I dont know if it was previously discussed, but as a suggestion, adventure trips should be ridden by at least 3 riders. In case of a serious injury one stays helping the injured and the other goes for help. Congratulation for the video, and for sharing the experience. 👍
so far i am very lucky i drove last August 3000 mile in Egypt i have KTM 1290 I lift it their i will be going again in March i `ll ship Norden 901 soon, any one knows about shipping companies !!
Sand is definitely a challenge. You did well to put up with it for multiple days. I think almost every one of our longer trips, And some of the shorter ones, has had something go wrong. Sometimes it is just part of the adventure and sometimes it ends the adventure. Our channel got started when my KLX was totaled before we even got to our campsite.
go wrong ??? sure, last trip, i broke a thumb, then two floating bones, twisted ankle and totall twisted knee to nearly 120° which stretched ligaments. Just because I was riding too slow, following a buddy, and being totally out of focus . But who cares ;) Being at 1000 km from home , on tracks so full of rocks that we wished to just have 100 m of grass was something. So I just had to go on. But, I was riding as usual an enduro bike, as I would NEVER use an heavy bike and so many luggages. I prefer to have totally destroyed bum, stand vibrations, and seat wood torture suffering on tarmac. All lugages were around 9 kg and it was IMHO still too much to have FUN. downsizing now to 6kg all included. Because here is the point. You can hydrate, eat , sleep well, the minute you don't have fun, and loose focus, you are in danger.... Honest shooting , thoughts and review. Appreciate ;) All trip choice , luggages, weight and type of bike are just IMHO in this equation : Bike giving 90% nice ride and nightmare in 10% hard parts , or bike which gives 90% of hard rides on liaisons but makes fun in the 10% of hard parts. I always choose the second one . Yes it can be pain in ass if you maybe have to change real offroad tires on the trip, but it is the only way to have a good handling. At last when knobbies are dead, you can go back home by smal roads or trails with them. So much joke about dual sport tires, the 70/30, 80/20 50/50. makes me laugh all time. You can ride everywhere with a sport tire, as long as it is not mud, sand or deep gravel. Then come the knobbies. But you already know all of that ... Have good rides !
I love the sincere insight into the Highs and Lows that always make these rides memorable, no matter the outcome. Thanks for letting us ride along with you guys!
If you want to ride a BDR pain-free, do it on a dual sport. My buddy and I have finished six of them on DRZ400s and it's been a pleasure. For camping gear, look at what ultralight backpackers do. If you load up an already heavy adventure bike with 80 lbs more of gear, it takes the fun right out of it.
In 2022 I was riding the Arizona BDR solo, from north to south and started experiencing deep washouts from the floods just a few days before and then extreme mud with a simple drop. I caught my leg under the right saddle bag. I managed to get the bike back up and within 20 miles. I dropped it two more times . It was so slippery. I had to get weeds and tree limbs to put under my feet to keep them from sliding . It was dark before I got it picked up. I ended up sleeping right in the middle of the trail and the next morning I said a few prayers and finally made it to a major dirt road I called it quits .with 6 1/2 hour ride back to Colorado to where my truck was and then two more days back to Arkansas to my daughters before I sought out medical attention turns out I broke my leg right above the ankle. I went back to Arizona this May and finished it .
I have also gotten myself into some BIG trouble in the middle of nowhere solo… very few people these days get to experience those emotions. Having to wonder if you’re gonna make it out or not certainly helps you appreciate life when you do.
Bummer to hear. the AZBDR can be a cakewalk if it's dry. Were you up near the GC? In the future, getting out to the highway and bypassing a section, should put you in better conditions.
Sounds very intense. Glad you are OK, and great to hear that you went back and conquered it! It may be the same everywhere, But I definitely can confirm that here in Wyoming, trails are much more difficult, if not completely impossible, when very wet..
You cant plan your way out of the wrong bike for the job. The flooding was well known and really chewed up the whole area. Both of you did as well as can be expected. You had the right answer with the previous 690 and about half the amount of luggage. The bike needs fueling every day so no need to carry a weeks food. A set of decent tires is key at lower pressures. I use 22 on my 701. I sold my 1190 for these reasons. It was 20% better than my 701 on the pavement and 90% worse on the dirt. Its the right tool for these trips. Wearing a full ADV suit is really a problem as well. You just pour sweat all day long. Light shells over ventilated gear for the rain is great. My other rule is you need to able to pick the bike up by yourself somewhat easily.
Amen to that. Big bikes turned this trip from being challenging fun, into a rotten, scary experience. I am not being a wiseass, trust me guys but my friend Dave Lomax who owns AdventureSpec ( check them out) has a saying. "Overweight is underprepared" The adverts show top guys drifting 600lb bikes, the implication being that if you buy a big adventure bike you too will be able to do it. The truth is most of us haven't the skill to manage a 600lb bike -when its loaded it will handle in the dirt like a drunk pig and is almost impossible to pick up solo-and you ARE going to fall off. I include myself in this "just haven't the skill "category and I've done the Transam Trail, the CD, The Sahara desert , ridden across Mongolia and Kazakhstan on the dirt then Russia on the slab. All this on a DRZ 400 or a KTM690 carrying as little as possible. 2 small soft "Dirtbagz" ..one clothes, one spares and tools, and my camping gear. The truth is no one needs 100+bhp when you're going to spend most of your time between 20 and 40 mph? No mention was made of tyre pressures. On the sand I usually run 12-15lb -no more. Top marks to you guys for your honesty and tenacity but next time I hope you go small and light. Thanks for the vid and I hope your buddy recovered quickly.
Rain shell over ventilated gear is the way to go when you have extreme temperature variation. Took me a while to figure it out. I'm in NM on an '07 KLR.
I did this trail on the same bike. I rode from North Carolina so having a big bike to tackle thousands of miles on the highway was important. I had some of the same struggles they did but I kept a different mindset. I just kind of worked the problem. If I had to pick up the bike it was like losing my bishop in chess. I don't like it but I'm not going to get hung up on it. Let's figure out what's next. Honestly, I think their biggest mistake was dressing too warmly. That's why ruined the attitude and exhausted the riders. I would have done more with layers instead of heavy gear.
The most honest motorcycle channel on here. Thank you for posting this. A lot of people needed to see this to know it happens. Things can go down hill and sideways. Some days it’s just not your day.
agree with you and I do feel better now ... I felt like a quitter sometimes after NOT riding down that steep, winding, rocky trail that looks so promising ... remember the stones song: "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
Great video - as always. I can certainly relate. 2 years ago I was in Arches National Park in Moab on a KLR 650. Took off in the early afternoon. About 2 hours into the ride, I tried to scale a 40-foot slick rock hill at about a 60 degree incline. If you've ever been on slick rock, you know it's just that - SLICK ROCK!! Anyway, about midway up the hill, the bike came out from under me, I landed on my back and the bike landed on top of me. I am a US Marine Combat Vet, with a prosthetic left hip and left femur. I was able to wiggle out from under the bike, but the Happy Trails engine guards I had on the KLR, "punctured" the stator/regulator the bike. So I started an 11 - mile walk out of the trail area. I walked for over 7 hours, then quit at midnight. Crawled under a tree, got out a "space blanket" and beded down for the night. At dawn, I heard a pick up truck coming up the road, so I ran out, flagged down the driver, and he took me back to get my bike. Lesson learned - dont ride in the outback (alone) and dont try to scale slick rock!!🤷🏽♂️🏍️🇺🇸
Thanks for uploading this video. It shows that not all adventure riding is fun, and doing it for the sake of doing it is not always worth it. It's a good reminder for us all.
I appreciate the realism. I've been riding 1-2 BDRs per year for seven years. There have been scary or tough sections on every one. We once spent three days trying to get our bikes and selves out of a steep canyon in NorCal where the roads had been washed away. We finally hiked 13 miles out, injured and exhausted, and got help. I now optimize all my gear for the most aggressive terrain I could encounter. I ride a heavily modified Husqvarna 701 and daydream of something even lighter. Every set of tires has gotten more aggressive, starting on 50/50 until I now run DOT legal dirt bike tires (Motoz Enduro IT). I ditched cooked food and stoves for tasty ProBars to carry less weight. I may have fewer comforts but I enjoy all the riding, especially the challenging parts, way more. I recommend it.
I lived in Las Vegas for 28 years, and still spend part of each year there. Have much off-pavement experience in the desert. Sub 300 Lb motorcycles, ultralight camping gear and knobby tires will make the BDR much more enjoyable. Adventure bikes are best restricted to the pavement.
Glad you guys decided not to go on. It’s hard to call it quits after so much planning and anticipation. Sometimes we loose sight of the big picture. Best to survive for the next adventure. Best to both you and Jeff!
when your shoulder and your ankle tells you that you dont have the strenth anymore you'd be more than happy to call it quits. Better than calling a helicopter
Hi Guys, thanks for the video. Always hard work with big bikes in the sand. I didn’t notice anywhere in the video if you dropped the tire pressures once you got into the gravel and sand. Rule of thumb I’ve used for both bikes and 4wd is 80% recommended tyre pressure for gravel and 60% for sand. So for 34 psi road pressure set 27 psi gravel and 21 psi for sand. Given you were alternating between gravel and sand 25 psi would have been a good alternate. I’ve spent many years in sand dunes on bikes and there is no way I could have ridden on 34 psi. As far as playing with the preloads it will only be of small help. Obviously, once back in the tarmac you need to keep your speed down to 30-40 mph until your tire pressures are back up. Riding in the desert in Morocco I had the pressure down to 15 psi to stay stable on the sand. If you haven’t tried it give it a go. Good decision to pull out before you got hurt👍
Thank you for this! I am looking into getting an adventure bike, and am so swayed by the fantasy videos you see on RUclips! This is the reality check I needed. If the trail sucks and you are not happy....STOP the ride. there will be others and learn from the lessons. Thanks for being real!
Based on this video and others I've seen, I think BDRs should be done on dual sports. Big, heavy adventure bikes should act as sport touring bikes with the ability to do mild off road adventures.
