jeff on the two strokers.

My cousin brought a KX250 Pro Circuit running on Av'gas. It was the most potent thing I've ever ridden, but it will make you a better rider in the end. A 4 stroke 125 will probably be better for the DD rider tho'

Andy

[VanDaMauler]

Originally Posted by Jools

Only to say that unless you sign up with a bike club and get to do a bit of Enduro or MX the number of places you can offroad is pretty limited in the SE and getting smaller all the time...thanks to Janit Schtweet Portah and all her rambling fanatics.

My brother helps run an off-road club and finds it more and more difficult to get venues for Enduros and stuff.

I haven't done any green laning for years but I do remember doing the entire length of the Ridgeway many years ago. Don't know what the current situation is but you probably couldn't do it now

Oh and get ready to have forearm pump and feel like you've just played a game against the all blacks after a hour or so

He`s right you know...

The whole of the Ridgeway is shut down to anything with an engine...


TP, where do your mates go off roading? I`ve been into the Idea for ages and bought a KTM Enduro/Supermoto for just that reason, it seemed as soon as I got it , they shut the Ridgeway down. (the Ridgeway was a legal offroad byway that ran for miles from Reading to oxford give or take a mile)

[TP]

Originally Posted by VanDaMauler

He`s right you know...

The whole of the Ridgeway is shut down to anything with an engine...


TP, where do your mates go off roading? I`ve been into the Idea for ages and bought a KTM Enduro/Supermoto for just that reason, it seemed as soon as I got it , they shut the Ridgeway down. (the Ridgeway was a legal offroad byway that ran for miles from Reading to oxford give or take a mile)

Bugger!

I'm not actually sure where they go to be honest. I've just been chatting to couchie and if I can get my poo together he's going to teah me how to wheelie

I love bikes me, what a load of fun!

WOOHOO!!!!!

[Grib]

Move up here, we'll show you a dirty time

I haven't done any off roading for a year or so. Got half decent at trail riding and following Couch up stupidly big slopes, then hurt myself bad and went right back to square one. It can be fun, it can be frustrating and it will definitely involve pain at some point If I can hoist the front wheel up on a 15bhp Serow I'm sure anyone can manage to squeeze a little wheelie out of an off roader

[Lily]

it hurts!!

alot!!

even when you don't fall off!!

But great fun and worth it, but very limited as to where you can ride, particularly in the south east.

I would book an offroad weekend or get some mates to let you have a go first then find out if you would get the use from it first. Also need to consider if you would get a road legal bike or a motox bike as you will need to think about transport (van/trailer) if the later.

[Harv748]

As far as the bike in the piccie goes...CRF 250/450 is a great bike. I currently have a DR350, but hope to swap to a CRF 250 in the near future. Trust me, if you are new to off-road riding, you don't need 450 cc's!!!

As for places...your kind of half right...the ridgeway is closed from October till April...yes a big chunk of the year, but don't let the buggers grind you down. Its not all of the lanes that are now closed...if you have an OS map to hand and are willing to explore a little, its still possible to go out for the day and do a good few miles all off road.

In and around Oxfordshire we have been hit quite hard with the new laws regarding the Byways etc...but there is still a strong group of riders determined to keep going.

[Brogins]

Ciao TP...

I have TWO CRF450.. one MX competition (as per the picture) and one CRE450 road legal (model available only in Italy) .

I kinda of agree with all the comments made..in addition, it is GREAT FUN.
The 4strokers are easier to ride than two strokers, but more heavy. It is a trade off. For supercross I was more confident on the big jumps with the two stroke, as lighter and movable in the air. The 4 stroker are heavier and with a slight engine brake feeling. However the torque ( the 450 is a beast) is helpful a lot when going over obstacles. However do not think to use the clucth as a 2 stroker ..it will last a day!!.

Any questions on the honda..mail me!
Ciao
fabio

[Grib]

Two stroker off roaders are the spawn of Satan! They're bloody awesome, but tricky little gits to use and soooo fast. Last one I had a go on was Couch's KTM200. I managed to get into the bottom of a valley and stall it...could I get it to just pull me out slowly without wheel spinning and putting us both straight back down the hill again? Could I buggery! That said, on the big fire trails through the forest, flat stick and it makes perfect sense 4 strokes are definitely more user friendly.