My first motorcycle trip- completed!

Seven days from San Diego, California to Moab, Utah and back, 2100 miles of riding. It was everything I thought it would be, a lot of something that I had no clue about and a ton of fun. I'm going to spend the next few days rehashing the whole trip. I've got a lot to talk about and many lessons to share. Not to mention the whole gear review aspect. Put it this way, I shed useless stuff across Utah like a snake crawling out of its skin.

It begins...

Just got home from the dirty south- Atlanta to be specific, what a trip. Anyways, my biggest, longest, farthest moto trip starts tomorrow. So I'm up early, packing it all up and hitting the road. I'll try to post as I go but I can't make any promises. Stay tuned!

Vstrom 2013 Dl650A with Giant Loop Great Basin Bag

Our jump off date for Southern Utah/Moab/etc. trip is quickly approaching (October 1, 2013). I've been busy getting myself geared up for at least five days of open camping. Since I don't have quality camping gear (translation: anything that would keep me reliably comfortable, warm and dry) I knew that I was going to have to invest in some serious pieces of gear. But first, I needed something to carry it all on the bike. 

2013 Dl650A Vstrom with Giant Loop Great Basin Bag: that's my zero degree Big Agnes Whiskey Park on top of it. I like the convenient tie-down flap that comes attached to the Great Basin, it makes attaching a tent or big bag very easy.

I am not into very wide, rigid hard boxes hanging off the side of the bike. Why? Well, I like to split lanes in traffic and those big boxes make what should be a nimble, lithe, zippy Vstrom look and feel like a bloat bike. Secondly, a good friend who'd just ridden off road to Loreto (down Baja-way) made it a point to tell me to look into the bags offered by Giant Loop. He used a smaller version of the Great Basin for his ride and he loved it. This brings me to my latest purchase: The Great Basin Bag by Giant Loop. I bought mine online from Revzilla. I like these guys, they ship for free and they ship immediately- stuff gets to you fast. I also like the fact that they gave me $15 in Revzilla money which kind of took the sting out of the $380 I spent on them (but... on the things-I-like-to-support side of it, they're made in the USA by a small company in Bend AND they're much less than buying hard sideboxes). I just wrote a review for the bags for their storefront in the comments section- here it is (there will be an extensive after action report on these bags and since I don't work or receive product from anybody I will be brutally honest AND fair): 

Just received this bag (quick, no hassle, free shipping with $15 Revzilla bucks... great job Revzilla!) for a seven day Southern Utah + Moab + wherever the road takes me kind of trip (google motoaway or motoidiot for ride reports).

The bag is very sturdy. The material is a thick plastic coated fabric, with some very heavy cordura reinforcement along the bottom of the bag legs (I suppose to help protect the bag from falls or from sharp internally packed objects) the straps are very thick and there are ample cinch points and tie down points to attach extra bags/bottles/6packs or whatever else you might need to put on there. Best of all, the bag fits over the seat of 2013 VStrom- and connects easily to the passenger footpegs. I'm not into big, wide side boxes so these bags seem perfect. Light and tight.

Check out the photos- I have a jetboil, REI campchair and my sleeping pad all in one leg of the bag. The other leg has all of my cold weather gear, a light jacket and some underwear- this leaves the big middle compartment open for my tent, wet gear and some freeze dried food- maybe a bottle of rum.I did just order the internal packing bags to help keep some order inside the bag but I may not even use them. 

One leg of the Giant Loop Great Basin with JetBoil, REI camp chair and Exped 7 sleeping mat stuffed into it.

A few things to be aware of so far: Getting all the straps, cinched and organized (they come with long tails- and a recommendation to trim them but I want to use this on my DR400 too so I'm not trimming) and the bag where you want it takes some time. Also, the zipper, since it's semicircular will bind a bit when the bag isn't full. It's still very rugged. In all, I'm happy with the bag. Additionally, I'm still figuring out the best way to load the bag, since it's shaped like a horseshoe it's kind of awkward putting things in it when it's off the bike.

I can't give it any "excellent" ratings as far as performance because I haven't put it to the test yet... that happens Oct. 1.  I will do a full review on my site once I return.

Heading to Utah!

