ValpoFz
Member
Has anybody ridden these or done some research on them? I am looking at doing some sections of the GDT, I will be alone some I am concerned about sections I should avoid.
The TAT or Great Divide trail?
- Thread starter ValpoFz
- Start date
Ridden the TAT on my xr650l. There are a lot of places big bikes can't pass on that trail. If you are a good navigator and don't mind bypassing some trails much of the TAT is doable.
I am doing the CDR in about 2 weeks solo. Based on my research NM can be a little remote and challenging but the majority of the CDR could be done in a 2 wheel drive truck. Of course the rainy season can change all of that.
For an extremely detailed ride report of the cdr check out cannonshot's thread on advrider. He has some great mc specific tracks available for download too.
Best,
Andy
I am doing the CDR in about 2 weeks solo. Based on my research NM can be a little remote and challenging but the majority of the CDR could be done in a 2 wheel drive truck. Of course the rainy season can change all of that.
For an extremely detailed ride report of the cdr check out cannonshot's thread on advrider. He has some great mc specific tracks available for download too.
Best,
Andy
Trailace at Motocampers.com did it in 2003 on his new GS, there were some single track sections that they bypassed but most if it can be done.
I was supposed to do it last year when he and his son were going to do it but the bike didn't show up in time.
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103
I was supposed to do it last year when he and his son were going to do it but the bike didn't show up in time.
http://www.motocampers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=103
They said it couldn't be done by a big bike or alone. Or at least shouldn't. While I do think that a guy with little dirt experience on a 500 mile new $20,000 bike is probably not what I would recommend, to each their own and I'm not resurrecting the thread so we can criticize. I really do give the guy credit for making it and not getting stranded under a fallen 700# bike somewhere.
Anyway, for those interested in the TAT like me, this will be an interesting thread to follow. And if a GSA can do it . . .
::26::
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1044704
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMfIo-w0e5E
Anyway, for those interested in the TAT like me, this will be an interesting thread to follow. And if a GSA can do it . . .
::26::
http://advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1044704
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uMfIo-w0e5E
I am doing the TAT in the summer of 2016 as a present to myself once done with grad school.
I am taking Fancy, my 2012 Super Tenere, and I will be aiming to do no big bike detours. I have been collecting all kinds of info on the trail into a bookmarked folder and thanks to CW - I have another resource to keep around from a fellow big-biker.
I am taking Fancy, my 2012 Super Tenere, and I will be aiming to do no big bike detours. I have been collecting all kinds of info on the trail into a bookmarked folder and thanks to CW - I have another resource to keep around from a fellow big-biker.
trikepilot said:
I'm planning to hit parts of it this year with the Tenere and see how far I get from the Atlantic, using GPSKevin's maps, east of where Sam's stop.
https://sites.google.com/site/gpskevin/adventurerides/trans-america-trail/studying-the-trans-america-trail
https://sites.google.com/site/gpskevin/adventurerides/trans-america-trail/download-the-tat-gps-maps
The TET goes north/south near Dirt_Dad and I and I also plan to explore some of that with the WR250.
CW - before you get on sections 6 & 7, give me a shout. They are close-by to my current location and I'd be psyched to ride those sections with you if my schedule will allow.
Finally got over there to check out that thread that CW linked at ADVrider. When I mention to other riders that I am preparing to do the TAT on my Tenere rather than my WR250R - most call me crazy. But this quote below from CW's linked thread sums up pretty well what I have long been thinking based on the reports from my riding partners who recently did the TAT.
"There are pros and cons of doing this ride on a big bike. I guess the most obvious con is the weight. The 1200 GSA fully loaded probably weights around to 700 lbs. By the way, I am 5'8" and weight 158 lbs. If I drop the bike fully loaded with gear and a full tank, I have to unload my gear before I can pick it up. The other con is that the bike tends to stall in low gear if you are going too slow. This is why it took me 2 hours to go 2 miles over one of the mountain passes in Colorado... but more on that later.
However, after this trip I believe that the pros out weight the cons. Let's see:
1) My tank holds about 8 gallons which means that I only have to fill up once a day or day an a half.
2) Traction control means that I can fly on gravel roads (at least 40% of the TAT are gravel or packed dirt roads)
3) ABS means that I can stop on a dime on paved roads (at least 40% of the TAT is paved). I turn off the ABS and traction control when I am on dirt.
4) It is extremely comfortable (believe me, you'll learn to appreciate it if you ride 10 hours a day for three weeks)
97% of the trip I was happy to be on a big bike; 3% I was not. If I were to do it again, I would still take my 1200 but I would probably not do it by myself."
Enough said... My Tenere is the WLDB and - I feel - a far better offroad performer than the GS. So I will continue to make my plans to do the TAT on my outsized dirt bike. It is just nice to have my inclination validated by another rider with real-world experience.
"There are pros and cons of doing this ride on a big bike. I guess the most obvious con is the weight. The 1200 GSA fully loaded probably weights around to 700 lbs. By the way, I am 5'8" and weight 158 lbs. If I drop the bike fully loaded with gear and a full tank, I have to unload my gear before I can pick it up. The other con is that the bike tends to stall in low gear if you are going too slow. This is why it took me 2 hours to go 2 miles over one of the mountain passes in Colorado... but more on that later.
However, after this trip I believe that the pros out weight the cons. Let's see:
1) My tank holds about 8 gallons which means that I only have to fill up once a day or day an a half.
2) Traction control means that I can fly on gravel roads (at least 40% of the TAT are gravel or packed dirt roads)
3) ABS means that I can stop on a dime on paved roads (at least 40% of the TAT is paved). I turn off the ABS and traction control when I am on dirt.
4) It is extremely comfortable (believe me, you'll learn to appreciate it if you ride 10 hours a day for three weeks)
97% of the trip I was happy to be on a big bike; 3% I was not. If I were to do it again, I would still take my 1200 but I would probably not do it by myself."
Enough said... My Tenere is the WLDB and - I feel - a far better offroad performer than the GS. So I will continue to make my plans to do the TAT on my outsized dirt bike. It is just nice to have my inclination validated by another rider with real-world experience.
Good for you!
You already know how I feel about your plans.
ADV is really no different than this forum when it comes to the various opinions about riding the BIG bikes in challenging environments. And actually, I agree that folks shouldn't try it if it doesn't tickle their fancy.
By far, my most indelible memory of last years Arkansas rally was finding myself on some single track that was as challenging as anything I have ever tried on two wheels, since those 2 wheels were attached to a Super Tenere. I think we made a couple of miles in about 3 hours. It was quite an adventure.
And I bonded with 2 awesome gents as we dug deep, and helped each other.
Still laughing about it, just replaying it my mind. The stuff LIVING is made of.
You already know how I feel about your plans.
ADV is really no different than this forum when it comes to the various opinions about riding the BIG bikes in challenging environments. And actually, I agree that folks shouldn't try it if it doesn't tickle their fancy.
By far, my most indelible memory of last years Arkansas rally was finding myself on some single track that was as challenging as anything I have ever tried on two wheels, since those 2 wheels were attached to a Super Tenere. I think we made a couple of miles in about 3 hours. It was quite an adventure.
And I bonded with 2 awesome gents as we dug deep, and helped each other.
Still laughing about it, just replaying it my mind. The stuff LIVING is made of.
Indeed. You and I look at the Tenere from the same angle.snakebitten said:
I think I have been in the exact place you described - in just a different location with different characters but the outcome seems to be the same.
This wild pig of a bike has gotten me into and out of enough ridiculous places for me to "know" that our theory of it as the WLDB is not fantasy!!!