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FZ6 does US Loneliest Road

Tailgate

Tailgate

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My FZ6 did Life Magazine's "Loneliest Road in America" (US 50) across Nevada this week. I learned that it's an extremely popular route for motorcycle tourists---there were many! Some of the higheay segments you can see clear and often empty for miles. If one (I think this included everybody on my trip) likes exceeding a speed limit (70 MPH) or "topping out" this highway probably ranks near #1. (Of course, I don't recommend speeding through the towns) One photo is of FZ6 parked in front of the "Hotel Nevada" in Ely. It gives a discount to bikers and is an excellent hotel with quite a history (established 1929)
 
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..."Loneliest Road in America" (US 50) across Nevada this week. I learned that it's an extremely popular route for motorcycle tourists--
Click to expand...

If I may paraphrase the Eagles, "Call some place Loneliest, Kiss it goodbye!" :D

How hot was the ride? Did you do anything special to stay cool (evaporative vest, etc)?
 
How hot was the ride? Did you do anything special to stay cool (evaporative vest, etc)? (Botch)

Weather was in only in the 90's. I wore a mesh "Joe Rocket 4" jacket (same as in my avatar photo), and
Frank Thomas" summer gloves. Just Levi's bottom. As you probably know, heat in Western U.S. is dry, not so humid so it's not so bad.

What's that exploding in the 4th photo?? (Stumbles06)

I was thrilled to have witnessed this--it lasted about 5 minutes and, I think, we in the US term them "Dust Devils" or something. There wasn't a cloud in the sky and although the photo doesn't really show it very well, it included a very long funnel...just like a tornado.
 
Was it kinda a vulnerable feeling out there with only the bike and all that nothing? Some of those pictures gives it a last man on earth feel.
 
Great pics, one of my favorite rides,
I rode over 50 to Ely and the Lehman Caves on my FJR a week ago when it was cooler. Watch out for a local NHP around and past Austin, he likes his radar- a lot.
I hope you rode hwy 722 from Eastgate to Austin? If not, you must include this gem any time you ride 50.
Think 50 is flat and lonely? Ride hwy 6 from Ely to Tonopah sometime. It is 171 miles, did it a few years back in less than 2 hours on the FJR- you do the math :)
 
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Red Wazp said:
Think 50 is flat and lonely? Ride hwy 6 from Ely to Tonopah sometime. It is 171 miles, did it a few years back in less than 2 hours on the FJR- you do the math :)
Click to expand...

What took you so long, it should have taken just over an hour on that road.
 
I hate straight roads but that is pretty damn cool. I've had my eye on that road for a while and just might check it out sometime. Seems like an adventure.

thanks for posting
 
Red Wazp said:
Great pics, one of my favorite rides,
I rode over 50 to Ely and the Lehman Caves on my FJR a week ago when it was cooler. Watch out for a local NHP around and past Austin, he likes his radar- a lot.
I hope you rode hwy 722 from Eastgate to Austin? If not, you must include this gem any time you ride 50.
Think 50 is flat and lonely? Ride hwy 6 from Ely to Tonopah sometime. It is 171 miles, did it a few years back in less than 2 hours on the FJR- you do the math :)
Click to expand...
Hey, Red Wazp---I, in fact, DID take that hwy 722 on my return back to CA. It was GREAT. In fact, if one talks about "lonelinest (see photos) road" this REALLY was lonely. I encountered only two (2) cars on the entire run (some 90+ miles or so?). Starting from Austin off US50, it was---except for a tornado-like dust devil)an amazingly "nothingless" straight shot for miles and miles and then....turned into a fascinating twisty, EMPTY mountain pass road with magnificent steep and slide-prone mountain sides and spectacular river gorges and with hardly any civilization. Occasionally, there would be a cow or two on the side of road. Some cattle had even taken respite underneath trees at an abondoned and ghostly rural house. I took a shot of US50's famous "Shoe Tree." It has 1000's of shoes hanging from branches and 1000's more that have fallen down. It's located 50 or so miles east of Fallon. An argument between a fighting newlywed couple started it off.
 
