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I've been playing around with the idea of riding down. I'm bringing a lot of camping gear and my friends new to the ADV world. Last year was so intense! Somewhere near 40-50 hours on the bike that long weekend. Coming back home in a truck would be nice.

oh my, must be super frustrating! cool I have never ventured out that way so I'm curious on the terrain. sand, whoops, high desert (like the sierras?), or similar to last years TOD hard routes, or like Jimmy Lewis' training grounds I would imagine very limited cell service. I also forgot mention you could use Rever to track and share routes. Your tracks helped me find my way to the Husky Monument last year. Well I look forward to the adventure. I'm trying to sort out my route to Gold Point either mountain pass or not. I do plan on taking an extra travel days to get there and possibly pre-ride. Fellow Rider Westen is "trucking" it in, but I won't hold that against him! wonder if I can Tag him on this thread? Enjoy Last year snips of TOD. Hope to meet some familiar faces and new ones.

Yet another update... So KTM (USA) deserves some credit here. It appears they actually do NOT want riders having reasons to say bad things so they reached out to me and extended an invitation for me to come have their local dealer (KTM Murrieta) take a look at it. The guys at KTM Murrieta (Wilson CycleSports) are really good guys. They did what they could and even with an offer from KTM USA's master tech just a few minutes away at their HQ, were not able to re-program it to work properly. The answer really remains the same as before; I need to order a brand new immobilizer with a new set of keys. That's $451 and will take a few more weeks. The guy at SOS Diagnostics isn't giving up though. It sounds like he wants another shot at it and says he can make the immobilizer like new and then the crew at the dealer can use their XC1 computer to get it running again. That will mean sending the immobilizer and keys back to them in Portland. For now, the bike is over at KTM Murrieta. As luck would have it, one of their mechanics lives down the street from me so I'm hoping I might be able to bum a ride from him to go back for the bike if and when it gets solved.

Yeah I've been working on that but a combination of me not having a key for my bike and weather has prevented me from going up there to verify the tracks myself and come up with final routes. I hope to go up there this weekend. They got like 3-5 inches of snow and the weather this weeks looks clear and enough time for most of it to melt.

Getting pretty excited about this years ride! anyone else riding from the Bay Area? Also Eric-are you planning GPS waypoints on Google maps or Garmin? Braaap!

AltRider’s 6th Annual Taste of Dakar Ride Goes Full Throttle with All-New Routes from Gold Point Ghost Town, Nevada The 2017 Taste of Dakar promises something for everyone, including good times in the deep sand. Seattle, WA – February 16, 2017 – To celebrate it’s sixth consecutive year bringing together adventure riders from around the world, AltRider’s 2017 Taste of Dakar will introduce ADV enthusiasts to a new location and all-new routes for every skill level. From winding dirt trails and cracked riverbeds to towering sand dunes and everything in-between, the 2017 Taste of Dakar will take riders on an epic weekend adventure in Gold Point, Nevada, March 17th-19th. With GPS-led routes near Death Valley, five square meals, two nights of camping, entertainment and drinks, riders will also have a chance to win exciting giveaways, including a gift certificate for a complete set of Raiden gear: helmet, jacket, gloves, boots and pants from Icon Motorsports, as well as one of five all-new Voyager Pro GPS units from TrailTech. “While we’re primarily an ADV gear company, this event is about opening up the adventure riding experience in a way that everyone, whether they’ve been riding for years or just getting their feet wet, can feel safe and secure with,” said AltRider President Jeremy LeBreton. “When the riding community comes together to make inclusive events that combine a safe recreation structure with the opportunity to enjoy epic scenery and build meaningful relationships with riders around the world, you have the formula for a good time.” This year’s taste of Dakar will take riders on an excursion covering up to 150 miles of off-road riding, at the novice, intermediate or expert levels. GPS-equipped riders will run point and sweep for each route, which cover terrain ranging from boulder fields, dry lake and river beds to mountaintop single track and pristine dunes. After a full day in the saddle, riders meet back at camp to enjoy dinner, adult beverages and live entertainment from some of the most well known ADV legends. For those looking to brush up on their ADV basics prior to Saturday’s ride, Black Swan Moto will be conducting a one-day class on Friday, March 17th. Riders will have the chance to learn proper techniques from off-road instructors with 10+ years training experience. Body position, clutch control, throttle control and braking on large ADV bikes, terrain and traction over hills, dirt & gravel and sand, motorcycle pitch and attitude management, ADV bike balance, and picking up down motorcycles are all covered. Riders looking to join the ride that need an adventure bike can rent a BMW F800 GS or R1200 GSW at a special event price from MotoQuest by filling out this form. Riders can sign up for this year’s Taste of Dakar by clicking here. “At the end of the day, this event is about creating bonds with those who share a passion for adventure and enjoying the natural beauty of the Mohave that can only be seen on two wheels” said LeBreton. “Riders come back year after year because it’s an awesome experience, plain and simple. That’s why we love this sport, and that’s what drives us to always venture on.” About AltRider.com From their vast catalog of American-made protection pieces and other accessories to their annual signature rides, AltRider is all about giving riders the freedom of adventure. The Seattle-based company designs, tests and manufactures its products to function well, look good on the bike, and stand up to brutal riding conditions. Learn more at www.altrider.com.

Back to Painting tires for another week or so! Maybe you can sell 'em and get enough dough to buy the new set-up! I feeeeeeel your pain ! Good luck! RPM