Padre Island Beach Ride

[topes]

Anyone interested in attempting to ride the 75 or so miles of Padre Island Beach? (150 miles round trip.) If the trip goes, I'll ride my KLR. (I know, it's heavy for sand but it's the only bike I own remotely capable of the ride.) Although I despise having to trailer, I considered the possibility of buying sand tires and trailering the bikes to the beach. We most likely camp at least one night.

I might be wrong, but I'm told the bike or vehicle must be street legal. As most of us know, the area is a national park. To avoid all the nasty rules associated with a national park, we might consider a shorter South Padre ride instead.

If it works out, I'd like to figure out how I might float the gap between Padre Island and South Padre. :trust:

Summer is almost here, and time is short for a spring attempt.

[FJR Bandit]

Do you have a date set? If I'm off, I'll join you with my KLR.

I tried a beach ride for my B-Day with a injuried arm this week. It lasted about 30 mins before I was in too much pain. I want to try it again after I heal up better.

Let me know.

[topes]

Do you have a date set? If I'm off, I'll join you with my KLR.

I tried a beach ride for my B-Day with a injuried arm this week. It lasted about 30 mins before I was in too much pain. I want to try it again after I heal up better.

Let me know.

Looks like it may have to be September. We've only got a 1.5 week window before it gets real hot. We'd have a hard time if someone broke down and we needed water.

[Cagiva 549]

I thought about this trip a few times , I dont have a bike , I would want the smallest and cheapest street legal I could get because it would be trashed afterwards . As far as crossings I think the easyest would be to pay a local fisherman with a big flatbottom to ferry you across . The South Padre bike fest is in October , I thought it be sweet to ride in to the fest and tell them we rode in from Corpus . You would need a trailer to come home , the ride back from there would suck . I will keep my eyes open for an old TW Yamaya , that would work good . SEYA

[jsb223]

I might be wrong, but I'm told the bike or vehicle must be street legal.

You are correct all vehicles operated in PINS must be street legal.

[FotoMoto]

Chain lube and salt water soaked sand makes the finest grinding compound known to man! :-)

I've never been that far down but there's a place called big shell-little shell that fishermen love. Basically it's a zone where northern and southern tidal flows converge causing a dump of their "cargo". The wealth of bait in the flows makes for great fishing and shell hunting.

The beach is considered a state road and all vehicle laws apply.

Weeks to months later, your bike is going to start looking bad; pitting/corrosion on the fasteners and spokes are usually the first to show.

[topes]

Any of you guys rich?

http://www.nitro-pak.com/product_info.php?cPath=40_150_302&products_id=1096

[topes]

I thought about this trip a few times , I dont have a bike , I would want the smallest and cheapest street legal I could get because it would be trashed afterwards . As far as crossings I think the easyest would be to pay a local fisherman with a big flatbottom to ferry you across . The South Padre bike fest is in October , I thought it be sweet to ride in to the fest and tell them we rode in from Corpus . You would need a trailer to come home , the ride back from there would suck . I will keep my eyes open for an old TW Yamaya , that would work good . SEYA


I wonder what the current is like? I have an expedition canoe that could take them over one at a time. A raft might also do the trick and it would be much easier to haul. Unless things really go bad, I would like to do it without outside assistance.

As a side note, I'm told there's cell service down the intercoastal waterway.

[dbdolan]

Look's like a tempting ride :trust: Hey Topes I was looking at some of your pics from Mexico, I recognize a guy named Kevin(works for Harris county)I have talked to him a couple of times, I ran into him while I was on my KLR and he was on his KLR. Kevin lives next to my buddy over on Crieghton rd.

[topes]

Look's like a tempting ride :trust: Hey Topes I was looking at some of your pics from Mexico, I recognize a guy named Kevin(works for Harris county Sheriff's dept.)I have talked to him a couple of times, I ran into him while I was on my KLR and he was on his KLR. Kevin lives next to my buddy over on Crieghton rd.

I've never heard of the guy. :trust:


Hey, did you eat dinner at Rancho Grande the other day with someone else on a red KLR?

[dbdolan]

I've never heard of the guy. :trust:


Hey, did you eat dinner at Rancho Grande the other day with someone else on a red KLR?
Nope never been to Rancho Grande, where is it? I am alway's looking for a good place to eat:eat: Ahhh.... I thought Kevin was one one of your hooligan Cooper Canyon run buddies
He is the guy on the left in this picture
http://baltopilas.smugmug.com/photos/3803953-M.jpg
:lol2: If not never mind...I am loosing my mind

[chadleys1]

I was planning on riding the island on the weekend starting June 9th. My family is having their reunion on that weekend, and I thought it would be fun to show up, say hi, ride off and camp on the 4x4 beach, then show up the next day with some stories. I hope it won't be too hot!! I might have to do my riding early in the day, and then spend the hot hours wandering around, and fishing.

Does anyone have any opinions on fotomoto's gloomy predictions about beach ridden motorcycles? I always thought you could wash the beach off of the bike, when you got back to pavement, especially if it was a one time thing. ???

[topes]

Nope never been to Rancho Grande, where is it? I am alway's looking for a good place to eat:eat:
:lol2: If not never mind...I am loosing my mind

Rancho Grande is across from Tomball College on FM 249. The margaritas ain't bad and food is better than average. It's not real Mexican food, but it's good Gringo-Mex.

Yeah, I know Kevin. We just got back from another trip to Copper Canyon (http://baltopilas.smugmug.com/gallery/1375400). I won't be going back any time soon. Been there too many times already.

[topes]

I was planning on riding the island on the weekend starting June 9th. My family is having their reunion on that weekend, and I thought it would be fun to show up, say hi, ride off and camp on the 4x4 beach, then show up the next day with some stories. I hope it won't be too hot!! I might have to do my riding early in the day, and then spend the hot hours wandering around, and fishing.

Does anyone have any opinions on fotomoto's gloomy predictions about beach ridden motorcycles? I always thought you could wash the beach off of the bike, when you got back to pavement, especially if it was a one time thing. ???


I could really care less. This may sound strange, but I want my KLR to look bad. The more it appears to be a piece of junk, the less likely it will be stolen in Mexico. Oh, and it's got 45k or so on the clock and I doubt I'll be rebuilding the motor at 60k.

With that said, I've prevented the effects of sea salt by washing the bugger down a.s.a.p. after leaving the beach. Of course, If I use a power washer, I stay away from the bearings.

The danger to the chain is real. I'll probably be bringing some WD40 to wash it down and a good wax based chain lube to help keep it off the chain. Lots of motorcyclists ride sand without major problems.

[SL350]

Bump.

Did this ride ever happen and if it did, can someone report how it went?

Mike

[Greasemonkey]

After riding the beach I usely wash my bike a few times[power and hand].Do not wash it and park it.Also ,using a kayak thru those tide waters could be kinda scary.Never been to the end but it's supposed to be kinda rough.Good luck.
Scott G.

[DaveC]

If you spray all your metal parts with wd40 it should help keep the salt air off. Your gonna have a little braking issues when you spray the disk brakes. :mrgreen:
power washing well get it off but your going to have to run it around for about 30 minutes to help get the water out of the bearings and other such hidden spots. If exposed it well corrode or rust if unprotected. :eek2:

[Jack Giesecke]

In this heat, think I'll stay in the AC.