Colorado BDR question

我正在考虑从明尼苏达州和做骑下来ing the BDR route. I am wondering from those that have done it about how long a person should allow to do it, and if my 2015 1290 SA would be a good pick or a smaller bike like a 690 or 701? I would probably have to trailer a smaller bike because of the distance, which I really don`t want to do.
Thanks

Suggests 6-8 days over in cobdr thread.

https://advrider.com/f/threads/next-in-the-bdr-series-cobdr.744112/

Larger bike = more challenge but doable if you are expierenced rider
690/701 = lot of fun / total blast

I have ridden the COBDR on a Gs1150 & 690. Personally I would rather trailer the 690 than pound hundreds of miles on highways.

Hi

690 is will be less fatigue and more enjoyable.

The big bike will do it .. just more work to ride

Good rule of thumb for riding in the West.... Always ride the smallest lightest bike that will do what you need. If you need freeway comfort and carrying capacity, sure, take the big bike. But I’m betting you don’t need it and it then becomes a hindrance.

Good rule of thumb for riding in the West.... Always ride the smallest lightest bike that will do what you need. If you need freeway comfort and carrying capacity, sure, take the big bike. But I’m betting you don’t need it and it then becomes a hindrance.

I'll go a step further to define "experienced rider" in favor of taking the 1290:
——站着舒适的乘坐
- Understand the concept of momentum with a big bike
- Evaluate your age/fitness level (11-14k elevation and you'll get winded easily especially when picking up the bike)
- Have moderate experience riding rocky sections of off-road

I've been riding since 2013 and I don't know how to quantify my experience. There's guys with 30-40 years of experience who don't do more than dirt roads so are they more experienced to talk about this than I am? I like to state definitions

I didn't find the COBDR challenging except for some of the major 4x4 passes around Telluride. I did Imogene Pass instead of Ophir because I thought Ophir would be too easy, having done it years ago in a 4x4 (very pretty though). I have seen plenty of videos here of guys riding Ophir firmly planted on their butts, going at a slow jogging pace equivalent and struggling with rear wheel spin. Once you lose momentum at that pace, you're right on the cusp of stalling, which often happens and then *poof* a tip over. If that's you on the 1290 then reevaluate taking a smaller bike.

The other 85% of the COBDR is suitable for a Subaru and is high speed dirt roads and some fire roads. I would find that very boring on a 690/701. With that being said, I would find riding from Montana to CO very boring as wellbut that's the 1290's specialty. Kick it in cruise and go, right? There's definitely a great amount of satisfaction having everything you need on that one bike and relying only on that.

Excellent counterpoint. If you are good, the big bike would be fine. But I don’t need the stress, and I do need all the help I can get! Lol

I am wanting to do this ride from toronto with my s10. Yes big and yes heavy but like a Swiss Army knife does it all albeit as a blunt instrument at time.

I don’t have the option of a smaller bike or would do it ie 700 st.

Hoping to find others to do the ride given my bike choice. If had a small machine would no hesitate to ride solo.

Doesn’t BDR mean ‘boring dirt roads’? I would think anything from a PW50 to an ElectraGlide would be fine.

Not in some sections and certainly not with the weather we could have.

When are you planning on riding it?

Well after July 1st I would think given the snow but I am open.erhsps last week of July first week of August

Later is better this year.

What do you recommend? Why this year? Lots of snow run off?

Yeah we are having a record snow year. The southern part of the BDR goes over some pretty high passes and we could be dealing with closures until July and then lots of run off.
Hagerman Pass, Westin are over 11000ft further south you could be close to 12000ft ( I don’t remember exactly). Some of the creek crossings could be pretty deep / fast flowing in July. Check bushducks.com for the status of the passes.

Hagerman is several miles of babyheads after you reach 10,000" or so (N to S route).

2-7 days is what most do.

A couple years back I rode my Tenere across much of the COBDR, no problems at all. The time of year plays a big part, a few monsoon storms can turn a great road into a muddy, murky, quagmire that will suck your bike in and clog up your brakes. It will turn into a nightmare. But catch a good week of decent weather, and you will have a great time.
There is a Tenere gathering in August this summer in Ouray, Colorado. Might be a good time to go explore the COBDR with another 50 or so Tenere's!
I will be there on my SAR

Wow great insight. How can I connect with that group. A heard of S10s. I would be in for that and plan accordingly.

Is there a thread out here with that group?