1st Ride on the New GSA

Motomochila · 04-28-2012, 10:50 AM

New GSA showed up a few weeks ago and after a few farkles, I needed to take her out for a spin just to see how the suspension upgrade worked. that was the excuse I told my wife when she asked why I was leaving work early on a Thursday. So me and a couple of buddies head off to the Sierras to do a bit of on/off road excursions. The plan was to head up to Kernville, CA via some back roads and then head off through a mountain pass over to Death Valley. Leaving home from No LA County, it was a balmy 92 degrees. Death Valley was going to be 106 this coming weekend as well, so the Sierra route was already looking mighty fine for us. I brand new scoot and cool mountain breezes.

The ride to Kernville was stellar. Up to the Rock Inn for a quick afternoon snack and off on our trip. If anyone reading has not made the trip from Tehachapi through Caliente, Bodfish, and over to Kernville, you're missing one of the best rides in California.

The Rock Inn, Lake Elizabeth, CA.

Well, the ride did not turn out quite like we had envisioned. After a great afternoon to Kernville, a nice bottle of Booker and some Cuban cigars at the Kernville Inn. We had planned to get an early start and ride through Sequoia and Kings Canyon over to Truckee and down through 395 out through Death Valley. Right out of Kernville, the Pass north was closed and the gate locked. WTF? now where do we go?

Only shot at Kernville was an old one I took a few years back doing a dual sport ride, but here's the place to stay, Whiskey and cigars then too. Bad Habits only get better.

So here is the modified ride route and some pics along the way.

Quite a different route than planned but very fun

Road from Bodfish looking down to Lake Isabella.

The Obligatory Beauty shot.

Practicing falling off.....just in case. Notice non approves helmet wear application.

Mr. King..keeping to his namesake next to his '08 GS with GSA farkles.

Damon getting a "woody" over the town "Woody". As if his bike wasn't enough.

After making tracks over to the Pacific ocean via Hwy 56 through Santa Margarita, and a night in Morro Bay, we decided to head up Hwy 1 to keep in the cool stuff. It was 100 degrees on 56, another great road in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Up the coast we enjoyed great view, a little fog but no dirt roads for me to try out the new Race-Tech suspension upgrade and the Karoos. I seriously thought I would burn off the knobs before I had a chance to get this pig in some real dirt.

My helmet fall off a rock and almost rolled down the cliff. So, whats the rule on dropping your helmet before you have to replace it? is it 2 or 3 times? I hate scratched helmets. It's so ..dirt.

The fog rolled in and out the whole day. Perfect riding.

Just past Big Sur, we find a 15 mile dirt road I can finally try out the knobbies.

Spectacular views and now above the rapidly approaching fog.

The road gets dark as we pass through giant redwood forests.

The dirt quickly ended and we made our way up to Salinas for the night. Monterey was too crowded due to the largest bicycle race in the US this weekend. No need for pics here. Nothing great about that town except for the brewery downtown http://montereycoastbrewing.com/ It's the bomb.

Next day we decide to find ride over to an old mining town in central California, New Idria, that the AAA maps all print. "Not Advisable for Travel". Apparently Asbestos was mined there along with Mercury as far back as the Spaniards for use in extracting gold. We had to stop at the tavern in Panoche for a beer, even thought it was only 10:00 AM. Never pass up a bar that looks like this.

...and off the the mines!

Apparently somebody does not like the "Right". Must be a liberal

Now is the time to confess that a buddy was riding his ST1300 even on the dirt portions of our trip. I gotta get farther off road. Yea, I'm embarrassed too. Adventure friends don't let friends ride ST's.

They must have eaten a lot of salad in New Idria. The town was abandoned in 1997 after some of the building burned down. It had become a hideout for thieves who traveled down the dirt roads to truck stops to rob tractor trailers of their cargo. This old store was the hiding spot. So, how much is a load of salad dressing worth on the black market?

The dirt trail ride back to the highway was too much for the ST, so we had to backtrack all the way to Panoche and over to I-5 and south for 240 miles home. 100 degrees all the way.
All in all, the GSA with Karoos was OK on the hwy and the Race-Tech suspension performed superb on the roads and what little dirt roads we traveled. Soon I will try the Arizona Strip in a few weeks to put the bib pig through its paces. I'm beginning to really like this Adventure riding stuff. I just wonder if there is anybody else that does too...

Bryn1203 · 04-28-2012, 11:38 AM

Motomochila

Thanks for that - enjoyed it. Why do they pin money on the ceilings of bars - whats' the point?

Nice bike BTW

kevlar930 · 04-28-2012, 05:50 PM

Bought a GSA earlier this year and have yet to be able to take it on trip. Seeing this makes me want to ditch work soon and just go!

motofan936 · 04-28-2012, 06:08 PM

Nice bike nice pics, great trip. Thanks for sharing and including the photos.

Mifune · 04-28-2012, 06:18 PM

That looks like a whole lot of fun. I spend a fair amount of time riding in this area. Would you mind sharing more specifically how to find the road pictured in these photos?

