1st ride on the 24

[bryanchurch06]

Took the bike out for about a 10 mile easy ride today, as expected it handled it beautifully, all the limitations of the bike in the right terrain become advantages, it's just so light and manuverable. The only limitation you cannot overcome is the tiny tires as soon as the sand gets deep enough, the front tire washes one direction which inevitably shifts your weight in the other direction and that's where your laying down at. Didn't happen to me today but happened plenty on the 23. 2 things, 1st I love the color and the engine and transmission/ clutch is perfect on mine. 2nd dmonkey you showing me where to buy the Slowpoke sticker will put a smile on my face for yrs, it's just fits the bike and my riding style so thank you and I hope to repay the favor in Mar. Stay safe every one and best to you in the new year.

 

[Kev250R]

Very nice Bryan, great way to break-in a Trail! I find riding in sand hard pretty much no matter what bike or tire combo I'm using. It became such a problem on my TW200 that a couple of years ago I started running he widest front tire I could fit, which happens to be the rear tire for a dirt bike LOL! Riding is sand on that bike is easier now (I'm still far from good at it) but street handling has suffered...

 

[bryanchurch06]

Very nice Bryan, great way to break-in a Trail! I find riding in sand hard pretty much no matter what bike or tire combo I'm using. It became such a problem on my TW200 that a couple of years ago I started running he widest front tire I could fit, which happens to be the rear tire for a dirt bike LOL! Riding is sand on that bike is easier now (I'm still far from good at it) but street handling has suffered...

What's the sand condition like in cottonwood btw?

 

[Kev250R]

What's the sand condition like in cottonwood btw?

It varies but the majority of it is red dirt (clay) or dirt mixed with rocks, or rocks mixed with cursing LOL! The only sand I've seen in the area has been down adjacent to the river just outside of Cottonwood and the majority of that area is accessed on a maintained dirt road. The only time I hit soft sand in that area is when I ventured off the dirt road to a spot closer to the river's edge. There are no sand dunes in Cottonwood

Fair warning, the red dirt dust takes forever for it to come-off of whatever you drive/ride in it. You can spend all day washing it and a week later you'll see a spot you missed, or you'll see some packed in the tread of your tire. I like that, I look at it like a badge of honor LOL! I've heard the mud is worse but can't speak to that personally as I generally try to avoid mud at all costs.

 

[bryanchurch06]

It varies but the majority of it is red dirt (clay) or dirt mixed with rocks, or rocks mixed with cursing LOL! The only sand I've seen in the area has been down adjacent to the river just outside of Cottonwood and the majority of that area is accessed on a maintained dirt road. The only time I hit soft sand in that area is when I ventured off the dirt road to a spot closer to the river's edge. There are no sand dunes in Cottonwood

Fair warning, the red dirt dust takes forever for it to come-off of whatever you drive/ride in it. You can spend all day washing it and a week later you'll see a spot you missed, or you'll see some packed in the tread of your tire. I like that, I look at it like a badge of honor LOL! I've heard the mud is worse but can't speak to that personally as I generally try to avoid mud at all costs.

What tires are you running on the trail?

 

[stickthefigure]

Jealous of you folks out in the warmer parts of the country! I keep staring out at the endless cold and grey skies and thinking about how much it would cost to completely move across the country. I'm not against doing some winter riding, but I'm still at the 'slowly acquiring gear' phase of ownership so by the time I'm actually set it'll be spring again.

 

[bryanchurch06]

Jealous of you folks out in the warmer parts of the country! I keep staring out at the endless cold and grey skies and thinking about how much it would cost to completely move across the country. I'm not against doing some winter riding, but I'm still at the 'slowly acquiring gear' phase of ownership so by the time I'm actually set it'll be spring again.

If you can make the trip come to AZ in march and enjoy the weather and rides.

 

[Kev250R]

What tires are you running on the trail?

Shinko 244's. They seem to do pretty well. The front tire will still try to wash-out sometimes but I think that has more to do with how narrow it is. I rode some trails in my local mountains on the stock tires then did the same trails a month or so later on the Shinko's and it was a night and day difference!

 

[Cpd419]

Beautiful area. Yea the stick tires are a no go in sand. Dangerous.

 

[bryanchurch06]

To be completely honest, as I've said in other posts I primarily ride alone, mostly because the other people in my park all ride 4x4s or atvs of some sort and only for rockhounding usually. So I started riding long rides into areas without cell service last yr on the 23 trail I bought. My wife travels for work and worries about me doing the type of riding and terrain I was attempting so long story short, after many long conversations about how worried she was about my safety I sold the trail and bought the honda foreman. I tried to like it and it's not bad just different so I told the wife it's back to 2 wheels, but I promise no riding alone, never more than a mile from a main road and I'd buy a satellite sos device. So what did I do? First ride was by myself, 4 miles off main road, told Noone where I was going and no sos device. I didn't intend to do it, the bike and the road just got away from me, almost like a kid again promising the parents not to leave the yard. Maybe that's sums up the trail 125 for me, it's just so easy to get on it, leave the safety of the yard behind and feel like a kid again, just don't tell my wife.

 

[Fishwishin]

The ‘24’s rival the ‘23’s in the looks department. The black rack may just put it over the edge. I wish the ‘23’s came with a black rack to break it up a bit.

