any advice for Carnegie SVRA newbie?

[ViperThreat]

ViperThreat made the comment about the blue trails and implied that he wasn't a new rider: "If i were a brand new dirt rider...". Based on my own experience with the blue trails at Mammoth Bar, Rock Creek, and Foresthill, I still think the blue ones at Carnegie are a bit easier than the ones at those other riding areas.

I grew up in Mammoth Lakes, so most of my experience was on fairly high-speed banked trails sweeping through the woods, or smashing along trails & access roads out in the empty desert.

Carnegie trails were steep, narrow, rocky, and bumpy, just not what I was used too. I was able to get around just fine, but I feel like it would be pretty daunting to a new rider who's still trying to figure out how to work a clutch.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Carnegie trails were steep, narrow, rocky, and bumpy, just not what I was used too. I was able to get around just fine, but I feel like it would be pretty daunting to a new rider who's still trying to figure out how to work a clutch.

I completely agree on that.

I can remember taking one of my son's friends there, who was about 11 at the time, who had a KX-80. Somehow he got stopped on an uphill road and couldn't get the thing moving again headed up the hill. We probably spent ten minutes working on that issue. Teaching kids how to use a clutch can be quite difficult.

 

[HadesOmega]

Carnegie is like the worst place to take a dual sport and much less semi adventure bike (dirt cruiser). If steep hillclimbs are your game that's your kind of place. I've ridden my old DR650S there when I was a noob and sometimes there are trails that will suddenly become single track or black diamond if you're not careful.

I would suggest Hollister Hills if it's not too far out of your way.

 

[Sharky]

Stick to the fire trails and you should be ok. I would avoid Carnegie if it rained within 24 hours. That place can become very slick. After it soaks in a little it's very tacky which is nice.

Anything more that the fire trails probably won't be that much fun on a Wee, unless you are a very proficient rider and like that sort of thing.

My XRL feels like riding a tank out there. I much prefer riding my

CR, but who wouldn't?

 

[ScottRNelson]

My XRL feels like riding a tank out there. I much prefer riding my CR, but who wouldn't?

Yeah, it was much easier getting around when I used to ride a YZ-250 there. I did a lot more hill climbs. Steep hills aren't nearly as much fun on a top-heavy bike.

 

[Sharky]

Yeah, it was much easier getting around when I used to ride a YZ-250 there. I did a lot more hill climbs. Steep hills aren't nearly as much fun on a top-heavy bike.

My XRL is top heavy, bottom heavy and middle heavy....add in a bit of poor gear spacing between 1-2 and it makes it "interesting".
AND I too GODDAMN TALL! For Christ sake, my XRL is a couple of inches taller that my full on MX bike.

 

[ScottRNelson]

My XRL is top heavy, bottom heavy and middle heavy....add in a bit of poor gear spacing between 1-2 and it makes it "interesting".
AND I too TALL! My XRL is a couple of inches taller that my full on MX bike.

For hill climbs, only the top heavy part is relevant. Second gear can be fixed and I've done it to mine. Makes a huge difference. The gear itself is only about $20, so if you're in there for anything else, it's a must-do. I like tall bikes.

 

[Guoseph]

Carnegie trails have a tendency to change difficulty as you go, some greens turn into blues, some blues turn into black diamonds. Some trails start out tame but then get gnarly in the middle. There's also a lot of unmarked stuff and some times you end up at the bottom of a fuckin canyon if you don't know where the hell you are going.

Not trying to scare you, there's Adv bike rideable stuff there (you shouldn't end up where I was unless you are stupid or crazy), just maybe not my first choice of location for a 500lb bike.

 

[kgoess]

They'll give you a map when you go in and pay your five bucks. Stick to the green trails and you'll do fine.

I'll be happy to show you around up there if you're going in the near future. I need to make another trip out there on my KTM to practice my big bike off road riding skills.

Wow, what a great offer, thanks! This weekend I'm going to timidly putter about on the green trails and see what happens. Then I'll see if it was enough funto warrant repeating.

 

[kgoess]

op, if you can be out there on friday instead i will be out there doing my impersonation of a trail riders would be happy to ride around with you and show you where you should and should not go ,message me if its something you can do

Thanks for the offer, sadly I'll be at work on Friday.

 

[ScottRNelson]

Carnegie trails have a tendency to change difficulty as you go, some greens turn into blues, some blues turn into black diamonds. Some trails start out tame but then get gnarly in the middle. There's also a lot of unmarked stuff and some times you end up at the bottom of a canyon if you don't know where the heck you are going.

If you use the trail map that they'll give you when you enter and pay attention to the trail signs it's easy to stay out of places that are too difficult.

However, if you follow somebody on a better bike and don't pay attention to which trails you're on, you could end up stuck down in the bottom of a canyon just like you mention.

 

[Sharky]

For hill climbs, only the top heavy part is relevant. Second gear can be fixed and I've done it to mine. Makes a huge difference. The gear itself is only about $20, so if you're in there for anything else, it's a must-do. I like tall bikes.

