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Barstow to Vegas 2017 Planning Thread

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Maybe it's crazy to start a planning thread for a ride that is ten months away, but posts will keep coming in on the 2016 thread if we don't. So this is an opportunity to discuss logistics, equipment, etc. for those planning to go or those just interested in the 450+ mile desert dual sport ride.


For anyone unfamiliar with the ride, the starting point is Palmdale, California and goes to Barstow on the Friday after Thanksgiving. The second day starts at the Barstow Ramada Inn and ends at the Orleans Casino in Las Vegas. In between the route crosses various desert OHV areas and BLM land that is normally closed to off road riding, so this is a once a year opportunity. AMA District 37 sponsors this as a tribute ride to the old Barstow to Vegas desert race of the 60s.

Formal registration will begin in the early summer. In the mean time it is never too early to book a hotel. ;-)

TWT Ride Reports
2012
2013
2015
2016

I have hotel reservations:
Matt the Hatt
Magus
Meriden - Sadly Out

Got my 2017 kitchen pass:
Infidel
SilverBullet
Wildernessrider
Moto Gal
2WheelsDown

Likely:
JcatDRZ +1
rustylane7
Goyko
 
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Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I'm asking off work this month and booking hotels soon after. My plan is as follows: drive nonstop to Flagstaff AZ and tent camp I'm Cibola NF, then easy day to LV for final bike prep and shower and a bed. Then spend 2 or three days puttering down tracks and trails with little planning other than to reach Palmdale midday Thanksgiving, do the ride and split the drive back into 2 days. Looking at 4 nights in hotels and about 1000 miles on the bike... in 2014 we did it a bit different, but looking for adventure, not tried and true.

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Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Matt,
Sounds like a plan. Parking the rig in Vegas at the Orleans and riding into Palmdale is the way to go. Did you make a 2014 ride report that can be added to those above? Didn't mean to leave any out.

m
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

...My plan is as follows: drive nonstop to Flagstaff AZ and tent camp I'm Cibola NF, then easy day to LV...

Brrr..Flagstaff/Sedona will be very cold for camping and likely snow at that time. Even the caps in the deserts of AZ, NV & CA often already have snow by then. Camping in the winter can be fun though if you're prepared for it. Also Cibola NF is is NM so I'm confused by "nonstop to Flagstaff"

_
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Not Cibola, I meant Kaibab NF...

On the way to LAB2V2014 me and my mate camped about 2 mi NE of Pecos (near Santa Fe) in the mountains in the National Forest and it got down to mid teens. Small tent and a full belly and I was toasty warm in my bag. We camped in Kaibab NF for the following two nights and rode to the grand caynon on what had been the main road there many years ago but was now nothing much more than wide single track.

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Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

We should be figuring out who wants what holidays off this year pretty soon at work. If all goes to plan this will no longer be a premature planning thread...

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Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

SB and I have been kicking around strategies. I want to talk to the D37 group and see if they need any helping hands before I make any solid plans about the trip.

Right now I'm up in the air about volunteering, selling or riding the 300 XCW, or riding something else. Plenty of time.

m
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I'm sure there will be just as many good "behind the scenes" stories if you volunteer

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Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

My leave request was approved! I'll be calling and reserving rooms Friday. I can't wait

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Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I got the bike needed to make this ride...a Honda CRF450X...so im in fo sho
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I am planning to be there again this year. Really hoping to see a bigger TX rider contingent on this one. Glad to see you starting the thread nice and early Meriden.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

The 2 things I said I most wanted to get for my fairly well farkled WR-450 before the next LA B 2V outing are aftermarket high output lights, and a Rekluse clutch.
2 of the times I have done this I ended up out in the desert boonies after it got dark. Were it not for the fact that on both occasions I was with other bikes that had auxilliary lighting, and ended up being my salvation. I would positively have gotten myself lost. Without sustantially more light than a single motorcycle bulb throws, you simply can't see far enough into the desert shrubbery to discern where the "trail" goes. In no time at all you will be bush whacking across the back country hopelessly off course until you run out of gas. As Silverbullet alluded it is frigid out there when the sun goes down. Not the place to be stuck all night after spending the entire day riding hard and burning all the excess calories your body had on reserve. Better lighting is my first priority for this years event. The Rekluse is an eccentricity that I hope I can also add. It will certainly come in handy on the hardway routes, and save me a lot of hand cramping at the end of each day.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

That's not the worst news ever...

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I can't say I didn't try!

The 2 things I said I most wanted to get for my fairly well farkled WR-450 before the next LA B 2V outing are aftermarket high output lights, and a Rekluse clutch.
2 of the times I have done this I ended up out in the desert boonies after it got dark. Were it not for the fact that on both occasions I was with other bikes that had auxilliary lighting, and ended up being my salvation. I would positively have gotten myself lost. Without sustantially more light than a single motorcycle bulb throws, you simply can't see far enough into the desert shrubbery to discern where the "trail" goes. In no time at all you will be bush whacking across the back country hopelessly off course until you run out of gas. As Silverbullet alluded it is frigid out there when the sun goes down. Not the place to be stuck all night after spending the entire day riding hard and burning all the excess calories your body had on reserve. Better lighting is my first priority for this years event. The Rekluse is an eccentricity that I hope I can also add. It will certainly come in handy on the hardway routes, and save me a lot of hand cramping at the end of each day.

I thought ThrasherG was going to spend the night out there in 2012. That was a long course (over 500 miles) and a number of the sweeps got in just in time to leave again.

I left Texas at 175 pounds and came home ten days later at 160. No better way to lose weight. I may keep the KTM 300 after all. Bigger tank maybe?
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

If I manage to sell my F800GS and get a lighter bike, I'm in for sure
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I can't say I didn't try!



I thought ThrasherG was going to spend the night out there in 2012. That was a long course (over 500 miles) and a number of the sweeps got in just in time to leave again.

I left Texas at 175 pounds and came home ten days later at 160. No better way to lose weight. I may keep the KTM 300 after all. Bigger tank maybe?
I just got an Acerbis 6.6gal... it's massive. I haven't installed it yet, but fuel should not be an issue for me...

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Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Wow! Your going to have a two wheeled portable fuel depot. Just need to rig up a special docking hose so you can re-fuel bikes on the fly, like they do with the air force fleet. Maybe start Matts while you ride re-fueling service. "So next time you ride, don't roll the dice, better bring Matt along, or pay the price!"
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Let me know how it rides with the extra weight up top.

What bike is that on? Acerbis designs do appear to carry the weight higher up than a Safari. Plan your fuel stops right and you can get $25 of free gas at Sandy Valley.

_
 
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