OrangevaleFJR
R.I.P. Our FJR Riding Friend
Zac and Andrew were very pleasantly surprised with their bikes on Friday the 15th by their wonderful wives Donna and Sherri (respectively). Andrew already had his on order w/deposit, but thought he had another week to wait and Zac was told he was never going to get a street bike although he's an excellent off road rider with accomplishments to proove it!
Guess what, we were both lied to! They got our bikes and showed them to us on the same evening! In fact, after checking the serial numbers, these bikes are 9 bikes apart and were both built 3 months ago. COOL!!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!!!
First thing was first: Friday evening we put about 100 miles on them, then dropped all fluids and oil filters the following day at Zac's work. Zac happens to be the Maintenance scheduler/manager at Roseville Yamaha. We got there early and Zac took care of his bike, then Aaron, their mechanic took care of mine. Aaron impressed me with his care of my bike...he knows how important these bikes are to us and treats them all very well! Good news tidbit: Sherri was very comfortable on the bike and said "I'll go anywhere with you on this!" :clap: Zac put new license plates on our bikes:
Sunday, Zac and Donna planned our ride from their wonderful home up in the Sierra. Therefore, Sherri and I left Orangevale (20 E of Sacramento) and left for Foresthill:
O'vale to Foresthill Map
We took Hazel North to I-80 and the I-80 NE (Eastbound) to Auburn and then Foresthill Road East to Donna and Zacs and here we are getting out of gear on their driveway.
We cooled off there a bit and had yummy sandwiches (Thanks Donna)!
Then we took off East on Foresthill Road to the town and then a right turn on Mosquito Ridge Road. Time to describe roads:
Foresthill road is a fun road with long sweeping curves and S-turns. It is a fast road with smooth surface, wide lanes, plenty of passing lanes and great views through the Sierra set about with Oak, pine, cedar and a few other trees...the grass is still green from late rains and the purple peas that the Chinese planted so long ago are blooming all over the place. Simply beautiful.
Mosquito Ridge Road takes you down from the top of the range down the gorge for 30 minutes of twisty heaven to the Middle Fork American River. The river is clear and pretty, the views are awesome and there are some fantistic shaded straights and curves cut through really cool looking rock. Once you cross the river you are going up again...same great twisties. We were never stuck behind a car, and in almost an hour of driving we only saw about 5 trucks coming the other way (trucks with boats in tow coming from a resevoir).
After going up, a sign points you 1/2 mile down a small road to the destination...an old growth of Douglas Fir and Sequoia. I had no clue there were Sequoia in this area! I saw perhaps the largest Douglas Fir I have ever seen and I grew up in the Rockies! Here are some pics of us in the parking lot, on a hike, being proud of our new FJRs and leaving:
R to L Zac (CISCO), Donna and Sherri (Joyfulgirl001)
Zac and Andrew(O'vale):
Sherri and Donna by a tree too big to get your arms around:
Trail scenery:
Sherri and Andrew leaving:
Fun day, short trip, but great twisty riding! It was so hot this day we were all a bit tired after the ride.
We certainly plan on accelerating our purchase of boots...the air from the road was so hot this day in the Central Valley that it burned our ankles!
In case you didn't know...FJR's are faster, smoother, more comfortable, and generally just an incredibly better 2up riding experience than our 1977 BMW R100RS. Amazing what 28 years can do!
Guess what, we were both lied to! They got our bikes and showed them to us on the same evening! In fact, after checking the serial numbers, these bikes are 9 bikes apart and were both built 3 months ago. COOL!!!!!! WOOHOOO!!!!!!
First thing was first: Friday evening we put about 100 miles on them, then dropped all fluids and oil filters the following day at Zac's work. Zac happens to be the Maintenance scheduler/manager at Roseville Yamaha. We got there early and Zac took care of his bike, then Aaron, their mechanic took care of mine. Aaron impressed me with his care of my bike...he knows how important these bikes are to us and treats them all very well! Good news tidbit: Sherri was very comfortable on the bike and said "I'll go anywhere with you on this!" :clap: Zac put new license plates on our bikes:
Sunday, Zac and Donna planned our ride from their wonderful home up in the Sierra. Therefore, Sherri and I left Orangevale (20 E of Sacramento) and left for Foresthill:
O'vale to Foresthill Map
We took Hazel North to I-80 and the I-80 NE (Eastbound) to Auburn and then Foresthill Road East to Donna and Zacs and here we are getting out of gear on their driveway.
We cooled off there a bit and had yummy sandwiches (Thanks Donna)!
Then we took off East on Foresthill Road to the town and then a right turn on Mosquito Ridge Road. Time to describe roads:
Foresthill road is a fun road with long sweeping curves and S-turns. It is a fast road with smooth surface, wide lanes, plenty of passing lanes and great views through the Sierra set about with Oak, pine, cedar and a few other trees...the grass is still green from late rains and the purple peas that the Chinese planted so long ago are blooming all over the place. Simply beautiful.
Mosquito Ridge Road takes you down from the top of the range down the gorge for 30 minutes of twisty heaven to the Middle Fork American River. The river is clear and pretty, the views are awesome and there are some fantistic shaded straights and curves cut through really cool looking rock. Once you cross the river you are going up again...same great twisties. We were never stuck behind a car, and in almost an hour of driving we only saw about 5 trucks coming the other way (trucks with boats in tow coming from a resevoir).
After going up, a sign points you 1/2 mile down a small road to the destination...an old growth of Douglas Fir and Sequoia. I had no clue there were Sequoia in this area! I saw perhaps the largest Douglas Fir I have ever seen and I grew up in the Rockies! Here are some pics of us in the parking lot, on a hike, being proud of our new FJRs and leaving:
R to L Zac (CISCO), Donna and Sherri (Joyfulgirl001)
Zac and Andrew(O'vale):
Sherri and Donna by a tree too big to get your arms around:
Trail scenery:
Sherri and Andrew leaving:
Fun day, short trip, but great twisty riding! It was so hot this day we were all a bit tired after the ride.
We certainly plan on accelerating our purchase of boots...the air from the road was so hot this day in the Central Valley that it burned our ankles!
In case you didn't know...FJR's are faster, smoother, more comfortable, and generally just an incredibly better 2up riding experience than our 1977 BMW R100RS. Amazing what 28 years can do!
Last edited by a moderator:
