For everyone who’s interested in GPX route here’s the link to original forum post and GPX file that inspired me for this trip www.advrider.com/f/threads/solo-continental-divide-the-hard-way.1473731/page-5
Rode the CD in 2018 south to north on an Africa Twin. Been thinking about doing it in 2022 I enjoyed the experience so much. Loved your video without music and any speaking, added a very nice quality and was much more like the true experience. You did a wonderful job. Thanks!
Thank you for the comment. I didn’t expect that my editing approach will get so many compliments. Hope you’ll get an opportunity to ride it again this year. Especially on Africa it should be effortless on the long gravel stretches
Well done - I really enjoyed this! Such a different style without your face, voice and music. Just the sounds of the bike and the environment. It really works.
I’ve been on this CDT adventure riding video binge lately. Yours shines in conveying the serene beauty of the landscapes. My god, the US has some of the best in the world. Thanks for sharing your experience with such a clean edit, inspiring for sure!
Thank you for comment. Every place on the Earth has unique spots. CDT condenses so many of those, it’s hard to stay focused on the road ahead. If you have a chance, I definitely recommend to ride it
It’s only matter of time when everyone will get in a situation to challenge skills and critical thinking lol Thank you for comment. Glad you enjoyed video
The sound of the bike, nature, and silence, great production and incredible photography. New Mexico brings back memories. My granddad, ran the boiler makers shop retired and dad was an electrician at the Santa Rita Mine. We had a farm on the Mimbres river near San Juan.
Congratulations on your new bike. I tested previous generation KLR 650 and was stunned how capable it is in gnarly rocky terrain. Assuming yours is the same just fuel injected. Hope it will be dry in New Mexico when you get there, it’s impassable when wet in some places.
What a incredible trip that was.you took some of the most amazing pictures I plan on doing the TAT this summer might start after Tennessee and try and make it to Utah depending on the time I have I only hope I have is beautiful weather as it looks like you had thanks for sharing.
Thank you for your comment and wish you a successful trip over TAT. I’ve experienced every type of weather imaginable during this trip: rain, snow hail, wind and heat. Not always was a good time for pictures or video, that’s why most difficult and scratchy parts were left behind the scene. It’s the whole experience what impossible to capture on camera
Great video....and ride I'm sure!! Wasn't sure about the mix of pictures and video at first, but it definitely grew on me. Nice touch with never using your own voice anywhere! Any helpful hints about doing this ride solo is very much appreciated!!
Glad you like this video. One of the most important tips for solo trip is to be open for unexpected, improvise and don’t follow strict schedule. It’s near impossible to calculate travel time when there’s so much to see along the way and weather turn easy trail into impassable route.
Great adventure! It is on my bucket-list now! The lack of a narrative, left me with many questions which in a way added to the mystery and adventure. Thanks for a great job on this video.
Believe me that even after you get a step-by-step instruction you’ll have many questions left. There’s always something new in every trip which makes it interesting.
I appreciate you taking some questions on this one. Were you doing those night rides because you had to or was that part of the adventure you had planned?
@@Omidism1 descending from Taylor Pass at night was not planned at all and I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone. But there was no suitable spot for a tent to spend a night so I had to push it thru. Some days had to be longer to beat upcoming weather…
Great video of an epic trip. Looking to do the CD this coming year 2022. I’ve had plans to do it since 2020 but borders have kept me from it. Thanks for sharing. Thank you RU-vid algorithm. New sub 👍🏻
Thank you for comment. I’d say everyone who ride ADV bike should do this ride. It’s stunning how diverse this country and how much we are missing when riding on the freeway
Nice video of an amazing trip. Almost did this same trip last summer on my 650 sertao. Glad to see you do it on a nearly identical bike. Some rough areas for sure. I like your fortitude. Not sure I could have been comfortable riding some that alone. Good tire choice. Like the heed bars. Many thanks for sharing ~GrizzLee
Thank you. Glad you enjoyed watching this trip report. Some rough sections could be avoided if you choose so, otherwise it’s a great ride on a mostly easy gravel roads. As for being solo, what difference does it really make? Would anyone take more risk when riding in group vs solo?
@@TheStumpyfsr For me, I ride very conservatively when I ride alone. Done alot of it in British Columbia, Yukon, NWT and Alaska (see my channel). Always worried about break downs, getting hurt etc.. I tend to not worry so much when I have a riding partner. But then again, I'm no spring chicken anymore. Things don't heal as fast 🙂 In any event, I look for more from you. Thanks, ~GrizzLee
Now, after checking out your videos, I’ve realized why “name” sound familiar - I saw your some before. Great videography and amazing adventures. You definitely have more riding experience then I do. Hope my initial reply didn’t sound offensive . One more subscriber to your channel .
