Thanks for tuning in everyone, we appreciate your comments. BDR’s mission has always been, and will always be, about the creation and preservation of routes for adventure and dual-sport motorcycles. By working with individuals, government agencies, and moto-industry companies, including OEM’s, that align with our mission, we strive to strengthen our community and better position ourselves to help preserve public land access for motorcycle riders for generations to come. While we hope you’ll view this film with an open mind, we understand that electric motorcycles aren’t for everyone. To be clear, Zero Motorcycles has been a great partner. They fully support the BDR mission, BUT in no way had influence over this route’s or any future route’s development or film production. Are electric motorcycles the future? No one really knows for sure. But, as the technology advances we have a responsibility to make our community aware of its developments and how it might impact riders, economies, and public land accessibility. Embracing the technology and riding electric motorcycles today is entirely up to you. BDR has no stake in what you choose ride. Big bike or small bike, gas or electric, the bottom line is - if you are on a motorcycle and are mindful enough to Ride Right & Ride Respectfully, we invite you to Ride BDR.
how many coal fired power plants for your electric power grid? how many wires and substations built by women and maintained by women would be needed to transmit electricity? What percentage would be mined in the 3rd world by children for this utopia? Maybe solar panels made in prison camps sounds 'green'?
@@rideordietheyretring2tranx382 Coal is on the way out: In 2022, coal was used for less than 20% of US electricity generation. Almost half of generation is now combustion-free (renewables and nuclear).
@@user-iu7sp9fq3iCoal is only going down in the US because of government regulation and the transition to Natural Gas. Coal use is going up in many parts of the world. 70% of all energy produced in the US is from Fossil Fuels. As the facts come out about how dirty "Green Energy" actually is, it will rapidly die.
Have you ever thought about companion audio content for each section? Maybe 30 minutes of content per section to talk a little about the area, history, things you're going to see? Riders could listen in advance before each section or maybe in-helmet as they begin each section. Just a thought! Thanks for all you do!
@@WadeMade You clearly have never actually done this. In trail riding conditions, the range of electric motorcycles far exceeds the range obtained under highway conditions, where the limitation is actually wind drag. Bikes like this Zero have more than enough to handle a BDR stage. Climbing hills has no effect on range. Stick to the facts, Jack.
@@gregshamieh6339 Believe what you want but having first hand experience with a Surron model x over the years on singletrack I'd say I have more experience than most. I've also modified the heck out of it and built two other electric motorcycles from scratch so I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to run these bikes and how they function. The fact that you think climbing hils doesn't impact the batteries is silly. Even with the largest battery on a super heavy electric motorcycle you are gonna be limited to a few hours of normal riding, maybe much longer if your basically crawling. Listen I'm not knocking electric, I think it's a great option for some people and a heck of a lot of fun. It's just not practical as an long range offroad application. Especially for a BDR where the stops are few and far between. The risk of being stranded is far greater than on a similar gas bike. On a ride where you are constantly going up and down in elevation it will wear on the battery faster than a flat road. Unless they plan to install charging stations on the peaks of all these mountains it's just not practical. There is an ideal usage case for all bikes and there is no reason both gas and battery cannot coexist. That's not to say under the right circumstances they could create a electic friendly BDR where the charge points are every 75 or so miles. But then again we have not even delved into the charge time discussion or how riding temperature affects range. Or how a typical 110 outlet vs a fast charger will massively affect your bdr enjoyment. Getting stuck charging on 110v will have you sitting and waiting 11 or more hours, that is if you don't blow a breaker, before you can move to the next checkpoint. That might not be enjoyable for most. Suffice it to say it's not as cut and dry as people think. Don't think you can go buy a Zero adventure bike and just go ride a BDR. It would take impressive planning and to be safe followed by a chase vehicle. There are often road closures that cause you to backtrack or issues with weather. So far I've only seen two long range attempts on electric motorcycles and they both where followed by chase vehicles with generators.
@@gregshamieh6339 'Maybe'....but it's become political. That's it. Enough of us are just so turned off as soon as the "electric bike is awesome" thing starts getting pushed. ENOUGH. I'm typing this during the month of June...🙄....get it? Political BS.
Normally love the BDR films and get excited to plan my adventures around them, but I noticed this wasn’t noren films and it felt like a huge advertisement for zero motorcycles, which I have zero (no pun intended) in owning. Still, thank you for putting together the route and i look forward to checking it out.
This is exactly what I thought. I love the BDR concept but eventually when manufactures are able to throw money at a 501C to control what its all about, its very disappointing.
I would agree, but I also understand there's a ton of work involved in putting one of these routes together , especially for free. At least Zero is stepping up and partnering with them. I'm surprised none of the Combustible manufacturers have...
@@peaceoutvanlife, ICE Manufacturers have partnered on some of the other routes already. Just look at the sponsor names at the beginning of the videos for other routes. However, this is the first route video that seems like it was turned into a commercial for the sponsoring manufacturer. I hope they contributed a lot more for that privilege.
@@peaceoutvanlifethat’s fair, but Honda has help sponsor some of the other BDR routes/expeditions and the participants didn’t spend the entire trip singing the praises of the Africa Twin.
The route aside, did Zero purchase the rights to "ridebdr"? If not this is the best commerical for Zero electric bikes I have seen. I kinda get the feeling the ridebdr lads have lost sight of the primary mission. Back country travel in hotels, really? Trading in tents for electrical outlets does not seem very back country to me. One has to wonder if the route would be different absent the need to charge electric bikes every day.
