:sleep01:

i'll get my coat then.......

are you referring to my parking, when we went down to Salisbury? :-

Anyway, there is quite a big difference in the seat heights (he says, changing topic swiftly)

Go for the 690 ,switch the mapping to offroad setting and it is very easy and controlable ,but a word of warning

You will buy a 690 after trying one ,just like mine

http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/a...o/e4dba67b.jpg

where's the seat?

The Suzuki DRZ400E is 935mm 36.8". I had one, and struggled to get my foot down on one of these (great bike tho'). Another 2" higher is the KTM 400 EXC.

So, I will test ride on the course one of jasext's bikes, a 690.

All booked up now for the 18th March. Looking forward to it.

I had a great day out with Desert Rose at Somerley Park nr. Ringwood, Southampton.

This is a brief summary of the day, altough we covered more things...

It started at 9 a.m., five of us, with getting your kit sorted over a cuppa, and then we set off around a clearing to familiarize ourselves with our mounts. I had chosen the KTM 690R, and felt at home on it straight away. (after riding it for the day, it didn't really feel that much lighter than my bike-although it is, but much better sussys and brakes. The seat height was standard, and not an issue on the day.)

We had an talk about the clutch, brakes, and standing position, and then went round again.

"Vision and looking ahead" was a key point made all day.

Shortly after we went through a wooded area, and did some tight turns, followed by a talk on how to do it, followed by another go at it.

Then we just all went for a mini trail ride, and then after that we stopped at the bottom of a fairly steep hill (gulp!). There were a few roots and loose logs too on the way up it ... We were again talked through it, but Zippy (the brilliant instuctor), started with the "what if it all goes pear-shaped" scenario, and so before showing us how to get up the hill, showed us what to do if you stall halfway up. So we all had to stall halfway up, turn the bike round, and go down again. Then we were shown how to get up the hill, and we all had a go at it. Two of us (yes, I was one!!),didn't do it that well, as I hit a loose log just before the crest! But, I got the bike turned around and back down for another go at it.

We did some downhill stuff (clutch out, and after with front brake), and for the last hour I chose to do some more general obstacles like ditches and proper bog and ruts and roots, with another instructor, (and we went back to the "fairly steep hill" right at the end, and I gassed the bike, and flew up the hill!!), while the others did an "up and down hill circuit".

It was a brilliant day, we were all soaked through and very wet and tired, but beaming from ear to ear! We did a lunch stop somewhere in between all this, but we were pretty much on the go all day.

Zippy said we had covered much more than some other classes, as we had all listened and learned well. I got a tremendous lot out of it, and came away with a higher confidence level, and more skills than I had imagined.

I only fell off six times all day- I must have improved considerably!!!!

So, that's where to go for your training, Desert Rose. Highly recommended !

Well done Rich, :smilies0349:

nice one richard! tho where's the pics

you know the rule,

sorry no pics...there really wasn't really any time for stills, and I think maybe my helmet cam may not have been welcome, but I didn't ask.

I really was amazed at the things I tackled, and it really helped me going "the instuctor route", rather than learn as you go.

Still a bit sore two days after it....but what a great day out!:eusa_dance:

now, that course has really whetted my appetite for more learning, so, I'm off on a one-day, one-one with Craig Bounds! It costs �180, or less if you are a total novice.

The best one going is the Ady Smith Enduro school.
Any level, one to one training if you want (Ady personally does the 1 to 1s)

He has sites is Sussex, Wales and the midlands.
All new KTMs or your bike.

I've just done my second one - fantastic trainer.

I am in Andover if you want a beer and chat about it.

Paul