Grand Junction area Rides & Riders thread

I'm going to try put it back together with the lowering link, as much as I don't want to. No luck finding a replacement and I really don't want to pay dealer cost for a trivial part that is a common take-off.

So you're back in for the Saturday excursion to the San Juans?

I'm going to try, but not sure how successful I will be at getting it all back together. I haven't had a chance to work on it yet, lots going on this week. I can't make any guarantee at this point, so I'm playing it by ear.

6am at Randy's diner in orchard Mesa on Saturday if anyone is interested.

Spent the morning working on my bike, it's back together again and I'm IN for this Saturday! See you at 6 AM at Randy's Diner.

Bike isn't raised back up, but at least it's back together.

Sweet!! See you there!

Don't forget to bring a waterproof jacket, with these high clouds we've been having there is a VERY good chance for afternoon thunderstorms in the San Juans! We may get a little wet!

Going to be epic!

What a DAY! I ended up with over 320 miles on the bike... around 14 hours of riding and several high mountain passes crossed. We (Ben on the XRR and I) rode from GJ (picked up ColoST on a BMW in Delta) and on to Red Mountain Pass, where we split off at Corkscrew Gulch over California Pass, down to Animas Forks, up and over Cinnamon Pass to Lake City for lunch at Poker Alice. After lunch we headed up Engineer Pass and down the Alpine Loop and on home!

Ended up running into 2 groups of ADV'ers... some Denver locals that were finishing up a multi-day ride, and a couple of Californians who were riding the TAT... but had some bad luck, ending the ride for one of them in Colorado.


Here's way too many of my pics...

Amazing ride!! I had such a blast even though I fell down... A lot... Thanks for being patient with me! We'll have to do it again!!

Thanks for planning the trip, Ben! I had an absolute blast riding up Corkscrew, too much fun! You did great considering how steep, rocky & loose much of that terrain was. I bet next time you go out riding you will find you're way more comfortable in the nasty stuff.

Black Bear & Imogene on the next ride??

How's about Imogene and Ophir?? I love black bear but not sure I'm over my "falling down" stage yet.

Thanks for the day trip, appreciate the short notice pickup. Had a good time and always nice to meet up with fellow adv'ers. Until next time, safe travels....

Anytime Andy, it was a pleasure riding with you!

Happy trails to you as well Andy!!! A pleasure riding with you!

Anyone up for a 'dirtbike' ride this weekend? I want to get the 300 out into the Fruita Desert, ride up into the Bookcliffs and back down 21 Road. It's an absolute blast.... if you like rocky, technical riding.

I can do Friday, Sat or Sunday... probably going to get out early in the morning and be done by 11 AM or so.

I gotta find a dirtbike!

Isn't the XRR just a big dirt bike?

The desert singletrack isn't very difficult, it's very open and flowing. Some hill climbs, but nothing crazy.

21 Road is technical, but going down isn't that bad... may require some careful clutching here & there, but down is much easier than up. You can usually launch off the rocks and really play around.

Here's a vid of myself and a friend coming down 21 Road-

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Wonderful video! Looks like a fantastic ride. I've got a DR650 completely stock and I'm not an extremely skilled off-road rider. Would the ascent up Hunter Canyon be a little much for a heavier bike and novice rider?

I see you have a DR650 also. Did you change the gearing for better off-road?...and if so, what sprockets did you use?

Hey Mark! Yeah, riding UP Hunter Canyon on a big DR650 would probably prove to be too much for a rider that doesn't have much off-road experience. You can pick the easy lines for the first 60% of the trail, but eventually it's just BIG boulders. I prefer to ride up 16 Road, over the Bookclifffs and then down 21 Road (Hunter Canyon). Riding down is much easier.

I sold my DR last Summer, but I did gear it down... I went from a 15 tooth counter sprocket to a 14 tooth. It improved offroad ability and didn't effect high speed riding at all.