brian says “tighten up” - spokes 101
n o i t c a Tr
ers rs by Rid e id R for g e-Rag in id R d Off-Roa
! S S E C SUC h s a b h t 0 2 boogie’s
fun d oo g = s r trail tou vest k e t a h it sw four week program e h t h it w - get ip h s or s n o sp
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Traction Off-Road Riding for Riders by Riders
Editor Dallas Shannon
boogie to y a d iful ut bea photo: KAVERI GUPTA
the slasher Kaveri Gupta Contributors Larry Murray Mike Hillier KTMKevin Bryan Flannigan Glen Cooper Duncan Carpenter Woody Brian Knechtel Kaveri Gupta Photographers Anthony Kerr Kaveri Gupta Brian Knechtel Duncan Carpenter
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IN THIS ISSUE STOCK
the view from here dirt from the prez over the bars On the stand on the soapbox Still kickin’ bma club events exhaust note the finish line Traction
3 7 11 20 26 30 38 46 48
BLING tekvest review 16 trail tours ride 34 colin snider preview 40 oftr news 44
Traction Disclamer: We in no way intend this to be a commercial publication. Views expressed here are our own and should be taken for what they are - valueless. A friend always says “Don’t let the truth get in the way of a good story” and we do our best to honor that statement. If you are looking to challenge what you read here don’t bother, just assume you are right and we are wrong. This rag exists because we LOVE riding motorcycles off-road and we love publishing. Everything is done by volunteers and no money is generated. If you are unhappy with that and feel the need to send us money - donations are accepted, PAYPAL preferred! If you think your product or service should appear in this rag, please let us know and we’ll see what we can do. Written permission must be obtained to reproduce, or reprint all or portions of the content contained herein. © 2010 Traction
The view from here By Dallas shannon
Patrick Trahan, the most recent Canadian to finish the Paris - Dakar Rally, attended this year’s Calabogie Boogie. It was the 20th Anniversary of the event and he was invited to be the Bytown Motorcycle Association’s guest speaker.
This is NOT Patrick Trahan
Patrick showed up on Friday driving the Honda Canada big rig while pulling a large trailer full of toys. In the trailer, an unexpected treat, was his actual Paris - Dakar bike which he brought with him to ride the event. Patrick, and his rally bike, have been touring Canada all summer and, with the help of BMA member Christian Lacasse, the BMA was able to land him for our event. No easy feat as Patrick is a Canadian dirt bike superhero! While sitting at the dinner banquet that evening, Patrick told me something that I would have never thought of. He said that the rally bike was purpose built as an open terrain desert race bike - travelling at high speeds with good long distance visibility. Because navigation is such a big part of rally events there is a tall fairing - designed to protect you from wind but also to house a variety of navigation and safety equipment. When sitting down, which Patrick was doing a lot in the nasty, technical sections of the Calabogie Boogie, it is difficult to see what’s in front of you due to the high fairing. He told me that going up hills while sitting down compounds this problem. If you’ve never been into the nasty sections of the Boogie, there are plenty of roots, rocks and hills that are important to see BEFORE hitting them. With the bike not set up for riding Canadian Sheild, Patrick rode the Boogie anyway - tricky even for a good rider on a properly setup bike. He admitted it was challenging and that the bike hit the ground on more than several occasions. During one of the tip overs he jammed his hand between the bike and the ground leading to a painful injury. Although Patrick finished the event he told me that bailing did cross his mind. Patrick hung tough and made it through the 20th
Anniversary of the Boogie (would we expect less?) as well as 191 other riders. So far, all feedback was very positive. Having a Paris-Dakar finisher attend the Boogie is cool but having him RIDE the event on his rally/race bike? PRICELESS. Congrats to the BMA, the event organizers and all of the volunteers that helped make the 20th running memorable.
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dirt from the prez
By BMA President Mike Hillier
exciting, family oriented, Hare Scramble event. Jim is hosting a live band, bonfire, and camping the night before. Woody is hosting the Colin Snider Memorial 4hr on October 17th as well. This is also always well attended, with proceeds being donated to charity. This social event is team based, so get your team together or start preparing to Iron Man it. For more details on all these events, please see the club website.
like i said l ast issue, T he PRez is Just hap py to be he re
Fall is Here....Whatta Year! We’ve seen an impressive number of riders at many events this year. Both our club and others have had record turnouts. This is a clear indicator of our sports health. Recession.....what recession? Coming up this weekend is Dave Makin’s CVMG Trials event, celebrating its 25th year. This event is always well attended by vintage and modern trials riders alike. Jim Kolman’s Chilli Run is new to our calendar and is booked for the first weekend in October. I’m personally quite happy to see this new event; it promises to be an Traction
Also, we just finished our premier event on the 11/12th of September. The Calabogie Boogie saw a record number of riders compared with previous years (192). Accolades for the trail design this year, the guest speaker Patrick Trahan, and the level of organization are still pouring in. Despite having a less experienced crew running the show this year (including myself), we managed to pull it off pretty well. That’s what happens when years of ‘consistent and steady progress’ is your foundation. Our lessons learned will surely build on this success. All volunteers get a tip of the hat...er, helmet. It’s impossible to hold an event like the Boogie without huge contributions from individuals. This year’s “high mile” award goes to the wife of club Vice President Trevor Bylsma. Her name is Susan. Trevor was Trail Boss for this year’s Boogie. Without question, this position requires the most volunteer hours of anyone in the club. Literally hundreds. Thanks for the effort, Trev. Honourable mention to Woody and Mike O’Reilly for Sunday’s efforts, and to Terry Young for quarterbacking the Dual Sport aspect of the event. What I meant was......’Honourable mention to the “significant others” of ........’ You get the point......
Mike, I know you are the BMA president but you can’t have one of these fancy shirts. OnlyHonda riders can wear shirts like this...
