Bugnatr
Well-known member
This fall I upgraded my tried 2000 KLR 650 with well over 22k hard miles for a fresh 2007 KLR with 2,090 miles. What better way to enjoy the new to me KLR than take it to the desert and pound the shit out of it for 3 days/600 miles on all types of washboard roads in one of America's biggest and most badass National Parks. What you see from the pavement is only a small slice of what the park entails, the real beauty is where only the gravel roads take you into the back country. The first thing to know is this park is HUGE, the largest in US (excluding Alaska) at 5,262 sq. miles.
I believe this is my 14th visit to the park of which half have been on the dualsports that we haul the 400 miles to get there. With a few calls to Robert (FJRob), Brad (Uberkul) and his trusty sidekick Don a plan was in place. Usually we stay in Beatty, Nevada but this trip we chose Panamint Springs Resort (crappy digs but good food and fuel) so we made due and we liked the location on the western side of the park. Our digs for 3 days.
The bikes.... two DR650's, one Honda XL650 and the mighty KLR
Day one plan.Ride through Saline Valley to Big Pine for lunch, after all it was only 100 miles. As with most dual sporting the key to serious back country riding is a bike in good shape, tires and lots of tools for the McGyver moments as AAA isn't coming to get you.
My new to me KLR had some type of fuel blockage about 35 miles in but riding with 3 mechanics is not a bad idea. After an hour of tank removal and futzing with the bike all was well and we were off again.
We are headed that way.
Miles and miles of this
and that with lots of dust throw in for good measure.
Some old mining towns on the way
But we did make it to Big Pine for lunch and fuel. We decided to ride by the Eureka Dunes on the way back to the Resort. This would make it 150 mile return ride and we knew it would be dark before we made it back but we had headlights so we went for it. The Eureka Dunes are some of the tallest in the US at 680 feet and are huge but so is everything in the desert, the size is hard to comprehend but awesome indeed.
The road goes around the backside of the dunes where we had to trudge a few miles through deep sand which is almost as much fun as riding in deep snow.
Steel pass was a bit of a challenge but we made it, now the daylight was slipping fast and temps were dropping fast. Time to throw on the liners for the 1+ hour ride in the dark, it gets real chilly at dark in the desert.
Not the best pictures on the fly but we had a real nice pre full moon helping light the way. Made it back to a nice dinner and beverages while planning day two.
Day two was a special day as I have been wanting to ride Titus Canyon in the dark with a full moon for close to ten years and this would be the day!!!
Wasn't long before Brad showed us his superior parking skills
We rode up Wild Rose road and then headed to the Charcoal Kilns George Hearst (Randolph's dad) built in 1870. Only used for two years to reduce the Juniper on Telescope Peak to charcoal for the gold smelting, quite the structures.
We continued up the rugged mountain road to the highest campground and the end of the road. From here one can walk the remaining 3,000 feet to the top of Telescope peak. We were not the ones to do that.
Where else can you ride above 8,00 feet and an hour later be 280 below sea level, man I love this place.
Near Stovepipe Wells we stopped at the Mosaic Canyon, we actually walked a short distance to view another wonder of nature.
Our plan is to ride through Titus Canyon in the full moon after dark starting near the Nevada border. Titus Canyon is IMHO, the greatest road in America. It is a one way road through a tight wash with 2-300 foot walls straight up on each side and just enough room for a pickup. After Leadville we turned off the bikes and coasted in the full moon for miles back into Death Valley.
Words cannot describe the look of the moon bathed rock walls, plus the sound of the gravel under the wheels just added to the mystic of the ride. Absolutely the best ride ever, we may just make this night time ride an annual event. My camera doesn't do moonlight pictures but here's proof it was dark, Uberkul has the good pictures.
First day was 250 miles and this day was 240 so day three would be easier...we thought.
Our route was over Hunter mountain to the famed race track with a stop at Teakettle junction. Uberkul brought a teakettle that we signed and noted locations of our ride. It looked new and shiny but with a big rock he gave it the desert look.
On to the Racetrack
From here we rode down Lippencott Mine road. It was really steep with sheer 200 foot drop offs on the side of the road and it didn't take long to realize first gear was way to fast. Lots of braking, slow going but we made it. Sorry no pictures as I was a bit busy staying alive.
Only a hair over 100 miles for the day but we were feeling the love of Dualsporting for 3 days so it was time to kick back and enjoy the sunset from our digs.
