California, Paso Robles to Los Angeles on a WR250r (the long way)

[wlakklr]

This is basically my first post. I am a noob to this site but have been riding for 25 years and I'm only 30.
I just bought a 09 wr250R and I am growing to love the bike more and more. I decided to ride from LA to Paso Robles CA for mothers day. I have a giant loop coyote bag for my bike, a set of 606's and some Pro Taper cr high bends, and a 3 gallon IMS tank, other than that the bike is bone stock. I rode up on Friday and took a similar route but I will talk about the way back to LA. I started off on hwy 46 E and turned on Bitter Water RD just past the town of Shandon. I rode all the way out Bitter Water, stopping a few times to take a break. Bitter Water runs into Hwy 58 and I was on 58 for about ten miles. Just before the foothills I banged a right onto 7mile Rd (dirt) towards Soda Lake, after less than a mile I turned left on to Elk Horn Rd and then tooled around on some of the dirt roads in the area. I rode down Elkhorn for a few miles and a road called Panorama branched off towards the foot hills , so I turned left and headed up into the hills
Panorama intersects with Hurricane Rd I rode that over the hills

to Cocker Springs Rd and then into the oil fields (back to Pavement) just outside of Taft. I made my way through the oil fields and out to Hwy 33, then I went to the commercial Shell gas station and fueled up.After that I headed towards Taft but exited the 33 before I got there, I went off on an old concrete rd into an open riding area where the locals have tons of trails and such. I headed basically due south staying just west of Taft towards Corrizo Plains. Back through another oil field and up into the hill climbs outside of Taft. I stayed along a fence line that kept me going in the right direction. I made my way over the hills in the Corrizo plains, there are some great hill climbs that are really long and fun, they may be a little challenging for beginner riders but I think there are ways to get around them
.After climbing over the hills it was back down to Soda Lake Rd.
I then took Soda Lake Rd towards the 166 and then crossed the 166 and headed up Cerro Norestre Rd
which apparently turns into Hudson Ranch rd then to Mil Portero hwy . Stopped at Pine Mountain for gas. The station was closed but they accepted credit cards. The Rd changes names again to Cuddy Valley and I took that to Frazier park and turned right on Lockwood Valley rd. Went Down Lockwood Valley RD for a mile or so and then turned left in at the Chuchupate Ranger Station I took Fraizer Mountain rd to the top

and then headed through the motorcycle trails to Gorman.
I think I took the 121 to the 122 to the 124 to gold hill rd.
These trails are not beginner trails and I would NOT recommend them on a bike like the KLR650.
Some of these spots can get technical but if you are on the right bike they are no problem. I took gold hill Rd to the % and headed home to LA at 65mph. I am looking forward to making the trip even longer with a bypass trough Ballenger and the Lancaster Palmdale hills.
All in all I had a great time.
I used the Motionx Gps app for my Iphone and have my phone in a lifeproof case with the handlebar mount and connected a 12v socket because it sucks battery. The app works great I have been using it for over a year. Just download the area you are going to and the GPS will work with a moving map, even with no cell signal. I just bought a SPOT messenger too
Oh yeah, on the way up to Paso I stopped at the Reyes Creek Bar and Grill off Lockwood valley rd. They have great burgers, cold beer and great people. totally worth a stop if you are in the area.

I don't know how to add pics in the article so here is a link to photo bucket
http://s1273.photobucket.com/user/ch...84/story/73465

The GPX file will be posted at gpsxchange.com
http://www.gpsxchange.com/phpBB2/vie...hp?p=7023#7023

[alcanrider]

You did good on this RR, thanks for sharing. Love the bike. I test rode one today, and now I have the fever! Gotta have one. Currently have a KLR650, and you are right I would not take it where you were today. It sucks on just about any kind of trail, and I have been riding for 31 years.

[samthg]

Nice bike.
Nice set-up.

Post more!

[THRASHED]

Great report. I've been looking at doing a shorter ride up to Bakersfield. I might hit you up for some tips when I get ready for that.

[AZ TOM]

Well done & great bike choice

[wlakklr]

Originally Posted by alcanrider

You did good on this RR, thanks for sharing. Love the bike. I test rode one today, and now I have the fever! Gotta have one. Currently have a KLR650, and you are right I would not take it where you were today. It sucks on just about any kind of trail, and I have been riding for 31 years.

Yeah I had a KLR and it left me wanting a lot in the dirt. The WRR is a great bike. Definitely a sacrifice on the Hwy, but I like taking the back roads any way. AND the WRR is getting around 65 mpg which is great!!

[wlakklr]

If you bypass the Gorman part, this ride IS possible on a Big bike.