Applegate Trail on a 200cc china bike??

[Enduroadventure]

Hey guys,

My Dad has been kicking around the idea about doing the Applegate Trail, my question is would I be crazy to attempt this on my 2008 DBO7A. I understand I would need to carry fuel with me.

With the added weight of fuel, gear and myself 215 lbs would the bike be able to handle this.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Applegate_Trail

[FastDoc]

It can be done but there are some considerations.

Spud's Zong could do that any day, but it is different Chinabike, and his has been heavily modified. Fuel, induction/exhaust, suspension, etc.

There are so many variables it's hard to predict an outcome. From the looks of the map I have ridden parts of that route before, and a CB could certainly do them.

My concern would be for reliability and durability. You have enough power to get up hills, although slowly, depending on traction. You will have a hard time in sand, loose gravel, and deep dust, all of which you can expect. Still do-able though.

Would you be better off on a KLR or KLX or a CRF or a WR or an XR?

Definitely, but where's the challenge in that?

LOL, still challenging...

[Enduroadventure]

Great, thanks for the response Doc.

We talked at lunch and we have decided to start with the Truckee trail to get some experience.

Im excited, just ordered some Shino 244's. It's going to be a great summer.

[FastDoc]

I did the Truckee Trail on my 1996 XR250L, about 100 years ago...

Doc's getting old...

Very do-able, again, but the issue here is altitude. A CB, which is usually jetted lean, will run OK at altitude. It's just that you won't make as much power.

[Enduroadventure]

yes I am aware of the altitude issue. I need to address the jetting on my CB anyways.


Its going to take some trial and error. I do not like taking off the carb, but it has to be done.

[FastDoc]

Don't let me discourage you at all. It can be done and would likely be awesome. It's the adventure and the company that makes a trip, the bike is an important tool but not the entire key to a safe and enjoyable time.

I just think about all the things that tend to break, and I have had break on me, that are usually easy enough to fix IF I'm close to home.

Some things can be prevented. Like better tubes, improving the muffler so it does not break and fall off, the battery box so it doesn't break off, extra CDI's/plug +/- coil and wire. More fuel, plenty of tools, doing the checklist we have posted here somewhere.

Other than Spud on his Zong, I don't know of many people who have used a Hondoid for a serious multistate trans-mountain and trans-desert trip like you have in mind.

I can't help picturing SOWAG's Hondoid with the taco'ed front wheel from last summer...

[FastDoc]

Even KLX's/CRF's/XR's/DRZ's etc. all can break too, but if you are looking at percentages...

[Enduroadventure]

I totally get it, 100% all about the company and adventure.

We did some more research last night and apparently there is an abandoned railroad route (transcontinental) that you can ride and go through some really cool tunnels and scenic spots.

We are going to start with this in spring and work our way up.

Yeah thought about gear, looking into getting some ammo cans to mount on the back like pannies.

[SpudRider]

Ride your bike extensively, and prove its reliability before you head out for an extended adventure. If you prepare your bike and yourself properly, the trip is certainly doable.

[Enduroadventure]

Great advice spud, I am working on that as we speak. New Tires arrive tomorrow and I will be getting some trail time in the coming weeks.

[FastDoc]

Get new heavy duty tubes and beef up rim liner with some Gorilla tape when you change the tires. ALSO check the spokes, I prefer to do that with the tires off.

This will make a BIG difference in flat prevention.

The original China-tubes are made of cellophane used to wrap fortune cookies.

The fortune reads, 'You will soon get a flat.'

;-)

;-)

[Enduroadventure]

I did order off road tubes with the tires. Spokes is another good idea didn't think about that.

I am going to give her a over look this weekend, it has been awhile since i have ridden more than just around the neighborhood.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

I can't help picturing SOWAG's Hondoid with the taco'ed front wheel from last summer...

We were lucky that the rim incident occured about 30 miles from our destination. He never did crash, and he rode the bike the rest of the way like that. He's a trooper.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by SpudRider

Ride your bike extensively, and prove its reliability before you head out for an extended adventure. If you prepare your bike and yourself properly, the trip is certainly doable.

I'm clearly not that smart. I seem to be bolting junk together the night before an adventure. It gets to prove itself en route.

[Weldangrind]

Originally Posted by FastDoc

Get new heavy duty tubes and beef up rim liner with some Gorilla tape when you change the tires.

X2 on Gorilla tape. I find that a strip torn in half (lengthwise) is the perfect width for most off-road rims. I don't even bother with a conventional rim strip.