The most challenging motorcycle roads?

revnort · Jan 2, 2013

So what do you consider the most challenging motorcycle roads and why? Not necessarily the best although I am sure many of us would consider the two to go hand in hand. You can find plenty of best of lists around, I hope this is a bit different. I am mostly interested in roads out west but I'll take other roads across the world. Dirt, street, or otherwise just open to the public. That is unless you can get me/us through the gate. :teeth

Maybe it just intense switchbacks with crazy elevation changes, maybe it has potholes the size of a car, pavement so fcuked that it shouldn't be called a road, filled with gravel, two way but less than one lane width, along the side of a cliff leading to certain death (I still need to try forks of salmon...:drool)?

I will accept specific context like Kings Ridge road in the winter when it is mossy. Squidline (84) in the summer etc. :laughing :twofinger

Although I don't want to rely on that too much or we will be saying things like Mines road in the dark while raining with no headlight on turbo busa with slicks.

Every road has challenges of course, and you can die anywhere. What roads gave you that super pucker moment thrill, or maybe you just conquered at a brisk pace and felt that sense of accomplishment. Maybe it was just an intense slog and you hated it. Whatever it was let's hear it. :ride

Edit: Also this is a subjective thing, so let's try and keep the that is not a hard road dick waving to a minimum. :teeth :laughing

OK so far we have the following. I have done a little editing:
Buck Lakes Road https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Buck...LH-A&hnear=Bucks+Lake+Rd,+California&t=h&z=14

Oroville-Quincy https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Orov...Rd,+Bucks+Lake,+Plumas,+California+95956&z=13

Highway 36 https://maps.google.com/maps?q=High...fornia+36,+Red+Bluff,+Tehama,+California&z=11

Highway 299 https://maps.google.com/maps?q=High...ifornia+299,+Redding,+Shasta,+California&z=11

CA 49 (not sure if this is the spot referred to) https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Cali...3579&t=h&hnear=California+49,+California&z=11

Mount Ham https://maps.google.com/maps?q=moun...ear=Mt+Hamilton,+Santa+Clara,+California&z=15

Calaveras https://maps.google.com/maps?q=cala...0.177473,0.363579&t=h&hnear=Calaveras+Rd&z=13

Forks of Salmon https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Fork...ar=Forks+of+Salmon,+Siskiyou,+California&z=12

Nacimiento-Fergusson https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=...FTYxJQIdrDjC-A&t=h&mra=mift&mrsp=1&sz=15&z=15

Tunitas Creek (in the wet

islemann · Jan 2, 2013

In no particular order (other than memories of great rides at all times of day and in all kinds of weather) - Bucks Lake Rd, Oroville/Quincy, Hwy 36 eastbound from Arcata, Hwy 299 westbound from Redding, Hwy 49 from Grayeagle southbound, Hwy1 from SF to Oregon, and about a zillion other great roads in N. CA and Oregon. Not so much on the experience in S. CA, and Washington has very few roads that don't suck pigsballs.

As to the most 'hair raising' - Forks of Salmon on a ZX11D at night in the rain might qualify. Same with Hwy 36 in a raging wind and rain storm (also at night) on my Triumph Tiger. At least the Lights of God and the heated gear were up to the task!.

sckego · Jan 2, 2013

Mt Hamilton Road/San Antonio Valley Road definitely has to be up there as far as technicality, margin for error, and penalty for failure. When I think of "roads that I would DEFINITELY not take a n00b on," Hammy's about at the top of the list.

When I think back on my most challenging rides, they were pretty much all weather-dependent (ie, US-191 in Arizona during an intense thunderstorm... I'm sure the road is challenging by itself, but the weather is the real reason that ride sticks in my memory).

revnort said:
two way but less than one lane width

That's King's Ridge for sure. thisclose to a head-on with a UPS truck taking up the whole road up there...

revnort · Jan 2, 2013

sckego said:
Mt Hamilton Road/San Antonio Valley Road definitely has to be up there as far as technicality, margin for error, and penalty for failure. When I think of "roads that I would DEFINITELY not take a n00b on," Hammy's about at the top of the list.

