Day 1 solo motorcycle camping on the PA BDR

[@richardleslie9609]

The adventure begins when plans fall apart.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Indeed

[@rickcrane839]

Nice start. Thanks for going to the work of making the video, I enjoyed it.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Thanks hope you like the next videos as well.

[@willtay3016]

I’m planning for a solo trip my self thanks for this.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Your going to love it! What bike do you ride?

[@lukefish7562]

Well done! Got to adapt and overcome! I’ve got almost 8,000 miles on my expedition and can’t wait to hit up a BDR sooner than later. Enjoy! 🏍️💨

[@xpeditionpgh]

You will love it, especially on your Norden

[@tracystover3772]

This is all close to home, but the first time I've seen this video. Less than 3 minutes in and you're talking to a guy from my old snowmobiling days! And yes, Caledonia Pike area is getting bridge replacements, ran into it myself last year.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Oh man that’s cool! What a great area to live close to!

[@traviscarter9300]

I've learned that it's always something on these rides. Problem solving is crucial.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Indeed

[@mohanramaswamy3598]

@8:20.... You are the expert...you just didn't realize it yet!! Great job!

[@xpeditionpgh]

Definitely not, but I love riding for sure!

[@zoegagnon3651]

Thanks for this. I'm 3000 miles in to my first bike and really looking forward to hitting a bdr. I think its a great model to see you out. You were adventurous, but when things stopped being fun, you cut your loses. Hope i'll be as sensible

[@xpeditionpgh]

What bike did you get?

[@zoegagnon3651]

@@xpeditionpgh I have a CB500X. I've been really happy with it - I can handle highway (its a bit buzzy), I can handle some pretty worn down dirt roads (its a little squirly), I can ride for hours (its a little cramped). I think the bike has been really easy as a beginner, letting me focus on the road and technique instead. I'm local to the NEBDR, so next summer I'll put a bash plate on and hit some of the easy sections of that

[@falcuspluscamera]

Great video. I ran into the similar situations on my adventures. Ride safe ✌🏻

[@human1513]

Nice kind of easy 8 hour ride to start out with.

[@xpeditionpgh]

It sure is!

[@TomOreilly-c7h]

That an amazing ride

[@xpeditionpgh]

It really is!

[@greatfallskam]

Fantastic start to your moto ADV channel. Cliff hanger going from gravel road, to twin track,, and then single track with downed trees. My heart was racing. Well above my pay grade. Glad you figure a way back. If you travel solo, I hope you have a Garmin InReach 2 way comm device. In future video, love to hear about Insta360 vs. DGI.

[@xpeditionpgh]

I don’t have the inReach but it’s a good idea. I was sort of hoping if I had a serious issue while out of cell range, the new feature on the iPhone would get a message out. Thanks for watching

[@xpeditionpgh]

I will definitely have a video about my experiences on the Insta360 and the DJI. Way to much hype on KZbin for the Insta360.

[@PA-Tammy]

If you had turned around and went back and took your first left you could of made it to the other side with less then 5 mile added to your trip We did it that way when we hit this part..

[@xpeditionpgh]

Oh man you have to be kidding me. I wish I knew that. Thanks

[@PA-Tammy]

Not as much fun as the way you took tho.... We have done the PABDRX like 5 times and ride out that way a lot. PA has some of the best riding if you just get lost for a bit... Stay safe @@xpeditionpgh

[@Elkfever]

Never heard of the BDR till now, looks like fun. However rule of thumb, dont ever open a gate, even the ATV roads have go arounds that are very well marked. Second, you might want to do that out of peak hunting season, you get lost again down one of those trails and encounter some hunters, things might get a little dicey.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Very good advice! I should have known then but I had read different ideas about these gates. Also opening the gate definitely didn’t help me find my way back to the trail anyway. But lesson learned.

