Ely-Utah-mojave in 7 days

theshinysideup

theshinysideup

Member
Google is always up to something. I'm pretty sure you are aware of this, but make sure to download local area maps around the route on google prior to leaving reliable internets (or doing the old pro-move of taping the route to the gas tank). Nothing worse than seeing the fuel light come on and not being able to figure which direction to take to the closest station.

Thanks for sharing your epic route - you're visiting some of my absolute favorite places to ride. Never attempted to do a route like this though - future goals. So excited for you to get on the road. There are plenty of hot springs (developed and 'rustic') after you are south of Ridgway I definitely recommend visiting after a long day of riding.
 
scootergmc

scootergmc

old and slow
hardy1506 said:
I am convinced that something in google is trying to act super-smart and editing the map after I send the link ( using alternate routes )

Whatever, You are right again !!!
I am not going through yesomite my idea is to take either 4 or 108 both ways

Thanks
Hardy
Click to expand...


Sounds great. Have a blast. I just did 3k miles on the FJR and wish I would've gotten off the beaten path.
 
The Smokester

The Smokester

Old Newbie
Hey. I am planning on leaving on a similar trip in the next few days. Note that the air quality, which has been great in eastern NV, has now declined to mostly moderate and maybe will get worse as the winds keep blowing from the west. Going north as I intended...ID, WY, MT...looks less and less viable from the air quality point of view. I'm going to play it by ear and may end up swinging south.

Anybody with recent ground truth on this? Please chime in.

Good luck on your trip, Hardy!
 
bikewanker

bikewanker

Well-known member
Please ride Utah 12 south from 24 at Torrey. It has some of the best riding with Utah’s unique scenery and you’ll enjoy the aspens. Fremont Utah has no services but East on 24 has more than enough. Twice recently I’ve gone too far into Colorado and come back feeling like I’d pushed myself. Colorado 141 is fun and mildly scenic and perhaps easier to include. Traditionally you want to get into Zion as early as possible to avoid rush hour type traffic.
Ash Springs just south of US 93, 375 and 318 has gas. From Tonopah or Las Vegas I like to ride Ca. 168 into Big Pine.
 
H

hardy1506

Active member
@Chris : I have made following changes based on your suggestions, Thank you

- Spending a night in antimony ( Day-2 ) and then taking 12N-95S ( on Day-3 )
- Added CO-141 to my plans
- I am still debating about 143 or ZION on the way back ( I remember ZION to be PITA during traffic )
- I might consider 168 into big pine and then 395N to 4

I have done badly planned trip in 2018 and went through mokidogway on my connie like a turtle, it was fun.

@theshinysideup @scootergmc @John : Thanks for everything

I ll update this tread with pics soon, time to pack and disappear
Stay Safe....Laters
 
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scootergmc

scootergmc

old and slow
hardy1506 said:
@Chris : I have made following changes based on your suggestions, Thank you

- Spending a night in antimony ( Day-2 ) and then taking 12N-95S ( on Day-3 )
- Added CO-141 to my plans
- I am still debating about 143 or ZION on the way back ( I remember ZION to be PITA during traffic )
- I might consider 168 into big pine and then 395N to 4

I have done badly planned trip in 2018 and went through mokidogway on my connie like a turtle, it was fun.

@theshinysideup @scootergmc @John : Thanks for everything

I ll update this treads with pics soon, time to pack and disappear
Stay Safe....Laters
Click to expand...


Have a good time. Keep it under 100.

edit: Oh and as for traffic around the natl. parks- it usually drops off dramatically after labor day/mid-september, so if you're headed anywhere near Bryce/Zion or other parks, I wouldn't be too concerned.
 
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bikewanker

bikewanker

Well-known member
Nice photos. I see some familiar places and faces. I see you spent time with the desert doctor, must be the details to follow.
 
