Oracle

Glad to hear it went so well. I've been enjoying the pics and reports.

That's a great deal. Thanks for sharing. If I didn't just buy that new pannier system for my 500 I'd jump on these.

I watched the entire series in one day last week when I was laid up with a sore knee. I thought it was entertaining...in a very weird train wreck type of way...

I"ve got to admit, that pancake looked good! Good having you along, Kevin.

That's a cool idea. I doubt those cowlings are cheap though.

In spite of my dirt nap, I had a great time. I thanks for helping me out, Mark.

I've been there many times. It's one of our (me and the kids) stops on our way to Super from OW. I've spoken to the owner a couple times. He sells parts to people all over the world.

nice. 100 likes

x4

Luna, as far as Caltopo and GE, do you have to convert the URL into a GPX file after you've created your route or can you just save it as a GPX file?? FWIW, I've been using GPSies.com. You might want to check it out as an option.

For those interested in more info on the phone option, this should keep you buys for awhile. I've read a good amount of it...more than once... https://advrider.com/f/threads/ultra-rugged-kyocera-phones-gps-smartphones-my-guide.1206076/

The dirt itself was fine. They ADDED the lime to the soil to "help" dry out the soil due to the rains. Of course it turned into a disaster so I HIGHLY doubt they would do that again. Not to mention, it doesn't look likes it's going rain this year.

I know. I wasn't talking about loading existing GPX tracks. I was talking about making routes / GPX tracks.

I hear you. But the vast majority of people are just downloading GPX files that are already created, for example the BDR routes.

I'm ok with Basecamp. It does seem a bit outdated and hard to navigate at first, but it gets the job done for the riding I've done thus far in life. As far as the phones, you just pointed out the primary weakness I keep reading about. The micro USB connection is neither robust, as you pointed out, or water proof. This is a concern of mine especially since I stand a pretty good change of riding through some extreme weather during my trips. Bags, the advantage of the phones, aside from being very cheap, is that you do not need Basecamp. You do have to have an app on the phone like Giai or Rever or any number of GPS apps though. Some are free. But most that are worth a damn are about $40 a year. You would just save the GPX file to the phone and access the file from which ever app you are using. The process is much easier than Basecamp.

I'm in the process of researching this too. I have an old 78 that has been faithful. But it's time to step up to new features and technology. To that end, I have discussed this subject recently with several guys I trust on the subject. The vast majority of users are recommending the Montata 600 series devices right now...But someone that are also recommending the Kyocera (smart phone) options. Personally, I'm considering the Garmin 66i. This is the first high end GPS exclusive of Garmin (not Inreach) technology. It is both a GPS with advanced features, including the ability to download maps directly from satellite feed (other devices require you to download maps before you leave), and a satellite communicator for emergencies. So I would get rid of my 78 and my spot 3 and just carry this. It's probably a little more than most day trip single track users need though. Personally, I'm not sure about the phone for hard charging local single track riders though. They seem more useable for adventure type riding to me. I think a Montana would be a good choice for you but the phone option is considerably less and you don't have to deal with Basecamp....hum? Bottom line is I don't know which way I'm going yet.

Nice. Yes, I came across with Kug in Salt Mine wash. But I hit Lizard, Quartz Mine, and any other trail I hadn't yet explored that I came across that day. When I got home, I spent some time on Google and thought how nice (and simple) for some of those washes to connect to Pinyon and/or Fish Creek...Such a bummer that we are closed out of so much of OUR land. I don't think being able to connect washes together is asking too much. After all, Mother Nature is constantly refreshing it.

Subscribing

You can always store it in my garage....that will solve one of your problems...

Old Chinese proverb: He who attempts to ride down steep rocky hill, will get stuck and need to call helicopter for extraction

I'm not sure about leadnav, I've never used it. But I can recommend the Gaia app. There's a free version that's really not worth it but that annual subscription version is very solid. Also, if you want to tinker with tracks on the laptop, you can use Basecamp. It's a free Garmin software. Download gpx files to your computer, then upload them into basecamp.

I saw on your FB post that you found the old water tank by the rail road tracks. There are some fun little washes around there but you have to find them. Good area to explore and a good area for a quick overnight camping trip.

My kids and I were supposed to be out in Ocotillo Wells camping for the three day weekend. But life got in the way and that plan fell through. We then decided to just do a one day trip for today, but they fell through too. So I text a few buddies about riding today and got a couple riders lined up for a 200 mile small bike loop that I put together...Guess what...that fell through too. So I said fart it and I jumped on the the big T-twin, known as Fury, and started east early this morning by myself. I enjoy riding solo...but on the big bike in sand, with street tires, you can get in trouble quick, so I kept that in mind and rode to have fun and to stay alive. I hit a lot of trails in AZBDSP, including Rodriguez , Orliflame, Grapevine, Culp, Salt Mine wash, Quartz wash, Buttes Pass, etc. After exiting from Buttes, I decided to hit up OW so I spent some time freestyling the 950 across the desert. Some of my friends, yes I have a couple, were out there camping so I stopped by and let their wives feed me lunch. It was the least I could do. I was offered beer, and tempted, but had the will power to say no since I had a 1 1/2 hour slab ride home and the sun was going down. Wow, I did two smart things today...I'm impressed. A funny thing happened as I was riding up Salt Mine wash. If you aren't familiar with it, it's one of those side trail that most of us fly right by as we are going east on the 78 just after the "narrows"....There are several side trials that are all up and backs...Salt Mine is one of them. So I'm riding about 5 miles up Salt Mine and I'm just about to turn around and head back to the 78 to continue my exploration, and I pass this grey truck with a pop up camper just like Kug has...sure as ----...Kug popped out from behind his rig when he heard the might 950 barelling up the wash....very coincidental but very cool to cross paths with a friend in the middle of nowhere.

Paul's blasphemy is going to haunt me I see...

Also check out GPSies.com. I build some of my routes in it, then upload into my GPS. I think you might be able to upload the tracks you have and alter them. But beware, it is rather time consuming.