Thanks to Robert,
and thanks to Don and Brad.
These guys were great companions and with lots of side by side riding at speed on the narrow desert roads I never once doubted their quality riding skills. I'll be packing a grin for a while after this ride. Motorcycles are good for the soul, eh?
I believe this is my 14th visit to the park of which half have been on the dualsports that we haul the 400 miles to get there. With a few calls to Robert (FJRob), Brad (Uberkul) and his trusty sidekick Don a plan was in place. Usually we stay in Beatty, Nevada but this trip we chose Panamint Springs Resort (crappy digs but good food and fuel) so we made due and we liked the location on the western side of the park. Our digs for 3 days.
The bikes.... two DR650's, one Honda XL650 and the mighty KLR
Day one plan.Ride through Saline Valley to Big Pine for lunch, after all it was only 100 miles. As with most dual sporting the key to serious back country riding is a bike in good shape, tires and lots of tools for the McGyver moments as AAA isn't coming to get you.
My new to me KLR had some type of fuel blockage about 35 miles in but riding with 3 mechanics is not a bad idea. After an hour of tank removal and futzing with the bike all was well and we were off again.
We are headed that way.
Miles and miles of this
and that with lots of dust throw in for good measure.
Some old mining towns on the way
But we did make it to Big Pine for lunch and fuel. We decided to ride by the Eureka Dunes on the way back to the Resort. This would make it 150 mile return ride and we knew it would be dark before we made it back but we had headlights so we went for it. The Eureka Dunes are some of the tallest in the US at 680 feet and are huge but so is everything in the desert, the size is hard to comprehend but awesome indeed.
The road goes around the backside of the dunes where we had to trudge a few miles through deep sand which is almost as much fun as riding in deep snow.
Steel pass was a bit of a challenge but we made it, now the daylight was slipping fast and temps were dropping fast. Time to throw on the liners for the 1+ hour ride in the dark, it gets real chilly at dark in the desert.
Not the best pictures on the fly but we had a real nice pre full moon helping light the way. Made it back to a nice dinner and beverages while planning day two.
Day two was a special day as I have been wanting to ride Titus Canyon in the dark with a full moon for close to ten years and this would be the day!!!
Wasn't long before Brad showed us his superior parking skills
We rode up Wild Rose road and then headed to the Charcoal Kilns George Hearst (Randolph's dad) built in 1870. Only used for two years to reduce the Juniper on Telescope Peak to charcoal for the gold smelting, quite the structures.
We continued up the rugged mountain road to the highest campground and the end of the road. From here one can walk the remaining 3,000 feet to the top of Telescope peak. We were not the ones to do that.
Where else can you ride above 8,00 feet and an hour later be 280 below sea level, man I love this place.
Near Stovepipe Wells we stopped at the Mosaic Canyon, we actually walked a short distance to view another wonder of nature.
Our plan is to ride through Titus Canyon in the full moon after dark starting near the Nevada border. Titus Canyon is IMHO, the greatest road in America. It is a one way road through a tight wash with 2-300 foot walls straight up on each side and just enough room for a pickup. After Leadville we turned off the bikes and coasted in the full moon for miles back into Death Valley.
Words cannot describe the look of the moon bathed rock walls, plus the sound of the gravel under the wheels just added to the mystic of the ride. Absolutely the best ride ever, we may just make this night time ride an annual event. My camera doesn't do moonlight pictures but here's proof it was dark, Uberkul has the good pictures.
First day was 250 miles and this day was 240 so day three would be easier...we thought.
Our route was over Hunter mountain to the famed race track with a stop at Teakettle junction. Uberkul brought a teakettle that we signed and noted locations of our ride. It looked new and shiny but with a big rock he gave it the desert look.
On to the Racetrack
From here we rode down Lippencott Mine road. It was really steep with sheer 200 foot drop offs on the side of the road and it didn't take long to realize first gear was way to fast. Lots of braking, slow going but we made it. Sorry no pictures as I was a bit busy staying alive.
Only a hair over 100 miles for the day but we were feeling the love of Dualsporting for 3 days so it was time to kick back and enjoy the sunset from our digs.
Thanks to Robert,
and thanks to Don and Brad.
These guys were great companions and with lots of side by side riding at speed on the narrow desert roads I never once doubted their quality riding skills. I'll be packing a grin for a while after this ride. Motorcycles are good for the soul, eh?
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