Continental Divide Ride - Solo Motorcycle Adventure - September 2019
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 7 ก.พ. 2025
- In September of 2019, round trip from Dallas Texas, I rode the continental divide, south to north, from the border of Mexico all the way to the Canadian border.
The trip took 24 days total: 14 days on the actual Continental Divide Trail (12 riding days, 2 days off in Jackson, WY). The return trip to Dallas took 9 days (4 days off in Jackson, WY and Driggs, ID to avoid a winter storm). I camped every night except for the one motel to escape that storm in central Wyoming, and also stayed at a friend's house in Idaho.
The bike is a 2014 KTM 690 Enduro R, the only issues I had were slightly tweaked handle bar risers a few times from mostly low speed crashes, and one broken rear brake pedal at the end of the Montana section.
Tires : front - IRC TR8, rear - Motoz Tractionator Adventure (both worked great)
Music:
-TH-cam studio creative commons
-The Spaghetti Western Set - Brett Van Donsel (incompetech.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0
-Some additional guitar playing by myself
©2019 Double Arrow Garage
![Dual Sport Moto Riding in Southern Colorado - July 2020 [KTM 690 Enduro]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MWgYlvmFnhs/mqdefault.jpg)
I just keep coming back to watch - probably seen this 3 times beginning to end. I guess I just have to add this to the long list of rides I need to do before departing the planet. Tks again for taking the time to film, edit, and post!
Thanks for watching and the kind words Sean, definitely do this ride if you can! It's more doable than a lot of other epic rides in my opinion
You might enjoy this feature length Film on what it is like to ride a motorcycle around Australia. th-cam.com/video/ep0gmY1d85s/w-d-xo.html
I believe that was the best trip vid I've ever watched! Absolutely phenomenal! Simply outstanding!!!!
Thanks man! It was a blast
About the time I learned about this hike I was diagnosed with diabetes, killing any realistic dream of hiking the CDT. But, this opens up a real possibility. I had no idea one could motor bike this. Truly stoked!
Yes man do it! I feel like moto is the best way to do the CDT unless you're unemployed and in excellent shape hah! Even then, I still think the motorcyle way is the funnest
Thank you for taking the time to share this epic ride with us. Very inspirational.
I know that this sounds nuts , but I guy I met in our area WALKED !!!!!! THIS ROUTE!!!! made it to Wyoming and called it a day ,but is returning this year to complete it !!! 😲😲😲😲😲👍👍👍👍🍺🍺🍺🍺
Nice ride. You got guts to ride that by yourself! I sure did enjoy the video. I had a KTM 525 for 3 years and went with out a bike for 3yrs. I just picked up a WR250R and sported it out to do some backroads camping and exploring. Well stay safe out their DA! Around Bend Oregon out !
This is one of the best videos I’ve ever seen. Not kidding. Wonderfully edited shot sparsely narrated and just overall put together. Bravo to you on this awesome adventure my good man. Thank you so much for sharing it with us!
Thank you! That means a lot
Late Fall 2020 I decided to take my dual sport out for it's 1 spin after 4 years of not riding. I've been physically and mentally recouping from a serious foot injury. It was your video that made me want to get out there again. Thanks a bunch for sharing. I believe I'm going to ride this one. cheers
Dude that's awesome! I'm stoked I could inspire, hope your foot gets back to 100% so you can ride a whole bunch more. Life is short, get out there!
Smart move @ 30:40. I was solo on the TAT and had to do a reroute in OR. Couldn't believe I couldn't get it but better safe than spoil the trip. Great ride, and your trip has inspired me to get back out there. cheers
Excellent riding video...lots of visual riding and little spent on eating and other mundane chores. Wonderful views of rural Western countryside...again very well done
Thanks for letting us ride along with you. I have a 2021 KTM 690 R and out of my 3 motorcycles, it is my favorite.
One of the best cross country ride videos I've seen. Well done.
Thank you!
Congratulations on your trip. Born and raised Oregonian but now spends his Winters down in Arizona.
What a great video, fantastic job. Incredible shots of the views! Thank you for the effort to put this together.
wheelie on the bridge made my heart sing
Haha! I love wheelies, but they're tricky to do with all the luggage on the bike and being up at higher altitudes. It didn't stop me from trying though!
Damn, that was really well done. Your video moved this ride up on my list and looking forward to hitting the GCDT in the next season or two. Thanks.
Thanks man! Get after it!
Thanks so much for taking us along!
What a magnificent journey ! Thank you for taking the time and effort to do an equally wonderful video and sharing it , you rock Man , my 4 year old Grandson is named Blake , hope there's "something in a name" that inspires such "conduct" , Thanks Man.......
