Kawasaki Ninja 250R Northern New Mexico and Southern Colorado Trip

 

Introduction

Hugh Mantooth, a coach and teacher at Princeton ISD, contacted me about riding to Albuquerque, New Mexico in late July as he wanted to ride his Honda Shadow 1100 cruiser.  Hugh had the opportunity to be a dormitory parent for a summer science camp held at the Menaul School.  I am always up for a good ride and wanted to go to the Four Corners area as I had missed it on my summer 50CC Quest in 2006.

Tom Kallenberg, a friend of Hugh Mantooth from Princeton, Texas invited us to stay at his “vacation home” in Turkey, Texas.  Tom’s motorcycle of choice is a late model BMW R1200RT.  Tom turned out to be a fascinating riding partner as he is a freelance consultant specializing in the legal issues of intellectual property within information technology systems and is knowable in a variety of areas.

Family time is important therefore I know that long, lone trips on the Ninjette will be come increasingly infrequent.  I knew this trip would be a bit of a “swan song” so I spent most of my time riding or taking pictures.  Who could ask for any better?  The photos here in were selected from the almost 500 that were shot over the course of the trip.

Route

Planning was dictated first by Hugh's schedule and then rather on the fly as I progressed toward Four Corners and then on across southern Colorado.  I had only purposed to meet up with mathematics professor and fellow motorcyclist Dr. Mike Dougherty on my way back home to Texas while traveling through Oklahoma.

Log and Comments

July 24, 2007 --  Hugh and I left Trenton about sun up and met Tom Kallenberg in Whitewright, Texas.  We then traveled to Muenster, Texas where we had breakfast at one of Tom’s favorite way stops, Rohmers Restaurant.  After a fine breakfast accompanied by a relaxing visit we continued west on US 82 to US 287 and then to Texas 86 and Texas 70 arriving at our destination for the evening; Turkey, Texas.

Turkey is the home of Bob Wills, visionary musician, band leader, and Country Music Hall of Fame inductee.  Wills was instrumental in the development of “Western Swing” and worked with such bands as the Lightcrust Doughboys and Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys.  Turkey has an annual Bob Wills Celebration held the last Saturday of April.

Kallenberg’s property is a charming, character filled 1925 one bedroom cottage.  Property is exceptionally affordable in this area of west Texas.  The country is very scenic due to the proximity to Caprock Canyon and numerous creeks.

Hugh and I rode out to Caprock Canyon State Park and spent the afternoon exploring the rugged terrain.  After Dinner at a local Mexican food restaurant Tom and I rode north on Texas 70 to watch the sun set over the canyon lands.

July 25, 2007 --  We awoke at dawn and took leave early with Hugh and I heading west toward New Mexico and Tom heading back beast to Princeton.  I followed Hugh who had not been through the area in a while and after some meandering found our bearings and were on our way to Clovis, New Mexico.  We stopped by a local diner in Clovis to have breakfast.  From Clovis we continued West on US 84 to Interstate 40.

At Clines Corners I noted that the Ninjette had lost the nut on the lower motor mount.  I then contacted my wife to call a couple of Ninja 250 forum members and begin to get some options for on-the-road repairs.  I learned that the nut was a 10 mm of a thread pitch not readily available.  Most of the options discussed involved changing the entire bolt and nut assembly or destroying the threads on the bolt with an ill fitting nut and then "setting things straight" once I got back to Texas.  Hugh and I continued on Interstate Highway 40 to Albuquerque with me pulling over from time to time to check the lower part of the engine.  Hindsight indicates that it could have been quite some time ago that the motor mount nut was lost.

Upon our mid-afternoon arrival at the Menaul School in Albuquerque I excused myself after the first round of introductions and requested a phone book.  After some perusal I found Motorsport, Inc., a Suzuki, Honda, and Kawasaki dealer was near.  I spoke with Mike McKinney of parts and learned, amazingly enough, they had a nut that would fit.  I then spoke with service manager Leroy Mathews and explained my predicament.  Mr. Mathews graciously arranged to get the Ninjette worked into the schedule to install the nut and adjust the drive chain.  The staff at Motorsport was very personable and quite accommodating.  A seasoned mechanic that went by the nickname "Speed" adjusted the chain and install the motor mount nut.  Speed mentioned that there seemed to be a tight spot on the chain but did not think it was an issue as he had adjusted the chain to the tight spot.  I was back to the Menaul School in time for Hugh and I to dine at a local Mexican food restaurant.   Motorsport, incidentally is the oldest Suzuki dealer in the United States

