It was a great ride! NChristi (Nick), Bugkiller (Wade) and I (Sean) met at a gas station on the Salt River Reservation. We rode the Beeline highway up through Payson to the Pine area where we jumped on some forest roads. The first road proved quite rocky and got worse. We turned around and took FR300 for quite a ways to the 260 Highway. We stopped back in Payson and ate a burger place Wade recommended. Incredible hamburgers and fries.
Our trio had a wide range of experience. Wade has many years of riding experience on and off road on numerous bikes. Nick has 20 years of street riding experience on many bikes. I have only ridden motorcycles for 14 months but have attended a PD motor school and currently work as a motor officer. The ride up on the highway was almost as fun as the off-road stuff. Nick lead the way and ripped it pretty good through the twisties on 6 percent grades. Nick and I had stock street tires and Wade had K60's.
When we hit the off-road, Wade's experience was evident. He tutored Nick and I on many of the points of off-road riding. He was even kind enough to demonstrate a low side crash (see photo) after hitting some clay mud similar to what took me down in Utah. The learning lesson was to use caution with these beasts in the mud even if you have 50/50 tires. Nick and I were impressed with the demo
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It was interesting how off -road newbies Nick and I would gain confidence, then lose it quickly, then regain it. Riding in low traction areas was something to adjust to. Learning when to stand was an on-going lesson. We had several discussions as a group about how much of motorcycle riding is psychological.
We rode the Beeline home after lunch and parted ways at various points. About five miles after leaving Wade, I came across an HD rider who had just wiped out into the desert. He and his bike landed on a cactus. The guy was a mess, road rash all down his left side and cactus needles stuck all in his back. I helped him and his brother get the bike out of the desert ditch. He had to have been stoned because he was walking around like he wasn't feeling any pain.
