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I DID it this weekend : we went camping around North Adams in MA , and we had about 1 mile of dirt road to get as close as possible to the lake where we wanted to camp.
My friend had a EX500 Kawa ( a Ninja I believe) and I had the Kat with a passenger and some luggage ( camping , you know ...). And the Kat behaved absolutly PERFECTLY.
First the road was more like on Mount Washington ( dirt and some gravels). And the very end was muddy (pictures will come).
Than it started raining .. and we had to go get meat for the barbecue, no passenger this time. And that was really fun too ( 1st gear going down the sloppy muddy durt road on a Kat
)
And last but not least, Sunday morning had to make it back WITH the passenger , down this time, on the muddy road .... Had no problem at all.
So I road it 4 times in total and it really was fun. But I do get a new front tire today (it wa already scheduled).
So my advice :
- going up low RPM second gear (lower torque ?) and keep going. The front tire is jumping around ... needs some control.
- going down : first gear , no front braking , only rear , and use AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE engine braking.
- and TRUST your bike, it really is a great bike !
PICTURES are on the way.
W.
My friend had a EX500 Kawa ( a Ninja I believe) and I had the Kat with a passenger and some luggage ( camping , you know ...). And the Kat behaved absolutly PERFECTLY.
First the road was more like on Mount Washington ( dirt and some gravels). And the very end was muddy (pictures will come).
Than it started raining .. and we had to go get meat for the barbecue, no passenger this time. And that was really fun too ( 1st gear going down the sloppy muddy durt road on a Kat
)And last but not least, Sunday morning had to make it back WITH the passenger , down this time, on the muddy road .... Had no problem at all.
So I road it 4 times in total and it really was fun. But I do get a new front tire today (it wa already scheduled).
So my advice :
- going up low RPM second gear (lower torque ?) and keep going. The front tire is jumping around ... needs some control.
- going down : first gear , no front braking , only rear , and use AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE engine braking.
- and TRUST your bike, it really is a great bike !
PICTURES are on the way.
W.
I did a little dirt riding on my Kat years ago too. When we were living in OK, my wife's parents lived at the end of a mile long dirt road....I should say dirt and gravel. The Kat does suprisingly well off road. 
) .
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