| Author | Message | ||
     Hangetsu |
MOTORCYCLE SPORT TOURING COMES OF AGE IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA SoCal Motomarathon Set for March 26-29 TEMECULA, CA – February 9, 2010 – The Motomarathon Association today announced its 2010 motorcycle endurance sport-touring season begins in Temecula, with the first Southern California Motomarathon scheduled for March 26-29. “We’re excited to ‘go national’ with this new sport of Motomarathon, and take advantage of the incredible roads and climate of Southern California,” said founding Route Master John Metzger. The Motomarathon Association runs an annual series of four-day rides over the best roads and through the best scenery in the country. Routes remain secret until the night before each day’s ride, then verified at day’s end through self-recorded checkpoints using digital or cell phone cameras. “The format has struck a nerve with today’s sport-touring riders, and with Motomarathon sponsors Ducati North America (bikes), Aerostich (clothing) and Wolfman (luggage),” said Metzger. “With the new Ducati Multistrada 1200 debuting this spring we’ll have a motorcycle that is a perfect fit for these events,” said Michael Lock, CEO of Ducati North America. “We’re proud to support the Motomarathon, and we’re very excited to work with the promoters to elevate the highest form of sport-touring." For more information, please visit www.motomarathon.com, or contact John Metzger, 303-641-1062, john@metzger.com. | ||
| Paralegalpete |
So its not a race  (mostly I wanted to use that flag) Looks like a lot of fun | ||
| Hangetsu |
No, It’s not a race. Though time does play some factor in your overall placement, the main point is just to make all the check points before the deadline; something very easy top accomplish keeping within legal speed limits. I participated in the inaugural event in Colorado last June. It was a blast. Sadly, I and another Buell rider from Texas (How are ya Dave?) Sadly, were the only Buells in the event. It would be nice to see a little more US product out there going head to head with the BMWs ST1300s and V-Stroms. The Northern Colorado Motomatathon will be sometime in early June. Not sure I’ll be able to make it to the California event, but I have full intentions to ride the June event again. | ||
| Fordrox |
That sounds fun, I think I may try and make it to the New England event in May. | ||
| Ddaleuly |
Hey Alex; Had a blast last year - will be back this summer for the Colorado (Centopassi) ride, but will bring more tread this year. Nice crowd, good riders. The Uly is a perfect bike for this ride, would be nice to see a few more out there. The Colorado ride this year is June 25th Thru the 28th - I'll have an empty slot on the trailer heading north from Houston if there's anybody interested.     | ||
| Hangetsu |
Hey Dave, Nice to see you're helmeted head there. I didn't realize it was that late in June this year. It's good. It may be a bit warmer than last year, which would be nice. I most certainly plan on participating. It'll be great to see you again. Cheers. Alex | ||
| Ulynut |
It does look like fun. I'm trying to get the time off work to do the New England leg. I'm not going for the competition, but if you did want to try for the national champion, it really is set up like a race, being that time makes a difference in your standings. Just sayin. | ||
| Ddaleuly |
Alex - looking forward to hooking up also. Froze my fingers on those early morning pass rides last year - bringing the hippo hands for sure. Ulynut - I know what you're saying; its definitely not a race, but..... put that many guys on those kinds of bikes on the same route - there were a few large tickets written last year (a miracle I didn't get one just because I had Texas plates in CO). Although I will say that given that we put that many miles on those kinds of roads and conditions (it rains in the mountains in Colorado in the summertime) its a bit of a miracle no one went down. That said, consistency would go more for a national champion than speed - there won't be anyone who will make all of the checkpoints in all of the rides (If I were rich enough I'd sure like to give it a try). The membership and entry fee is the cheapest part of the whole thing - a hell of an adventure. | ||
| Itileman |
Hmmm...Homecoming, back to Billings. Motomarathon, back to Billings. Montana 1000 direct to West Fest, back to Billings. Think maybe I should stock up on some tires. That, and figure out how I'm going to pay for all this.  | ||
| Ulynut |
Those large tickets are part of the risk of riding a sportbike. You really can't blame the event for that. | ||
| Ddaleuly |
Ulynut Drove from Boston to Vermont (in a rental cage) this past fall - spent the whole time wishing I'd had a bike to ride on those roads. Your New England Motomarathon is Thursday thru Sunday, and from your profile you look to be about 30 miles from the start, ought to be gorgeous. Hope you make it - post some pics if you do. | ||
| Ulynut |
We have some great riding around here. I just really stink at picking a route and sticking to a plan. Kind of a free-wheeler like that. One good looking side road and all plans go out the window. But I have found some really great roads like that. Finding them again is another thing. | ||
| Buellerxt |
Quote: The Colorado ride this year is June 25th Thru the 28th - I'll have an empty slot on the trailer heading north from Houston if there's anybody interested. Unquote Trailer? For the short run to Colorado? Why? There are some nice routes up through central and west Texas. I love those runs. Nice pictures. I've been to those spots on a couple different bikes and look forward to visits on my Uly. I'll be on a route 66, Chicago to Santa Monica ride in June but I'll have to read up on Motomarathons. | ||
| Ddaleuly |
Yeah, Central and West Texas are nice,but there's a whole lot of nothing for about 600 miles up north of there. Besides the vacation time burned, one of the fellows rode up from Dallas last year and got to ride 3 of the 4 days as he got delayed by the thunderstorms on the way. No virtues in eating bugs driving in straight lines for hours on end. | ||
| Buellerxt |
I corresponded with you a bit earlier, David, but just so we don't have fellow Buellers getting the wrong impression of riding options here in Texas, and with connecting states, here is a portion of my note for the board: Sugar Land(Houston area) to Boulder? A number of nice routes to take but if I was quickly planning a route it would be: Up through Giddings and Bastrop on 36/290 to Fredericksburg. Then 87/29 to 83 north which I'd stay on until 287 into Amarillo and on to Dalhart. Another option would be taking 87 out of San Angelo and catching 385 to Dalhart. I'd then take 87 through Clayton, N.M. and on to Raton. Then 64 to Taos and over the mountain to Tres Piedras, Tierra Amarilla and Chama, N.M. A SUPER ride. Then north on a beautiful ride through Colorado. There are a number of other good options that I've ridden and I'm sure there are many more that I haven't ridden. No need to ride 600 miles of nothing. Thunderstorms haven't stopped me, or slowed me down too much in the past, but I've thought about re-thinking that in the future, particularly when time is not an issue. It's definitely not the safest environment for riding. | ||
| Hangetsu |
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| Old_mil |
It would be nice to see a little more US product out there going head to head with the BMWs ST1300s and V-Stroms. Indeed it would. Sadly, the only US product capable of going head to head with those bikes was discontinued just a few months ago. What I'd recommend for people who haven't already though is get as many Ironbutt 1000 rides in as possible so the marque is at least immortalized in that way. Did one on my S3T, now I have to do one on the Uly.} | ||
| Bienhoabob |
I signed up for the June ride. But will be on my ST1300. Crossing the plains on my city X would be too much for this old body. Not going to trailer the X either. Looking forward to it. | ||
| Hangetsu |
WIMP!  Well, it'll be good to see you there anyway. Ya know, the CityX is small enough, you can always strap it down across the rear carrier on your ST. Now that would be an accomplishment! | ||
| Barkbuster |
Does this event have a limited entry? I happened to pick that week in June off this year but I would need to take the Friday off and fly there Thurs night so the bike would need to be trailer-ed there by someone from the, or passing thru Chicago-land.I got time to ride it home or help drive the tow-rig back.What a way to become one with my uly eh? Sure sounds like a great time l8r bb  | ||
| Ghostrider |
I agree with Buellerxt. Going up through NM is going to give you tons of great options. Norther NM and Southern Colorado are some of the best riding areas in the whole country. | ||
| Bienhoabob |
I just came back from completing the Colorado (Centopassi) ride. Well organized, great roads, but not one Buell. What a shame.  |
