Suggestions for Good Beginner "trail" West of Denver?

[Bushyar15]

Hi,

I've been doing a bunch of searches trying find a good and easy beginner day ride to take my Super Tenere on off-road, More like nice and wide fire-road! I live in Metro-Denver so looking for something thats basically a day ride or less.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

 

[MurphCO]

Rampart range road,

Head south/west out of Sedalia on HWY 67 and it will be a left hand turn a few miles down, obvious signage

Takes you into Woodland Park


Either turn around and go back home the way you came or if you want asphalt go into Woodland Park, and take HWY 67 back


A well maintained fire road

 

[low drag]

Switzerland trail north of Nederland off Highway 72.

 

[MurphCO]

I realize you just got the bike, but if you are serious about riding dirt you are gonna want different tires....


Highly recommend the K60s



Major difference between the stock and the K60

 

[ST-venture]

A friend of mine and I did part of the Switzerland trail out of Gold Hill last year and most of it seemed to be two track ruts full of rocks, not a lot of fun for my first off road. We tried it because of the description in the "Colorado Trails, Front Range Region - Backroads and 4-wheel Drive Trails" book I picked up at a local shop. We tried it because it was listed as a difficulty rating of 1 (1 being least difficult).
But the "Colorado Trails" books are pretty good reference books.

 

[Bushyar15]

Thanks SO MUCH for the suggestions and tips!

Getting off-road type tires or capable are very good point. I hate to admit that while I've been riding motorcycles for over 30 years I have zero experience off-road. Okay, there were a couple times I had to drive down a dirt county road for a few miles, quite by accident…

Rampart Range something I can do on stock tires?

So, I've been trying to learn what I can about ADV motorcycling… Seems like I can't find any "noob" info. Can someone point me to some "noob" info like; "What I should carry (tire patch kit? seal-n-air", what basic tools)?,

Selecting gear is another area I'm confused about. I want a jacket that works for all seasons here in Colorado. I see that Klim is highly recommended, but a 1k jacket isn't in my budget. More in the 300ish area. Heat tends to bother me more than cold, so a well-vented jacket is probably 2nd on my list with safety being 1st…. any suggestions?

Next is a helmet. Again, I notice that the helmets look more dirt-bike. I would think they have better venting than say my street-going Shoei RF1100? Is there a good reason to switch to an Adventure style helmet? I see that some allow a goggle to be worn with the visor in place. Can someone explain this to me?

Sorry for the noob question and hijacking my own thread. If there are better places to put these questions, please let me know and I will…

TIA!!!!!

 

[MurphCO]

Yeah you can do Rampart Range Road on the stock tires, no problem. It's not technical by any stretch.....sometimes there are puddles or slightly washed out and washboard spots, but nothing major that you couldn't traverse in a regular sedan so the bike will do just fine. Suggest you stay in Tour mode and TCS1, there are stretches where you can hammer down on the throttle, but as a noob you likely won't and shouldn't, take it at your own pace and enjoy the scenery.


Partly why I suggested Rampart is that it is also very well traveled and there are always other riders or forest service folks close by, so no need for survival gear hahaha....especially on the weekend


Only suggestion I can make for how to ride offroad is to do it, once you get the gumption to go on an actual trail or pass you just have to be at peace with the fact you have decided you are willing to drop the bike at some point, and then try real hard not to....spend the money of engine guards.

 

[low drag]

I forgot.... Murph mentioned engine guards. A skid plate is a good idea a well.

Check out the regional forum for rides out of the Denver area. 3 of us were out last weekend and got turned around going up Rollings Pass due to snow.

Regarding jackets/pants etc. We don't get too much rain here so the need for a water proof outer is not a must. I have Olympia XMoto due to vents and light rain protection outer. You will suffer from being a consumer in America on this topic. Not only do you have a lot of choices but you have a lot of good choices..... ::012::

 

[MurphCO]

Skid plate #1

Note the location of the oil filter and the front tire, swing and a miss by Yamaha on that.....


And yeah, there is a group of a couple of guys that have been planning rides out of the Denver area, I plan to join them on a few too. Maybe we ought to make it a point to be on the next one

 

[jdk2man]

Welcome.
Rampart Range is an excellent starting road. And yes, stock tires are fine.
I did Engineer pass with stock tires. They may not be as good as K60's but if you don't have the money for new tires, the stock ones will get you by.

Have fun.

 

[LATiger]

Try the Gold Camp road from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek. Spectacular views and easy ride on gravel/dirt road. As already mentioned, get off road tires before attempting. I've been riding with the stock Metzler Tourance's on gravel and they are at best squirrelly and worse in sand. I plan to switch over to K60's as well. Best regards.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[20valves]

...location of the oil filter and the front tire, swing and a miss by Yamaha on that.....

Sure looks like it but after running Engineer pass and several other off road areas with nothing but the stock plastic "sump fairing" I didn't have as much as a dent in the oil filter which surprised me. I do run a skid plate but that filter may look a lot more vulnerable than it really is. They had to put it somewhere!

 

[MurphCO]

Try the Gold Camp road from Colorado Springs to Cripple Creek. Spectacular views and easy ride on gravel/dirt road. As already mentioned, get off road tires before attempting. I've been riding with the stock Metzler Tourance's on gravel and they are at best squirrelly and worse in sand. I plan to switch over to K60's as well. Best regards.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

Also a good choice, but at least an hour from Denver to get there....

Gold Camp to Cripple Creek then Phantom Canyon down to HWY 50 makes for an easy day of dirt too.....

 

[jdk2man]

Unfortunately, Gold Camp road is closed due to flooding last year and some road damage. The gate is locked just past the Broadmoor.

Have no idea when they will open it again.

 

[imcja]

You could always head east/southeast for dirt. Wide straight confidence building roads...very little traffic. Good roads to get a feel for your ABS and TC. Practice your stopping, turning, standing, etc. Miles and miles of dirt between you and Kansas.

 

[LATiger]

Unfortunately, Gold Camp road is closed due to flooding last year and some road damage. The gate is locked just past the Broadmoor.

Have no idea when they will open it again.

Do you know whether its still possible to access the Upper Gold Camp Road by way of the Old Stage Road?

 

[Bug Dr.]

I realize that you are from Colorado but this guy has done a super job with many rides in your state.

http://rmridervideo.com/

His book is excellent, too. You will find many good roads to ride in your area.

Wish I could join you,
Mike

 

[jimsgone]

Here's one in my neck of the woods... take rollins pass road out of Rollinsville, just past tolland take what google maps called " co rd 4 n" . It's the start of kingston peak 4 wheel drive trail. Follow 4n over elk park, into Apex, right on apex road to Peak-to-peak...

can be done on stock tires, just make sure you don't take the kingston peak turn, YIKES! It's marked !

Also , after you get a little more comfortable, the Bunce school road can be fun!!

Gotta love livin' in colorado!! ::015::

 

[20valves]

I realize that you are from Colorado but this guy has done a super job with many rides in your state.

::026::

I have that book and it's great. For an out of state rider going to CO, it's essential.

 

[jdk2man]

Do you know whether its still possible to access the Upper Gold Camp Road by way of the Old Stage Road?

Old Stage Road is locked. No Go that way.
The only Gold Camp Road you can do is the one that goes between Helen Hunt Falls and why 24.

The whole trip between the springs and Victor is closed.
I did hear that they have finally started working on it and expect it be open around Late Sept.