Thanks for posting! You look pretty comfortable out there! Brings back memories of riding in the Tahoe basin last summer. You'll be a lot more comfortable in a fully ventilated jacket - I have a Reax with light protection at elbows, shoulders and back - it doesn't have to cost a lot.. My experience is that as soon as the road/double track/trail get's rough you want to stand up so your butt doesn't steer the bike. And for me, the trick was to learn to steer by weighting the pegs to lean the bike (while standing). This was golden for sand and small loose rocks. Planning to do sections of the NorCal BDR in the next few weeks. Full disclosure, after getting a taste of riding off-road last year, I bought a KLX 300 to extend my off-road riding and develop my skills. Still have the Tuareg and see them as complementary.
Interesting, so you’re definitely doing the NorCal BDR on the KLX, right? How is the ride on the tarmac? I regret selling my KTM 300 XC-W. I should have developed my dirt bike skills on that first.
@@ocdmoto I’m planning to do part of Section 5 (Truckee to Sierraville) on the KLX tomorrow and see how it goes. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Tuareg is the weapon of choice but the KLX has been perfect for the Tahoe Basin so far.
@@ocdmoto Just to tie this off . . . I started my ride on the lower west shore, rode pavement to Tahoe City, rode forest roads to Truckee, then hooked into Section 5 around Prosser Dam and took forest/county road towards Sierraville and then back home again on pavement. About 120 miles on the KLX 300. The net is not surprising - all of it could be done on the T-reg but the smaller bike is just more fun/relaxing - at least for me. Last year I did the forest road between Tahoe City and Truckee several times on the Tuareg and I think the small piece of piece I did of the BDR this year is very comparable with the exception of some deep sand on the BDR. I’m guessing that other parts of the BDR will have more loose rocks, possibly steeper climbs and plenty of sand so a dual sport is my first choice. One knock on the KLX is that I haven’t found a very comfortable standing position whereas the T-reg is very comfortable standing up.
Interesting, thanks for the follow up. I only have one choice, so it’ll have to be da rag for me. I ordered new tires though, so I’m hoping they’ll help with loose stuff. What’s the protocol for when you air down, do you just ride back on payment or until you can find a place to air up again? Does anyone ever bring a small portable air compressor with them?
Haven't checked in w/ you since your first videos w/ the new bike. As a fellow Tuareg rider, I found it really a really nice ride on dirt, but like you I'm not all over riding off road but want to be comfortable w/ it so I take the off roads whenever. Got about 8K miles now on mine. Still running the original tires believe it or not, and they still look like the rear can go another 4K, which surprises me. Nice looking tracks, actually great looking. Couldn't help but be proud of you for helping that new rider on his too powerful for him bike over-revving and stalling. Trials by fire for sure. Anyway good luck practicing for your future adventures, have fun.........
Thanks man, I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Yeah, I’m continually surprised how well “da rag” rides, usually afterwards when it does everything without incident.
Some off-road specific gear will be very beneficial for you I think. Get yourself some proper boots and a vented jacket and decent pants with armor in all. You WILL crash at some stage and heavy adventure bikes hurt when they fall on you. Standing up is always good but you don’t need to stand if the road is smooth and straight. Stand up when it’s rough or slippery. Getting a smaller dirt bike is probably the best option to learn off-road riding though. Learning the skills on something smaller then translate them to the bigger bike is easier. Good luck.
Nice Bike, thanks for the video. I also have a 24Treg. CaBDR would be great to do. I am in EST of Canada got to figure out how to ship bike to California then fly to meet it. Cant wait to see your video of the CABDR
👍. Nice ride. Great to see u stopped to help those guys. 👍. To me u sound like a new rider? Well this goes for any new rider. Do yourself a favour and do some riding schools. At least 1 basic off road riding school that teaches the basic techniques. Another tip. Load your bike up with your camping gear/ travel gear. Do a couple of pre rides to get used to the extra weight. Setup your suspension, Always make sure u can pick up your bike on your own. If u can’t it’s the wrong bike to have. Or never go riding without 2 extra people.
Take a look at some Motoz Tractionator GPS tires for your Tuareg. That's what I had on my Tuareg before I traded it in for a litre bike, and they instill loads more confidence than the factory Pirelli Scorpions (which WILL sting you eventually). They're also great for pavement and have super long life.