Quick post: I'm going to take advantage of six days I have free in October to get on my V-strom and go on a trip with my brother Mike. It's on the books, it's out there on the horizon and I'm getting excited. Let the trip prep begin!

Moab Utah- one of the spots we want to check out.

More Motos... welcome DL650 Vee-strom.

Well- once again, a lot has changed since I last posted here. Gone is Purple Rain (my first moto ever a trusty TW200) replaced with a 2006 Suzuki DRZ400s. I also bought a 2006 Triumph Bonneville that had been converted into a really cool cafe racer. My crowning achievement thus far, however, is my brand spanking new, zero mile, 2013 Suzuki DL650 Vee-Strom. This bike is insanely cool! I have to say, I was resistant about buying what is known as the Honda Civic of motorcycles. If you have similar feelings- don't worry about it, just buy one- you'll love it. 

Not a great shot of the bike but you get the idea... 2013 DL650, open road, glorious sunshine... happiness.

The bike is only 650cc but it will motor at 80 all day long without complaining. Even better, on the last two trips it's given me 57 mpg on average (hand calculated all you naysayers)! Wow- calculating fuel mileage is one of the things I like most about the bike- it's great on gas! Important to me was a bike with ABS braking, my Vee-strom checks that box and also sports a very comfortable seat and riding position and let's not forget the 5.3 gallon tank which gives me close to a three hundred mile range (I've never pushed it but I've gotten 260 miles on one tank and when I went to fill it, I had close to a gallon still in it). 

I've also been told that the Suzuki is incredibly reliable and that the cost of replacing broken parts won't also break the bank. I'm stoked on it. I will say, though, that at times the right handlebar get's a little buzzy when you're running near 6000 rpm which is close to 80 miles per hour. It's not enough to ruin the ride but, in all fairness, it is apparent. At sub-65 miles per hour, the bike is as smooth as butter. 

Probably posted this same picture before... but, damn, she's a looker. My other kid: 2006 Triumph Bonneville- loud and fun.

So there you have it- my new moto family consisting of the following: 2006 Triumph Bonneville Cafe, 2006 Suzuki DRZ400s and 2013 Suzuki DL650 Vee-strom. Too bad I only have one ass to ride them all.

And for the dirt... Suzuki DRZ400s... already been to southern Baja and yes, the milk crate did survive.

Over a mountain and on to the Junction!

Went on a killer little moto-adventure with Matt Wilson on the dual sports. Matt rode his AZ plated Honda CRF 450 and I rode my DRZ400s. This was a true dual sport adventure- we jammed up Main Street Chula Vista, behind Cricket Amphitheater, onto the dirt and up to Otay Mountain. A little bit of a covert, lean the bikes under a locked gate and we were jamming over the mountain. 

Basic overview of our trip. Follow the yellow pin markers and you can see how far we went. The pins mark the return route, on the way there we crossed mountains on dirt roads. Saw a big old black snake jam across the road too- rad.

It was fun to be back on the dirt again and in about twenty miles we were cruising down onto Old Highway 94 and back onto the pavement for a little road riding to Barret Junction. A couple of plates of fish and chips, an order of hush puppies and two cold mugs of beer later we were primed to head back home. We took a different route this time, looped around Otay Lake and then Matt showed me his short cut across the backside of the lake, across some beautiful rolling hills and back onto Main Street. We ended up riding close to eighty miles- what a great way to end a week of work!

The Barrett Junction Cafe... cold beer, good food... great hush puppies!

This makes me want to just start riding...

One of those bikes is a Triumph Bonneville. Like mine.

It's very dangerous... it's very fun.

I'm all over the place now on my new-to-me Triumph Bonneville. I blast up and down the beach, ramble all over downtown San Diego and have even crossed the Coronado Bridge a couple of times. The thing gets close to forty miles per gallon so for eight or ten bucks, I can cruise for a few hours. Here's a couple more shots of my new girlfriend: 

2007 Standard Triumph Bonneville, $4700, 12k miles on the odometer- one smooth runner!

This is where it's at- the open road! I'm just learning about riding curvy roads, taking it slow and being as careful as possible. Fun stuff.