[@tigerking2179]

Good call on the turn around, never know. The Blair Witch may of gotten you. ;-) I have the KTM 890 Adv R, very capable bikes. Tried to get an Expedition but settled on the KTM and I am very happy with it. Adding the little extras made it more expensive than the Expedition though. Your little run in with the tree across the trail made me remember I need to buy a saw for my bike, I have gotten stopped a few times because I could not go over or around. I have done parts of a couple of the BDR trails here in Washington State and they are fun but remote. I love riding alone on one hand but when you think about the consequences if it goes to pudding, makes you think. I am trying to do a less is more approach to packing, so I keep a journal on what I wish I would have brought because I went to the minimum and then threw out some more. I am surprised by what I don't miss and what I can make due without. Look forward to watching the rest of your trip.

[@xpeditionpgh]

The KTM has to be an amazing bike! I think I need to start a campaign journal as well. My wife does that for our tear drop camper and it really makes preparing for a trip so much easier. She is much more organized than I am.

[@Wdbjr12345]

We did it last weekend. We just went thru that bridge thing and the equipment. No point in going around since the roads only closed for the construction and the road was fine.

[@xpeditionpgh]

I guess no one was around when you were there. Happy you made it though!

[@Wdbjr12345]

@@xpeditionpgh i mean we would’ve went thru anyways. Would’ve asked them and i don’t think they would’ve cared.

[@timothybroga1704]

I have many friends including myself who have just used a simple car tire plug for a flat like that and been on the road no problem till the tire wears out

[@xpeditionpgh]

I completely agree, but I didn’t want to take any chances out of cell phone range. I have the tire still. I’m going to plug it and I’ll ride on it this summer.

[@timothybroga1704]

@@xpeditionpgh after watching through your videos how rough that BDRX expert sections were I probably would have put a new tire on myself

[@kenmoist]

You are brave!

[@johnperkins5450]

What campsite were you at in Rothrock? Thanks

[@xpeditionpgh]

Rothrock State Forest Campsite #2 here’s the link to the site on google maps maps.app.goo.gl/QTKk8vERVfgPr3hX8?g_st=i

[@johnperkins5450]

@@xpeditionpgh thanks! Looking forward to watching the rest of your videos on your PA BDR trip. 🏍️

[@xpeditionpgh]

@@johnperkins5450 it’s a great spot! Thanks for watching

[@SickBikeDude]

I live in central PA. All I ever read is “private property” gate here, gate there, “‘private property” Lol so annoying. Nice video!

[@xpeditionpgh]

So true 😆

[@MADDOG100ful]

I would hope you carry a plug kit and you could have just fixed that and moved on moved on you should know how to fix a tire on the road, I guess if you don't you will learn! Have a great adventure! :) ps those are tubeless tires easy 5 minute repair.

[@xpeditionpgh]

I do have a plug kit and I brought it with me. But on a solo trip, out of cell range, I felt much more comfortable having a new tire. I still have the old tire, and I’ll use it this summer. Plugs can fail, It probably wouldn’t but no reason to start a journey with a plug if you don’t have to.

[@curburenthusiasm6457]

although ur prolly finished the route. always take a paper map. at the state forest district office they have a bunch. it helps with navigating the trails and paved roads

[@xpeditionpgh]

I am done but this is really good advice. I wish I had done that.

[@xpeditionpgh]

But this was the only section I had problems. Everything else’s was all smiles. I was a little extra timid on this trip because I was by myself. Mid July some friends and I got really stuck down a muddy hill in allegheny national forest. There was a tree down and after two of the guys wiped out we had no way to get up momentum to get back up the hill. It took us hours to get the KTM 890 out of there. I didn’t want a repeat by myself.

[@slimanaouf3769]

Nice

[@xpeditionpgh]

Thanks for watching

[@DaNucci921]

Where did you purchase the upper crash bar? I have a Norden 901 Expedition as well but cannot find an upper crash bar without needing the lower crash bar that it mounts to with the modifications needed on the Expedition's solid skid plate. The one you have seems to eliminate that.

[@xpeditionpgh]

So I didn’t want to get any bars because the crash plate is good. I dropped it several times and the bike is well protected. But I decided on these because they were only the upper bars. I am really glad I decided to get these. I purchased them from Thork Racing. But it took 3-4 weeks for delivery. I paid with shipping 283.00 and the cost of shipping was actually more than the cost of the bars. www.thorkracing.com/produto/crash-bar-husqvarna-norden-901/

[@DaNucci921]

Yeah it seems they’re a Portugal based company. I’m now noticing it’s a company called CrossPro that makes the actual crash bars. Helpful information 👍🏻 Thank you

[@KTT1985]

Me and my girl wanna do this. What do you think of a passenger bdr run? Also I'm pretty experienced offroad but not so much on road.

