Dirt Biking in the Cascades

[Jeff Higgins]

I thought you guys might enjoy some pics from my ride in the mountains today. My buddy Sam and I rode some of the old logging roads just east of Darrington, WA; Sam on his Husaberg 570 and me on my Honda 650.

Here's Sam, at about 4,700 feet (according to his GPS). The sun just popped up over the peaks (we left the parking lot in the dark), as evidenced by the long shadows. It was pretty dang cold still, too, at just under 30 degrees, as evidenced by Sam all bundled up like that.



Here's me, at another spot further in, now well over 5,000 feet up. Wearing everything I brought, and considering mugging Sam for his jacket:



Here are the faithful steeds. Sam's 'Berg is pretty well set up with an auxiliary gas tank under the seat, Akropovik exhaust, and geared all the way down to 13/52 (15/45 was stock) for the final drive. He's running Maxxis desert racing compound knobbies, which work pretty good on our logging roads. This thing is an absolute beast - 11,000 rpm redline, over 60 horsepower, and it weighs less than 260 pounds. Too bad Sam ain't afraid to ride it, either - he's pretty darn hard to keep up with.



You guys have seen my Honda a few times. I think I can finally say it's in its "finished" state. Clarke 4.0 gallon tank (courtesy of Bob, aka "Lake Cle Ellum"), Al Baker stainless exhaust, Moose Racing front fender bag and rear rack, Pro Taper "CR High" bend bars, Uni filter (with sock), "Dave's mods" on the stock Keihen carb, dual rim locks on both wheels, and Pirelli MT43 trials tires front and rear, and 15/48 sprockets (15/45 was stock on the Honda, too). While the big Honda just won't spin up like the 'Berg, the bike really woke up with the exhaust/induction mods. The bars make for a far better riding position, and the trials tires seem to work quite well on our logging roads, hard pack clay, and rocks. It's a much more powerful, much easier to ride bike than when I bought it.

So, anyway, we put in almost 150 miles today on the logging roads. Up before the crack of dawn, and done before lunch. We had a very good day.

[Dantilla]

Very cool. I haven't spent nearly enough time in the Cascades this year.

[LakeCleElum]

Great pictures for sure Jeff......A bike like that really lets you get out and see our great part of the country......It's the time of year to start a little later in the day.

3 of us are heading out of Cle Elum tomorrow (Sept 30) at 10:00 am if you feel a fever coming on? Cough, Cough.........

[Jeff Higgins]

Oh, how I wish I could do that, Bob. I'm flying out on a job at the end of the week, though, and we really need everyone pulling their weight in preparation. Dang it...

[Baz]

NICE Jeff...thanks for sharing! ~Baz

[dlockhart]

That looks like a great time with some spectacular scenery too.

All I have done this year in "off road" is sliding into the run-off area when crashing at a few road racing events

[Hard-Deck]

Excellent! The photos tell a great story. I miss having a DP bike
Life is an E-ticket ride, you're doing it

[Eric 951]

very cool Jeff.

[twobone]

So frickin' jealous!

[Jeff Higgins]

Thanks, guys. It really is days like that that "make it all worthwhile". Great scenery, great company, and all in all a very relaxing, satisfying day.

Just to make you guys even more jealous, I should probably mention that I spent the entire day before (Saturday) on the Road King with my lovely wife. No pics from this trip, though - we were too busy riding. We went over the Cascades (Snoqualmie Pass) on that ride, into Ellensberg and Cle Ellum.

So, yes, a total ride and screw off kind of weekend. I was loving it. There was a reason I kind of "packed it all in" on one weekend, though - I'm deploying on a major, extended repair in a few days. I'm not scheduled to be home again until Thanksgiving. There may very well be snow higher up in our Cascades by then, and the days will certainly be short and wet at any rate. Essentially, this was my "last hurrah" of the season. Oh well, it was a good one...

[teenerted1]

didnt see a nose guard on the pegs there

[scottmandue]

Originally Posted by twobone

So frickin' jealous!

He11 forking yeah!

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

Oh, how I wish I could do that, Bob. I'm flying out on a job at the end of the week, though, and we really need everyone pulling their weight in preparation. Dang it...

Had a good ride today Jeff - Warm for Oct 1st....View of Lake Kachess from Monahan Mt. at 4,500 ft, just south of Easton:

[Flieger]

At first I thought this thread had bikini in the title, but this is much better.

[BRPORSCHE]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

I'm deploying on a major, extended repair in a few days. I'm not scheduled to be home again until Thanksgiving.

Hmmm I know your back story. Sounds like somebody broke one bad. I know you probably can't give us a full review but maybe a news article or two?

[Jeff Higgins]

Beautiful view, Bob. Wish I could have been there.

I can do better than that, Tom. You're right in that I cannot disclose details, but I can show you the news report:

[motion]

Beautiful scenery. Must have been really nice!

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by BRPORSCHE

Hmmm I know your back story. Sounds like somebody broke one bad. I know you probably can't give us a full review but maybe a news article or two?

Japan it is for Jeff...

Accident: ANA B763 at Tokyo on Jun 20th 2012, hard landing

[BRPORSCHE]

Hmmm this seems to be a theme. My parents were on a HK to Narita ANA flight back in August that broke the nose gear.

We almost had one hell of a coinidence.

[HardDrive]

srevird naisa