Looking for adventure/dual-sport riding buddy

[MrSpock]

Long story short, my old-time companion had moved out of the country, so I’m looking for somebody to ride with.

An individual in a similar situation, perhaps, or a small group of enthusiasts with similar experience and passion. I’m in mid-40s, married-with-kids, responsible (read conservative) adventure/dual sport rider with decent experience. Riding since 15 y.o. on-road, last 10 years or so ADV; decades of backpacking. I’m enjoying no-rush, ADV-style multi-day trips with camping when time and family permit. Have a good mechanical aptitude (can fix pretty much anything with wheels and motor) and a fully equipped garage. I’m riding a well-setup Yamaha Super Tenere (ADV) and a KTM 500 EXC-F turned into a dual-sport/light-weight ADV/rally monster. Frankly, still taming the EXC - my latest project.

I've recently completed an epic 1.5K miles loop though rural Nevada based on GPS Kevin and BDR maps. Earlier had a week of fun in Mendocino and near Oregon border. Countless shorter trips before that.

I'm in the process of planning a few trips:

Next few weeks or so:
- Day-long trip to Knoxville OHV on KTM or Tenere
- 1-2 days explore Panoche NP and nearby trails on KTM

February/March:

- 3 days Death Valley on KTM (camping Friday - Monday, based on GPS Kevin maps)


Later in the summer/fall:
- Explore trails around Tahoe on KTM
- Abandoned railroad tunnels near Donner Lake (KTM or Tenere, done few years back on V-Strom)
- Explore Yosemite and Kings Canyon trails on KTM
- Oregon BCDR-based loop (custom map) on Tenere or Nevada/Utah BDR on KTM
- Pacific divide trail on Tenere (about two week of camping, based on GPS Kevin maps) Will probably split in two legs

Sometime in the future:
- Trans-America trail, Continental divide trail, Alaska, ….

Let me know if you live somewhere nearby and would like to hang out - grub a beer or two (while not riding), talk motorcycles and share adventures. I live in Alamo/Walnut Creek.

 

[1962siia]

Post up when you do the Knoxville ride. I'm planning to take my new to me 950 adv there for a shake down run soon. May not ride for a few weeks as I feel like I have a cracked rib after falling on a punji stick bush this weekend at our moon rocks ride.

Also you may want to consider checking out the Barf Baja trip and check out the dirty section as there seem to be more rides posted there and many of them have big bikes too. Lots of folks here who love this type of riding.

 

[trumpet]

Read your post with a lot of interest as I just acquired a 2019 500 EXC. In the process of getting it setup for a lot of DS riding.

I have been riding street and dirt for a long time (30+ years) but this is the first true DS for me.

Some of the rides on your list were on my list for 2019. Would love to connect and ride together.

 

[MrSpock]

Post up when you do the Knoxville ride....

I don't particularly like rolling in the mud for fun, so I'll wait until it is more or less dry before going to Knoxville.

Baja trip is on top of my mind as well. I just need more practice in the sand. One of the reason to go to Death Valley is to practice in sandy conditions. I rode through DV on the way back from Nevada on my pretty loaded Tenere, and it was great. However, I realized it could have been much more fun if my sand riding skills were better. DV back roads have a mix of gravel and sand, that is pretty challenging for heavy bikes. I've seen people rip through it, so I just need to practice more.

 

[MrSpock]

Read your post with a lot of interest as I just acquired a 2019 500 EXC. In the process of getting it setup for a lot of DS riding.

I have been riding street and dirt for a long time (30+ years) but this is the first true DS for me.

Some of the rides on your list were on my list for 2019. Would love to connect and ride together.

Awesome! Please let me know if you'd like to go anywhere soon. I have not finalized the dates and pretty flexible. Might go to Carnegie on KTM for practice on a weekend if it's not too wet. Not sure yet.

 

[kneedraggeroldy]

MMmmmm...potentially interested in a couple of these depending on how much dirt. Wife and I did 2 week ride through western united states which included ~ 100 miles of pony express trail and some weird, nasty ass dirt road to big mountain in Utah. We ride a FJR1300 and I have taken it in areas I really should not but...why not? I

 

[MrSpock]

MMmmmm...potentially interested in a couple of these depending on how much dirt. Wife and I did 2 week ride through western united states which included ~ 100 miles of pony express trail and some weird, nasty ass dirt road to big mountain in Utah. We ride a FJR1300 and I have taken it in areas I really should not but...why not? I

FJR off-road! Love it! Many years ago we went through abandoned railroad tunnels in Sierras with a guy on SV650. That was fun! Here is the evidence: https://photos.app.goo.gl/v5yXpa9ZRRxohtEU7

 

[XXshawnXX]

February/March:

- 3 days Death Valley on KTM (camping Friday - Monday, based on GPS Kevin maps)
 - Interested

- Abandoned railroad tunnels near Donner Lake (KTM or Tenere, done few years back on V-Strom) - Interested

- Oregon BCDR-based loop (custom map) on Tenere or Nevada/Utah BDR on KTM - Interested

Please keep me informed of such adventures. Experienced/capable dude on Africa Twin out of Vacaville.

