Oregon Stromtroopers...

[Cornbread]

I am moving from Utah to John Day, Oregon at the end of June. Are any of you in this area? I've been looking at Google earth, and this part of Oregon looks like a great place to ride.

Any info on the area, climate, etc??

[K1200LT]

If you are there a little early - prepare to see a LOT of bikes. The Oregon State BMW rally is held in John Day on June 14th - 17th 2007

http://www.bmwro.org/cj/index.htm

Enjoy the area. A Great place for a Strom!

Steve
Olympia, WA

[Cornbread]

Oregonians...

Is it really true that you can't pump your own gas in Oregon? What do you do about fueling your bike? I don't feel real good about having some gas station lackey fuel my Strom. Will they let you pump gas into your bikes? How does that work?

[mcdstrom]

True that you can't pump your own gas when you're in a car (a wonderful thing in my opinion). But every station I've stopped at in the brief time I've had my bike lets me handle the nozzle. I don't think they want anything to do with messing up anybody's bike.

The area around John Day is supposed to be motorcycle heaven. I'll be passing through next month.

[Furious Stylz]

All gas stations in Oregon prefer you pump your own fuel for your bike. And 90% of them will hand you a rag or paper towel at the same time just in case you get some little droplets splashing out.

[WoodWorks]

The law in Oregon (I've actually gone to the trouble of looking it up) is that the attendant is supposed to hand motorcyclists the nozzle, but we are allowed to pump our own gas. A lot of the attendants don't care, and I've often just handled the pump the way I do in every other state (except New Jersey), but every now and then you'll run into someone who doesn't know that motorcyclists are allowed to handle the pump. One of these days I'm going to print out the section of the vehicle code that deals with this issue and laminate it so that I can smite these cretins. But until then I just sigh and roll my eyes.

David

[Cornbread]

Hey, thanks for the info. I couldn't imagine that they wouldn't let you put gas in your bike, but goofy government legislation has gone against reason in the past. ;)

How much snow do they get in this area? Any climate info?

Are there any Strommers in the area around John Day? Wanna go for a ride in July?

[05Vader]

I live just south of Bend, in Sunriver, and Central Oregon has lots of great roads and very little traffic. John Day, Mitchell and Spray have some awesome roads. For a Strommer, the Ochoco Mountains have some great two track stuff that is easy to ride.

Wecome to Oregon, enjoy the ride!

[Fatstrat]

Welcome to Oregon!
You are going to want to have your deer sense sharp for riding in that area, plenty of those 4 legged ride wreckers to contend with but the area is full of beautiful places to ride. There is plenty of straight country road but also tons of great twisties and enough logging/fire roads to run till you cant run anymore. Brush up on your forrest service maps!
What brings you out to the Pacific NW anyway? :D

[Cornbread]

Welcome to Oregon!
You are going to want to have your deer sense sharp for riding in that area, plenty of those 4 legged ride wreckers to contend with...

Does anybody use those ultrasonic deer repellers that go on the front of your car? I wonder if you could mount them under the front fairing of the Strom...I knew some folks in North Carolina that swore by them.

What brings you out to the Pacific NW anyway? :D

I just finished my masters in Wildlife and Rangeland Management and have accepted a job with the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (fed. govt) as a rangeland management specialist. We work with local farmers and ranchers to help them improve their lands while conserving our natural resources (thus the agency name).
Also, my wife is from Bend, OR and I fell in love with central Oregon the first time I visited, and so when the John Day job opened it was a good fit for both of us.

[WoodWorks]

Does anybody use those ultrasonic deer repellers that go on the front of your car? I wonder if you could mount them under the front fairing of the Strom...I knew some folks in North Carolina that swore by them.
Some researchers at the University of Minnesota did a test on those deer whistles a few years back. Conclusion? Absolutely worthless! No matter what those good folks in NC have to say, relying on them could make you a good candidate for a Darwin Award (http://www.darwinawards.com/). ;)

[Cornbread]

I kinda figured that.

[Fatstrat]

Sounds like a dream job!

