Geezer Learns to Ride a Dirtbike

By Dan (the geezer) Nitzel

For several years after seeing people ride dirtbike trails in Colorado, I HAD to try dirtbike trail riding.  After riding on the ATV trails of Colorado for years, it was time for a change.   I’m a person who doesn’t care for riding the same trails more than a couple of times if I can help it.  It was clear by the trail maps that there are more dirtbike trails to be explored than ATV/dirtbike trails in Colorado.  With more trails available, I figured that the dirtbike trails would take me to new challenges and scenery.  After buying a shiny new dirtbike, and sampling a few ‘easy’ trails, I began finding the new challenges and scenery.  I also found a few twists that brought forth new tricks for the old geezer to learn, and a few age related realities for the old geezer to cope with.  The new shiny machines now has a few wear and impact marks, and so does the geezer!

The first task at hand was to find a suitable machine.  I wanted a dirtbike that was both trail-able and street-able and light weight.  I’ve owned nine ATVs over the last 20 years, with eight of them being sport performance type quads.   I like riding light weight, narrow, good handling, and easy to man-handle sport quads and I wanted a dirtbike bike that was light weight, fairly powerful and easy to man handle as well.   Light machines are much easier to move when I screw up, like, fall off and have to pick them back up, or end up in a tight dead end or get stuck. 

After some research in magazines, on the Internet and talking to a few experienced friends, the bike of choice was the dual sport Suzuki DRZ400s, with ELECTRIC start!  It is light weight, which I value greatly and as I expected to occasionally dump it or worse on the trails.  I purchased the DRZ new last December and took delivery on a cold, raw winter day in Columbus Nebraska.  I considered the DRZ to be a Christmas gift and a 50^th birthday gift to myself.   I mentioned this to a few co-workers and received the usual “you gotta be nuts”  looks accompanied with silent “it’s gonna be one weird funeral” thoughts.

This was not my first dirtbike.  In 1991 I purchased a used Yamaha 600T.  It was big and heavy with a killer (at least for me) kick start.  I think I only managed to muster the balance and kick stroke to start it by my self a few times.  I would only ride it after a few beers for courage.  It did not last long in the stable before it was re-sold.  The kick start got the best of me.   

When I brought home the DRZ to join the Raptor and the YFZ450 in the stable, it sat glaring at me every day in the garage begging to be rode, but not before the snow melted and the weather warmed up in February and March.  Then on one nice day in February, I putted out of the driveway to the nearby empty doctors offices parking lots to practice riding the new steed.  After about an hour I came home, somewhat satisfied about the new experience, and wondering about the availability of training wheels and what people would think of them, or how’d they work on the trails of Colorado? 

After a few more hours of practice it was time to get my drivers license motorcycle endorsement.  I wanted to ride the DRZ on the street and the trails.  People warned me about the drivers test personnel at the court house.  As one person commented to me, “I know the guy who set up the motorcycle test course and he told me he designed it so no one could pass it on the first try”.  I passed the written and driving test the first try, even with out training wheels two days before my 50^th birthday.  Time to get ready for the trails of Colorado! 

I knew that I was going to have to ride the DRZ a lot to get as much experience as possible before the trip.  But being as busy with running NOHVA as I am, that’s easier said than done.  Also, I like riding quads, and there is only so much free time.  The only real riding experience that I had time to get before the Colorado trip was riding on the street to and from work and running errands around town.  The DRZ get’s 55 miles per gallon in town, verses the truck only getting 15, so it gets used quite a bit in town.

Before I could ride the Colorado trails, I had to get the DRZ ready for rocks, trees, cliffs and such.  After several visits and beers with my good friend, trail partner and former pro-rider Gary Gibbs, and a visit to the Internet, I purchased a new skid plate, radiator guard, hand guards, knobby tires, counter sprocket, and case guards.  I had to get myself ready as well, so I got some heavy duty knee pads and lots of sugar-free Red Bull.  I forgot the elbow pads which I later regretted.  I also prepared my Last Will and Testament, and arranged someone to take my Rhodesian Ridgeback – Red Boned Coon Hound super dog Brandy in case I died on the trail.    

          Before I knew it,  I was off to Colorado with two dirtbikes and two quads in tow behind my camper.  First stop was the North Sand Hills area in northern Colorado.  Upon arriving on a Saturday morning, I was lucky to get my favorite camping spot located on a hill that over looked the North Park area of Colorado.  Outside the front door of the camper a 180 degree vista of 12,000 foot plus mountains greeted me.  Behind the camper were the sand dunes and miles of ATV and dirtbike trails.  The plan was for me to ride my Raptor a day at the North Sand Hills, then spend Sunday “practicing” on the dirtbike and meet up with Gary Gibbs at another spot about 40 miles south called Old Homestead.  We would then spend three days on quads and dirtbikes  exploring the trails of the Snyder Creek-Willow Creek area, Illinois Pass area and the Stillwater Pass trail networks.

