A CRF250L in Colorado

[Ole]

I just spent 18 days wandering the great state of Colorado on a 2013 Honda CRF250L. You guys and gals like pics so I will throw some up. I did not ride it out, I trailered it. So shoot me! I had to get lessons on how to trailer a bike first.
Spent the first 4 days in the Poudre Canyon. Moose City up there.

Hy 14

Saw my first CRF250L other than mine. These guys where from Fort Collins. They had it chained to a tree when they went fishing!

Laramie River road was a fast dirt ride.

I will add to this as time permits.

 

[The Spaceman_imp]

If a trailer makes it possible to visit and ride an area that you otherwise couldn't, I'm all for it. Since I crashed on the VStrom I've been thinking about getting a trailer for the CB...not sure I can do the 10+ hour days rides I used to anymore. Trailering makes even more sense when you're riding an enduro when you get to where you're going. Who wants to spend all day super-slabbing on a 250 with knobbies?

Very nice photos. That moose is an impressive beast.

 

[the Ferret]

Wow, what an awesome way to spend 18 days. I am so jealous! Gteat pics. That is an impressive Shiras moose!

 

[ChipBeck_imp]

Great photos. In all of the times I've gone into Honda dealerships I've never seen a CRF250L. They are all sold in advance and are never in a showroom. I've never seen one on the road or trail either. The fuel injection on that dirt bike should allow it to sit for long periods and then start right up.

I also trailer my dirt bikes because mine are not street legal. Keep the photos coming Ole.

Chip

 

[Ole]

Yes, I had spooned on a new Dunlop D606 on the rear right before I left. I am sure 1000 miles would have "toasted" it. Besides, I needed my truck to sleep in. So I trailered the bike. The fuel injection worked perfect even at 12,800 feet. Just push the magic button and go. I had to help push many a dirt down in The San Juans later in this trip. Guys would shut them down for a pic then couldnt get em started. Kicking a bike at 13000 feet is no fun!

The Moose were everywhere.

Going up Deadman Road to the lookout found a pair of Minolta binocs right in the middle of the road. Nobody at the lookout claimed.

Rist Canyon and Stove Prairie Roads were outstanding.

A big fire went up Rist canyon last year. Some of the houses I could tell where freshly built.

There is about a 12 mile stretch on Stove that is world class. Almost as good as Hy 31A and Hy 6 in British Columbia. I did Stove 4 times! Great fun on a 250!

Looking back at Rist Canyon from Old Flowers Road.

Hy 14 along The Poudre

Boy Scout Camp Road was more high speed gravel
I thought I was in The Black Hills for a bit

ATV went everywhere north of Hy14
Spent some time getting lost on them

Long Draw Road was a highlight and not many people on it

Those mountains are the north side of Rocky Mountain Nat Park

Long Draw Road area

Does anybody in Colorado hunt Moose? They were everywhere like rabbits

Crap. Maybe a mod should move this to the "other bike" page?
I won't have a CB1100 trip report till October. Me and the boy are going for a little ramble then.

 

[the Ferret]

Stunning photos ole, just beautiful and awe inspiring. Thanks.

 

[Ole]

It was time to move. I moved my campsite to Grand Lake. I slept in the back of my truck a Toyota Tacoma with a 6 foot box. I'm 5 8 so I fit.

Never been to Rocky Mtn Nat Park and I knew it would be full of cars but I did it anyway. It was cool up top.

I went into Estes park cuz I was a craving ice cream. I am an ice cream junkie. The best part of that is I found a dirt road from Estes up to the visitor center that was not too crowded with cars.

It was one lane and one way and had wildlife on it

I had stopped to, ahem, take a "break" when this guy walked in to view

I am glad I went into the park tho it was very crowded

 

[the Ferret]

This keeps getting better and better!

 

[Ole]

Back in The Poudre Canyon, a lady camped next to me told me about Stillwater Pass Road. She had snowmobiled down there 30 years ago and said it should be fun on a dirt bike. She was right. It started out fast dirt

Above the aspens it got real good

I got brave and started pounding some ATV trails. They were not on the map or my GPS. Man oh man did I ever get stone assed lost. Had to pour my extra gallon of gas in to the bike and I was starting to wonder just where the hell I was when I popped out here.

sigh Then I knew where I was.

I did not know Mother Nature had construction forms in her arsenal.

picture perfect form

Have y'all seen that Viagra commercial? The one where the cowboy gets stuck pulling a horse trailer so he unloads his horses to pull him out? I fricking found the guy! And his horses!