When I think back on my most challenging rides, they were pretty much all weather-dependent (ie, US-191 in Arizona during an intense thunderstorm... I'm sure the road is challenging by itself, but the weather is the real reason that ride sticks in my memory).

That's King's Ridge for sure. thisclose to a head-on with a UPS truck taking up the whole road up there...

Yeah the Calaveras, Mt Ham loop is a pretty good one. I took a passenger on that loop once. Wow was that a mistake for a nice ride. :laughing

islemann said:
In no particular order (other than memories of great rides at all times of day and in all kinds of weather) - Bucks Lake Rd, Oroville/Quincy, Hwy 36 eastbound from Arcata, Hwy 299 westbound from Redding, Hwy 49 from Grayeagle southbound, Hwy1 from SF to Oregon, and about a zillion other great roads in N. CA and Oregon. Not so much on the experience in S. CA, and Washington has very few roads that don't suck pigsballs.

As to the most 'hair raising' - Forks of Salmon on a ZX11D at night in the rain might qualify. Same with Hwy 36 in a raging wind and rain storm (also at night) on my Triumph Tiger. At least the Lights of God and the heated gear were up to the task!.

36 is a great one. Forks of Salmon at night in the rain?! Brass balls, and I've only seen videos.

Caddywumpus · Jan 2, 2013

The Streets of Oakland and/or San Fransisco.

Lunch Box · Jan 2, 2013

Great thread, Dan. There are so many from which to choose, but some of my favorite paved roads are Naciemento-Ferguson, Tunitas (in the wet), Stage Road, Tin Barn, Alpine, and the part of Skaggs between the bridge and Hwy 1. There are so many other roads which all provide interesting challenges, but that is a good starter list.

Dan, we need to ride together more. We'll find some nasty, gnarly, goaty shitty roads and have a blast. Maybe we can convince Kurt to join us, and show us some of his secret stash of goaty gold.

revnort · Jan 2, 2013

Lunch Box said:
Great thread, Dan. There are so many from which to choose, but some of my favorite paved roads are Naciemento-Ferguson, Tunitas (in the wet), Stage Road, Tin Barn, Alpine, and the part of Skaggs between the bridge and Hwy 1. There are so many other roads which all provide interesting challenges, but that is a good starter list.

Dan, we need to ride together more. We'll find some nasty, gnarly, goaty shitty roads and have a blast. Maybe we can convince Kurt to join us, and show us some of his secret stash of goaty gold.

Enthusiastic fist bump of agreement on all contained here. I have to get some tires and then scrub them in before the 24th. I'll be in touch. :teeth

Banjoboy · Jan 2, 2013

Leeseville/Ladogo /thread :x

Oh wait, 162/FH7/162/Buck's Lake Oroville HWY.

Berryessa/Knoxville
Reyhouse

Tomki rd

Geysers rd (In winter :laughing )

Chew on that Danny boy :teeth

*EDIT* Dun added sum pics fer yer viewing pleasure

revnort · Jan 2, 2013

Banjoboy said:
Leeseville/Ladogo /thread :x
Oh wait, 162/FH7/162/Buck's Lake Oroville HWY.
Berryessa/Knoxville
Reyhouse

Chew on that Danny boy :teeth

Hmm, haven't done Leeseville/Ladogo. I think that was the ride you and Kurt went on I couldn't make. There was inclement weather, and perhaps a little lost IIRC? :laughing

If I ride em all in a day can I be called Danjo Boy?

ThumperX · Jan 2, 2013

Western Mine Road, gotten pretty rutty and seems like longer dirt stretches.

clutchslip · Jan 2, 2013

Every road is a challenge to me. Maybe that is good. Maybe it is not good. What kind of things do you consider a challenge? If I try to go too fast, I could turn Lawrence Expressway into a hell-o-a-challenge. On the other hand, I have found little dirt roads, original made by mules and wagons to be quite invigorating while trying not to ride off a 200 ft drop at about 15 mph. Hmmmm?

