Upshift Issue 69 - May 2022 by UPSHIFT

May 2022

Issue 69

Photo: F. Montero

ADVENTUR MORE

Fuel your restless spirit with a new adventure every day. Receiving selected upgrades for 2022, the KTM 390 ADVENTURE is here to let every biker go out and adventure even more. No matter the wildness of the trail or the demands of daily mileage, this is a highly capable and exhilarating exploration companion every step of the way.

FIND OUT MORE AT KTM.COM Please make no attempt to imitate the illustrated riding scenes, always wear protective clothing and observe the applicable provisions of the road traffic regulations. The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected details from the production models and some illustrations feature optional equipment available at additional cost. * European specific model shown

Trust in the north.

The illustrated vehicles may vary in selected specifications from the production models and may feature optional equipment available at additional cost.

889 cc parallel twin

Photo: R. Schedl, R. Steinke, KISKA GmbH

449 lb

husqvarna-motorcycles.com

As long as you are on planet Earth, you’re not lost.

N o r d e n

9 01

the entire globe is a playground just waiting for you to explore. inspired by the north and built for the world, the norden 901 is a rugged travel machine ready to face the unknown.

ISSUE 69 May 2022

May 2022

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Issue 69

y information: These drawings contain information y to Upshift. Any reproduction, orCover transmittal of this on without expressed written consent is prohibited by Olivier de isVaulx se partial or complete of the sord marks prohibited hable to the full extent of the law.

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LOGO SHEET

THE INSIDER

Design, Production Chris Glaspell

Sending It!

Contributing Writers Chad de Alva Olivier de Vaulx Andrew Glaspell

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Contributing Photographers Chad de Alva Olivier de Vaulx Miguel Santana Greg Smith

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Views Through The Lens

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Technical Editor Chad de Alva

Part Three

Story Editor Stefanie Glaspell

TRIALS SCHOOL

Business Development Brandon Glanville

Cross-Training Tools For Off-Road

NEVADA 200

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MOSKO MOTO A Closer Look

COLORADO SPRING

Upshift Magazine is published monthly by Upshift Online Inc. 2022. Reproduction of any material requires written consent from the publishers. All photos, editorial contributions and advertisements are accepted upon representation that they are original materials by the author and or advertiser. Opinions expressed in the articles are those of the author and may not reflect the views and opinions of the editor, staff or advertisers of Upshift Online Inc. Advertisers assume full responsibility for the entire content and subject matter of their advertisements.

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Early Season Ride Guide For The Rocky Mountains

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The mission is simple, if you want to share your adventures on “insta-adv” you’d better start following us! @upshift_online and use the hash tag #upshift_online on your photos

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SENDING IT! By Staff The ascension of adventure bikes within the motorcycle industry and its consumer culture has long been credited to the intrinsic accessibility of discipline. The adventurers that make up our growing community are defined more by their curiosity, endurance, and fascination with what is “out there,” than trophies or even advanced skills. What has made this particular corner of the industry uniquely attractive has been how it offers an answer to the question, “What if I just want to explore?” We have seen countless track-day weekend warriors and ex-motocross pros flocking to this beloved discipline of adventure riding because, for many, the shine of competition has worn off, the risks of “sending it” have been realized, or their sense of discovery has simply become too strong to ignore. Regardless of cause, the trend that we’ve observed over the last five to ten years is that our community has grown around a mere enthusiasm to ride, no matter your skill or experience. In comparison to modern marketing schemes that try to sell the consumer on a life greater than their own, the adventure-bike culture has often preached a message of greatness found within ordinary lives; riders of all kinds are able to explore and discover wherever they are, with whatever skills they may have. We believe that this counter-cultural message highlights the innate approachability of ‘adventure’, and it has certainly been an effective message at that. However, this theme isn’t without its challengers. Recently we’ve seen an emerging marketing strategy within the industry that doesn’t seem to communicate adventure riding as an accessible endeavor. It is a rare sight to see a 450-pound motorcycle flying over a set of triple jumps, or being thrown around like a trials bike, but this may be the new way of selling bikes and equipment in the adventure world. For some, this is the culture that the ADV community was providing haven from; a culture that separates the pros from the lay-people, and a messaging scheme that prioritizes online engagement over inspired everyday riders. It is not hard to understand why manufacturers would be drawn to this type of marketing. It grabs consumer’s attention, it demonstrates what certain products are potentially capable of, and, in theory, it should get people excited about buying their product. The unfortunate reality is that the values being shared in some of these ads, videos and social media accounts aren’t always the same values that established the adventure culture, and, in some cases, are directly in conflict with the motivating principles of ADV riders. We admit, watching a rally bike being hucked off a thirty-foot double will probably get plenty of views (including us) and rally potential sales, but while it may sell the product, it may also undermine the sense of accessibility that the adventure discipline has long promoted. Marketing has a strong impact on those within the fold of a particular interest, but even more so, it affects the perceptions of those on the outside. Whether it is people interested in joining the ADV community, or critics who already have a bias against the activity we love, marketing trends can and will shape their opinions; for better or for worse.

