please note. This ride report has been assembled from a series of blog posts I made almost in real time over this past spring and summer [2018] - which ultimately saw me riding back and forth (three times in total - 17,500 miles) across the United States and up into parts of neighbouring Canada onboard my G310GS fitted with the Rally-Raid Products 'Adventure' spoked wheel and suspension kit.

I trust this story and associated photographs will not only inspire by featuring highlights of some world class adventure riding destinations in North America, but also illustrate just how capable and versatile (and ultimately reliable too) this smaller BMW bike can be for this kind of day-in and day-out multi-terrain long-distance adventure riding...



Introduction: first posted in April 2018...

Catchy thread title huh?

Yes, I've only gone and bought a bloody BMW...


photo. a brand new G310GS - currently already in pieces on the other side of the country...

I have to say, I'm a firm advocate of Japanese engineering and technology when it comes to adventure and dirt/dual-sport bikes - they might not be 'cutting edge', but that's exactly why I like them - they're proven, reliable and they work - and I don't like spannering on bikes unless I absolutely have to. So taking a punt on a 'euro' ADV bike is going to be all very new to me!

As a good number of you reading this may already be aware, over the past few years I've been involved with developing the Rally Raid Adventure [wheel and suspension] kit for the Honda CB500X, and at the end of 2015 - after I'd ridden one across the USA and back again - including the full length of the Trans-America Trail - I bought my own bike and fitted the spoked wheel and +2" suspension kit, and created what I consider is the best compromise (ie. a genuine 50/50 bike that is equally capable both on road and off) adventure bike, certainly for the kind of long-distance adventure riding I like to do all over North America.

I've covered nearly 30,000 miles on my own CB now, and together with 12,000+ on that original Trans-Am bike, plus a good few thousand more on the UK development and demo bikes with John from Rally Raid, I consider myself pretty well versed in regard to that machine, and personally speaking have no intention of selling my own CB any time soon, or indeed ever...

However, while I've been able to handle anything I've thrown at it, I would concede that in some really technical off-road trail conditions (such as the infamous Rubicon Trail adventure Juan Brown and I embarked on at the end of 2016), a 200Kg bike can prove to be a bit of a handful shall we say...

So in that regard, I'm willing to give this new 'baby' BMW a try... especially as John (at Rally Raid) has been working on a series of similar wheel and suspension upgrades that I have fitted to my Honda, for the budget BMW - to give it the kind of high-quality on and off-road performance you'd expect from a brand that has built it's reputation on being 'adventure' ready, if not all that appropriate - especially the larger 1200cc ones! - but at least with this bike, the basic donor would appear to offer a lot of what the unicorn hunters are looking for?

As a quick run-down of the basic bike shows similar overall dimensions to my own LEVEL 2 Honda CB500X - similar short wheelbase, ground clearance, 17/19" wheels and 7" of travel front and rear. However, where the 310GS immediately impresses is that is is a good 25Kg lighter in weight than the CB, albeit is also has around 33% less capacity and corresponding power from it's 313cc single cylinder engine, compared to the Honda's 471cc parallel twin.

Fortunately, the six speed gearbox in the BMW offers a reasonably wide range of ratios, and it geared for cruising at around 70+mph, with a little more for over-taking (it officially tops out at around 90mph/140kph), so other than at high altitude and/or into a headwind, I'm expecting reasonable brisk on-road performance from the little tyke.

And yes, I say 'expecting' because I've only actually ever ridden one about 200 yards in 2nd gear on a cold frosty morning in the UK last month - so I honestly have no idea how this bike is going to ride in comparison to the CB - although I have it on good authority from Adam Mitchinson (from Rally Raid Products) who rode one for over 5000kms in the Australian outback recently, that it's actually a very impressive trail machine, and immediately grows on you - much as the CB does.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wko56LMl07c

So a couple of months ago I took a punt, and put a deposit on a brand new G310GS at a dealer in Virginia. The reason I bought one on the east coast is that my initial plan is to ride it back to California (where I'm based when I'm in the USA) across the country - on and off-road, proving it's all-terrain abilities much as I did with the original Rally Raid CB500X back in 2015 - sharing the experience with you here on the HUBB, and ultimately to then be in a position to compare and contrast just how well it performs in this sort of long-distance overland adventure role.

Then later in the summer I'm going to be heading north of the border into Canada (as I did last year) to explore some more, and punctuating that trip with a series of all-terrain 'challenges' wherever I can - in an effort to offer you a longer-term appraisal of what it's actually like to live with this bike on a day-to-day basis, and hopefully entertain you all too with some photos and stories about the people and places I experience along the way...