July 26, 2007 --  After a comfortable night's sleep in a dormitory at the Menaul School I arose at dawn and repacked the Tail Trunk.  I mounted up and told the GPS to guide me to Shiprock, New Mexico.  As I headed out of Albuquerque I became very aware that the vast majority of buildings were sand colored stucco.  It appeared as if the neighborhoods arose from the desert.  It was also quite monotonous.

As I  turned the bike around to ride back up the street to get what I felt was a particularly good angle for a photograph I discovered loose sand.  We don't have any material like "loose sand" in northeast Texas.  If you happen to go a little wide off the roadway it is not detrimental as the Blackland Prairie, when dry, is a solid as the tarmac.  Not so with sand.  I saw that I might hit the abrupt edge of the pavement at a precarious angle and I straightened  up slightly so I might ride the Ninjette off and then back on the asphalt without sliding hard off the edge.  As the front wheel was well off the pavement and coming around back to the roadway when the tire suddenly lost all traction and the bike simply dropped out from under me on its left side.  The centerstand caught the rear of the Ninjette before it hit the pavement and the sand cushioned the fall of the front.  The result was thankfully a little like throwing the bike into a pile of pillows.  It was truly a sad site, but you will have to trust me on that as a group of home construction workers stopped and helped me get the motorcycle up before I could think about taking a shot.  It still amazes me that anyone would attempt to build habitable structures on such readily shifting material.

The GPS calculated route took me quickly from US 550 to New Mexico 4.  New Mexico State Highway 4 is a wonderful bit of road with constant elevation changes, plenty of turns per mile, and wonderful scenery.  The GPS had me take a left on New Mexico 126 near Redondo Peak (11,254').  After a few miles of more pristine pavement the tarmac abruptly ended at a construction zone where I learned that it would be about 20 miles until the pavement resumed.  Rubbish!  Back tracking would add close to sixty miles to the total trip so continuing on to Cuba, New Mexico via 126 would be faster than retracing my route back to US 550.  (I later discovered that I had inadvertently checked "Avoid Highways" as part of the GPS route calculations.  The GPS did indeed avoid highways).

The very idea that a packed dirt trail would carry a state highway designation is an alien concept to me.  However some later perusal of the state highway map show that "unpaved" roadways are not uncommon in New Mexico.  The going was slow and rough but the scenery was nice.  I was pleased to have had the opportunity to traverse this road on two wheels and see country that few will ever venture.

The sky had steadily tried to communicate with me a message that I had not wanted to receive.  The clouds darkened and the temperature dropped.  Eventually it began to sprinkle and then the sky opened and poured.  Next came pea-sized hail.  The dirt road went from brutally hard packed to extremely slippery red silt in a mater of moments.  After a few miles I ran out of both rain and dirt as New Mexico 126 descended the mountain and pavement returned once more to the route.

Arriving at Cuba, New Mexico meant I was back on US 550.  I pulled over just south of  La Jara; studied the map and the GPS routes; called the home and the office; and ultimately decided that I could make Four Corners if I pressed on.  US 550 runs the high desert so "hot" and "straight" were the bywords for the afternoon's ride.  Between Farmington and Shiprock I slowed and chatted with a group of cyclist headed toward Shiprock in the late afternoon.  Heat and wind, not elevation change, make riding in that area challenging for most cyclist.

I began to encounter the same vapor lock situation I encountered during last year's IBA 50CC Quest, therefore, I began to fuel up the Ninjette every 50 to 75 miles.  Just as I pulled into Teec Nos Pos the engine died and I coasted to the pump.  Praise God for his timing!  Teec Nos Pos is a solidly in the Navajo Indian Reservation.

 Four Corners is also in the Navajo Nation and just north on US 160 of Teec Nos Pos .  The monument is a tasteful enough affair but is surrounded by horrid, cheap little booths selling all manner of over-priced food and souvenirs.  The term "tourist trap" pretty much rang true, but, I was here to ride in four separate states in less than a minute, not decorate my home or satisfy my hunger.

