Riding motor cycles on logging roads?

[H2Ofuzz]

Dose any one now if there is any laws that i need to be worried about. Do you have to have a head light and a tail light to ride on the logging roads. I am thinking about getting a new bike a YZF-450 or a WRF-450. I am just wondering if i can ride in the woods. Thank you

[johndeeregreen]

If you want to ride on timber co. ground you should check with them.

[Tom H]

Gates mean they are closed ,but when the gates are open you must have a street legal rig ,I just got one a KTM 530 EXCR

[Rank Amateur]

Up our way the timber companies do not allow motor cycles, or ATV's, even when the roads are open to vehicles. Pretty much universal for Weyerhauser, Longview Fibre, Hancock.

Gee, when I was growing up we used to ride dirt bikes every Sunday. Not any more.

[luckyr]

My bike is a XL250 totally street legal and I ride it every where that is not closed. It is nice because I can ride back country and than pop out on pavement with no hassles. If you are interested in riding back roads such as fire service roads and DNR roads. If you want to be legal and want to stay up around the 400cc area for performance Suzuki DRZ 400 is a pretty nice bike.

[Tom H]

Originally Posted by Rank Amateur

Up our way the timber companies do not allow motor cycles, or ATV's, even when the roads are open to vehicles. Pretty much universal for Weyerhauser, Longview Fibre, Hancock.

Gee, when I was growing up we used to ride dirt bikes every Sunday. Not any more.

You know why some jackrabbits ruined every thing ,they thought it was funny to trash equipment ,I own property that backs up to Weyehauser property and I cant ride y new bike

[Rank Amateur]

Heck I used to ride with a Longview Fibre supervisor, he even rode into some clearcuts, where I was not so sure we should be. Yep, I was with him when he broke his leg too.

I never heard of bikers tearing up equipment, but I'm sure it could have happened. I think our down fall was just too much trail riding on old steep cat roads, which caused erosion during the wet season and of coarse the chance of fire in the summer.

[Tillamook Born]

On our land, just because a gate is open doesn't mean its acceptable to ride a bike or vehicle on the forest roads. Each landowner probably has their own regulations regarding vehicle use.

Brent

[scottishsetter]

Oregon Off-Road Vehicle Parks system welcomes riders, get a sticker$10 and look up on their map where you can ride. Maps are avail. at atv/motorcycle shops. Or thru the State Parks.

[Silverback]

Each of the National Forests have vehical information on their websites. Check it out before you go. For the most part a street legal bike is legal to ride on forest service roads that are open to motor vehicles. As was mentioned above there are several OHV areas in the state that are a blast to ride around in. Use the web it's your friend.

[Firedog]

I know you can't ride motorcycles or ATV's on WEYCO land in the St. Helens tree forest at any time.

[nobrownline]

Originally Posted by Firedog

I know you can't ride motorcycles or ATV's on WEYCO land in the St. Helens tree forest at any time.

If the gates are open and your bike is street legal and you have a motorcycle endorsement you can too.Its treated just like a car.

[AtItAgain]

Originally Posted by H2Ofuzz

Dose any one now if there is any laws that i need to be worried about. Do you have to have a head light and a tail light to ride on the logging roads. I am thinking about getting a new bike a YZF-450 or a WRF-450. I am just wondering if i can ride in the woods. Thank you

I would suggest sticking with OHV areas. There are some really fun OHV areas in Oregon. One of the best I have found is East Fort Rock, which is east of Bend.

I am not sure how much dirt bike riding experience you have, but if you are going to mainly ride woods and offroad I would suggest the WRF. A YZF can be quite a handfull offroad, this bike is disigned for Motocross and is powered for that.

[bigwhite]

http://www.oohva.org/pages/map.html

Here is a link to offroad areas you can ride in oregon.

Good luck

[scottishsetter]

Someone should "sticky" that post/link of bigwhite's.

There is where to ride in Oregon. Plenty of opportunity for motorcycles here in Oregon and lots of areas to stay away from the other users of Public land. I didn't see the HUGE park south of Ukiah? anyone know the name of that one; it's in a burned area?EDIT: Winom-Frazier Welcome riders

[BrianMaguire]

Originally Posted by nobrownline

If the gates are open and your bike is street legal and you have a motorcycle endorsement you can too.Its treated just like a car.

Its private property, if they said no passenger cars with blue paint, then thats the rule. It has nothing to do with what is the law on public roads.

[nobrownline]

Beings my ex-father in law is the security guard on the st helens tree farm I think I have a good idea on whats legal there!

[Joe Schwab]

Originally Posted by nobrownline

If the gates are open and your bike is street legal and you have a motorcycle endorsement you can too.Its treated just like a car.

Wrong! Motorcycles are prohibited anytime. Better ask your father in law again.

[ehunter]

Moat timber companies don't want any type of ATV on their roads. I know of some guys who were asked to leave because they were carring atv's in the back of the truck. They were asked why they had them in case they shoot some thing and need to drag it back to the road. DA"""that is what they don't want. Definalty call and ask if its a private timber land and ask ahead of time.

Originally Posted by Capt. Hook

Wrong! Motorcycles are prohibited anytime. Better ask your father in law again.

[marked trail]

Be a man, be a hunter, be a predator. Ride a mountain bike.... or walk. I tend to walk, and keep both feet on the ground!

[BIGALSURF]

Originally Posted by BrianMaguire

Its private property, if they said no passenger cars with blue paint, then thats the rule. It has nothing to do with what is the law on public roads.

Why aren't ATV's street legal? They seem safer than motorbikes to me. They ride them on roads all over Mexico.

[Mike P.]

Originally Posted by BIGALSURF

Why aren't ATV's street legal? They seem safer than motorbikes to me. They ride them on roads all over Mexico.

