DVD (Death Valley Daze)

[MikeBenzon]

I suppose some members here have been to the DVD scheduled  in January of year. It is a BMW event. I being a BMW owner as well, attended this event last year on a K1200LT. I rode down with a group of LTs out of Sacramento. I think it would be a hoot to crash this party next year with a bunch of Tigers. The participants are a great bunch of all night partiers. Most of the riders camp out at the Furnace Creek Campground. There is a big bon-fire everynight and plenty of drink, tall tales and signing. I was stunned at the routes they took to get there and how far some came, by dirt trails. Little did I know 8 months later I would own an adventure bike. Perhaps it was that trip working on my mind that led me to buy my Tiger. Anyway, I am planning to make this rally this coming January, providing my work doesn't interfere. I work in the electric utility business and we can get a little busy that time of the year. So, if the snows don't blow too hard and the wind doesn't blow to hard in my area, I am heading down. I don't care what the weather does in DV. By the way, the weather last year was clear, 32' F lows and 75' for the highs.

[Onedownfiveup]

One of the big reasons I bought my Tiger was to go on DV runs. We should even try to organize a Tiger run and if the bimmers show, that's cool also.



Titus Canyon, the long road to The Racetrack, the Dunes and the Panamints would all be fun and challenging. The view from Dante's Point is great. Nice twisty road to get there too.



There is a website www.death-valley.us (http://www.death-valley.us) that has a forum with lots of good reports on recent conditions.



I plan on making  a couple trips up to DV this winter. The place rocks. It's the most carefree paved roads you will ever be on. Sometimes you ride for thirty minutes without passing another vehicle and there really are no animals to jump out in front of you. Also you have "Ceiling Unlimited" in terms of front and side visibility. Like I say, carefree riding.



I am in utilities also. I feel your outage pain!



Just thought I would bring this one to the top again. There aren't many of us Tiger guys out west but it would be a hoot to go ride for 2,3 5 days.

[davensocal]

I would love to join in on this...  



I used to frequent DV back in the day...  We used to camp by Tecopa (sp?) somewhere between Dumont Dunes and Shoshone..   They had some public hot springs, open 24/7, and free!!  Little did we know the mound of dirt over there (read: CR500 launch platform) was actually the foundation of a pony express station!!



Lemme know as we close in on the date.  I will try to convince my wife that I need a break :)



Dave

Rivertucky, ca.



'00 tigger 885i

coronabeltdrive@sbcglobal.net

[Onedownfiveup]

Well, I met two Brits with '05 Cats this last week...and I think I could talk them into a trip to DV. They ride alot so it might not be too hard to convince them to go. So 4 cats so far, maybe.



I would probably stay at the furnance creek ranch. I camp too much as it is now and like the spring fed pools they have at the ranch.



Really looking forward to the 150 mile plus round trip? from Furance Creek to the racetrack. That will be a blast in itself.



Ah yes, the CR500. I loved the sweet spot in the jetting/powerband on that beast. It would scare the bejesus out of you until you got used to it. 1 to 4 power to weight on a two stroke dirt bike was the shit back in the day.



I will post more when things get settled out and I get some dates in mind. Hopefully sooner than later!

[fxrs89]

I am soo there!  I am also a BMW Airhead, and have attended the February run on my old GSPD and my R/75 Sidecar.  I would be proud to ride my 2000 yellow Tiger out to Death Valley with you all!



I live in Ridgecrest, Ca "Gateway to Death Valley" and would love to help and attend a ride to Death Valley.



Ron-



Ridgecrest, Ca

[Onedownfiveup]

Nice! There is interest. I gave the wrong email addy for the DV forums. The correct one is www.death-valley.us (http://www.death-valley.us). Lots of good, up to date info there.



Death Valley does not care what you ride, and either do I, just as long as you feel it can make it.



I love DV, this year might be a good one out there, they have had some weird weather the last two years. Time for a return to "normalcy" in the death valley basin  :P

[apache]

Lets take them boys on the Gohler wash run from Ballarat thru to the valley. Its a cool ride also. Theres a USGS cabin 1/2 way thru or so, it`d make a good party place. My friend has a 05 adventure,and he was none to happy in the rocks. :twisted:

[davensocal]

Am I gonna have to buy bash bars to keep up with you guys (or to survive the trip)?

[Onedownfiveup]

Well, I just read in this thread http://www.triumph-tiger.com/phpBB2/vie ... php?t=1354 (http://www.triumph-tiger.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1354) that Titus Canyon could be a challenge. Strange, it's an easy ride in a truck or even a two wheel drive car most of the time. But I do remember some course, loose gravel near the end. The first 3/4 would be easy and scenic once you get down into the upper part of the canyon. I would think that Titius would be easier then the racetrack, but I don't really know.



I remember hearing about the USGS shack but haven't been there. It's a ride to get there from what I remember.



There has to be plenty of hard pack rides out there. With 600 miles of dirt roads, it would seem you could find something that everyone could handle.



Has anyone been out to the Charlie Manson house? It seems like a lurky, creepy place to go....which means I have to go there. :smt066



I also heard that the road to Dante's View is closed. Any chance of getting through the roadblocks to have it all to ourselves? It's one of the best viewspots I have seen..and I have been to the best.



