Heading West EP:05 Hard sand! Section 1 Utah BDR Solo Motorcycle Adventure on an 890r 

Now that day would have gotten a million views on RU-vid. What a great story. Thanks for sharing. It's the difficult days we remember most.

Ain't that the truth.

Ain't that the truth. I've learned a lot since then. But not sure I would go that way on purpose again. Thanks for checking out the vids.

@@localrouteadv yeah man! I have plenty of go pro footage still needing edit. BTW, same trip, we rode GCDR to Eureka, MT. My bud turned back toward CO and I rode the ALCAN back home to Anchorage. The GS was perfect for that. Looking forward to checking out more of your trips.

@@robb907 that sounds epic. I have a gs also and cannot be best for comfort and just greatness for long trips. Ps. In my experience, the longer you let your GoPro footage sit idle, the less likely you are too do something with it. Which can be good either way. Haha.

@@localrouteadv right?! 🤣

You are quite welcome. Really appreciate the kind words. Never really intended on putting so much effort into the editing process, but these comments make it with the effort.

Hey you found it. I almost forwarded it to you, but I can't self promote. Lol

I've learned so much about bike set up in the sand. This one is a little embarrassing. But you gotta learn the hard way. And I love my gs. You won't be disappointed.

Thanks. I've been off road riding for 35 years, but the Midwest doesn't have that kind of sand riding.

Thanks. I can't remember exactly, I think it's a Coleman mad dog or something close to that. It was only $20. And it is pretty decent.

That is the best compliment I have ever received. You may be the first person I ever inspired to do something. Thanks for saying that.

Speed is your friend in sand.

@@shortbusdog so I've heard. Sand in the Midwest ain't got nothing on that sand. I got much better at it and was on the gas in the straight stretches. Which when it bit me. Being alone and pushing 100 degrees adds another element as well. But I totally get what you are saying.

Thanks and yeah, the parking was fine. No issues. I think it was around $80-90. If memory serves I had a battle ax41 rear and Michelin anake wild front. Neither were my favorite but did fine.

Wide on helmet, superview on bars b-role.

Actually I didn't have the bar camera on this series. Lol

@@localrouteadv thanks for the reply im not looking forward to this sandy section at all how many miles was it??

You don't want to know. Lol felt like 100 miles. Probably 40-50. I have learned since then to let all the preload out of the rear shock to make the rear end low. I've ridden in sand since and night and day. One time I even raised the front by dropping the forks in the triple trees. I wouldn't do it for 5-10 miles, but for 20 I would. You never know what your are gonna get. I've talked to people who had no trouble in that section. It had been so dry that it was all powder when I was there.

@@localrouteadv thanks for the info

Set a date and go. Don't wait for the perfect time. Something will always come up.

I heard it started raining like crazy in Colorado shortly after my departure. I wondered if Utah got hit as well? I am just starting the next episode, I know at some point I go down again and I could swear it was flow wash, but haven't got to that point yet. I also could be completely wrong. Luckily I recorded this trip. Highly recommend everyone capture some of their trips. I was always leary of trying to capture every moment taking away from the experience, but it was quite the opposite.

It started raining at 4am my first night in Valley of the Gods, and didn’t let up for three days. I made slow progress for the first two days, but got stuck in an impassable mud pit once known as a “trail.” After I dragged the bike out of the mud (more like thick clay), I rode it all the way to Canyonlands before I realized the fork seals were leaking badly. I didn’t have the experience, expertise, or tools to attempt a fix, so I turned around and rode back to my truck in Cortez, then trucked the bike to Durango where a shop took the forks apart. Lesson learned. Honestly after two nights/mornings camping in the rain, I was ready for a break. The terrain changes wildly after a big rain out there. I got back on the trail at the point where I came off, and just breezed right up the hill that two days earlier had knocked me down. Luckily I did take a few cameras! So far the footage is just for me, but seeing your videos inspires me to get it out there! It’s really cool to read other commenters finding joy in your experiences.

@@650BRP that's what I thought you might say about the weather. Did you go up lower Butler wash? It's right after you loop around the valley of the gods then it is the next dirt road heading north. Where I got trapped. Cannot imagine that wet. I believe it is where the bdr folks turned around in there utbdr video. Would love to see some of your footage. Please consider editing a couple short vids. Once uploaded it is the easiest way to access years down the road.

@@localrouteadv Yep! Lower Butler Wash is where the mud stopped me. It was super gnarly. The clay locked up both wheels and I had to drag the bike out on its side. Took ten minutes to get in, and about two hours to get back out.

@@650BRP sorry to hear that. I'm glad I got to see all of it, but I will find another way around if I go back. Dry or wet, it's a beast.

For sure.. Learned a lot about sand since then. Biggest mistake was I had the front forks raised up through the triple clamp for riding tighter trails in Ohio. That and freshly graded sand is a bad combo. I've been in regular sand since with no problems. Also been in freshly graded out west sand and still problems. Lol

Lol true that. Klim boots.

That is definitely a good thing

Haha. Nature of the beast.