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Barstow to Vegas 2017 Planning Thread

Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Too much fuel/weight can be an issue also if your susp is not set up for it. Can be a real issue in the desert sand.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I will be there. Hopefully, I don't crash to hard before then. Riding a lot this summer.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Been really wanting to do this! Can someone please post up or pm me more details. How many days? Things to pack. Do I need a bigger fuel tank for my 500 exc-f? Sorry to rant! Thanks
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Been really wanting to do this! Can someone please post up or pm me more details. How many days? Things to pack. Do I need a bigger fuel tank for my 500 exc-f? Sorry to rant! Thanks

Plan on at least a week to get out there and back. The ride is the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving. I like parking at the Orleans in Vegas and then riding to the start. 100 mile range is about as little as one can get away with. Plan on your mileage being worse in the sand. Plan on temps being between 35F and 80F. Pray for rain to keep the dust down. Bring goggles and a roll chart holder. GPS doesn't always work out there. Bring water for two days and powerbars, flat repair stuff, tools and spares. Get your hotels lined up first, then sign up. Check the D37 Dual Sport message board for lots and lots of advice.

m
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Thank you! Looks like I better get busy
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

You had better be ready for temps variation from the lower 20s, up to around 80. Once the sun goes down, frigid temps are the norm out in the desert. I would say 2 out of 3 times you do this ride it will likely snow on you at some point. Last year the temps weren't too very harsh. Which means this year they quite likely could be.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Lastly I have seen a cheap space blanket come in VERY handy when a rider gets either injured, or a bike breaks down leaving someone stuck in the desert as the sun sets.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Lastly I have seen a cheap space blanket come in VERY handy when a rider gets either injured, or a bike breaks down leaving someone stuck in the desert as the sun sets.

Thanks for the advice gents! Count me as a definite in. Already scheduled the time off! Now to get me and the bike ready
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I am really considering this ride. Seems like a lot of fun! Can anyone compare the easy vs hard routes? I just got my hands on an 09 400XC-W that seems like it would work well...
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

The easy routes are not real technical, other than major sand. Yes you will ride some rough rocky terrain and see some mud here or there, but it isn't super dificult riding. The hard way challenges are certainly that! You will be doing some pretty technical rock hopping that challenges all but the most accomplished of riders. Remember you are in SoCal where riding dirt bikes is a state sport. I don't think they even let you move on from grade school until you have mastered dirt riding. So when they say hard way...you can bank on it being the truth!
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I've not ridden the hard sections to date and may not. It's a fun ride without the additional technical issues. Some vids can be found of guys working in teams to push their bikes through Red Rock, especially if there is snow. About 65% of the bikes are small KTMs.

To echo Donny, what surprised me was the sand. I had ridden lots of sand in East Texas and Big Bend, but none was preparation for Southern California. Even guys that are proficient at sand riding will find it difficult at times because of the novices stopped in the bottle necks and speed limits in the tortoise zones. Traffic can be a surprise hazard on this ride.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

The easy routes are not real technical, other than major sand. Yes you will ride some rough rocky terrain and see some mud here or there, but it isn't super dificult riding. The hard way challenges are certainly that! You will be doing some pretty technical rock hopping that challenges all but the most accomplished of riders. Remember you are in SoCal where riding dirt bikes is a state sport. I don't think they even let you move on from grade school until you have mastered dirt riding. So when they say hard way...you can bank on it being the truth!

Sounds like the "easy" route will be the one my bud and I will plan to take! I do not want to break the bike, or myself on my first trip out west! It really is a shame that kids just aren't into dirt bikes as much as they once were. I am 28, and I think I came in on the tail end of the craze. I remember being mesmerized by Jeremy McGrath as a child.

BTW I dig the radio show Donny! I went back and listened to all of them via podcasts after discovering it.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I've not ridden the hard sections to date and may not. It's a fun ride without the additional technical issues. Some vids can be found of guys working in teams to push their bikes through Red Rock, especially if there is snow. About 65% of the bikes are small KTMs.

