Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Technical, Bike forums > Kawasaki Tech
Offroad on ER5? Offroad on ER5?
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts
Kawasaki Tech Kawasaki Tech Forum - For Questions specific and of interest to Kawasaki riders only.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 6 Apr 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Belgium
Posts: 13
Offroad on ER5?
Hi, i'm new here. I've been riding for almost a year now(7.000km hurray) on my trusted ER5. I'm wondering if it's possible to ride offroad with it. Anyone experience with that? And if so, any modifications needed to ride offroad? I don't want to ruin my bike.
Thanks a lot! Karolien
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 7 Apr 2012
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Staines, UK
Posts: 59
The short answer is yes, of course you can ride off road with your bike. But the degree of off-roaring that you'll be safely capable of will depend on the level of off-road experience you have. If I were you I'd get some training on a dedicated enduro or trail bike and then transfer that knowledge to your bike, adjusting where necessary to make up for differences in weight, tyres and suspension.
__________________
More malformed, irrelevant opinions here.
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 7 Apr 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: UK
Posts: 4,343
Quote:
Originally Posted by Karolien78 View Post
Hi, i'm new here. I've been riding for almost a year now(7.000km hurray) on my trusted ER5. I'm wondering if it's possible to ride offroad with it. Anyone experience with that? And if so, any modifications needed to ride offroad? I don't want to ruin my bike.
Thanks a lot! Karolien
I love your question, not least because offroad is not defined here, or anywhere; to some folks it means disappearing into the bundooks searching out the most difficult terrain, on wheels, that they can find. To others, it means going off bitumen surfaces, such as riding a gravel track for a few hundred metres as the entrance to a campsite.
And, to others, off roading is riding competitively.
And long may that continue; no one owns the terminology.

So, as muppix says, you can do it, whatever it is that is within your own comfort zone and, sometimes, you will exceed that.

"I don't want to ruin my bike"
Your right, take care of your ER5, try it out doing whatever you are contemplating, be prepared to pick it up when it goes over and learn from that ............................... usually it's only the plastics that break, and some of the bits that stick out, like mirrors and levers.
BTW, you have been riding for a year -- have you dropped the bike yet? If so, how many times/what circumstances (there used to be a website, "100 ways to drop your bike", or something like that).
__________________
Dave
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 8 Apr 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: Staffordshire. uk
Posts: 766
If you mean gravel and hard packed dirt then yes. Normal road tyres are fine on these surfaces. I've done 100's of K's on 020's and pilot roads on gravel with no issues at all. Mud and snow are a different story altogether but for summer in scandinavia, for instance, perfect.

There are issues with road bikes on loose surfaces though as they have steeper steering angles than trail orientated bikes and tend to feel quite unstable. This isn't helped by the forward biased weight distribution. Having said that, I've seen Buell's on gravel in Sweden and nothing has a steeper steering angle than one of those. Anything is possible.

Just don't expect to keep up with guys on KTM's!
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 8 Apr 2012
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
  
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Belgium
Posts: 13
Hi muppix, dave and flyingdoctor! I have zero experience riding offroad, unless you take into account a small stroke of grass and indeed a gravel road to a campsite (can you read my mind or what?). The tip of taking an offroad course on a proper offroad bike, and especially taking what I can learn there back home to my own bike is great thank you!
I've dropped my bike twice, fortunately I also can read my own mind so I was smart enough to have crash bars installed on it. First time: trying to turn from standstill, not enough gas/traction. Second time: rain, standstill, trying to pick up my backpack while still sitting on the bike: lost balance, bike goes down. Stupid mistakes but I've learned from them. No harm done!
I definitely don't expect to keep up with experienced guys on KTM's. But it's good to know that experienced guys don't think I'm crazy for at least thinking about offroading with my little bike. My mom however does believe I'm crazy...
Thanks guys, Karolien
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 9 Apr 2012
Registered Users
HUBB regular
  
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Australia
Posts: 49
Hi Karolien, yes you can take your ER5 of road. General trail riding will be possible and a lot of fun. Off road bikes are a recent invention, up until the 60's they didn't really exist. Riders used to modify road bikes to meet their requirements. You may want to start with a pair of wider bars and go from there. Ride within the limitations of the bike, learn and enjoy.
Have a look at the Some Assembly Required forum on advrider.com to see what some have done with your bike.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 9 Apr 2012
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
  
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: West Yorkshire UK
Posts: 1,785
The off road courses are very useful even if you only ever have to get home on snowy days.

I'd also take a look on e-bay. Are ER-5 plastics and exhausts cheap and readily available? Can you fit your own? I ride a Triumph Bonneville on anything you could roughly call a road, be it dirt gravel etc. This will trash things like silencers but there are plenty of guys who buy style items for Bonnevilles and sell the standard items online, so I buy their cast offs. My Dad had an ER5 a few years back and I did think it had go anywhere do anything potential.

Andy
Reply With Quote
Reply

« Previous Thread | Next Thread »

Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Offroad FINLAND - RUSSIA Oo-SEB-oO Europe 3 7 Apr 2012 06:50
Picos de Europa Spain jqd05a Europe 5 15 Mar 2012 19:19
Offroad Europe Andysr6 Route Planning 3 7 Mar 2012 19:49
Offroad FINLAND - RUSSIA Oo-SEB-oO Route Planning 3 3 Mar 2012 20:46
What would you do with 7 days to spend in morocco (offroad ride) Solsil Morocco 1 30 Oct 2011 22:52

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

Your ad could be here, on EVERY page of the HUBB, or the whole website, or as many as you like!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.



All times are GMT +1. The time now is 14:30.

Contact Us - Horizons Unlimited Motorcycle Travellers Website - Archive - Privacy Statement - Top