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Session Date: November 19-20, 2010
The dirt on our dual sport adventure training:
So, the proposal of a “StayinSafe in the dirt” training tour caught your eye, yes? First, be advised this is
very similar to a regular StayinSafe training tour, and will cover the same basic principles of proficient riding as all our tours. We will still cover about 200 miles/day of some of the best roads the Carolinas, Tennessee and Georgia can provide. The main distinction between this Adventure Training Tour and our standard offering is that, for your delight,
there will be sections of U.S. Forest Service road and other unpaved roads included in the route. We will offer riding tips and conduct a few simple drills focusing directly on unpaved surfaces, but our aim is not to make future GNCC off-road champions of you.
If you are reasonably comfortable riding groomed, two-track gravel roads navigable by a 2-wheel-drive pickup truck, you‘ll do fine on this tour.
While most sections of the route could be managed on an “if you had to” basis riding a good all-round standard motorcycle, applications will be limited to genuine “adventure” bikes -- BMW-GS singles and twins, Triumph Tiger, Suzuki V-Strom, Hondas of the XL and NX prefix (you know who you are). These, and others like them, are ideal for the routes we will use, as they retain a substantial degree of paved road capability (such as luggage, adequate fuel capacity and an all-day seat).
No need for aggressive dirt tires -- the roads we'll be taking will be suitable for standard large-block dualsport tires.
Bikes with greater off-road capability, such as the Kawasaki KLR and Suzuki DR650, will also do, unless you’ve stripped all the street-legal equipment, added full moto-cross knobbies and a loud aftermarket pipe, and hope to tote all your needs in a single backpack. Remember, much of our riding will be on the street.
Contact us if you question the suitability of your skills or motorcycle for this tour.
For refreshing your unpaved road skills prior to arriving at training tour, we suggest the following two resources:
1. Dual Sport Riding Techniques (DVD,
www.aerostitch.com #3601 $30.00)
2. The Essential Guide to Dual Sport Motorcycling (book,
www.WhitehorseGear.com EGDS $24.95)
For some extra fun, and confidence-building, schedule a day or two of private coaching with Pete on one of his 250’s before your tour (petert@windstream.net)
See our
2010 Schedule for date information. If demand is strong, we'll add more dates and more locations.