Thank you! I bet your grandson will do great things in life
Thank you for making the big ride and taking so much time to video for us to enjoy. Loved the route, camera work, music! Have watched the video 6 times at least! Will get a dual sport/adv bike in the Spring and hit the trail, appreciate your fine work.
Thank you sir! Definitely get out there yourself, it's a big world and it's a lot more fun on a dual sport/adv bike!
Wow..This is one of the best and most inspiring vids to get people motivated to ride. Thumbs Up....BIG THUMBS UP!!!!
Thank you! That means a lot, my motivation with the video was to inspire people to get out and ride. I appreciate it
Nice job man.....looks like you had a good time!
What a great adventure! It's on my bucket list!! Thanks!!
Hey Blake, your video is in the very top rank . Good job ,
Super good presentation of the Continental Divide Motorcycle Ride. Thanks for you work in putting this great video together Blake. AWESOME!
Just got my bike slowly getting my gear together, watch this keep me inspired to go do it.
Fantastic video…no doubt
Great Road Trip, loved the scenery and the camping.
Thank you for sharing this amazing experience! The scenery was gorgeous!
For maps check the advrider forums
You’ve got the perfect bike for it. I wish I could trade my Norden on one.
Awesome video! Looks like a great ride.
gorgeous views! glad you made a safe trip!
You did an amazing job with this video and the trip, congrats! can't wait to get out there for myself
Outstanding vlog of a great ride.
Thank you for sharing the ride. Great production!
Really great job. Bravo from Greece...
You are now one of my rider and videographer heroes! You totally get the whole anticipate your shot with the end result in mind from a rider's POV... very well done. Inspires me to keep improving my efforts for POV. Oh, masterful audio blends and choices too. Westbird5
Wow thank you!
I rode the Great Divide Route almost twenty years ago at age 60+. I was a Enduro and then Trials rider. Fleecer Ridge was a single track and I see that it now has a double track from ATV traffic. It had baseball size rollers back then also. I blasted up the track as far as my old KLR650 would keep up the rpm's and then dove right across the face through the big tufts of grass and embedded rocks, then lifted the front and angled back up the other direction. Reversed directions twice up the hill and topped out with only ONE dab. Sat at the top watching my other friends fail and lose parts of their bikes on the hill. For once in my life... I was KING of the Hill!
You're a legend! Those huge boulders are still in the track, and I tried the same side hill/switchback technique once and that actually got me to the highest point where I slipped up and had to bail out. I'm convinced I would've made it if I kept trying, but I didn't want to be the idiot who hurt himself in the middle of nowhere alone. Next time!
Awesome Mr.Cash---------You video was the perfect combination of length, content and music.
I by-passed Fleece too--------way back in 2004---------now I'm too old to try it.
Thanks-------BigDog
Thanks BigDog! Your ride reports definitely helped a lot with my planning. Never say never though, you might find yourself there again one day and feel like it's destiny!
Great video, thx!!! We did it precisely 10 years ago in a group of 8 - on GS 800 and 1200s. Also 13 days, North to South, from Seattle all the way to ATX. Brings back a great bunch of memories. Unfortunately, there’s still a lot of raw footage stored on some SD cards... Anybody “considering” this: JUST DO IT!!! Stop the excuses!
Did I find it difficult to do it on the bigger 1,200? I’m considering it in a vstrom 1050. Thoughts?
No prob, as long as you mount the right tires. Fleecer ridge will be the only challenging descent, and that stretch of the trail can be avoided if you don’t feel comfortable, due to weather, luggage or lack of experience. I’d say, as long as you’re able to pick up the bike, you’re ok.
Thanks for for taking the time and trouble of filming your amazing ride. Broke my arm off road couple years back and at 77 I think I'll just watch videos like yours.....much less painful 😊
Thanks! Don't let one little arm injury keep you from adventure, there's plenty of it to be had on the smoother roads too!
I did this trip this summer on the same bike. Absolutely loved it. Wanna do it again sometime. Thanks for sharing.
Heck yeah man! I'd love to do it again with, maybe with a couple friends next time
Very well done!! Looks like you had a great trip and your videography and photography were excellent. Thanks for sharing.
Very impressive and inspirational . Considering doing this ride as well. Thank you for sharing such beautiful and amazing ride.
Great video! Adding this to my ride list.
I'm proud and a little bit jealous of you for doing this. Perhaps next summer I'll do it with you and we (you) can make another awesome video but we may have to stop here and there to fly fish.
Almost brought my flyrod but didn't wanna break it, hah! There are definitely a lot of good creeks along the way though
Great riding skills great bike for trip, enjoyed alot. Have a Klr and a Himalayan that I do trips on, I can relate well. SJ
It was a really great tour. Wonderful landscapes. Congratulations!