Thank you BDR for what you do for the off road ADV community. The Black Hills are truly a special place and it is really cool to see a BDR-X there. I hope you guys create more of these types of routes in the future. Well done. Looking forward to Nor-Cal as it is in my backyard!
Just rode this as my first BDR last week on the T7. So much to see and love the diverse terrain! I never planned a campsite. There are so many campsites on the route or just find a backcountry spot when you get tired. Definitely going to ride more BDRs! PS: apparently I rode the whole loop backwards… still great!
So glad to see the BDR organization is making shorter routes which more riders can access without taking two weeks off to complete. Electric ADV bikes are a 1st world offering since too many areas in developing countries couldn't adequately support the recharging needs. Limited fuel access is sketchy enough for ICE bikes as it is and gas anxiety already plays a significant role for those remote areas that I can't imagine what it'd be like on a Zero or similar rig. The videographer does a fine job of catching the feel of the route.
So developing countries have better oil and gas redineries? An electric doesn't care what the generator runs on, and needs less grid support than ICE motorcycles. Maybe search google for 'africa' and 'electric motorcycles' and you'll see they're big into adoption of them.
Love these documentaries! I cannot wait for the day when I can afford an Adventure Bike! But atlas, I just graduated with a master's degree and student loans ha... and I'm just a youth pastor 😅 Keep up the great work producing these films. It's inspiring so many to adopt this wonderful lifestyle!
Don’t wait for an “adventure bike” I bought a used 2018 Yamaha xt250 off Facebook for $3500. Is it a rocket? No… but except for extended highway speeds it will do everything I need, and a lightweight bike like that is perfect for a BDR.
@@RhodesTTU wow! Thank you for that advice. That's a reality I've been complementing... just getting something smaller. I'll check out that bike. Thank you!
Also, check out Suzuki DR 650, Honda XR650L, Kawasaki KLR650. These are all bombproof bikes you can find used for a similar price. They are all BDR and paved road capable. Best luck!
What a fantastic ride with amazing scenery! I will definitely be riding this route this summer/fall. Also, what a pleasant group of people to spend time with! Thank You
Thrill? Dude, you like babying a big, hot engine between your thighs, having to feed it a specific stinky fluid or it gets mad? Or an electric, which doesn't care what the generator runs on and is just twist ans go, so you can focus on the trail, not your clutch? How positively infantile of you.
Great video, thanks. The black hills BDR is on my list for next late summer/early fall. I would love to ride my Africa Twin, but since I'm old and ride solo all the time, I'll probably ride my KTM 500EXC. Also, I appreciated the info on the E-bike. It's not something I'll ever change to at my age, but it's great to see these bikes coming around for those that favor them. I've ridden a small one and was pretty impressed at the performance.
A buddy and I did this while we were out for the Sturgis Rally, but we cut out the pavement and the Wildlife Loop. That made it about 260 miles that we did in 2 days. We had done the paved areas earlier that week on the street bikes. It's a great ride and was an awesome departure from the chaos at the Rally!
Oh wow. Coal powered motorcycles. How green! Gag. The comments hit the nail on the head. It's a commercial. I was enjoying these BDR videos. I hope they leave Al Gore home the next time.
Coal is on the way out: In 2022, coal was used for less than 20% of US electricity generation. Almost half of generation is now combustion-free (renewables and nuclear).
@@user-iu7sp9fq3i Electrical production- 21% come from renewables. 60% come from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels, nuclear & hydro are able to supply base load power (24/7). Solar and Wind can't. At any point Wind can go to zero when the wind stops blowing. Solar goes to zero every night. Those are made up by reliable sources of Fossil Fuels, Nuclear & Hydro. Wind & Solar make up less than 4% of the total energy produced in the US. Fossil Fuels supply 70% of all energy produced in the US. If wind & solar were not subsidized and mandated by politicians & Governments it would not exist.
@@lbever454 Subsidies got the ball rolling, but unsubsidized solar and wind are cheap now. Look up "Lazard LCOE 2023". Wind and solar are now the least expensive electricity sources, and are pushing out combustion sources, especially coal. It's now often cheaper to build a new wind farm than to pay for the fuel and maintenance on a fully-depreciated coal plant. Even now, with the average generation mix in the US, running my Zero on grid power has the CO2 emissions of a gas bike that gets 200 MPG, and that gets better every year.
Nice filming. It would have been nice to have a list of the bikes you used. Not essential, but always interesting. However, the publicity for electric bikes are unwanted.
Electric motorcycles look fun but they're not ready to be used as real ADV bikes yet. We need new battery technology that charges 10x as quick and holds 3-4x the capacity and as many charging stations as there are gas stations. I understand zero paid for this so that's great but I have a feeling the reason you guys had to plan a route that went through so many small towns and spent so much time off the route at those towns isn't entirely because you wanted to.
@@superdukerandy that's very disappointing to learn. NorCal is such a beautiful area and it's sad to see such a limiting factor confine their route development.
@@deedeldeedle as opposed to a 1250 GS with 7 rider modes, lean sensitive ABS, Bluetooth, GPS, heated everything, adaptive cruise control, and a coffee break timer?
Excellent vid. Good work Mr. Hill. I didn't see a trail that was too tough. I could make most all looks like in my pickup. Great for my BMW or Tenere. So on the list for my out west trravels. I've done several sections in my western travels over the last 50 years. Always more to see and to experience. Thanks.