By the guy that wrote it
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trail tours dirtbike & Atv school
www.trailtour.com
1-877-939-5267
p e r p e i g boo EMBERS ROCK! BMA M
photo:kaveri gupta
over the bars
By Bryan (Flanny) Flannigan
Sponsorship A short story and modest proposal for an age-old dilemma
The Riding Group So, you’ve got a regular group of buds that you ride with. You’re tight. Everyone is tight. People show-up on time; they have their gear ready to go; their bikes are tuned, they are unloaded and ready ride at the appointed time. You all ride at more or less the same pace, have similar technical ability, and you can usually make the most out of a day’s riding by covering a lot of ground in a day. Heck, you all even need to stop to remove a layer and
reaction that goes like this: “Aw, WTF man? Are you kidding me? This is gonna be a disaster! A new guy? Really? That’s just flippin’ great!” So, naturally, given the powerfully negative instinctive gut reaction, all of the replies come back meaning exactly the same thing as above, but with some bizarre passiveaggressive polite Canadian filter applied. It comes out looking like this: “Uh, okay, he’s a good rider though, right?” or “Uh, okay, he’s cool though, right?” or “Uh, okay, he’s got his act together though, right? The Lies “Oh yeah, he’s cool man”. “Oh yeah, he can ride”. “Oh yeah, no problem man, he’s tight”. The Grapevine The week leading up to the ride is passing quickly, and as usual, the regular members of the group are making myriad arrangements on their stuff. Fresh tire, replacement goggle lenses, replaced lever, GPS tracks, oil changes - all of the regular stuff that needs to happen every week keep the ride-train running on time, and to keep the gear and the bikes ready to roll.
My group of fishing buddies getting together for our afternoon boating trip.
to pee at roughly the same time! Do you all get along? You bet; in fact there aren’t many other people that you’d rather spend a day off with. Ah…life is indeed good in the riding group. Then it happens. It comes when you least expect it, and threatens the very existence of the group itself. The Beginning The whole thing usually begins with an e-mail that goes something like this: “Hey guys, my wife’s friend’s husband just got a dirt bike, and he’s going to join us next Sunday for the ride, okay?” The Response Everyone on the e-mailing list has Spidey senses, and goes through a very similarly involuntary (and correct) Traction
But, this time, along with the usual ride coordination phone calls, text messages, and e-mails, the grapevine begins to anxiously quiver with bits and pieces of juicy information about Newguy. “Johnny heard from Steve that Newguy just lost his job on some assault thing – that’s why Billy’s giving him a break and bringing him along”. “Billy told Jeff that Newguy’s riding Steve’s old KDX 220 - Steve sold it to him in a basket just last week. I don’t think that bike has run in over four years”. “Billy asked me if I had any spare gear – I gave him my old gloves, pants and helmet for Newguy to wear – that stuff was pretty small, I hope it all fits him”. “Jeff heard from Steve that Newguy’s only ever ridden Harley’s and mopeds on pavement before. I sure hope he can ride in the woods - Carnage, Grim Reaper and Impaler can be tricky especially in the wet - that’s the loop we’re riding Sunday, isn’t it?
“you’re
back here, miserable, kicking Newguy’s bike over for the 13th time today” After each and all of these valuable traces of evidence are drawn into the light, like Sherlock Holmes, Columbo, or Magnum P.I before them, the ride group detectives realize just in the nick of time the compelling implications of the picture of disaster that is emerging in their minds. As demanded by their shrewd sleuthing pedigree, they calculate purposefully and come decisively to the only logical and elementary conclusion that is unfortunately, and inevitably this: “Well, I’m sure it’ll be just fine. Let’s just see how it goes”. Newguy It’s 8:30am on ride day. It’s sunny and a little cool out; the showers from overnight have left nothing
gie - who oo b ie g o b a l a ea? iding the c s a good id a “newguy” r w s e l d d a zing s decided bla
behind but a slightest patina of heavenly moisture to keep the dust down and the traction good. “Oh yeah”, everyone thinks, “We’re gonna have a great day today”. Everyone is on time, they have their bikes unloaded and warming up; they have their gear on, and are they eager and ready to roll as usual. “Where’s Newguy?” “‘Dunno - he said he’d be here at 8:00.” Twenty minutes past the appointed rolling time, Newguy finally pulls in to the parking lot driving a Cutlass, hauling a bagged-out 1999 KDX 220 lying on its side in the bottom of a U-Haul trailer. Newguy steps out of his car wearing old work boots and really tight, faded, purple MX pants, a smoke waving in his mouth stuck only to his upper lip. “Newguy” he says with a slight nod to the group “Good to meet y’all. Hell of a nice day, huh? Had a bitch of a time lifting the bike into the trailer, and roping’ ‘her down. Gimme a hand getting’ ‘her out wouldja? Say, is there a gas station around here somewhere?” Traction
“she sure don’t f ride the Clavicle/Ball Shredder/Son of Sam loop last year on that crazy dual-sported Fazer! You now realize that you really should have gone with your gut and taken up that invite to ride with Ricky’s group on the Madawaska yesterday, and stayed home to mow the lawn today. Salvation! At least by this point in the game, you’re all still in the parking lot, and there’s no longer any doubt left at all that you’re all in a very bad situation. Luckily, everyone realizes the same thing at about the same time. Thank God, there is still time to take action and to salvage the ride! As unpleasant as it may be, everyone will just have to step up, do what needs to be done, and say what needs to be said to stop the shit show before it gets any worse! You all exchange the necessary discrete glances and nods, and then suck in your guts and bravely move in to “take care of the situation”.
