Free 2 wheel is a monthly publication for the Southern California Motorcyclist. It's distributed free at locations thoughout the Southern California area.
BEATEN IN DEATH VALLEY 2009 Kawasaki KLX250S
Story by Neale Bayly
Photos by Kinney Jones
Thirty years in the saddle have surprisingly not yielded a great amount of seat time in the dirt.
Sure I’ve done some very demanding BMW GS off-road intros over the years and some crazy road bike stuff in South America and India, but hitting the trail for a serious dual-sport ride has been an experience that has eluded me.
Until yesterday, that is. Slapping me up side the head like my old English teacher’s black-board duster, a day in the saddle of the 2009 KLX250S on the spectacular and challenging trails in Death Valley has got me instantly addicted and has made me realize what I’ve been missing all these years.
On the face of it, to the uninitiated, the KLX250S could seem a little pedestrian. A low horsepower, 277-pound, 250 cc single-cylinder motorcycle doesn’t sound like a recipe for too much fun. Hit 40 miles per hour on a twisting, turning, rocky trail through picture-book stunning Echo Canyon, where a wrong move will have you doing some serious aerobatics before you hit the ground, and that perception is instantly kicked to the curb.
Make plans to join KTM staff and off-road enthusiasts at the 5th annual KTM Adventure Rider Rally--July 18 to 20 in beautiful Snowshoe, West Virginia. This year’s KTM rally includes guided tours from Red Bull Factory Team riders Kurt Caselli and David Pearson, the legendary Barry Higgins and Dakar Rally racer Paul Krause.
The event, which is designed for KTM 640, 950, and 990 Ad-venture owners but is open to all street legal, dual sport motorcycles, provides riders of all skill levels an opportunity to ride with and learn from adventurers from all over the country and beyond. It offers great cultural and historic interest, unbelievable adventure riding opportunities nearly a mile high in the Alleghenies of West Virginia, plus riding and technical seminars, lunch and dinner BBQs, a Saturday night awards dinner, free demo rides and guided tours (including a tour to Davis, WV, home of the legendary Blackwater 100). The price is $125 per person. For more information go to www.ktm.com or call (951) 677-2823.