 

[Kev250R]

To be completely honest, as I've said in other posts I primarily ride alone, mostly because the other people in my park all ride 4x4s or atvs of some sort and only for rockhounding usually. So I started riding long rides into areas without cell service last yr on the 23 trail I bought. My wife travels for work and worries about me doing the type of riding and terrain I was attempting so long story short, after many long conversations about how worried she was about my safety I sold the trail and bought the honda foreman. I tried to like it and it's not bad just different so I told the wife it's back to 2 wheels, but I promise no riding alone, never more than a mile from a main road and I'd buy a satellite sos device. So what did I do? First ride was by myself, 4 miles off main road, told Noone where I was going and no sos device. I didn't intend to do it, the bike and the road just got away from me, almost like a kid again promising the parents not to leave the yard. Maybe that's sums up the trail 125 for me, it's just so easy to get on it, leave the safety of the yard behind and feel like a kid again, just don't tell my wife.

Brian I'm also a solo rider at least some of the time. You may want to invest in some sort of Satellite Locator Beacon you can wear. In the past I've used Spot devices but now think I'm going to switch to a Garmin In-Reach since messaging with a Spot device is a bit limited/cryptic.

There are other options out there too but those are the two I've personally dealt with.

 

[bryanchurch06]

Brian I'm also a solo rider at least some of the time. You may want to invest in some sort of Satellite Locator Beacon you can wear. In the past I've used Spot devices but now think I'm going to switch to a Garmin In-Reach since messaging with a Spot device is a bit limited/cryptic.

There are other options out there too but those are the two I've personally dealt with.

I plan on buying one when I do the NMBDR for sure, will probably go with the garmin spot as well.

 

[Austin125]

The ‘24’s rival the ‘23’s in the looks department. The black rack may just put it over the edge. I wish the ‘23’s came with a black rack to break it up a bit.

As (obviously) a demented sort, I have both a ‘23 and a ‘24. In regards to looks, I absolutely agree that the black rack works with the “turmeric yellow” of the ‘24. But for the ‘23 (an exact match to Lego sand green, by the way) I think a black rack would not help. I swapped the swingarm with an aluminum (unpainted) counterpart and find that look to be pleasing. I find the balance with the engine color to work really well. I love the green, but do not believe black accents would help. Mind you, I’m not changing the black handlebars, or other items. Just think the rack is best left in the green color.
As a side note, I’ll probably change the ‘24 swing arm as well. (I haven’t done it yet, but already have the replacement) But for that one, it will be (is) black. Just works with the yellow.

Just me being me. Not after followers.

Cheers.

 

[bryanchurch06]

As (obviously) a demented sort, I have both a ‘23 and a ‘24. In regards to looks, I absolutely agree that the black rack works with the “turmeric yellow” of the ‘24. But for the ‘23 (an exact match to Lego sand green, by the way) I think a black rack would not help. I swapped the swingarm with an aluminum (unpainted) counterpart and find that look to be pleasing. I find the balance with the engine color to work really well. I love the green, but do not believe black accents would help. Mind you, I’m not changing the black handlebars, or other items. Just think the rack is best left in the green color.
As a side note, I’ll probably change the ‘24 swing arm as well. (I haven’t done it yet, but already have the replacement) But for that one, it will be (is) black. Just works with the yellow.

Just me being me. Not after followers.

Cheers.

Pics of the new swingarm please and thank you

 

[pa2220mjd]

I plan on buying one when I do the NMBDR for sure, will probably go with the garmin spot as well.

I have been using an Inreach for years. They work great. I now have an Inreach mini 2 and I've had no issues. It always works when I need it to and I've only had one instance of my original Delorme inreach going off in my backpack but the system worked… They called my emergency contacts and me and we resolved it fairly quickly. I have a $25 a month subscription that allows 40 messages per month. Messages to another inreach are unlimited.

Be very careful though if you travel internationally. A woman was arrested in India in December for possessing one. She was eventually able to leave but I guess it was quite an ordeal and cost her a couple thousand dollars in legal fees and court appearances. India is also very particular about carrying a GPS receiver that the battery does not come out of. Inreach devices are also illegal in China and Vietnam and a few other countries. I have carried them to both places before I realized they were illegal and had no issues but I wouldn't recommend it.

Garmin purchased the Inreach from Delorme several years ago. I have not heard good things about the spot when people really need them in an emergency.

Matt

 

[dmonkey]

Several years ago, I bought a SPOT Gen3 for backpacking. Never used the SOS feature, but I had no trouble with the tracking or check-in/OK messaging other than that there's no way to know if it's working. You're pressing buttons and sending signals out into the void on those bare-bones tracker devices. A friend gifted me a sticker that I put on it for some reassurance.



A few years ago I replaced it with the Garmin inReach Mini 2, which cost more, but it was worth it and I'd recommend it for 2-way messaging. It took a lot off my mind to be able to send an SMS and receive a response. It's also smaller and lighter than anything SPOT offer, which was a comfort upgrade for a piece of worn gear.

 

[Austin125]

Pics of the new swingarm please and thank you

Not the best shot, but it’s late and dark outside so this was a simple shot in the garage. Tomorrow is supposed to be sunny so I’ll try to get some better shots then.

 

[dmonkey]

One of the long term reviews I saw of that NUI Racing Project aluminum swingarm was that frequent chain adjustments and rear wheel removals tore it up bad enough to cause issues with the rear brake. Various positions that the axle was tightened at notched into the swingarm.

Sharing as a heads up. If you aren't already running a good quality sealed chain to reduce the frequency that chain adjustment is needed, that might be a good idea especially with that swingarm. Did it come with any documentation specifying what series of aluminum it is, a suggested weight limit for use, or if an alternate torque spec is recommended for the axle nut?

 

[bryanchurch06]

https://a.co/d/6Uhh7dC

Just picked this up from Amazon at 100.00 off, looks like subscription is 30 a month with a 40 setup fee. Totally worth it if you need it and my wife will feel a little better about my wandering off