Bro I feel for you. You handled that really well. You never threw your friends under the bus in an extremely frustrating situation! Not sure I would have been so gracious.
Nice video man! Bummer your friends all bailed. The ORBDR is on the more challenging end of the spectrum for BDR routes. If you have any questions about the ORBDR feel free to shoot me a message! We helped design it.
Rad! Thank you and for taking the time to put it together. I think we knew it was going to be more challenging but the others were outside their comfort zone for sure. But there’s not much you can do at that point. I’m just glad we had some fun on the parts we did do and lots of laughs at camp of course.
Nothing even looked that bad to be honest. I think they were just grossly unprepared and unwilling to advance skills/fitness. You have to do shorter day trips with people to know their limits and how they prepare. Now you know. Just a little more speed and 90% of all that becomes way easier for even a novice. Just stand up and go at least 30-35mph and after a mile it will all come together. You handled it like a pro. Your friends dont deserve you!
I do think what I rode and what came up in the video versus what they rode the day before wasn't nearly as bad, but that first section really got them in their heads about it and when someone is in that mindset, it is really hard to recover. Totally agree on your assessment of how to handle it though. Faster actually makes it easier in the soft stuff. Not sure I agree that they don't deserve me though haha.
The old takedown mirror whilst standing trick, works like a charm! What a fun bike, I had a '14. Just don't miss the air filter, fuel pump, fuel gauge, and others. Good on ya for taking a year off to do what you love and find some adventure (no pun intended). I've been struggling to pull the trigger on the same, just way too burnt out after too many years.
Yeah the guys showed me that last year and I was sold! I love love love my 15 but it’s not without its faults of course. What are you riding now? The 901 expedition has me tempted but maybe when I get back. Taking the year off took me quite a while. Once I did it though the four years of saving flew by.
That's a shame. I know the feeling. You go to see some beautiful country and enjoy the company. When you're dropping your bike and it keeps getting more technical it's frustrating. For a retired guy it's not that big a problem but if you're working and taking vacation time it's really discouraging. My hat's off to the guys that bailed. Better to know your limits than pushing too far and getting injured. Hope you get to finish. Looking forward to more video. 👍
Thanks and Exactly! I felt bad because we all came a long way. Mike rode all the way out from Manitoba. But, everyone made it home without injury or damage.
Nothing worse [corrected to give the correct intent] than a lead setting too fast a pace and making people overspeed their ability. Folks will bail and be sour on the route and the lead
I’ve ridden that way before. I quite enjoy it actually! I was asked to lead this leg as not everyone in the group enjoys leading. I really think it was less about pace and more about mindset by this point though. They had such a rough go on section 1 that anything that felt similar brought day 1 back to mind.
@@RuggedButFancy Yes, I did not mean to imply that you HAD gone too fast, rather their perception was that you were riding away and felt they must try keep up, and then they get into their own heads, and it all goes south. As soon as a request for a slower pace comes out, changing to the round robin will work better (and everyone gets to eat their share of dust), because it's everyone in the group setting a pace someone may be uncomfortable with. Sort of a share the blame thing. And when they get to set pace and no one says that's too slow, and everyone sees what they are comfortable with, it's easier for everyone to slow a bit until they get their sea legs back. So, my "a lead setting too fast a pace and making people overspeed their ability" was meant to be what they were self-talking, not that you forced anyone to ride anything other than their own ride. Reading back, I see I did not do a very good job of getting my intent across. It's just that that self-talking sometimes turns into to a decision to never ride with that lead again, which is always a very sad thing. And getting into your own head is why solo riding can be dangerous, there is no one there to get you back out.
Roger! I really like that idea. Something to try out next time. When I have done it, riders navigated to the next turn and then waited for everyone to go by and then became the new chase (unless people want a designated sweep). That way everyone got a turn at every point, everyone could all ride whatever pace they wanted and it constantly swapped the order around. It also gave breaks regularly.
Koodoos too you and the crew,,, bet 10 too Zero no one would of baled had the crew choose smaller bikes... 300 lbs are so easy run threw the grit ,,, bolders,,, sand and swamps... At least yha give it a go... thanks for sharing
Yeah I’d be curious myself. Jeff ran a supere tenere last year on the IDBDR so he already dropped a bunch of weight going to the t7. Thanks for watching!
I never understand the big 1200cc guys like yeah I've seen super pro dude ride one in the dirt so it totally is capable...yeah but you aren't you old goober. A 250-300lb bike is in heaven on those trails.
Idaho is fantastic, Washington took 3 of our 6 rider group out due to back strains and mechanical, the terrain was far worse than expected in tremendous heat! The moon dust is no fun in any way! I really think that the BDR organization needs to revisit thier route criteria. These routes should be fun, reasonably challenging and draw people into the remote communities, but not so hard as to cause people to bail out and change thier minds about adventure riding. I hope Northern California has been built that way, not for an elite group.
