Greetings from the Southern Sierra

[SierraTango]

I'm reintroducing myself to this forum. I was on it around 2004 or so when I owned a V11 Ballabio. I sold that bike to help with the down payment on a house. Since then I've had several bikes mostly Ducatis including a black 2005 999S. At 69 y.o. that bike, although I loved it dearly, was just not working for me at this time of my life. I sold the 999S and had always wanted a V11 Le Mans. I searched around for a really nice example and located this stunning 14,000 mile 2002. Rode it home from Sonora via hwy 49, one of my favorites.

Looking forward to re-joining the group.

[gstallons]

Welcome Back Kotter !

[Speedfrog]

38 minutes ago, docc said:

A couple examples of the Tenni number plate (from our Tenni Registry) . . .

Posted on the wrong thread there @docc ??

Edited 21 hours ago by Speedfrog

[Speedfrog]

Oh, and welcome back to the fold @SierraTango   

[docc]

10 minutes ago, Speedfrog said:

Oh, and welcome back to the fold @SierraTango   

+1 !

   

[Scud]

Welcome. Nice LeMans. I love Hwy 49, and all the passes to the Eastern Sierra. The photo I posted yesterday in the "no words" thread was on Mammoth Scenic Loop. I just rode Caliente-Bodfish and Sherman Pass recently, which was a "shortcut" between Carlsbad and Mammoth Lakes. About where in the foothills are you?

[SierraTango]

I'm in Springville, so the 190, Western Divide, Parker Pass and Greenhorn Pass/155 are home turf. I've also done Sherman, Tioga,Sonora etc but not for a while since the 999S wasn't much of a distance bike. There are some fantastic under the radar rides around here!

[guzzi323]

1 hour ago, SierraTango said:

I'm in Springville, so the 190, Western Divide, Parker Pass and Greenhorn Pass/155 are home turf. I've also done Sherman, Tioga,Sonora etc but not for a while since the 999S wasn't much of a distance bike. There are some fantastic under the radar rides around here!

190 east out Springville is my favorite asphalt on the planet.

[SierraTango]

Agreed. The 190 is right out of my driveway, so it's my backyard ride. The 190 has had some challenges in the last few years, specifically in March of 2023. We had a severe fire that previous Summer, and when a warm rain came in March, mudslides took out huge sections. 190 was closed for a year or so. Then, on top of that one of my favorite spots, Ponderosa Lodge, burned to the ground that Winter. The owners couldn't get insurance and now only a slab remains. 

I'm happy to report that CalTrans did a excellent job on the repairs, and many sections have been repaved. Don't know if it's allowed, however here is a photo of my 999S on the Western Divide Hwy on a stellar day (I haven't had the Guzzi up there yet). Also a photos of the 190 between Camp Nelson and Ponderosa after the storm and Ponderosa Lodge on fire.

P.S. The 245 out of Woodlake is great too!