NI5L
New member
Did a 300 mile loop today with a buddy on the famous Devil's Highway in eastern Arizona. So called because it used to be U.S. Highway 666 until 20 years or so ago. It is now U.S. 191. Reason for changing it is dubious, but it is what it is. 
Hundreds of technical low and high speed corners, some banked, most flat and a few off camber. Uphill and downhill entries, tight 180s and some flying room to boot. Lots of "Tar Snakes" to deal with in spots making line choosing more an exercise in obstacle avoidance than optimal apex carving.
A bit over 5000 feet of elevation change from high desert cactus and mesquite at 3000 ft to Ponderosa pine and Aspen forest at over 8000 feet. Beautiful weather...right up till I had to head home to the Gila Valley floor this afternoon....112 deg!!
The bike taught me something today...like it will lean farther than I thought it would and stay hooked solidly. The picture says it all. The chicken strip is just a bit over 3/8" wide on both sides.
Damn, I like this bike!!
BTW, any of you "local" guys want to make the loop sometime when it starts getting a little cooler, let me know. Basically it starts in Safford. Head through Mule Ceek into New Mexico, go north to Alpine and back south through Morenci and then back to Safford. Plan on all day for the ride. It took me ~7 hours with a short lunch and fuel stop in Alpine. It ought to be a good time.
Hundreds of technical low and high speed corners, some banked, most flat and a few off camber. Uphill and downhill entries, tight 180s and some flying room to boot. Lots of "Tar Snakes" to deal with in spots making line choosing more an exercise in obstacle avoidance than optimal apex carving.
A bit over 5000 feet of elevation change from high desert cactus and mesquite at 3000 ft to Ponderosa pine and Aspen forest at over 8000 feet. Beautiful weather...right up till I had to head home to the Gila Valley floor this afternoon....112 deg!!
The bike taught me something today...like it will lean farther than I thought it would and stay hooked solidly. The picture says it all. The chicken strip is just a bit over 3/8" wide on both sides.
Damn, I like this bike!!
BTW, any of you "local" guys want to make the loop sometime when it starts getting a little cooler, let me know. Basically it starts in Safford. Head through Mule Ceek into New Mexico, go north to Alpine and back south through Morenci and then back to Safford. Plan on all day for the ride. It took me ~7 hours with a short lunch and fuel stop in Alpine. It ought to be a good time.
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