can you sp ot “NEWGUY ”? The Realization From the first moment that brown Cutlass came over the horizon, you knew it; Billy knew it; and probably even Newguy knew it. You knew from balls to bone this one rudimentary and self-evident fact: you’re all f*&Ked! This is going to be the absolute worst shit-show day of riding you’ve had since Jeff brought his wife’s cousin to
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This socially unpleasant but necessary intervention goes something like this: “Hi Newguy, I’m Jeff – Good to meet you! First time out in a while huh? Let me give you a hand with that! We’re gonna have a great day today!” “Hi Newguy, I’m Johnny – Good to meet you! KDX 220 huh? I used to own one of those. It’s a great bike! We’re gonna have a great day today!” “Hi Newguy, I’m Phil – Good to meet you! I’ve got a can
fire up like my old Harley used to” of pre-mix over there, let me wheel you’re bike over, and we’ll top ‘her right up. We’re gonna have a great day today!” Somehow, neither Newguy or Billy read correctly into this crass, in-your-face reality check that they need to go back home, and before you all know it, you’re all working on getting the KDX fired up. Twenty minutes of kicking and two spark plugs later, you get Newguy’s bike to fire just as he strolls back from the shitter. “Boy, she sure don’t fire up like my old Harley used to. I could kick start my Harley wearing slippers, this little 220 should have been easy for you so called experts to fire.” Glances are exchanged, tongues are all bitten and helmets quietly donned for the ride ahead. “So, does anybody have something I could get a swig of? It’s hot as he’ll in here with this leather jacket on!” Billy’s Ride Billy is having the ride of his life. He’s cleaning climbs and rock piles, he’s clearing the gnarliest mud pits. He’s in the zone! On fire as they say. You’ve never seen him ride this well, and come to think of it, you haven’t seen him all day today either! That’s because you’re back here, miserable, kicking Newguy’s bike over for the 13th time today after he looped
out on a grassy knoll. You count yourself lucky -- at least you’re only kicking the bike, unlike Jeff who had to de-water the bike and then kick it, or Phil, who had to haul the bike up Satan’s Lookout all by himself while Newguy went back on the trail looking for his lost rear brake pedal, foot-peg and kick-starter lever. The Tally Twenty three kms in four and a half hours. Twenty three kms, at a blistering average of five flippin’ kms an hour! That’s what the planned two-hundred and fifty km ride turned-out to be when all is said and done. Newguy made it out of the bush on Phil’s bike with Johnny towing Phil on the re-deceased KDX. Billy isn’t out of the bush yet. He and Jeff went ahead a while back, and are probably finishing the full loop. Bastards! Sponsorship All of this could have been avoided with one simple Ride Group rule -- Sponsorship. Sponsorship is simple, and works like this: Whoever introduces Newguy to the group must be his official Sponsor. That means all fuel, lube and any and all consumables, spare tools and tubes, maintenance and tech support, and emergency evacuation services of Newguy are the responsibility of his sponsor. If you’re not prepared to sponsor Newguy, then he can’t come for the ride. Done. Case closed.
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g n i n r o m e i g o bo
photo:kaveri gupta
onor h of e g d a ab h t i w g n i prepp
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four weeks with a
tekvest First Impression In the summer of 2009, I saw a rider wearing a chest pad that looked like some sort of military body armour. I did not understand how anyone could ride with something that seemed so bulky, heavy and hot. Since that time I have learned that the body armour I saw was not a one of a kind home creation. It’s called a Tekvest and it’s made by a Canadian company called Tekrider. Something else has happened since the summer of 2009: crashes, and lots of them. Crashing so much has started to change my way of thinking about pads. I used to think minimal coverage and light-weight was a good thing, but now I want more protection regardless of weight. I was recently given the opportunity to use a Tekvest for four weeks and write my impressions of it.
Fit and Protection I’ve been using the Rally max model and it provides excellent upper body protection from roost and falls. A major difference between typical chest pads and the Tekvest is the side coverage. The side padding overlaps resulting in virtually no areas unprotected. Traction
by Duncan Carpenter
Three adjustment straps allow you to customize the Tekvest resulting in a snug but comfortable fit giving a very secure feeling. Two of the adjustment straps go around the kidneys while the third goes across the chest. The very best part about the adjustment straps is that they are outside the padding so there are no pressure points or unnecessary rubbing from straps against your body. One area that could use some adjustment is the arms. People with long or even average length arms won’t have a problem, but the stubby-armed (like me) will desire some way to adjust the arms. While I would love to see future Tekvest models feature adjustable arms, the arms on my Rally max model never got in the way while I was riding. In fact, nothing got in my way during riding. Despite appearing bulky, the Tekvest never interfered with my position or movement on the bike. The Tekvest was actually less bulky and restrictive than the chest pad and hydration pack I normally use. Using the vest also eliminates the hunchback look, and I think we all know looking good is just as (if not more) important than safety. I don’t wear a neck brace so I can’t comment on whether one would fit or not, but according to
I THINK WE ALL KNOW LOOKING GOOD IS JUST AS IMPORTANT AS SAFETY Tekrider’s website (www.tekrider.com) there is enough room to use a brace. Due to the full coverage of the Tekvest, it’s slightly warmer than a traditional chest protector. With the exception of the plastic on the shoulders and arms, the padding is perforated which allows some airflow. As long as you stay moving the extra heat isn’t an issue, but it becomes noticeable when you stop.
Features The Rally max Tekvest has four front pockets that are deep and wide for whatever you need to carry. I was able to fit my tool kit and extra spark plug on one side and a small first aid kit on the other side. Two of the front pockets snap shut and the other two have zippers so whatever you decide to keep in them will stay secure. There are one and a half back pockets. One pocket is mesh and essentially intended for a hydration bladder; it also has a ring in the top to clip keys. I used this ring to tie my hydration bladder in place. I use a 102oz (3 litre) bladder and it fit perfectly. I’m not sure if they make a bigger bladder, but if they do it would probably fit as well. Smaller bladders will definitely fit. One issue did arise in terms of the built-in path for the hydration bladder hose. The route for the hose goes over all the padding and some hoses may be too short, but a quick trip to the hardware store should fix that. The half pocket is an elastic rope attached in a crisscross pattern and is perfect for holding a tube (or two). Goggles will fit in the half pocket, but it’s a little tight with a full hydration bladder.
Bottom Line Dirt bikes crash and there will never be a product to prevent crashes, but the Tekvest is a great way to be prepared. Over the past four weeks with the Tekvest
Rally max, I have learned that Tekvests do not protect knees, ankles and forearms. The Tekvest protects your torso and upper arms as well as (or better than) anything else on the market. It does so while allowing you to carry anything you can fit in the pockets and staying hydrated. At about $450 the Tekvest may not be for everyone, but if you value protection I suggest you save your pennies and cash in future birthdays or holidays. Not only will you be getting the best protection available, you will be supporting a Canadian company. You can order yours directly from Tekrider at www.tekrider.com, but I’m just going to change my phone number and E-mail address so I can keep this one.
