Howlin at the Moon

Badass!! Been wanting to go on an adventure ride badly. People who just love to ride motorcycles, without all the racing stress and drama, what's not to like!? Can't wait to get a dual sport.

That's awesome, hopefully some more pics to follow.

Wish I hadn't thrown my NBA card collections out, I had a few of Smits.
I dig his passion for moto a lot, especially considering how tall he is.

Looks like a lot of fun! I wanna get a dual sport or played off road bike so I can do ride like that with my friends. I've never done that kind of riding and sounds like an adventure to me.

Looks like a good epic adventure. Nice to see you had a good time

Thanks for sharing. I am getting off my ass and going to go grab my bike after reading this.

Good times, sounds like bucket list stuff. Rik makes that KTM look a PW80.

The Candyman wrote:

Badass!! Been wanting to go on an adventure ride badly. People who just love to ride motorcycles, without all the racing stress and drama, what's not to like!? Can't wait to get a dual sport.

Yep, my first one so I could dab my toe in the water was a XR400 and that took me on my first LA-to Barstow to Vegas rally which was 500 miles. (Done five of those events).
It was a blast and haven't regretted a moment, (well there was the time my buddy had an electrical issue in the Nevada desert as darkness fell and we were LOST) but we made it out alive and have stories to rehash for our lifetime.

So then I wanted a bike with the Magic button and scored a used 02 520EXC that was an awesome machine.

If you get a DualSport, you will say "why did I wait so long"?

EZZA 95B wrote:

That's awesome, hopefully some more pics to follow.

Wish I hadn't thrown my NBA card collections out, I had a few of Smits.
I dig his passion for moto a lot, especially considering how tall he is.

Thanks and yea Rik is a very good rider and real nice guy.

BAD10 wrote:

Looks like a lot of fun! I wanna get a dual sport or played off road bike so I can do ride like that with my friends. I've never done that kind of riding and sounds like an adventure to me.

Yep as per my reply above, once you get a DualSport it opens up a whole other avenue of riding.

Ok I think you sold me on giving one of these events a shot.

That looks awesome and sounds like it was well organized.

Does everyone get hotels at night, or is it a camping event?

And my only friend that rides, just rides my spare bike which is a 2015 DR650 so it is a bit of a tank and better on the easy terrain. Plus he does not have much experience, he is fine on single track and the easy trails, but struggles on the technical areas (hell anyone would struggle on a 350 pound DR650 with shit suspension). Would these type of rides be over his head, or do they have different routes for different skill levels?

And is a big fuel tank necessary, or is there enough stops along the way to fuel up? I have a 15 FC450 (the MX version) that I converted to barely street legal so I could get a plate/ registration. But it just has stock tank and I usually carry a couple small jugs of extra fuel as a back up. But have never done an event like this so not sure on the range.

Edit- sorry I had not clicked on the link for the above questions, most of which was answered in the link to the website. I am planning on being ready for next years event, long ways off but I am looking forward to it!

Looks like a good ride. Great photos too.

Great write up!!
That dude standing over his bike, that's a tall dude!!!!!
Makes that look like a mini...

G-man wrote:

Thanks and yea Rik is a very good rider and real nice guy.

Looks like a blast!

I raced against Smits years ago at an AHRMA race at Speedworld years ago. He was surprisingly fast on the even smaller vintage bikes.

One of my favorite Kansas tunes.

Ok I think you sold me on giving one of these events a shot.
Good to know!

That looks awesome and sounds like it was well organized.

Yes and Yes!

Does everyone get hotels at night, or is it a camping event?

Depending on which location.
Payson, my favorite, has ample camping in the dirt parking lot but we camp in an established campground 1 mile away.
Prescott has limited camping in the dirt parking lot and we did that last yr but there are also many hotels close by. Campground is far away. Two of my buds are Pilots and they hotel it.
Wickenburg has camping in their asphalt parking lot, but we camp in a dirt lot not too far away.


And my only friend that rides, just rides my spare bike which is a 2015 DR650 so it is a bit of a tank and better on the easy terrain. Plus he does not have much experience, he is fine on single track and the easy trails, but struggles on the technical areas (hell anyone would struggle on a 350 pound DR650 with shit suspension). Would these type of rides be over his head, or do they have different routes for different skill levels?

Yes they have A loops which in Arizona can get real nasty (ROCK and BOULDER infested 1st, 2nd gear sections).
B loop consists of some Fireroads, trails (like all AZ trails rocks and some boulders but not too bad).
C loop is for the Adventure bikes and KLR’s. Easy fireroads and a lot of hwy.


And is a big fuel tank necessary, or is there enough stops along the way to fuel up? I have a 15 FC450 (the MX version) that I converted to barely street legal so I could get a plate/ registration. But it just has stock tank and I usually carry a couple small jugs of extra fuel as a back up. But have never done an event like this so not sure on the range.

Not sure your tank size, but you might want to think of getting a slightly larger tank and also a Trail Tech Computer/Odometer to track mileage. They are easy to mount and you don’t need the high dollar one but they are great to have and also track your hours on the bike. The reason for the odometer is so you will be able to follow the roll chart which is tracked thru mileage. We also have GPS’s that they can load the different routes on but you will need one to fit the bill. The routes are not marked and if you are not careful you can get off course and lost…… LoL But that is part of the FUN and adventure….

Yes they have fuel stops but ideally you should be able to do a 80 mile range as a estimate.
My 16 350XCFW comes stock with a 2.25 tank and I would like a larger one but this will do for now.
They have tanks these days that you barely notice as far as being larger and you could still moto on unless you want to be changing fuel pumps back and forth.

You will also want to regear your bike as you will be on the hwy to connect the different sections.
On my 520 it was no biggie but I did not want to have the 350 work so hard (HIGH rpm) on the road and it comes stock with a tall gear. I put one tooth larger on the C/S and one tooth smaller on the rear and it was perfect. With MX gearing I would do the C/S up one and go down two to three on the rear. Something to think about so you won’t have to remove links from the chain.
Another great feature of these bikes is you can rotate the axle blocks for drastic chain adjustments, not sure if yours is like that (it should be).

Edit- sorry I had not clicked on the link for the above questions, most of which was answered in the link to the website. I am planning on being ready for next years event, long ways off but I am looking forward to it!

Hope this helps, glad to see you are excited about it and you will be back for more!

Where do you trail ride mostly, I’m in East Mesa.

jmc2 wrote:

Looks like a good ride. Great photos too.

Thanks Jim and Moore 433.

Yep kzizok, Rik is a really good rider.