[@xpeditionpgh]

This route is very easy. But I would recommend getting a little time on gravel with a passenger first. Gravel is what a grew up riding so I wouldn’t think twice about it. But before risking your passenger I would make sure you are really comfortable on gravel yourself.

[@NaMinesClarence]

That was an "expert" section??? 👌

[@xpeditionpgh]

That’s what it’s labeled on the map.

[@NaMinesClarence]

@@xpeditionpgh You called some "bypass loop" of you cutting through someones property an expert section ... it was literally a driveway with leaves.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Pretty much 😆

[@jonwoodworker]

Work on your riding skills before you head out by yourself. That is a very easy section. You defeated yourself with a lot of fear. Fear is good when your riding alone but can also take up energy you may need. I hope you have laid your bike over and picked it up many times. If you can't pick it up your really stuck. Having confidence and practiced skills can easy your mind to tackle obstacles easier. You can usually find paths around obstacles or over them. Purchase a lighter Dual Sport to hone your skills for the bigger bikes.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Your right this first day I did have a lot of fear. But just this first day. The reason I was so worried is because on my last offroad ride 3 of us went down a trail that got myself on the Norden a KTM 890 and a KLR 250 stuck for half a day. It took an incredible amount of effort to get the bikes back up the hill. And to be sure I’ve dropped it plenty of times. Not a problem but I was about 200 miles from home and anyone that could help me if I had an issue was out of town. So I was being very cautious and yes to cautious. I lightened up the rest of the trip. But good advice.

[@michaelsupple6081]

Where he wound up was not the "section". :) I'm not sure how you think he defeated himself with fear. He overcame his fear when he went down that trail. He used common sense and turned around when he realized the trail didn't take him past the bridge. A lot of folks wouldn't have gone as far as he did especially on a heavy packed bike like that. As a solo rider on a heavy bike I'd say he's to be congratulated if anything. Kudos to you him!

[@eastcoast5936]

I didn’t note any “fear”, I saw a ton of common sense.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Thanks I appreciate that.

[@garryblair6959]

Exactly, you made the right choice!

[@MZInternationalBusiness]

"This is exactly what my wife did not want me to do"

[@xpeditionpgh]

@@MZInternationalBusiness lol

[@eastcoast5936]

Your portable tire pump looks great… can you please post the pump brand? Thank you !

[@xpeditionpgh]

Yes I put a link in the description

[@Kevimoto]

I didn't see any link in the description, but I recognize it as a Faantik. They're available on Amazon. Excellent pump. I have one too.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Sorry new to all of this, I was sure I had it there but here it is just in case. fanttik.com/products/fanttik-x8-tire-inflator I don’t get anything from the link I just really like this pump.

[@eastcoast5936]

@@xpeditionpgh I bought it, used it. Thank you for the recommendation 👍

[@xpeditionpgh]

@@eastcoast5936 glad you like it!

[@Sventy11]

This is cool. Im about 3.5 hours away but would like to check this out some day. Do you know of anything local to the sw corner of the state?

[@xpeditionpgh]

Do you mean close to Pittsburgh?

[@Sventy11]

@@xpeditionpgh I meant specifically closer to the uniontown area where I'm at. But pittsburgh would be an option too.

[@markflaugh2293]

You may want to check out the SOAL (South Ohio Adventure Loop). It may be closer to you.

[@xpeditionpgh]

I have road a lot of gravel road close to Laurel Caverns.

[@Sventy11]

@@xpeditionpgh nice man! That's like right around the corner from me. There's lot of great roads up there that even go between PA and WV.

[@specag31]

Dude, you keep going that fast and a deer jumps out, your dental records will be too mixed up with the deer's to help the Coroner.

