Tires spitting gravel, I commit my weekly favorite crime.
![Art Font Circle Electric blue Symmetry]()
The weather is starting to cooperate much better.
![Tire Fuel tank Mountain Motorcycle Vehicle]()
The weather is starting to cooperate much better.
Todays ride
I don't see any recent ride report type thread, consider posting about yours. Here is my report from today, first good ride on my brand new SV650. First good ride because I bought it Friday and rode home 68 miles, mostly freeway.
Today was 127 miles out along Mulholland Hwy and through some of the canyons including some real tight twisties. Warm in the mountains, overcast and cold in my mesh gear along the coast this AM. Hot and above 90F coming back home to the Valley. Good ride and not much traffic on the good roads.
The thing handles really well in twisties. In the straight bits I found myself short shifting rapidly, trying to keep it under or not much over 5000 RPM. There's no comparison in power to the Monster 1200 I just sold, but it handles easier in the tight stuff and at slow speeds. Specs say it weighs 30 pounds less, and wheelbase is 56.9" vs 59.6" for the Monster. Seat height is a little higher. I am all of 29" inseam and about 140 pounds plus gear, so it is right in my size range.
Can't really say it is a long term keeper after only 195 miles, but so far so good. The Monster had excessive and unnecessary power levels, but that was part of the fun. I think I will be OK with the reduction in power. No need to go 0 - 100 MPH in 4 seconds or whatever craziness. Riding for 40 years now, so did not use all the Monstrous power anyway.
Plus I believe it will be quite a bit less dollar intensive to operate, maintain, insure. First gas fill up today (was full when I got it), showing 188 on odo took 2.814 gallons to pump auto shutoff, so 66.8 MPG. On regular not premium.
Ordered swingarm spools, luggage rack, oil filter, crush washers, and gotta have the T shirt. Things I like I tend to keep a long time, so we'll see how this goes. Love it so far. No thread is complete without pics.
![Tire Wheel Sky Vehicle Fuel tank]()
![Wheel Tire Fuel tank Ecoregion Vehicle]()
Today was 127 miles out along Mulholland Hwy and through some of the canyons including some real tight twisties. Warm in the mountains, overcast and cold in my mesh gear along the coast this AM. Hot and above 90F coming back home to the Valley. Good ride and not much traffic on the good roads.
The thing handles really well in twisties. In the straight bits I found myself short shifting rapidly, trying to keep it under or not much over 5000 RPM. There's no comparison in power to the Monster 1200 I just sold, but it handles easier in the tight stuff and at slow speeds. Specs say it weighs 30 pounds less, and wheelbase is 56.9" vs 59.6" for the Monster. Seat height is a little higher. I am all of 29" inseam and about 140 pounds plus gear, so it is right in my size range.
Can't really say it is a long term keeper after only 195 miles, but so far so good. The Monster had excessive and unnecessary power levels, but that was part of the fun. I think I will be OK with the reduction in power. No need to go 0 - 100 MPH in 4 seconds or whatever craziness. Riding for 40 years now, so did not use all the Monstrous power anyway.
Plus I believe it will be quite a bit less dollar intensive to operate, maintain, insure. First gas fill up today (was full when I got it), showing 188 on odo took 2.814 gallons to pump auto shutoff, so 66.8 MPG. On regular not premium.
Ordered swingarm spools, luggage rack, oil filter, crush washers, and gotta have the T shirt. Things I like I tend to keep a long time, so we'll see how this goes. Love it so far. No thread is complete without pics.
201 - 220 of 240 Posts
Rode east into Walkers Pass, but not all the way through to the desert flats. Nice sweeping curves and elevation changes and scenery. Stopped at a wide spot in the road with a sign that says Walker Pass Lodge ( which does not seem to exist).
![Sky Plant Vehicle Mountain Motor vehicle]()
I am more accustomed to seeing frozen turkeys in the store than live ones.
Why did the motorcycle rider cross the road?
To take a pic of the birds that were saying Gobble Gobble Hi!
![Road surface Asphalt Grass Tints and shades People in nature]()
Bike says just over 60 mpg. My math says 82 miles / 1.22 gallons = 67.2 mpg. Hmm. I try to fill up the same very time, and my favorite gas station has new pumps.
Onyx Post Office. Next to a gas station that appears to be long dead and decaying. Did not photograph that eyesore. Probably should have done another pic to include the Honda ST behind my bike at the PO. Onyx. There is not much to see there other than scenery.
