shutterrev

I feel like this could be a big decision tree, highly dependent on what, where, and how you ride. For me, my main motorcycle is a big spicy pasta rocket, and my skinny little tiny 'dirt bike' is the very street worthy 350lb 690 Enduro, both absolutely shred on pavement - so I try not to skip the abrasion resistance, this is a lesson you learn just once. If you ride mostly single track and trailer little bikes around to do that, jersey and some awesome dirt armor all day - perfection. But if you get peg-draggy on the pavement with your bike(s), abrasion layers are absolutely something to consider if not already going for more 'adv' type gear, which has that in mind - but also isn't necessarily what I would yeet around on a 250 iin the desert with, choices, choices. ....Maybe a group gear swap meet / bbq & tire kick session would help some folks close those gear gaps based on their riding.

@spazegun2213 I live off the 67, between Lakeside and Ramona, usually meet folks for rides at Dunkin Ramona. I rarely ride Otay, first time ever on the pink gate stuff was a few weeks ago with this crowd and it was new / fun, but I do know the Ramona/Julian/Anza:etc stuff pretty well if you want a dirt/twisties tour.

I would too, I was kind of just tossing the idea out there. I know many of us likely have a bunch of extra gear we don't use, and wouldn't mind trading/giving away to other members. So if that's something folks would want to do... let's do it!

You are not helping my case to keep my multistrada with these great Desert X videos, but I will, but also remember you are a very thoroughly trained and capable rider Padu, the desert X is lucky to have you as it's captain 🤙

Absolutley willing to pitch in on a gift for the instructor etc, if you hit dead ends for location - I have some chairs, and tables from farmers market, but if you run in to dead ends with location, I have a detached shop/garage and acre yard here off the 67 north of Lakeside 🤙🏻

We could meet at a open space that is big bike friendly, along or at a ride destination. Just a thought, but examples could be: Lookout area at top of High Point TT Palomar up at top of nate, or around there Somewhere along the Lost Valley Ride or at the indian flatts campground Top of Black Mtn TT - Or shy of that where we had tacos at night ride I can go on but maybe a spot like those, etc could work. imho training for things that happen in the field, should be conducted in the field when possible - as I assume, location/people/bikes/gear/kits that we show up with would be what we have to work with in the real sich 👍

I decided I needed a mid-week moto infusion before a 4 day weekend with beloved and wonderful family in town, @Hawkins was also available to play 40yo version of hookey so we rode the big bikes on a 300+ mile loop. Started at my house in Lakeside, 67 to Old Julian, out to the Chairs for some gas, then up in to Julian, banner to Borrego Springs, and on out to the Salton Sea, and around it, and back home. We ate at the Alamo restaurant, I like the place and stop there any time we ride out that way. Carne asada burritos, chips and salsa and a soda, yes please. After that we hit the gas station to put a drink and a snack on the bikes and headed toward the Visitor center. At the visitor center we watched the history video of the salton sea, and went and checked things out, I also got some neat identification fold-outs of reptiles, snakes, and small critters that we get in the yard. Next stop Salvation Mtn, Slab City and East Jesus. Hawkins had not been in there before so figured it would be interesting for him to see. Just a nice big day long ride, sometimes I forget how good the pasta rocket is for exactly this. We started the ride sometime after 8am, had a nice lazy lunch at Alamo, and took time to take pictures, walk about and enjoy the sights. The riding was great, weather was perfect, and there wasn't too many cages in the lanes. Home shortly after 4pm. HERE ARE SOME PIKTCHARS

@Zubb that sounds like a nice trip 🤙🏻

@KTMrad to the ban courtesy phone, looks like we have a spammer on aisle 3

This weekend I shall briefly look to the East, with tear in my eye, and my hand over my heart - as I plate food for in-laws and family, knowing others are in the desert having adventures

I believe the gentleman is offering to have others join him on this majestic voyage. Have a great time 🤙

That sounds great @KTMrad

EMT is great, PJ, wilderness EMT’s, or navy corpsmen would be very applicable to the ‘we are away from van full of hospital gear and must fix with what we have’ type training.

My personal first aid ideas come from really great annual week long courses I used to have to do with the guys, required by past job for work trips - Great problem solving in the field oriented trauma classes for all kinds of injuries from cuts and breaks to more serious mechanisms of injury, and field treatments. My individual first aid kit gets modular depending on the 5w’s of a ride, but the focus no matter what I’m bringing is on being able to get someone who is severely injured to a higher level of care successfully, secondarily on non critical comfort fixes to get back home. would likely be a good group discussion in person with people ‘showing their bags’ But I personally would help pay if we all wanted to as a group, hire a training group to come out and give a good day class on field trauma and care, as methods and tools are updated continuously.

I moved here from Oregon in 2001, and haven’t found my way back for good yet either, despite loving my home state

he does do good reviews, and I along with seemingly everyone appreciate the 'im just letting you guys know the un-sponsored real deal' mantra.