If you enjoy more difficult stuff they have amazing single track from easy to difficult with large ledges and hill climbs but also flowy stuff that runs along ridge tops
Charging is a pain the butt in the current generation of batteries and electrical infrastructure. It would be useful if they talked about power consumption so people could estimate their stops. Once battery capacity is high enough that you can just charge overnight it will become reasonable. Otherwise stopping is just too much of a pain in terms of time and route choice.
What I hear is the DSR/X is good for at least 150 miles at gravel road/trail speed. This is a 355 mile loop, and they suggest to spend at least 3 days on it and see some things along the way. Split roughly evenly, that's 120 miles a day and well within the range of the DSR/X. Charging overnight at campgrounds or motels means there's no need to charge during the day. Or, one can charge while having lunch in town, then primitive camp.
They needed to mention that for the first two weekends of August lodging will be full and at a premium during the Sturgis Rallly. And during most of the summer you will have to watch out for idiot side by side riders. They have no respect for other people riding up there.
Just rode most of this today on my CRF450RL. I did sub in some more technical trails, because just dirt roads get a little old. Amazing place to ride, just keep your eyes peeled for the hordes of rental SxS's doing dumb stuff....
@@MeerkatADV If they pander to an extreme minority, then the BDR will be what dies. I don’t care what people ride, but most people are tired of EV propaganda like this.
The feds aren' t "short of money" to maintain trails. Their goal is ZERO use. That's why trails are closing. They view it as "The King's Land". Electric vehicles would not need "promoting" if they were a viable option. They are not.
I dont understand why anyone would consider the Zero for off road. Not even considering the fact you cant actually ride it on a distance ride without stopping for an hour to charge. The Zero cant compare in ANY of the specs to another ADV bike at the cost of 25,000 dollars. This blows my mind how its subpar in every way but this is being pushed by the BDR people. Very disappointing!
I go every year to the black hills for Memorial Day weekend the weather is unpredictable to say the least last year we had 75 zero clouds first day then snow the next soooo good luck! Bring warm cloths and sunscreen lol
These says it all, one of the many comments that really hit home for me. "Normally love the BDR films and get excited to plan my adventures around them, but I noticed this wasn’t noren films and it felt like a huge advertisement for zero motorcycles, which I have zero (no pun intended) in owning". The pierced woke green communist/socialist agenda driven lie, were the heck do you think all those billions of lithium batteries come from-child labor is the answer in africa or maybe some were even more evil like china or rusia. Now were do you think all the waste is going to go? Just can't watch this propaganda all the way through.
Whats up With all the people bitchin in the comments about electric motorcycles? Whats wrong with you people? BDR makes a free video ,and entertains you, educates you, and takes you along for the ride.
People are griping because this is more of an infomercial and less of a BDR experience. Other expeditions have had sponsors such as Honda and BMW but the riders talk about the trails and overall experience and don’t try to convince people how good the Africa Twin or R-GSA are as adventure bikes. Just my humble opinion
...pretty sad what happens to a BDR route when you're hamstrung by EVs. They were wise to ride this in the Fall after tourist season is over; it'd be miserable May-early September.
Hamstrung how? There are charging stations in enough locations to do most of the BDRs. And I've ridden with Bill Hearne before, this route is nothing new and not oriented around the charging stations, they're just around now.
Ride Zero bikes have a range of 112 miles hwy, 150 miles combined range. Probably a great options for commuting in a city, but zero practical application for a trip like the BDR. This video is nothing but an advertisement, which seems to be contrary to the entire concept of the BDR. Money talks. Really disappointed.
The Battery pack on the bike in this vid is a larger pack for precisely this reason -- stated range in mixed mode is @ 180. The average BDR stage is about 110 miles. Staying at campgrounds or state parks will get you a plug, and overnight is plenty of time to get back to a full pack -- I've done this, it was a blast. I shared your concerns before I actually got in the saddle and tried it. Nobody is going to have to stop for charging during a day's BDR ride. The other thing that talks is folks with opinions that have no basis in facts. Really disappointed.
I stopped watching... I don't do commercials... I flip the station on t.v. and turn the channel on the radio and I am not watching your "save the world B.S." I have Zero tolerance (pun intended)
You done bumped your head if you think electric bikes are a good idea... Totally Delusion !!! Great Film though as usual despite it felt like a Zero commercial.
Zero aka Ev =evil. Never never owning one as they are a govscam Obamanation. Not wasting my time to charge. I don’t drink coffee. I own 6 motorcycles. Gas is better for the environment than Evil batteries. Other than that I will do this route next summer thanks for the great video.
Electric adventure riding is not here and right now. Where are you going to stop and charge when you're off road? Are you really going to stop and charge for an hour plus every 80-100 miles? No, no you're not. Besides the fact that you're not finding chargers outside of Metro areas every 80-100 miles, it's laughable to think that you're going to complete a BDR on an electric bike without sag support with a diesel generator to charge up. Electric vehicles are still city use only for all intensive purposes. Not until solid state batteries are readily available and the charging infrastructure expands to the point of gas stations have will it truly be a proper replacement for internal combustion
@@docwyte I do electric ADV riding, and it is not only possible now, but I prefer it. I've done 3 BDRs and the TAT on my Zero, all unsupported. Compared to road touring, ADV is easier in some ways. The lower average speeds improve the range on an electric bike, meaning you get much more seat time on a charge. These routes go into towns every 100-150 miles for gas and resupply. Towns have electricity.
First of all, South Dakota is not in the Mid-West. It is in the West. And I don't need to be proselitized into drinking the E-bike Koolaid. I wanted to learn about the loop, not Zero motorcycles....