You're absolutely right, the dual sports are my tool of choice for BDRs. Last year a group of us started the NMBDR; I was on my 2017 KTM 500 EXC-F. We were halted by the wildfires north of I-40. Returned this year to finish the BDR on my 2022 Yamaha T7 and it was definitely more work on the heavier T7.
Yeah. There's a wise saying that a good dirtbike makes an OK streetbike, but a good streetbike makes a lousy dirtbike. I'm neither a skilled off-road rider nor a particularly strong human, so I need all the help I can get off-road. I can tolerate some highway miles on a dual-sport, but I really _can't_ tolerate picking up an ADV bike all day, not to mention wondering when it's going to break my leg. Even the guys that _can_...are they actually having fun, or just being macho? I tend to suspect the latter.
@@BigRockMoto In regards to @motoxplor s statement. What are your thoughts on the new Himi 450 and CFmoto 450 MTX in regards to this problem? Do you believe these lighter weight ADV bikes will be comfortable on the road and be able to handle BDRs?
So refreshing to see a ADV video that includes mostly trials and tribulations. Hat's off to you guys for having to ride that crap so far before even having the chance to give up. Up here in the northeast it's rare that really bad conditions don't have a bailout in a mile or two. I felt for you guys when I looked off in the distance and it seemed to go on forever.
I bought a ktm 690 enduro r that was set up for the TAT. It had a similar Mosko setup to yours I removed them and the racks and sold them for almost $1,100. They weighed 55 lb period I replaced them with the Mosko R40's more like saddlebags without a metal rack) a duffel bag weighing 11 lb. total. Huuuge difference. The kind of riding you did begs for lighter minimalist bikes and gear. As it is most people will ride the desert on pure dual sports (ktm 500 exc etc.) Which is close to 90 lb lighter than even my setup. Much more managable. Thanks for the great video and realistic and honest portrayal of the highs and lows. Keep up the great work!
@@atticushexcel9567 A great practitioner can make up for bad tools but for everyone else they're an encumbrance. I wouldn't have either -- not my idea of enjoyment.
The riding is a lot better after that. Me and 2 others did it in the beginning of October on smaller bikes. Our trip is documented on the Facebook group. We had a lot of bad weather, and had one crash in the section you guys struggled in. Much tougher than Colorado for sure.
Love the video!! Those are the memorable trips! I had a very similar experience riding heavy ADV bikes in Patagonia-Argentina. Throughout the 4th days of struggles we kept being overtaken by riders on small dual sports having a lot more fun. After that I sold my GS800 and bought a CRF250 Rally, changed the suspension and lived happy since. I do miss the power of bigger bikes, but seeing your video reminded me that when going off road, light is right. Thank you for all of your videos!!
Big Dog used to say anything more than 12bhp is just wheelspin and I have some sympathy for that view. I have a BMW gs1250 and a KTM 690 and I wouldn't dream of taking the gs off-road. Just too much mass to control and I haven't the skill. in reality few of us have -so go small and light = fun trips.
I definitely agree on one crash leading to another. I hadn't been off my bike for a year other than a step off and then crashed 3 times in about 2 hours taking a lesson on unfamiliar terrain while tired. Now 2 weeks post op in a shoulder immobilizer with about 6 months to think about it! I'm so glad Jeff has no serious injury. Love the videos Ian!
Deep sand is not fun. As you found out, suspension settings make a big difference. I would add that in addition to adding fork preload and reducing shock preload, (more chopper like), adding compression damping to the fork also helps. I’m glad that the two of you made it out without serious injury. Good judgement prevailed!
Last summer I was headed for Tuktoyaktuk, NWT. My AT was heavily loaded with being prepared to be in the middle of nowhere really. With all my gear on the bike and full of fuel the bike was weighting in at 795lbs. On the pavement there wasn’t any issues except rain almost all the days I was gone. When I got to the Dempster highway, which is all bad gravel road actually it was raining or had recently rained. It was greasy, and I got as far north as the NWT border and at that point I was 250 miles short of my intended destination and I turned back south again. The road was wetter and even slipperier by then and fog settled in with visibility down to under 100 yards and 38°F. I’d pushed my boundaries beyond what I expected at that point and decided that was as far as I was going for my personal skill level. Also I was riding alone, I don’t have anyone I know that does adventure riding to go on the trip with. Main thing is I made it 2500 miles back home safely.
I remember those days of spending over 8 hours standing on foot pegs using your thighs as shock absorbers, riding in sand. Thighs were singing at the end of the day. Life-long Arizona resident and off-road rider. 79 now.
The contrast between the pleasing quiet at your first night's campsite and the misery and frustration on the desert trail by the 2nd afternoon shows the reality of moto camping on a BDR. Your comment about dehydration reminded me of my own close call this summer when, having left my hydro-pack at home, I didn't take the time to stop and drink.... When I finally did stop to drink and rest, two hours after getting thirsty, I was surprised to find that I could not even stand up on my own! It was like "my balance had left the building!" - Not good for a motorcyclist. For the first time in my life, I needed physical assistance (from a buddy) to even get to shade, electrolytes and fluid.... Sobering and instructive on the insidiousness of dehydration. You guys demonstrated for us: "stop, regroup and live to ride another day." Thank you!
I feel Jeffs pain. went on my first 'adventure' ride and crashed in the first 20 min breaking some ribs. I had never crashed before. Its humbling. Enjoyed the honest video
Every person considering a big bore ADV style bike should watch this video to contrast with the over romanticized image the motorcycle industry is selling you.
Thanks for posting this video on your struggles. This is an important PSA about not riding difficult terrain alone if possible and having bail out plans if things go sideways. None of us are immune to bad days ✌️
@@BigRockMotoI agree! Your bike and product reviews are great but seeing you take these out in "real-world" scenarios is much more informative (and entertaining). Good stuff!
What a rough ride. I'm good for about a day of sand like that. Then I'm just done. I don't have the right energy the next day. There is some really cool riding over in Utah the San Rafael Swell area. But it's so sandy. Thanks for taking us along and showing what its really like tackling miles of sand. If you ever end up in Northern Nevada hit me up I would love to take you up through Jarbidge it's a great ADV Bike friendly ride.
Some constructive advice... you guys are overloaded by a LOT. I did this ride on a DR650 with total packed weight about 20lbs including water. I slept in the same baselayers I rode in, only packed emergency food (eat at gas stops, zero cooking gear), packed half a toolkit while my partner packed the other half. I've got lots of time in the sand...but once that back "ADV" tire sinks in that talcum powder silt, you're done. I failed the Utah BDR a couple years ago on a S10 despite 20 years of dirt bike experience and learned a few lessons. 1) Consider your stamina at 100% each morning, when your bike is over 500lbs every time you push, pick up, man handle, drop, you lose those points for the day. When your physical stamina drops you start making mental mistakes too. This is why I swore off the big bikes, and ride a KTM 500 now. Anyone can suffer through highway stints with earplugs going 50mph, with no skills required. But very few can tackle hard offroad on 600lb bikes without consequences, the comfort gained on pavement isn't worth it. 2) Don't "push on" on ADV bikes. You can see how your mental and physical states were fading and your head was gone much earlier on in that section. After the 1st crash I would have stopped for at least an hour of rest if not made camp, even in broad daylight, to reassess. We destroyed our bikes "pushing on" one last muddy hill only 1/2mile to the next gravel section, burned out clutches and cost us the trip. If we had stopped to rest and clear our minds, we would have seen the folly. 3) On sugar sand, you have to be aggressively back in the seat, almost straight armed and heavy on the throttle. Even if it means wheel spin, in those deep sections I may be hitting the limiter while trying to sit on the passenger seat, you can't be in a neutral middle position over the pegs. That's where the stability of the chassis will come from, you have to lighten the front tire as much as possible and keep it floating so it doesn't knife.
Great video as always. One thing for everyone to keep in mind is that adv bikes are for adventuring meaning you never know where you will end up or what route you're using to get home, it's not just about doing a bdr. I think people lose the point of a adv bike. I enjoy getting to the trails almost as much as riding said trails. I love having the freedom to go off and wander and NOT have to go back to a truck. I rode the Idaho bdr recently and loved the 2 day to the the start and the 3 days coming home as a time to reflect. One thing I did gain from this video is to cowboy camp( sleep out under the stars) and then motel it other nights so as to take less gear.
A public service video, a cautionary tale, for those who would go adventure riding on the middle to large adventure bikes. You both showed good judgement in stopping the ride when the get offs accumulated. BTW: Your skill as a videographer is getting quite good; this starting to look like a feature production. A suggestion: When you stop in your ride, please include your location (GPS point) so we can match the terrain with a map.
Great video! You supported your buddy and stuck with him throughout the trip: even though it ended short. Great show of character, supportive friendship and calm cool attitude. I'd ride with you anytime. Take care and please show us more bike trip adventure videos..
Great video! Yes, all that deep sand on the big bikes is a real challenge! Where you were looking at the solar farm in the distance and hating the sand, I could relate! The CABDR on Cima road had the same deep stuff with the farm in the distance! Great, honest video! Glad Jeff is ok!
We made the same mistake in Oregon august time. Absolutely boiling! After day two we changed plans. We Airbnb 1/2 thru the route. 2 sections north 2 sections south. Kept all the overloaded gear and the Airbnb. Took all that hot ass riding gear off and had a blast. Thanks for taking us on your journey.
Hi from New Zealand. Always been a fan of your videos. Your prep was top notch and you had the balls to call it quits when needed which made your story more appealing. A good watch my friend.
Bro, you are so right about the massive dips that can be in those dirt roads that get washed through by flash floods. I hit one way too fast in Death Valley on the way to the geologist cabin. Launched me into the air and landed cross rutted and crashed. Separated my shoulder. Rode 300 miles back to camp then rode 600 miles home the next day. Thank God for ibuprofen.