Bullet Proof Designs KTM 790/890, Norden 901 ADV Guards Bullet Proof Designs is proud to support the ADV scene with all-new guards to protect your Adventure touring motorcycle. If you are looking for protection pieces for KTM 790 or 890 Adventure or a Husqvarna 901 Norden we have you covered. From footpegs that improve comfort and control, to case savers with built in wire harness protection, to our beefy one-piece Billet Aluminum rear disc guards, we have you covered! Let the adventure begin. Each part is CNC machined in Australia by the same guys who design, develop, and manufacture the parts. Every part is hand-assembled and checked in-house at the factory before getting shipped out. Check out all the BPD products at bulletproofdesigns.com

REAR BRAKE MASTER CYLINDER GUARD

CASE SAVER

REAR DISC GUARD/CALIPER GUARD

Seat Concepts Releases New Husqvarna Norden 901 Seats The Norden 901 Comfort seat features a pocketed design in the rear of the seating area to help level out the rider platform and reduce the forward slope of the seat. Additionally, the seat was radiused for a smoother transition from the seating area to the forward seat edges. Aesthetics have been designed to compliment the OEM 2-piece rear/passenger seat as well as the factory neon yellow fairing decals. The cover design incorporates high quality fabrics to match the factory materials in Neon Yellow Accent/Black and Black/Black. These features combine to offer a custom seat feel that provides greater enjoyment and increased range on a long commute, or adventure ride! Can be used in either the factory low or high setting. MSRP: $264.99. www.seatconcepts.com

S e n d t h e se arc h

Klim Releases New Women’s Artemis ADV Gear KLIM is excited to release the redesigned Artemis Jacket and Pant, upgrading their line of premium women’s motorcycle apparel with newly updated adventure gear. The Idaho-based company is proud to improve abrasion protection, comfort, ventilation and storage for female riders. Starting with abrasion protection, KLIM improves on-road safety with new Superfabric® overlays in key impact areas. This is a massive improvement in abrasion protection, previously only seen on the Badlands Pro and Adventure Rally gear. New 630-denier Cordura twisted yarn overlays also deliver better abrasion resistance than the previous version. New fabric layouts greatly improve mobility and comfort together with increased abrasion protection through a specially “mapped” fabric layout. Storage options throughout have been vastly improved, with a monstrous total of 12 pockets between the exterior and interior of both garments. They’re thoughtfully placed for easy organization of essentials. A new addition is an internal organizer pouch in the righthand jacket pocket and left-hand pants pocket. This is an intuitive way to keep items organized within a pocket. Another addition is a MOLLE webbing panel on both the jacket and pants for attaching small items to the exterior. Impact protection comes from D3O Level 1 vented armor throughout the shoulders, elbows, knees, hips and back. The Artemis Jacket and Pant are both CE AA-rated according to standard EN 17092-3. Further upgrades include a more refined ventilation layout. Forearm vents bring air into the arms, while more efficient chest and back vents add more airflow to the torso. KLIM’s popular cross-core chest vents are still in play. The pants have a refined and efficient ventilation layout as well. Visit KLIM.com for more information. Jacket MSRP: $749.99, Pants MSRP: $569.99-$589.99

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Ténéré 700. Find new horizons. www.YamahaMotorsports.com

Professional rider depicted on a closed course. Dress properly for your ride with a helmet, eye protection, long sleeves, long pants, gloves and boots. European spec model shown. Yamaha and the Motorcycle Safety Foundation encourage you to ride safely and respect the environment. For further information regarding the MSF course, please call 1-800-446-9227. Do not drink and ride. It is illegal and dangerous. ©2021 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.

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PROVEN PERFORMANCE FOR THE LONG HAUL

The DR-Z400S. Arguably the most proven on- & off-road motorcycle ever created. Built to thrive in any terrain. Experience the machine that literally defines the word DualSport. This ride needs no introduction, its 400cc liquid-cooled, single-cylinder engine produces predictable, tractable power for any road or trail. You won’t think twice about your line thanks to its light yet rigid frame coupled to a fully-adjustable suspension. And its unwavering reliability means you can ride everywhere with complete confidence. With the world at your tread, enjoy adventure on a bike that has stood the test of time — and keeps asking for more.

EXPERIENCE THE CAPABLE DR-Z400S AT

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Along with concerned conservationists everywhere, Suzuki urges you to Tread Lightly!® on public and private land. Suzuki, the “S” logo, and Suzuki model and product names are Suzuki Trademarks or ®. © 2022 Suzuki Motor USA, LLC

WORDS AND PHOTOS: OLIVIER DE VAULX

NEW MEXICO BDR

The best of the BDR So far our experience on the NM BDR had been great. The route developed by RideBDR offered a great diversity of landscapes and types of riding, as described in the two previously published pieces of this story. From the high plateau and forests in the east, to the sandy trails and canyons in the middle of the state, and lastly the canyons and rocks on the western side, we had a bit of everything. To be honest, leaving Grants on a chilly morning, we even wondered what could possibly surprise us in the last days of this amazing ride.

Grants to Cuba, the true Dakar experience It didn’t take long for the “Land of Enchantment” to once again be true to its name. As we entered the desert area north of Grants, we were greeted by the most magnificent views of purple mesas, dominating vast plains of yellow and orange dirt punctuated by black lava rocks and a few green cacti. In a decor that would have driven any western movie director mad, we also found out that the trails were just perfect for our big adventure bikes. With a thin layer of sand covering an otherwise firm dirt, we had a smooth ride on these flowy dirt roads. Our speed was increasing, and the idea that we were racing the Dakar rally was not far from our minds. Yet, it wasn’t a race but rather an exploratory trip, and we stopped more than once for no other reason than the need to soak up the scenery. Once the engines shut off, the quietness was stunning. The colors made everything look surreal or alien, like those rock formations turning green in the middle and red at the top. A few vista points had us speechless, the scenic picture in front of our eyes looking like a computer generated view of an ideal desert. Thus, a stop at an abandoned farm in the middle of nowhere brought back reflections about history, and the courage of those people who, two centuries ago, crossed these desolated lands with covered wagons to find a better life. Insensible to our thoughts, some cattle encountered along the trail were in search of food, seemingly reinforcing this impression that we were traveling back in time. Our arrival in Cuba broke the spell, but we had to refuel the Tiger 900s and their riders, the latter with some high calorie sandwiches.

