2016 Colorado/Western Rally

[Bonz]

Is the road over Cottonwood pass do-able on an XS for the most part? I know it has gravel, but would be a great way to get over to Buena Vista and some nice riding back over Monarch Pass to make a loop out of it for a day ride.

[motoman]

Is the road over Cottonwood pass do-able on an XS for the most part? I know it has gravel, but would be a great way to get over to Buena Vista and some nice riding back over Monarch Pass to make a loop out of it for a day ride.

Cottonwood is ALL gravel..........would'nt want to have gravel beating up my chrome pipes. Your ride suggestion would be WAY to long a day anyways.

[Bonz]

Regardless of length, the extended gravel component isn't gonna work! A number of years ago I took that route from Buena Vista to Crested Butte and remembered pavement on each end of the route with gravel in the middle. Couldn't recall if more of it had been paved since then.

[DeanR]

Cottonwood is ALL gravel..........would'nt want to have gravel beating up my chrome pipes. Your ride suggestion would be WAY to long a day anyways.

Looks like the gravel portion is about to be paved.
Darn, I kinda wanted to do it if I ever get out that way again.

[motoman]

Looks like the gravel portion is about to be paved.
Darn, I kinda wanted to do it if I ever get out that way again.

Yeppers........that's a long haul for ya Dean, even on the STeed, but i know you want to.

[Jerry]

Gravel is always a question and many have a reluctance to ride on it. However, in Colorado, many scenic drives involve some gravel roads. For instance, there is a gravel road out of Crested Butte, near Blue Mesa, that travels over Kebler Pass (9,980 foot elevation) into the small town of Paonia, thus enabling a long loop that can begin and end at the campground. I like this road and most of the time the county has treated it with dust suppressant and it is nearly like riding on blacktop. However, the conditions can vary during the summer.

I don't mind riding on gravel provided I can set my own pace when doing so. Cottonwood pass is another example of a nice road that (at least in the past) has involved some gravel stretches.

Generally it is not a good idea to include gravel roads in a rally as many attendees are wary of such rides. However, for those who care to tackle these, the range of options opens up when planning routes.

We did Pike's Peak in 2001 and Durango in 2011, both are good venues. If you contact the Pike's Peak people they will generally offer group discounts.

I have a gallery of photos from the 2011 Durango Rally on my web site or the direct link is http://appleattic.net/Galleries/colorado_11.html
This collection includes some shots in and around Telluride and of the Million Dollar Highway, Ouray to Durango. This route, however, makes a very long day if based out of Blue River.

A note on weather. Layering clothing for the range of elevation changes (translates into temperature changes) and bringing some rain gear is always a good idea now matter when you ride out here. Sunblock and gloves are also a good idea.

[rdmcguy]

gravel

Nothing wrong with a little sand or gravel.
Kind of fun to get a little sideways as I have been known to do to which Bonz and CZ can attest to ....
A little short tracking on an 11 !!!

[soccer4m]

Rally TIme

HOwdy Colorado folks,,,,,a few of us in So Cal have been following the rally thread and agree the Pikes Peak, the crazy castle guy and Jerry's country music place- forgot the name, El TOro, and the great xs crew from Colo. make the rallies there huge fun. Hope the rally can happen, August would be best for us as July is booked. All is well, Roo and Me went to Sturgis Rally last year, what a scene, over a million Harleys- all years, customs, etc....along with the great riding roads in the area. A definate trip and will go again next year if anyone is interested. We hoped to get Motoman out there but some crazy person nearly took him out, so we stopped on the way back and tried to cheer him up. Anyway, if the rally can happen next late summer that would be great and a few of us Cali xs will be there.......... Mike in Sun Diego

[BA80]

August is when the Lost Rally is.

[Bonz]

Nice to see the Cali contingent! Happy to hear you guys are doing well. What bike is Roo riding now? Still the big Kawasaki V-twin tourer? How is the XJ? Is all of July out of the question? August starts to get into weather issues, with rain and can have snow up high (yeah, really!) which makes temps suck and riding not as fun.

Lost Rally? Where is it? No, not being a smart a**, really, where is it located?

[BA80]

Lost Rally? Where is it? No, not being a smart a**, really, where is it located?

Check the rally section, North Central. I've been to the Lost Rally when it was in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and last year in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.

It moves around.

[soccer4m]

Lost Rally?

Hi again Bonz,,,same question about the Lost Rally-where and when? The thread was for last year...anyway, Roo is riding his xs1100 bobber around town, his Kawi 1500 nomad for distance, the xj1100 is still the king in my stable and purring after 135k, Scott is fixing his Columbo?, Motoman sounds like he might be riding soon and hoping a late July, August Colo. rally can happen....the xs,xj are ready to rumble......Mike in Sun Diego

[BA80]

Hi again Bonz,,,same question about the Lost Rally-where and when? The thread was for last year...anyway, Roo is riding his xs1100 bobber around town, his Kawi 1500 nomad for distance, the xj1100 is still the king in my stable and purring after 135k, Scott is fixing his Columbo?, Motoman sounds like he might be riding soon and hoping a late July, August Colo. rally can happen....the xs,xj are ready to rumble......Mike in Sun Diego

If you read back over previous years the rally is always in August.

[rdmcguy]

HIgh plains drifters ..

It's nice to see some interest in a rally here in Colorado this year ...
It would be great to see you guys again and maybe meet some new friends ,
Hey Sundiego Mike ...next time you are on your way to Sturgis know you and crew are more than welcome to stop by , Tell roo he gets first opportunity to ride El Toro as he was only one brave enough to attempt last time ,

[tcoop]

I'm interested in going if the timing is right. Sometime in June/July works best for me. August youth football starts and this is my last year coaching and I don't want to miss any of it.

Now to get the bikes into rally shape...