bonneville Salt flats...?

[Vanzal15]

so what is the deal? can you just go down there and start riding around on them? top out your bike???  is the surface something that you can do on a cbr600rr?

thanks!

[county]

I went to Bonneville flats....it is a big parking lot out in the salt flats.  With a sign.

There was a coupla guys with dirt bikes out there riding around on the flats.  They told me that every year BLM comes in and scrapes a whole lot of the flats smooth for the speed trials.  (Which I understand are regulated)

So, in a word, yes, you can go out there on your 600 and do whatever you want but it ain't necessarily real smooth.

Those flats go on for miles and miles and miles.

[Vanzal15]

I went to Bonneville flats....it is a big parking lot out in the salt flats.  With a sign.

There was a coupla guys with dirt bikes out there riding around on the flats.  They told me that every year BLM comes in and scrapes a whole lot of the flats smooth for the speed trials.  (Which I understand are regulated)

So, in a word, yes, you can go out there on your 600 and do whatever you want but it ain't necessarily real smooth.

Those flats go on for miles and miles and miles.

is it somethign you can do 160MPH for a few minutes for the hell of it and be safe? or is it really sketchy it being not paved and all.

[Blunder]

Paved? Oh no. It's a salt flat, just as it says. It's the old lake bed from when the Great Salt Lake held more water. During the wet winter months it usually has standing water on it. When it dries out the surface is rough. As mentioned, the BLM, or some agency, will go out and grade a portion of it to smooth it out a bit for the speed trials

See, it's not as smooth as glass.



I'm pretty sure if you went out for grins somebody would be along to chase you off and maybe even write you a ticket and possibly arrest you.

[Croak]

You can go out on parts of it, and the areas in which you can't (most of it) is clearly marked.  But just keep in mind that in the wetter months, it's not uncommon for people to get stuck in the salt soup.  And the tow-bill for a crawler to get you out of there is rumoured to be pretty damned steep.  

Notice the SUV out there in the distance?  Just a tourist having fun, and it was a park ranger that took my picture.  

[Blunder]

Croak, that is calender pic if I ever saw one.  

Next time, and I'm sure there will be a next time, sink it up to the bags.  

[thatguy]

There have been years where the time trials were canceled due to conditions.If you manage to go out without getting caught and run 160 MPH and crash you're a dead man.No one will know you're there and help is a long ways off.If you wanna go fast there are several places to do it.And you'll be surprised how fast your bike isn't.If you really wanna go that fast find somewhere like those listed below.It's a real hoot to run flat out with no worries.And if you're a gearhead it doesn't get any better.

East coast:www.ecta-lsr.com runs at Maxton NC.I run there sometimes.A standing start concrete mile.
South:www.texas mile.net runs in Texas.Another concrete standing start mile.Haven't made it there yet.
West coast:www.scta-bni.org runs Bonneville and El Mirage.There are special bike events occasionally.Salt at Bonneville and courses up to 11 miles for the really fast boys.Dusty,nasty flat dry lake bed at El Mirage.You have to be real fast to run El Mirage as there are minimum speeds to run there.For instance the minimum for a 250 in APS-BF class is 142 MPH.El-Mirage is sketchy.Been there but haven't run there.Spin out happen more often than anywhere else.

[Orson]

Here's a high-speed run on a closed Texas highway near Sanderson, Tx.

No motorcycles allowed though  

[county]

is it somethign you can do 160MPH for a few minutes for the hell of it and be safe? or is it really sketchy it being not paved and all.

Why not use the highway?

[Justin]

Why not use the highway?

hahahaha ... +1

[Bjorn Toulouse]

is it somethign you can do 160MPH for a few minutes for the hell of it and be safe? or is it really sketchy it being not paved and all.

Actually, your 600 likely won't go 160mph.  
But you should check out this site if you're wanting to try.

http://www.speedtrialsbybub.com/2009_event/index-2009.html


Rex

[county]

hahahaha ... +1

That's what I do.  And plenty of others.  You need to pick your spots when you are gonna run over 150mph.  IMO.

I also suggest slowing down to under 100 as you approach traffic.  For some reason it makes people nervous when you close on them doing 130 mph.

[Justin]

That's what I do.  And plenty of others.  You need to pick your spots when you are gonna run over 150mph.  IMO.

