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1,176 Mile Sierra Ride


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Just got back from 1,176 mile ride in the Sierras! 

 

Before I left, I did an oil & filter change, valve service, sparkplugs, air filter, diff oil, brake bleed, new tires, and clutch bleed. Bike ran flawlessly, and the Angel GT's affirmed their status as my favorite tire, for this bike! One of my buddies brought his new to him, Yamaha MT-10, and the other buddy borrowed my Tenere, 700 as he is between bikes at the moment.

 

Day 1:

We left San Jose on Friday at 7am and slogged it on the freeway to Livermore, and ended up going over Corral Hollow through the canyon out into the Central Valley. Then more freeway for a bit, then headed up Highway 26 after stopping for gas. 26 ends at 88, where we gassed up again, then went over Carson Pass and took 89 to South Lake Tahoe. We then took 50 to 28 which goes to North Shore Lake Tahoe. We gassed up near Incline Village and took 431 (Mt. Rose Highway) over to Reno. A close friend of mine works at the Porsche/BMW dealership there, so we stopped in and got his garage code, had a chat and ended up at his house around 3pm. Just a hair over 300 miles.

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/San+Jose/Reno,+NV/@37.3975293,-120.5850607,9z/data=!4m54!4m53!1m45!1m1!1s0x808fcae48af93ff5:0xb99d8c0aca9f717b!2m2!1d-121.8852525!2d37.33874!3m4!1m2!1d-121.5584752!2d37.6363179!3s0x809026c63ef9462f:0xd671567db2ca5edd!3m4!1m2!1d-121.3981754!2d37.7234345!3s0x80903c58f5e7b1cb:0x459dc3e9422cc9ab!3m4!1m2!1d-121.1904505!2d37.7946668!3s0x80904172334aa9b5:0x94f69c98b0f01390!3m4!1m2!1d-120.6347219!2d38.3262128!3s0x809a766a5a1839cb:0x984b74ec40bcab1!3m4!1m2!1d-120.3598397!2d38.546!3s0x809a10174c1a9343:0xcb36db6e34dc45be!3m4!1m2!1d-119.9399072!2d38.9819265!3s0x80999af2bc216c6f:0x3e80206d9925a01!3m4!1m2!1d-119.9212654!2d39.2985126!3s0x80996fb354ecb139:0xefe6bd79c12f1a90!3m4!1m2!1d-119.863748!2d39.4871296!3s0x8099416d0787083b:0x8f810d14ad66f6!1m5!1m1!1s0x809940ae9292a09d:0x40c5c5ce7438f787!2m2!1d-119.8142691!2d39.529919!3e0?hl=en

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My buddy on the Tenere commented as we stopped for the break in the picture above, that he knew we slowed down to wait for him, since he stopped seeing two black lines through every turn... :laughing6-hehe:

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Day 2:

 

    We left Reno around 7am, and headed up 80 on the freeway to 89 in Truckee. We took 89 all the way to Graeagle, then took a left on Highway 70 to Quincy and gassed up. Then we headed down 70 all the way to Oroville, where we gassed up again. We then headed back through Forbestown, and up Quincy-La Porte Highway which is quite a ride! Took a right on 70 and backtracked to Graeagle, Truckee then Reno - around 340 miles.

 

 

 

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Rainbow+Ridge+Park,+1355+Rainbow+Ridge+Rd,+Reno,+NV+89523/39.5013088,-121.5364426/Forbestown/39.9301619,-120.8848107/39.5241012,-119.8770009/@39.5049312,-120.9129013,9.21z/data=!4m32!4m31!1m15!1m1!1s0x80994699614e24db:0xd6b938f7fb3da3ef!2m2!1d-119.87494!2d39.5250533!3m4!1m2!1d-120.337274!2d39.5567574!3s0x809bf9db4941e993:0x87e8809779b4f319!3m4!1m2!1d-121.122265!2d40.02445!3s0x809d1cf6a52f5865:0x195d1e4c67737457!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x809c95dff7122203:0xc20e26a8f2a42918!2m2!1d-121.2671825!2d39.5171268!1m5!3m4!1m2!1d-120.3687827!2d39.5841783!3s0x809bf7dd344bbc61:0x57723e24030b4b8c!1m0!3e0?hl=en

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Road pic is Quincy-LaPorte Highway

 

Red cabins were from our much needed break in Graeagle on the way back.

