Hello and welcome to my RU-vid channel. I have been YouTubing for about 5 years now. It has been quite a life learning experience and I have picked up many valuable video and photography skills working with this channel. Mainly I created this channel to show my lifetime experiences of having a great time and learning that life is good. Not all my videos pertain to riding a motorcycle. There are other life experiences I would like to show as well behind the cameras.
My hope is to show all of you that it is possible to tour and see the country either by motorcycle or by car. Nowadays I see a lot of people even seeing the country by bicycle. Whatever please don't miss out.
My life has greatly improved being a content creator creating videos and photos. With some of the most beautiful trips that I've ever taken, has been with my motorcycles and taking my cameras with me. It is a life awarding experience.
Beautiful Jim. We travel many of those routes and you gave us some ideas for new ones. Just love the views and love that you & your wife do this together!! ❤ Maybe we'll see ya next time around. Nicole & Mike
Hello Nicole and Mike. I am sorry to be commenting so late. I have taken a brake from multi Media for awhile. I am glad you liked the video. Been out photographing waterfowl now that spring is here. Ill be retiring soon. Thanks for staying in touch.
@jimpayneadv I've been photographing here too. Wisconsin doesn't have the scenery you do, but we have tons of beautiful birds. Don't think we will make it out this year, so enjoy your retirement!! I know it will be a blast.
You take the ride like I like to. No hurry. Just enjoy the time. I’ve not done any BDR riding, but hope to this summer. I lived in Colorado for 40 years and miss it, having moved to Florida. I take a summer road trip every year back there, just on a Goldwing, which sucks on gravel/dirt. I might need to take the suzuki 800DE this year in order to tick that off the bucket list. Wish you had more viewers but… Happy riding. PS: Use a 360 camera on the bars so you don’t have to turn your head to show us what the scenes look like. Takes a bit of editing but the results are really nice.
Hello Dennis ... Sorry to be so late commenting back. I have taken some time off from Multi Media for awhile. Fine on coming out here on the Goldwing. I do spend lots of time shooting waterfowl photography in the Spring. I took the 800de out for a ride today to Meeker. I am pretty sold on the bike. Rode lot of gravel cutting cross country. I much prefer my Yamaha Wr250r for that. Even the 800de seems big to me on gravel. Take care.
I’m am older guy. After watching one of your videos I bought the exact same bike you have. I’m putting a tall windshield on it because buffeting at highway speeds is excessive.
I bought a '22 KLR 650 and a V-Strom 800DE in '23. I haven't ridden the KLR650 since then. There simply is no comparison. It's like comparing a Mercedes-Benz to a garden tractor. The KLR feels 150lbs heavier.
I think where the two are similar is the luggage carrying capacity with both bikes being stock;. I had some great rides on the KLR. Now I am looking forward to better rides. Sorry for being late on the reply.
I completely agree with the KLR on steroids analogy (having previously owned 4 KLR's). I also think that the tube-type spoked wheels are a huge miss (give us tubeless spoked wheels) along with requiring premium unleaded fuel. However, I think that my 2023 Suzuki V-Strom 800DE may be the best motorcycle I've ever owned out of 36 motorcycles. Sweet engine, great adjustable suspension and very comfortable to ride on pavement and explore rugged dirt roads. So far, I've added the taller windshield, heed crash bars and factory center stand. Thanks for posting your review.
I'm sure sorry for running late on my replies here. I've just been busy with the winter weather and doing other things and forgot about the replies. I am 100% in agreement with your comment pertaining to the KLR versus the 800 DE. Really looking forward to some good rides this spring and summer where I can actually get some time on the motorcycle. One thing about it it is a very comfortable bike to ride. The KLR was the first adventure bike I ever got and I had some great times with it. Just wish it wasn't so underpowered to make it safer on the roads.
I have a 22 KLR, and looking for a twin with the comfort ability of my KLR, and more features👍Will I be happy with this bike? I had an 890 R, and just too stiff for my liking, and didn’t want to spend big $$ to fix that
I have only been out for a short ride at night. Stock leds Lighting I don't believe is adequite for touring or asphault at night, not for spotting deer. Good enough for after dusk to get to camp or riding dirt roads slow at night. To be fair I don't have the hours on it at night to give an accurate answer. Only my first impression.
Dinosaur would offer you a great opportunity for exploring. The East End of the monument has a great road to ride around echo park. And one can also hike down to the bottom of the Canyon. Not really too crowded. I had a great night tent camping along the Green River that was fun. Thanks for watching and happy new year.
