Adventure riding short rides and BS thread

[Cabrito]

Awesome John! Have a great trip!

Yes this ^^^

Looks beautiful!

 

[matty]

plan for the day is to mosey down to Oceanside and maybe meet a forum person who I know from on-line but have never met irl, and then camp tonight at a county camp ground on the USA side, and cross at Tacate tomorrow morning …

Right on!

Buena suerte

 

[SFMCjohn]

Awesome John! Have a great trip!

Yes this ^^^

Looks beautiful!

Right on!

Buena suerte

thanks for reading and posting guys ... it was a curtailed trip, thanks to a starting issue that appeared at the bottom of the Grapevine, yesterday:

seems like some sort of a ground issue, according to my betters, based on a single click from the selenoid area and loss of headlight, which then slowly fades up back to full power.

after struggling with it for a couple hours decided it wasn’t an obvious loose wire, and I’d need some parts or a battery, so I just punted and bump started the bike and self extracted myself home without turning it off (had a spare key for the locking gas cap).

I’ll swap some likely parts (ignition switch, kill switch/stater button and selenoid) and get Kalle to help me with his multi meter and see where I’m at. bike is running well, like a top all the way up I-5, ouch. just need it to start when I push the button.

almost got blown completely off the highway the final bitter end by the howling crosswind, right before heading into the wind to go west over the Altamont Pass. that was exciting in the cold and dark.

anyway. Baja 2022 a fail, Baja or bust, 2023.
that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

 

[matty]

... it was a curtailed trip... Baja or bust, 2023.

Bummer.

And I rode 5 once and only once on a moto, and that was on a Z1000 and it was so much fun, I can imagine the KLR was even more fun

 

[stratslingr77]

Dang it John, we probably chewed some of the same dust this weekend. I was in Carrizo Plain too, wringing out my AT!

 

[Cabrito]

thanks for reading and posting guys ... it was a curtailed trip, thanks to a starting issue that appeared at the bottom of the Grapevine, yesterday:

seems like some sort of a ground issue, according to my betters, based on a single click from the selenoid area and loss of headlight, which then slowly fades up back to full power.

after struggling with it for a couple hours decided it wasn’t an obvious loose wire, and I’d need some parts or a battery, so I just punted and bump started the bike and self extracted myself home without turning it off (had a spare key for the locking gas cap).

I’ll swap some likely parts (ignition switch, kill switch/stater button and selenoid) and get Kalle to help me with his multi meter and see where I’m at. bike is running well, like a top all the way up I-5, ouch. just need it to start when I push the button.

almost got blown completely off the highway the final bitter end by the howling crosswind, right before heading into the wind to go west over the Altamont Pass. that was exciting in the cold and dark.

anyway. Baja 2022 a fail, Baja or bust, 2023.
that’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.

Well Poop! That sucks, and are you sure it wasn't the famous KLR loose battery connection? Happened to mine a few times.

Sounds like a shitty ride home at the end. I've been there on Altamont when it was getting dark and the headwinds made it so we could barely keep speed on our KLR's so my buddy went out and bought a GSA after that ride. Maybe there is a GSA in your future?

Yesterday was hella windy, glad you made it home in once piece..

 

[SFMCjohn]

Bummer.

And I rode 5 once and only once on a moto, and that was on a Z1000 and it was so much fun, I can imagine the KLR was even more fun

the I-5 slog wasn’t really that bad, surprisingly, probably because I felt it was necessary, and I just tucked in behind a truck that was doing 70mph and sort of let them tow me mindlessly along ...

Dang it John, we probably chewed some of the same dust this weekend. I was in Carrizo Plain too, wringing out my AT!

haha, how cool would it have been to bump into each other?

Well Poop! That sucks, and are you sure it wasn't the famous KLR loose battery connection? Happened to mine a few times.

Sounds like a shitty ride home at the end. I've been there on Altamont when it was getting dark and the headwinds made it so we could barely keep speed on our KLR's so my buddy went out and bought a GSA after that ride. Maybe there is a GSA in your future?

Yesterday was hella windy, glad you made it home in once piece..

why I posted the pic, wanted to demonstrate I unloaded the bike and at least tried to find loose wires. I actually went to the garage yesterday and checked the battery cables again and tried to re-start the bike, but it still won’t start. the headlight seems to flicker when I jiggle the key, so I’m hoping that’s an easy parts swap fix.

anyway, yes, if it turns out that keeping a 20 year old bike reliable is beyond me, and the poor KLR starts having issues I can’t resolve on my long rides I’ll give up and get a new bike, but it will probably be a Versys 300X.

like GSAs, but can’t see myself paying well into five figures for a KLR replacement.