PROS:
- protection - made in Canada - storage - built-in hydration system (bladder not included) - torso adjustability - adjustment straps outside padding
CONS:
- arm pads are not adjustable or removable - price Traction
This month we were able catch up with several of the key people involved in the Calabogie Boogie - both past and present. It’s the 20th Anniversary of this event and Trevor Bylsma is this year’s “trail boss”. We caught up with Trevor in-between his hectic schedule. T: Trevor, what is a “trail boss” and what kind of responsibilities do you have? TB: The ‘Trail Boss’ term makes the job sound a lot easier than it is. In addition to planning the trail routes, the ‘trail boss’ also hosts meetings, organizes lunch and rentals, notifies municipalities of the event, ensures trails are in good condition, and organizes all volunteer activities, among other things. Luckily, a lot of these tasks can be delegated, but it is still a lot of things to juggle. T:
This year is the 20th Anniversary of the
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Boogie. What are you trying to do this year to make it special? TB: This year we are trying to keep the use of roads and the K&P trail to an absolute minimum. Unfortunately, this means that some of the trails that have been used regularly for the last few years had to be cut out and replaced by other trails. We are also running all trails in a clockwise direction for the first time in a few years. This means that all the trails will feel like new, even for those who have attended regularly for the last few years. T: Are there any surprises for the riders this year? Any new sections of trail or trail that has not been seen in some time? TB: There are a few new items this year that riders should enjoy. First, we are setting up an optional timed grass track. The ribboned track will be setup in a hay field and will be suitable for all skill levels. Grass tracks are always a riot and will give everyone a taste of racing, without having to join a race.
h c n u l Boogie
ood g so sted a t never g n i k home coo photo:kaveri gupta
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on the stand
By ODSC president Brian Knechtel
a low cost d n a e c n ie ven e� inor incon m a y l rs, or mor l a a l r l e o n d e d g e r is es und a couple h roken spok b t s e l co p u y il co s “A n ea bent rim ca a , r e v e w fix. Ho
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“IF built like a yard ape that can tear phone books in half, use a spoke torque wrench” Totally spoked I recall walking thru the finish parc ferme at Dacre on the Sunday morning after the bi-annual Paris-Dacre rally a couple years ago, looking at all the carnage from the day before. Along with all the broken blinkers, headlights, plastic and even a missing subframe(!), there were a few bikes that had at least a couple broken, or missing spokes, even though the rims weren’t bent, or obviously out of round. Now, it’s one thing to hit a big rock or root step, etc. at speed, bend the rim and have a couple spokes break – that’s just something that occasionally happens, like a ‘yard sale’ crash – it’s part of riding off-road. However, spokes really shouldn’t break on a rim that remains round and true – unless there are a bunch of loose ones, which will put undue stress on the others that are still tight. Many riders overlook this critical part of bike maintenance; keeping their spokes tight and their wheels running straight & true. This is especially important if you do a lot of riding in really rough and rocky terrain. A regular wheel maintenance plan will save a lot of money and prevent frustration out on the trail. When it’s done regularly, it only takes about the same amount of time as an oil change and should be done every 1000-2000km or so, or a couple times a year, depending on the type of riding you do, so it’s not a huge time commitment. A wheel that has been neglected can take significantly longer to bring back to true & fix/replace seized spokes. Left neglected, a few loose spokes can cause others to break, allow the rim to bend when it otherwise wouldn’t, or in a worst case scenario, cause a hub to break. A couple broken spokes is generally a minor inconvenience and a low cost fix. However, a bent rim can easily cost a couple hundred dollars, or more, to replace if it’s bent beyond repair. A broken hub will end your day and often cost well over five hundred dollars to replace. The first thing to do when preparing to check & tighten your spokes is to get the bike up on a suitable stand,
so that the wheels are a few inches off the ground. For this method, we’ll just assume the rims aren’t bent and are reasonably lined up properly with the hubs, leave the wheels on the bike and use the bike itself as a default truing stand. The next thing to do is check the rim for both lateral and radial runout (make sure your wheel bearings are in decent condition before you do this). A simple & quick method to do this is to hold a slender pointed object that is a few inches long, such as a pencil or screwdriver, etc., against either the fork or the swingarm, with one end of it placed about 1/8” (3mm) away from the rim at either the outer edge, or near the bottom of the bead seat. (see fig. 1) Fig 1
Spin the rim at a speed that it will do one complete revolution in about 5 seconds or so and watch as the rim moves side to side (lateral runout) and up and down (radial runout) vs. the tip of the pointer. (be careful not to scratch the rim during this procedure). The rim should not move more than a total of an 1/8” either way laterally, or 1/16”(1.5mm) radially during this procedure. I.e. It should not touch the tip of the pointer, or move a ¼” away from it laterally. Note: On a street bike or a dual sport bike that spends a lot of time on the highway, these tolerance numbers should be cut in half to reduce/eliminate shaking or vibrations at higher speeds. Traction
If it is out more than that, the rim should be brought back into trueness before the spokes are checked. On rims that are mildly out of tolerance, or not bent: To true the rim laterally, loosen the spokes on the side that is bulged out, in that specific area of the rim, a half turn or so and tighten the spokes on the opposite side the same amount then check by spinning. Repeat as necessary until the rim is within tolerance.
So I start with the spoke on the side of the stem towards the bike.
To true the rim radially, you will need to loosen the spokes on the opposite side of the wheel of the high spot a half turn or so and tighten the ones in the high spot and equivalent amount. Repeat as necessary. This can take some time and patience, as it can involve loosening and tightening quite a few spokes to get the wheel back into trueness.
I use a small adjustable wrench - about 6” long. There are also many choices of spoke wrenches on the market to suit any bike. Back off the nipple a 1/4 turn & then tighten the spoke with about 2-3 lbs of pressure, using the muscles in your wrist & fingers to turn the wrench, not your arm muscles. This will tighten them just enough to make them give a high pitched ‘ding’ when you tap the spoke with the wrench.
If the wheel is way out of tolerance, i.e. more than a ¼” (6mm), egg shaped, or has a significantly obvious flat spot, it could be bent and would need to be either removed from the wheel and straightened, or replaced. Attempting to use the spokes to straighten a bent rim, will likely result in either stripped or broken spokes. If the rim is offset to one side, or offset from center both ways (half the rim is offset to one side and half to the other side), the wheel should probably be removed from the bike and placed in a proper truing stand. Once the rim is true, the spokes can be tightened properly:
Tap the spoke in the center with your wrench and listen for a high pitched ‘ding’. If it makes a high pitched ‘ding’, it’s already tight. If it makes a low pitched noise, or can be wiggled with your fingers, it’s loose and needs tightening.
