Taking Dommies off road

[squirrelciv]

When I bought my Dommie, I picked it cos I was looking for a workhorse, get me to work, easy to maintain, might be fun on the weekend, type of bike and I never actually considered her as an off road vehicle :shock: I look at her and think she far too wieghty to chuck about a green lane, let alone what would happen to all that plastic should I goof it up (highly likely I might add :cry: )

So the question is, how good are they in the mud? Can they hold their own or is the styling just that.

[samwise]

I wouldn't say mud unless you're a fairly proficient off-road rider as, like you say, they are quite heavy for that. No doubt someone will prove me wrong here :lol:

Mine is quite happy going down rocky trails and the like though, with fairly big steps to go down - not sure how I'd get it up those same rock steps though :dontknow:

[anton88]

I've used mine on muddy green lanes - only a couple of inches thick, as I've only got Conti escape tires at the moment - will be replacing with TKC80's.
I'm 6ft 2 so can reach the floor ok - essential for off roading. Haven't had any spills YET.
Obviously in a major tumble the bodywork is succeptible to damage, but I've added wider handlebars with aluminium reinforced handguards.
Am thinking of adding some engine /crash bars for extra protection just in case!.
I know a couple of people who have gone a bit mental off road on these - doing big jumps and stuff and been ok. But honestly I take it easy off road as im no expert.

[Rubberchicken]

Obviously in a major tumble the bodywork is succeptible to damage, but I've added wider handlebars with aluminium reinforced handguards.
Am thinking of adding some engine /crash bars for extra protection just in case!.

Mind, those can work against you as well, in a crash.

A guy I know has a Transalp 650 with crash bars, and after a fairly low speed crash offroad they dug into the ground and twisted, causing more damage to his plastics than probably would've happened without them.

Most of the NX crash guards I've seen were of the type that bolts only to the front of the frame and thus may twist in a fall, and they only cover what is the narrowest part of the bike anyway.

I know a couple of people who have gone a bit mental off road on these - doing big jumps and stuff and been ok. But honestly I take it easy off road as im no expert.

Same here. Sand and rocky stuff I can handle to some extent, but I suck at the muddy stuff. :?

Hmm where's that site again, desawa somethingorother...

Ah here it is: http://www.desawa.co.uk/offroadbikes.htm

[Robert6688]

I have taken mine through some really nasty stuff. Nasty creek beds, boulder fields, mud, silt, sand, water ect.. It really sucks. I have a real dirt bike for that now (xr650r). Whats really cool is is takeing the short cut to work on the NX and then hitting some mild trails for lunch. The NX will take you any place you are brave enough to go. I whish honda would give us Americans some new ones, as mine is getting beat up from my off road short cuts to work.

[Recycler]

I entered a local enduro near where I lived 5yrs ago (Tilgate Forest Sussex) organised by the Steatham motorcycle club.

Stripped the fairing off, fitted Acerbis headlight, let the tyres down a bit and turned up.

Turned out it was a round of the southeast enduro championships and my Dommie weighed twice as much as any other machine there.

Winner did about 5 14 mile laps.

I did about 10 miles.

The crushing blow came when a marshall overtook me with his son riding pillion. :shock:

Nice bike though :lol:
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1711
http://www.xrv.org.uk/getimage.php?id=1712

[jtnx650]

Tyres make a big difference - I fitted Pirelli MT21 Knobbys, after having trailwings. This change made the beast a whole lot better to handle off the road.

I'm not a great rider, but I am quite happy playing on the trails on my dommie with the MT21's - you just have to remember you are on a big heavy trailbike

JT

[DaveS]

When I bought my Dommie, I picked it cos I was looking for a workhorse, get me to work, easy to maintain, might be fun on the weekend, type of bike and I never actually considered her as an off road vehicle :shock: I look at her and think she far too wieghty to chuck about a green lane, let alone what would happen to all that plastic should I goof it up (highly likely I might add :cry: )

So the question is, how good are they in the mud? Can they hold their own or is the styling just that.

It can't be any worse than an AT and we're off to Salisbury Plain tomorrow, I'm not sure where you are but you'd be welcome to join us.