Dirt for dirt... street for street- oh my!

I'll save you the long story- check out my new road bike. Picked it up to cruise around town- damn she's a looker!

2007 Triumph Bonneville

Desert Riding and Exploring!

Had a great couple of days of riding out in Ocotillo. I made it a solo trip but I'm finding out that moto-folks are good people and was stoked to make two new friends within five minutes of pulling up. Josh and Claudia were on a five day tour of the desert and surrounding countryside, they invited me to camp right next to them (they had one of the few wind sheltered spots- the wind was CRANKING) and we shared beers and firewood.

Josh- charging!

The best part? Josh took me on a couple nice long tours, showing me some cool spots and taking me through some twisty, banked, slot canyons. I saw spots I didn't even knew existed and I got to try terrain I didn't think I was capable of riding. Josh is one of those kind of riders who doesn't need to brag or boast, he lets his riding speak for him- and believe me, the guy rips. Josh rides sand banks like a surfer, drawing big lines and throwing down some sweet carves. He even convinced me to give it a try and I learned that, like in surfing, if you're going to do it, you've got to commit. That means twist that throttle and lean back- I didn't quite master it but I can see where I wanna go. And that just means more moto trips out to the desert... stoked!

Top of the ridge looking out towards Split Canyon Road. Yeah, I did need a little ride assistance (translation: I pussed out on one of the hills and had Josh ride my bike down it) down one of the hills- but we don't need to tell anybody about that right?

 I also pushed myself to complete a little excursion I'd read about and have been wanting to do for awhile now. The trip would be from Ocotillo out to the Scissors Crossing back onto S2 and down to Blair Valley. I'd read about the Blair Valley trail in an offroad book I bought. The eleven mile loop is supposed to be super scenic and there are sites to see along the way. The one I really wanted to check out were the Native American pictographs in the valley. The only think stopping me was about fifty miles of highway that I'd have to ride to get to Blair Valley. I'm not that experienced with fast moving traffic and I have zero experience riding through twisty (well kind of twisty- for me anyway) canyon roads. I was a little nervous about it but I wanted to push my limits and grow a little as a rider so I charged it. I was stoked I did. Check out what I saw:

The desert was beautiful- still wondering where all the wild flowers are out there. I'm talking about the big, open fields of desert wildflowers- any hints for me people?

I had to walk a mile in full moto gear but this is what was at the end of the trail. See the pictographs?

One more pic of Josh sand shralping!

More riding shots from Logansdale trails, Nevada

Super fun place to camp and ride:

This is the road into camp. As you veer to the right, the canyon gets really steep. Lot's of folks pull toyhaulers into the canyon and find sweet little camp spots in there.

The rides continue: Otay Mountain, Corral Canyon and Logansdale Trails... Wow!

Just got back from a couple of super fun rides. Check 'em out:

So cool that this spot is only minutes out my front door. Matt W. showing me the way and checking it all out. This is a ride that my local moto buddies do almost every Friday. It's kind of a tradition to hop on the bikes, ride surface streets to the beginning of the trail and then moto up to the summit.  Top of the world on Moto Friday- with a couple cold beers waiting at the truck down below. 

Off to explore Corral Canyon but what a bummer... flat front tire! Well, might as well learn how to replace an inner tube- so we used the trailer as a bike stand and got busy changing it out. 

It's not too hard... but I've got to invest in some tire irons and get a little repair pack together. And practice on all the different bikes we're on- if this happens way out in the bush in Baja, I've got to be prepared to do it myself.

The trouble was worth it- Corral Canyon is a fun place to ride. Since I'm a beginner, I liked the easy perimeter road. We didn't get to ride the whole length of the road, I'm excited to get back out there and do the whole thing. It's an hour from my doorstep to the trail at Corral Canyon- that makes it an easy day trip for me. Stoked!

Another shot from the Corral Canyon perimeter road- beautiful back country out there.

Just got back from this trip: Logansdale Trails outside of Las Vegas, Nevada... insanely beautiful, red rocks with fun moto-trails all through them.

Red dirt, red rocks, blue sky.

It's the kind of place that makes you feel really small.

Big Changes, Big Rides... just Big.

