Update - A year later, new rides, and the return of my license.

It has been over a year since my last posting and a lot has happened. It was the year of snow! And the return of my license! I added to my riding stable and went back to my roots - the dirt.

Winter means snow, even in the local mountains. I was hell bent on snow this last year and man did I get plenty. At it's peak, I had a spill on my 97 Magna up in the Sequoias. I rode while it snowed up in Big Tujunga. Had snow at HWY 33 and Frazier Park to name a few. I was riding in snow so often and was used to numb appendages.

My license is back! The Hayabusa is in dry dock and eagerly awaits it's return. It's been a year since it's last good ride - a nice weekender up PCH at the crack of dawn. Before the hiatus I was doing 17k in a year on the busa alone. Too many tickets and your license gets suspended, then revoked, then you violate your probation and face jail time! Fun times!! For the last year I've been commuting to work on an 07 Yamaha Vino 125 scooter.

Vino 125 has been nothing but reliable, bullet proof and made like a tank. I bought an 06 with 1200 miles on it for $1600. Top speed is 60+ and gets 80+ MPG. Do not buy a cheap ass Chinese scooter!!!! I had one and it sucked!!! The Vino gets me around and helped me stay out of trouble and out of police radar. Thank You Vino for helping me get my license back!!

I finally bit the bullet and bought a dual sport. One day when riding I saw a bumper sticker on the back of a BMW GS1100 that said "Road Does Not End!" It got me thinking about dirt. After long consideration, months of research, looking on craigslist, I decided upon a Honda XR650L.


I was lucky and found one with only 2498 miles on it. It was practically brand new except for a very light front fender scratch. The previous owner bought it off his friend that took one ride on it and dumped it. That was enough for him to want to give up the dirt. His loss, my gain. I love that bike! I love my high horse. I can go anywhere I please now. My motocross skills need improving but I didn't buy this bike exclusively for the track. I bought it for where it could take me and then some. Adventure is in every mountain, every twisty canyon. I can ride a motocross track or ride to the top of a mountain. I missed riding a dirt bike!

More to come.

Hwy 129 to Hwy 150 to Hwy 33

Hwy 129 to Hwy 150 to Hwy 33

It started much like any other motorcycle ride, looking at maps for
the twistiest of roads, planning, seeing how far between gas
stations. Unfortunately what was supposed to be a great road turned
into a hiking trail! In a fraction of the time it took to plan the
ride, I realized that my desire to ride an extremely twisty road was
gone! What to do?
Luckily, I remembered that HWY 129 aka E Valley Rd connected to HWY
150 which connects to HWY 33.

HWY 129 is tucked away a few miles off the coast of California and
runs somewhat parallel to the 101 freeway. We had ridden from LA on
the 101 and stopped in Carpenteria for a highly recommended burger
place called The Spot. Eh. Burgers were good but $8.50 for a burger
combo??!!
Once we gassed up we hit the road to meet our defeat! When we got to
Romero Rd, which was supposed to run all the way to Jameson Lake, we
met a WWII veteran who was 94 years old! This guy was hiking and in
great shape!

A few miles later, Romero road dumped us onto the 192 which is a very
scenic but slower ride. There are some twists and turns, some
residential, and some farmland. We ended up getting the tail end of a
slower touring group and let them go ahead of us. Hwy 192 ends at Hwy
150 which will take you to Lake Casitas - very nice! There's an old
barn just off the road that has a putting green attached to it. Some
truly scenic stuff! The rest of the ride from Lake Casitas is scenic
but boring in my book! Being so close to Ojai, It just has speed trap
written all over it!
When we got to Ojai we gassed up at the usual spot. This would be the
second time in 3 days of riding HWY 33. A few days before we rode to
Latigo canyon then to HWY 33 unprepared for the cold (we started too
late). This time, my Hayabusa was ready- saddle bags full of clothes
and gear.
We headed up the familiar road, letting my friend ride his Yamaha R6
in front of me so I could shoot some more exciting footage than an
open road in front of me. My friend did not dissappont! 2 minutes
later, he hugs the center stripe , takes a turn too wide, and
miracously keep his bike from going in the dirt. You can clearly see
his rear tire to the right of the white stripe off the side of the
road! Motorcycle accident avoided!!
The rest of the ride went without a hitch! When we got to Pine
Mountain Summit, we didn't have to turn back! When you continue on
HWY 33 you end up riding on some twisty road, crossing cattle bridges,
some nice straights, and 3 streams that you must cross! For this
reason, HWY 33 is one of my favorite places to ride and just got
better-we found a great road from Santa Barbara that connects the
whole thing.
If you are looking for a ride that has beautiful scenery, great
twisties, backroad sweepers, lakes, and streams this is it!!! You
really get the sense of touring (280 miles RT from LA) without ending
up in another state. Sure we could have ridden to Vegas but that's a
very straight=boring ride. I prefer touring for twisties!