Thank God neither of you was seriously hurt on your ride because I have seen firsthand just how horribly wrong things can go in the blink of an eye. This being said, I really give you two credit as most in your position would probably have pulled the plug and bailed out which honestly would have been the best decision. I must say that, I really enjoyed your video guys so keep up the great work. Now with the utmost respect intended coming from a family of motocross racers with extreme off-roading riding experience if there is one thing that we try to share with people when getting into true off-road adventure riding is, " Know your limits and learn to accept that it is ok when you get into a situation where you have exceeded your limits and pull the plug" I have seen hard trail crashes that have resulted in broken backs and people need to know that this shit can and does happen if you push beyond your skill level. There are some top-notch adventure riding schools which are multi-leveled to help riders move through the proper skill progression of ADV riding. Multi-purpose street/trail tires just do not cut it in the sand and unfortunately, you fellows had the wrong rubber underneath you plain and simple. Another skill taught is how to properly pick your bike up after a crash and trying to lift a 700 lb bike the way you chaps were doing is a formula for a bad back at the very least. Turn around and back into your bike, take a grip on the lower hand grip and use your legs to raise your bike up. ( Your back will thank you) When standing and riding (as you should be in these conditions) take a look at the position your elbows / arms in. Having your elbows pointing down like you have makes your arms pretty much useless.Your arms / elbows should be flarrerd in the out position and your hand grip on the bars not be a death grip. Flow with the terrain and use your feet on the pegs to stay connected with your bike. No point rambling on but invest in some proper training and this ride will be a piece of cake fellows Keep riding boys and keep pumping out the videos You are 100% correct with your comment that there are much. much better bikes to choose / use for these types of riding conditions but your bikes is more than capable of doing this type of riding as longer as the rider is at this skill level. Without question my entire family could be considered to be at the expert rider level and yet with every single trip we plan / take, we all come away learning things we could do better.
I rode the entire NVBDR in June of '21, and even then the sections up to and somewhat past Pahrump were horrible on an ADV bike. In all honesty though, from Goldpoint/Tonopah is really good (although still with some challenges), all the way to Jarbidge, from where you can begin the Idaho BDR. Tonopah to the Canadian border? Yes indeed.
Being defeated makes you want to finish it more . Nevada reminds me of prerunning a Baja race course. Tough riding for big bikes . How to cheat- put a big tank on a ktm 500exc and stay in motels . I had a Honda xr650r that I used for dirty adv riding . I did many miles riding by myself . I miss that bike . If you ride from Deeth to Jarbidge that is an awesome ride .
After watching this I think I’d rather suffer the annoyance of a dual sport on the highway than deal with that. So much of our Vegas area MTB and MOTO trails were ruined with the hurricane.
Lol. 4 for you, 2 for me! Good to see this. I could feel Jeff's tension. Sometimes you need to recognise it, stop, get a hotel and evaluate. It's meant to be fun, but you gotta also push through sometimes. 👍🏻
When this happens to me. I stop, make a coffee or tea and eat a snack. Then I check my gear and luggage. I check my tires and look at the map. By the time all that is done. I’m relaxed and refreshed and things get easier. Glad all are ok. Cheers.
I rode section one of the Nevada BDR solo on my fully loaded V-Strom 650 and struggled in the sand, including dropping the bike. My tires were not at all suitable and the V-Strom is more of a forest road bike than a sand bike, and I questioned my abilities. Was glad to get out of there, hot, dehydrated, and exhausted. This is truly technical riding! Seeing what you guys went through, and how section two was worse, I'm glad I just did the one section. I'll try again, but probably on a dual sport rather than an adventure bike. Thanks for the reality check on the BDR fantasy! See my journey - ruclips.net/video/ZW4n9DvEIaU/видео.html.
Thanks for providing this. He was lucky he was adle to dig his foot out. I dropped my AT which i only had for 2 weeks on a steep gravelly hill and in pinned my left foot under it. Plus, i was riding alone. 4 guys on quads had to lift it off me. Glad he wasn't hurt worse. Enjoy the ride.
Ian, thanks for another great video! Glad to hear Jeff's injuries were relatively minor and that he's fully recovered. Deep sand + mid size or big ADV bikes is way out of my league!
thats proves your a good rider....knowing when to call it. The road or lack of them change after every storm...great content...look forward to the completion .
Thank you, please do more of this kind of video. I grew up in Nevada so this is making REALLY want to go back & do this kind of trip. The talk about the gear is appreciated and its kind of funny because its almost like a huge commercial for motorcycle gear. Cheers!
Appreciate u posting this vid. Looks like a great trip for a side by side or my 4Runner. Couldn’t pay me enough to do the heavy adventure bikes in that stuff.
Hi Ian, another superb instalment of life on bikes. Being in the UK I am so envious of the space you have to roam in the USA. I remember a few locations you rode through, I did a big loop of a road trip starting in Vegas a few yrs ago on a rented bike.The closest we have to what you did would be the TET through the Pyrenees. BTW, you definitely have the best channel in the USA & up there with the best in Europe
As for riding in the heat, not only did I soak my tee shirt but I also filled my helmet with water and drained it. The cooling lasted about 1/2hr- was great while it lasted…
For some reason folks think they can be desk jockeys 5 days a week and then bust out on a BDR for a week. Fitness is a huge part, and if anyone thinks I’m casting shade on anyone, nope! I’ve been working out for a year in preparation for my first BDR. On top of taking classes and practicing as much as I can. Get fit and strong before you try that stuff. It’ll save you.
Great video! Nice job at really capturing the experience. A very real experience, it was and felt watching it. Glad to hear he is back up and enjoying riding again. Looking forward to seeing more moto camping trips from you.
I added an aftermarket wind deflector to my 2021 KTM 890 just like you and Jeff. The problem is, that over time the wind deflector caused the stock windscreen to crack the the point the deflector clamps on. No crashes, just BDR-style riding resulted in two cracks in my windscreen.
Really grueling conditions, sorry about the injuries. Watching both of you walking around barefooted while setting up camp made me wince! I would like to recommend Merrill Trail Glove footwear. They are minimalist hiking shoes and take very little space in your panniers. Think ballet slippers with treaded soles. They are great to have something wear for a walk, setting up your camp site or easy hiking.
That's graboid territory. You're lucky you made it out alive. Seriously though that much deep sand sand requires a tire better suited for it. I would be on the Pirelli Scorpion Rally personally. P.S. Note to anyone who replies I did NOT say the Rally STR. Big difference in tires.
This is where that sweet modded KTM 690 he sold comes in. A 450 pounds plus gear 890 (or worse an even bigger bike) simply doesn't cut it off road. I have a Rottweiler tuned 701 with Renazco seat and taller 16/45 gearing, Motoz Rallz / Dual Venture tires set up with a TuBliss system, and small Puig fairing to block some wind and keep it light and simple in the dual sport spirit. My 701 is passable on and off road, excelling at neither (except for 2 lane curvy canyons, it is a weapon there) but sufficing just fine as it can cruise at 70-75 all day long easily on the highway. Above 75 it is pulling hard on the way to a top end approaching 120, plenty fast enough in other words. It starts to become a chore to hold on at speeds above 75, so I tend to cruise at 70 on the highway. For me the answer for this kind of riding is a true 50/50 dual sport, not a more street oriented heavyweight ADV. To be honest, the 690 platform bikes are still heavy pigs off road, but at least they are something resembling manageable pigs, and their weight actually is a road holding benefit on the street - real dirt bikes always suck on the road by their very nature. A DR or XR-L 650 with a big tank and custom wide and fluffy saddle is better yet, because being air cooled and stone age basic in general, the DR and XR-L are far more difficult to damage when the inevitable crashing occurs. I knew this when I got my 701, but being in the throes of mid life crisis, I wanted the big brappy KTM single's power, and mounted up some cool Outback MotorTrek mini crash bars 😆
Hey Ian, I met you in Searchlight, NV when you were on this adventure. I was caging it to Vegas for the final follow up appointment after a bike crash, facial plates installed a my jaw wired shut for a month. I'm usually about 30-40 lbs fatter! I currently own at least four bikes that you've recently tested and your reviews actually helped me to decide when I was on the fence.
Great video to get a sense of what it's really like out there! I had a similar experience on the Wyoming BDR in 2022. While crossing the famous "Beaver Rim" section on my 2020 Vstrom 650, I dropped the bike a few times in deep sand. Sand and heavy bikes don't make fore a good situation unless you are really an advanced rider. I was alone and on an 88-degree day in July, I decided it wasn't worth it so I doubled back and skipped ahead of that section on the highway. In retrospect, it could have ended a lot worse than it did for me although I was happy that I doubled back instead of pushing on just in the name of pride. Ironically, that was the only part of the whole route that the Vstrom struggled with. The rest of it, including really rocky sections in the Big Horn mountains, was challenging but nothing like dealing with that Sand out in the middle of nowhere!
I’ve done all the southwest BDR’s on a 500, 690, and 390. A bike that can be picked up over and over again easily is a must for these BDR’s. I not ride anything bigger!!!
You guys are AMAZING riders! I live in central Nevada and wouldn’t; ever think of riding those tails on anything bigger than my WR250R, but preferably on a YZ250F or any actual dirt bike. On a lighter bike you can go fast enough to hop over the whoops. Well, my son can, I’m not a good enough rider for that. As you found out, you have to keep your speed up in the sand, but then you risk a bad crash. This was an excellent lesson in what can happen, how fatigue can really mess up your day, and especially why you have to have a friend(or more) to travel with. I enjoy your reviews (most of them anyway), but, frankly, they’re irrelevant to me personally because I can only afford a couple of bikes at a time, and tend to just keep what I have for many years. I’m never going to be able to afford most of the bikes you test. This video showed another side of you, and one I can relate to. You’re a much more experienced and skilled rider than I, but it was reassuring to see that even you (both or you) had the same problems I struggle with on a much more nimble dual-sport, with much less gear. You will find that the Nevada off-road trails in general (not sure about the BDR specifically) become much more scenic and enjoyable as you get further North, into the Easter Sierras. Thanks for a great video. I know your main thing is reviews, but personally I’d much rather see some more content like this.
Lived in Vegas for many years. Spent a decent amount of time in that same sand with 250, 450 dual sports. Can’t imagine taking fully loaded mid sized adv bike on that. You guys are tougher than I. Would have thrown in the towel much earlier. Miserable stuff. Waiting for your triumphant return to the nvbdr
The problem you had with fuel boiling, or actually pressure buildup, happens to my 2019 790R as well. It just needs to be in hot weather and a tank full or near full. I haven't diagnosed the problem on mine, but like you mentioned, it should be related to a failure of the fuel pressure venting.
