V85TT Dirt Report

[skippy]

Well I finally planned and executed a trip based upon riding on some roads that I have been riding around for years. The V85 really shined out there and made me appreciate what she was capable of.
Here is a link to Day one. 7:0x55bf9b6c43f23c8d!2m2!1d-105.0749801!2d40.3977612!1m5!1m1!1s0x8769bc5a9b63553 f:0xb09cd663f5fc859d!2m2!1d-106.0266847!2d40.5263705!1m5!1m1!1s0x8769953b9b88bd4 3:0x109a9139b3290d51!2m2!1d-106.1814128!2d40.4538703!1m5!1m1!1s0x8743a6dc2c2c00f b:0x96ecc2f1ee713be6!2m2!1d-107.5464541!2d40.5152491!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x87422a7a0cfcb0f b:0x5a2182165fd786ab!2m2!1d-107.2296999!2d39.9846663!1m5!1m1!1s0x8742187ebf1e634 1:0x70597e9aed64630!2m2!1d-106.9086582!2d40.1524837!1m5!1m1!1s0x87427b810956466 1:0x1ba8a3d1486ecf7d!2m2!1d-106.8317158!2d40.4849769!3e0" class="bbc_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Loveland,+Colorado/Gould,+Colorado+80480/Rand,+Colorado+80473/Craig,+Colorado+81625/40.1481968,-107.7398188/Trappers+Lake,+Colorado+81641/Yampa,+Colorado+80483/Steamboat+Springs,+Colorado+80487/@40.3241422,-107.5733111,8z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m45!4m44!1m5!1m1!1s0x87694fa609de941 7:0x55bf9b6c43f23c8d!2m2!1d-105.0749801!2d40.3977612!1m5!1m1!1s0x8769bc5a9b63553 f:0xb09cd663f5fc859d!2m2!1d-106.0266847!2d40.5263705!1m5!1m1!1s0x8769953b9b88bd4 3:0x109a9139b3290d51!2m2!1d-106.1814128!2d40.4538703!1m5!1m1!1s0x8743a6dc2c2c00f b:0x96ecc2f1ee713be6!2m2!1d-107.5464541!2d40.5152491!1m0!1m5!1m1!1s0x87422a7a0cfcb0f b:0x5a2182165fd786ab!2m2!1d-107.2296999!2d39.9846663!1m5!1m1!1s0x8742187ebf1e634 1:0x70597e9aed64630!2m2!1d-106.9086582!2d40.1524837!1m5!1m1!1s0x87427b810956466 1:0x1ba8a3d1486ecf7d!2m2!1d-106.8317158!2d40.4849769!3e0

Day two, 1:0x1ba8a3d1486ecf7d!2m2!1d-106.8317158!2d40.4849769!1m5!1m1!1s0x8742c31757669b2 7:0xad4a6ae9357b450b!2m2!1d-107.0724813!2d41.0041022!1m5!1m1!1s0x8742b115704fdc1 7:0x9120cf4c5e644e85!2m2!1d-106.8001396!2d41.2060709!1m5!1m1!1s0x8768730245bcecf 9:0x51f7911773a1667c!2m2!1d-106.1416774!2d41.2983055!1m5!1m1!1s0x87686b98ae2877e d:0xc7f93f3a9212ccef!2m2!1d-106.1111299!2d41.1525464!3e0" class="bbc_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Steamboat+Springs,+Colorado+80487/The+Lodge+and+Spa+at+Three+Forks+Ranch,+1445+Carbon+County+Rd+710,+Savery,+WY+82332/Encampment,+Wyoming+82325/Centennial,+Wyoming/Lake+Owen+Rd,+Wyoming+82070/@40.9251032,-107.2317052,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m32!4m31!1m5!1m1!1s0x87427b810956466 1:0x1ba8a3d1486ecf7d!2m2!1d-106.8317158!2d40.4849769!1m5!1m1!1s0x8742c31757669b2 7:0xad4a6ae9357b450b!2m2!1d-107.0724813!2d41.0041022!1m5!1m1!1s0x8742b115704fdc1 7:0x9120cf4c5e644e85!2m2!1d-106.8001396!2d41.2060709!1m5!1m1!1s0x8768730245bcecf 9:0x51f7911773a1667c!2m2!1d-106.1416774!2d41.2983055!1m5!1m1!1s0x87686b98ae2877e d:0xc7f93f3a9212ccef!2m2!1d-106.1111299!2d41.1525464!3e0