Okay, so as predicted by various readers and friends, I did the unthinkable and moved up to a larger bike. This, unashamedly, was predicated by the purchase by my younger brother of an insanely rad KTM 400 EXC. If any of you have younger siblings, you know that you CANNOT be upstaged by them, especially if we're all meeting up for a ride in the desert. I do love the TW200 and will keep it around as my town cruiser/grocery getter/back-up bike but, let's face it, when you're 210lbs you kind of look like the big clown on the little bike. And, really, I didn't want to hear the heckle fest that would undoubtedly rain down on me when we got together. 

So, I scored a great deal on a 2006, Suzuki DRZ 400s with only 1300 miles on it (the story of this purchase will be told in a future post- it's a good one!). Best part? I only paid $2600 for it- the thing is practically new! No, it's not hot. It was just purchased by a guy who barely used it. Standard story: Guy bought it to ride with friends, did a couple rides, friends don't ride as much, so he just let it sit around... until Mom demanded he get it the hell out of the house. YES, a motivated buyer, me with a cash offer well below his asking price (and no shame when it comes to wheeling and dealing), a Mom demanding the bike be gone... perfect! Here's a couple shots of the new ride: 

My new bike! 2006 DRZ 400s

At first, I was worried about how big the bike was- it looked giant next to my little TW200. It only took one ride for me to fall in love with it. I putted it around the neighborhood and got used to the extra power of the bike and then took her right out to Ocotillo Wells to see how riding this beast would feel. Guess what? The bike is unreal. Specifically, I like the extra suspension travel and the solid, down the line feel of the bike. Right off the bat, I was able to cruise the deep sand washes at more than twice the speed I was going on the TW200. 

The bike is heavier which I think helps its stability in the sand. The power enabled me to putt up hills that I had to gun it on with the TW and for some reason, it just inspires confidence. I really like the bike. There were a couple issues I had to deal with to get her up to speed (I'll discuss later) the biggest issue being the removal of the Kouba lowering link the previous owner had installed. Check back for more of that story and some pics from a couple great rides on the new bike.

Moto envy?

Dang it. Just when I thought I was cool my little brother one ups me! He went out and bought a 2004 KTM 400 Exc... and from everything I've read, this is the bike I should have. It's got the power without the head snap twitchiness- it's built like a tank and... damn, it just looks bad ass! I'm hiding the check book because I see my future... and it's looking kinda orange.

Canyon riding in the land of plated bikes: I'm so glad I got a dual sport!

It got rainy and cold in San Diego over MLK weekend so we packed it up and headed two hours east to the land of sunshine, smiles and dirt! Check out what we saw: 

Canyon cruising in Anza Borrego

If you want to ride this spot, your vehicle has to be street legal. Luckily, I made the decision that I'd spend a little more to have a bike with a license plate- so I was invited in to ride the trails and roads of Anza Borrego. There's a giant filter that you pass through if you've got the bike to get you into Anza. Basically, all the quad kooks and dirt bike rippers get left behind with their green and red stickered buddies- there are way fewer bikes and people out in Anza. We do still need to get our permits and M1 moto license to  be completely legal but basically, if you've got a plate the "man" won't hassle you. More to come about riding in Anza- it's the new frontier for me!

Respect the Desert!

I'm so excited to be able to get back out to Ocotillo Wells again this weekend and go for a couple of long rides through the desert. Last weekend, I had a blast getting out and cruising around. On a couple of occasions I even took off on solo rides. As I think back on that, I've come to the conclusion that solo rides probably aren't a good idea, even if you think you're just going to do a short loop. I remember being out in the desert a couple times last week and having to stop to pick up a bike, or check the map and thinking to myself that it's damn hot and bone dry out here. 

Now that I really think about it, there were times when I didn't respect the desert. I may have left camp without water or without telling anybody where I was going- bad idea! I stumbled across this story (click here) that really hammered home how thin the line is between being alive and laughing on your motorbike and being dried up and dead in the desert. The place isn't a joke and when I go back this weekend I'm going to remember to respect the desert!

Surfed out... on a moto!

