Originally set to be ridden on a 2021 Triumph Tiger 900 Rally, this adventure was accomplished on the legendary DRZ400.
Pre-Start:
Plan your trip, test your bike and your gear; never assume it is in working order until it has been tested. I failed to do so on this BDR. While loading the motorcycles onto the U-Haul, I grabbed a handful of front brakes and the bike kept moving. I checked the cables, bled the brakes, cleaned the calipers and nothing. I could pressurize the brakes when still, but once I rolled two feet the brakes would loose pressure and the front brakes were useless. Not a great way to start the trip. Once it was determined that there was no quick fix, plan B needed to be created along with a mid-shift and expectation of the trip. I spent about ten minutes looking at my fully loaded tiger with brand new Motoz tires and looking at my dirty DRZ in the garage. I knew with the timelines and plans in motion, I would not be able to take the tiger out on this trip. Every once in a while, I tell my riding buddies; It’s not about what gets you there, it’s how you get there. It was time to practice what I preach. I gave the DRZ a good check and of we went. Tiger and DRZ taking on the Northern California BDR.
We did the long haul to Reno with a late pit stop in the Klamath Falls KOA. We pulled into Reno mid day and set out around town. This outing set the tone for the rest of the trip. Fancy drinks and good food whenever possible. The following day we took off on our three hour ride to the start of the BDR. The DRZ did great on the highway, except for the rutted parts, my front tire was moving like Jell-O on top a washing machine anytime a rutted section would pop up. I was full hard on the suspension and made it to Mammoth Lake. We lucked out and got the last spot at another KOA, this was also our first encounter with a bear.
Section 1:
Three days in and we finally started riding offroad. The ride was fun enough, but what sticks out is the water crossing and the climb to Mt Patterson. Both sections were labeled expert and one definitely was. This was our first major water crossing and we were both excited. I usually do a bit of prep when I know that I will be doing something tricky or for the first time. I watched a couple of youtube videos and listened to the ARR podcast with Clinton Smout specifically for this water crossing. When we pulled up to the water section, I applied some of the information from my prep; I walked the area, scoped out a good line, determined how deep it was, how fast the water was flowing, it all looked good so off I went. I hit it in 2nd gear, probably not enough speed, but enough to get through with a little dab. I recall that you don’t really want to go whole hog when you hit water as the front end will most likely dive and that’s no good. My friend did not listen to that podcast or watch the videos. He went for it and made it across and it was awesome to watch. I got a good slow-motion video of him partying the water like Moses. Crossing this section had us feeling pretty badass about our riding. That quickly faded once we made our way up Mt Patterson. We crossed deeper water to get into “deeper waters” on our way up Mt Patterson. We made it about ¼ of the way up before deciding it was too much for a big bike to handle. I had a hard time staying of the deep ruts on the DRZ, I could only imagine how tough it was for my friend. I should also mention that my friend likes to ride fully loaded with large panniers, so that adds another level of difficulty that I don’t care to experience. The section was very tricky, not only did you have a steep incline, but there was very deep ruts on the inside line so if you didn’t have enough speed to ride the small berm, your back tire would slide down into the rut and then you were pretty much crawling out, falling over or getting stuck. Usually all of the above, but reverse the order. We got a good work out in that day, a fully loaded Tiger is not easy to pull out of a rut. Another good tip I picked up from the ARR podcast was to take my gear off anytime you have to work on your bike. This allowed me to cool off a bit while I was helping my buddy get his bike back in order. We made it down, tightened up a few parts and made out way to Bear Valley, the normal way. It was a fun fast ride to Bodie. The ghost town was a cool stop. I would prefer to see it at night but it made for good pictures non the less.
Section 2:
They call it Bear Valley for a reason. We met Shawn the cool IT guy for “three cedars resort” and had some awesome pasta from the Creekside restaurant. He gave us the lowdown on places to camp for free but with the night creeping in, we opted for the closest campground. That night we ran into the campground manager for the area, he took my $50 dollar bill, the campground was $30, he warned us about bears, my friend then heard a bear while getting water, it made for an uneasy feeling. I do not mess around when it comes to wild animals. I know what they are capable of and I do not t want to take selfies with them or get mauled by them. We had no means of protecting ourselves so I made the call to pack up and find another spot. We ended up moving to the main campground a few minutes up the road which felt more secure. I bought bear mace the following day. $70 for mace is a price I am willing to pay to keep my limbs. My friend thinks he is immune to bear attacks.
