This Saturday a group of us Utah ninjette guys got together to ride the Alpine Loop through the Uinta National Forest. Jeff, Joel, Clint and TJ met up at 11:00 a.m. in American Fork, Utah. After a few minutes getting to know eachother and eachother's bikes, we had a brief photo session so I could document our spectacular ride for all our forum members to enjoy.

Joel, Jeff, Clint:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/430.jpg?t=1254097237

Joel, Jeff, TJ:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/432.jpg?t=1254099244

Map of our route:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/th_AlpineLoop.jpg

We started out riding up to the mouth of the American Fork Canyon. There was no major traffic and it was a nice chance for us to get used to riding with eachother before we hit the real riding.

As we pulled up to the mouth of the canyon we lucked out because Saturday just happened to be a free day. (Usually you have to pay to go into the forest, but if you tell them you are just riding through and will not be making any stops, they will let you through for free. However, this tends to be based on the particular Park Services employee's mood at the time you arrive).

We headed up the canyon enjoying the soft turns and the amazing array of collors from the changing autom trees.

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/454.jpg?t=1254099358

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/458.jpg?t=1254099453

We passes the turn out to the Famous Timpanogas Caves and then headed deeper into the Uintas.

Eventually we came to our first stop. A beautiful view point with a large parking lot. There we enjoyed a break, a photo session and Joel downed a PowerBar.

TJ's view:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/434.jpg?t=1254097806

Jeff, Clint:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/435.jpg?t=1254097888

PowerBar:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/436.jpg?t=1254097996

TJ:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/437.jpg?t=1254098058

The view:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/456.jpg?t=1254099498

More view:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/469.jpg?t=1254098281

So we hit the road again. It was a moderately crouded day, so going was a little slow at times, but the deeper we went, the cars grew further appart and the twisties came closer together.

Beautiful turns:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/471.jpg?t=1254098240

http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/462.jpg?t=1254098357

We had a couple of good streches that were loads of fun, with raises, drops and hairpin turns. Then we made it to our second stopping point, Sundance (Yup! The real thing).

We hung out in the parking lot and got some really nice shots of the bikes.

Bikes and men in the flowers:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/440.jpg?t=1254098469

Clint, TJ, Joel, Jeff:
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/445.jpg?t=1254099641

The we headed out to Provo Canyon and got a chance to open up the bikes and take some high speed turns. We passed Bridal Vail Falls and then come to the mouth of the canyon.

Me and my wife at the Falls. (I loved the ride so much I went again with my wife on Sunday. We stopped to take this picture).
http://i585.photobucket.com/albums/ss297/tjkampert/483.jpg?t=1254100119

Once we got to the mouth of the canyon we split up since we all had plans. Joel and Clint headed south, while Jeff and TJ rode up north. Jeff went home in Sandy so he could make it to the football game, and TJ rode up to Parley's Canyon on I-80 and up to Park City to meet up with his wife who was shopping for the day.

All in all it was a great ride and a good chance to get to know eachother. I know we are all looking forward to meeting up for another one soon.

is there supposed to be stuff here?

is there supposed to be stuff here?

All fixed. I accidentilly posted before I was done.:thumbup:

great pics - looks like a fantastic ride

Yeah, it was a lot of fun. I went home and told my wife how great it was and took her on the same route today. There were a few less cars so it was even better.

Nice write up and great pictures. It was a fun ride, I just wish it could have been longer. The weather was perfect though. I wanted to go again today(sunday) and take my wife with me too, funny if we would have ran into each other. Should have let me known, I would have gone with you. Another time maybe. I'd like to thank Ninjette.org for the forum so riders like us can get together and go on rides.

Nice pics! :clapping:

Thank you Joel for contacting everyone and getting the ride planned, thank you TJ for taking the pictures and posting them so we have something to look at and day dream about when it starts snowing outside, and thank you Jeff for taking the time to come down and represent the "pre-gen" ninja group :thumbup: Hopefully we can get the group together for some more rides and maybe see if we can add a few more over time.

This was my first group ride and first of all I’d like to also extend thanks to Joel for organizing a great get together.

After introductions at our meeting spot we cruised to the mouth of the canyon. I must say any apprehension I might have had about riding in a group was immediately dispelled. Everyone rode responsibly in a nice staggered formation with Clint in the lead; I was #2 with Joel and TJ behind.:thumbup: Alpine loop is quite technical with plenty of decreasing radius switchbacks. I have to say that our 250’s are perfect for this type of road.

Anyway, thanks for letting this 1st gen rider on his 1st gen Ninja join a great riding group. Oh, by-the-way, you guys have some seriously nice next-gen bikes.

How about one of the Cottonwoods next? We could do a double canyon breakfast run.:tea:

Jeff

Lets do another ride before it get too late. Cottonwoods sound good to me or where ever.

Doing the Cottonwoods sounds like a blast. I'm busy this weekend, but in about two weeks would work for me.

Glad to hear you guys had a nice, fun and safe ride. Thanks for the pics and the writeup.

Hope this is the start of many other group ninjette rides for ya'. :thumbup: