fbpx

Gearing Up For Adventure

Adventure_1
Enjoying the full moon, a crazy dog, and cooler temperatures as the sun falls at Khongoryn Els sand dunes, Gobi desert, Mongolia. (Wearing KLIM Dakar Pro jersey an­­d KLIM Mohave pants) All photos by S. Owen.

Expert tips for outfitting your customers

[dropcap]O[/dropcap]ver the next six months, I will be leading motorcycle groups in Mongolia, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa, and Argentina. Being a guide for group motorcycle travel means plenty of riding in plenty of fantastic places, and in turn means plenty of riding on different roads, terrain and weather.

Choosing protective clothing and gear for my touring season is a challenge because there is no single, perfect gear set up to suit every riding condition.

Of course, this situation is not unique to guides. Every rider standing in the clothing and accessory section of their local shop has the same questions running through their heads as we do: which gear is going to offer me the most protection for most of my riding in most of my weather conditions?

Adventure_2
Rest break in front of an ovoo, a sacred shamanistic cairn. Customs dictate that we walk around clockwise three times, adding a rock each time while requesting favours or giving thanks. (Clothing articles are KLIM Dakar Jacket, and KLIM Badlands pants).

As I write this article we are on a three-day ride from Ulaanbaatar, the capital city of Mongolia. The weather here swings quickly between cold, wet and muddy to hot, dry and dusty. In four weeks we will be in northern Namibia and Botswana where the roads will be paved, there is no chance of rain, and cool mornings give way to pleasant afternoons.

Here is a look inside my gear bags for the next six months:

Outerwear
If I only get to take one outfit, this year it is the KLIM Dakar Jacket and Badlands pants. The Dakar jacket is reasonably priced, comfortable and water resistant. I am not concerned with total water-proofness from this set up. Despite my steadily growing percentage of body fat over the years, I have also becom

e less tolerant of cold, rainy days, and to help combat this I always pack in the BMW ProRain 3, lovingly called the big banana suit. I will wear this over an existing suit, even if it’s GoreTex because it provides great wind protection, waterproofing and is highly visible on cloud filled,
rainy days.

Adventure_3
Time for gear choice, Mongolian morning. (Clothing pictured is Leatt 3DF AirFit Body Protector and KLIM Mohave pants)

Because we run with a chase vehicle, there is often extra room to allow myself two sets of gear to help fine tune my gear to the weather. This is a luxury that solo travelers don’t have, and it’s delightful!  When I feel like a princess and the temperature rises, I ride with the Leatt 3DF AirFit body protector with a KLIM Dakar Pro jersey overtop, and vented KLIM Mohave pants.

If limited space in the chase truck doesn’t allow a second set of gear, a cooling vest under my regular motorcycle gear does a tremendous job of keeping your core temperature down. If you want to save the cost of the cooling vest, keep dumping bottles of water into your jacket and do up all the zippers, and don’t forget a wet buff around the neck if you are not wearing a neck brace.

Boots
I am a big fan of proper boots and have worn some version of the Sidi Discovery boot for the last 10 years. The same sense of security that some get when buckling the seatbelt around them in their car is the same feeling I get when pulling on these boots.

Considering that my feet spend their time hanging out on metal pegs below a heavy motorcycle, I’ll give my feet all the protection they can get. And because our traveling style involves a fair chunk of walking, I needed to find a boot that was protective enough to get foot, ankle and shin protection that still allowed comfortable walking to museums, look out points, camp set up, or hanging out at the bar. A pair of flip flop sandals will always be strapped to the bike somewhere to give the boots a chance to breath at longer rest stops.

Helmet
It used to be that helmets were made and marketed exclusively by familiar helmet companies such as Arai, Bell, Shoei, Schuberth. With the adventure market steaming along, clothing and accessory manufacturers have been seen keen to enter the marketplace. Touratech has recently introduced a new adventure helmet, and I suspect you will see others by the end of the year. My helmet shopping list only has a few points, and they are to keep it relatively light, give me a peek, and if the helmet has a visor let it stay in the up position while riding at speed.

For the last two years, I have been switching between the Arai XD and the KLIM F4 for off-road. The KLIM I will run with goggles and the Arai will be run with the visor up (or removed) as I love to be able to smell the air in the areas we travel. To combat helmet and wind noise, I use disposable earplugs with every helmet.

Pro Tip  –I recommend using clothing made from merino wool next to your skin and keep an extra pair of gloves buried in your luggage. We rode last year in Mongolia with a magazine editor who wanted to test his merino wool undershirt in a real world scenario – 15 days of riding and no washing.

Joining an international, guided motorcycle trip to somewhere special often qualifies as a highlight of a riding career. Much of the appeal of riding in remote areas like Mongolia, Namibia, or Patagonia is the distance from overt signs of civilization. This also means an increased distance from medical assistance should you need it. If signing up for these remote trips provides the incentive for riders to renew their own riding equipment, we suggest the same criteria that we use for our own gear – protection first, weather second, fashion third.

Like my grandmother used to say; there is no such thing as bad weather, just underdressed kids. Get out and enjoy it!

Rene Cormier was an around the world traveler from 2003-2009. In 2010, he started Renedian Adventures, a motorcycle touring company. He is also the author of “The University of Gravel Roads: Global Lessons from a Four Year Motorcycle Adventure.”

You May Also Like

Nothing But Good Vibes at Santa Barbara Motorsports

Santa Barbara Motorsports is working to make every door swing count.

Santa Barbara Motorsports

What do you do if you are running a comparatively small dealership in a comparatively small town surrounded by larger cities with much bigger dealerships? How do you effectively compete with those mega dealerships? By offering a clubhouse atmosphere, reasonable deals and top-of-the-line customer service.

Just take Santa Barbara Motorsports as a perfect example. The town of Santa Barbara, California, is medium-sized, an hour and a half north of Los Angeles and right on the ocean. The weather is balmy most of the year, and there are good beaches. Wilderness starts east of the town, with many opportunities for both on and off-road riding.

To E-Bike or Not to E-Bike?

When it comes to e-bikes, it’s the wild, wild West out there.

Thoughts From AIMExpo 2024

Next year, go to AIMExpo. You’ll be glad you did.

People Are Dealers’ Biggest Asset: Top 10 Ways to Attract and Retain Them

Lessons learned in a 30-year powersports dealer career.

dealership employees
Do Yourself a Favor: Attend AIMExpo

What possible reason do you have to not attend?

Other Posts

Rides4Fun Brings Curated Motorcycle Ride Series

A two-event series has launched for the 2024 season.

adventure motorcycle, rider
American Honda Announces Advancements to Africa Twin Platform for 2024

The Africa Twin and Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES receive key updates.

2024 Africa Twin Adventure Sports ES
The New 2024 BMW F 800 GS, F 900 GS and F 900 GS Adventure

The new F models are redesigned to dominate the mid-range segments by focusing on the riders’ needs.

BMW F 800 GS, F 900 GS, F 900 GS Adventure
2024 Benelli Models Announced for America

The Italian company has announced a lineup of seven motorcycles for the U.S.

2024 Benelli TRK 702