Passes & Canyons Blog

As underwhelmed as I was with the latest line-up of Victory motorcycles, I was equally overwhelmed with one KTM, the 1190 Adventure. I rode a Victory Boardwalk and the KTM essentially back to back a week ago and the difference could not have been more pronounced.

The Boardwalk has a very low seat height, which is nice, but the high position of the KTM is not much different from that of my Suzuki V-Strom. Once you get over the need to feel both feet flat on the ground you become perfectly comfortable with taller bikes. I got used to it years ago with my Kawasaki Concours.

What the Adventure has that the Boardwalk totally lacks is pep. The bike is light but the engine is nearly 1200cc and that means fast. A really quick acceleration, light handling, very agile. And boy does it have the brakes to match. This is one of those bikes where if you squeeze the brake lever too hard, too quickly you could end up going over the front bars. That wouldn’t be a good thing, but operated smoothly, the KTM stops right NOW, right HERE!

As with any dual-sport bike–which is what the Adventure is–the seating position is completely upright and the pegs are down quite a bit lower beneath you, which makes for considerable comfort. I’ve been noticing this same thing on my V-Strom, and how when I switch back to the Connie or my Honda CB750 Custom it feels like my knees are almost in my chest.

In fact, I keep mentioning the V-Strom because it and the KTM Adventure are amazingly alike. The look, the feel, and the whole dual-sport design make them very similar. The one big difference, as pointed out by one of the KTM guys, is that the V-Strom doesn’t have 150 horsepower.

Bottom line was that I loved this bike. But I wouldn’t buy it because I do already have the V-Strom and the price for the KTM is about twice that of the Suzuki. The KTM is a wonderful machine, and if those two factors don’t come into play for you I would give this my heartiest recommendation. I loved this bike.

Biker Quote for Today

Ride off into the new year, and resolve to be free. Ride more.

There really wasn’t all that much that struck me as appealing when I went to demo ride Victory motorcycles last weekend but the one bike that did appeal was the Boardwalk. That’s it in the photo above. So I rode it.

The very first thing I noticed was that as soon as I threw my leg over the seat my calf came to rest against the hot pipes. That’s a good thing to learn quickly, and you don’t forget.

The very first thing I noticed when we started riding was that the windshield was too tall for me. The top hit right in my line of sight. That’s not a deal-breaker though, you can cut it down or get one not as tall.

The handle bars were wide, which I like, but the reach forward was too much for my comfort. I would swap them for the kind that come back toward me more so I wouldn’t have to lean forward so much. That’s another thing that can be fixed.

The Boardwalk does handle nicely. The seat is quite low, which makes for good stability, and the seat is comfortable. Still, I would want a back rest because with the forward position for your feet I know that my back would be hurting if I rode this bike for long.

The brakes are good, though not the kind that will throw you over the front end if you squeeze too hard. Acceleration is not rocket-like in any gear, although it’s best in middle gears. From a stop it takes time to get up to speed, just as stopping takes some time. I think this is a bike built for people who aren’t terribly concerned with going fast; they want an easy, mellow ride.

As with so many bikes today, the mirrors are too small. That may be good for how it looks overall but it’s not good for actually riding.

As for the particulars, the Boardwalk comes with chromed spoke wheels, floorboards, a windscreen, bags, and a backrest for your passenger. The tank holds 4.7 gallons. The tranny is a six-speed overdrive.

All in all, I liked the Boardwalk. In fact, having ridden quite a few Victorys over the years, I think I like it best of them all. But it’s just not the kind of bike I would buy. If it’s the type you like, however, it could be a very good option.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Only a biker knows . . .: Motorcycle wit and wisdom, #28

Biker Quote for Today

Farkling is a disease though…

There was one major theme to my weekend and that was motorcycles. I started off Saturday morning running over to Grand Prix Motorsports to test ride some Victory bikes and from there headed over to Fay Myers Motorcycle World for the Civilian Top Gun competition. When I got there I discovered that they also had the trucks in from KTM and there were KTM bikes to be test ridden. So I did. I’ll have reports on test rides later.

Then on Sunday I went to my ABATE meeting and there were some interesting bits of news coming out of that as well.

