Koi's Adventure Journal

[i_am_the_koi]

So I thought that instead of flooding the adventure section with day trips and photo threads I would just do one big adventure journal with all my trips unless they are particularly epic, and then I'll share them in general.

So. I thought I'd start with...


Day 1.

As this was awhile ago, I will only copy what i already wrote until I catch up to current day.

Dear Journal:

Well, now I've done it.

I went out and bought a KLR 650 from another BARFer. I wanted something that wasn't pretty, but was dirty enough to have fun on, and be completely different than the sport touring I'm used to on a Concours.

Anywho, after a bath...

And a runthrough to make sure it was sound...

I did what any sane person would do and planned some dirt riding! I went through all my touring gear and pulled out anything I felt would be useful on the dirt. I noticed the gaps too and started a list of things I need to get for my dirt adventures. But I strapped on some bags, put a 17 dollar walmart seat cushion on, swapped my Sena to my dirt helmet, and grabbed a map from AAA.

My first ride - https://goo.gl/maps/bkZBT1CrBYq

All I knew was I wanted to go to Indian Valley Reservoir and do some dirt roads. I had been there plenty of times in a jeep, and twice on street bikes not made for dirt. This time though I was actually going to ride a dirty bike on a dirty road, I was excited. On the way was a spot I had looked at for years. Not being able to ride my street bikes through the bumps and rocks, I always had to pass, but now that I had a KLR... I could sneak in through the rocks, over the bumps, up the hill, and find myself on a private lake, deer drinking from the edge, swimming was clothing optional, and it was for KLR owners only.

[/url]DaKoi-7819 by Koi, on Flickr[/IMG]

After soaking it in, I made a note that this was the future swimminghole for summer days, and continued on my quest for dirt. I kept catching myself speeding through towns and reminded myself to keep calm. Soon I made the turn off of 20 and onto Walker Ridge Road, I had arrived, I was on dirt, and I had no idea what I was doing. I scared myself and decided to pull off the main road to find a view and have some coffee and breakfast.

As I sat there and enjoyed the view, I noticed a mini-van coming down the road towards me. I was shocked. I couldn't think of where it would have come from, let alone how it got down the road I had just come down but here it was. It rolled up and inside were four of the dandiest dressed people I had ever seen in real life. Bright colors, fancy hats, Amish?

"Hello Brother, can you tell us where we are?"

They had a big pile of google maps printed out and were, "Looking for deer". :wtf

I gave them my map and told them to go back to the main road and stay on it. Don't go down anything that looked like a dirt road, stay to the gravel.

They gave me a copy of the watchtower, so Jehovah witnesses? Anyways, I finished my coffee and got on the road. I eventually caught and passed them. I stayed to my route and went passed the spot they were supposed to turn to go back to the paved roads...

Next break I was sitting in the shade and all of a sudden...

Seriously? GTFO you fruitcakes.


After returning them to the direction they should have gone, I got back on the trail and headed to Indian Valley Reservoir. Dicing through the canyons and up and down the dirt roads I learned all sorts of things.

Mainly I had no idea what I was doing.

[/url]DaKoi-7828 by Koi, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]DaKoi-7847 by Koi, on Flickr[/IMG]


I arrived at Hough Springs, or there abouts, to the campground on the river. I had brought my swimwear with the goal of taking a dip. I had brought my gun with the goal of shooting a tree. And I had brought a beer with the goal of enjoying it while swimming and shooting.

Sue me

The water was awful

Eventually I got tired of shooting things and drinking things and swimming in things, so I got back on the bike and headed back towards Bear Valley. On the way I felt more comfortable on the dirt and started going faster. Awesome until I missed a bump and tossed my ice chest off the bike.

Bear Valley is a very cool throwback to history I always have felt. Big long straights through property lines around cattle ranches. Hot though so I didn't stop much.

[/url]DaKoi-7857


I decided that instead of doing 16 and down I would go back through Clearlake and go down through knoxville-Berryessa so that I could take another swim. It was friggen hot the entire time, but as I do, I found a creek I could put down to a water hole and take another dip in between IVR and Berryessa.

[/url]DaKoi-7866


Berryessa was hot, and of not interest in taking pictures at that point so I took my dip and beelined it home for the night.

The next day, I was itching to go but wanted to wait an hour longer than I had the day before, to let it warm up a little bit. It was chilly at 8am, and I needed new maps to hand out to lost witnesses so I waited to 9 and went to AAA for maps.

