First time off-road (sort of) on my N15

gpzkat

gpzkat

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I haven't been up Holy Jim trail nearby since the 'Airport fire' (so named due to an RC airport along the road). The fire was started by a crew putting up barriers to keep dirt bikes out. Burning 23K acres, they have kept dirt bikes and anyone else out for at least a year. I decided to ride up as far as I could, the gate's down - Holy Jim residents only, so it's only 2.75 miles in and out. Fun to try the N15 on some fire roads though.

First time off-road (sort of) on my N15


First time off-road (sort of) on my N15
 
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Apparently your N15 can float in the air above the dirt and mud when off road. Not even a spec of dust on your rims. Or are these before the off road images. :)

At least you are getting out and riding. 👍
 
Schwany said:
Apparently your N15 can float in the air above the dirt and mud when off road. Not even a spec of dust on your rims. Or are these before the off road images. :)

At least you are getting out and riding. 👍
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There's a fair bit of wet sand caked to the underside. The fire road was damp from last night's heavy rain, just right for traction and lack of dust. Perfect mountain bike conditions. I was hitting 45+ on the flats but only about 20 when it got bumpy and damper.
 
I rode off road for years. The P11 stayed at home cuz it would have been a little unwieldy doing what I was doing on a CZ, Honda, Yamaha, ATK, and KTM.

I did pull into a field once with the P11 and turn the wick up. It would throw one hell of a rooster tail of dust and dirt off the K70's. Well maintained fire roads would be doable though, but I had too many other better toys for dirt.

There were days when I had wished I'd gone in a dirtier direction with the restomod when I was in good shape. I could do all the work now but probably wouldn't be able to ride 50 feet in the whoops before my arms pumped up and became useless. Glory days gone in the wink of a young girls eye.
 
Schwany said:
I rode off road for years. The P11 stayed at home cuz it would have been a little unwieldy doing what I was doing on a CZ, Honda, Yamaha, ATK, and KTM.

I did pull into a field once with the P11 and turn the wick up. It would throw one hell of a rooster tail of dust and dirt off the K70's. Well maintained fire roads would be doable though, but I had too many other better toys for dirt.

There were days when I had wished I'd gone in a dirtier direction with the restomod when I was in good shape. I could do all the work now but probably wouldn't be able to ride 50 feet in the whoops before my arms pumped up and became useless. Glory days gone in the wink of a young girls eye.
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Yeah, the K70's aren't bad off the tarmac. The front end is solid, absorbs the potholes. And the brakes are just fine. My son has a Ducati DesertX (thanks Dad!) and it is great, but of course it's a big heavy ADV bike and not a true dirt bike. I have fun on anything I'm riding but of course there are better tools for the job no matter what. I am lucky to still be free of maladies at 63 and I'm gonna ride everything I can (ahem) till I can't no more.

My older brother told me he and his pals used to challenge their BSAs, Triumphs, etc up hills in the snowy town forest back in Massachusetts back in the 70s, and his bike had the K70s and would do OK. He is the one that got me hooked on motorcycles. At 18 (me 10) he would wake me and my 11 y/o brother up on Saturdays, cook a pancake breakfast and go for a 2-hour ride each on his Bonnie. Some of the best memories of my life.
 
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I have ridden Bultaco MX bikes off-road. These days in Australia, off road bikes must be registered. And it might be reasonable. If you go fishing or camping in the back parts of Australia, bikes and cars zooming around in the bush is unpleasant. I am not a Greenie, but I like to be able to go places where idiots are not going berserk.
 
acotrel said:
I have ridden Bultaco MX bikes off-road. These days in Australia, off road bikes must be registered. And it might be reasonable. If you go fishing or camping in the back parts of Australia, bikes and cars zooming around in the bush is unpleasant. I am not a Greenie, but I like to be able to go places where idiots are not going berserk.
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California allows street-registered bikes to go anywhere, and for off-road only bikes (i.e. lights and signals optional but intended for off-road, MX and Enduro stuff) you get a green sticker each year for a fee. In California, idiots come with the territory and you simply can't avoid them. So you carry on.
 
This is what I'll be doing this coming summer, so far this year the snow has been a bit rare this side of the Rockies. I have the G15 almost finished and can't wait to get her out. Thanks for the pictures it really gets me going. I'll be doing some fishing and camping up in high country. Thanks again. Chuck.
 
Maybe I should get some high pipes, Matchless badges, and K70's. My biggest worry about riding my P11 off-road is how many parts are going to fall off before I get back to the tarmac. :)
 
acotrel said:
I have ridden Bultaco MX bikes off-road. These days in Australia, off road bikes must be registered. And it might be reasonable. If you go fishing or camping in the back parts of Australia, bikes and cars zooming around in the bush is unpleasant. I am not a Greenie, but I like to be able to go places where idiots are not going berserk.
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Yeah, going near an OHV recreation area for a nap is probably going to be disappointing.
 
ludwig said:
On my trips to the Alps, alone or with friends, I always try to include a stretch of dirt road.
Not that I'm particularly good at it, but it is always rewarding ( afterwards..)
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Fantastico! I'm curious if you have put different sprockets from stock on your bike. I set mine up very tall with a 21T gearbox sprocket. 3rd gear is needed on a long uphill if going over 50MPH. On the flats 70MPH in 4th is quite nice, not a lot of vibes, and the engine's not screaming. First is quite tall though.
 
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The gearbox sprocket was a 17T on the CS and 19 tooth on the CSR and P11. I put a 20T on because I'm not going to be doing any hill climbing
or anything like that. Most highways are 60mph here and I plan on using those to get to the dirt roads that lead to the lakes. I also need gearing that will
cruise at 70 or so.
 
Hortons Norton said:
The gearbox sprocket was a 17T on the CS and 19 tooth on the CSR and P11. I put a 20T on because I'm not going to be doing any hill climbing
or anything like that. Most highways are 60mph here and I plan on using those to get to the dirt roads that lead to the lakes. I also need gearing that will
cruise at 70 or so.
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The 21T is pretty pokey, but once up to speed it is nice to cruise along. I think 20T would be just a bit better tho. With my single Mikuni, .040 over dished 7.5:1 pistons (found NOS on eBay!) I'm not winning any races. Someone asked for a startup video so I did this earlier today....

 
My cold start procedure is very different and best kept to myself. 🤣

I put a 22T sprocket on the crank in the primary when I had the single row chain setup in the P11. That adds some more help for lowering the RPM everywhere. A Renold link (Chain Spares Kit, 110046, 1/2″ x 5/16″) added to the stock chain length was used for that sprocket change. Currently using a belt drive with about the same gear ratio in the primary and 21/42 final drive gears. Still can't run with the big cruisers out on the HWY at 90mph for long. Way too frantic an experience droning on the HWY between 80 and 90 mph. The N15 must be better. Commandos are definitely better cruisers than a P11. :)
 
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