Congrats, that’s a cool bike

The 2 times I have found myself executing involuntary combat-rolls down a lane in the highway a few feet behind my spinning bike, I was on a 950sm, not wearing all my gear because 'it's just a comfortable easy ride to work etc". My shoulders are already very well used from years of competitive swimming and water polo, so going for tumbling class on the 76, or the 805 without sufficient padding and abrasion resistance is not recommended and had me off the bike for longer than I wanted. My worst off was 2 weeks before my wedding, car decided to pump brakes and turn left at a red turn-light on the 76 while we were at speed and if i went right Ida been runover so i had to just let it go, fractured ankle, road rash, air cast. Of course we had already booked the honeymoon hike in hawaii the following weekend, etc. I went down that day wearing jeans, thin non moto jacket, dod issue boots, but super nice gloves so my hands were pristine. Learning occurred. I've also been down on pavement in a big BMW Rallye jacket, and the armor was absolutely there for me. Unfortunately didn't help with the $1300 in parts ot fix that gsa. So I try to gear up somewhere between the hot weather oriented stuff, and the lunar exploration suits depending on the 5w's of a ride. This is why I upgraded the D3 to the higher rating in the marrakesh, to give especially the shoulders and elbows more cushion and coverage for the impact - and try to wear gear all the time. ......"Unless it's just a quick trip to 7-11" <- *slaps self* Let's do another group swap meet / bbq sometime - I have gear I would gladly share with other members, and who knows maybe some good trading to be had out there between us.

Their stuff is so good. I have been eyeing a lot of their gear more now that I have the separate armor option as well. You will love the Marrakesh, just last week had a dude come up and be like "That is my favorite jacket" haha

I'll just comment on Jacket setup that works for me, My gear has morphed over the years, especially since finding dirt a few years ago. And even since I started riding off road on ADV bikes, to now. I feel like there is a natural progression from what we initially think we will need, to what we realize we would actually like to have after ripping around a while. For me, here in SoCal - My most used jacket is hands down, the Klim Marrakesh. Don't necessarily need to be Klim, but the type of breathy yet very abrasion resistant jacket w/D3 is really good here for the long summers. I did also step up the D3 Armor in my Marrakesh to the next rating level. Also in the context of Klim being wicked expensive, the Marrakesh is on the affordable side it's the only Klim jacket I have owned, and now has easily over 50,000 miles of duty. What if it gets Cold!? - I have a very stuffable puffy hooded jacket, whatever brand tickles your pickle - but I find that my hooded puff, that goes under the marrakesh is sufficient even on those cold mornings getting out to the trailhead. When you warm up after 20 min of trail riding, just stuff it under a strap. That ^ is the Jacket setup 100% of the time on my touring bike, 7 day moto trip around arizona, 8 day trip to central oregon and back, near daily use, and a lot of the time on my KTM - But... ...For the somewhat-skinny bike rides, I have recently joined the separate armor + Jersey club, and bought Leatt 3D AirFit Hybrid armor, and layer long sleeve, and/or jersey over the top. It's rather warm in the summer, and I still like to get off road rides in by heading out early, this setup is nice when it's hot out. During that season I pull the armor out of the Marrakesh, and wear it as an abrasion layer for the road ride to the trail, and thanks to the Marrakesh being fairly easy to stuff under straps etc this works pretty well. Bottom Line the Marrakesh (or something like that) does a lot, and used in conjunction with other layers, especially around here, it's year round jacket, for a decent price. Marrakesh with the next level of D3 armor in it (I think L2?), bought off the rack at local shops... Also thanks to the SDAR Forum I have the Alpinestars boots and nice BMW Rallye pants, used, from @Mr.JAJA! This makes me think we need another group bbq and gear swap event - Nick

I specifically remember you saying something like "Alright, I need to stretch her legs" or something like that, I think you were visited by uncle Murphy - happens to us all sooner or later!

@cmbthumper I’ve done John Bull a couple times in my Jeep, as well as the other big bear trails - I remember before I ever rode a bike in dirt, picking my way down dishpan springs in the jeep but also stopping to marvel at the guys yeeting down or up those trails on dirt bikes. At the time, never riding dirt, that seemed insane!

Love this ride, especially since you can stitch together other dirt on the way there and back and make a day of it.

Hahaha that’s the best description 😂

I have love for that bike, I wasn’t in to dirt riding at all when I had my 950SM, but the shared carbed LC8 is a serious kick in the pants, and at the time 2007ish, the shop I went to was Malcom Smith Motorsports, any time I’d see a 950ADV there we would end up talking, and both agreeing it’s a crackin motor - with the 950ADV always saying it’s the best bike ever. The SM was basically a premier hooligan bike, with about a 2 hour seat timer in the stock wooden plank but I loved it.