Description
Course Description
Thursday, July 20, 2023
This is a one day ADVENTURE BIKE and DUAL SPORT course that features real-time coaching held on lightly traveled dirt roads that wind through bucolic New England scenery. Our route includes various challenges for riders with about 2-3,000 miles of experience and a dual-spot or Adventure type motorcycle.
For Adventure bike riders (BMW GS, V-Stroms, KTM Adventures, etc) and lightweight dual sport bikes (KLX, DRz, WR, XT).
Our day begins with a briefing in or near Ashfield, MA. The meeting location depends on where people are staying the night before. Often, we meet at the Red Roof Inn in South Deerfield, MA which is convenient, clean and relatively inexpensive.
We will spend about an hour or so doing closed course drills. The rest of the day includes road training through the northern Berkshires of Massachusetts and the Southern Green Mountains of Vermont. We use bike-to-bike communicators for real-time coaching. Sena Bluetooth/Mesh Communicators are provided if you don’t currently have a Sena system installed.
At about 4:00 PM and after an average of about 120 miles, we debrief and I give you your videos before the group heads toward their respective destinations. Have some way to take video home: iphone using Airdrop or a 16gb+ USB thumb drive.
Includes:
- Personal training with real-time coaching using Sena rider to-rider communicators
- Off-Road Training through the hidden Berkshire hills of Western Massachusetts and Southern Vermont.
- Video of you riding.
Lodging and Food
Lodging and meals are not included in one-day tours. Unless you live nearby, I strongly suggest you stay the night before. The Red Roof Inn in South Deerfield, MA is a good choice and is where we often meet. I can meet wherever the whole group is staying the night before (applies if students are together).
Click here for a list of other local lodging.
- Parking lot maneuvers, both on pavement and dirt to practice body position and getting you used to the feel of your bike on unpaved roads.
- A street and dirt road tour of the Eastern Berkshire hills with easy and moderately difficult terrain. Two way communicators will be used.
Note:
- Beginners with no riding experience should consider taking the MSF Dirtbike School before signing up with me.
- This is an introduction to off-road riding and is not really for experienced intermediate or advanced off road riders.
What You’ll Learn
- On and off-road body positioning.
- Off-road braking techniques
- Surmounting obstacles
- Traction management
Where Will We Ride?
We will be touring around my little bit of motorcycling heaven in the Berkshire Hills of Western Massachusetts and southern Vermont.
Rides will meet in or near Ashfield, MA.
NOTE: There is no cell service in Ashfield to speak of.
This is what you can expect when riding in the Berkshire Hills.
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Requirements
- About one season (2-3,000 miles) of experience.
- You must have a current motorcycle endorsement, as well as a legally insured and registered motorcycle.
- You must also sign a liability waiver
What to Bring
- Your street-legal dual-purpose motorcycle, in good condition
- Riding Gear (required at all times)- Full-coverage riding gear that is appropriate for off-road riding. I understand that those of you who are new to off-road riding may not yet have dedicated off-road gear.
- DOT-approved helmet
- eye protection (windshields alone do not count as eye protection)
- motorcycle jacket, a sturdy back protector and elbow armor suggested
- long pants (armored motorcycle pants preferred)
- full coverage gloves
- sturdy, over-the-ankle boots. Armored street boots are okay for fire roads and easy trail riding.
- Standard 3.5mm earbuds. Optional for use with Sena Bluetooth communicators. We can pair if you have a Sena Bluetooth comm already.
- Rain gear. Tours run rain or shine.
- Enough layers (or electric jacket liner) for cool temperatures.
- USB Thumb drive that is at least 16Gb free capacity for video
Skill Level
No previous off-road experience is necessary. However, this is not a course for raw beginners! Students are wise to take the MSF Basic RiderCourse or have an equivalent level of skill before signing up. A good guideline is having ridden at least a season (2-3,000 miles).
Contact Ken with questions.
Speeds
We will be riding at moderate speeds and enjoying a ride through some beautiful countryside with awesome twisty roads. If you want to learn to ride fast in a safe environment, I recommend attending the Non-Sportbike Track Training Days or a Tony’s Track Days event if you ride a sport bike.
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Private, Individual Training is Not available for 2022
Click Here for more Group Training Options
The Riding in the Zone, LLC Motorcyclist Training Program is supported by the American Motorcyclist Association and the Massachusetts Rider Education Program (MREP). Scholarships are available through the BMW/MOA Foundation.
Riding in the Zone, LLC is a supporter of the American Motorcyclist Association
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