My 890r did this the first time I rode it. I found the vent line pinch between the tank and frame, I also lined the underside of the tank with gold reflective foil and have had zero issues since even in 106 degree heat.
Great video! As a fellow Jeff with a 1st gen 890R, I was cheering for him from the get-go! 😂 even as an A class off-road racer, the sand on a loaded adventure Bike is absolutely no joke! Again, nice work to the two of you!
I'm from Vegas and with my son (13) we go often to Oatman for brunch. It's a nice little ride and I like the town. I didn't know the bar started there (I never looked into it either...lol) Better safe than sorry !
I just got back from doing the (AZPT) Arizona Peace Trail ride (approx 700 miles -5 days) and I am getting PTSD watching your video. I have a KTM 790 ADV and I struggled in the DEEP sand (up to my axles and bike standing up on its own w/no kickstand). I was tortured for 2 days until I threw the white flag. Like you, big storms rolled through a few weeks prior and made the terrain rutted beyond belief and crazy sandy. I didnt experience this type of terrain at the Bisbee rally (South AZ) but your ride seemed a lot like the AZPT. I feel your pain.
I enjoyed going on that ride with you, sorry you had so much trouble. Thanks for giving the realistic instead of the fantastic version! I have been following your channel since the beginning and your content is top notch.
Fatigue and dehydration were contributing factors on that trip. I could see Jeff struggling towards the end. Great video, good insight with regards to desert terrain.
Outstanding coverage of your ride.Glad you both got through the ride without any major recovery issues.These rides can change your riding future in a split second.Thanks.
Another hot-weather riding tip: buy a bag of ice at the gas station/store and stuff all your pockets. In 110º weather and an Aerostitch, that has allowed me to keep riding when I would have otherwise become a heat casualty. I've also learned to PRE-hydrate whenever I'm going into the desert. That means pounding water the day before. The desert can pull water out of you faster than you can drink and absorb it!
Or do not wear an aerostitch in those conditions. It isn't going to rain on you out there if you checked the weather report. I can pull a garbage bag poncho on in the absoulute worst case. In these conditions l would be wearing a mesh jersey over a mesh set of body armor and a cooling vest under everything.
Ian,”WOW” uncut, unrehearsed, real deal, riding with you and Jeff. I watch the video twice on my big screen TV. I hear you guys, and feel the pain. Brings back a lot of my memories of riding off-road. I think one of the big takeaways for that type of riding is always have a riding partner, and always plan for the unexpected. Anyways, keep the rubber side up, be safe out there, and enjoy life to the fullest. PS, hopefully someday I’ll bump into you up in Julian.👍
IMHO: ADV bikes are a marketing ploy. Too heavy, too powerful for off-road use. Personally, I ride a (highly) modified street legal 1974 Yamaha TY250. 212 lbs dry. It's good for 70 mph or so, and way friendly off-road. Nice video!
This is the absolute real stuff Ian. Super coverage, it is soooo the realistic view of how it can be on sections of BDRs'. I hate the sand myself as well. I ride a big liter bike (2020 Tiger 1200Xcx) and all tolled with camping gear am about 1000lbs. I would have absolutely hated that section to Pahrump. Good on both of you for getting thru it.! What's crazy is... once you've gone thru the hell its such a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction when done, and who says you cant voice your absolute distain at the top of your lungs whilst bashing thru the hard shit, we're only human! Good to hear you are planning to finish it and kudos to you for the comment about setting the proper expectations when you set out to adventure, you never know what it will bring and it usually brings adversity in some form or another but that is what makes the memory and solidifies it in your mind. Life is about the memories and to appreciate them you have to benchmark the good against the bad and the ugly. Really enjoy your channel and especially this video, keep on keeping on.
If it takes two of you to lift a bike you have too much crap on it for adventure biking. The sand and all is part of the adventure! Too much complaining about it. Be thankful you are out doing it.
Wow... great video, thanks for sharing. I did the COBDR and WYBDR last year on the 890. I think I'll skip the NVBDR based on this video. Couple of notes: KTM fronts seem to leak. I used bicycle tire sealant and cured it on two KTMs this year. It's stupid, but it works. Thought it was the MotoZ tires, but maybe the KTM rims. Aired my front every day on the COBDR, after sealant... 0 times on the WYBDR. Gas boiling was an issue on the 890 for sure, multiple times on the trip. Had gas shoot out when opening the cap. Heard it whistling when stopped."
I will definitely wait until I get a smaller bike to do that route. I am no friend of deep sand. I've done routes in the past where it was no fun and I just wanted it to be over and honestly. That's not why I ride motorcycles.
Well done guys the southern BDRs are no joke on what is arguably the best middle weight adv bike on the planet. If you want to do the SoCal or AZ BDR in it’s entirety and have fun take a light adv bike Any of the new 300s DRZ 400 or the KTM 350 to 500s will make the ride a much more enjoyable experience. I did section 2 of SoCal on an AfricaTwin and it SUCKED!!! Ian you have the perfect BDR weapon in the garage rent a uhaul van to get you to the start and uhaul it home at the end. That’s how I will be doing the IDBDR. Would you really have missed the 6 plus hrs of freeway grind each way? Thank you again for the awesome videos glad your mate it healthy.
I just did the Idaho bdr about a month ago, even doing the last nvbdr on my GSA. IT wasn't as easy as people say but I had no drops. You can do the IDBDR on a large or mid adv bike no problem. Theres too much riding 1300 miles for a small bike .
Definitely recommend reducing rear preload even with luggage. Can cut down 20-30% and be fine and it helps a lot in the sand. Also airing down to 25-27 helps more than I thought.
![ROSÉ (로제) - number one girl [더 시즌즈-이영지의 레인보우] | KBS 241129 방송](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/A9oByH9Ci24/mqdefault.jpg)
Drop a comment if you've had a motorcycle trip go wrong... it happens to all of us!
🏍GEAR USED FOR THIS TRIP (VIDEO OVERVIEW COMING SOON):
RIDING GEAR:
⚡Arai XD4 Helmet: tinyurl.com/4j8rkx8x
⚡Cardo Packtalk Edge:: cardosystems.rfrl.co/62nyq
⚡Ridetech Moto GoPro Mount: ridetechmoto.com/
⚡GoPro Hero11: amzn.to/40VM1Oy
⚡PurplePanda Helmet Mic: amzn.to/3vkL7Ni
⚡RAM Claw Mount: amzn.to/3jQ55u4
⚡Mosko Strata Merino Base Layers: tinyurl.com/yc68cyjn
⚡MSR Base Layers: bit.ly/3K3bQ8s
⚡Klim Socks: bit.ly/3TsGegD
⚡Mosko Graph Base T-Shirt: tinyurl.com/34mcdakc
⚡ Mosko Moto Ectotherm Jacket: bit.ly/3GJUax6
⚡ Klim Badlands Pro A3: imp.i104546.net/6ezPxN
⚡ Sidi Adventure 2 Boot: imp.i104546.net/b3q5kx
⚡ Alpinestars Tech 7 Boot: imp.i104546.net/EKqeQ9
⚡ REV’IT Dirt 3 Glove: imp.i104546.net/BXa3A0
⚡ Dainese Tempest Glove: imp.i104546.net/QyENez
⚡ Mosko Moto Wildcat 8L Backpack: bit.ly/3OiE5Ss
⚡ Garmin inReach Communicator: amzn.to/40zZwo1
⚡ Foamerz Glasses: imp.i104546.net/DKQa9b
⚡ Eargasm Ear Plugs: amzn.to/3stvgPf
BIKE SETUP:
⚡ Tusk Olympus Tank Bags: bit.ly/3yfaQbi
⚡ Mosko Backcountry Panniers/Duffle: tinyurl.com/2s433796
⚡ Mosko Backcountry CInch Strap: tinyurl.com/bddnewz2
⚡ Motoz Rallz Tires: bit.ly/3w1cf62
⚡Tusk D-Flex Pro Handguards: bit.ly/3GCVkwb
⚡AXP Skid Plate: bit.ly/3UQspYF
⚡ Garmin Zumo XT GPS: bit.ly/3EGY4Vi
⚡ Cyclops Lights: tinyurl.com/2p9h85n5
⚡ Seat Cover: www.coolcovers.co.uk/
⚡ Faast Co. Flexx Bars: tinyurl.com/3xky3rnn
⚡ Faast Impact ADV Footpegs: tinyurl.com/5cwz9tet
⚡ Quadlock Phone Mounts: imp.i104546.net/m5zZEZ
⚡ DoubleTake Mirrors: bit.ly/3xczavF
⚡ Tusk Heated Grips: tinyurl.com/yea664se
⚡ Puig Windshield Visor (MD): bit.ly/31IcW7v
CAMPING GEAR:
⚡ Nalgene Water Bottles: amzn.to/46pdYkp
⚡ Nemo Tensor Sleep Pad: amzn.to/40B3aOs
⚡ REI TrailMade Tent: tinyurl.com/3wcswf7f
⚡ Compression Bags: amzn.to/3ssxpuA
⚡ Kelty Sleeping Bag: amzn.to/49tyPpg
⚡ Sleeping Bag Liner: amzn.to/47u3Ffw
⚡ Inflatable Pillows: amzn.to/3QSWxUD
⚡ Hammer MultiTool: amzn.to/46biIKj
⚡ Mattress Inflator: amzn.to/47uW5RN
⚡ Packable Camp Shoes: amzn.to/49tcQ1N
⚡ Power Bank Charger: amzn.to/3ssDdnJ
⚡ Fire Maple Stove: amzn.to/469CXb1
⚡ Peak Refuel Meals: amzn.to/49w7wdN
⚡ Collapsible Pot: amzn.to/3u20XiX
⚡ Jump Starter: tinyurl.com/3ccu9kpr
⚡ Camp Chair: bit.ly/3GqL5HP
⚡ Folding Utensils:bit.ly/3Iwh3UK
JEFF’s KIT:
HJC DS-X1 Helmet: tinyurl.com/2n82vssr
Rigg-Gear Panniers: tinyurl.com/2n82vssr
Jeff’s Channel: www.youtube.com/@ADV_Agenda
I dont know if it was previously discussed, but as a suggestion, adventure trips should be ridden by at least 3 riders. In case of a serious injury one stays helping the injured and the other goes for help. Congratulation for the video, and for sharing the experience. 👍
so far i am very lucky i drove last August 3000 mile in Egypt i have KTM 1290 I lift it their i will be going again in March i `ll ship Norden 901 soon, any one knows about shipping companies !!
