West Coast Rally pt. 2

[Special Ed]

Thanks to all who responded to my 1st posting "Prospective west coast rally." The problem with a first time event of this sort is not knowing how many will attend.
This year is out, but given 6 months or so to plan, next summer or fall is definitely "do" able. Here are a few scenarios. Which one do you think is most attractive?

A. Through this site and word of mouth and maybe the Yamaha dealerships attract XS11 and XJ11 riders for an exclusive meet for a BBQ at a local park and a group ride through the Santa Cruz mountains or anywhere else the group decides. Could be scheduled around the time of the Holister Rally (July 4th) or the Superbike races at Laguna Seca, or not. In all cases, if riders R.S.V.P. reservations can be made for motel rooms or camping spaces. A donation of $20 or so would be appreciated.

B. Advertise through this site, posters, bike mag's, radio, (Biker Bob, P.S.A.'s etc.) to attract the public, charge to get in, have a place of honor for XS11's, with a side show of vintage Yamaha's of the same era, or, if we were nice, any vintage bike of that era! Have prizes for Best (XS11) of Show, Best Original, Best Restored, Fartherest Ridden, ect. Could be scheduled around the time of the Holister Rally (July 4th) or the Superbike races at Laguna Seca, or not. In all cases, if riders R.S.V.P. reservations can be made for motel rooms or camping spaces. A donation of $20 or so would be appreciated.

C. Anything in-between. I'm open to suggestions. What are other meets like? What would your ideal meet be like? Think about it, then talk t' me!

With high XSpectations of an XSiteing event,
I remain XSpectantly yours,
E. Liberty

I don't want a pickle, etc.

[Czekus21]

Can't forget to appropriate with the local track to set up times of availability for some that would like to see what their bike will/can do on the 1/4 - 1/8th mile. Also mabee should have a place to do minor maintnence. This is around 2000 miles for me and I'm quite sure I'll need it. A cruse down the coast would be cool,
as well as a visit to the boardwalk. BBQ, Pig roast, It all sounds good. ( we won't have to wear those stupid looking name badges
will we? Like a bunch of retired people on a casino run. )

[chevy45412001]

long distance rider

I'd be riding from Illinois so there better be food there,and racing ya lots of racing, if there was a place to race that would be cool too.Food next to the race track would be nice also. Camping next to the race track ,with food and drink would be the ultimate though.Or a nice senic ride from one track to another track would be like i died and went racing... ... Can you guess by my suttle hints ?

[Special Ed]

Howdy!
Sorry I didn't get right back to you, I got sidetracked with life.
I don't know, but I sort of get the feeling, reading between the lines, that you may be into raceing... yes? No?
Would you seriously be into riding a 25 +- year old bike all the way from Ohio, then thrash it around a race track at high speed and then ride said 25 +- year old bike all the way back to Ohio?
If so, I salute your unbridled faith in the best f%#@ing bike ever made.
Liberty

[UncleSpot]

...as long as this wouldn't interfer with the Reno, NV rally being planned by dragxs11...
...I lived in the Bay Area for 14 years and there are WAY too many people there now to ENJOY riding now - splitting lanes to get there is NOT my idea of "fun"...
...and E.Liberty, remind people that even in summer you should pack leather jackets, chaps, and gloves. Like Mark Twain once wrote, "the coldest summer I ever spent was in San Francisco" - and it DOES get cool up in the Santa Cruz mntns.; I've riden there from1970 to 1998, before and during my living there, and it can get very cool and damp...
I'd far rather ride from, say, Monterey down the coast to Santa Barbara - THAT is a GREAT ride; plenty to see, GREAT scenery, and not boring - like interstate 5 from L.A. to Sacramento...

...how about Yosemite? Or Lake Tahoe? ...this is a BIG state... with LOTS of great riding areas

Ben Lomond huh?? Is Henfling's still there?? I use to ride there a LOT to see/hear/experience some great music - Ken Arconti, Daniel Castro, Bradford Station and the Soul Drivers - to mention a few...

[Czekus21]

To bad I don't live in Ohio. Sioux Falls S.D. is where I'd be riding from and, Yes, I would ride it all the way, change the oil, flog it real bad, then ride it back home, Everything I own is turn key, ride/drive anywhere anytime ( unless it's maint. time ) If MIYAMI can't handle a little flogging on the coast, then I should rethink motorcycles. Na!! the XS is an XSive bike that can handle it.
I look at it this way, If she blows, then she blows and there aint alot ya can do bout it ( like a heart attack ) the key to being able to dog her out every now and agian is keeping up on maint. and knowing about the bike your on. Inside and out. Like a woman, Ya must also recognize her personality and know when she's going to throw a temper tantrum and how to deal with it.