On both days I rode my Concours and I have to tell you, it’s weird how I now find myself having to refamiliarize myself with my different bikes when I have been riding one of the others lately. The Concours has been my standard for years but now the pegs seem so high and the bike seems so heavy, it’s just bizarre. After awhile I do adjust, however.

So I got down to Grand Prix just as one ride was going out so I had about half an hour to hang around and get signed up and decide what bike I wanted to ride. I ended up choosing the Victory Boardwalk. The group came back and I claimed the Boardwalk and off we went. When we got back I sat on the bike a few moments while I made notes about my impressions and when I looked around all the bikes had already been claimed for the next ride. I had a lot to do that day so I was not inclined to stick around so I left having just ridden the one.

I got over to Fay Myers just in time to find that the competition was halted for lunch. I ran into Dom Chang, who writes for Examiner.com as the Colorado Motorcycle Travel Examiner, and he was there covering the Top Gun event. Here’s the link if you want to see his video and article.

So I strolled around a little and saw these semis with KTM on the side. Sure enough, they were doing demo rides. Now, I had never ridden a KTM before so I jumped at this opportunity. They only had two models on hand, the Adventure and the more off-road oriented version of the Adventure, with taller suspension and other modes. I only opted to ride the basic Adventure because the other is the kind of bike you’d ride through the Sahara and I’m really not interested in that kind of thing.

After the ride I watched the Top Gun competition for awhile and chatted with Dom and then took off.

Then there were two interesting things that came up at ABATE. First off, someone made the point that if you’re going to run a poker run you legally have to have a gaming license. ABATE does, but how many of these other organizations that hold one run a year–and they are proliferating in number–who do have a gaming license? I guess the state just turns a blind eye.

The other thing is the MOST program. This is the riding training program funded by the $2 we each pay each year when we renew our motorcycle plates. It was the subject of much controversy last year but the legislature voted to extend the program with revisions. Well, now the changes have been made and even the people who formerly supported it are saying that if this is the way it’s going to be run let’s just get rid of it. Terry Howard, the ABATE State Coordinator, reported that at Saturday’s state board meeting the vote was in favor of repealing the $2 fee and then if the state can’t come up the money to keep it going, let it die. There’s more to it than that but that’s it in a nutshell. A pretty amazing turnaround.

Biker Quote for Today

If we don’t change direction soon, we’ll end up where we’re going.

If you live in Colorado this is not news, but if you live elsewhere and have plans to come ride in Colorado it’s important news. No one is going to be doing much riding in the Big Thompson Canyon any time soon.

Probably everyone across the country knows we’ve have major flooding here in Colorado recently but what has happened in the Big Thompson may have escaped your attention. I knew it got hit pretty hard but it wasn’t until I watched this TV news video that I realized just how bad it was.

Let’s get some history. Back in 1976 there was a huge flood in the Big Thompson that killed more than 150 people. When they rebuilt the highway they built it to prevent that sort of devastation again. Or so they thought.

In places in the narrow parts of the canyon where the road used to run right alongside the river, the new construction raised the roadway 20 feet or more above the previous level. Watching that video you can see that a large part of that raised construction got washed away. It’s an aerial view so it’s hard to see for sure, but the walls of the elevated portion seem to have come through reasonably well. Nevertheless, the decking, i.e., the road surface, is totally washed away in some places and substantially missing in others. Not quite sure how that happened but it did. So much for the best laid plans of highway engineers.

So of course you have to wonder what they’ll do this time to rebuild the road and make it last. The one thing you don’t have to wonder about at all is whether there will be any riding in that canyon in the next six months or more. If they just put things back the way they were it would probably take that long. If they try something new it will first take time to come up with ideas and develop those ideas and then put them into place.

The Big Thompson is a beautiful canyon and it’s a great place to ride. Just don’t plan on doing that till next year some time.

Biker Quote for Today

Half the adventure is trying to figure out when and where to stop for a photo.

There are a couple things coming up very soon that I want to direct your attention to.

First is the 5th annual Civilian Top Gun Rider Competition. The non-civilian Top Gun competition is for motorcycle cops. That’s an annual exhibition that is really good, with those guys putting their big cruiser bikes through tight turns that most people can’t even do on a small bike.

So this other event is for the rest of us, but don’t think for a minute that that means the riding you’ll see is second-rate. You don’t have to be a cop to know how to ride really, really well.

