Adrock
07-23-2008, 06:00 AM
Got my '08 KLR 650 last thursday. Can't really say enough good things about it. It's more than enough fun, but keeps me out of trouble... relatively speaking of course.
I had a friend up in Osoyoos on vacation with his boat, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to break in the bike. I took off friday evening, making it to RMS just before closing to pick up a new jacket on the way out of town. Highway 1 wasn't too bad, I'd probably do Lougheed if I could be sure it wasn't busy and didn't have somewhat of a desire to just get there.
The ride really starts in Hope, getting back on Highway 3 was great. Probably no need to explain much of this part of the ride. Its a great road, would have preferred the whole thing to be a little tighter just for breaking in the bike. I wasn't quite at the top end, but there were some occasions where it was all I could do to keep from opening it up on the straights. (its not sportbike fast or anything, just trying to be easy on the bike for a bit)
Made it to Osoyoos without any issues. Saw a couple deer run across the road, passed some cars, passed some other cars that didn't want me to pass them, but all in all it was a good cruise out there. Made it around 1115, left RMS at about 630. As you can tell, I took it very easy.
Saturday morning I did some wakeboarding, a bit of kneeboarding, played in the boat and just enjoyed the heat and sunshine, and around 430 was on my way again. headed straight to the border. This road bored me a little more than I had hoped. Pretty straight and very hot for a long period of time. I believe the whole way I was on Highway 97. Stopped and slammed a double shot in a town called Brewster. before and after Brewster the road was nice, you guys would have some fun. Nice open turns you can see your way out of sweeping along beside a river. hwy 97 eventually joins up with Hwy 2, and as they are running together the road is pretty nice, some good and some bad. But next is a nice little discovery.
Trying to get to Auburn (my destination for that night) takes you down to i-90. The road from hwy 97 down to i-90 (around Cle Elum) was one of the highlights. I believe its just called 970. After passing a sign saying "entering Wenatchee National Forest" or something to that effect I immediately felt like i was back in B.C. Single lane, nice cool air, and signs actually telling me I had to slow down for turns. (even if it was only to 55mph) That was a nice little treat in the middle of that day.
Eventually I made it to i-90, 100km on there was kinda like hell trying to take it easy. but next time I won't have to worry about the break in stuff. Took hwy 18 from i-90 to Auburn and made it to my girlfriends house (don't need any BCSB relationship advice about distance or anything. It works for me) Otherwise Auburn would probably not have been the destination haha.
Sunday morning I took off home, mostly your standard i-5 for the majority of the trip except one little detour to take Chuckanut drive as I have never seen it before but heard its not half bad. The first 10 miles coming from the South were worrying me, but I discovered its worth the detour. If you haven't been there I would definitely recommend it. The sunday drivers are a bit of a pain, but I wnever found myself too stuck for too long, and was definitely able to get moving on that road. It was a nice break from i-5 thats for sure. After that I made it to the border, waited about half an hour, a nice lady offered me water in the line.
The border wasn't an issue either way, the lady on the way down didn't really like the passport in the mouth, but it was either that or the butt crack.
made home around 1 or 2 on sunday, bike now has 1300kms on it. a great 3 days of riding and I didnt even have to take time off work.
Life is fun on the new bike.
I had a friend up in Osoyoos on vacation with his boat, so it seemed like the perfect opportunity to break in the bike. I took off friday evening, making it to RMS just before closing to pick up a new jacket on the way out of town. Highway 1 wasn't too bad, I'd probably do Lougheed if I could be sure it wasn't busy and didn't have somewhat of a desire to just get there.
The ride really starts in Hope, getting back on Highway 3 was great. Probably no need to explain much of this part of the ride. Its a great road, would have preferred the whole thing to be a little tighter just for breaking in the bike. I wasn't quite at the top end, but there were some occasions where it was all I could do to keep from opening it up on the straights. (its not sportbike fast or anything, just trying to be easy on the bike for a bit)
Made it to Osoyoos without any issues. Saw a couple deer run across the road, passed some cars, passed some other cars that didn't want me to pass them, but all in all it was a good cruise out there. Made it around 1115, left RMS at about 630. As you can tell, I took it very easy.
Saturday morning I did some wakeboarding, a bit of kneeboarding, played in the boat and just enjoyed the heat and sunshine, and around 430 was on my way again. headed straight to the border. This road bored me a little more than I had hoped. Pretty straight and very hot for a long period of time. I believe the whole way I was on Highway 97. Stopped and slammed a double shot in a town called Brewster. before and after Brewster the road was nice, you guys would have some fun. Nice open turns you can see your way out of sweeping along beside a river. hwy 97 eventually joins up with Hwy 2, and as they are running together the road is pretty nice, some good and some bad. But next is a nice little discovery.
Trying to get to Auburn (my destination for that night) takes you down to i-90. The road from hwy 97 down to i-90 (around Cle Elum) was one of the highlights. I believe its just called 970. After passing a sign saying "entering Wenatchee National Forest" or something to that effect I immediately felt like i was back in B.C. Single lane, nice cool air, and signs actually telling me I had to slow down for turns. (even if it was only to 55mph) That was a nice little treat in the middle of that day.
Eventually I made it to i-90, 100km on there was kinda like hell trying to take it easy. but next time I won't have to worry about the break in stuff. Took hwy 18 from i-90 to Auburn and made it to my girlfriends house (don't need any BCSB relationship advice about distance or anything. It works for me) Otherwise Auburn would probably not have been the destination haha.
Sunday morning I took off home, mostly your standard i-5 for the majority of the trip except one little detour to take Chuckanut drive as I have never seen it before but heard its not half bad. The first 10 miles coming from the South were worrying me, but I discovered its worth the detour. If you haven't been there I would definitely recommend it. The sunday drivers are a bit of a pain, but I wnever found myself too stuck for too long, and was definitely able to get moving on that road. It was a nice break from i-5 thats for sure. After that I made it to the border, waited about half an hour, a nice lady offered me water in the line.
The border wasn't an issue either way, the lady on the way down didn't really like the passport in the mouth, but it was either that or the butt crack.
made home around 1 or 2 on sunday, bike now has 1300kms on it. a great 3 days of riding and I didnt even have to take time off work.
Life is fun on the new bike.