If you aren’t able to safely do this by hand without overtightening or, are built like a yard ape that can tear phone books in half, use a spoke torque wrench set to the bike manufacturers recommended torque settings. If the spoke is already tight, move on to the next (see next paragraph). When the first spoke is done, skip the next 2 spokes and do the 3rd spoke from the first one you did (#4 from the valve stem. fig 3). * Fig 3
Pick a starting spot on the rim - i.e. the valve stem. Start with the spoke immediately beside the stem; on the side in the direction you are going to spin the wheel during this procedure. Personally, I spin the wheel clockwise when sitting just to my right of the wheel (left side of the bike for front wheel, right side of bike for rear wheel). (See fig 2) Fig 2
Then, skip 2 more spokes, i.e. count 1,2,3, tighten, and so on until you’ve gone all the way around the wheel. Now, start with the 2nd spoke from the valve stem (fig. 4) and repeat, skipping 2 spokes each time, again going all the way around the wheel. Traction
Fig 4
for trueness once finished to ensure you haven’t pulled it out of true. On a wheel that has quite a few loose spokes, you may need to repeat this entire procedure 2 or three times until all the spokes are tight. Doing this procedure on a regular basis will keep spokes from seizing in the nipple and help prevent broken or stripped spokes and other wheel problems as noted in the first part of this article.
Finally, start with the 3rd spoke from the stem and repeat as above. This method will go a long way to prevent you from moving the rim out of true radially or laterally during the tightening procedure. On a wheel rim that is done regularly, it takes about 15 min per wheel and you’re good to go. Recheck the rim
HINT: Most people aren’t aware of a product that will make your life worlds easier when it comes to spokes. It’s a product called ‘Spoke Set’ by ThreeBond. It prevents spokes from seizing up. Put a drop on each spoke at the nipple - it wicks into the threads, turns into a putty like substance, seals the threads and it’s good for a couple of years. Re-do each wheel every year or two, and you shouldn’t ever have a problem with seized spokes. * tightening every 3rd spoke works well for any wheel that the total number of spokes divides evenly by 3. For some wheels- i.e. those that have 32 or 40 spokes, it may work better to tighten every 4th spoke and make 4 full circuits of the wheel.
nd a e k i b s i h t of now k we t a ion From wh ttent a heel needs w s i h t , owner
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5 mins of
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by ktmkevin
Up On My Soapbox One would assume that a man of my fame, fortune, charm, good looks, wisdom and age should have mastered the art of avoiding work; especially in its most dangerous “volunteer” form. Alas, that assumption would be incorrect. Once again, this year, I volunteered to assist with the Calabogie Boogie sweep rider duties. Volunteer efforts are the glue that holds the whole trail riding community together and if you have never stepped up to help out your local club then, “shame on you”.
I found myself with only five riders instead of the anticipated six. A sense of unease crept over me; this was not the ideal way to start and I hoped it wasn’t an omen for the rest of the day.
Sweeping is one of those jobs that usually is not a lot of fun, but needs to be done nontheless. Pre-riders, on the other hand, simply race around the trails. They never have to deal with injured riders and broken bikes. Much scorn should be heaped upon them for their selfish pleasures. I do, however, take some solace from the fact that lead pre-rider Larry took a tumble on his......well, let’s just say that he will be the butt of jokes for a very long time.
“it was the directionally challenged Mad Rob and half of the pink crew”
Sweeping is most often full of surprises and even the best laid plans quickly become an exercise in improvisation. And so it was again this year. My assignment was to lead the “orange” sweep crew while Smokin’ Doug was to lead the “pink” crew. As I assembled my guys after the customers had left,
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On our merry way we went, pulling arrows and spending a little time frolicking on the grass track where, once again, I demonstrated a comprehensive lack of understanding of motorcycle dynamics. The sweeping was going well through the first few options as the two crews were meeting as scheduled and agreeing to strategies for the next sections.
But, when the orange crew got to the exit of the Stoney Lonesome option, things started to unravel. As we waited for the pink crew to arrive, we were startled by bikes coming from the direction where we had just pulled arrows. Turns out it was the directionally challenged Mad Rob and half of the pink crew. Seems the pink crew split up, as anticipated, but Rob’s group lost the trail and ended up popping out in the wrong location. We were also starting to get reports that the hill climb in the white option was turning into a bottleneck. And it was getting late. And I was wishing that I had eaten less breakfast as my stomach was getting that all too
“Speed and skill seems to avoid me but, at this stage in my life, I’m well past embarrassment” familiar churning feeling. We decided that Rob and his guys should wait for Doug to come out of the option and I would arrow everyone down the K&P to lunch while the rest of my crew would sweep the remaining morning loop and we would all meet again at the lunch stop. Unfortunately, another good plan was about to be laid to waste. I arrived at lunch anticipating that the rest of the sweep riders wouldn’t be too far behind. I stripped off some gear and enjoyed a hardy lunch (thanks again to the Lindop’s) but none of the other sweepers were arriving. By 2:00 p.m. I was in full panic mode as I knew the sweeping must start immediately on the afternoon loop to get everyone home by dark. So, in what is quickly becoming an annual tradition, I “drafted” some BMA
We eventually met up with Saturday Trail Boss Trevor Bylsma. Trevor relayed instructions to me regarding where we were to meet up so I bounced back to intercept the other sweeps, who now included my missing a.m. crew. In due course, the majority of the sweepers met at the end of Blazing Saddles (the last option before the grass track) and awaited the arrival of Trevor’s guys. After some story swapping about the day’s events most sweepers headed into the golf course for a well deserved beer while Pete Z and I remained behind to meet Trevor and convey the good news that all the customers and sweeps were safely home. Trevor seemed quite happy that the sweeping was largely completed and everyone was home before dark. All that was left to do was to pull the orange arrows on the way home; my stomach was finally returning to normal and I realized that I was hungry and in dire need of a beer. As a humbling exclamation point, I only managed to pull one arrow on the 8 km ride home. I would have thought that Trevor’s guys would be thoroughly beat up and slow enough for me to keep up; wrong again. Speed and skill seems to avoid me but, at this stage in my life, I’m well past embarrassment.
Leader of the pre-riders - Larry “No Good Comes from Wheelies” Murray
members whom had previously been enjoying the Boogie. Just as we were about to leave Doug’s pink crew arrived but nobody seemed to have any news about the rest of my guys. Doug and I agreed on a rendezvous point on the p.m. section and I headed out with my new recruits. So off we merrily went, again, only to lay waste to another good plan. My four “draftees” quickly became two as one of them threw a chain and had to be towed back to the start point. My stomach was getting downright queasy by now as I was faced with sending my only two sweepers into the notorious Quinns Lake option. I was feeling quite guilty about sending them into this nasty piece of rock hell but guilt quickly washed away in the beauty of the Madawaska Highlands.
