Hey Dual Sporters....Lets us all know what you've been doing to further D/S riding....Where have you been?

Check out Ride Texas magazine....Dual Sport riding is going to be a regular feature....Some of us have been in photos in the last 2 editions but you'd never know it...We're all geared up and in hiding.

I just got back from a long weekend in my truck scouting out more places to ride in West Texas, Big Bend area. It needs a little tweeking but I have a route that is about 75% dirt from Ozona to Lajitas..... It's around 300 miles.....Can't wait to try it on the bike!
Oh yeah...My wife went with me and is still sore from all the bumping and banging around in the truck..... I told her she should try it on a bike. She said she'd be happy just to stay at the Gage Hotel while I rode...Takes all kinds!!!

Let's have a little input from all you D/S riders.

Steve Smith

This sounds good...would like to hear more about it.

I went with a group of guys in March out to Big Bend. We did the dual sport thing on our GS's. Awesome. Best week of riding in my life. I love it out there.

I'd like to do it again next year. We went in March as one of the guys is a teacher and it was Spring Break for him. We stayed out at Terlingua. Loved it!!

I went out to Big Bend last October. Took the family and rode all of River Road on the KLRs. Fun. I'm going back this October (Columbus Day weekend). Love the solitude and beauty of the place.

Chuck....We stayed the one night at the Terlingua Ranch....We were the only guests there....It was wonderful....For those who don't know....Terlingua ranch has over 1100 miles of dirt roads and trails open for use....And they now have about 13 miles that is paved.....They have a couple of dozen cabins, a pool, camping area, dirt airstrip, gas and the infamous Bad Rabbit Cafe.....The sunrise and sunsets are great as well as watching the stars a satalites overhead....Used to be able to watch the Space Shuttle also.

The ranch was owned by Carroll Shelby and his Dallas buddies at one time, it has a great history. It is a regular lunch stop on the TRH Dual Sport Ride every year, Chicken Fried Steak a la Sysco.

Last month Mark Ausman from Alberquerque, Steve Harding from Houston and myself from Round Rock met up for a weekend ride around Moab Utah. I'd ridden there before but this time we planned major trail rides out from Moab.
The weather was great for August, 60s at night 80 plus during the daytime. It even got down to 48 in Colorado after one ride.

Many of the BLM marked trails we rode are for rock crawlers and very difficult on Dual Sport anything. ...We were able to ride over 300 miles in some of the most beautiful country anywhere.....Afterwards I was asked how it compared to Baja riding.

It has many things in common to Baja.....Gas is hard to find....It's very desolate....The mountains and canyons go up and down from 4000 feet to 11000 feet.....There's less sand in Utah but overall the Utah riding is more technical and generally quite a bit more difficult. Baja tends to require more endurance and less skill than Utah....The food and people are wonderful in both places.

Check out info on the Kokopelli Trail on line, all but the last 10 miles in Colorado is open to Bikes...This makes it about a 130 mile plus trail....All the way from easy to having to push/carry your bike over the hill....Great fun.

I'm working on a D/S ride in October, either West Texas or New Mexico,I'll post some info on it when I have it figured out,

Steve Smith

A small group of ctor members went to colorado last month.Did several 100 mile plus days 90% trails. Weather was awsome and everyone had fun.Some exploring has been happening on ft hood lately,not sure how legal we are but its till happening.

Suzukiq...Try taking Dagger Flats Road off 385 south of the park entrance....Then go right on OLD ORE Road....This will take you to the tunnel just before Grand Village Junction and the gas station....Great ride.

From there you can take East River Rd all the way to the pavement and Maverick Rd {Dirt} up to the park entrance and back into Study Butte.

Columbus Day weekend Eh....Where will you be staying?

Steve

Appreciate the tips. I'll be tent camping at the Basin campground. My other half is probably going to take a pass on the trip this year. Don't know about my son yet. Doesn't matter to me. Big Bend is one of those places I can enjoy whether I've got companions or not. Great getaway. C'mon October!!!

Give me some dates when you'll be there...I'm planning a trip that way soon.

Steve

Columbus day weekend (Oct 11-13). Short stay. Will get there in the afternoon on Sat, enjoy the place on Sun, and head home early on Monday.

That's the same weekend we plan on being there...When I get all the players and the details lined up I'll let you know...Maybe we can hook up.

Steve