I was going through some pics and figure I can post some pics from:

Deals Gap Motorcycle Tip
Chicago

I a nice ride Saturday. The ST1100 doubled as a dirt bike. It did pretty good. Maybe I don’t need to think about getting a BMW R1200GS for my round-the-world trip…

Mark’s 650 VStrom (Dual Sport/Adventure Touring) is built for the dirt…mine… gobbling up the miles. Our agenda, simple, head north to the Cadillac area on in search of good twisty back roads and maybe some dirt. My GPS, his knowledge of the geology/geography, and a Forest Service Map (which doesn’t contain road names) assisted.

We explored back roads running between the great metropolises of Grant, Newaygo, White Cloud, and Aetna. Eventually our road turned to trail in the Manistee National Forest. The GPS indicated 1.5 miles to the next road. We could have turned and went around but we figured “Why not” and started down the trail.

The trail started out a nice two-track but soon degraded to a 4wheeler trail complete with two trenches, a hump in the middle, and semi banked corners, eventually we found ourselved on a single track. The surface varied from gravel, to soil, to nice beach sand—thankfully damp from a previous rain. It was complete with mini-hill climbs, “paths” around fallen trees , roots, and did I mention sand.

The ST performed like a 700lb dirt eating machine!. The front would get squirrelly, I would apply some well metered throttle, and through it we would go. The V Strom was made for this but I found myself waiting for him.

To make a long story, of two guys trying to find their way through the woods without a trail map, short we did find our way out. The trails spilt a couple times and we ran them all to their end… but not the road. I latter discovered the reason for the trails not running further north –a creek that didn’t show on the GPS. After 5 miles, 45 minutes, and a few pictures we found our way back to nice gravel road.

We made our way through the beautiful north on the asphalt. The area south of Canonsburg Ski Area was great. We played around on some more dirt and one sand road. I started down it and noticed I wasn’t being followed. After stopping and waiting for a while I turned around and made my way back… The Vstrom wasn’t going to follow the ST. I was feeling good about my bike.

The ride was carefree and easy going with the exception of the fear of wrapping my bike around a tree, getting stuck beyond hope, loosing it in a gravely corner, or the officer returning from the car with a pair of performance awards. I didn’t and He didn’t.

All in all it was a great little 300 mile local trip. It gave me opportunity to push the bike in ways I haven’t pushed it before. I got to spend some good time with a friend and move my bike a little closer to the much anticipated 100K mark.

I have some pics over HERE.

Check out http://www.yamaha-motor.co.jp/global/entertainment/papercraft/realistic/index.html

Pick a bike, print the PDF on cardstock, and cut, fold, bend, and glue your way to your own motorcycle. I heard a rumor that they acutally work if you use the big ITC printer. Would someone mind confirming this for me?