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Here is some 4k clips from my GoPro while riding sweep through Ocotillo and a few other spots. This was my first time through Ocotillo on a bike, really surreal and awesome riding all over in there. The rally was excellent again, this was our third year. See some of you there next time. - Nick

Hey all, Name's Nick - former track junkie type, found the big goofy ADV bikes a few years back and fell in love with getting tires dirty... which has subsequently lead to my newest addition - 2018 KTM 690 Enduro R (my daily is my trusty BMW F800GSA) I've probably seen you out on the roads or trails over the years, looking to be more involved with the forum etc. Look forward to meeting & riding with more local folks, I frequent the trails all around us and have met some really cool folks through the sdar fb group thus far. Rubber side down. Pic of newest baby attached...

Thought this might be nice machine from a company nt known for their adventure bikes. I know that KTM owns these guys, but it seems to me that this machine is an offering that does not look like a Pumpkin Klone. What do you think? SCM https://advrider.com/husqvarna-norden-901-the-shocker-eicma-2019/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=editorial&utm_content=12_05_2019

My son Danny (Fenix on the site) and I just got back from Oregon and participating in the Giant Loop Ride near Burns, Oregon. I thought I would give a rundown on the ride and the trip. Giant Loop makes all sorts of bike bags and accessories and is based in Bend Oregon. They sponsor an annual 3 day dual sport/adventure ride staged from Crystal Crane Hot springs, 25 miles east of Burns, Oregon. The Trip Danny, while searching for saddle bag options came upon their site saw the upcoming annual ride. My daughter in law took care of organizing everything from hotel reservations to searching Yelp for the best restaurants along the way. Being way further than either of us wanted to ride our 450s, we trucked the bikes up. It is just about 1000 miles from Yuma so we spent 2 days up, 2 in Oregon and 2 days back. A stop in Vegas along the way made for a nice start of the trip. The Operation/Facilities The Giant Loop people are great and do an awesome job supporting the ride. Danny’s bike was missing the spark arrester (bad design on the 2010 Exc’s). The only one we could find between Yuma and Oregon happened to be in Bend, Oregon. While checking in with Harold, the organizer, we mentioned we were going to get set up then make the 5 hour round trip to get the arrester. (Not sure how much of a problem it was going to be with rangers but we absolutely did not want to be the ones to burn down eastern Oregon.) Harold made a couple of calls and had one of his people pick it up and bring it to us, saving us the trip. Really nice people. Crystal Crane Hot Springs is a small campground probably a quarter the size of Butterfield. They have a room for trailers, some cabins and nice grassy area for tents. The campground is surrounded by pasture and a herd of cows. Never smelled them but did hear them mooing occasionally. Beautiful view of the surrounding hills. The staff is very courteous and professional. They have the usual forgotten items and ice for sale in the office and a very nice community meeting area. There is natural hot spring pond and showers to use. Great Loop brought in a food truck and a tow along smoker which provided dinner and breakfast for Friday night through Sunday morning. ½ smoked chicken for dinner Friday followed by prime rib on Saturday. Delicious food. Full breakfast each morning. They even had a beer truck with kegs of Deschutes IPA and Pale ale (brewed in Bend) that they tapped each evening. Can it get any better than that? Medical support was provided by Adventure Medics. They are professional EMTs who provide full support for events like these. Friday afternoon they put on a 45 minute class on how to deal with injuries likely to be found on the trail. How to assess and how to handle issues until help arrived. It was great info and encouraged me to get more training going forward. The Ride The ride is in Eastern Oregon which is high desert. There were several different loops that you could take allowing you to see different things and put in as many miles as you felt comfortable doing. Dan and I put in 235 miles. We combined a couple of loops north of camp that took us into the hills. Sweeping views, lots of cows and horses, a few snakes. We both just missed some furry thing that charged out of the weeds that I can only guess was some kind of enraged badger. After lunch we took a southern loop that circled a wildlife preservation area. The entire ride was on street, truck trails, gravel roads and some jeep trails. Nothing to challenging and we were able to keep a pretty quick pace all day. I fully plan to go back up there again but after I get a larger bike, ride up all the way and have more time to explore. Most of the riders were on big bikes and carried all their camping gear with them. Weather was fantastic, in the 70’s during the day and cold enough at night to enjoy a fire. The people Everyone we came across in eastern Oregon was very nice. From the waitresses to the hotels and camping staff, everyone had a smile and acted like they were happy to see you. We spent each night at the campground talking to 3 Canadians who had ridden down to the ride on WR250s, camping in the mountains along the way. When we stopped at Tonopah to spend the night on our trip home, we found a group of 20 riders on the first day of a 3 day ride from bishop staying at the same hotel. We closed down the brewery across the street with a few of them, drinking and swapping ride stories. Great people everywhere we went. The summation I am lucky to have a few close friends who ride and I enjoy my time with each of them. But there is something very special to be able to do this with one of my grown kids. Danny suggested this ride as an early Father’s day/Birthday present to me. It would be hard to imagine a better one. Honestly, a couple of years ago, between mechanical and physical frustrations, I was beginning to wonder if I was done with riding. After a really enjoyable Desert Dash and this trip, I feel rejuvenated. God willing I will be doing this for 20 more years. It’s not just about the bike or the ride; it’s about the experiences we can share. I had a great one this week.

