Hey all! I have a 09 Sportster 883 Iron. A group of us are planning ride to Big Bear, California on June 11th and I'm just wondering if an 883 can handle the hill up the mountain ( the bike and I have done really well up most hills already, including Ortega Hwy but my fiance thinks the mountain up to Big Bear is too steep for the bike yet before he was only worried if I could do it so I'm putting it to a less biased forum) ... any input on this is appreciated. Also, I'm a relatively new rider with almost a year experience but I'm doing really really well according to everybody in our group that my fiance and I ride with and even doing well according to him LOL

 

Wont know till you try it. I would imagine it will be fine. Just keep it in the proper gear and ride. It aint gonna be at moto GP speeds.

 

What does your fiance ride?

 

No problem going to Big Bear on an 883. Especially if you are riding solo.

John

 

I've ridden to Big Bear a few times on a 883. you wont have any problems at all. 883 is not a small bike. If you want to make it a good ride avoid the freeway, take the road thru Mentone ( google maps is your friend ) its down toward the I-10 off the 210 Awesome ride. I did the run for the grizzlys every year till they cancelled it.

 

Yes, that goes along the Santa Ana River, then up toward Big Bear. Very scenic. Highway 38. That's the back way when the frontside is snowed in heavily.

John

 

You'll be shifting a lot....... but I know a crazy kid who rode a 883 from the bay area up through the black hills into Canada then zig zagged north to Fairbanks Alaska and back. It's all in the want.

 

You should be good. I've only driven to big bear from OC but riding there is on my list. just take the tight turns at a speed your comfortable with, dont cross the double yellow and dont feel pressured to keep up with more advanced riders

 

You will absolutely, 100% be fine. Just keep the Sportster in its happy range - 3500 to 4500 rpm. It may sound like it's roaring at 4500 but it can do that all day 7 days a week.

That will be about 200 mi round trip. Take a break every 60 to 100 miles to give the rump some relief. I like 330 up around to 38 back.

BTW, I don't recall many particularly steep parts of the road - but my wife counted 100 turns, I believe?

 

That is such a great way to sum it all up!!!

John