Leaving Four Corners I pointed the Ninjette northeast on US 160 and headed toward Pagosa Springs where I had reservations for the night.  Once past Cortez I began to enter the Rockie Mountains and leave behind the high desert.  I encountered rain from Durango to just east of Chimney Rock and arrived in Pagosa Springs at dusk.  I checked in to the Wyndham Vacation Resort in Pagosa Springs where my parents have a membership.  After a late dinner at a local Mexican food restaurant I spent the evening washing clothes and getting ready the return trip

July 27, 2007 --  The morning dawned bright and clear at a rather cool 45 degrees.  I had only brought mess riding gear so I set about packing, washing a final load of clothes, and cleaning the bike to allow the sun to warm the day a bit.  By midmorning the Ninjette was loaded and after check out I headed toward the 10,850 foot high Wolf Creek Pass.  I was at first concerned the altitude and incline of the region would be a bit much for the Ninjette.  However, the powers that be in Colorado had the speed limit reduced to paltry 45 MPH at times.  The Ninjette had no issues keeping up with highway traffic and in fact passed far more than it was passed.  At the top of Wolf Creek Pass was a steep, twisty, gravel road scaling a nearby peak to an observation area on a crest of the Continental Divide.  Oh, why not?  After struggling up the road I was quite surprised to find another motorcyclists at the top.  The view from the top was quite something.  The trip down, on the other hand, was more unnerving in many ways than the trip up.  I was glad to be back on the pavement of US 160 and headed north to South Fork, Colorado.

The mountainous terrain gave way to a wide, almost plain-like valley from South Fork to Fort Garland.  The altitude continued to build once again from Fort Garland to North La Veta Pass then the road steadily descends to Walsenburg where the high plains stretch on to the east.  At Walsenburg I took Interstate 25 South to Trinidad where I pulled into a Subway for a light dinner.  I plugged several options in to the GPS and looked over the state maps and found the shortest route to Liberal, Kansas was via the Oklahoma Panhandle.  This suited me as night would soon be falling and I had nothing but miles of dull, boring plains to cross, therefore, doing so at night seemed an appropriate use of the time.  I made reservations at the Super 8 in Liberal and got underway.

I continued south Raton, New Mexico where I took US 64 east to Clayton, New Mexico and on to Boise City, Oklahoma.  Amazing as it may seem the road literally skirted around the rain in the area so getting drenched was avoided on this stage of the trip.  From Boise City US 64 travels to Guymon, Oklahoma where US 54 takes you northeast to Liberal.  The rough, deteriorating concrete roadway played havoc on the already failing drive chain.  By the time I was got to Liberal I could hear the chain slap the bottom of the rear swing arm.

July 28, 2007 --  Morning dawned with a refreshing coolness and after enjoying a couple of do-it-yourself fresh waffles at the hotel's continental breakfast I inspected the chain.  There was clearly not going to be many miles put on the chain in it's state of adjustment with out big problems.  I consulted the phone directory and came up with two motorcycle dealers in Liberal.  One a Yamaha dealer and the other a Harley-Davidson.  I called the Yamaha dealer multiple time and got no answer.  They were either not open on Saturday or out of business.  I contacted the Harley dealer and got an voice on the other end.  The friendly voice told me the service department would be open shortly and could help.  I got directions, packed the tail trunk, and headed to the Harley dealer.

Upon arriving at Liberal Harley-Davidson I discovered that this was the dealership's first day at the new store-front and they were about to have their grand opening.  They were pleased that I would be the first service customer at their new facility, it was then I told them what I was riding.  Mechanic responded with "We don't work on Jap. bikes; only Harley-Davidsons."  Remembering the Harley-Davidson V-Rod was metric I inquired if I could borrow some tools to work on the Ninjette myself.  "Sure" the mechanic said giving me access to his toolbox and even asked what tools I needed and set them aside for me.  I adjusted the chain and noted not one but several "tight spots" at this juncture.  I adjusted the chain somewhat on the loose side to compensate.  I thanked the Liberal Harley-Davidson employees profusely and got underway.

I had been in contact with Dr. Michael Dougherty, also a Ninja 250 Riders Club member, who resides in Weatherford, Oklahoma through out the trip in an effort to meet, do some riding, and participate with a family oriented Oklahoma City motorcycle club that evening for a dinner run.  We ultimately decided to meet at the Windmill Museum in Shattuck, Oklahoma.

