They run it about once a month Sept.- May.  I went today and enjoyed the practice, I have been riding all my life, but because I got my moto license endorsement in the 80's I never had the MSDF course, or anything like it.  It was fun and free, they offered breakfast and coffee with pizza for lunch.  I got to work on low-speed skills that I don't have the discipline to do on my own, and I think that at the very least it showed me a good way to practice.

I can't say I learned a ton, they focused on the riders that struggled more, but it wasn't so easy that I never put my foot down.  There were a couple riders that dropped, and sadly I think the riders that could use this the most can't admit to anyone, (especially themselves) that they can't use some practice!  The last thing they did was a makeshift track that I wanted to do much faster, but there was a no-passing rule and I definitely didn't want to be "That guy"...so I goofed around a little bit.  I think the ppl behind me thought I was struggling because I would let a gap develop in front of me and then I would close it.  I'd like to take a more speed-oriented course, I know I could learn a lot, but other courses are expensive, track days are far away and pricey too. 

My bike is the one with a chrome tank, everyone at the event was super-nice.  

Yet I'd also like to do an off-pavement training routine (elephant turns, slalom, balance, etc.)

Does anybody know a free dirt place (e.g. a dirt parking lot or similar) close to SD or Poway?

Obviously I don't want to anger anyone by riding somewhere if it it's not allowed.

Thanks!

Look, I'm as excitable as the next guy when we start talking about the next new latest greatest wonder-bike.  Having just finished a couple laps of the IDBDR, I'm tempted to raid the piggy bank and buy my next War Horse (I do seem to trade up every couple years, and it's about that time).

There's one thing though that will never change, and that's the need for MASTERING balance.  Balance is fundamental.  And very few of us will ever master it.  We cheat it with speed.  Especially if we've spent our lives racing or desert riding on skinny bikes (not that there's anything wrong with that).  But the bigger the bike, typically the slower we have to go when things get technical (and they always will).  The better your balance skills are, the lighter your bike will feel and ride.

My son Adam "Gerty" talks about this in his first guest appearance on the MotoTrek channel.  Hope you enjoy it, and are hopefully inspired by it.

Here is the schedule for the Fall/Spring ADV Season:

SOS ADV Off-Road School
The Modern ADV School of Riding
https://www.socaloffroadschool.com/book-your-event/p/adventure-bike-training-california

• This is a 1 day event starting at 9:00 AM and wrapping up at 3 PM
• Our private trails located in Campo, CA (1 hour east of San Diego)
• At every course we have a level 1 and level 2 group available
• Some of the topics covered on the class:
  • Correct body position
  • Controlling the bike with your feet and legs
  • Steering the bike on loose terrain
  • Braking with little traction
  • Controlling rear end skids
  • Hard acceleration on loose ground
  • Balance techniques
  • Throttle, clutch, and brake control
  • Turning your bike in tight spots
  • Controlling the bike standing up

This class is limited to 20 riders only.

Dates for 2024/2025:

• September 21
• October 19
• December 14
• January 25
• February 22
• March 23

Participants have to bring their own motorcycle and safety gear.

This season we have a few ADV Bikes to rent, so contact us at info@socaloffroadschool.com to learn more about our fly and ride program.

SOS ADVENTURE RIDER SUPER WEEKEND
A full weekend of adventure training and rides
https://www.socaloffroadschool.com/book-your-event/p/adventure-bike-training-weekend

• November 9-10
• Private facility located in Campo, CA (1 hour east of San Diego)
• L1 and L2 training
• Steak dinner, drinks and a bonfire on Saturday night
• Breakfast included on Sunday morning
• Camping spot included Friday and Saturday night
• Event starts on Saturday November 9th at 10am and finishes on Sunday November 10th at 3pm

Participants have to bring their own motorcycle and safety gear.

This season we have a few ADV Bikes to rent, so contact us at info@socaloffroadschool.com to learn more about our fly and ride program.

https://secured.utah.gov/utoutdoorrecdirectory/Forms/Edit/utoutdoorrecdirectory/44e377a4-4aea-441d-94d3-3b17d4bb8046/0

I hope the link works.

Basically you have to take an online education and safety course and get a certificate to operate an OHV (street legal or off-road only) off-road and on-road in the state of Utah starting this year.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ZSbrycQYD8

I found myself making a lot of mistakes when I'm exhausted or with a massive arm pump. Using the technique that they preach helps me to be less tired on long adventures, and therefore making less mistakes. 

Now, here's an interesting fact: I think I counted about 15-20 adventure bikes on the class... not one was a BMW... 2 Ducatis (yey!!! I'm not alone!), a lot of KTM's, T7, KLR, and even a Moto Guzzi! The market is really changing.

Here is the initial SDAR thread about his passing: http://dualsport-sd.com/forums/index.php?/topic/3023-evan-tanner-dead-riding-his-motorcycle/

Back in 2008 there was some public skepticism about the cause of his death and his intentions to venture into the desert solo. In 2013, an MMA apparel company and an independent film maker produced a short video detailing his death with interviews of the volunteer rescue team, the coroner and sheriff department. Some of it is relevant to those of us who moto-explore in the deserts and should be a pertinent reminder of the potential of nature.

https://blog.motorcycle.com/2022/05/11/motorcycle-news/motorcycle-safety-foundation-launches-course-for-adventure-riders/

Cheers.  

