Want to Ride The Great Divide?

[ScottRNelson]

Thanks and thanks for the route suggestion.

I've taken several riders on that route who were just getting into dual sport bikes. I learned for those who had no dirt experience to go over to Prairie City SVRA for about an hour first to learn how to go up and down hills and stuff. I had one guy hit the front brake in a loose downhill turn and dump his F650GS. He had told me he knew how to ride dirt, but I quit believing that for anybody else who didn't have a ton of experience.

Anyway, it's a good route with about 40 miles of dirt and nothing too difficult, but still interesting and a little bit of a challenge. Report back after you've tried it.

 

[GreenHornet]

That's actually the next route I was going to try. It looks to basically be what I call the Auburn Loop, except for the last bit where it looks like your loop would just finish using Forest Hill Rd. Right now part of it is still gated off, and I've gone around the gate a couple of times on my KTM already but I don't think i want to try that on the GS yet.

 

[fiteg]

I plan to ride my GS along the Continental Divide from Hachita New Mexico to Banff Canada this summer. I plan to ride my GS and essentially follow the CannonShot tracks off AdvRider, but follow GPS Kevin's day plan. I expect to take roughly 20 days to do this. I plan a mix of camping and hotels. I will also see some sites along the way. Like the Chaco Canyon cave dwellings, various ghots towns, abandoned mines, etc. I'll try to find a room but don't want to book ahead, and if I can't get a room then I'll camp. If anyone is interested, it would be nice to have a riding buddy or 2.

I am planning this trip, would be great to compare notes at the least.

Will likely be riding a ktm 500 exc but still undecided vs 690 enduro or perhaps an fe 501. Hopefully will get the chance to ride one for a couple day trip to make the choice.

I am thinking end of August, am ok with some heat in NM. Have you finished your plan?

 

[GreenHornet]

I am planning this trip, would be great to compare notes at the least.

Will likely be riding a ktm 500 exc but still undecided vs 690 enduro or perhaps an fe 501. Hopefully will get the chance to ride one for a couple day trip to make the choice.

I am thinking end of August, am ok with some heat in NM. Have you finished your plan?

The short version is, I'm pushing this off a year. Due to the Rona and all it entails, my sabbatical eligibility was extended a year, and I didn't like all the uncertainty regarding businesses and hotels etc. My new plan is to take sabbatical on 6/27/2021.

I think the deeper into the summer you wait, more than heat is the rain in NM which makes for super sticky mud but the Rawhyde guys do the southern bound route in august.

Sure we can compare notes or if you can wait a year we could team up. My Route is pretty well planned out with the daily start and end points etc. Essentially using GPSKevin's days and Cannonshot's route with some small modifications.

 

[GreenHornet]

Congratulations on trying out some dirt, mud, and water.
Now you need to go try some longer dirt roads. I would suggests Ponderosa Way off of Foresthill Rd. Continue on Yankee Jims, Shirttail Canyon, Big Dipper, Sugar Pine, and Finning Mill. Here's most of the route on Google Maps. It's not all that difficult and has a lot of nice scenery. Should be some good waterfalls this time of year.

I finally bit the bullet, and on Friday afternoon I took the GS on basically the route you suggested. But instead of taking Finning Mill Road I went around the other side of Sugar Pine Reservoir. It has more challenging terrain.

I was super nervous about going alone, since it was really my first time riding it off road. I don't really count Michigan Bar, as it's not very challenging. I would have preferred to have a friend along but I couldn't get either of them to go. So, I decided that if I want to ride across the country alone I'm going to have to grow a pair.

At first I was pretty intimidated, was tippy toeing around, but after a while I relaxed. It's basically like riding a huge dirt bike. Takes a lot longer to stop, and more Body English to maneuver. But once it gets going it can truck over stuff surprisingly well. For sure the bike can do more than I can do. I mean if I had more skill and more balls that is.

 

[fiteg]

great pics

 

[GreenHornet]

great pics

Thank you. Also, I'd be down to tag along on your 2 day trial trip, if you are interested.