Section 3 & 4:
I recall these sections were just a fun ride through the woods. Unfortunately, Uncle Tom’s Cabin was closed when we passed through. Section 4 did have some awesome windy pavement. I had a blast revving up the DRZ and carving through the roads. It’s really cool feeling the difference in motorcycles; the engines, the suspension, the handling. This was the first time I actually paid attention to the single cylinder engine feel. I love being able to use the engine to slow down into and out of a corner, the transition from stopping to accelerating is great. I can see why people put street tires on these bikes. They are extremely fun to ride, off-road and on the street.
Truckee-like Sisters, will always have a place in my heart. Sometimes you come across towns and feel right at home. I won’t give details on the town, just go visit and experience it for yourself. We met great people, ate great food, had plenty of drinks, and had a hard time leaving. T-Club, Motorhead, Miles Davis, Baroness, Ween, whiskey and tequila. Enough said.
Section 5 take one:
We found that on this BDR, some sections labeled expert were spot on or a total miss. This is to be expected, the terrain changes every season for better or worse. We decided that we would give every section a shot and if it got to hairy, we would call it quits and go around it. Having the DRZ on this trip might have been a blessing in disguise. I was able to enjoy the scenery more than usual and I was able to scope out the trails before my friend hit them on the big bike. This is not to say that the sections were easy, they were pretty challenging compared to other BDRS, but there were a few moments that could have ended bad if I were also on a big bike. Unfortunately, my friend found one of those moments during the Verdi Peak hill climb. Luckly nothing was broken but we stopped at the Emergency Room in Truckee for a quick check anyway. What’s the point of insurance if you don’t use it? This is one of those moments where you have to respect the wishes of your riding partner and go with the flow. I probably would have checked if my limbs still moved and called it good, but it’s not just my ride, it’s our ride, it’s also a health issue, I can’t make the call for how someone else feels. He ended up getting the ok to ride from the doc, but it was getting late and a goodnight sleep would do us both good, so we ended up staying in Truckee another night. There is definitely a lesson to be learned here, but it’s one that I have yet to put into practice. Don’t party before a hard day of riding.
Section 5 take two:
With some Chinese food in our system and a few hours of sleep, we decided to skip some of this section and go straight to the Sierra Buttes look out. If there was any goal in mind for this trip, it was to try and make it to the top of this lookout. It is the coolest location on this BDR. We rode pavement to Sierraville the started the climb to the lookout. This is a very fun climb. It has a nice transition from medium to hard. It has plenty of spots to call it quits but the sections are short enough that you want to keep going. When it comes to riding on trail, I usually take off and check in occasionally, to make sure everything is still good and that we still have radio communication. This climb will test you for sure. I had to take a few mini breaks during the climb and stalled out once or twice. I was very impressed with my friend and how well he was doing. It must have been a tough go. There is a section in the climb that gets you to the base of the lookout where you can opt to hike up or keep going on trail. The terrain gets harder, the rocks get bigger, the incline gets steeper. It really makes you earn that last section to the top. I took a little break, checked in with my friend and then took of for the top, on my bike. I was sweating, my hands were starting to cramp, but I knew I could make it. I just had to adjust my strategy half way into this section. I couldn’t get enough momentum to make the turn and keep traction. I ended up lining up each turn and hitting it enduro style. Two turns from the top I heard “my clutch is out, my clutch is going out”. The radio was loud and clear. I lined up my next turn, I killed the engine and checked in with my friend. I made sure he was ok, got the status on his situation, I let him know my status and we decided he should park the bike and hike up. (It’s not about what gets you there) We were so close, he had to make it up. I hit the start button and kept making my way up. There are a few turns on this climb that open like curtains on a movie theatre, to beautiful landscape that can only be found when you travel far and wide on a hot gnarly machine fueled by gas and determination. Making the last turn, seeing the gas cans and climbing the stairs is well worth the effort. There is no point in describing the view from the top, it wouldn’t do it justice, just make sure to take some time to take it all in and leave a little note in the stash box.
We made it back to Sierraville thanks to the help from the big G. We also had an awesome burger from the general store. If the owner of the shop tells you they make a good burger, trust them.
Pre-end:
The DRZ is a killer bike. It can handle almost all of the elements of nature minus one. Wind, wind is the enemy of the DRZ. I got lucky on the way down from Reno, but my luck ran out on the way down to South Lake Tahoe for a U-Haul. The most dangerous part of this trip for me was this last ride on pavement. I got close going down a few times. When you see the yellow flashing lights on the side of the highway, warning semi trucks about strong winds, that means it is time to get off the highway. If semitrucks have no chance, imagine a small bike. This is another good lesson learned. A-wind and DRZs don’t mix. B-check on your riding partner, specially if you are on a bigger bike and in charge of navigating. Normally this is where the radios would come into play, but if you’re listening to music and you have your radio volume down, it defeats the purpose. I was behind my friend for a solid 5 minutes trying to get his attention and nothing. Fortunately there was an area that slowed down a bit and I was able to get beside him to let him know that I needed to pull off the highway. We found a different route and got to our destination, but we both learned a good lesson from that situation.
