McMinnville Or to Laguna Seca via Crater Lake and Yosemite

[Gssheller]

It's a little last minute, but the plans are finally finalized!

Headed out next Wed, 7/25 from McMinnville, Oregon to Laguna Seca for the bike races. I was going to take the newly acquired FJR1300, but it won't be ready by then. I guess the classic Suzuki will have to do the work!! While the races make a decent destination, it's just an excuse for the ride!!

Leaving here around noon or so and making an easy run to Bend. Meeting with my brother and a buddy of his and will probably enjoy some of the killer microbrew the town in known for.

Thursday headed to Klamath Falls with a trip through Crater lake. Interested on hearing where we should head while in K Falls. Ideas?

From K Falls to Carson City, NV. Headed out there across Yosemite on our way to the Monterey area.

From there the races and maybe a ball game, then up the coast through the redwoods and back home. 7 days in all.

I would really enjoy seeing some fellow GSers on the road or at any of the destinations. I've been riding daily for over a year now and haven't seen a single Suzuki GS on the road. It's really pretty surprising if you think about it, over 30k miles and I'm the only GS I've ever seen! Crazy.

Let me know what suggestions you may have or if you can meet anyway along the way. We will have a pretty motley crew of a Harley, some sort of 250cc something or other, another bike i have no idea of, any the cream of the crop, my 1980 Suzuki GS1000G

Looking forward to hearing from yous guys!!

Thanks for letting me join in.

 

[tkent02]

Thursday headed to Klamath Falls with a trip through Crater lake. Interested on hearing where we should head while in K Falls. Ideas?

Somewhere else. The place is a dump.

There is some cool stuff south, Glass Mountain in California is interesting. Some of the ride to Reno is nice, mostly before Susanville.

 

[Gssheller]

Somewhere else. The place is a dump.

There is some cool stuff south, Glass Mountain in California is interesting. Some of the ride to Reno is nice, mostly before Susanville.

Point taken.

Thanks!

 

[Rich64N]

Two years ago I had a decent dinner at "The Creamery" Brewpub in Klamath Falls, 1320 Main Street (AKA Klamath Basin Brewing Company). It has the highest recommendation on Yelp of any restaurant in Klamath Falls.

I see you are going to Laguna Seca. Have you heard of the new road track that opened this year (with lots of M/C events) in Shelton WA (just outside Olympia), The Ridge Motorsports Park?

 

[Gssheller]

Two years ago I had a decent dinner at "The Creamery" Brewpub in Klamath Falls, 1320 Main Street (AKA Klamath Basin Brewing Company). It has the highest recommendation on Yelp of any restaurant in Klamath Falls.

I see you are going to Laguna Seca. Have you heard of the new road track that opened this year (with lots of M/C events) in Shelton WA (just outside Olympia), The Ridge Motorsports Park?

Thats a recommendation I can use... Thanks!!

And no, I haven't heard of the new road track in Shelton. I'll have to check it out.

 

[Gssheller]

Just thought id throw out an update. Made it to bend last night without much trouble. The old gs didn't really getting my fat ass up some of those hills above 70, but it did it.
Also doesn't seem to like to idle here. Hoping its just the altitude. Ideas?
Off to klamath falls today via crater lake. Tomorrow carson city through susanville and reno.
Wish me luck!

 

[Charlie G]

Good luck and have some fun.

cg

 

[tkent02]

Also doesn't seem to like to idle here. Hoping its just the altitude. Ideas?

Turn the big idle screw in a little bit to raise the idle speed.

 

[Gssheller]

Alrighty!
Finally back to some sort of civiliazation and phone service!
Made the trip through Yosemite today and all I can say is...
Holy crap there are a lot of people in California! The roads were great, the weather was perfect, but i'll never go back on a Saturday!
The bike rode really well. The only concern is that I seem to have developed a "dolphin-humping-like" squeak from the front bearings Perhaps that's what I get for letting it get so far sideways! This fat guy and that old bike can still take a turn!
I guess I'll just keep an ear on it and if it turns to growling take it serious. If I weren't 1000 miles from home it would be new bearings straight away. As it is, fingers crossed.
Sorry no pictures, but I haven't figured out how to post photos from my phone on this forum yet.
Thanks,
Brian

 

[7981GS]

Brian, your friends rode you right around the GS repair facility.
I even have a few sets of new wheel bearing in stock. Why didn't you ask earlier?

Eric

 

[Gssheller]

Brian, your friends rode you right around the GS repair facility.
I even have a few sets of new wheel bearing in stock. Why didn't you ask earlier?

Eric

I know it!

Although there wasn't any bearing noise until after the twisties! I was just looking forward to meeting you!
Btw- one Harley had some sort of engine noise, the other was shedding parts yesterday like a golden retriever sheds hair!

 

[850 Combat]

1000G is a nice all day ride. My brother calls his a rolling barcalounger. On your way back, it would be tough to decide between Avenue of the Giants and Honey Dew. There is an awesome area of Redwoods behind Cresent City which ties into the road to Grant's Pass (199?), which is fairly fun, but I never figured a way to get from there to Eugene that I like.