This is the worst BDR I’ve ever seen. Electric bikes are a total joke for any ride. You need to understand how much it takes to produce electricity to charge electric vehicles. Total joke and will not ever watch a BDR again
They don't want to, because they know if they tried it, they would like it, and then would have a great number of previous words that would need to be eaten. 🙃
Please, please, can I borrow some electric. I always keep a special can of gas for the guy that is always bummin gas. He quit asking me for gas. Maybe I will have to wire an outlet backwards in the future.
@@CrissaKentavr I,ll just tell him I have solar and the panels cost 20K it will cost him a 100 bucks to charge. What do you think would happen if switch power wire on ground? If someone is bumming gas from me, I don't think he could afford an electric car.
as a guy who likes to DIY and learn that way ... im terrified of electric bikes ... and im an electronic technician ... Adventure and technology is a risky business
Ya I'll keep my old single cylinder, carb powered dual sport for the adventure rides. Nearly everything on my DR350 can be fixed with a wrench and screwdriver
I thought this was a BDR video not an add for POS electric bikes. Seems EV is never without charguing etc notes. Not a fan when you spend so much time talking about EV.
I watched this video because I love adventure bike riding and live on the east side of SD. I ride out to the black hills all the time and enjoy much of what the state has to offer. I also just bout my first electric can and will never go back to gas...it cost me $8.00 to go 400 miles..I have instant torque and would smoke even a sports car to 60mph. If you have solar at home it cost nothing to charge. So would I ride and electric motorcycle? You bet your ass I would, it's quite, very, very powerful and costs nothing to operate! BTW electricity is easy to find, after all it's been around for a hundred years. I bet there's literally billions of electrical outlets around as opposed to thousands of gas stations. I hope you having fun in the heat wave that's only getting worse cause you have to drive you dinosaur burning dump truck that gets 8 miles per gallon. When they're nothing left but Russian oil you'll be screwed and your kids will breather your crappy air....you have nowhere to go after you pollute the air...remeber we live on a rock in space:)
Thanks for tuning in everyone, we appreciate your comments.
BDR’s mission has always been, and will always be, about the creation and preservation of routes for adventure and dual-sport motorcycles. By working with individuals, government agencies, and moto-industry companies, including OEM’s, that align with our mission, we strive to strengthen our community and better position ourselves to help preserve public land access for motorcycle riders for generations to come.
While we hope you’ll view this film with an open mind, we understand that electric motorcycles aren’t for everyone. To be clear, Zero Motorcycles has been a great partner. They fully support the BDR mission, BUT in no way had influence over this route’s or any future route’s development or film production.
Are electric motorcycles the future? No one really knows for sure. But, as the technology advances we have a responsibility to make our community aware of its developments and how it might impact riders, economies, and public land accessibility.
Embracing the technology and riding electric motorcycles today is entirely up to you. BDR has no stake in what you choose ride. Big bike or small bike, gas or electric, the bottom line is - if you are on a motorcycle and are mindful enough to Ride Right & Ride Respectfully, we invite you to Ride BDR.
how many coal fired power plants for your electric power grid? how many wires and substations built by women and maintained by women would be needed to transmit electricity? What percentage would be mined in the 3rd world by children for this utopia? Maybe solar panels made in prison camps sounds 'green'?
@@rideordietheyretring2tranx382 Coal is on the way out: In 2022, coal was used for less than 20% of US electricity generation. Almost half of generation is now combustion-free (renewables and nuclear).
Very amazing, keep up all the great work😊
@@user-iu7sp9fq3iCoal is only going down in the US because of government regulation and the transition to Natural Gas. Coal use is going up in many parts of the world. 70% of all energy produced in the US is from Fossil Fuels. As the facts come out about how dirty "Green Energy" actually is, it will rapidly die.
Have you ever thought about companion audio content for each section? Maybe 30 minutes of content per section to talk a little about the area, history, things you're going to see? Riders could listen in advance before each section or maybe in-helmet as they begin each section. Just a thought! Thanks for all you do!
I used to enjoy the bdr films. I had to turn it off halfway through. I never watch commercials that long.
There is no future for electric motorcycles in the backcountry. The range gets destroyed upon the first hill.
@@WadeMade You clearly have never actually done this. In trail riding conditions, the range of electric motorcycles far exceeds the range obtained under highway conditions, where the limitation is actually wind drag. Bikes like this Zero have more than enough to handle a BDR stage. Climbing hills has no effect on range. Stick to the facts, Jack.
@@gregshamieh6339 Believe what you want but having first hand experience with a Surron model x over the years on singletrack I'd say I have more experience than most. I've also modified the heck out of it and built two other electric motorcycles from scratch so I have a pretty good idea of what it takes to run these bikes and how they function. The fact that you think climbing hils doesn't impact the batteries is silly. Even with the largest battery on a super heavy electric motorcycle you are gonna be limited to a few hours of normal riding, maybe much longer if your basically crawling. Listen I'm not knocking electric, I think it's a great option for some people and a heck of a lot of fun. It's just not practical as an long range offroad application. Especially for a BDR where the stops are few and far between. The risk of being stranded is far greater than on a similar gas bike. On a ride where you are constantly going up and down in elevation it will wear on the battery faster than a flat road. Unless they plan to install charging stations on the peaks of all these mountains it's just not practical. There is an ideal usage case for all bikes and there is no reason both gas and battery cannot coexist. That's not to say under the right circumstances they could create a electic friendly BDR where the charge points are every 75 or so miles. But then again we have not even delved into the charge time discussion or how riding temperature affects range. Or how a typical 110 outlet vs a fast charger will massively affect your bdr enjoyment. Getting stuck charging on 110v will have you sitting and waiting 11 or more hours, that is if you don't blow a breaker, before you can move to the next checkpoint. That might not be enjoyable for most. Suffice it to say it's not as cut and dry as people think. Don't think you can go buy a Zero adventure bike and just go ride a BDR. It would take impressive planning and to be safe followed by a chase vehicle. There are often road closures that cause you to backtrack or issues with weather. So far I've only seen two long range attempts on electric motorcycles and they both where followed by chase vehicles with generators.