This is where motorcycle riding ends for this adventure. We did not complete the BDR, we had to change plans from the start, we had mechanical issues, we had injuries, but we met awesome people, had great rides and a few firsts. We both feel accomplished and more seasoned. We can’t wait to finish this BDR next year or take on a new one. Good times, always.
At the top of the Sierra Buttes lookout NorcalBDR 2024
My eyes keep glancing at the orange glow from the fuel light, it has been on for the last 50 miles. I’m waiting for the unmistakable sound and feel of a dying engine. Like treading water and you’re beginning to sink. There is no sign of human life and the temperature is changing with every turn, peak and valley. This is the beginning to a good motorcycle adventure.
We knew this trip would require more planning than normal. It’s has terrain and temperatures we have not dealt with and long stretches of roads with limited gas stations. We planned on each having a water filtration system and bringing additional water and gas. I had a pit stop worked out with Sisters Moto to get a new set of tires installed. My previous tires would get me to the starting point, but they would not hold up for the actual trail ride back. In addition to the tires I also picked up a Giant Loop water bladder that came in very handy throughout the trip. If you’re in the area and ride motorcycles definitely swing by, it’s one of my favorite shops.
Most of the ride down to our starting point went fairly smooth. We were able to gas up in the small towns and kept riding tarmac all the way down. Everything was smooth until it wasn’t. The last gas station on our route was shut down and there was nothing we could do but keep moving forward. The previous gas station was further away than our end point.
We made it to Denio Junction on fumes. We rolled up to the old and lonely gas pump, looked at each other and started laughing. We got lucky, we both knew it and we were stoked. That would have been a very long and cold night if luck wasn’t in our favor. We met an insurance salesman and a hang-glider that night. We ate ramen and chilly and drank some whiskey-courtesy of the salesman. It was a good night.
During breakfast we got warned about drinking the water on trail, there is a lot of cattle in the area so the water is not very clean. The owner also told us stories about; people getting lost, running out of gas, barely making it to the junction and break into tears because they haven’t seen any sign of hope for the past 2 hours. That one hit home a bit, but you know different mindsets. I am on adventure mindset. I don’t welcome dangerous situations, but I am in the headspace to deal with them accordingly. Having to camp on the side of the road because we ran out of gas is not ideal, but I believe we were prepared enough to be ok.
The first day was rough; sand, rocks, dust, heat, locked gates, detours, bypasses, navigation, mosquitos, we got it all. I found the sand to be manageable, but I’m one of the few people who like sand on big bikes - my friend, not so much. It was hot the whole time, we were going through water pretty quick. We were able to find a natural spring about 3/4 of the way. We debated calling it a day and camping on trail or to keep pushing and stay at a state park. We should have called it a day. The park was filled with mosquitos from head to toe and the rest of the day did not get any easier. There was a section of the route that was not opened yet so we had to find a detour. It took us a couple of tries and a few cross-references between Gaia and on-x, but we were able to find a path. Turns out it was a cattle path full of loose rocks. At this point we’re both thinking that we should have called it a day and camped near the spring on the nice flat grass area, but we are here now and this is what we are doing. We pushed through and made it to our mosquito filled campsite. Sometimes you make the right call and sometimes you don’t . That is why we are not fortune tellers.
The rest of the sections went fairly well. We did not attempt any of the expert sections, but we did complete all of the standard sections. Unfortunately it has been a few years since this adventure and I did not document the sections very well, so I’ll talk about the things that stick out.
Obsidian rocks: These things are big, gnarly and sharp. I am very surprised we did not encounter a flat on this trip. Again-luck on our side.
Ruts in sand: I can hang with sand, but deep ruts covered by sand are another thing. The main issue is that in order to maneuver in sand you have to carry some speed, but hitting ruts at speed is not good. I know I went down once or twice, but I had too many close calls, specially for being in such a remote location.
Small towns: On these trips you will go through a lot of small towns, some are awesome and some are not, but the one thing they all have in common is that the people are always great. Christmas Valley stands out as one of the worst meals on these journeys-only second to the city of Detroit OR where I ended barfing my brains out in very hot, very small honey bucket while wearing all of my moto gear. If the BBQ joint gives you a whole chicken when you only paid for half, it’s for a reason, don’t eat it. On the other hand, Sisters coffee in Sisters OR is
Snacks: Clams in a can! Not my thing, I’m more of a sardine man myself. Having healthy snacks on trail helps out so much. You are basically exercising most of the day, your body needs food with actual nutrients. Junk food will get you through the day, but if you want to stay focused and strong you should also have some healthy snacks to keep you going.