Have a Tuareg and did the same. Did not like the wide tread bars on the Scorpions. Only problem with the Motoz is that the front tire slowly leaks around the bead so it needs to be topped off every two days. Motoz claims it's a problem with the rim.
@@ocdmoto I ran them first and they are damn good but they’re more dirt oriented, noisy, wear quicker and less street friendly. IMO the GPS are the way to go. Watch the Motoz reviews posted by the guy named Kyle Bradford. Super in depth and dead on accurate.
It’s my first experience with aggressive tires for what’s that worth, but from the research I did sounds like you run a risk of front instability on road with the other MOTOZ tires, for the Adventure/dualventure tires I got, the front was a little wobbly for the first 100 miles but got better. I’d still say they are 10% less stable than stock on road, but 40% better off-road. The other thing I found made a huge difference, was the rear sus. preload, I’m at 17 clicks vs the recommended 10 in the manual, I’m 6ft 182lbs.
Another vote for Motoz. I went with the Dual Venture front and the Adventure rear. It took a couple hundred miles of payment for them to start betting in and stop squirming. But now that I have a few hundred miles on them, I can honestly say they are a solid 50/50 set up.
Thanks for posting. I just got my Tuareg 660 earlier this year. I can definitely understand the things you are talking about. I live in Maine and there is a trail in Ellsworth, about 1 hour from my home, called the Sun Rise Trail that reminds me of where you are. It is free and you can camp anywhere. It is for ATVs and snowmobiles in the winter, but if you register your motorcycle as an ATV you can use it. I felt uneasy with my wheels moving around on the gravel, but after doing it a second time on a multi-day trip I feel comfortable now. I think sitting is more stable so standing is just where you need because of terrain where you need to use your legs as shocks in my opinion. My question to you is can you pick the bike up on your own? I was surprised that I could not and had to make a ratchet tool with pipe and a beefy ratchet from Home Depot. I haven't had to use it yet out on my own, but I want to make sure I can pick it up solo and if I am possibly injured. Thanks, again. Ps. I also have a Porsche GT4 so we seem to like the same stuff.
Nice. I haven’t tried picking up the bike myself, but I was able to lift my buddy’s BMW GS 1250 in a garage, under ideal conditions. He was practicing, so I gave it a shot and it was surprisingly easy. I’m not saying I’m super strong, but I think I just have the technique right. I think it weighs a couple hundred pounds heavier than da rag (this what I call my it). Oh man, nice GT4, you should check out my other channel, “OCD HAUS,” tell me what you think of it. Thanks for the tips on when to stand, totally makes sense.
@@ocdmoto I recommend practicing picking up the Rag. I've had to do it many, many times and it can be pretty heavy, especially if the seat is remotely downhill from the tires. The Tuareg lays relatively flat where the big GS lays at a nearly 45 degree angle due to the boxer engine - which makes it much easier to get back up. If you can find someone to ride with off-road, that can really help. Keep at it!
Interesting, I’ll give it a shot on my garage floor. I’d like to see the system you have to assist you. It’s almost like a light version of a hi-low jack would be ideal.
@@ocdmoto Unfortunately, I don't have a recovery system. After I fell several times on a trail ride and injured my hand. Eventually unable to get my bike back up I just layed down on the ground and after a few hours a couple of side by sides came by. Got a ride to a gas station a ways away leaving my bike on the trail. Luckily there was a young guy who races motorcross at the gas station and he rode my bike out of the woods for me. Since then, I don't ride off-road alone.
Oh man, that sounds like my worst nightmare. You're probably one of the only ones who have actually experienced a true "ADV"enture on these types of bikes. Thanks for sharing, I think I'll likely ride with someone if/when I hit NorCal BRD.
Thanks for posting! You look pretty comfortable out there! Brings back memories of riding in the Tahoe basin last summer. You'll be a lot more comfortable in a fully ventilated jacket - I have a Reax with light protection at elbows, shoulders and back - it doesn't have to cost a lot.. My experience is that as soon as the road/double track/trail get's rough you want to stand up so your butt doesn't steer the bike. And for me, the trick was to learn to steer by weighting the pegs to lean the bike (while standing). This was golden for sand and small loose rocks. Planning to do sections of the NorCal BDR in the next few weeks. Full disclosure, after getting a taste of riding off-road last year, I bought a KLX 300 to extend my off-road riding and develop my skills. Still have the Tuareg and see them as complementary.