The  first day I found some new, exciting trails beyond the sand dune area.  Of course there are a number of trails next to the dunes, but I’ve been on many of them.  The area around the dunes is criss-crossed with short routes similar to the multiple routes at the Headworks OHV Park but much more challenging.  I managed to find some deserted mining cabins, and some new trails.  Several of the rocky trails steadily climbed the mountain at about a 30+ degree grade, and it was about all the Raptor could handle.  One trail ended up on a road that I had never been on and featured some nice views. 

Another trail ended up as a dead end on the side of the mountain where is took me nearly a half hour to get the quad turned around.  The trail was about all I could handle as it was off camber quite a bit with 12” boulders and the sides were nearly straight up or down.  Then, the dead end appeared.  There I was stuck with slightly more than the quad width from side to side, and it was impossible to back up.  One false move would place me and the quad down the hill about 50 or more feet.  This was not an option as I was by my self with no winch or straps, miles from anyone or anything.  After wrangling with it for quite a while and got it turned around, and finally made it back to camp after meeting a few more dead end trails.

The next day on Sunday was a practice day on the dirtbike and my first trail ride in the mountains on a bike.  I chose the power line trail that began at the sand dune area.  The power line trail was a jeep trail that featured a steep climb with loose rocks, switch backs and drop offs on the side of the trail.  The trail rises about 1500 feet in altitude.  I figured that if I ride the trail about four times traveling about five miles each trip, I’d be better prepared for the trails of Snyder Creek with Gary Gibbs. 

On my first ride up the power line trail I only dumped the DRZ a half dozen times up and down the trail.  On the second trip I traveled to the top and back with out dumping the DRZ once.  On the third trip I was beginning to get tired and hot (flatlander syndrome) and I discovered the difference between dumping the bike and crashing.   When I dumped the bike, I cussed a lot.  When I crashed, instead of cussing I responded with more of an “ough”, like when you get hit hard playing football or getting hit in fight.  After I crashed a few times I made it back to the camper to check out my swollen elbow, hip and ego.  After a bit of rest, it was time for one last quick trip to the dunes on the quad, then it was time for me and dog to load the machines, pack up the camper and head to Old Homestead and meet up with Gary Gibbs.

Old Homestead is located about 3 miles south east of Rand Colorado on State Highway 125.  The Old Homestead is a rustic resort that features about six RV camp sites with electricity, water and sewer.  There are also about a dozen log cabins.  The camp sites go for $10 to $15 a night and the cabins are about $15 a night plus.  There is a wash house and toilet.  The altitude is about 8,000 feet and from Old Homestead a person can ride directly to dirtbike and ATV trails, or load up and drive to a trailhead.  If you ever plan to stay at Old Homestead, all you have to do is show up.  The owners don’t answer the phone much and they generally don’t take reservations or credit cards. 

          Gary arrived on Sunday evening after a business meeting and helping with a national motocross race in Denver.  On Monday, the day after Gary arrived we loaded the quads on the trailer and drove to the Steam Boat Lake and Hahn’s Peak ATV trail system, located about 80 miles to the west. 

          We spent the afternoon on multiple trails around Hahn’s peak and found a jeep trail that ending up near the top of Hahn’s peak at about 10,500 feet.  The view from the top of Hahn’s peak was outstanding. 

On Tuesday, it was time to do some dirtbike riding and we took off from our campsite at Old Homestead.  We mostly rode easy trails as I discovered that the DRZ was geared way too high for trails as  I could do 25 mph in first gear.  Being a novice it was pretty difficult to travel up steep trails while winding through tight trees negotiating sharp corners and feathering the clutch and throttle continuously.  After the third trail, it was getting pretty difficult for me, so we stuck to the jeep trails.  While riding on the jeep trails, we discovered a trail off of FS-730 near sheep mountain that traveled up to a 10,500 foot pass and featured one of the most scenic overlooks that I have ever visited.    After that we began our trip back to Old Homestead just ahead of the rain and completed our 57 mile trip for the day.  

After a good nights sleep, on Wednesday we ventured out from Old Homestead for one more trail ride.  Gary rode his dirtbike and I rode my quad.  We traveled to Illinois pass about 7 miles from camp and hit a few trails in the Stillwater Pass trail system.  Then it was time to pack up and head back to Nebraska. 

On my next trip to Colorado, the DRZ will have a much larger rear sprocket so I can crawl up the trails in first gear.  In the mean time I hope to hit a few trails in Nebraska.  The trip was well worth it, as it was exciting as well as relaxing.   I am looking forward to riding there again soon!

Copyright © 2003-2007 TBQ Sport Club, Inc. /  d.b.a. Nebraska Off Highway Vehicle Association
Reproduction of any part of this web site is prohibited without permission.  Read our Disclaimer for information
This Site is Designed and Maintained by hookusup.com
This page was updated on Monday, February 19, 2007