![Automotive parking light Land vehicle Tire Sky Vehicle]()
I am more accustomed to seeing frozen turkeys in the store than live ones.
Why did the motorcycle rider cross the road?
To take a pic of the birds that were saying Gobble Gobble Hi!
Bike says just over 60 mpg. My math says 82 miles / 1.22 gallons = 67.2 mpg. Hmm. I try to fill up the same very time, and my favorite gas station has new pumps.
Onyx Post Office. Next to a gas station that appears to be long dead and decaying. Did not photograph that eyesore. Probably should have done another pic to include the Honda ST behind my bike at the PO. Onyx. There is not much to see there other than scenery.
Can you do me a favour Lee. I like to know exactly where these places are.
Install What3Words,
play.google.com
When you stop tag the spot so you can post the 3 word code
For example this is one of my fave spots on the East coast in the UK not so far from me ///surely.riders.evaporate
what3words.com
Install What3Words,
what3words: Navigation & Maps - Apps on Google Play
This app helps you find, share and navigate to any precise location
When you stop tag the spot so you can post the 3 word code
For example this is one of my fave spots on the East coast in the UK not so far from me ///surely.riders.evaporate
The simplest way to talk about location
Every 3 metre square has a unique 3 word address.
what3words.com
Hey Strat. I remember discussing that app before. Interesting but honestly, I don''t want to mess with it.
But, the turkeys and pic of the bike by the road was right here. I oriented it the same way as I shot the photos.
It is along Hwy 178 bout 11 1/2 miles NW of junction with Hwy 14.
There is really not much man made stuff here. No store or anything. Just a few mailboxes and houses scattered about. I picked the spot to stop because it had an actual asphalt shoulder to park on. Most of the road you have to drop off the pavement an inch or 2 and park on the dirt.
Google Maps
No need for me to ride to see this view. It is across the road from me.
![Cloud Sky Water Plant Mountain]()
But, the turkeys and pic of the bike by the road was right here. I oriented it the same way as I shot the photos.
It is along Hwy 178 bout 11 1/2 miles NW of junction with Hwy 14.
There is really not much man made stuff here. No store or anything. Just a few mailboxes and houses scattered about. I picked the spot to stop because it had an actual asphalt shoulder to park on. Most of the road you have to drop off the pavement an inch or 2 and park on the dirt.
Google Maps
No need for me to ride to see this view. It is across the road from me.
Your SV650 seems to be the main attraction in the entire city.Ha. Noticed I posted a pic of Lake Isabella Post Office and called it Onyx.
Here is the correct pic, with the ST cleverly hidden behind my top case.
And while I am in here a pic of the mountain across the highway from the PO. Or maybe it's just a hill. IDK.
View attachment 65875 View attachment 65876
To me I guess. It's a legend in my own mind.
I see more Hogs and dirt bikes here than anything.
First day we moved here, someone rode a dirt bike uphill on our dead end road doing a stand on the seat wheelie.
I took it as a good sign.
Thanks for the Gmaps link
No probs with not using What3Words but if you ever get in a jam out in the Boondocks and need to let say breakdown recovery know your exact location you know it's there to download
As opposed to giving them latitude and longitude. Or saying “I’m just over 11 miles west of this intersection, by this sign?” LOL! They always find you.Thanks for the Gmaps link
No probs with not using What3Words but if you ever get in a jam out in the Boondocks and need to let say breakdown recovery know your exact location you know it's there to download
I Googled up those locations pretty quick, and it was nice taking a bit of a ‘Fly-Through’ on Google Maps. Looks like that Lodge burned down in the ‘30s. And that old service station didn’t look that bad!
Nice Monday ride down the canyon to the ag area by Bakersfield again.
Not much traffic going down, but at least a dozen dump trucks went by going uphill.
I'm gonna hope they are fixing up flood damage and roads. There are miles of roads up in the Sequoia National Forest that I want to ride but are closed for now. Some of them are under snow.
Going down I spotted a dump truck off to the roadside on the uphill side. Then on my side going downa a car with a smashed windshield. Saw no drivers, but next up an open trailer like a dump truck might pull and it was sideways blocking the uphiill lane and spilling asphalt across both lanes. I was able to ride right by. But coming back up CHP was there and blocking traffic. When they let us go the loose trailer was off to the side next to a tow truck. A guy was shoveling stuff off of the road. But first we sat there for at least 15 minutes, slowly roasting in my leathers. Still a good ride.
