Street Bike on Easy Trails?

Lowerside

Lowerside

Well-known member
I want try out trail riding, but I don't own a dirt bike or a dual sport. I figure that if I take it slow, I should be fine with taking my SV with street tires on some hard-packed dirt just to see if I like it.

It looks like Carnegie is open and has some easy trails marked. Would I just be able to ride over there, pay the entrance fee, and start riding those trails? Looking at the sticky, it looks like plated street bikes are fine but I don't know if it's unstated but assumed that everyone also rides with dirt oriented tires.
 
berth

berth

Well-known member
Have you tried just smooth fire roads to get used to the traction environment (or lack off) and uneven surfaces?
 
Lowerside

Lowerside

Well-known member
I have not since I don't know where to find fire roads. Is there a resource that lists them out? I tried Googling it before but I only got results for OHV parks and mountain bike trails.

Only experience I have with off-road stuff is a session with American Supercamp.
 
matty

matty

Well-known member
When I had an SV, I frequently took it on fire roads off the 108 corridor, mostly to get to trail heads. I think you'll be fine as long as you take it slow. I'm not sure I would take an SV to Carnegie, but you could.
 
WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
Wanting to try trail riding is all good. Wanting to do it on an SV is all bad. It will not be indicative of a true trail riding experience so don't expect to actually find out if you'd like it or not. Just go with the assumption that you will like it :laughing

I've ridden my SV all over the western states, even at Stonyford, Clear Creek and numerous other OHV, BLM, and national forest areas, but I've been riding dirt bikes and heavy dualsport bikes for 35 years and have a solid foundation of dirt skills. It still isn't easy, nor do I recommend it. It has never been my first choice, nor will it ever be. If you want to try trail riding (and by trail riding I mean riding on dirt roads) I'd look into borrowing/renting something a little more appropriate with dirt-capable tires. It will be cheaper in the long run and a lot easier to pick up. Once you get some actual skills in the dirt and know what to expect, by all means get that SV dirty! Just don't break off the oil filter. It's extremely vulnerable.
 
Lowerside

Lowerside

Well-known member
WoodsChick said:
Was that not enough to let you know that riding dirt bikes is the most fun you can have with you clothes on??
Click to expand...

Oh I loved it. In fact, i'm doing it again! :laughing I appreciate the advise. I'll probably give it a shot anyway with the SV then when I can find a weekend that I know I can get off, i'll rent a dual sport and feel the difference.

matty said:
When I had an SV, I frequently took it on fire roads off the 108 corridor, mostly to get to trail heads. I think you'll be fine as long as you take it slow. I'm not sure I would take an SV to Carnegie, but you could.
Click to expand...

Cool. 108 is a little far for me, but that gives me the idea of looking for similar areas closer to me. Thanks!
 
H

Hattori Hanzo

Member
Lowerside said:
I want try out trail riding, but I don't own a dirt bike or a dual sport. I figure that if I take it slow, I should be fine with taking my SV with street tires on some hard-packed dirt just to see if I like it.

It looks like Carnegie is open and has some easy trails marked. Would I just be able to ride over there, pay the entrance fee, and start riding those trails? Looking at the sticky, it looks like plated street bikes are fine but I don't know if it's unstated but assumed that everyone also rides with dirt oriented tires.
Click to expand...

Major part of having a good experience and like it, is to come well prepared.
You cant do that with a big SV, its not even close to what's it like riding dirt with a good dual sport or a red/green sticker.

Suggest renting a bike for a day and also some off road equipment with it.

my 2 cents
 
WoodsChick

WoodsChick

I Don't Do GPS
Lowerside said:
Only experience I have with off-road stuff is a session with American Supercamp.
Click to expand...

WoodsChick said:
Was that not enough to let you know that riding dirt bikes is the most fun you can have with you clothes on??
Click to expand...

Lowerside said:
Oh I loved it. In fact, i'm doing it again! :laughing I appreciate the advise. I'll probably give it a shot anyway with the SV then when I can find a weekend that I know I can get off, i'll rent a dual sport and feel the difference.
Click to expand...

