Desert riding in Texas

[kenaroo]

I'm sure many wonder why a guy from Austin texas is on RDC so much.

I acually lived in California and Arizona for years and have never gotten the desert out of my blood.. I'm sure you all know what I'm talking about.

just a few hours west of Austin is the Chihuahuan Desert that covers the Big Bend area of texas

This area offers some prestine desert riding that can match any thing found in baja and california.. the only limitation is the fact that 90% of the land here in Texas is private property.

with that.. Once a year we get premission to ride on the property of a few land owners around the the town of Terligua texas.

Last weekend was the 12 annual terligua Dual sport ride.

we had over 115 riders show up from 9 states and 3 countries.

It was a great event that only had 2 injuries and a lot more hang overs..

here is a link to some pictures one of the riders took..

http://www.kodakgallery.com/ShareLanding.action?c=j73m56b.8508mei3&x=0&y=qn9thy&localeid=en_US

[BajaboundMoto]

Some guys I know went on that ride and sent pics. Looks incredible.

[Vtr_Racing]

Ken, those pics are AWESOME! Would love to go on that ride one day. A buddy of mine who (passed away 2 years ago) mechanic for American Airlines in Austin used to go on that ride. Think he had an Adventure. I ride my brothers XR650 Dual sport quite a bit. He finally got it done and plated. Like you, I too am from California, born, raised and transplaned to Tx. My wife thinks Im nuts doing what we do.

[kenaroo]

Tim:

I'd host if you ever want to come out here and ride for a little change of scenery...



Marc:

you gotta come out with us.. it's a blast..

does your brothers XR look like this?

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/members/album207/006_G_002.sized.jpg


we haul the mail here's the picture of my gps after the ride

http://www.texasoffroad.net/albums/members/album207/092_G.sized.jpg

[Kirk_Babbington]

Awesome pics! I'm new to Texas also (from Las Vegas) and I miss the desert too.

Is all of Texas private land? I come from Nevada where 85% of the land is government owned.

[Vtr_Racing]

Heck no Ken! Lol.....Its your typical desert bike and has turn signals! Kirk, welcome to Tx.... Lots different out here.....Some neat stuff going on in the land department. Working on opening up some new areas. It is private for the most part and riding is set up kinda like hunting leases. Your area would be close to the Sam Houston National forest and is available to ride on. Also, Barnwell Mountain.

[onetrack]

What trip computer/gps is that?

[kenaroo]

Garmin 276 C



What trip computer/gps is that?

[vetracer]

Is this an invitation only ride? I'm from OKC area and would love a taste of Texas. My ride is a plated '06 KTM exc 450.

[red-dirt]

got a xr-650 needs to stretch its legs.

[UOURacing]

This looks and sounds like an awesome ride! How do I get more info? I wish all of us Texas guys could list where they ride. It can be challenging to find place to ride. Marc mentioned Barnwell mtn. It is about 1 hr from where I live (probably 4hr from the Houston area) it can be technical and challenging as well as wide open and it served very well to get me ready for a Chris Haines trip last August. I have wanted to ride Big Bend for a long time since I have heard great things about it.:D

[kenaroo]

The Terlingua Dual Sport ride is open to all.. PM me your email and I'll put you on the list for next year..

The big bend area is awesome..

a few excellent rides in that area. there is not a lot of population down there so it's pretty relaxed.. just need to watch out for a few 4x4 trucks etc.. regular just being carefull around the corner. seems that ever up hill road will either turn left or right at the top of the hill. you got to be careful not to over shoot the turns at the top.

some great rides.

Big Bend National park: pay your $10 and you can ride around 200 miles of dirt roads in the park that range from wide open to tight two track technical two tire jeep trails

Big bend State park: they just opened all primitive roads to Dual sport bikes.. great dirt roads. not technical but fun desert roads.. 25mph speed limit.. which we don't follow but rangers will get pissed if they catch you making too much dust... Stay at the haunted bunk house in the park.. the rangers make breakfast and lunch.. umm so good..

Presidio Texas.. small boarder town.. can ride the texas side of the Rio Grande river up Chipsa road. Awesome 100 miles of remote desert.. ends up by Van Horn Tx.. take the high way back to Marfia.. eat lunch and take the road down to pinto canyon road. top half of road is a curvy paved road then as it drops into the canyon is a bitchen dirt road.. couple of dangerous corners then it just flows back down to the bottom.

