Pony Express Route on two wheels:

[Gravy]

Pony Express Route on two wheels: you read that right.
Next weekend.
Who would be interested?
We already have a pickup truck going to Wendover to pick us up. I just need to work on the logistics of carrying enough fuel.

 

[jeeper]

have a utility quad/SxS come along, let him carry the fuel?

 

[Gravy]

Not a bad idea.
I was posting to see if anyone was interested in coming along.

 

[Greg]

Sounds like fun, but next weekend in NPLD.

 

[Rot Box]

I've entertained the idea many times. Sounds like a good time I wish I didn't have so much on my plate this month

 

[Gravy]

Sounds like fun, but next weekend in NPLD.

We were planning on going Friday.
I haven't missed a NPLD cleanup since the first one I attended in maybe '06.

 

[Greg]

We were planning on going Friday.
I haven't missed a NPLD cleanup since the first one I attended in maybe '06.

I didn't see a planned day in there, so I mentioned it.

I had considered bringing my WR for the weekend and dong some riding, but it's not the best for stacking up the miles. Plus I banged up my knee at work pretty good and I don't think I'll be riding this weekend.

 

[Gravy]

I'll likely have my bike out there for NPLD. I'm not sure I'll have time to swap the rock tires back on the Jeep before Saturday.

We figured we will need 2.5-3 extra gallons for the trip. I'd like to carry more but I don't see how without a fancy basket...

Here is my proposed setup...
This will give me 3.5 Gallons

 

[Caleb]

I've got a rotopax mount and 1 gallon fuel jug you are welcome to borrow. It only takes 4 bolts to mount and then it'd be easy to carry an extra gallon.

 

[Gravy]

The trip looks to be 195miles so we need approx 5 gallons each total. (assuming 40mpg)
I believe that my tank is about 2.5 gallon.


I'm 1 gallon on the handlebars and 2.5 on the rear fender.
I'll have to actually measure how much fits in my desert tank today.
I drained it as low as it would go last night.

Caleb, I'll see how this works on a test ride tomorrow and then go from there.

 

[Caleb]

The trip looks to be 195miles so we need approx 5 gallons each total. (assuming 40mpg)
I believe that my tank is about 2.5 gallon.


I'm 1 gallon on the handlebars and 2.5 on the rear fender.
I'll have to actually measure how much fits in my desert tank today.
I drained it as low as it would go last night.

Caleb, I'll see how this works on a test ride tomorrow and then go from there.

I tried to ride with a jug on the back of my husky, no matter how well I secured it, I could never get it to stay there. That's when I bought the rotopax setup.

 

[Greg]

Just a couple words of warning... the subframe on WR's (and I'm sure YZF's) is super weak and known to break when loaded, I wouldn't carry much more than a full tool bag on the rear fender. With 2.5 gallons of gas weighing 16 pounds and miles of bumpy roads, there is a very good chance you could break the subframe and that would leave you stuck where you break.

Also, a WR is good for about 35 MPG... depending on how your YZF is geared, I wouldn't expect much better MPG's. With this kind of ride, you could jump up a tooth on the counter sprocket to reduce RPM's (better for the engine) and fuel consumption, but don't expect big change in MPG from these bikes.

I actually have a 6 gallon Acerbis tank in the garage for my WR, I would like to do some big mile, all-day rides on my WR but I'm a bit concerned about the engines low oil capacity. I think just over a quart of oil will break down pretty quick with lots of speed and heat.

 

[Rot Box]

I have used my Acerbis 1.3 gallon front mount tank quite a bit in the past and its great so long as you don't need a headlight. The weight is fairly noticeable when full but its not bad by any means. It will also drain first which is really nice.

Here's an old pic of the tank: Hey I forgot I had an RM?!... LOL!

 

[Gravy]

Oh ye naysayers, i made it 200 miles on the tank alone. We even did the gold hill loop back to ipabah

5 liters on the front. 1gallon on the back. 1 gallon in my backpack. So far so good. We are just waiting off the 93 now for oir ride
Jon did cut a tire just as i stopped to put in gas.we can see Wendover but don't much want to ride into town on aflat.

 

[Gravy]

Made it into bendover by 7. Pics soon! Soo much fun. We cruised through.

Anyone considering this should do it! Don't let equipment or concerns hold you back.

 

[rockreligious]

holy cow, I think my 450 tank is only good for about 65 miles, mild riding. you must have a huge desert tank.

 

[Rot Box]

Sweet! Can't wait to see the pics

 

[Gravy]

Here is how I ended up: 5 liters on the front. 1gallon on the back. 1 gallon in my backpack.

(I replaced the one on front with a 5 liter)

Here is the quick trip report:

Friday:
Loaded up and out of town by 7am.

Got out to 5 mile pass by 7:45am; it was pretty chilly.
We reset Jon's odo and checked all the straps and extra gas.

Faust Station

Lookout pass

Simpson Springs

 

[Gravy]

Some guys where rock hounding here: quartz crystals and some black crystal that we were informed is singular to this area.

Ate lunch at 12. Jon ran his tank dry at 105miles. 2.23 gallons.
He added 2+ Gallons from his front tank.

Fish Springs:
Back:

Forward:

This road is long and straight.


Closed mines:

Dugout by the mines:

you can see my gas setup in this pic:

We rode up into the mountains above these mines and tooled around for a bit.
Did a burn turn and with all the extra weight I dropped my bike and bent my hand hand gaurd... just enough to contact the clutch lever. ( I guess I didn't shave enough off)
so I just rotated the lever down a few degrees.

Obligatory Callao pic:

Some idiots...

 

[Gravy]

Went straight at the "T" to Gold hill

Were be ran into an guy off ADV on a KLX 650. He had full camping gear and must have been on an awesome solo adventure, I wish we had thought to stop and talk for a bit. He waived and blew past us at the "T" while we monkeyed around deciding which direction we should go, but after seeing how intent he was to get to Gold Hill we decided to follow him and we soon repast him and left him far behind by virtue of having real dirt tires vs his enduro style tires and lots less weight on our bikes.
The road out there really made your bike wander unless you stuck to the clean strips of auto tire tracks.

Me coming around a bend

I should add that for a large portion of this road if you are moving above 35 or 40mph the bike really wanders around on the loose deep gravel. You get used to it.


Gold Hill: what a strange place. We checked out an area before the town that has had some recent mining activity

Goodwin Mineral Company
General Merchandise

Stopped at Clifton Junction about 2pm to get our bearings

And rode southwest to Ibapah and hit the pavement