See no winter, hear no winter, speak no winter
Sure, it snowed over a foot earlier this week. But it’s been sunny for the past few days, and our boy Gregor is visiting from New York City. Snow be damned; we had to check out the trails.
Left Hand Canyon OHV area is close to home and relatively low elevation. The dirt was moist and tasty — the rocks and roots, not so tasty. And the patches of snow — raise your pinkies off the bar and have yourself a tea party. Nice and easy …
 On a day with good traction, the tasty line goes straight over the rocks. Today was a day for the low line. |
 The crew: Gregor, [me], Sacha and Alex. That red dot is my neighborhood. Livin’ the Colorado Promise, baby! |
 Gregor rolls down from the top, engine brake in effect. On a DH bike, this trail is SICK! |
 Death rock: Sacha rolled over, stuffed his wheel and did a slow OTB cartwheel, ending up pinned under the Austrian beast (his KTM, that is). |
Sacha back up and rolling. Rocks? What rocks? |
 Gregor works the clutch, front brake, rear brake and throttle like the experienced road racer he is. This is his second ride on this KTM 525SX. |
 Patches of snow? What patches of snow? |
 As the Downhill Boy of the group, it’s my job to test all steep drop-ins. The pitch itself wasn’t bad, but … |
 … you really want to make this turn. |
 Gregor styles it on Alex’s bike. |
What a sweet day.
gosh i wish i still had my MOTO,………………….
Lee, looks like Orange is the new black – and red is out….. that’s what I hear Alex is saying.
So Lee, do you think you can smoke a moto with your DH bike on those DH sections?
What an awesome question! I want to do a showdown of some kind. Comparably skilled riders on varous trails …
On the really steep, rough stuff I’m still faster (and much more aggressive) on a DH bike. Acceleration is a non-issue. Braking and cornering are way better. Bumps, it’s hard to say. 12″ of travel vs. being able to bunny hop.
When I shuttle Zach Griffith (local DH pro) on my moto, it’s insane how fast he goes on his DH bike. In a lot of sections I can barely hang on, if at all. When you’re following your “pupil” in 3rd gear wide open down a singletrack, that’s FAST!
Yeah, I want to do a showdown …
OK, have any of you seen David Knight riding the European enduros? That guy rides his moto way harder than any of us ride DH bikes. I guarantee a top moto rider is faster almost everywhere — unless it gets REALLY steep.
We need a showdown …
sign me up……where and when?
Jason, you’d be perfect. Fast on a bike and a moto. Which are you better on? A moto right? …
It is very safe to say I am severely faster on a moto…my fast bike days are over with my last triple leg fracture
For those who haven’t seen David Knight I “think” he’ll be right here in the U.S. next year. Keep your eyes peeled for tv coverage of next year’s GNCC’s or the Red Bull Last Man Standing event which I believe is coming up soon. Either way that guy is slicker than the lobby floor at the sperm bank.
I read in Trail Rider that he’ll indeed be in the U.S. next season. The guys at TR preduct he’s gonna KILL everyone.
Y’all have to see him ride a moto. Envision Curtis Keene or Nathan Rennie on a 4X bike. It’s sick.
i will be racing with david at the red bull last man standing event in dec, he is incredible. we should have a trail challenge and see which is faster moto or dh bike in downieville or on solstice in marin.
Knight’s pretty good, but Jason you can handle that guy.
Downeville … I’m thinking an engine would come in handy!
I dont think i can take knight.I will take on any challengers at downieville though in timed runs or 4 up format
Quote: “On the really steep, rough stuff I’m still faster (and much more aggressive) on a DH bike. Acceleration is a non-issue. Braking and cornering are way better. Bumps, it’s hard to say. ”
Mmmmm, I really have my doubts. Lee, with all my respect, do you really think that you can beat a comparably skilled moto rider as you are with your DH bike? I guess I will have to sell my HUSKY TC250 if you asure so!! Just kidding, but you get the point. It’s amazing, I never thought it could be possible.
Quote: “OK, have any of you seen David Knight riding the European enduros? That guy rides his moto way harder than any of us ride DH bikes. I guarantee a top moto rider is faster almost everywhere — unless it gets REALLY steep.
We need a showdown … ”
I couldn’t agree more, and yes, we need a showdown!!!
Hey Rod,
I’d love to do a showdown: It’ll have to be a pro DH racer vs a pro moto racer. I know lots of pro DHers; I gotta find a pro hare scramble racer.
I’ve asked Curtis Keene and Brian Lopes’ opinions. Both are pro bike racers and very high level moto riders (not quite pro, but Lopes races Open Pro MX in Socal and does well). Both say a bike is faster on a really steep, really tight trail.
—
Last week I used my CRF450X to shuttle local pro Zach Griffith on his DH bike, and I gotta say he was hauling ass. I was in the meat of third gear across steep, big, loose rocks, and he was gapping me … but I’m a novice moto rider …
We need apples and apples!!!