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I did my first canyon ride yesterday. I had an absolute blast.

Was out with 2 guys that I met on another forum. They told me right off the bat to just ride at my own pace and not try to keep up with them.

My CX500 did suprisingly well despite its age, did manage to drag a peg once or twice but the bike did just fine.

What I learned from yesterday. My CX handles better than most people think. You have better control over the bike if you lean forward a bit (this is hard to do with the bolt upright riding position of my CX). Twisty roads are REALLY fun. Treat EVERY blind turn as if it were decreasing radius.

The road we took was colorado state road 14 through poudre canyon. We did the lower half of the canyon which is the tighter, slower section about 40 miles each way for 80 miles total. this road is chock full of tight decreasing radius turns. The scenery is breathtaking as well when you have the time to pay attention to it.

the guys I rode with were great and would slow down every few miles to let me catch up. I definately plan on doing a few more canyon rides with these guys.

Congrats, Jmill! I remember how much fun those torquey 500cc v-twins can be on a curvy road. Must've leaned pretty good to scrape a peg on that bike!

Congratulations!!! Sounds like a lot of fun. Glad you had a good time and found some nice guys to ride with. Makes it alot easier when your not trying to keep up all the time.

Oh, I'm getting excited at such prospects...

Its nice to have you verfiying the CX500 limits before I attempt anything too adventurous on my own. I don't see too many canyons in my immediate future, but I'll get there at some point...

Congrats. Keep the news coming.
JC

jmillheiser wrote: What I learned from yesterday. My CX handles better than most people think. You have better control over the bike if you lean forward a bit

Hence why clip-ons were invented.
My Bandit has a set of Renthal MX bars on it so it has a great seating position for around town but when I am out for a squirt I really have to load up the front end to get it to go where I want it.

Yeah Man, this is what it is all about, when the fear has gone and you look forward to getting on that bike every time and you can enjoy riding within your limits. CC does not matter.

That's awesome jmill! Is it true that riding up in the twisties is not a good place for absolute beginners? Riding in the canyons look likes a ton of fun but is it dangerous to do this kind of riding when youre first starting out?

On the right bike at the right pace within your abilities is as safe as it gets no matter where you ride.

I didn't do any serious peg dragging. didn't actually feel the pegs touch down but there were a couple of fresh little scrape marks on the underside when we stopped. Took about 1/4 off of my chicken strips so they are now about 3/4 of an inch.

When I get the fairing off of it I am definately putting some bars with less rise on. Might also look into some progressive suspension shocks and fork springs and some stickier tires. The engine did ok but was down on power a bit due to altitude (this canyon climbs about 1500 ft in 45 miles, we were around 7500ft at our turnaround point), I used 3rd and 4th gear most of the time and it seems most comfortable between 5000 and 7000rpm when canyon carving.

No issues with the bike aside from a little brake fade in spots, temp gauge didn't go above normal operating temp the entire run despite being run pretty hard for 45 miles