MORE ADVICE FROM VIEWERS! Buy the bike most suited to your needs instead of spending thousands on mods. Find a good group of riders to join: supportive, corner marking system etc. Learn how to do basic maintenance tasks. Avoid tinnitus, wear ear plugs! You don't need the 2023 'Bike of the year'. Paid professional coaching is always a good investment. Read the original advrider article here: www.advrider.com/advice-youd-give-yourself-if-you-were-a-noob Welcome to our dodgy channel! Here are our popular playlists: Adventure bike & product reviews bit.ly/3DpEKxk Motorbike safety & protective gear bit.ly/3Dpb438 Motorbike setup bit.ly/3Dpb6rM DR650 project series bit.ly/3XOsPRK And finally our most popular videos... Best lightweight adventure bikes? kzread.info/dash/bejne/nqej1KtwZrOoicY.html Best midweight adventure bikes? kzread.info/dash/bejne/fqGcrsGuaNaeeKQ.html The midlife crisis solution! kzread.info/dash/bejne/foaF26d7iZi_mrQ.html

@tahoehiker

Жыл бұрын

I've spent WAY too much on mods. Including the full rally raid adventure setup for my CB500X. I sold it and bought a DR650... which I'm now spending way too much on 🤑. My advice to my past self would be buy an XT 250 for local trails and a Vstrom 1000 for long trips. Most importantly though I'd warn my past self to not watch so many dodgy cross training videos 😁

Find a good group to ride with: Safe, supportive, Mechanical knowledge, leave no one behind, uses tail man system. Buy good protective gear and maintain your bike, Don't worry too much about the bike sometimes less is more and when you can outride the bikes capabilities upgrade.

@cedricboivin9422

Жыл бұрын

I would like to had: don't be afraid to ride alone instead of going out with a bad group Personally, I enjoyed motorcycle way more when I did the style of riding I wanted, at my pace without the influence and the judgement of my "friends" Of course, riding alone has a lot of caveats. You need to do your homework to ensure your safety, but when you do the payback can be priceless

@svenhodaka9145

Жыл бұрын

I’d rather ride a slow bike fast than a fast bike slow.🤷‍♂️

Don't worry about others opinions to much (especially about how fast or slow you have to go) and from time to time take take a moment to appreciate the view.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Amen

@andrewdavis8137

Жыл бұрын

Yep. How many dicks focus on racing and miss out on the view?

As someone who just bought their first dual sport 2 weeks ago, it doesnt matter what size the engine is, what matters most is does the frame and ergos fit you. If your learning, being physically comfortable and feeling like you fit is huge for gaining confidence

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Couldn't agree more. And there's always the option to upgrade later if you really need to. Much safer to start with less power...

@cedricboivin9422

Жыл бұрын

When I bought my first dual sport, I was wondering in between 2 bike. One of which was 2k more expensive Well I ended with the more expensive bike because the seat was taller and the curvier shape of the frame and plastic made me feel much more confident when standing up

@criticalmass181

Жыл бұрын

Have great time, mate. Dual sport is a fantastic way to enter the more difficult dirt scene. Leave the 'wondering where that dirt road goes to' to the bitumen restricted crowd!

You can do adventure riders on any size machine. Only real main factor is time have to travel.

I think weight was the biggest thing for me. Getting lighter bikes changed everything so: 1) Get something that doesn't scare you. A 250 kilo BMW scares me. 2) Buy good (motocross) boots, the single most important piece of gear after a helmet - it's not a hiking trip anyway and if you can't walk 1000 meters in motocross boots you need to exercise :D 3) Don't start out alone - ride with someone. They don't have to be good, but it is a plus if they can lift that 250 kilo BMW off of you. 4) Get training - it builds your confidence quicker than you think. It stays with you when you sell the bike and buy something different. And it's a great way to meet people to ride with (see 3). DO IT - adventure riding is the most fun I have had on a motorbike since I got my license 15 years ago!

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

On our last ride there were some muddy tracks and the Honda Africa Twin rider was pinned under his bike twice. Bad luck if he was riding alone!

@julianclayton8788

Жыл бұрын

Yup, light is right. HP is only useful for the motorway miles - which to be fair we often have to grind our way through! BUT, a lighter bike with long travel suspension is a decent start point.

@crimzikk

11 ай бұрын

Also get a PLB

Good comment about the skills gap after taking time out. I took 10 years out of a 30-year riding career - job and family. It took me 2 years to become a reasonably competent rider again, but I know my reactions are no way as good as when I was in my mid-twenties and never will be again. There's no point trying to be Superman, so just enjoying myself as long as I'm physically capable of riding is my main concern now.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

The reaction times definitely slow down, Eddy! Iv'e especially noticed it with my driving so I've slowed down a bit and leave bigger gaps with cars in front...

The best advice I can give is: start with a small bike ! you will learn faster and fear less from the outcome of losing a grip of your 200+ kilo behemoth..

Me to a T. 18 years off the bike then back on. Only one bingle.. 🫣 Advice is to echo Barry: invest in rider training, quality safety gear and good tyres irrespective of what bike you choose. Ensure the tyre design is a good fit for where you’ll be doing your most risky riding. Practice low/slow speed riding!

I find most riders are usually 1 category off in what they actually ride. So adventure riders are usually ridding much more street than dirt . Ds riders are usually ridding more adventure routes. While trail riders end up ridding DS routes with a little single track.

Ride the bike you have. In the safest gear you can afford at the level you are happy at, don't try keep up. Any experienced ride group will wait for everyone and give useful riding tips. Our riding group has one rule: We ride the comfort level of ability of whoever is slowest/ least experienced. Because any day on the bike on any ride at any speed is a good day.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

100%, Aubrey. We had a new guy with us last weekend and just quietly adjusted the route to make sure he wasn't out of his depth. Occasionally I've ridden with guys who want to see if they can make the new guy scared... never a good idea in my book especially if it ends up with ambulances.

I’m a noob, turning 50 next month, with about 1 hr seat time when I visited a buddy recently who had 5 bikes for me to try. Started on a full-size KLX 140, then kickstart Honda xr 250, beta 300 x trainer, husky fe 350, and finished on a DRZ 400s. Each bike was different, all with pros and cons-Just what I needed to get a clue where I wanted to start! Found a used DRZ 400e that I’m upgrading while waiting to take my rider training and get endorsed. Love the sound advice and the humor. Can’t waiting to get out there.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

What a great opportunity! It's a shame that kind of experience isn't available to anyone new to the sport. I'm sure you'll love the DRZ, I've had all three types over the years. Very reliable. We've got a vid about their known issues on this channel.

@lastsonofkrypton36

Жыл бұрын

Just glad you were considering the size range you did. Seems like everyone thinks they need an 800 - 1200 these days. Especially manufacturers. 300 - 500 is the sweet spot and almost none of the Big 3 Japanese companies are making them.

@philipmarr7325

Жыл бұрын

Thats a great buddy to have!

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

I agree, Bryan. The DRZ400 isn't available in many countries due to emission laws. The CRF450L was a half hearted attempt by Honda. At least Honda and Kawasaki have upped their 250s to 300cc now. But ideally it would be great to see more dual sport models in the 400 to 500 range.

@andrewdavis8137

Жыл бұрын

Excellent approach. Have fun.

😂🙌🏼👊🏼🤣 thank you so much for this EPIC content! You hit the nail on the head. One thing you left out regarding Starbucks, this is the best place to hit up during gas/food reconnaissance missions in-between trails; they have sweet TP (not like gas station sandpaper) and decent napkins. What does this all mean? Well, stopping off for a cup of coffee, if you like their coffee, and hit the bog, doing a little wash up, take a few extra wraps of TP to stuff in your bag for your bog bush visits. Honestly, keep a few extra wraps of TP in your pocket because when you gotta go on the side of the trail, you gotta go. And let’s be real here, if you’re eating that freeze dried bags, rehydrated namebrand garbage crap, full of preservatives, 99% of us are going to have explosive bowel movements, And digging through your bags to look for the TP, can prove problematic, especially if you’re wearing those $5000 Gore-Tex hybrid made on the moon, dual sport, XLT adventure motorcycle pants.😂

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Good thinking lol! I always carry TP for dirt rides but for some reason I haven't started this with the adventure riding... and I'll live to regret it!

:-D so true. I do a lot of offroad on my street bike with dual sport tyres. I do as much as my skills and bike abilities let to do. And we had a LOT of fun.

My biggest piece of advice: Seat time and paying attention to how you're doing things - time, for the soul and the instincts, paying attention to analyze what you can do better.

I've always been immune to peer pressure, and despise authority. A Rebel in the FDG😆🤘

Damn good advice. I have nothing to add....

My advice to noobs, find a friend who rides, then borrow all his old gear and bike, then ride. That's how I started back up into riding.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Over the years I've had two friends drag me back into riding that way, Wyatt... they lent me a bike and some riding gear and I was hooked again!

My evolution : 2015 -Honda Crosstourer 1200 DCT, 2019 -Africa Twin 1100 DCT, 2020 - Husqvarna FE 501, 2023 -Honda CT-125. I'm happy 😊

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Small is beautiful!

@michelt4390

Жыл бұрын

The wife and I are down to 250s... and are loving it.

Good reminder that we should focus on the experience and the enjoyment of riding. It is not about competitive consumerism, although some riders talk as if it were.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

100%. It's always great to see guys riding across the country on bikes like the postie bike... a Honda CT90.

Barry - good video for sure, and you are spot on !!! I could go on and on, but won't. Another great job !!!

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Thank you sir!

Assuming the new rider has adequate protective gear (“ultimate” gear can come later, once he’s gained experience and has a better understanding,) I’d recommend training and seeking mentoring over baubles, any day. Beyond decent handguards, a bike doesn’t really need much to learn on. It doesn’t need a new seat, bar, risers, pegs, levers, pipe, tune, etc. until the rider has enough experience to know first-hand why they might be beneficial for him. My other thought is to recognize that scrapes, scratches, dents, and breakage are part of the learning process, and to choose a learning bike with that in mind.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

