The Streets of Willow @ Willow Springs
Haven’t been there in a while but found this old picture (probably taken in 2001). Same Superhawk as I have now.
Streets is a fun technical track. I found, having all the torque of the Superhawk, that staying in 3rd gear worked great for a smooth run around this track, where the speeds could range between 30 and 115 mph.
Pala MX Track
Took the 620SX out to the MX track today at Pala Indian Reservation. Mimi, from the San Diego Adventure Riders met up with me and she was very patient with me, as I had not been on a closed MX course since the 70’s. The Vet track was a bit too much for me. 2 laps and I was worn out. We got permission to ride on the PeeWee track, since no one was on it, and I was more comfortable there. The KTM just has too much power to manage on short tracks like this, but was fun, non the less.
Here’s a short video of Mimi on her Kawasaki 250 (2 stroke)
Advanced Rider Course-Sportbike Techniques (ARC-ST)
I just got back from Rocklin, Ca (just east of Sacramento) attending the RiderCoach prep class for the new MSF’s ARC-ST. I was honored to be in this very first class offered for non-military use in California. There was about 20 hours of reading and homework BEFORE doing these 3 days of training and certification.
The course is practically identical to the Military Sportbike Course that was developed by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (and others) for the Marine and Sailors who ride sportbikes. The one difference for us, on the outside of the military, will be that this class will be offered to any rider, as the skills learned can be applied to all motorcycles. We had Goldwings, cruisers, dual-sports, supermotos, sportbikes, and even an old classic 1975 Norton 750 Commando being used during our weekend.
What is learned in the 3 hour classroom portion is the real eye opener! Check with your local MSF training site to see when this course is coming your way!
Pre-Dusk Ride at Pine Valley
Keith called me up late in the afternoon and said he was taking his kids riding at Pine Valley, so I took off on my DR650 to meet them. Asland and I rode about 18 miles of trails and Keith and Ella rode out about a mile . Ella’s engine quit, so she coasted downhill back to the parking area. She rides very well for a 7 year old and she just started learning last week! Ahsland is a natural, not much I can say for his dad though (haha). The DR did well with the 50/50 tires and I enjoyed the workout I got!
Another Trail Ride
Went back to Corral Canyon yesterday (no pictures this time) and took a fellow RiderCoach who had never been in the dirt before. Christine did well for being on my Qlink with street tires. She could not straddle the KTM enough to be comfortable about riding it. We rode for 2 hours and made it up to the Tower and met Joellen, the other person who watches for fires. The official name of the tower is Los Pinos.
Trail Riding
Matt, Chris, Paula, and I went trail riding today. We went early in the morning (630ish) and it was really cool when we got there. We started out in Pine Valley at 7 and headed towards Corral Canyon. It never really got unbearable hot and we just kept riding. We (everyone but me) did see a rattlesnake. We stopped a couple times for a quick rest and water.
And, eventually, we made it up to the tower to see Norm.
We also got some good photos of some hummingbirds up close, that Norm makes sure has enough sugar water available while he is on watch.
Here is the view of our motorcycles from the tower. Mine is the one leaning against the fence because I have no kickstand.
Here is a group shot that Norm took for us in his tower. That’s Paula, me, Chris and Matt.
Matt will be posting a full ride report in the forums on http://www.dualsport-sd.com/.
We all had a good ride and it was the 1st time for me to take my new dirt bike out in the dirt (97 KTM620SX). The KTM proved to have alot of power and handles like a charm, and very predictable after I got used to the touchy throttle. I think I was more comfortable on the fire roads than on the single track trails simply because I could go a bit faster and smoother. I am glad I got this KTM and look forward to riding it in the dirt even more.
We were done riding by 1, which is a bit longer than I thought we would of ridden, but you know how time flies when you are having fun!
Trail Ride Pine Valley
Got up early this morning, loaded up the Qlink, drove over to pick up Keith and his KTM400 and then headed east to Pine Valley where we met up with Chris, who rode out from Coronado on his DRZ400. It was 6am, cool and time to ride! We road until 9:30am until it started getting very warm, had some Gatorade, hung out and rode each others motorcycles and then loaded up and headed home. Here’s some pictures after the trail ride.
VTR1000 @ CA Speedway-YOUTUBE VIDEO
I am hoping this works. I uploaded my 1st video to youtube and now hope I can embed it properly. So here goes:
It works! Anyway, this was taken with my onboard camera at the California Speedway AMA course on 06-28-2007.
04-02-09 Ride Report (208 miles)
John & I left at 9am this morning heading east on the 94 to Lyons Valley Road, took it all the way to the 8, which we headed eastwards to Buckman Springs Road, where we got on the Old Hiway 80 and then we found a trail between Jacuma and Ocotillo (just south of In-Ko-Pah) that was too much fun! Found a couple old gold mines back there, but we were more interested in riding:
The DR650 performed flawlessly. It was like riding my DR350 with much more power! Riding on the roads, freeway, or trails, it just purred along, no straining of the engine; instant power and it feels so light!