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Day 2: Dear Journal, I am itching to go but want to wait an hour longer than I had the day before, to let it warm up a little bit. It was chilly at 8am, and I needed new maps to hand out to lost witnesses so I waited to 9 and went to AAA for maps

Day 2: https://goo.gl/maps/RTP81dqCWCJ2

Today's goal was Fish Rock Road. Another on the list of unexplored territory and a throwback to the days of BARF with BanjoBoy running around on his street bikes down roads where adventures would fall.

I cruised up through 128 into Healdsburg and made a stop at Lake Sonoma just because.

[/url]DaKoi-7868 by Koi, on Flickr[/IMG]

I avoided 101 and found backroads to 128 again and made my way out to my destination. It got warmer and warmer, and there was a couple construction zones so I was glad to reach the holy land of KLR roads.

A mile or so onto Fish Rock... the pavement ended. I had heard the stories but didn't realize that I wouldn't see pavement again until I saw the ocean. I followed the road as it climbed, and climbed, and twisted, and climbed, and weaved and climbed, and climbed some more. Eventually I needed a break and found myself in the middle of who knows where.

[/url]DaKoi-7880 by Koi, on Flickr[/IMG]


I readied myself for the descent, and what a descent. I know there is probably a way to go faster, but I didn't know it so I just scrubbed speed and hoped a car didn't come around the corner and end my dirt career on day 2. I saw a cool looking little stone trail that went off into the woods and decided to follow it. it didn't go far and so I turned around and headed back to the road. I stopped for a photo...

[/url]DaKoi-7888 by Koi, on Flickr[/IMG]


As I walked around I heard the bushes rustle and looked to see a woman come out in her PJs, like, sweat pants and a sweat shirt type PJs.... She ran out of the bushes across the trail, stopped for a second, and then ran back into the bushes, across the road, and down the another deer path through the woods. The hair stood up on my neck and I quickly packed my shit and got the fuck out of there.

[/url]DaKoi-7890 by koi, on Flickr[/IMG]


I got down to the coast and pulled out to Point Arena's Lighthouse for an amazing coastal day. Little fog, clear skies, and not as cold weather as normal.

[/url]DaKoi-7898 by Koi, on Flickr[/IMG]

[/url]DaKoi-7923 by Koi, on Flickr[/IMG]


I took Mountain View inland, but thought it was supposed to be Mountain Home so after awhile, I pulled over to check the map.

128 got warm again so I again buzzed though it all until it cooled down. I stopped for tacos in Healdsburg and took them with me to find a view. Eventually I got lost again and decided to pull over and look at the map while eating tacos. I actually was right where I wanted to be so, tacos.

I figured I had about 200 miles of gas as I hadn't filled up completely last time and had been averaging 40 miles a gallon, so figured I'd hit reserve at 200.

At 203 I hit reserve, as I coasted down the hill into St Helena. I flipped to reserve and made it to the gas station in town. For my 6 gallon tank, I got 5.6 into it, so figure I have about .4 on reserve or about 15 miles.

Good to know.

I got lost one last time before getting home, and this time, I was really lost.

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Day 3: It's been two week since my last ride of any measure. Life has been busy and the energy has been low.

I had a rough start to my week at work and decided to end my friday with a good goaty ride home from work.
20286838_1687289211295488_7775129045510294268_o

I perused the maps and decided to go for some new roads I had never done before. Combining some roads I knew and just overall a good day I hoped.
https://goo.gl/maps/UKEyGR3S4U82

Two that I had always eyed were Ida Clayton and Leesville Roads. Neither would be especially good on a concours and both would hopefully be good experience for me on a KLR.

I got to Ida early enough to not have any traffic through the Valley. I cleared the valley floor and had found Ida to be an amazing, narrow, ridge road into Lake County.

Absolutely if I ever ride the KLR to lake county, this will be the way I go from now on.


Let the games begin!
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Up Up and away!
DaKoi-1


The mystic forest. It was beautiful in parts, with leaves and trees and different terrain then I expected.
DaKoi-2


And Dirt....
DaKoi-3


I rolled through upper lake and gassed up before taking Bartlett Springs over to Leesville. I usually come out this way so it was fun going in instead, and as it was a first for me on the KLR, all virgin territory basically. I recognized a lot of the road, the random houses and properties out there, certain bridges and such, but some of the views were new.
DaKoi-1-2


When I got to Bartlett Springs, a old resort that unfortunately is one of those "nice things" that people are no longer allowed to have. Pyros burnt down the gazebo and buildings, and gangsters tagged up the old resort buildings and water plant to the county just bulldozed it all. I rode up into it and found a path i had never seen before. I realized that it was well beyond my skill set to go much farther and came back down to the bunny course.
DaKoi-2-2


