Popping my adventure cherry

[Gman71]

As further phases of my motorcycle madness kick in, I am now very keen to get off the tarmac and on to the dirt/gravel/mud/riverbed.. .on an adventure bike.

but where to start...?

any idea on how I could give it a go, not necessarily "on the cheap", but perhaps;

a) without having to explain to Her why there is an adventure bike in the garage when I haven't even ridden one on the grass
b) without having to buy tonnes of new gear
c) on a ride near-ish Auckland that will help me decide if I really do want to get into it boots and all.

I see you can hire bikes (XT660) Papakura way.....(nz adveture rides or something)

But how can I give it a go on a "suck it and see" basis...?

any ideas?

[tri boy]

Buy a tidy second hand DR650.
Some adv boots like Forma ATV's for about $300.(bruised shins from stones hurt)
Grex RD1 helmet.(cheap n cheerful)
Wear your cordura ring gear, but expect to wash and reproof it quite regularly. (the dust makes you look way cool)
Hang out in the Adv riding forum and Adv Rider web site.
Go find some gravel, and join in on whatever rides you can.
No cops on the gravel.
Feck all traffic.
Scenery out in the sticks that road bike rider never see.
Twisties galore.
Bunch of good pricks, and prickess's.
Chicks dig gravel rash. (doesn't happen very often, as we are all nanna's who ride inside our abilities).
Invest in some land infomation maps. These show gravel roads quite cleary, as do some AA maps.

[Oscar]

As further phases of my motorcycle madness kick in, I am now very keen to get off the tarmac and on to the dirt/gravel/mud/riverbed.. .on an adventure bike.

but where to start...?

any idea on how I could give it a go, not necessarily "on the cheap", but perhaps;

a) without having to explain to Her why there is an adventure bike in the garage when I haven't even ridden one on the grass
b) without having to buy tonnes of new gear
c) on a ride near-ish Auckland that will help me decide if I really do want to get into it boots and all.

I see you can hire bikes (XT660) Papakura way.....(nz adveture rides or something)

But how can I give it a go on a "suck it and see" basis...?

any ideas?

I'd start with a road legal trail or enduro bike commensurate to your size/skills. Summat like a DRZ/XR400 or DRZ/XR/TTR250.

That way you can practice at yer local off road park / empty lot as well as getting out on Adv Rides. Learning inevitably involves making mistakes, and mistakes on a trail bike are a lot less painful/expensive then on a full blown Adv Bike.

When you get better, trade up.

[Gman71]

Cheers! Yup that was sort of my basic plan....and I had come to either a DR650 or an XT660, just didnt want to set off the 'which bike' debate.

thanks for the advice....better start clearing some room in the garage.


any newbie-friendly organised rides in the pipeline?....

[Gman71]

Wear your cordura ring gear, but expect to wash and reproof it quite regularly. (the dust makes you look way cool)
Chicks dig gravel rash. (doesn't happen very often, as we are all nanna's who ride inside our abilities).

so the name of the game really is turn up somewhere dusty with a bit of gravel rash..and I'm in with the ladies?

see, you don't get that on a road bike

[marks]

I'd start with a road legal trail or enduro bike commensurate to your size/skills. Summat like a DRZ/XR400 or DRZ/XR/TTR250.

That way you can practice at yer local off road park / empty lot as well as getting out on Adv Rides. Learning inevitably involves making mistakes, and mistakes on a trail bike are a lot less painful/expensive then on a full blown Adv Bike.

When you get better, trade up.

what the grump said

The more time you spend falling off a trail bike the more fun you will have adventure riding