Having previously owned 4 KLR 650's (2002, 2009, 2018 & 2022 Adventure), I will always be a KLR fanboy. With that said, my 2023 V-Strom 800DE is the best "KLR" I've ever owned. Enjoy! Happy New Year from Vermont.
The KLR offered the best of times for me. Just the under power eventually got me. The 800 de is a fine machine. A KLR on steroids. Thanks for watching.
Well done Jim👍 Outstanding photography. I have been blessed to visit several of the places you showed. many I want to visit again. thank you for sharing! safe travels.
NIce bike. Was in the tetons back in 2013 on my Victory....such nice riding. Right now I'm torn between getting a 2024 Norden Expedition or this vstrom. Performance/cruise control/tubeless tires vs. solid suzuki reliability. Gotta make a choice before this spring...lost out on adventure offroad ride in Canada this summer with friends so I don't want to miss out again.
There are some good choices out there. I am hoping the 800 is as reliable as the vstrom 650. I will not know for sure until the end of next summer. So far so good. I am sure you will make a good choice.
Thanks for the update, Jim. We made the right decision buying the 800DE, we do the same kind of riding. I'm just under 1000 miles on mine and will hopefully get out more in the next few weeks. I may have missed it, but are you running the Suzuki skid plate and tank/engine guards?
Hello there ... Yes I am. The Suzuki 800de Adventure model comes standard in one package with the engine guards, aluminum heavy duty skid plate, and the panniers.
I happened to catch your video on the VStrom 800. Based on your review and a few others, this seems like the motorcycle for me (possibly the RE version). Based on trickle-down engineering and manufacturing processes, we live in a great time for various affordable do-it-all (so to speak) middle-weight motorcycles!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hello and thanks for watching. I can certainly comment on the Suzuki quick shift experience. This is something when riding the bike spoils you pretty quick. It takes a tremendous amount of work off the clutch and works great. It is one of those options similar to power steering. Once you have it you won't go back to manual. So far the quick shift experience has been awesome. So when you're going down the road you no longer have to clutch your gears other than when you're coming to a stop. The nice thing about it is your left hand no longer gets tired of clutching on Long rides. I like it.
@jimpayneadv thank you for the reply. I'm glad to hear it's beneficial, as it seems it's almost industry standard as an option or factory installed. We enjoy your videos and input about the bike! Many happy miles, sir!
@@Scoot7827 I have the same bike. I'm really happy with my quickshifter. I have never hit a false nuetral yet. Unlike my KTM, although I would say the quickshift downshifts are not as smooth as some other bikes I have ridden. It will downshift perfectly fine it just takes a lot of push on the lever, at least on my bike.
Good review Jim! Sounds like the perfect bike for the kind of riding you do. I like the same kind of riding. I'm not a technical rider but dirt roads, camping and getting the drone up and capturing video is so much fun. I was out your way last summer in July and it was gorgeous! Enjoy that new companion!!
The WR250R is a great bike. I purchased mine to ride the trans America trail and they've yet to do so. I have had it up on the Wyoming BDR. Also I have ridden plenty of short rides here in western Colorado. My bike is outfitted with a three gallon IMS tank, 48 rear sprocket, and Giant Loop Coyote saddle bags.
First off let me say Happy Thanksgiving... I ave the exact same bike..sorry your dealership over charged you..I paid 13,700 total for mine..but I noticed I had adjust the chain twice in the first 300 miles..as far as off road Eastwood makes a bike jack you should look into..I have one and works great.
I sold my t7 and just picked up my new vsrom 800de adventure today Oct 4th.. spent the day registering it and adjusting everything to me and first ride planned for tomorrow
I think you going to really like the 800de. I think it is about the best available for travel. It is a very comfortable bike. The speed shift is an extra bonus.
Western NC here, i just rolled over 1k miles on mine. Same bike, same color. Most underrated VStrom ever produced. Suspension is better than my t7, which i sold to a buddy, now he is selling it for a base model 800DE. Faster, more powerful, more torque, better suspension, added tech, fuel range, fuel range and comfort compared to the t7. The 800de is ugly as sin. Ill admit it. But i didint buy it based on looks. I purchased it based its capabilities compared to the competition. I have ultralight backpacking gear, my buddies with the t7s dont have fine tuned set ups. When its all saod and done, my bike is lighter than theirs both in feel and in paper. They bring 70lbs worth of crap. I have 11pounds in backpacking gear (base weight) and 6pounds in tools/tubes/pump/jump pack. So 17lbs compared to 70lbs. Once i get a lithium battery, decat midpipe, and slip on- those 3 mods will drop it another 20+pounds.