A truly great country to ride in and very well filmed, but what is RU-vid doing to our video quality, why are the moving images so blotchy now. Videos I uploaded a few years ago looked fine, but now they all appear to be suffering from CMOS blocking. They look fine before I upload them, so I'm pretty sure my camera and SD card are still ok, and it seems to be happening to other channels as well.
Thank you for comment. This is big country to explore with very diverse terrain and climate zones. And Continental Divide provide a chance to have a slice of everything in one ride. Trans American Trail is another cool option. As for video quality, it could be related to many reasons. Check your settings.
nice video, I did South to North in June 2021, super cool to see some of the same areas and new ones, pie town was awesome with the kitty and the owners let us sleep in there breezeway, you could do this route many times and see new stuff every time,
Agree, one single ride isn’t enough for this route. As for the place to sleep in Pie Town, there’s cool free camping across from Pie shop. Was it very hot in June?
@NorthernStar also there is a free hostel 1.5 miles from pie Town called The Toaster House. Mexico & New Mexico was very hot. when I left my casa it was 115°f in Terlingua Texas. so anything 100 or below felt like a cold front 🤣
Awesome job! I was gonna ask about the great photos and video and what you used then read just an I phone 12. Incredible! The photos turned out EXCELLENT! and the video as well. To bad about losing or breaking the tripod in Wyoming. I totally understand that. Some of those boulder fields did not look like fun at all but you made it through. This looks like a ride I'd like to do and will put it on the list, first is Colombia to Ushuaia while I still have most of my health. LOL Keep up the awesome trip rides and reports. 2 thumbs up!
Thank you for your comment. The hardest moments were left unfilmed, had no desire at the moment to turn around and ride it again for camera. Those sections however are not mandatory and detours available. I recommend this route to any motorcycle enthusiast, at least once in a lifetime. Tripod was inexpensive flexible type, but after losing it on the trail filming got a bit more difficult. Improvising is a key on any adventure. I wish you best of luck in South America and hope to see pictures and videos from that trip.
Epic journey and Picturesque panorama's. Thank God the trails in Northern Europe are a little more forgiving, my 2000 Transalp 650V would cope but suffer. 👏🇳🇱NL.
I would love to try your Transalp in action, cool bike. Thank you for comment. As for trail difficulty there plenty of easier trails for heavy or more asphalt-oriented machines. It’s just I picked more dual-sport option to spice up ride a bit. In some spots it was a challenge. What’s really different from Europe, so I heard, is access to public land and free camping.
Fabulous video. Contemplating joining my brother for the Transcontinental in 2023. I would need a DS bike and I'm thinking about the Royal Enfield Himalayan.
Sounds like a wonderful trip coming your way! 👍 never had a chance to ride Himalayan but Itchy Boots can give your great feedback for that machine for sure. She rode it all around the world. Thank you for comment
GREAT video. Maybe next video leave the typed scrip up 3x longer. It's up to short a time and I was only able to read half way through 80% of it. I missed the last half as it disappeared. Other than that I loved it !
Thank you for your comment. It means a lot to get constructive critique and helps in creative better projects. I will use your suggestion in my next video.
Really beautiful. Inspiring Great idea just the sound of the monkey 650 and the wind. For what else? Congratulations . I will turn 60 in a few days and I am waiting for a kidney transplant, if I get out alive I plan to take this trip. How could I get the maps of the routes that you showed us? All dirt and gravel, mountains and rivers, I want that! Thanks a lot.
Great video and footage! I'm curious as to what route you used for the CDR through Colorado? In looking at gps Kevin's route, Mosquito, Georgia and Taylor pass aren't on the route. Looks like you were on Hagerman as well. You definitely found some technical sections.
Thank you for comment, I’m glad people enjoy this “video report”. I used slightly different route, link to trip report and GPX file in the very first comment to this video. Some Colorado passes got me sweat a lot, some I’d ride again and again. Overall this is not a race, rider can always turn around and find an alternative route. Wish you fun and safe adventure
That stretch of trail at 15:30 was fun, but challenging for us last July. 3 of us went, luckily nobody dropped their bike on that stretch. My Tenere 700 performed beautifully, also had an Africa Twin and a KLR 650.
That part was one of the most difficult for me yet doable. Respect to you guys for riding it on even heavier bikes. One day I should try that Tenere 700, looks like a next bike for me
Realmente hermoso. Inspirador. Gran idea solo el sonido del mono 650 y del viento. Para que mas? Felicitaciones . Cumplo 60 dentro de pocos dias y estoy esperando me hagan un transplante de riñon, si salgo vivo pienso hacerme este viaje. Como podria hacer para conseguir los mapas de las rutas que nos mostraste? Todo tierra y ripio, montañas y rios, eso quiero! Gracias por tanto.
advrider.com/f/threads/solo-continental-divide-the-hard-way.1473731/page-5 Thank you for comment. I wish you get thru surgery well and have the chance to travel for many more years. Above is the link to article and GPX track of the route. But feel free to improvise - we all ride our own ride.