From Presidio cross over into Mexico Ojingua and follow the river road north up to fort Handcock and spend the night.. 250 miles one way.. then hit big tank road on texas side and reverse Chipsa road back to Presidio.. that's a great 500 mile plus weekend.

we are going to explore more dirt roads on the mexico side next year.. think we can get a big loop..

Ojingua is beginning to have problems with the drug cartels as they are moving east.. so it's beginning to get a little more dangerous there too.. ride in groups and caution is the rule here as well.

[Vtr_Racing]

Ken, any of those places open to strictly off road bikes like my quad? Or, would we have to be a little secretive about it if we went down in those areas, not necessarily the places mentioned above? Benn want to head down there but not sure if its worth it with my quad. Long way to go to get hassled.

[kenaroo]

Ken, any of those places open to strictly off road bikes like my quad? Or, would we have to be a little secretive about it if we went down in those areas, not necessarily the places mentioned above? Benn want to head down there but not sure if its worth it with my quad. Long way to go to get hassled.

I wouldn't risk it.. new sheriff in town and he was writing tickets for bikes that didn't have plates last weekend.. let them keep riding but still.

Need to send your quad to my friends in Arizona.. not sure of late but a few years ago they were able to get mc plates on the quads and ride around town.. AZ cycle parts was doing it in Havasu..

or

you could get a slow moving vehicle license like do for the golf carts.

that would at least give you a "pass" if you did get pulled over..

I know your a quad guy...but you need to start looking for a barely street legal dirt bike. EXC, XR, WR work great here in texas..


Have you been to boulder creek yet with your quad?

[Vtr_Racing]

Boulder Creek is great. The people that run it are very cool. I was going tommorow but think Im gonna stick around the house.We went a couple of weekends ago. I need some riding time. I may have to get me an X/R for riding out there.

[red-dirt]

Boulder Creek is great. The people that run it are very cool. I was going tommorow but think Im gonna stick around the house.We went a couple of weekends ago. I need some riding time. I may have to get me an X/R for riding out there.

are they going to let quads run in January's race at Boulder Creek?

[kenaroo]

are they going to let quads run in January's race at Boulder Creek?

think that race will be cars only.. but you can ride quads there every weekend.

[Vtr_Racing]

are they going to let quads run in January's race at Boulder Creek?

I haven't heard that that they would officially. I don't see it advertised. It would be nice to have the bikes/quads and cars race on the same weekend at something like that. Get ALL the desert racers at the same place at the same time, or as many as possible anyways.

[red-dirt]

I haven't heard that that they would officially. I don't see it advertised. It would be nice to have the bikes/quads and cars race on the same weekend at something like that. Get ALL the desert racers at the same place at the same time, or as many as possible anyways.

i heard they mite run bikes after cars time permiting.

[treypal]

Not trying to Hijack, but who is putting on the Boulder Creek Race

[kenaroo]

Geez.. old thread comes back to life.

don't think that race at Boulder Creek will ever happen. something to do with the land owner spiting or selling part of the property. they had an atv race and a Hare scrambles race. but no truck or buggy race.

[Vtr_Racing]

They did sell the back portion on the other side of snoopy hill or whatever. That back section was my favorite part. Still lots of land to ride on though.

[kenaroo]

rode out there this past weekend

trails are getting burnt in well..

lot's of quad riders so Marc should fit in well

great rv camp area.

Think I'll be out there the next Sunday 1/3/10 as well riding the lower DBSA loop. practicing to get my speed up so I can race the first national hare and hound of the year.

[Jason Mathis]

I ride out at the Kermit dunes mostly, they have some really fun whoop sections

[Vtr_Racing]

Ken, I hardly see any sport quad guys out there. Mostly UTES. Thinking on heading out there after this "freeze".

[kenaroo]

the lower loop that the MRSA club laid out (not sure what it's called now) is opening up a lot and will be a blast on your race quad. It has good flow and you'll be able to get a good rhythm. I did a few loops to work on my speed last week.

We need to hook up and ride..

I'm headed out to Tucson to work on my dads house next week (foundation crack) and then out to race the national H&H so I won't be back in town until the end of the month..

after that.. I'm up for riding..




Ken, I hardly see any sport quad guys out there. Mostly UTES. Thinking on heading out there after this "freeze".

[Vtr_Racing]

Good luck at the National. I may head out there. I would like to race it.