Pics of Quick 350 mile trip into Colorado Rockies.

[Flingshot]

Hello All! My name is Scott. I am new to this forum. I am excited to see that there are so many like minded people out there.
I own a 2000 DRZ400S that I have had for about 4 years and have only put 1000 miles or so on it.:mad:(350 of those were on Labor Day!!!) :D
I have three daughters and they have a nasty habit of taking up a lot of my time and spare cash. :eek: I have almost always owned a motorcycle and I have almost always went camping every year. It wasnt until I went riding with a friend back in the National Forest and saw the camp sites that not very many poeple were willing to drive or ride to that I thought about putting the two together.
I thought I would do a trial run to see how long I could ride both on and off road before the monkey but set in, so I can better plan my trips. Below are some pics of my One day, 350 mile trial run. I went through Central City, St Mary's Glacier. Old Fall River Road in Rocky Mountain National Park and I found a great trail called "Pole Hill" It was awsome!
I recently purchased a book called "Guide to Northern Colorado Backroads & 4-Wheel Drive Trails" by Charles A. Wells. I have decided that I will ride on every trail in that book before the end of next summer and I will camp on every trip.
I am sure I will need to ask some dumb questions to you guys as I compile gear and set up my bike so bear with me.
Also if you are in Colorado and want to meet for some Dual Sport riding send me a PM.
Enjoy the pics,
Scott

[Trailace]

Scott,
Great first post and I sure do like your DRZ. If they had one in Houston B-4 the GX came along I would have one.

There are no dumb question and lots of great people here to answer them.

A few of us will be in CO in 2 weeks but we will be do the TAT but the next time I'm up that way I will drop you a PM.

Rick

[Tx White Knight]

Welcome Scott

great post, if you have any questions just ask, chances are someone will have a answer for you

[Black and Blue]

:):):):):):):):)Welcome to the Club:):):):):):):):)
You'll have a good time in this forum, Scott.

[Mellow]

Welcome to the site great pics.

[Ironheadziggy76]

Welcome Scott, great pictures, nice bike too! Looks like you have some beautiful places to ride.

[Flingshot]

Thanks guys! I cant wait to get back up there and take some more pics. Colorado is definately a beautiflul place to ride and I am blessed to live here. Talk to you all very soon.
Scott

[Mr. Guy]

Welcome Scott,

I ride a '03 DR650 and I love it for all kinds of riding, I just wasn't quite tall enough for a DRZ. If you going to be hauling a camping load, I would sugest a set of Happy-Trails OSR racks:

http://www.happy-trail.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=OSR-DRZ400

They are good for keeping any kind of packs off the muffler and out of the rear wheel.

Guy

[Flingshot]

Welcome Scott,

I ride a '03 DR650 and I love it for all kinds of riding, I just wasn't quite tall enough for a DRZ. If you going to be hauling a camping load, I would sugest a set of Happy-Trails OSR racks:

http://www.happy-trail.com/ProductInfo.aspx?productid=OSR-DRZ400

They are good for keeping any kind of packs off the muffler and out of the rear wheel.

Guy

Hey Thanks!

I haven't seen that rack before but I was thinking of getting something like that with the round style saddle bags from Rev-Pack or the Dirt Bagz, which have their own bracket. I already have a Wolfman Timberline Duffel that needs something under it or it droops over the sides (even if I pack it well). I have a number plate bag from Dirt Bagz which I love and I fashioned my own tank bag out of a small fanny pack.
Working on mounting a Kolpin gas can and a water can on my rack to support the duffel. I think you guys will like what I am doing with that, Ill post pics as soon as I am done.
I started to make a list of all the stuff I wanted and needed and I started to get scared that my wife would find it and see the amount at the bottom. I destroyed the evidence and I am just buying things as I need them so as to not raise any eyebrows.;)
Who would have thought that the cheapest part of this whole thing was the motorcycle itself?

[Ironheadziggy76]

Scott, while I would never, never, ever consider hiding things from my wife, I have been told that the lining of your helmet is a great place to hide a secret shopping list and stash spare cash. ;)

[Black and Blue]

Hey...come to think of it:rolleyes:...I believe all our camping equipment and the bikes' bags cost more than one of our bikes.....yikes:eek:

[Flingshot]

Scott, while I would never, never, ever consider hiding things from my wife, I have been told that the lining of your helmet is a great place to hide a secret shopping list and stash spare cash. ;)

Thanks Steve but the part I am having trouble with is explaining why that guy in the big brown truck keeps knocking on our door. Oh well I guess I better take her on one of my trips and show what the big deal is.
Of course I am just messing around, my wife and I have been together since high school, shes a great lady. She understands that with her and 3 daughters running around the house, that I might need to go out and sit by a tree now and then.

[Flingshot]

Hey...come to think of it:rolleyes:...I believe all our camping equipment and the bikes' bags cost more than one of our bikes.....yikes:eek:

Tent...........$200
Sleeping Bag....$100
Parts for bike...$1000+
Camping doodads.....$500+
GPS..........well, you get the idea.

Camping in the woods, under the stars enjoying GOD's creation with your motorcycle a stones throw away while anticipating the next days adventure........Priceless.:cool:

[Ironheadziggy76]

I'm just kidding too, my wife enjoys camping as much as I do. That kind of stuff can backfire on you, ask one of my friends. He was an avid hunter that always cleaned his weapon after every use, and his wife was scared of any kind of gun. So he figures that would be a great place to hide a little spare money. Yep, his first shot of Turkey season he sprayed about $500.00 worth of confetti into the woods! :o It pays to be honest! :p

[Mr. Guy]

Hey Thanks!

I haven't seen that rack before but I was thinking of getting something like that with the round style saddle bags from Rev-Pack or the Dirt Bagz, which have their own bracket. I already have a Wolfman Timberline Duffel that needs something under it or it droops over the sides (even if I pack it well). I have a number plate bag from Dirt Bagz which I love and I fashioned my own tank bag out of a small fanny pack.
Working on mounting a Kolpin gas can and a water can on my rack to support the duffel. I think you guys will like what I am doing with that, Ill post pics as soon as I am done.
I started to make a list of all the stuff I wanted and needed and I started to get scared that my wife would find it and see the amount at the bottom. I destroyed the evidence and I am just buying things as I need them so as to not raise any eyebrows.;)
Who would have thought that the cheapest part of this whole thing was the motorcycle itself?

I have Dirt-Bagz on my bike,and like them, but if I had it to do again I would use the OSRs and bigger bags. I also have the Koplin gas cans but haven't come up with a mount I like yet. YET

Guy