Sooo, Death Valley, CA is pretty damn hot at night.

[kuhlka]

I rode to Vegas Sunday night so DynoJet could set up a prototype Power Commander on the Diavel. I learned a few things on that trip to Vegas.

1. Always check the hourly weather report for the entire length of the trip to figure out WHEN to leave.

2. Death Valley and Vegas are HOT, even after dark.

3. Hot is hot. It doesn't matter how fast you ride in Death Valley. Putting a fan up to a fire doesn't make it any cooler.

I left SoCal around 5pm and entered the desert around 7:30. Even though the sun was down and San Bernadino area was in the low 90s, by the time I was fully into Death Valley, the temps climbed as high as 107 degrees! I wisely packed my Camelbak with ice before leaving home, so I was able to keep mostly hydrated, but the extreme heat definitely kicked my ass and quickly sucked the life out of me. Thankfully, there are 24hr fuel stops at least every 50 miles, so I was able to stop off and refill my Camelback, stretch, and hide indoors until my core temp got at least somewhat back to normal.

Things to keep in mind when riding in extreme heat.

-Ideally wear mesh gear or at least perforated leather. The extra weight and water retention (think sauna) of regular leathers doesn't help at all. Ditto for perforated or vented boots.

-Bring a Camelbak packed with ice. Keeping hydrated and cool is key to avoiding heat exhaustion, which can lead to a crash, or worse, death. The last thing you want in the desert is to be stranded without water if your vehicle breaks down.

-Make sure your tires have plenty of tread. 100+ degree roads chew up tires like a trackday. I actually noticed my rear tire was getting a bit shaggy in the middle from the heat when I stopped for fuel.

-It's better to stop frequently and refill your tank than risk running out of fuel in the middle of nowhere.

-Riding late at night when the temperature drops is a lot safer than risking heat exhaustion and the added heat of the sun during the day. The temperature yesterday actually topped out at 117F, but because I started my return trip at midnight, Death Valley was in the mid-90s around 1:30-2am. 100+ makes 90 feel like a refreshingly cool day.

So long story short, I made it to DynoJet and back in one piece and my tires survived. I still haven't gotten down to the wear indicators, and I've got almost 3,500 miles on the Rosso II's. Maybe SoCal just has really smooth roads, but I've been very pleased with how long these tires have lasted compared to my Speed Triple and 1098 190/55.

[bobww]

But it's a dry heat

Good reminders and cool shirt/bandana, etc. do an amazing job of cooling the blood going to your brain. It feels like you turned on the a/c, just soak em every hour + depending on conditions (low humidity is best).

Cheers

[crashmasterd]

Soaking a bandana or towel around your neck in the desert is the way to go. This sucks major heat out of your body. If you're wearing jeans, soak the front of them too. Sounds uncomfortable, but they wont stay wet for long! I used to soak my jeans for the ten minute ride home from work and they were dry before the halfway mark.

[harleyxlc]

What did you soak them with?

[crashmasterd]

The blood of my enemies. What did you think?

[MrBiff2You]

Harden the **** up! I rode through Vegas at 11 AM on Sunday. It was 107 when I got to LV and just got hotter from there.

[kuhlka]

Harden the **** up! I rode through Vegas at 11 AM on Sunday. It was 107 when I got to LV and just got hotter from there.

Death Valley was 107, and Vegas was up around 100ish when I was riding through on Sunday. No amount of HTFU will save you from dehydration and heat exhaustion, if you're not careful. Better to be wise and make it to your destination, than end up a dried up corpse on the side of the highway.

[antisocial]

^ this guy likes to argue. It was 100* plus from about 11am on today. Still did almost 500 miles today. My camelback was like drinking bathwater.

[Dblhelx]

Harden the **** up! I rode through Vegas at 11 AM on Sunday. It was 107 when I got to LV and just got hotter from there.

You're a piece of gay.

I've ridden to Vegas so many times I lost count. It's not comfy with 100 + degree air blasting you at 90mph, but not bad if you soak your tampon in ice water first just prior to insertion.

[kuhlka]

^ this guy likes to argue. It was 100* plus from about 11am on today. Still did almost 500 miles today. My camelback was like drinking bathwater.

Fill it with ice before adding Gatoraid and put it INSIDE your backpack and refill with more halfway through. Mine stayed nice and cool for the entire trip.