[chevy45412001]

E.Liberty

Oh ya you bett,and it's ILLINOIS not ohio.Honest mistake i'm sure.My bikes only 22 years old xj11.And yes i'd drive it umpteen miles and beat the living snot out of it get back on and drive her home.Is'nt that what theese bikes do?Your driving up and down mountains and twisties and back and forth to work aren't ya?Whats the dif,you want me to trailer it push it off and park it in the bike show area?Than push it on the trailer and go home?If so you bess go to the OTHER bikes web sites....(just kidding around trying to point some thin out).Plain and simple i ride there fore i am,an xj rider and plan to be for many more years,my bike CAN HANG with the best,i know i do it every day i can. So put me down for a deffinate maybe.

[REFFI]

Would like a California Rally in the Santa Barbara / San Luis Obispo area. I'm for moteling it, maybe in the fall when the turistas are gone?

Ralph

"I ride erect."

[Dennyz]

From my experience (hosting two XS11 rallies), don't over plan it. It will only make it hard on you. As somebody said at the Bozeman rally this year, "It’s like herding cats". Most of us are independent people and come and go (on our bikes) as we feel. It is impossible to know how many will show up. Both times it looked like nobody was going to show until a couple weeks before the event. Then it looked like everybody was coming. The reality is some that say they will, won’t. Most that say they will do. The rest just show up. Both times we had over 20 riders.

I found some would prefer to hang out and socialize, especially after a long ride to get there, while other want to ride no mater how long they rode. It usually boils down to meeting up with old friends, meeting knew ones, talking about our bikes, and putting faces to the e-mail names.

Camping is great, Motels are even better. Both is perfect.

When planning rides, remember it take one extra hour for every five bikes. For example a 4 hour ride with 20 bikes, takes 8 hours. Even simple gas stops will turn into photo ops, discussion groups and missing riders. It is actually a riot. 20 bikes rolling into the only 2 pump station within 100 miles. I have been to a rally yet where we have not lost a rider or two, only to find them waiting for us back at camp. Or, they show up a couple hours latter.

Everybody should at least once in their life, lead 20+ noisy bikes through a quiet town. It is empowering!

The most important thing is nailing down the date as soon as possible. Keep it simple, have several options and enjoy the company. Oh, and have lots of beer! Or, at least a place close by to get it.

That is my $0.02

P.S. I plan on attending.

[ratbyk]

WC Rally

You can put me down down as a very definite possible maybe as well. If Ratbyk looks like she is ready for another thrash I will bring her but most likely I will cheat and bring the Temptress.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"
92 ZX11 Temptress

[UncleSpot]

...there aren't too many CAL people 'checking in' here...
...did you notice interest from ILL and N.D., etc...??

How about someplace REAL interesting??
...like the north rim of the Grand Canyon?

regardless of which direction you'd be coming in from you would have to go thru Jacob lake, and maybe Flaggstaff, and me, personally I'd be riding thru Yosemite natl park and thru NV, up thru Utah - and Zion natl park, and then over to Jacob lake, down to the North Rim. There's even a camping place out at the East Rim (1/2 way b/w Jacob lake and the North Rim), it's got a *GREAT* view, not too many 'tourists' know about it, I've *never* seen it crowded, and you don't need reservations a year in advance - like the cabins at the North Rim.
AND no matter which direction you came in you'd have some of THE best scenery in the country. I think more people from the midwest (Texas, MO, the Dakotas, ILL, etc) would come to that location than to the 'Left Coast' - I live in "Can'tAffordYa" and I *KNOW* that to drive to any interesting place to get together and ride you'd HAVE to get thru a ****LOT**** of traffic. ...and THIS is NOT my 'definition' of "fun". just my 2¢

[John]

I was in San Diego for a while in the late 70's and Death Valley was a very interesting place to go. Great roads, a lot of differet scenery, only not too many gas stations. I had a buddy there and he had a 72 CB750 and I got to put a bunch of miles (300) on it one week end. Would love to do that again.

[ratbyk]

Death Valley

I was through DV in July in the mid 80's. It was 114F. Thank God I was in a rental car with a good AC unit.
Early May or late Sept may work for DV but anything in between will take a keg of beer each just to survive.
Ken/Sooke
78E Ratbyk
82 FT500 "lilRat"
92 ZX11 Temptress

[UncleSpot]

¿Death Valley? ...'been through there - not real interesting, not enough gas stations, AND there's a "reason" it got it's name...

the 'Upper Desert' is much more interesting, has a LOT more 'twisty' roads, AND it's not as hot as DV.

It's nicer going on a week's road trip the week before Memorial Day (late May) or the week after Labor Day (middle Sept) - the weather is great, MOST of the tourists "aren't out", and the local constables aren't as 'vigilent'...

...I think I just talked myself into a late May ride to the Grand Canyon...