LandCruiserPhil
Expedition Leader
August 9,10
725 miles total
120 miles of dirt
Overall average speed 41 mph
Elevation range 10000’ to 1200’
Temperature range 55 to 113 degrees
Bikes – 02’ BMW Dakar, 02’ BMW 1150 GSA
Our 2-day trip started with a warm up run through Salt river Canyon. The road into Salt River Canyon is a 9 miles long rim to rim and drops 2000’ down to the Salt River. The road is a series of low (posted) speed switch back turns both in and out of the canyon.
Shortly after exiting the canyon we are off road looking for Alpine our destination town for the night. I say looking because I carry a map folder with all the forest service maps for Arizona but this time the one and only map I needed was not in the folder. O’well its adventure riding..right. Just before dark we find our way to the hotel that was said to motorcycle friendly. We new we were at the right place when we saw other bikes parked under the overhang on the walkways in front of the room’s door. The room was also equipped with a bucket of clean rags tagged “For motorcycle use”. The Bear Wallow is about the only place to eat in the small town of Alpine. We ordered the special, 12oz Top sirloin topped with fresh sautéed mushrooms and grilled onion, all the fixings, and home made soup. The meal was excellent, better then a lot high priced steak houses I have been. All for the price of $12.95 made you want to order one to go.
We also had breakfast at the Bear Wallow the next morning. Keeping with tradition we ordered the breakfast special ($6.95), home made chicken fried steak chopped up, served over potatoes, covered with sausage gravy topped with 2 eggs. Many thanks to Klim for making riding pants with an adjustable waist. After several cups of high performance coffee we were ready to go.
Our main goal for the trip was to ride the Coronado Trail (hwy191) in Arizona. I have driven (never ridden) this road several times over the years and pictures cannot capture the huge views it offers. Rated in the top 10 roads to ride in the US. This is a fantastic ride and it lives up to its claim. 1100 turns in 90 miles with an elevation drop of 5000’ makes this ride non-stop excitement. Not to be taken lightly loaded with 10 and 15mph hairpin turns many with drop offs of 1000’+.
Our descent on the Coronado Trail started with non-stop linked long turns and no other vehicles on the road for the first 30 miles. A fantastic start to any day. Keeping with the dual sport spirit we then turned off the tarmac onto the dirt and headed up the mountain to check out a fire lookout tower. Then down mountain and off to check out the scenic Black River. After a short break at the river we took off in search of a new way back to the tarmac. Only to get lost again but some hi-speed graded gravel made the search fun. Back on the Coronado Trail the turns become tighter and closer together. We just started to find the groove and it started to rain, keeping our speed in check. After several miles of wet road it’s back to dry tarmac. This is a difficult road to stay with the posted speed limits, its just begging you to go. You find yourself totally focused on the road and end up missing the scenery. I found myself getting into the abs a couple of time coming into the corner and was for once glad I had it. The TKC’s really impressed me on the tarmac. They worked well enough for me to make boot contact with the tarmac in a couple of turns. Something I though would not have been possible on a Dakar. As you approach the end of the ride you come to the Morenci Open Pit mine. The Morenci mine reminds you of the Grand Canyon, it’s that big. Huge mine trucks with 12’ tires look like tiny toys.
Around the corner is the mining town of Clifton and the end of the fun. We finish our last 200 miles to home in 100+ degree temperatures.
Only one bike down during the entire trip. Sand and an 1150GSA don’t get along very well.
This is a great ride and worth the trip from anywhere.
725 miles total
120 miles of dirt
Overall average speed 41 mph
Elevation range 10000’ to 1200’
Temperature range 55 to 113 degrees
Bikes – 02’ BMW Dakar, 02’ BMW 1150 GSA
Our 2-day trip started with a warm up run through Salt river Canyon. The road into Salt River Canyon is a 9 miles long rim to rim and drops 2000’ down to the Salt River. The road is a series of low (posted) speed switch back turns both in and out of the canyon.
Shortly after exiting the canyon we are off road looking for Alpine our destination town for the night. I say looking because I carry a map folder with all the forest service maps for Arizona but this time the one and only map I needed was not in the folder. O’well its adventure riding..right. Just before dark we find our way to the hotel that was said to motorcycle friendly. We new we were at the right place when we saw other bikes parked under the overhang on the walkways in front of the room’s door. The room was also equipped with a bucket of clean rags tagged “For motorcycle use”. The Bear Wallow is about the only place to eat in the small town of Alpine. We ordered the special, 12oz Top sirloin topped with fresh sautéed mushrooms and grilled onion, all the fixings, and home made soup. The meal was excellent, better then a lot high priced steak houses I have been. All for the price of $12.95 made you want to order one to go.
We also had breakfast at the Bear Wallow the next morning. Keeping with tradition we ordered the breakfast special ($6.95), home made chicken fried steak chopped up, served over potatoes, covered with sausage gravy topped with 2 eggs. Many thanks to Klim for making riding pants with an adjustable waist. After several cups of high performance coffee we were ready to go.
Our main goal for the trip was to ride the Coronado Trail (hwy191) in Arizona. I have driven (never ridden) this road several times over the years and pictures cannot capture the huge views it offers. Rated in the top 10 roads to ride in the US. This is a fantastic ride and it lives up to its claim. 1100 turns in 90 miles with an elevation drop of 5000’ makes this ride non-stop excitement. Not to be taken lightly loaded with 10 and 15mph hairpin turns many with drop offs of 1000’+.
Our descent on the Coronado Trail started with non-stop linked long turns and no other vehicles on the road for the first 30 miles. A fantastic start to any day. Keeping with the dual sport spirit we then turned off the tarmac onto the dirt and headed up the mountain to check out a fire lookout tower. Then down mountain and off to check out the scenic Black River. After a short break at the river we took off in search of a new way back to the tarmac. Only to get lost again but some hi-speed graded gravel made the search fun. Back on the Coronado Trail the turns become tighter and closer together. We just started to find the groove and it started to rain, keeping our speed in check. After several miles of wet road it’s back to dry tarmac. This is a difficult road to stay with the posted speed limits, its just begging you to go. You find yourself totally focused on the road and end up missing the scenery. I found myself getting into the abs a couple of time coming into the corner and was for once glad I had it. The TKC’s really impressed me on the tarmac. They worked well enough for me to make boot contact with the tarmac in a couple of turns. Something I though would not have been possible on a Dakar. As you approach the end of the ride you come to the Morenci Open Pit mine. The Morenci mine reminds you of the Grand Canyon, it’s that big. Huge mine trucks with 12’ tires look like tiny toys.
Around the corner is the mining town of Clifton and the end of the fun. We finish our last 200 miles to home in 100+ degree temperatures.
Only one bike down during the entire trip. Sand and an 1150GSA don’t get along very well.
This is a great ride and worth the trip from anywhere.
