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Crazy people that ride DH AND Moto, hit me up with some knowledge (pretty please)!

drkenan

anti-dentite
Oct 1, 2006
3,441
1
west asheville
I'm heading down to Argentina in a couple of weeks and I have this crazy opportunity to do a 5 day moto trip in Patagonia. The problem is that (even though I'm assured it's beginner friendly), I've never ridden a dirt bike in my life and I don't have any gear (I'm proficient on a street bike though).

Sssoooo....I'm faced with the decision to either go with my original plan of riding DH and backpacking, or getting up with a small group and do this trip. The moto trip is pretty significantly more expensive, but it also sounds like a true once in a lifetime opportunity, which is really hard to pass up.

Anyway, long story short, hopefully someone could tell me - is there some place I can rent moto gear and/or buy it for cheap (I think I need everything)? That's kind of the limiting factor here and I know absolutely NOTHING about what to get, quality brands, etc. Trying to read about it makes my head spin so I was hoping someone could point me in the right direction. Or just tell me that riding DH would be a better time.

Any help would be massively appreciated.
 

jdcamb

Tool Time!
Feb 17, 2002
19,800
8,384
Nowhere Man!
I went on a moto trip to Alleghany National Forest in northeast PA. I had no experience whatsoever off road riding. I had a riot. I am sure riding in PA is nothing like Patagonia to qualify....
 

drkenan

anti-dentite
Oct 1, 2006
3,441
1
west asheville
What do you need specifically?
I was hopin' you'd chime in...

According to the flyer, I need:

1. Helmet & Goggles (Can I use my POC DH helmet and goggles?)
2. Chest protector or jacket (with elbow pads, etc)
3. Kidney Belt
4. Pants with hip cushioning
5. Knee pads (Can I use my POC ones?)
6. Boots

This seems to be an enduro style trip with fairly long days (like 8 hours) for 4 days and then the 5th day for travel. I doubt I'm in shape enough for this either, but that's another story. And thanks for your help!
 
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Iridemtb

Turbo Monkey
Feb 2, 2007
1,497
-1
Dude do it. A while ago I had the opportunity to get a steal of a deal on a KTM. I went to the moto track and by the end of the first day I hit a 45 foot table top. I had never ridden a motorcycle and only had driven a manual transmission car prior.

Downhill riding experience transferred over in a lot of aspects. You'll be okay, just take it slow. It's a lot easier to get hurt on motorcycles than bicycles.

You'll be fine if it is, indeed, beginner friendly.
 

drkenan

anti-dentite
Oct 1, 2006
3,441
1
west asheville
Dude do it. A while ago I had the opportunity to get a steal of a deal on a KTM. I went to the moto track and by the end of the first day I hit a 45 foot table top. I had never ridden a motorcycle and only had driven a manual transmission car prior.

Downhill riding experience transferred over in a lot of aspects. You'll be okay, just take it slow. It's a lot easier to get hurt on motorcycles than bicycles.

You'll be fine if it is, indeed, beginner friendly.

Awesome - this is EXACTLY what i wanted to hear. Thanks!!

Did you use any of the same equipment? This trip is expensive (understatement) and I am trying hard to save as much as I can (though I'm going regardless because it's for a global conference).
 

jdcamb

Tool Time!
Feb 17, 2002
19,800
8,384
Nowhere Man!
I think you should never leave the hotel. It's dangerous out there.
Always make sure you find a hotel less then 5 miles from a Hospital, and or a Liquor store. To reduce the risk of getting bedbugs never stay at a hotel less then a mile near a airport or a bus/train station.
 

chicodude

The Spooninator
Mar 28, 2004
1,054
2
Paradise
I say go for it. Motos are the ****! dh riding has helped me a bunch but it does take a certain amout of time to realize that there is an extra 200+ pounds to the thing. if you get the idea of a clutch and gears you should be fine. First day I rode one I had a 450 that I borrowed and Im still alive lol

I usually use most of my DH stuff except the helmet and boots. A DH helmet would work with a moto but you need to remember chances are you are going to be hitting much higher speeds which IMHO is where the moto helmet steps in. If I am doing more tech slow speed stuff sometimes I will wear My D2.

I wear a pressure suit upper under my jersey and while its not a roost guard (Hard plastic) I have been hit in the chest with a rather large softball sized rock shot up by my friends 250 and I didnt break any ribs or anything.

You should check CL for boots and as long as they fit I would go for it. Alpine stars and fox make good stuff. I got some tech 8's of Craigslist in good condition for 100 bucks. and as far as the kidney belt I have never worn one so I can speak to the necessity of one. I dont wear knee pads but whatever you have will probably work. I have friends that buy the super cheap ones and used them under their pants.
 

Kanye West

220# bag of hacktastic
Aug 31, 2006
3,740
470
Just get some basic moto pants, make sure you have a DOT helmet (most DH helmets are nowadays), and some boots. Don't necessarily need padded pants, but having some kind of a chamois/gooch pad on under them certainly helps with long days. Any kneepads will work fine, and they get held in place pretty well by the top of the boot. Any sort of body armor will be fine.