That was absolutely awesome! What beautiful country also. That was the best TH-cam video I have ever watched.! And I'm going to watch it again and again. I'm doing the same this summer but just in my state Minnesota. But on a 1500 dollar Chinese enduro... tbr7
Thanks man! Whatever bike gets you out into the world is the right one to be on. Have fun!
Awesome mate, thanks for sharing. Will be doing this one day with my son!
Right on! I'd love to do it again with friends/family
outstanding video. inspirational. THANK YOU.
Thanks!!
Watching this from Costa Rica! Great adventure. Congrats
I’ve done all of it on my mountain bike and headed back again this June ,I met lots of dudes on motos ,I sure would like to do that someday . And Fleecer is even harder in the dark going down . Good times
Mountain biking the divide is next level! Nothing but respect for those who do it under leg power
Well done. Great ride, great video. I am doing the divide in September this year.
Thanks man, and heck yeah! Get it!
Really enjoyed your adventure on this one. Keep up the great work!
I did the GDMBR 15 years ago with a buddy on our then new KTM950's by simply using the (analog) ACA maps. Now technology is all digital so I'm going back again in 2021. This time supporting a group of four motorcyclists by driving a 4x4. I see Cannonshot's route has a fair amount of single track which would not work for us. Looking at GPSKevin's routing currently. I loved the video and smiled as I remember seeing many of the vistas you captured. I too missed the gooey treats in Polebridge, but won't next time. Nice work and kudos for doing it solo.
Thanks for the kind words. I definitely thought to myself how much more tricky it would've been with just paper maps; I would have missed turns a lot more often hah! Cannonshot's route has a lot of branches for levels of difficulty and accessibility, I took the hard options most of the time. Maybe look into the details of his before buying a route from someone like gpskevin, and good luck on y'alls trip next year!
Great trip and great guitar work
Thanks!
Awesome video. The divide ride is definitely on my list :)
Way to go - what a ride...
I always wanted to do that ride but after watching your video I felt like I was there so I’m gonna scratch it off my bucket list. lol Great video
Thanks! Get out there and ride it for yourself though, it's way more epic in person!
That is so cool. I would surely love to do that, but I'm too chicken stuff to camp in the wilderness. I will camp in an established campsite. You also have some awesome riding skills, thank you for sharing this inspirational journey.
Thanks! And man you're missing out on the best camping, national forest primitive spots are the best ones. Once you start doing that, you'll never want to go back and pay for a spot that's 20 feet from the next person!
Congratulations on such a masterpiece! I’d love to see a behind the scenes video and how to
Thanks! I plan on doing a behind the scenes/FAQ video soon
Nice trip, nice video. I did the GCDR in 2018 (did New Mexico and a KLR a year earlier) on an Africa Twin so it was really awesome to see the same roads. A 690 is the perfect bike for this kinda of ride.
Thanks man! I honestly think an Africa Twin would've been perfect for this ride. A little more comfortable than the 690 without sacrificing too much agility
@@DoubleArrow The AT was great, especially on the way home banging out miles. I'd like the bike to be a 150lbs lighter and in the 700-800cc range tho..... :)
Awesome trip! This is what I want to do!
Great video! Well put together. Looks like a great trip. Definitely in my list. Ive been on parts of it in Wyoming near south pass.
I'm going to be doing this trip in late August/early September this year. Also on a 690 and can not wait to go!
You're gonna have a blast!
I was out there during that time pedaling a Salsa Fargo from Banff to Antelope Wells. Definitely getting a motorcycle for the next go at it.
Nothing but respect for those that pedal the CDR! Moto is the way to go though!
@@DoubleArrow I ended up getting KLR650 a week after I posted this haha!
Because of this video I did the CDT this year. Thank you for the inspiration. Also, avoid Lava Mountain if you’re planning on doing this.
Hell yeah man! How'd it go for you overall? And yeah Lava Mtn is kinda rowdy haha
It was a truly bucket list ride. I went in early August and had no rain. It was awesome to recognize places because of your video. Thanks for your great video.
@@MattPetersen-kr5qj makes me happy I could help even the slightest! That's awesome man, way to conquer the divide
I love the video. I did this same trip in 2017 and recognized many of the same spots. This makes me want to do this ride again ASAP.
And I have that same tent.
Solid tent, wish it had a little more ventilation though. I'd love to do this ride again too with some friends
Great trip, beautiful land. thanks for sharing. I live in Dallas too, and youve inspired me to do this trip, or something similar in the next year. :)
Awesome adventure!
Great stuff brother! Thanks for sharing the experience. I just picked up an adventure bike and plan on getting some seat time. There's nothing like that in Hawaii, but I'd love to do a trip like that someday. 🤙🏽🤙🏽
The rockies will always be here, ready for you to ride em! Hawaii has epic scenery though, I'd love to ride out there.