Alrighty! I admire your moxie! :laughing The only other advice I have is try not to do it alone, and fer gawdsakes take photos! :teeth
 
OaklandF4i

OaklandF4i

Darwin's exception
Ok.... found Nick's bike with the TKCs on it, but can't find the action shots from Hollister. There was even a video... maybe it was on FB.

Will continue to look. Nick was special in so many ways..... :laughing:thumbup

28100544789_e91da9565c_o.jpg


OP.... go try some gravel roads and listen to Woodschick. Skilled rider.

If you do try it, bring someone to hold your beer with one hand and film it with the other.
 
Lowerside

Lowerside

Well-known member
That is so awesome :cool I dig the pipe protection rings

I'll definitely take pictures when I manage to get a free Saturday and look around for fire roads!
 
KooLaid

KooLaid

Hippocritapotamus
I would avoid Carnegie. I think Hollister would be a better option since the trails are better.

Either way, pay your $5 and you're on your way at either park. Have you consider Metcalf?

You will lots of traction in general. But grass and a little mud.....not so much. I had no problem running hard pack and semi loose on my Aprilia SXV550 supermoto even with slicks. Grass was pretty bad, moist grass was instant low side.
 
Last edited:
N

NorCal Factory

Well-known member
If you want to try the SV off-road try Summit road East off Hwy 17 and it turns into dirt and goes to Watsonville road but tpbefore you get there take the goat road down into Watsonville.

Or from Morgan Hill on Watsonville road take a aRt on Redwood road and a left up to summit which is fairly steep and dirt but only a couple miles. Beautiful area and hiking spots too.

Don’t try Carnegie with street tires on that bike.
 
ScottRNelson

ScottRNelson

Mr. Dual Sport Rider
I think Carnegie would be an excellent place to ride a few dirt roads. I know I mentioned something about this less than two weeks ago in another thread here that I can't find now. Ride up and down the dirt road next to the highway to get a feel for how the bike handles on dirt. You're not allowed to go very fast there, so unclear how much you'll learn.

Here's a link to the trail map: https://ohv.parks.ca.gov/pages/1170/files/2018 Carnegie Map.pdf

If you want to go up a road into the hills a bit, I would suggest riding down to the west end and and heading up Juniper Trail until it feels like a good time to turn around. If you like that, you could also try Kiln Canyon at the other end.

The biggest issue with riding dirt on an SV is the riding position. You're too far forward to have good control. But I think you should go do it anyway just for the experience. As long as it's not muddy you should have good enough traction with street tires on those roads.
 
Maddevill

Maddevill

KNGKAW
WoodsChick said:
Wanting to try trail riding is all good. Wanting to do it on an SV is all bad. It will not be indicative of a true trail riding experience so don't expect to actually find out if you'd like it or not. Just go with the assumption that you will like it :laughing

I've ridden my SV all over the western states, even at Stonyford, Clear Creek and numerous other OHV, BLM, and national forest areas, but I've been riding dirt bikes and heavy dualsport bikes for 35 years and have a solid foundation of dirt skills. It still isn't easy, nor do I recommend it. It has never been my first choice, nor will it ever be. If you want to try trail riding (and by trail riding I mean riding on dirt roads) I'd look into borrowing/renting something a little more appropriate with dirt-capable tires. It will be cheaper in the long run and a lot easier to pick up. Once you get some actual skills in the dirt and know what to expect, by all means get that SV dirty! Just don't break off the oil filter. It's extremely vulnerable.
Click to expand...



THIS

Mad
 
ScottRNelson

ScottRNelson

Mr. Dual Sport Rider
He said he wanted to ride easy trails, not some rocky black diamond single-track stuff. :rolleyes

Carnegie is a safe place to find out about that if you stick with the green trails.
 
U

usedtobefast

Well-known member
What a bunch of enablers!! :)

The SV in dirt will not give you any idea of what it is to ride a dirt bike in the dirt. I took my KTM 990 SMT (17" wheels, 100% street tires) on about 1 mile of gravel dirt road and it was kind of scary. The same road on any crappy dirt bike on CL would be easy peasy.

It is like saying you want to learn about good pizza and then eating a frozen pizza ... that was in the freezer for 10 years ... and eating it uncooked. :)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top