A few of us East River and MN guys have a trip planned to Moab, heading out on Sat Mar 14, coming back Friday Mar 20. Right now we have 3 committed, and 2 on the fence.
We're staying south of town in the Rim Village condos.
No firm plans other than to ride as much stuff as we can, and hopefully not fall off a cliff. If anyone wants to get a place and come riding, say the word!
I was planning on a moab trip this year. Probably get a small trailer and haul my bike down and camp out of the 4runner. Are you guys riding down?
We'll be hauling down, planning to drive straight through both directions. It's about 19 hours from Watertown.
Sent from the Altair 8800 I carry around.
Sounds ideal for me. I don't want to go alone or with anyone that's never been. I'd like to be able to find the good stuff so I've been doing a little reading. What kind of trails would you be riding? Mild to wild?
The group so far is novice-intermediate range I'd say. The least experienced guys have some way back MX experience and have all done quite a bit of street riding, so no complete rookies, but none of us have done much riding of this type. I rode at Moab last year but stuck to the milder stuff (slick rock trail and a few others). So with that said, I'm sure we'll start easy and work our way up. Can always split into smaller groups too.
Depending on how many in our group go, and how many more DDSR guys want to join, we might have room in our condo too. I think we could sleep 5-6 pretty comfortably if we have some air mattresses along. First I have to get it nailed down how many of our original group decide to go before I will know if we have extra condo room though. But keep it in mind and I'll keep this thread up to date as we get things nailed down.
Curious, what kind of bike do you ride? Right now we have a KTM 400 (me), a DRZ400E, a KTM500 EXC, and the two maybes are a WR250F and a WR450F.
I have to do some thinking. I'll be on my YZ450. No headlight though. Think I'd need one?
Some of the areas require plated bikes, but not all I don't think. It would be beneficial I"m sure as quite a few trails can be ridden to right from town.
I better think on it all. After all it is only 2 months away.
So it looks like we have 4 that are locked in. Just over 5 weeks to go!
I've been working on a tentative list of "must do" trails that won't scare us or kill us. :evil
First day we'll head out to the Sand Flats area to get our feet wet and play on the slick rock. Slick Rock (been there done that), Hell's Revenge and Fins N Things are the big ones in that area.
Beyond that I want to hit:
Kane Creek Canyon,
Poison Spider, which leads to Golden Spike, Rusty Nail, Golden Crack and others.
White Rim Trail (if we have the range)
Steel Bender
Onion Creek
And probably many more I'm sure.
There some expert only trails we WON"T be doing, primarily 5 Miles of Hell (even though Sprout's done it and thinks its fun) and Pritchett Canyon.
Here's good video of 5 MoH video.. Real interesting about the 2:25 mark. I don't think I'd attempt that.
And another with a wicked sandy hill / shelf, at around 3:15
As much as I'd like to go I sont think I can get the whole week off.
I am however planning on a trip to Johnson Valley Ca for the King of Motos in 2016. That's one year from now. I may or may not enter the race depending on how I feel after this seasons races.
Everybody keep this trip in mind. Could certainly join us for a day, or the week. All the beds are taken, but if someone wanted to crash on an air mattress, that'd work.
I've looked and rechecked my schedule, finances, time off from work, and health. I really wanted to tell you I'm in for this trip but I can't. This is one of the places on list to ride. I've passed through but haven't stopped on Moab. I've got quite a list of upgrades on my current rides that will eat a fair chunk of change and want to save some time off for a sizable summer ride.
I tried to make it work but just can't justify it right know. Hope its a great and safe time for you.
I got a couple of great Moab resources including the latitude 40 Moab area maps and this book:
http://www.amazon.com/Guide-Backroads-4-Wheel-Drive-Trails/dp/1934838063/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1423440736&sr=8-1&keywords=moab+ut+backroads
That book is great. Detailed turned by turn descriptions of all the trails, GPS points, maps and pictures.
I'm still working up a list of trails to ride, and have put together some links showing the route to and through the trails.
Condo to Steel Bender: https://goo.gl/maps/XevSs
Condo to Sand Flats area (Slick Rock, Hell's Revenge, Fins N Things): https://goo.gl/maps/QcSa1
Condo to Poison Spider: https://goo.gl/maps/f9qkH
Trail route through Poison Spider, Golden Spike, Gold Bar Rim: https://goo.gl/maps/U3IqH
Its pretty cool they have the trails on google maps and to be able to sorta preview the trail
Condo to Strike Ravine: https://goo.gl/maps/Y5Z4Q
And Condo to Behind the Rocks, although this trails is pretty extreme so we might not try it. https://goo.gl/maps/t1MGA
Hank, is there still space? I can't commit yet, but am in the process thinking through. I would take my KLX 250, and would need new tires, etc. Still time to do that, need to organize work and family, still preliminary.