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My buddy John in Reno is quite the cook, so we gave him some cash and he made us Rib-Eyes, Filet Mignon, and Lobster Tails 😋

 

We had a few beers each night too, but kept it to a limit of 3, since we were riding in the heat all day... 😀

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Day 3:

 

We left Reno around 8am, and headed back up 80 to 89 in Truckee like the previous day, except we hooked a left on 49 through Sierra City, Downieville, Grass Valley, Auburn, Placerville,  Diamond Springs, Jackson, Angels Camp, Jamestown and eventually up Priest Grade, which we hot-lapped twice! Gassed up and headed south through Coulterville where there was a rather large fire with 4 planes and 3 helicopters circling in a frenzy trying to stop it. We were not too far from the Yosemite fire as well. Further south we stopped at Bagby and watched the Helicopters and fire planes head back and forth for fuel stops. The Cal-Fire L1011 flew over as well, a quick google search will give you a good picture...

 

After a break from the 106 degree heat, we headed West through Hornitos, and Merced Falls. Then across the Central Valley to Patterson, where we gassed up and took another break. Then we headed up 130 to The Junction, then left, up the back side of Mt. Hamilton. Took a pic at the top, and headed down for the  final push. Got home right at 8:00pm after 12 hours of riding, and literally countless corners! Around 440 miles, 99% was backroads and 2 lane highways.

 

 

https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Rainbow+Ridge+Park,+1355+Rainbow+Ridge+Rd,+Reno,+NV+89523/Robertsville/@37.110728,-121.5231617,9.79z/data=!4m54!4m53!1m45!1m1!1s0x80994699614e24db:0xd6b938f7fb3da3ef!2m2!1d-119.87494!2d39.5250533!3m4!1m2!1d-120.7191552!2d39.5646947!3s0x809c7756f5c205b5:0x18a148afc1f96da9!3m4!1m2!1d-121.0893854!2d39.0602733!3s0x809b12985aa60dab:0xffe1d58556d1b349!3m4!1m2!1d-120.8078009!2d38.7345606!3s0x809a5734755960a3:0xea88c1d9317fafde!3m4!1m2!1d-120.5273845!2d38.0469719!3s0x80909561c90a1c7d:0x64b19c09f82edcbb!3m4!1m2!1d-120.2719917!2d37.8139846!3s0x8090d65cc1492b3d:0x8b8f3eb6f7d8c5ba!3m4!1m2!1d-120.1416473!2d37.5689532!3s0x8096cb3ceb3fdbcf:0xd1b0f2c7b383601e!3m4!1m2!1d-120.609102!2d37.551083!3s0x809119e5851b03e9:0x7b5012c0931fa5bf!3m4!1m2!1d-121.446478!2d37.3964263!3s0x8091cd91c937f5c9:0xd41e75ba16c0213c!1m5!1m1!1s0x808e33c1a7d3dd61:0x897203a8fde513aa!2m2!1d-121.8763427!2d37.2632766!3e0?hl=en

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These turns have no banking, or camber, so if you are not careful you can drift to the outside...

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Bagby looking really dry!

 

Mt Hamilton pre-sunset...

 

Already looking forward to the next trip. Time to start planning...

 

 

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I'm green with envy! I loved my trips to ride out of San Jose. 

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Good stuff!

 

Black marks in the turns are a real thing on these 1200s.  Haha!

 

 

12 hours ago, RC1237V said:

My buddy on the Tenere commented as we stopped for the break in the picture above, that he knew we slowed down to wait for him, since he stopped seeing two black lines through every turn... :laughing6-hehe:

 

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19 hours ago, RC1237V said:

Just got back from 1,176 mile ride in the Sierras! 

 

Thanks for a great write-up & pics of your compact tour in the Sierra Nevadas. Haven't yet ridden Priest Grade, will have to remedy that oversight on my next trip. But I really like roads like J16 from Bear Valley to Snelling - they are so different to any around home.

 

When I get down to this neck of the woods there are a couple favourite roads that you skirted past that other folk don't know about - but you would, of course.

Here are Google links to them:

  Monitor Pass at the east most end of Hwy 89 

 

  Gold Lake Hwy - Graeagle to Sierra City 

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VFRD ride five years ago, Rt. 70 by the Feather River. Courtesy of BrianF of course. Similar trio of bikes to yours, with the MT being an RC...

