After touring 1522 miles (2455 km) south with my buddy Lorne from Alberta, Canada to the Zakar facility within the Mojave Desert for the GET ON! Adv Fest, I used to be prepared to put down some critical off-road tracks within the fantastically arid surrounding panorama.
Mission achieved! I’d prefer to thank all of the folks from RevZilla for making the desert using desires of this journey rider from Canada come true.
I’ve turn into obsessive about Joshua Timber and wild desert donkeys ever since, however that’s not a nasty factor.
Lengthy Story Brief
To sum up, the story right here is that I drove an extended, LONG means, to fulfill buddies whose faces I’ve missed seeing since I coated final 12 months’s GET ON! Adv Fest in July 2021. Higher nonetheless, I added some new ones to my circle of using buddies.
The folks I’ve met at occasions like these are those I’ve immediately clicked with—and who I’m sure will journey with me the remainder of my days.
I performed with wild abandon for a number of days on the bleached sand and onerous rock terrain of the Mojave—as any sunshine-starved Canadian journey rider would when given the identical alternative in April.
The Demo Rides
Getting a chance to demo the alluring new 2022 Aprilia Tuareg 660 in this sort of superior off-road setting to actually check its capabilities was a uncommon deal with!
Wasn’t {That a} Social gathering?
It was completely well worth the $1300 US in diesel gas it took to trailer two journey bikes to California! My buddy Lorne’s trusty 2006 Dodge Ram 3500 didn’t allow us to down.
When in comparison with the success of the primary GET ON! Journey Fest rally in Sturgis, SD final July, this inaugural occasion in Mojave was simply nearly as good in most methods, and higher in others.
It undoubtedly wasn’t all roses within the desert throughout the occasion, however some adversity at all times helps me recognize simply how candy the nice instances are. Nonetheless, let me share the much less fascinating components first.
The Wind Killed My Tent
The open prairies of Southern Alberta are not any stranger to sturdy winds so I’m accustomed to coping with that out on the bike, however the stuff I discovered ready for me in Mojave was one thing else.
From the second Lorne and I crossed the border into Montana on Monday, April 18th till 6 am on Saturday, April twenty third, we confronted an incessant headwind of 45 to 50mph regardless of the place we went within the U-S of A! It prompted our gas financial system to plummet within the truck, and after the primary two nights of it beating on my tent at Zakar, the poles actually cut up in half, and the shell tore in some locations.
That prompted me to sleep within the truck for an evening to protect my sanity. The stiff breeze coupled with temperatures that dropped to 41 F (5 Celsius) had folks sporting winter coats, a number of layers of fleece, and tuques every night time.
Err… I assume I ought to make clear that tuques are known as beanies within the US, eh?
The Scenario Improved Dramatically
It’s humorous now in hindsight, as a result of I’ve the massive image in view, however it was robust to get any REM sleep due to the roaring wind and flapping tent sounds the primary couple of nights at Zakar! On the brilliant aspect, I threw out my broken tent to lighten the load on the journey house.
That’s it for the unhealthy stuff although, and if the worst factor at an occasion like this one is a component past the management of the organizers, it factors to a profitable enterprise. Fortunately, from Saturday morning onward, Mom Nature offered pure sunshine and a mild breeze to maintain everybody snug.
I assume it could have been higher to have extra showers and flush bogs obtainable as nicely, however that is one more minor element simply overshadowed by the positives.
Let me speak about all the good things!
The Meals and Festivities
The wind put a damper on the night festivities for the primary two nights, as many individuals hid in no matter shelter they may discover as a substitute of lounging across the campfire.
Nice effort and planning placed on by RevZilla staffers together with gracious generosity from Eric Wright and Chris Sackett of Fasthouse saved spirits excessive. Fasthouse workers, together with a number of RevZilla personalities, handed out what gave the impression to be limitless, free cans of 805 beer every night time to offer social lubrication.
RevZilla sweetened the deal by making certain there was loads of ice cream round for anybody needing it.
It’s the little issues, proper?
Morning Cups of Ambition
Moreover, every morning we have been greeted by the Atomic Café espresso truck, which ready all method of specialty scorching drinks to heat everybody’s chilled palms and cheeks. I discovered the barista operating the present entertaining, as a result of his habits was paying homage to the well-known “Soup Nazi” character from Seinfeld. He didn’t ban anybody from espresso for one 12 months, however his over-the-top ardour for fanciful espresso concoctions made me chuckle.
Journey riders appear accustomed to taking their morning cup of Joe straight-up black, which perturbed our barista—till everybody caught on and commenced requesting unique lattes, macchiatos, caramels, espressos, and cappuccinos as a substitute.
Acquiring your heat drinks on the espresso truck every day ensured you may accumulate three of those fashionable BDR tin cups to your tenting assortment. Sure, I introduced three house with me.
Occasion Volunteers
Bag lunches have been offered every day to take out on the path, along with a full breakfast, lunch, and dinner that appeared to match most everybody’s culinary desire.
I used to be impressed to search out the general public serving up and prepping the meals have been volunteers, though I by no means caught how they got here to be concerned with the occasion. I believe they could have been linked to the BDR group (however could possibly be fallacious).
The Driving Trails
Rever had 3 or 4 routes obtainable for obtain to their app on every day of the rally with simple, average, and superior ranges of issue.
Individually, I discovered the app labored pretty nicely, though there have been bugs showing on some totally different fashions of smartphones. I feel the efficacy of the app largely hinged on how a lot reminiscence was obtainable and the age of the system.
The RevZilla crew had scouted and thoroughly chosen the routes days earlier than anybody arrived, and every morning, Spurg or Stevan offered particulars about what members would possibly encounter. Then totally different members of the RZ crew would even lead teams out to the paths. It was enjoyable seeing the likes of Ari Henning, Zack Courts, Spurg Dunbar, Brandon Sensible, Spenser Robert, Liz and Jeff Kiniery, and Jen Dunstan in motion on two wheels.
I selected to journey the moderate-difficulty routes every of the three days and had no issue dealing with them—regardless of the actual fact I’d by no means ridden in desert circumstances earlier than.
My Rally Spotlight: The Husky Memorial (Monument)
I’d by no means heard of this sacred monument to fallen motorcyclists earlier than one of many routes introduced me to it throughout the rally, however I waxed barely philosophical upon seeing it there out in the course of the Mojave.
This tribute and assortment of tokens to folks’s family members rests out within the sand branching out from the unique 1978 Husqvarna 390 filth bike that sits there half encased in concrete. That Husky filth bike belonging to abandon racer Jim Erickson again in 1987 impressed others to develop the somber assortment into the shifting sight it’s at the moment.
Was it mere coincidence or a superb reminder to me to journey freely however responsibly, being that I used to be on board a Husqvarna bike the day I first encountered it?
Tire Woes
My 2022 Husqvarna Norden 901 was utterly at house within the open and high-speed sandy trails and likewise did nicely within the extra technical tracks. It’s shortly turn into my favourite bike so far, forward of my earlier darling: my 2019 KTM 790 Journey.
After the primary day of using, I had a problem with the entrance tire leaking and needed to set up a tube in my tubeless rim to hold on with the festivities.
Shedding all of the air regularly within the entrance Motoz Tractionator Rallz tire whereas using resulted in me denting the rim of my new bike. Regardless of pounding the dent again into practically the unique place, it simply wouldn’t maintain air. My suspicion is that the tremendous stiff sidewalls on the Rallz weren’t utterly seated on the bead of the rim and began leaking after I hit just a few good bumps on the paths.
Appears like I’ll be shopping for some upgraded rims for the Norden quickly, eh?
Rabaconda to the Rescue
a lot simpler. BMW Motorrad had a tire restore store arrange, however they have been very busy and I used to be glad to have the ability to deal with the issue myself. Having mentioned that, Catie did a superb job balancing my dented wheel after I put in the tube.