And day three, 3:0xa8b9c04160aa9a30!2m2!1d-106.1037006!2d41.1476156!1m5!1m1!1s0x87694fa609de941 7:0x55bf9b6c43f23c8d!2m2!1d-105.0749801!2d40.3977612!3e0" class="bbc_link" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Lake+Owen,+Albany,+WY+82070/Loveland,+Colorado/@40.8629476,-106.254425,9z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m14!4m13!1m5!1m1!1s0x87686ba5d1fdd5e 3:0xa8b9c04160aa9a30!2m2!1d-106.1037006!2d41.1476156!1m5!1m1!1s0x87694fa609de941 7:0x55bf9b6c43f23c8d!2m2!1d-105.0749801!2d40.3977612!3e0

In a nut shell, I left Loveland early Sunday morning and headed up and over Cameron Pass, dropped down in to North Park and hit the dirt just after Gould. Rode a descent dirt road to Rand that afforded wonderful views of the valley that I have never seen before. I then headed north out of Rand and overshot my turn off for the next bit of dirt. When I figured that out I turned around and headed Back. This next section of dirt would take me all the way to the mid section of road between Walden and Muddy Pass. It was all dirt and open range. I had to stop briefly and hit the horn for a while to get the cattle off the right of way. They didn't care.
Next was the up and over of Muddy Pass and Rabbit Ears Pass down into Steamboat Springs. Nothing new, done it a thousand times. But always a good ride. Made my way over to Craig for fuel and then down towards Meeker. This time I went over Yellow Jacket Pass which is all dirt except for the first stretch which was gravel. Gravel sucks no matter what machines you are on.More of that later.
Stopped in Meeker for a bit of water and a break then headed up to Trapper Lake. The road out of Meeker was a blast, even when it turned to dirt, I was still cruising along in 4th or 5th with out an issue. Then it turned to gravel. The sadists who decide gravel makes for a good road surface need to be drug out and beaten.
The last couple of miles to the turn off for Trapper Lake was ridiculous gravel. 3-4 inches thick. Loose and complete bull shit. Then this crap continued all the way down the 10 mile jaunt to Trapper Lake. All the back to the main road and then all the freaking way over Ripple Creek Pass towards Yampa. It was 70 miles of standing on my pegs trying to keep the weight down low and leaning over the bars trying to keep the front wheel stable. Second gear most of the time, first when stuff got really hairy. If I tried to sit even briefly I was gently reminded that the gravel was loose, thick, and unforgiving and greeted with a head shake from the front wheel. So back up I went to sent my combined CG down to settle the bike. Gravel sucks!
Right before getting off the gravel section I came upon a heard of sheep that must of been at least 600 head. Wow, that was neat. About 6 miles from Yampa the road turned to asphalt and this is where I realized why GS guys are sometimes so dang fast. After spending 70 miles with my rear tire begging for traction while my front danced all over the freaking place, getting on to a section of asphalt was like finding Shangri-La. I was riding on greased lightning! I was absolutly tearing up the road. I was carring way more corner speed than I normally would but I was so in tune with the bike I couldn't help myself.
After a brief water break in Yampa I made my way up to Steamboat Springs and made camp for the night. I was exhausted.

Day two, Broke camp early and went due north out of Steamboat Springs. The next bit of dirt was awesome and I had a blast. It was barely a road at all being just wide enough for a single vehicle with a few wide spots to let on coming traffic thru. The surface was dirt with a lot of frost heaved sections that really put the suspension to task. Even getting completly airborn a few times. No drama, just a well sorted suspension that fully absorbed to bumps. Pretty dang cool. Bombing through the woods like this I was not expecting to see this around the corner. https://threeforksranch.com
What a sight out in the middle of BFE.
The rest of the road was great. Really good sights. I made my way up to Wyoming Highway 70 and rode it up and over Battle Pass to Encampment. Then headed up and Over Snowy Range Pass to Centennial and the down to Lake Owen for Camp.
I bombed around on the logging roads for the afternoon after making camp. The V85 just loved exercising her suspension and never really complained. I am really impressed with how well she performed over the whole trip and when I am on her I most definitely won't be shying away from the other roads that I have rode around all of these years.

Skippy

[Sykestone8886]

Now that sounds like my kind of riding. I'm planning on purchasing The v85,just waiting to get a look at the new travel. Thanks for the great review !!!

[fotoguzzi]

Should have used a tiny url

[skippy]

Should have used a tiny url

fotoguzzi, I am all ears on how to use a tiny url. I do realize the post is kind of big with the links. Sorry. Any suggestions would be warmly received.

Skippy