Let's Talk Dirt....

[SarahP]

How many of you ride your Bonnie off road in dirt and gravel for any length of time?

I'd like to do it, or at least not be freaked out by it. What makes me hesitate is the idea of the bike getting all dinged up with gravel/rocks.

Has anyone installed something like the Motone skid plate from New Bonneville?

If money were no object, I'd replace Barney's OEM fenders with aftermarket fenders/side covers, spray painted to something close to the OEM purple. Then I could ride rampant on gravel without worrying about little (or big) nicks and dings in the paint. At least that's what I picture. But I can't really afford to do it, I don't think.

Any guidance would be appreciated! Thanks!

 

[Rocky]

I'm a pavement rider and only ride on a dirt road if there is no other choice (rarely) - but that's just me - so I'm of no help.

 

[SarahP]

I'm a pavement rider and only ride on a dirt road if there is no other choice (rarely) - but that's just me - so I'm of no help.

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Thanks, Rocky...I emailed Brent at New Bonneville. He doesn't think that skid plate is compatible with the Renntec crash bars. I told him it might be amenable to some percussive maintenance.

OTOH, perhaps I should just use my little Honda dual sports bike (Honda CRF 230M) on the dirt and leave Barney for the nice country roads!

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

No use asking me for my advice about off road riding. When I used to take my DR350 off road, I spent more time off the bike than on it. Gave it up as a bad job.

( OTOH, perhaps I should just use my little Honda dual sports bike (Honda CRF 230M) on the dirt and leave Barney for the nice country roads! ) A much better idea me thinks

 

[turtleman]

my dad always said if ya can't ride your bike in gravel stay home. he used to take his full dressed hog into the gravel pits. I ride a lot of back roads here in east TN. I just keep bike moving, hard to turn around sometimes when I find dead end and real narrow road with dogs chasing me. But fun fun fun.

 

[turtleman]

haven't fell on this bike YET. BUT thats what there made for to ride. I don't do off road I AM not nuts YET with road bike. I lived in arizona road out in desert untill BIG BAAD thorn gave me flat. stoped doing that.

 

[Rocky]

**************************************************************************************
Thanks, Rocky...I emailed Brent at New Bonneville. He doesn't think that skid plate is compatible with the Renntec crash bars. I told him it might be amenable to some percussive maintenance.

OTOH, perhaps I should just use my little Honda dual sports bike (Honda CRF 230M) on the dirt and leave Barney for the nice country roads!

Since you have that option, that would be my choice.
Barney was intended for pavement where he can shine and be his best.

 

[DaveM]

I have never thought about it damaging the bike itself unless you drop it, if I must ride on dirt I do and the only compensation I make is to ride a lot slower as the road tyres don't do well at higher speed in the dirt. I learn more about riding when I did a lot of dirt riding that I feel I ever learned on road but then I did also had a scrambler at that time. If you feel that you need to ride a lot of dirt the best mod would be to change your tyres to those more suited for road and dirt riding.

 

[keystiger]

I would certainly buy one of these if I had the cash.............

 

[keystiger]

Of course the Green Goddess handles Dirt very nicely Tigers are fun off road....but they can be a little OVER powered (I know can you believe I said that???) in the dirt.

 

[turtleman]

like it

 

[triumph david]

When i was younger i rode my bonne in the gravel alot, my girlfriend lived way out in the country and i was in love. That was enough gravel for me. That was along time ago, one time we were riding back from town and passed the old swimming hole, didn't have any bathing suits but went in any way, when we finally got back to her house her mother asked us why our hair was wet, Linda went into a long winded explanation of something about rain and garden hoses meanwhile i got the hell out of Dodge, her father was due in from work at any time. I just knew i was dead! Gravel roads are bad.

 

[Mad On Triumphs]

A bit of a close shave there TD

 

[shanered6]

OH damn ! i thought they had just forgot the Y in the tittle !