Try again on your 350EXC with 9psi in the tires, compare & contrast.
Sand is definitely a challenge. You did well to put up with it for multiple days.
I think almost every one of our longer trips, And some of the shorter ones, has had something go wrong. Sometimes it is just part of the adventure and sometimes it ends the adventure. Our channel got started when my KLX was totaled before we even got to our campsite.
go wrong ??? sure, last trip, i broke a thumb, then two floating bones, twisted ankle and totall twisted knee to nearly 120° which stretched ligaments. Just because I was riding too slow, following a buddy, and being totally out of focus . But who cares ;) Being at 1000 km from home , on tracks so full of rocks that we wished to just have 100 m of grass was something. So I just had to go on. But, I was riding as usual an enduro bike, as I would NEVER use an heavy bike and so many luggages. I prefer to have totally destroyed bum, stand vibrations, and seat wood torture suffering on tarmac. All lugages were around 9 kg and it was IMHO still too much to have FUN. downsizing now to 6kg all included. Because here is the point. You can hydrate, eat , sleep well, the minute you don't have fun, and loose focus, you are in danger.... Honest shooting , thoughts and review. Appreciate ;) All trip choice , luggages, weight and type of bike are just IMHO in this equation : Bike giving 90% nice ride and nightmare in 10% hard parts , or bike which gives 90% of hard rides on liaisons but makes fun in the 10% of hard parts. I always choose the second one . Yes it can be pain in ass if you maybe have to change real offroad tires on the trip, but it is the only way to have a good handling. At last when knobbies are dead, you can go back home by smal roads or trails with them. So much joke about dual sport tires, the 70/30, 80/20 50/50. makes me laugh all time. You can ride everywhere with a sport tire, as long as it is not mud, sand or deep gravel. Then come the knobbies. But you already know all of that ... Have good rides !
Probably one of the most realistic BDR videos out there. I really appreciate it.
I was thinking the same thing man. Great video.
You’re absolutely right! They kept it real.
I love the sincere insight into the Highs and Lows that always make these rides memorable, no matter the outcome. Thanks for letting us ride along with you guys!
Jeff is a real tough rider. Thanks for sharing this. Very challenging trip.
If you want to ride a BDR pain-free, do it on a dual sport. My buddy and I have finished six of them on DRZ400s and it's been a pleasure. For camping gear, look at what ultralight backpackers do. If you load up an already heavy adventure bike with 80 lbs more of gear, it takes the fun right out of it.
In 2022 I was riding the Arizona BDR solo, from north to south and started experiencing deep washouts from the floods just a few days before and then extreme mud with a simple drop. I caught my leg under the right saddle bag. I managed to get the bike back up and within 20 miles. I dropped it two more times . It was so slippery. I had to get weeds and tree limbs to put under my feet to keep them from sliding . It was dark before I got it picked up. I ended up sleeping right in the middle of the trail and the next morning I said a few prayers and finally made it to a major dirt road I called it quits .with 6 1/2 hour ride back to Colorado to where my truck was and then two more days back to Arkansas to my daughters before I sought out medical attention turns out I broke my leg right above the ankle. I went back to Arizona this May and finished it .
Appreciate the ability to call it quits but get back in the saddle and finish it later. Nice!
I have also gotten myself into some BIG trouble in the middle of nowhere solo… very few people these days get to experience those emotions. Having to wonder if you’re gonna make it out or not certainly helps you appreciate life when you do.
OMG ! you went through hell. Glad you got through that ordeal.
Bummer to hear. the AZBDR can be a cakewalk if it's dry. Were you up near the GC? In the future, getting out to the highway and bypassing a section, should put you in better conditions.
Sounds very intense. Glad you are OK, and great to hear that you went back and conquered it!
It may be the same everywhere, But I definitely can confirm that here in Wyoming, trails are much more difficult, if not completely impossible, when very wet..
I'm sorry this went badly for you guys, but I thank you for having the courage and humility to share this experience with us!
You cant plan your way out of the wrong bike for the job. The flooding was well known and really chewed up the whole area. Both of you did as well as can be expected. You had the right answer with the previous 690 and about half the amount of luggage. The bike needs fueling every day so no need to carry a weeks food. A set of decent tires is key at lower pressures. I use 22 on my 701. I sold my 1190 for these reasons. It was 20% better than my 701 on the pavement and 90% worse on the dirt. Its the right tool for these trips. Wearing a full ADV suit is really a problem as well. You just pour sweat all day long. Light shells over ventilated gear for the rain is great.
My other rule is you need to able to pick the bike up by yourself somewhat easily.
Amen to that. Big bikes turned this trip from being challenging fun, into a rotten, scary experience.
I am not being a wiseass, trust me guys but my friend Dave Lomax who owns AdventureSpec ( check them out) has a saying. "Overweight is underprepared"
The adverts show top guys drifting 600lb bikes, the implication being that if you buy a big adventure bike you too will be able to do it. The truth is most of us haven't the skill to manage a 600lb bike -when its loaded it will handle in the dirt like a drunk pig and is almost impossible to pick up solo-and you ARE going to fall off.
I include myself in this "just haven't the skill "category and I've done the Transam Trail, the CD, The Sahara desert , ridden across Mongolia and Kazakhstan on the dirt then Russia on the slab. All this on a DRZ 400 or a KTM690 carrying as little as possible. 2 small soft "Dirtbagz" ..one clothes, one spares and tools, and my camping gear.
The truth is no one needs 100+bhp when you're going to spend most of your time between 20 and 40 mph?
No mention was made of tyre pressures. On the sand I usually run 12-15lb -no more.
Top marks to you guys for your honesty and tenacity but next time I hope you go small and light.
Thanks for the vid and I hope your buddy recovered quickly.
Rain shell over ventilated gear is the way to go when you have extreme temperature variation. Took me a while to figure it out. I'm in NM on an '07 KLR.
I did this trail on the same bike. I rode from North Carolina so having a big bike to tackle thousands of miles on the highway was important.
I had some of the same struggles they did but I kept a different mindset. I just kind of worked the problem. If I had to pick up the bike it was like losing my bishop in chess. I don't like it but I'm not going to get hung up on it. Let's figure out what's next.
Honestly, I think their biggest mistake was dressing too warmly. That's why ruined the attitude and exhausted the riders. I would have done more with layers instead of heavy gear.
I didn't have any problems doing NVBDR on my T7. Agreed on the ADV suits though.
@@MeerkatADVsome is definitely a skill issue here.
The most honest motorcycle channel on here. Thank you for posting this. A lot of people needed to see this to know it happens. Things can go down hill and sideways. Some days it’s just not your day.
agree with you and I do feel better now ... I felt like a quitter sometimes after NOT riding down that steep, winding, rocky trail that looks so promising ... remember the stones song: "You Can't Always Get What You Want"
Great video - as always. I can certainly relate. 2 years ago I was in Arches National Park in Moab on a KLR 650. Took off in the early afternoon. About 2 hours into the ride, I tried to scale a 40-foot slick rock hill at about a 60 degree incline. If you've ever been on slick rock, you know it's just that - SLICK ROCK!! Anyway, about midway up the hill, the bike came out from under me, I landed on my back and the bike landed on top of me. I am a US Marine Combat Vet, with a prosthetic left hip and left femur. I was able to wiggle out from under the bike, but the Happy Trails engine guards I had on the KLR, "punctured" the stator/regulator the bike. So I started an 11 - mile walk out of the trail area. I walked for over 7 hours, then quit at midnight. Crawled under a tree, got out a "space blanket" and beded down for the night. At dawn, I heard a pick up truck coming up the road, so I ran out, flagged down the driver, and he took me back to get my bike. Lesson learned - dont ride in the outback (alone) and dont try to scale slick rock!!🤷🏽♂️🏍️🇺🇸
Thanks for uploading this video. It shows that not all adventure riding is fun, and doing it for the sake of doing it is not always worth it. It's a good reminder for us all.
I appreciate the realism. I've been riding 1-2 BDRs per year for seven years. There have been scary or tough sections on every one. We once spent three days trying to get our bikes and selves out of a steep canyon in NorCal where the roads had been washed away. We finally hiked 13 miles out, injured and exhausted, and got help.
I now optimize all my gear for the most aggressive terrain I could encounter. I ride a heavily modified Husqvarna 701 and daydream of something even lighter. Every set of tires has gotten more aggressive, starting on 50/50 until I now run DOT legal dirt bike tires (Motoz Enduro IT). I ditched cooked food and stoves for tasty ProBars to carry less weight. I may have fewer comforts but I enjoy all the riding, especially the challenging parts, way more. I recommend it.
I lived in Las Vegas for 28 years, and still spend part of each year there. Have much off-pavement experience in the desert. Sub 300 Lb motorcycles, ultralight camping gear and knobby tires will make the BDR much more enjoyable.
Adventure bikes are best restricted to the pavement.
Glad you guys decided not to go on. It’s hard to call it quits after so much planning and anticipation. Sometimes we loose sight of the big picture. Best to survive for the next adventure. Best to both you and Jeff!
I totally agree!!
