I would lovoe to be there. I think that we cna make it there for two days only, thats opening weekend of archery elk. I am getting a new motor on my buggy now. the one I have is having too many issues. I should have it going by then. We have been riding up at Browns Camp alot this summer and last week it died! Look forward to seeing everyone's karts and meeting new folks!!
Well I met with West Coast on Sunday, but the lot was so full that he turned around and went home. Hopefully we will reschedule later this week while I am still down in his neck of the woods (in this case dunes). I didn't get any pictures the first day, but all went fine with no breakdowns. Day 2 of 6 buggy days we explored more of the ORV area and buggies are still running well. I have no action shots, but here are few of the buggies with the Pacific Ocean in the background. _________________ 08 Joyner SViper 250
07 Joyner SSpider 650
06 Tank Urban Touring 150SE
06 Weekend Warrior WB FB2200
05 Ford F-250 PowerStroke
04 Yerf-Dog Spiderbox 3206
04 Kawasaki Concours ZG1000
03 VW Jetta Wagon TDI
02 Paros 3500# 5x8
81 Honda Passport C70B
The paddles go on today. We slept in (we are on vacation), so we head out after lunch to dunes and beach. The last time I used them, I was digging too much and bottoming the frame. This may due to the fact they are 23" paddles verses the stock 25" tires you saw in the previous picture.
I added 3" spacers on the rear in hopes of adding a little clearance and better stability on the off camber dunes. I don't think it added any height, but stability is amazing. There is more rear end push due to the locked wide rear, but I just goose it in the turns to go the direction I want. _________________ 08 Joyner SViper 250
07 Joyner SSpider 650
06 Tank Urban Touring 150SE
06 Weekend Warrior WB FB2200
05 Ford F-250 PowerStroke
04 Yerf-Dog Spiderbox 3206
04 Kawasaki Concours ZG1000
03 VW Jetta Wagon TDI
02 Paros 3500# 5x8
81 Honda Passport C70B
Im sorry to hear the event didn't go as planned. We ended up passing by you guys at around 2am, so we didn't stop. Wish we could of crossed paths and met. Next time I will be there (with a buggy) =( _________________ Baja Dune 150
9 gram rollers, Yellow main spring, Uni Filter w/pre charger, HP CDI, HP Coil and Plug wire, Gutted exhaust, 130 main jet, all new balljoints and rod ends.
The Yerf is no speed deamon, but it handles soft sand better than the Joyner. It cranks up to roughly 25 mph on the sand and is happy to spin the 22x11-8 tires when traction gives out. My Yerf, equipment and wife total less than 600 lbs, so floation is no problem especially since the front tires are 22x8-10. Stability with the wider rear Buggy Depot axle and 10x8 front rims is never a question (even on 30 degree side slopes). The suspension could be softer for my wife when she is riding solo, but it is set up with a compromise for when we want ride in the same buggy plus helps with the stability above.
Today I ran the the paddles on Joyner. They dig more than the stock tires so it is extremely hard to get going on an incline and forget about reverse with paddles. While swapping out the tires today revealed why the the paddles make my Joyner sink more than the stock tires - Surface Area! The stock 25x10-12 tires have a larger footprint in the sand than the 23x10.5-12 paddles. However once you are moving with the paddles, they definitely scoot you along the sand better than the stockers. Steering push from the locked rear with spacers is more pronounced with the paddles, but is only an issue at slow speeds. The smaller diameter tires allow me run between second and third gear most of the time where I was shifting between first and second with the stock 25" tires. A hill climb at one of the staging areas proves that momentum is the key to cresting the hill. I get better off the line with stock tires, better acceleration with the shorter paddles and almost identical position up the hill before the tires let loose and start digging. With spacers, tire width is not an issue. Once I wear out these paddles, I will be looking for widest squatty tire I can find. The Joyner is able to hit 50+ mph in the soft sand and the suspension is amazing at speed. You see uneven sand in front of you and expect an impact only to float across it. After three days of riding my body does not feel beat up like others have described.
For those of you wondering about fuel consumption: The Yerf is running for five hours on one gallon of regular gasoline. While the Joyner (with an engine that is over four times bigger) is using about 2.5 gallons per five hours of constant riding.
Like others, the buggies always bring attention to us. Sunday I saw three other buggies, none were modified and they were doing poorly in stock form (getting stuck within a few hundred yards of the parking lot). Once they saw what a little 150cc buggy could do they had hope that the money they spent was not lost on a "toy". I hope some of them will log in to Buggy News and check it out. Today both buggies got an impromptu photo op. A couple from TX were enthralled that such "creatures" existed and had plenty of questions...
While it's always great to have additional riders with us, my wife has been a great partner and we having a wonderful time. We've learned to not wait around for life or others - That "later" may never happen. Tomorrow we are taking a break from buggying and will hit the trails again on Thursday. The invitation to ride is still open to anyone for Thursday and Friday. If no one responds, it won't stop us from having fun. _________________ 08 Joyner SViper 250
07 Joyner SSpider 650
06 Tank Urban Touring 150SE
06 Weekend Warrior WB FB2200
05 Ford F-250 PowerStroke
04 Yerf-Dog Spiderbox 3206
04 Kawasaki Concours ZG1000
03 VW Jetta Wagon TDI
02 Paros 3500# 5x8
81 Honda Passport C70B
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