Ducati Monster Forum

So it occurs to me that I'll soon be a married man. It also occurs to me that I haven't had a multi-day motorcycle trip in years. So I'm planning on doing a couple of weekend rides in the coming weeks:

Trip #1: 23-25 July: Chico, CA
Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know...it's Laguna Seca weekend. I'm not going. BikerGoddess will be out of town, so I have to keep myself occupied. And I think it'll be an awesome weekend to head up to Chico and do some of the spectacular rides in the north state. Here's one:
Chico-Lake Almanor-Chico (http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UTF8&hl=en&msa=0&msid=112986034697533662315.00048aacfea4a47e96335)

Centering a trip around Chico seems like fun. It's an awesome little college town (though it'll be pretty empty during the summer). The bars are plentiful, there are motels right downtown, and I have relatives and friends there. And there are several route choices. So for all of you who don't plan on putting up with the circus in Monterey, how about a north state ride?

We're congregating around a Facebook group here:
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=108830989168856&v=app_2373072738#!/group.php?gid=108830989168856&v=wall (http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=108830989168856&v=app_2373072738#!/group.php?gid=108830989168856&v=wall)
Or just post up!


Trip #2: Early Aug: Central Sierras, CA
Eric and Alfonso's trip inspired me on this one. Spectacular scenery and warm temps make this ride a must-do. I was thinking something like this:
http://bit.ly/d6O87W (http://bit.ly/d6O87W)

The route's flexible on this one, but I figured we should suck up as much of the glorious twisty road as the north state has to offer. My only constraint is that it has to happen either 6-8 Aug or 13-15 Aug. We'd leave on a Friday afternoon and blow it out!


SO who's up for a trip?

I'd be up for the Chico run, unless 'belle's schooling me on a 6k service conflicts. I'm already commited to both those weekends in August.

I'm down for something like #2 Mid Aug. That's epic nice!  [thumbsup]

I'm down for trip #2, Laguna is calling me this year, i'm waaayyy overdue  ;D

Trip #2 might work out if I'm not out of town visiting friends. 

Lor, feel free to do the trips.  We've got tons of work to do on the Duc's, including two valve adjusts.  There will be a few weekends of wrenching coming up very soon.  We'll probably tackle one valve adjust the weekend of the 24th/25th, but there will be another.   

#1 is iffy.  No new info there.
#2 is good on the 7/8 and 21/22 weekends.    Pick one so i can book it!

#1, but only if i can go to the Bear on 50cent pitcher night then get kicked out of La Salles.

The Bear is always $0.50 pitcher night for me...a friend of mine still manages the place ;D

And let's not forget Panama Jacks. Nothing like a 32oz Long Island iced tea to start the arrest warrants flowing.

Out for #1, and a maybe for #2. Damn bike needs a new rear shock and the 12K.

Pretty sure Panama Jack's is long gone....

I remember seeing it a couple of years ago.

Gearing up for the Tahoe ride w00t w00t!
New shoes on the way.  ;D

 [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup] [thumbsup]

Leaving Friday at 2PM!

Looks/sounds like fun.  That is too cool.  Have fun, ride safe.
 [thumbsup] [moto]

We need to post up the new map.

SF to 88 to debauchery on the lake.
Then 88 W to 4 to magical canyons with heavenly sweepers and twisties.

I hear there's unicorns on 4.     

They say High-way 4 is one of the most epic rides in the country. I didn't know about it until recently riding through Yosemite. I mean Yosemite was pretty freaking unreal. I met 2 old dudes at about 10,000 feet in the Sierras on bikes. They told me about it and said it was better than Yosemite.  :o I mean, woe. Really? They said its a canyon ride, as you can see - that rolls along the upper ridge with a view that's breathe taking and blows all other views of expansive land masses / voids away and a ride not to be missed in life.

Ok, here it is. We're doing it Sunday. You can see it's quite possibly true.  [moto]

Following up the Sacramento River Delta for about 1/3 of the trip. Crossing Vineyards of Lodi, then up into the twisties of the Sierras.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4881684072_e906b1bba1_b.jpg)

Sunday Following 4 through the canyons back down the the low elevations of the farmlands then out to the Bay.
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4093/4881088497_7e1a942a13_o.png)

Yosemite in comparison:
(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4765556649_33c3c68b68_z.jpg)
Obviously inferior.  [cheeky]

LOL!

Awesome. BTW, I'm thinking of some side-road variations for the ride up Friday. There are a couple of detours off Hwy 88 once you get into the hills that look awesome. I'll have my GPS with me...the one advantage of not having the superbike to ride....well, that and the fact that I can go more than 60 miles on a tank ;D

Taking 88 back to 4 is a loooong ways - why not take 49? That's a great road.
I think Google Maps doesn't appreciate Ebbets Pass - that 75 minute line is total BS. It's a two-way one lane road for a lot of it. The 60 miles or so between Arnold and Markleeville has basically no warning signs, no railings, and no services. I think the speed limit is 30 and there are a lot of 15 mph hairpins.
Fun facts: SR 4 at Ebbets Pass is the only highway in the state without a centerline and has the steepest grade, at 24%.
That sounds like a great trip though, and it's beautiful!  [thumbsup]

That's a good idea. I think we'd planned that I forgot to put it on the map.

Ok I'll see you up there after. I'll be on my Superbike.  [evil]

I'll wave as I pass you by while you're out of gas on the side of the road...

Like you'd catch me on the Yam. that's so funny.  [cheeky]

If you run out of gas I could... In a way, that's why I'm glad I'm not bringing the SBK ;D We couldn't do Highway 4 with its 50-60 mile range.