I'll be hitting you up for some good elk info after you have been here for a while! :D

[L3w]

Welcome to Oregon. I also live in Bend, OR. Unfortunately, I don't have a lot of information about rides since I only got my bike at the end of March and haven't been very far from home.
You can ride for MILES on gravel roads around here. I did a 100 mile loop to China Hat, intended to go over to Paulina Lake (missed a turn and ended up in Lapine) and then hwy'd back to Bend. I don't know how much more gravel I will be doing unless it is a necessary part of a bigger trip. The dust was incredible. We got passed by a couple of cars and we had to stop to let the dust settle so we could see 10 ft in front of us. With all the washboards, I had a couple loose parts on my bike by the time I got back.
This summer I would like to go to the Steens south of Burns. I've been told there is a loop around them and a beautiful hotsprings on the backside (I think that part is unpaved) and a road that takes you to the top.
Good luck with your new job!!
BTW I have been in OR for 9 years and not being able to pump your own car gas drives me crazy. After driving up to a station, some derelict SAUNTERS out to your car, slowly fills it up and at some stations they don't have credit card readers at the pump, so then the attendent SAUNTERS in to the store, and SAUNTERS back out to hand you your receipt. AAAAAGH A 5 minute stop can take 15 minutes!! If you go to AM/PM you have to get out of your car and stand in the store with 10 other people all waiting to pay for gas at the same time; another 15 minute process (or longer). You learn to find the stations with the fastest employees, card readers at the pump and avoid AM/PM.

[Cornbread]

L3w,

Thanks for the info on the gas stations. I don't understand why one can't pump his own fuel...Crazy. :confused:

I have been to China Hat in my pickup. I remember the roads were terrible. I would like to do a ride this summer around the lakes up near Mt. Bachelor. I know there are roads up there, but I haven't really looked into it. Do you know about the roads up in that area? I've been up around Bachelor and around Tumalo falls with the in-laws, and it looks like itwould be a blast to ride. I expect I'll be in Bend fairly often.

[Fatstrat]

I used to have a place in Quail Run just up from the Old Mill Dist. I have been up China Hat a ways but just in my truck.

[stevewz]

Here's some recommended rides near that area:

Mitchell to Heppner:
http://oregonmotorcyclist.com/ridepage.php?page=hwy207

Fossil to Shaniko (amazing):
http://oregonmotorcyclist.com/ridepage.php?page=hwy218

[L3w]

I embarassed to say I'm not that familiar with the roads around Cascades Lakes other than the main paved one.
This summer I have a couple trips planned that I am calling my 'dual sport' trips. I want to ride to Cultus Lake (backside of Mt Bachelor) and then there is a forest service road (600 & 517) that goes for about 12 miles west and ends with hiking trails among several small mtn lakes. (Erma Bell Lakes) I have a 10 mile hike planned and then back on the bike and home again!!
Of course McKenzie Pass out of Sisters is a beautiful road. I would like to ride to the top of the pass and then hike the PCT to Santiam pass. It basically comes out at Hoodoo ski resort. I just haven't figured out how to get back to my bike!!:confused: It is a 15 mile hike behind MT Washington but if you do it from Mckenzie to Santiam it is 1800 ft up and 2200 ft down!.

Another Bike/Hike that I want to do is from Marion Lake near Marion Forks on hwy 22 to Wasco lake not far from Sisters. The hike would be near Three Fingered Jack. Again getting back to the bike is an issue on these long one way hikes!! (hitch hike??, wife shuttle)
Oooh now you got me dreaming about all the possibilites for trips!!:mrgreen:
When you get settled, PM me, there must be a trip we can do!! Since I teach, I have the summer off but I need to get a house pass from the boss.

[Cornbread]

Fueling info:

http://oregonmotorcyclist.com/misc_page.php?page=pumpgas

Thanks stevewz!:cool: I just spent a while on oregonmotorcyclist, and I am absolutely thrilled about moving to Oregon. It looks like motorcycling in Utah has nothing on Oregon. Dang!

:?:
I just found out that they are going to have a moving company move us out there. Has anyone ever had a bike moved by a moving company? Good? Bad? Just wondering. I'd ride, but the boss (wife) would frown on that idea. :wink:

Thanks for all of the help. I hope to get together and ride!!

[mrltt]

Fueling info:

...
I just found out that they are going to have a moving company move us out there. Has anyone ever had a bike moved by a moving company? Good? Bad? Just wondering. I'd ride, but the boss (wife) would frown on that idea. :wink:

Thanks for all of the help. I hope to get together and ride!!

i've never had any such experiences but my firrst thought would be to trailer it and haul it yourself if you can't ride. It doesn't matter how 'careful' those guys are, they're still moving 500lbs of awkward that they DON'T own.

btw - welcome to OR. Do watch those deer out there, I don't thing I've ever been to central OR in 47+ years without seeing them by the roadsides.

[Cornbread]

DON'T LET THEM TOUCH IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:twisted:
Phil

That is what I decided today when the mover came for the pre-move inventory. I asked about transporting the strom, and he told me they'd cover it up with furniture blankets and put it in the trailer between two bars, etc.:confused: :o I quickly told him I'd transport it myself.

I just reserved a uhaul motorcycle trailer. ~$120 for four days, but a helluva lot better than a beat up strom. If she's going to get beat up, I'll be the one to do it, not some moving company lackey.