Motorcycle Corner

A collection of dual sport and adventure motorcycle related rides, trips, projects/modifications, event photos, videos, and a list of GPS tracks with accompanying maps.  For the trips and rides blog documented below, GPS tracks, maps, YouTube video links, and images from the ride are also provided.

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Trips & day ride blogs

Death Valley 2014 multi-day adventure ride	Nevada City - Downieville - Washington - Malakoff Diggins dual sport loop	Eastern Sierras week dual sport tour	Sweetwater Mountains dual sport exploration
Donner Summit train tunnels	Foresthill, Iowa Hill, Michigan Bluff dual sport loop	Colfax, Dutch Flat, Highway 20 at Bear River loop	Death Valley 2016 Panamint Springs 3-day dual sport ride
Continental Divide Route	Baja exploration: border to Cabo and back	Alaska and Canada by adventure bike

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Projects & modification how-to

Motorcycle dashcam (F800GS)

Motorcycle dashcam (DRZ400S)

BMW CAN bus diagnostics port for resetting service intervals and trouble codes

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Event photos

Hangtown Motorcross races May 2013

AFM Sonoma sportbike races May 2015

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GPS tracks and maps of favorite rides

Number of rides listed: 42

Most of these rides are in California or Nevada.  The author has personally done all these rides either on a Suzuki DRZ400S dual sport, Husqvarna 701 Enduro, or a BMW F800GSA adventure bike. The Suzuki tires are around 30/70 (road/dirt), while the BMW and Husqvarna tires are about 50/50.  All the tracks were captured during the rides with an Garmin Oregon 600 or Zumo 395 GPS.  In some cases a complete track may not have been captured while trying to conserve batteries during more obvious sections of a route.

Difficulty rating
1 - Paved, with possibility of some chip-and-seal or light gravel. Any bike should do.
2 - Moderate amount of dirt (fire roads), may have a few ruts and/or minor water crossings.  Good for bigger adventure bikes with trail tires.
3 - More dirt with potential patches of sand, mud, and/or water crossings.  Dual sport preferred, but adv bike doable with knobbies and reasonable skill.
4 - Lots of dirt with more technical challenges such as deep sand, steep climbs, rockier, mud, deeper water crossings. Dual sport highly recommended.
5 - Very technical. Expect to crash and get your ass kicked. Rider should have advanced skills and capable dual sport or dirt bike.