This is where I got most of trip info from. Then I made my own changes along the way due to forest fires ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-m4S30QhRHgo.html
Thanks for capturing the essence of the landscapes and the travel without the distraction of music. Really well done. In retrospect, would you have sacrificed some riding comfort on the easy sections by having a lighter bike through the more “technical” sections? I will be doing this ride solo next year and debating between my Husky 501 (250lbs) and my 1200 GS Rallye (520lbs). The 501 is no fun on highway and with much more frequent maintenance intervals and the GS is less fun (but doable) in the difficult sections but super plush and fun on the two tracks and gravel. Thoughts on your bike at 425lbs?
Thank you for comment. I’m glad we share same vision of adventure video. I would definitely steer towards lighter bike for this ride. There were some fun trails that my bike was almost too big. There’s alternative route that’s more friendly for heavy bikes. Let my bike be 50 lb heavier and I’d probably never pull it out of the rock garden where it stuck in the night. Or pushing bike with dead fuel pump more fun with lite bike as well. At the end of the day, ride what you have and feel most comfortable on. And don’t push too hard when solo. 😀👍
@@TheStumpyfsr considering the ride with either my WR250R or BMWg310GS using GPS Kevin tracks. Any thoughts on bike choice? Thanks. Jim from San Diego. Doing CDT on June
@@jimkonugres8454 good question, Jim. Unfortunately I have no experience riding neither of those bikes but I had Kawasaki KLX 250s, which is similar to Yamaha. Lack of wind protection is what motivated me to switch to more highway friendly bike with bigger motor. However I wish my bike was lighter on technical steep sections in Colorado. That being said I’m sure a determined rider will do this route even on scooter or gold wing. It’s only your choice where do you wanna sacrifice, on- or off-road. Load each of your bike how you plan to ride it on trail and go for a day-long ride, include rough off-road and see for yourself which one suits you better. A set of proper knobby tires can help a lot. Hope this helps. Good luck on your trip and I’ll be happy to answer any other questions
@@jimkonugres8454 same to you, Jim! I don’t know your riding background but would like to share my personal most important tip for successful trip. It doesn’t really matter what bike you ride or what gear you wear. What’s really important is to recognize in time your fatigue point and either find a spot to camp or take a break, or to take it very easy and ride cautiously. Especially to be careful on wide open dirt roads - these are often have deep unexpected washouts, some are 6 foot deep.
How did you like that bike for the CD. Hoping to do it in the next few years but really back and forth on bike choice. Like something lightly and more dirt oriented vs a true adventure bike. In my head like a KTM 500 EXC or something closer to what you're riding. Was the size at all limiting on the trip?
Thank you for comment. Most technical and difficult parts didn’t get into video, since I didn’t wanna waste time and energy on another pass. I am satisfied how my bike performed, but there were situations I wished it was at least 100 lb lighter. I tried bike like yours and it will be more suitable for hardest parts then mine. Mine however has better wind protection and comfort on long gravel stretches. There’s no perfect do it all machine, choose for yourself where you wanna sacrifice, road or technical trail. Hope it helps a bit
@@TheStumpyfsr Totally agreed there is no one machine to do it all. And I actually don't have a KTM 500....yet. I have KTM 250 XCF-W which is just too small for the trip. But I'm thinking something more dirt oriented as I'm a weaker dirt rider than road rider. And I'm used to long trips on my triumph scrambler with no wind protection. My current dream bike for the trip is a 2011 Husqvarna Te630. Cheers and thanks for sharing your adventure!
@@SecondHalfofLife hope you’ll get that dream bike out on this incredible adventure. DRZ400 also could be nice option for such trip. No matter what bike just remember to pack light
Not one spoken word or bar of music, and it still turned out just fine. And what an adventure!!! Did you follow someone's map, like GPS Kenvin, etc? or find your own way?
Thank you for comment. As for the route, I was following already existing route. Link to blog along with GPX file in the pinned comment to this video. However in some spots I had to improvise and ride detours due to forest fires or trail closures. That’s an adventure as I can see it: determine starting point, finish and roughly route and just be open for unexpected :)
Nice vid, don't see Dakars around much anymore, great bikes. I had the 650GS rode it in Utah several times... what track did you follow on the CDT?... I'm heading out this coming July prolly top it off with the IDBDR....