[@xpeditionpgh]

😂 it’s not actually that fast but I hear ya

[@specag31]

@@xpeditionpgh 👍. I watched a few more of your videos and see you are 100% alert and in control. Thats a great set up.

[@xpeditionpgh]

@@specag31 thanks for watching that’s awesome! It’s always good advice to slow down.

[@pb7379-j2k]

Starts narration by starting noisy camp stove 😅 Just teasing but yeah. Why was your gps in the bag and not on the bike already, that was strange!

[@xpeditionpgh]

Lol I took the gps of in the evening just because it’s just my habit to secure it when l stop somewhere. I’m not sure who I thought would steal my gps in the middle of no where, but it was my life line. So I put it in the bag and then I was so cold in the morning I completely forgot I had it in the bag. Oh well I didn’t do that again.

[@pb7379-j2k]

@@xpeditionpgh that’s a good story 😃 My solo BDR-East attempt was cut short when I crashed after clipping a sapling with my handlebar while going around a puddle! I was so relieved when you turned around on that sketchy trail

[@xpeditionpgh]

@@pb7379-j2k bummer hope you and your bike were ok. Do you think you will try it again?

[@pb7379-j2k]

@@xpeditionpgh thanks, it wasn't too bad. Bent the handlebars, brake lever and right peg, no personal damage to speak of. Shook me up but I was able to get the bike up and decided to head home. Still had two days on the BDR. My bike is just a little BMW g650gs but still it's 400 pounds and I'm weak so I can lift it but not if it's in a bad spot so it's definitely better non-solo. I got the bike fixed up, that was actually fun to DIY and yes I want to try it again. Mid-Atlantic is probably better than East for solo.

[@beejaytee]

Waisted your money and time with that tire. Could have ran down to the gas station and got a sticky rope patch kit and been back in 15 minutes and on the road. The tire was perfectly fine.

[@xpeditionpgh]

That’s sorta how I felt, but I didn’t want to have any issues while out of cell range. I kept the tire and I’ll patch it and use it up this summer.

[@pucknhusker9426]

To call what looks like a garden path extreme is pretty extreme. The log you cut with your chain saw could have been ridden over. Probably would have snapped under the weight of all the guff you have on the bike. You could have patched that tire there was nothing wrong with it. I dont want to seem negative but it seems like madness to me how many people cant ride and get bikes they cant even get up a slight hill then set of with the kitchen sink strapped to the frame. I live in New Zealand and head out in winter with what i need not what i want and get through it all. Good on you for geting out and doing it but word of the day would be downsize

[@xpeditionpgh]

Idk about that, but I definitely didn’t want to be caught off guard out of cell range by myself. It was a fun trip and thanks for watching. What bike do you ride?

[@JonathanSmith01]

Would have been better if you weren't illegal riding on a hiking trail, let alone share that here on KZbin to give others the idea to do the same thing.

[@xpeditionpgh]

Unfortunately you’re probably right. That may have been hiking trail. But Lost is lost. Thanks for watching!

[@Seveneleven44]

I live 10 miles from the start of the pa wilds. I’ve been riding my entire life, I’m just speaking from experience, because I’ve done what it seems like you are doing…taking too much stuff. The first time I did the pa wilds loop, I took damn near 80 pounds of gear, over half of which I didn’t use/need. I moto camp throughout the BESF a good amount…I’m not trying to insult you, but you have front saddle bags, a tank bag and the full accouterments in the back…that seems like quite a lot of gear for one person. But, if that’s your preferred setup, more power to you. I have more expensive gear that I bought immediately, thinking I needed it because it was costly and that’s what the KZbin guys all buy…nah. I have thousands of dollars of gear that I don’t use because it’s just useless weight added to an already heavy bike.

[@xpeditionpgh]

No insult taken. I appreciate the feedback. I actually didn’t have that much camping gear but I brought way to much photography gear for sure. I had my rain gear and winter gloves in the crash bar bags. Clothing and all the camping gear in the side bags. The lone rider duffle bag was filled with my photography equipment. And the yellow water proof bag had the under quilt for the hammock, a chair and table in it. But it would have definitely been better with less stuff. I did use most of it but I didn’t have to.