Yeah I’m really torn. Clearly there is an appetite for more aggressive riding from some while others just want to get out and ride some scenic off road trails. I do think a clear rating system to help manage expectations would go a long way. My group loved Idaho but I’m betting those looking for a challenge would be bored. We’re planning to hit the NorCal BDR route this summer. I’m excited to check it out. Hopefully it has some good viewpoints as those are always my favourite parts.
I can hear it in your voice that you just wanted everyone to have fun together. I've been let down a lot in groups so now I exclusively ride solo. It's tough at first because you feel alone but then after some time it's the only way you want to ride. Go when you want, stop when you want, turn around when you want, go home guilt free when you want. It's awesome.
I totally agree. The benefits of solo riding are great, other than camping alone. It’s nice to not worry about making sure others are enjoying themselves too. That said, I’m also an extrovert and like having the company regardless. I had to adjust my expectations a bit because I thought we had ridden similar before.
Nice video. I did the WABDR in September on a GS1200A. My partners had 800s. We did the whole route in three days. I've ridden for 30 years, including lots of track time on my 1198 and 749. Nothing can compare to the amount of effort and concentration required for me to successfully complete that route. We had great weather, but some of that stuff was way too technical for me on such a big bike. I was running mosko panniers and tried to be super light and crashed three times. Once I bruised my ribs nicely. I rode their bikes and it was night and day easier for me. More confidence-inspiring. I'm thinking of grabbing a KTM 390 Adventure for any future BDR action. Nice job being patient with your team.
LoL yikes !! talk about a puckered up moment i bet you were stressed there for a bit ?!! we just got back from our attempt at the ORBDR , I broke my ankle in that deep silty sand on section 2 about 20 miles from Christmas Valley monday august 7 , didnt know it was broke at the time wrapped it up tight cut the boot inside enough to get it in and rode another 700+ miles over 5 days to get home on it.... annual motorcycle trip with my son this happened 1st riding day i was soo mad but we had a good time anyway just wound up riding alot of pavement and not as much off road as we had hoped. still wound up staying in Bend , the Govt camp then Hood river and doing the WABDR's section 1 from there to Packwood WA then part of section 2 to get home , Wenatchee/Cashmere WA
The ring definitely had me worried for a moment but my wife is very understanding. The rest of the ride for me was pretty good. I was more stressed for the others as I wanted them to enjoy themselves too.
@@RuggedButFancy such a split second fluke thing ! im still mad at myself , tried to make the best of it but it has been over 20years & 100k/miles since the last time i was injured more than a bruise or scratch so i guess it was my turn is all and ill have the next 8 weeks in a cast/boot to contemplate and learn from what i did wrong
I totally hear you. I’ll be doing my big trip solo because as nice as it is to have company it is so hard to find someone who can not only match up with you time wise but also pace wise too. It’s all about expectations though. I had a blast with these guys last year even though we rode slower than I might usually and even though we didn’t get as much done together this year it was nice to meet up again. We talking about next year doing something more achievable for everyone.
@@RuggedButFancy I've done 4 Bdrs. Live in central CO. I have a Tiger 1200RP and the CRF. The CRF is the bike that I take into the mountains alone at almost age 60. If I had a dollar for every 1200 GS that I have helped pick up out here with flatland plates... guys get way in over their head because they watch way too many RUclips videos. I now stay off of all BDRs because they are overrun with side-by-sides and jeeps now along with inexperienced big adventure bike riders. A schittshow to say the least. I make my own routes where nobody goes...
Totally fair. This is now the third I’ve done. They are definitely getting more populated, sounds like you have a great time really getting away from it all.
I have the 450L, this BDR I think is much easier on a dual sport/light ADV bike. I live in sisters and often ride from here to the Nevada border and back with friends and it's a blast on something lighter and more agile. Hopefully you continued on to Detroit area before calling it as it gets really beautiful.
Absolutely! I have an adjustable damper to replace my oem one and I was mentioning it to the other guys. I was running tkc80s for this trip which did fine but I’d love to try something like the motoz desert ht to see the difference.
Dang. Well you’ll see in the next video that I hit sections six and seven solo. The reports I was getting were not great but good to know for next time.
Your thought process was correct, you generally want the best rider to be trail. They were just making it harder on themselves by having you lead. I think I was a couple days ahead of you guys. I finished in Hood River on the 12th. Tough route but a lot of fun, and you weren't the only ones having problems. Of the three groups that started around me all three broke bikes and injured people in the first three sections.
Shoot. I’m terrible with remembering sections. Heading north (you were heading south) we met you in the mountains, after the reservoir. You mentioned us in one of your videos too.
Paul brings a lot of kit that’s for sure. He has also (I think) ridden more of the BDRs than anyone else in the group. I’m sure if he were to do Oregon again he would change things up but I don’t know if he would care to do it again.
I think the BDR guys fell way short on this route I have ridden Oregon for 50yrs and there are far better ways to show Oregon than that route it should not be that difficult . People have given up riding because of this route . Should be drawing people . Needs to be more of a scenic route not a professional Dakar race . Great vid ""RIDE ON""
Yeah I’m not certain all the factors that go into designing one of these routes. I’m sure there’s lots that I’m not aware of. I’m also betting they wanted to do something different than the original one. We’re going to try out the Northern California BDR this summer and I’m hopeful it is more in line with what we’re used to. Thanks for the encouragement! All the best.