@@gregshamieh6339 'Maybe'....but it's become political. That's it. Enough of us are just so turned off as soon as the "electric bike is awesome" thing starts getting pushed. ENOUGH. I'm typing this during the month of June...🙄....get it?
Political BS.
Normally love the BDR films and get excited to plan my adventures around them, but I noticed this wasn’t noren films and it felt like a huge advertisement for zero motorcycles, which I have zero (no pun intended) in owning.
Still, thank you for putting together the route and i look forward to checking it out.
Agreed. Beautiful ad for motorcycles that aren't good for adventure
This is exactly what I thought. I love the BDR concept but eventually when manufactures are able to throw money at a 501C to control what its all about, its very disappointing.
I would agree, but I also understand there's a ton of work involved in putting one of these routes together , especially for free. At least Zero is stepping up and partnering with them. I'm surprised none of the Combustible manufacturers have...
@@peaceoutvanlife, ICE Manufacturers have partnered on some of the other routes already. Just look at the sponsor names at the beginning of the videos for other routes. However, this is the first route video that seems like it was turned into a commercial for the sponsoring manufacturer. I hope they contributed a lot more for that privilege.
@@peaceoutvanlifethat’s fair, but Honda has help sponsor some of the other BDR routes/expeditions and the participants didn’t spend the entire trip singing the praises of the Africa Twin.
The route aside, did Zero purchase the rights to "ridebdr"? If not this is the best commerical for Zero electric bikes I have seen. I kinda get the feeling the ridebdr lads have lost sight of the primary mission. Back country travel in hotels, really? Trading in tents for electrical outlets does not seem very back country to me. One has to wonder if the route would be different absent the need to charge electric bikes every day.
Electric bikes don't care what the generator runs on. Gas, propane, solar, wind. It does not care.
Doesn't matter how good the commercial is, Until gas motorcycles are not available I will never go for the electric
Thank you BDR for what you do for the off road ADV community. The Black Hills are truly a special place and it is really cool to see a BDR-X there. I hope you guys create more of these types of routes in the future. Well done. Looking forward to Nor-Cal as it is in my backyard!
Just rode this as my first BDR last week on the T7. So much to see and love the diverse terrain! I never planned a campsite. There are so many campsites on the route or just find a backcountry spot when you get tired. Definitely going to ride more BDRs!
PS: apparently I rode the whole loop backwards… still great!
Any favorite campsites? I'm heading there in a couple of weeks
So glad to see the BDR organization is making shorter routes which more riders can access without taking two weeks off to complete. Electric ADV bikes are a 1st world offering since too many areas in developing countries couldn't adequately support the recharging needs. Limited fuel access is sketchy enough for ICE bikes as it is and gas anxiety already plays a significant role for those remote areas that I can't imagine what it'd be like on a Zero or similar rig. The videographer does a fine job of catching the feel of the route.
So developing countries have better oil and gas redineries?
An electric doesn't care what the generator runs on, and needs less grid support than ICE motorcycles.
Maybe search google for 'africa' and 'electric motorcycles' and you'll see they're big into adoption of them.
Thank you so much for creating and releasing this beautifully done film. 5-Stars!
Bill is a legend. So glad he was involved.
Yeah I want him to go with me😂
@@peaceoutvanlife I actually got to ride with him for a few days during the Dakota 600 event last July. Great guide and rider!
Love these documentaries!
I cannot wait for the day when I can afford an Adventure Bike! But atlas, I just graduated with a master's degree and student loans ha... and I'm just a youth pastor 😅
Keep up the great work producing these films. It's inspiring so many to adopt this wonderful lifestyle!
Don’t wait for an “adventure bike” I bought a used 2018 Yamaha xt250 off Facebook for $3500. Is it a rocket? No… but except for extended highway speeds it will do everything I need, and a lightweight bike like that is perfect for a BDR.
@@RhodesTTU wow! Thank you for that advice. That's a reality I've been complementing... just getting something smaller.
I'll check out that bike. Thank you!
KLR 650- great bike at a great price👍
@@LeroyJenkins-ul1kb I’ll check it out! Thanks for the advice
Also, check out Suzuki DR 650, Honda XR650L, Kawasaki KLR650.
These are all bombproof bikes you can find used for a similar price. They are all BDR and paved road capable.
Best luck!
What a fantastic ride with amazing scenery! I will definitely be riding this route this summer/fall.
Also, what a pleasant group of people to spend time with!
Thank You
Electric off road riding, that’s funny! Your motorcycle boots better be good for hiking back in.
Zero tents. BDRing for me has to include tents. Looks beautiful but the video felt a little too much like an infomercial for my taste.
Looks like a great route. Zero interest in electric motorcycles! pun intended.
Absolutely agree! Electric will never be able to replace that thrill and sound or gas engines!
100% agree
100%
Thrill?
Dude, you like babying a big, hot engine between your thighs, having to feed it a specific stinky fluid or it gets mad?
Or an electric, which doesn't care what the generator runs on and is just twist ans go, so you can focus on the trail, not your clutch?