Route Description	Map	GPX file	Notes	Difficulty
Alaska and Canada to the Arctic Sea at Tuktoyaktuk and back		See the GPS track list (by each day) in the summary of the Alaska-Canada ride description here	9000 miles roundtrip over 29 days from Sacramento to Canada, up to Tuktoyaktuk, and into Alaska. See the blog: Alaska-Canada ride for details	2 ~ 3
Baja, Mexico from the border at Tecate to Cabo San Lucas and back		See the GPS track list (by each day) in the summary of the Baja ride description here	2000 miles roundtrip over 9 days, following more of the Pacific down, and the Sea of Cortez back up. See the blog on the Baja exploration for details	2 ~ 3.5
Carrizo Plain loop		Carrizo Plain dual sport loop.gpx	Mostly dirt, most well graded, but some more technical climbs on the east side into the Tembler Mtns. Best done in the early spring when wildflowers are out.	3
Continental Divide Route from Mexico to Canada, traversing the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.		See the GPS track list (by each day) in the summary of the CDR ride description here	3000 miles following the spine of the Continental Divide from Mexico to Canada, about 80-90% off road. See the blog on the Great Continental Divide ride above for more details	2 ~ 3.5
Coyote Flat out of Bishop		CYFL - Coyote Flat out of Bishop dual sport route.gpx	Long stretches of deep sand on flat, and relatively steep initial switchback climb with deep ruts. See day 5 of the Eastern Sierra ride blog for more details.	4
Cache Creek, Bear Valley, Indian Valley, Upper Clear Lake, and Lake Pillsbury		Cache Creek Casino, Bear Valley, Indian Valley, Upper Lake, Lake Pillbury loop.gpx	Few minor rutted sections near approach to Indian Valley	2
California BDR (partial & modified) from Beatty to Yuma in 3.5 days		CABDR_mod track day1.gpx CABDR_mod track day 2.gpx CABDR_mod track day 3.gpx CABDR_mod track day 4.1.gpx	Epic adapted version of the California BDR from north to south starting in Beatty and ending in Yuma. Some tougher sections w deep sand not found on the normal BDR not recommended for bigger adventure bikes	3.5
Colorado BDR from Cortez to Meeker in 5 days		COBDR_day1 - Cortez to Ouray.gpx COBDR_day2 - Ouray to Buena Vista.gpx COBDR_day3 - Buena Vista to Eagle.gpx COBDR_day4 - Eagle to Steamboat Springs.gpx COBDR_day5 - Steamboat Springs to Meeker.gpx	One of the most scenic BDRs of the west. Do-able on a big bike for more experienced riders, but more fun on a DS. Some of the rocky passes and mud when it is raining can be difficult	3.5
Death Valley: Eureka Dunes, Steel Pass, Saline Valley hot springs day loop		Eureka Dunes - Steel Pass - Saline Valley hot springs loop.gpx	Excellent dual sport ride. Mix of some sand, rocky ledges, loose rock in washes, & fast dirt roads. Great stop to soak at the hot springs	3.5
Death Valley: Panamint Springs to Darwin and back via 4wd backroad		Panamint Springs to Darwin 2018.gpx	Good diversity of terrain from some rocky slopes, sand, and washes. Interesting remote town to explore.	3
Death Valley: Panamint Springs to Saline Hot Springs via Hunter Pass, Racetrack, and Lippencott Pass		Panamint Springs - Hunter Pass - Racetrack - Lippencott - Saline Valley Hot spring loop.gpx	Most technical section on Lippencott Pass.  Epic washboard on the Racetrack road is the ultimate torture test. See day 2 of the DV Panamint Springs ride blog above for more details.	3.5
Death Valley: Panamint Springs to Barker Ranch, then down to Bad Water via Westside road to Furnace Creek, then rtn via pavement		PanamintSprgs-BarkerRanch-Westside-FurnaceCreek loop.gpx	Technical sections on Goler Canyon Pass, plus many sections of loose sand.  More of a '3' up to Barker Ranch. See the day 1 of the DV Panamint Springs ride blog above for more details.	3.5
Donner Pass train tunnels		Donner Summit train tunnel dual sport track.gpx	Loose sections on approach to train tunnel road, otherwise it is a '2'. See the blog above for more details.	3
Downieville to Quincy via Poker Flat and LaPorte		Downieville to Quincy via LaPorte dual sport route.gpx	Dirt from Downieville to LaPorte, then paved to Quincy. Very hard climb out of Canyon Creek ravine out of Poker Flat makes it a 5, otherwise the dirt is mostly a 3. Water crossing can be deep.	4.5
Ebbetts Pass to Bear Trap Wilderness		Ebetts Pass - Bear Trap ride.gpx	Mix of pavement on Highway 4 and more technical dirt in the Bear Trap wilderness. Later contains lots of rocky, loose and steep climbs	2/4
Folsom - Amador foothills ADV ride		Folsom-Amador_foothills_ADV_ride.gpx	Good mix of dirt, scenery, and twisty backroads. Some seasonal water crossings on dirt between Scott and Latrobe.  Slightly harder rutted canyon section past Somerset	2-3
Folsom to Fiddletown, Ione, Sutter Creek, Michigan Bar loop		Folsom-ElDorado-Somerset-Fiddletown-SutterCrk-Ione-MichiganBar.gpx	Trickest section are some deeper water crossings on dirt between Scott Road and Latrobe and Michigan Bar, plus some mud east of Michigan Bar. Otherwise mostly paved w minor water crossings.	2
Folsom to Mokelumne Hill to Murphys loop via backroads		Folsom-Ione-PardeeLake-MokelumneHill-SheepRanch-Murphys loop.gpx	Mostly paved except for dirt from Sheep Ranch to Murphys.  Can have some mud or sand depending on season.	2
Folsom, El Dorado, Amador, Calaveras loop with more dirt		ElDorado_Amador_Calaveras_loop_ride_2022-03.gpx	More dirt intensive version of the previous ride also covering Sheep Ranch and Summit Level roads	3
Foresthill - Colfax - Iowa Hill - Sugar Pine loop		Foresthill - Iowa Hill dual sport loop.gpx	Dirt on Yankee Jim from ForestHill to Colfax, and from Sugar Pine back to Foresthill Road. Nice twisty climb up Iowa Hill from the north fork. See the blog above for more details.	2