Great video/drone footage sir. Glad you found your ring, that would NOT have been good to explain that one away. It is a major bummer when 'things' crop up, and destroy your groups plans. No matter how much a guy prepares for a successful and safe ride, it still really disappoints when things all go to a premature ending. Sorry about that, but you seemed to handle it in stride. Subscribed to follow your next adventure.
Thank you! Yeah it didn’t go the way we hoped but I was more bummed for the other guys really. I still ended up getting lots out of it and the time we did have together was great so it wasn’t a loss really.
Group riding is tough! Looks like the other guys just weren't ready for this ride, so hopefully they get up to speed with their training and they feel more prepared for the next one. You have more subscribers than me, but a chin-mounted GoPro or similar camera would make for an even better video.....imho.
I really like the simplicity of the all in one but the picture quality and image stabilization of the action cams are hard to beat. Maybe one day! I have plans for the WYBDR this summer with the same group of guys. I’m hopefully it will be more like our IDBDR experience.
@@RuggedButFancy I think it works both ways as long as the right people are involved that think along the same lines. Then again, sometimes a trip just goes bad for no reason at all.
Agreed! It's all about expectations. I am totally happy to take it easy and cruise with friends, and I have other friends who are waiting for me so it's all relative really.@@SW-Video
I guess it’s easy to over estimate skill set, mental preparedness, enthusiasm, optimism for such adventures. Definitely not something to take lightly. Maybe would have been much more enjoyable on smaller bikes. Personally, I wouldn’t want to try and muscle my 1200 Rally Pro through a lot of those sections. But the guys surely get an A for trying it out!
Exactly! Compared to what we had faced earlier this was a big step up in the challenge, but you’re totally right. A small bike for Oregon is ideal, or a highly skilled rider who is prepared for it on a big bike.
As long as you’re prepared for soft sections I’m sure you’ll be fine. It is definitely a step up in difficulty over Idaho which made it a challenge on larger bikes. I didn’t run into anything that I couldn’t handle but I was also dealing with my fuel pump while the guys ran section 1 which is the hardest from the reports. Section 6 and 7 were great (although a large portion of 7 was closed due to a fire).
@@RuggedButFancy Glad you decided to continue and your bike troubles were behind you. Sand/silt is my big unknown, never done that, I am riding a 450 with as light a load as I can, still probably close to 40lbs and knobby tires, guess the rest is up to me. Interested to hear more on your bike balance comments, are you referring to the bike loading or body positioning ?
Sounds like you’re well set up. I’m mostly talking about body position but bike balance could also affect it. I’m no expert on sand but from everything I’ve seen you ride it a little different. Typically, in off road conditions, we want to weight the front tire for front end grip but if you do that in sand and the front starts to tip in then it can be tough to catch it. So instead weight back a bit and let the front end move around and turn with the rear. I also find second gear or higher helps.
Get lighter bikes !!!! you will enjoy it 100 % more.. I have a 1290 adventure and a 500..... ALWAYS choose the 500 for 90% of our rides. Big bikes are too heavy and too much work .
I was quite envious of the fe501s we ran into. If only I had the money for a second. For the sections I did though I really enjoyed the 1190r. If I were doing tight single track thing 500 all the way.
Maybe don't ride a 550lb motorcycle on a multi day dirt trip? Seems like the whole thing would be so much more enjoyable on WR or DRZ with ultralight backpacking gear, but that's just me. Looks like a great trip in any case!
Yeah the ORBDR is definitely better suited for a smaller bike unless you’re really competent in the sand. That said, I have heard earlier in the year when the ground isn’t as dry, and dusty, that it’s a completely different story.
🤣 it’s a unit of measurement that is about eleven football fields, six space needles, or 650 motorcycles long. I hear Americans will use anything but the metric system so I hope these conversations help.
yeah, its all sand and large rocks from Sisters to Potato Hill. Keeps you on your toes. I'd choose section 5 over the alt harder route to Breitenbush lake though. Which is definitely advanced. They do claim the Oregon BDR is intermediate+ in difficulty rating, so its up there on the upper half of the harder routes. @@RuggedButFancy
Those big “Adventure” bikes are super nice and comfy on the highway or fire roads but on more technical stuff they are awful unless you’re a highly skilled rider which they also have issues with the heft of those big bikes. I have a Husqvarna fe350s and it’s a mountain goat and will get be further and faster up more technical stuff. Ya it doesn’t have a massive range tank or the ability to pack the house but what it gives up in those area it excels in the type of riding and adventures I enjoy, plus if I drop the bike I don’t need a crew to help pick the bike up and exert a bunch of energy especially with riding gear on in the heat which will wipe you out.