How positively infantile of you.
@@Devastator123i thought that and tested one. The instant torque is pure cocaine.
Great video, thanks. The black hills BDR is on my list for next late summer/early fall. I would love to ride my Africa Twin, but since I'm old and ride solo all the time, I'll probably ride my KTM 500EXC.
Also, I appreciated the info on the E-bike. It's not something I'll ever change to at my age, but it's great to see these bikes coming around for those that favor them. I've ridden a small one and was pretty impressed at the performance.
A buddy and I did this while we were out for the Sturgis Rally, but we cut out the pavement and the Wildlife Loop. That made it about 260 miles that we did in 2 days. We had done the paved areas earlier that week on the street bikes. It's a great ride and was an awesome departure from the chaos at the Rally!
Oh wow. Coal powered motorcycles. How green! Gag. The comments hit the nail on the head. It's a commercial. I was enjoying these BDR videos. I hope they leave Al Gore home the next time.
Coal is on the way out: In 2022, coal was used for less than 20% of US electricity generation. Almost half of generation is now combustion-free (renewables and nuclear).
Electrics don't care what the generator runs on... solar, wind, propane, mine never complains.
@@user-iu7sp9fq3i Electrical production- 21% come from renewables. 60% come from fossil fuels. Fossil fuels, nuclear & hydro are able to supply base load power (24/7). Solar and Wind can't. At any point Wind can go to zero when the wind stops blowing. Solar goes to zero every night. Those are made up by reliable sources of Fossil Fuels, Nuclear & Hydro. Wind & Solar make up less than 4% of the total energy produced in the US. Fossil Fuels supply 70% of all energy produced in the US. If wind & solar were not subsidized and mandated by politicians & Governments it would not exist.
@@lbever454 Subsidies got the ball rolling, but unsubsidized solar and wind are cheap now. Look up "Lazard LCOE 2023". Wind and solar are now the least expensive electricity sources, and are pushing out combustion sources, especially coal. It's now often cheaper to build a new wind farm than to pay for the fuel and maintenance on a fully-depreciated coal plant. Even now, with the average generation mix in the US, running my Zero on grid power has the CO2 emissions of a gas bike that gets 200 MPG, and that gets better every year.
As usual, BDR delivers at the time of cold weather in NorthEast. Thank you for this, its welcome as a fire on a cold day.
Looks like a fun route! Colors were incredible
Nice filming. It would have been nice to have a list of the bikes you used. Not essential, but always interesting. However, the publicity for electric bikes are unwanted.
Electric motorcycles look fun but they're not ready to be used as real ADV bikes yet. We need new battery technology that charges 10x as quick and holds 3-4x the capacity and as many charging stations as there are gas stations. I understand zero paid for this so that's great but I have a feeling the reason you guys had to plan a route that went through so many small towns and spent so much time off the route at those towns isn't entirely because you wanted to.
@@superdukerandy that's very disappointing to learn. NorCal is such a beautiful area and it's sad to see such a limiting factor confine their route development.
That was my thought as well.. probably missed some awesome stuff to get to chargers
@@superdukerandythey planned the Norcal route as an introductory route, not around the charging stations.
Kinda thought the idea of a BDR was to get out in the back country to escape technology…🤷
@@deedeldeedle as opposed to a 1250 GS with 7 rider modes, lean sensitive ABS, Bluetooth, GPS, heated everything, adaptive cruise control, and a coffee break timer?
Such an amazing journey, looks like so much fun!
Excellent vid. Good work Mr. Hill. I didn't see a trail that was too tough. I could make most all looks like in my pickup. Great for my BMW or Tenere. So on the list for my out west trravels. I've done several sections in my western travels over the last 50 years. Always more to see and to experience. Thanks.
If you enjoy more difficult stuff they have amazing single track from easy to difficult with large ledges and hill climbs but also flowy stuff that runs along ridge tops
Just did the second leg and that rocky downhill is no joke! Plus the route is pretty rutted out in areas right now.
Such a great route!!
33 minute Zero commercial
Charging is a pain the butt in the current generation of batteries and electrical infrastructure. It would be useful if they talked about power consumption so people could estimate their stops. Once battery capacity is high enough that you can just charge overnight it will become reasonable. Otherwise stopping is just too much of a pain in terms of time and route choice.
What I hear is the DSR/X is good for at least 150 miles at gravel road/trail speed. This is a 355 mile loop, and they suggest to spend at least 3 days on it and see some things along the way. Split roughly evenly, that's 120 miles a day and well within the range of the DSR/X. Charging overnight at campgrounds or motels means there's no need to charge during the day. Or, one can charge while having lunch in town, then primitive camp.
Was nice riding the BDRX in SD, skipped the expert section. But great roads. Was nice meeting the BDR team at the Chip
We rolled up to Cement Ridge lookout in our Avalon. Good times!
Wish you highlighted the 70 or so miles of single track some of the best I’ve ridden
All I can say is thank you. 😊😃😳
Thank you for developing a route in my back yard. I just completed the BHBDR-X on my '03 1150 GS, an amazing 2 and a half days of solo amazingness!!!
Brilliant!
I'm all for electric bikes, but part of this does feel like an ad for Zero.
THANKS
Very cool!👍🏻
They needed to mention that for the first two weekends of August lodging will be full and at a premium during the Sturgis Rallly. And during most of the summer you will have to watch out for idiot side by side riders. They have no respect for other people riding up there.
Stick to the single track south of deadwood!
