Goofy Footer 539 Posted April 7, 2011 I saw a ride to Death Valley while lurking on ADV and since the trip coincided with my spring break from grad school I registered for the site and signed up for the ride. Here is my ride report currently and most likely shall remain exclusive to SDAR (I'm too lazy to type it twice). I'd like to thank BaldBeemer for helping put on my new-to-me tank which I got from KTMrad, bluefin2na for letting me borrow your saddlebags, PastaPilot for the tech help offer and Bikeslut for the MT43 tire. I'll post pics as my free time permits but here it goes, if its too long I can delete photos if need be (I have over 700 pics from my 10 days up north) Day One of Riding While most people were arrived at Panamint Springs Resort Thursday night couldn't leave San Diego until late Friday night. The 215 was shut down and I nearly fried my truck's clutch while idling 2 miles in 30+ minutes. The ADV thread kept emphasizing the "party every night" theme yet when I rolled into camp at 230am everybody was asleep? I passed out in my truck and awoke to tales of snow on the mountain passes and cancelled rides. Whatever, I've never been here before and I'm going to ride. I wheel over to the gas station and wait for people to start forming groups. Everybody had made a big deal about pre-registering for the rides. When it came time to shut up and ride practically everybody at the gas station was on the wrong "scheduled" ride so we simply formed our own: Panamint Springs Resort to Ballarat Ghost Town, up Goler Wash, down another road to West Side Road, past Badwater Basin and towards gas (120 miles) at Furnace Creek (it might have been Stovepipe Wells I don't recall) then approx 60 miles slap back to PSR. 7 Mangy guys: Fun and fast dirt road to Ballarat to test out the new-to-me MT43s Ballarat Ghost Town. Not much to see really The ride thread made these "steps" at Goler Wash out to be TREACHEROUS. If you read the ride report you'd swear they were impassable. First time I saw it I rolled over it. Stay to the left and you're fine. Here's Crawdaddy doing it... wait... just another guy on a girl's bike with cheater trails tires getting his front wheel up on the exact same obstacle...??? He will actually be going on the Bar10 ride. Funny how these WR250R guys stick together I wish I had not zoomed in so far on the camera. Here is one of the guys (named Tim like most other jerks I know) riding somebody else's bike up the steps as a favor... Tim again. He broke his windshield when his Xchallenge supertanker decided to wash out in the sand. I posted a later pic of his bike Top of the pass, we went left but could have gone right to see the burnt ruins of Charlie Manson's hideout Looking across a nice valley. This is the "Geologist's Cabin" which is first come first serve for free camping. Striped Peak in the background More WR250R XChallenge SuperTanker, an old mine in the background DV is full of mines Bombing towards West Side Road West Side Road is flat out I stopped to make a jeep full of tourists take my picture The future is coming to San Diego Never seen this road sign before When I got back to camp I realized I had no lights, blinkers or horn. The Estart was working (as good as the phantom Estart normally works on my bike anyways). One of the guys owns a mechanic shop Lior Motorcycles something like that and he tore apart my bike and couldn't find an electrical short. Turns out my handlebar switch was the culprit and a little electric grease did the trick More to come tomorrow Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goofy Footer 539 Posted April 7, 2011 Anybody know why some of my photos are showing up twice as "attached images" ??? -fixed- Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Wakemedic 0 Posted April 7, 2011 Cool pics.... Thanks for the Ride report, looks like fun ! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Mistress of the dual 1 Posted April 7, 2011 Oh no! You had to take the tank off! I hope it went on easier and faster the second time around. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Crawdaddy 96 Posted April 7, 2011 Looks like a good time.......we had a blast the prior weekend........ Yep, Rich (WR250R) will be at the Bar 10........Tim (broken windshield on X-Challenge) was at the KOTW ride last fall.....sounds like there were a bunch of KOTW alumni at this ride......good folks Maybe you'll figure out how not to double post pictures when you go for your Doctorate? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
baldbeemer 0 Posted April 7, 2011 Nice report Tim. Looks like the ride was good fun. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
bikeslut 1 Posted April 7, 2011 goof- nice ride report! No idea why they all posted twice, but should be an easy edit... that guy "did a favor" riding the other guys bike?!?!?! That's like me doing YOU a favor and following you down HA hill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Strega 0 Posted April 7, 2011 Ahhhh, Furnace Creek... 30 mi up the road is Stovepipe Wells at eminently reasonable 4.75 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goofy Footer 539 Posted April 7, 2011 PastaPilot recommended that I put threadlocker every bolt I could. I never had the time to do that so I lost a subframe bolt (again), a seat bolt and the bolt securing my tank shroud. My rear brake hose from the reservoir to the master cylinder tore a hole making me lose brake pressure and I officially crashed out my left brush guard. I took a rather unfun spill while attempting to pass on the outside grove of a turn. I was looking at the inside rider to make sure he didn't hop into my rut and didn't see a decently hidden rock, it jacked the back end up, I panicked, grabbed a handful of front brake and high sided it hard on me knee and ankle. It took a few seconds for the pain from my leg to reach my brain... the whole time I'm thinking "please move... ankle please move." Luckily nothing in DV seems to be overly technical so I rode on at a more relaxed pace. I'll wait for the straightaways to make my next pass (not Heart Attack Hill like some people who have replied to this thread.... haha) @Mistress of the Dual We were checking every electrical connection and the mechanic guy really wanted to check the wires under the tank. I warned him... it again took two people to get it on (at least by that point I had lost one of the shroud bolts so it was much easier... its always the last bolt thats the hardest) @Crawdaddy There were 130 people on the ride so I'm sure you'll recognize faces. When I saw the WR250R with trials tires I literally walked up to him and said, "Do you know a guy named Crawdaddy?" @Bikeslut The KTM owner couldn't make it up the steps and got psyched out I'm guessing. The guy in the smurf suit volunteered to ride it up for him... the picture captures it all. @Strega When I got to Panamint Springs and saw the gas prices there I was knocking myself... should've filled up in SD! More pictures coming: Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goofy Footer 539 Posted April 7, 2011 Day Two of Riding: Most guys were ready to leave by Sunday but I found a few who wanted to ride. The pass at Hunter Mtn had been impassable a few days earlier but rumor had it that a few guys got through. One of my few goals in DV was to make it to the Racetrack, I had two options... go 100 miles of pavement to Scotty's Castle to ride a graded road maybe 20 miles to the racetrack or attempt the "snowy" pass on Saline Valley Rd and go up Lippencott (40 miles of dirt each way with only 10 miles of pavement). We started as 6 but two guys had to turn back due to time constraints. I went the fun way: Lets try the MT43s in snow (I played this game at the base of Mt Whitney a few days later with not so entertaining results) It was this guy's 21st bday the night before... he was showing off here but karma was gonna get him soon... I was trying to make the biggest splash possible while crossing on the way back. Words from the other riders "I wouldn't take a crossing that fast next time, you're likely to hydroplane." Saline Valley Mas Saline Valley At the junction for Lippencott (similar to Oriflame in Anza Borrego but longer) birthday boy starts talking about how much it would suck to get a flat... He then rips off in a cloud of dust and literally not more than a half mile later... Luckily for him a jeeper came by and had an air compressor. He got down on his hands and knees thanking the guy. The driver's gf was wearing a KTM hat Traffic Jam up Lippencott Moving rocks at Racetrack Playa Racetrack parking lot Racing on the road to Racetrack Melting snow = muddy runoff. Front wheel caught in snow while the rear is in a mud rut makes for a slippery and pretty funny exit from the road. My bike stopped here while I went tumbling up the hill Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
ADV Bum 205 Posted April 7, 2011 Day Two of Riding: Luckily for him a jeeper came by and had an air compressor. He got down on his hands and knees thanking the guy. The driver's gf was wearing a KTM hat Great write up. ADV crew does not sound inspiring or very well prepared. You guys has an extra tube but no pump, BRILLIANT! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goofy Footer 539 Posted April 7, 2011 Great write up. ADV crew does not sound inspiring or very well prepared. You guys has an extra tube but no pump, BRILLIANT! Haha. He had a pump but just REALLY didn't want to inflate the tire manually I guess. The DV ride was supposed to be a "nOOb" rally so maybe thats why the thread seemed "cautious" and the obstacles were overhyped. ADV attracts riders from everywhere riding every type of bike. For instance I rode with a guy on a DR200 (he rode up from OC on it!) and camped next to me was a guy on a Ducati Multistrada. Considering I had never met any of the guys I rode with I was quite happy with them. SDAR's own DirtDiver was even camped next to me. It was a fun trip and now that I know a few guys I'm sure any future ride with them will be even better. More pics to come... Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goofy Footer 539 Posted April 8, 2011 Days Three & Four Quick stroll towards the Panamint Dunes in DV and then riding in the Alabama Hills at the base of Mt Whitney outside Lone Pine, CA. I highly recommend the Alabama Hills for a quick stop. Great scenery, lots of history and an awesome natural arch. The riding is easy and short but plenty of views, snow capped Whitney is in view and the camping is free. DV The ADV pint glass. Desert Dash 2012?? You can see Mt Whitney through the Arch, awesome Alabama Hills Saluting Messing around with the self timer There are a few Forest Service Roads at the base of Whitney. I'm not sure how far up in elevation I went but the snow only got deeper from here. I ate it pretty hard here. Jabba Rock Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Goofy Footer 539 Posted April 8, 2011 My last picture post I swear I drove up the 395 and over 50 to the Bay Area. Along the way I rescued kids stuck in the snow off road near Mammoth (driver didn't know how to put his full time 4x4 Grand Cherokee into 4x4 Low...) and did some natural hot tubbing. DS Fox at June Lake??? Tahoe Carnegie SVRA. Outside Livermore, CA. I was staying in Berkeley at the time so it was an hour drive. Carnegie is home to many hill climb contests. Within 15 minutes of being there I went up the gnarliest hill I could see and took the absolutely wrong way down. It took me 25 minutes and nearly all my energy to get the bike down the hill. This place can be intensely fun but also humbling. Try to find the rider.... Carnegie's MX Track. I got it without dust and max 5 guys on the track at any one time. Awesome time even on the loaded piglet DRZ and trials tire Metcalf Motorcycle Park outside San Jose, CA in Santa Clara County. Smaller than Hollister but it had a better track. I was on an MX binge of sorts Metcalf MX Worst job in America One of my Pics of the Trip. Carnegie SVRA MX track. DRYee! Thats all folks Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
KLXBEN 0 Posted April 8, 2011 Nice pics and write-up Thanks for posting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