Good comment - you said it much better than I could.
when your shoulder and your ankle tells you that you dont have the strenth anymore you'd be more than happy to call it quits. Better than calling a helicopter
Hi Guys, thanks for the video. Always hard work with big bikes in the sand. I didn’t notice anywhere in the video if you dropped the tire pressures once you got into the gravel and sand. Rule of thumb I’ve used for both bikes and 4wd is 80% recommended tyre pressure for gravel and 60% for sand. So for 34 psi road pressure set 27 psi gravel and 21 psi for sand. Given you were alternating between gravel and sand 25 psi would have been a good alternate. I’ve spent many years in sand dunes on bikes and there is no way I could have ridden on 34 psi. As far as playing with the preloads it will only be of small help. Obviously, once back in the tarmac you need to keep your speed down to 30-40 mph until your tire pressures are back up. Riding in the desert in Morocco I had the pressure down to 15 psi to stay stable on the sand. If you haven’t tried it give it a go. Good decision to pull out before you got hurt👍
Thank you for this! I am looking into getting an adventure bike, and am so swayed by the fantasy videos you see on RUclips! This is the reality check I needed. If the trail sucks and you are not happy....STOP the ride. there will be others and learn from the lessons. Thanks for being real!
Based on this video and others I've seen, I think BDRs should be done on dual sports. Big, heavy adventure bikes should act as sport touring bikes with the ability to do mild off road adventures.
I basically agree
agree Big diff on big pig vs mx bike 250lbs
You're absolutely right, the dual sports are my tool of choice for BDRs. Last year a group of us started the NMBDR; I was on my 2017 KTM 500 EXC-F. We were halted by the wildfires north of I-40. Returned this year to finish the BDR on my 2022 Yamaha T7 and it was definitely more work on the heavier T7.
Yeah. There's a wise saying that a good dirtbike makes an OK streetbike, but a good streetbike makes a lousy dirtbike. I'm neither a skilled off-road rider nor a particularly strong human, so I need all the help I can get off-road. I can tolerate some highway miles on a dual-sport, but I really _can't_ tolerate picking up an ADV bike all day, not to mention wondering when it's going to break my leg. Even the guys that _can_...are they actually having fun, or just being macho? I tend to suspect the latter.
@@BigRockMoto In regards to @motoxplor s statement. What are your thoughts on the new Himi 450 and CFmoto 450 MTX in regards to this problem? Do you believe these lighter weight ADV bikes will be comfortable on the road and be able to handle BDRs?
So refreshing to see a ADV video that includes mostly trials and tribulations. Hat's off to you guys for having to ride that crap so far before even having the chance to give up. Up here in the northeast it's rare that really bad conditions don't have a bailout in a mile or two. I felt for you guys when I looked off in the distance and it seemed to go on forever.
I bought a ktm 690 enduro r that was set up for the TAT. It had a similar Mosko setup to yours I removed them and the racks and sold them for almost $1,100. They weighed 55 lb period I replaced them with the Mosko R40's more like saddlebags without a metal rack) a duffel bag weighing 11 lb. total. Huuuge difference. The kind of riding you did begs for lighter minimalist bikes and gear. As it is most people will ride the desert on pure dual sports (ktm 500 exc etc.) Which is close to 90 lb lighter than even my setup. Much more managable.
Thanks for the great video and realistic and honest portrayal of the highs and lows. Keep up the great work!
We often learn more from our failures than our successes. Wrong bikes for those conditions. Thanks for honestly sharing and glad you're both OK.
agree
@@atticushexcel9567 A great practitioner can make up for bad tools but for everyone else they're an encumbrance. I wouldn't have either -- not my idea of enjoyment.
Thanks for sharing Ian, other than my mishaps the trip was fun, I can't wait to finish the route!!
it was a great trip despite the challenges, thanks for letting me share the whole experience
@@BigRockMoto you didn't tell me it was your birthday, I would have made trail cake!
The riding is a lot better after that. Me and 2 others did it in the beginning of October on smaller bikes. Our trip is documented on the Facebook group. We had a lot of bad weather, and had one crash in the section you guys struggled in. Much tougher than Colorado for sure.
I want to go!!!
Love the video!! Those are the memorable trips!
I had a very similar experience riding heavy ADV bikes in Patagonia-Argentina. Throughout the 4th days of struggles we kept being overtaken by riders on small dual sports having a lot more fun. After that I sold my GS800 and bought a CRF250 Rally, changed the suspension and lived happy since. I do miss the power of bigger bikes, but seeing your video reminded me that when going off road, light is right. Thank you for all of your videos!!
Big Dog used to say anything more than 12bhp is just wheelspin and I have some sympathy for that view. I have a BMW gs1250 and a KTM 690 and I wouldn't dream of taking the gs off-road. Just too much mass to control and I haven't the skill. in reality few of us have -so go small and light = fun trips.
I definitely agree on one crash leading to another. I hadn't been off my bike for a year other than a step off and then crashed 3 times in about 2 hours taking a lesson on unfamiliar terrain while tired. Now 2 weeks post op in a shoulder immobilizer with about 6 months to think about it! I'm so glad Jeff has no serious injury. Love the videos Ian!
Deep sand is not fun. As you found out, suspension settings make a big difference. I would add that in addition to adding fork preload and reducing shock preload, (more chopper like), adding compression damping to the fork also helps. I’m glad that the two of you made it out without serious injury. Good judgement prevailed!
Watching this video makes me feel good about buying my CRF300LS as my first bike for off-road and BDRs.
Good choice IMHO. He didn’t like that bike in his review but i bet he wished he had it in that powdery sand!!
Last summer I was headed for Tuktoyaktuk, NWT. My AT was heavily loaded with being prepared to be in the middle of nowhere really. With all my gear on the bike and full of fuel the bike was weighting in at 795lbs. On the pavement there wasn’t any issues except rain almost all the days I was gone. When I got to the Dempster highway, which is all bad gravel road actually it was raining or had recently rained. It was greasy, and I got as far north as the NWT border and at that point I was 250 miles short of my intended destination and I turned back south again. The road was wetter and even slipperier by then and fog settled in with visibility down to under 100 yards and 38°F. I’d pushed my boundaries beyond what I expected at that point and decided that was as far as I was going for my personal skill level. Also I was riding alone, I don’t have anyone I know that does adventure riding to go on the trip with. Main thing is I made it 2500 miles back home safely.
I remember those days of spending over 8 hours standing on foot pegs using your thighs as shock absorbers, riding in sand. Thighs were singing at the end of the day. Life-long Arizona resident and off-road rider. 79 now.
The contrast between the pleasing quiet at your first night's campsite and the misery and frustration on the desert trail by the 2nd afternoon shows the reality of moto camping on a BDR. Your comment about dehydration reminded me of my own close call this summer when, having left my hydro-pack at home, I didn't take the time to stop and drink.... When I finally did stop to drink and rest, two hours after getting thirsty, I was surprised to find that I could not even stand up on my own! It was like "my balance had left the building!" - Not good for a motorcyclist. For the first time in my life, I needed physical assistance (from a buddy) to even get to shade, electrolytes and fluid.... Sobering and instructive on the insidiousness of dehydration. You guys demonstrated for us: "stop, regroup and live to ride another day." Thank you!
My WR250R set up for adventure riding lives for these types of sandy tracks 😊
I feel Jeffs pain. went on my first 'adventure' ride and crashed in the first 20 min breaking some ribs. I had never crashed before. Its humbling. Enjoyed the honest video
Man, I just want to take a minute to share how much I appreciate you and your channel Ian. thanks
I appreciate that!
Every person considering a big bore ADV style bike should watch this video to contrast with the over romanticized image the motorcycle industry is selling you.
agreed
Thanks for posting this video on your struggles. This is an important PSA about not riding difficult terrain alone if possible and having bail out plans if things go sideways. None of us are immune to bad days ✌️
Thanks for posting, I really enjoy content like this! Kyle Bradshaw mentioned weird handling of the Dunlop Raids in sand in his review also.
One of your best videos yet !! Great ride!! Keep ‘em coming.
Thanks! Will do!
@@BigRockMotoI agree! Your bike and product reviews are great but seeing you take these out in "real-world" scenarios is much more informative (and entertaining). Good stuff!
What a rough ride. I'm good for about a day of sand like that. Then I'm just done. I don't have the right energy the next day. There is some really cool riding over in Utah the San Rafael Swell area. But it's so sandy. Thanks for taking us along and showing what its really like tackling miles of sand. If you ever end up in Northern Nevada hit me up I would love to take you up through Jarbidge it's a great ADV Bike friendly ride.
Some constructive advice... you guys are overloaded by a LOT. I did this ride on a DR650 with total packed weight about 20lbs including water. I slept in the same baselayers I rode in, only packed emergency food (eat at gas stops, zero cooking gear), packed half a toolkit while my partner packed the other half. I've got lots of time in the sand...but once that back "ADV" tire sinks in that talcum powder silt, you're done.
I failed the Utah BDR a couple years ago on a S10 despite 20 years of dirt bike experience and learned a few lessons.
1) Consider your stamina at 100% each morning, when your bike is over 500lbs every time you push, pick up, man handle, drop, you lose those points for the day. When your physical stamina drops you start making mental mistakes too. This is why I swore off the big bikes, and ride a KTM 500 now. Anyone can suffer through highway stints with earplugs going 50mph, with no skills required. But very few can tackle hard offroad on 600lb bikes without consequences, the comfort gained on pavement isn't worth it.
2) Don't "push on" on ADV bikes. You can see how your mental and physical states were fading and your head was gone much earlier on in that section. After the 1st crash I would have stopped for at least an hour of rest if not made camp, even in broad daylight, to reassess. We destroyed our bikes "pushing on" one last muddy hill only 1/2mile to the next gravel section, burned out clutches and cost us the trip. If we had stopped to rest and clear our minds, we would have seen the folly.
3) On sugar sand, you have to be aggressively back in the seat, almost straight armed and heavy on the throttle. Even if it means wheel spin, in those deep sections I may be hitting the limiter while trying to sit on the passenger seat, you can't be in a neutral middle position over the pegs. That's where the stability of the chassis will come from, you have to lighten the front tire as much as possible and keep it floating so it doesn't knife.