“I was feeling quite guilty about sending them into this nasty piece of rock hell” So, in closing, if you have gotten the impression that sweeping is a disorganized mess then you would be largely correct. As I pointed out at the beginning, well laid plans usually don’t last very long as the unanticipated trail dramas unfold. This concept used to drive me batty but I have now accepted that sweeping always has been, and always will be, an exercise in frustration and improvisation. I’m O.K. with that now, excessive stomach acid or not. In fact, I can hardly wait to do it again next year. The satisfaction of a sweeping job well done is certainly above and beyond anything that those pampered pre-riders could ever experience.
trail tours dirtbike & Atv school
www.trailtour.com
Traction
1-877-939-5267
photo:kaveri gupta
! K C A T T A K C WRA
fun of nutes i m 5 , were ou y o h w depending ony 4 mins, 21 seconds. may Take Onl Traction
STILL KICKIN '
By Glen (COOP) Cooper
Situation Critical
So, you have decided to take in an event. It could be an off road motorcycle event. Handy topic here, we are an off road motorcycle newsletter after all. You first heard about this event from some friends that have ridden this event the year before. You know you are as good or better a rider than any of your friends. You also have the newest bike with BNG (bold new graphics) some Kentucky Go Fasters and Super Baboon Tires. You’re all set and ready to enter the event, but what’s that? They want you to pay to ride their event! What pay to ride, you have never had to pay to ride. As a matter of fact you were hoping some day to get paid to ride. Who ever heard of paying to go dirt bike riding? You finally suck it up and send in your money but not after complaining to anyone who will listen to you. Also you have to drive and stay over night because it is a 4-hour drive to the event starting point. When you arrive, you have to take your bike through a sound test. “Why, I have never had to worry about that where I ride. What kind of a deal is that? Pay to ride, sound checks, what’s next, are they going to tell me where to ride and where not to ride and tell me what time to be back too?”
They said there would be a lunch, big deal, some kind of sandwich and fruit drinks in the middle of nowhere. Oh, and now there is a couple of official looking guys following me and taking down all the arrows and trying to hurry me along. These guys who put this on don’t know anything! I could do a better job!
f paying o d r a e h r e v e o h “W ing?” to go dirt bike rid So here’s the deal. Where are you? How come you haven’t come out to join your local club? How is that you have never got involved with the events that your local club has been trying to put on to showcase the area that you ride in? Your local club is probably the same 12 or so people who have been working for years on all our behalf to protect the areas we all ride in. There is so much going on behind the scenes it would make your head spin. I know it does theirs. So instead of sitting back and criticizing - get involved and help out. A few hours here and few hours there will go a long way to keep us all riding. Till next time, Ride safe, ride smart. Coop out.
WOODY’S CYCLES KTM & HUSABERG Ontario’s Oldest and Most Experienced KTM Dealer
Parts: We stock them all, call us for same-day shipping. Service: From engine to suspension or just race tuning, we’ve had your service needs covered since 1978. Accessories: A huge stock of tires, riding gear, hard parts, boots, handle bars, tubes, you name it, it’s at Woody’s. We keep it in stock, and keep you running! Motorcycles: You can relax and enjoy buying your next
KTM or Husaberg from us. We take the time to sell you the right bike, and more time to show you the service aspect, and small details, as nobody else will. No 10 minute sales process here, we take as long as you need. Our customers and bikes are very special to us. Customer Riding Area: We’ve developed a huge and challenging trail riding area for our friend and customers, now open for the season. Call for details.
See all our bikes on the Auto Trader website or at www.woodys-cycles.com Traction
Woody’s Race Watch: June 13th • 2 Hour Scramble (www.offroadontario.ca or call for info) October 24th • Colin Snider Memorial 4 hour Team Challenge
CONTACT US: 613-267-6861 OR 1-800-267-BIKE (819, 613 area codes) or email: woody@woodys-cycles.com
photo:anthony kerr
“You also have the newest bike with some Kentucky Go Fasters and Super Baboon Tires�
photo: anthony kerr Traction Traction
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photo:kaveri gupta
photo: anthony kerr
RaceFACE
or more
t note” f s u a h x “e ’s y rr a l e e Try a race! s
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trail tours = fun written by & starring Kaveri Gupta
In the year since my last article, I have been on my bike intermittently. I oscillate between practicing a few nights a week (doing drills on the front lawn) to weeks where I don’t get it out at all. I was pleased (and relieved) to find that when I got on the bike for the first time this summer, I had not regressed (as I had anticipated), but was where I left off last summer (albeit needing some polishing). As a way to refresh my skills, have an adventure and expose my step-kids to dirtbiking, we stuffed ourselves into the truck for a trip to the Ganaraska Forest to participate in a Trail Tours Training/Ride Day. The Trail Tours group is located in the Ganaraska Forest where participants have the option to have focused skill instruction by instructors in small groups, go on a trail ride, or both. We opted to have skill teaching in the morning and go for a ride in the afternoon. Traction Traction
We were welcomed at the entrance and given the standard liability forms to sign regarding injuries. After that, the very friendly staff helped all of the participants find the gear they needed to ride. Trail Tours provided everything: pants, boots, protective padding, jersey, helmet, goggles and gloves, PLUS a bike. I had my own gear and bike (which is also allowed). They had change rooms next to the gear area, so the kids could try the gear on and change sizes, if needed. After getting ready, we were broken up into small groups and taken with our instructor over to the bikes. For the first half an hour, we learned about the basic parts on the bike (clutch, start button, kill switch, brakes etc). Then we learned about the gears. Lastly, we learned how to properly warm up the bike. We moved to the first track, which was a simple loop with a low hill at each end. Our instructor first wanted us to working on starting and stopping in a controlled way (which we all did easily). Then we practiced
“I would gun it, desperate to not have to wrestle my bike through the sand again.”