I wouldn’t consider myself a “highly skilled rider” but I do ride off road quite a bit on my 250 husky. I have a 790r and it’s fantastic on the bdr type stuff. I’ve even ridden single track with it and it’s a blast, it’s a bit heavy but it’s way more capable than people think. A lot of people pack way too much crap, are on the wrong tires and ride too slow. A bit more speed solved a lot of problems, especially in sand
But I’m not sure about these BDR and everyone rides them like baT out of hell what the hell do you see? Why would you ride? Miss the views just gonna fly through them as fast you can eat dust and the guy on the new bike probably went home because he’s tired of beating and trashing it up not worth it Pound on your chest much testosterone
It’s funny how riding, packing, which bike you pick, and the pace you go all gets tied up into ego. If someone wants to ride it at 5km on a Honda gold wing, let them! It’s not what I would do but just because I wouldn’t doesn’t make them wrong. The same goes for flying through them. As long as you’re not ruining the experience for others! I totally agree though. Jeff is very meticulous about his bike and dropping it over and over completely flies in the face of him having a good time.
@@RuggedButFancy I also enjoy taking my time when I in the woods. It only takes a second and crash . I did enjoy you video don’t get me wrong. One guy going thru the woods rides much slower than a group blasting thru. It not all about the sticker . Stay safe.
the only reason i wanna move to freedom land, then again, here we do have teh TET trans euro trail. that spans through ALL OF EUROPE. . thanks for sharing brother. love how clean your mice is . how did you do that ? great video loved the music too. wat music did you use ? do u have 360 camera i noticed not many bikes dont use it ? do u know why ? also if am moving to freedom land am planning on living in alaska . its mostly dirt road there right ? are u also using dmd2 trail app ? how come u not using gamin tread ? is that good ? thanks for answers in advance .sorry for blowing u up with them. last one i promise . am still saving up for pan america few months to go . thought about flying then renting bike. but god is it unholy expensive 1 month rental is 6000. months ago was looking at how i would move car from uk to freedom land. lots of ferries between us good news . also stumbled on the canard queen mary 2 . turns out that transaltantic i guess cruise ship goes from uk southampton to newyork in 6 days and its about a thousand crumpets not bad. so could chill for a week on ship then blast and try not die on the trans freedom trail aka trans america trail. you know anyone done anything like that ?
You're welcome! I am glad you enjoyed it. I am not sure what you mean by how clean your mice is... is that an autocorrect? If you meant my bike, I just stay on top of maintenance. If you do mean mice... well first off I have nothing to do with that and second I don't know if they are all that clean. For music I am trying out a subscription to artlist. So far, I like it. I don't have a 360 camera but I am very tempted to get one before I go to South America. I do see some people using them but I have also heard they can be a bit of a pain to edit so that might be why. In Alaska there are some great highways and I am certain there are some solid gravel roads as well. I did mostly pavement when I was there years ago. For my trail app I use Gaia GPS. I have been using it for years and I love it. I haven't used Garmin tread at all, but I know I was not a fan of basecamp last time I used it. The fly in bike rentals are often very pricey. I have heard one of the better things to do is to fly in and buy a bike and then sell it when you are done as you typically get a fair amount of your money back, but of course this adds a lot of hassle.
Bro I feel for you. You handled that really well. You never threw your friends under the bus in an extremely frustrating situation! Not sure I would have been so gracious.
Thanks man. I was really bummed for them. When my fuel pump was having issues they were equally gracious. Solid group of guys.
Despite the frustration and disappointment you maintained a positive attitude. Those are signs of a good leader and good person.
Very nice of you to say!
Nice video man! Bummer your friends all bailed. The ORBDR is on the more challenging end of the spectrum for BDR routes. If you have any questions about the ORBDR feel free to shoot me a message! We helped design it.
Rad! Thank you and for taking the time to put it together.
I think we knew it was going to be more challenging but the others were outside their comfort zone for sure. But there’s not much you can do at that point. I’m just glad we had some fun on the parts we did do and lots of laughs at camp of course.
What a way to start the day. Can’t believe the anxiety you must have felt heading back looking for the ring. Great video Blake.
Haha thankfully Adrienne would have understood, I’m sure, but yes it was not pleasant to say the least!
Nothing even looked that bad to be honest. I think they were just grossly unprepared and unwilling to advance skills/fitness. You have to do shorter day trips with people to know their limits and how they prepare. Now you know.
Just a little more speed and 90% of all that becomes way easier for even a novice. Just stand up and go at least 30-35mph and after a mile it will all come together. You handled it like a pro. Your friends dont deserve you!
I do think what I rode and what came up in the video versus what they rode the day before wasn't nearly as bad, but that first section really got them in their heads about it and when someone is in that mindset, it is really hard to recover.
Totally agree on your assessment of how to handle it though. Faster actually makes it easier in the soft stuff.
Not sure I agree that they don't deserve me though haha.
The old takedown mirror whilst standing trick, works like a charm!
What a fun bike, I had a '14. Just don't miss the air filter, fuel pump, fuel gauge, and others.
Good on ya for taking a year off to do what you love and find some adventure (no pun intended). I've been struggling to pull the trigger on the same, just way too burnt out after too many years.
