JeffersonRider

I am very familiar with central OR, but mostly just west of Hwy 97. I do plan to ride with a group next month who are riding some of that area over a weekend. I am looking forward to it. My brother and I have hopped from his place a bit down into the northern parts of eastern OR but I agree it is definitely worth the time to explore and I'm looking forward to seeing some of it next month. And thanks for the MT advice!! We will definitely keep those areas on our radar.

Well Lincoln City is a fine place, but Newport only being 20 minutes or so away seemed to have a lot more options in regards to lodging and restaurants. By the time we made it into Lincoln City (having ridden through Newport) it was near 7pm and we couldn't find any food options, the town seemed to roll up the carpet after 6pm and of course the staffing shortages every place is experiencing didn't help.. we did manage to find some okay-ish pizza minutes before they closed. No knock on Lincoln City, but we did like Newport better, especially with it being as close as it was. They had some great restaurants/pubs we would have liked to visit but of course didn't want to find ourselves in a pub with some riding left to do.

Welp.. a few weeks overdue.. but back in March I had texted my brother who lives in WA (I live in southern OR) a pic of a 2020 Tracer 900 GT I was buying. I sold my Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 late last year and had been eyeing the Tracer for some time. He had a BMW 1200 RT. Long story short and he texted right back and said he was eyeing the same bike! True brothers! He sold the BMW and now we have identical bikes Anyway, I've trailered my bike up there a couple of times for some short, local rides but we were finally able to spend a long weekend together in late August and planned a route down through Central OR and up the coast.. He rode down through John Day and says the roads that way are phenomenal. I road up from Klamath Falls around Crater Lake and into Bend, we had rented an Airbnb, hit up some (a lot) of breweries and tap houses, ate some great food, and got a good night's rest. We woke up the next morning and rode down around Diamond Lake/Crater Lake and down Hwy 62 (Crater Lake Hwy). We cut over to Gold Hill and up 99 (avoided I-5) to Grants Pass where we went across on 199 to the coast. We stayed at my parent's house just north of Crescent City and the next morning made our way up 101 up to Lincoln City. We veered off 101 to stay close to the coast a few times. My brother spent quite a few years in Coos Bay and knew some great side roads. We ended the day at a hotel in Lincoln City (but had I known then what I know now we would have stayed in Newport). The next morning we drove up 101, toured the creamery in Tillamook, ate lunch and had a pint at Buoy Beer Co., and off across the bridge over the Columbia and took the WA side over to Battleground where we stayed with a friend. The next day found us along Hwy 30 enjoying the Columbia River Gorge. We had a hearty meal and a pint at Pfreim before we said our tearful goodbyes. He rode across the river to Hwy 14 and east to Walla Walla as I rode down Hwy 35 around Mt. Hood and south down 97. Here's some highlight photos. It was a much needed "guy's trip" and luckily we have spouses that support us and our time on the bikes. Next year we may have the spouses follow chase and do their own thing but through Montana/Wyoming..

I wish I was better at checking this forum, would have loved to meetup if at all possible. I grew up off of 199 in Hiouchi (near Crescent City) and one of my favorite riding places..

My brother and I just did this.. he's from Walla Walla (we both own 2020 Tracer's) and I'm from Southern OR. We met up in Bend, rode down and around Crater Lake Highway and over to my parents house in Crescent City for the night, then up to Lincoln City the next day (choose Newport over Lincoln City if that is ever considered a coastal stopping point), and then up to a friend's place in Vancouver, WA the next. It was a fun trip. I agree with the other comments, we ventured off of 101 in a few places to stay "closer" to the coast and found some amazing roads. What a memory we made. Our goal was to avoid the Interstate at all costs and did except for about 10 miles the last day. It was a blast! As far as the 97 comment, definitely beats I-5, and on a motorcycle, is just as fast. I live about 15 miles from 97, all I'll say is be mindful as it's mostly a two-lane autobahn style highway and crashes on it are horrific. It's mostly 65mph but people regularly go 75-80+ and like I mentioned, it's a two-lane highway for the most part. If you hit the gorge, if you stay on the OR side take the Hwy 30 gorge tour route. It starts/ends in Troutdale and closer to the east end will hook into I-80 a few times, just always follow the 30 route off the highway, well worth it..

Yes Keno Access is in the middle of Clover Creek and Hwy 66 (connects 66 at Topsy Reservoir to Dead Indian by Hyatt and Howard Prairie or can even go back and reconnect with 66 near the summit). It is paved and in decent shape but a logging road (lane and a half, no markings/lines). A few other similar paved access roads cross and connect up there too like Spencer Creek Rd. Pretty cool area and lots of history with the Applegate Trail and old logging communities..

What an awesome time and great write-up! I live in Keno off of Clover Creek Rd. Weird to see my tiny part of the country here.. If you're ever back through this way take Dead Indian or Hwy 66 from Ashland towards Keno. I make a big loop sometimes riding to Ashland on one and back the other. Those are the twisties that will leave a smile on your face, you won't regret it. Looks like a great time, and yes, the Polar Bear does have the best burger in all of Merrill. 😉 😀

So close.. but no cigar.. Gov. Kate Brown vetoes motorcycle ‘lane splitting’ bill “I have several concerns with the bill as currently drafted, particularly...

Awesome! Thank you for sharing! I'm pulling the plug on lights in the next day or two. Just trying to figure out which ones.. I'm not very electrical savvy but will hopefully get through it. I was eyeing Denali's but also have Givi crash bars sitting in the box yet to be installed so was looking for a more inexpensive yet decent lighting option since they'll be out and exposed..

Currently just under $4/gal in this area of NorCal and southern OR. I filled my diesel pickup up today and it punched through the $100 mark for the first time in a long time. Hoping the warmer temps come sooner (although could use moisture) so I can ride in to work. Low 20's with some snow this morning... I'm thinking we'll need a fourth stimulus just for a road trip... 🤪

Awesome ride! I live in southern OR and work for the railroad and operate those trains to Keddie where we swap with Stockton crews (and layover in Quincy, CA) who take it on down. In fact that orange train very well could have been mine the other day. Lol. I've only been from there down to Oroville in a car but would love to take my bike down there and plan to this summer.

I have been lurking on the forum for quite while while I was researching until I was blue in the face. Finally picked up the last 2020 Tracer 900 GT in the southern OR/NorCal area yesterday. I'm sure you've all seen the same pic of the same stock bike from around the same angle, but of course to me it's currently the coolest thing around! 😂 I opted for the 2020 over waiting for the 2021 because the deals were to be had (and a bike in the garage that day). I also want to send a shameless plug for Water World Boat and Powersport in Medford, OR. Awesome group there. As the mountain pass is still covered with snow, and my trailer plans coming apart, I had to drive all around southern OR yesterday to find a U-Haul trailer to get it home, but it's finally home in the east Cascades of Southern Oregon. I am coming off of a Triumph Tiger Explorer (1215cc), and before that a Suzuki Bandit (and a Sportster and dual sport/dirt bikes before that...). I found the sport tourer blend to be exactly what I wanted, and again, blue faced from research, I knew this was the bike for me. In fact, my brother in southern WA is looking to buy one as well (he has a BMW 1100RT). I appreciate this board, I have learned a ton about this bike already... The bike still has 0 on the odo (was late and super cold by the time I got home) but today looks to be around 60 and the next few days calls for another winter storm, so as soon as the sun warms things up a bit, I'm off to get used to my new girlfriend (my wife loves when I call it that...). Be well all, and I thank you all for the input you have given me, even indirectly, through this forum.