Two Faux Endurance Racers @ Lake Isabella

[xbacksideslider]

We rode two 1986 superbikes around Lake Isabella area with the BSA Owners Club.

Pics of Brakelate's new to him VFR1000 with gear driven cams and my GSXR 1100.

The roads around Isabella seem to be particularly abrasive, rear tire got slippery late Saturday and just got worse . . . . still tread in the center!

[Tetge]

I got a report of sorts from a sane rider who was riding a little vintage 500cc Triumph twin, at least until it developed some electrical issue that stopped his riding. He believes that it was a failed battery, not the 100% reliable, make in England, Triumph. But, he says that he wished that he had brought his Velocette Endurance, as it would have remained reliable for sure.

In any case, he stated that he had brief glimpses of two red white and blue UFO's that were darting about the roads surrounding Lake Isabella at breakneck (or was it Brakelate?) speeds. Seems that the mugs riding these vintage superbikes were so fast as to be basically invisible to sane folks. And, also, they apparently created their own routes as well. But, most of the report was hearsay since, as stated, the two big sports bikes, slippery, wet, covered with dirt sand and leaves, peppered with pot holes, treacherous, roads notwithstanding, were so far gone off the front, that they were seldom observed. My brother said that he thought that the two hooligans were having fun, in their own speed crazed, can I totally fade the big brakes on the bike, what's a bit of sliding and wheel spinning, way. And, he was able to confirm that everyone, including the above mentioned mugs (if in doubt look at the tire picture above), survived the ride. They did cancel the off road event, but, this could have been due to lack of participants.

I attended the same ride in the past and I was in such fear for my life throughout the ride, that I vowed never to make that mistake again. Goat trails that were allegedly roads were interspersed with narrow mountain roads with hairpin turns and 1000' drop offs. And, the crew rode along at an advanced pace that never missed a beat. I blew a fork seal and, I was surprised to survive the day. This ride is more like a three day trials event than an endurance race.

[jhwalker]

Sounds like too much fun.

Nice tire

[xbacksideslider]

I think what happened is that on day one we went up and over Hwy 155 and much of that road recently had been repaved with that old time macadam type of stuff where they lay down tar and then spread crushed rock over it so that it takes some traffic before tires wear down the sharp edges.

[03_SONIC_BLUR]

I blew a fork seal and, I was surprised to survive the day. This ride is more like a three day trials event than an endurance race.

Was PETA notified about your antics with said seal? Not the kind of thing I would admit to in a public forum

[jhwalker]

I blew a fork seal and, I was surprised to survive the day. This ride is more like a three day trials event than an endurance race.

Was PETA notified about your antics with said seal? Not the kind of thing I would admit to in a public forum

In a moment of senior restraint, I decided to NOT post a similar comment.

[Tetge]

In a mature senior moment, I decided to ignore the low and crass comments of you forkers. This is a serious thread about the perils of riding the Isabella event and not something to be trifled with. I have half a mind to report you both to Lightning Larry.

[03_SONIC_BLUR]

In a mature senior moment, I decided to ignore the low and crass comments of you forkers. This is a serious thread about the perils of riding the Isabella event and not something to be trifled with. I have half a mind to report you both to Lightning Larry.

Good one! I hadn't thought about that turd in a long, long time

[Thruxton71]

That is some serious wear on the Tire for the Suzi. Makes my abuse of tires seem weak in comparison, and I have been down the cords on a Velocette, with zero horsepower. The funny part is the Suzuki made it back to LA. Yikes. I haven't figured out the Triumph yet.. there is a hansen damn ride this weekend??

[xbacksideslider]

Well, it is one of those "dual compound" tires with soft stuff on the side and hard in the middle and I guess that's what you get when you try to keep up with Brakelate on Hwy 155 just a few days after the county laid down a new crushed granite surface. It did get worse on the way down 178. Although it is a tubeless tire, once I got onto the 99 and the 5 I was on the still sound center tread. I just kept it under a hundred.

Yeah, it is SoCal Norton OC at Hansen Dam Sunday.