I’m back in Santa Fe just for a spell. As often this time of the year, mid-June to mid-July is shade hunting season. The sun has little mercy before the monsoon arrives later in the summer and few brave the desert heat in the afternoon. Most of my off-roading happens before 9am. The alternative is to head into the mountains.
As I often reference riding in New Mexico I decided to dedicate one post in the middle of our European exploration to sharing a few clips from the trails around here for comparison.
Please meet Javelina. Once a beautiful ’22 Tenere 700 she’s since grown a snout and winglets. She’s seen many a cactus up close, gone through a set of heavy duty crash bars and left her fairing out in the desert. Her engine bash plate, too, wouldn’t be out of place on an Afghani battlefield. No longer much to look at, but forever daddy’s favorite.
By the way, for those of you who may have not heard of a Javelina, here’s what they look like. They are native to the deserts of the American southwest, Mexico and South America.
Above, 5 minutes from my daily routine when at home. The Javelina has progressive springs and a rear shock from Touratech installed, a very modest but worthy upgrade. The spring oil is probably black by now, but the shock still doesn’t bottom out the way a stock T7 would.
Buckman Road area.
And here’s a clip from the mountains. Hyde Park Road leading from downtown Santa Fe to the Ski basin eventually crosses forest road 102 aka Pacheco Canyon, the setting above. Here I’m following my dear friend Sean on his 1250GS in a pair of dress shoes. The man doesn’t so much ride as dance, every line a work of art, the 600lbs rhino seemingly as light-footed as a gazelle. And no, Sean is not 28. The hair under that helmet is pure white.
Pacheco Canyon area.
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