I've never been to death valley and i'm getting the idea I've been missing out. I've been to borrego/ocotillo numerous times and this would be a nice change. In the latest issue of motorcyclist there is an article on the original BMW GS with some pics of DV that are intriguing. There was a recent ride there but I wasn't able to attend but want to get to DV before it gets too hot. March should be good weather wise--not too warm not too cold. i'd like to get up there either on a thurs eve or fri am and return sunday and stay at panamint. I would ride a KTM 1190 so no technical trails, mostly exploring the park dirt and street, going to: Trona, Pinnacles, Charcoal Kilns, Teakettle Junction, Ubehebe Crater, Crankshaft Junction, and anything else interesting. LMK if you are interested!

The Arizona Backcountry Discovery Route. Feeling excited but also a bit nervous. I feel we've put the due diligence in getting prepared to include mapping and documenting the adventure. It's only been a year of riding for us, but we've trained and practiced to ensure we both have the skills needed to complete the trail. It's the largest off-road motorcycle trip we've planned. Our 'rough' plan is to cover the route in 9 days: Sat, Apr 23: Leave Casa Grande, ride to start the trail to Sonora. Sun, Apr 24: Senora to Benson Mon, Apr 25: Benson to Mammoth Tue, Apr 26: Mammoth to Globe Wed, Apr 27: Globe to Young Thu, Apr 28: Young to Flagstaff Fri, Apr 29: Flagstaff to Cameron Sat, Apr 30: Cameron to Marble Canyon Sun, May 1: Marble Canyon to Utah Side-trips to Tombstone, Sedona, and the Wave. Any others worth seeing? I just made room on the iPhone and GoPro for lots of pictures and videos. Stay tuned... Cheers, Travis and Chantil

I picked up my 990 ADV from All American KTM last week. Basic maintenance and a water pump rebuild. RJ said the coolant came out in globs. They'd seen it twice before, both on ADVs, and weren't sure what caused it but were fairly certain oil had not leaked in (as is common to this model). Said that the 990s run too cool and that may be a factor. Removed the radiator, completely flushed the system, refilled with new coolant and added a new cap. I hadn't noticed any drop in the coolant level and I hadn't added any in 13k miles. No harm, no foul. But it is a concern for the big Katoom riders. Anyone else seen this, KTM or otherwise?

