Adventure riding short rides and BS thread

[motocatfish]

I've started reading barf again. Advrider just doesn't seem to attract bay area folks the way it used to. So maybe I need to contribute over here more....

My riding partner & I reserved a site at Lake Alpine mid-week. Most sites were available Sun-Thurs. We hadn't ridden the passes together in a while. We were on our 390 ADVs, but it was mostly a road assault. ;-)

Had the 1st day to myself, so up Ebbetts 1st. Only had one small truck to pass. Did not catch anything over Monitor! Sonora is so scenic, and only 3 cars to pass before a controlled-traffic zone just above Strawberry. Continued down to the Chevron station in Cold Springs, and back up to the Strawberry Inn for lunch.

The pulled pork was perfectly juicy, and the BBQ sauce reminded me of KC Masterpiece. MMM!!! Huge po'boy bun. I could only eat half! The onion rings were outstanding. Coleslaw was pretty good. They have lotsa beers & spirits, but I was drinking water. I had Redbreast & blue dream in camp. ;-)

Back over the same 3 passes. Yes, a 2-summit & 6-pass day!!!

It was cool by Lake Alpine, so I went up to the showers behind the lodge. $3.25 in quarters gets you 5 minutes of a nice hot shower. Ahhh. As I rode back to camp, I stopped on the bicycle path for a lake photo. <shhh!>

I got back to camp just as she arrived & pitched her camp.

She wanted 6 passes tomorrow. Twist my arm!

Day 2 presented a little more traffic, but it was glorious again! Stopped at the Strawberry Inn again for lunch. She wanted to split a Philly cheese steak sandwich & onion rings. OMFG, that was the best PCS ever! Noticed they had ribs & brisket on the menu. These folks know how to do meats & I'm coming back for more!

The 3-pass return was too good to be true.

After dinner we enjoyed another fire & some quality libations.

Day 3 was cool, so she started a fire from last nights coals. About mid-day we headed to Spicer Reservoir to enjoy that road & fly a drone.

It was a gray windy day. Not the best for droning. I strafed a sheriff truck by accident, so maybe I'll process that footage. ;-)

We had a nice 3 days in the Sierra!

Watch in 4K & enjoy the sounds!

Catfish ...

 

[budman]

Looks like a great time Catfish.

Enjoyed the vid too.

 

[WoodsChick]

Welcome back, Catfish! I hear ya on the ADV thing. It just got too big and spread out for me. I much prefer the cozy confines of BARF!

Nice ride! Love Lake Alpine. Have you ever ridden the Slick Rock Road that starts right behind the lake?

 

[SFMCjohn]

word on the street is that BARF is the best motorcycle forum!

fun ride write up and video … are you bonding with the KTM 390 ADV?

 

[N4teTheGreat]

I need to get me some passes in before the snow comes. Probably not on an ADV bike though... but camping in between riding days would be fun.

 

[motocatfish]

Welcome back, Catfish! I hear ya on the ADV thing. It just got too big and spread out for me. I much prefer the cozy confines of BARF!

Nice ride! Love Lake Alpine. Have you ever ridden the Slick Rock Road that starts right behind the lake?

Thanks! I used to celebrate my birthday camping at Lake Alpine & riding up there. Slick Rock many times. Once in my Toyota. To think there used to be a resort back there by the bridge.

And some tasty singletrack up there if you know where to look ;-)

Which lead you to a big-ass dome for a lunch break.

SFMCjohn will remember that trip. Oh, speaking of the devil ...

word on the street is that BARF is the best motorcycle forum!

fun ride write up and video … are you bonding with the KTM 390 ADV?

Definitely a friendly local vibe.

This ADV-X and I are dancing our butts off ... for as long as my arthritic wrist will allow!

Ergos fit me well. She handles great. Very stable WFO thru rough stuff. Very confidence inspiring. She just giggles & whispers "faster!" I'm learning to be a shifting fool!

Catfish ...

 

[onto1wheel]

Soon after picking up my Ibex450 I was forced to sit on the couch for a few months. Well, I finally got off the couch and managed to get thru the bikes break-in miles, and then this week trailered her up to Tahoe for some Fun ‘venturing.

