Mono Lake Ride Description: Lots of opportunities for stretching your Busa's legs.   This ride starts with a sedate run down to beautiful Smith Valley, then 50 or 60 miles through the sweepers of the Sweetwater range to Bridgeport CA. After stopping at the overlook above beautiful Mono Lake, you'll make a run across the desert back into Nevada.

After fueling up and seeing the worlds largest ammo dump at Hawthorne, you'll head north once again past Walker Lake to Shurz, over to Yerington, then north to I-80 and back to the Peppermill in time for cocktails.

   

Big Dog WFO Ride Description:   This is a longer and more scenic variation on the Mono Lake ride. After getting to Hawthorne, go south then across the deserts and mountain ranges past beautiful Boundary Peak and back into California. Arriving once again at US395, you'll ride through the beautiful Walker River Canyon on your way back to Reno after going thru Mammoth and taking a side trip on the June Lake loop off of US 395.

For another, shorter but fantastic variation on this ride, turn onto whoopsie 120 near Benton Crossing and skip the Mammoth/June Lake portion. This is a really long ride, get an early start!

   

Three Passes Ride Description:   This route is loaded with big sweepers, tight twisties, stomach-churning dropoffs, steep grades and spectacular scenery. Leaving Reno, go south to Minden, then up CA88 and over Carson Pass, then transit to CA4 and back over Ebbetts Pass. Then finish with a run over Monitor Pass before running up 395 back to Reno. Brave souls and good navigators may try to find their way from West Point to Avery on the back roads and eliminate the hassle of CA49.

If you have time at the end of the day, go back over Monitor Pass and through Markleeville to CA88 and back to Minden in order to ride Monitor Pass both ways.

   

Monitor Ebbetts Sonora Ride Description:Another ride loaded with dramatic elevation changes and spectacular scenery. Start by tackling Monitor Pass CA89 off of US 395, then left on into Ebbetts Pass CA4. Stop for a break at beautiful Alpine Lake, and if you have time, take a walk in the woods at Big Trees state park, where you'll find monster sequoia trees. Then make your way south to CA 108 and on over Sonora Pass on the way home to an easy run through the Walker River Canyon and back to Reno.

   

Yosemite Pass Big Dog Ride Description:   Spectacular scenery awaits as you head down beautiful US 395 to Lee Vining CA. Hang a right on Tioga Pass road CA 120 and up into beautiful Yosemite National Park. Be aware that the government will charge you a fee for riding this road since it goes through a National Park! After traversing Yosemite, and, if you have time, taking a side trip into Yosemite Valley (not shown on the route) you'll make your way back over to CA4 for the run back to Minden, then to Reno.

If you start running short on time, you may want to use Sonora Pass to return. You probably don't want to be on CA4 after dark unless you have massive HID lighting.

NOTE: This ride has some extremely dangerous and narrow roads, and is very long and challenging. While you need to get a VERY, VERY early start (crack o' dawn), trust me, it will be worth it. If you've never done Yosemite before, it will be a Defining Moment in your motorcycling experience!

   

Virginia City Tahoe Loop Description:   This is a great RTE (Ride to Eat) or RTSS (Ride to Shop and Sightsee) route. Start by taking US395 south to Carson City, possibly taking a side trip to downtown to see Nevada's beautiful state capital grounds in downtown Carson. Then make your way east on US 50, noting that the "loneliest road" isn't so lonely here. You'll arrive shortly in Mound House, where you'll hang a left on NV341 a little after you pass Brothel Row, and climb up to historic Virginia City, home of the Comstock Lode silver strike. Note the abandoned mines littering the roadsides as you climb.

Stay on 341 and go through historic Silver City, or take the more twisty but not as steep 342, they join again at Virginia City. Spend some time walking, shopping, and eating in Virginia City. Several of the little museums there are very interesting. If you have a large group you may be able to crowd the "bikers" out of the Bucket of Blood saloon. Then back on the 'Bird to head up a thousand feet in elevation, then down a few thousand feet in elevation into the Truckee Meadows. Make sure to stop at the overlook partway down on your left, for great views of Reno and the Sierra's.

At US395, proceed straight ahead up onto the Mount Rose Highway NV431. Climb several thousand feet to the pass which, at nearly 9000 ft., is the highest year round pass in the Sierra's and which will take you up and over and into the Tahoe Basin. For a great view of Tahoe, stop at the overlook on the way down. Take a left onto NV28 and around the Nevada shore of Lake Tahoe, one of the most beautiful lakes in the world. Take US 50 back into Carson City, then 395 north to Reno.

   

Tahoe Markleeville Monitor Description:   Take a ride through the hustle and bustle of South Lake Tahoe, over to Inspiration Point for the great view of the lake, then back to Markleeville for a soak in the hot springs and lunch at one of our favorite little bistro's. Then finish your day with a ride through awesome Monitor Pass.

Head south to Minden and 88, then take NV207 up Kingsbury grade to US 50. Make your way past the high-rise casinos of Stateline NV. Follow 50 to CA89 around the south end of the lake to Emerald Bay. Take a break and enjoy the views at Inspiration Point. Then reverse course and make your way via several back roads to rejoin 89, or if desired, just stay on 89 (88) to Markleeville. Take a right in the middle of town and follow the beautiful little road to Grover's hot springs. For a few bucks, have a soak in the hot pool, then reverse course and head back to town.

Right smack on the corner where you turned right earlier, there is one of our favorite restaurants, the Wolf Creek Inn. Enjoy lunch, then head south to Monitor Pass and US395 back to Minden. For even more grins, turn around at US395 and take Monitor Pass back the other way, and head back to Minden via 89 and 88.

   

Virginia City Twisties Description:   A little too hung over from partying to ride very far?

Do a "Ride-To-Eat" and hit all the paved roads into Virginia City! Start with an easy run down 395 to Geiger grade (NV341). Then head up the mountain and over and down to Virginia City. Stroll the streets, eat the eats, shop the shops etc. Find the turnoff for Six Mile Canyon road just north of downtown, and head down this exciting little run, to US 50. Go west on 50, through historic Dayton, to Mound House and then ride the 341/342 loop up to Virginia City and back. Then either head back through Virginia City, or back through Carson City and north. An interesting side trip on your way back, should you do this, is to take Eastlake Road around the east side of Washoe Lake in Washoe Valley.

   

Apple Hill Route Description:   Another great pass riding experience, covering two all-weather passes and a great stretch of California farm roads. These pass roads (88 and 50) are main routes between California and Reno, so there will be a bit more traffic on them, but they are great fun and very scenic, but a bit less challenging than some of the longer, scarier pass rides.

Head down to Carson City on US395, then ride over the Sierra's on US50. Near Pollock Pines, hang a left on CR E16, follow that to Omo Ranch Road, then back to CA 88 for the trip back over the Sierra's.

   

Apple Hill Route Description:   Yet another northern route for those of you who don't feel like monster Sierra pass riding but want to ride thousands of great sweepers through the California woods, topped off with a view of Lake Tahoe on your return. Head to Truckee on I-80, then ride CA89 until you find CA49 at Sierraville. Go West on 49 and either take the interesting back roads route shown in the directions, or just stay on 49 to Nevada City and pick up CA20. Take 20 back to I-80, and if you have time, stop and see the interesting visitor center and exhibits at Donner Pass (surely you know the story of the Donner party, right?) At Truckee, turn your bike south on 276 to Lake Tahoe, then pick up Mount Rose Highway back to US395, stopping on the way up at the overlook for some great views of Tahoe. Then north on US395 to Busa Stampede headquarters.