I was just commenting to a friend how finishing a day of riding makes you feel all buzzed and tired like a good day of surfing. The two really fit together. Our two days of riding, cold beers around the campfire and sunrise moto rides out at Ocotillo Wells really put a smile on my face. It felt like a Baja surf trip. Here's some more shots of that trip:

Here's what it looks like when you come rolling into Ocotillo Wells. Your first stop should be at the Ranger Station. We came in around 8am and were greeted by the nicest, volunteer docents at the station. The woman I spoke to made sure I got a map for every bike in our group. The map is a must-have it shows you all the major roads in the park. I'd never been there before and was able to use the map to get out to some of the major spots. I was kind of blown away by the desert- it really is a beautiful place, especially if you're up early in the morning.

The Ramble Machine... locked, loaded and sporting my birthday gift to myself: a Thule Professional Grade awning (hugely discounted because the shop was just trying to get rid of the thing). The awning is perfect for the desert- the sun can be brutal. Check out the trailer, loaded with the two TW200s and the XT225. I also brought five extra gallons of gas that we didn't even need- these bikes sip gas!

Here we are on our "big" ride the second day: Off to the Pumpkin Patch. We had to ride up a sandy wash to get to the Pumpkin Patch trail- riding in sand is tough! I was stoked at the girls and how they handled the conditions. This was their first time on the bikes since we all took the Dirt Bike class together. The TW200s were fairly easy to ride in the sand, the XT225 was a bit more squirrely. Liza's bike is the XT and she was an awesome rider- she told me she didn't like the sand but she realized that it was part of the whole deal and was a skill she'd have to learn. What a rad chick. Dakotah powered her bike through the sand, the mud canyons and the rocks- dumping it twice but never complaining (even when her leg got caught under her back wheel which then ate a hole through her riding pants!) and overcoming whatever the road threw at her.

Liza's bike got tired halfway there and decided to lie down in the road (for your information, that's a common internet moto-guy joke, that whole "lie down thing" funny, eh?). We found out that when the bike lies down, the carb get's flooded. At first it kind of freaked us out when the bike wouldn't start- I mean we were really in the middle of nowhere- but I figured out how to start them once they stood back up and we were on our way.

We did make it to the Pumpkin Patch... check that place out- it's a trip!

Can you find the human in here?

Whipped out the map on the way back and decided to check out Shell Reef.

The road to Shell Reef was pretty solid and easy to ride.

Shell Reef was pretty impressive- there were moto trails that looked like they went vertical. We were there during the week so there weren't too many hot shots getting crazy- I'd like to see what the good guys can do here.

We cruised home with enough light for me to climb a couple little hills around the campground- they were enough to get me nervous but it was fun to push my boundaries a little and work on my skills. The bikes are pretty amazing- the TW just motors like a tractor up the hill, all I did was put it in first gear and stay on the throttle.

Coming home to camp after a great day of riding- can't wait to head back out again this weekend!

My First Big Ride/Campout: Ocotillo Wells!

Oh man, I'm totally hooked. First of all, I can't believe I haven't been out to the desert to check out the place- it's beautiful! And it's close to me, only two hours away which makes it perfect for a rainy day escape during a cold, gray winter. Secondly, the place is famous for dirt bike riding and finally, there is free, no-reservations-needed, camping out there. Total freedom! Check out these pics, I'll post and write a bunch more about the place when I've got a minute:

Here's our campsite at Holmes Camp in Ocotillo Wells. I've been told that on the weekend, every one of these sites would be occupied- there was nobody around when we went there.

Here's a shot of a typical road in Ocotillo Wells- we road out to the Pumpkin Patch which was a nice little cruise out to a weird little rock formation.

You can see, it's wide open out there... check out the tiny, little grom patrol on their tiny quads... pretty cool until they turn into teenagers on quads who like to spin donuts in front of your site.

More to come about riding and camping in Ocotillo Wells.

Gotta lot to learn

So stoked! Got my new tires put onto my bike and it looks killer!!! Check it out:

Meaty!!!

