Wilsons Sandbox

--- In DSN_klr650@yahoogroups.com, EbarDP48@a... wrote:

> A friend and I want to take a week long trip through Colorado. > My priorities are: > 1. Points of interest. > 2. Elevation change. > 3. Great roads and beautiful sites. > 4. Off the beaten path stuff. > 5 Forest / fire roads > Anyone here got any suggestions? What's the best time of the year?

You can't go wrong anywhere in the Rockies in Colorado. All that stuff you mention is literally everywhere.

The paved road from Durango to Silverton to Oray to Telluride to Cortez is one of the best in America. There are numerous jeep road passes in that area that are primo such as Imogine, Blackbear, Ophir etc., Ride over to the Black Canyon of the Gunnison or Lake City area from there or in the Crested Butte area. You can't go wrong just about anywhere west of Denver but the SanJuans in the southwest are my favorite. Criswell EbarDP48@... wrote:

> A friend and I want to take a week long trip through Colorado. > My priorities are: > 1. Points of interest. > 2. Elevation change. > 3. Great roads and beautiful sites. > 4. Off the beaten path stuff. > 5 Forest / fire roads > Anyone here got any suggestions? What's the best time of the year? > Bert Barnes > 04 KLR 650 A18 > Big Red > 01 DRZ400 S > Yellow Zook > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at www.dualsportnews.com. List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > Unsubscribe by sending a blank message to: > DSN_klr650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com . > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > >

In a message dated 2004-07-07 11:01:39 AM Pacific Daylight Time, EbarDP48@... writes:

> > A friend and I want to take a week long trip through Colorado. > My priorities are: > 1. Points of interest. > 2. Elevation change. > 3. Great roads and beautiful sites. > 4. Off the beaten path stuff. > 5 Forest / fire roads > Anyone here got any suggestions? What's the best time of the year? > Bert Barnes > 04 KLR 650 A18 > Big Red > 01 DRZ400 S > Yellow Zook > >

Bert, Last year I dd the AMA's tour of the Colorado Rockies - started in Colorado Springs and made a counter clockwise run through the Colorado Rockies. Of all the places I road I have the following suggestions - 1) Ouray. This is one the 4x4 capitols of the world. It is like the hub for a passle of 4x4 roads that crest 11,000' or taller passes. Imogene and Black Bear are two of the best. To get an image what this area looks like, it is where they filmed True Grit. You could spend several days in Ouray. 2) Out of Colorado Springs head into the Valley of the Gods and head for the Balancing Rock. Just short of the rock there is a dirt road taking off to the north east. Its an old WPA road, the first road from Colorado Springs connecting with today's I75. ALong the road are several plaques commemorating the designer, the builders and a great overlook of Pike's Peak. 3) Rocky Mouton National Park, coming in from the Estes Park side. They have a dirt road that runs from the valley floor up to the top. It is one way traffic uphill. Get to the road early in the morning to avoid traffic. The reward is that once you get to the top you can turn around and have a fun ride back towards Estes Park with a mostly empty road, at least empty in your direction. Once you get back to wide two lane turn around and head back through the Park. Just north of Shadow Mountain Lake look for either FR 120A. This gets you into a road network that gets you over to SR 125. head south on 125 and look for Cabin Creek Road which gets you into a dirt road network that you can work into Steamboat Springs. 3) Silverton, head out to SR 110, Its a dirt road that loops back into a historic mining district and has lots of interesting side roads. I did about 50 miles up there and there were still roads I wanted to explore but had to get back to Ouray for the night. One that Colorado tour I took my Delorme Gazetteer. Each night I would look for the next day's sections of dirt roads. The one thing I learned is there are no bad dirt roads in the Rockies. They all go somewhere with seeing and more often than not you'll find a surprise or two that burns the day in your memory. besides those places I remember the day path went through mile after mile of thick aspen woods - you know an aspen groove is the largest single biological organism? They share a common root structure. ANother day I stumbled onto the route followed by the Escalante-dominguez Expedition of 1776 - interesting to contemplate that here stood a bunch of conquistadors while are fore fathers were giving England the collective finger. ANd there was the day I parked the bike for a smoke and got to watch a black bear rip apart a tree stump for the better part of thirty minutes. Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