 

[SFMCjohn]

here’s a pre-gen KLR roadside repair hail-Mary pic for Mr Cabrito ... bypassing the starter safety lock out, by cutting the cable plug and splicing the black and yellow wires to ensure a ground. hear it works great if that’s your problem.

anyway, all my prone-to-failure clutch, neutral and sidestand safety switches are now bypassed. but bike still wouldn’t start.

do love my pre-gen KLRs. the exciter-coil ignition system is the killer app. always get home if you can bump it.

hope I can be enough of a real motorcycle guy to keep her running reliably into the future ...

actually think there’s a way to get the starter to spin by supplying battery voltage directly to the starter? which is a trick that might have saved the trip ... maybe a better KLR guy than me could say. wish I’d have tried that some at the time.

oh well, live and learn. think the battery-direct-to-starter trick is a way to diagnose a selenoid issue, anyway, so I’ll have to figure it out. Kalle probably knows. why I should probably never be allowed to ride around without adult supervision.

 

[bananachunks]

Dang it John, we probably chewed some of the same dust this weekend. I was in Carrizo Plain too, wringing out my AT!

haha, how cool would it have been to bump into each other?

Funny. Last minute on Thursday I decided to take advantage of the 3-day and hit up Carrizo as well (more specifically Miranda Pine CG / Old Sierra Madre). But then last minuterer I made an impulse purchase of a new Win tablet and decided to stay local so I could make sure the delivery made it into my hands. Would have been pretty nifty to (potentially) run into so many great faces so far from home.

Bummer about the KLR, John. You got this!

I now have sleeping at Hurricane Ridge added to sleeping on Old Sierra Madre, doubling up my itch for a Carrizo run. Soon!

 

[AufRoad]

Cache Creek water crossing is nothing to worry about

Had a chance this weekend (yesterday) to ride up there again.
This time I brought extra gas.

I'm happy to say it was nothing. Here's the line we took.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8a8tAlIoc4

Now I just have to build out a new tool kit and go with a tool roll instead.

 

[1962siia]

Bummer John!!

 

[SFMCjohn]

Bummer John!!

thanks, man, was just one of those things.
hope to see you soon!

Had a chance this weekend (yesterday) to ride up there again.
This time I brought extra gas.

I'm happy to say it was nothing. Here's the line we took.
[YOUTUBE]X8a8tAlIoc4[/YOUTUBE]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8a8tAlIoc4

Now I just have to build out a new tool kit and go with a tool roll instead.

that vid is awesome, and you guys made the crossing look easy! arty

 

[SFMCjohn]

update on my $2K twenty-year-old ADV bike that I couldn’t wrestle to the ground when it wouldn’t start, recently:
it was the battery, apparently.

know Mr Eric B installs one of those LED charging system monitors on his ADV bike, and now I know why.

anyway, things I need to add to my kit: multi-meter, LED charging system monitor thingy and an electric air-pump.

so, my pre-gen KLR now starts, and my next plan is to head south on Friday, 3/18, to the annual ADV.com Death Valley n00b’s Rally, where I’ll get to hang out with 200 of my closest Internet ADV moto buddies ...

here’s a map of some of the area I’d like to ride before I can use my tent space, which reservation begins in Panamint Springs Resort on Thursday 3/24:

and here is a google maps zoom-in Saline Valley Loop link, to the map above, that may work.

that’s the update. I’ll either try to camp at Carrizo on 3/18 or 3/19, or dash across the Sierras on Hwy 50 or Hwy 88, depending on the weather.

 

[Cabrito]

Good stuff John,
I've always wanted to do the noobs rally, and can't wait to ride DV again.

We looked for you in Carrizo last week, but only found EricB..

My CRF300L Rally was built for Carrizo


This last weekend the small bikes were shepherding the big bikes. it's hard to keep them contained.


Here we're looking for SJMCJohn, but never saw the mighty KLR on the Plain


Here's Anytwowilldo filling up with his RotoPax


We had a really cool mix of bikes too. Some of my favorites:






I took a chance at finding Barfer EricB at Selby and he showed up right on time to lead us on a great loop. Hopefully he'll post his awesome pics of this side trip.



The EricB loop ended when the trail got too steep, and loose and we had to turn around. Not easy on a steep narrow road for the big bikes.





We did end up with a little delay going home though.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Good stuff John,
I've always wanted to do the noobs rally, and can't wait to ride DV again.

awesome Carrizo pics ... don't recognize a lot of the places in the pics, will be fun to sit down with you and a map and have you show me where you went.

are you doing the Mendo Rally? he just opened it up to pay the money.

I'd totally be doing it but I'm on the hook for that ride in Redding and the Sheetiron the following weekend, so the first weekend in May was just toooo much to get away with at work.

food at the Mendo Rally is off the hook.

the n00bs Rally is fun, maybe next year?

 

[Cabrito]

awesome Carrizo pics ... don't recognize a lot of the places in the pics, will be fun to sit down with you and a map and have you show me where you went.

are you doing the Mendo Rally? he just opened it up to pay the money.

I'd totally be doing it but I'm on the hook for that ride in Redding and the Sheetiron the following weekend, so the first weekend in May was just toooo much to get away with at work.

food at the Mendo Rally is off the hook.

the n00bs Rally is fun, maybe next year?