All good advice 👍

Well said! So true

Nailed it with expensive gps units. I have the garmin 700. Ended up downloading Gaia for the phone, bloody brilliant. Be comfortable with your skill set. We're not all Toby Price's, get to terms with your skills, ride within them and you'll be having as much fun as old mate thats an ex A grader. As long as the tyres hold air and have some knobs left on them, they're probably going to be ok for 99% of the riding your capable of. Finally, as long as your bike is well maintained and looked after, it doesnt need to be the 2023 bike of the year. If its reliable and you like it, then thats all you need. OK, I'm off to order some Golden Tyres for my 2023 rocketship, ive downloaded the route to gloria jeans on the Garmin in town and with the right kevlar protective gear and helmet com, i should make it safely for the flat white and ham &cheese in the morning. If not, the Garmin Mini Inreach will alert emergency services of my latest f*^k up

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

😂👍

Great video! As for me, I ride a 701 with the TC turned off, ride the back roads and skinnier trails, and rip as many wheelies as I can get away with. I bring lunch and tools, no "luggage" as sleeping in a tent in the middle of the Dez after riding in the dirt all day is my idea of Hell. My dual sport needs are distinctly simple. Have a fun and playful ride, and enjoy the view along the way. I have a 300 XC for riding "fast" on and it is a shame as all I see is a 4 foot wide swath of trail on that bike. On the bigger bike I have to slow down, and as a result enjoy the Colorado trails I am blessed to be riding on 😎

I have a KTM 390 adventure and it's one of the best and most fun bikes I've ever owned and I didn't have to pay 15-20k for it either! Lighweight adv is the way to go IMO

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

It's crazy how few options we have in the 400 to 500cc range, hey? Plenty of 250 to 300 models. Then plenty of 650+ options.

Good tyres. Ride a bike you can pick up. If you haven't ridden for a while get used to it again

Spot on! Ride your own ride. Absolutely spot on advice balanced and real.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

😎👍

Great simple video to bring it back to basics.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

cheers Pedro!

Started riding (road) 38 years ago - ADV 2 years ago, should have started a lot sooner. When I was young enough to know everything I should have spent less on the bike, more time riding and less time at work to pay for it.

I wouldn’t change a thing about my riding journey, started on small bikes, bought the occasional bigger bike, went back to smaller bikes. Rider training is great but you have to ride the motorcycle, all the training is pointless unless you use the skills you learn, practice makes perfect, you don’t need a group to ride with, go by yourself, just ride, you will learn by your mistakes, and we all make mistakes.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Definitely practice is needed to keep the skills lol. I remember doing a series of vids about 10 ways to cross logs but I only regularly use three methods so I'm really rusty on the other seven.

brilliant as always

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

My advice for 20 year old me, actually learn how to ride a dirt bike, and have a decent understanding of what thats capable of before getting that adv bike, then respect the limitations all that extra weigh brings along with that long distance comfort. This comes from someone who was a kid with almost no dirt experience buying a 500lb bmw, and now at almost 40, having gotten into dirtbikes a few years ago, can finally truly enjoy what the bavarian hammer can add to my life.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

The Bavarian hammer... love it!

#1myth: there is no cool crowd. All good advice should come with the words "may want to" as in you may want to stand up when you are scared.

If I was a noob. In 1974 when I got a xl70 at the age of 8. I wish someone would have taken the seat until I could do everything without sitting down. I learned everything sitting. The only time I stood was when I ran out of suspension!

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Ha, we were all the same as kids! No one to tell us any different so we took the easy way out and sat all the time...

Buy an older, well used trials bike and spend some quality time on it. This will build your skillset and promote confidence in ways I couldnt have imagined just a few years ago and I've been riding and racing off road for 40yrs. It is a game changer, an investment that pays wonderful dividends.

I feel very fortunate to have been consistently riding off road/enduro/single trail since I was 10. If I was advising a noob as to what to do if they were just starting out would be to watch your video's. There's so many little intricacies to bike and gear setup that suits any given person that most advice apart from start 'small and simple' is pretty much a waste of time IMO.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Well said, Bill. And most riders are pretty one-eyed and think their style of riding and choice of bike is best for everyone.

Ive been watching youd videos since i started riding 8 months ago. I started small on a road legal klx150 then just recently moved to a ktm 150 exc. Been enjoying it on faster and more technical trails in western qld.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Great to hear!

There should only be two cliques of adventure riders. Those who are riding, and those waiting to ride again. Also push yourself a little bit outside your comfort zone. You will be surprised what you are capable of.

This channel had added to my 80%

My nr. 1 advice would be: ride what you have and figure the rest out as you go along.

Ny advice for "noobs"? Slow is smooth and smooth is fast. AND dont forget to walk the "obstacle" first and make a mental image of how youl get over it. Especially if youre solo and far out there.

Cool glove

Don't imagine there is a 'perfect' setup that exists, which can be yours if you take enough advice. At some point you just have to get going and find out yourself. Advice I took from 'here' and have never regretted ? - good boots , that and practicing of course ! 'My' adventure riding led me to more enduro riding , which led to trials - to improve the enduro riding .

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

+1 for the good boots. Some riders (like me) only wake up to this after the first set of broken bones lol.

My own 2 cents advices: 1) if the riding involve a bit of difficult terrain, opt for a light bike as you may get exhausted to lift your bike regularly (unless you are Arnold Schwarzenegger in his young age). Personally went “down” to a DRZ 400, not ideal on highway but so relaxing when you hit harder terrain. 2) avoid using you phone as GPS unless you get an anti-vibration support as it can destroy the phone stabilisation system (mainly if you use mono cylindrer bike). It happened to me so now I use as GPS an old phone with the stabilisation dead (and keep my good phone safe in my pocket to take pictures 😉).

