I love the twisties!!!!

[roguerower]

Went out riding yesterday and today with some guys from a sportbike meetup.com group. Was 11 of us yesterday and 5 today, all on sportsbikes, all of them larger than my gs500. Went west of San Antonio and proceeded to go nuts! Leader was taking us all over the place and some of the stuff we hit originally gave me some "oh shit" moments, but as the day progressed I got more used to it and felt better going into the curves. Couple of lessons though:

1. Having someone ride in front of you on curves is invaluable.
2. Taking curves at high speeds (2-3x the posted "recommended" speed) is mentally and physically draining.
3. Riding with people more experienced than you will help you out so long as you are open to their suggestions and pay attention to what they do.

My little gs500 couldn't keep up on the straight-aways but I was gunning it in the curves. Probably added 400-500mi to the odometer this weekend.

Who else here has great riding locales near where they live? How often do you visit them.

Afterthought: Couple of guys w/ newer gxrs and they had toggle buttons on their right bar that allows the rider to select what kind of riding they want to do. Supposedly the bike's computer governs the engine to make it "friendlier". Anyone have experience with this?

 

[JulesMaximus]

I live in the twisties meca of the United States! There are so many great roads out in the local mountains and canyons to have fun riding. I met a group of guys from the San Diego sportbike meetup group, of which I am a member, and we rode Palomar Mountain a few months ago. I was the second one to the top of the mountain our of our group of about 14 riders and the ONLY rider on a bike that wasn't a super sport.

I've been up and down this run about a dozen times and it is only about 45 minutes from my home. Other great rides are Ortega Highway, DeLuz Canyon, Julian, Idylwild...and too many others to mention.

Not me, but this is a video of someone riding up this mountain. BTW-This was part of the last stage of the Amgen Tour of California a couple years ago.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMjaqZ6saME&feature=related

 

[roguerower]

I didn't know it going into buying the bike but I'm really glad I don't live in a flat part of the country. The rides here are so good they're mind blowing. Can't wait to try other parts of the country, but I'll gladly stick with my little slice for now.

I'm really glad that I chose the GS as my first bike. Learning how to ride this should really help when I get to a bigger bike with a real rear wheel instead of a skinny little substitute and a couple hundred cc's more power.

 

[WackyDan]

I'm an hour or so from some great twisties... that are all over the North Carolina Mountains and TN Smokie Mountains. I run Tail of the Dragon on a regular basis.

Following other riders can also be dangerous... They know their own limits and the limits of their bikes. *but yes, if they aren't trying to post a record run, you can learn a lot as long as they know you are back there.

A few months ago, my brother and I did a wek long run out through the Smokies and Tail of the Dragon on our way to Mississippi to see my Nephew. He has a Harley Electra glide. There is a nice 5 mile run of twisties coming west out of Chimey Rock... I decided to get back in the groove and had some fun... He was dragging floor boards trying to keep up with me...Which he later admitted was stupid. For reference, I have ridden everything from old 450 twins up through street fighters, and ZX-12R... Now I run a Spyder as a touring bike, but it handles like a sports car in the turns... The only bike that can outrun me in the twisties is a Super Sport or the right sport touring setup. When and if I add the turbo, the dynamic will change once again. 🙂 . The moral of the story, I assumed he was going to try and keep up, but also assumed he was smart enough to back off. I slowed down a few times to make sure he was still upright. 🙂

If you have a road track near your home, see if they have an AMA sanctioned course you can take. Sometimes you can use their equipment or your own... You will find out exactly what your capabilities are, and the limits of your bike.

 

[Fenixgoon]

next time i go out i'll take my camera and record a vid of a nice twisty road near me :thumbsup:

unfortunately, the area is populated, so some of the curves i take slowly simply because cars are likely to cross over the yellow lines.

 

[thescreensavers]

🙁, I love the twisties but I never experienced it. I did drive a Hyundai sonata from Loveland to Estes park, 22 miles of mountain road.

No power on the exit and if I came in too hot, my dad would freak out lol, plus slow traffic ahead really sucked.

Next year I should be able to go to the tail of the dragons during Z day.

 

[SithSolo1]

A friend(chipped A4 quat) and I(G35c) did tail of the dragon a coupe a years ago, it was fun although interesting in the rain. Had a few motocyclist doing it too.

 

[WackyDan]

Tail of the Dragon is one of the Twisty Meccas in the US for riders. You get cars on there, and the occasional truck towing a boat, or even a tractor trailer. - It is the only road between point a and b... so that can't be avoided.

Sheriff and State cops are practically always there in force...

Best ride I had there was in June, when the north end was still closed due to the rock slide. Only bikers and the occasional sport car. It was only open from 8am to 8pm during the blockage and if you showed up at 8am, you would have the whole thing mostly to yourself... and the sheriff.

Now it is fully open 24/7 again and to all traffic.