 

image.thumb.png.ba68f003db1a5870f9eb337e4790056a.png

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On 7/28/2022 at 10:01 PM, RC1237V said:

Priest Grade, which we hot-lapped twice!

 

Thanks for sharing. There's gotta be a story on doing Priest Grade twice. From your pictures looks like you're looking from New to Old.

 

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1 hour ago, Tirso said:

 

Thanks for sharing. There's gotta be a story on doing Priest Grade twice. From your pictures looks like you're looking from New to Old.

 

We ride up the "New" side, as it is 4.8 miles and has ~55 turns (including kinks), then we ride down to "Old" side as it only has about 12 turns and kinks, is only ~1.9 miles, and not too exciting. So the STORY is, we do it at least twice, because it's one of the best pieces of tarmac I have ever ridden, and unless it's a holiday weekend, there are almost no cars. If there are, there are tons of places where you can see the next several turns, and most cars are going 20mph or less, so relative to us, they are standing still. :laughing6-hehe:

 

I think you are correct on the picture, but it was some really quick shots, as we were having fun...

 

During the lockdown, my buddy Mason and I spent the better part of an afternoon, and almost a whole tank of gas just on Priest Grade - only 1 car the whole day! 😀

 

 

 

 

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19 hours ago, Lorne said:

Thanks for a great write-up & pics of your compact tour in the Sierra Nevadas. Haven't yet ridden Priest Grade, will have to remedy that oversight on my next trip. But I really like roads like J16 from Bear Valley to Snelling - they are so different to any around home.

 

When I get down to this neck of the woods there are a couple favourite roads that you skirted past that other folk don't know about - but you would, of course.

Here are Google links to them:

  Monitor Pass at the east most end of Hwy 89 

 

  Gold Lake Hwy - Graeagle to Sierra City 

Yep, I don't ever miss Monitor Pass when I'm over there...

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19 hours ago, Lorne said:

Thanks for a great write-up & pics of your compact tour in the Sierra Nevadas. Haven't yet ridden Priest Grade, will have to remedy that oversight on my next trip. But I really like roads like J16 from Bear Valley to Snelling - they are so different to any around home.

 

When I get down to this neck of the woods there are a couple favourite roads that you skirted past that other folk don't know about - but you would, of course.

Here are Google links to them:

  Monitor Pass at the east most end of Hwy 89 

 

  Gold Lake Hwy - Graeagle to Sierra City 

Good riding, and camping at Gold Lake... always on the lookout for hidden gems!

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15 hours ago, St. Stephen said:

VFRD ride five years ago, Rt. 70 by the Feather River. Courtesy of BrianF of course. Similar trio of bikes to yours, with the MT being an RC...

 

image.thumb.png.ba68f003db1a5870f9eb337e4790056a.png

That's a haul for the RC!

 

Range anxiety would creep in with my gearing as it's my dedicated track bike now - but they are actually more comfy than they look!

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^ I miss riding with you guys! We need to get another one in the books. Tell Brian he can use my Tenere...

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4 hours ago, RC1237V said:

That's a haul for the RC!

 

Range anxiety would creep in with my gearing as it's my dedicated track bike now - but they are actually more comfy than they look!

 

My other bike was in the shop, so it had to be the RC for the weekend. I did just over 1000 miles on it in 36 hours! Pair of sneakers and a t-shirt in the tank bag, and some toiletries in that fat tail section. 

 

But the worst part was keeping up with Brian, TC (on an effing Tenere!) and bayarearider. As usual. You will recognize the usual suspects here, same ride:

 

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4 hours ago, RC1237V said:

36 and 299 are still on my bucket list!

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No way! You must.

 

The west end of 36 has been a construction zone for the last few years, although I think they are about done. 299 can get congested as it's the main east-west cage route in the area. But both are, of course, a huge blast.

 

My favorite, however, is 96, following the Klamath River for over 100 miles from Willow Creek (junction w/ 299) to Yreka. Not better, not worse, but far less crowded.  I have ridden 96 maybe 20 times and look forward to another 20. My go-to getaway motorcycle trip.

 

Day 1: Rt. 1 and 101 north to Fortuna or Eureka.

Day 2: Fortuna to Yreka.

Day 3: Rt. 3 to 299 or 36 back west.

Repeat as necessary...

 

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