DEDICATED TO RIDER PROTECTION

Photo courtesy of Triumph Motorcycles Ltd.

XD4 • COVER WHITE FROST

THE ARAI DIFFERENCE At Arai, not only the management, but its owner also knows the mission to protect riders and continues learning how a helmet works to protect the wearers against riding impacts. Witnessing how severe and unpredictable some impacts can be, Arai’s focus continues to be the consistent pursuit of gains in protection for helmets bearing our family name.

SCAN TO SEE THE VALUE OF ARAI VIDEO

When a helmet is impacted, the inner liner is crushed, absorbing impact energy in the process. The liner’s ability to absorb impact energy varies depending on the helmet’s construction and thickness in its upper regions. But Arai helmets, with their proprietary one-piece multi-density EPS liner, can maintain a consistent thickness even in areas where high levels of energy absorption are needed. The helmet remains compact by forming different EPS densities into a single liner of uniform thickness while still satisfying strict helmet standards.

SCAN TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE XD4

The last stop in New-Mexico The rest of the ride to Abiquiu, through the Santa Fe National Forest, was a totally different animal. The trees, with their black trunks and reddish leaves, gave a powerful impression of strength, while the perfectly graded dirt road pushed us, once again, to ride a bit on the reckless side. It was hard indeed to resist the supermoto vibes induced by this trail, but at the first sight of a vehicle coming in the opposite direction, we slowed down and adopted a safer pace. We had enough speeding for the day! Arriving at Abiquiu, we were welcomed by a spectacular sunset, reflecting orange light on the nearby cliffs. The Adobe houses of Abiquiu, with their brown walls made of clay and sand, brought us back in time once again to an area where Native Americans were building the original pueblos. The sunset, coloring the sky in all nuances of purple and red, validated our impression that we were in a lost paradise. Eating some great food at a fine restaurant by the famous Georgia O’Keeffe, who lived at the nearby Ghost Ranch, a mountain so spectacular it’s on the UNESCO list of world heritage sites, we almost decided that we would stay here until the end of time.

Challenging terrain In the early morning, with the frost of November changing our bikes in snowlike sculptures, we enjoyed the heated grips of our Tiger 900, grateful for the terrible British weather which forced the Triumph engineers to implement this feature. Even better was the strength of the torquey three cylinder that allowed us to cruise through the corners of a flowy double-track going up in the mountains seldomly having to shift, feeling like we had an automatic gearbox. With the beautiful morning light, these first miles of the day were just like a dream ride. But all this butter-like softness disappeared when we reached the ridge above Cañon del Cobre. The terrain changed with almost no warning; loose gravel, rolling rocks, steep climbs, and sharp steps being thrown our way. It was no surprise though, as it was mentioned in this section’s summary on our Butler map. Now in full trials mode, we managed to climb everything in second or third gear, once again thankful for the smooth engine. Our efforts were rewarded by some magic scenery along the way, the pure air allowing incredible visibility over the purple mesas in the distance. Entering the Carson National Forest in higher elevation was a bummer as the view disappeared, but it also prevented us from stopping too many times to soak up the scenery.

Entering Colorado Reaching civilization at El Rito, we found an old-school gas station that probably didn’t get a new paint since the fifties. We loved the old-school vibes and chatted briefly with the owner before buying a few snacks. Staying a bit on pavement, we rode through a few villages like this one, where you could see the exodus that plagued rural America. Buildings beautiful a few decades ago were just ruins now, and only a handful of houses were still inhabited. This was a sad realization that these farmers, whose job is to feed people living in the bigger cities, were having such a hard time, disappearing like some endangered species. There was nothing we could do other than spend a few bucks here and there to support the local communities. From there, the trail changed once again, with a hard texture composed of dry dirt and sharp stones, typical of the Colorado trails. Wandering through the golden meadows, the trail was lit by the winter sunlight, and it was another stunning visual experience on this BDR ride. Climbing up to ten thousand feet, we found ourselves in the last hour of the day crossing birch forests, following rivers and large canyons. The humidity and biting cold were no match for the multiple layers of our Moskomoto gear, and it felt like Colorado was putting on a show to lure us into keeping the journey going north. Alas, as the full moon appeared in the pink sky, we knew it had to end tonight. The last few miles on pavement to Antonito passed in a blur, our minds already rewinding the film of the trip and selecting one amazing memory after another. New Mexico delivered on its promise of being a “Land of Enchantment” and ultimately proved to be one of the best BDRs available. Having a last fine mexican dinner, we couldn’t help but feel grateful for the amazing work of the BDR crew that made this trip possible. We also felt blessed for the incredible reliability of modern bikes, that allow ADV riders to travel through such remote places without any worry. The last two years had put the world to a test, but it has never been a better time to explore the wilderness!