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Good point with the phone, Fabrice. In the recent vid about cheap GPS options I suggested using an old backup phone. I've had three DRZ400s over the years. I'd be tempted to go back but enjoy the DR650's grunt. It would be great if Suzuki bored and stroked the DRZ400 to a 500 or even 550cc and kept the same weight!

- Start with a smaller and cheaper bike to learn riding skills. - Learn how you want to ride and what is important for you, don't listen too much on what others are saying what you should do. - In the beginning spend quite much money on protection, clothes and equipment and not so much on the bike. Having good gears and equipment that you like is very important. That can be transferred to the next bike as well. - When you have an idea how you want to ride and what you like and dislike about a bike save up money to buy it!

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

😗👍

Part of Adventure is building experience. Start with hammer and nail and explore materials.

Well i just bought my 3rd adv bike... ist was a klr 650, threw a few accesories on , some serious adv tyres (which killed its road manners) rode it a while ,found it under powered and heavy, -- enter vstrom 650 lol,,what was i thinking its a road bike , gone ,, now ,, dont laugh a cfmoto 800 mt and i love it comes with all the kit ,(who doesnt like a heated seat) , i put some pirelli str,s on its just what i needed and it was cheeeeep, under 9k with 10000ks on it like new, im tall but thin, not real strong its balance is just right for me, seat ht is good, its not to heavy in the tight stuff and epic on dirt rds ,, im searching for a gps , not paying a grand for a garmin, tried gaia , very fiddly, anyway yeah you dont need flash , i ride alone (no one likes me) so i need reliable i think a newer sorted out bike is better than a fancy older one... if you are in the kilcoy/nanango area and see a mt800 with factory red bull decals say gday

Agree Caring about fitting in, listening to the confident BS of others is a waste & potentially dangerous. Regularly when I go for trail rides someone wants to chat and they will say they or a friend was seriously injured had to be med evacuated etc in the past. These are the bros who grip it and rip it etc but who’s ego is to fragile to go to courses, learn from skilled AND then Practice. So much reckless behaviour that is supposed to be the norm. Bullshit Lots to learn. Ignore the trail head Bros and train with qualified people.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

A Canadian friend of mine often talks about the carpark heroes, Will. They never venture far from the carpark. Almost no safety gear. Poorly maintained bikes. And it's just full throttle and try to impress anyone nearby. But no one is impressed, they are just laughing.

For me as a lone rider it goes as follows: Light is right, ie less weight more fun, less risk. Motorcross boots make sense off road, body armour aloes me to fall off more and a half decent set of spanners let's me fix the bike if needed. As for luggage, soft and cheep, strapped on as best I can suits me. I take my time, stop to enjoy the views often and try not to take myself too seriously, especially when I'm upside down on a rock run. Kind Regards - all.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

The dreaded upside down... I know that feeling lol.

Best video i have watched in a long time, but many of the comments seemed to miss the point. I am glad your xxx product is cheaper than yyy and just as good. However, not everyone is a poor. I am not saying higher cost means better product, but for a lot of people, cost is not even a consideration. I know, hard to wrap your mind around. Flame on :-)

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

True. Usually when I talk about over priced bling I mention that if you have lots of money to throw around then it doesn't really matter. I don't think I mentioned it this time though.

Getting a bike you can lift up by yourself, don’t out spend your budget, used bikes come with mods. You can have loads of fun on a older proven design bike like a DR650, or older Jap bike. Get out and ride the thing.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Yes. Yes. Yes and yes!

As a new rider myself I would say a light bike to start with for sure. I have a CB500X which many riders seem to consider on the small side but I cannot imagine riding a bike bigger than this yet. I would have been better off with a lighter bike. I have done a lot of riding in Vietnam on an XR150 and it is amazing how quickly you can build confidence on a bike like that even in very demanding conditions.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

I suspect some riders would see the CB500X as a 'small bike' if they regularly have a pillion passenger. It's the smallest model that will carry two people reasonably well. But at 196kg wet weight it's still quite beefy and not that much lighter than 700 and 800cc models.

The largest loudest tribe is the "DR650 is the only bike for ADV" crew. Hahaha

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Guilty as charged lol

My favorite debate in Adventure bike forums is the 19" front wheel being vastly inferior to the almighty 21". As if that's your biggest problem when taking a five hundred pound motorcycle off road. And on the dual sport forums, the fight about fuel injected or carbureted. It's absolutely comical. But as far as advice to a new rider... 1) Learn to ride off road before you put yourself in traffic. 2) Get some training. Especially if you're a new adult rider. 3) If you can't get comfortable or confident, find another hobby. Motorcycling is definitely not for everyone. 4) The 80/20 is as real as it gets. Learn it. Live it. And love it. I turned 60 this year. I learned to ride dirt bikes at 10 years old. I've been riding dirt the whole time. In fact , I rode up at Johns Peak , in southern Oregon today. And I started riding street bikes in my early twenties. Way too many bikes to list. But I'm currently riding a 2014 Suzuki DL1000A. And the dirt bike is the US version of the Suzuki DRZ400 E. Really like the content you guys are putting out. Solid information with some good humor. Nice job!

