The Hooch

Georgia Area Regional Trail Riders Association (GARTRA) has opened registration for the 2021 Hooch Rally. Hooch is short for ChataHoochee Mountains in north Georgia where the event is hosted every year by Two Wheels of Suches.

Big "No" for AR-PRO

I always have a stock of one-two tubes for tire sizes as backups or trail tubes. My most recent tubes for my 21 inch dual sport front wheels was a set of 2.75/3.00-21 AR-Pro Brand Tubes that I purchased on Amazon for $19.99 in February 2020. 

Yeah, that's pretty low, but the reviews were stellar!

...and both went Pop! in one day.

The first of my 2 AR-Pros was spooned on my Super Sherpa on January 23, 2021 and carried me for exactly 639 miles. That included the Trans-Florida Rally, the Wild Bear Rally (this past weekend) and a few trips up to Crooms OHV Area.

The tube burst at the inner seam a few (unused) days following the Wild Bear. I'm glad it held out as the Wild Bear was an awesome event.

The second AR-Pro tube was spooned in, no problems, inflated well, but when I hyper inflated the tube to seat the bead it went Pop! Same situation, it came apart at the seam.

My bad, for all the years I've ridden, I shouldn't have to learn this lesson. 

In off road riding, tubes are taking a beating. Not just terrain, but the low air pressure condition that's necessary for a lot of our surfaces sets up the tubes for movement, wear and, ultimately, failure. Cheapo tubes are not the right response, even if for backup. There's no backup, that's your next tube!

Going forward, tubes will undoubtedly burst, but I'll be keeping well-named, quality suppliers' tubes on hand for when it does.

2021 Wild Bear Safari

 The 2021 Wild Bear Safari, hosted by Apollo Motorcycle Club in Cocoa Beach, Florida is in the books!

Equipment used was my 2002 Kawasaki KL250 Super Sherpa that really did an amazing job for me on some gnarly single track that you'll see in the video. 

The event was hosted by Apollo Motorcycle Club at their Cocoa Beach Property. Cooperating with the request to minimize the amount of space needed at the facility, I left the toy hauler home and set up a tent and canopy. 

I haven't used that tent in years and the dang thing leaked during a short rain Saturday night. However, I think it just needs a little waterproofing. Lugging the Super Sherpa on my receiver rack and using the tent worked out pretty good. I'm going to work on the tent repairs and use it again for my next event ... currently planned to be the Hooch in June.

Here's some video of the Saturday ride on the Outback and the Sunday ride on the Club Property. Enjoy!