 

[roguerower]

Tail of the Dragon is one of the Twisty Meccas in the US for riders. You get cars on there, and the occasional truck towing a boat, or even a tractor trailer. - It is the only road between point a and b... so that can't be avoided.

Sheriff and State cops are practically always there in force...

Best ride I had there was in June, when the north end was still closed due to the rock slide. Only bikers and the occasional sport car. It was only open from 8am to 8pm during the blockage and if you showed up at 8am, you would have the whole thing mostly to yourself... and the sheriff.

Now it is fully open 24/7 again and to all traffic.

I read online that law enforcement really started cracking down on the road, that's too bad. It would be really nice if it wasn't the only road and could be shut down for a period on the weekends so people could run it.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I read online that law enforcement really started cracking down on the road, that's too bad. It would be really nice if it wasn't the only road and could be shut down for a period on the weekends so people could run it.

CHP patrols Palomar Mountain nearly every weekend with a bunch of cruisers, motorcycle cops and sometimes a helicopter to crack down on sport bike riders doing runs up and down the mountain. There are multiple motorcycle deaths and injury accidents there every year.

I never go on the weekends anymore. Going during the week is much better.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I don't have the time to read the replies yet, but wanted to make a few points

Watch out with getting used to following better riders. From a technical perspective you're merely allowing them to judge corner speeds... I have a few friends who are only safe/fast when following other riders and are practically incapable of judging 45mph+ corners.

Also a lot of riders don't talk about 'local roads'. We've had cops on our boards asking about the best places to ride just to end up having someone running radar on a previously 'unknown' road.

 

[SpatiallyAware]

I read online that law enforcement really started cracking down on the road, that's too bad. It would be really nice if it wasn't the only road and could be shut down for a period on the weekends so people could run it.

It's been that way for about two years. A local was dumping oil etc on curves up in the mountains as well. Lots and lots of drama between the locals, the riders, and the business that survive simply because of the riders.

 

[SithSolo1]

A local was dumping oil etc on curves up in the mountains as well.

Well thats a dick move. They should have dumped oil on the local, preferably hot.

 

[JulesMaximus]

It's been that way for about two years. A local was dumping oil etc on curves up in the mountains as well. Lots and lots of drama between the locals, the riders, and the business that survive simply because of the riders.

Palomar? Yeah, Mothers is there simply because of the riders. I've eaten there probably half a dozen times at least.

 

[SViper]

I'm in Austin and there are a few good routes up here. If you are in the San Antonio area, they are not far from you at all.

Hwy 1431 from Cedar Park to Marble Falls is a nice, hilly, scenic route. It rates as one of the best routes in Texas (#7 or something like that I think).

Going down to Hwy 281 then Park Road 4 is another one. Kind of sucked when I went though. We were behind cars going 10-15 mph on the twisty roads. Really scenic though, and you can see the big European-style castle out there. Do a google search for "Texas castle" and it is one of the first hits. Called Falkenstein castle.

Ever hear of the twisted/three sisters? Ranch Roads 335, 336, & 337. Can be dangerous to inexperienced riders. I've never been, but some friends have and they swear that it's be best route they've been on. There are some really curvy roads, and some of the route has that stair-step roads up the side of mountains (I forget what the technical name is).

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

I'm all for riding some twisties but doing it on the street is probably 100X more dangerous than at a track. I did my first track day recently and I'm hooked. I'll be doing more in the future. The tracks are clean, you can go fast as you like without being arrested, if you run off the track you run into grass fields not incoming traffic, lots of knowledgable riders that don't mind giving pointers. If you really enjoy riding the twisties do a track day. Learn the right way.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I'm all for riding some twisties but doing it on the street is probably 100X more dangerous than at a track. I did my first track day recently and I'm hooked. I'll be doing more in the future. The tracks are clean, you can go fast as you like without being arrested, if you run off the track you run into grass fields not incoming traffic, lots of knowledgable riders that don't mind giving pointers. If you really enjoy riding the twisties do a track day. Learn the right way.

Yeah, unfortunately the closest track to me is 3+ hours away and I don't have a trailer. Still, I do want to do a track day sometime soon. I don't see it ever replacing riding the local twisties though.

 

[madeuce]

I'm all for riding some twisties but doing it on the street is probably 100X more dangerous than at a track.

For sure. Ton's of twisties around where I live in CO. Fun riding them, but trying to hit them hard just isn't very safe.

Took my bike out the other day through a little canyon and almost got eaten by an F150.

I try not to go more than 20MPH over the limit through the curves. This F150 must have had something to prove because he was staying on my ass the whole time. Going around a 15MPH curve I heard his tires lock up and saw him heading towards me in my mirrors. I was going 35ish, not sure how fast he thought he was going to take it.

Normally it's just the drivers coming the other way and crossing the yellows that I have to watch out for lol.

 

[OILFIELDTRASH]

Yeah, unfortunately the closest track to me is 3+ hours away and I don't have a trailer. Still, I do want to do a track day sometime soon. I don't see it ever replacing riding the local twisties though.

Wait till you do one. You'll find that riding on the street is extremely dangerous and not near as much fun.

 

[WackyDan]

I read online that law enforcement really started cracking down on the road, that's too bad. It would be really nice if it wasn't the only road and could be shut down for a period on the weekends so people could run it.

It is a public road. As for the law enforcement, they are needed. With that many bikes and cars, you get a lot of people pushing the limit, and more importantly crossing the center line. The cops are there to be strict, and in turn it makes it safer for the rest of us. You still get plenty of chances to give it a burst of speed and have fun within reason. You have to realize how many riders get hurt there on a regular basis, how remote it is for emergency services to get to... and they have a yearly death toll. The payoff for the Dragon being so famous and a revenue generator for the locals, is that the state keeps that road (US-129) in beautiful condition.

 

[zerocool84]

We have the famous Turnbull Canyon close by here but I've only gone once as too many people have died there. With all the mountains/hills so close here, we have tons of twisty roads.

 

[roguerower]

I don't have the time to read the replies yet, but wanted to make a few points

Watch out with getting used to following better riders. From a technical perspective you're merely allowing them to judge corner speeds... I have a few friends who are only safe/fast when following other riders and are practically incapable of judging 45mph+ corners.

Also a lot of riders don't talk about 'local roads'. We've had cops on our boards asking about the best places to ride just to end up having someone running radar on a previously 'unknown' road.

I completely understand what you're saying about following others. I did one of the roads on my own (was in a group, but no one around) and was able to gauge it for myself.

As for the cop thing, wow, that's a dick move. Talking to a long time local yesterday, the cops supposedly are trying to catch speeders and for all but the most dedicated of cagers the roads we ride don't really offer spots for your typical teen speed machine to go fast. That said, when I'm riding by myself I usually limit myself to 10 over on popular roads.

I'm in Austin and there are a few good routes up here. If you are in the San Antonio area, they are not far from you at all.

Hwy 1431 from Cedar Park to Marble Falls is a nice, hilly, scenic route. It rates as one of the best routes in Texas (#7 or something like that I think).

Going down to Hwy 281 then Park Road 4 is another one. Kind of sucked when I went though. We were behind cars going 10-15 mph on the twisty roads. Really scenic though, and you can see the big European-style castle out there. Do a google search for "Texas castle" and it is one of the first hits. Called Falkenstein castle.

Ever hear of the twisted/three sisters? Ranch Roads 335, 336, & 337. Can be dangerous to inexperienced riders. I've never been, but some friends have and they swear that it's be best route they've been on. There are some really curvy roads, and some of the route has that stair-step roads up the side of mountains (I forget what the technical name is).

Haven't heard of the first two but I know the sisters. Rode them first by myself about 3 weeks ago, then hit up 337 out of medina to leakey then did 336 up and back yesterday with the group. Absolutely awesome ride. What do you ride? Possibly meet up and go for a spin one day?

I'm all for riding some twisties but doing it on the street is probably 100X more dangerous than at a track. I did my first track day recently and I'm hooked. I'll be doing more in the future. The tracks are clean, you can go fast as you like without being arrested, if you run off the track you run into grass fields not incoming traffic, lots of knowledgable riders that don't mind giving pointers. If you really enjoy riding the twisties do a track day. Learn the right way.

Don't have the money to afford a $500 leather suit to save my ass when I go off, not to mention the money to repair the bike if it goes down (insurance sure as shit aint gonna cover it). Once the bike is paid off (or close to it) and I've got a one piece then I'll hit one of the closer tracks or do a ride smart track day.

 

[JulesMaximus]

I don't have the time to read the replies yet, but wanted to make a few points

Watch out with getting used to following better riders. From a technical perspective you're merely allowing them to judge corner speeds... I have a few friends who are only safe/fast when following other riders and are practically incapable of judging 45mph+ corners.

Also a lot of riders don't talk about 'local roads'. We've had cops on our boards asking about the best places to ride just to end up having someone running radar on a previously 'unknown' road.

The great thing about Palomar is that it's part of the highway system so it is patrolled by CHP and as such there really is no speed limit other than the 55mph speed limit so as long as you are doing under 55 they really can't hassle you too much.

 

[SViper]

Haven't heard of the first two but I know the sisters. Rode them first by myself about 3 weeks ago, then hit up 337 out of medina to leakey then did 336 up and back yesterday with the group. Absolutely awesome ride. What do you ride? Possibly meet up and go for a spin one day?

I ride a Honda VTX 1300C. What do you ride? I'm always looking to go on rides. Just let me know and we can plan something.

 

[roguerower]

I ride a Suzuki GS500. This weekend I'll be going on a Saturday morning with some fellow sport bike riders from SA. Sunday i'll be doing some aesthetic work on the bike. Next weekend I'll be traveling but after that I'll let you know. Be easiest to meet up halfway.