This thing will be taking place this coming weekend, Sept. 20-21, at Fay Myers Motorcycle World, 9700 E. Arapahoe. And it’s free–no admission charge. Apparently it will be going on both days so cruise on down, and prepare to feel like you really aren’t that good a rider after all, no matter what your ego would like you to believe.

The other event is a week later, Saturday, Sept. 28. This is the Small Bike Ride.

Todd Wallis is the organizer of this event, which is in its fourth year. Todd is a guy who likes to restore old bikes, and he particularly likes the smaller ones. So he put together this event–it’s just a ride; go have fun–for old bikes with engines 250cc or smaller. Or, if you ride a pre-WWII bike of any size you’re welcome, too.

Riders will be starting out from a spot in Deer Creek Canyon, 9880 West Deer Creek Canyon Road, to be exact. The ride starts at 9 a.m. and will be cruising–rather slowly–through the hills, for about 100 miles.

So go have fun.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Only a biker knows . . .: Motorcycle wit and wisdom, #28

Biker Quote for Today

Think of your thumper as a big pump, happily sucking and blowing down the road.

Morgan Sansotta, a die-hard Springsteen fan, blogs on behalf of Jafrum.com. People never believe she wants to leave the Bay Area for her native Idaho.

Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the Potato State — it’s the Gem State. And what a gem it is, particularly on a motorcycle. Idaho is, arguably, the most wild of all lower-48 states and, undisputedly, home to some of the country’s most majestic scenes and varied landscapes. In a single day you can zip from the sun-baked desert to a lush lake shadowed by towering peaks, past volcanic lava beds, through sprawling farmland and end up at a National Park. Unless you’re looking for the ocean or a shopping mall, there is something there for everyone.

As a young adult, I spent many years in the Idaho wilderness and plenty of those years cruising up and down hidden highways. Excellent roads, far-beaten paths and scenic detours are literally everywhere. It’s not hard to find your own slice of remote paradise, every few miles in some areas. The state is the one of the largest, and least populated, in the Union. With so many routes to choose from, I’ll just touch on a couple of my favorites.

Ponderosa Pine Scenic Byway

Straight out of the capital city and on up to Lowman, Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains, this is an extremely popular ride for motorcycle enthusiasts, hotspringers and all manner of outdoor recreators. Highway 21 is on a loop, making this literally, a round trip. While you will have to keep an eye out for rock slides and loose debris, keep both eyes peeled for the long list of wildlife calling this area home. Deer, elk, coyotes, foxes and birds of prey loom at every corner. Campsites are scattered everywhere on this jaunt, but don’t expect to see many roadside pubs or restaurants. If you have some spare time and a penchant for nostalgia, try your hand at panning for gold in the Idaho City area.

The Devil’s Tail

Hell’s Canyon is the deepest gorge in the country, a solid 2000 feet deeper than the Grand Canyon. No matter which direction you come from (Cambridge, ID off US 95 or the Oregon route through Oxbow) prepare for some gorgeous scenery. Be careful when studying maps, trying to craft your own trail – this is an extremely primitive area with loose dirt roads everywhere. Take a time out and let someone else do the driving – take a jet boat up the Snake River or a commercial raft down it. Or both (I’ve done it once and it was awwwesome). This can be a dangerous trail, all cliffs and blind curves, but the view of the Seven Devil’s mountains makes this a check-box on any biker’s list.

The Lolo Pass

Cut across the middle of Idaho on Highway 12 all the way over to Montana (another state chockfull of beautiful byways). They say that Lewis and Clark took this path, more or less, straight through the Clearwater and Lolo National Forests. This road is notorious for its rural curves. Some bikers have even complained that the 60+ miles of switchbacks gets monotonous. Be warned, there’s a 75-mile stretch in the middle with virtually nothing but Evergreen trees and gushing water. No gas, no food, no kidding. Also, be wary of the western half of the journey (towards Lewiston) – truckers and wide loads aren’t looking for you, but that’s nothing new. Idaho law doesn’t require riders to wear helmets. But please do. Other than that, make sure to bring your camera so you can take a picture of your mug next to the famous “Winding Road Next 99 Miles” sign.

Recent from National Motorcycle Examiner
Only a biker knows . . .: Motorcycle wit and wisdom #28

Biker Quote for Today

We are born without a road map and a choice of many trails.