Howdy! My name is Travis and my better half is Chantil. We both ride a pair of BMW G650GSs with mine being a Sertao edition. We are fairly new to the Adventure motorcycle scene but are looking to gain as much experience over the next couple years so that we will have the confidence to motorcycle tour full time. Our initial plan is to ride the entire United States including Alaska before we head south into Mexico and beyond. In addition, we also have a couple Honda Ruckus scooters that we enjoy riding around Coronado and Imperial Beach. We've been living in San Diego off and on since 1992. It wasn't until we owned a Nissan Xterra in 2000 that we started to really enjoy the area around Southern California. We've explored a lot of Southern California on four wheels to include Corral Canyon, Anza Borrego, Joshua Tree, Death Valley, and Big Bear to name a few. I used to think that four wheels was the best way to enjoy the trails - boy was I wrong! Since discovering adventure motorcycling it feels like we're rediscovering all the trails in a whole new way. Anyhow, I'm looking forward to being part of a club with like-minded adventure folks. Me: The misses: Cheers, Travis & Chantil

The Old Routes Are Open! May 2nd & 3rd, 2015 - Buck Meadows, CA This event is limited to 150 participants!!! To see how many tickets are left click: https://2015yat.eventbrite.com The RIM Fire in 2013 closed off HUGE parts of the forest but now those areas are open again! Come see the ride that started it all! The forest is calling you BACK! Held at the gateway to Yosemite National Park, this two day, GPS based, adventure ride includes all the scenic & historic destinations in and around Yosemite that you would expect. Paved and unpaved roads give you almost 100 miles of fun each day! Lunch, sweep riders, chase truck provided each day. FUN BBQ on Saturday night raises money for charities and over $10,000.00 in prizes ensures that everyone wins something! Event operated under permit from the Stanislaus National Forest. Learn More: http://familyoffroadadventures.com/ Watch a cool 1 min. video: https://youtu.be/TlbnOdMr3oI Get the latest news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FamilyOffRoad

GS Baja Ride to Mike's Sky Ranch presented by BMW Motorcycles of Escondido! Our ride will leave from the store on Friday, Jan. 30th at 3PM. We'll ride down to Rancho Santa Veronica just outside of Tecate to stay the night. Saturday we'll ride down to Mike's Sky Ranch, then Sunday we'll have the long ride home. The ride is roughly 90% dirt and will take us inland through dirt roads and truck trails. While not required, knobby tires are highly recommended! The $355 cost of this ride includes food, hotels, and fuel while in Mexico. There's only one fuel stop before we cross the border into Tecate where you will be required to fill up your tank. Once we cross the border into Mexico we'll take care of everything else as long as you stay with the group. We'll even have our chase truck following us along the route for support and refreshments! DVR the SuperBowl and come riding with us! This ride is expected to fill up quickly so contact Rick Johns today for questions or to RSVP.

Hi All, I am looking forward to finding folks to ride with on and off road. As a novice, I hope to get more off-road experience so that I can apply the skills from a few off-road courses. I love the riding opportunities in the area and often find myself riding in the Rt 74, Joshua Tree/29 Palms area as well. I ride my bike into work as much as possible as well as weekend rides. I also enjoy riding sportbikes. Geared up and ready to do some overnight camping too . I am a beginner with less than 10K miles, so I look forward to learning more, having fun, and seeing new sights. My wife is learning to ride as well. Happy Holidays, Jim

Summer is winding down which means dirt biking season is winding up! Scoop up the family and haul them over to Vaudois's house. We'll boast about near-misses and crashes of the past and speculate on epic rides of the future. This is an excellent opportunity for new members to meet us in a more relaxed atmosphere rather than meeting up on the dirt just prior to riding. There is a pool, horseshoe pits, a fire pit, and a children's jungle-gym/fort. Please no last minute RSVPs. I'd like to get an accurate headcount a few days before to give me an idea of how much food and drinks to buy. This year the San Diego Dirt Biking Meetup will be extending this invitation to other dirt biking-related groups. Also new this year, we will have one of San Diego's most respected rockin' blues band, 3rd Degree, providing live music from 2-6pm, though we can stay as late as we want. Vaudois and I are sharing the cost to throw this party (approx. $1000). Please help defray the cost by donating some cash when you arrive. I'll cook some burgers and chicken and will have my homemade pinto beans, various chips, condiments, plates, forks, knives, water, along with sodas, beer and wine cooler-type drinks. Though I will have SOME drinks, please bring your favorite drink (ice and coolers will be available) and a side-dish to share (dishes can be doubled): Ideas of optional things to bring: Macaroni and cheese Macaroni salad Green bean casserole Scalloped potatoes Corn bread Cookies Pies Brownies Cut watermelon The address is 2145 Judson St, San Diego. (just south of Genesee and I-163). It's on the corner of Gateshead and Judson streets, if your smartphone map app does not lead you to that address. --David and Vaudois