Great video as always. One thing for everyone to keep in mind is that adv bikes are for adventuring meaning you never know where you will end up or what route you're using to get home, it's not just about doing a bdr. I think people lose the point of a adv bike. I enjoy getting to the trails almost as much as riding said trails. I love having the freedom to go off and wander and NOT have to go back to a truck. I rode the Idaho bdr recently and loved the 2 day to the the start and the 3 days coming home as a time to reflect. One thing I did gain from this video is to cowboy camp( sleep out under the stars) and then motel it other nights so as to take less gear.
A public service video, a cautionary tale, for those who would go adventure riding on the middle to large adventure bikes. You both showed good judgement in stopping the ride when the get offs accumulated. BTW: Your skill as a videographer is getting quite good; this starting to look like a feature production. A suggestion: When you stop in your ride, please include your location (GPS point) so we can match the terrain with a map.
Thank you for sharing. Keep up the good work!
Well done Ian and Jeff, good adventure regardless of the way it turned out.
Good call 👊
Some things you just can't plan for. Roads like that are ever-changing. Great video.
I would never ever take the amount of gear, like table, seat, large tent, etc like you did, on any offroad trip. This is definitely a useful video.
Great video! You supported your buddy and stuck with him throughout the trip: even though it ended short.
Great show of character, supportive friendship and calm cool attitude.
I'd ride with you anytime.
Take care and please show us more bike trip adventure videos..
Great video! Yes, all that deep sand on the big bikes is a real challenge! Where you were looking at the solar farm in the distance and hating the sand, I could relate! The CABDR on Cima road had the same deep stuff with the farm in the distance! Great, honest video! Glad Jeff is ok!
I didn’t need more convincing to keep it light, but you set it in stone for me.
We made the same mistake in Oregon august time. Absolutely boiling! After day two we changed plans. We Airbnb 1/2 thru the route. 2 sections north 2 sections south. Kept all the overloaded gear and the Airbnb. Took all that hot ass riding gear off and had a blast. Thanks for taking us on your journey.
Hi from New Zealand. Always been a fan of your videos. Your prep was top notch and you had the balls to call it quits when needed which made your story more appealing. A good watch my friend.
Bro, you are so right about the massive dips that can be in those dirt roads that get washed through by flash floods. I hit one way too fast in Death Valley on the way to the geologist cabin. Launched me into the air and landed cross rutted and crashed. Separated my shoulder. Rode 300 miles back to camp then rode 600 miles home the next day. Thank God for ibuprofen.
Thank God neither of you was seriously hurt on your ride because I have seen firsthand just how horribly wrong things can go in the blink of an eye. This being said, I really give you two credit as most in your position would probably have pulled the plug and bailed out which honestly would have been the best decision.
I must say that, I really enjoyed your video guys so keep up the great work.
Now with the utmost respect intended coming from a family of motocross racers with extreme off-roading riding experience if there is one thing that we try to share with people when getting into true off-road adventure riding is, " Know your limits and learn to accept that it is ok when you get into a situation where you have exceeded your limits and pull the plug"
I have seen hard trail crashes that have resulted in broken backs and people need to know that this shit can and does happen if you push beyond your skill level.
There are some top-notch adventure riding schools which are multi-leveled to help riders move through the proper skill progression of ADV riding.
Multi-purpose street/trail tires just do not cut it in the sand and unfortunately, you fellows had the wrong rubber underneath you plain and simple.
Another skill taught is how to properly pick your bike up after a crash and trying to lift a 700 lb bike the way you chaps were doing is a formula for a bad back at the very least. Turn around and back into your bike, take a grip on the lower hand grip and use your legs to raise your bike up. ( Your back will thank you)
When standing and riding (as you should be in these conditions) take a look at the position your elbows / arms in. Having your elbows pointing down like you have makes your arms pretty much useless.Your arms / elbows should be flarrerd in the out position and your hand grip on the bars not be a death grip. Flow with the terrain and use your feet on the pegs to stay connected with your bike.
No point rambling on but invest in some proper training and this ride will be a piece of cake fellows
Keep riding boys and keep pumping out the videos
You are 100% correct with your comment that there are much. much better bikes to choose / use for these types of riding conditions but your bikes is more than capable of doing this type of riding as longer as the rider is at this skill level.
Without question my entire family could be considered to be at the expert rider level and yet with every single trip we plan / take, we all come away learning things we could do better.
I rode the entire NVBDR in June of '21, and even then the sections up to and somewhat past Pahrump were horrible on an ADV bike. In all honesty though, from Goldpoint/Tonopah is really good (although still with some challenges), all the way to Jarbidge, from where you can begin the Idaho BDR. Tonopah to the Canadian border? Yes indeed.
Wow Ian. That was rough. Great job. God bless. Happy trails. Glad Jeff is ok.
Being defeated makes you want to finish it more . Nevada reminds me of prerunning a Baja race course. Tough riding for big bikes . How to cheat- put a big tank on a ktm 500exc and stay in motels . I had a Honda xr650r that I used for dirty adv riding . I did many miles riding by myself . I miss that bike . If you ride from Deeth to Jarbidge that is an awesome ride .
After watching this I think I’d rather suffer the annoyance of a dual sport on the highway than deal with that. So much of our Vegas area MTB and MOTO trails were ruined with the hurricane.
Lol. 4 for you, 2 for me!
Good to see this. I could feel Jeff's tension. Sometimes you need to recognise it, stop, get a hotel and evaluate. It's meant to be fun, but you gotta also push through sometimes. 👍🏻
When this happens to me. I stop, make a coffee or tea and eat a snack. Then I check my gear and luggage. I check my tires and look at the map. By the time all that is done. I’m relaxed and refreshed and things get easier. Glad all are ok. Cheers.
I rode section one of the Nevada BDR solo on my fully loaded V-Strom 650 and struggled in the sand, including dropping the bike. My tires were not at all suitable and the V-Strom is more of a forest road bike than a sand bike, and I questioned my abilities. Was glad to get out of there, hot, dehydrated, and exhausted. This is truly technical riding! Seeing what you guys went through, and how section two was worse, I'm glad I just did the one section. I'll try again, but probably on a dual sport rather than an adventure bike. Thanks for the reality check on the BDR fantasy! See my journey - ruclips.net/video/ZW4n9DvEIaU/видео.html.
Thanks for providing this. He was lucky he was adle to dig his foot out. I dropped my AT which i only had for 2 weeks on a steep gravelly hill and in pinned my left foot under it. Plus, i was riding alone. 4 guys on quads had to lift it off me. Glad he wasn't hurt worse. Enjoy the ride.
Ian, thanks for another great video! Glad to hear Jeff's injuries were relatively minor and that he's fully recovered. Deep sand + mid size or big ADV bikes is way out of my league!
thats proves your a good rider....knowing when to call it. The road or lack of them change after every storm...great content...look forward to the completion .
Wise riders. Live to go another day! 👍🏽💯
Yup. The universe doesn’t care how tough you think you are😊
Thank you, please do more of this kind of video. I grew up in Nevada so this is making REALLY want to go back & do this kind of trip. The talk about the gear is appreciated and its kind of funny because its almost like a huge commercial for motorcycle gear. Cheers!
Great vid, I could feel the rage coming through. Mile after mile of that terrain would be tedious and exhausting
Appreciate u posting this vid.
Looks like a great trip for a side by side or my 4Runner.
Couldn’t pay me enough to do the heavy adventure bikes in that stuff.
Hi Ian, another superb instalment of life on bikes. Being in the UK I am so envious of the space you have to roam in the USA. I remember a few locations you rode through, I did a big loop of a road trip starting in Vegas a few yrs ago on a rented bike.The closest we have to what you did would be the TET through the Pyrenees. BTW, you definitely have the best channel in the USA & up there with the best in Europe
As for riding in the heat, not only did I soak my tee shirt but I also filled my helmet with water and drained it. The cooling lasted about 1/2hr- was great while it lasted…
Great to see that it all ended without major injuries. I salute you for being there for your buddy when he needed it. Cheers Ian!
For some reason folks think they can be desk jockeys 5 days a week and then bust out on a BDR for a week. Fitness is a huge part, and if anyone thinks I’m casting shade on anyone, nope! I’ve been working out for a year in preparation for my first BDR. On top of taking classes and practicing as much as I can. Get fit and strong before you try that stuff. It’ll save you.
Great video! Nice job at really capturing the experience. A very real experience, it was and felt watching it. Glad to hear he is back up and enjoying riding again. Looking forward to seeing more moto camping trips from you.
I added an aftermarket wind deflector to my 2021 KTM 890 just like you and Jeff. The problem is, that over time the wind deflector caused the stock windscreen to crack the the point the deflector clamps on. No crashes, just BDR-style riding resulted in two cracks in my windscreen.
Happy to heard Jeff is good,, thank's for sharing Ian!
This is why Noraly rode a Honda 300 across Africa.
...and stays in motels and home stays. No camp gear.
Really grueling conditions, sorry about the injuries. Watching both of you walking around barefooted while setting up camp made me wince! I would like to recommend Merrill Trail Glove footwear. They are minimalist hiking shoes and take very little space in your panniers. Think ballet slippers with treaded soles. They are great to have something wear for a walk, setting up your camp site or easy hiking.
That's graboid territory. You're lucky you made it out alive.
Seriously though that much deep sand sand requires a tire better suited for it. I would be on the Pirelli Scorpion Rally personally.
P.S. Note to anyone who replies I did NOT say the Rally STR. Big difference in tires.
This is where that sweet modded KTM 690 he sold comes in. A 450 pounds plus gear 890 (or worse an even bigger bike) simply doesn't cut it off road. I have a Rottweiler tuned 701 with Renazco seat and taller 16/45 gearing, Motoz Rallz / Dual Venture tires set up with a TuBliss system, and small Puig fairing to block some wind and keep it light and simple in the dual sport spirit.
My 701 is passable on and off road, excelling at neither (except for 2 lane curvy canyons, it is a weapon there) but sufficing just fine as it can cruise at 70-75 all day long easily on the highway. Above 75 it is pulling hard on the way to a top end approaching 120, plenty fast enough in other words. It starts to become a chore to hold on at speeds above 75, so I tend to cruise at 70 on the highway. For me the answer for this kind of riding is a true 50/50 dual sport, not a more street oriented heavyweight ADV.
