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New England BDR route

ShortRider1

Well travelled
Location
Wake Forest, NC
I'm working on an October run on the MABDR. No dates locked down yet. My friends rides a KLR ( won't hold that against him) we did the VA to TN TAT last year on our Urals. Looking forward to going.
 

EastCoastADV

Getting there...
Ran the NEBDR on my Guzzi Stelvio. The class IV's in Vermont were a handful on the big bike. It is a beautiful ride though and I'd love to revisit on the Himmy. I also did the MABDR on the Stelvio. Also a beautiful ride. I highly recommend both of them

This year a buddy and I are going to start the TAT with the goal of getting the bikes West to ride the UT, WY ( supposed to be ready next year), CO, NM, ID BDRs. Really looking forward to using the Himmy rather than big girl. Should be a lot more enjoyable.
 

modiorne

Well travelled
Location
Charlotte, NC
Ran the NEBDR on my Guzzi Stelvio. The class IV's in Vermont were a handful on the big bike. It is a beautiful ride though and I'd love to revisit on the Himmy. I also did the MABDR on the Stelvio. Also a beautiful ride. I highly recommend both of them

This year a buddy and I are going to start the TAT with the goal of getting the bikes West to ride the UT, WY ( supposed to be ready next year), CO, NM, ID BDRs. Really looking forward to using the Himmy rather than big girl. Should be a lot more enjoyable.
Outside of the bash plate update to the Himmy (done, thanks to AD Moto) and the appropriate spares and tire tools - what do you feel is a must for the Himmy for the MABDR (June start planned) and your TAT trip?
 

EastCoastADV

Getting there...
The MABDR isn't exceptionally tough and is mostly a really nice ride through State forests. There are however some water crossings and depending on the amount of rain before you go, they may be more numerous and moderately (knee depth) deep. If you were going to carry spares, it wouldn't hurt to have an extra foot peg, shifter lever and foot brake lever. One of the guys we were on the trip with on a Vee Strom broke one of each. I have folders on the Stelvio, so didn't have any issues. I would definitely have double take mirrors or similar, and would definitely have barkbusters or similar just in case of a drop because some of the area you'll be riding in is fairly remote.

I would say the number one thing though is the right tires. I always run Kenda Big Blocks on the Stelvio and they work really well in the dirt or road. They're a 50/50 tire, maybe with a bit more bias towards dirt. If the weather has been really dry before you go, the stock Pirelli's will probably be fine. If there's been some wet, you'll want knobs for a little more traction.

There are some stretches with a weird packed surface with something like pea stone on top, and you might find that a little challenging with a road biased tire. Not impossible, just not as comfortable.

It's a really nice ride, you'll love it. The Washington and Jefferson forests are gorgeous.
 

Justinitforthesnacks

Finally made it
Location
NYC
The MABDR isn't exceptionally tough and is mostly a really nice ride through State forests. There are however some water crossings and depending on the amount of rain before you go, they may be more numerous and moderately (knee depth) deep. If you were going to carry spares, it wouldn't hurt to have an extra foot peg, shifter lever and foot brake lever. One of the guys we were on the trip with on a Vee Strom broke one of each. I have folders on the Stelvio, so didn't have any issues. I would definitely have double take mirrors or similar, and would definitely have barkbusters or similar just in case of a drop because some of the area you'll be riding in is fairly remote.

I would say the number one thing though is the right tires. I always run Kenda Big Blocks on the Stelvio and they work really well in the dirt or road. They're a 50/50 tire, maybe with a bit more bias towards dirt. If the weather has been really dry before you go, the stock Pirelli's will probably be fine. If there's been some wet, you'll want knobs for a little more traction.

There are some stretches with a weird packed surface with something like pea stone on top, and you might find that a little challenging with a road biased tire. Not impossible, just not as comfortable.

It's a really nice ride, you'll love it. The Washington and Jefferson forests are gorgeous.
As someone experienced in this, are there any routes on the east coast you would recommend for an Adv novice? Dirt school, specific roads, etc? I’d be interested in doing more MABDR type riding in the future but don’t wanna get over my head too quickly. I’m in NYC and to my knowledge there’s not a lot within an hour or two of me.
 

EastCoastADV

Getting there...
In New England, there are some amazing dirt tracks that are really fun for a novice. They're mostly nice dirt roads. There's the Puppy Dog Route which is the northern border of Mass, runs all the way through Vermont and ends at the Canadian border. Beautiful ride.

The Trans Mass Trail which is from the CT border of Mass and ends in Western Mass. Another pretty ride.

There's the Hampster which is the same kind of ride, but the length of New Hampshire. Very pretty. A couple trickier spots, but you can work around them.

All of these are basically very pretty country dirt roads running under trees next to rivers, running through pretty little old New England towns. There is some pavement, but not a lot. All of the gps tracks for these rides can be found on ADVrider.com

For a dirt school, I think there's a group in Vermont that runs a dirt school at the Dirt Dayz Rally in NY. I've heard its very good. Touratech DirtDaze Rally |
 

EastCoastADV

Getting there...
Black flies are pretty much done by July. August and September are the b st months for those rides. Most if not all mud has dried up and most of the insect hoard are gone. October is really nice, but you have to watch the weather as snow in Northern Vermont in October is a real possibility.
 

G Man

Well travelled
Location
Northampton MA
Looks like a couple of buddies and myself are looking at doing the NEBDR over the last 2 weeks of June, starting at the south and working north. Then maybe the puppy dog trail back down through VT to get home. Getting pretty psyched, this will be my first big trip on any bike, can't wait.
 

EastCoastADV

Getting there...
You're gonna love it. The Himalayan is the right tool for the job. I did the Class VI's on my Guzzi Stelvio and it was a bit of a ball buster. Picking up a 600 pound bike in the mud and rock piles wasn't super enjoyable. The Puppy is a great ride too.
 
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