Grissom

Grissom

....................
Thank you for sharing your ride with us and I am looking forward to more details :thumbup
 
H

hardy1506

Active member
Trip Summary

[ Day-1 ] Fremont - CA88 - Fallon - Austin, NV
[ Day-2 ] Austin - Ely - Baker - Antimony UT
[ Day-3 ] Hiking and sightsee Bryce National Park
[ Day-4 ] Antimony - SR12 - SR24- SR95 - National Bridges Campground
[ Day-5 ] National Bridges Campground Hiking sightsee
[ Day-6 ] Hiking and sightsee Canyonlands National Park
[ Day-7 ] Monument Valley, MokiDugway, Sightseeing around Blanding UT
[ Day-8 ] National Bridges Campground - SR95 - SR24 - SR12 - SR14 - Cedar city UT
[ Day-9 ] Cedar city UT - St George UT
[ Day-10 : Rental car ] Hiking ZION National Park - Drive to Great Basin NP
[ Day-11 : Rental car ] Hiking Great Basin NP - Drive back to St George UT
[ Day-12] St Geroge UT - Crystal Springs NV - Tonopah NV - BridgePort CA
[ Day-13] BridgePort CA - CA108 - CA120 - Fremont CA

Facts :

1) I had fun no doubt about it, I have some very very good memories to cherish for a while
2) If I were to always to listen to wise people, i would never have face any problems :rofl
3) Tires and brake pads wouldn't last more than 1000-1500 miles, I knew it but #2...

Summary :

I messed it up again and forgot to carry brake-pads in my toolkit
I thought I ll replace them after 1000 miles I wanted to get on-road asap
I knew tires wont last more than 1000 miles but I decided to take chance knowing UT to be a great place for riders


[ Day-3 ] It was raining hard and i realized that tires are done-done
[ Day-4 ] Found Desert Doctor in Escalante UT ( Hwy-12 )
He had all kinds of tires in stock but he ll only accepts cash ( managed to get some extra cash from ATM )
He put me back on road within 2 hours but he dint have brake-pads, so I decided to drop plan for Colorado and stayed in Natural Bridges Campground for next 4 days
Going around and hiking within 100 miles radius


Plan was to get brakes replaced on the way back on [ Day -8 ] but his shipping was running late
So I decided to go St George UT ( Kawasaki dealer ), on Hwy-14 it was cold/windy/rain/dark/twisties and I did heavy down-shifting to avoid using brakes
Stopped in Cedar City for gas and noticed drive Shaft was leaking oil on rear wheel :facepalm

I realized now the ball-game is different, I found cheap motel next to a Honda dealer ( google showed they open at 9am )
I was at the door 9am to realize, they are closed on Monday


Checked oil level and made it St George, Rocky Mountain ( Kawasaki dealer )
They confirmed a seal needs to be replaced and can be ordered by overnight shipping, replacement is less than an hour work
I was skeptical about overnight shipping, so i rented a car and hiked ZION next day. They called me around 4PM that shipping is running late
So I drove to Great Basin NP, stayed in Broder Inn and hiked next day


When I came down from my hike, I got msg that my puppy is ready but they close at 6PM and there is 1 hour time difference
So I decided kill another night in St George, next morning returned rental picked up my puppy, I was so excited that i didn't even look at the tires
I just took off, after 30 miles i realized i should check the leak. Found drive-shaft to be leaking, I thought they overfilled it ( common problem which go away after some time )
Kept riding and checking, it was leaking consistently. Brought extra oil in tonopah NV to top it up if needed


I wanted to ride home the same day, but couldn't agree with my daemons to cross Sonora pass with oily right side of rear wheel + Dark
So called it a day in Bridgeport Inn ( ripped off motel, they don't even have coffee maker in the room I paid $110 for a night )


Next morning, asked maid for few rags, then cleanup the rear wheel and added some oil to drive shaft
Got on the road, was trying to keep the bike straight on right turn and leaning only on left turns
When i crossed Sonora, i saw few drops of oil but non on the rear-wheel, :confused
I kept riding and checked again in Oakdale but no oil on rear-wheel, :confused :confused :confused
I made it home safely and my theory is that, no one cleanup the oil on the wheel at St George dealership ( tires were always oily and tiny leak was due to overfilling )


I know it sounds like a nightmare but did I have fun, you bet :ride:ride:ride
Did i curse myself for being dumb, yes but I still liked all 13 days for myself all 24 hours
I had great time except ride home with oily tire


Once again, sincere thanks for everyone with great suggestions
I will need your help again for my next adventure

Stay-Safe and Keep-Riding
 
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Tom G

Tom G

"The Deer Hunter"
Did the oil on the tire give you extra miles before it needed to be replaced ;=) ???
 
bikewanker

bikewanker

Well-known member
That is an adventure! Sounds like a good trip and good on ya for keeping on the road even if it was a car.
 
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