To echo Donny, what surprised me was the sand. I had ridden lots of sand in East Texas and Big Bend, but none was preparation for Southern California. Even guys that are proficient at sand riding will find it difficult at times because of the novices stopped in the bottle necks and speed limits in the tortoise zones. Traffic can be a surprise hazard on this ride.

We are on a deer lease in East Texas, so I hear what you mean about the sand there. I bet it is nothing like the stuff out in California though! I can't imagine not being able to carry speed (your best friend IMO) through deep sand due to traffic...

So in the tortoise zones, speed is limited to what?
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I think the diferance in our sand VS desert sand is that theirs is a courser texture with less moisture, so you can really sink down into it very well. As I recall the tortoise zones were slow, but not hopelessly so. I wanna say it was 20 or 25. But in deep desert sand that is still a work out. You don't truly plane out on top until around 40+. And Meriden is right about there being lots of traffic. Which in the dusty desert makes for choking thick dust clouds. So you are riding along usually in that first hour or two, thru the desert toolies at a spirited clip, with near white out visibilities at times until the riders get more spread out later in the day. Lets just say there can be spontanious moments of excitement here and there out on the course.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

We are on a deer lease in East Texas, so I hear what you mean about the sand there. I bet it is nothing like the stuff out in California though! I can't imagine not being able to carry speed (your best friend IMO) through deep sand due to traffic...

So in the tortoise zones, speed is limited to what?
Turtle zones are 30mph.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Tapatalk
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I retired my 06 DR650 because of its weight in deep sand. I got to test it out in Big Bend and I knew it was not what I wanted to tackle B2V on so I looked at the lighter dirt specialist and ended up with a Honda CRF450X which should be the perfect beast for any desert riding. I am open to possibly adventuring with a Texas group to cover the logistics but I can go it with the wife driving the support truck from B2V.

This has been on my bucket list since the 70's. Im definetly in after finding the right bike....
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

You guys think KTM 690 Enduro R is good for this ride? Not to heavy to make a ride and experience miserable instead of fun? I just picked a brand new one and I want to attend this.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

You are really going to like the 450 Infidel. We look forward to seeing you there!
I would think that 690 will be a great bike for this ride. Not as porky as the other 650s, so should do fine in the sand. Also not too awkward if you do try messing with the hard way routes.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Is anyone making the drive out, who has some extra room for two bikes?
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I am thinking on it and have gone and booked the hotel rooms. Very preliminary and no idea how I might get out there with my bike at this point.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

There are a few of us from the Houston area making tentative arrangements. Too early for any certainty on the how I will haul and when. But I do have a full size pickup & enclosed single axle trailer. IF I did decide to haul it along, I might have a space or two available. As the date draws considerably nearer I will attempt to firm up my LAB2V travel game plan. At present I just know for sure that I intend to be at Palmdale Cycle shop checking in at rider HQ nice and eary on the Friday morning after Thanksgiving.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

Booking a Barstow hotel early is the most important portion of the ride planning. To Donny's point, all the other plans will change right up to the day everyone leaves and the hotels don't mind cancellations. They will have people sleeping in the floors that night.
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

There are a few of us from the Houston area making tentative arrangements. Too early for any certainty on the how I will haul and when. But I do have a full size pickup & enclosed single axle trailer. IF I did decide to haul it along, I might have a space or two available. As the date draws considerably nearer I will attempt to firm up my LAB2V travel game plan. At present I just know for sure that I intend to be at Palmdale Cycle shop checking in at rider HQ nice and eary on the Friday morning after Thanksgiving.

Please let me know. My buddy and I will gladly compensate you!
 
Re: Barstow to Vegas 2017 Possibly Premature Planning Thread

I have been looking into this event and it is right up my alley. If i were to tinker with sprockets do you think a wr250f would be fine out in the desert? What are the average cruising speeds?
 
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