CHOOSE TO HAVE IT ALL

Built to excel in the dirt and on the tarmac, the new Tiger 1200 Rally Pro is the all-new globe-busting, desert-crossing, mountain-conquering adventure champion. Powered by a new 1200 triple engine, the unique T-Plane design blends the low-speed capability of a twin with the top-end performance of a triple, for excellent traction in tough conditions, and supreme performance on the road. Add to that an all-new chassis that’s significantly lighter and more agile, long travel semi-active suspension and feature-packed technology, for unprecedented capability off-road and on. The all-new Tiger 1200 Rally Pro. It’s time to reset your adventure expectations. From $22,500 MSRP.

Find out more at triumphmotorcycles.com

TRIALS SCHOOL Trials bikes are great cross-training tools for off-road and adventure riding, and they also happen to be a ton of fun to ride. Riding a trials bike well requires a skill set and a level of control that translates to other disciplines of riding. If the number of hard enduro legends who come from a trials background is any indicator, trials skills definitely help overall riding. There are a number of benefits to spending time on a trials bike. Three major ways that riding a trials bike will help your offroad and adventure riding are: Balance and Cornering, Bike Control, and Obstacle Riding techniques.

WORDS AND PHOTOS BY CHAD DE ALVA

If you’ve never seen one, a trials bike is essentially a very small, lightweight dirt bike (think around 150 pounds/68kg) with shorter suspension and no seat. They are purpose built for riding observed trials, where riders have to navigate a number of short tracks called sections that are chock full of all sorts of turns and obstacles. The objective at a trial is to ride every section without having to put a foot down or going outside of the tape marking section. Each time you do put a foot down you get a point, and going outside of the tape, crashing, or stalling your bike gets you five points. After riding each section at the trial a set number of times, the rider with the lowest score wins. To make sure that I started off in the right direction on my trials journey, I attended a class put on by Josh Roper, Nigel Parker, and Luke Littlefield – world class trials riders based in Phoenix, AZ. Whether you’re new to riding, or have been riding for years, spending money on a class is one of the best things you can do to improve your skills. A good class, like the one put on by Josh, Nigel, and Luke will provide value to beginners all the way up to pros. The specific coaching and immediate feedback that classes like this provide will help ensure you have the basics dialed and provide pointers to help you get a handle on the new skills you’re currently working on learning. BALANCE AND CORNERING Trials riding, like so many other sports, starts with the basics. Balance is foundational to everything else, and the benefits of spending time working on balance are instantly obvious the first time you get back on a dirt or adventure bike. From little things like needing to take a pause on the trail for a second to read an obstacle, to being endlessly comfortable cornering several hundred pounds of adventure bike in the tightest turn possible, balance helps absolutely everything. Josh and his crew start their class with balance drills; the best part about these drills is that they can be done at home in the garage or driveway, and you don’t even need to run your bike. Getting better at riding while on a conference call is officially a thing.

To work on your balance, throw on your boots (and any other gear you want to feel safe) and start working on static balance. Turning your bars will cause your tire to make a larger contact patch with the ground, which will increase stability, as will running the motor thanks to its gyroscopic effect. Just make sure to use that mute button if you’re “working.” Even spending 20 minutes doing this a few times a week will pay dividends in short order, and this is something that can be done on any bike, so get after it. Balance also directly impacts cornering, and trials bikes are a great tool for building comfort working on turns. Think about it, how many times have you seen other riders drop a bike because they started to turn, got bent out of shape, hit the brakes, and bad things happened? Thanks to their crazy steering angles, lack of a seat, and light weight, a trials bike is the least intimidating motorcycle out there for learning to corner. Spending time working on full stop turns on hard and soft surfaces, and running your front wheel to one side of a rock and your rear tire to the other are all great for building cornering confidence. Josh and crew had us work on corners in a sandy wash and on the side of a hill, both of which are great places to ride in circles for hours on end. After spending time on my trials bike working on corners, I’ve noticed that I’m much more confident taking on spicy corners and switchbacks, and I’m also much less inclined to put a foot down. Spend time working on the basics of balance and cornering. It may not be the most exciting riding out there, but once you recognize the impact it makes to your riding, you’ll understand that it is absolutely worth it.

BIKE CONTROL On an off-road or adventure bike, less than perfect control isn’t usually a big deal – a little extra roost or tire slide makes you even look cool sometimes. Yet riding trials is all about precision control, and sloppy input can mean everything from having to put a foot down to not making it up an obstacle, or worse. Becoming a good trials rider requires you to develop a high level of precision in your bike inputs, and the ways that this translates to other disciplines of riding are numerous. It may seem obvious, but with good handling, you are in control of the bike which means that the bike is going to do exactly what you want, instead of being in a situation where you are just along for the ride. With good control, you can reliably do things like put down the right amount of power to make it up that slippery climb without looping out or slipping sideways on a hill. Likewise, you can confidently ride down that steep section of trail and navigate the sharp turn before the cliff of doom. There are a number of ways to build bike control including braking and clutching drills. Here are a couple from the class: A great bike control drill is to learn to pop a precision wheelie, where you’re picking the front wheel up and setting it back down in a predetermined spot. Mastering this skill is critical for the obstacle techniques coming up. You can do this in the driveway using the expansion joints in your concrete for pickup and put-down points. Learn how to wheelie with the clutch, the throttle, and your body weight. For braking, try working on stoppies (wheelies with the back wheel in the air). This will help you immensely with brake control and getting all of the stopping power possible out of your front wheel on a given surface. NOTE: This doesn’t work with ABS!