To be honest, the 690 platform bikes are still heavy pigs off road, but at least they are something resembling manageable pigs, and their weight actually is a road holding benefit on the street - real dirt bikes always suck on the road by their very nature. A DR or XR-L 650 with a big tank and custom wide and fluffy saddle is better yet, because being air cooled and stone age basic in general, the DR and XR-L are far more difficult to damage when the inevitable crashing occurs. I knew this when I got my 701, but being in the throes of mid life crisis, I wanted the big brappy KTM single's power, and mounted up some cool Outback MotorTrek mini crash bars 😆
Hey Ian,
I met you in Searchlight, NV when you were on this adventure.
I was caging it to Vegas for the final follow up appointment after a bike crash, facial plates installed a my jaw wired shut for a month. I'm usually about 30-40 lbs fatter!
I currently own at least four bikes that you've recently tested and your reviews actually helped me to decide when I was on the fence.
i remember you!
Great video to get a sense of what it's really like out there! I had a similar experience on the Wyoming BDR in 2022. While crossing the famous "Beaver Rim" section on my 2020 Vstrom 650, I dropped the bike a few times in deep sand. Sand and heavy bikes don't make fore a good situation unless you are really an advanced rider. I was alone and on an 88-degree day in July, I decided it wasn't worth it so I doubled back and skipped ahead of that section on the highway. In retrospect, it could have ended a lot worse than it did for me although I was happy that I doubled back instead of pushing on just in the name of pride. Ironically, that was the only part of the whole route that the Vstrom struggled with. The rest of it, including really rocky sections in the Big Horn mountains, was challenging but nothing like dealing with that Sand out in the middle of nowhere!
I’ve done all the southwest BDR’s on a 500, 690, and 390. A bike that can be picked up over and over again easily is a must for these BDR’s. I not ride anything bigger!!!
You guys are AMAZING riders! I live in central Nevada and wouldn’t; ever think of riding those tails on anything bigger than my WR250R, but preferably on a YZ250F or any actual dirt bike. On a lighter bike you can go fast enough to hop over the whoops. Well, my son can, I’m not a good enough rider for that. As you found out, you have to keep your speed up in the sand, but then you risk a bad crash. This was an excellent lesson in what can happen, how fatigue can really mess up your day, and especially why you have to have a friend(or more) to travel with. I enjoy your reviews (most of them anyway), but, frankly, they’re irrelevant to me personally because I can only afford a couple of bikes at a time, and tend to just keep what I have for many years. I’m never going to be able to afford most of the bikes you test. This video showed another side of you, and one I can relate to. You’re a much more experienced and skilled rider than I, but it was reassuring to see that even you (both or you) had the same problems I struggle with on a much more nimble dual-sport, with much less gear. You will find that the Nevada off-road trails in general (not sure about the BDR specifically) become much more scenic and enjoyable as you get further North, into the Easter Sierras. Thanks for a great video. I know your main thing is reviews, but personally I’d much rather see some more content like this.
Glad Jeff's OK. I broke my leg 2 days into the Oregon BDR, it's so disappointing not to be able to finish. First ever crash on my Tenere.
That was a crazy ride! But a bad ass video. Thanks for sharing.
Lived in Vegas for many years. Spent a decent amount of time in that same sand with 250, 450 dual sports. Can’t imagine taking fully loaded mid sized adv bike on that. You guys are tougher than I. Would have thrown in the towel much earlier. Miserable stuff.
Waiting for your triumphant return to the nvbdr
Thanks for sharing the real deal. Get well, Jeff.
The problem you had with fuel boiling, or actually pressure buildup, happens to my 2019 790R as well. It just needs to be in hot weather and a tank full or near full. I haven't diagnosed the problem on mine, but like you mentioned, it should be related to a failure of the fuel pressure venting.
I live in AZ and its a regular occurrence, just have to crack open the gas cap and relieve the pressure then it's all good
@@RamblingRuters When I did that to mine, it became a geyser. I have it on video. LOL
My 890r did this the first time I rode it. I found the vent line pinch between the tank and frame, I also lined the underside of the tank with gold reflective foil and have had zero issues since even in 106 degree heat.
@@John-motolistit Great suggestion. I'll check it on mine.
you need a vented cap. It solves this issue
Great video! As a fellow Jeff with a 1st gen 890R, I was cheering for him from the get-go! 😂 even as an A class off-road racer, the sand on a loaded adventure Bike is absolutely no joke! Again, nice work to the two of you!
I'm from Vegas and with my son (13) we go often to Oatman for brunch. It's a nice little ride and I like the town.
I didn't know the bar started there (I never looked into it either...lol)
Better safe than sorry !
Very cool of you to show the challenging or “not fun” side of riding that we all face occasionally….good choice in shutting down the ride
I just got back from doing the (AZPT) Arizona Peace Trail ride (approx 700 miles -5 days) and I am getting PTSD watching your video. I have a KTM 790 ADV and I struggled in the DEEP sand (up to my axles and bike standing up on its own w/no kickstand). I was tortured for 2 days until I threw the white flag. Like you, big storms rolled through a few weeks prior and made the terrain rutted beyond belief and crazy sandy. I didnt experience this type of terrain at the Bisbee rally (South AZ) but your ride seemed a lot like the AZPT. I feel your pain.
One of your best Ian! Thanks
$40,000 in bikes and $10,000 in gear. You brought a tank to a knife fight.
I enjoyed going on that ride with you, sorry you had so much trouble. Thanks for giving the realistic instead of the fantastic version! I have been following your channel since the beginning and your content is top notch.
Fatigue and dehydration were contributing factors on that trip. I could see Jeff struggling towards the end. Great video, good insight with regards to desert terrain.
Thanks for having the guts and the integrity to share this.
Pro tip: you just past a TA truck stop--ALL truck stops offer FREE 110 psi air at the diesel pumps (or garage). Coin-op air always disappoints.
Outstanding coverage of your ride.Glad you both got through the ride without any major recovery issues.These rides can change your riding future in a split second.Thanks.
Another hot-weather riding tip: buy a bag of ice at the gas station/store and stuff all your pockets. In 110º weather and an Aerostitch, that has allowed me to keep riding when I would have otherwise become a heat casualty. I've also learned to PRE-hydrate whenever I'm going into the desert. That means pounding water the day before. The desert can pull water out of you faster than you can drink and absorb it!
Or do not wear an aerostitch in those conditions. It isn't going to rain on you out there if you checked the weather report. I can pull a garbage bag poncho on in the absoulute worst case. In these conditions l would be wearing a mesh jersey over a mesh set of body armor and a cooling vest under everything.
Ian,”WOW” uncut, unrehearsed, real deal, riding with you and Jeff. I watch the video twice on my big screen TV. I hear you guys, and feel the pain. Brings back a lot of my memories of riding off-road. I think one of the big takeaways for that type of riding is always have a riding partner, and always plan for the unexpected. Anyways, keep the rubber side up, be safe out there, and enjoy life to the fullest. PS, hopefully someday I’ll bump into you up in Julian.👍
IMHO: ADV bikes are a marketing ploy. Too heavy, too powerful for off-road use. Personally, I ride a (highly) modified street legal 1974 Yamaha TY250. 212 lbs dry. It's good for 70 mph or so, and way friendly off-road. Nice video!
I have completed several back country adventures on my Royal Enfield it's got a very vintage ride and feel about it.
This is the absolute real stuff Ian. Super coverage, it is soooo the realistic view of how it can be on sections of BDRs'. I hate the sand myself as well. I ride a big liter bike (2020 Tiger 1200Xcx) and all tolled with camping gear am about 1000lbs. I would have absolutely hated that section to Pahrump. Good on both of you for getting thru it.! What's crazy is... once you've gone thru the hell its such a feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction when done, and who says you cant voice your absolute distain at the top of your lungs whilst bashing thru the hard shit, we're only human! Good to hear you are planning to finish it and kudos to you for the comment about setting the proper expectations when you set out to adventure, you never know what it will bring and it usually brings adversity in some form or another but that is what makes the memory and solidifies it in your mind. Life is about the memories and to appreciate them you have to benchmark the good against the bad and the ugly. Really enjoy your channel and especially this video, keep on keeping on.
If it takes two of you to lift a bike you have too much crap on it for adventure biking. The sand and all is part of the adventure! Too much complaining about it. Be thankful you are out doing it.
Wow... great video, thanks for sharing. I did the COBDR and WYBDR last year on the 890. I think I'll skip the NVBDR based on this video.
Couple of notes: KTM fronts seem to leak. I used bicycle tire sealant and cured it on two KTMs this year. It's stupid, but it works. Thought it was the MotoZ tires, but maybe the KTM rims.
Aired my front every day on the COBDR, after sealant... 0 times on the WYBDR.
Gas boiling was an issue on the 890 for sure, multiple times on the trip. Had gas shoot out when opening the cap. Heard it whistling when stopped."
I will definitely wait until I get a smaller bike to do that route. I am no friend of deep sand. I've done routes in the past where it was no fun and I just wanted it to be over and honestly. That's not why I ride motorcycles.
I'm just glad you both got home safely.
Well done guys the southern BDRs are no joke on what is arguably the best middle weight adv bike on the planet. If you want to do the SoCal or AZ BDR in it’s entirety and have fun take a light adv bike Any of the new 300s DRZ 400 or the KTM 350 to 500s will make the ride a much more enjoyable experience. I did section 2 of SoCal on an AfricaTwin and it SUCKED!!! Ian you have the perfect BDR weapon in the garage rent a uhaul van to get you to the start and uhaul it home at the end. That’s how I will be doing the IDBDR. Would you really have missed the 6 plus hrs of freeway grind each way? Thank you again for the awesome videos glad your mate it healthy.
I just did the Idaho bdr about a month ago, even doing the last nvbdr on my GSA. IT wasn't as easy as people say but I had no drops. You can do the IDBDR on a large or mid adv bike no problem. Theres too much riding 1300 miles for a small bike .
Definitely recommend reducing rear preload even with luggage. Can cut down 20-30% and be fine and it helps a lot in the sand. Also airing down to 25-27 helps more than I thought.