MacDuncan

Hmmm, last time I tried to get there on my moto, I passed Henshaw at sunrise, and my vstrom started beeping and flashing warning lights like crazy. Heck, that is when I learned that my bike had "icy Road" warning settings. Heck, it was only 26 degress. But when I turned at Warner and headed towards Eagle rock, and I was blessed with the moment of sunrise hitting the rock formation - wow, (as the formation primarily faces east) I then continued on that road and I passed a tiny beat up booth with a bunch of cameras that implied that I should pay the attendant. I would have been happy to pay on my way out if open ( I didn't see a drop box). I wandered around on indian land, and I looked out of place, but all the gates I found were locked. I thought I would try another day since I like wearing my "Peak bagger" badge on occasion. Never got back there, but would like to say I've been to the tallest peak in the county. Maybe you have to prepay at a ranger station?? Thanks Weirdrider. I will look into it. This pic doesn't do it justice, but you may get the general idea.

Hey Jim, when is the house warming (or the Amgems rally?) smiles. Now that it has dropped below 100 degrees out there, hope to see ya soon. Wishing you the best with your new pad and new trails. Cheers

Huntndogs, I would be happy to show you and your gal the pieces and parts as I use them. Specific to your question, my InReach costs $26 mth. but I think I can turn it off and on as needed (but never have). I think it is called the recreation plan and has the following: Unlimited SOS, 40 text messages/month, Unlimited Preset messages (predefined messages set up on the website), Unlimited tracking at 10-minute or longer intervals, $0.50 USD overage charge for each text message that exceeds the monthly plan allowance of 40 text messages., Text messages include free-form sent messages and received messages. Make note that there is also an additional plan that some folks get on an annual basis ($30?) that helps cover the cost of a helicopter ride and other high cost emergency search and rescue issues. Inreach Garmin (some folks use SPOT): It has satellite tracking (a screen to use, but I have never yet used it because the interface is not nearly as nice as the GPSMAP 78, but might be used in a pinch). The tracking is for other primary reasons. Dependent upon your plan, you can choose 10 minute tracking increments free to send to others (but they need cell reception to see it, or another satellite device). If I don't return when I should, I can text some preprogrammed messages like, "all good, having fun", or " a bit off track, or minor mechanical, late but all good", or something like that (or "I am a dummy to think I could have traveled those 100 miles on old jeep roads in 2 hours"). However, If down and out, I can ask for help by giving my location or GPS coordinates, or if I am unable to communicate, my device could be tracked to find me. It is suggested that the device should be on your person or backpack in case you are tossed away from the bike. You can also text back and forth. And....a more pleasant thought.... if your friend/wife/other is tracking your return after a long hot ride, a cold one may be ready for you seconds before your return so as the helmet comes off, there is something cold and refreshing immediately available... (depends upon your partner - haha) Optional reading below that correlates to the "4 device" tech riding support: Given a mix of solo outings where I like to feel safe, blended with outings with ridemates, who I want to support when they need help, to sharing remote travel info with others (so they can find comfort in knowing that explorations are going well, and if not, so I might be found more quickly), I use the following (not all of them all of the time but most or all of them most of the time) and most of them are used by many of the other SDAR riders I have met for day trips or longer trips: Cell Phone: To use when I have reception to call buds or to find good food as I approach a new town 🍔 and to take pics. Ham radio: to communicate with buds while riding at 50 mph on dirt roads within a few hundred yards of me, for trail warnings, mechanical concerns, turns, and to check if all ok on the fly so momentum can be kept and so we don't have to stop, yell and hope we know what's up every 15 minutes as stopping to gather (which seems to take a long time if a group of 6 is spread out over a quarter mile) , turn off bikes, take off helmets, etc... can make for much slower travel over rough terrain as a group. GPSMap 78 on handlebars: to follow a route or track on a predetermined route or to return to starting point when out randomly wandering. I just met Royboys at a freeway offramp so he could use a BDR map, but when I ride a BDR, I only have the map as a backup because the route info is digitally on my dashboard, so no stopping, pulling out a map, finding north, (putting on my reading glasses ) etc... (but there is other good info on those maps to pre-read to orient oneself to the route considerations) And of course, the InReach mentioned above. 4 devices that support safer exploration.

Hey Royboyz, sorry, I just got home from sunrise mtn biking with buds. Thought you left last night. I will check PM immediately. Thanks to Wierdrider for calling me on the trail.

