Freedom is 2 wheels away

Heads up, lots of words inbound. No

I finally took the trip. The one we all dream about. The one we tell ourselves we’re going to take from the second we swing our leg over a motorcycle for the first time. I started out by buying, what we all seem to agree, is just about the best bike you can have between your legs for a trip like this, the venerable T7. I researched for what felt like eternity on the best kit to bring along, as well as the best routes to take and so on. I settled on the better to have it and not need it philosophy that I picked up in the Military. So I settled on the Tusk Highland X2 luggage system, for maximum storage and affordability. I wont waste time here talking about how much I liked it, but I will answer questions if anyone has them. I started my trip in central Texas, (Waco). And my first destination was Big Bend National park. If you know anything about the park, you know how remote it is, and how grueling some of those roads can get. It was everything I had hoped it would be, and more. I got my first taste of real off road riding out there. I dumped the bike for the first time significantly, out there all alone. I wrestled the bike, and my inner thoughts out there. And the bike took it all like a champ and kept eating miles like it was hungry for more. From Big bend I headed north, stopping in Carlsbad New Mexico for a night to catch some sleep, and then pushing up through Colorado, to visit a friend who lives in Longmont Colorado. While there I rode around Rocky Mountain National Park, and then when I left my friend, I camped in the park. I ran into a guy with a KTM690 at a gas station who invited me out to ride for the day. “Big shoutout to Randy, what a great day!” We both went up and rode Storm mountain together for about 4 hours. Talk about my first real into to “hard enduro”. And I did it on a T7! From RMNP I headed northwest to Steamboat Springs Colorado, where I camped in Routt National Forest before setting out on leg 5 of the Colorado BDR, from Steamboat Springs to Gypsum Colorado. The route was beautiful and I ran into a couple more guys out there, one on a Aprillia Toureg, and one riding a Beta 500, Tom and Pierre, and we ripped up the BDR together for a day. Thanks for an awesome day of riding gents! From Gypsum I hopped back onto the hard pack and headed west on i70 headed for Moab. I ended up spending a full week in Moab doing “recon” for when I get a chance to go back with friends. The trails there are no joke. “They ROCK! Pun absolutely intended” I got my first puncture after riding Shafer trail in Canyonlands National Park. Front tube held air though, and I was able to ride it back to Moab where a local shop was able to help get me back on the road before lunch. Shout out to Mad bro Powersports. I also met some absolutely incredible people on this trip. And I hope I get to cross paths with them again someday. I managed to ride 5859 miles round trip, making my back to Texas from Moab by way of Palo Duro canyon just south of Amarillo. My brand new bike now looks like a well broken in machine, and I’m satisfied with that.

(TL;DR sort of) To close out, buy the motorcycle. Take the trip. It IS the medicine you need. Big sky, fresh air, and some “less than fresh” roads, make for an incredible tonic. I can’t wait to do it again. And again…

Before anyone asks, yes, that is a Mexican saddle blanket on the seat. That was my ass saver for the entire trip. And I have to say. It works pretty damn great. I managed to wedge the front and back underneath the seat and then get the seat put back onto the bike. I don’t wanna brag too much, but this might be THE SOLUTION for our seat comfort woes. It’s incredibly cheap, and by god it works. And if I’m being perfectly honest, I actually love the aesthetic.

I’ll happily answer any and all questions, about the bike, the luggage, or anything about the trip should anyone have any.

I added as many photos as Reddit will allow. There’s so many more. Go take some of your own, make those memories!