dylanewilliams

Now that I picked up a trials bike, and ride my GSA about every day I can get away from working, my girlfriend is getting antsy to get out there with me. The only issue is she has never ridden a bike before. Any suggestions on what to start her out on? She thinks my YZ250 is too tall, and both of my GSs are too heavy. I am looking for the following, ideally: Short enough for her to feel comfortable Light enough for her to pick up Electric start Plated ~$2Kish Any ideas?

I am 90% in depending on what time I get back to town on Saturday. Riding a 1200GSA and very comfortable on it. Please send tracks and I will get them loaded.

I didn't start recording that one until halfway up the hill, but it's real easy to find. Coming east on 79 from Temecula, turn into the Rancho California RV resort. It's the first right turn after the 371 split. That will take you all the way up the hill and drops you off the other side near Warner Springs

That was a great ride, I hope we have many more to come.

Here's a good big bike friendly ride from Warner Springs to Idyllwild 99% dirt. PM me if the link share doesn't work. https://drive.google.com/file/d/0Bz2S3hcv6WFDSXZUTjJmT2s5eXc/view?usp=sharing

Went to the Otay riding area next to the prison today, and it was a muddy mess! I parked *slightly* to the side of the road and my truck started sliding sideways down the hill. Once it stopped I figured I'd deal with it later and went riding, but that didn't last long. At the bottom of the hill the front tire stopped turning as the fender was packed too tight with mud. Hobbled back up the hill and fortunately someone with 4WD was nice enough to tow my truck out. I haven't seem mud like that in years!

I'll remember the camera next time I'm feeling like making a fool of myself

I am really desiring to improve my offroad skills, and would like to get a trials bike to do it. Any input would be appreciated. I have ridden extensively on road, significantly off road on a 1100GS and 1200GSA and a little bit on a YZ250. I really enjoy the offroad riding on the GSA, but I would like to be able to do more technical riding and really understand the fundamentals. I feel like slowly working through maneuvers on a trials bike would be the best way to get there. Any suggestions on what I should look for and what I should pay? In terms of my budget, $3,000 could be doable in the near term, $5000 maybe early next year, and much over that I would probably try to rent a bike and make sure I really enjoyed it before committing that kind of money. I really like the idea of a light, low seat bike like the gasgas pro, but these seam to be rare unless you buy new. I am 6'5", 250 lbs if that makes a difference. Thanks again for the input!

Thanks for all the input. I'm thinking maybe the Motoventures class is a good place to start.

if there's one guy behind you how do you get them to not think you're flicking them off? I got attacked by some indians outside of Mesa Grande over that one after my buddy passed them and gave them the single finger wave...

Some video from the day

I had a blast, thanks for having me along! GoPro footage coming...

Sure, big bikes should be ok if you are comfortable with soft sand. Seen some big bikes sink in the soft stuff. Not sure what the condition of the washes but hoping they got a little rain. I'm flexible with the route and not in a hurry. I was riding out there last weekend and felt pretty good. I'll be there at 10. PM me if you want my cell.

I am very interested - I'm on a GS but feel very comfortable in the sand, and most other terrain in anza borrego and ocotillo wells. Would you be OK with a big bike riding along? I was planning on doing black mountain to Mesa grande then across and down Grapevine and out into the desert, but if you are riding the other direction I would be happy to head that way. Let me know what you think.

Anyone up for a baja trip on a big bike? I have a bunch of friends affiliated with Racing 905 heading down to Mikes on Saturday the 20th who are all in trucks. I went last year with them and would like to go again, but I don't want to be the only bike. Anyone interested? The two other guys I ride big bikes with have other commitments. If so, we should try and meet up and ride beforehand to see if we will be comfortable with eachothers pace beforehand - maybe a ride from Warner springs to Idyllwild via lost creek and thomas mountain? I ride a GSA and am not the fastest rider, but I feel comfortable taking the bike most places a dirt bike would go. I'm not sure what the plan for the route is yet but last year we crossed at tecate, took the compadre trail to Ojos Negros, then went to Valle T on the 3, then dirt from there. I am hoping we can get up to Lagua Hansen and cut out a large portion of the ride on the 3 this year. Sunday the plan would be to take trails to the coast then likely pavement back. The timeline is still not confirmed. There is a possibility we will go down on Friday, but it sounds like Saturday is a more realistic departure day. Anyone that's interested let me know, it would be great to have more people to ride with!

Is that called Simpson Trail? I've heard about that trail but never been able to figure out where it is

A friend and I rode a 2012 and 2013 R1200GSA on this trip this week. Day one to Mikes was easy, normal Baja roads going from Tecate to Laguna Hanson to the highway, then Valle T to Mikes. We were the only ones at Mikes that night. Day two from Mikes to El Coyote was very challenging. We took the direct route down a very steep grade with big loose rocks. There is a longer bypass that we are told is shorter, it appears on my Locus maps using downloaded mapquest hybrid maps. Once you get to a shaded area next to a stream go right at the next intersection, not left to avoid this section. The roads meet back up at El Coyote. I doubt highly that we could have made it up the grade on big bikes without a massive effort. I would go down it only on a big bike. From coyote to highway 1 we took a section of the 2011(I think) Baja 1000 course. This was fun and not too challenging. From coming out to the highway near Colonet we went up and grabbed lunch in a town a little north of there (San Vicente I think) Then we headed out to the coast and followed the coast north. Again this was easy with the exception of one area where the road drops down to the beach and then sharply rises back up. That eventually took us to Ensenada for the night. The third day we went up the three and veered off after Vallecitos. We spent a few hours riding the trails around there. The one just after La Cienega is again fairly challenging for big bikes; there is deep soft sand, you ride in a creek for a short while, there is a steep, rutted grade with loose rocks you have to climb. Doable but challenging for me. The GPX file is here: http://www.gpsxchange.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?p=7800#7800

The sign is on the road from Laguna Hanson to highway 3, not sure what the road is called but it goes southwest from the lake. I'm happy to send the gpx file and img file when I make one. I tried to post them here but you can't put that extension as an attachment. Let me know your email if you want it.

A few pictures from the trail

Sorry for the late post, I thought I'd throw this out there if there's anyone on the fence about a ride today. My plan is to start in Warner Springs, take 9s05 to Anza, 6s16 to 6s18 to 5s15 to Cranston, then if the sun's still up take 5s06 to idyllwild (does it go through?) or otherwise take 74 to 243 to Idyllwild to get dinner. I'm on a 1200GSA, but I ride well with the trail bikes as well. If your interested text me at 510.717.9872. I'll be heading out soon.

Hello all, I am new to the forum and live in Clairemont. I ride a 2013 GSA1200, which replaced my 96 1100GS. I have ridden throughout mexico and central america, but recently I am just getting a feel for the San Diego area (I moved here in 2012). My favorite ride here is Pamo valley to Mesa Grande to Old Wilson road to Grapevine Canyon to Old Borrego Valley road then out into Ocotillo wells from there. I am looking for more dirt roads so I can get off the pavement earlier and stay off it further. Today I am going to explore the backside of Palomar Mountain. Any advice on trails to ride would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for letting me into your community!