Special guests, NorCal tours

[OrangevaleFJR]

Cdogman was riding through California and Sherri and I invited him to stay in my guest room/office. Yep, I work from home and the guest room is also my office so the double bed is shoe horned in between two computers and a packed closet. If you're tired, it works

Robin and Kenra stayed for two nights, arriving Wednesday. Robin brought single malt Scotch (nice) and I gotta say they were some of the easier house guests I've ever had. Sherri and I both had a great time with them!

Thursday we were riding. Barabus had rode to Shasta to get his Russell Day Long on Wednesday. Funny, Robin was up there the previous day getting his from Rick Mayer. I rounded out the custom saddle department with my Bill Mayer. I'll let Barry and Robin comment on their seats, but they sure looked nice! We met Barry in Downievilled on 49 for lunch. I then took them on a little adventure toward Placerville. The planned route was:

49 to Nevada City

174 to Colfax

Iowa Hill to Foresthill Road

Forresthill to Mosquito Ridge Road

Mosq. to French Meadows

Then that fire road up to Wentworth Springs Road

to 193 to Placerville

Due to timing, we skipped the best part of the route (Mosquito to Wentworth to 193) and just went to 49 from Foresthill and over. Barry had to meet up with Skyway by 6 in Sonora. Did you make it Barry?

Here's how the ride starts. Getting two FJR's, a FZ6 a Honda Accord and 12 years of accumulated crap in my garage was easier than I expected. Here is Robin checking the air in his new tires (I'll let him tell this story...thanks Roseville Yamaha!)

The two bikes ready to roll

For those that wanted me to finish my rock wall, I'm getting there...almost done!

Kenra, Robin and Barry at lunch in Downieville

Some guys out adventure riding the trails around Downieville. I have rode from Downieville to Colfax on a quad before...the dirt trails are a plenty in these hills.

New technology

FJRs readying to depart Downieville

I asked the other two to lead so I could get some pictures. Here we go!

Good thing we were taking it easy - local Sherrif

Barabus was in the lead, then Cdogman

Barry started putting some distance on us.

There he goes!

He's gone...

uh oh...looks like we're going to catch up to him

We park in the shade as Barry talks his way out of...well...going at an FJR clip

I should have warned Barry. 49 is pretty well patrolled. Take the turns fast, but take the straights easy. I felt bad asking him to lead in my hood and then to have him get a ticket.

After that episode, someone asked me to lead and I'm not so good at taking pictures over my shoulder.

We went through Nevada City. This is a fun town to walk.

174 was uneventful: too much traffic for any fun. I took them East on a fun road that parallels 80 for a bit them we scooted back down to Colfax on 80 and took Iowa Hill Road. Here's Barry on the bridge over the North Fork of the American River

Robin and Kendra near there too

Then we climbed up the other side. Barry said, "That's the first time I've seen turns marked 5 m.p.h!" Robin replied, "Some of them should have been marked 4!"

Iowa hill is a goaty little road with quite a few twists. It's not good for out and out hooliganism because oncoming traffic would ruin your day (life) as the road is so thin, and also because mistakes often would be accompanied by a 500 foot drop.

but it's pretty up there

Locals put up a sign for us

 

[joyfulgirl]

Looks fun! Wish I was there! Sorry to have missed it and everyone!

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

Iowa Hill Road goes to Iowa Hill, California. This town used to be a small gold camp. Wells Fargo had a closet sized lock box on site. Here is the general store/bar/grill

One of the places that likes people to stick money on the ceiling and walls

They explained that locals started doing this so that they always had enough for a few drinks when they dropped by. Have an extra buck? Stick one up there for next time!

Getting ready to take off again

One of my better over the shoulder shots

Foresthill gave us room to pass and take some more pics

49 looking up to Foresthill Bridge

The green is gone...golden brown until next winter

Coloma, of gold discovery fame

Our destination, Placerville

A Kawi

Barry left to meet Skyway and Robin and I got in line to hop on US 50 to go back to Orangevale. Here is our reflection

A really nice day!

 

[Cdogman]

Sweet write up Andrew

Thanks for having us. You and your wife are fantastic. Thanks for putting up with us and showing us the twisties up there.

I am uploading all 725MB now and will post more pics on my entire ride probably today or tomarrow

Didi TWN say Traxxion was going to be at WFO??

 

[RenoJohn]

Nice fun! Good roads ........

Thanks for sharing.

Sorry to hear abou the ticket. ....but how about that great weather!!!

 

[Cdogman]

[SIZE=12pt]Oh, The tire story. I forgot[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]My trip to see everyone was one of 10 days. First day out I got a puncture in my brand new Roads. <_< I was nowhere near a Yammi dealer so I plugged it and off I went.[/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]I have now learned that a low road rear will boil off on the edges and step out on the corners pretty easy :clapping: . By day 4 or 5 I was pushing it. I had done 2200 miles or so on the plug and it was no longer holding. [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]I called Andrew (Orange) and asked him to line me up a set of Pilot powers as I am losing 10 PSI an hour and I am outta CO2, I am 1.5 hours out. h34r: [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]He leaves me a message with Roseville Yammies Addy and an appointment for later that day anytime (thanks !! Andrew) I pull in and they go right to work. I got the Dual Compound “Powers” and they are SWEET!! :yahoo: [/SIZE]

I met A LOT of FJR folks. Andrew and his Lovely Wife are right up there at the top of our best parts of the ride.