 

[kneedraggeroldy]

FJR off-road! Love it! Many years ago we went through abandoned railroad tunnels in Sierras with a guy on SV650. That was fun! Here is the evidence: https://photos.app.goo.gl/v5yXpa9ZRRxohtEU7

Those pics look great! Is this the one ride you mentioned as a plan to go on again this year? Abandoned railroads?? Single track on the FJR would be a killer if it was loooong (I am a bit vertically challenged for KTM ADV bikes at 5'7 ish). However have done fire roads etc. and Esmeralda road up by Murphy's. Been riding a long time so will look at these dates and let you know. Although any camping and wife says "I am out but you can go" :teeth

 

[MrSpock]

Those pics look great! Is this the one ride you mentioned as a plan to go on again this year? Abandoned railroads?? Single track on the FJR would be a killer if it was loooong (I am a bit vertically challenged for KTM ADV bikes at 5'7 ish). However have done fire roads etc. and Esmeralda road up by Murphy's. Been riding a long time so will look at these dates and let you know. Although any camping and wife says "I am out but you can go" :teeth

That's the one! I did it about 10 years ago. It is best done in August - September, when the ice is gone from the tunnels. There is a foresty portion as well as lots of gravel, sand and jeep trails.

I hear you re: wifey situation. Similar here. She likes to camp but will not be riding anymore. There is a post somewhere here from her last ride that ended up pretty badly. I have high hopes for my 8-y.o. daughter who just started on her dirt bike. I hope to get her ready for some easy trails soon.

 

[Cafe Racer]

So MrSpock, go to Meetup.com and search for my group page. Its under the name Calspeed Motorsports.

We do quite a few rides similar or exactly what you are looking for. Coincidentally, in 36 hours we have a small group of us departing for a simple ADV ride into Nevada. Its a four day trip.

Check it out.

 

[MrSpock]

So MrSpock, go to Meetup.com and search for my group page. Its under the name Calspeed Motorsports.

We do quite a few rides similar or exactly what you are looking for. Coincidentally, in 36 hours we have a small group of us departing for a simple ADV ride into Nevada. Its a four day trip.

Check it out.

Thanks! Invite sent!

 

[trumpet]

Alex, the KTM 500 EXC is coming along and the essentials are almost on the bike. This weekend the final bits go on. Let's plan to meetup and go for a short ride in East bay this weekend. Morgan Territory?

 

[MrSpock]

Alex, the KTM 500 EXC is coming along and the essentials are almost on the bike. This weekend the final bits go on. Let's plan to meetup and go for a short ride in East bay this weekend. Morgan Territory?

That sounds great! Morgan Territory sounds good. Do you know any "legal" trails there? There is a bunch of gated roads, but I've never crossed them. One caveat though - it's gonna rain on Sunday and I have some family obligations on Saturday AM. Let me see if I can squeeze some riding time... I'll PM you my phone # so we can connect over txt.

 

[RSD]

MrSpock....we are neighbors, live in Danville. Interested in some riding, my “crazy adventure” days are a bit behind, not much street riding anymore, but do the DS riding these days. Like the slower adventure riding, can do some weekday and weekend riding. Riding a Beta 450RS for most of my DS, also have a KTM690smc. I’m interested...

 

[MrSpock]

MrSpock....we are neighbors, live in Danville. Interested in some riding, my “crazy adventure” days are a bit behind, not much street riding anymore, but do the DS riding these days. Like the slower adventure riding, can do some weekday and weekend riding. Riding a Beta 450RS for most of my DS, also have a KTM690smc. I’m interested...

Fantastic! Let's get together for a ride. I'm going to be off work between xmas and ny, hope to get a few days of riding. For starters, I wanted to check out Medcalf, Knoxville, and Reiff Rd. Day rides, nothing crazy.

 

[1brunoj]

ditto

MrSpock....we are neighbors, live in Danville. Interested in some riding, my “crazy adventure” days are a bit behind, not much street riding anymore, but do the DS riding these days. Like the slower adventure riding, can do some weekday and weekend riding. Riding a Beta 450RS for most of my DS, also have a KTM690smc. I’m interested...

Ditto; San Ramon, like to take it easy smell the roses; KLR 650, KTM 450 (dirt worthy, but I'm not well maybe a little)

 

[RSD]

Ditto; San Ramon, like to take it easy smell the roses; KLR 650, KTM 450 (dirt worthy, but I'm not well maybe a little)

Hey Bruno, how ya doing. Need to do some riding!!!

 

[1brunoj]

let's ride where? when? start where? I am game 6 hrs seat time or less. REif road may be too muddy by now but could try; drive there ride drive back; bike there and back may work.

locally just go to Nantucket (Crocket) via paved back roads

talk to me

etc

 

[MrSpock]

locally just go to Nantucket (Crocket) via paved back roads

Where is that? I'd like to check it out!