Now that said Sedlak is doing an ADV bike school very soon, those with big bikes I implore you to sign up. Daniels resume' as an FIM pro is impressive with MX, Enduro and Rally events under his belt from EU to Asia to Africa. And if you want to practice your German with him you can. BTW he was Sam Sunderland's teammate for while in the Raid/Rally game (on the bigger bikes). Photo added for the ADV upcoming classes. 

For info

www.sedlakoffroadschool.com  

"Dig" the music as you watch...

https://youtu.be/9eFNcbltDnM

The paper also posted an editorial re: the accident as it got a lot of feedback from posting the video.  https://www.valleycenter.com/articles/the-traffic-hazard-we-must-not-talk-about/

Takeaway is "all we can do is rely on the majority of sane bikers to do something, anything, to rein in their more reckless comrades."

Ride safe!

This causes rut digging and wheel spin with zero forward motion, or gets you moving forward but with great effort from the bike and rider.

For example watch Graham, he is the king of rear wheel loading to get power to the ground to propel himself forward (and straight up as well)with minimal effort. Its rare to see him without at least one foot pushing down into his foot peg. Play with it its all about timing, clutch control and rear wheel loading, easy to practice the timing of it on small stuff even relatively flat surfaces.

It also works great for down hill drop offs to get your front up and the rear within the envelope of control. Works on all bike sizes and types going up and going down hill. 

I have an Anakee Wild front and a MotoZ Tractionator Desert Hard Terrain rear.  Thanks!

https://m-gymkhana.com/2019/02/19/san-diego-cup-i-presented-by-m-gymkhana-mar-23rd-grossmont-college/

Search & Rescue: A Tip or Two About Getting Found

Some great tips in the comments below the article...

"I've done hundreds of hoist rescues over the years for injured and lost hikers, bikers, hunters and off-roaders. The new products like SPOT are great but not too widely used yet. I've yet to have the opportunity to respond to one. Most of the rescues we get are from cell phone calls, or worried friends or parents who have a general idea where the person is. Night rescues have always been a challenge but with the new generation of NVGs it has gotten a lot easier. The smallest light source can be enough to grab the attention of a pilot or crewmember. We recently rescued a hypothermic couple that had gotten lost and the husband simply held up his iphone with the screen illuminated and we were able to pick it up a mile away. Red chem-sticks on a string swung around over your head work really well for NVGs (green won't be seen by the goggles). They're light weight and don't require batteries. High visibility panels work well in daylight but you have to be close. A rescue signal mirror is probably best and can be seen for miles, it just takes some practice to get good at using them and they only work in sunlight.
The real lesson here is not to get too confident because you have a SPOT or cell phone and get yourself into a situation where you need rescue. You are putting the rescuers lives in danger every time they have to respond. I've had to rescue 19 Search and Rescue members for various reasons over the years which really pisses them off. Typically, they aren't the type of people you want to piss off."

I think I'll be adding a laser pointer and a "Panel, Signal VS-17/GVX" to my riding vest

Stay safe out there buds

Link explains it.

I'm still a new guy without a dual sport...but I can't help but do my homework. To that end I found SoCal Supermoto. Seems there are some great writeups here from years passed but nothing in recent history. Has anyone been to the school in the last year or so? Anyone interested in setting up a group class for summertime? I'd love to get on the track, get some instruction, and start learning a new moto-skillset in a controlled environment...besides, riding one of those prepp'd DRZ's he has looks like a great day of fun to me!

As an example, take a look at this promotional photo for Subaru's EyeSight vehicle monitoring system that uses stereo cameras. Look what it failed to put in a box.

Looks like motorcyclists are still the last to be seen.

A motorcyclist died after running a red light and colliding with a car in a busy intersection in Grantville: http://www.kusi.com/story/36721831/motorcyclist-killed-pregnant-woman-hospitalized-after-collision-on-san-diego-mission-road

A man riding a motorcycle was killed when a suspected drunken driver ran a red light and crashed into the motorcycle in the Linda Vista area of San Diego: http://fox5sandiego.com/2017/10/30/1-person-killed-in-linda-vista-motorcycle-crash/

Please be careful out there, folks.

Saturday we had the track all to ourselves, providing the opportunity to focus on individual sections and stop for instruction. The class format was multiple segments of instruction, guided practice, and rest. We started with cornering techniques, then progressed into how to correctly ride motocross whoops and make the most of limited traction. Eventually we put it all together for some racing around the entire track. 

Daniel seems very accustomed to working with kids, which has given him both an incredible amount of patience and a knack for breaking down complex instructions into simple, easy to digest steps. Several students that receive personal instruction were at this class, and let me tell you those kids are fast! I started the day comparatively old, out of shape, and slow. I ended still comparatively old, completely exhausted, and significantly faster. Barona Oaks has asked him to come back and offer classes on a more regular basis and I strongly recommend signing up if you have any interest in riding Motocross, or just becoming a better rider in general. Towards winter he also offers classes out in the desert.

That's me in the back "Roosted by kids" section.