California Route 33: Ongoing Motorbike Marriage
The Ventura-Maricopa Highway (California Route 33), and the section known as Jacinto Reyes Scenic Byway (in honor of the first Hispanic National Forest Ranger), must have been specifically created for motorcyclists. Either that, or motorbikes were created in anticipation of this roadway: Motorcycles and Route 33 are a marriage made in scenic-riding, motorbike heaven. In [...]
Big Sur + California Highway 1 = Motorcycle Nirvana
It’s a pretty simple equation: No matter where you live, if you are a motorcycle rider in pursuit of the best roads, you have either already ridden Highway 1 through the Big Sur region in Central Coastal California, or it is part of your future. Officially designated as an All American Road, and featuring views [...]
Big Sur Adventure Riding and Motorcycle Camping
For Big Sur riders inclined towards sleeping in the great outdoors, there are several campgrounds on the coast, including Pfeiffer State Park, Kirk Creek, and Plaskett Creek that are situated right off California Highway 1. They are popular and tend to be filled through much of the summer. I’m especially fond of Plaskett. Some offer [...]
Motorcycle Paradise: CA Route 150
40 miles? That’s all!? Oh, but these are not regular miles. These are 40 miles of heavenly motorcycle bliss for any rider venturing through Ventura County, California. Some of the highlights include excellent pavement, mountains, hills, canyons, mountains, lakes, rivers, valleys, mountains, very few traffic lights or stop signs, excellent food, super scenery, infinite twisties [...]
Highway 166 and Runaway Throttle Syndrome
Do you have a problem with RTS (Runaway Throttle Syndrome)? You know, the tendency of that little right-hand grip to accelerate “all on its own” leaving you smiling past the scenery at triple digit speeds. I hate that! (I particularly hate it when it’s called to my attention by well-meaning peace officers). If you have [...]
G16: Pavement Slaloming to the Pacific
Quiet. Wonderfully peaceful. A soft, late morning breeze rustles through the tall, brown grass. With motorcycle resting on the shoulder on a crest of G16 in Central California, I stretch my legs for a walk about 100 yards down the deserted road for a better photo vantage of this sunny Monterey County valley. Dominating the [...]
CA Routes 178 & 155, Bovines and Motorcycle Space Aliens (Part I)
Interested in a little bovine accompaniment on your mountainous road trip? I, for one, prefer to view cows that are corralled away from roads. Nevertheless, on this motorcycle excursion, plenty consider the road as theirs. (Moreover, I don’t like to argue with critters that weigh more than my bike, gear and self combined). In brief, [...]
CA Routes 178 & 155, Bovines and Motorcycle Space Aliens (Part II)
What about bovines in the road? I assure you, they’re waiting ahead! Although I didn’t observe any cattle on Lake Isabella water-skiing, jet-skiing or windsurfing, plenty of non-bovines do. The infamous cows of this ride seem to prefer hiking and camping as their form of recreation and there’s plenty of that higher up in the [...]
CA Routes 178 & 155, Bovines and Motorcycle Space Aliens (Part III)
I observed plenty of cattle on the shoulders of Rt. 155, including a few that were completely blocking the pavement. However, coming around one blind turn I encountered parts of a herd on both sides of the asphalt with one fine bovine dead center in my lane. Had I been riding a little more aggressively [...]
Motorbikes Beware: Pinnacles National Monument
Like your roads wide and telling? Then you won’t like Route 146 in Central Coastal California, leading wayward motorcycle riders to Pinnacles National Monument. Replete with enough narrow roadways, blind corners, and secret twists that you may want to trade in your motorbike for a unicycle to better navigate your way back home. Starting out [...]
Nacimiento-Fergusson Road: Rock & Roll Rollercoaster
This little ride is “not” about the Big Sur section of California Highway 1. This ride is about a rock and roll rollercoaster connecting a chain of deer paths with a feeble ribbon of wilderness asphalt. Your back door is wider than some sections of this amusement park excursion. No. This ride is not about [...]
Adventure Riding in Los Padres
Los Padres National Forest, in Central-Coastal California, offers extensive opportunities for all riders. There are 459 miles of trails and roads specifically designated for off highway vehicles (OHV) which is great for dirt-bike riders. There are also endless miles of dirt roads that are ideal for dual-purpose or larger adventure bikes. And for all other [...]
Death Valley Divinity Re-Visited
I just returned from another 1000+ mile weekend ride to, through, and back from Death Valley National Park. (This trip was inspired after writing Death Valley: Divine Motorcycle Riding a few days ago). March is often one of the best months to visit with an average high temperature of 80 degrees. However, this visit was [...]
Death Valley: Divine Motorcycle Riding
Death Valley National Park is the hottest, driest, and lowest of all the national parks. Located in eastern, Central California, and about 2 hours west of Las Vegas, it’s also the largest national park in the lower 48 states (second only to Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve in Southern Alaska). At 282 feet below [...]
Highway 154 & Santa Ynez Riding Pleasures
Stimulating. Aromatic. Soothing. Those could be apt descriptions for riding any kind of motorcycle along this easy, coastal-valley paradise. Those words could also be a reference to the wares of over 70 wineries and tasting rooms that the Santa Ynez Valley Visitors Association lists on their website. There’s not too many ways to get to [...]
Twisted Grip Personality Test