Just rode most of this today on my CRF450RL. I did sub in some more technical trails, because just dirt roads get a little old. Amazing place to ride, just keep your eyes peeled for the hordes of rental SxS's doing dumb stuff....
another in the saga!
Nebraska should be next. I finished some great trails through Nebraska.
Nah. Nothing to see here……….😂
Nice Zero commercial with some BDR thrown in.🙄
Adapt or die. The BDRs wouldn't exist without sponsors. CABDR was sponsored by KTM, NEBDR by BMW, that's just how it works.
@@MeerkatADV If they pander to an extreme minority, then the BDR will be what dies. I don’t care what people ride, but most people are tired of EV propaganda like this.
@RiderjayV
100% - $30k in bike and gear to ride to a Starbucks and charge your bike🤣
Don’t watch, easy enough.
Maybe you should start a company hire people and try to support it. You don’t deserve another click on BDR.
Many thanks for your dedication and giving back!!! How can I reach some one ask questions about this route?
The feds aren' t "short of money" to maintain trails. Their goal is ZERO use. That's why trails are closing. They view it as "The King's Land". Electric vehicles would not need "promoting" if they were a viable option. They are not.
How much of this route is pavement?
I love Zero Motorcycles, I really want to try a BDR on one when I get the chance.
I dont understand why anyone would consider the Zero for off road. Not even considering the fact you cant actually ride it on a distance ride without stopping for an hour to charge. The Zero cant compare in ANY of the specs to another ADV bike at the cost of 25,000 dollars. This blows my mind how its subpar in every way but this is being pushed by the BDR people. Very disappointing!
What the earliest time of year for this route?
I go every year to the black hills for Memorial Day weekend the weather is unpredictable to say the least last year we had 75 zero clouds first day then snow the next soooo good luck! Bring warm cloths and sunscreen lol
Is there an offline or paper map I can get for these routes?
Yes, you can download a free PDF map for this route at RideBDR.com/BlackHills!
Is this a BDR documentary, or an electric bike commercial?
WTH
I love all the BDR vids but seems like everyone always going so fast how do they all the scenery???
We know you need money and support for this stuff but just admit that when doing an add like this . Everyone loves all these routes .
can a zero motorcycle do 100K miles and still have a minimum of 10% battery degradation?
Yes.
Electrics aren't degraded by miles so much as time and heat. The more miles you put on them, the cheaper they are.
Great commercial.
Love what you guys used to do. Too bad you had to turn it into an advertisement for Zero.
Fine finding 1 or 2 outlets for two bikes. Imagine if there were 20? 40?
I’d hate to run sweep on that ride… imagine the dust 😂
The restaurant would not be there the next year, he would be broke. ICE bikes carry spare gas. Let them carry a backpack of batteries.
@@ruds2600 it costs more to run refrigerator than it does to charge an electric motorcycle
@@AdventuresonZero Believe it or not.
You ride off road in a group of 40?
Of course they took Zero’s money for this one. The segments are so short they don’t have worry about running out of charge.
Never on an E bike never.
You lost me at electric adventure riding 😅
These says it all, one of the many comments that really hit home for me. "Normally love the BDR films and get excited to plan my adventures around them, but I noticed this wasn’t noren films and it felt like a huge advertisement for zero motorcycles, which I have zero (no pun intended) in owning". The pierced woke green communist/socialist agenda driven lie, were the heck do you think all those billions of lithium batteries come from-child labor is the answer in africa or maybe some were even more evil like china or rusia. Now were do you think all the waste is going to go? Just can't watch this propaganda all the way through.
Whats up With all the people bitchin in the comments about electric motorcycles? Whats wrong with you people? BDR makes a free video ,and entertains you, educates you, and takes you along for the ride.
People are griping because this is more of an infomercial and less of a BDR experience. Other expeditions have had sponsors such as Honda and BMW but the riders talk about the trails and overall experience and don’t try to convince people how good the Africa Twin or R-GSA are as adventure bikes. Just my humble opinion
...pretty sad what happens to a BDR route when you're hamstrung by EVs. They were wise to ride this in the Fall after tourist season is over; it'd be miserable May-early September.
Hamstrung how? There are charging stations in enough locations to do most of the BDRs. And I've ridden with Bill Hearne before, this route is nothing new and not oriented around the charging stations, they're just around now.
As opposed to when you're hamstrung by gasoline and support trucks?
EVs don't care where the electricity comes from.
Zero interest in Zero . And won't support them either . Very bad .
Ride Zero bikes have a range of 112 miles hwy, 150 miles combined range. Probably a great options for commuting in a city, but zero practical application for a trip like the BDR. This video is nothing but an advertisement, which seems to be contrary to the entire concept of the BDR. Money talks. Really disappointed.
I've done 3 BDRs on my Zero. Charging stations are in many towns along these routes, plus you can charge at campgrounds and motels.
The Battery pack on the bike in this vid is a larger pack for precisely this reason -- stated range in mixed mode is @ 180. The average BDR stage is about 110 miles. Staying at campgrounds or state parks will get you a plug, and overnight is plenty of time to get back to a full pack -- I've done this, it was a blast. I shared your concerns before I actually got in the saddle and tried it. Nobody is going to have to stop for charging during a day's BDR ride. The other thing that talks is folks with opinions that have no basis in facts. Really disappointed.
I hate that these have become commercials for electric bikes.
Major fail by not going through the town of Hot Springs. 🤦♂️
Adam Reiman needs to start producing these...sorry.
