Sign up for a Ride Adventures Motorcycle Training Expedition Here: www.rideadv.com/motorcycle-tours/training (don't forget to indicate that you were referred by Dork in the Road).
Great content!! Since you are there, can you see if they have a dct version of the Africa twin in their rental fleet? Leg leg Amptuee and that bike will help with my situation. Thanks brother!
*_"And that's why I always crash when I try to turn on the dirt!" :) Thanks for bringing us along on this Training Expedition. Beneficial information. A+ B-Roll. This is my favorite video of yours to date._*
Regarding standing... I have upgraded pegs on the KLR, but when I stand on a trail, with the combo of being 6'2" and on a KLR, I am just too high for many dirt trails in the woods due to low-hanging branches and crop dusters, LOL. Plus, I just don't feel the increased stability or advantage. I do what I like to call the "Woods Pooping Stance". When approaching an obstacle, I will lift my butt off of the seat in a semi-squat position so when I hit a Kelly hump at 25 mph, the seat doesn't smash my junk. Plus, I am shifting my weight more forward to distribute it more evenly so the rear suspension doesn't bottom out. But again, I am probably doing it wrong and will pay more attention to videos showing the proper techniques.
I live in Oregon and recently found your channel. I've been riding for 16 years, but only on-road. I would love to experience the new Oregon BDR or any other for that matter. Thinking this kind of class is a must... sadly it looks like they are sold out for 2023 season. I'll be sure to book early next year. Great video!
Here I am in the midwest. All we have is corn and soybeans. And land so flat I could go 100 miles in any direction with hardly any elevation change. You guys out west really have it made.
Just tried steering with my feet today on some mud and sandy backroads. Man, what a huge difference. Also keeping feet pointed in tight against the bike. Feet in elbows out. Thanks so much for sharing this tip.
i am soo jealous i wish i was there !! i just have to tell everyone i can the Tractive suspension upgrade on my Norden 901 TOTALLY TRANSFORMED this bike !! AWESOME ! was a significant big investment for me but after a few hundred miles on the new boingers and getting it dialed in it was worth every red cent !! the stock suspension holds this bike back much more so than i had realized now it has the very best suspension of any bike ive ever owned combined with this pkg low center of gravity light weight and compactness , wow wow wow !! Tractive Extreme rear shock and front fork drop in units ordered from and custom sprung by Teds Beemer shop gets ten thumbs up from me
Its so good to see programs like this. As a youngster I learned more by the "that hurt and didn't work" method, this is a much better way :-) I immediately noticed they must have instructed toes in. as most don't ride that way, leading to broken legs in the boot. Good stuff!
@@DorkintheRoad you previously seemed to want to be the authority on everything - like super strong opinions. It’s refreshing to see you acknowledge your limitations, what you were doing wrong and how much you’ve learnt. Far more interesting to see people on their discovery journey than for them to tell you how everything is. Just my opinion, I know you’ll take it or leave it.
I’ve ridden single track on my dirt bike for as long as I can remember. Gave it a shot on my GS this weekend and had a riot doing it. Had some hilarious looks from the guys on the other end when I popped out the trail on a 600lb bike. 😂
Ben! Way to GOOOO!!!! I took the level 1 training two weekends ago with Shalmarie and learned what you videoed in this ‘Part one” video. You are really very good and I learned a lot just watching and the re-iteration of my training. I’m looking forward to your next video! Thanks! Blue frog…
Love the late 80's/early 90's inspirational music mix at the 21:00 mark! My brain kept superimposing leg warmers and big hair on Ben during the scene, lol.
This was awesome! I'm a big fan of all these adventure courses and seeing a student experience is the best. I hope to share/RU-vid some of my future ADV classes on my DesertX. I'll be checking out Ride Adventures for sure.
I did this same course in June. This was my first time riding in dirt, and I did it on a rented 450 lb. Tenere. I dumped the bike on the first day going up to the slow race starting line...inauspicious. By the end of the first day I was feeling way more confident. Keith and Tyler are super supportive and patient. I'm glad you posted this Ben...nice to relive that experience. If I was to do it again, I would practice in the dirt with a 250CC dirt bike before jumping into this level of riding. The training was great though and I plan to do it again once I have a bit more experience and my own ADV bike. BTW the Tenere was in great shape...they keep their rental bikes well maintained.
Yes clutch skills is a great thing. Rocky trails and rocky up hills get really fun. You start to figure out that, hey I don't need to gun it, and it helps with balance. I was a bit short for stock hight on a klr. So I had to train myself to get on the pegs quickly. The next year I raised the link bars and stiffer spring, so it got very tall😄 It conditioned me to stand more. And can stand now for hours. Good on ya Ben for helping lift and encourage others✌ Neat they let you in on the training.
Taking classes is so good and rewarding. Awesome to see everyone in the class gaining skills and confidence. Thanks for introducing Ride Adventures, that would be a good field trip from NorCal
I finally found time to take my `22 KLR650 into the woods with the new Shinko 244 tires on Labor Day. Did an 80-mile ride on mostly gravel, then dirt logging roads, and was having such a great time, went up a mild single-track with just kelly humps. It was a blast! All the riding I did as a teen in the Idaho woods on my old 80 cc dirt bike came back and I actually found myself going around corners on gravel and putting the inside foot down, which was an old flat-tracker technique and likely totally stupid on the KLR. I need to learn the proper techniques. Thanks for the video!
