September 5 - 8, 2019 DGR Rally in Maggie Valley

[justjoe]

Bill Morgan took his Multistrada to (I think it was) Pearl Pass. I'll let Bill correct me but suffice to say a mere mortal would not have made it up there.

Bill said it wasn't Pearl Pass. He'll get on shortly and tell the rest of the story.

[cabnfvr]

Bill Morgan took his Multistrada to (I think it was) Pearl Pass. I'll let Bill correct me but suffice to say a mere mortal would not have made it up there.

[Loggiebone]

[MattB]

Hey, I've also been really wanting to see how a Multistrada would do in the gnarly stuff and since Matt got a ride on my Super Duke, I'm calling first dibs on this brand of mayhem.

But Wes, how do we not know that the SD itself wouldn't be good off-road? Maybe I should follow you.

I said it in Fiona's intro thread, while a fun bike to ride, I don't see how they EVER compared the GS and Multi when they were released. I like that the Multi is light, but the GS seems built like a tank in comparison. If I were to ride the Multi off-road like I ride the thumper, I think that it would break in half.

Of course, these guys didn't let it stop them.... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMrxee_fazo

If THAT doesn't make you laugh, check your pulse, you might be dead.

[MattB]

There are more of us then you think. I will say that most folks don't take their adventure bikes on "true" adventures, but we are out there!

Joe, for what it's worth, I'd consider you part of the 1% too before believing that this resembles the life of most of these machines. I'm just happy to see that some people use them like the dream that BMW sells.

[justjoe]

Hey, I've also been really wanting to see how a Multistrada would do in the gnarly stuff and since Matt got a ride on my Super Duke, I'm calling first dibs on this brand of mayhem.

I don't know whether to be impressed or incredulous that you guys took your bigass ADV bikes off in that stuff on street tires. My GS has had knobbies on it since around the 600 mile service.

Definitely needed knobbies. We stopped about three times before we got to the point of no return and discussed whether we should turn back or not. As you can see, we ain't right!

[Pittsdriverwes]

I think Bill offered to take Matt's MTS into single track territory too!

Hey, I've also been really wanting to see how a Multistrada would do in the gnarly stuff and since Matt got a ride on my Super Duke, I'm calling first dibs on this brand of mayhem.

I don't know whether to be impressed or incredulous that you guys took your bigass ADV bikes off in that stuff on street tires. My GS has had knobbies on it since around the 600 mile service.

[justjoe]

Matt is just about ready to take his MS into single track territory.

I think Bill offered to take Matt's MTS into single track territory too!

[EricM]

Matt is just about ready to take his MS into single track territory.

[cabnfvr]

Keep winning Wes! Again, call me impressed... THIS is what "Adventure Riding" is supposed to be I think. I'd hazard a guess that you are in the 1% on actually using an "adventure bike" in this manner.

Like Joe said, there are more adventurous people out there than you might think.

[justjoe]

Keep winning Wes! Again, call me impressed... THIS is what "Adventure Riding" is supposed to be I think. I'd hazard a guess that you are in the 1% on actually using an "adventure bike" in this manner.

There are more of us then you think. I will say that most folks don't take their adventure bikes on "true" adventures, but we are out there!



This was the spot Bill was talking about earlier. The trail goes to the right and has a pretty steep incline. Bill says to me, "we need to turn around, we can't make it" and for those who know Bill, that meant it was serious. The ground was muddy and slicker than owl snot and I had no idea how I could turn around. Bill says, "just lean it over like you do the KTM and spin the back around". So, thinking he was serious, I do it. Afterwards, Bill says that he didn't think I could do that maneuver on the GSA! Thanks for the vote of confidence, or was that Bill trying to kill me again?



Looking up the incline



After Bill turned around but before I spun my bike



All of that was at the Kentucky Rally in 2016, closer to where we have been chatting about moving the rally.

Ken and I had a run through a pretty gnarly section near the lodging for DGR. It took us about two hours to go 11 miles or so. Once again, slickery and with the prospect of more rain coming with our street tires on it looked to be a mess.

Baby head-sized rocks in sloppy clay, it's hard to tell how steep it really is here



Maybe a better indicator of some of the steep parts

[MattB]

Here's a video of me, first day of the multi-week Trans America Trail Ride, crossing the stream on Witt Rd. in Tennessee near Tellico:

Keep winning Wes! Again, call me impressed... THIS is what "Adventure Riding" is supposed to be I think. I'd hazard a guess that you are in the 1% on actually using an "adventure bike" in this manner.

[justjoe]

Bill would never take pics/vids of another rider going down at a water crossing and then post it up, right K1DUDE

[Pittsdriverwes]

I have to admit, I learned to do it on the grass in my back yard. Did that so i Joe does not get to laugh at me.

My little ADV riding group has a protocol for what to do when someone goes horizontal. First there's lots of laughing and ridicule followed by photos and preserving any video evidence of the biff. Then there's a discussion of whether or not we should take the fallen's water and tools and leave them for the bears. If there's a mobile signal, the evidence is posted up for the world to immediately enjoy. Only then does anyone make any move to help. But there's always laughing.

Here's a video of me, first day of the multi-week Trans America Trail Ride, crossing the stream on Witt Rd. in Tennessee near Tellico:

[MattB]

Damn, did I trigger Bill?
It will be great to see John again, been about 6 or 7 years for me.