Rode the Little Dragon (CA-49 between Coulterville and Bear Valley) today.

I have been itching for a good twisty ride for sometime now(nothing close by Modesto,CA :frown. So I called my buddy from San Jose and we decided to hit this road. I read "Riding the Pace" (Motorcycle Riding Pacing Tips - Sport Rider) a couple of times last night. Last time we were there it was on the way to Yosemite NP. This time the primary objective was to ride this road. The weather was perfect too, We started from Modesto @ 10:30 am. By around 11:30 it was so warm I had to lose one layer of clothing.

I took my 1994 VFR and my friend was on his Superhawk. We took hwy 120 through Oakdale to get to hwy 49.

When we got to Bear Valley we turned around and went down to Coulterville to ride the Little Dragon the other direction.






Since the primary objective today was to ride this section we turned around and went back up again. We kept going to Mariposa for food and gas. The Superhawk didn't have the range even with the higher capacity aftermarket tank to get back to atleast Oakdale.
We ate at this Cafe in Mariposa . Good food.


After lunch we took the same route back to Modesto hitting the nice section again. So we got about 60 miles of the Little dragon today. The road conditions were not bad. There was gravel on some corners; But going by "Assume there is gravel on the corner until proven otherwise" saved our asses. We weren't going very fast in the straights and just maintained speed through most corners and had a lot of fun. I kept my VFR between 5k rpm to 7k rpm most of the time. The exhaust note is intoxicating on the uphill sections when the speed is slower but with engine under load.
The few cars we encountered pulled over for us and let us pass

I am definitely hitting hwy 49 again next week; may be with the CB-1. Anybody in the area want to go?

Once the weather warms up(for the mornings and nights to be warm enough) I want to Camp by the Bridge and dedicate a couple days to hit this road and explore other roads in the Region and hit Tioga pass aswell.

 

Looks like a great day of riding despite the fact you are on the slowest colored VFR made LOL !! I must ride Cali one of these days.

Rollin

 

I am still waiting for your arrival Sir. :hurryup:

 

Lucky!!!

I can't wait to take the bike out.

 

Now that looks like a good time. Kinda far away ( but not too) from here. Might have to come down and check it out. And you have a cb1? I bought one of those new in 91. Wish I still had it.

 

Great Pictures!!!!!!

 

I won't even announce when I am coming. I'll just show up at your doorstep with a whole tuna as a gift and we'll eat the whole thing raw and then go riding.

Rollin