I think that there are some states where 4 wheelers are (or can be) street legal.

I love riding my street legal yamaha ttr250 up in the (public) woods scouting as it is quiet and pretty easy to sneak up on game during the off season.

[AtItAgain]

Originally Posted by BIGALSURF

Why aren't ATV's street legal? They seem safer than motorbikes to me. They ride them on roads all over Mexico.

As with any vehicle, they are only as safe as the operater. ATV's are actually more dangerous in an accident because of the weight. A motorcycle, while it can hurt you is usually light enough (dirt bike) that if it is on top of you most people would be able to get it off. ATV's are 400+ pounds and most people I know would be able to get that off of them.

H2Ofuzz,

Sorry for the thread high jack.

Let's please stay on his orginal topic.

[Reelentless]

Originally Posted by H2Ofuzz

Dose any one now if there is any laws that i need to be worried about. Do you have to have a head light and a tail light to ride on the logging roads. I am thinking about getting a new bike a YZF-450 or a WRF-450. I am just wondering if i can ride in the woods. Thank you

Some do, most don't. The company I work for, Weyerhaeuser, does not. We used to until people started tearing up the plantations and making a mess. Another example of how it only takes a few bad eggs to spoil it for everyone.

I am surprised to read that the Longview Area (St. Helens) does. I can verify that tomorrow. I am pretty sure its company policy to prohibit all ATV use.

[gottafish]

Originally Posted by BIGALSURF

Why aren't ATV's street legal? They seem safer than motorbikes to me. They ride them on roads all over Mexico.

From what I understand is that they can be made street leagle. Call the DMV. They will tell you no you cant at first but you can. it seams they dont want people to know about it so getting the info is tuff but you can do it.

[Joe Schwab]

Originally Posted by Reelentless

Some do, most don't. The company I work for, Weyerhaeuser, does not. We used to until people started tearing up the plantations and making a mess. Another example of how it only takes a few bad eggs to spoil it for everyone.

I am surprised to read that the Longview Area (St. Helens) does. I can verify that tomorrow. I am pretty sure its company policy to prohibit all ATV use.

Trust me. Unless you want a $300 dollar ticket and possible bike confiscation do not ride on Longview property in Columbia County. You can take that to the bank!

[Point-of-Sale Clerk]

I ride an IT 175 Yamaha

I ride in BLM controlled areas (generally)

I keep a 357 Mag strapped via tactical holster on right leg in plain sight

I have had to un-holster it once in 25 years.

I have had no tickets.

Riding should not get you in trouble, tearing up the hills can. Be respectful of others property and others will be respectful of you…

[gottafish]

Originally Posted by *** Clerk

Riding should not get you in trouble, tearing up the hills can. Be respectful of others property and others will be respectful of you…

This is Spot on!! And I wish every one would think before they do stupid stuff

[Kalamity]

Originally Posted by Reelentless

Some do, most don't. The company I work for, Weyerhaeuser, does not. We used to until people started tearing up the plantations and making a mess. Another example of how it only takes a few bad eggs to spoil it for everyone.

I am surprised to read that the Longview Area (St. Helens) does. I can verify that tomorrow. I am pretty sure its company policy to prohibit all ATV use.

I know in Kelso area you are not allowed to ride on Weyco or Fibre land. Fibre has gone so far as to install security cameras to catch violators in a well traveled area. They had trails through creeks and such.

I was told that you are allowed to ride street legal bikes when the gates are open to traffic (ie hunting season) and you are bound by all the same rules as other vehicles.

[Trick]

Originally Posted by marked trail

Be a man, be a hunter, be a predator. Ride a mountain bike.... or walk. I tend to walk, and keep both feet on the ground!

I've always felt this way. I used to get so discouraged hunting when I was younger because of ATV use.

This is not one of my proudest moments, so don't flame me for this. I was young hunting up behind my parents house for deer in the late 80's or early 90's. I had walked in about a mile behind closed gates on private timber company lands (open for foot traffic) and was doing the slooow walk and stalk when I here a gang of ATV's heading up a skidder road. I acted quick and threw a log into their path, so when they a came flying around the corner they either hit it or ended up driving off the trail.

I had hiked off the trail and ditched behind some brush while these guys were cussing and clearing the trail. Well to make a long story short after they ripped off down the trail I tossed more debris along the path and not long after they came back down the hill, hit the stuff and were really bent out of shape. They were yelling and screaming every word and saying they were going to kill me if they found me. I was nervous and thought "man, this is stupid".

They never caught me and I didn't do it again. I shouldn't have risked hurting someone, but my anger got the best of me. Like I said, I was young and wouldn't dream of doing it today. Now, I just get in their face and threaten to call enforcement.

Anyways, why is it so hard for people to walk?

[weekender]

Originally Posted by H2Ofuzz

Dose any one now if there is any laws that i need to be worried about. Do you have to have a head light and a tail light to ride on the logging roads. I am thinking about getting a new bike a YZF-450 or a WRF-450. I am just wondering if i can ride in the woods. Thank you

Figured I should bring the original post back down so some of you can get back on topic. sheesh.

[desertjunky]

Back to the topic at hand.......The only place you will be certain of not getting yourself in hot water is in OHV area or in BLM ground or Forest service ground. Get on their web site and look under recreation, you should be able to find some road restriction sites, after highlighting all the off limit roads on my Ranger district map I am then free to ride were ever I want! We take a big family trip every late spring/early summer to the Malhuer and Wallowa Whitman national forest. We stick to the open roads and trails and we have a blast! One year we put on 300 miles in 6 days of riding! If your near Sumpter they have a trail system to get you from the Forest service ground all the way to the gas station in Town! Check it out, you won't regret it!

Jason