Thanks for posting your video. I couldn't count the times I've been down or up that road. Really brings back memories and a touch of jealousy. I haven't been there in 15 years. That pile of rocks at the end is mine. I began it while waiting for a tube to be delivered after I got a little too crazy on a KLR600. It was cold and getting dark and one of the newbies had missed the road earlier and cost us some time. I did it so nobody would miss it again. Makes me want to gas up a bike and go, responsibilities be damned.
Thanks! The pile of rocks has grown and grown over the years and is an area landmark. It's picked up a collection of broken 4x4 parts and other appropriate oddities as well.
Thanks for the video. Can you recommend a loop and a place to stay? I like long videos without music so I can see all the obstacles and hear the grunts and groans, along with the motor, Can this part be incorporated with Goler canyon? Did you carry extra gas? Lots of questions, looking for ways to extend a Moab trip. My Navy buddy and I will be on KTM 690Rs. I guess we'll be OK, since you did OK on an 1190. We're over 65, BTW.
There's tons of riding in that area similar to this...in fact this is one of the more difficult roads so if this looks do-able you're in good shape. It's not a maintained road though so conditions can change rapidly. I haven't ridden Goler (but it's on the list) so I can't speak to that. There's usually good up-to-date motorcycle-specific road condition info on the ADVrider forums in the "Death Valley Riding Condition" thread (www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=912416). On this trip I base camped at Saline Valley hot springs and went on day trips from there. I have a 2-gal Rotopax I carry along but I also had friends at Saline in trucks with lots of extra gas to fill me up each night, which was a luxury. I enjoy riding both the North and South passes on Saline Valley road to get in, as well as Hunter Mountain Road to get down to Teakettle Junction and The Racetrack, but depending on when you're going you can encounter deep snow and ice on any of those passes. You can also get into the springs the back way from Eureka Dunes via Steel Pass but I couldn't handle the rocky steps on the 1190. I saw smaller bikes go rolling right through though. I have another video posted from the same trip of the road in to the springs from Saline Valley road and it's a blast.
pwaydo thanks for your quick response. We're to old to camp. Can you recommend a town/motel to stay at to explore the area? ...and where do you start? The NPS has a map of the park.
pwaydo oh, and do you remember what set you up for the fall? Fail to commit, large stone, rut? That's the way I get a low speed hiccup when I ride. I now have a Scott's steering stabilizer on both of my KTM s to prevent that in the future. Visit my channel if you get a chance.
Tele Rover I don't have much experience with motels in the area as I'm almost always camping. There are some lodges within Death Valley that are worth checking out...Panamint Springs, Stovepipe Wells,...? There may still be a motel at Scotty's Castle. I'd recommend picking up a guidebook to the area for this kind of thing, as well as for a bunch of other stuff you may not know to look for in the area. There are lots of hidden treasures.
Tele Rover All of the above! That section is steeper than it looks in the video. I was kind of picking my way down it and came to a spot with a bunch of softball-sized rocks everywhere (well, most of the road is like that), plus kind of a diagonal rut, all with a step down. If I'd have just kept rolling it would have been fine, but I hesitated and stopped, thought about it too much, and tried to ease down. Just have to commit! That being said, I had heard a lot of accounts saying the road was really gnarly and shouldn't be attempted on a big bike, so that was in the back of my head and I was always waiting for the horrible part to come around the bend, which never materialized. I'd say it was sustained intermediate big bike adventure riding.
+neil hunt Yes, and I don't recommend it. However, I know the area well and have a fair amount of experience riding & camping there, plus 4x4 friends in the area knew where I was and what my plans were. Also I had a SPOT GPS emergency locator with me. I can fix tires and most likely issues with the bike. It's always best to ride with a friend or group this far back in the backcountry but I like going alone and feel I manage the risk well enough.
Thats great news, thanks for the reply, we enjoyed your vidio and envy you all that space to ride. Here in the Uk we have basically none. How do you like the ktm,as i am thinking of changing from a bmw 1200gs to the ktm 1190? Would appreciate your opinion of the ktm. Thanks, Neil and Julie.
+neil hunt A good friend has a newer GS and I've ridden it. They're very different animals. The KTM is more raw, fast, and nimble. You feel like you're riding a giant dirt bike. The BMW is much more refined and comfortable. I'd take the KTM hands down for canyon carving and rides like this one, but for tarmac touring and long days it's the BMW all the way. Can't go wrong either way, really.
Couldn't agree with you more on the bikes. If you are doing 50/50 riding the KTM is more of the bike, but if you are doing 70/30 road/dirt go with the BMW.
Thanks for the full video!!
You're welcome! Good luck!
Thanks for posting your video. I couldn't count the times I've been down or up that road. Really brings back memories and a touch of jealousy. I haven't been there in 15 years. That pile of rocks at the end is mine. I began it while waiting for a tube to be delivered after I got a little too crazy on a KLR600. It was cold and getting dark and one of the newbies had missed the road earlier and cost us some time. I did it so nobody would miss it again. Makes me want to gas up a bike and go, responsibilities be damned.
