Imogene Pass, on the Trans America Trail

Jake and I conclude our day of climbing Colorado Mountain Passes with Imogene Pass. Starting in Telluride, we make the climb to 13,000 feet elevation to check out one of the highest roads in America.
We did this ride during our Trans America Trail Trip on our Honda CRF450L and RL dual sport motorcycles. Ride along as we encounter big climbs, high elevation, and rocky trails.

[@wrknclass1]

That was a sick video dude

[@BackcountryHonda]

Definitely one of my favorite rides here in Colorado as well as Mosquito and Tin Cup. Glad you guys got to see it.

[@randyhennard4568]

That's a great ride...especially the rock tunnel that you go through. One of my favorites

[@BillyTyo]

Yeah, that was a really cool feature

[@JDHetzer]

I'm a big supporter of the Ride Right concept, but some of those cliffs would shale my faith.

[@BillyTyo]

I was trying not to look down

[@Kalinina56565]

Beautiful! I’ve been watching your videos one by one.

[@BillyTyo]

Hope they are helpful

[@ogasi1798]

f'in amazing place to ride dirtbikes - watching from England i can only wish

[@BillyTyo]

Yeah, it really is. I’d love to go back and just ride in Colorado for a few weeks.

[@jimbernard8964]

Excellent! Thanks for sharing. Re phone mounts--> Quick Grip >> X Grip

[@andreasnyga]

Guys, you make excellent videos, no annoying music, thumping of the engine, and the best part is that there is always a bike in front so you get a feel for the ground as you see the bike move around, by contrast, the video footage is smooth and by itself would not give you a representation of "what the ride is like". I tried this pass 2 days ago on a KLR by myself. I got stuck up the hill @ 9:38 . I would have liked to see you guys get up there. I couldn't get traction, tipped over a few times and just couldn't hack it by myself. After lifting the bike a few times I was spend and ran out of will and daylight to press on. I am sure you have footage of your suffering on that segment, could I see it somewhere please? I rode Black Bear after watching you guys go 100 times, yes it was hairy, but I felt like I've been here already and knew what to expect. Invaluable preparation in my opinion, thank you guys.

[@BillyTyo]

We made it up Imogene without tipping over. Black Congratulations on getting over Black Bear, that is a tough one. Thanks for watching!

[@andreasnyga]

@@BillyTyo Even better, is there footage how you navigated this section successfully, what line you took your speed, momentum? I would like to see it traversed so I could learn and have a better approach on my next attempt.

[@petefinnegan3873]

yes theres a switch back and one guy fell over lost momentum in front of me did that on a klx300 had a klr 650 in aus top heavy.

[@rustyshakleford6553]

If you ain’t first you’re last. Good video man

[@BillyTyo]

Shake and bake!

[@PathsLessTraveled]

I dont know how you got so lucky not running into 2-way traffic. We did it in a Jeep and had to hang on the edge many times to get by other vehicles.

[@freedomriding2558]

Weekends?

[@ksgrasslander]

Rode this in 1991 both ways from/toTelluride and Ouray using a 1990 BMW R100GSPD. Of course without bags. ;-)

[@jamesleonetti8801]

Awesome video and narration good job guys

[@BillyTyo]

Thanks!

[@jaywarner1912]

Definitely no room for errors. Beautiful but intense.

[@BillyTyo]

Yeah, it’s a little intimidating

[@rickdougherty1371]

Any idea why the cones were blocking the road or WHO put them there?🤔

[@rontimber8566]

Great video guys. I've seen videos of guys on Black Bear Pass. This one definitely looks more user-friendly. I'll have to get to Colorado with the bike one day.

[@BillyTyo]

It’s a great place to explore on a dual sport motorcycle

[@othgmark1]

More fun but it does have some challenging watercrossings in big snow years. Have ridden it in August and the Ouray side was riding between walls of snow towards the top.

[@mattnorman7744]

Great video and narration. I was able to ride this last year and cant wait to go back. It looks like there is very little snow. When did you ride the pass?

[@BillyTyo]

Thanks! We did it in July

[@AnthonyJoh]

Are there any passes in the area that you'd recommend for a beginner rider on an ADV bike?

[@BillyTyo]

Marshall pass is pretty easy, mostly just dirt roads.