NEW ROUTES! NEW DESTINATIONS! September 27th & 28th, 2014 - Buck Meadows, CA This event is limited to 150 participants!!! To see how many tickets are left click: https://2014ydsa.eventbrite.com Last year this event was cancelled due to the "Rim Fire" in Yosemite. As a result we now have new routes and new destinations! Held at the gateway to Yosemite National Park, this two day, GPS based, dual sport ride includes all the scenic & historic destinations in and around Yosemite that you would expect. Paved and unpaved roads give you almost 100 miles of fun each day! Lunch, sweep riders, chase truck provided each day. FUN BBQ on Saturday night raises money for charities and over $9,000.00 in prizes ensures that everyone wins something! Event operated under permit from the Stanislaus National Forest. Learn More: http://familyoffroadadventures.com/ Watch a cool 1 min. video: Get the latest news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FamilyOffRoad

NEW ROUTES! NEW DESTINATIONS! May 3rd & 4th, 2014 - Buck Meadows, CA This event is limited to 150 participants!!! To see how many tickets are left click: https://yat2014.eventbrite.com Last fall this event was cancelled due to the "Rim Fire" in Yosemite. As a result we now have new routes and new destinations! Held at the gateway to Yosemite National Park, this two day, GPS based, Adventure & dual sport ride includes all the scenic & historic destinations in and around Yosemite that you would expect. Paved and unpaved roads give you approximately 100 miles of fun each day! Lunch, sweep riders, chase truck provided each day. FUN BBQ on Saturday night raises money for charities and over $9,000.00 in prizes ensures that everyone wins something! Event operated under permit from the Stanislaus National Forest. Learn more & register: http://familyoffroadadventures.com/ Watch a cool 1 min. video: http://youtu.be/9WiwxvHRmns Get the latest news on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/FamilyOffRoad

Time again for our coastal Baja Adventure Bike ride to Pirate's Cove! Our ride will leave from BMW Motorcycles of Escondido on Friday, April 11th at 3PM. We'll ride down to Rancho Santa Veronica just outside of Tecate to stay the night. Saturday we'll ride down to the Pirate's Cove Hotel, then Sunday we'll have the long ride home. The ride is roughly 90% dirt and will take us inland through the dirt roads and truck trails before putting us out along the coast where we're literally riding along the beach for the last 30-40 miles! While not required, knobby tires are highly recommended, especially as there will be some beach sand! The cost of this ride is $395 and includes food, hotels, and fuel while in Mexico. There's only one fuel stop before we cross the border into Tecate where you will be required to fill up your tank. Once we cross the border into Mexico we'll take care of everything else as long as you stay with the group. We'll even have our chase truck following us along the route for support and refreshments! This ride is expected to fill up quickly so contact Rick Johns today for questions or to RSVP.

Join BMW Motorcycles of Escondido along with Motoventures for a day of offroad training specifically geared for big Adventure bikes. You'll learn a lot about how to handle your big bike in the dirt including turns, hills, braking, sliding, and more! Don't want to risk damage to your bike? Maybe you don't yet have a dirt bike? Rent one of Motoventures smaller dirtbikes for only $130 more making your training day only $275 with bike included! They can even rent you riding gear! Training will be from 9am - 3pm on Sunday, March 30th with lunch and drinks provided. Space is limited so reserve your spot today by clicking here! Be sure to enter the date of March 30th and type "BMW Escondido" in the "Other" field. MotoVentures will then contact you to take payment and arrange to accommodate your specific requests. For questions or concerns regarding this event contact Rick Johns.