![Plant Sky Mountain Ecoregion Highland]()
Not much traffic going down, but at least a dozen dump trucks went by going uphill.
I'm gonna hope they are fixing up flood damage and roads. There are miles of roads up in the Sequoia National Forest that I want to ride but are closed for now. Some of them are under snow.
Going down I spotted a dump truck off to the roadside on the uphill side. Then on my side going downa a car with a smashed windshield. Saw no drivers, but next up an open trailer like a dump truck might pull and it was sideways blocking the uphiill lane and spilling asphalt across both lanes. I was able to ride right by. But coming back up CHP was there and blocking traffic. When they let us go the loose trailer was off to the side next to a tow truck. A guy was shoveling stuff off of the road. But first we sat there for at least 15 minutes, slowly roasting in my leathers. Still a good ride.
Went south of Bodfish over a steep road with some fairly sharp switchbacks and down into Havilah. Barely any traffic. Continued on to Twin Oaks. Decided to stop by some abandoned old buildings. Maybe half a dozen of them going up a hill. I suspect it is an old mining camp but don't really have any info.
Coming back I came across a mooing road block. Made me think of Monty Pythons Black Knight. None shall pass! While I was stopped hoping it would move along a car came and went around behind it. Then another so I slowly rode past behind it and it just looked at me. Yes, it is ranching country there now. The mining days are over.
Google Maps
![Sky Plant Building Road surface Land lot]()
![Plant Tree Road surface Asphalt Slope]()
![Wheel Tire Sky Vehicle Automotive tire]()
Coming back I came across a mooing road block. Made me think of Monty Pythons Black Knight. None shall pass! While I was stopped hoping it would move along a car came and went around behind it. Then another so I slowly rode past behind it and it just looked at me. Yes, it is ranching country there now. The mining days are over.
Google Maps
Went south of Bodfish over a steep road with some fairly sharp switchbacks and down into Havilah. Barely any traffic. Continued on to Twin Oaks. Decided to stop by some abandoned old buildings. Maybe half a dozen of them going up a hill. I suspect it is an old mining camp but don't really have any info.
Coming back I came across a mooing road block. Made me think of Monty Pythons Black Knight. None shall pass! While I was stopped hoping it would move along a car came and went around behind it. Then another so I slowly rode past behind it and it just looked at me. Yes, it is ranching country there now. The mining days are over.
Google Maps
View attachment 65980 View attachment 65981 View attachment 65982
Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas anymore.
I drove across Kansas a couple times and I seem to recall some low hills. I don't think there are any mountains there at all. This is def not Kansas.
The road south of Bodfish To Havilah has a bunch of switchbacks like this. You go up up up, then down down down. Better be on the ball and paying attention. Also maybe not a good place for a new rider. Semi truck trailers "not advised".
![Sky Plant Tree Natural landscape Asphalt]()
Google Maps
The road south of Bodfish To Havilah has a bunch of switchbacks like this. You go up up up, then down down down. Better be on the ball and paying attention. Also maybe not a good place for a new rider. Semi truck trailers "not advised".
Google Maps
I am looking on the map right now. It says Silver City Ghost Town is this the spot?I drove across Kansas a couple times and I seem to recall some low hills. I don't think there are any mountains there at all. This is def not Kansas.
The road south of Bodfish To Havilah has a bunch of switchbacks like this. You go up up up, then down down down. Better be on the ball and paying attention. Also maybe not a good place for a new rider. Semi truck trailers "not advised".
View attachment 65983
Google Maps
Thank you for the Google links. It's not as grand over here in Blighty but I like the ," Roads Least Travelled ". There's a haunting beauty in some old abandoned places and derelicts. Makes me wonder who lived there and how their lives unfolded.
If you haven't already then this is a must read for any Motorcyclist IMHO. Download options on the right. I read pdfs,
PDF Download top left on above page
If you haven't already then this is a must read for any Motorcyclist IMHO. Download options on the right. I read pdfs,
ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE REPAIR - ROBERT PIRSIG : ROBERT PIRSIG : Free Download, Borrow, and Streaming : Internet Archive
ZEN AND THE ART OF MOTORCYCLE REPAIR - ROBERT PIRSIG
archive.org
PDF Download top left on above page
201 - 220 of 240 Posts
