A sunday afternoon jaunt

[Jantar]

Its a lovely afternoon, and the snow clouds are just starting to build up prior to storm due to hit tonight. So I decided on just a short trip out to the old gold diggings at Bendigo on the western slopes of the Dunstan Mountains. I followed a couple of Honda Goldwings through the Cromwell Gorge, and discovered just how much the VStrom is affected by a strong side wind when riding with a tank bag. But Once i hit the Bendigo Loop road, the big V was in its element. It cruised the gravel road effortlessly at 80 - 100 kmh, but then as I started to climb the track to the diggings I found I was down to first gear.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/jantarml/VStrom_014_640x480.jpg

This is normally a four wheel drive track, but doesn't receive any maintenance over the winter months. I met one 4x4 coming the other way, otherwise the area was deserted. The Goldfields Heritage Trust which maintains this historic reserve do a great job in maintaining these ruins.
http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/jantarml/VStrom_011_640x480.jpg

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/jantarml/VStrom_010_640x480.jpg

I carried a bit further off the track to get a bit of a view looking back to the Pisa Range.

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g7/jantarml/VStrom_013_640x480.jpg

After about 30 minutes the weather was starting to close in, so I didn't hang around at this altitude too long. I retraced my route back down the mountain and back home. Total time for the trip was just under two hours for 100 kms.

[boomslanger]

Great stuff. Have to get me back over to NZ, it's been too long... summer only of course.

Notice your tyres are fully inflated, did you have any troubles on the loose stuff?

[Jantar]

No trouble at all on loose stuff. Its only in mud that I seem to have any issues.

[red_sa]

Good read Jantar. What sort of alltitude did you get to there???

I have done all my dirt riding with fully inflated tyres. Probably because I don't carry a compressor, for when I get back onto the bitumen.
For those that do deflate the tyres, what sort of pressure do you drop to, and is it for more grip, and stability? Is there any adverse effects to dropping the pressure?

Cheers

[boomslanger]

When I went through the Murramerang State Forest I went down to 20PSI but that was because it was semi-wet clay and loose dirt. I went down that low because that's what I used to deflate my KLR to when going on loose stuff. Don't know if it was right for the Strom but it went very well but took ages t reinflate with the mini-compressor.

Guess it's a stability thing, same reason 4x4 deflate when going onto loose stuff, especially sand. The tyres tend to stay on top of the surface instead of sinking into it. For wet stuff you get a wider tread area in contact with the road/track surface so the bike doesn't tend to suddenly slip out from under you. It still slips and snakes but not as dramatically.

[Jantar]

Good read Jantar. What sort of alltitude did you get to there???

I have done all my dirt riding with fully inflated tyres. Probably because I don't carry a compressor, for when I get back onto the bitumen.
For those that do deflate the tyres, what sort of pressure do you drop to, and is it for more grip, and stability? Is there any adverse effects to dropping the pressure?

Cheers

I didn't set my altimeter so cant be exactly sure, but I would guess around 3500' - 4000'. The snow line on Sunday was around 5000', today its around 500' and I live at 700'. It was a slow and careful commute to work this morning.

I am also one of those who doesn't reduce tyre pressure in soft going. I would if I had knobbies fitted so as to spread to grip area, but with dual purpose or general road tyres I would rather keep them fully inflated so that they can dig down to a harder surface rather than float on the top.

Back in my younger dayd on a PE250 I would drop the pressure right down tp 10 PSI for soft going, but at those low pressures be VERY careful once back on the seal. On a larger bike like the V I just keep everything fully inflated all the time.

[red_sa]

Cold days ahead Jantar....

Thanks for the opinions on the tyre pressure's.
Pretty well what I though, but just haven't tried it yet. Will be interesting one day to lower them, and see the difference.

My first trip on dirt was at 90km/hr for 35kms, on a dirt road that was very marble'eee. :lol: Since then, a lot of the dirt roads and tracks have felt nice under the seat, compared to my first dirt ride.

Off camber corners still get the arse twitching....

Cheers