Yeah the guys showed me that last year and I was sold!
I love love love my 15 but it’s not without its faults of course. What are you riding now? The 901 expedition has me tempted but maybe when I get back.
Taking the year off took me quite a while. Once I did it though the four years of saving flew by.
That's a shame. I know the feeling. You go to see some beautiful country and enjoy the company. When you're dropping your bike and it keeps getting more technical it's frustrating. For a retired guy it's not that big a problem but if you're working and taking vacation time it's really discouraging. My hat's off to the guys that bailed. Better to know your limits than pushing too far and getting injured. Hope you get to finish. Looking forward to more video. 👍
Thanks and Exactly! I felt bad because we all came a long way. Mike rode all the way out from Manitoba. But, everyone made it home without injury or damage.
Nothing worse [corrected to give the correct intent] than a lead setting too fast a pace and making people overspeed their ability.
Folks will bail and be sour on the route and the lead
I’ve ridden that way before. I quite enjoy it actually!
I was asked to lead this leg as not everyone in the group enjoys leading. I really think it was less about pace and more about mindset by this point though. They had such a rough go on section 1 that anything that felt similar brought day 1 back to mind.
@@RuggedButFancy Yes, I did not mean to imply that you HAD gone too fast, rather their perception was that you were riding away and felt they must try keep up, and then they get into their own heads, and it all goes south. As soon as a request for a slower pace comes out, changing to the round robin will work better (and everyone gets to eat their share of dust), because it's everyone in the group setting a pace someone may be uncomfortable with. Sort of a share the blame thing. And when they get to set pace and no one says that's too slow, and everyone sees what they are comfortable with, it's easier for everyone to slow a bit until they get their sea legs back.
So, my "a lead setting too fast a pace and making people overspeed their ability" was meant to be what they were self-talking, not that you forced anyone to ride anything other than their own ride. Reading back, I see I did not do a very good job of getting my intent across. It's just that that self-talking sometimes turns into to a decision to never ride with that lead again, which is always a very sad thing. And getting into your own head is why solo riding can be dangerous, there is no one there to get you back out.
Roger! I really like that idea. Something to try out next time.
When I have done it, riders navigated to the next turn and then waited for everyone to go by and then became the new chase (unless people want a designated sweep). That way everyone got a turn at every point, everyone could all ride whatever pace they wanted and it constantly swapped the order around.
It also gave breaks regularly.
Haha just seeing your edits. Don’t worry I was not upset at all by your comments.
Koodoos too you and the crew,,, bet 10 too Zero no one would of baled had the crew choose smaller bikes...
300 lbs are so easy run threw the grit ,,, bolders,,, sand and swamps...
At least yha give it a go... thanks for sharing
Yeah I’d be curious myself. Jeff ran a supere tenere last year on the IDBDR so he already dropped a bunch of weight going to the t7.
Thanks for watching!
I never understand the big 1200cc guys like yeah I've seen super pro dude ride one in the dirt so it totally is capable...yeah but you aren't you old goober. A 250-300lb bike is in heaven on those trails.
Idaho is fantastic, Washington took 3 of our 6 rider group out due to back strains and mechanical, the terrain was far worse than expected in tremendous heat! The moon dust is no fun in any way! I really think that the BDR organization needs to revisit thier route criteria. These routes should be fun, reasonably challenging and draw people into the remote communities, but not so hard as to cause people to bail out and change thier minds about adventure riding. I hope Northern California has been built that way, not for an elite group.
Yeah I’m really torn. Clearly there is an appetite for more aggressive riding from some while others just want to get out and ride some scenic off road trails.
I do think a clear rating system to help manage expectations would go a long way. My group loved Idaho but I’m betting those looking for a challenge would be bored.
We’re planning to hit the NorCal BDR route this summer. I’m excited to check it out. Hopefully it has some good viewpoints as those are always my favourite parts.
Would love to hear how it goes! Agree on rating system as we thought WABDR would be reasonable.
Im sure I’ll make a video of it!
I can hear it in your voice that you just wanted everyone to have fun together. I've been let down a lot in groups so now I exclusively ride solo. It's tough at first because you feel alone but then after some time it's the only way you want to ride. Go when you want, stop when you want, turn around when you want, go home guilt free when you want. It's awesome.
I totally agree. The benefits of solo riding are great, other than camping alone. It’s nice to not worry about making sure others are enjoying themselves too. That said, I’m also an extrovert and like having the company regardless. I had to adjust my expectations a bit because I thought we had ridden similar before.
Very nice. 😊I can't wait to see the next one.
Nice video. I did the WABDR in September on a GS1200A. My partners had 800s. We did the whole route in three days. I've ridden for 30 years, including lots of track time on my 1198 and 749. Nothing can compare to the amount of effort and concentration required for me to successfully complete that route. We had great weather, but some of that stuff was way too technical for me on such a big bike. I was running mosko panniers and tried to be super light and crashed three times. Once I bruised my ribs nicely. I rode their bikes and it was night and day easier for me. More confidence-inspiring. I'm thinking of grabbing a KTM 390 Adventure for any future BDR action. Nice job being patient with your team.
