2024 Pashnit Touring on a Hayabusa

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I had warned the kids from Wisconsin that this is one of the twistiest roads in the state, and to take it easy - Highway 245 is pure delight.
While these guys ride, and have their own bikes back home, my Wisconsin buddies had never even seen roads like these.
Wisconsin is generally a grid pattern network of roads, and while there are a few twisties in the southeastern edges of the state & the Kettle Moraine regions, the fellas had never seen anything like this road.

Highway 245, Tulare County | California Motorcycle Roads | Pashnit

Ride Tulare County Motorcycle Roads, Central Sierra Nevada Foothills

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Highway 245, which is due east of Fresno, is known for constant fast mountain s-curves, one after the other.

 

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During our brief spring each year, winter rains brighten up the ride

Highway 245, Tulare County | California Motorcycle Roads | Pashnit

Ride Tulare County Motorcycle Roads, Central Sierra Nevada Foothills

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Not the mountains, these are our foothills

 

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91 degrees. Hot but survivable.

At the halfway point is the Mountain House Saloon, a biker bar in a hairpin corner - nothing else around here, no town , no people, just a saloon

In case you're wondering... The twisty stuff at right is the ride through Sequoia NP we did earlier in the ride day

 

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At Mountain House, the road splits into a Y. Take the goaty single lane or the highway.

The group voted for the twisty goaty Dry Creek Rd. This ride drops into a canyon and follows the contours of a (wait for it) dry creek.

 

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Dry Creek Rd goes single lane as it drops in elevation

 

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For the ride back to Sacramento to drop off the rental bikes, I gave the kids from Wisconsin a choice. We can ride 4-hours non-stop, via straight freeway in 100 degree heat, or we can take the long way, weaving a twisty ride northward back to base & just deal with the heat as we go.
They voted twisty roads.

The kids from Wisconsin rented bikes from Sacramento Motorcycle Rental (and flew in and out of Sacramento for the tour) and that worked out rather well. They rented a GS, a Ducati Multistrada and two KTMs.

Gotta give Sacramento Motorcycle Rental props as everything went real smooth with this outfit:

Sacramento Motorcycle Rental // Harley, BMW, Honda, Suzuki, & Yamaha

Looking To Rent A Motorcycle In Sacramento? Not Only Do We Have Great Rates, But Our California Location Offers Some Of The Best Riding Country In The US!

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We got to ride Highway 245 twice, and rode it back north from Three Rivers the opposite direction - whole new road when you do that.

Highway 245, Tulare County | California Motorcycle Roads | Pashnit

Ride Tulare County Motorcycle Roads, Central Sierra Nevada Foothills

www.pashnit.com

By now, the kids from Wisconsin had been on their rental bikes for three days and were railin' through the twisties

 

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We got an early start and were on the bikes at 7am to beat the heat. 100+ temps expected for mid-afternoon.

S-curves: twisties ahead, yeah, I see that, points left, point right

 

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Some new pavement - sweet

 

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Dunlap Rd

 

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Elwood Rd

 

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Open range means dodging more cows

More single lane goat - Trimmer Springs along Pine Flat Reservoir gets to the single lane Maxon Rd

mid-morning stop in the shade - heat is coming up quick

 

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Watts Valley Rd

 

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brand new pavement on Lodge Rd - sweet!

Haven't even painted down the lines yet - fresh!

 

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Powerhouse Rd drops into a steep canyon

 

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Place for lunch, Bass Lake, best I can find in the region, plus it's 4000 ft here at Bass Lake.

Bass Lake

Last leg of our journey, temps above 100 degrees

 

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Douse the cool vests and into the heat

mid-day heat at 101 - not a fan

The Little Dragon - Highway 49

Hwy 49 The Little Dragon | California Motorcycle Roads | Pashnit.com

Best Central California Motorcycle Rides - Highway 49 The Little Dragon

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Headed into that canyon ahead