The after-market parts industry is big in the off-road motorcycle world – really big.
When I bought my first dirt bike in 2004 I didn’t realize this. But it didn’t take long to start noticing the many ways my friends were modifying their bikes with after-market pipes, tanks, jetting, handlebars, brush guards, big-bore kits, and other […]
Filed under: The Dirt Biker Chronicles on June 26th, 2009 | No Comments »
“You get what you pay for.” That’s the old saying. And when it comes to buying a dirt bike its true.
Lately I’ve noticed a lot of advertising for low-price dirt bikes. We’re talking brand new 250cc dirt bikes for under $2,000. That’s about a third of the price of a similar Japanese bike. When you […]
Filed under: The Dirt Biker Chronicles on February 18th, 2009 | No Comments »
Donnalee Velvick never met her mother or father. She was an unwanted child. Instead of having a family, she was raised at St. Ann’s Orphanage in Los Angeles.
It’s fitting that she grew up in the City of Angels, because Donnalee’s work is worthy of an angel. At eleven years old, Donnalee made a vow. […]
Filed under: The Dirt Biker Chronicles on February 3rd, 2009 | No Comments »
The plan was to ride a 50 mile loop starting from camp near Burgdorf, in the Payette National Forest of Idaho. We were going to ride Bear Pete Trail to Victor Creek Trail, to Loon Lake Trail, and back to camp.
We knew that Victor Creek Trail had not been cleared this year and we were […]
Filed under: The Dirt Biker Chronicles on September 9th, 2008 | No Comments »
It was my first enduro race. The China Hat ISDE.
I wasn’t sure what to expect. I only knew from my one race that I wasn’t very fast. I had missed my window of potential twenty years earlier. By the time I raced my first race at 40, I was a has-been-never-was, too concerned about […]
Filed under: The Dirt Biker Chronicles on May 4th, 2008 | 2 Comments »
Can you imagine yourself beating a factory sponsored Pro in a one-on-one race? If you’ve ever watched a Pro with your own eyes, and your honest with yourself, the answer is “no”. They’re just too fast.
But it could happen. Under the right circumstances, it could happen. Remember Aesop’s fable, the Tortoise and the Hare? The […]
Filed under: The Dirt Biker Chronicles on April 23rd, 2008 | No Comments »
I can still vaguely remember that summer day in 1969. Every time I see the photo in the family album, the distant memory from so long ago awakens. The picture is of my Dad sitting on his brand new Ossa 250 Stiletto in our front yard. I remember the excitement of that day. That special […]
Filed under: The Dirt Biker Chronicles on April 19th, 2008 | 2 Comments »
One of my favorite riding pals is a loyal Yamaha owner who loves to talk smack about other bikes. He particularly loves to slander KTM because I ride one, and our friendly rivalry doesn’t allow praising the other guy’s brand.
Of course I feel obligated to defend the honor of my KTM, and I […]
Filed under: The Dirt Biker Chronicles on March 22nd, 2008 | No Comments »
A lot has changed in Idaho over the last thirty years. The state’s population has more than doubled and, along with that, there are ten times as many registered dirt bikes.
Unfortunately things have drastically changed in the Payette National Forest as well. In 1978 there were 1,773 miles of trail open to motorcycles. By 1991 that […]
Filed under: The Dirt Biker Chronicles on November 21st, 2007 | 1 Comment »
I got to ride a lot of great trails in 2007. In reminiscence of the excellent riding, I decided to rank the top trails of the year. Criteria for selection included technical difficulty, scenic beauty, and overall fun.
Upper Lava Mountain Trail - The Upper Lava Mountain Trail is in the Boise National Forest about 15 miles from Pine, […]
Filed under: The Dirt Biker Chronicles on November 12th, 2007 | 1 Comment »