I am currently going on an adventure bike diet. I have ridden all makes and models of bikes over the past 37 years.
Currently I was riding a 2012 Yamaha Super Tenere--a BIG monster of a bike at nearly 600 pounds. I had ridden over 30 days in January, February and March away from my snow-locked Colorado. It is a hoot to ride and I like to often ride alone and ride fast in remote, gorgeous locales. This scares people… …and now myself if I am honest.
When I attended the Backcountry Discovery Route fundraiser in late March located outside of Wickenberg, AZ on the last day, the last mile to base camp at Boyd Ranch, I had a freak accident. All of my years of experience, all the types of motorcycles I have ridden didn’t prepare me for my KTM 500 getting away from me on a deep hole in the desert. The result was significant damage to both knees and my sense of confidence on big bikes. I know me. I would rather die than not ride motorcycles. I eat, sleep and drink all motorcycles as you can guess from my occupation as owner, designer of Wolfman Luggage. Therefore I needed a new plan as I am recuperating my knees.
I had a KTM1190 on order, I had to cancel it. My new plan was forming along with my healing journey. I will not stop riding, but I should slow down a bit. I had surgery on my right knee three weeks ago. In my current state I could not pick up the Tenere. So my new theory, if I cannot pick it up I should not ride it. (Especially alone in the remote dirt). Now what does this mean? I crave adventure like the next guy. I can’t wait to escape suburbia to rugged regions—Bolivia’s Death Road, Baja’s dusty trails, Moab’s White Rim, Colorado’s hidden gems of single track. In order to continue to escape, I am going towards a lighter bike.
What?? You ask. Yep, a lighter bike. An adventure diet from the big bikes for now. After much research I narrowed the search to three bikes. The 2014 KLR New Edition, a DR 650 (I have had 2 in the past. Still one of my favorites), and the WR250R. I ended up with a 2011 WR250R (I have secretly wanted one for quite sometime) with less than 1000 miles. It came with: FMF Q4 pipe and Mega Bomb header. Led turn signals, Fastway pegs, Flatland skid Plate. Why the WR? The build quality of the Tenere is great. I like Yamaha quality. The reputation of the bike--low maintenance, goes forever, follow riders Scott “Dingweed” Stevenson has over 50,000 miles on his. Mark “Big Dog” Sampson has over 45,000 miles on his. I like to ride pretty aggressive off-road and will give up some strong road manners for a bike with better dirt manners.
I built up a 2011 WR250R as part of my PT and knee recovery! Here is the build:
2011 WR250R plus the following products and various companies were used--
12oclocklabs.com
Flatlandracing.com
FMFracing.com
Highwaydirtbikes.com
IMSproducts.com
promotobillet.com
protaper.com
rockymountainatvmc.com
rockymountainkawasaki.co
sites.google.com/site/sandmanparts/
screensforbikes.com
scottsonline.com
warp9racing.com
The Wolfman luggage that works well with this type of riding and size of bike--
Wolfman Enduro Series—Enduro Tank Bag, Fender, Tool, Pocket, Carry All 12, Duffel, E-12 Saddle Bags and Daytripper Saddle Bags
https://wolfmanluggage.com/collections/enduro-bags
Enjoy the ride! Woof, Eric