OBSTACLE TECHNIQUES Every off-road rider has been in the following situation: you’re out on a ride and come across an intimidating obstacle on the trail. Can you ride it? If you try it and screw up, are you going to break your bike, or worse yet yourself? Many riders will tell themselves “I’m going to nail that hard obstacle on today’s dirt bike / adventure ride.” But if they don’t end up trying it, or they don’t clean it, they say “I’ll get it next time.” With this mindset, it takes a long time to put in the practice to build real confidence with an obstacle. Yet trials riding is all about riding obstacles. When you’re on a trials bike, you instantly start hunting for obstacles to see if you can ride them. Then you start linking obstacles together to make sections, and before you know it, you’re running laps on the same obstacles again and again. The end result is that instead of hitting the challenging obstacle maybe once a ride, you’re hitting it multiple times, thus growing your skill set much faster. Practice pays off, and time spent working on any technique will make you better at that technique. Having a trials bike to practice things on is great fun, but there’s no rule that says you can’t practice specific things on your dirt bike or adventure bike. Instead of riding something once a ride, go put in ten laps or more on the section that’s giving you trouble.

PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER Trials bikes are a ton of fun to ride, and the cross training that they provide for other disciplines of riding is profound. The first few times you ride a trials bike it will humble you as you’ll gain a keen understanding of just how much skill and technique matter. Watching pros like Josh, Nigel, and Luke ride their trials bikes, and then realizing how having even a fraction of their skill could impact your riding, is inspiring. It’s absolutely worth it to sign up for a class put on by pro riders. Seeing them in action, and then getting specific feedback that helps you grow as a rider, is some of the best money you can spend on any type of riding. If you haven’t had the chance to ride a trials bike, know that you’re missing out on one of the most enjoyable, challenging, and rewarding disciplines of riding out there. Cleaning a challenging section is very fulfilling, and the benefits that riding a trials bike has on your off-road and/or adventuring riding skill set is an awesome benefit too.

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1) DEDICATED BLUE RACING SEAT 2) METER PACKAGE 3) MAP SWITCH WITH TWO

DIFFERENT IGNITION SETTINGS FOR RAIN OR SHINE AND TRACTION CONTROL 4) MOTO STYLE RED VERTIGO HANDGUARDS 5) OFF-ROAD LIGHT 6) REFINED KYB CLOSED CARTRIDGE FORKS 7) DUAL MATERIAL REAR SPROCKET 8) EXTRA WIDE BILLET

MACHINED ALLOY FOOTPEGS 9) SMOOTH 4-STROKE POWER DELIVERY 10) METZELER SIX DAYS OFF ROAD TIRES 11) FRONT AXLE PULL FOR QUICK TIRE CHANGES

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WORDS: CHAD DE ALVA

PHOTOS: MIGUEL SANTANA, CHAD DE ALVA

Scot Harden knows that there’s so much more to Nevada than Las Vegas. That is why he hosts the Nevada 200 trail ride in the small town of Caliente, NV. Go ahead – I’ll wait while you search for Caliente on the map. Once you find it, zoom out and take a minute to realize just how much public land surrounds Caliente. See the potential for riding that Scot and so many others have keyed in on? The Nevada 200 is a three-day trail ride that takes full advantage of the eastern Nevada landscape. Each day features two unique routes that start and end in Caliente – one for A riders and the other for C riders. The routes link up for hydration stops, scenic viewpoints, and a great lunch on Saturday. Each route is guided and swept, so that riders can focus on the ride, not having to navigate through a network of trails in an expanse of public land that’s larger than some states. Riders from all walks of life attend the Nevada 200 each year. The 2022 event saw moto legends and AMA Hall of Famers like Rodney Smith and Jack Johnson, as well as rally rock stars Mason Klein and Skyler Howes in attendance. After the ride on Saturday, Mason and Skyler hosted a Q and A session about their recent Dakar adventures. What’s great about the Nevada 200 is that everyone hangs out and rides together, and any time you put so many awesome folks in the same place and give them all dirt bikes, memories are made. The Nevada 200 is a great event where you have the chance to mix it up with pros and other riders from all over the country, as you spend three days riding trails that take full advantage of the awesome country that surrounds Caliente, NV. From sandy washes and dry lake beds to single track that ducks and weaves through pinion and juniper trees to desert canyons, the Nevada 200 Trail Ride delivers miles of smiles. To sign up for next year’s ride, or for more info visit harden-offroad.com

TAP THE MAP FOR YOUR NEXT Explore thousands of miles of interactive trails for 4x4, SxS, ATV, and dirt bikes across the nation. Color-coded trails let you see which are open with just a glance. Tap on any trail to access details like difficulty rating, clearance level, duration, open and close dates, trail photos, and more. Your paper maps can’t do that.

Download the app: onxoffroad.com

2021_SCOTT_PROSPECT_Heritage_EN_A4.pdf

21.01.22

09:45

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TESTED

BY CHAD DE ALVA

ALPINESTARS TECH-T BOOTS Trials riding is a unique discipline of motorcycling that requires special gear to help the rider perform to their full potential. Boots are one of these special pieces of gear, and a good pair of trials boots provides a number of benefits to the rider. They provide traction on any surface, whether that’s a wet log or a granite boulder. That outstanding traction has to apply to the bike’s footpegs too, as slipping off the peg can have serious consequences. The boot’s sole also has to provide sensitivity and dexterity, so that the rider has all of the rear brake and bike control possible. The boots need to provide protection without restricting the rider’s range of motion. Lastly, the boots need to be comfortable and fit well. There is no seat on a modern trials bike, so riders are constantly standing on the pegs, or they are hiking over obstacles where poorly fitting footwear isn’t a recipe for success. Alpinestars is no stranger to making world class motorcycling boots, and their Tech-T boots are their interpretation of the ultimate trials boot.

