| Author | Message | ||
     Roostre |
I volunteered to run a leg of "We Rode the World" relay around the world over at Advrider. The money raised goes to support riders.org , an organization that helps put medics on motorcycles in order to get healthcare to remote villages in Africa. A good cause, but more importantly an excuse to ride!! http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34 1891 I am a noob, so this is my first Badweb ride report... Buells showed up in very disproportionate numbers to other bikes here in Utah. Must be good, smart, fun loving, intelligent and handsome peoples are attracted to the marque!   We picked up the baton and rolled into SLC...   It was way too hot for guys in ATGATT, so we decided to hit some canyon twisties on the way to Park City.   If you look close you will see the Olympic Ski Jumps behind Skifastbadly's "slower orange" Uly.   | ||
| Roostre |
As we rode along more and more bikes dropped off until it was just Skifast and I on Ulys. (must have been the dirt)  After a quick stop at the Park City liqour store for "camp fuel" we went into Kamas and part way up Wolf Creek Pass where Skifast had to turn back. A soft shoulder and the fact that I am a klutz led to the first tip over of the day:  No damage done! The new handgurds just paid for themselves!! I headed over the Wolf Creek Pass and towards Vernal. This road is a Buell riders dream. Long sweepers, tight switchbacks, beautiful mountain scenery, and plenty of cruisers to pass! (I have to describe it because it was way to much fun to take pictures. (I even had a cop going the other way light me up towards the end- I was doing 90 in a 55, but he didn't pursue. Whew!) Coming out of Vernal towards Flaming Gorge National Rec Area is another Bueller heaven highway.  I camped the night at the Gorge where I met up with the next relay riders from Wyoming. (and a Coloradoan) They were on a KLR and a KTM640. Very nice guys. We made camp, had dinner and talked motorcyles til the stars were bright.  | ||
| Roostre |
Sunrise on the Gorge!  We were heading out that morning to cross more than half the state of Wyoming. Most of the trip would be on dirt. The Wyoming crew seemed very sceptical about the Uly. "Can it do dirt??" "Is he gonna slow us way down??" "How are we gonna haul that big dork into the hospital after he cracks up his bike out there??" were all questions that I sensed from them.  Off we go into big,wonderful Wyoming!!  This is Micheal tearing up the dirt on his KTM. | ||
| Roostre |
After a few miles of graded roads that ran along a bluff overlooking Rock Springs the guys began to comment about how well I was "keeping up".  The Uly was exceeding their expectations, as it had mine when I first ventured off the terra concretus.    So far all the riding had been pretty tame. Ted (Wyoming) warned me that there was some sandy sections up ahead as we looked for the road to the "Boar's Tusk".  He was right!!  The Uly actually did better than I thought it would. I did drop it twice...but the KTM also went over once and I helped him pick it up. In this shot I was almost at the end and decided to get a little cocky (pun intended!) which I promptly paid for. The running dismount was spectacular!! Just to give you an idea of how far we traveled in this sugar sand. (Hint: its as far as you can see!)  | ||
| Roostre |
At this point Micheal (Colorado) decided he had better turn back for home. (A few hundred miles away.) The distances these guys do regularly on dirt is amazing. Micheal told me that the 50 or so miles we did leaving the Gorge that morning was the farthest he had ever ridden his bike on pavement!! Its just me and the Cowboy now...he is impressed that Uly could even do the sand. BUT...he warns me that up ahead we are going to be riding 20 miles of abandoned railroad gravel!! What is this?? Some kind of torture test for me and my bike??  If it is, I am loving every minute of it!!     | ||
| Roostre |
I took a few videos as we played in a small stream crossing. (Very muddy bottom- I did not want to go down in that cowshit filled stream!!) There are also a few that just give you an idea of what the nicer roads are like. I didn't dare ride one handed on the rutted up rocky sections!! They are here: http://www.youtube.com/user/lawrench96 Unfortunately my Sony Cybershot is not as tough as my Buell. It died going into South Pass City.  The day ended with a sunset ride through Red Canyon and a short highway jaunt into Lander, Wyoming. There we checked into a motel and headed for the bar to meet the next relay rider: Doug from Sheridan. (picture taken by Cowboy)  We had a great time, got a little blitzed (the motel was walking distance) and posed for some shots. Doug had the bartender pull this off the wall, as it seemed appropriate for a guy from Utard.   Yes, I am feeling pretty good! These are some shots Doug took as we rode the Chief Joseph HIghway. If you ever get the cahnce just jump on it. Its THAT good. Doug is an ex-Uly owner and now rides this beauty:  This is Pilot Peak and yes there was still a ton of snow uo there!  Scenic doesn't even begin to describe it!  We just rode up those twisties below!!   | ||
| Roostre |