Cool Class. I've always got something to learn. Being a big guy myself, I think really makes footpeg steering even more important. Plus I'd like to know how to really drive the Norden since its probably going be my next ride. Ride more sand...it will definately help build skill. Looks like you had lots of fun. Cheers!
That was awesome Ben, I take on a lot of Eric's theory and try and put it into practice on my Africa Twin as well. Wish I could do something like that here!! Looking forward to the rest of the sessions!
Keeping it real like always I respect that you are not afraid to learn and show others that it's okay to be taught, which in turn teaches us too. Sand yeah living in the Mojave desert I have no choice but to encounter it constantly from day one of my dirt riding, I am getting better at it but it is my nemesis.
Good video. I remember when I got back into bikes after a 30 plus year hiatus. I was so slow and scared riding my brand new 250 L it was crazy. Those newbies did a rock star job. Later on I took some training with my 800 GS from Crooked Raven here in AZ and learned a bunch of stuff. Especially sand. He took us into a wash with 4 to 8 inch deep sand and got us from zero to competent in no time. I still don't like sand but I can do it now because of training.. Keep the content coming and looking forward to part 2
Great content! I am looking forward to my first training session, but finding the training in the northeast has been difficult. Big fan of Ride ADV's content as well. Keep learning! That is what I enjoy about riding is there is always something new to learn. I'm learning just from this video since I am new to off road adventure riding. Thanks!
Dirt is very different from street but you'll learn naturally. The only thing that sucks is that you're learning at an old age! Better late than never though, love the videos, I'll watch all the ads I can to keep you going hahaha
On-going training ma Man. Jimmy Lewis and Dirt First had awsome ADV traning sessions at Touratech Rally 2022. Game changer for sure. We will make time for Ducati testing next year.
I miss riding in Bend...I was there back in July and hit up the Millican OHV park. Was a blast! May have to look at taking this class for an "excuse" to do some more riding in Bend.
Enjoyed watching this one. I live in the sand pit of FL so its a challenge for sure on a big bike. I ride a Pan Am. Going to my first real training this month. Can’t wait.
Might have to add one of those classes to the summer plans list next year; looks like an awesome learning opportunity. Love seeing that VB40 plug at the end and the always awesome Bryan!
Hello! First of all, GREAT thank you for doing this. It's really interesting and useful to watch your videos. I have watched two your videos for beginners about how to improve riding skills and just wondering maybe you also have some videos about sand and slippery surfaces riding, something like the set of main rules... For me it's still the hardest stuff, which mostly scares me, and I really want to improve my skills to feel more comfortable in such situations. Thank you in advance.
Good job!! Everyone can lean something from those courses cudos for taking it. game changer weighting the pegs for sure , it helped me when I didn't know too
Great video man. I just signed up last night for a local two day off road training session. I look forward to coming out to explore your locale at some point.
Good job dork, this will be a good skill building and confidence boost 100%.. Not really sure what they were thinking inviting new dirt riders to ride quad trails on gigantic adventure bikes but atleast most of them realized it wasn't time yet. Sometimes I wonder if I would enjoy more formal training but I'm kind of a cheapass..
Same. It seems like it could be a whole lot cheaper, like get a group of 5-10 people to chip in 50 -100 bucks and have some instructor come out on some state lands for a day or two. They’d make great money for a day and it’d be very affordable.
dude, embrace the sand it's everywhere I've ridden I'm from so. cal. I go to AZ. sand I go to Death Valley sand I go to nor. cal. partial sand and on and on it goes. lol!
Picking up bikes, I found that the easiest way to do it is with a monkey pulling it while you lift it up. Look at Bret Tracks video about the monkey method.
Stopping the use of handlebars is so god damn hard even if you have a ton of experience. Most people in the real world don't ride off-road more than they ride on road, so you get in and out of the habit of doing that. You should try not to even if you are the street, but it's just more practical sometimes especially in cities.
If you want a to snag a free JD Tuner loaner for your 450L while you're in Bend, let me know! I moved to a Vortex and have the JD Tuner sitting on the shelf. You're welcome to use it as a step before you inevitably swap out the ECU w/ a Vortex/GET/AIM.
Awesome. I hope to take one of their classes next year after I've moved to the Willamette Valley. Question though: why not take the T7 instead of the Norden?
I will Gladly drop my dirt bike All day!!......I grew up riding Street Bikes and THAT is embarrassing(in public).......dropping on dirt is Nothing, it's Expected, you don't have good traction, Lol.
Hi, I test rode a crf300rally, and tried standing up… my immediate concern was I felt that i lost all contact with the controls other than the throttle… the levers were now at an awkward angle to reach and standing on balls of my feet on pegs meant I lost ability to use rear brake or gear selector,… what’s the fix: trick to this?
Thanks for the video! Sent rideadv an email asking about 250-300cc and if they can join their training. Did you see any bikes of this size while you were there?