Streets are too dependent on what you ride, when you ride, and how fast you ride. Nothing that can't be overcome with the proper bike, time of year, and speed........ I must be stumped - sorry, carry on. :laughing

p4i1 · Jan 2, 2013

Skyline blvd is most challenging for me (before repavement started). Because it has a lot of straights and a lot of very smooth curves it teases me to ride with a speed that is plain unsafe, to have as much fun as i have riding on roads with tight corners like Stage or Alpine

Banjoboy · Jan 2, 2013

revnort said:
Hmm, haven't done Leeseville/Ladogo. I think that was the ride you and Kurt went on I couldn't make. There was inclement weather, and perhaps a little lost IIRC? :laughing

If I ride em all in a day can I be called Danjo Boy?

Hey I like that.

arty

ThumperX said:
Western Mine Road, gotten pretty rutty and seems like longer dirt stretches.

:thumbup

Maddevill · Jan 2, 2013

Hwy 120 or 4 up over the Sierras. Hwy 128 from Mendocino to Boonville. Hwy 1 from Fort Bragg up the mountain to Hwy 101.

Pelon · Jan 2, 2013

Love the thread Dan. Please let me know when you wan to go explore.. I need to get out and ride somewhere... 1st day back at work and I already need to GTFO!

ThumperX · Jan 2, 2013

Hey, so over New Years I was at a friend's house and there was an F650GS all farkled out in the barn. It had a lot of spiderwebs and both sides were scraped like it had fallen down.
Winds up being a 2007 with 2K on the clock, owners ranch hand keeps hitting it with the tractor. I jokingly made an offer. I now own an F650GS. It's it's in Lake County I need to go get it....

joespeedfast · Jan 2, 2013

sckego said:
Mt Hamilton Road/San Antonio Valley Road definitely has to be up there as far as technicality, margin for error, and penalty for failure. When I think of "roads that I would DEFINITELY not take a n00b on," Hammy's about at the top of the list.
...

Yep, they don't get much better/more challenging than that and it's right there and easy to reach from all directions. :thumbup
I used to live in East Hills SJ right at the base near Penitencia Park and ran out to Hwy. 5 and back three or four nights a week after work during the summer months. :ride
I used to call it " pavement motocross". :laughing

revnort · Jan 2, 2013

clutchslip said:
Every road is a challenge to me. Maybe that is good. Maybe it is not good. What kind of things do you consider a challenge? If I try to go too fast, I could turn Lawrence Expressway into a hell-o-a-challenge. On the other hand, I have found little dirt roads, original made by mules and wagons to be quite invigorating while trying not to ride off a 200 ft drop at about 15 mph. Hmmmm?

Streets are too dependent on what you ride, when you ride, and how fast you ride. Nothing that can't be overcome with the proper bike, time of year, and speed........ I must be stumped - sorry, carry on. :laughing

As i said, it is subjective. Yes every road has its challenges, but which ones do you go ride when you want a challenge? Which ones do you consider more of a challenge? Pretty straight forward I think. :teeth The bike your riding makes a difference but we are taking about actual roads not single track. So for the most part you could get it done on anything even if some work better than others.

Maddevill said:
Hwy 120 or 4 up over the Sierras. Hwy 128 from Mendocino to Boonville. Hwy 1 from Fort Bragg up the mountain to Hwy 101.

Mmm ebetts. Yum.

Pelon said:
Love the thread Dan. Please let me know when you wan to go explore.. I need to get out and ride somewhere... 1st day back at work and I already need to GTFO!

Fo sho. My first day back too. :laughing

revnort · Jan 2, 2013

ThumperX said:
Hey, so over New Years I was at a friend's house and there was an F650GS all farkled out in the barn. It had a lot of spiderwebs and both sides were scraped like it had fallen down.
Winds up being a 2007 with 2K on the clock, owners ranch hand keeps hitting it with the tractor. I jokingly made an offer. I now own an F650GS. It's it's in Lake County I need to go get it....

Awesome!:thumbup let's break that sucker in!

xgambit · Jan 2, 2013

The most challenging motorcycle roads?

Tasty Pants

Re Tired Not Dead

doesn't like crashing

Tasty Pants

4N631

Useful idiot

Tasty Pants

Get over yerself!!!

Tasty Pants

Well-known member

Not as fast as I look.

weekend rider

Get over yerself!!!

KNGKAW

Lurker

Well-known member

WTF LOL

Tasty Pants

Tasty Pants

Post Count +1