shifting gears up and down and coming to a proper stop. We also practiced leaning into turns and increasing our speed on the turns. The day was scorching hot, so after the first session was over, we all traipsed back to the tent for water and snacks. After the break we went to the second loop, which was bigger, steeper, and had sandier hills. Here, were worked on standing up while riding, changing position on the bike to make it under a limbo stick, going over a log (scary), figure 8s sitting down and standing up, and coming to an emergency stop. Our group did these skills fairly easily. Next was lunch, which was so good. Trail Tours provides a hot lunch with pasta, fruit, fresh bread and chocolate, which is exactly what you want when you are hot and tired. After lunch, all the “students” went on a 2-hour trail ride with the instructors. This was definitely most challenging part of the day for me. The drills in the morning had been relatively easy because I have spent a decent amount of time practicing isolated skills at home. But the sand in the Ganaraska Forest is a whole other beast. I have never ridden in sand before and quickly (very quickly) learned that the only way to deal with it is to be heavy on the throttle. On the first sandy hill, I made the mistake of slowing down near the bottom to get a sense of the hill before attempting to climb it. The pause was not long, but enough for my front tire to sink into the soft sand and
for me start to tip over. I wrestled to prevent the bike from falling but then began the fight to get the bike moving. First gear was not enough, but the bike was bucking badly so I was never balanced long enough to get my foot up to change into second gear. By the time I got to the top, I was panting, hot and very frustrated. Thankfully, one of the instructors was riding in front of me (because I was the slowest rider compared to all the 10 year olds in the group), and he started giving me hand signals as to what was coming next. As soon as I saw the gesture for a hill climb, I would gun it, desperate to not have to wrestle my bike through the sand again. After I got a handle on how to manage the sand, the ride became more enjoyable. The sand is so soft, that if
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“Trail Tours puts on an fun, family-friendly day and makes it easy for people to try off-road riding”
you do tip-over or fall, it’s a soft place to land. Plus, I started feeling incredibly grateful every time the terrain changed (though briefly) to packed dirt and gravel! After an hour, we stopped at a natural spring, where
terrain and felt more comfortable traveling a faster speed (faster for me, that is). Once we returned to the Trail Tours camp, I was again filled with a sense of accomplishment at having completed the ride (though not very elegantly). I could clearly see my improvement since my participating in the SCORRA’s Women’s Day last year, and that felt good. I have to say that my riding experience was far more enjoyable this year than I remembered last year. Doing basic drills regularly at home has definitely helped my confidence level in handling most simple obstacles encountered on the trail. I find myself enjoying riding more, rather than stressing about what lays ahead of me. I definitely recommend Trail Tours for those learning how to ride.
everyone enjoyed a cool drink and face splash. On the way back, the instructors lead us through a much easier trail with less hills and less sand. I found myself changing gears frequently to deal with the changing
Trail Tours puts on an fun, family-friendly day and makes it easy for people to try off-road riding by providing all of the gear and basic instruction. If it was possible, I would definitely use Trail Tours as my warm up/refresher course in the spring in the coming years.
photo:kaveri gupta
e m i t d o o g a d a h s t n a p i c i t r a p e i g o o b
Upcoming Club Events September 26th - CVMG Trials, Lanark, ON
Near Watson’s Corners, this is the fall round of the local CVMG series for vintage and other observed trials enthusiasts. Contact Doug Hunter 613 826 3748 or website@bytown-motorcycle-assoc.ca
October 3rd - Jim Kolman’s Chilli Run, Navan, ON
This is a hare scramble event for riders of all ages and skill levels; from mini’s to expert riders, women and vets. The track includes open grass, single-track trails, MX and endurocross sections designed to be entertaining and easy to navigate…a perfect opportunity for new racers to try your first scramble. Also a mini track for the kids to race on in the morning schedule. Try not to miss the live band and bon-fire Saturday night before the race! Of course free camping. For more info contact Jim Kolman at Wheelsport 613 841 9400 or jimkolman@hotmail.com
October 17th - BMA 4-hour harescramble, Woody’s
The Colin Snider Memorial 4-hour hare scramble is an annual favourite, a team event set on a course meant to be fun but reasonably challenging. The event is a fundraiser for local charities and an excellent event for a family group to have a fun day, socialize, kick some tires and get some racing experience to boot. No bikes smaller than 65cc. Call for info: Carolin or Woody 613 267 6861. director-at-large@bytown-motorcycle-assoc.ca
OCTOBER 24TH - GREAT PINE ENDURO, GANARASKA FOREST
Part of the Off Road Ontario Series. The Great Pine will not have a trail ride this year and will be run with FIM rules. Keytime 10am Sunday Oct 24. Start at Sandaraska Park. Gas truck provided Check out the OFTR.CA website for more info.
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photo: Anthony Kerr
s p i r e s s a c a l . c r o t i d e g bma smugmu Traction
Colin Snider Memorial preview
The Colin Snider memorial is a relay-style team event. It is 4 hours in length and was created to memorialize a great local pro-level rider killed on a bike in the summer of 1997. The first race I had was in October 1997. The course was originally 6 km, and is now 12 km of moderately difficult, tight eastern woods with a fast lap of roughly 25 minutes. There are 3 different competitions: (1) The Ironman group – One man or woman, one bike, four hours. One of our more popular formats - you will get your money worth!! (2) 2 man team – Here, there is always one rider on the course. Riders carry the same race number on their bikes and exchange with each other in the pit lane. One in, one out, but sometimes a rider will do more than one lap in a shift (but not usually). This is where the fastest competitors usually are. Only one pro per team. (3) 3-4 man team - This is my favorite one. Lots of time between shifts, so you get social time with other riders and have time to figure a strategy into your race. Same rules as above, one rider on the track at a time and one pro level rider only per team. This one will be similar to the other years. There are lots of great prizes, and refreshments at the end of the ride. The biggest change this year is the date, as we had the Great Pine Enduro move its date, so our date had to be changed to October 17th this year. There have been many great riders and races in the 14 - year history of this event. A lot of the top positions are right down to the wire to sort out a winner. One of my favorites memories has to be Patrick Beaule, a multi-time Canadian champion in enduros, and head tech for KTM Canada, who was to team up with one of my shops riders. But had his 2 year old daughter with him, so no problem, he rigged up a mini handlebar, suited her up, and took her along (carefully) for the ride. Very cool approach to bringing the young along. Traction
by Woody Percival