I like my 650, it’s a solid choice between lighter 250 and heavy mile eaters like 1200. I also keep an eye on Idaho, maybe for this coming season. As for the track, I posted link in few previous comments and will add one in pinned comment. Meerkat ADV posted it on adv forum a while ago.
@@TheStumpyfsr Thanks for the link. I did the TAT on a 250 out and back (E Tenn) last year, it worked fine but was hard on the little bike hauling a full load.... Doing the CDT on my Honda 500X w/RR2 kit this July...... Did about half of IDBDR a couple of years ago on a 650 Weestorm, snow was to deep to do LOLO or anything north of Yellow Pine....
@@advridertim you’ve got some interesting stories to tell. Despite its own pros and cons every bike is capable of doing such trips, we just forgot those days when one bike was a commuter, track day bike and adventure machine depends on the mood of the rider. I picked Dakar simply because I had it ready to roll. The best bike is the one that’s being ridden.
@@TheStumpyfsr hey rider !!! Thanks for the reply!!!! 70 year old rider here !!! Over 1/2 a million miles under my wheels but nothing like that!!!👍👍👍👍🍺🍺🍺
Good question. It really depends on a year but mid July to October is good. Try to avoid monsoon season in New Mexico. That dirt when wet is impassable
Thank you for comment. Hope you’ll make your dream true and will experience this magnificent journey in person. As for your question, entire video was shot on iPhone 12 and little tripod which was lost halfway in Wyoming. Rest of the trip I had to improvise and put phone on the rock, tree ground or hang from tree on a piece of wire
I did a portion several years ago. My suggestion is a small bike, take your time, immerse yourself in the experience. The worst thing you can do is hurry, you will miss the best.
Glad my video could be useful for other riders. I was on the trails during September. Luckily weather waited with snow for the most of my trip. I was following GPX track from adv forum. Search for “Continental divide trail. The hard way” by MeerkatADV. He tweaked original route to make it more interesting for KTM 690 and I like those challenging bits. However some chunks in Montana are on private property now, had to find detour or ask owners for permission. I strongly recommend to avoid Taylor pass unless you are trial rider and enjoy miles of rock garden
@@MeerkatADV can’t provide exact coordinates as I didn’t save my track. One spot was before Big Hole Battlefield in Idaho when traveling north to south. Other spot was past Butte, MT, trail was closed permanently to motorized travel.
@@MeerkatADV I’m not new to improvising and consider it a mandatory part of any adventure. Few short sections had to be detoured due to pouring rain in New Mexico. Thank you for posting your route and detailed video for others, including myself, to be inspired for truly memorable ride.
You have a very nice bike. It depends on your ability, skills and risk tolerance rather you can do it or not. I wasn’t sure what’s ahead of me and few times I made a decision to turn around and detour sections after flash flood. There’re stretches with deep sand that could be rideable after rain, there’re rock gardens, especially in Colorado, that will leave marks on your bike no matter how hard you try not to scratch it. Just try it. If sections feels too bad, detour it. Taylor Pass in Colorado was a surprise for me and I would think twice on coming back with heavy bike Hope it helps.
Thank you. I really appreciate your advice. I also have a 1992 Honda XR250L. It super reliable, but obviously not very powerful for the highway. My butt hurts just thinking about doing a trip that long, but I'm guessing that might be a wiser choice? I'd prefer not to beat up the Ducati, if possible.
@@chippalmer4369 the only highway in this trip is getting to start point and return home. Mostly it’s off-road that will make you stand up from time to time. Make sure you have enough fuel for 200 miles in Wyoming.
Looked like they didn’t fit it properly and tube was kinked and rubbed few holes. I replaced it with spare, inflated before seating tire bead, ensured proper tube placement, deflated, set bead and finally inflated. Haven’t had an issue until tire replacement 3000 miles later
Yes, that clip was filmed by my friend, who joined me for couple days. You can see him riding Kawasaki KLR. Other then short chunk of New Mexico and Canyonlands was done completely solo, unsupported.
Make sure you have fuel for 200 miles, bring tools and spares but keep weight to minimum. Survival skills will help and general common sense is mandatory. Otherwise just ride and enjoy, it’s an incredible adventure
Thank you for your comment. It wasn’t my goal to satisfy everyone’s taste while making this video. This whole thing was filmed and edited on iPhone with little tripod and pov was not an option with a few exceptions on straight smooth roads. Even hard trail sections are left behind scenes - there are some spots I didn’t wanna ride many times for a good shot. Still, many viewers can get an idea how this entire route look like and how to prepare for a similar trip.
@@TheStumpyfsr It's a good video just that I wanted to really see what you were saying and they disappeared too quickly. Still enjoyed it, keep em coming.