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

"Learn to ride off road before you put yourself in traffic". Great advice! I was thinking of doing a vid about at. E.g. If someone is thinking of getting their first ever bike, I'd suggest a small dual sport and do some off-road even if they only ever plan to ride on road.

What I wish I knew. I wish I knew that 2 wheels would take over my life. That would have been good information. Also maybe knowing I would break bones in my foot, break my ankle on the same foot, get nerve damage in my neck from a crash that caused muscular atrophy which caused a rotator cuff injury which required surgery, a seriously compressed wrist that would cause pain for 12 years, tinnitus that never stops, torn abdomen and probably something I am forgetting not to mention the money I have spent on it. However! Emotional therapy isn't free either and although I have injuries from biking I believe it is also what has kept me alive.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

It's a two edged sword for sure!

2:34 hey that’s the driveway out from our family property. I assume you were there seeing Rosie, brenno or Gordon. Is that brenno on the 701 Aurora? We are the next property along.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Yep, we ride with Gordon occasionally. The 701 was either Brenno or a mate of Gordon's we rode with once.... had had the rally fairing.

Advice I'd give myself, the 701 is amazing so is the 1090 (when it wasn't having flat tires from that stupid gasket rim thing), get the dongle, GET THE DONGLE, GET THE FREAKING DONGLE. Don't overdress, you are just overheating. The Garmin InReach was a good purchase (wife made me get it, I was hesitant) trust me you will use it for texts and help your wife not be worried when camping with no service. Get the Mosko Moto bags, you can just move them around with bikes you have or change, they will scratch the plastics but who cares you're going to get the plastic gross anyways from your gear. For me I am becoming a Luddite with all the electronics, I really don't have a clue what I want for the next bike. I'm really interested in the DesertX but dunno, there is a rumor I was told that Ducati is going to make a 701/690 competitor soon, which I find very tempting then I start thinking about the riding modes and all the nonsense of having to stop to get modes or this or that. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the extended range from machines now compared to old, but man I have almost ate it numerous times from electronics turning ABS back on or traction control going bonkers on a stream crossing. How long till dongles are illegal? Void the warranty? I used to walk through shops and look at new bikes and really want them, now I just look and wonder how many weird things I am going to have to learn. The only tire I don't like is the TKC, that's just me some guys really like them. I like the Anakee Wilds, can lean, go through sand, does OK in mud (I avoid mud though) seem to wear a little bit better for me than the TKC's but I have friends with all sorts of stuff, they all seem to work well honestly. Your point about age and such, I took a break from riding while our kids were little then started up again 7 years ago. First getting on it felt so strange, I was a motocross, supercross, enduro rider, the street was never allowed for me growing up. It took a couple months and doing old school drills to get my mind back into the game but it wasn't bad. The big thing is with age you notice pacing way more, I am nowhere near race pace or even fast practice pace (wife said no to tracks ever again which I obey). When some buddies and I did the Idaho BDR it was interesting seeing the different bikes. A lot of Africa Twins (helped pick one up in our group more times than I want to count), some with the DCT (two in our group) but a lot did not. A very old man on a KLR with metal tusk cases, we passed him and then met him again the next day in the same town we stopped in, he just took longer and he was solo, when I say old he was in his 70's. So age shouldn't be a reason to stop. I tell my family that if I die doing this, know this, I died doing what I loved, not staring at a TV. Ride what YOU want to ride. If you want to try the big bike? Do it. If you don't do it, you will be on a lake fishing someday and think, man I should have tried that when I could have... Don't listen to people say tHaT bIkE iS tOo BiG fOr u. Get whatever, take some classes if you're not able to do video learning. Don't be a brand loyalist, if you think the Suzukis look great, get one. Don't watch some pro on one either, they're not human, buuuuuuuuuuuuuut you can get insanely better with instruction. The big thing is, wear a padded short, guy I ride with is a Urologist, he strongly suggests this for protection of our prostate and nuts.

change your oil and filters more often than owners manual says.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Possibly with some bikes, David. I do wonder if some manufacturers stretch their service intervals to make their bike look as though it needs less maintenance than the competition. An oil analysis (about $30) is a good way to be sure. On the other hand, I know some riders who change their oil way too often and are just wasting money. E.g. enduro riders who change their expensive synthetic oil after every second ride.

I had an old klr with upgraded suspension and other than highway stuff, there was noone waiting for me offroad and often I was sent first to checkout the terrain.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

I've just started riding with an old guy who has a KLR with suspension mods. Bloody hard to keep up with him when he decides to crank it on... and get airborne over our track with multiple jumps lol.

My advice. Bike size - start small. Bike power - start small. Skills - practise as slow as you can go, on the smallest piece of dirt or track you can find. Do it up, and down, over the same tiny piece of terrain. Remove the variability of the track, to focus on your technique. Practise tiny figure 8s, the same little jump, rear wheel skids etc, over and over again. You get good QUICK. It’s not about the bike. It’s about YOU.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Figure eights are so handy... we still do those when warming up the bikes after all these years.