We additionally used the Rabaconda to swap out the entrance tire on Lorne’s KLR650 for a brand new TKC80 and helped one other KTM 890 Journey R rider put a tube within the rear rim on his bike after he skilled the identical dented rim subject I did on the Norden. I haven’t completed placing collectively my overview for this efficient and moveable Rabaconda tire machine, however I can inform you it’s value each penny for do-it-yourselfers.
The Rabaconda was nice again at camp, however it’s too giant to hold round on the bike. Out on the paths that very same day, Brandon Sensible picked up a piece of barbed wire within the rear tire of his Yamaha T7. I loaned him my Tirox SnapJack V2 to deal with that enterprise.
The Individuals of GOAF Mojave
That’s what I so completely loved about this occasion: folks serving to folks. I didn’t discover any egos or elitist attitudes in any respect. Everybody was in attendance to have enjoyable and trying to be pleasant whereas sharing their information and enthusiasm for motorcycling. To name all of them “cool” could be correct, however it appears missing by some means.
It was nice speaking about bike tire evaluations in particular person with my favourite tire guru Kyle Bradshaw, having night fireplace chats with world traveler Alex Chacon, and speaking bikes with Zack Courts, Ian Schoenleber from Massive Rock Moto, and Travis Brock from Each Single Sunday.
But it surely was equally uplifting lending a hand to (or chewing the fats with) my fellow riders whose names aren’t well-known on the web and who don’t have a military of followers on YouTube.
On the final morning, I occurred to fulfill Glen West (under) as he was packing up his BMW GS for the journey house. I discovered he’s a Gross sales Supervisor for Schuberth Helmets, which led to us having an ideal dialog about helmet security requirements, their new C5 helmet, and using basically. Superior stuff!
That’s why I maintain wanting to return again to those rallies and why I’m eager to attend the Sturgis GET ON! Journey Fest in July this 12 months (14th to seventeenth). If I can slot it into my schedule I’ll for certain be there. Better of all, I guess there received’t be a lot wind at that one (based mostly on the proper climate we had final 12 months)!
The Swag and Giveaways
RevZilla, the distributors in attendance, and a number of other different sponsors of the occasion made certain none of us went house with out thrice the hats, t-shirts, sandals, and stickers we got here with.
There have been additionally some terrific prizes awarded randomly by means of attracts, a lot to the delight of everybody—together with a brand new pair of Alpinestars Tech 7 Enduro boots and a brand new helmet or two as nicely.
The Camaraderie of the Final Night time
After 3 days of enjoyable and group bonding, the final night time consisted of watching the brand new Wyoming BDR movie as a gaggle. It was adopted by reside music and eventually gathering for libations round a crackling campfire till the wee hours of the morning.
If you happen to have been there, you’ll recall the playful antics of Steve “Coywolf” who quietly rolled his KTM 890 Journey R up behind our seats by the hearth earlier than climbing up on the seat and dancing whereas shaking his maracas to some form of tribal-sounding music pumping out of his Bluetooth speaker close by.
As a gaggle, we laughed and urged him on to bounce extra, till he was lastly spent, and everybody retired to their tents for some much-needed slumber. It was the proper quantity of frivolity tempered with a wholesome dose of respect for the accommodating hosts, RawHyde Adventures and RevZilla.
All this (and extra I can’t write about) occurred beneath the attractive night time skies on the Zakar zombie apocalypse compound constructed by Jim Hyde someplace in the course of the Mojave Desert.
The Lengthy Journey Dwelling
The lengthy drive house included opportunistic using stops in Loss of life Valley, Titus Canyon, Massive Bear Lake, and The Bonneville Salt Flats, since you solely go round as soon as and we by no means know when one other pandemic would possibly shut down journey once more, proper?
The climate turned bitter whereas we have been up in Montana, and I used to be appreciative of the actual fact we have been towing the bikes on a trailer quite than using them within the blizzard circumstances we encountered.
Seizing each alternative to journey in a brand new setting is what an journey rider craves most. I’m all about doing that… however I’ll go on the snowstorms.
See you all at GOAF Sturgis in July, I hope!
GOAF Mojave 2022 Picture Gallery
