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Planning NCBADR 2025

kneedraggeroldy

kneedraggeroldy

Active member
Joined
Nov 4, 2018
Location
American Canyon
Moto(s)
FJR1300
KTM950
KLX300R
Name
Michael
Planning on doing the NCal BDR this year with a few folks. Curious how difficult the Patterson advanced route is as we have a few folks interested in taking that offshoot and the video seems a little sketchy and if it goes bad, it could go really bad. We will have some advanced riders and likely a couple intermediate riders going so want to impart some wisdom and caution (especially if they want show up on a big bike). ANyone ride that section have some thoughts?? Cheers!
 
I've been up there a couple times, years ago, on a KLR loaded for camping--and am mostly a n00ie-type dirt guy, skills wise. Hopefully someone has more recent intel for you.

will say I'm very glad I made the effort ... pretty spectacular on a nice day--not to be missed, maybe.

there was one section bouncing down from Belfort to the north, where if I'd have dropped the front wheel off the edge of the two-track, I'd still be there (was by myself both times) ... :facepalm :laughing

not sure if Belfort is on the NorCal BDR route, though. I definitely can't make it up that way on a KLR. Think the BDR goes up from Lobdell Lake, which is the way I went up in the past.

it was a pic like this, of someone’s KLR up on Mt Patterson, that motivated me to try to find my own way up there:

648CB678-BECD-4940-B032-775C59C00CDD.jpeg
 
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Thanks much! I have ordered the map and will download the tracks once I decide which GPS unit I should (cough! want to pay for) get. I appreciate your input and info and will check it out. We have a small group interested in going but no one confirmed as of yet (1-2 are very likely to go) and another has limited dirt experience so that being said, I am definitely going and would rather not go alone. Trip will likely be in July but we have not confirmed dates yet. I will be going out on a few scouting trips beforehand, inviting the limited dirt rider along to get more experience (from another forum) and will post on teh BARF in case someone wants to come along and get acquainted. Cheers!
 
I've ridden both sides of Patterson on my DRZ, I wouldn't say I'm a great dirt rider either, but the DRZ is a pretty capable bike. I was a little worried being by myself and there was lots of shale on the way up from Lobdel lake that was requiring a bit of clutch work and I was envisioning accidentally sending the bike of the edge of the trail which I would be hard if not impossible to recover alone. I'd be hesitant to try it on a big bike, but I've seen skilled riders do some amazing things on those big GS bikes.

As for GPS, I just use a cheap android phone and run GPX Viewer pro, it;'s been good enough for me but ymmv.

Also, if the timing works out I'm happy to join on a scouting run up that way.
 
Thanks Nate! Appreciate the info. After speaking with the ride mates, they are going to do the BDR on dual sports and the newer dirt rider just purchased a small dual sport last night and we are going to go to Prairie city Sundy so she can practice and I can see the katoom does in a little more technical stuff than the jeep trails I have taken it on. With that being said, looks like they prefer starting on section 3 out of Bear Valley in lieu of Mammoth as that far on the highway would kinda suck for them :) so looks like we will not need to worry about that expert section.

Would love to have you go on a few scouting routes and will post up before I go.... I am pretty stoked about this and as not getting any younger, I am planning on doing as many BDRs as I can in the next few years :)
 
I did Patterson in September (see my profile pic). Definitely a worthwhile ride, but I wouldn't want to do it on a big bike. I think I'm an intermediate-ish dirt rider and I've done stupid things on big bikes before, leading me to buy a 701. Patterson is one thing, but if you continue on the expert section north on the Sweetwater Loop, it gets pretty spicy with plenty of soft sand and crazy rocks going down "Cartwheel Hill." In my mind, that section is even worse for a big bike than the climb up Patterson.
 
Das MotorRad said:
i just picked up a 1250 gs and am planning to do the norcal bdr this year, section 1 in April.
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Depending on how the rest of the winter goes it is unlikely you could ride the whole route due to snow in April. Especially the start and Truckee sections. Side note, the 2 day BMW offroad school in NC ( I did it last year) was pretty informative on what a GS can do without sacrificing your own bike. FWIW.
 
Fast Turtle said:
Depending on how the rest of the winter goes it is unlikely you could ride the whole route due to snow in April. Especially the start and Truckee sections. Side note, the 2 day BMW offroad school in NC ( I did it last year) was pretty informative on what a GS can do without sacrificing your own bike. FWIW.
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Appreciate the input! I’m looking at that school as well. My plan is to familiarize myself with the route to mammoth and up to Bridgeport, weather permitting, with a ride up there once or twice a month. I’ll see how far I can get in April/early May after tax season.
 
sorry I'm a little late to the party! a few of us did this in October of 2024. I rode my 890, there were 2 690's and a V-strom650. The first night we camped at Wild Willey's hot springs, recommend it! We took all the expert routes and I will say that the peak of the Sutter Buttes was very tough on a big bike and Loomis Cabin road was very rocky and steep towards the top. these were the only 2 sections I wish I had a smaller bike!

The Sweet water Loop also had lots of rocks.

Mount Patterson is an easy climb as long as you maintain your momentum on a big bike. Your GS is a very capable bike as long as you are up to the task!

photos of Sweet water loop. get off the main trail at top to stay out of the baby head rocks!
 

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As an update after we noodled around options, the main group of us (3-6 ish) are going to do sections 4, 5 and 6 in July (17th to 20th looks like) and one other rider and myself are looking at doing sections 1, 2 and 3 prior to meeting the balance of the group. I got out in some snotty mud this weekend at knoxville and discovered two main things...50/50 tires SUCK in the mud and my current boots (track boots) while supportive above the calf are NOT water proof. :) Have some more aggressive tires (80/20) for the BDR but will need to purchase some MX boots (along with all the other gear I am working on :( part of it!
 
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