Foresthill - Mosquito Ridge road - Robinson Flat - Soda Springs - Nevada City loop		Foresthill-MosquitoRidge-RobinsonFlat-SodaSprings loop.gpx	Foresthill down Mosquito Ridge (twisty asphalt), Robinson Flat and Soda Springs via dirt/rocky trail (few steep sections & water crossings), then back to Nevada City on highway 40 and 20. Good adventure bike challenge.	3
Gardnerville - Diamond Valley - Indian Creek - Monitor Pass backroads		Gardnerville - Diamond Valley - Indian Creek - Monitor Pass backroads dual sport.gpx	Most challenging dirt and large loose rock on Monitor Pass backroad, otherwise this is a '2'.	3
Georgetown - French Meadows - Foresthill backroad		Georgetown - French Meadows - Foresthill loop.gpx	Mostly paved, with a few rough sections between Wentworth Springs and French Meadows	1.5
Hope Valley - Red Lake to Blue Lakes over Red Pass, and then back as a loop		Hope Valley - Red Pass - Blue Lakes loop.gpx	Rocky sections over Red Pass and descent into the Blue Lakes basin.	3.5
Lockhart Basin from Moab, Utah to the Needles Outpost in the Canyonlands		Lockhart_Basin_north_to_south.gpx	Epic scenery, with countless steep and rocky sections, with some sand. Rated for experts riders only. Alternate leg of the Utah BDR. Agile dual sports only. Should only be taken with other riders to help get the bikes thru.	4.5
Mono Craters backroads via Taylor Canyon		Mono Craters loop.gpx	Sections of very loose volcanic ash, akin to coarse sand. Some fun sections with sweeping turns on big berms of loose ash.  Best done on a dual sport.	3.5
Morrison Divide trail off the Colorado BDR		CO_Morrison_Divide_trail.gpx	A more difficult 13 mile tributary loop off the Colorado BDR. More suitable for a dual sport due to a more single track nature, steepness, and mud	4
Nevada City to Downieville via Malakoff Diggins, Alleghany, and Galloway street		Yuba River Nevada City to Downieville.gpx	Lots of dirt with a few rougher sections. Steep descent on looser dirt to Downieville on Galloway street.	3.5
Nevada City - Downieville - Jackson Meadows - Washington Loop		YBGC - Yuba River gold country loop from Nevada City to Downieville and back.gpx	Long ride: Lots of technical sections with babyhead sized boulder fields between Jackson Meadows and Washington. See the Nevada City - Downieville ride blog for more details.	4
Nevada City to Downieville via Mountain House and Goodyear Bar, then up to the Saddleback mtn fire lookout, return on highway via 49		NevadaCity-Downieville-Saddleback-loop.gpx	Mountain House+Goodyear Bar route from Nevada City to Downieville, but Tyler Foote Crossing can be rocky and rutted near Yuba middle fork.	3.5
North Coast 1: Leggett to Sinkyone, Shelter Cove, Kings Range, back down PCH to Salt Point		North Coast - Leggett to Sinkyone, Shelter Cove, along the PCH to Salt Point.gpx	Mix of pavement and well graded dirt. Most rutted sections along Usal Road and Kings Peak Road.  Well suited for a bigger adventure bike.	2.5
North Coast 2: Fort Bragg to Sinkyone (Lost Coast), Shelter Cover, and Garberville.  Loop ride via PCH, Usal Road, Kings Peak Road, Wilder Canyon, and back via Highway 101/1		Fort Bragg, Usal Road, Needles, Shelter Cove, Kings Peak, Garberville, and back.gpx	Epic ride with incomparable scenery.  Usal Road and Saddle Mountain (steep loose rock) via Kings Peak are the most challenging.  Usal could be a nightmare if wet and muddy. Best on a dual sport.	3.5
Placerville via Mosquito Rd to the old Bret Harte hotel site, then to Georgetown via Rock Creek Rd.		Placerville-MosquitoRd-Georgetown-Coloma-Folsom.gpx	Good terrain of dirt bracketed by twisty asphalt on either end. Mosquito Rd and path to Bret Harte tends to be muddy when wet.	3
Placerville at Mosquito Rd to Georgetown, then Coloma, and ending in Folsom via back road dirt and twisty asphalt.		Placerville-MosquitoRd-Georgetown-Coloma-Folsom.gpx	Good backroad dirt and asphalt twisties route. Condition tends to be good.	2
Sheet Iron route: Stonyford to Fort Bragg via Sherwood Road.		Stonyford to Fort Bragg SheetIron.gpx	Great dual sport ride. Mix of conditions: Rocky and rutted with some steeper hills. Sherwood road is awesome, but prone to mud when wet.	3.5
Sheet Iron return route (modified): Fort Bragg to Letts Lake at Stonyford via Clear Lake		Fort Bragg to Letts Lake via Clear Lake SheetIron return.gpx	Mix of trail conditions, but not as technical at Sheet Iron day 1 route. Thus a bit more big bike friendly. One moderate water crossing from Bartlett Springs toward Stonyford.	3
Sweetwater Mountains: Desert Creek to Lobdell Lake		Sweetwaters Desert Creek camp to Lobdell Lake and back.gpx	Rocky and rutted sections on some steep climbs plus some mud. Best done on a dual sport. See the Sweetwater mtns ride blog for more details.	3.5
Tahoe Rim Trail east side		Tahoe rim trail east dual sport.gpx	Lots of short technical sections, including steeper climbs, babyhead rocks and sand.	4
Truckee to Martis Peak and down to Kings Beach		Truckee to Tahoe via Martis Creek and peak dual sport.gpx	Mix of paved and dirt roads in reasonable condition	3
Truckee loop out to Stampede Reservoir, Verdi, and Babbits Peak		Truckee_Stampede_Verdi_BabbitsPeak_loop.gpx	Big variety of conditions with steep climbs, rutted sections, loose dirt	3.5
Volcanic Tablelands out of Bishop		Volcanic tablelands dual sport track.gpx Volcanic tablelands adv bike track (easier).gpx	Relatively maintained dirt roads, composted mostly packed volcanic ash. See day 4 of the Eastern Sierras ride blog above for more details.	2/3
White Rim Trail of Canyonlands National Park, Utah		White_Rim_trail loop_Potash_road_Moab.gpx	One of the most scenic dual sport rides of the American Southwest. Wide mix of terrain including rocky slopes, sand, and mud when wet. Best done on a dual sport. Permit required.	3.5

