Took the KLX140R out with Mike and DeeAnn on Saturday, October 17, 2026 to explore the Public Grove trail. We started at Avon–Liberty Road and rode all the way through to where it intersects wtih the road leading to Inspiration Point and Mantua before turning around and heading back with a 2-mile round trip side quest to the south. Overall it was probably around 22-25 miles for the full trip. I had to work at Lowe’s at 3 p.m., so this was a morning adventure.
It was 39 degrees when we unloaded. One section of the canyon was noticeably cooler, and some of the standing water had a thin sheet of ice. Surprisingly, I stayed comfortable the whole ride. My hands never got cold, and even in the canyon I only felt a little cool for a minute.
Overall, it was a super fun trail. There were a few rocky sections that made me work, both uphill and downhill. Getting through those helped build my confidence. It felt good to tackle some challenging terrain and come away more comfortable on the bike.
On the side quest there was a hill that had some pretty loose large rocks and I watched Mike and DeeAnn struggle a little bit riding up it. So I opted for the “Cross Country” route instead.
The rainstorms earlier in the week added another challenge: deep puddles and mud that was slick as snot. On the return trip, the rear tire slid out while I was navigating one of those spots, and I laid the bike down. I managed to avoid a mud bath, other than my shoes. Got the bike back up, walked it out of the mud, and continued on.
Fortunately, Mike and DeeAnn didn’t see it. No witnesses, no proof. Sooo, It didn’t happen. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
The scenery was worth stopping for. We passed a huge beaver pond with a lodge, several more ponds directly below it, and a bunch of others farther along the ride. The golden grass, clear blue sky, and a little snow on the distant ridge made for some great pictures. I wish we’d gotten up there a few weeks earlier for the fall leaves, but it was still beautiful.
There were quite a few hunters out, mostly on ATVs and side-by-sides, along with a few other motorcycles. One hunter had a bird I initially thought was a pheasant, although I now suspect it was a grouse.
The KLX came home wearing a decent amount of the trail. The mud packed around the engine, footpegs, chain, and swingarm made it pretty obvious we’d had a proper ride. I will need to take of the skid plate to get the mud and gunk out of that, too.
Definitely a trail we’ll return to. It’s much closer than Delle, which makes it a good option when we only have a morning available.
A fun morning with friends, some good scenery, and a little more confidence on the bike. I’ll take that.