Thanks! The pile of rocks has grown and grown over the years and is an area landmark. It's picked up a collection of broken 4x4 parts and other appropriate oddities as well.
End of November and this weather. I wish I had the same in my country. Beautiful ride.
Thanks! But for much of the year it's incredibly hot at this location (120F/50C) so the spring and fall months are perfect.
Great video! But I would’ve gone into that cave. And I would’ve ridden a lighter bike, like a 450 or something. But I’m old.
Yeah I'd like to ride it again on a lighter bike for sure. And I'm older now too!
Thanks for the video. Can you recommend a loop and a place to stay?
I like long videos without music so I can see all the obstacles and hear the grunts and groans, along with the motor, Can this part be incorporated with Goler canyon? Did you carry extra gas? Lots of questions, looking for ways to extend a Moab trip. My Navy buddy and I will be on KTM 690Rs. I guess we'll be OK, since you did OK on an 1190. We're over 65, BTW.
There's tons of riding in that area similar to this...in fact this is one of the more difficult roads so if this looks do-able you're in good shape. It's not a maintained road though so conditions can change rapidly. I haven't ridden Goler (but it's on the list) so I can't speak to that. There's usually good up-to-date motorcycle-specific road condition info on the ADVrider forums in the "Death Valley Riding Condition" thread (www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=912416).
On this trip I base camped at Saline Valley hot springs and went on day trips from there. I have a 2-gal Rotopax I carry along but I also had friends at Saline in trucks with lots of extra gas to fill me up each night, which was a luxury.
I enjoy riding both the North and South passes on Saline Valley road to get in, as well as Hunter Mountain Road to get down to Teakettle Junction and The Racetrack, but depending on when you're going you can encounter deep snow and ice on any of those passes. You can also get into the springs the back way from Eureka Dunes via Steel Pass but I couldn't handle the rocky steps on the 1190. I saw smaller bikes go rolling right through though.
I have another video posted from the same trip of the road in to the springs from Saline Valley road and it's a blast.
pwaydo thanks for your quick response. We're to old to camp. Can you recommend a town/motel to stay at to explore the area? ...and where do you start? The NPS has a map of the park.
pwaydo oh, and do you remember what set you up for the fall? Fail to commit, large stone, rut? That's the way I get a low speed hiccup when I ride. I now have a Scott's steering stabilizer on both of my KTM s to prevent that in the future. Visit my channel if you get a chance.
Tele Rover I don't have much experience with motels in the area as I'm almost always camping. There are some lodges within Death Valley that are worth checking out...Panamint Springs, Stovepipe Wells,...? There may still be a motel at Scotty's Castle. I'd recommend picking up a guidebook to the area for this kind of thing, as well as for a bunch of other stuff you may not know to look for in the area. There are lots of hidden treasures.
Tele Rover All of the above! That section is steeper than it looks in the video. I was kind of picking my way down it and came to a spot with a bunch of softball-sized rocks everywhere (well, most of the road is like that), plus kind of a diagonal rut, all with a step down. If I'd have just kept rolling it would have been fine, but I hesitated and stopped, thought about it too much, and tried to ease down. Just have to commit!
That being said, I had heard a lot of accounts saying the road was really gnarly and shouldn't be attempted on a big bike, so that was in the back of my head and I was always waiting for the horrible part to come around the bend, which never materialized. I'd say it was sustained intermediate big bike adventure riding.
Beautiful vistas. I've been out there but not on a motorcycle. :(
Is it a bit dangerous doing this trip by yourself, no other bike etc.
+neil hunt Yes, and I don't recommend it. However, I know the area well and have a fair amount of experience riding & camping there, plus 4x4 friends in the area knew where I was and what my plans were. Also I had a SPOT GPS emergency locator with me. I can fix tires and most likely issues with the bike. It's always best to ride with a friend or group this far back in the backcountry but I like going alone and feel I manage the risk well enough.
Thats great news, thanks for the reply, we enjoyed your vidio and envy you all that space to ride. Here in the Uk we have basically none. How do you like the ktm,as i am thinking of changing from a bmw 1200gs to the ktm 1190? Would appreciate your opinion of the ktm. Thanks, Neil and Julie.
+neil hunt A good friend has a newer GS and I've ridden it. They're very different animals. The KTM is more raw, fast, and nimble. You feel like you're riding a giant dirt bike. The BMW is much more refined and comfortable. I'd take the KTM hands down for canyon carving and rides like this one, but for tarmac touring and long days it's the BMW all the way. Can't go wrong either way, really.
Couldn't agree with you more on the bikes. If you are doing 50/50 riding the KTM is more of the bike, but if you are doing 70/30 road/dirt go with the BMW.
How are your rims fairing so far?
No issues at all. They have stayed true and the tubeless system doesn't leak. I don't run super low pressures in the TKC80s though.