Dunlop D211s out, Michelin Pilot Road 2 in - GMR tire test

Traction is wonderful. Having enough traction can make the difference between life or death. Having enough traction period will get you home from another trip.

Dunlop D211's had been my choice of tire for the past year or so -that's about 17k miles worth of tires!!! As soon as I felt the amount of grip these tires had I was hooked (and the takeoff price of about $180 a pair didn't hurt either)! Handling on the busa improved dramatically - Slicing, dicing, shifting, careening down the road and through turns with the ability to "flick" the busa..yes, the busa!! For those of you who think this bike does not handle, think again. It is never given the credit it deserves. Since my bike eats through tires aka dollars, I decided it was time to replace the high performance tires and go for something that would not have me seeing my friends at Cycle Depot every 2 months! I needed a high mileage motorcycle tire that would also perform! Yes, I want it all and yes, I am comparing Dunlop track tires to Michelin road tires. In this case, the answer was a pair of Michelin Pilot Road 2 tires.

Here's a shot of my Dunlop D211 with 2473 miles on it!


On a recent ride, we had to be rescued and taken by truck back to LA due to a rainstorm in the Frazier Park area...not to mention this TIRE!!!!
Death wish, anyone?

Here's a shot of my new tire - The Dunlop Pilot Road 2 with 2CT technology! 2 compounds - a harder compound in the middle for all the sport touring I do, and a softer compound on the side for traction in the turns.



After the initial break in period, it was time for a test run to see how they compared to the Dunlop's that were stickier than flypaper. What better place than GMR on a Friday afternoon? Fate had us meet up with Adam Waheed and crew from motousa.com. Nice!

Check the video from the ride!



So what did I think about the new Pilot Road 2? They felt great really! Initially, I could not tell much of a difference, but after about 700 miles or so I was able to see differences in traction, handling, comfort, and maneuverability. The Michelin's do not have the grip that the Dunlops have when exiting corners but this is a road that we ride on, not a racetrack. There wasn't a moment on the Michelin's where I felt like I was going to lose grip in a turn, or not have the lean angle. The Pilot Road 2's are very confidence inspiring! You can definitely tell the difference when you gun it. The Michelin's are simply not as sticky as the Dunlops but they will last me much longer and not leave me stranded in a rainstorm in Gorman after only 2400 miles.

Glendora Mountain Road/Glendora Ridge Road







So far, with 700 miles on the Michelin Pilot Road 2, these new tires have been great! Check back to see how they perform in the long term test and the upcoming tour to Yosemite!

pictured above view of Azusa Canyon from Glendora Mountain Road
pictured below my riding partner and his 04 R6 behind him

Palomar Mountain S6- South Grade

Palomar Mountain S6- South Grade



View Palomar Mountain in a larger map

Los Angeles to Palomar

Technical canyons are my favorite. I prefer tight turns and
switchbacks to long sweepers- at least now with all those speeding tickets :) Anyone can go fast in a straight line and there's only
so fast you are going to go on a turn. If you are reading this
thinking I'm avoiding speed you are absolutely correct. Buy a
Hayabusa and there simply is no challenge to going fast. A few
speeding tickets later, you may learn your lesson...or not.
A fraction of in inch applied to the throttle and you are off, stars
streaking into solid lines as if you were riding star tours. With my
sport saddlebags attached and my camera mounted on the tank we headed
for a ride of a lifetime.

Palomar had come up several times in conversation as legendary and a
must ride but when I found out it was also "the most technical road in
California" I knew I had to experience it myself. I was dying to
compare it to my beloved GMR which was a mere 30 minute ride from home.
The Palomar adventure started late on a Saturday morning. Experience
shows that weekends are best avoided and there was definitely evidence
to support that this time. California Highway Patrol has a strong
presence there- 3 cops were lurking around- on the backroad of the 76,
coming down the south grade from Palomar, and at the very top but
never in the middle of the ride... Presence... We are watching in
case you get a touch of Valentino Rossi fever. By contrast I have
never seen a single cop on GMR or highway 33.

We left LA about 11 am via the 60 to the 15 to the 76. Gas is an
issue since there is no gas station on Palomar. The closest bet is
the station at Pala Casino which is about 25 miles away from Palomar.
After gassing up and finding the road up the south grade S6 we made
the necessary preparations and adjustments for the most technical
road in California. Unfortunately, my windscreen was dirty from the
LA trek and it made for some foggy video.
Since this is a very popular road there was some traffic issues. The
2nd time
up the S6 there was a CHP waiting for us to go up at the bottom of the
road. Without a doubt this would spoil any ride. I started slow and
got into it once I was at a comfortable distance from the law.
My riding partner was having an off day and was riding like a self
proclaimed wus. I would ride away and put some space between us then
would wait to make sure he was still ON the bike. Watch the video
you'll see me taking the course like it was meant to be taken, then I
would slow down dramatically and speed up when I could see my friends
r6 in the mirrors.

The first time we rode up the S6 we were like, 'this is it?'. Palomar
was technical, yes, but the most technical? Definitely not long
enough. GMR wins in this category for being longer and every bit as
technical without cops. Just don't go on the weekend or expect to see
people who can't ride dressed in full Ducati leathers!



Once we made it to the top, we stopped at Mother's Kitchen to do the
obligatory butt sniffing. We spoke to a local and he told us to ride
to the lake or the observatory. We did both but still had a foul
taste in our mouths from the twisties being so short. We had ridden from LA for
6.7 miles of twisties, albeit divine twisties. My friend says that's like dating a 7 in
Irvine- not worth the ride, er down to Irvine that is.
Palomar is wonderful, straight out of the motorcycle dream book! I
only wish it weren't so far away and so short! Those 6.7 miles are
dreamy but in comparison to GMR it's not as long and gas can be an issue.
Next time I will stay there all day and ride up and down until I can't
anymore or I get arrested :)

Sport Touring Accessories - Tank Bag and Saddlebags

A big problem I have with touring accessories is that they are usually permanently attached or very close to it. Definitely not the kind of thing that you'll want to try and install or remove in the dark - or cold. I like the look of touring accessories on my bike if that's what I'm going to do but lately its more commuting days rather than sport touring.
The ideal situation is to have my Hayabusa look like the world's fastest production motorcycle when I need it but also quickly and conveniently transform into a sport touring dream for those rides where you concentrate on riding, not surviving a text messaging crush of gridlock. A back pack? That gets old really fast. Isn't the point riding not carrying stuff? Having accessories that let you concentrate on the road and appreciate the scenery will make any ride more enjoyable, especially as the miles tick away.

Enter the Fieldsheer Access magnetic tank bag. It was selling everywhere for about $55 at the lowest but somehow I found it on a closeout special at the ridiculously low price of $27.99 through Mission Motorsports (OUT OF STOCK). I opted to skip the $11 shipping and just ride down to Irvine and check out their showroom. What? A showroom? Since it wasn't some kid running a web store out of his mom's garage I decided to check out... THE SHOWROOM!! Who knows what other closeout accessories I may find? Beside, I just love traffic but I love it even more with a sweet tank bag on my bike. One that can carry my stuff, detach instantly, and leave behind a lean and mean sport bike. It has a clear top for a map, side pockets, and a handle so you can carry it when not mounted.
Do yourself a favor and stop lugging a backpack around. Get a tank bag!

So, what happens when a tank bag is not enough? How do you keep your bike lean and mean yet able to haul enough stuff for camping, a weekend for 2, or buying a whole lot of groceries? Removable saddlebags, that's how. I had seen pricey ones for sale, some really beautiful saddlebags but I didn't have the funds since I had just contributed a great deal to the CHP;) Looking on ebay and the usual google shopping had good results. I found a nice set for about $50 but they were basic, small, and plain. Instead I looked on craigslist and found a set of sport bags for $40! They have side pockets and are expandable - a quick zip and they get wider! I totally dig the look of the busa with the bags mounted! I almost didn't get them because they have a blue strip and my bike is black, but that didn't stop me. Once I put them on I was happy I had searched craigslist - $40! A little sharpie action and I had myself a bargain set of bags that looked great and are easily removable!
My sport touring busa is coming together thanks to the tank bag and saddlebags! Stay posted to see just how much stuff fits in those bags.
Initially there was some confusion with my order but Mission Motorsports was able to make good on the sale. Thank you for that Andrew from Mission Motorsports. I am digging the tank bag!

I Found a Clutch Lever for Gen II Hayabusa - $9.95!!

$9.95 (+tax+shipping) clutch lever for the Hayabusa gen II 08-09. Link below



http://stores.channeladvisor.com/bikers-planet/Items/l%20c55?&caSKU=l%20c55&caTitle=Suzuki%20SV%20TL%201000%20Bandit%201200%20Hayabusa%20CLUTCH%20LEVER

On a Highway 33 ride the other day my clutch decided to disintegrate right before crossing 2 streams!!! And so began my clutch lever search. Low price levers for the gen I busa are easy to find. Gen II levers are another story. Since the gen II Hayabusa is relatively new, it's more of a challenge finding replacement parts, let alone low priced parts. I didn't have the cash for fancy race levers so decided to go with a stock replacements.