>The paved road from Durango to Silverton to Oray to Telluride to Cortez is

one of the best in America. There are numerous jeep road passes in that area that are primo such as Imogine, Blackbear, Ophir etc Bert, Last year in mid Sept, 5 KLR 650s and a Sherpa (250cc) spent a week running passes out of Ouray, usually over to the Silverton area. Snow at the top to the extent that Engineer's pass was not accessable. Lower ones at 12,000 ft. where snowy but the trail was OK. Great time. Warning- the 650 is the upper limit on size that is easily ridden over. Tight switchbacks, things that a low range 4WD jeep take with ease or caution. (Especially a trail called Corkscrew) Take the 400cc bike. The locals ride 100cc bikes with massive rear sprockets. If the 650 is a must, put on a smaller countersproket or larger one in the rear. Prepare for low speed dumps. It's a GREAT area to ride in, so Go For It! The paved roads are wonderful, makes you want your sportbike on the trailer with the off roader. I love the western USA, its one part of the country where you are really responsable for yourself. No guard rails on the road with a *sure death experience* if you crash down the cliff! I can send you a CD of photos if you like. Don M Atlanta, GA A16 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Thanks Don, A CD would be great.Let me know the cost. We plan on making this trip next year ...I'm thinking late summer early fall. We just got back from a five day trip of western NC and this work thing is really getting in the way of my riding. Both myself and a couple buddies that plan on going are ex-motocrossers and FTR trail riders. I'm really undecided as to taking the Suzuki 400 or my KLR 650. I'd really like to take the KLR and make time from area to area, but the Suzuki is also appealing. I'm reading a book now, "Scenic driving in Colorado" and it lists off the beaten path roads, dirt, gravel and not so well maintained paved. As well as great paved trips. I guess I'll have to deiced if I'm going to stay in one area or travel 1000 miles or so in the week. Once I know that, I'll know which bike to take. Thanks for your input, Bert Barnes 04 KLR 650 A18 Big Red 01 DRZ400 S Yellow Zook In a message dated 7/8/2004 10:46:21 PM Eastern Standard Time, klrdon@... writes:

>The paved road from Durango to Silverton to Oray to Telluride to Cortez is

one of the best in America. There are numerous jeep road passes in that area that are primo such as Imogine, Blackbear, Ophir etc Bert, Last year in mid Sept, 5 KLR 650s and a Sherpa (250cc) spent a week running passes out of Ouray, usually over to the Silverton area. Snow at the top to the extent that Engineer's pass was not accessable. Lower ones at 12,000 ft. where snowy but the trail was OK. Great time. Warning- the 650 is the upper limit on size that is easily ridden over. Tight switchbacks, things that a low range 4WD jeep take with ease or caution. (Especially a trail called Corkscrew) Take the 400cc bike. The locals ride 100cc bikes with massive rear sprockets. If the 650 is a must, put on a smaller countersproket or larger one in the rear. Prepare for low speed dumps. It's a GREAT area to ride in, so Go For It! The paved roads are wonderful, makes you want your sportbike on the trailer with the off roader. I love the western USA, its one part of the country where you are really responsable for yourself. No guard rails on the road with a *sure death experience* if you crash down the cliff! I can send you a CD of photos if you like. Don M Atlanta, GA A16 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 2004-07-08 7:46:18 PM Pacific Daylight Time, klrdon@... writes:

> > Bert, Last year in mid Sept, 5 KLR 650s and a Sherpa (250cc) spent a week > running passes out of Ouray, usually over to the Silverton area. Snow at the > top > to the extent that Engineer's pass was not accessable. Lower ones at 12,000 > ft. where snowy but the trail was OK. Great time. Warning- the 650 is the > upper > limit on size that is easily ridden over. Tight switchbacks, things that a > low > range 4WD jeep take with ease or caution. (Especially a trail called > Corkscrew) Take the 400cc bike. The locals ride 100cc bikes with massive > rear > sprockets. If the 650 is a must, put on a smaller countersproket or larger > one in the > rear. Prepare for low speed dumps. It's a GREAT area to ride in, so >

Its all in the skill of the rider. Last summer I got my KLR, with panniers, loaded with two weeks worth of gear up and over Black Bear without problems. Same for Imogene and Railroad passes as well. Was running stock gearing and was jetted for 8000'. Up on top of Imogene, 13,114', the engine was starting to load up at idle but still came to life if I cracked the throttle. It was mostly all very technical rock riding and switch backs that left little room for mistakes (Matt-for a reference there were numerous sections that were right up there with that power line I got us on, on Father's Day weekend). Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

In a message dated 2004-07-08 8:10:48 PM Pacific Daylight Time, EbarDP48@... writes:

> FTR trail riders. I'm really undecided as to taking the Suzuki 400 or my > KLR > 650. I'd really like to take the KLR and make time from area to area, but > the > Suzuki is also appealing. I'm reading a book now, "Scenic driving in > Colorado" > and it lists off the beaten path roads, dirt, gravel and not so well > maintained paved. As well as great paved trips. I guess I'll have to deiced > if I'm > going to stay in one area or travel 1000 miles or so in the week. Once I > know > that, I'll know which bike to take. > Thanks for your input, > Bert Barnes >

If you decide to park in Ouray and explore one area take the DR, you love it. You can give The Hell U Ride shop, they are just outside of Telluride, a call to get the low down on proper setup/tires. Pat G'ville, Nv [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

If your stay in Ouray, check out this place. You don't have to stay at the lodge to use the hot springs. Great place to relax after a day's ride. http://www.wiesbadenhotsprings.com/ R

In a message dated 7/8/04 11:35:29 PM Eastern Daylight Time, kdxkawboy@... writes:

> Imogene and Railroad passes as well. Was running stock gearing and was > jetted for 8000'. Up on top of Imogene, 13,114', the engine was starting to > load up at idle but still came to life if I cracked the throttle. It was > mostly > all very technical rock riding and switch backs that left little room for > mistakes

Same here except I fortunately had mostly empty paniers. The low end grunt was a life saver, even with factory jetting and gearing. I do wish for a little higher skill level, but I got through w/o any bruises except to ego! )) Don M Atlanta, GA A16 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]