For motorcyclists in Southern California, rain elicits one of two responses—sorrow or rejoicing.
If you ride a street bike, you will almost certainly keep it parked if the wet stuff is falling from the sky. The roads are slippery in the urban areas, and you have to deal with automobile drivers who are prime candidates for FSD—Tesla’s Full Self-Driving.
Should you be a canyon carver, the wet roads are just the start of your problems. As the canyon roads are all notched into hillsides, rocks and debris are everywhere. It’s just not worth the risk, and who wants to get their bike dirty unless you’re on an adventure bike?
However, dirt bike riders start drooling uncontrollably, as the prospect of chocolate cake consumes their psyches.
US Forest Service trails get slippery and rocky when it rains. That’s a big plus for the Hard Enduro connoisseurs, though a turn-off for many. Regardless, rain, even in the mountains, is a novelty in our neck of the woods.
Still, the real Betty Crocker goodness is in the desert. When it rains, conditions become ideal. The wet sand is 100 percent traction, so it’s impossible to not feel like a hero when ripping through it. The only downside is that hillclimbs can become inclined rock gardens after a heavy rain, as the sand and soil are washed away, leaving only exposed baby heads and worse.
This month, we had the pleasure of a visit from Tropical Storm Mario. In contrast to a winter storm, which can bring snow to the Mojave Desert, Mario brought tidings of warm weather with the moisture. However, Mario was a wet one.
Our enthusiasm for the wonderful desert conditions was tempered by flooding in some desert towns, most notably Randsburg, a favorite destination for off-roaders of all persuasions.
The 130-year-old mining town, home to 102 residents and a collection of visitor-friendly businesses, took a haymaker from Mario. Houses were filled with mud, paved roads washed away, and the downtown covered in goop. Even worse, Old West Days, one of the town’s biggest annual events, had to be canceled. Send good thoughts their way, as they’re great friends of the two-wheeled community.
Associate Editor Kelly Callan and I headed to Borax Bill Park in California City to sample the local chocolate cake and the two new 2026 Beta RR X-Pro models—the 390 and 430.
When we arrived, we were warned by the friendly and helpful park stewards that the roads were in bad condition, and they weren’t kidding. The normally bone-dry Lower Chicago Grade Wash had become a raging torrent of water, dropping the riverbed as much as six feet in parts. Culverts were twisted clumps of corrugated metal, miles downstream from their installed location.
While we were sorry to see the damage, the conditions were monumental. Lower Chicago Grade Wash is typically soft sand with crisscrossing ruts that can be tricky to ride. Plus, September traditionally means triple-digit temperatures in the shade, as if there is any shade.
On this Saturday, the high was 88, and the wash was hard-packed wet sand that allowed for sixth-speed attacks and monumental roosts as we navigated the wash’s bends. It well and truly does not get better than this. Bushwhacking was epic, as the front Maxxis tires stuck no matter what, and the Betas’ rear tires could be spun up at will with the traction control off. Dust did not exist. Woo-hoo, indeed.
Associate Editor Jess McKinley opted for the perfect conditions of the single-track trails of Los Padres National Forest. It was a destination that Kelly and I had considered, so it was hard to argue against his choice. Aboard his personal bike, Jess ripped the trails, enjoying the ideal conditions.
All was well for Jess on Tejon Trail until disaster struck in the form of an unexpected exposed root—a byproduct of Mario. His left Alpinestars Tech 10 was unceremoniously ripped from the peg and gave its life to protect his foot. As expected, it did its job more than admirably, though the hit was too hard, even for his top-level boot. The accompanying photos tell the story.
Weather can work for or against us when it comes to two-wheeled fun and games. Sure, Kelly and I couldn’t do any street riding in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Mario, but the tasty delights off-road on the Betas more than made up for having our options narrowed. We were rewarded with an unforgettable, epic experience.
Always have a backup plan for riding!