Royboyz, I have a brand new one, near Grossmont College if I am closer to you than the other fellas. Safe travels

All the best Crawdaddy, hope you feel better quickly, (Speaking from experience, with your injury, Do not sneeze!) If you need anything, let me know. Mac

That is fantastic Rigger, as that is how it is done.... gotta window of opportunity, take it! Not only great Colorado pics, especially of pieces of the BDR, but great pics of the knot strategies of "rigging" up a campsite -

All good info.... Thanks to all for taking the time to share. I now have a better vision of things to consider knowing that my bike is still my primary focus, but a sporty toy to allow access to the wilderness for others who cannot ride a 2 wheeler in the rough terrain, and for me to more casually cruise on occasion with a a person beside me instead of behind me, or even guide others as they follow my bike lead, seems like it would be rewarding for me and them. I have a limited budget, but while in Colorado I found that the shops were already lowering prices as snowmobiles are arriving, and new rzr 570's, and for a little more, the 900's, in the 50 inch wide models, are selling for a little over $11,000, and since that number at 30 bucks a month seemed easier to consider than the $20,000-30,000 models at local shops, it sparked my interest. That, and the smile on my partners face being able to see those areas in person instead of a pic. A simple, well kept, respected, older rig would likely be great. Cheers!

PB, thanks for the support and sharing your insights, HBD

Welcome Standarche, fellow Vstrom owner here, but mine is a street bike , see Weirdrider for vstrom dirt action. As winter arrives, make sure you also have one of those thumpers ready for the desert.

It was mid July and I had a couple weeks away from work. My regular riding buds, for months, had said "heck yea, I'm in", but with one selling and buying a house, one with a new job, another with a more strict new boss, one with body ailments, and the other with bike ailments, it began to look hopeless that they were going to make it. I had done my "down season" bike chores and was pleased with fresh oil, clean air filter, new hubs, new chain, new sprockets, and a new rear tire. I was ready to roll. I began doing house chores during my time off and each chore hinted that another was also needed and the days were rolling by fast. I didn't want to finish my vaca time with only house chores completed. And, I knew I was going to take some time with my gal for a vaca, but my moto riding time away from the heat was fading away fast. Then I began to see the SDAR reports of Colorado, Oregon, Idaho, Big Bear, Kennedy Meadows, and I knew I had to act fast. I am kinda thinking that the site might install a "gonna ride non-locally if you want to swing by for a loop" link. I suggested to my gal that we take a drive over to Durango to ride the train, that should be nice, and I always wanted to do that. We could also take the Vstrom so we could ride through the mountains together (and that I would purchase SENA communication for our helmets so we could chat on the way). It was a go, and I didn't even get "the look" when I also loaded my solo ride bike in the cargo trailer with the vstrom in case I wanted to get in some high country solo riding in on occasion. All systems go, with the only goal and obligation being to stay in the Flagstaff KOA and then go to Durango for a Train ride to Silverton. Well, after a pleasant cruise control ride through Yuma and Phoenix, (gotta love those gas prices and within a few miles from Flagstaff, we got the evacuation notice from KOA due to fires, and we were just about to arrive, so we rolled 10 more miles and found a great campground just before you drop in elevation from the flagstaff plateau into the heat. The Bonito campground, clean and spacious... alongside the Volcano, was just right! This pic while driving by KOA... Entrance to the New Campground near Volcano entrance: The next day we then rolled into Durango. We then had a beautiful train ride to silverton along the river.... and a speedy air conditioned bus ride back to town (the way to do it) and then a great lunch in an Irish pub in town. So far so good. Pic from train on route: The next day we rolled the dice to see if it would be Ourey or Pagosa Springs.... and the roll came up that we would head east. We found a great RV resort, "Mountain Landing", even though we are often like the blacksheep of the resort in our old pop-up camper and cargo trailer amongst the mega-sized motorhomes and 5th wheels, but for this night, we opted for a cabin (more like a condo). We hopped on the Vstrom in the morning: and it was glorious, just how I knew it would be... cool mountain air... fast travel.... as we flew up to Wolfcreek pass and beyond, super cool cruising: And I use the throttle the same solo or double: We then tried some forest roads.... not so fun in the soft stuff, rocky stuff and wet stuff.... so the adventure seemed to be simply to stay upright on that street bike with street 705's on it.... Hmmm, I did see some trails to try with a different bike, so the next morning I decided to get a ride in... on 50 inch atv trails, 2 track, so when this older newb losses his line, there is another track to jump over to .... as if it was planned Kinda fun not knowing what lies ahead.... And sometimes smooth and grooving.... Ready to roll through the trees... This area, Turkey Springs, connects to some trails that are much harder (and some of the easier ones I enjoyed on my mountain Bike, as some are non-motor only, which is nice on a bicycle). I became quite tired riding the more advanced ATV route to Middle Mountain on my 525 (kinda wished I had a smaller bike), but you all would like it, so plan to go there! And of course, after riding in first and second gear for over an hour, when you hit the forest service roads, you can fly through all gears..... vroom, vroom, vroom, Brap... to cool both you and the bike down a bit... Great ride! After that adventure, and the pics I showed my gal, I opted to bring her along..... She loved it, and it was worth it, and we rode many of the same trails. Hmmm, some of the scary challenging climbs on my bike going up and over softball and volley ball rocks sure were easy in 4 wheel drive.... Leaving Pagosa Springs made us choose between Ourey or Mancos...... and since I heard about the Aspen loop Trail, (even if I didn't pick up on the hint that there might be a ride available there earlier....), I steered us in that direction. The Mancos State Park at the reservoir was nice enough, and only 5 miles from the trailhead (and the campground called "Transfer", NOT "Transfer Park" which is over near Durango). We rode the reservoir on bicycles, but I kept looking up to the area where the Aspen Loop might be: Hey Honey, why are you pointing up there? I think I might need to go see what's up there..... I even tried to sit in the shade and chill......and enjoy the moment.... but in the distance was "the Loop": So we went back to the campground and I suited up: GPS? check, Satellite tracking? check, extra gas and flashlight? check, hard maps/iphone for pics? check, water/food? check, tools?, check, saw n knife? check...... I lived in Aspen once upon a time, and I drove Vermeer tree spades for a living then, and I transplanted thousands of Aspen trees for landscape companies then... but I had never seen such dense Aspen groves.... Quite spectacular! In and out of the groves with spectacular views: This spot may have been where a camera took footage of 2 SDAR riders riding by a couple weeks ago and singing.... as you can see the location "Aspen loop trail" between tire and engine... (Thanks for the prompt PB and Bagstr) Truly Fantastic.... and fully satisfied that my summer riding did not float away... A casual rising in the morning with campfire coffee following a night with great cold beverages was icing on the cake.... We had other options for a day or 2 more fun, but the monsoon weather kicked in pretty strong near flagstaff... so we left the 60 degree pouring rain in Flagstaff to travel through 108 degrees in Phoenix, and head back to town... with a special sunset as we passed El Centro.... as stated similarly in an earlier report... Mancos to San Diego straight... in a camper and cargo trailer though, was just under 13 hours... What a great 8 days..... Well worth it! Cheers