ALPINESTARS TECH-T BOOTS

Tech-Ts stand out in the Alpinestars boot lineup because they are very unique looking boots. Yet their form is the result of a feature set that helps trials riders perform their best. Alpinestars utilized extended accordion stretch zones and full grain leather construction to help the boots flex and provide support to the rider. The sole is a special sandwich of a polymer insole with a steel shank reinforcement that provides structure and support to the arch, while a proprietary rubber outsole provides impressive levels of grip, feel, and dexterity. The net result is a trials boot that wears as comfortably as your favorite hiking boots, doesn’t restrict your range of motion, has protection everywhere you want it, grips any surface and the bike very well, and lets you feel exactly where you are on the pegs or precisely how much rear brake you’re applying. Wearing Tech-T’s is like wearing some perfect combination of a hiking boot, approach shoe, and riding boot. The Tech-T’s leather construction allows the boot to embrace your foot and lower leg like your favorite pair of hiking boots. Three buckles let you dial in exactly how tight you want the boots to fit, and even when they’re cranked down these boots remain comfortable. The sole of the Tech-T may look strange for a motorcycle boot, but as you start hiking around in them, you’ll come to understand that you have approach shoe levels of traction thanks to the boot’s unique outsole. On the bike the effect is no less impressive – I have yet to slip off a peg thanks to the Tech-Ts. Icing on the cake comes in the form of dexterity in that you feel like you have all of the brake feel and control you could ever want. And trust me, you want all the brake control. The only downside to the Tech-Ts is that they’re not going to be the longest-lived motorcycle boots out there. Leather can’t take as much punishment as plastic like you would find on a modern MX boot, and the trade off for that wonderfully grippy outsole is that it isn’t going to last forever. But that’s the price of performance, and the Tech-Ts perform so well that they’re absolutely worth their expected shorter lifespan. Motorcycles are a pay to play sport after all. All said and done, the Alpinestars Tech-Ts have proven to be awesome boots for Trials riding. Given that riders like Josh Roper and Toni Bou wear them, I know for a fact that the Tech-Ts are not holding back the abilities of a mere mortal like myself. I also know from watching other riders at trials competitions who were wearing MX boots, that doing so impacts performance. So if you’ve been on the fence about getting a pair of boots just for your trials bike, know that you’ll be wondering why you didn’t pull the trigger sooner once you ride with a pair. Whether you’re getting into the Trials thing and looking to purchase your first pair of boots, or you are looking for your next pair, the Alpinestars Tech-Ts are absolutely worth checking out. MSRP: $359.59. For more information go to www.alpinestars.com.

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A Closer Look Mosko Moto was born from an experience. Specifically, a less than good experience with soft luggage. Co-Founder Pete Day had just quit his job of ten years, and he was off exploring a remote corner of the world by motorcycle as he often did during his free time. Pete’s moto-travel resume is extensive, to say the least, and his ideal moto trip involves exploring a distant part of the world by getting as deep into the backcountry as possible. On this particular trip, he was making his way through Central America while working through the shortcomings of the soft luggage he was using. Every time he identified an issue, he would shoot a message to his good friend Andrew, who was then working as a senior designer at a well known action-sports company. When Pete got back to the US, he and Andrew made the choice to start a company that would produce motorcycle luggage. Mosko Moto was officially a thing. Words: Chad de Alva

Photos: Chad de Alva, Ash Myhre, Spencer Hill, Drew Martin

From the start, Pete and Andrew took a different approach to business than other moto companies – a choice that would set the trajectory for Mosko’s success. They would sell directly to consumers and strive to be transparent in what they were doing. On their website, Pete started a blog where he would a share a great deal about what was going on within the company. While other companies keep what they’re working on as close to the chest as possible, Pete’s blog provided a huge window into the collective minds of Mosko Moto. He also started a thread on ADVRider.com, and in one sentence set a defining statement for the company: “Feel free to chime in with ideas.” In reading the first few pages of this more than 800 page thread, as well as the early blog posts, one can gain much insight about the company and their process of learning to make motorcycle luggage. In a blog post from late 2013, Pete outlined something else that Mosko Moto was starting to work on – Apparel. To be a player in the moto industry, Mosko Moto knew that they would have to do more than just make outstanding luggage. The crew decided to develop apparel and commenced what would become a multi-year development process. Pete had started riding on liter plus adventure bikes wearing riding gear with integrated armor, but over the years he had gone through an evolution in bikes and riding gear to where he was now riding smaller bikes and wearing separate MX-style armor. This experience made the choice easy for the apparel Mosko would create – armor would be separate, and the goal was to make the best shell they could. To help make their apparel project a reality, Mosko Moto hired Scott – the guy who had Andrew’s old job at the action sports company.

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Scott is a talented designer, and at Mosko Moto he has something few designers ever get to enjoy. Other companies direct their designers to never design for their own gear closets. Yet everyone at Mosko Moto rides, so the company encourages designing the gear that they would want to create the ultimate riding gear closet. Mosko product development is also influenced by sources outside of the moto industry, as Mosko has found fresh ideas and innovations in other industries. The open development process has also proven to be extremely valuable, and there have been a number of instances where customer feedback on products in development has directly influenced a product order. Mosko Moto loves to tinker on their products, and as Scott says “the design is never done.” Each product order placed with the factory gives Mosko the chance to revise an existing product. For example, the Basilisk Jacket going from version 1.0 to 1.2, which incorporated a few revisions from v 1.0. Instead of having to wait a few years for a complete redesign, Mosko is able to improve their products with every factory order.