[SIZE=12pt]Did I say thanks Andrew?? Thanks for the Company, Setting up the tires, and showing me the Twistys [/SIZE]

[SIZE=12pt]Oh, For those that wanna know, I used to think I ride fast, Now I wanna ride like Andrew and some of the others I rode with. …… I need new shocks too [/SIZE]

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

[SIZE=12pt]Did I say thanks Andrew?? Thanks for the Company, Setting up the tires, and showing me the Twistys [/SIZE]

You and Kenra are both welcome, come back anytime! I bet you two are glad to be home

 

[Cdogman]

I slept 11 Hours. We made it home on Saturday, bout 11.30 PM . 741 Miles of pure slabbing hell. Escort 8500 and throttle lock at 105 ish

You and Sherri also have a place to stay in Utah, Anytime

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I slept 11 Hours. We made it home on Saturday, bout 11.30 PM . 741 Miles of pure slabbing hell. Escort 8500 and throttle lock at 105 ish
You and Sherri also have a place to stay in Utah, Anytime

I'm curious about how those Pilot Power dual compounds will hold up.

 

[vol210]

I love that route. I too had a flat on Mosquito Ridge. There is one section where you're riding along the top of a ridge, over near Icehouse going to Wentworth Springs I believe, shortly before going by the damn, climbing over the sides and looking down on both sides was a trip. Cool write up and pics, thanks.

Jim

 

[Cdogman]

I slept 11 Hours. We made it home on Saturday, bout 11.30 PM . 741 Miles of pure slabbing hell. Escort 8500 and throttle lock at 105 ish
You and Sherri also have a place to stay in Utah, Anytime

I'm curious about how those Pilot Power dual compounds will hold up.

So far I have about 1600 Miles on them. They are not even flattened from the highway home. I hop ethey work well. I liked them in the twisties

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I love that route. I too had a flat on Mosquito Ridge. There is one section where you're riding along the top of a ridge, over near Icehouse going to Wentworth Springs I believe, shortly before going by the damn, climbing over the sides and looking down on both sides was a trip. Cool write up and pics, thanks.
Jim

Yep, now Barry and Robin have to come back here so I can show them the best of the area...Unfortunately, we cut a large part of the best section of the ride. That said, I think Kenra was a bit tired of bumps and the ride from French Meadows to Wentworth is close to being a dual sport ride...very bumpy. Therefore, it was probably a good thing we cut that out.

 

[shokdimn]

Good show Oval!

 

[madmike2]

I'm curious about how those Pilot Power dual compounds will hold up.

Me too!

Yep, those are some of the fun roads we have in the Sierras. It looks like a good time was had by all....well, except for Barry's "conversation" with a certain uniformed state employee.

 

[Bluestreek]

I'm curious about how those Pilot Power dual compounds will hold up.

Me too!

[SIZE=12pt]Me three![/SIZE]

 

[Cdogman]

I'm curious about how those Pilot Power dual compounds will hold up.

Me too!

[SIZE=12pt]Me three![/SIZE]

I will keep everyone posted. they are pretty sticky on the sides. I think until I will the AMA superbikes and get new suspension I will still be chasing you crazy people

 

[Barabus]

I'm curious about how those Pilot Power dual compounds will hold up.

Me too!

Yep, those are some of the fun roads we have in the Sierras. It looks like a good time was had by all....well, except for Barry's "conversation" with a certain uniformed state employee.

Yeah, it started out badly. He mentioned wreckless driving, impound and a trip to the local no pay motel. Clocked at 89 in a 55 but he said he was pissed because he saw me hard on my brakes and scrubbed some speed before the radar lock. Next he mentioned "nice bike". I had my ear plugs on and so he said it again. We chatted and chatted. Ticket went from 89 to 75 to 74 to 70. In that area anything over 75 would prohibit traffic school. The officer was friendly and commitment that I was "nice guy"and pulled over quickly. Be warned about CHP on the 49. I had just passed the sheriff a couple miles ago when I wicked it up. OV and Cdogman got some good pics and I consider myself lucky that I had some friends to ride with on a beautiful Thursday. FYI, my last ticket was in 1994. Think I am eligible for traffic school?

 

[Cdogman]

I'm curious about how those Pilot Power dual compounds will hold up.

Me too!

Yep, those are some of the fun roads we have in the Sierras. It looks like a good time was had by all....well, except for Barry's "conversation" with a certain uniformed state employee.

Yeah, it started out badly. He mentioned wreckless driving, impound and a trip to the local no pay motel. Clocked at 89 in a 55 but he said he was pissed because he saw me hard on my brakes and scrubbed some speed before the radar lock. Next he mentioned "nice bike". I had my ear plugs on and so he said it again. We chatted and chatted. Ticket went from 89 to 75 to 74 to 70. In that area anything over 75 would prohibit traffic school. The officer was friendly and commitment that I was "nice guy"and pulled over quickly. Be warned about CHP on the 49. I had just passed the sheriff a couple miles ago when I wicked it up. OV and Cdogman got some good pics and I consider myself lucky that I had some friends to ride with on a beautiful Thursday. FYI, my last ticket was in 1994. Think I am eligible for traffic school?

Mebbe you should be a professional negotiator!

That was kinda funny, I was hauling ass right behind you (not as fast as you) and almost t boned him as he was trying so hard to whip around and chase you :glare: Sorry, but it was funny