The rest of my adventure is not photo documented due to the camera dying. (anyone make a camera designed to be abused with dust, vibration, drops, wind, etc...??) Doug and I met Putts and his daughter at "Top of the World" pass heading into Montana. Putts rides a really cool old school R80 GS. I had some serious lust for that bike. I followed them down into Cook City. Along the way we were passed by a guy on a Buell (Lightning I think) pulling a cool lowboy one wheeled trailer. Gave me a big wave. It was nice to see another Buellster out touring and tearing through the twisties. I was somewhat tortured following Putts on his old Beemer- he was being extra careful with his daughter on board, as he should be. I had already pushed my luck earlier in the day anyway...hitting over the ton in marked yellow 35mph corners and nearly low siding once!! Once into Yellowstone we were treated to a Momma Bear and a pair of cubs right beside the road. (In six trips up there over the years I have never seen a bear in the park proper.) Its a bit nerve racking on a bike- Putts was especially nervous with his girl on board. I parted ways with Putts and Li'l Miss Putts at about 4:00 p.m. as they had more sight seeing to do and needed to get back to Salt Lake and to work the next morning. On the way out I was putting by what I though were tourists pulled off to see an animal like they do. A guy flags me down and tells me that theres been a motorcycle accident and he is a Dr. He asks if I can ride him down through the traffic to help and I do. A Road King had found hard parts in an off camber downhill corner and slid into oncoming traffic. We spent about 2.5 hours waiting for the road to be re-opened. Once into West Yellowstone I refueled and thought through my options. Do I press on through the deer/elk/moose infested forests tonight, or should I just get a room and hole up, missing work the next day?? There was just enough daylight left to convince myself I could make it to my own bed by 12:30 or so. I rode through Island Park with my brake covered the entire way. I rode behind a car and used his lights to scan for animals about to pounce into my path. A very nerve-wracking ride. I should have just stayed in West Yellowstone and rode it the next day. Once on I-15 I figure I am home free! Much lower chance of a deer encounter right? Well just as I crossed the Idaho-Utah line I see lights flying around in a strange pattern. AT first I thought it was a highway patrol, but it stopped pretty quickly. As I get closer I can see it is a car that has just flipped over! I slammed on the brakes way too hard as the adrenaline kicked in. I slid the back tire for what seemed like a hundred yards before stopping and getting off the bike to help. THe girl in the car was conscious and trying to crawl out the window. I helped her up, made sure no one else was in the car. She was fine, but real shook up. I asked her "what happened?". She had swerved to avoid hitting a deer and lost control. Other cars stopped and we called the Highway Patrol. I begged leave as it was getting way too late for riding and I was getting tired. Not more than an hour from home now!! What's that?? More emergency vehicles in the road!! Only a few miles from the last rollover I happen onto another one. These poor people weren't going to be as lucky. The freeway was closed so that a medical helicopter could land and transport them. I watched as 15-20 firefighters struggled to jaws-of-life the car open and save the occupants. Not able to take anymore I returned to my bike. I pulled to the shoulder and asked the car next to me to wake me when we started moving again. I slept uneasily next to the highway for a short time. I awoke to a guy yelling "Hey bike guy!! Wake up, were rolling!!". I rolled into my driveway with 1283.7 trip miles at 3:45 a.m. . Wow! What a weekend. One I could never forget! | ||
| Rasta_dog |
I just sped through all the photos and some of the prose, and I must say that it looks like one of the better tales that have been posted here. Awesome ride & recap. | ||
| Buffalobolt |
Great write-up, and pictures, for a great cause! Thank you! It was good to see what the "Big, Bad, and Dirty" group can do when ridden with other ADV riders, in some awesome and varied "road" conditions. | ||
| Roostre |
Thanks. My little weekend kinda pales in comparison to your big tour Buffalobolt! That was a helluva ride. I am heading for the PCH in August with some friends that ride metric cruisers. Any advice on what to see or avoid? | ||
| Buffalobolt |
I don't know about that Roostre. It would seem like we both had a pretty good smiles per mile index (albeit, with a few anxious moments mixed in just to keep you in check!)!  Besides, I turned around when I came to the gravel roads. A Ully would have came in handy a couple of times (although those KTM Adventurer's look to be prettty sweet too). "...any advise on what to see or avoid?" Apparently you need to avoid cars. They like to wreck in front of you! The PCH was nice, but I really did like that CA 20 from Fort Bragg to Willits. The place I could have spent a lot more time checking out though was Sequioa National Forest. I don't think they have off road area's there, but possibly some dirt roads. Real nice though... Have a good trip, and post us up some pictures here. | ||
| Xcephasx |
nice pic of the slc temple, and what you get there. lol | ||
| Roostre |
"nice pic of the slc temple, and what you get there. lol" What do you get there?? Married? Dunked? I dunno if I get it...??? Generally I just get outta there.  ASAP | ||
| Court |
WOW . . what a trip! Fabulous report. | ||
| Jlnance |
What a cool ride! Those are some beautiful pictures. | ||
| Glitch |
WOW! |
