Bahía de los Ángeles, 2017 ...

[dravnx]

Logbook from the Sea of Cortez. John Steinbeck.

I'm one of the sponsors for #76. 50+ motorcycle class Mexico 1000.
Loren Davis
He also races AHRMA vintage motorcross

 

[SFMCjohn]

Logbook from the Sea of Cortez. John Steinbeck.

I'm one of the sponsors for #76. 50+ motorcycle class Mexico 1000.
Loren Davis
He also races AHRMA vintage motorcross

... love some of Mr Steinbeck's other books ...
I may enjoy Logbook more now that I have some small
familiarity with the Sea of Cortez ...

I have a friend who got to see and swim with
a basking shark of BoLA on a moto trip by
finding a tour ...

... cool that you are helping sponsor Loren
in the Mexican 1000 ... part of the magic of Baja
for me comes from the glory days of Wide World of Sports
and watching racers like JN Roberts ...

 

[dravnx]

Have you seen the movie Dust to Glory?
It chronicles the Baja 1000

 

[SFMCjohn]

Have you seen the movie Dust to Glory?
It chronicles the Baja 1000

Yes, I own a copy ...

... and, as of this morning,
I have a KLR with good chain and sprocket,
new DOT knobbies and heavy-duty tubes,
ready to go into a truck and try to
wind up in BoLA ... arty

... think we're going to try to
head out on Monday, 1/23 ...
we'll see ...

... still gotta pack the bike ...

 

[dravnx]

Man, that first view of BofLA and the SOC when you top the rise, it makes my heart go pitter patter. I had a fantasy of retiring to BOLA at one time.

 

[Lunch Box]

What a fun thread! I clearly have some reading and watching to do in the near future. John, I'm stoked that you have your bike squared-away.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Man, that first view of BofLA and the SOC when you top the rise, it makes my heart go pitter patter. I had a fantasy of retiring to BOLA at one time.

Yes, we had that piter-pat experience the first time we got to
BoLA, long cold ride, almost dark, moon rising ... epic view ...
(this pic is a different trip, Cary would have been on a DR350 the
first time we ever got to BoLA ...)

More Sweeney bike-packing motivational pics:

... west of Catavina ...

... climbing up south of Mike's Sky Ranch ...
Gripsters and highway gearing ...
god bless
Kalle, he didn't wring my neck for taking him that way ...

 

[SFMCjohn]

What a fun thread! I clearly have some reading and watching to do in the near future. John, I'm stoked that you have your bike squared-away.

... you know, it's funny ... I just exchange one set of
anxieties (getting the bike started) for another (will the
bike blow up) ... the fear level stays the same ...

... you wouldn't believe all the funny noises the
KLR's engine is making now ...

 

[Lunch Box]

... you know, it's funny ... I just exchange one set of
anxieties (getting the bike started) for another (will the
bike blow up) ... the fear level stays the same ...

... you wouldn't believe all the funny noises the
KLR's engine is making now ...

I thought that KLRs always made all sorts of odd noises.

It'll be fine, man. We're going to have a blast.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Yes we will! arty

... and I was just thinking to
myself that even if I don't
make BoLA this year that
I've already had a great time
attending the "in real life"
BARF Baja planning meetings,
so it has been a win ALREADY no matter what!

... and who knows, maybe
I'll see you in Baja, ha ...

 

[Lunch Box]

Dude, you had better be there this year!

 

[Norcalslowpoke]

See you in Bola John!

Throw some knobbies, a couple bleach bottles full of gas, and a duffel on the Triumph if the KLR is not ready. Go true old school/Malcolm Smith/McQueen on us GPS pansy ass over equipped bikes/riders!

Not really kidding, just take some easy/paved sections some days.

Triumph

Totally
Reliable
In
Unpaved
Mexico
Piloted
Handsomely

 

[SFMCjohn]

Dude, you had better be there this year!

... well, here's the KLR at work today, under its own
power, so things are looking up ...

... you know, always be prepared for disappointment
and
always be planning the next ride ...

... I'm thinking about my Nevada and Grand Canyon
rides after (hopefully) Baja ... and the Sheetiron ...

Triumph

Totally
Reliable
In
Unpaved
Mexico
Piloted
Handsomely

Yes, that's a vintage back-up plan
I'd not really thought of for this year ...

Kalle and I have talked about meeting
BARF Baja 2018 crew on the
vintage bikes in BoLA next season ... arty

 

[Cabrito]

John,
You probably just need to put your ear plugs in and helmet on. All those noises will probably go away.. (maybe)

What kind of noises are you hearing? Want me to come by and take a listen? Not that I know anything but I know how shitty mine sounds so it could be relevant.

 

[Eric B]

The aluminum skid plate on my bike amplifies the noises more than expected.
Stupid skid plate!

 

[Lunch Box]

The aluminum skid plate on my bike amplifies the noises more than expected.
Stupid skid plate!

Mine does too. Very annoying. I find that if I just grab more throttle I can't hear the noises as much.

 

[HadesOmega]

Yeah all my thumpers make loud noises. If the weather permits try to take it for a shakedown and break in ride. I know I was nervous when I got my hicomp piston put in before the trip. Still kicking ass today

 

[SFMCjohn]

John,
You probably just need to put your ear plugs in and helmet on. All those noises will probably go away.. (maybe)

The aluminum skid plate on my bike amplifies the noises more than expected.
Stupid skid plate!

Mine does too. Very annoying. I find that if I just grab more throttle I can't hear the noises as much.

Yeah all my thumpers make loud noises. If the weather permits try to take it for a shakedown and break in ride. I know I was nervous when I got my hicomp piston put in before the trip. Still kicking ass today

When I start the bike in BoLA for the first time
you guys can all gather 'round and shake your
heads an go "gee, that doesn't sound right ..."

Thanks for the offer of a comparison diagnos/listen
Michael ... I sort of painted myself into a corner
with my bike-prep--not getting it done a month ago
like I'd planned on--at this point all I can do is ride
it as much as I can before loading it up ...

... I do think it's just a matter of riding it
and building trust ...

 

[Eric B]

:thumb up

 

[Eric B]