The team at Mosko is also hard at work bringing new products to life. New offerings are coming in Summer of 2022, and it’s obvious that Mosko is continuing to create unique products that fit the ethos of “what’s the perfect kit for the type of ride I’m going on.” The Summer 2022 line features big updates to the core products like the Basilisk and the Rak lines, along with completely new pieces that bring stand out innovation to a sea of reversed engineered products from other brands. Hearing the stories of how these new products came to be makes one thing quite clear – the crew at Mosko loves to ride, and each piece they develop is a passion project fueled by an effective mix of internal and external influence that leads to great product development. Mosko Moto is working to bring more than just new apparel to market. What do you do when you’re Mosko Moto and you can’t find the exact armor you want? You develop it. For the past year, the team has been working on developing the exact separate armor pieces that they want. Having had the chance to wear some of the prototypes, I can tell you Mosko armor is going to be next level. Expect CE level 2 protection in armor that is impressively light weight, and that moves with your body better than any other non-newtonian armor on the market. Mosko is targeting an early 2023 launch date for their first armor products.

It’s been really fun to watch Mosko Moto grow from a couple of guys with one product and some hay bales for a show booth, to the massive production that they bring to shows now. Mosko Moto has done things differently from day one, and that has clearly contributed to their success. By selling direct to consumer, they don’t have to deal with dealers and other middlemen, enabling them to make changes to products from order to order. By sharing their development process with the industry, riders and customers are able to weigh in on new and existing products, thus building relationships with customers and helping make every product that gets put up for sale more successful. One of my favorite things about Mosko Moto is that everyone in the company rides, and the entire team takes extended trips together to hang out, team build, and discuss how to improve their products. Mosko Moto has clearly figured out how to apply their passion for riding and their complete comfort in forging their own path to great success. It’s going to be fun to see what the future holds for this company.

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Early Season Ride Guide Fo

Words and Photos: Chad de Alva

By Chad De Alva

or The Rocky Mountains

Early season riding in the Rocky Mountains is awesome. There’s just something that never gets old about the single tracks and other trails that thread their way up and down these staggeringly beautiful mountains. Even on trails that you’ve ridden a million times, the first ride of the season is always something of a rediscovery as a trail can significantly change over the course of a winter. Snow banks can hide from the sun and block trails well into summer. Trees always manage to fall across trails thanks to the forces of wind and snow, and when it comes time for that snow to melt in the spring, serious amounts of run off can completely erode sections of trails. In other words, there are no guarantees on what you’re going to find out there, or trails that you’re going to even be able to ride. This article is all about how to handle the things you’re most likely to encounter during early season trail riding. The short answer is that the best way to handle obstacles you find on the trail is to go over, under, or through them. Longer answers to the most common obstacles are detailed below, but there is a great reason to remember this simple mantra of over, under, and through. The fact of the matter is that many of these epic trails that we get to ride in the Rockies are shared by multiple user groups, and nothing gets non-motorized users more fired up to work on closing a trail than to see dozens of tracks tearing up the fragile alpine environments just to avoid an obstacle. We as riders need to stay on the trail, and we need to make sure we’re doing it right so we can continue to enjoy these awesome trails. Besides, going over logs and trying to clean snowbanks without getting stuck is great fun!

TREES We’ve all encountered downed trees – it’s just part of the game when it comes to riding in the woods. Any time you’re heading out for a ride in a forest, at least one rider in your group should carry a folding saw. After years of trying so many different folding options out there, let’s just say you can’t beat a Silky BigBoy. These folding saws are easy to pack, razor sharp, built to last, and they can do some serious work in the right hands. To be clear, I’m not saying that you need to turn your ride into a trail clearing mission. Even stopping to limb one downed tree so it’s easier to get over is a help to all user groups. Nothing makes for better good will to motos than having a group of hikers roll up on you and your riding buddies while you’re busy disassembling a tree. A saw will also become your best friend if you’re riding on a windy day and a tree falls down that blocks your route home. Many of the trees that fall across the trail are just perfectly set for going over, so here is where you get to practice your wheelies, and your double blips on the big trees. Just commit to it and you’ll be fine. Going over is good fun – and nothing is more satisfying that cleaning a big, intimidating log crossing. Every once in a while, you’ll find those trees that just couldn’t make it the last few feet to the ground; these are the trees that you need to go under. Before you proceed, make sure the tree is stable. Give it a few good kicks or shoves to make sure it isn’t going to settle lower if you bump it while you’re going under. If you need to, whip out that saw again and cut a hole to pass through. If you have to wrestle your bike under, make sure it’s something that can be done going both ways before you commit, in the event that you are forced to turn around further down the trail.