I can show you where we went. EricB's side route was pretty fun.
Spotwalla should show some of it in broad strokes.
https://new.spotwalla.com/trip/a31e-2882ff-5fa0/view?homeActive=1&showAll=1

Here are a few the EricB took.

West of Soda Lake Road





On the way home (Parkfield Grade area I think)


Taft, CA in the am...


Team Made in Japan after the Euro bikes ditched us

 

[SFMCjohn]

I can show you where we went. EricB's side route was pretty fun.
Spotwalla should show some of it in broad strokes.
https://new.spotwalla.com/trip/a31e-2882ff-5fa0/view?homeActive=1&showAll=1

Here are a few the EricB took.

West of Soda Lake Road

love this pic, and love SpotWalla ... fun to see where you went in broad strokes. I've camped up above Selby, years ago, but in general have not explored the west side much.

did the big bikes get tired of trying to follow Team Made in Japan up scary steep stuff?

 

[ThumperX]

Great pictures!

 

[Cabrito]

did the big bikes get tired of trying to follow Team Made in Japan up scary steep stuff?

Um, no.. If anything we were too slow for them even in the dirt. Those BARF Baja guys are pretty fricken good riders and ride those things like giant dirt bikes. We did turn around on the steep hill in consideration of the older BMW GSPD in case it was a dead end and we had to backtrack. He was grateful.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Um, no.. If anything we were too slow for them even in the dirt. Those BARF Baja guys are pretty fricken good riders and ride those things like giant dirt bikes. We did turn around on the steep hill in consideration of the older BMW GSPD in case it was a dead end and we had to backtrack. He was grateful.

yeah, I was projecting about scary stuff, I'm sure I'd have been grateful to turn around too.
positive all those Team Baja guys would ride circles around me.

 

[1962siia]

Super fun tracks this weekend! I had a great time, and nobody had any trouble keeping up, and nobody was slowing us down! I did really start to gel with the 950 on this trip. I think it was the first one where I didn't worry about crashing it. Probably should install my crash bars before the next trip!

Love the Team MIJ pics!

 

[Cabrito]

I did really start to gel with the 950 on this trip. I think it was the first one where I didn't worry about crashing it. Probably should install my crash bars before the next trip!

yeah man, you're 950 is a beauty. One of my favorite color schemes

 

[SFMCjohn]

got to Carrizo and the Mojave this weekend:

Mr MTERK joined me ... moonrise over his KTM 890 and tent and my fave camp spot in the Temblor Range.

late-ish March worked well for us with the wildflowers, we got to see orange, yellow and purple wildflowers this weekend, and got a really good look at a herd of resting pronghorn antelope just south of Parkfield.

on Saturday morning, Mr MTERK headed off to Yuma to meet up with Mr greenhornet, Mr mjj and Mr Frisco to begin their SoCal BDR adventure, and I headed off toward Trona Pinnacles and Death Valley. the killer app for the Carrizo Temblor Range camping spot I like is for through-riding on my way somewhere else.

pic is the Tehachapi end of Comanche Point Road which is where I headed after seeing Mr MTERK off at the Sinclare gas station in Taft.

Mr MTERK, at the famously incongruous Elkhorn Road street sign in the Carrizo Plain, loaded for SoCal BDR shenanigans.

turns out he’s a super-nice guy (we had only known each other from our BARF posts) and an old motocross racer, and much better rider than I am, which I found out because I made him take the lead a couple times on our ride from the Parkfield Cafe to Carrizo.
(we also almost met up with Mr Weeweno?, but he wound up having his own adventure in the eastern Sierras. next time! )

anyway, Comanche Point Road is still there, and still cool, I can report today. arty

I made it to moar wildflowers in the Mojave Desert, just east of California City, before the KLR stopped answering the call of the starter button.

that’s the “Some Gave All” memorial. I neglected to take a pic of the gentleman in the visitor book in the box, who I guess the memorial is for, thinking I’d be able to find it easily on-line, but no luck.

I’d ridden east fast enough to stay out of the forecast rain, but after an elderly couple gave me a push to bump start the KLR in a rest area on Hwy 58 near Barstow, I had to ride back west and into and through the rain in Bakersfield and then again on I-5 to get my silly self returned to Lower Haight. an over-twelve-hour day on the KLR, ouch, gassing up three times without being able to turn the engine off to finally extract myself.

never a dull moment with SFMCjohn.
see you around a campfire, maybe at StonyBARF, if I can recall the KLR starter to its duty.

 

[matty]

Oh man, not again Sorry man. If it means anything at all, your pictures are lovely and more importantly inspirational

Wonder if you can add a kick start to that beast. A big 650 without a decomp lever, yeah, it should kick over easy.

I'll keep my eyes peeled for a Versys 300

 

[Cabrito]

Oh man, not again Sorry man. If it means anything at all, your pictures are lovely and more importantly inspirational

Wonder if you can add a kick start to that beast. A big 650 without a decomp lever, yeah, it should kick over easy.

x2 - Not again! Did your battery die again or what?

Awesome that MTERK and the others are doing the CABDR.