big bend/west texas trip report

[Glen Hein]

I'm assemblying my tool kit and I'm researching available tools bags. I want to carry a comprehensive set of tools in anticipation of long distance adventures. One very large tool bag probably isn't the best way. I think splitting my tools into sub-kits will make them easier to carry and to custom tailor to the ride of the day. I've found several fender bags that will work great for a Tire Repair Kit. But I'm at a loss for my Basic Kit, which is to include a wrench set (12 pc), channel lock pliers (10" total length), screwdrivers, socket & rachet set etc, all full size tools. The FOX RACING 2005 DELUX TOOL PACK from cyclegear.com looks interesting, but they don't list any dimensions, so I don't know if my tools will fit. What kind and sizes of tool bags do you use? Thanks, Glen

[Jud Jones]

--- In DSN_KLR650@yahoogroups.com, "Glen Hein" wrote:

> > > I'm assemblying my tool kit and I'm researching available tools > bags. I want to carry a comprehensive set of tools in anticipation > of long distance adventures. One very large tool bag probably isn't > the best way. I think splitting my tools into sub-kits will make > them easier to carry and to custom tailor to the ride of the day. > I've found several fender bags that will work great for a Tire Repair > Kit. But I'm at a loss for my Basic Kit, which is to include a > wrench set (12 pc), channel lock pliers (10" total length), > screwdrivers, socket & rachet set etc, all full size tools. The FOX > RACING 2005 DELUX TOOL PACK from cyclegear.com looks interesting, but > they don't list any dimensions, so I don't know if my tools will fit. > What kind and sizes of tool bags do you use? > > Thanks, > Glen

I put my main road tool kit in a Roadgear Sport Touring Tool Pouch, http://www.roadgear.com/catalog/index.cfm It holds way more crap than I need.

[matteeanne@yahoo.com]

Myself, I would not have a clue what to do with my tools if I in fact ever extracted them from the bag I have them in. Surprisingly my KLR has never broken down. I used to keep them in my old mountain bike pannier I had strapped to the back of the KLR, along with 20lbs of other survival gear, but because I ride wet or dry, I had rust problems. Now I have everything packed in WD-40 lined plastic bags, in a backpack (Incase I need to backpack out 60-70 miles into the Olympic mountains) and thats packed inside the old bike pannier. A reminder to the other Non-wrench heads like me... I read that you can easily ride farther in one hour off road than you can walk in a day. Be prepared! --- Glen Hein wrote:

> > > > I'm assemblying my tool kit and I'm researching > available tools > bags. I want to carry a comprehensive set of tools > in anticipation > of long distance adventures. One very large tool > bag probably isn't > the best way. I think splitting my tools into > sub-kits will make > them easier to carry and to custom tailor to the > ride of the day. > I've found several fender bags that will work great > for a Tire Repair > Kit. But I'm at a loss for my Basic Kit, which is > to include a > wrench set (12 pc), channel lock pliers (10" total > length), > screwdrivers, socket & rachet set etc, all full size > tools. The FOX > RACING 2005 DELUX TOOL PACK from cyclegear.com looks > interesting, but > they don't list any dimensions, so I don't know if > my tools will fit. > What kind and sizes of tool bags do you use? > > Thanks, > Glen > > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: >

http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html

> List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: > www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: > www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > DSN_KLR650-unsubscribe@yahoogroups.com > > > > > >

__________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Yahoo! Small Business - Try our new resources site! http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/resources/

[ron criswell]