Not sure why you'd need a kidney belt unless you're fat...you be the judge of that.

If you can drive a manual trans and can ride a bike you'll be fine. It's a VERY fast learning curve for riding a moto. As someone else said, sending long tabletops after a few hours of goofing around is pretty realistic.

If you happen to wear a size 11-12, I have some freebie boots from when I first started riding that I'll send you for the cost of shipping. I think they're 661 Comp size 12's.


As for doing that vs. pedal bikes...when ones asks "To moto or not to moto?", the answer is: always moto.
 

maxyedor

<b>TOOL PRO</b>
Oct 20, 2005
5,496
3,140
In the bathroom, fighting a battle
If you buy boots, don't get "race" boots, they blow for anything but going fast on a track. I have Fox Comp 5 "offroad" boots vs the "MX" boots, pretty damn comfortable for all day rides and you can actually walk pretty well in them. Definitely not a great track boot, but great for desert adventures. Get good socks too, I dig my smartwool knee-high socks, they keep my feet happy.

Gloves/jersey/pants/underwear/goggles/knee-pads, all the same as your DH stuff. As mentioned, make sure your helmet is DOT approved or better, but unlike DH riding, a slightly heavier helmet with poor ventilation won't hurt you too much, so if you do need a helmet, one of the $70-80 661/Fly/Fox lids will be just fine. Even if you don't wear some sort of upper body protection on your DH bike, you probably should if you're riding in a group, rocks hitting your chest at 50mph hurt. I like my 661 pressure suit, breathable, comfortable, and easy to move in.

Take your Camelback too.


I would definitely go for the Moto option, you'll see a whole lot more while you're down there than you will on foot or riding DH.


Biggest adjustment for me between the bike and the Moto is the weight. My 450 has a desert tank, when it's full, I can't hardly lift the stupid thing, so you've gotta use a lot more throttle and shift your weight rather than my bike that I just lift and wheelie into sections. If you can rid a street-bike and not die, you'll be fine.
 

drkenan

anti-dentite
Oct 1, 2006
3,441
1
west asheville
Thanks so much everyone! You guys have been tremendously helpful and I really appreciate it.

So I decided that I was going to go and then the tour people ran out of bikes (it's a pre-event for a global entrepreneur conference I'm attending). So I'm waiting to hear back, but there's a chance the I won't be able to go which sucks cuz I'm all pumped up about it now.

Hack - I'll PM ya about those boots if they find some bikes. Thanks for that - it's a huge help.

RM rocks.
 

kazlx

Patches O'Houlihan
Aug 7, 2006
6,985
1,957
Tustin, CA
If you can't ride a street bike, you definitely won't have any problems. My wife and I did a day trip in NZ on our honeymoon. It was something I would do again in a heartbeat and go back and do a multi-day trip no questions asked. My wife is not even a rider and she loved it. Like mentioned, you can probably wear some of your DH gear, the only real specific thing would be finding boots. You can get them cheap on sale or find a pair on CL if you need to though. The only other biggie would be a DOT helmet.

Do it:

 

jimmydean

The Official Meat of Ridemonkey
Sep 10, 2001
40,945
13,138
Portland, OR
I picked up a nice set of ATV boots. Same protection as a race boot, but has a hiking treat rather than the smooth (no grip) tread. I also either wear ATV pants with the zip off legs, or my Azonic DH shorts.
 

Kanye West

220# bag of hacktastic
Aug 31, 2006
3,740
470
Actually now that I think of it, I have two 661 Fenix helmets brand new in box in size S and size L. Picked up some extras on closeout and won't be needing those two. $70 each. I used to run a Fenix for a couple years and loved it. Really quality helmet, and I think they were $300-400 new.
 

Kanye West

220# bag of hacktastic
Aug 31, 2006
3,740
470
Also those Comp 5 boots by Fox might be comfy, but they have ZERO ankle support. My gf used them once and rolled her ankle in them hard, which shouldn't even be possible with a moto boot.
 

Iridemtb

Turbo Monkey
Feb 2, 2007
1,497
-1
Awesome - this is EXACTLY what i wanted to hear. Thanks!!

Did you use any of the same equipment? This trip is expensive (understatement) and I am trying hard to save as much as I can (though I'm going regardless because it's for a global conference).
I think the idea of getting used gear is not a bad one, especially for one trip. I say but lightly used helmet (DOT is better than SNELL rating because it protects better against slower speed concussions). You will need some boots. Buy a used roost guard/chest protector. Goggles are a total must. Pants, shirt and gloves can be had cheap if you find sales.
If you can't ride a street bike, you definitely won't have any problems. My wife and I did a day trip in NZ on our honeymoon. It was something I would do again in a heartbeat and go back and do a multi-day trip no questions asked. My wife is not even a rider and she loved it. Like mentioned, you can probably wear some of your DH gear, the only real specific thing would be finding boots. You can get them cheap on sale or find a pair on CL if you need to though. The only other biggie would be a DOT helmet.
Dude&#8230; that is awesome. I hope I find someone that dope someday.