Do I carry on trail riding?

[DavidS]

As I hit the big 70 in a couple of months I am considering my future with my 690 Enduro. Currently fitted with Mitas E12 and E13 so fairly knobbly and not great for road comfort. Good on wet grass though, which is needed for horse trials but that opportunity seems to be shrinking away now.
My trail riding is reduced to easy summer dry(ish) lanes with about 80% of it road work as I have pretty much lost what little technical ambition and ability that I had so just want a gentle plod for a couple of hours or so. I am getting slower so don’t like holding up riding groups. I am loving riding my Norden more than any other road bike in recent years but never off road so that is staying whatever.
Options are:
1. Fit Avon Trekrider or Mitas E07+/Trailrider+ and carry on but maybe only ride a few times in the year. A waste of a bike?
2. Carry on as I am but with less and less enthusiasm.
3. Sell up and try and get an older style trailie but that would need to be electric start and suitable for 50 to 80 road miles for a 6’3, 13 stone rider. Weight around the 160kg of the 690.
4. Make it to still be trail riding at 70 (end of August) and say thanks for the last 15 years and just sell and rethink what I want to do.

[dibbs]

Hi David
Well I say sell the 690 and buy maybe an EXC250f it will be much lighter than the 690 and still make you smile when off road or on. Then when you are certain that you don't want to ride off road any more you can probably sell the 250 and get your money back (assuming you don't buy new of course!) and you still have the Norden 901 as your adventure road bike so a win win I reckon.

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

FWIW I'd say get an 'easier' lighter bike and carry on trail riding until you don't enjoy it any more.

My brother (former ACU national championship class enduro racer) says the Beta X-Trainer is the easiest-to-handle dirt bike he has ever ridden! The later ones have an engine balance shaft and other refinements. Auto oil system, electric start and a mode switch to tame the power are all standard.

The first year I did the Lands End Trial I just sat on it while it went up Blue Hills all by itself! I only failed two sections on it on the Derbyshire Trial and one was a waterfall and the other a swamp by the time I got to them. I won a Bronze Medal! Nothing to do with my riding ability: i just sat on it and kept a steady throttle.

If I get on my ES700 (red KTM690) it really feels heavy and unwieldy after the X-trainer. Fuel consumption on the X-trainer is about the same as on a 450 4-stroke enduro (riding with my brother's Beta 450)...and you can get a long-range IMS tank if that's a worry.

Strong demand for them when you have to sell on too.

[Godspeed]

Sorry to hear your predicament, it’s tricky deciding what to do for the best.

May I throw an alternative into the mix? How about something like a TW200, or something like that. Lovely low seat, comfortable for a few good miles on the road, and will keep a smile on your face on the trails.

Whichever you choose you’ll find the right path eventually

[DavidS]

Thanks guys.
Even as I posted, my inclination was to sell up after one trail ride beyond my 70th birthday.
Changing tyres isn’t really going to make that much difference but still cost me £200 or so.
Maybe even going smaller is a slightly pointless diversion.

I’ve always had a hankering for a yellow and white T160 Trident….maybe now is the time.

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

Buyer beware with a Trident...(assuming you mean a T160V).
You can easily spend £1000s sorting out engine problems...the way they are designed means the engine is essentially a vertical club sandwich with loads of potential for leaks.
Plus like all Triumphs of that vintage the top ends can wear quite fast.
My advice: don't get your head turned by cosmetics: buy on mechanical condition...if it shows any sign of oil leakage, walk away.
That said: one of the best road bikes I ever rode was a Les Williams Triumph T160V Legend...if only the ones that came out of the factory had been as good.

[DavidS]

Thanks Richard.
A friend in Devon had all sorts of difficulties sorting one out for a guy.
I’m not sure how serious my thought is as I’m not convinced I want a 50 year old bike anyway.
The ramblings of a deluded pensioner.

I might have a look at a 390 Adventure but, initially, the weight and seat height don’t seem much different to the 690. And that doesn’t resolve the ‘do I want to carry on trail riding’ question either.

[Richard Simpson Mark II]

Some 'interesting' Tridents here:

ex-Stranglers bike (I remember it being in Bike magazine), a TT Marshall's Les Williams replica, and a very nice stock-looking one.

But don't let your heart rule your head with these...

https://www.carandclassic.com/cat/15/41/trident%20t160/

[Paul_C]

As someone who's just three years younger than you I'm still happy riding my 701 on trails etc. It suits me, it's not too heavy and I like the power when I need it.
That said I decided a couple of years ago that the 1200 GS Adventure was a bit on the large side so went for a 901, which I like a lot. Like the GSA it's more than happy on gravel trails so I get some flexibility too.
If I could change anything it would be seat height. At a not so mighty 5'6" I needed to lower the 701 by 25mm but I'm just about ok with the 901.
I'm sure I'll have to downsize at some point, but not yet. I'm sure I'd be quite happy bimbling along in my dotage (if I get there) on a step-through.

[garyboy]

Just give up.
Maybe buy a 4x4. and get an even older twat to drive you along really easy trails.
Or preferably, just lay in bed, like me, watching porn, and eating loads of comfort food.

Occasionally you could drag yourself down the chipshop for a large bag of soggy chips and a flacid sausage.

But make sure you got your zimmer at all times. All the gear all the time, eh?

Best wishes, love and cuddles .. from an even older twat