Thanks! I wish I had ridden some of the earlier sections to see how they were.
LoL yikes !! talk about a puckered up moment i bet you were stressed there for a bit ?!! we just got back from our attempt at the ORBDR , I broke my ankle in that deep silty sand on section 2 about 20 miles from Christmas Valley monday august 7 , didnt know it was broke at the time wrapped it up tight cut the boot inside enough to get it in and rode another 700+ miles over 5 days to get home on it.... annual motorcycle trip with my son this happened 1st riding day i was soo mad but we had a good time anyway just wound up riding alot of pavement and not as much off road as we had hoped. still wound up staying in Bend , the Govt camp then Hood river and doing the WABDR's section 1 from there to Packwood WA then part of section 2 to get home , Wenatchee/Cashmere WA
The ring definitely had me worried for a moment but my wife is very understanding. The rest of the ride for me was pretty good. I was more stressed for the others as I wanted them to enjoy themselves too.
Also wow sounds like you had quite the rough go. Glad to hear you’re okay after that and made the best of it.
@@RuggedButFancy such a split second fluke thing ! im still mad at myself , tried to make the best of it but it has been over 20years & 100k/miles since the last time i was injured more than a bruise or scratch so i guess it was my turn is all and ill have the next 8 weeks in a cast/boot to contemplate and learn from what i did wrong
...and this is exactly why I ride a light fully modded CRF300L..alone. Painful watch...
I totally hear you. I’ll be doing my big trip solo because as nice as it is to have company it is so hard to find someone who can not only match up with you time wise but also pace wise too.
It’s all about expectations though. I had a blast with these guys last year even though we rode slower than I might usually and even though we didn’t get as much done together this year it was nice to meet up again.
We talking about next year doing something more achievable for everyone.
@@RuggedButFancy I've done 4 Bdrs. Live in central CO. I have a Tiger 1200RP and the CRF. The CRF is the bike that I take into the mountains alone at almost age 60. If I had a dollar for every 1200 GS that I have helped pick up out here with flatland plates... guys get way in over their head because they watch way too many RUclips videos. I now stay off of all BDRs because they are overrun with side-by-sides and jeeps now along with inexperienced big adventure bike riders. A schittshow to say the least. I make my own routes where nobody goes...
Totally fair. This is now the third I’ve done. They are definitely getting more populated, sounds like you have a great time really getting away from it all.
I have the 450L, this BDR I think is much easier on a dual sport/light ADV bike. I live in sisters and often ride from here to the Nevada border and back with friends and it's a blast on something lighter and more agile. Hopefully you continued on to Detroit area before calling it as it gets really beautiful.
I think if I lived in that area I’d have a second bike for sure for just that reason.
Next video will be up on Sunday but I did continue 😉
2 suggestions. Run a good off road front tire like a Dunlop desert race front tire . Get a steering dampener .
Absolutely! I have an adjustable damper to replace my oem one and I was mentioning it to the other guys.
I was running tkc80s for this trip which did fine but I’d love to try something like the motoz desert ht to see the difference.
Just wondered across your channel. Section 5 is my home turf, it's tough but doable and clears up after big lake, hoping you hit it up.
Dang. Well you’ll see in the next video that I hit sections six and seven solo. The reports I was getting were not great but good to know for next time.
Your thought process was correct, you generally want the best rider to be trail. They were just making it harder on themselves by having you lead. I think I was a couple days ahead of you guys. I finished in Hood River on the 12th. Tough route but a lot of fun, and you weren't the only ones having problems. Of the three groups that started around me all three broke bikes and injured people in the first three sections.
That’s funny because we actually ran into you the year previous on the IDBDR. I’ve been enjoying watching your channel ever since.
@@RuggedButFancy where was that? I saw a bunch of people in ID.
Shoot. I’m terrible with remembering sections. Heading north (you were heading south) we met you in the mountains, after the reservoir. You mentioned us in one of your videos too.
@@RuggedButFancy oh OK, you were in that big group of guys I took a picture of! Nice.
Yep! Same group
I hear the OR BDR has lots of surprising sand... Your buddies looked overloaded on the bike for a BDR.
Paul brings a lot of kit that’s for sure. He has also (I think) ridden more of the BDRs than anyone else in the group. I’m sure if he were to do Oregon again he would change things up but I don’t know if he would care to do it again.
I think the BDR guys fell way short on this route I have ridden Oregon for 50yrs and there are far better ways to show Oregon than that route it should not be that difficult . People have given up riding because of this route . Should be drawing people . Needs to be more of a scenic route not a professional Dakar race . Great vid ""RIDE ON""
Yeah I’m not certain all the factors that go into designing one of these routes. I’m sure there’s lots that I’m not aware of. I’m also betting they wanted to do something different than the original one.
We’re going to try out the Northern California BDR this summer and I’m hopeful it is more in line with what we’re used to.
Thanks for the encouragement! All the best.
