Ninjette takes on Palomar

DerTeufel · June 5th, 2009, 04:51 PM

Let me set the scene..Thursday afternoon, a friend of mine calls me up to go for a ride on Friday (today). I pondered it for a bit, decided that I needed to go for a ride. A quick phone call to the boss and everything is set! Deciding on which bike to take was easy..the TL has a frayed clutch cable, and I had been wanting to try the 250 on Palomar Mountain. I met a friend near my place, and rode down to Escondido to meet two other guys. Our rag-tag group consisted of an 07 Suzuki GSXR 750, two 2004 Suzuki SV650S, and myself on the ninja.

http://tinyurl.com/menlsg This was today's route.

Highland Valley Road and Old Julian Rd-twisty goodness! There were a few spots where the lack of HP became apparent...especially on decreasing radius, uphill turns. I could deal with that part..but something else came to light..this thing needs stiffer fork springs! Pushing it hard into the corners while braking would make the front end dive hard and deep..I don't like that feeling. Nevertheless, I kept going, just made mental notes as I went.

Mesa Grande-this road can be categorized in two parts. First part is pretty mellow, a couple decreasing radius turns, but nothing too surprising. The second part, towards highway 76, is very tight. Suicidal squirrels and lots of debris in the turns adds to it. Vigilance pays off in this section.

East grade of Palomar: the pavement is ugly, tar snakes and cracked pavement everywhere..but it's a fun ride. While not as tight as South Grade, it offers some tight turns. We didn't encounter much in the way of debris, except for one idiot in a Miata that was just sitting in the middle of the road. We arrive at Mother's restaurant.

Mother's Restaurant is a Palomar favorite..particularly because there isn't anything else! Their fare is vegetarian, but the prices are decent. If you're looking for meat, there is a country store next to the restaurant that sells beef jerky.

We decide to do a few runs up and down South Grade rd. before we eat lunch. We take our time going down, surveying the road conditions. I ended up leading the group down..not something I minded. 7 miles later, we are at the base of the mountain. Time to go back up! The GSXR takes the lead, and I tried my best to stay with him..I did ok until I hit one of the many decreasing radius turns. Crap! I never lost sight of him, but I dropped back quite a bit. I took comfort in knowing that keeping the bike in it's powerband was easy, and kept the little mill in the sweet spot. Now, if only the front end was so easy! Diving into another decreasing radius turn, the front end dives hard and deep when I got on the brakes. On the TL, everything is adjustable, and it's sprung for my weight..clearly the 250 will need some work before I take it to the track. We do another run on the hill, and break for lunch. We called it quits afterwards, and pointed ourselves towards are respective areas.

I get home, and I started to reflect. That was the first time I took the 250 to Palomar..and it will most likely be the last, unless I do some modifications. It was a lot of fun though!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZnyFoQpDS8
Highland Valley Road

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYGpre-xosY
Old Julian Road

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys3Vj7me3vw
Mesa Grande

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUw8CG6Kjpg
Palomar Mountain, East Grade

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7YY2e9QivE
Palomar Mountain, South Grade

HKr1 · June 5th, 2009, 07:00 PM

Good ole mothers kitchen

Nice write up, palomar is my all time favorite for SD. Sounds like the pavement has changed, be a few years since I been there.

Snake · June 6th, 2009, 05:00 AM

Nice story thanks for sharing.

Elfling · June 6th, 2009, 10:55 AM

Sounds like an awesome ride

Cali619 · June 6th, 2009, 05:09 PM

I love all those roads, also love banner grade, they just repaved it and its smooth like silk now

DerTeufel · June 6th, 2009, 05:17 PM

I haven't been on Banner Grade in a long time.

paterick4o8 · June 8th, 2009, 12:25 PM

hmm. palomar = my fave!

I don't really get that feeling of front diving, but I guess b/c I don't push hard in the corners while breaking very often, I don't notice it; usually I'm on the throttle the whole time in the turn until I hit a straight to engine break before setting up for the next turn

but also, maybe I don't notice as much because the 250 is all I've really ridden so far so I have nothing to compare it to

DerTeufel · June 8th, 2009, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by paterick4o8

hmm. palomar = my fave!

I don't really get that feeling of front diving, but I guess b/c I don't push hard in the corners while breaking very often, I don't notice it; usually I'm on the throttle the whole time in the turn until I hit a straight to engine break before setting up for the next turn

but also, maybe I don't notice as much because the 250 is all I've really ridden so far so I have nothing to compare it to

You're probably not as heavy as I am either..I'm around 200lbs with gear.

