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I realized last Wednesday that if I didn’t grab one day during this holiday week for my own selfish use, I’d regret it for the next 3 months.

So Steve (AT), Cristiano (1200gsa) and yours truly (1200gsa) did the whole true ADV bike thing. Fast paced pavement, dirt, sand, and hill climbs  

We left El Cajon at 8:25 am and headed for the Slot via Ramona, left at San Ysabel and then east almost to Ocotillo Wells.  Some miles were at sight seeing mode and the rest at ‘north of posted’ California speed.  This is why I love the 1200. It’ll cruise, and carve pavement all day long, day after day, after day. And then get dirty  

We turned left off the Highway and I put it in enduro pro mode for the rest of the day  

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It’s a short dirt squirt to the parking lot , and then we took a hike.

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It is really really cool if you’ve never seen it.

then back across the Highway and south to Fish Creek, where we waved at the conga line of all manor of offroad vehicles,... and turned left to follow the mountains and rails across the sea of sand for 25 miles or so (I’m guessing as I didn’t clock it).

We stopped now and then when we could find solid ground.

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We agreed the best way to travel this little Sahara was to quickly find the middle of fourth gear, assume the Chris Burch riding position and not worry about life, responsibility or other adult things.

At one point I’m surfing at about 60 and I hear the angry wine of the Africa Twin right off my port stern, and calculated I should move over and let the red beast by. Steve roared off at what I assumed was his top gear.  I eventually thought I should catch up  but limited things to fourth gear. Even at 70 for awhile I couldn’t catch him.  The dude rips in deep sand.

I eventually come to see him off the track about 50’ or so, facing me and waving, bike on it side.  He had turned around and headed back towards us only to pop over a hill at low speed and spy a rather large rock.

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Hilarity ensued as is seen by the track, as he locked eyes with basketball sized stone and chased it down  . He moved it several feet before it pitched him and ol’Red sideways into trouble.

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Silly me for not grabbing the camera until we’d righted beast and inspected for damage  

we pronounced this spot to be Steve’s Culvert  

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after insuring plaster City was safe we chowed down some red feather burgers and headed up the grade .

valley of the moon is incredible!  Alas we were running out of daylight so saved most of it for another day  

Yes pigs can fly  and we all revelled  in our good fortune, big bikes and the amazing country we are surrounded by.

 

 

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Man...I'd love to get out there.    Sand is not much my friend though.  (mostly due to current tires).      I totally want to do Valley of the Moon too....

 

Great pics!

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You have a gorgeous new bike and are doing a lot of unpaved riding. (Nice vids)

I would encourage you to take those tires off today and stack them in the corner. Put some appropriate tires on immediately.  I used to try to run out tires before switching also only to find it costing me in the form of crashes and confidence. You’ll be shocked at the difference when you do. 
 

 

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Very nice!  Man, there were a lot of vehicle out there by the graffiti bridge!

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1 hour ago, Zubb said:

You have a gorgeous new bike and are doing a lot of unpaved riding. (Nice vids)

I would encourage you to take those tires off today and stack them in the corner. Put some appropriate tires on immediately.  I used to try to run out tires before switching also only to find it costing me in the form of crashes and confidence. You’ll be shocked at the difference when you do. 
 

 

You are, of course, completely correct on the tires.   I need to do it.    I'm just a "hate waste" kinda guy.   I do a fair amount of street too, when I  do bite the bullet, it'll be Dunlop trailmax tires...I've read an awful lot of good reviews on them (and not just professional reviews).

 

BTw - you should write for a magazine/blog/etc... you have a way with word, when describing rides. 

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Based on what I’ve seen riding with friends and a half dozen students, that’s a great tire choice ( for dry trails and light sand). I’ve never run them though but would buy them for the riding I see in your videos. 

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10 hours ago, tvscum said:

Very nice!  Man, there were a lot of vehicle out there by the graffiti bridge!

Yes. Guessing 30+ sxs’s and a dozen Jeep’s, countless skinny bikes. 

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