I stopped watching... I don't do commercials... I flip the station on t.v. and turn the channel on the radio and I am not watching your "save the world B.S." I have Zero tolerance (pun intended)
Pretty sad to see BDR becoming like a posh hipster club, full of resort hotels and waiting around for chargers.
Bills a good man! Just think if we weren’t giving billions to other countries and illegals how much we could do to keep our country nice!
I have zero interest in electric bikes.
They're Bisons, not buffalo.
Please, PLEASE!! For the love of God, do NOT do a MTBDR!! Stay in California!!!!
You done bumped your head if you think electric bikes are a good idea... Totally Delusion !!! Great Film though as usual despite it felt like a Zero commercial.
This was okay. Seemed more like an electric moto video instead of a BDR-X promo. Zero interest in Zero EV's.
Perez Mary Moore Betty Young Donna
Definitely a commercial for zero motorcycles, slightly cringe sorry.
EV not for me, I like BDR I don’t like WEF.
You do know there are NO mountains in South Dakota right?! 😂😂
screw electric!!!!!!!!!!
Zero aka Ev =evil. Never never owning one as they are a govscam Obamanation. Not wasting my time to charge. I don’t drink coffee. I own 6 motorcycles. Gas is better for the environment than Evil batteries. Other than that I will do this route next summer thanks for the great video.
Whats with this reality show format, constant talking heads? Show the trip, the route as its happening instead. All the best for TEAM BDR🤙
Electric adventure riding is not here and right now. Where are you going to stop and charge when you're off road? Are you really going to stop and charge for an hour plus every 80-100 miles? No, no you're not. Besides the fact that you're not finding chargers outside of Metro areas every 80-100 miles, it's laughable to think that you're going to complete a BDR on an electric bike without sag support with a diesel generator to charge up. Electric vehicles are still city use only for all intensive purposes. Not until solid state batteries are readily available and the charging infrastructure expands to the point of gas stations have will it truly be a proper replacement for internal combustion
There are charging stations in enough locations to do most of the BDRs. You can see them on the interactive map.
@@MeerkatADV while that might be, that doesn't address any of the other issues of electric vehicles, which are amplified while adventure riding
@@docwyte you didn't bring up any other issues.
@@MeerkatADV Range and charging time. Let's not discuss infrastructure with broken chargers or if the chargers are all in use
@@docwyte I do electric ADV riding, and it is not only possible now, but I prefer it. I've done 3 BDRs and the TAT on my Zero, all unsupported. Compared to road touring, ADV is easier in some ways. The lower average speeds improve the range on an electric bike, meaning you get much more seat time on a charge. These routes go into towns every 100-150 miles for gas and resupply. Towns have electricity.
Try doing it on a Harley. Oops.
I am not interested and will never purchase, ride, rent or otherwise use an electric motorcycle.
First of all, South Dakota is not in the Mid-West. It is in the West. And I don't need to be proselitized into drinking the E-bike Koolaid. I wanted to learn about the loop, not Zero motorcycles....
I’d quit riding before I would ride anything electric, just more government agencies to control the way American citizens live and recreate.
Love the Black Hills. Zero interest in coal powered motorcycles.
This is the worst BDR I’ve ever seen. Electric bikes are a total joke for any ride. You need to understand how much it takes to produce electricity to charge electric vehicles. Total joke and will not ever watch a BDR again
laugh out loud!!! don't pet the fluffy cow!!
What a bunch of whiners here in the comments. You don't have to ride an electric motorcycle if you don't want to.
You got that right.
They don't want to, because they know if they tried it, they would like it, and then would have a great number of previous words that would need to be eaten. 🙃
Please, please, can I borrow some electric. I always keep a special can of gas for the guy that is always bummin gas. He quit asking me for gas. Maybe I will have to wire an outlet backwards in the future.
It won't care if the outlet is backwards or hot to hot.
It doesn't care where the electrons are from, solar, wind, propane, it doesn't care.
@@CrissaKentavr I,ll just tell him I have solar and the panels cost 20K it will cost him a 100 bucks to charge. What do you think would happen if switch power wire on ground? If someone is bumming gas from me, I don't think he could afford an electric car.
as a guy who likes to DIY and learn that way ... im terrified of electric bikes ... and im an electronic technician ... Adventure and technology is a risky business
Ya I'll keep my old single cylinder, carb powered dual sport for the adventure rides. Nearly everything on my DR350 can be fixed with a wrench and screwdriver
Everything new is Electric 🤷♂️
Yeah, same. No technology for me, either. That's why I walk everywhere I go, barefoot.
I thought this was a BDR video not an add for POS electric bikes. Seems EV is never without charguing etc notes. Not a fan when you spend so much time talking about EV.
🤮
I watched this video because I love adventure bike riding and live on the east side of SD. I ride out to the black hills all the time and enjoy much of what the state has to offer. I also just bout my first electric can and will never go back to gas...it cost me $8.00 to go 400 miles..I have instant torque and would smoke even a sports car to 60mph. If you have solar at home it cost nothing to charge. So would I ride and electric motorcycle? You bet your ass I would, it's quite, very, very powerful and costs nothing to operate! BTW electricity is easy to find, after all it's been around for a hundred years. I bet there's literally billions of electrical outlets around as opposed to thousands of gas stations. I hope you having fun in the heat wave that's only getting worse cause you have to drive you dinosaur burning dump truck that gets 8 miles per gallon. When they're nothing left but Russian oil you'll be screwed and your kids will breather your crappy air....you have nowhere to go after you pollute the air...remeber we live on a rock in space:)
👌👌👌🤙@ScooterasgrMotovlog