Great video/drone footage sir. Glad you found your ring, that would NOT have been good to explain that one away. It is a major bummer when 'things' crop up, and destroy your groups plans. No matter how much a guy prepares for a successful and safe ride, it still really disappoints when things all go to a premature ending. Sorry about that, but you seemed to handle it in stride. Subscribed to follow your next adventure.
Thank you! Yeah it didn’t go the way we hoped but I was more bummed for the other guys really.
I still ended up getting lots out of it and the time we did have together was great so it wasn’t a loss really.
It's hard to see that kind of thing happen. We are big fans of Paul K. Small world after all. Great tittle and thumbnail.
Paul’s the best. If you pull pranks on him though, it’s game on for the rest of the trip.
Group riding is tough! Looks like the other guys just weren't ready for this ride, so hopefully they get up to speed with their training and they feel more prepared for the next one. You have more subscribers than me, but a chin-mounted GoPro or similar camera would make for an even better video.....imho.
I really like the simplicity of the all in one but the picture quality and image stabilization of the action cams are hard to beat. Maybe one day!
I have plans for the WYBDR this summer with the same group of guys. I’m hopefully it will be more like our IDBDR experience.
This is why a lot of people ride alone.
Yeah that’s fair. I like both but definitely prefer camping with friends.
@@RuggedButFancy I think it works both ways as long as the right people are involved that think along the same lines. Then again, sometimes a trip just goes bad for no reason at all.
Agreed! It's all about expectations. I am totally happy to take it easy and cruise with friends, and I have other friends who are waiting for me so it's all relative really.@@SW-Video
How did you find your ring??
After looking and not seeing anything at the campsite I pulled out the tent again and found it just inside. 😅
I guess it’s easy to over estimate skill set, mental preparedness, enthusiasm, optimism for such adventures. Definitely not something to take lightly. Maybe would have been much more enjoyable on smaller bikes. Personally, I wouldn’t want to try and muscle my 1200 Rally Pro through a lot of those sections.
But the guys surely get an A for trying it out!
Exactly! Compared to what we had faced earlier this was a big step up in the challenge, but you’re totally right. A small bike for Oregon is ideal, or a highly skilled rider who is prepared for it on a big bike.
Is the BMW moving to a new residence,, he has 200k of luggage
🤣 right?! If you’re hungry though he has a tonne of freeze dried meals
Oh wow, that's to bad, myself and buddy start the ORBDR next week, wonder how it will be for us? Staying positive and we'll slay the dang thing !
As long as you’re prepared for soft sections I’m sure you’ll be fine. It is definitely a step up in difficulty over Idaho which made it a challenge on larger bikes.
I didn’t run into anything that I couldn’t handle but I was also dealing with my fuel pump while the guys ran section 1 which is the hardest from the reports.
Section 6 and 7 were great (although a large portion of 7 was closed due to a fire).
@@RuggedButFancy Glad you decided to continue and your bike troubles were behind you. Sand/silt is my big unknown, never done that, I am riding a 450 with as light a load as I can, still probably close to 40lbs and knobby tires, guess the rest is up to me. Interested to hear more on your bike balance comments, are you referring to the bike loading or body positioning ?
Sounds like you’re well set up. I’m mostly talking about body position but bike balance could also affect it.
I’m no expert on sand but from everything I’ve seen you ride it a little different. Typically, in off road conditions, we want to weight the front tire for front end grip but if you do that in sand and the front starts to tip in then it can be tough to catch it. So instead weight back a bit and let the front end move around and turn with the rear. I also find second gear or higher helps.
It looks like that one guy had everything but the kitchen sink on his bike… Lol
Pretty sure he had the kitchen sink in there too 😅
I dont ride a lot of sand and am so looking forward to winning the fight against this BDR on day, just need to find the right group to do it with.
Have a great ride! Let me know how it turns out.
You don’t need a group. Do it by yourself
I did! Continued the next sections solo
Sounds like folks got in over their head.
Yeah I think that’s fair. The ORBDR presents a lot more challenges than the IDBDR which everyone did fine the year before.
Get lighter bikes !!!! you will enjoy it 100 % more.. I have a 1290 adventure and a 500..... ALWAYS choose the 500 for 90% of our rides. Big bikes are too heavy and too much work .
I was quite envious of the fe501s we ran into. If only I had the money for a second.
For the sections I did though I really enjoyed the 1190r. If I were doing tight single track thing 500 all the way.
Maybe don't ride a 550lb motorcycle on a multi day dirt trip? Seems like the whole thing would be so much more enjoyable on WR or DRZ with ultralight backpacking gear, but that's just me. Looks like a great trip in any case!
Yeah the ORBDR is definitely better suited for a smaller bike unless you’re really competent in the sand.
That said, I have heard earlier in the year when the ground isn’t as dry, and dusty, that it’s a completely different story.
What's a kilometer?
🤣 it’s a unit of measurement that is about eleven football fields, six space needles, or 650 motorcycles long. I hear Americans will use anything but the metric system so I hope these conversations help.
Don't lie, you wanted to catch up to that 890 cause you were mostly on a Sunday cruise and that 1290 wasn't built for cruising 😛
Absolutely!!!
