Southern Oregon TT - July 19, 20, 21 2019
/The minute my pal Joe and I heard about the Southern Oregon TT we were HOOKED. A ride in Ashland? And around Crater lake? Sign us up! In no time we were on the roster and all set up with a room at the suggested motel, and couldn’t wait to beat the shit out of our bikes.
Ready for the ride!
To join in the Southern Oregon TT (organized by Bill Beebe and Mike DeSalvo) you need a pre ‘75 moto that’s under 350cc’s. We decided to bring our faithful Motobi 125’s (badged Benelli’s), both solid survivors of past Giro events and great bikes, and an easy fit in a truck. I didn’t think about bringing too many spares… but I’m so glad Joe did.
Driving up I-5 from Sacramento wasn’t bad, five hours went by fast and on the way we ran into moto legends Les and Craig. The scenery was outstanding - and pulling into a parking lot full of bikes was the icing on the cake.
Killer ace man and photographer Craig H. (HIS BIKE IS ELIGIBLE. IT’S RUNNING ON ONE CYLINDER)
We met the group, some we knew, the rest became new friends. It was getting exciting. I’ve never seen a more diverse mixture of bikes, there were Honda’s, Ducatis, Montesas, Cezettas, Royald Enfield and BSA to name a few. Killer group! Soon we headed off to the meet and greet at Flywheel bicycles , an awesome bike shop with beers on tap (what a way to shop for a new ride). We munched on Alfred’s Arepas and chatted, and even enjoyed tasty oysters thanks to John from Hog Island Oyster Co. The party was awesome, but we needed a good nights sleep for the next days ride.
Arepas, beers, bikes and oysters, NOW that’s a tasty combo
Day one really whet the appetite. We covered roughly 150 miles, enjoying a lovely variety of roads and scenery. I thought I was ready for day two - HARDLY. It turned out to be pretty challenging (but really fun), bogging uphills, and bombing back down before the next incline. The Motobi didn’t like the altitude, improper jetting and being 7000 feet above sea level were restricting its performance. Joe’s bike did fine, he had thought ahead and fitted a larger carb on his bike. Uphill was slow - however the bike kept going, and I marveled at how it didn’t blow up. Constantly switching from second to third to climb became a chore, but jamming downhills made up for it.
Keeping the momentum UP
Somewhere I lost track of the route at a critical junction, and being in the lead, I screwed us up. We figured it out when we hit hwy 97, (Bill and Mike stressed the point that we wouldn’t be on freeways) and sharing the road with semi trucks was nerve wracking. I decided to ride the rutted shoulder thinking “it would really suck to break down here” when the rear end of the bike started skating side to side, dammit, I had a flat. Luckily Joe spotted a marina nearby and made friends with the crew. It was our lucky day, they treated us like family as they were all motorcyclists. They set us up with whatever we needed, tools, food, drinks, a/c, cell coverage, but no inner tube or patch kit. With Bill’s help a chase truck picked me up, and Joe rode behind because he’s Iron Man (and it was packed). We made it back at 9pm, 12 hours after we left, safe, sound, and grateful. The fine folks commandeering the chase trucks were on the road for over 14 hours, thanks guys!
Our refuge, and the sag wagon
At the start of day three we fixed the flat, pretty quick job thanks to Joe. I was nervous about the route this time, being really careful not to get lost again. Things seemed sketchy when we didn’t see any other bikes on the road, and then wham, we ran into the group at the scheduled breakfast stop. Another great ride, with some exciting moments such as Raul’s unfortunate battery fire (under a fiberglass tank even!) that ended up fine after ripping the battery out of his bike. Ducati saved!
To Shorai or not Shorai
We ended the ride with a tasty lunch - and Iron Man Joe headed off to enjoy the bonus route. I headed back to the Motel for some pool time, and later on to the awards ceremony, a total blast in and of itself, complete with Dofo Wine courtesy of Marcelo. Things got a bit blurry after that.
Our awesome hosts, Bill and Mike
The Southern Oregon TT (and other events like it) is truly about love, passion and camaraderie. It reflects the true nature of motorcycling, which to many is a dangerous sport and it is. However the care and attention of people you share the passion with softens the sharp edge and blends it into a pleasant experience with great memories that last a lifetime. It’s also exemplified by how a few people take on the monumental task of treating a group of enthusiasts to the time of their lives - in their hometown. On this trip I learned so much about Ashland Oregon, how much I love it, the amazing wonders it has to offer, and how different life can be such a short distance away. It also shows how dedicated our clan is, how much each person cares and devotes to the livelihood and safety of our fellow riders and motorcycle lovers. I can’t thank Bill and Mike and the support team enough for taking the time and desire in treating us to a taste of what riding in Southern Oregon can be like.
This bridge leads to utter happiness.
See you on the next ride!
Alex Z.