I also suggest slowing down to under 100 as you approach traffic.  For some reason it makes people nervous when you close on them doing 130 mph.

Out here in CO and the big west there are many areas where it's pretty safe to ride at those speeds. Not that I have ever done it myself. I always keep the Busa and the XX under the speed limit.

[2wTraveler]

DO NOT go out there to ride fast when there is not an event going on...I have been there/races many times. They grade/prepare the course before an event, you likely will get into some dangerous conditions out there.

Why not just show up during the BUB event and ride the course in the "run whatcha brung" class. I forget, it was like $10-15 for 3 runs! Not to mention the timing slip to prove your speed and the safety crews on hand!

Tech inspection for this was simple, just about any bike with good tires, no leaks, and taped up lights etc could run...

[tjhess74]

i was out there for this years bub trials.  it was very cool!  i personally would NOT take my bike out on the salt.  that is corrosion city waiting to be built right there.


as far as the tech inspection, there were some guy turned away cause they didnt have safety wire on certain items, including the oil drain bolt.  is this a new thing?  those guys were pretty pissed to say the least.  my understanding its more than just a run whatcha brung set up.

btw, the salt flats is one of those wonders that everyone should see.  its just an amazing landscape

[2wTraveler]

Since we're showing off pictures in this thread...

[Vanzal15]

hell yeah, throw your pictures up here everyone.  So it sounds like this is not the place to top out your bike. but i still would like to go just to see all of the SALT!!! anyone worried about the salt killing your paint job or stuff like that?  Is late December an alright time to visit?

[2wTraveler]

hell yeah, throw your pictures up here everyone.  So it sounds like this is not the place to top out your bike. but i still would like to go just to see all of the SALT!!! anyone worried about the salt killing your paint job or stuff like that?  Is late December an alright time to visit?

There is a coin operated car wash/pressure washer in Wendover a few miles down the road. Everytime I go ouot there, I rinse the salt off before leaving the area. Just make sure to rinse it off without using pressure, or you risk pushing the salt INTO places instead off washing it off the bike...

[ice-cycle]

There is a coin operated car wash/pressure washer in Wendover a few miles down the road. Everytime I go ouot there, I rinse the salt off before leaving the area. Just make sure to rinse it off without using pressure, or you risk pushing the salt INTO places instead off washing it off the bike...

Interesting advice.  Never having been there, I wondered about the effect on pain, and parts, if the salt works its way into nooks and crannies.  

[2wTraveler]

I remember being out there one year when it was particularly wet, everyone had to ride/drive through 6" deep marsh of salt...All the parts stores as far away as Salt Lake City were sold out of Alternators and such...

Never had any problems with the paint, I did make sure to check the suspension pivots and axles for sighns of corrosion and/or salt a week or 2 later, and didn't have any troubles...

[tjhess74]

when i was there in august for the speedtrials, the 'salt meets pavement' area had about 5 or 6 inches of water to drive through.  the whole area was pretty soggy.  not for me, car wash or no car wash.

salt wont affect paint on plastic parts.  it only effects the paint when it gets underneath of it and attacks metal.  on aluminum it causes that white, rough corrosion.

[Bjorn Toulouse]

Is late December an alright time to visit?

You might want to get a map and see exactly where the salt flats are located.  


Rex

[Justin]

Is late December an alright time to visit?

Like anywhere else in the Mountain west December can be hit or miss as far as weather goes. Just need to keep an eye on it during the trip particularly for any mountainous routes you may take.

[Vanzal15]

my body does not produce much heat... as in i have a full rev'it suit, even though i have many layers on i am still cold and this is making me thing of heated clothing.  and when your doing long distance, it would be even worse. any suggestions for heated gear?

[county]

Just get a heated vest with an on-off switch.  You can find them second hand on here and other sites.

[ConPilot1]

on aluminum it causes that white, rough corrosion.

Figured that out real quick running a GS550L through the surf at Pismo Beach, CA

I wouldn't take a bike out/thru the salt again. Enough problems here with road salt
in PA.

[FJR1300]

Figured that out real quick running a GS550L through the surf at Pismo Beach, CA

I wouldn't take a bike out/thru the salt again. Enough problems here with road salt
in PA.

Better watch your anger, your blood pressure is going to go up!