❤ your truth.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Thanks Kal, hopefully it helps noobs in our sport

Awesome video, once again. Been following you since I started riding at the age of 52. For UK legislation and covid disruption reasons I’ve been stuck on a 125 for 2 1/2 years. Unfortunately my first bike choice was a sport bike, which I bought about 5 minutes before discovering this channel. Currently I’m on a 125 dual sport, which I’ve loved learning skills on. But several months ago, when I passed my big bike test, the quest for a proper adv bike began. And I discovered how almost impossible it is to find a dirt worthy beginner friendly adv bike is. There’s basically nothing between the crf300 rally and anything under 700cc/200+kg. I want 150-165kg, 45-60bhp, rally style front end so I can mount decent navigation, >350km per tank, not insanely short service intervals. Other than that I’m totally chill and entirely OCD-free. Thoughts?

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

It's so annoying we don't have much in the way of 400 to 500cc options... and I suspect almost nothing in the UK and Europe as I think bikes like the DRZ400 can't meet emission standards. KTM 390 Adventure or 690? The AJP PR7 is probably closest if it's available in the UK or you could import it from Portugal.

@user-xb4nn6ql5l

Жыл бұрын

@@crosstrainingadventure I’m well aware of AJP - the nearest dealer is 2 1/2 hours drive away. I’d have to buy it sight unseen. I’m not averse to that, per se, but it’s a bit expensive. KTMs are equally expensive around here, and I’d have to spend extra on a rally fairing and navigation mount. Not so much the 390, but I’ve taken a friend’s down a lane and it felt a bit of a compromise. And KTMs are ugly as a bad day in hell. DRZs are as rare as rocking horse poo around here - even in sumo trim… There’s a gaping gap in the market!

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

I've often thought about the AJP but the price deters me. I reviewed the 390, it definitely feels like a road bike with adventure trimmings.

I am a noob, and barely touch dirt. Biggest thing I wish I could have had before buying a bike was a test ride!!! Nobody within several hundred miles of me does test rides, so I had to buy a bike blind. If there were more riders around that would risk it or dealers that allowed rides, I might have gone with a different bike than my CB500X. It's a great bike, but damn the vibrations. LOL Also, before buying a bike, go do some of the maintenance on one. You'll learn how much you do or don't like that and it can play a role. I'm hunting for a shaft drive bike because I've learned I hate doing chain maintenance. Silly? To some, maybe, but I despise it. If I could get a good midsize ADV (besides an air-cooled Italian timebomb) I'd be 100% on board.

@crosstrainingadventure

10 ай бұрын

Vibrations are a tough one because some riders (like me) don't notice them, others find them unbearable. So you can ask a pile of riders if their bikes vibrate a lot and you won't get an accurate answer. 😢

@NunyaBusiness...

10 ай бұрын

@@crosstrainingadventure you may be onto something as I am getting more used to it. Perhaps it's just a lack of seat time that makes me notice.

Sign up for more professional classes. I lucked out and had a great trainer for my safety class that did more advanced road courses as well. Coaching and riding classes are well worth it any time.

@Wintersdark

Жыл бұрын

I've been street riding for some 30 years. Bought an adv bike in 2021, thought I'd just figure it out with the University of KZread. About two weeks ago, I took a professional offroad training class. Learned more in that one day than the 2 years riding combined. There's no replacement for a professional coach who can critique what you're doing immediately in person.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

I remember my first ever enduro training was with Chris Birch about 12 years ago and I had to start unlearning all these bad habits lol.

Current self to young self. Buy all the xr650R's you can afford and put them in the shed, but leave room for the CR500's ;-)

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

😍😍😍

as a person who started on a 990adv I regret nothing...... except the money I throw at it to fix it xD

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

I've ridden the 950... what a beast. It feels like a big dirt bike.

@rushiiiop

Жыл бұрын

​@@crosstrainingadventure those low twin fuel tanks, I think there's the black magic.

The best ADV bike in the world ever is a Triumph Rocket 3 GT with snow tires! Anything can be ridden over with enough CC's and powahhhhh

@crosstrainingadventure

9 ай бұрын

😁

balance balance balance. I would have started with a trials bike.

Your first 3 bikes (minimum) should be used. After you settle on the platform, size, and terrain splurge on that new bike and farkles.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Very sensible strategy

I’m getting me an Adventure tutu 😎👍

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Tres sexy!

My 2 cents worth, don't buy anything bigger than a 500cc bike, lighter the better. I started on a 200cc honda, was awesome. don't spend much, in the dirt you are going to fall off. you learn lots of lessons falling, mainly what not to do. Not such a worry as you don't have to many dollars invested. Cheap new tires are much better than worn expensive tires. I never ride without a kidney belt. Don't try and ride to fast, you will end up injured, push the envelope but not too hard. Get out there often and have fun, the more you do the better you will get. Have fun.