I just got back from there myself. There is nothing like sitting on the porch at Ghost Ranch in Terlingua watching the sun set on the Chisos mountains while listening to some of the locals jabbering after too many Mexican beers (or possibly sampling the peyote rumored to be found there). One word of caution for all you road racer wanna bees, another rider was killed on the stellar hwy 170 last weekend. The forth in a year. Reason? Going way too fast on a roller coaster up and down blind corner gravel infested road. Oh he was racing another guy and they both got tangled up. One bike hit a Corvette coming the other way head on. The rider that died supposedly died from severe road rash trauma (not pretty). I really sometimes appreciate the KLR's mild speed capabilities. Also check out Cycletek on Hwy 118 7 miles north of Study Butte at gate 5. Ralph is a serious mechanic / ex racer who used to build race bikes and teach motorcycle maintenance in the Dallas / Fort Worth area. He got my headlight problem fixed and put on a new inspection sticker (mine was 6 months expired) and gave me the real skinney on chain lube and oil for all interested in arguing this more. He is neither a fan on WD 40 or Chain Wax. Ralph and his Blue Heeler dog will get you back on the road. And if you are really adventurous check out the Marfa lights and the Chinati Art Exhibit in Marfa. If you don't care for the minimalism of artist like Judd and Flavin, you will like talking to the beautiful girl at the reception center there from Brazil. The old hotel Piasano next to the square is also interesting. It is where all the actors stayed ()James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson and Dennis Hopper) while filming the movie Giant back in the fifties. It is always a different world out in Big Bend land. Criswell

On Thursday, March 17, 2005, at 08:31 AM, John wrote: > > > Well, I got back from Big Bend/West Texas the other day. It was a > great trip and I look forward to going back. > > Traveled out to Fort Davis/Indian Lodge by trailer. (Yes, I know a > KLR is a dual sport and meant to be ridden but I am a single father > with three kids and couldn't figure out how to get us all out there > on the bike. So it was use a trailer or leave it home. My parents > came along to drive the chase vehicle and babysit the kids while I > rode.) The Indian Lodge is a beautiful pueblo style hotel built in > the 30's by the CCC. It's run by the state park and quite cheap- > highly recommended place to stay if you're in that area. > > Day 1- Rode the Fort Davis scenic loop (166 & 118- all paved). I had > a new front tire and wanted to break it in on this ride. The lower > part of 166 out of Fort Davis is a wide two lane with shoulders. As > it gets up into the mountains it gets narrower (no shoulders) and > twistier. I only passed three cars on the entire trip (about 75 > miles). It was beautiful weather and a nice relaxing ride. > > In the afternoon, I rode up to Balmorhea State Park and swam in the > spring fed pool there. I had my son on the back and we did well. > It's not as scenic as the loop but still a nice ride. > > Day 2- Left Fort Davis and went south on 17 to Marfa. Had breakfast > at Jimmie's Cafe (I think), not bad food and one of the only places > in town to eat breakfast. We picked up some groceries at the > supermarket there and headed for Chinati Hot Springs. Rode two up > with my son down 2810 to Pinto Canyon Road. 2810 is a two lane > paved "ranch road". It's fairly straight and flat through most of it > until it becomes dirt about 35 miles or so south of Marfa. It's been > a while since I have ridden offroad, So I unloaded my son once we > hit the dirt/gravel part of Pinto Canyon Road. From there it is 20 > miles or so of dirt/gravel to the Hot Springs. I was able to > comfortably ride between 30 and 50 mph most of the way. There are a > few spots with deep loose stuff that got me a little wobbly but it > was controllable. Next time, I would air down my tires a bit from > the 30 psi I was running. Glad I was riding alone though. > > Chinati Hot Springs is an interesting place. It is run by a young > couple (and many dogs) who took over about two years ago from a non- > profit. They have done a lot of work and there was a new outdoor > tub, new kitchen, and a new bathroom in "El Presidente"- the room > with the private tub. My parents stayed in that room and the kids > and I had a family room with three beds and a cot. It is very low > key and relaxing. A guy from Colorado rode in on a F650 Dakar for > the day to use the baths while we were there. It is very remote, so > you have to bring your own food, but they provide everything you > need to cook and we made a very nice dinner. I would say staying > here was probably the best part of the trip. I rode the gravel roads > in the area (both alone and with my kids on the back) and explored > into Ruidosa. We stopped to check out some wild horses that were > roaming these roads and they came right up to us to check us out. If > I had to do it again, I would spent more time here as there are lots > of backroads and it is pretty close to the Chispa Road, apparently > one of the best dirt roads in Texas (runs from Candeleria up to near > Valentine). > > Day 3- Rode from the Hot Springs along 170 (the River Road) to > Terlingua/Big Bend National Park. 170 is a great road. The > bluebonnets were in bloom and it was very scenic. Stopped for lunch > in Presidio and continued on to Terlingua. The best riding and > scenery of the whole trip, I would say was between Presidio and > Lajitas on 170. Nice dips and twists, beautiful scenery, just nice > overall. > > We entered the park at Study Butte and went to the visitor center at > Panther Junction. (There were lots of other DS's there). They > suggested we go up to the basin and then to Santa Elena Canyon. We > backtracked a bit and rode up to the Basin. It was nice, fairly > short ride up into the mountains. There are several hairpins and > twisties. > > We then went down to Castolon and Santa Elena canyon. This was a > nice ride with a few stops along the way. It was getting dark when > we finished the canyon and we thought about taking the dirt road > (Old Maverick maybe?) back up to the highway. After a mile or so of > super washboards limiting the van's speed to 15 mph, we turned > around and went back on the highway. Stopped in Panther Junction > around 7PM to get gas, but they were closed. We were trying to get > to Marathon but were fairly low on gas in the van. We considered > going back to Study Butte/Terlingua and finding gas there but that > would add many miles to the trip. We calculated that we probably had > enough to get to Marathon, and if I trailered the KLR (it was dark > anyway) we'd have a couple gallons in that if needed. So we went > North on 385 and made it to Marathon without trouble. There were > loads of deer and javelinas and other critters in the road, so I > didn't mind not riding. (I had already killed one bird and one > rabbit on the roads up to this point and had a pretty close call > with a javelina crossing the road that night). > > We spent the next couple days heading back to Houston, So I > basically had three full days of riding. If I had to do it again, I > would spend much more time south of 90. I would definitely stay at > the Hot Springs again, stay at Presidio and go see the canyon in > Mexico (about 20 miles from Ojinaga), stay at Terlingua/Study > Butte/Lajitas or in the park at Chisos, and skip Fort Davis next > time. I am glad I saw it this time, but the distances are too great > and I would have been better off staying South of 90. > > I look forward to doing it again. > > John > A18 > > > > > > Archive Quicksearch at: > http://www.angelfire.com/ut/moab/klr650_data_search.html > List sponsored by Dual Sport News at: www.dualsportnews.com > List FAQ courtesy of Chris Krok at: www.bigcee.com/klr650faq.html > > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >

[kdxkawboy@aol.com]

In a message dated 3/19/2005 6:20:02 PM Pacific Standard Time, yahoo@... writes: I'm assemblying my tool kit and I'm researching available tools bags. I want to carry a comprehensive set of tools in anticipation of long distance adventures. One very large tool bag probably isn't the best way. I think splitting my tools into sub-kits will make them easier to carry and to custom tailor to the ride of the day. I've found several fender bags that will work great for a Tire Repair Kit. But I'm at a loss for my Basic Kit, which is to include a wrench set (12 pc), channel lock pliers (10" total length), screwdrivers, socket & rachet set etc, all full size tools. The FOX RACING 2005 DELUX TOOL PACK from cyclegear.com looks interesting, but they don't list any dimensions, so I don't know if my tools will fit. What kind and sizes of tool bags do you use? I'm using the Answer Mechanix brand tool bag. Its big enough to hold all the tools I take on the trail: tire irons, combo box wrenches, 1/4" drive socket set, pliers, vise grips, screw drivers, quick jak, shop rags, tire patches, glue, CO2, zip ties, spark plug, duct tape and other spare fasteners. Pat G'ville, NV [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]