I’ve been waiting for today for weeks, maybe even months or years. This all started a couple of months ago. I spent most of 2023 recovering from surgeries. The first and most relevant one was back surgery on my lower back. I won’t go into a lot of detail, but In essence, several of my discs were misaligned, pinching my spine. This resulted in rarely being able to walk without tripping over my left foot.
The surgery went really well and after a couple months of physical therapy I was able to have my next surgery. That was also successful. By the end of the year, everything was working as it should, but I had gained about 30 pounds and was very out of shape. I also lacked any motivation to get back into shape.
That’s where this latest story begins. After discussing it with my wife, we agreed that the best course of action was to reclaim All-Offroad.com, which I had abandoned because hackers had taken over, and get back in the saddle.
Now that All-Offroad was back, there was the challenge of what to do with it. Despite never having a shortage of project bikes, that alone wasn’t enough to motivate me again. Most of the project bikes were kick-start, and I’m well beyond that point in my life.
The journey for something fresh kicked off. Given California’s strict CARB legislation, my options were limited. Husqvarna and KTM dual sports stood out as the most dirt-capable under these conditions, steering my decision. I settled in on the new Husqvarna dual sport. Specifically, the FE 350s. I’ve always been a Husky fan, but never had one. Also both KTM-Ken and Track-Day-Ray run KTMs, so I needed something different.
Anyway, I started calling around and Honda Kawasaki KTM of Modesto hooked me up. In fact, when all was said and done, I drove out of there with not only a new 2024 FE 350s, but also an FE 501s.
I headed straight to the mountains, to be confronted with snow. I always say that I love the idea of riding in the snow, right up to the point I’m actually riding in the snow. That hasn’t changed. It always seems like it should be graceful, like skiing, but in fact it is anything but that. It boils down to legs flailing around trying to prevent slipping and falling over. You can read more about that here. So, I got in a couple short rides on both bikes, but nothing inspiring.
The Husky FE 501s got tucked in nicely and the FE 350s got hauled back to the valley. Since then, the 501s had about 45 miles put on it; a mix of pavement and dirt/gravel roads. Given the roads still had a bit of snow and ice, and the bikes weren’t fully broken in, I remained cautious.
I’ve been back in the valley for a couple weeks and itching to get the FE 350s into the dirt. Meanwhile, I’d been working on the Yamaha WR250F, Rich at Santa Cruz Suspension took care of the leaking forks. I cleaned out the carb, freshened the fluids, swapped back to stock size sprockets (the previous owner went up a tooth in the front and down three teeth in the back), and put new tires on her. So, I’ve been anxious to see how she’s running.
Well today I snuck out a little early and took them both up to Metcalf Motorcycle Park. It was such a beautiful, sunny, day that I couldn’t resist.
I did one loop with the WR250F and she is running real well. With all the rain lately, the park is a little chewed up. With Deep ruts and some real slimy sections I was way more cautious than I wanted to be. Having not ridden in the dirt for probably five or six years, I certainly wasn’t up to my old pace. I managed to get maybe five loops in on the FE 350s.
This brings me to the following revelations. First, I’ve lost all confidence in my abilities. Second, I’m way too tight/stiff. When things got squirrely, I puckered up, tightened up, and fought it, instead of relaxing and letting things flow. Third, it was amazing to be out on the trail, breathing the fresh air, hearing the sound of screaming motorcycles, and bouncing through woops, and popping over ruts. Lastly, I really need to hit the gym. All my riding gear is a size or two too small, and putting on my boots wiped me out before I ever got on a bike. Thank God for the magic push-button starter. Without the magic button, I’d probably still be napping in the truck bed! But what does all this mean? It means I found the motivation I was looking for. Cardio and weights, here I come!
