Rider Events

I’m sure more than once you have been in a situation where you can barely manage to deal with your mid weight motorcycle off-roads somewhere, and suddenly you see this rider over taking you as if you were parked with his/her 450+ lbs ADV machine. First thing after cleaning your googles is to think: How the hell….? Keep reading if you wish to read and learn the tips that are behind the eyes of these skillful riders… Wes Siler, on his article: how to ride a big, heavy motorcycle off-road, explained few things that, for some it might seem obvious, for others, a holy grial of wisdom displaying just in front of you. Wherever you are on the scale, here are some of his advices. Bare in mind, that is kinda taken for granted you know how to ride a motorcycle on comfy roads. Tip #1 – Optimize Ergonomics Optimize Ergonomics: “Before riding one off-roads, you’ll need to make it so you can stand comfortably and securely for hours at a time, while having complete control. First, put the motorcycle on its center stand or have a friend hold it upright for you. Then, while standing upright on the pegs, examine your reach to the bars. Can you reach them and move them lock-to-lock without bending your back, slumping your shoulders or otherwise contorting your body? If not, you can try and find more height by rotating the bars forwards; if that’s not enough, you’ll need to start buying new bars until you find ones that fit you. You also need to be able to operate the clutch, brakes and shift lever while standing, adjust them so that you can do so. Also consider the foot pegs. During an experimental ride close to home, try and stand on them for 15 or 20 minutes straight in your usual riding boots. How does that make your feet feel? Are there pressure points or is anything uncomfortable? Most ADV bikes have foot pegs that are too small for long term standing comfort and will need to be replaced with larger, “bear trap” items from the aftermarket. Standing effectively lowers the motorcycle’s center of gravity by putting your weight through its pegs rather than the higher seat. It also turns you into the world’s least elegant cheetah tail. Yes, by awkwardly hovering over the bike as it jumps around and slides, your beer belly will actually help it stay upright and in motion. Always keep your knees somewhat bent, your legs are your shock absorbers. Once you have a bike you can comfortably control over longer periods of time while standing, you can move on to the rest of these skills.” Tip #2 – Drop your pressures and fit good tires Drop Your Pressures And Fit Good Tires: “Typical road tire pressures are 36psi (front) and 42psi (rear). Off-road, you’ll want to go much lower. 20psi is a good compromise pressure at both ends if you need to hit both tarmac and dirt in the same day, but for off-road use only, I’ll go as low as 12psi. Consider what type of wheels you have before doing this. Cast aluminum wheels as found on the cheaper, more road-oriented bikes are weaker, meaning you need to protect them from impacts and keep the tires at 20psi. Spoked wheels are stronger and better resist deformation and allow you to “true” them back into shape. If you do ding them, so they facilitate those lower pressures. A lower pressure tire will be less able to cushion the wheel from impacts, such as hitting a large rock.” Look closely at any ADV bike you see in an ad, magazine or video where it’s jumping, sliding or doing anything ambitious on dirt. See those large tread blocks? Those are the Continental TKC80s, by far the most capable ADV tire for off-roads. Similar tires offers a trade always between grip and durability, to that, add a quite differential price tag. Tip #3 – Stay Off the clutch Stay Off The Clutch: “The advantage of carrying such large, 800 or 1,200cc motors is that these bikes have massive torque delivered low down in the rev range. Basically form idle. That means you can walk them over or around walking speed obstacles without using the clutch. Doing so gives you better control of the motorcycle and is less fatiguing. But, you’ll need to practice to achieve smoothness, do that.” Tip #4 – Except for the wheelies Except For Wheelies: “To clear normal off-roads obstacles like large rocks, logs, the lips of desert washes and the climbs out of streams, you’ll need to be able to hoist the front wheel on-demand. With your pink and ring finger wrapped around the bar, use your middle and pointer finger to quickly whip in the clutch lever. Roll on the throttle with the other hand and quickly, with control, release the clutch. That should get your front end up on one of these beasts without a problem.” Tip #5 – Steer with your feet Steer With Your Feet: “Find a long, straight, wide, empty stretch of dirt road and ride down it at moderate speed while standing. Practice putting your weight on alternate pegs, achieving the ability to steer the motorcycle while doing so. This is how you steer a dirt bike. You should steer an ADV bike this way while off-road too. Doing so puts less of a requirement on front wheel traction, which is fishy at the best of times. Got a slide about to go way wrong? Stomp on the peg on the side the bike is sliding towards to bring it back into line. Stomp hard. It’s the same principal as counter-steering and it works.” Tip #6 – Master the front brake Master The Front Brake: “While standing, bend at the hip like you’re doing a squat, forcing your but as far rearwards and as low as possible. If it feels like you’re about to sit on the luggage rack

Imagine riding your motorcycle through a unique landscape in the middle of the Ecuadorian Andes like The Volcanoes Avenue! Imagine following the path that was followed by Alexander Von Humboldt in the 19th century. He discovered lots of totally unknown aspects of the geology of the youngest chain of mountains on the planet. (It’s only two million years old!) Cotopaxi Going way back in time, imagine following areas that back in the 15th century were the main “roads” of the Inca civilization. These areas witnessed the Inca civilization’s expansion as they started to build their empire. Join us on a guided tour to discover the second-highest active volcano on the planet, Cotopaxi Volcano (5897 meters above sea level). This volcano is located inside one of the most visited National Parks in this lovely country. The landscapes offered by this region in the center of the country are unique and will become unforgettable. You have the possibility of seeing at least 6 volcanoes with snowy caps on top. Additionally, the area’s people add extra value. The region with the highest percentage of indigenous population is considered the center of the country. Our idea of responsible tourism involves respecting their traditions and identity. Immersing ourselves a little into these groups will give us a better idea of their way of living. Visiting the different regional markets (on specific days) will also contribute to our understanding of these great people. Ecuadorian Andes Endless colorful fields greet you. They feature basic products of the area such as Quinua, potatoes, corn (more than 40 varieties), beans, wheat, and of course, people working on their fields. Additionally, you have the chance to visit glacial lakes. Some of these lakes have the most enigmatic stories of the Ecuadorian Andes. Being up close to the place where apparently the remains of the last Inca king Atahualpa are located gives you an extra opportunity. Places that are not normally visited on a regular tour with other tour operators can be discovered by you. During this portion of the trip, we will mainly pass through the Pan-American Highway. This highway connects every capital city of each Andean province, spanning over a thousand kilometers here in Ecuador. You may have ridden on this highway somewhere else in America without realizing that it begins in Alaska, passing through western North America and Central America. Preservation reasons interrupt it in the area of the border between Panama and Colombia. This interruption is because of the Darien’s narrowness, which boasts a very high level of natural diversity and cultural presence. Stops along the way You can make interesting stops along the way. For example, you can visit “haciendas” from the 16th and 17th centuries to enjoy a coffee or simply explore the inside of these places. They are full of beautiful and tragic stories due to their age. Right before that, you can visit a nearby rose plantation, which will enchant you with all the magical colors of this nontraditional export of Ecuador. There is no better place for motorcycling than Ecuador. Through your visit, you will be supporting some communities, sharing their stories, and delighting in the landscape. Additionally, seeing happy kids smiling at you will make your trip even more rewarding. | Visit Us | THE VOLCANOES AVENUE