The pavement alone is worth the trip. I just need some suggestions of good, packed dirt in the valley and hills??

[apache]

Gohler canyon to charlies place is not real hard with the exception of a few areas. I took the Jeep cherokee thru it a month after the bike trip (couldent find Barker ranch first time)and it was easy. I wish I had a video of the 3 there at the one cabin who thought it was Barker, there were making a death video or?? real freak show.There are a few small rock ledges to climb thet were/are waterfall kinda deals. Then out the otherside(cant remember the name there are a few rocky sections that are skinny for an opposed twin. We walked the BMW down it, I was on my 95 E900 Duc. There are several old cabins on the way thru, The Manson cabin is off a side road to the south, seems most think the cabin where the jeep/loader/trailers are is the Barker ranch, but its not. Over the top of the pass heading down past the USGS cabin the road gets rocky with 2" + - size stones. a rough ride at some points. We saw wild burros at this section. The USGS shack is very well kept and open to all commers. there are several pics of it on line, try a search on Barker ranch or Gohler cyn. Last I recall going thru Titus the last section was very deep sandy stuff. Personally I suck in sand on the Tiger, just havent figured it out yet. Theres endless places to go really that are easy goin. We rode out to 395 from furnace creek also and checked out the sand dunes, very cool place it is. Most of the roads are just real dusty and not to bad. It would be great to have a run to DV.http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/mar/stories/Goler.html (http://www.desertusa.com/mag98/mar/stories/Goler.html)

[fxrs89]

Don't forget the town of Beatty Nevada when considering Death Valley.  It is really eccentric and small.  Couple of  Casinos with hotel.  I stay at the Stagecoach for $19.99-29.99 a night .  The Sourdough Bar is frequented by the BMW car test teams trying out new vehicle prototypes.  You actually see quite a few GM cars being tested on these roads.



The ghost town of Ryolite is a must see!- it is right off the road past the start of Titus Canyon turn-off (negociated by my sidecar and my friends Road-Glide!).  



Racetrack was a bear- long dirt road with LOTS of washboards.  It was so rough, that we took the lippencott-mine road over to hunter  mountain  and down to Saline Valley to come back!  (This trip was tough and was done on my GSPD R100.  It cost me a back shock and new fork seals!  But you should see the pictures!

[Onedownfiveup]

Instead of trying to plan an event that I have never done myself, why not just show up at one that is already happening?



http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98595 (http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=98595)



The date is fast approaching Jan 27th-30th.



I got a room at the Ranch because that is just the easiest route right now...and it also makes it harder for my boss to tell me I can't go  :-({|=



I would suggest camping at the ranch or a room at Beatty like someone else suggested. But it sounds like probably 100 riders or so will be there at the campground so that should be entertaining and you might want to be around that area.



Anyone?

[davensocal]

I'd like to go, but I have never had the Tiger past dirt roads....  



So, what do I need?  

I am experienced with dirt bikes, including riding just outside DV, so the skills may still be there..  



What about the bike?  I am on a '00 tiger 885 with triumph race cans.  Do I need new tires to keep up with you guys?  Can I get by with stock saddle bags?



Camping gear?  I still have a mummy bag in good shape..  No small tents anymore though.  



Riding gear?  I still have boots/jersey/helmet from offroad days.  I guess I should bring those for the dirt parts huh?  



How are you going out, just straight up the 15?  I am in Rivertucky, intersection of 91 and 15.  Wanna hook up on the way out?





Are you running any kind of comm gear?  



Thanks in advance for the help.  I would like to go, and I think I got the wife talked into letting me out, I just need a little nudging :)



Dave

coronabeltdrive {at} sbcglobal {dot} net

[Onedownfiveup]

Alot of the hard core dirt riders will be out there but there will still be plenty of us large bike riders that will probably stay on the easy dirt and paved roads.



I was thinking about doing 3/4 of titus and turning around once the gravel starts. You're not supposed to do that, but you can always cry to the rangers that "I thought I was gonna die" :smt010 That would be an easy route that could be done iwth stock tires.



Personally, I will be leaving the luggage back at the room. A tank bag and some cliff bars and water will hopefully be enough out there.



The paved roads are good enough alone to warrant a trip. I want to see if I can get around the roadblock to Dante's View. How bad could the washout be? That road seems to be above the flood basin so I don't really get what the problem is?



I am no where near an expert street rider and even a poorer dirt rider, so it will be pretty mild routes for me. And I don't really want to thrash a new bike just yet.



I am sure there is plenty of easy dirt out there, I just don't know exactly where?



I don't know what my schedule and route are going to be just yet. I am probably going to cage it there, because my father wants to go and do some golfing.



All in all, I would anticpate some heavy road riding with some mild dirt roads. I leave the serious singletrack rock crawls to the XR and single cylinder crowd.



I am sure that we can get more info, once out there, on the easy good places to go from the BMW guys that have been going out there for years. I think it's a pretty big GS event.

[Onedownfiveup]

Really? No one's down? The pavement and partying alone should attrack some of you maniacs.



I promise, no one will ask you to take your Tiger off road after a night of single malt and two hours sleep....



 :twisted: