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KLR COBDR 2016

Started by gerry1eye, July 20, 2016, 05:57:54 PM

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gerry1eye

An EPIC 2600 mile adventure limped into Custer late Tuesday with Dave's injured ankle riding an oil burning, overheating, vapor locking and fork seal leaking KLR. A really great trip was had by all. The trip was old school with just Butler maps (no gps) and no compass and a leader that never knew what direction he was going. We were lost in first 150 miles and never made the Bighorns. Butler map has some great Wyoming gravel roads that we took to the Snowy mountains on the first day and camped in a Forest service campground.
fearless to fear of falling - warranty has expired.

gerry1eye

Day 2 we rode the Snowy mountain pass and then went down to the end of the COBDR. Rode COBDR north to south into Steamboat Springs where we stayed in a motel. Day 3 Continued COBDR route to Interstate 70 then pavement to Grand Junction and another motel. Day 4 rode through Colorado National Monument looking for a back country route to Moab, but I forgot what road the guy we met in Walmart parking lot said to take. Back to interstate and over to Utah 128. We followed the Utah Backcountry Discovery Route up Onion creek and 50 water crossing. Very fun and not to hot.
fearless to fear of falling - warranty has expired.

gerry1eye

#2
We finished day 4 riding Kokopelli trail and Castle Rock road into Moab, where we stayed in a motel. Day 5 we went up to Slickrock were Daryl and I rode a portion of the trail, while Dave watched. Then stopped at Arrowhead sports and visited with Fred. We decided to follow his route over the La Sal mountains instead of the UBDR. Nice weather up on the mountain. When we got down to Monticello, we decided to bail on the UBDR and head for 4 corners. We cut through the Canyons of the Ancients National Monument, very interesting, great stacked stone work, but kinda hot. Paid the fee and circled four corners. Officially started riding the route north and just south of Cortez, Daryl's klr started vapor locking in front of the Indian Casino, so we went in and rented a room. Day 6 -pavement up to Delores where we get back into the dirt and the start of problems with the old Butler map and route numbers. I had purchased the most powerful readers and crookes  (like brad) and the road numbers were still wrong. We did find our way into Telluride where we had an awesome pizza lunch. This is really were the trail gets good. Off to Ophir pass!
fearless to fear of falling - warranty has expired.

gerry1eye

I will go to my grave embarrassed by being passed by a older lady on a mountain bike on Ophir Pass. She was a quarter of the way back down when we finally got the KLR's to the top. I may have burned Dave's KLR clutch plates a little by slipping my way up a couple of steep parts of the pass. When a KLR has a cast iron kitchen sink in the bags, rear tire traction is not a problem. Did I say it took all 3 of us to pick up Dave and Daryl's loaded bikes when they crashed. Looking ahead to the ride profile I did not know how we would survive. Off to the KOA at Ouray.
fearless to fear of falling - warranty has expired.

gerry1eye

Day 7 - After a sleepless night worrying about how to get though the up-coming passes, we decided to stay an extra night at the KOA and leave our bags at the campground.  Let the fun begin! The work of a crash takes your breath away, much like the scenery above the tree line. The San Juan's are beyond category and pictures don't do them justice! I'm hooked and will be back next year with my DRZ. Back to ride a little and rest. Six hours later and 25 miles we are on the down hill side of the passes and ride 3 hours of pavement back to Ouray.
fearless to fear of falling - warranty has expired.

gerry1eye

NDave on corkscrew pass
fearless to fear of falling - warranty has expired.

gerry1eye

fearless to fear of falling - warranty has expired.

gerry1eye

Day 8, load the bikes up at Ouray KOA and head out to Owl creek pass, the alternate easy route around yesterday's passes. 150 mile bypass and we are back on route at Lake city, this was a great ride over Slumgullion, Los Pinos, Wanitua, Cuumberland, and Cottonwood passes and into Buena Vista. Dave sees a couple of KLR parked at a crappy motel so that is where we stay.
Day 9, head out through Buena Vista ORV park which was great fun with easy rolling hills and bermed up corners and a little sand.
Over to Weston pass and on to Leadville for a great hamburger at I forgot? My second favorite ride was up and down Hagerman pass in the rain. By now Dave is yelling at me to put the camera away and run down and help him. Time to get lost one last time looking for road numbers from the Butler map that don't exist. We did find a road closed due to fire and a logging crew who sunk their truck over the axles on a hill side in the mud. A little rain really makes the trails treacherous. After a little help from the ranger at SylvanLake State park, we took country road 307 to Eagle on Interstate 70 - COBDR complete. We head up 131 towards Steamboat Springs, but stop for gas at Yampa after dark and decide to stay there.
Day 10 take off to Walden, then Laramie, Wheatland, Lusk, Edgemont and Custer.
fearless to fear of falling - warranty has expired.

gerry1eye

Hagerman pass snow and water
fearless to fear of falling - warranty has expired.

greatbuffalo

Great report Gerry. Glad to see you guys went down more than us. Those rock strewn passes can really catch a guy out. I too took some life out of my clutch.

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Did I ever tell you: " I HATE MUD!" ?

Bogus Jim

Looks like a good time was had by all.

That photo where NDave is standing by his fallen KLR... he looks like he's getting ready to put down a horse.  ;D

Hank

Looks like a great trip.  Thanks for the write up!

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Fletch

stupid is my middle name, but my first name is Mike

mitchn06

Awesome report fellas! Man I hope I can find the time to do that next summer!!


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2014.5 Kawasaki KLR650 New Edition

Robmicgrn

"You don't know how fast you can go till you crash"