Using a dirt bike.

Taudisio

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Jan 20, 2023
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How much trouble is it to pack meat without a rack? It seems there are only a few models that have options for a robust rack that doesn't just mount to a plastic fender.
I’ll be sure to post if I get a spring bear down. They do have pannier panels for the bike if you were so inclined. I went with the tusk rackless setup. Maybe I’ll put 30 pounds of weight in each side, 30 on the back of the seat, and 10+ my rifle in the backpack and do a 10 minute run up the mountain and back. I don’t foresee any issue when it has foot pegs for another second rider. Just going to have to take it slower than normal.
 

ID_Matt

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How much trouble is it to pack meat without a rack? It seems there are only a few models that have options for a robust rack that doesn't just mount to a plastic fender.
In my opinion racks aren't going to do you much. The most weight I would want to put on fenders is something like 10 lbs anyway. Weight does much better on your back because you can move it to balance. Much weight on your bike is just going to add instability and make the bike tip over that much harder/faster in my opinion.
 

TheGDog

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I’m going to preface this with the fact this is my first experience on a “dirt bike” that is larger than a Honda 100, 20+ years ago. Coming from the street side, it’s a whole new world. I am 6’ 210-215 depending on the day. What sold me on the klx over the Honda was EVERY review I watched said the suspension between the two are night and day. I haven’t had any sore back or coccyx on the stock suspension and seat. I’ve had street bikes in the past that I couldn’t ride more than two hours and be sore for 2 days after. I rode from 9am-330p yesterday and did 130 dirt miles and 40 road miles back home (gas bill was $11). Zero pain today. I have not adjusted the sag or rebound yet.
Everyone says the Honda is sprung for a 100 pound person and non-adjustable, but engine/vibrations are a little more refined.

My only gripe with the klx is the little gas tank. The low gas indicator has come on twice which always sends my mind into a panic, hence the newly acquired rotopax that holds 1.75gal. I used it once yesterday and from the light being on up to the brim, there was still gas in the rotopax. I wish a 4+ gallon tank comes out for the klx sooner than later.
Handle bars, barkbusters, foot pegs, and luggage are next and waiting in the garage for install.
Being my size, I was impressed she got up to 76mph on the flat highway on my way home. Wasn’t very comfortable, but it also felt like she was also capable of a smidge more if I had some more flat tarmac. I had my pack, rifle, and full rotopax on the back. So maybe 240lbs total extra weight on the bike.

Brother? Thank you SO MUCH! For that quick break-down!

I'm right around your size/weight (only shorter now at 5' 9"-ish, from all the prior damage.) And since I have some significant lower-back issues I deal with now as leftovers from a MASSIVE slam to coccyx/iliac-crest before on Hard-Pack long time ago.

So you also forwarding that info about not being sore afterward is highly valuable information, so thank you!
 

Taudisio

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Brother? Thank you SO MUCH! For that quick break-down!

I'm right around your size/weight (only shorter now at 5' 9"-ish, from all the prior damage.) And since I have some significant lower-back issues I deal with now as leftovers from a MASSIVE slam to coccyx/iliac-crest before on Hard-Pack long time ago.

So you also forwarding that info about not being sore afterward is highly valuable information, so thank you!
I don’t know if I was just sensitive to it in the past or what, but I seriously had some major coccyx pain on my first road bike. I enjoyed riding it so much, besides the pain, that I bought a coccyx pillow and rode on top of that 😂
I traded it for a versys 650 and that comfortable, old man bike, still hurt my back.

I thought for sure I was going to have to buy the seat concepts for the klx, but I seriously have no pain from all day riding, and I sit down a lot. Probably more than I should. Old habits I guess. I would say in that 6.5 hour trip, I was off the bike for a total of 30 minutes. Photo ops, and gas refills only. The sub 4k rpm break in was killing me so I wanted to knock out those first 150 miles. I started the morning with 64 on the odometer. I would not put what I did yesterday anywhere near hardcore riding but some of the spots were a good test for the bike. A few spots I wouldn’t take my truck, and that’s saying something. I would never be able to drive my truck at the same speeds on some of the roads I was on.
The worst part of the trip is I haven’t replaced my riding gloves, and my Kuiu attack gloves don’t fend off the wind as well as I hoped. Two new pairs of gloves have been shipped today 😆
 

TheGDog

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I am soo there with you on knocking out the break-in miles where ya gotta constantly vary the throttle all the time to get proper break-in. That part is soo annoying, ugh!

Biggest thing is just don't let the engine get too hot. They have more friction at first from all the metal shavings that need to get scraped off of mating surfaces. So if ya push it, you're likely to seize, or partially seize a cylinder and it'll score across the piston and rings... and some metal off the piston, from the scoring, will then disallow the rings to expand properly, so no longer sealing properly, etc.

How is vibration thru the bars? I'm assuming that engine is counter-balanced right? So vibes probably not that bad?

Have you swapped out for WIDE foot pegs yet? Sounded like the stock ones are stupid small.

Yeah definitely getchu some shields or barkbusters. Also if you plan to go offroad, don't forget to safety-wires your grips to the handlebar and throttle assembly.

Do a "Brake-Snake" cable from tip of rear-brake and gear-shift levers, on over to connection front up front on frame, to help deflect weeds/vegetations from being able to get jammed up in between those levers and your engine cases!

Get a rock skid plate, ASAP. Either is fine. Alum or CarbonFiber. You do NOT wanna have your oil drain plug get bashed-in and crack thru the bottom of the cases by some rock when you're out in BFE.

Make sure to keep watch on your chain tensioning right now during break-in, in the beginning lotta chain stretch will happen, more so when ya finally get to ride harder, of course.

I seriously wouldn't even bother trying to ride it offroad in places you might hunt, UNTIL, you change out the tires for more dirt-worthy tires that re more like 95/5 dirt/street-legal, rather than the typical 50/50 or 60/40 type of tire they throw on them ususally. Also... out on the trail.. you WILL NEED rimlocks! OR... possibly you change out to mousse inner tubes if you don't want to put on rimlocks. Cause with tubed tires and NO rimlocks.. second you hit some decent whoops or rocks, your valve stem will get sheered-off. Rimlocks prevent that from happening at the low air pressures we need to run in dirtbike tires sometimes. But.. a mousse-type inner tube alternative could be a solution there, since ya figure no valve to shred off.

Don't think you're gonna pack anything mounted onto the bike itself, except for maybe that fuel container. Think debone, head and hide in the field, onto the pack, onto your back, you onto the moto. Outie. Paniers not realistic for this application, IMO.
 

idahomuleys

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Oct 26, 2015
Messages
268
How much trouble is it to pack meat without a rack? It seems there are only a few models that have options for a robust rack that doesn't just mount to a plastic fender.
I have a cyclerack on my ttr230. I've packed out some elk and a few deer on this bike. I also pack camp in on my bike every season. After trying multiple ways of packing, I prefer to keep all of the weight on my back and not use the rack for anything except strapping a small toolbag to. It is much more difficult to maneuver the bike on technical terrain with weight on the rack. I didn't use the rack at all this season and packed a couple deer out.

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