Learn to do basic maintainance jobs on your own bike, that way you'll get to know your bike pretty well, know the tools and spares you should carry and learn skills to trouble shoot and fix things when you have trouble out on the trail...

ha thats what happened to me. 20yrs of not riding motorbikes and i thought i was just going to jump back on a bike and braaap like i used too. brrt wrong. dont have the skill and strength i used too. glad i didnt jump straight back onto a big bike. i totally want a new adv bike but until im bike fit, if i ever can be bike fit again it just seems dangerous to get on a bigger bike. ill just hurt myself. ill stick to my DR250 until i feel i can safely ride something bigger. at least im riding again, thats the main thing.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

I'm amazed at how many experienced riders ride across the country on 250s. I got to ride the CRF250 Rally recently and loved it. Review vid coming out soon.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

No idea on the DR650 tanks fitting the 250, but I reckon if someone managed it they'll have posted it on forums or social media somewhere.

Learn to maintain your own bike. You'll spend less money and you'll never have to deal with being ripped off by shops and having shoddy work fail you when you need it the most.

Groups are a double-edged sword. If the culture is wrong, it becomes a competitive, ego-driven mess where it is inevitable someone will get hurt. But by yourself can be dangerous. I suggest small groups. 3 is safe, and ego is less likely to creep in.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Agreed. Our enduro and adventure riding groups have been really selective about who we choose to ride with. You only need one idiot to drastically change things.

learn to ride ( throttle, clutch and brake control ). Do not rely on some-ones electronic program to make you a better rider.

Motorcycles are not forever- get the bike you can actually use now not the bike future you wants for a future trip - it took me decades to figure this out you can’t grow into a GS1200 you gotta start small. I now have a 300 because it does exactly what I need it to do and nothing else. Basically what this says. It takes years to settle for the perfect tire. Again, you have to shop for yourself not for who you think you are or who you want to be.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Good point, Kevin. Interesting how many experienced riders actually start to downscale while the beginner is keen to upscale!

@kevinarmstrong478

Жыл бұрын

@@crosstrainingadventure absolutely! One day you wake up and you no longer care about traction control suspension settings or even engine size. I think it was the same day my penis stopped working properly!

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

😂👍

I bought a BMW F850GSA 2 years ago - Overall a great bike. But I rarely feel confident on it since it keeps breaking for the dumbest things and then how poorly BMW service works in Mexico. I'm sure more than half the issue is in my head, buuuut in practice that doesn't really matter. And try to 'ignore' it while riding. It's very hard. I wish I could ride more confidently as it currently takes a lot of the fun out of my adventures.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Bugger. Was that brand new two years ago, Arnan? I've heard a few BMW mechanics and long-term owners claim the more recent models often aren't as bulletproof as the older models... especially pre-2000.

@arnandegans

Жыл бұрын

@@crosstrainingadventure Yep, bought it new at the dealership. And overall the bike is fine - Mostly good features and comfort. It's just that nagging feeling something is wrong after a few stupid defects/quality issues and small accidents that make me feel uncertain while riding. As I said, I'm sure it's mostly in my head... But I kinda missed the psychological aspect in the video. Even with decent skills and a (presumably) high quality bike things can get dificult 😉

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

I know the feeling. Years ago I bought a KTM 690 once the secondhand prices had dropped enough for my budget. But I stupidly didn't do my research until after buying it lol. When I saw the list of potential things that could go wrong I never felt comfortable riding in remote areas. So eventually I went back to the DR650. Probably a different story if I had good mechanical skills and carried various spare parts...

@arnandegans

Жыл бұрын

@@crosstrainingadventure hmm, yea maybe if bmw service could be relied on and would be available and capable where I’ve needed it the feeling would be less 😀 It’s been an expensive disaster and very very frustrating at times. I did promise myself to never buy a bmw again if I ever buy a new bike, probably going back to Kawasaki or Honda, depending on budget and availability 🤪

ohh little megs braap :)

Gett bigger balls, or a smaller bike! I started with a 1150GS....

I keep falling over when I stop. It is really hurting my confidence... I also have a major fear of stalling when I do turns. As a newbie it is so stressful, not being able to do tight turns and weave in between trees and shrubs.

@cedricboivin9422

Жыл бұрын

The greatest advice I found on this channel is about confidence. "Act confident and with some time, it will stop being an act". An important part of riding a motorcycle is a mind game. Of course, the base of being confident is also experience and knowledge. Luckily you have a bike and you found the best channel to help you improve yourself. Watch a ton of video on your spare time, then when you jump on your bike always reserve some time practicing what you saw. Put your attention mostly on the basis such as balance, body position, throttle and clutch control, gear selection and braking. With that said, good luck my friend

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

It can definitely be a hurdle at first, Kimmi. Do you have trouble reaching the ground? If so we've got a training vid full of tips on our enduro channel. kzread.info/dash/bejne/gaOaxK2hZqWvlZM.html A fast way to develop confidence is find a big flat area and just practice riding figure eights slowly. As you get more confident make the turns tighter and tighter. After decades of riding we often warm up our bikes doing this because it's such a useful skill. Finally it's always a good idea to have at least knee guards and elbow guards... perhaps even full body armour. You can fall quite hard and barely feel a thing in good protective gear!

Hey Barry! I have heard and abide by the saying, "Riding gear is the cheapest insurance", what are your thoughts on this? After watching your boot videos imma gowith Gaerne boots even though they'll makea massive hole in my finances; the downtime with injury will be worse, but I don't want to stop riding, hence the decision to go with the Gaerne's; your thoughts/reinforcements on this couldbe enlightening

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

All riders have their own biases about protective gear which are based on their own injuries. I'm no different lol. After two sets of multiple fractures (foot and lower leg) I'll almost always use mx boots for adventure riding. And Gaerne, as they are still currently the best brand. Bloody expensive though. Watch for discounts. Also secondhand pairs can be really cheap but still in great condition.