I was ready for a swim and soon after the resort I found a creek spot. I knew it from the other direction as a "what's down there" kind of spot and was pleased to find it was a serene little creek spot, ferns, fish, waterfalls, and a swimming hole. I had my VNMsports shirt on and it is amazing if you keep it wet for keeping you cool. I doubled up though and soaked my cooling vest and neck wrap as well. I chugged some gatorade and ate some jerky and just kind of enjoyed the peaceful spot.
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I got back moving after a nice break and pulled into Hough springs which is my offiicial swim, shoot, and swallow spot now when I'm in the area.
DaKoi-3-2

There was a bunch of leftover targets from a previous shooter so plenty to plink at with my little Walther P22, and when I was bored with that, i went for a float and a Klamath Falls Creamery Backroads Vanilla Porter.

Heaven
20424018_1689325487758527_3955369294066826721_o


Eventually I got back on the bike and it started getting hot. By the time I got to the other side of Indian Valley I could feel the temp rising as I moved inland. I pulled over to the lake and resoaked all my gear knowing that Bear Valley was pretty dry, and not knowing if there would be any opportunities along Leesville.
DaKoi-6

Creek Crossing spot
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Very Dry
DaKoi-7



Leesville was kind of a tale of two worlds. The first section, all gravel, very easy, but very dusty was fun. At a couple points I hit splits that I could see went other directions that I want to go back and explore. I stuck to the main road as I knew it was doable solo and didn't want to get stupid. I do have to say and I wish I took a picture of it, but at one point I saw a sign, hand painted on and carved with what looked like a blood soaked rusty machete that pointed down a crazy looking road and should only be traveled if you wanted to be featured in a horror movie.

Lots of splits though to guess on which way to go.
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I stayed on the main road and found that eventually it became paved again, and beautifully so. Fresh paved, smooth and pretty, traveled by probably three locals a day is all.
DaKoi-8


I got back to 20 and took it to 16. I debated on doing that or doing berryessa/knoxville but decided to try something new, and go swimming in a different river. About the time I got to a swimming spot though, I suddenly felt something hit my neck on my Adam's Apple. I instantly realized it was a bee as it tap danced across my neck and as I reached up to try a "Oh MY GOD GET IT OFF" maneuver, it gave me a good deep neck massage with it's butt. As I reacted I came up to my stop, pulled right up to the river, took off my boots and helmet and gloves, and jumped in the water.
20369747_1689426447748431_1721664539041167605_o

I returned to the bike and chugged some water, relaxed, and loaded up for another leg of the journey. I got all geared back up and ready to go, went to start the bike, and nothing. It turned over and over and over but nothing, no kick, no chug, just cranked.

I pushed it to the pavement and the shade and tried some more. Nothing

I tried to push start it quickly down the slope of the parking lot. Nothing and now I'm sweaty again, and hot again. Fuck

I degear and push the bike back into the shade. I crank it a bit and now with my ear plugs out can hear that there is nothing going on. I'm now worried I've misjudged my fuel expenditure on a slow dirt road and change to reserve. Nothing. I try pushing it around the parking lot a few times and nothing. I guess I've flooded it and return to the shade, go for a quick swim again, and return to try again. Still nothing, but on one attempt I got a flutter. I cranked and held WOT and again, flutter, flutter, flutter, vroom.

IMG_20170727_154822

Die

Crank Vroom VROOM, get it going, keep it going, let it idle as I gear back up and it dies before I can get fully geared. I start it again and jump on now hoping to just get to a town.

Soon as I start rolling it dies.

Restart no problem, dies again as I start moving. Fuck FUCK FUCK!!!!!

I pull over, look at it, realize I'm in the sun, and get back on.

I get it out of first and into second, it's still sluggish but then it seems to clear up.

I shift into third and again, sluggs a bit before clearing out.

Then it ran fine all the way from there.


Flooded? Vapor Lock? Both?



I get through the boring part of 16 and take a back road to Winters to avoid 5 on a KLR. Roll over 128 and stop at another common spot to soak one last time for the final push home.
20369593_1689455077745568_6270082170874793338_o


As I pulled into the parking lot though I heard my rear brakes squeak. Badly. As I am planning a dirt adventure next week with pops, I thought I would check CycleGear on my way by to see if they had any sets of rears for a KLR. As I pulled up I realized it was their Bike Night and saw Dave Moss doing tunings in the parking lot. I thought it would be funny to get him to fiddle my knobs and ask him about the wear on my knobby tires, but he was slamming with customers so I just went inside, got my pads, and left.
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As I left Fairfield I noticed a sunflower... field? Orchard? Crop? and stopped for a shot before calling it a day.
DaKoi-11 by James Carr, on Flickr

 

[SFMCjohn]

opcorn

... wonderful pics ...