Thanks fellas, Oracle, Hope you avoided the fire last week.... and yep, as you described, the 50 inch max is far more of a Utah/Colorado experience. Although those tight narrow 2 tracks through the trees are also super cool on bikes (as well as mini atv's/Utv's) Champ, I couldn't rally for the big loop through the North that you described this Summer, so I more easily just headed to the San Juan's, hope Idaho was fun. The Talon is a wider one, but looks good. Tntmo, as you simply stated, if it works fine, it is still nice to support those who can't get to those beautiful locations like we can on bikes, ... and many 2 up bikes, if not properly set up, are hard to get there with a passenger. Bags, I have secret footage of you and PB riding "side by side", albeit on motos, singing to each other, through the Aspen Groves on the Aspen Loop trail. If it wasn't for the atv trails being made by 4 tires, or "side by side" 2 track, so you could look over at each other, you wouldn't have had that beautiful moment If anyone has, or had, a 50 inch or smaller trail rzr, please share (or PM) if you can help guide my decision (or if you have a neighbor or friend who has a perfect used one to sell for a great deal). I can easily see a rzr being ridden by a (non-motorcycle able) friend alongside some long dirt motorcycle rides carrying supplies like tents, sleeping bags, coolers, tools etc... and I have experienced it before with 8 motos and 2 rzrs when going to McIvers Cabin near Jawbone and Dove Canyon. It worked well for the group. And I think it could work well for even 2 people (one biker, one rzr with SENA or Ham radio), especially when all your normal riding buds can't swing an outing on the spur of a moment. Ok, I'll keep researching and learning..... thanks, back to 2 wheel moto-land.

It was still an Adventure ride as I squeezed in a rzr rental between my solo dirt motorcycle rides in Colorado recently to let my gal enjoy the high mountains and back-country by my side, as I am sure she was curious to see for herself after hearing me regularly tell her about how beautiful it was up in the high country, and seeing my iphone pics after my moto rides. It was fantastic, she thought so too. The machine worked way better than I thought possible. We rode through the mountains and forests on 50 inch max tight ATV trails and on wide open gravel forest service roads in a Polaris 570. It climbed some rocky sections way better than I thought in 4wd, crawled along at 3-10 mph on rough weaving 50 inch wide terrain after we squeezed through the entry gate with only a half inch on each side, and flew up to 45-ish mph on the service roads with the wind howling by, side by side. We could even pack a pic-a-nic My question as I shop....(I think this is the best time to buy in San Diego because desert is too hot and not peak season - maybe Vey's or Motoworld?) is whether I am in tune to why folks like Crawdaddy, PbdBlue, and many others of you with rzrs too don't have "trail" rzrs (I think... meaning 50 inch wide max) because there are so many incredible rides/trails that have that restriction (many areas in Colorado, Piute Trail in Utah, but should still be plenty fun in Mammoth and Bradshaw Trail. Maybe they are too tippy, or maybe that there are no restrictions in our area, maybe the low power gets old fast...etc... But, the smaller size seems a heck of a lot cheaper, and I did not feel like it restricted my fun! I could see that they may not be for the dunes, and don't have much ground clearance, but other than that, sure seemed like a great way to share the remote areas since bikes in rough terrain aren't for everyone! Any rzr thoughts that I am not considering? Thanks, Mac

Dang Rigger, that bike looks super. Attaboy, way to treat yourself!!

Well done ptKatoomer, that is what Colorado can do for the soul. Especially having a river to sit by! I hope to follow your lead soon!