The original plans were to travel through Laverne, Oklahoma on the way south to Shattuck.  My father served the Methodist Church as minister in Laverne when I was born.  Shattuck was the only town with a hospital for miles so I was born at Shattuck.  I had not return to Shattuck in about 46 years so this would be a treat.  Unfortunately the shortest and quickest trip from Liberal to Shattuck, according to the GPS, was not through Laverne but through the Texas Panhandle.  I should have consulted the detailed map I had before blindly embarking on the GPS route.  Lesson learned.

Dr. Dougherty rode his new Suzuki 650 V-Strom for the days activities.  Dr. Mike guided an informal tour of the Windmill Museum as he had been blessed with the opportunity take students to the museum a couple times within recent history.  The collection of Windmills at the museum is devoted to windmills that pump water primarily for irrigation purposes and the variety surprisingly extensive.  After touring the museum we headed south on US 283.  This route takes you through the Black Kettle National Grasslands near Cheyenne, Oklahoma.  A few miles further we turned east toward Elk City on Oklahoma 6.  We visited the Elk City Suzuki Kawasaki dealer  where Dr. Mike purchased his Ninja 250.  Elk City is on Interstate 40 so we traveled east toward Weatherford, Oklahoma where Dr. Mike lives and teaches mathematics at Southwestern State University.

Weatherford is home to the Weatherford Wind Energy Center and its associated enormous wind turbines.  The Wind Energy Center is a cooperative project of Oklahoma Gas and Electric and Florida Power and Light.  Pictures simply do not do justice to the size and scale of one of the wind turbines or the shear number of these flailing three-armed beasts.

By the time we reached Weatherford the drive chain on the Ninjette was slapping the swingarm and noticeably binding in several places.  We dropped by Dr. Mike's abode where I borrowed some tools and tightened the chain again.  I began to become concerned about the chain's ability to make it home.  I completed the adjustment just in time for Dr. Mike and I to dash down Interstate 40 to Oklahoma City and then to Del City where we met members of the Vintage Japanese Motorcycle Club of Oklahoma (also known as Classic Motorcycle and Scooter Riders) at  the Del City Oklahoma Honda Suzuki dealership.

I had the opportunity to make the acquaintance of the guiding light of Classic Motorcycle and Scooter Riders, Terry Sanderson, an employee of  Oklahoma Honda Suzuki.  After chatting a bit with various other members we got underway to Blanchard, Oklahoma on that Saturday night's ride.  Once in Blanchard we planned to stop at Dakota's Restaurant for dinner and fellowship.  The cuisine was good and the service fast and friendly.  The only down side was the restaurant layout precluded tables being combined to adequately accommodate a large group.

After dinner I visited a bit with the members that remained and then headed south on Oklahoma 78 at dusk.  After several interchanges the GPS got me to Interstate 35 where I motored south to Gainesville, Texas and took US 82 east to Sherman and then Texas 11 to Trenton.  The Ninjette made it home without a hitch and was rewarded by a rest for repairs and preventative maintenance.

Statistics

Most of the roads had a 55 to 70 MPH speed limit with travel at posted speeds. Winds were relatively calm except on mountain passes.  The sky varied from clear to cloudy and raining. Fuel mileage on the last 500+ miles likely suffered due to the failing and binding drive chain. Fuel mileage per fill-up for the 2052 mile trip was as follows 70.19 MPG, 67.96 MPG, 67.9 MPG, 81.12 MPG, 73.1 MPG, 69.73 MPG, 64.04 MPG, 70.0 MPG, 60.2 MPG, 63.56 MPG, 61.2 MPG, 60.27 MPG, 63.2 MPG, 76.33 MPG, 62.95 MPG, 58.89 MPG, and 65.3 MPG.

Photos

Riding Gear, Luggage, and Equipment

• Z1R Strike Razor Helmet
• Joe Rocket Rio Mesh Jacket
• Firstgear Hypertex (HT) Air Overpants
• Icon Pursuit Gloves
• JC Whitney Motorcycle Travel Trunk on custom saddle mount (Tail Trunk Saddle Project)
• EMTAC mini-S3 Bluetooth GPS Navigator System for the Palm OS

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