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Dang it John, wait until I actually put something new :laughing

I'm typing and editing as quick as I can :facepalm

 

[1962siia]

Digging it! Those headlights remind me of Wall-e. You are going to have a blast with this bike! :ride

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Digging it! Those headlights remind me of Wall-e. You are going to have a blast with this bike! :ride

I've already got my money out of it in the first month for pure joy. The O'shit moments, the spots I've got it that I'd never get a Connie, and the different world it's opened up is just awesome.

 

[SFMCjohn]

Dang it John, wait until I actually put something new :laughing

I'm typing and editing as quick as I can :facepalm

:laughing:thumbup

... sorry about stepping on your place-holder,
I was trying to get in under the first post ... arty

... did you wind up leaving it on reserve?
... I seem to recall having particular KLRs
over the years that were difficult to restart
sometimes after hitting reserve ...

there's a choke lever on my stock KLRs
for the left thumb under the grip, sometimes they
surprise me on a warm day by needing a bit of the
choke lever after sitting for a little while ... :dunno

 

[i_am_the_koi]

:laughing

I had plenty of gas after all so once it started running smoothly I dipped back to regular.

I forgot to turn the petcock off when I stopped so I'm guessing flooded but I have read quite a few vapor lock stories lately with klrs and 100+ temps. Since it was 102, I'm not sure.

I tried the choke too but no real effect at the time.

 

[GB500guy]

Great RR Koi, you're hitting all my favorites! Glad you discovered Ida Clayton, it is truly like another world.

The left fork in this picture is Huffmaster Rd, well worth exploring sometime.

A preview for you here:

http://bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showpost.php?p=9644227&postcount=3

-Bill

 

[Maddevill]

Love the ride report. I plan on getting a DRZ or DR to explore out that way someday.

Mad

 

[WoodsChick]

I've already got my money out of it in the first month for pure joy. The O'shit moments, the spots I've got it that I'd never get a Connie, and the different world it's opened up is just awesome.

THIS! Yes! This is the beauty of a dirt-capable bike! My world expanded in incredible ways the minute I put a license plate on my dirt bike in 2001. The bikes have changed since then, but I've never looked back. So glad you're enjoying the experience

Awesome ride reports, too! Loving the fact that you're seeking out water on your rides. I do the same thing! Doesn't matter if it's hot or cold, but water definitely needs to be there :thumbup


Thanks for posting up!



WoodsChick

 

[Cabrito]

:laughing

I had plenty of gas after all so once it started running smoothly I dipped back to regular.

I forgot to turn the petcock off when I stopped so I'm guessing flooded but I have read quite a few vapor lock stories lately with klrs and 100+ temps. Since it was 102, I'm not sure.

I tried the choke too but no real effect at the time.

Koi,
My KLR (Gen 1) has never ever had any sort of vapor lock. Never any flooding due to fuel petcock being left on. I never turned my stock one or my aftermarket one off unless I'm trailing it or storing or working on it. I've ridden in those high temp's a lot. I'm not saying that it wasn't any sort of Vapor lock or flooding, but it's never happened to mine in 40k miles.

Do you have your clutch and or side stand safety switches disabled yet? You'll want to do that because both of them can fail and leave you stranded. I think they can be intermittent before they eventually fail. Something to check out before getting into the fuel system maybe.

My KLR is being retired unless I decide to rebuild it.. Your thread is making me want to keep the old girl going...

 

[i_am_the_koi]

I wondered about clutch and side stand switches, know the side isn't, not sure about clutch

 

[SFMCjohn]

yay, Cabrito! :thumbup:ride

... my side stand switch got sticky and
would lead to the gind-grind-gind drill ...
for a while a firm uplift on the sidestand
would recall the KLR to it's duty ... :laughing

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Clean with wd40 maybe?

Never bypassed a switch before, shouldn't be hard...

 

[Cabrito]

Clean with wd40 maybe?

Never bypassed a switch before, shouldn't be hard...

Should only take you ten minutes to disable both. I could possibly get some pics of mine for you later or check out the interwebs..

This guy has the KLR fixes -
http://www.klr650.marknet.us/safetyswitch.html

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Day 4:

The father son hunt for Bigfoot 2017 Sierra's edition is in a few days. I am totally second guessing my abilities right now and fully feel like I'm going to die and become bear poop.

I feel this is my destiny.

The hillsides are aflame telling me to not attempt a ride in any direction.