Not at the expense of leaving the crew behind but that looked like a lot of fun.
It’s pretty clear if you do your research the OBDR is for experienced riders.
Agreed! I definitely felt that going in.
It certainly doesn't get any easier after those sections.
I heard section 5 was quite rough!
yeah, its all sand and large rocks from Sisters to Potato Hill. Keeps you on your toes. I'd choose section 5 over the alt harder route to Breitenbush lake though. Which is definitely advanced. They do claim the Oregon BDR is intermediate+ in difficulty rating, so its up there on the upper half of the harder routes. @@RuggedButFancy
Maybe Travel Oregon might be a better way for you guys to plan a route.
😅 noted!
Those big “Adventure” bikes are super nice and comfy on the highway or fire roads but on more technical stuff they are awful unless you’re a highly skilled rider which they also have issues with the heft of those big bikes. I have a Husqvarna fe350s and it’s a mountain goat and will get be further and faster up more technical stuff. Ya it doesn’t have a massive range tank or the ability to pack the house but what it gives up in those area it excels in the type of riding and adventures I enjoy, plus if I drop the bike I don’t need a crew to help pick the bike up and exert a bunch of energy especially with riding gear on in the heat which will wipe you out.
Absolutely! For the IDBDR which was more gravel two track, no problem. The ORBDR is another story.
I wouldn’t consider myself a “highly skilled rider” but I do ride off road quite a bit on my 250 husky. I have a 790r and it’s fantastic on the bdr type stuff. I’ve even ridden single track with it and it’s a blast, it’s a bit heavy but it’s way more capable than people think. A lot of people pack way too much crap, are on the wrong tires and ride too slow. A bit more speed solved a lot of problems, especially in sand
Totally agree. Smaller bikes make it easier but with good tires and proper technique it’s no problem
There's a reason they call it "adventure" motorcycling. Maybe surf the couch and watch adventure movies with a blankie and some hot cocoa?
That sounds inviting!
Thats lame bro I would rode to the end silt or not.
Anytime man
I rode most of it to recon for the others. Turns out there was a gate on the other side and the section was closed.
But I’m not sure about these BDR and everyone rides them like baT out of hell what the hell do you see? Why would you ride? Miss the views just gonna fly through them as fast you can eat dust and the guy on the new bike probably went home because he’s tired of beating and trashing it up not worth it Pound on your chest much testosterone
It’s funny how riding, packing, which bike you pick, and the pace you go all gets tied up into ego.
If someone wants to ride it at 5km on a Honda gold wing, let them! It’s not what I would do but just because I wouldn’t doesn’t make them wrong. The same goes for flying through them. As long as you’re not ruining the experience for others!
I totally agree though. Jeff is very meticulous about his bike and dropping it over and over completely flies in the face of him having a good time.
@@RuggedButFancy I also enjoy taking my time when I in the woods. It only takes a second and crash . I did enjoy you video don’t get me wrong. One guy going thru the woods rides much slower than a group blasting thru. It not all about the sticker . Stay safe.
Faster alone, farther together is one of my favourite adages.
the only reason i wanna move to freedom land, then again, here we do have teh TET trans euro trail. that spans through ALL OF EUROPE. . thanks for sharing brother. love how clean your mice is . how did you do that ? great video loved the music too. wat music did you use ? do u have 360 camera i noticed not many bikes dont use it ? do u know why ? also if am moving to freedom land am planning on living in alaska . its mostly dirt road there right ? are u also using dmd2 trail app ? how come u not using gamin tread ? is that good ? thanks for answers in advance .sorry for blowing u up with them.
last one i promise . am still saving up for pan america few months to go . thought about flying then renting bike. but god is it unholy expensive 1 month rental is 6000. months ago was looking at how i would move car from uk to freedom land. lots of ferries between us good news . also stumbled on the canard queen mary 2 . turns out that transaltantic i guess cruise ship goes from uk southampton to newyork in 6 days and its about a thousand crumpets not bad. so could chill for a week on ship then blast and try not die on the trans freedom trail aka trans america trail. you know anyone done anything like that ?
You're welcome! I am glad you enjoyed it.
I am not sure what you mean by how clean your mice is... is that an autocorrect? If you meant my bike, I just stay on top of maintenance. If you do mean mice... well first off I have nothing to do with that and second I don't know if they are all that clean.
For music I am trying out a subscription to artlist. So far, I like it.
I don't have a 360 camera but I am very tempted to get one before I go to South America.
I do see some people using them but I have also heard they can be a bit of a pain to edit so that might be why.
In Alaska there are some great highways and I am certain there are some solid gravel roads as well. I did mostly pavement when I was there years ago.
For my trail app I use Gaia GPS. I have been using it for years and I love it. I haven't used Garmin tread at all, but I know I was not a fan of basecamp last time I used it.
The fly in bike rentals are often very pricey. I have heard one of the better things to do is to fly in and buy a bike and then sell it when you are done as you typically get a fair amount of your money back, but of course this adds a lot of hassle.