Chillis rolls out of Vegas

Wow!

Going to be my TW/VanVan slayer!

Or you might need a TW along to give you a ride when that thing craters! Lol. Looking forward to this build!

Oh yeah. I wouldn't embark on a sale without your title in hand unless it was really necessary. Too many ways for that to turn into a mess.

Of course, riding it again could end in a different kind of mess. Better off building your SuperMonkey and leaving that 701 pristine.

W

Well!?

Sorry, got banned for a day.

Parts don't arrive until next week. Intake from Japan may take longer.

Banned?

You?!?

: popcorn:

Political response to a thread outside of CSM.

Which is good if they exercise that reaction towards everybody doing it.

I didn't start it but I did react to one, also making me guilty of the sin.

There seems to be a double standard on most forums, and it usually only leans in the same direction.

meh - Probably just jealous of your frequent rides of greatness.

I could get used to this whole bike hauling deal.

Don't have to get crazy with warm clothes to get to warm'ish places.

Yesterday's adventure, snuck out for a few hours of planned riding that expanded into a few more.

First stop close to departure point was lunch. Got a brisket sandwich that was inspired by the Mojave Desert I'll be exploring: dry!



Did the trick but my salivary glands and jaw muscles are sore today.

Stopped by a gas station and checked the Monkey fuel tank and from the last ride, the level hadn't dropped much at all(22 mile ride). Knew I'd not be going too far so I didn't even get fuel.

Off to the desert! The Transit didn't have any problems hauling myself and machine into oblivion. I was thinking to go a bit further up trail but it got much worse shortly after I'd stopped.

Sure is pretty out here:

You, Klaviator, and my 10 year old son inspired me to sell off the amazing Desert Sled in favor of a smaller bike. I'll be picking up my third WR 250 R tomorrow. A 2020 with a whopping 500 miles on the clock. Bone stock. My 10 year old wants me to ride with him some. I test rode a 450L that was local, had tons of accessories, and was priced right, but man that thing was not nearly as mellow as I thought it would be. I had in mind a WR with more power. It felt like a race bike with lights to me. Guy said the tuner could be put back to stock, but I just wasn't feeling it. So anyway, a new WR 250r tomorrow, and maybe a Monkey or Grom sometime next year.

Here are some clips thrown together in a video and I'll continue with pictures and words in a bit.

I liked my 450L the best when it was stock. It was smoothest, quietest, and power was capable without being on the lunatic level where you spend a disproportional amount of attention on just keeping from over application of throttle.

Capable but not excessive.

Was there anything else on your radar?

This particular 450L was literally like riding a 450R. I've never had a DR 650, but didn't really look for one. I know the WR 250R will suit my needs for now. Most of my riding is within 50 to 100 miles from my house, and I can take it with me in the truck if I go further. And I'll be able to chase my son on his new dirt bike.

Unloaded and ready to go find some goodies:



Hadn't even gone anywhere yet and I'm starting to drag my jaw at the scenery. Hole in the rock? Yup. Windy road up into the mountains? Double yup!

Even an old car rolled off of the old trail. I'm like a hungry fox with my mouth watering seeing all of the mines and then this car.. I'm about jumping out of my skin looking to explore everything but sunlight is not on my side!







Eye on the prize though so we keep climbing the mountain.



Atop a hill looking back towards where I parked. The van is down there somewhere but most likely not visible. With the eye I could only identify by glimmers of sun. Can't believe, as is often the case, that I've been through the area so many times but never explored it. Truly a shame.

As I rolled over the pass and down the other side it became apparent the terrain became high desert cattle country. Huge open flats and I did see one cow carcass. Several sections were silt beds the trail runs through which always makes like fun.



I consult the map since there is no direct route and keep pressing on. And on! The road seems endless.



Before too long the gentle climb out of the valley and up into the hills brings with it some unique forms like this outcropping of rocks:





Plus some of the white cold stuff that I rarely try to expose myself to:



We have something to find so it must be braved. Plus, with all of the gear, wind minimal, it wasn't really cold anyway. Up the trail eventually it did lead to the place of desire.



From here it is best to watch the video to see the buildings and innards. In doing the video I forgot to take pics of the insides.

After checking out the buildings I got back on the banana rocket and continued up trail. There were some picnic tables and a nice clearing when it hit me that there is an orchard in here.



Monkey glamour shot:

Spending a bit wandering around this site, the sun is well into the downswing and we must work our way back. Especially if I want to see anything else and I'd hoped to go running around in a mine or two.



The road is long and so are the shadows. Temps are cool now, especially as I'm at elevation so the return to lower elevation begins to take priority.

I make a few stops along the way because suspension tuning is important too and I'm bouncing all over the place. Make a few stops and a few adjustments to rebound and then see a road up into the hills as I'm sort of getting closer to where the van was, or I thought anyway.





Up the hill we go in first gear, keeping those revs up so the motor doesn't fall flat... and make it!



Took a few pics and a video, even doing the very rare Chillis selfie:









I see so many things to explore from here but it is getting cold and visibility about to take a serious decline. Back down the hill as the trail dead ended.

Sunlight is turning red before its daily departure so I try and grab some quick snaps.





Here is where my typical decision making gets me into trouble. Some people can approach a Key Lime Pie of life and take a slice and be totally content.

For me I will eat 5 whole pies, easy!

Looking around at all of the mines and trails I can't help but to check out more stuff even as the sun is going down so I wing it a bit riding through some various sites until I get to some abandoned RV's.



I'm guessing a 99% chance these are not in use anymore and I could've gone rummaging but that isn't my deal and the mountainside full of portals and adits was the cheese to this mouse's nose!





Consulting the map it appears there is a trail going into this canyon and there is a particular mine I'd marked to see. Two birds with one stone, I'm thinking.

I proceed down this steep two track realizing I'm not coming back up this way. Towards the bottom it is rocky and overgrown compared to what the map was showing. Now I'm screwed, were my actual thoughts.

Drop into the wash and push forward in the dark.



As it gets worse I check the map and hop off of the bike. Time to go for a walk.

Take off my sweaty helmet and gloves and swim downstream in the mess of rocks, boulders, gravel, and shrubbery. Walk for an eighth of a mile or so to plan my attack and clear rocks. Heard an animal walking down the trail which scared the hell out of me. I put 357 reasons in my free hand before recognizing it could only be a burro. Still, I'd rather be prepared. I don't have a running engine nearby to scare off any interested critters.

Paced back to the bike, picked the front end off the ground by the bars and spun it around to my planned route and pushed/clutched it along the gnarly stuff.

Eventually I got towards a trail, missed the turn and went too far so another hike to scope the scenery. Back up trail to find the turn and see if there really was an exit trail and to see the mine I'd been looking for.

Mine was too difficult to get to but the trail was there and I climbed a cliff to get this view of the bike well past the turn:



Climbed down, turned bike around and back up to the turn I'd missed and then a series of trails back to where the van was parked.

Took forever to go from the top of the canyon to getting out and then back to the van. Sweat out a ton as well. That one decision added two and a half hours to the ride almost doubling my seat time.

Total ride was just over 50 miles. I'll have to go back for more exploring. Even just on two feet to hike mountains and walk the mines.

You can always tell an AdvRider by the photographs they take: Glorious pictures of expansive horizons, winding roads, and stunning sunsets . . . and somewhere in 98% of them, a motorcycle. Those pictures just suck me in, I can't help myself.

Almost every pic I take has an MC somewhere. It feels wrong to take a pic without one!