Also, last year, one of the paid factory MX guys, Jeremy Medaglia, showed up in the 2-man event, but got beat by Luic, and his dad Claude Leonard. Luic was on his 100cc Kawasaki, when he passed Medaglia in the woods! There are many great riders that appear and appreciate this ride, for what it is…a fun charity ride. Allan Lachapelle, and his family, Patrick Beaule, Denis Liberson, Tom Irwin, Jeremy Medaglia, the Leonards, and many more top offroad riders of the day. This is a BMA Club supported event for various local charities and is as much a fun social event, as it is a riding event. There can be a lot of strategy as the race unfolds, and it really is a fun day. The cost to register for the race is $40 per rider. Charities for which the money raised: Salvation Army, Food Bank, Lanark Animal Welfare society. Last year we included an injured rider Andrew Trevitt, the Guatamala stove project, and a United Church Charity. In the past, we have donated money to Children’s Aid. As always, we will need a few volunteers to help with normal duties: traffic control and scoring. Our date this year has been moved to Sunday October 17th. Practice starts at 10:00am, and racing starts at noon. See you there. Woody
photo: anthony kerr
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otfr news THE RESULTS ARE IN... Toronto, Ontario, August 26, 2010 –The Canadian Off-Highway Vehicle Distributors Council (COHV) and its funding partners the All-Terrain Quad Council of Canada (AQCC), the Motorcyclist Confederation of Canada (MCC) and the government of Nova Scotia have received the first of four reports from York University, confirming that riding all-terrain vehicles (ATVs) and off-road motorcycles (ORMs) is good for your body and soul. Jamie F. Burr, Veronica K. Jamnik, Jim A. Shaw and Professor Norman Gledhill at York University’s Physical Activity and Chronic Disease Unit, Faculty of Health conducted the study. The purpose of the research -- to characterize the physiological demands of recreational off-road vehicle (ORV) riding under typical ORV riding conditions using habitual recreation ORV riders. Study analysis of exercise intensity during riding revealed “approximately 14% of an ATV ride and 38% of an ORM ride are within the intensity range required to achieve changes in aerobic fitness. Riding on a representative course also led to muscular fatigue, particularly in the upper body.” Jamie Burr, York University, Faculty of Health concluded, “On the basis of the measured metabolic demands, evidence of muscular strength requirements, and the associated caloric expenditures with off-road vehicle riding, this alternative form of activity conforms to the recommended physical activity guidelines and can be effective for achieving beneficial changes in health and fitness.” Jamie further added, “Off-Road Vehicle (ORV) riding is similar in aerobic demand to many other recreational, self-paced, sporting activities such as golf, rock climbing and alpine skiing.” “COHV and its partners were pleased to learn that this first report confirms what ORV riders already know -- that being out on the trails is not only fun but contributes to individual and family well-being and physical fitness,” stated Bob Ramsay President of the MMIC. “This ground breaking, first ever comprehensive, scientific probe of the fitness and health benefits of ATV and ORM recreational riding proves that riding creates sufficient opportunity to stimulate changes in aerobic fitness and falls within the physical activity guidelines of both Health Canada and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).” There is still more to come. As they are published, COHV and its partners look forward to reviewing subsequent sections of the study that will further assess the fitness and health characteristics (body composition, musculoskeletal fitness, aerobic fitness, back fitness, physical activity participation, lifestyle characteristics, health characteristics and quality of life characteristics) of this same representative sample of participants. The COHV and its member companies: Arctic Cat, BRP (Can-Am), Honda, Kawasaki, KTM, Polaris, Suzuki and Yamaha are committed to family recreation and healthy, active life styles. We believe that the results of this study are a great resource to be shared with those who question OHVs as a healthy recreational activity.
What are we going to do when all our riding areas are gone? Traction
The scientific name for an animal that doesn’t either run from or fight it’s enemies is lunch ~ Michael Friedman
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exhaust note
by LARRY murray
Try Something New Why should I enter a cross country race or an enduro? There are many BMA members that ride competitive events but most of our members don’t! I feel that the majority of our riders are a lot better than they think. Plus, what could be more fun than riding a new area and meeting new people with the same interest as you? We all fall into the same rut. We ride with the same people week after week, only go riding when they go and they only go when we go. We go to the same place maybe two places and ride the same trails, and to make things even worse, we only ride on nice days. Let’s try something new! I must tell you that going to a race will improve your riding before you even get your bike of the truck. You will prep your bike better. You will see little trick things that others do to their bikes and gear, what they bring and what they use. There will be riders with every trick item ever made on their brand new bikes and riders with bikes that they could enter into vintage race. But they all have the same things in common, and that is there love for the off road motorcycling, and a willingness to test their riding and machine in an event. By participating, you will raise the bar of your riding, pushing yourself to a new level, and test yourself against yourself. You don’t need to ride over your head to do well! What you need to do is ride at your best for as long as you can, staying under control, pushing yourself and your machine. Let me tell you that after the event is over, nothing will feel better then knowing you have done your best, finished the event. The winning is knowing that you have surpassed your own expectations. The trophies will come! And the more trophies you win the less you will care about them. The winning will be knowing that you are doing something you love and doing it the best you can.
I have rode hundreds of events and can tell you that there are many riders better and many riders worse than us. Some days nothing will go wrong and some days everything goes wrong. I have looked at a water crossing and picked the best line in my mind and dropped into a hole that was up to my bars, and on other days come up to a water hole just like the one I watered out in last week with bikes stuck ever ware and my line took me to the other side with no problem passing five or six riders in ten meters. Knowing that some of them will never get out! (same as me last week). When entering an event it’s important to be honest with yourself. Are you a beginner or are you a pro? The reason there is a beginner class is it’s for beginners,
“I feel that the majority of our (BMA) riders are a lot better than they think.” enough, and the fact is you were just in the wrong class. What do I need to know before I go? The more you can learn about the event, cross country race or an enduro the better. Ask someone that rides them to help you, and get a copy of the rules and read them, they will be a lot simpler then you think. Ask questions and others will help you. You may want to ask someone to ride with you, this is hard, but you will learn from each other. You must finish to win or place! After the event is over and the results are posted and at the bottom of the list coming last is the DNF’ers (did not finish) there are reason for being on the list. Bike busted, rider busted, more the one hour behind last rider. Do not give up! Always keep moving, ride on, as hard as you may think it is, it maybe harder for the others in your class. There is no room on the podium for a quitter. Giving up is not an option. newbie’s, first timers. So if you are a beginner, newbie’s, first timers, never road an event, why would you enter as any thing else? If you’re entering your first event as a beginner and do well, move up next time, starting as an intermediate. Not finishing the event because you were in the wrong class will only make you feel like your not good
Let’s all get together next year and send as many BMA riders to an Enduro or a Cross Country Race. Let’s test ourselves. I know that we will have fun and become better riders Just For Fun Larry Murray
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