Sounds like a blast.

 

[Big T]

From SF, go up Hwy 1 to Leggett

Then, stay on the Coast until Reedsport, cross over the Umpqua bridge and turn right on Lower Smith River Rd- about 15 miles in, there should be a sign for Alma, or Siuslaw River Rd (I think this is BLM 27, whatever number it is, it's paved)

Take that left, go to Alma (which is just a sign, no buildings) and take Wolf Creek Rd to Territorial Rd, turn left on Territorial and go north until it hits hwy 36. Jog rt and continue on Territorial to Monroe

If you miss the turn to Alma, just keep going easterly on LSRR past the Gunter Rec area and you'll hit Hwy 36. Turn left and go about 1 mile, turn left on Curtin Rd and left on Territorial Rd To Loraine and Veneta and on to Monroe. If you miss the Curtin Rd turn, just get on I-5 and take the Curtin exit, go thru Curtin on Curtin Rd to Territorial

As you leave Monore, there;ll be a hill, just past that is Alpine Rd. Go left to Alpine and follow the road out past Alsea Falls. When the road ends, turn right to Alsea. Turn right at Alsea and head for Philometh. Go left on 20 to 233 and you're in Dallas. A side trip up Mary's Peak is always good

 

[Gssheller]

1000G is a nice all day ride. My brother calls his a rolling barcalounger. On your way back, it would be tough to decide between Avenue of the Giants and Honey Dew. There is an awesome area of Redwoods behind Cresent City which ties into the road to Grant's Pass (199?), which is fairly fun, but I never figured a way to get from there to Eugene that I like.

Sounds like a blast.

Not sure about the barcolounger reference. The 32 year old foam with the freshly torn vinyl on my seat made for a long long ride some days. Of course the new seat cover arrived the day after I left home!

199 from Crescent City to Grants Pass was great. I really would have enjoyed it more if I didn't have to lag behind a slow Harley.

 

[Gssheller]

From SF, go up Hwy 1 to Leggett

Then, stay on the Coast until Reedsport, cross over the Umpqua bridge and turn right on Lower Smith River Rd- about 15 miles in, there should be a sign for Alma, or Siuslaw River Rd (I think this is BLM 27, whatever number it is, it's paved)

Take that left, go to Alma (which is just a sign, no buildings) and take Wolf Creek Rd to Territorial Rd, turn left on Territorial and go north until it hits hwy 36. Jog rt and continue on Territorial to Monroe

If you miss the turn to Alma, just keep going easterly on LSRR past the Gunter Rec area and you'll hit Hwy 36. Turn left and go about 1 mile, turn left on Curtin Rd and left on Territorial Rd To Loraine and Veneta and on to Monroe. If you miss the Curtin Rd turn, just get on I-5 and take the Curtin exit, go thru Curtin on Curtin Rd to Territorial

As you leave Monore, there;ll be a hill, just past that is Alpine Rd. Go left to Alpine and follow the road out past Alsea Falls. When the road ends, turn right to Alsea. Turn right at Alsea and head for Philometh. Go left on 20 to 233 and you're in Dallas. A side trip up Mary's Peak is always good

I'll have to keep this on the list for next time. We headed up 101 to 199 to Grants Pass, then I bombed home up 99. 550 mile last day. Arrived home 1 am. Really made pretty good time on I5.

 

[7981GS]

You WILL be posting pic's of the ride, right?

Eric

 

[Gssheller]

You WILL be posting pic's of the ride, right?

Eric

Here are a couple I took along the way. I really didn't take many since one of the guys was a photographer fellow and assured me that he would share all the bounty.

Here are a couple:

broken down harley

Love the windjammer! I still get plenty of air but dont feel like a sail in the wind!

I try to use all of the front tire.

I think I should have replaced the rear tire before Yosemite. I had just gotten to the treadwear bars when I left home. I really can't complain, I got almost 15k out of cheap Shinkos. I took this picture in Crescent City after I changed the tire in the parking lot.

Laguna Seca. Better pictures to follow.

Thanks!

 

[gustovh]

That looks like the rear off my 919 a couple years ago on the last day of the PNW ralley. Realllllllly do not like takeing it down that far.

I have been riding up here in the Portland area quite a bit latelt on a 850L and have only seen a couple old Suzies. I see more of them around Scapoose and St Helens than anywhere else.

Gssheller you goin to the PNW ralley this year?
V

 

[Gssheller]

Well made it back from the 2000 mile trip no problem. (except for the tire issue)

Today the bike is cutting out and losing power while driving down the road!! It seems to cut in and out intermittently. when it cuts out it smells like gas. Not sure where to look for the problem.

It ran flawlessly the entire trip. Weird.

Suggestions?

 

[Dogma]

Well made it back from the 2000 mile trip no problem. (except for the tire issue)

Today the bike is cutting out and losing power while driving down the road!! It seems to cut in and out intermittently. when it cuts out it smells like gas. Not sure where to look for the problem.

It ran flawlessly the entire trip. Weird.

Suggestions?

My first thought is a failing wire or connection in the ignition somewhere. Beyond that, you might consider a new thread in the tech forum.