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Videos of rides

Below is a collection of links to videos captured of various dual sport and adventure rides. Most of these are available via my YouTube video channel.

Epic multi-day adventure bike rides

Dawson City, Yukon to Tuktoyaktuk of the Northwest Territories on the Arctic Ocean  575 miles in 2.5 days via the Dempster Highway. YouTube version Higher quality/bandwidth personal library version Lower bandwidth version	Pacific Divide Route from the US-Canadian border at Oroville, Washington to the US-Mexican border at Tecate.  3014 miles in 14 days traversing Washington, Oregon, and California via the Cascades, Sierra, and Mojave desert. Higher quality/bandwidth personal library version Lower bandwidth version
Baja Mexico by adventure bike, from the Tecate border to the southern tip at Cabo San Lucas and back over 9 days YouTube version Higher quality/bandwidth personal library version Lower bandwidth version	Continental Divide Route from Mexico to Canada over 13 days by adventure bike. This ride traverses the states of New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. YouTube version Higher quality/bandwidth personal library version Lower bandwidth version
California BDR (modified) from Beatty to Yuma in 3.5 days YouTube version	San Juan mountain passes of Colorado. Covering Ophir, Corkscrew, Hurricane, Engineer, and Imogene YouTube version

Dual sport day rides

Death Valley: Eureka Dunes, Steel Pass, Saline Valley hot springs loop YouTube version	Donner Pass train tunnels YouTube version	Latrobe Road adventure bike ride from Folsom through various Gold Country towns in El Dorado and Amador Counties. YouTube version
Lockhart Basin of the Canyonlands, Utah from Moab to the Needles outpost YouTube version Ennio Morricon "Spaghetti Western" personal library higher quality/bandwidth version Lower bandwidth version	Muddy dual sport Meet-up ride from Placerville to the Bret Harte old hotel site via Mosquito road, then Georgetown via Rock Creek road. YouTube version	Sheet Iron 300 (1st half) Stonyford to Fort Bragg YouTube version
Sinkyone wilderness forest ride (Emerald Forest) by adventure bike of the California north coast YouTube version	Sweetwater Mountains between Walker and Bridgeport, from Desert Creek to Lobdell Lake YouTube version	White Rim Trail of Canyonlands National Park YouTube version
Yuba River basin canyons from Nevada City to Downieville YouTube version	Death Valley 3-day dual sport ride: Ridgecrest - Pahrump - Beatty loop YouTube version	Morrison Divide technical trail off the Colorado BDR in the Routt National Forest YouTube version

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All content and images are property of Stephen Fischer Photography, copyright 2013-2023.      Last updated: 1/16/2023