Dirt biking in the Dominican Republic 

Haha! It takes a lot for me to get annoyed out on the trail (especially during an event), but I was struggling with some terrible travel sickness and had been through a lot in the days leading up to the event. Although the trip was a good experience, I would have enjoyed it a lot more if I'd have been less stressed out and in good health.

@@megs_braap I always knew you are human. A good one too. :)

Oh man yeah the dust was nuts! I didn’t show a lot of it in this footage because the dusty footage was kinda boring…. But this was probably the dustiest ride I’ve ever been on haha!

@@megs_braap I did a amateur MX race back in the 80's at a place that was later called "Big Air" in Newago Michigan, (still have to get your crew to Michigan for a Baldwin area CCC trail ride). It was so dusty, after a mid pack start, (big mistake on that track), all I could see on the 3rd chopped up hard ground straight in probably 4th gear, was the tops of a few riders helmets in front of me. We were pretty used to dust back in those days,---but not 4th gear blind like that. Everybody made it.

I can understand your point of view. But the greatest beauty of motorcycle/dirt bike riding is the many different ways that we are free to ride the way we want. Nobody is trying to hurt you physically, and for me it is a far stretch to say that people who ride faster than you are disrespectful. I remember a woods ride I did with a group a couple friends hooked me up with. I am, (was), great in the whooped out fast trails, but these guys liked the tight stuff, (and were really good at it). I was so mad because on the fast stuff, I could beat them, but then they would turn into the tight stuff. Man, one guy passed me where I thought there was no room. I could have freaked a bit and taken us both down. I was so mad when we came to a big log jam. To my left and a bit below, there are all the woods guys going down the ravine to get around the long jam, and I wanted in front of them badly. Logs were piled up to my right, neatly, and I jumped up on them and down the other side, a line nobody took. It worked until the next tight section. I can't remember being so mad during a ride. But at the end of the day, having dinner with them all,----it was still a blast. IMO, unless you get hurt. There is no such thing as a bad ride. :) Try to let them by, and they will not have to jam it. If you think they are disrespectful, I have a suspicion you are blocking them. Fess up. :)

​@@EarthSurferUSA I can't say you're right. It's all about allowing slower riders to get through tough sections instead of trying to force an unsafe situation and blaming them for it because they're slower. This event was NOT a race. Period. You maybe did not understand that, but there was NO need for trying to rush anyone or complain about slower riders in tight terrain where injuries happen most often. If fast guys wish to race each other in these non compete fun ride events, they should head out first at the start of the event. Period, and stay there. that's all there is too it. Let the slower guys ride their own pace with out the fast guy drama. It's totally not necessary.

Even when we were toddlers with training wheels,---it was always a race at least somewhat. :)

Yeah it was really cool! I borrowed a bike down there.

Glad you liked the video! You’re 2023 TX 300 should never be fouling plugs. If it’s fouling plugs on warm up something is wrong.

@@megs_braap Yep. Fuel injected, suppose to run clean everywhere and at all usable rpm's. But we can't send the EPA the bill if they don't. That is where the "wrong" started. :) I make it a strict point of morality, not to ride what any dictatorship demands.

Thank you for the tip!!

I borrowed a bike out there.

It also means forest...

@@delezo9038 I don’t know where you’re from, but I’m from Spain. In Spain monte doesn’t mean forest.

@@marianitosan9759 in the Dominican Republic means monte buddy. also in several Latin American countries

@@marianitosan9759en Latin America monte, means Forrest! 😅

I've been all over the DR and never had problems, particularly on the north side of the island.

@@underthetrees4780 Well, fair to say I'm happy about your experience; unfortunately without elaborating, I can say differently...not that it's that safe these days back in the good old U.S.A.

@@gearhigher2027 Yep, the good Old USA, now in 3rd gears riding into a 3rd world banana republic. That sabotage is called "progress" in our schools, and unfortunately, we will get exactly what we deserve because it all depends on how we think.

If I am now worried about the dissolving care of our now nationalized hospitals with staff who may as well be a state run robot (with no brain of their own allowed) in the USA, I am pretty sure I would have a bigger concern in these primitive places. You get hurt there, and you may go for the ride for your life.

Well, it is not like the freeway, where blocking somebody who wants to get your road block, will end up with you being punted off the trail. :) That is the best way to learn "proper etiquette". :) But the same goes for a race. Have you noticed there are no traffic lights or signs on the trail, yet there is more proper etiquette? "Self Policing" works. :)

Yeah it was definitely a bit stressful. But it was still a memorable experience! Next time I go back, I'll have more knowledge and be a little more prepared! ☺👍🏻

Do you understand why they have 3 different routs for 3 different levels of riders?

@@EarthSurferUSA it is pretty self explanatory...

@@iSim0641 Maybe. But not much is self explanatory if we don't have the ability to reason and figure out reality, (which many people can't unfortunately today.). But the reason I see, is what you explained for the result. It is the same reason why pro MX does not race,---with my old class. Happy roosting sir. :)

Anybody who has ridden enough to smack their knee/shin on something does. It hurts. :)

I dont know if she does but i doubt it. Only time i wear need pads is when i happen to wear my leatt pants with built in knew pads. But they're kinds bulky Like to be as free moving as possible good boots helmet and underware for max mobility

I'm not there anymore. I was riding in Mao and the trails were great but I know there's good riding all over the country. I was only able to experience Mao though.

Hahaha I couldn't help it.

I find that if the pace is as fast as I can go, or slow for some Joe, it does not matter at dinner time. I still had a great ride. :)

I'm sorry about that! It shouldn't be blurry? Did you have it set to 1080? It's playing back nicely on my end.

@@megs_braap I'm watching at 720 and it's pretty good on my end.... "Ser Whit" might need to play with his computer settings.

@@suzuki06g My playback sucked as well , not enough band width on my end . Thank you MA BELL.

@@jamesdenton3692 ouch, yup that's probably why. Hard to complain about bandwidth here when I have a fiberoptic connection... 😊

Different country, totally different rules. I've been to Dominican Republic, that's just how it is down there. I seriously doubt the locals cared at all as every day on those roads is a total free for all anyway.

Yep, I was absolutely mortified when I first arrived and saw the way the locals are on the roads. I quickly realized though, that this is just the way it is down there. More people ride motorcycles than drive cars, so I can assure you the towns people have nothing against bikes. In fact, just about every local was attending this event. Before the event started, the roads were just as full of bikes weaving through traffic. It blew my mind haha! It is a completely different way of life out there. It was cool to experience it and it really opened my eyes to what life is like outside of our little 1st world bubble. If you ever go visit this place, you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

As an old guy myself who grew up in a lot of Michigan riding places that are now gone, it does not surprise me that dirt biking has taken on ff in city streets, I guess. In fact,----I like seeing it. Michigan now has a "ORV" sticker, (stands for "Off Road Vehicle"), to ride down our rural secondary roads, (for an extra cost of course), at 25mph or less, (even though dirt bikes don't have speedometers). The state closed off all the trails. Maybe they are riding the city, because they have no where else to ride? Heck, Kelly Smith (Michigan's last factory MX/SX racer), was on the radio begging the state for a place to ride in rural Michigan. He doesn't get it either.