Bend Motorcycle Adventures Podcast

IDAHO BDR TIPS

We hope these Idaho BDR tips make your ride more enjoyable!

TIP #1

Don’t be afraid to deviate from the main route.

Idaho is special.  Capturing all of its glory in one ride, on one route, impossible.  However, you can add other points of interest to your ride.

Don’t be afraid to go off-route to chase down fire lookouts, waterfalls, whatever.

Better accommodations can also be found by adding a few miles to the end of any day.

TIP #2

Prepare for all weather conditions.

This isn’t Colorado.  You won’t be ascending 12000′ peaks.  In fact, you won’t even clear 9,000 feet.

That doesn’t mean you the weather won’t get the best of you, though.  In 2019, our first 4 days were littered with heavy rain.  Temps were in the low 40s.

How did we combat this?

Good gear.  Gore-Tex riding jackets and pants.  Warm gloves.  Layers.

You may be blessed with excellent conditions but in the event you aren’t, you’ll be thankful you prepared.

TIP #3

Good tires make for a good time.

50/50 adventure bike tires won’t cut it.  Unless of course, its dry.

You’ll find that roads in the lower portion of the Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route don’t have a lot of rock in them.  Heavy precipitation can make for slick or muddy conditions.

Our recommendation?

Try the Goldentyre GT723 tires.  We’ve ridden the route on a KTM 500 and on a KTM 790 Adventure R with these adventure tires & they work great!

TIP #4

Navigate with GPS tracks.

The tracks are free from the RIDE BDR site and they’re flawless.

Use the Idaho BDR map as a supplement.

TIP #5

Utilize lodging.

Camping is fun but there are some great places to stay along the route.  More importantly, spending our money in small towns will ensure businesses stay open in these remote areas.

MORE IDAHO BDR TIPS

• Ride the Magruder Corridor section by itself
• Visit the Florence cemetery
• The Baum Shelter in Warren has great food

Ride with a guide!  We will be hosting two adventure motorcycle tours in Idaho.  We’d love for you to join us!

Get More ADV Riding Tips First Name Last Name Email Address Submit Listen to this Episode