Well done. That camping pic at 9:18, hell ya.
Thanks man! Loved that spot
Absolutely well done, Sir....congrats. Encouragement for all who ADV. THX
Terrific ride mate, loved it! I'll be riding some of those spots when I visit, they just look too good to miss!
Thanks man! If you ride anywhere in the rockies, you won't be disappointed
Liked and Subscribed, cause I own both this bike and the BMW GSA1250. I find it interesting how you planned this trip without running out of fuel and the minimal packing and sacrificing seat comfort. I doubt many people will have the stamina to do this route on a KTM Dual Sports, let alone - SOLO...
Thanks man! Fuel planning was key, I almost ran out once but that was on the way home hah! And yeah most of the trip I was wishing I had a bigger, more comfy bike but the 690 really shines in the rougher terrain so I was happy to have it; also when I'd drop it at low speeds or on a hill, picking up a big 1250 BMW would've sucked
@@DoubleArrow If you noticed, those riders that do go far and around the world on the bigger adventure bikes, ALWAYS have a SUPPORT VEHICLE and I think that's not as tough as someone who does solo rides. The most fear I have is getting hurt with nobody around, but hungry wild animals. A concealed carry firearm can also land one in jail here in the US, but better to go to jail than be killed by a wild animal.
👍watching from Australia thanks mate . You have a lot of nice diverse country there . To trans Aus across the centre here is mostly desert and im not brave enough to do it on my own .🙂
I've seen a lot of Australia bush riding, it looks beautiful too! But you're right, that Simpson desert looks tough, and probably more remote than the stuff I was riding here
@@DoubleArrow 👍
Beautiful scenes. Loved the spaghetti western music. Anybody who believes in overpopulation needs to watch this. Thanks.
Great Film
thats pretty amazing! great video!! id like to do that some day my self!
So cool. I don't have any words
Bravo nice video .👏👏👏👏
My brother and I were about ten days behind you on that ride! Great video! Than,s for sharing!
Really nice job on the video and the stills were excellent. You deserve more subscribers.
Thanks man!
WOW, what an amazing trip. Thank you for sharing.
Man that is ballsy doing a ride like that by yourself. Congrats on a great video!
Thanks! I tried to get some friends to go, but no one was down. I was going either way, so it just turned out to be a little more exciting as a solo trip
@@DoubleArrow I'm considering doing the same thing this year, by myself, but going south instead. Thanks for the inspiration!
great video all riding no commentary perfect ....well done felt like i was right there thank you
Best divide ride out there 💪🏍️
Thank you! That means a lot
Loved it ! You have a great eye capturing some of those stunning still scenes.
Thanks! My photography degree helps with that a little
Great video 🍻
Thanks for the work making the video!
Bro that’s so badass ! Definitely on my bucket list 👍🏻. Thanx for the epic video ✊🏻
Thanks for watching!
My new dream ride!
around 29:00 the steep hill - what is that? A pioneers way? Why would such a way exist? This was an amazing video, which leaves me with a hundred questions. I envy you for such freedom "at home". I think about a moment in Australia, when a maybe 12 year old girl ask me how Germany was and I answered "In Germany is no spot, where you could be without seeing a house!" She turned to her father: "Can that be true?" ;-) Thanks mate!
The American west is wonderful for how much wilderness there is, it's not all wide open but there are a lot of places to get away from people. That hill is called Fleecer Ridge, and I'm assuming it's just some old 4x4 access road for hunters. Most people come down it instead of trying to climb up
Enjoyed it, Need to try a trip up through British Columbia, when this BullShit Covid is over, if ever? All The best . Love to Ride!
Nice, I especially liked that you attempted Fleecer Ridge so many times. Good for you! This why most people ride North to South. Me included. You were almost half way up although the half you rode was the steepest part.
Thanks. Still bummed I didn't make it up Fleecer, I wanted to keep trying cause I was so close to making it but the last crash humbled me a little bit.
doublearrowgarage People don't appreciate how steep, long, rutted and rocky it is until they're there. They think they're Ricky Brabec doing the Dakar until they're at the bottom looking up old Fleecer and taking the alternate. Haha. When we went we were lean and mean about 35 lbs of gear is all and I was sliding the rear and grabbing the front for more breaking. I discovered to just let her roll out and stop at the bottom.
Sweet Jesus, when I saw the title I thought you were riding on the CDT!
Nice, thanks for the ride along.
...... amazing solo ride. Great video and shots of the bike with background scenery. Thanks for sharing. From Dallas also. Gotta try that some day.
Fantastic!
Great edit. Really enjoyed watching your trip.