Sonora Pass gravel

[davidji]

Yesterday a buddy of mine who lives near Sonora Pass assisted a rider who slid off the road in gravel. East bound, east side of the pass, just above the 9000' sign.

I rode it today west bound, and it looked like there were similar amounts of gravel on both sides of the road. A big difference being it's easier to react to unexpected patches of gravel in your line when you're going uphill (west bound) than downhill (east bound). The gravel was mostly just occasional patches of gravel between the tire tracks.

There were a couple of sections with loose gravel signs, but the crash wasn't in one, and one of those signed areas appeared to have been cleaned up--I didn't see the gravel there anyway.

It seems to be from the road construction.

 

[budman]

Good info.

Thanks for posting it.

 

[ScottRNelson]

I've encountered gravel more often than not on California mountain roads. You have to keep an eye out for it and stay in the tire tracks on blind corners. Of the dozens of times I've ridden Mines Road, I can't remember a time when there was NO gravel on the entire road.

The roads over the passes get less traffic, so you can expect more gravel up there.

 

[cg_ops]

Just curious if anyone's TCS has helped them avoid a gravel spill on paved roads. I know it's not going to do much if you're at full lean but I know my ABS kept me upright in it once when I hadn't seen it blended in with the texture of the road I was on.

 

[self_moto]

Just curious if anyone's TCS has helped them avoid a gravel spill on paved roads. I know it's not going to do much if you're at full lean but I know my ABS kept me upright in it once when I hadn't seen it blended in with the texture of the road I was on.

Doesn't look like it helped at all...

youtu.be/6SXVT-Rt5E0

Don't remember who said it, but "TC doesn't give you traction, it manages existing one". So no traction, TC is useless, kind of

 

[davidji]

The roads over the passes get less traffic, so you can expect more gravel up there.

When it's open, Sonora pass gets a lot more car traffic than Mines.

The only real gravel I remember from previous trips over the pass was on the inside of the tight corners, where big vehicles kicked it on to the road.

Early after opening I expect extra crap on the road. Also when there's road construction. This is the latter.

 

[tzrider]

Sonora is usually pretty clean, with construction or cleaning out drainage ditches being the usual exceptions.

Mines is chip sealed, which leaves gravel in the shoulders along most of the road. Some of it gets pulled back up onto the road when a vehicle pulls over and the gravel can be hard to see, since it’s just chip seal that didn’t stick.

 

[tzrider]

Sonora is usually pretty clean, with construction or cleaning out drainage ditches being the usual exceptions.

Mines is chip sealed, which leaves gravel in the shoulders along most of the road. Some of it gets pulled back up onto the road when a vehicle pulls over and the gravel can be hard to see, since it’s just chip seal that didn’t stick.

 

[GPzPop]

sonora pass gravel has caught me out big time once,

i did not even see the gravely bit, it just blended in with the road surface

first i thought i was gonna low side as the front washed , then the rear stepped out so far, i was scraping on the side of my belly skid plate, then i straightened out and rode on ...

this was on the xsr900, i am pretty sure the traction control kicked in and saved my ass

 

[boney]

When it's open, Sonora pass gets a lot more car traffic than Mines.

The only real gravel I remember from previous trips over the pass was on the inside of the tight corners, where big vehicles kicked it on to the road.

Early after opening I expect extra crap on the road. Also when there's road construction. This is the latter.

This.

There are a few corners near the top on the east side that are sharp enough for trailers to get on the shoulder, kicking gravel onto the road.