Interesting, so you’re definitely doing the NorCal BDR on the KLX, right? How is the ride on the tarmac? I regret selling my KTM 300 XC-W. I should have developed my dirt bike skills on that first.
@@ocdmoto I’m planning to do part of Section 5 (Truckee to Sierraville) on the KLX tomorrow and see how it goes. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Tuareg is the weapon of choice but the KLX has been perfect for the Tahoe Basin so far.
@@ocdmoto Just to tie this off . . . I started my ride on the lower west shore, rode pavement to Tahoe City, rode forest roads to Truckee, then hooked into Section 5 around Prosser Dam and took forest/county road towards Sierraville and then back home again on pavement. About 120 miles on the KLX 300. The net is not surprising - all of it could be done on the T-reg but the smaller bike is just more fun/relaxing - at least for me. Last year I did the forest road between Tahoe City and Truckee several times on the Tuareg and I think the small piece of piece I did of the BDR this year is very comparable with the exception of some deep sand on the BDR. I’m guessing that other parts of the BDR will have more loose rocks, possibly steeper climbs and plenty of sand so a dual sport is my first choice. One knock on the KLX is that I haven’t found a very comfortable standing position whereas the T-reg is very comfortable standing up.
Interesting, thanks for the follow up. I only have one choice, so it’ll have to be da rag for me. I ordered new tires though, so I’m hoping they’ll help with loose stuff. What’s the protocol for when you air down, do you just ride back on payment or until you can find a place to air up again? Does anyone ever bring a small portable air compressor with them?
You should look into BMA, Back Road Motorcycle adventures. They do an Adv bike training at Carnegie. Good guys & patient.
Thanks.
Haven't checked in w/ you since your first videos w/ the new bike. As a fellow Tuareg rider, I found it really a really nice ride on dirt, but like you I'm not all over riding off road but want to be comfortable w/ it so I take the off roads whenever. Got about 8K miles now on mine. Still running the original tires believe it or not, and they still look like the rear can go another 4K, which surprises me.
Nice looking tracks, actually great looking. Couldn't help but be proud of you for helping that new rider on his too powerful for him bike over-revving and stalling. Trials by fire for sure. Anyway good luck practicing for your future adventures, have fun.........
Thanks man, I appreciate you taking the time to comment. Yeah, I’m continually surprised how well “da rag” rides, usually afterwards when it does everything without incident.
..a beauty❤
Greets from a tuareg rider 🫶🇨🇭
Right back at ya!
Some off-road specific gear will be very beneficial for you I think.
Get yourself some proper boots and a vented jacket and decent pants with armor in all.
You WILL crash at some stage and heavy adventure bikes hurt when they fall on you.
Standing up is always good but you don’t need to stand if the road is smooth and straight.
Stand up when it’s rough or slippery.
Getting a smaller dirt bike is probably the best option to learn off-road riding though.
Learning the skills on something smaller then translate them to the bigger bike is easier.
Good luck.
I know, I know…
Nice Bike, thanks for the video. I also have a 24Treg. CaBDR would be great to do. I am in EST of Canada got to figure out how to ship bike to California then fly to meet it. Cant wait to see your video of the CABDR
When you figure it out, hit me up via email and I’ll join ya.
👍. Nice ride. Great to see u stopped to help those guys. 👍.
To me u sound like a new rider? Well this goes for any new rider. Do yourself a favour and do some riding schools. At least 1 basic off road riding school that teaches the basic techniques. Another tip. Load your bike up with your camping gear/ travel gear. Do a couple of pre rides to get used to the extra weight. Setup your suspension, Always make sure u can pick up your bike on your own. If u can’t it’s the wrong bike to have. Or never go riding without 2 extra people.
Good advice, thanks for commenting.
Nice to see you finally getting in some dirt.
No doubt, I gotta get motivated again… this was a pretty good start for me.
Take a look at some Motoz Tractionator GPS tires for your Tuareg. That's what I had on my Tuareg before I traded it in for a litre bike, and they instill loads more confidence than the factory Pirelli Scorpions (which WILL sting you eventually). They're also great for pavement and have super long life.