Of course, being that little bit smaller and lighter than the CB, I will also endeavour to push the boundaries between 'adventure' and 'dual-sport' even more with this new bike over the coming weeks and months - and am confidently optimistic that for a lot of weekender style adventure riders (of which most of us are if we're honest), this bike is actually going to be a near perfect compromise - in other words, BMW have already bestowed a traditional 'trail bike' with more comfort and refinement; while Rally Raid have further enhanced it's all-terrain ability with top quality suspension performance and a heavy-duty spoked wheel-set, together with key accessories such as a substantial engine guard.

So for now, I'm going to have to sign off - since I'm still in the middle of packing everything I'm going to need to not only build/prepare the bike for the journey back west, but also the gear I'll be wearing and carrying with me (including my usual compact camping set-up) into the smallest luggage system possible - as not only do Delta charge per checked bag, but I really don't want to leave anything behind, nor have to shelp unnecessary stuff with me on the bike back home.

I get the feeling this is going to be another epic adventure piglet - time to get in your papoose!

More soon,

Jenny x

Smaller bike - bigger adventure!


Part of the reason I'll be racking up so many miles on this new GS this year is that I've committed to presenting a series of slide-shows and seminars at a number of overland events this summer all over the USA and Canada.

Below is a list of those already scheduled, and if you're planning on attending any of these meetings and events yourselves, of course I'd be delighted to meet you - whether you're interested in the new BMW specifically, maybe want a few hints and tips for Packing Light, or are interested in the CB500X and how it handled my big trip last summer exploring the northern US states and Canada.


photo. My initial outline plan will include riding through all these States and Provinces over the summer, plus presenting at events (listed below) shown in dark blue - with more to be added as the year unfolds...


April - Horizons Unlimited Virginia (Appomattox VA) 26-29th April 2018. This will be the US debut of my new AV presentation: Northern eXposure which features highlights from my extended trip through Canada and the northern/centre United States on my CB500X last year. It will also be the official debut for the Rally Raid G310GS kit in the US.

May - Overland Expo West (Flagstaff AZ) 18-20th May 2018. Yep, less than a month later, I'll endeavour to be over at Overland Expo in Arizona, and you know what that means - another huge cross-country trip in between!

July - Overland Adventure Rally (venue TBC. Ontario, Canada) 6-8th July 2018. The North American 'tour' will continue with my return to the Toronto area, and the Canadian debut of my Northern eXposure presentation. In addition, by then I'll have plenty of miles on board the G310GS, so will be able to offer a preview [presentation] of my travels with the bike so far...

July - BMW MOA Rally (Des Moines IA) 12-15th July 2018. A week later is the annual MOA rally - this year being held in the middle of Iowa. The presentation schedule is still TBC at this stage, but you can expect to see Northern eXposure, plus a combined Q&A style seminar about the development of the Rally Raid GS kit, and my adventures with it so far...

August - Horizons Unlimited Canada West (Nakusp BC) 23-26th August 2018. I'm really looking forward to revisiting and exploring more of British Columbia again this year - plus the opportunity to present at the Horizons weekend too of course! By the time I arrive in BC I will also have racked up a few more thousand miles on the little GS, and hope to have some entertaining video of my further exploration of Montana and Idaho - in conjunction with my good friend and esteemed YouTube videographer Blancolirio (Juan Browne).

September - Horizons Unlimited California (Mariposa CA) 27-30th September 2018. Currently this is my last scheduled [presentation] event in 2018 - that is not including any additional dealer events, or the possibility I might head down to Baja with the GS in October... by now I hope to be able to debut a brand new AV presentation about this summer spent on board the new GS, piecing together the series of challenges together with some hopefully inspirational travel and adventuring.

Hope to see some of you along the way!

Jenny x

Some new gear...

While the CB is still the star of my [current] Packing Light presentation - and the Northern eXposure slide/video-show too of course - I hope to have some new/additional tips with regard to my latest gear and packing set-up specifically for this new bike (particularly with regard to some additional fuel capacity for those longer desert sections out west...)


photo. New Icon Raiden gear - this is currently my favourite style of adventure/dual sport jacket - it just works so well. The boots are the new Patrol 2 (complete with 'Marty McFly' lacing) - very lightweight, so great off the bike too. Personally I prefer suede palm gloves - hence the Klim Dakar and my trusty Alpinestars wet-weather option.


photo. Piglet gets a new papoose too! This is the Mil-spec Camelbak Mule - enough room for Piglet and my iPad, snacks, essentials, plus 3 litres of water and some maps.


photo. My constantly revised tool-kit. This year I've gone back to individual tools, based around a 1/4" drive ratchet. A few bodge-it spares, plus tyre-irons and a Bestrest compressor in the larger Kriega pouch. All this fits under the seat of my CB500X. Not sure how it's going to work on the GS just yet...

