Holy insane trail access!

Joined
Dec 1, 2015
Messages
302
Location
Me Tarzan, Eugene
Well..I've been hunting for riding areas to really open up my new toys.
I just found the GOLDMINE...
...need to make some calls...
...god I hope this is true!
Oakridge,Oregon is one of the most epic riding destinations for MTBs in the world...and I just found out most trails are open to MOTO!!!!
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5322789.pdf
 
http://www.pinkbike.com/video/238057/

https://vimeo.com/25943922
 
Hate to rain on your parade.
That fs link is forest service roads, so you can run for miles and miles, till the cows come home.

From Wiki.

Oregon Law (ORS 801.258) defines an electric assisted bicycle as an electric motor-driven vehicle equipped with operable pedals, a seat or saddle for the rider, no more than three wheels in contact during travel. In addition, the vehicle must be equipped with an electric motor that is capable of applying a power output of no greater than 1,000 watts, and that is incapable of propelling the vehicle at a speed greater than 20 miles per hour on level ground.[104]

In general, electric bicycles are considered "bicycles", rather than motor vehicles, for purposes of the code. This implies that all bicycle regulations apply to electric bicycles including operation in bike lanes. Exceptions to this include a restriction of operation on sidewalks and that a license or permit is required if the rider is younger than 17 years of age(ORS 814.405 and 814.410).

I started riding mt bikes here in Oregon about 1987.
If you ride mt bike trails and even if it was 'legal' you will still catch hell from the un-motorized guys, they think you are cheating because you are not killing yourself pedaling. The trails are maintained by volunteer mt bike groups.
If you got involved with a local group and could sway the mindset of the collective, I would think would be the best way to get the word out that ebikes don't rip up the trails like ICE dirt bikes.
/cheers
 
Actually...I AM involved with the local scene...I'm more of a MTBr than a E-biker.
I help maintain those trails :)

If you zoom in on the map's key...you'll see that these are all MOTO-access trails...shared use trails.
I ride in this area ALOT...as normal MTBr...only about half of Oakridge's trails are available to moto use.
If full blown dirt bike ICE MOTOs are allowed...so am I on my wee little E-bike.
I've seen the actual signs at the trailheads...it's no myth. :D

Screen Shot 2016-01-17 at 9.17.30 AM.pngScreen Shot 2016-01-17 at 9.18.17 AM.pngScreen Shot 2016-01-17 at 9.21.49 AM.png
 
This is one of those trails...I've seen the Moto/Bike/Hike access signs :p
Alpine Trail, Oakridge Oregon...21 miles, almost all downhill...endless ridge! (seen on map above^)
Me filming...lead rider is a Cat1 racer...making it very hard to keep up... hehe
[youtube]vLH2-_QCHb4[/youtube]
 
Soooooooooo Sweet!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
Larrison Creek Trail, Oakridge Oregon.
7 mile descent, open to MOTOs!
Me filming, Virgil the trail dog starring.
[youtube]uAajUrlKUlk[/youtube]
 
Is there a GoPro/Helmet cam thread?...if not I should start one. :D
A big thread of everyones best helmet cams would be great!
 
Guess I need to look at the maps a little closer!

Need more pedal to electric converts like you.
The times they are a change'n.

Central Oregon the trails are split up more moto or non-moto. Well at least I allways thought they were, maybe I am living 20 years ago.
The moto you need a license and tags...
I had a guy, on a bike, yell 'Cheater!' at me, on electric on the pavement here in Bend.
Probably get beat up on a mt bike trail.

Nice vids. Fun stuff, I need to get out of the desert.
Do you even need a motor...all down hill.
Seems like it would be more fun on a lighter bike but I guess your ebike is pretty light.

nutspecial started a vid thread https://endless-sphere.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=71124
 
yeah...luckily I'm 6'3" 220lbs and built much bigger than the XC racerboys.
...they may glare and give me words under their breath...but they ain't starting a fight.
Being big is awesome, you get to be chill and mellow...and your appearance with their assumptions does the intimidating.

The motor is to get to the top, the bike is light and flowy for the descent. :)
 
Great that the motorcycle legal trails are worth riding in your area. Here, in the southern rocky mountains, the dirt bike legal trails are horrible to ride, so eroded and full of huge boulders that even trick mx bikes shun them. They simply suck to ride. I had an ebike disassemble itself riding one once. First all but two hub motor cover bolts fell out of one side, and all but 5 on the other side. Then the derailleur on the bike fell apart, losing a gear.

Holy shit, I'd run some hard trails, but never saw that many bolts fall off a bike. VERY rough riding. Lots of roads nearby to ride, where all the motors go.

Further north in the state, too much wilderness, so most trails are no anything trails.
 
All the trails where I live are mixed use: horse, hiker and bike. Since Jan 1 Class 1 eBikes have been legally bicycles and even though the law only applies on streets and roads the Land Managers have decided to follow suit and comply. This means we have access to nearly every trail excepting a few that are hiker only, mostly due to the steep climbs. The problem is that there just isn't much single track out here, it's nearly all fire road and wide enough for a fire truck. But there are miles and miles of it, at least! It must be nice to ride in the shade in summer.......
 
Stoked for ya, that's great news!
Shade is awesome, I don't know how ya survive :p
 
Great Vids! :D

Makes me wana make a similar set-up, pretty good speed going down some of those trails! I'm guessing 30+ mph?
 
If you meant me, we survive by riding the desert trails at dawn in summer. Right now is the real riding season, for an afternoon ride.

We have great bike trail, built by bike clubs down in the desert. They are marked no motors, but nobody cares so far as long as it's not a 250cc motorcycle.

It's the forest service trails in the high mountain forest that sucks. They were all built in the 30's with the intent to have only horses and foot traffic on them. Roads abound, but often very steep to go to mines, or logging sites. So the best riding in the woods is the roads that get maintenance, and have lots of cars on them.
 
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