Thanks
Tim
So far we have 4 in the condo, which takes up the beds, but I think another person on an air mattress would work fine, so yes!
I don't think it would be too cozy with 5.
We don't have any more bike or people space in the vehicle, but maybe you can talk some of these gents into joining you for the drive and picking up a 2nd condo ;)
I'm not sure my last two posts are clear...
To sum it up:
The vehicle and trailer are full.
The condo should have room for 1 more with an air mattress, so you or anyone else is more than welcome to join us.
Any more than 1 more, and more accommodations are needed unless we want to get really cozy!
Very interested in this Moab trip. Just a matter of whether or not my soon to be new boss will allow me to take the week off starting transferring my new/different job location in a week. I'm sure they wont care but I haven't even talked to them yet let alone asking them to take a week off! :o
Whats the skimmy on the Condo? Could be just me,sleeping on the floor if still room or possibly another so may need to find another condo.
Probably wont know for sure until another week or two but I would like to have more info. If you want you can just inbox me...
Still have 4 in the condo, room for one more I think. We have 4 in my truck with my trailer, so that is full (real full).
If you and Dr. P wanted to come out, we could put 3 in each vehicle which would be much roomier. Check VRBO.com for condos.. We are going to be in the Rim Village area South of Moab which is loaded with condos.
One of our guys is having to drop out for family reasons, so we have a 4th spot available in the truck and condo.
Leave at work is in and approved! 8) now its a matter of whether or not the lil piggy is ready, good thing i have a spare!
Good deal Duffer! How about you Dr. P?
Duffer, don't know if you have a heated shop, but you could haul your bike down to Watertown and use mine, then just leave it here so its ready to roll.
My KTM is nearly ready to roll.
Last night we got the WR250F ready and tonight we're going to prep the DRZ.
This Sat I'm going to finish up the KTM and get the trailer bearings packed.
Quote from: Hank on February 25, 2015, 07:02:32 AM
Good deal Duffer! How about you Dr. P?
Duffer, don't know if you have a heated shop, but you could haul your bike down to Watertown and use mine, then just leave it here so its ready to roll.
My KTM is nearly ready to roll.
Last night we got the WR250F ready and tonight we're going to prep the DRZ.
This Sat I'm going to finish up the KTM and get the trailer bearings packed.
Thanks for the offer, but I'm not too worried about the XR, might find a new tire to throw on a spare rim, change oil, and might toss on the rack for a place to put some items(tools, spare tube, and a snack) rather than having to wearing a fanny pack!
If we left tomorrow I would take the bike the way it sits.
If you're putting on a tire, I'd get a trials tire. They are nice on the slick rock.
Quote from: Hank on February 25, 2015, 09:09:07 PM
If you're putting on a tire, I'd get a trials tire. They are nice on the slick rock.
Literally just ordered the new MotoZ mountain Hybrid! Couldn't think of a better place to test one out!
Long range forecast is showing above normal temps for 2nd week of March, which means it will probably be around 60. Right now the 10 day forecast is showing 60 for a few days before we arrive. Its been pretty cool there the last week, so this (knock wood) is a nice development.
13 days to launch.
Finished up prepping the 400 today. Changed the oils, checked valves, air filter, mounted a Michelin 'trials tire, greased the swingarm bearings and mounted a little rack on it. I picked up a Wofman Enduro tankbag and threw the Mojave side bags on. When my brother in law sold his 530 I grabbed some of his take-offs - a Rekluse LHRB, Acerbis tank and Pivot Pegs. They went on too.
Also threw on a seat concepts cover and foam.. sorry Brad I put things off too long. The SC seat is nice, but I liked my Wacked seats better!
I have a T50 air stapler now if anyone ever needs to borrow it.
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/jasonh_010/KTM/IMAG0517.jpg) (http://s197.photobucket.com/user/jasonh_010/media/KTM/IMAG0517.jpg.html)
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/jasonh_010/KTM/IMAG0521.jpg) (http://s197.photobucket.com/user/jasonh_010/media/KTM/IMAG0521.jpg.html)
Quote from: Hank on March 01, 2015, 02:10:52 PM
(http://i197.photobucket.com/albums/aa178/jasonh_010/KTM/IMAG0521.jpg) (http://s197.photobucket.com/user/jasonh_010/media/KTM/IMAG0521.jpg.html)
Looks like it means business!
Whacked made me a beautiful seat for my WR and has my Tiger seat now. Can't wait to see how that one comes out.
Yeah we loved our wacked wr seats. I need a tiger seat upgrade too. Maybe he'll do mine next.
Sent from the Altair 8800 I carry around.
I've ridden a few bikes with the Renazco seats with the microfiber suede cover. Very comfy and grippy.