From: Rowdy on
Am 21.06.2010 18:20, schrieb IdaSpode:
> Guess I should have waited 10 seconds to let the water clear, I might
> have taken a better line. I charge into it and before I knew it the
> bike was out from underneath me. No bobble, no dab, just in the water.
> I picked myself up and went to grab the bike. Uh oh, all I can see is
> the handlebar and part of the tank sticking up and the bike is
> floating downstream... Murray is long gone, it's about all I can do to
> push the bike up the bank to dry land. I pulled the pipe/silencer/air
> filter/tank/spark plug, emptied the float bowl and started kicking.

How would I do that with say, Mike S' XR600?
The water would mix with engine oil right? Firing her up will produce
a water lubricator system (being heavier than oil) and a sized engine
in minutes. Would it be a good idea to plug the greabox/crankcase
ventilation before a river crossing?

> Murray stopped at the next junction, waited a bit then rode back. By
> that time I had most of the water out, he helped with the rest. Not
> too bad by drowned-bike-standards, somehow managed to not get water in
> the tranny. At least my bike was really, really clean now...

Brr..
I'd never want to do that. I normally don't let go at all cost
even if that meant fully soaked boots and pants
http://www.peterrenner.net/OffRoad/tt600_c.jpg Mai in the Apls, the
water temp was very refreshing.

Thanks for that ride report. From John's blog I sees a typical loop
length of 60 miles, up 70. Do you guys carry extra gas?


Rowdy
From: IdaSpode on
On Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:55:31 +0200, Rowdy <thy-no(a)hottmail.com> wrote:

>Am 21.06.2010 18:20, schrieb IdaSpode:

<snip>
> Murray is long gone, it's about all I can do to
>> push the bike up the bank to dry land. I pulled the pipe/silencer/air
>> filter/tank/spark plug, emptied the float bowl and started kicking.
>
>How would I do that with say, Mike S' XR600?
>The water would mix with engine oil right? Firing her up will produce
>a water lubricator system (being heavier than oil) and a sized engine
>in minutes.

A 2S is much easier to "un-drown" than 4S for the very reason you
mention. As I said, I had no water in the tranny, still had that oil
in the bike on last weekend's ride, still in it now.

In the past I have gotten some water in the tranny, but not much. It
doesn't take much to make the oil milky. I just finished the ride then
changed oil several times back at camp.

Depending on how much water got in, I suppose if I had a drowned 4S
I'd decrease the "fluid" level of the engine so as not to be too
overfull and limp home.

>Would it be a good idea to plug the greabox/crankcase
>ventilation before a river crossing?

The best "good idea" is to not fall in the freakin' creek...

>> Murray stopped at the next junction, waited a bit then rode back. By
>> that time I had most of the water out, he helped with the rest. Not
>> too bad by drowned-bike-standards, somehow managed to not get water in
>> the tranny. At least my bike was really, really clean now...
>
>Brr..
>I'd never want to do that. I normally don't let go at all cost
>even if that meant fully soaked boots and pants
>http://www.peterrenner.net/OffRoad/tt600_c.jpg Mai in the Apls, the
>water temp was very refreshing.
>
>Thanks for that ride report. From John's blog I sees a typical loop
>length of 60 miles, up 70. Do you guys carry extra gas?

Normally no. When my 2010 200 was very new, I went on reserve at 55
miles on a desert ride that included a fair amount of deep sand
riding. We were only a few miles from the trucks. Since then my
mileage has improved considerably. Murray (250XCW) hit reserve two
weeks ago at 63 miles, John (300XCW) hit reserve several times last
season on longer rides but we have yet to actually run out of fuel.

>Rowdy

DJ
From: Rowdy on
Am 25.06.2010 17:05, schrieb IdaSpode:
> On Fri, 25 Jun 2010 11:55:31 +0200, Rowdy<thy-no(a)hottmail.com> wrote:
>> Thanks for that ride report. From John's blog I sees a typical loop
>> length of 60 miles, up 70. Do you guys carry extra gas?
>
> Normally no. When my 2010 200 was very new, I went on reserve at 55
> miles on a desert ride that included a fair amount of deep sand
> riding. We were only a few miles from the trucks. Since then my
> mileage has improved considerably. Murray (250XCW) hit reserve two
> weeks ago at 63 miles, John (300XCW) hit reserve several times last
> season on longer rides but we have yet to actually run out of fuel.

Hear, hear.
Say Jim, whats the mileage on the GasGas 300?

Rowdy
From: Volker Bartheld on
Hi!

>> [drowning a bike]

> How would I do that with say, Mike S' XR600?

As I've written in my previous post. You might be in big trouble.

> The water would mix with engine oil right?

Jup.

> Firing her up will produce a water lubricator system

Depends on how much water you got in. I cannot remember where the XR6 has
the intake of its oil pump (or if it has a dry or wet sump), but I figure
your biggest problem might be the rather stiff oil-water-emulsion that is
created in no time and won't make it through those narrow little tubes.
Moreover, this emulsion will be an isolator, meaning that it can't carry
any heat away from the hot parts. Not to mention the rather bad lubing
capabilities when there is pressure.

> (being heavier than oil) and a sized engine in minutes. Would it be a
> good idea to plug the greabox/crankcase ventilation before a river
> crossing?

It will just pop the plug clogging the ventilation tube. Or it will want to
vent through passages you don't want to be blown through. Never
underestimate the blow by that happens - even with perfect rings and valve
seals. Some bikes have a kind of "one-way-valve" attached to the
ventilation hoses. So if you stall, the valve closes and you'll get less
water in. You will still flood the engine (intake/exhaust valve might be
open, water enters the exhaust and airbox) and as soon as the water is in
the cylinder, it will enter the gearbox. Not immediately but at some time.

Speaking of gas instead of water (I once had a flooded carb in a Kwak ER-6
aka. "Twister" and the all the carb vent tubes lead into the airbox for
environmental reasons): You can add quite a massive amount of fluid to the
oil through the cylinder within a few minutes.

>> Murray stopped at the next junction, waited a bit then rode back. By
>> that time I had most of the water out, he helped with the rest. Not
>> too bad by drowned-bike-standards, somehow managed to not get water in
>> the tranny. At least my bike was really, really clean now...

> I'd never want to do that. I normally don't let go at all cost
> even if that meant fully soaked boots and pants

Sometimes not letting go is not on the list of options... ;-)

> From John's blog I sees a typical loop length of 60 miles, up 70. Do
> you guys carry extra gas?

60 miles? Whoa. That sounds like one hell of an enduro ride...

Cheers,
Volker

--
@: I N F O at B A R T H E L D dot N E T
3W: www.bartheld.net
From: SloCalSpode on
a 100+ mile loop is not un-heard of @ SpodeFest.
Eric Elvin and Jeff Deeney used to do some epic rides. 1/2 way
to Montana and back in one day......sort of.. =;^)
The ride to Stanley for lunch is no slouch. Neither is the
ride to Atlanta.
I plan to do some hot spring hunting on this trip and take it easy.
Cheers,
Jeff
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 60 miles? Whoa. That sounds like one hell of an enduro ride...
> Cheers,
> Volker