I was told by the Service Manager that I was putting my life in danger by riding with a rear tire on the front. This did get me a little worried so I consulted the lurkers on the ADVRider forum who assured me that they've been going this route for some time now and there's been no accidents that they can remember. So I'm in... and I'm super happy with how the bike feels now. At very low speed the front end does have a little warble to it but I think that will settle down as the knobbies wear in. I will be using this bike almost exclusively on the dirt so I'm happy with the very aggressive tread of the Kenda TrackMaster II that I put on the front end.

The TrackMaster II is a rear tire that TW200 owners often run on the front of their bikes. It's got giant knobbies on it and it almost looks like a paddle tire. I'm excited to see how it does on the sand of the southern Baja trails I want to ride the bike on.

I've also convinced myself that this will be the last time I have a shop change a tire for me. I'm going to by the tire irons and learn to do this task myself. This is going to be super important when we start to ride remote trails where a flat could be very bad news for somebody without the tools or know-how to fix it. I'm also planning to learn how to change the oil in the bike and adjust brakes and clutch. And I think my head bearings need to be replaced, there's a strange catch as you turn the bike from side to side that needs to be addressed. Ah, the maintenance necessities of a twenty year old motorcycle. It all seems simple enough to do on your own but the fact remains, I've got a lot to learn!

Bridgestone Deathwings: My bike gets a new pair of shoes!

Ever dislocate your finger? Not fun, let me tell you. The worst part is looking down at your finger and seeing it bending sideways into your pinky finger like a carpenter's square. Gruesome.

Here's how it went down: I watch Matt W. go screaming up a little dirt hill, I follow... no problem. I watch Matt go jamming down the hill and decide to follow...big problem. I start to roll down the hill and faster than I can even react my front wheel get's sucked down into a rut, it slides out to the right as I'm going down the hill meaning that the left side of my face is know being flung into the hard packed clay as I'm simultaneously being pitched sideways and forward off the bike. Bang- I just remember reaching my hand out to break my fall... bad move. There's a flash of pain, I hear my bike's engine wind up and take glance at my hand which hurts like hell. Glance down. Oh shit.

Me: Why is my finger bending like that? Is it really doing that- oh shit, this is no good. So nasty: My finger is bent over in a totally unnatural fashion. So what do I do? I grab it, take a deep breath and yank it back straight. Ever watch your mom separate a chicken into pieces in the sink? Ever heard the crunch when she breaks the drumstick out of the socket? Well that's what it sounded like when I yanked my finger. Like I said, nasty. And the pain- the world literally turned yellow. I thought I was going to puke and I had to sit down because I felt crazily light headed. I think I would have passed out had I remained upright.


Now why did this happen? It turns out that the stock front tire on the TW200 is a horrible tire for off road riding. The tire's is a Bridgestone Trailwing but it's also known as the Bridgestone Deathwing for obvious reasons. In addition to a bad design my tires were twenty years old and pumped up rock hard for on road riding- it was bound to happen.

So a new set of tires is definitely in order. I did a little bit of researching and picked out the most offroad worthy front tire that I could: the Kenda Trackmaster II. Check it out:

The Kenda TrackMaster! Look at the knobbies on that tire compared to the DeathWing... gnarly!

This shot really shows you the difference in meatiness... the Kenda is a back tire that I'm using on the front of the bike. Using the back on the front is pretty common for the TW200 and plenty of people are running the same set up as me. Check the photo below for a bike with my set up.

Here's a TW200 with the Kenda TrackMaster II on the front rim- same exact size as my tire.

I also figured that it was time to replace the rear tire since it's 20 years old as well. For the TW200 there's only the stock Bridgestone back tire unless you want to slightly modify an ATV tire. I liked the super aggressive tread of the ATV tires but, from what I read, they are next to impossible to take off if you get a flat offroad. And I didn't want to have to monkey with modifying the bead to fit my stock rim. So my choice was simple, stock back tire:

There's a slight difference in tread pattern but, overall, it's the same tire. Notice the wear on the old tire compared to its replacement.

Eventually, I'm going to learn how to change my own tires and repair punctures to the tubes but since the bike was 20 years old on original rubber, I decided to let the pros do this first tire and tube change. I thought, if the tires are frozen on after sitting for that long, I'd let them wrestle with it. Hopefully this new rubber will prevent any more nasty spills... fingers crossed (because when it's dislocated it crosses on its own).