I know, the bike is only 3 days old, but the owners manual says not to use more than 1/2 throttle and I never needed more than that for all I did today. Went 208 miles and averaged 54 mile per gallon. After this trail ride, we went to Acorn Casino and had lunch, then to Sunrise highway, but we stopped to get pictures of the Border fence and windmill generator farm:
John just emailed me the GPS map of our ride today:
No more pictures, but we did explore another trail close to the Laguna Mountain CDF station on Sunrise Hiway. We then proceeded on to Julian and then west to home through Ramona. Great day!
Long Beach International Motorcycle Show 2008
I rode my 93 Ninja 250 to Long Beach, CA (118 miles each way) today and took a few pics. Bought some soft saddlebags that I hope to be able to use on any of my motorcycles. Here’s what it looked like just straddling the Ninja after the trip home.
Here is a pic of a bike I would like to get, a Suzuki DR650 (I would want the white one, which they did not have on display)
And then there was this Harley Davidson drag bike I had to take a picture of:
Then there were some old motorcycles that I liked:
Then, when I decided to leave, the parking lot was filled about 10 times more than it was when I arrived earlier in the morning:
That is a lot of motorcycles! Some say they enjoyed checking out the parked motorcycles more that the show inside. There was certainly a variety!
Track Day @ Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, CA
Had a great day at the track today! Pictures show the fun! Pitted with 2 fine riders, Stu and Matt. The weather was perfect and after I got my tire pressures sorted out, I got very consistent with my lap times. Stu was riding a BMW with 60K miles on it and it was fast!. Matt had a GSXR track bike and he was was always out of sight. There was a TV film crew at the track filming Dean McDermott for some reality show called Tori & Dean: Home Sweet Hollywood. I guess I will have to tune in. He was riding in my group.
And my beautiful wife came to support me! She’s great help in the pits!
Nice Friday Ride on my XS2
Went for a nice ride in the gusty wind and twisty roads east of San Diego. Made it to the top of a little mountain (4805 feet above sea level) where a look out tower is, and met a nice man who was being the look out for fires and stuff. Was really nice to see my old Yamaha could even do some light trail riding and go up steep twisty one way roads.
Getting ready for a Track Day at Fontana
I plan on riding my VTR1000 the Saturday after Thanksgiving at Autoclub Speedway in Fontana, CA with the Fastrackriders.com organization. I need to be ready in advance, so today, I changed my oil and filter, put on new tires (Michelin Pilot Power 2CT) and installed new brake pads (EBC HH). Later, I will take off the mirrors, disconnect the lights, and tape over the glass and plastic of the headlight and tail light.
New Pictures from the Dirt Bike School
Got these in the mail today from Ramey Stroud, one of the fine instructors we had that day.
Plaster City-Ocotillo Desert Riding
Comments for each picture by John, who also took the pictures.
Base camp, Jeff’s camp on the left Paula on the right Phil’s truck center.
Jeff and Paula: What do you mean hot! This is nothing! I like it hot! The hotter the better! I could think of a million good captions for this shot. Thanks to Jeff we had a great ride.
Phil with coolest dune behind him, Phil went to the top of the hill and back. I think he was saying, “Hey come on I want to do it again!” “Why is everybody stopping?” Jeff checking out his cool boots.
You know that look a dog has when he brings back a stick. His tail going so fast it shakes his body like an earth quake. Give me more! (The Happy look) Phil you looked like you were having fun.
John and his TW200 meet Ocotillo for the first time.
Here is the trip as seen from my Garmin V GPS that logged the day. Over 60 miles for a single ride.
Trail Riding
Rode some trails just south of Pine Valley with my friend, John. Had an absolute blast! He set his camera to take a self photo of us on top of a small hill. Absolutely beautiful weather and riding conditions! That TW200 is some machine! I see now why they are so popular. My DR350 did very well on its initial outting. Very stable and fun to ride!
Dirt Bike School
I was invited to be a student last weekend at an MSF Dirt Bike School, Introduction to Trail Riding. I took a neighbors 1975 Yamaha DT250B. The course was held at Hidden Valley State Recreational Vehicle Area near Gorman, Ca. I had a blast and made some new friends as well! Even though I originally learned to ride in the dirt in 1964 and rode dirt regularly up until 1983, I felt this class would be a good time to see if I could still do it and learn anything I could. I exceeded all my expectations by learning alot and having so much fun, and I wasn’t completely wore out after it was over. I should have some action pictures sent to me soon. Here’s a pic of the DT250B after unloading from the trip, pretty dusty!:
VTR1000 Vs Harley at Barona Drags
Here is a pic I found of me on my 1998 VTR1000 racing against a Harley at Barona Drag Strip (1/8 mile).