SNOW Snow is a ton of fun to ride through, and it can also be a ton of fun to watch riders try to clean a snowfield without dabbing or getting stuck, so have a camera at the ready. The whole idea here is that the snow is eventually going to melt, so making a few tracks in it wont hurt anything, whereas going around the snow could leave tracks in something like alpine tundra which could turn into scars that last for years. If you’re crossing a relatively flat snowfield, just point and shoot with your weight back. Momentum is your friend here, so come in with a bit of speed and don’t be afraid to use that throttle. With any luck, you’ll most likely sail right over the top of the snowbank. If you get stopped, just hop off and push your bike using the throttle to move your bike forward. Trying to ride out of a stuck will usually turn your bike into a trenching machine and make things worse, so go easy. If you have to side hill across a slope, get to boot-packing a track so that you don’t slide downhill off of the trail. Make the boot track as straight and with a constant grade as possible. Turns and low spots can hang you up while crossing. Again, a bit of momentum will help you out here, and if you get stuck, just hop off and push. Remember that the snow’s firmness will change throughout the day, so what was firm and easy to cross in the morning could be a soft and challenging obstacle on the way back through. Going up a hill covered in soft spring snow can be quite the challenge, so make sure not to ride down a snowfield that you can’t get back up. If you’re riding a trail where you know that you’re going to run into snow, consider carrying an avalanche shovel and just digging the trail out – again this wins you all of the good karma with other riders and user groups.

SEASONAL CLOSURES Depending on the Land Management Agency that is responsible for the trail, you may see seasonal closures with opening dates determined by several factors. Some trails will open as early as May, while other trails are not open until July, so don’t assume that just because it is warm out, a trail is open. Seasonal closure information can be found online through state managed trail map resources. Reaching out to a local club is also a great way to get more information, and letting that club know what conditions you encountered can help get trails into great shape faster. One last thing on closures: A given trail may very well be clear of snow, trees, and anything else that would impact your ability to ride, but it may not be open for the season, or closed as the result of a Travel Management change. Don’t ride the trail if it is currently closed. Land managers, law enforcement, and other user groups may or may not be placing trail cameras on these trails that are getting poached, and getting your photo taken riding a closed trail is not going to help get it opened back up. Wait for trails to be open for the season and respect the fact that some trails are no longer open to dirt bikes. If your favorite trail was closed by a land manager, get involved with your local club to help get it open again. Clubs are succeeding at re-opening trails, and more help only means more trails to ride.

UNMARKED TRAILS People aren’t the only species that appreciate a good trail. Many times you’ll find game trails that cross or fork off of the man-made trail that you’re riding. Just as humans use trails and roads to move through the mountains, so do elk, deer, and other game. Yet these four-legged trail builders love to cut in lines that only the riders who actually finish the Erzberg Rodeo can clean. What may start out as tempting single track can quickly turn into a terrain trap; these trails are called sucker tracks. It’s always a good idea to have a phone or two loaded with a good Navigation App and a trail map layer from an official source. This way, you can avoid a safari to nowhere by simply checking your position before committing to a trail. WEATHER The weather in the mountains can go from sunny, warm, and perfect, to freezing, cold, and miserable in a matter of minutes – so be prepared. Many trails will take you up and over mountains and other ridgelines where you’ll be fully exposed, which is about the last place you want to be when a storm rolls in. The mountains can literally channel how storms will move through an area, and it’s entirely possible for one valley to not see a drop of rain while the next valley over is getting nuked. The point is, be prepared for changing weather and be mindful of what the trail home will be like if it’s soaked when you have to ride it later. If a storm settles in over the high pass needed to get you home, do you know other routes you can take, or are you kitted up to wait it out and potentially seize a break in the weather?

WHEN TO TURN BACK It is entirely possible that you’ll come across some obstacle that just can’t be navigated. Maybe it’s a monster tree, or maybe it’s a snowfield that covers the trail for hundreds of yards. Whatever the case may be, the best move is to check your ego and turn back. It’s always better to return from the mountains by your own devices than to push too far, get stuck or get hurt, and need to call in help. Search and Rescue may take hours or days to arrive, and spending the night on the side of a mountain without proper kit in a rainstorm sounds like a really high price to pay just to make it over one tree or a bit of snow. The other thing to keep in mind is that the hills can quite literally have eyes, in that other user groups may be out in the same area. If they see you ripping across the alpine tundra to get around an obstacle, you’re only giving them more ammo to try and get motorcycles out of the high country. Just because you can’t see them doesn’t mean they can’t see you. Assume someone is always watching and do the right thing. The trail will be there. Just let a club or land manager know that there’s an obstacle that needs clearing.

JUST REMEMBER: OVER, UNDER, AND THROUGH Riding in the mountains is awesome. When you have a canvas that uses so many topo lines to describe a landscape, the potential for awesome trails is endless. Factor in an environment that is constantly changing and weather that can make any ride an adventure, and you have a formula for world class riding. To ensure that motorcycles have continued access to this amazing country and these outstanding trails, we need to make sure we as riders are using them in the correct way. When you encounter obstacles on the trail, go over, under, or through them. Hopping logs and seeing who can do the best job of riding over a snowfield is a game that never gets old, and even cutting one tree out of the way is a great way to help make the trail better for everyone. You’ll be amazed at how friendly other user groups can be when they realize that you’re going out of your way to help everyone else out. If you can’t make it through an obstacle, please turn back – don’t give the folks that want motorcycles out of the mountains more fuel for their fire. Likewise, respect the seasonal closure dates on trails, and have an official map loaded on a phone or GPS. Then get stoked to ride some of the best country that is out there. By going over, under, and through any obstacles you may find, you’ll have a great ride, and you will help ensure that we all get to ride in these amazing places for years and years to come.

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Trails Preservation Alliance (TPA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit Colorado based off-highway motorcycle advocacy organization. The TPA works with various land management agencies to ensure fair and equitable access for the sport of motorcycle riding. See more at www.ColoradoTPA.org

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