GUNNISON, CO

September 17 marked the start of the unofficial Husaberg Enthusiast site's (Husaberg.org) third biannual four-day Force Ride in Gunnison, Colorado. In attendance at this year's event were many UHE members from all over the country and Canada, and one from as far away as England. Also, Husaberg North America's sales manager Clay Stuckey, Husaberg's new customer service representative Charles Jirsa, and Clay's longtime friend Rod Overstreet were on hand, and Oliver Goehring, Husaberg's worldwide sales manager, made the trip over from Mattighofen, Austria, to attend.

Gunnison Motor Sports owner and eight-time ISDE medalist Fritz Kadlec and 10 of his local riding buddies provided excellent guidance and sweep for all the trail rides. The weather was typical of Colorado, especially in the fall, with nighttime temperatures in the high 30s and daytime temperatures in the high 60s. Afternoon thunderstorms helped keep the dust down and made for epic riding conditions, along with a fresh dusting of snow one evening in the higher elevations.

At this year's event, Husaberg North America brought along eight 2010-model Husabergs, ranging from the new FE 390 to the FX 450, as well as several FE 450s and 570s for free demo rides, and what demo rides they were! After signing the obligatory release forms and getting wristbands, anyone in attendance was free to test-ride any of the 2010-model bikes on a few different natural-terrain tracks of 1.5 to 2 miles in length in the morning. Later each day, the demo rides were true demo rides of 50 or 80 miles through some of Colorado's most scenic single-track trails and jeep roads, with demo riders swapping bikes along the trail for a true back-to-back test experience of each model. Some riders came from far away just to demo the 2010 model bikes, such as Makito Moore, who came all the way from Palmdale in Southern California. Makito was so impressed with the 570 that upon his return home he bought a 2010 570 from Malcolm Smith Motorsports. Mike Jones, who came from Tucson, was equally impressed; he couldn't wait, and bought his 570 from Fritz Kadlec's Gunnison Motor Sports on his way out of town. Also, there was not one mechanical failure throughout the ride.

With the fall colors in full bloom, the vistas were breathtaking, to say the least. All of the rides started out at 7800 feet and most climbed above the tree line in excess of 12,500 feet. Some who crossed over Imogene Pass saw the world from 13,114 feet. One ride started at Ted and Tod Clovins' property west of Crested Butte and went to Aspen for lunch and then back, which prompted Husaberg's Oliver Goehring, who has ridden all over the world, to comment, "That was the best trail ride I have ever been on!"

On Friday night, the usual chili dinner was cooked up by the UHE member known as "Bobzilla," followed by a raffle. In these tough economic times, it was just amazing at the outpouring of support that the UHE received from sponsors Husaberg North America, Gunnison Motor Sports, Bike Barn, Rekluse, Klim, Scott's Performance Products, No-Toil, Silkolene, Motion Pro, IMS, TM Designworks, Trail Tech, TuBliss, Motorex, Tucker Rocky and Hinson. All told, these companies contributed well over $10,000 in raffle prizes. Their support is greatly appreciated by all the Force Ride 3 attendees.

If this ride sounds like fun, please come and join us at our next ride in 2011. Everyone is welcome, and you don't have to ride a Husaberg to be a part of the experience - but you'll have a better time if you do!