 

[Ole]

From there I moved camp over near Yampa. I have Elk hunted in The Flat Tops and wanted to see what it looked like without 8 feet of snow.

The sheep herder was in there making his coffee

lots of nice ranches and no paved roads

visited the spot Major Thornburgh lost his battle with the Indians

took a dead end road to Trappers Lake

bout 10 years ago a big fire came through here

parking lot was full of four wheel drives mine was the only one wheel drive

there was even a cafe/bar way back there
not sure if this survived the big fire or was new

sheep jam one of the guard dogs made a pass at me as I flew by

Chapman Lake was where I camped
the people were pulling some nice "eater" trout out of it

 

[the Ferret]

Ole I was showing my wife these pictures last night and she lamented that we should have done that when we were younger. We have toured together for 40 years, but all on paved roads. These unpaved roads look awesome. I trust you know how fortunate you are to be able to do trips like this.

My glass is raised to you sir. Salute!

 

[Ole]

Ole I was showing my wife these pictures last night and she lamented that we should have done that when we were younger. We have toured together for 40 years, but all on paved roads. These unpaved roads look awesome. I trust you know how fortunate you are to be able to do trips like this.

My glass is raised to you sir. Salute!

Yes I know. I have an employer that gives me 5 weeks paid vacation and am fortunate. I have motorcycled to Alaska twice- once solo once with my son. Those were two great trips!

 

[Ole]

Made my way to Dillon where this was waiting for me

An ADVer named Jay let me sleep in his RV for two nights

More horse ranches

It has been written that the Dillon Res supplies Denver with 40% of it's drinking water it is over 300 feet deep

Jay lead me on some of his fav roads with his CRF250L the second one I have seen other than mine

Brek

Boreas Pass

A 4wd drive van

South Park

a neat restored old town

We explored some old mills and mines

fun roads

He let me play in a sno cat
he works on a ski hill

Next day I was solo Jay had to work

Webster Pass Rd

Webster Pass

had company up there

great fun

 

[Ole]

On the way down Webster was a water crossing. An older man from Missouri in a front wheel drive mini van stopped me as I sloshed through. " I will give you $5 if you do that again". What? He was unsure his van would make it and wanted to observe me going through it again to help him make his mind up. I said keep your money just take a pic or two with my cam.

it was a very easy crossing but in the end he chickened out

Jay gave me a free lift ticket so I became a tourist on a ski hill

nice views up there

but couldn't wait to get back on the dirt

Georgia Pass kicked my butt. Was about 3/4 of a mile from the top when the mother of all hail storms turned me back
3 guys on atvs followed me down to the flat ground
i told them you can pass but they said it was more fun watching me on the Slip N Slide

Moved onward to Cottonwood Pass Road. Found a free campsite and a stream full of 5" trout. Hundreds of em and no fishing pole

a typical Colorado supper for me

The next 4 nights were at Buena Vista for ADV WestFest

 

[the Ferret]

Dang what a cool adventure. So glad you are still posting this up. Thanks

 

[Rolls_imp]

Your photos are great and your adventure is amazing to follow along via the forum. Much appreciated.

 

[enzo_imp]

Wow Ole, lucky man.....
What beautiful country side...heaven on earth.

 

[BuffaloBill_imp]

Super cool seat time! Looks like many memories were made! Well done lucky man...

 

[rboe]

Damn. That 250 was on my short list for a long long time. Does not have a seat that encourages touring though.

One sweet trip with drop dead scenery. :worship:

 

[Ole]

Damn. That 250 was on my short list for a long long time. Does not have a seat that encourages touring though.

One sweet trip with drop dead scenery. :worship:

I agree. That's why it has a Seat Concepts seat on it. It is a great seat and wider than the stocker.

Buena Vista has many 14,000 peaks nearby. That means lots of dirt roads going to the passes.

Weston

it's up there

just keep going

then down the other side to Leadville

I could not believe there were no other motorcyclists on this road
So then I rode some ATV trails above camp til another storm hit

got down to the trees when it hit

next day was paved road to Independence Pass

very twisty and fun on a 250

on to Aspen for fuel which was $4.85 for 87 octane
they must have seen me coming

at Basalt, I stumbled on to another Colorado hidden gem
Frying Pan River Road was just outstanding
never straight always leaning

it lead me to this lake