A search on ebay and also on google shopping found me a great deal. I was lucky to find a replacement lever for less than anyone else had through a company called bikersplanet.com. They had the lever for an astonishingly low $9.95!! I placed my order in the afternoon and in less than 24 hours the clutch lever was delivered to me and then quickly installed on my busa! Less than 24 hours!! Less than 24 hours through the postal service!!! I was stunned and had to let the people at bikersplanet.com know that I had never had this level of service before ever! Not only did they have the lowest price on the handle, they exceeded my expectations with service! I highly recommend you give them a try. I am not endorsed by them or paid by them in any way. I'm simply sharing my experience with a company that deserves my and your hard earned dollars by providing low prices and excellent service! If you decide to shop there, let them know that Al. from moto.sport.touring referred you. Happy riding!

HWY 33 to Pine Mountain Summit

View from Pine Mountain Summit

As an LA native and motorcycle commuter I seize any opportunity to get away from the city. Having done a few rounds at Glendora Mountain Road the day before I decided to go for a longer ride but had to avoid the rain that was coming. I studied the weather and saw that Palomar in San Diego had rain, HWY 18 had snow, and LA was going to get rain. HWY 33 seemed free of problematic weather so I geared up and went for an incredible ride on a Sunday afternoon.

Highway 33 is nestled in the mountains next to Ventura and into Ojai. I rode from LA up the 101, grabbed a Char-Burger at the Habit in Ventura and rode to a local beach to have lunch. This beach is the very next exit after passing the city of Ventura if you are going north fromvLA. The sign says State Beach and you ride under a bridge as you exit to get to that beach. There is a long concrete barrier with some port a potties and a row This is a great place to stop and enjoy the beach, take in the mountains, have some lunch and relax. It was sunny with a few clouds and I knew I had managed to escape the rain and hail in LA.

Pictured above:Beach in Ventura Co.

As I started to ride up the 33 I noticed that there were some dark clouds above. I continued to ride and stopped whenever I saw something picture worthy. I passed this tunnel and was then immediately met by a tiny waterfall that was dripping onto the highway. I could only imagine what it would be like in winter!! Time was a tickin' and I had to go back to LA for a dinner party. It was a battle of returning home or continuing up the 33.

From a weather standpoint, most of the ride went well. Now and then there were some scattered showers that made stunning rainbows in the otherwise ominous clouds. Up ahead was a nice set of turns, similar to Angeles Crest or Azusa Canyon - some sweepers, but nothing technical like GMR.

It was dry the whole time I climbed through the windy part. When I got to the top, I had to stop and take some pictures.


























I kept riding up the 33. At some point I remember seeing those lovely ICY signs that always send a chill down my spine - even in the summer!! Luck seemed to be on my side because I didn't get rain. I had stopped alongside a river for a break when it started to sprinkle. I had to get back on my bike but didn't know if I should return home or continue up this great highway that I had never been on before.



OK, just 5 more miles I told myself. Several times. I just couldn't stop riding. It would sprinkle now and then but I didn't care. I would see amazing rainbows as I passed a series of sweeping turns.





I kept climbing despite having to ride back for a dinner party. Just 5 more miles....




The road surface switched from craggly pebble like mountain road to freshly paved blacktop! I wasn't about to go too fast on account of the wet road conditions. Eventually I made it to the top - Pine Mountain Summit! 5160 feet up!!! The view was amazing and was such a reward for neglecting my dinner plans!! Simply stunning! I could see for miles!! Tress, clouds glowing with a storm, and such fresh air! Such a relief from the traffic clogged city where I live! I love getting away from the city for this reason, to see such incredible views and have a great ride. Some rides are better than others and this was the best day trip for sure!


At this point I thought I should head back home. I sat there for a while and somehow figured I'd get home faster if I didn't head back. I continued but not very far. A few feet from the top of the summit was an incredible site for a guy from LA - SNOW!!! My fears of ICY were intensified and now my return was inevitable. There is no chance I am riding anywhere near snow with a set of Dunlop D211 takeoffs.

The rest of the ride was a battle of time, not a race in these conditions.





On the way back it was cloudy then sunny. The rain picked up a little here and there but would always clear up.











I think 6 other bikes passed me the other way the entire time, mostly those big BMWs with the hard cases except for one cruiser and his passenger.
This had been such a great ride but all that "just 5 more mile stuff" had made me very late! I was going to be an hour late for dinner at best. It started to get a little dark but luckily the rain had stopped. That would have just made everything not nearly as enjoyable. It was starting to lose it's appeal in the dark and wet roads didn't help any. I realize my margin for error was extremely slim!

This trip to Highway 33 was an incredible journey despite very small weather issues. I made it to the dinner party an hour late and very tired but also very satisfied. I had beaten the weather at home in LA (hail!!) and managed to stay mostly dry on my trip to Pine Mountain Summit 5160 feet up!! I will definitely return to ride on the 33 but next time continue and ride through Frazier Mountain Park. Once the snow melts :)