I'll have a few photos of my luggage once I manage to work out how to stash everything I'm going to need to take with me on the plane without falling foul of the TSA rules!

More soon!

Jenny x

Build preview... (from blog).

Ha - now that my friends, is what you might call 'moody' (in black)...



...and just wait until you see it with the tail-chop and the black spoked wheels - I can't wait to get my hands on it now!





Well, its been a manic few days here in Roanoke... but the bike build is finally finished, and I got the chance to get a few miles in this evening on pavement and dirt to shake everything down...


photo. I couldn't resist hitting the dirt - with just 13 miles on the clock!

There will be a full build report with plenty of photos to follow soon, but right now I really need to sleep... going to make a start on the Virginia TAT sections tomorrow!

Jenny x

Final packing...

On the CB all of my personal and camping equipment is contained in a Giant Loop Coyote bag, with all my tools including a 12v compressor stowed under the seat (and a spare tube tucked inside the left front fairing panel) which means the bike has tools and puncture kit on it at all times, while my luggage can be easily removed should I wish to trail ride unladen for a day for example.

However, on this trip on the GS I'm experimenting with a second bag (the Giant Loop Rogue) as a completely separate holdall for my personal effects - clothes, wash-bag, sandals, charging cables etc. - so that in a hotel I only have to open that one bag, and leave the whole camp and spares* etc. in each side of the Coyote with the top rolled down - so I effectively have three 'pods', with the facility to expand the centre part of the Coyote if I happen to find a must-have souvenir or get really hungry while camping ;o)

*It's worth noting that while there isn't room under the seat of the GS for my compressor, nor it appears enough room in the fairing to stash a tube in the same was as on the CB; there are still a surprising number of nooks and crannies under the GS seat to stow everything else (including my three MotionPro tyre levers) except those two items - which are currently carried in the Coyote instead.




Ultimately I'm hoping to refine my packing even further for this bike during these next few weeks heading back west - even to the extent of deleting the Rogue perhaps, although with my original zip Coyote absolutely full with basically the same gear I'm carrying this year, I can't see how the tube and compressor are going to fit without some extra pouch somewhere on the bike?

More soon - the TAT is calling!

Jenny x

Chapter 1 - Virginia to California

So, how shall we get this ride report started? - with some actual riding of course!

Day 1: Sunday 22nd April 2018: Roanoke VA via Marlinton WV (the official new start of TAT) to Low Moor VA

264.5 miles in total (inc. 135.5 miles of new TAT)


So I stayed up late again messing around with my photos last night, although I was still packed on on the road by 9am this morning:



As I mentioned above, currently I'm experimenting with a two-bag system (rather than cramming everything into a single Coyote) - with all my camping gear and the compressor/tube in the main bag with the top section rolled down, and all my personal stuff in the 17litre Rogue dry-bag on top.

I like the way it's divided now - especially as I don't have to even open the main bag unless I'm setting up camp - but at the same time, I feel it is not as compact as this bike really deserves. note. This evening I've actually managed to get everything into the roll-top Coyote after all, so it must be slightly bigger than the previous zip version!

Anyway, at least everything has proved nice and secure (after my brief 50 mile test ride yesterday evening), and with everything cinched down as tightly as possible, it was time to hit the road, and maybe find a late breakfast somewhere en route..

The official starting point of the new TAT is actually over the state line in Marlinton West Virginia (where there is food, fuel and motels), although the first dirt section is right on the state-line at the appropriately named "Rider Gap" on highway 39.

Marlinton was approximately 110 miles away from Roanoke, so I plotted a nice back road route that would take up up and down a number of ridges as I wiggled north, providing an excellent opportunity to help break in the engine some more.


photo. There were a trio of these lime kilns alongside the river at Eagle Rock.

I stopped at Eagle Rock, hoping to find an open diner for breakfast, but it looked like it was either shut up for good, or maybe just really tatty and everyone was at church this Sunday morning.



The next town wasn't any good either (my GPS needs an update perhaps, or is this simply a sign of rural economies failing... certainly parts of Virginia seem very poor these days), but I finally found somewhere that was in my GPS, that also happens to be right on the TAT route (typically when heading in the opposite direction), although despite it's shiny exterior, in comparison I felt the food was rather lacklustre I'm afraid to report.

cont.