i went for a ride this afternoon with my Kawasaki Bayou... went over the mountain and then down into the valley, ending up in Westport NY. Headed up one road to ride another back to Mineville when I saw a trail/sort of road heading off into the woods. Mindful that there was still maybe 2 hours of light left, i headed up it... mother of fucking ghu! It was a trail that followed powerlines... there had been a trail, but it had washed away and what was left was a rock crawl up the side of a mountain. Of course, I had to try because i knew where the powerlines went (thank you google earth). One thing that google earth did not show was the terrain. It was a steep ass grade.

At one point, I had to get off, hook the winch cable to a tree and drag the bike up to the next part of the trail. And still it kept climbing and climbing and climbing... At another part of the trail, I had to get off the Bayou, kick into gear and guide it through a gap in the boulders. And it kept climbing. As I neared the split in the trail, I happened to look back, and folks, the view was fucking amazing. I sat there just marveling at the view... And the trail kept climbing.

Eventually it leveled off in a bog/swamp and i was following the log path (Niagara Mohawk had put logs in to keep the trail from getting impassable) along a ridge wondering where the hell I was going. There were parts of this trail where i was going almost straight down... THIS is the reason I bought a small 2wd bike! So I kept going, but now I am concerned because I am running out of light, it's starting to rain and getting a bit on the chilly side... I get to one point in the trail and it disappears into a beaver flow. I'm looking at the water and it looks DEEP... I can't go back the way I came. I look to the right and there is a trail around the beaver damn! Sweet! Away we go... I must've hit three of these dam (pun intended) things.
At last the trail turns to more or less a road and POOF, I pop out on to a trail that I had started on earlier in the ride...

I have got to start videotaping this shit. To be honest, I doubt I could do the ride again. I was all alone with my Kawasaki and a winch...

Sweet. Sometimes there is no better therapy than riding solo on a trail you have never been on before.

Posted by jeepdave Sweet. Sometimes there is no better therapy than riding solo on a trail you have never been on before.

this was some scary shit. At one part of the trail, to the right of the bike was a sheer drop off of about 150-200feet... and the trail is leaning the bike that way so you're mostly off the seat shifting to the left. It was a beastly ride.

Damn it Sam get a camera...

Posted by cr400 Damn it Sam get a camera...

oh you're telling me!
no one would ever believe where I got a Bayou 250 2wd...

OH, I believe ya' I just wanna see photos. I love that shit.

I've noticed that as I've gotten a little older, a little heavier. That when I plant my ass further back in the seat, Traction is more abundant than ever..

Posted by Samurai this was some scary shit. At one part of the trail, to the right of the bike was a sheer drop off of about 150-200feet... and the trail is leaning the bike that way so you're mostly off the seat shifting to the left. It was a beastly ride.

Lol I know where ya comming from Sam. Do the same thing with a Cherokee that is your only ride and flop it on its side . I do dumb things, but its still kinda relaxing, just man, machine, and nature.

went with my brother, his oldest son and a guy he works with out for a tour today... all was going well until we tried the same trail that set this thread off... I was doing well, actually having a better run than the first time, when I tried to negotiate a little rocky nub... i gave it some gas, the rear end spun out to the left and over it went. Damn near rolled over me. It was actually pretty funny.

I am looking at a little bit bigger machine, a used Kawasaki Prairie 360 4x4.

Went trail riding today in the wrangler with my fiancé and daughter. It was fun. It was relaxing. And it was soooooooooo excellent. Did a little exploring too. My daughters first good explore. Abandoned vacation home in the mountains off an old road back in the mountains.

all the trails were ride on go through hunting leases so there are camps everywhere. The only time the leaseholders get pissed is if you go riding through their leases during bambi-killing season.

Sounds like you have some good areas to ride up there. Guess its not all bad in the north huh Sam. I may need to plan a road trip.

This one would have a hard time climbing a curb.

It sure has the ground clearance, but the gear ratio has got to be screwed....

my friend Alex' YZF450R... it's a death weapon.
it's like an X-wing fighter on four wheels.


and my little Bayou at Kingdom Dam today:
(already posted it at the "parked in front" thread)

Those YZF450's are quick I'll give them that, I stomp them on a regular basis.

Although at 50 years old, and being more breakable now. For some reason I'm much more respectful and carefull about how I do it.

i killed the winch on my Bayou yesterday. it was either when I bounced off the trail and hit a tree, or when I was pushing little trees down to go around a downed tree...
it's dead anyways so I removed it and the front rack tonight... have to buy another winch before mud season next year

You know you need/want/gotta/gonna get a 450 quad.

Just be carefull and respectful of the fact that you ain't 19 and hyped up on Mountain Dew anymore.

Posted by cr400 You know you need/want/gotta/gonna get a 450 quad. Just be carefull and respectful of the fact that you ain't 19 and hyped up on Mountain Dew anymore.

well, that's just it... i had a chance to get that 2003 Kawasaki Prairie 360, but i just don't have the $1400 for it right now... the Beretta needs work, the Cobalt needs tires. Maybe later on in the summer when I have the Bayou paid off, I'll buy a new 4x4.