Have a Tuareg and did the same. Did not like the wide tread bars on the Scorpions. Only problem with the Motoz is that the front tire slowly leaks around the bead so it needs to be topped off every two days. Motoz claims it's a problem with the rim.
Oh, I’m on it. Thanks
@@kevinlewis4554 I didn’t experience that. I think Bradford said there are generations also. Check out his vids. Best info on the tires.
Hey, another viewer suggested the Motoz Tractionator, but the "ADV" verses the GPS. Any thoughts on the differences? Thanks in advance.
@@ocdmoto I ran them first and they are damn good but they’re more dirt oriented, noisy, wear quicker and less street friendly. IMO the GPS are the way to go. Watch the Motoz reviews posted by the guy named Kyle Bradford. Super in depth and dead on accurate.
Get good tires, I put the MOTOZ tractionator adv and it transformed my off-road experience
Thanks for the comment, that seems to be the prevailing advice.
BTW, someone else suggested the GPS verses the ADV, any thoughts on the differences? I'll ask him the same question. Thanks in advance.
It’s my first experience with aggressive tires for what’s that worth, but from the research I did sounds like you run a risk of front instability on road with the other MOTOZ tires, for the Adventure/dualventure tires I got, the front was a little wobbly for the first 100 miles but got better. I’d still say they are 10% less stable than stock on road, but 40% better off-road. The other thing I found made a huge difference, was the rear sus. preload, I’m at 17 clicks vs the recommended 10 in the manual, I’m 6ft 182lbs.
Another vote for Motoz. I went with the Dual Venture front and the Adventure rear. It took a couple hundred miles of payment for them to start betting in and stop squirming. But now that I have a few hundred miles on them, I can honestly say they are a solid 50/50 set up.
Yeah, I think leaning towards the GPS in the rear and the ADV for the front.
Thanks for posting. I just got my Tuareg 660 earlier this year. I can definitely understand the things you are talking about. I live in Maine and there is a trail in Ellsworth, about 1 hour from my home, called the Sun Rise Trail that reminds me of where you are. It is free and you can camp anywhere. It is for ATVs and snowmobiles in the winter, but if you register your motorcycle as an ATV you can use it. I felt uneasy with my wheels moving around on the gravel, but after doing it a second time on a multi-day trip I feel comfortable now. I think sitting is more stable so standing is just where you need because of terrain where you need to use your legs as shocks in my opinion. My question to you is can you pick the bike up on your own? I was surprised that I could not and had to make a ratchet tool with pipe and a beefy ratchet from Home Depot. I haven't had to use it yet out on my own, but I want to make sure I can pick it up solo and if I am possibly injured. Thanks, again. Ps. I also have a Porsche GT4 so we seem to like the same stuff.
Nice. I haven’t tried picking up the bike myself, but I was able to lift my buddy’s BMW GS 1250 in a garage, under ideal conditions. He was practicing, so I gave it a shot and it was surprisingly easy. I’m not saying I’m super strong, but I think I just have the technique right. I think it weighs a couple hundred pounds heavier than da rag (this what I call my it). Oh man, nice GT4, you should check out my other channel, “OCD HAUS,” tell me what you think of it. Thanks for the tips on when to stand, totally makes sense.
@@ocdmoto I recommend practicing picking up the Rag. I've had to do it many, many times and it can be pretty heavy, especially if the seat is remotely downhill from the tires. The Tuareg lays relatively flat where the big GS lays at a nearly 45 degree angle due to the boxer engine - which makes it much easier to get back up. If you can find someone to ride with off-road, that can really help. Keep at it!
Interesting, I’ll give it a shot on my garage floor. I’d like to see the system you have to assist you. It’s almost like a light version of a hi-low jack would be ideal.
@@ocdmoto Unfortunately, I don't have a recovery system. After I fell several times on a trail ride and injured my hand. Eventually unable to get my bike back up I just layed down on the ground and after a few hours a couple of side by sides came by. Got a ride to a gas station a ways away leaving my bike on the trail. Luckily there was a young guy who races motorcross at the gas station and he rode my bike out of the woods for me. Since then, I don't ride off-road alone.
Oh man, that sounds like my worst nightmare. You're probably one of the only ones who have actually experienced a true "ADV"enture on these types of bikes. Thanks for sharing, I think I'll likely ride with someone if/when I hit NorCal BRD.