June 5th, 2009, 04:51 PM	#1
DerTeufel ninjette.org member Name: Aaron Location: Wildomar Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, 2009 KTM 690 SMC, 2001 Suzuki GSX-R 750 (track bike) Posts: 172	Ninjette takes on Palomar Let me set the scene..Thursday afternoon, a friend of mine calls me up to go for a ride on Friday (today). I pondered it for a bit, decided that I needed to go for a ride. A quick phone call to the boss and everything is set! Deciding on which bike to take was easy..the TL has a frayed clutch cable, and I had been wanting to try the 250 on Palomar Mountain. I met a friend near my place, and rode down to Escondido to meet two other guys. Our rag-tag group consisted of an 07 Suzuki GSXR 750, two 2004 Suzuki SV650S, and myself on the ninja. http://tinyurl.com/menlsg This was today's route. Highland Valley Road and Old Julian Rd-twisty goodness! There were a few spots where the lack of HP became apparent...especially on decreasing radius, uphill turns. I could deal with that part..but something else came to light..this thing needs stiffer fork springs! Pushing it hard into the corners while braking would make the front end dive hard and deep..I don't like that feeling. Nevertheless, I kept going, just made mental notes as I went. Mesa Grande-this road can be categorized in two parts. First part is pretty mellow, a couple decreasing radius turns, but nothing too surprising. The second part, towards highway 76, is very tight. Suicidal squirrels and lots of debris in the turns adds to it. Vigilance pays off in this section. East grade of Palomar: the pavement is ugly, tar snakes and cracked pavement everywhere..but it's a fun ride. While not as tight as South Grade, it offers some tight turns. We didn't encounter much in the way of debris, except for one idiot in a Miata that was just sitting in the middle of the road. We arrive at Mother's restaurant. Mother's Restaurant is a Palomar favorite..particularly because there isn't anything else! Their fare is vegetarian, but the prices are decent. If you're looking for meat, there is a country store next to the restaurant that sells beef jerky. We decide to do a few runs up and down South Grade rd. before we eat lunch. We take our time going down, surveying the road conditions. I ended up leading the group down..not something I minded. 7 miles later, we are at the base of the mountain. Time to go back up! The GSXR takes the lead, and I tried my best to stay with him..I did ok until I hit one of the many decreasing radius turns. Crap! I never lost sight of him, but I dropped back quite a bit. I took comfort in knowing that keeping the bike in it's powerband was easy, and kept the little mill in the sweet spot. Now, if only the front end was so easy! Diving into another decreasing radius turn, the front end dives hard and deep when I got on the brakes. On the TL, everything is adjustable, and it's sprung for my weight..clearly the 250 will need some work before I take it to the track. We do another run on the hill, and break for lunch. We called it quits afterwards, and pointed ourselves towards are respective areas. I get home, and I started to reflect. That was the first time I took the 250 to Palomar..and it will most likely be the last, unless I do some modifications. It was a lot of fun though! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZnyFoQpDS8 Highland Valley Road http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYGpre-xosY Old Julian Road http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ys3Vj7me3vw Mesa Grande http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MUw8CG6Kjpg Palomar Mountain, East Grade http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7YY2e9QivE Palomar Mountain, South Grade Last futzed with by DerTeufel; June 5th, 2009 at 07:04 PM.

June 6th, 2009, 05:09 PM	#5
Cali619 Giggity Giggity Name: Ryam Location: San Diego Join Date: Feb 2009 Motorcycle(s): 08 ninja 250R aka Hiryu Posts: 481	I love all those roads, also love banner grade, they just repaved it and its smooth like silk now __________________________________________________ Facebook DY Fender chop, Danmoto CB slip-on w/baffle, Airbox removed, Kleen-air removed, shimmed needles, Mikuni #117.5 Main jets, K&N RU-1822 air filter pods

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June 5th, 2009, 07:00 PM	#2
HKr1 IC2(SW) Name: Kerry Location: Pensacola Join Date: Nov 2008 Motorcycle(s): . Posts: A lot.	Good ole mothers kitchen Nice write up, palomar is my all time favorite for SD. Sounds like the pavement has changed, be a few years since I been there.

June 6th, 2009, 05:00 AM	#3
Snake ninjette.org certified postwhore Name: Rick Location: Alexandria, Louisiana Join Date: Jan 2009 Motorcycle(s): 05 Blue Ninja 250 Posts: Too much. MOTY - 2017, MOTM - Jan '19, Oct '16, May '14	Nice story thanks for sharing.

June 6th, 2009, 10:55 AM	#4
Elfling ninjette.org guru Name: Becca Location: Clearwater, FL Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 03 Ninja 250, 02 CBR600 f4i Posts: 253	Sounds like an awesome ride

June 6th, 2009, 05:17 PM	#6
DerTeufel ninjette.org member Name: Aaron Location: Wildomar Join Date: May 2009 Motorcycle(s): 2008 Kawasaki Ninja 250R, 2009 KTM 690 SMC, 2001 Suzuki GSX-R 750 (track bike) Posts: 172	I haven't been on Banner Grade in a long time.

June 8th, 2009, 12:25 PM	#7
paterick4o8 ninjette.org sage Name: patricK Location: San Jose, CA--BAY AREA! Join Date: Mar 2009 Motorcycle(s): '08 blue 250R [sold]. '09 lime ZX-6R [stolen :( ]. '06 blue 636. Posts: 918	hmm. palomar = my fave! I don't really get that feeling of front diving, but I guess b/c I don't push hard in the corners while breaking very often, I don't notice it; usually I'm on the throttle the whole time in the turn until I hit a straight to engine break before setting up for the next turn but also, maybe I don't notice as much because the 250 is all I've really ridden so far so I have nothing to compare it to