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motomochila

...

Just past Big Sur, we find a 15 mile dirt road I can finally try out the knobbies.

The road gets dark as we pass through giant redwood forests.

The dirt quickly ended and we made our way up to Salinas for the night.
...

Jafix · 04-29-2012, 10:50 AM

Awesome looking trip for sure. Tagged this so I can duplicate it

fudgypup · 04-30-2012, 02:17 PM

Congrats on the new GSA! What year is it?

We have to get that pig down to Baja soon.

And how are those BS stickers coming?

Motomochila · 05-09-2012, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryn1203

Motomochila

Thanks for that - enjoyed it. Why do they pin money on the ceilings of bars - whats' the point?

Nice bike BTW

The guy who owned the bar said it was for his "retirement". or his "mistress"..or both. Anyway since Panoche is about 90 miles from anywhere, literally, and the only place there, life seemed lonely for the guy, except for the wayward traveler, so I figured I'd help out with his plan. I've been to some out of the way bars with panties on the ceiling. What's that point? Why Not! I just gotta be there when there are some donors.

Motomochila · 05-09-2012, 06:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by fudgypup

Congrats on the new GSA! What year is it?

We have to get that pig down to Baja soon.

And how are those BS stickers coming?

Sitting on My friends wait list to be printed along with a big ventricular print job. He is adding your decal to the tail of a job that prints in the same green or it wont come out the same if done in four color. it turns too green. Bike is a 2011-new off the floor, a left-over from a dealer buyout. Just got Race-tech suspension added and now looking for the 21 inch front. As for Baja; I just got back-on my 690. I might do the trip in October on the GSA but not the trails I took in March.

Motomochila · 05-09-2012, 06:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mifune

That looks like a whole lot of fun. I spend a fair amount of time riding in this area. Would you mind sharing more specifically how to find the road pictured in these photos?

http://g.co/maps/vup9x
This is the route down through Panoche to the abandon mining town of New Idria.

http://g.co/maps/yrspg
This is the dirt road in Big Sur.

http://g.co/maps/jmpm6
....and this is a must do road.

RZRob · 05-09-2012, 07:14 AM

I like your style. I've wanted a GS for years, but spent all my money on other toys. I'm hoping to do some [dirt] riding around Kernville Friday in route to Yosemite on my XR. Normally I tour the street roads on my Aprilia and I don't advertise that my buddy rides a GoldWing. It looks too pedestrian for the true "adventurer."

RZ Rob

I think you took a pic in this same spot

Sherman Pass over to Death Valley. We squeaked through slipping around a bit on the snow.

Out the other side

RZ Rob

Mifune · 05-10-2012, 04:05 PM

Thanks, I will definitely follow in these footsteps.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Motomochila

http://g.co/maps/vup9x
This is the route down through Panoche to the abandon mining town of New Idria.

http://g.co/maps/yrspg
This is the dirt road in Big Sur.

http://g.co/maps/jmpm6
....and this is a must do road.

04-28-2012, 10:50 AM	#1
Motomochila ^OP Mechanically Inept Joined: Sep 2007 Location: N 34 22.573' W 118 34.328' Jes North of LA a few. Oddometer: 494	1st Ride on the New GSA New GSA showed up a few weeks ago and after a few farkles, I needed to take her out for a spin just to see how the suspension upgrade worked. that was the excuse I told my wife when she asked why I was leaving work early on a Thursday. So me and a couple of buddies head off to the Sierras to do a bit of on/off road excursions. The plan was to head up to Kernville, CA via some back roads and then head off through a mountain pass over to Death Valley. Leaving home from No LA County, it was a balmy 92 degrees. Death Valley was going to be 106 this coming weekend as well, so the Sierra route was already looking mighty fine for us. I brand new scoot and cool mountain breezes. The ride to Kernville was stellar. Up to the Rock Inn for a quick afternoon snack and off on our trip. If anyone reading has not made the trip from Tehachapi through Caliente, Bodfish, and over to Kernville, you're missing one of the best rides in California. The Rock Inn, Lake Elizabeth, CA. Well, the ride did not turn out quite like we had envisioned. After a great afternoon to Kernville, a nice bottle of Booker and some Cuban cigars at the Kernville Inn. We had planned to get an early start and ride through Sequoia and Kings Canyon over to Truckee and down through 395 out through Death Valley. Right out of Kernville, the Pass north was closed and the gate locked. WTF? now where do we go? Only shot at Kernville was an old one I took a few years back doing a dual sport ride, but here's the place to stay, Whiskey and cigars then too. Bad Habits only get better. So here is the modified ride route and some pics along the way. Quite a different route than planned but very fun Road from Bodfish looking down to Lake Isabella. The Obligatory Beauty shot. Practicing falling off.....just in case. Notice non approves helmet wear application. Mr. King..keeping to his namesake next to his '08 GS with GSA farkles. Damon getting a "woody" over the town "Woody". As if his bike wasn't enough. After making tracks over to the Pacific ocean via Hwy 56 through Santa Margarita, and a night in Morro Bay, we decided to head up Hwy 1 to keep in the cool stuff. It was 100 degrees on 56, another great road in the middle of absolutely nowhere. Up the coast we enjoyed great view, a little fog but no dirt roads for me to try out the new Race-Tech suspension upgrade and the Karoos. I seriously thought I would burn off the knobs before I had a chance to get this pig in some real dirt. My helmet fall off a rock and almost rolled down the cliff. So, whats the rule on dropping your helmet before you have to replace it? is it 2 or 3 times? I hate scratched helmets. It's so ..dirt. The fog rolled in and out the whole day. Perfect riding. Just past Big Sur, we find a 15 mile dirt road I can finally try out the knobbies. Spectacular views and now above the rapidly approaching fog. The road gets dark as we pass through giant redwood forests. The dirt quickly ended and we made our way up to Salinas for the night. Monterey was too crowded due to the largest bicycle race in the US this weekend. No need for pics here. Nothing great about that town except for the brewery downtown http://montereycoastbrewing.com/ It's the bomb. Next day we decide to find ride over to an old mining town in central California, New Idria, that the AAA maps all print. "Not Advisable for Travel". Apparently Asbestos was mined there along with Mercury as far back as the Spaniards for use in extracting gold. We had to stop at the tavern in Panoche for a beer, even thought it was only 10:00 AM. Never pass up a bar that looks like this. ...and off the the mines! Apparently somebody does not like the "Right". Must be a liberal Now is the time to confess that a buddy was riding his ST1300 even on the dirt portions of our trip. I gotta get farther off road. Yea, I'm embarrassed too. Adventure friends don't let friends ride ST's. They must have eaten a lot of salad in New Idria. The town was abandoned in 1997 after some of the building burned down. It had become a hideout for thieves who traveled down the dirt roads to truck stops to rob tractor trailers of their cargo. This old store was the hiding spot. So, how much is a load of salad dressing worth on the black market? The dirt trail ride back to the highway was too much for the ST, so we had to backtrack all the way to Panoche and over to I-5 and south for 240 miles home. 100 degrees all the way. All in all, the GSA with Karoos was OK on the hwy and the Race-Tech suspension performed superb on the roads and what little dirt roads we traveled. Soon I will try the Arizona Strip in a few weeks to put the bib pig through its paces. I'm beginning to really like this Adventure riding stuff. I just wonder if there is anybody else that does too... __________________ KTM- Brand spankin' new in 2013- a fresh outta the box 2008 EXC450R, 2009 690 R Adventure Conversion BMW- 2012 GTL 1600-sweet, 2011 R1200GS Adventure Honda- 2000 XR650R- 2006 XR650L- Yamaha- 1972 XS750 Tracker, 1971 RC5- BSA- 1945 M20, The newest member to my stable Kawasaki-NOT Are you kidding Motomochila screwed with this post 04-28-2012 at 11:08 AM

04-28-2012, 11:38 AM	#2
Bryn1203 Dances with spaniels Joined: Aug 2009 Location: Denial - UK Oddometer: 1,754	Motomochila Thanks for that - enjoyed it. Why do they pin money on the ceilings of bars - whats' the point? Nice bike BTW __________________ Men do not stop playing because they grow old, they grow old because they stop playing - Oliver Wendell Holmes Get $5 off Smugmug - use this code NxRfLxbR5xhlE

04-28-2012, 06:08 PM	#4
motofan936 FNG Joined: Apr 2011 Location: Indy Oddometer: 33	Nice bike nice pics, great trip. Thanks for sharing and including the photos. __________________ '08 XB12XT Uly Less judgment than wit is more sail than ballast.

05-09-2012, 07:14 AM	#11
RZRob Studly Adventurer Joined: Dec 2008 Oddometer: 665	Very Cool I like your style. I've wanted a GS for years, but spent all my money on other toys. I'm hoping to do some [dirt] riding around Kernville Friday in route to Yosemite on my XR. Normally I tour the street roads on my Aprilia and I don't advertise that my buddy rides a GoldWing. It looks too pedestrian for the true "adventurer." RZ Rob I think you took a pic in this same spot Sherman Pass over to Death Valley. We squeaked through slipping around a bit on the snow. Out the other side RZ Rob

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04-28-2012, 05:50 PM	#3
kevlar930 Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2008 Location: On the side of a mountain Oddometer: 210	Bought a GSA earlier this year and have yet to be able to take it on trip. Seeing this makes me want to ditch work soon and just go!

04-29-2012, 10:50 AM	#6
Jafix n00b Joined: Sep 2011 Location: OC, Calif Oddometer: 3	Awesome looking trip for sure. Tagged this so I can duplicate it

04-30-2012, 02:17 PM	#7
fudgypup Banned Joined: Mar 2011 Oddometer: 2,199	Congrats on the new GSA! What year is it? We have to get that pig down to Baja soon. And how are those BS stickers coming?