Checklist: If you are like me, you have a ton of projects going and it’s hard to focus unless it is documented and visible. This is a checklist I created on my phone to make sure I didn’t forget anything.
This Checklist is PRE trip:
This Checklist is POST trip:
Only bring this for clothes
2 light merino wool long sleeve shirts
2 light loose merino wool bottoms
3 merino wool socks
3 merino wool briefs
All loose fitting
Light winds breaker rei for mosquitoes
Loose neck scarf for sun
Lots of nitrile gloves
Sardines in soybean oil or tuna make great snacks on the road
Always have chain lube handy
Always have wipes handy, 3 packs minimum
Have zipper lube handy
One hook only with clip
Bring nail clippers
Bring multi tool
Don’t bring soldering iron, just solder and crimp/slice connectors
Outside of Nevada on the ORBDR 2023
It only took two motorcycles and one broke bone to get here. The end of a long injury filled adventure That took two years to accomplish.…
-to be continued
Canadian border on WABDR attempt #2
Summer of 2024 was a good year for motorcycle riding. I decided I was going to ride as much as possible while keeping my job and family, that also meant turning down work and flying solo at times. This was definitely one of those times. I bought my giant loop ticket as soon as they were available which meant I was committed. As the event got closer, I started to get a little antsy because none of my riding buddies could join and it was a full day drive to the location. My only experience with rallies was Touratech and that was a big fun hang with a bunch of friends, this would definitely be a different experience. As years have passed, I have grown to like that anxious feeling. It usually means I’m going to do something new. I also paid for the pricey ticket so I was in no matter what. To keep it easy, I decided to drive my truck with the DRZ in the back vs riding the big bike down. I figured if I have to ride solo, I can at least get out of trouble much easier with the smaller bike. I made it to the rally with a pit stop at Sisters. I setup my luxurious 6 person tent with a cot and coffee station. If I’m car camping I’m going all out. I came with the mindset of meeting cool people and having a fun time. It‘s a motorcycle rally after all, everyone should be cool, I was right. I met the Motion Racing Footpeg crew, Brandon on his KLR, Mike on a 300L, Josh on a 650, and a few others along the way. Mike became a great riding partner, we ended up getting lost and having an awesome adventure through some tight rocky trails. The rally was a ton of fun. Riding all day and coming back to hot springs and cold drinks; what else could you want? The rally had a good vibe all around, you could tell everyone came to ride and have a good time. I plan to be back next year.
Giant Loop Rally 2024
Don't let the bad picture deter you from attending the Touratech Rally event in Plain Washington. It's one of my favorite events of the year. The riding is great, for big bikes and small bikes. The vendors are pretty cool and the events are fun. I usually haul my bikes down and setup up a fun camp with a few friends. We like to meet new people, go riding for a few hours and have a few drinks. Sugar loaf and Chihuahua are my favorite rides, but there is plenty of other trails to explore. They offer daily guided rides depending on skill level, but If you're not a people person this is also a great event for you. This is the perfect setup to go solo riding. They have rescue vehicles and medical personnel available, plus a few hundred riders in the area, help is close by. I know price is a bit steep, but I think it’s worth it. If you want to go cheap, there’s nothing from stopping you or a few friends from camping close by and hitting the trails. You won’t get access to the event, but you can still hang out with riders and get some of those safety elements I mentioned. If you are into ADV riding, you should definitely go at least once. Find people that you click with, have a fun time talking shop and go riding.
Touratech Rally 2024
When it comes to riding with buddies, specially on long trips like the BDRs, you have to be mindful of their time and yours. Some people like to plan everything down to the minute, others barely plan. I tend to go with the flow. Sometimes I tag along for the ride and only care about what time to wake up, other times I plan the routes, stops and lead the way. Finding the balance of when to lead and when to follow is a key part in enjoying long trips with friends. Everyone should be able to “ride their own ride”. Following doesn’t necessarily mean riding in the back; it just means you’re not the person in charge of where the adventure is going during that time. If you’re riding with friends I recommend having a loose expectation and creating a mindset for the adventure. Do this as a group so that everyone is on the same page. This is useful to keep things on track and to bring spirits up when things don’t go as planned. Some of my past mindsets have been; enjoy the ride, no matter what, this is what we are doing, explore, relax, technique.
Adventure riding is not a science, plans will change, things will go wrong, injuries might happen. Some of my treasured memories include terrible riding and broken bones. On the other hand, some of my favorite memories also include epic hill climbs and amazing views; riding a motorcycle alongside wild horses is about as good as it gets in my book.
When your riding with friends, you cannot be selfish. Work as a team, respect each others skills and boundaries. Push each other to go further, but also know when to call it a day.
Friends
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