3 KLR's & a KTM crest Pine Mountain and China Hat Butte in C. Orygun

[sagerat]

Yesterday what my buddy Ray quipped was the "singles club" as all four uf us were on thumpers rode up to the observatory on Pine Mountain, which is about 25 miles E of Bend. I had my '05 KLR, Ray had his '99, and Royce was on his '02. New Central Orygun transplant kurtw rode his KTM 640, which sounds heavenly.

Ride out U.S. 20 was nothing wonderous, outside of a Deschutes County Sheriff SUV blazing by us with lights and sirens going full tilt. Good to know when they are in hot pursuit of a speeder it's rarely going to be we on are KLR's.

The road up Pine Mountain was pretty easy, some switchbacks, lots of dust, little bit of traffic as we gained about 3,000 feet to the summit. A troop of Boy Scouts was camped at the top so didn't exactly have the place to ourselves...

Beyond the summit the non-maintained road wraps around the east and south flanks of Pine Mountain for its descent. As we came down we saw China Hat Butte in the distance. A quick map consult, Kurt checked his GPS and we were off for the next summit.

We had a few false starts, but eventually we made it to the top. Road was not too bad, just narrow in some spots. Including one where I managed to misjudge the curve and ended up bashing my way through the manzanita until I got back on the road.

At the top Ray and I did our usual running joke of taking mock heroic shots of ourselves posed with our bikes. Returned to China Hat Road, which is dusty as all get out and is like riding on marbles. I hate that road, but it leads to great country. Still, nothing like going 30-40 mph and feeling your front end wants to wash out about every 10 seconds and your back end does the mambo about every 30 seconds.

Left my place at 12:30p and were back about 5p with just about 100 miles on the odometer. Gotta love Central Orygun as great dual sport rides are about 20 minutes from my door.

[sagerat]

As kurtw was the fastest of our quartet, he ended up being a dusty version of Ansel Adams by getting so far in front he had time to set up for great photos of the rest of us as well as the most scenic spots to park his KTM.

Thank gawd he's such a nice guy.  

http://kurtwindisch.smugmug.com/gallery/6081536_fZr5x

[kurtw]

Thanks again for the ride invite, Peter.

Here's our route:


I especially liked the bit coming down off the summit of Pine Mtn. Too bad there wasn't much to see at the observatory up there. I bet we could have snuck in with the scouts for a tour...



KLR fly-bys








The pumice road through East Fort Rock was a lot of fun too.

[mtrider16]

Nice ride report guys.  Kurtw, if you could post up on your impression of the KTM640 in the f800gs vs all comers in the Dirt Lovers section, I would like to hear your thoughts.

Thanks,
David

[Mrs. DantesDame]

Quite a trip up 'the Hat, eh? I swear that I was getting dizzy on the way up    And yeah - nothing like 4" deep marbles on the way out. I slowed down at one point and the front end just dug in deep and gave me a little bit of concern  

[sagerat]

The worst part for me is the sun was low and we were getting deep shadows across the road so you had that strobe effect as you rode up to the top of China Hat.  Tough at times to pick a decent line.

China Hat Road, ahh, yes, the joys of feeling your bike constantly floating while hunters race by in the opposite direction trying to get to their camp sites.  I almost biffed about a half dozen times, but somehow managed to save it or maybe it's more accurate to say the KLR saved me.  

[kurtw]

Nice ride report guys.  Kurtw, if you could post up on your impression of the KTM640 in the f800gs vs all comers in the Dirt Lovers section, I would like to hear your thoughts.

Will do.

[XLR8]

Nice ride report. Looks like fun. I can see a PNW dual sport get together next year. We should do it.