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Where is a good starting road

dsb

dsb

King of the slab!
Joined
Apr 21, 2005
Location
Newark
Moto(s)
Kawasaki ZR-7, 2000 Triumph Sprint RS (2 wheel money pit)
Name
Darrell
Starting to get into this adventure thing, and since my project Triumph is starting to become a regularly ridden street bike, I can open up the possibilities of modifying and taking the ZR-7 in places I would not normally have. Just looking to ride some dirt roads without anything too crazy to learn and get started on. Still have street tires, so I need to keep that in mind.

Is there anything close by I can do? I am totally prepared to fall at some point in the dirt, but I got bit by this bug and wanna do it!!
 
Does the road have to go anywhere special? Should it be all unpaved or only a little unpaved? Ida Clayton Road comes to mind as an unpaved road that's not too tough. I'm sure there's stuff closer. Look up some of Mortifer or Luckett's motard rides to get some ideas on other stuff.

Another one that comes to mind is Old Toll Rd - Highland Springs Rd between Hopland and Lakeport. A dirt alternative to Hwy 175.
 
If you wanna go north, Bear Valley Road east of Clear Lake, north of Lake Berryessa is a simple gravel road through pretty territory.

Lots of this:
IMG_0335.jpg


Then, if you're feeling game, you can turn west and dip into Mendocino National Forest, go north towards Stonyford, etc., all offering plenty of difficulty if/when you're ready.
 
South instead of north of you:

Disclaimer: I'm not a dirt bike rider, but I've done these roads on my SV650 with street tires.

Super short: Mt. Madonna up from Redwood Retreat. Then Summit Rd north towards Loma Prieta (beware of the private and claimed private stretches).

A bit longer, mountain traverse: La Gloria Rd. Might be easier the direction I did it in (west to east) because the west side felt pretty slippery and steep, and I'd rather climb that than descend.
 
99% of the lost coast is very doable. more so later in the summer when it's dried out.

south 2 north is best direction to go.


dsb said:
Starting to get into this adventure thing, and since my project Triumph is starting to become a regularly ridden street bike, I can open up the possibilities of modifying and taking the ZR-7 in places I would not normally have. Just looking to ride some dirt roads without anything too crazy to learn and get started on. Still have street tires, so I need to keep that in mind.

Is there anything close by I can do? I am totally prepared to fall at some point in the dirt, but I got bit by this bug and wanna do it!!
Click to expand...
 
Just did some "adventure" riding on my monster... There is a road in Santa Cruz mountains off of Summit/Highland called buzzard's lagoon. It was pretty and didn't seem too bad
 
I just found another myself when looking for a roundabout (read: fewer LEO's :teeth ) way home from Laguna Seca on Saturday. After leaving LS and going over Laureles Grade to Carmel Valley, then out towards 101, I was still left looking for an interesting route home to the East Bay. La Gloria Road between Gonzales and Hwy 25 (just south of the CDF station where the helicopter sits) is a sandy road that runs up and over that range of hills north of the Pinnacles. Fun! :ride
 
3D MAP THESE PLACES TO RIDE!

flying_hun said:
I just found another myself when looking for a roundabout (read: fewer LEO's :teeth ) way home from Laguna Seca on Saturday. After leaving LS and going over Laureles Grade to Carmel Valley, then out towards 101, I was still left looking for an interesting route home to the East Bay. La Gloria Road between Gonzales and Hwy 25 (just south of the CDF station where the helicopter sits) is a sandy road that runs up and over that range of hills north of the Pinnacles. Fun! :ride
Click to expand...

That sounds like a cool ride!

Everyone should use these new 3D mapping tools to help find these places to ride?
It utilizes the info that was only available before if you had Google Earth, but now it's free and online! You might need to install the plugin for your computer, but it's a badass tool for what we are trying to do!

For example...here is Metcalf Motorcycle County Park in 3D:
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.aspx?v=2&FORM=LMLTCP&cp=37.235739~-121.721017&style=h&lvl=19&tilt=-38.7805155876276&dir=0&alt=463.114532453008&cam=37.233733~-121.721017&phx=0&phy=0&phscl=1&encType=1
 
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