Glad to hear you like the 800. I am surprised how much power the bike has. No problems going up the passes and passing cars. My klr had issues with both. I think the 800 is a keeper. I carry too much weight myself. May get the trunk case for it next year instead of carrying the duffel bag.
Nice video Jim! That route would kill our camper so it's nice to see it from such an open point of view. Nice talking to you at Clearwater in Wapiti this year. Keep up the good work! Mike & Nicole
My son and I were checking out the new 800 at our local dealer a few weeks ago. It's a nice bike. The Tetons are a great place to visit and photograph.
Hello Seis. Colorado in my area is the greenest it has been in many years. Hoping to be an expert with shooting video with the dslr camera. Have a great Summer.
Beautiful country coming home through Colorado Jim. I'm thinking I might just put some routing together around County Rd 1down to Hayden then south and work a loop back up. Roads look great! Thanks!!
Hello Seis, the route I take home from Dixon is real scenic and has very little traffic compared to Steamboat lake route which has lots of traffic. There is also the Flat Tops Scenic biway I am sure you would enjoy.
I'm new to the adventure riding thing, having only ridden street bikes over the past 45 years, but they sure do bring the best of both worlds to riders. I can't believe it took me so long to figure that out! Even looking forward to being a little miserable at times, like at the end of this video!!
I have the Hero10 and have had some issues with the batteries a handful of times, but the quality of the video for me has outweighed the glitches so far. When I remember, I try to use the GoPro app to do a test clip to make sure everything is working before I take off. That won't ensure it won't quit working, but at least I start off right.....LOL I need an external battery though, because it's very annoying to have to change out the batteries! I rode up to Canada on my GoldWing last summer, and even from the Interstate it was a beautiful state!! Sure hope I get the chance to get up there and see some of the dirt roads on the GS sometime in the next three years.
Hello and thanks for the subscribe. Seems like the Hero 7 cabling is bulky with setting up helmet cam due to the extra cable extension required for an external mic. Have to tape down to eliminate loose connections. Check audio daily on the ride. I have two Hero 7s.
It's all about enjoying the ride and seeing the sites. A great relaxing Camp is nice too. Thanks for the compliment pertaining to Road identification. Have a good one.
You mentioned the cattle guard obstacles. Have you run across anything specific or just heard of other folks having problems? Great tip on the spray bottle.....thanks!
I noticed some cattle guards split in the middle which look like small narrow motorcycle or bicycle tires could go through. I have not heard of any incidents yet.
I've had struggles as well with my Hero10, and it still gets bad crackling at anything over 45mph, but it's about as good as it will get with my helmet setup, I think. It really is a lot of work putting together a video, but I feel the same as you with wanting to improve the cinematography part of it, if for nothing more than the challenge of getting better at it. Personally, I'm going to try using my iPhone to set up more passing shots and when stopped somewhere, and upgrade my 5-year-old drone to something I can trust a little better. I need to watch the earlier videos from this trip, but what do you find as your biggest challenge with riding solo on the BDRs or other rides? I want to do some NMBDR sections this Spring and may end up riding solo. I have a Garmin Montana 700i so I'm good with the gps, and inReach if needed, but just curious on your thoughts about solo riding on overnight (or more) trips.
Hello Steve. I am looking forward to more adventures this summer. So much to ride around here. Somewhat setting my sites on the TAT for 2023. BDR is possible as well for 2023.
@Jim Payne ADV Hello again Jim, Spring is certainly coming & I am most definitely ready for it, as I'm sure you are too, especially after all that snow! Thanks brother, ride safe, have fun!
I enjoyed the Ten Sleep to Hyattville portion of this BDR. It was Labor Day weekend when I was there and the brewery was pretty crowded so we went up the canyon and found a place to camp in one of the forest service campgrounds at the upper end of the canyon (fortunately someone had cancelled and we lucked into a spot). Thanks for the video.
Yes that Ten Sleep Canyon was certainly a place to see. Very much enjoyed that ride and hopefully I can take my KLR 650 up there one of these days and ride that road and see more of the Bighorn National Forest.
Enjoyed the video! We decided to skip the area east of Riverton because it was blazing hot that day. We jumped on the highway and rode to Shoshone then got back on the route. We got to Ten Sleep late in the day after an enjoyable ride over Cottonwood pass and through Nowood Canyon. It was busy in Ten Sleep (Labor Day Weekend) but we found a campsite in a USFS campground near the top of Ten Sleep Canyon; apparently someone had cancelled their reservation. It felt good to gain some elevation after a long hot day.
