Derek aka "Treadhead" and I took off to S. Cal this weekend to ride, and hook up with a few of my riding friends along the way. We hit ACH (Angeles Crest Hwy Ca 2) on the way down.

Derek pulling into one of the turnouts on ACH.


Our rides. One Triumph Tiger, two FZ6's and Derek's Kawi zx6r.


We got held up for 30 minutes for the highway crew to blow up a big boulder with dynamite. It was loud!


Then on Friday night, we hooked with another friend of mine and we went riding around the hills of Malibu Canyon, including Muholland Dr and the "Snake"

From the viewpoint.


Saturday morning, onto Ojai with my friend Mike. (Ca. Hwy 33).


Here's Derek coming down one of the corners on Ojai. We went up and then back down.


Here's Mike.


Checking out Mike's ride. 2006 FZ6 "Naked"


Now on the 101

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VEGASRIDER................
Team Yamaha Blue '06 FZ6!

reserved for more pics

Still slabbling down the 101


Is he giving me the finger? That MF.




On way down to Malibu on Ca Hwy. 23 south (Decker Canyon Rd). Imagine Red rock but half the width but two ways and much tighter turns if you can believe that. And for 18 miles with a view of the Pacific for most of the way down, talk about a distraction.


Dinner time in Malibu at the famous Neptun Net. Motorcycle friendly!






Ever heard of Kite Surfing?


So the weekend was a blast! The ride home from Cali was the worst that I can ever recall about the 2 dozen times I've ridden down there. Taking ACH on the way home today, lots of CHP's. Saw a total of six in a span of 25 miles. Thank god for that School Bus, LOL...

After stopping at Newcombs, here comes the rain. I had plenty of room to take my rain gear with me, but didn't like an idiot. Stopped in Wrightwood at the Grizzly Cafe again, to dry out and have some breakfast. Against my better judgement, I decided to take Lonepine Canyon Road rather than taking the longer route back to the Cajon Junction (I-15- Ca 138).

With all that rain, the road was covered with rocks, sand, gravel and silt. Going over a crest of a hill and a left hand turn going about 40ish, my front end went down like I hit a sheet of ice. I took a head first baseball slide dive onto the pavement. Left knee first, then my left arm and then my slide begins as I watch my GPS and bike go sliding down the road. Did you know that your bike slides much faster and farther than you?
Derek was not too far behind me and saw the whole thing.

I got right back up, and we picked my bike back up and was litterally back down the road in 60 seconds. Frame sliders once again did the job, as it took all the damage. Scratched my mirror and that's about it. Like I said, I landed on my left knee first. I would have probably suffered a broken knee cap at the minimum if I did not have proper riding gear. I tore my left forearm of my jacket too, but the armour on both my jacket and pants did it's job. I would have been carted off in an ambulance if I wasn't wearing full gear. But because I was, I was back riding in less than 60 seconds. Yes, covered in gray silt, but riding.

So the rain got so intense, that Derek fell way back and stopped in Victorville. I pressed on, hoping to rain even harder so that I can get all that silt off of my gear. Yes, it poured. Visibility sucked. Traffic sucked, ended up splitting the last 20 miles in California in the rain because it was all jammed up with wrecks.

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VEGASRIDER................
Team Yamaha Blue '06 FZ6!

sorry to hear about that crash glad you walked away with no injuries, good thing you was wearing gear "ALWAYS GEAR UP" i was planning to go on that trip too but got called in to work

Want to thank kenny for letting me tag with him and his crew had a kickass time!!see what you missed! Kenny is a hardcore rider goodtimes!!!!!

Kudos for Derek too. Not the most comfortable bike to take on a roadtrip. But he managed to log over a thousand miles in two and half days and add a list of things onto his rider resume on just one weekend that a lot of riders who have been riding for years haven't accomplished.

Not very many people can say they have tackled ACH and Ojai, one of the more technical roads. And the snake on Muholland. Plus split traffic. And ride in the rain over a long distance.

Even though we had a great time, getting a larger group next time would make a better experience.

The only thing that I regret was that we did not find the time to go visit the Ronald Reagan Library and Museum. We were litterally staying just below it. You can even go onboard Air Force One. Not really sure how they got it there, but the place looks really cool.

Next time.

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VEGASRIDER................
Team Yamaha Blue '06 FZ6!

Damn! Sounds awesome, except for the whole crashing thing. At least you had good gear to rely on. And isn't the law of conservation of momentum great? Let the bike take the energy out of the system instead of your knee.

Sorry to hear about the get off. Glad you're ok. Those are some awesome roads. Not a huge fan of ACH. Too much popo and gravel and rocks!

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Looks like a good time! And I know all about Decker Canyon Road... I tossed my CBR down that road back in '07. Sorry to hear about your mishap, though.

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http://www.gleno.net

Looks like you guys had a great time!!!! Sorry to hear about you little slide, gald your ok!

Glad your ok. Sounds like it was a good time though!!!

Great pics! Sucks about getting washed out, but sounds like you and your bike are ok.

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I've never claimed to be Smart...just Lucky.

Yup, me and bike are fine. Just stresses that wearing all the protective safety gear pays off, especially if you are riding with other people.

Reason being, not only your jeopordizing your safety, but you are jeopordizing everyone's ride by not gearing up completely. If you were riding by yourself, that's one thing. You crash and that's it since it affects nobody else. But when you start riding with others as a group, you are jeapordizing there ride. Meaning that injuries that you just sustained could have been prevented if you just wore the proper gear. Because you didn't they would then have to call an ambulance, tow truck, and anything else that is associated with a downed rider which can be mentally taxing at times, especially if you are a long ways from home. So think about this the next time you ride with others. Look around, see how you compare with the others. Even though there are times that no amount of gear will save your ass, but in my case, it did and it will for most riders as well.

Like I said, I was back up and riding in about 60 seconds after going down hard! Otherwise, I would be posting up in a hospital, with a broken knee cap and major road rash that will last a lifetime.

The Proper Riding Gear is:

Full face helmet
Riding Jacket with armour with back protector
Riding gloves
Riding Pants with armour
Riding boots, preferably 3/4
Eye protection

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VEGASRIDER................
Team Yamaha Blue '06 FZ6!

Awesome pics! Glad someone could accompany derek as well. Sorry about the crash!! That suckss!! But like you said, GEAR UP! Keep on riding!

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