And fun she has been!

Yesterday did my first BDR section (CA north, section 5 Truckee to Graeagle) well, most of it; running low on daylight I headed back to Truckee after the Sierra Butte lockout. But this meant I got to enjoy the top of Hiway 49 ribbon of tarmac!

At first I thought I would not be happy with such a low powered machine, but I’m discovering this bike is more than adequate in pretty much every way, super fun! And the BDR? Super fun!

188 miles, 60.1 MPG, 28mph avg, 7 hour trip

I’ll try to add some pics here and maybe some captions:





Verdi lookout:





Stock tire are not too bad in these conditions:


nice spot for a lunch break:








Sierra Buttes lookout. This trail is .... tough:









The way down down from the lookout is probably the toughest of the day... and i'm just talking about the stairs!! (the downhill trail was also a bit gnarly)

 

[ThumperX]

I really wish you could make the family rally I LOVE my Ibex, such a polite little thing. Thanks for taking us along on your ride.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Well, I finally got off the couch and managed to get thru the bikes break-in miles, and then this week trailered her up to Tahoe for some Fun ‘venturing …

And fun she has been! …

And the BDR? Super fun! …

188 miles, 60.1 MPG, 28mph avg, 7 hour trip

awesome pics, thanks for posting!

sounds like your bonding with your cool Ibex … my joke is that all my bikes make 30 hp … plenty for me.

 

[onto1wheel]

thx @ThumperX , wish I could make the rally!

... … my joke is that all my bikes make 30 hp … plenty for me.

Wait... all combined 30hp?!?!
I think i've seen you post that you're thinking about going ibex John? I can vouch, going from my 2001 KLR650 to the ibex450 was a good choice for me (but i'm not sure I can actually let go of my KLR as long as I have room in the garage yard (too much history. They are "special" )

 

[SFMCjohn]

yes, I have a vague plan to keep riding pre-gen KLRs ‘til I turn 70 (which I can see from here), and then treat myself to a brand new bike. the Ibex is on top of the list of maybees, thanks to a fun guest ride on Ms @ThumperX ‘s sweet unicorn.

seeing yours at the base of the Sierra Buttes watchtower stairs was a strong recommendation, too. good for you!

 

[motocatfish]

Thanks for the ride report & photos! Nice to see your Ibex at the Buttes. I love the exhaust sound from that motor!

I ride up to & climb those stairs for my birthday every year. I love Lakes Basin & the Downieville Trails.

Catfish ...

 

[onto1wheel]

Thanks for the ride report & photos! Nice to see your Ibex at the Buttes. I love the exhaust sound from that motor!

I ride up to & climb those stairs for my birthday every year. I love Lakes Basin & the Downieville Trails.

Catfish ...

That's awesome you ride that every year! it's a pretty gnarly climb, and those stairs left me winded. I stopped a couple times on the stairs.
And yeah that ibex twin sounds bitchen don't it? I dig it.
I think I shall name her "growling tiger" ( that's what I was thinking while riding yesterday and enjoying the growl )

 

[onto1wheel]

yes, I have a vague plan to keep riding pre-gen KLRs ‘til I turn 70 (which I can see from here), and then treat myself to a brand new bike. the Ibex is on top of the list of maybees, thanks to a fun guest ride on Ms @ThumperX ‘s sweet unicorn.

seeing yours at the base of the Sierra Buttes watchtower stairs was a strong recommendation, too. good for you!

Sounds like a solid plan!
My bod is enjoying the smoothness of the ride, but that stock seat? made my back hurt every ride, just on the pavement!. Taller seat solved that problem, so much comfier.

For the rare few that haven't seen what Mario Roman has been doing on an Ibex450, go watch the videos of him winning the adv class at romaniacs on his highly modified ibex.
I like that even with stock wheels, motor, tires, susp, it handles roughish stuff but is still fun on the pavement

(I finally smacked the skid plate today doing a little bit of the Fordyce trail. Glad I upgraded to the burly APX plate)