All Images: Clinton Smout
Trip planning builds excitement - who’s going, what does the motorcycle need, what to pack and of course the route. The route is a big part of the excitement and there are some very important details to consider that can easily be overlooked, in part because it’s so difficult to assess - yet it could be the factor that makes the difference between getting into trouble or avoiding it. And when you consider the route, other questions come up. How do you know if your motorcycle, your gear and your physical fitness is suitable for your desired route? All that and more on this episode of Rider Skills with Instructor Clinton Smout.
Colorado BDR Notes - Riding Instructor Clinton Smout
Travel insurance if you travel abroad. We had one rider who had a medical issue (unrelated to riding) and got airlifted out.
Flat tires: one BMW plug and a front tube from a pinch flat. There are way too many rocks here. One rider got a pinch flat but luckily didn’t dent his rim. Louise had a slow leak. I used a bathtub to find the tiny wire.
Suspension takes a beating: two bikes have fork seals torn and leaking. One bike broke the bottom of the rear shock and another has a leaking front shock seal. Use fork skins to protect your fork seals.
Riding gear: it has rained almost every day sometimes torrentially. We are riding up and down mountains. We have had 37 degrees and really sunny at the bottom and 11 degrees and rain at 12,000 feet at the top. You need really good gear that is water proof, has protection armour and a lot of vents.
Altitude sickness: One rider Tyler got it bad at the top of Engineers Pass. He was hallucinating, felt sick and almost couldn’t stand. Got some oxygen from a passing ATV rider and made it down. They sell canisters of oxygen for $10.00. Some people are effected more than others (not just short statured folks who are not used to heights)
Other traffic: Many parts of the COLORADO BDR are well used by Jeeps, side by sides, atvs and dirt bikes. Be careful to try and stay on the right hand side of the trail on hills and blind corners.
Skills needed: for the really rocky uphills you need to be able to pick the best line through the rocks while maintaining momentum on steep sections. There are also lots of ruts. For the downhills being able to control your descent speed with the front brake is critical for success.
Buddy system: When standing lift the left side mirror up so you can see the headlight of the rider behind you. It you fall or have trouble then use your horn to beep SOS.
Accommodations: best to book ahead for hotels or campsites. It is busy.
Tires: 50/50 absolute necessity but we did see two riders up high on a stock Suzuki bandit 1200 and a Betsy 650.
Degree of difficulty: of this BDR is challenging because of the steep climbs and descents to very high altitudes. Of our group, two of the fifteen probably should not have tried the hard passes on mountains. There are paved roads to go around the mountains which research will help avoid the really difficult areas.
Road delays: There is a lot of construction in the summer so be prepared for long stops as one lane is closed and you have to wait 35 or 45 minutes for the pace car to lead you.
Park passes: you need to book in advance for places like Pikes Peak or Rocky Mountain Park. If you just show up you won’t get in. It will cost a rider approximately $25.00 to enter the parks
Bikes we had on our trip:
5 - KTM 890
1 - KTM 790
1 - KTM 1290
1 - KTM 690
2 - Africa Twins (one clutch and one DCT)
1 - Husqvarna 890 Nordin
2 - BMW 1200
1 - BMW 1250
1 - WR250 R
1 - Honda XR650 carb
The carburated Honda 650 lost a lot of power at altitude where the air is thinner - less oxygen. If you replace the main jet with a smaller one to reduce the fuel mixture to match the less oxygen in the air; the bike will have more power up high on the mountain but run terribly at the bottom. Fuel injected bikes fare much better.Roads: incredible paved and gravel roads engineers designed around mountains and rivers.
Clinton Smout is based in Ontario, Canada and is a regular on Adventure Rider Radio’s Rider Skills© program. He has been a motorcycle instructor for most of his adult life, is a certified BMW Off-road instructor and is the chief instructor and owner at SMART Adventures.
SMART Adventures: https://www.smartadventures.ca
DISCLAIMER: This segment is not intended as a substitute for taking a rider training course. We recommend that you work with a professional trainer before trying any of the techniques discussed, or do so at your own risk. Canoe West Media, Adventure Rider Radio and Clinton Smout do not assume any responsibilities for injury and damages, including and not limited to, yourself, another person, motorcycle, etc.