I know NX 2nd and 5th gear. I had an NX and can attest the ratio is superior for dirt riding. A XRL guru in SF mentioned he would give me a hand splitting the case when it comes time to rebuild. I'm not going to bother until then.

I'm short, so just about every bike is tall. XRLs are just silly tall, just like those ridiculous ADV beasts.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I know NX 2nd and 5th gear. I had an NX and can attest the ratio is superior for dirt riding. A XRL guru in SF mentioned he would give me a hand splitting the case when it comes time to rebuild. I'm not going to bother until then.

The XRL guru would be Steve? He rebuilt my engine for me after I ran it out of oil. I've been extremely happy with the result.

 

[kgoess]

Thanks for all the advice. I spent a couple hours up there this morning and had a blast. Warmed up on the dirt and the moguls by the access road and then played on Pottery Loop trail for a couple hours. Did the hill climb on the back of that loop a couple times, whee! Tried explore a bit more behind that hill (Trans Am? Franciscan?) and twice had to gingerly back out of places obviously over my head, so that was fun too. Only tipped over once, fortunately there were lots of other riders around by then, boy that bike is heavy when the wheels are on the uphill side!

Just a couple hours playing on the dirt and my confidence and technique on the road are noticeably better. Though yes, the V-Strom is definitely not a dirt bike!

Oh, and made sure "keep to the right, keep to the right" was my mantra the whole time, that was very helpful.

A great day in a beautiful place.

 

[Sharky]

The XRL guru would be Steve? He rebuilt my engine for me after I ran it out of oil. I've been extremely happy with the result.

Yeah, I bought a kickstand off of Steve and spent some time at his place BS'ing. I have no doubt any motor he builds is top notch. He has tons of nice stuff and certainly has forgotten more about XRLs than I will ever know!

 

[Sharky]

Thanks for all the advice. I spent a couple hours up there this morning and had a blast. Warmed up on the dirt and the moguls by the access road and then played on Pottery Loop trail for a couple hours. Did the hill climb on the back of that loop a couple times, whee! Tried explore a bit more behind that hill (Trans Am? Franciscan?) and twice had to gingerly back out of places obviously over my head, so that was fun too. Only tipped over once, fortunately there were lots of other riders around by then, boy that bike is heavy when the wheels are on the uphill side!

Just a couple hours playing on the dirt and my confidence and technique on the road are noticeably better. Though yes, the V-Strom is definitely not a dirt bike!

Oh, and made sure "keep to the right, keep to the right" was my mantra the whole time, that was very helpful.

A great day in a beautiful place.

Awesome. That hillclimb sounds like the training hill. I bet the first time was kind of intimidating!

The Franciscan Trail is immediately behind. It looks worse than it is on the way up since it has a few rocky uphill sections. Just point and shoot up. After the crest, there are one or two steeper downhill sections, but if you keep your speed down and use your rear brake you should be fine.

 

[ScottRNelson]

The Franciscan Trail is immediately behind. It looks worse than it is on the way up since it has a few rocky uphill sections. Just point and shoot up. After the crest, there are one or two steeper downhill sections, but if you keep your speed down and use your rear brake you should be fine.

If you go up the west side there are a couple of rocky uphill turns. You have to be committed to those when you go through them - you can't be timid there.

 

[ttsang91]

Awesome info in this thread.
I just picked up a WR450F in supermoto trim from another BARFer and I'm thinking about taking it out to Carnegie.

How do you guys think the bike will handle the Pottery Loop trail or any beginner trails on a supermoto setup with ContiAttack tires? If it's not feasible I can just throw the dirt setup on but I am curious to see how well it can handle dirt. I've only ridden dirt twice, once on a YZ250 and another on a KTM 500 (terrible idea).

Being so inexperienced should I just stay in the beginner riding area? I feel like I won't be able to climb any hills on the ContiAttacks?

Edit: After watching some videos, I don't think there's a chance in hell the tires will work. I'll just swap them to the dirt tires.

 

[Sharky]

Awesome info in this thread.
I just picked up a WR450F in supermoto trim from another BARFer and I'm thinking about taking it out to Carnegie.

How do you guys think the bike will handle the Pottery Loop trail or any beginner trails on a supermoto setup with ContiAttack tires? If it's not feasible I can just throw the dirt setup on but I am curious to see how well it can handle dirt. I've only ridden dirt twice, once on a YZ250 and another on a KTM 500 (terrible idea).

Being so inexperienced should I just stay in the beginner riding area? I feel like I won't be able to climb any hills on the ContiAttacks?

Edit: After watching some videos, I don't think there's a chance in hell the tires will work. I'll just swap them to the dirt tires.

On the easier trails street tires should are ok. I took my 400+lb nx650 out there on street rubber and was mostly fine.

 

[Frame Maker]

The final answer depends on your riding skills. I've ridden Happiness Valley (black diamond trail) on a RXV450 with street tires, but would not recommend a novice rider trying it.

A WR450F in sumo set up with some pressure let out of the tires I'd think would be a blast to ride on Pottery Loop... kinda like riding go-karts on a slick track... you'll have a very slideways time!