Gandalf is standing at the top of the pass yelling that I shall not make the pass.

My bike is invading my dreams telling me it's going to break down. I sprayed the area of the switch with cleaner and moved it up and down. It appeared to smile as only a cable being stretched and loosened could.

I changed the brake pads too.

I decided I didn't need to read a manual.

R&R steps? Nope, this is going to be my test of "do I have any fucking idea what I'm doing" and I'm just going to start wrenching. I've got two days until I leave for almost 600 miles, on different types of roads, including a smuggler's trail into Nevada. So the worst that could happen is I fuck it up, can't get parts last minute, cancel the trip, or Ernie-rig my bike together, crash somewhere between anywhere and nowhere, and die becoming bear poop.

Right

Pulled the rear caliper off an discovered the previous owner had safety wired it to the axle cotter pin. Also braided steel lines front and rear which I knew the front but thought the rear was stock. Whatever, no bungee needed to hang the caliper while working on it so actually bonus. Obvious two Allan sockets, boom, off. Looks just like the Concours, push, remove, install, done.



No way it was that easy!!!???!!!!

Fine, Bigfoot is out there laughing as I entered my false sense of security that I wouldn't have a fail like I did in previous years. Last year the hunt for rotors caused blood, year before it was a cable that broke.

I swung my chair to the front and saw the same sized Allans as the rear... Too easy.

Pop the first bolt, then the second. Carefully as to not strip or torque them and snap a bolt. The both came out with little resistance and soon I had the front of my hand looking at it. I could see a difference but it didn't compute so I started with what I knew, push, try to get around pin, no dice.

I stared at it like a monkey. I saw metal tabs and assumed they were in the way.

Very large screwdriver to the rescue. VLS saves all types of situations, however it still didn't release the calliper's hold on the pads. But then I noticed the pin.

I had seen the bolt head before but it looked too small to be off significance. I discovered it was the lynchpin to the brake design and that I needed to remove it.

I discovered it was a 6mm socket, however all it does is spin and spin.

Fuck is it stripped? Snapped?

Curse you Bigfoot!!!!


Wait, when it spins something is also spinning.

Poke it!

Yup, it's definitely spinning with. Is it supposed to catch on something? Am I supposed to keep it from moving?

Poke it!!

Wait, it kind of looks like?

Is it actually a...?

Fuck. It is a cotter pin.

Pull it!

Pull it!!!!

Ploink





Yes, the sound a cotter pin makes upon removal is ploink


Out comes the pin. I grab the 6mm socket because now it must work! Nope, Chuck Testa!!!

Wait, it slid out a bit there.

Pull it!!!

Pin pops out, pop out the pads, install the new ones, push, install the bolt/pin and tiny fucking cotter pin of Satan, and, wait, is that it?

Put it up to the disc slide it on, two bolts, German spec and step back.

Yup, done!

Ok, I should check torque specs. Quick Google cheat, 20ftlbs and 18... German spec.

Boom, wench drop.

Check out my pads! Fronts are definitely toast. Rears had plenty but they look almost like stock or NOS versions. Fronts were Galfer and I replaced with them as well front and rear. Rather have gone EBC but whatever, these were in stock at cycle gear and in less than 30 minutes I'm done and spreading out maps to look at side routes for Thursday.

Bigfoot, I'm coming for you.

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Brakes

 

[i_am_the_koi]

Day 5 Journal Entry:

It's the day before the hunt.

The nerves are shot and the anxiety level is high. We could both leave right now with how we feel but are subjecting ourselves to having to wait.

I went through my bike today and checked the basics. Oil was a little low, topped it off. Radiator fluid is fine, brake fluids are fine, brakes both still work, air pressure is fine, bike feels solid, topped the gas tank off.

Unpacked everything and started a pile. Dad did the same and we went through to see what we could cull from the piles. Some tools, a shit load of zipties, first aid kit all were removed to save some weight.

Current pile has tools, patch kits and pumps, fix a flat, gun stuff, cooling stuff, clean clothes and shoes for walking around Reno in and strip club clothes, you know, just in case we happen to see one.

Wearing the mesh overpants with jeans underneath with armored shorts under those. Figure when we stop for breakfast I'll take off the jeans and just ride with mesh and armored shorts as it will be hot. Mesh jacket with liner and sweater, sweater and liner removed at breakfast too.

Cleaned the chain too, took it around the block a few times before lubing it to get it warm. Dad caught a squid shot of me getting ready.
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I got him back though when he took his out to do the same thing.
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Doing a load of laundry and starting to think about dinner, having a beer and checking out maps for better options then what I've got planned.




Bigfoot, I'm looking at you.