I agree with every thing . I also would say after 50 yrs of riding . I feel if your not buying an older japanese bike especially when starting out You miss out on knowledge you miss out on the experiences of feeling alive and understanding and learning how to truly ride without ABS and traction control crap . I seen people cannot ride my XR after riding their computer bike . Advice learn to ride on a do it yourself bike. I wont go back to computer bikes I will stay with my XR its a different ride. Its reliable . More enjoyment riding these bikes DR,KLR included.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Really good point. I figure someone who has ridden nothing but ABS bikes could really get into trouble without it.

@ArizonaAdv

Жыл бұрын

@@crosstrainingadventure exactly what i see . they dont learn proper braking , clutching , they were running off the road didnt know how to properly control the bike. They were afraid of braking . They been riding 5yrs now on a computer bike still cant ride .

@crosstrainingadventure: I have one basic question for you, have you done your DR650 tubeless or is it with the tubes? thanks

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

TUbliss as per a recent vid

I clicked on this video for the bunny (I'm too old to actually ride a motorcycle). Now I feel cheated 😁😁

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

😂

You have to learn to ride slow before you can go fast. Start on a small motorcycle before buying a 450lb + motorcycle.

Is it ok to replace the broken plastic gas cap with a billet gas cap if the billet cap costs less than the replacement plastic cap? Asking for a friend.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

We have our team of highly paid researchers looking into this now, Huck.... hopefully with a 200 page report within the next five years.

Does Teva make a good adventure riding sandal? Curious to know about this subject ‘cause I’m embarking on a 250 swamp stomp with “friends” and they all insist that a good adventure riding sandal is a key piece of riding gear that should be invested in! Minimum cost should be in the 250/450$ range. Let me know! Thanks and CHEERS!

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Good ventilation from what I hear lol

Everything I own for my bike except for my helmet, oil and tyres I got from gumtree.

Challenge yourself to learn more obstacles.

my advice , get the bike that comes from the factory as close as possible to your perfect bike for how you want to ride. don't buy a cheaper bike and try to get it up to standard with mods. dealers and accessories shops are not your friend they are scum. you will need to learn how to work on your own bike. carrying lots of gear on your bike will make it a lot harder to get over obstacles.

What advice would you give yourself if you were a noob? - I think I'd tell myseft to start riding earlier, nothing else.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Hear hear...

That girl at the end was to short to ride a bike 😆especially an ADV or enduro bike.

@crosstrainingadventure

11 ай бұрын

Megs Braap? We wish she was too short to ride... none of us can keep up with her. 😂 Actually I could keep up in very gnarly terrain as she had to keep sliding off the seat to get one toe on the ground for balance.

@Jeremybaland

11 ай бұрын

@@crosstrainingadventure Ha ha yeah its great watching her ride. I'm not very tall so I watch her, I feel like I have no excuses. Thanks for the videos, keep them coming.

Such a great video with really sound advice. Except your stupid choice of.... LOL, just kidding.

@crosstrainingadventure

11 ай бұрын

😂

My advice is give your ADV rider buddies starbucks gift cards for xmas

* The bike really doesn't matter that much, WAY less than your skill. Still, start cheap, so you don't need to fear breaking it. * Farkles are usually a waste of time. Sure it's fun, but they don't really matter and almost never actually make the bike better. The engineers aren't dumb. * If you can take live training, there's *nothing* else that compares in terms of results per dollar. Years of self taught riding are less valuable than a day with a coach who can instruct and critique. * The tires I like best are better than the tires you like best.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

The tires I like best are better than the tires you like best.... 😂

I agree with everything you said... important not to be a sheep, & digest advice carefully, can be poisonous

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

It's always good for a laugh when someone asks what bike they should buy on social media. And some scary advice there too for noobs.

@bryanreeme8584

Жыл бұрын

@@crosstrainingadventure Hey I bought my Nemunu bag on your mention, I'm guilty too!.. love that thing though!.. not ba'aa"aad 🤙

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Was the euro still low when you bought it, Bryan? They were crazy cheap for Americans and Aussies for a while...

@bryanreeme8584

Жыл бұрын

@@crosstrainingadventure Yessir, bought mine asap, less than $200us.. also nice buy directly from the maker, seems rare nowadays. Thanks!

Spend at least as much on safety gear and training as you do on your first bike. Want a $10K+ Adventure tourer? What about $5K on a lightly used ADV collecting dust in some old-timer's barn, $2500 on the best helmet, boots, gloves and suit you can find and $2500 on rider training. This will increase your odds of staying on two wheels long enough to justify the Tenere 700 you think you will rip around like Pol. OR spend even less on your bike and get away from ugly finance charges!

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

Great approach, especially when accident statistics are showing middle aged riders getting hurt more than the young ones nowadays.

My advice to 8 year old me? Do the work. Knowledge and education aren't always the same thing. You can study and "know" all of the things and still not have a clue. You gotta do the work.

@crosstrainingadventure

Жыл бұрын

100% true