in a series of firsts

we kinda got off piste and had to bushwack down a heavily brushed area. when we got through I had no rear brake. My rear brake line must have gotten snagged on a something and it just broke off at the fitting. 1 mile in to a technical loop ride. Well I figured just go for it, for practice, what if I lost my rear in an event. So I did the entire loop with zero rear brake, and it was good practice and I really didn't go half bad. good practice rolling the bike into corners and using the front brake with care.

oh and on this ride.....i completely flattened my semi newly repaired gnarly

I hope the "gnarly" your referring to is a tyre Robert !

You flatten more pipes than the rest of us combined!

Done that before. Steep down hill sections become very interesting..

He rides more than most, an the areas he does ride are looking for pipes to eat.
Get a pipe guard.?

I have one and still it just transfers the forces elsewhere, like at the head and bends the pipe into the chassis. One of crew, the French guy has one of those super ugly full coverage plastic Hyde guards on his Beta 300RR . it is so dang ugly but seems very effective, maybe I will go with one of those.

one of these......
http://www.hyderacing.com/store/dirtbike/ktm/250_2t.htm?pid=19#prettyPhoto[gallery1]/0/

for sure in tecate enduro I will have a spare pipe in the pits.

We do appreciate you sacrificing your pipes for us Robert

Yeah the Hyde guards are but ugly, if they save you mashing pipes may pay for itself.
The one bolt ones I can't see being strong enough as it would pivot... may dissipate the impact but as you mention it can still damage pipe.

Can't smash my force full coverage guard yet(I've tried!). Exy but way cheaper than constant pipe repairs!

I did a ride on the weekend that involved a large selection of rocks. I heard the guard smash on the rocks and logs many times during the day however had no damage to the engine, frame or pipe. I'll take the added weight of a good pipe guard any day.

Yeh that wat^ I run on the ol 300! Tuff as trucks

I may sound stupid and I know that has to work but it for me it is wayyy too overkill and heavy. I have come to like plastic type skid plates.


I just ordered another FMF gnarley for the rotable pool---3 gnarleys, 2 oem 2 fatty (I think...)

I know, those Force guards are serious, but I use a Hyde on the 300 and OEM on the 165. And use the Moose ali pipe guards on both without issue. That includes plenty of tree crossing, rocks almost everywhere and WFO as often as possible. I have 4 pipes for the 300, but only 1 of the 165 pipes. I need a spare soon!

I agree on the extra weight penalty however my riding skills are not at the level required to protect the pipe (double blipping logs and holding pressure to keep the front wheel up). I only have the one pipe so the extra protection will stay until my skills improve.

There is no way I would put a Hyde plate on my scooter.....