Too Big for My Britches

   Just having completed our testing with SBB suspension, I mentioned how well my suspension worked. I also stated how it could lead to someone getting Too Big for their Britches when the bike works so well.

Guess what!!!  I was out exploring and laying out new routes, by myself of course, and was riding small canyons and crevasse’s in an effort to lay out new routes to challenge my riding buddies. I found a never ridden before drainage that worked its way through a small mountain range and would connect another area I usually get to by going the long way around.  I always love to have alternate routes to keep people on their toes! So I head over and down the small canyon thinking so far so good, this could turn into an excellent alternative route.

Of course I come to a couple of small drop offs and go arounds as I descend.   I know it will take another couple of passes to clear brush and make it more fun. Then I came to a patch of overgrown brush that does not allow passage without clearing first. I look it over and decide it is too much work for the first pass, since I don’t even know where this comes out and if it will be usable.  I stop and look, then decide to go around the growth and ride the wall of the canyon.  After all, with my new reworked SBB suspension I can do just about anything!  Confidence! Maybe a little too much, lol. 

I attempt the wall and it seemed like a good idea at the time. Right up until I ran out of talent! I quickly discover I am no Cody Webb and lose my balance. I tip to my right which is downhill. No footing and no stopping, so I continue to fall while still on the bike from about 8 feet up, down into the bottom of the ditch. Did I mention it is a natural drainage ditch?  So there is an abundance of rocks and boulders there waiting for me. I never have a chance to dismount and end up with the bike on top of me in a heap on the boulders.

My leg is pinned under the bike, so I can’t get up. No problem because I had no intention of getting up until I could breathe again!  It knocked the wind out of me and I was not sure if the ribs were broken or not.  The possible broken ankle was low on the priority list until I could breathe. I lay there for a couple of minutes assessing my condition and situation until I started to breathe again normally.

Ok, time to extract myself from being pinned under the bike.  It shouldn’t be too difficult since I am riding my YZ 250X and it is so much lighter that the 4 stroke.  Oops, the ribs are talking to me and saying we are NOT going to jump up and lift the bike. It is about then I realized my leg was under the bike and I was trapped in an awkward position. So it takes another minute or two making a plan of attack as to how I will lift the bike mostly uphill to free my foot/leg. I figured it out and after several minutes managed to free myself from this mess.

As I stood up I turned off the fuel petcock because I realized I had no one coming behind me and no one knew where I was exploring, so I might be here for a while before I could lift the bike up. The ankle didn’t seem to be broken and the ribs were only a possibility, so things were looking up!  After getting the bike up and feeling the distinct possibility of having a broken rib or two I decided to walk down a ways and see if I should continue or turn around and attempt the drops I had already come down.

After walking about half a mile or so I found it was going to dump me out in a wash that allowed me to access a 2 track I was familiar with. I returned to the bike and rode the rest of the way out to connect with the 2 track.  It was a long SLOW ride back in first and second gear to keep the jarring of the ribs to a minimum.  Having returned safely and putting my bike and gear away, I considered whether I should get an x-ray for the ribs.  But we all know that the X-ray only confirms what we already know, because there is nothing done, except being told to take it easy until the ribs ‘knit’. 

Since I was already sitting down and beginning to ‘KNIT’ with a cold beverage in a comfortable chair I figured I would just continue on with my current chosen path of recovery. Here in the Garage-Mahal with an awesome stereo, Satellite TV with recorded moto alongside a small fridge stocked with cold drinks why bother to seek answers to the obvious.  I knew I had ‘cracked’ a couple of ribs, so I figured I wouldn’t be riding for a few days.  I am so glad I had not deleted all my recorded National and Supercross races!

I am going back to clear out that canyon bypass!

#33

‘Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional’

Personal Suspension Set Up

SBB Testing

Sometimes I just can’t believe my good Fortune!  I was fortunate enough to have Buck Gerolamy of SBB suspension fame come to visit, ride and test suspension for a week. He brought his new Gas-Gas 300.  I think he took his suspension to SBB before he showed up, lol. We also got in a little shooting one day, so it was not all work and no play for The Buck Meister!

I had a few people lined up that wanted suspension work on a KTM, KLX and a Husky. So we kept Buck busy most of the week. He also had to make me happy with my suspension on my new KTM 500 xcf-w and my newly acquired YZ 250X, 2 stroke.  Now I am what you would call a Fork Snob, so it takes a bit of time to make me happy in most instances because I nit-pick forks.

This was going to be interesting because it was our first time making changes to the WP Xplor forks.  A completely new system with compression and rebound in separate legs. Buck stepped up to the plate and re-valved and re-sprung both bikes a couple of times. I am probably going to have to change fork springs one more time on the KTM, but I think when that is done I will have the premiere setup on the front of both bikes. Buck has done suspension for me that has been outstanding in the past on both motocross and Off Road bikes.  But these have set a new standard.

I am a little concerned because the 500 KTM now works so good it seems I am riding a bit too fast now. I may be getting a little too big for my britches because the new KTM blasts through everything without a hiccup and I am not always cautious enough on this new Cadillac!

The Smoker (YZ250x) worked pretty darn good stock as most of us have read in all the magazine tests. They are always raving about how good the KYB SSS forks are. I thought so too. Then SBB worked his magic on them. I am now looking for rock walls and waterfalls to climb, enduro-cross style stuff because all of a sudden I am not scared to try. They are that good!  Again, I am probably getting too big for my britches on this bike now too. But what fun when you can ride like a hero, at least in my own mind!

Anyone want to go ride 5 Miles of Hell in Utah. After I did it a couple years back I didn’t think I would go a second time.  SBB may have changed my mind.  Any takers?

#33

“Be grateful for the doors of opportunity- and for friends who oil the hinges”