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Tailgate said:
My FZ6 did Life Magazine's "Loneliest Road in America" (US 50) across Nevada this week. I learned that it's an extremely popular route for motorcycle tourists---there were many! Some of the higheay segments you can see clear and often empty for miles. If one (I think this included everybody on my trip) likes exceeding a speed limit (70 MPH) or "topping out" this highway probably ranks near #1. (Of course, I don't recommend speeding through the towns) One photo is of FZ6 parked in front of the "Hotel Nevada" in Ely. It gives a discount to bikers and is an excellent hotel with quite a history (established 1929)
Click to expand...


Judging from the time stamp on the photos, That FZ6 is also a little time machine! We just caught you traveling into the future...Haha

Nice photos.
Thank You,
Cliff
 
Tailgate said:
Hey, Red Wazp---I, in fact, DID take that hwy 722 on my return back to CA. It was GREAT. In fact, if one talks about "lonelinest (see photos) road" this REALLY was lonely. I encountered only two (2) cars on the entire run (some 90+ miles or so?). Starting from Austin off US50, it was---except for a tornado-like dust devil)an amazingly "nothingless" straight shot for miles and miles and then....turned into a fascinating twisty, EMPTY mountain pass road with magnificent steep and slide-prone mountain sides and spectacular river gorges and with hardly any civilization. Occasionally, there would be a cow or two on the side of road. Some cattle had even taken respite underneath trees at an abondoned and ghostly rural house. I took a shot of US50's famous "Shoe Tree." It has 1000's of shoes hanging from branches and 1000's more that have fallen down. It's located 50 or so miles east of Fallon. An argument between a fighting newlywed couple started it off.
Click to expand...

Sweet! 722 is a great road, I've ridden it many times. Once we had some snow off the side of the road on the pass. Coming down off the hill onto the flat headed east the Feejeer touched a buck fifty on the GPS.

May I suggest another (my favorite) must ride road. It is Hwy 120 from just below Lee Vining (on hwy 395) to Benton. This road has great views of Mono Lake plus some woops that will have you laughing under your helmet. The Benton cut off road back over to 395 is fun too. I have been on it twice this year. Lots of good riding off 395 between Carson City and Bishop.
 
I've been there in a car a couple times. Went over to Ely. Then on the way back outside of Vegas somewhere road in the China Hat 250 (I think it was) on my XR. Desert racing is something else I'll tell you that!

I recall hating to stop as the yellow jackets would swarm the car eating the flesh of all the dead jack-rabbits stuck on everything. . . :eek: Car was a low rider with my bike trailer on back. That road up in the hills was the funnest part.

What's strange is at a glance its miles of nothing. But once you refocus, you see heards of Elk, deer, Eagles, Vultures and other large critters. . . That took a while tho!
Is the Red Barn still out there? There were some nice ladies willing to empty your pockets!!! ;)

OP - thanks for sharing!
 
Tailgate said:
Hey, Red Wazp---I, in fact, DID take that hwy 722 on my return back to CA. It was GREAT. In fact, if one talks about "lonelinest (see photos) road" this REALLY was lonely. I encountered only two (2) cars on the entire run (some 90+ miles or so?). Starting from Austin off US50, it was---except for a tornado-like dust devil)an amazingly "nothingless" straight shot for miles and miles and then....turned into a fascinating twisty, EMPTY mountain pass road with magnificent steep and slide-prone mountain sides and spectacular river gorges and with hardly any civilization. Occasionally, there would be a cow or two on the side of road. Some cattle had even taken respite underneath trees at an abondoned and ghostly rural house. I took a shot of US50's famous "Shoe Tree." It has 1000's of shoes hanging from branches and 1000's more that have fallen down. It's located 50 or so miles east of Fallon. An argument between a fighting newlywed couple started it off.
Click to expand...

Sad News- some ****head cut the shoe tree down this past winter. What a dick! I believe a plaque is in place now, what a bummer as it has been a landmark for many, many years. :shakehead:

Holy thread revival from 2 years ago.:eek:
 
What? The Shoe Tree is gone? I was or we (Wife and Baby) were just there last Sept. 2010, and even tried to throw my pair of shoes up on that tree. That was one of the attractions on H-50 aka "The Loneliest Road in America". And now it's even lonelier...
 
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