[@ferkuzuel]

Owl creek pass, and last dollar rd. come to mind ,they Are easy for beginners and for bigger adventure bike but still very nice scenery and pleasant ride

[@othgmark1]

Cinnamon is rideable for a solid rider. Goimg up Corkscrew gulch would be fun and dropping into Animas Forks would be ok. Engineer and especially Poughkepsie Gulch should be for experts only on adventure bikes. Same with Imogene and Black Bear. I have been told Ophir pass into Telluride should be ok.

[@petefinnegan3873]

@@BillyTyo corksrew,engineer

[@tex24]

Dude! Great video and great riding! Love the sound of that 450. Is that the stock muffler?

[@BillyTyo]

It’s the yoshi

[@aliclark_33]

Why do I feel like I saw this video a couple weeks ago? Must be losing my mind. Haha

[@BillyTyo]

Must be deja view

[@mattbarrois8675]

I was definitely thinking the same thing 😅

[@blakeberlin6295]

Imogene isn't bad coming from Telluride, but in my view it is the toughest ride in the San Juans when you're coming from Ouray.

[@BillyTyo]

Yeah, I remember some pretty good step downs on that said that would probably be difficult to get up.

[@Kalinina56565]

My dad and I are planning on riding the TAT next summer on crf300 rally’s. In your opinion, would the 300’s have enough power to climb the easier passes in the high elevation? We definitely will not be doing the rainbow trail lol.

[@BillyTyo]

That is awesome, it is the trip of a lifetime. The 300’s should be fine.

[@AnomadAlaska]

It's called "Emma-Jean" locally, for what it's worth. And Ouray is pronounced "Yur-ray".

[@BillyTyo]

Thank you! We figured that out after filming the video, even sounds funny to me when I hear myself say it in the video now

[@TERMICOBRA]

Greetings from Ky Mr. Tyo. I bought a 450RL and am going to lower it like you mentioned in your build video. I can touch my toes/balls of my feet on both sides but not much more. I understand that any single mod for lowering doesn't really do much but when combined can make a difference. I feel a better foot plant will allow me to develop faster with confidence. I'm not a novice but have plenty to learn. I'm thinking about going all in on the bike to make it perfect for me. What video did you discuss the shock that you sent in and if there isn't one can you say more about it? Exactly what purchase did you make and was the drop noticeable? So far the list I have is your shock mod, raising the forks under some risers, lowering link, and a lower seat. Do you think all of this is worth it? I really want more than just my toes on the sides lol. Thanks for your content man. Keep it up!

[@BillyTyo]

Lowering the suspension was well worth it for me, the bike is much easier to deal with and it handles better. I did it install a lowering link. First, I installed a lighter spring on the rear shock because I only weigh 140 pounds. Then, I removed the forks and shock and sent them to Pro Cycles in Clifton Park NY. They took 2” of height off of the suspension by modifying the internal components (they shortened the internal rods). The total cost was around $1000, including shipping.

[@TERMICOBRA]

@@BillyTyo Thanks for the reply man. I've been watching your videos and I watch Itchy Boots on her CRF300L Rally. She's somewhere on a volcano in Central America right now. Her drone footage is top notch. You vloggers make me ask what the hell i'm doing with my life! Again, thanks for the content. I hope everything goes your way this riding season.

[@BillyTyo]

@@TERMICOBRA thanks for watching, glad you are enjoying it. Jake and I are currently doing the GNCC racing season, but hope to do another dual sport adventure soon

[@martypowell4395]

How’s was the 450 as far as the service, did u stop and get it done on the trip?

[@BillyTyo]

We stopped about once a week and changed the oil, wasn’t too bad. We did it ourselves at auto parts shops and motorcycle shops

[@RantzBizGroup]

Great ride!!! What are you guys riding and have you changed out the gearing?

[@BillyTyo]

I was on a Honda CRF450RL, stock gearing

[@RantzBizGroup]

@@BillyTyo good riding on a relatively heavy bike at low speeds!!! Having all that travel below 20 mph can be a challenge with a high center of gravity. I have a DRZ400, and that bike is useless below 20mph.

[@BillyTyo]

Thanks, it was challenging, would like to have had my woods bike for some of the trails

[@RantzBizGroup]

@@BillyTyo isn't THAT ALWAYS the way of it. A trials bike in tow would be handy!!!

[@Dave-sw2dm]

Is that really on the TAT?

[@BillyTyo]

This is a hard option on GPS Kevin’s TAT route. We used both Sam’s and Kevin’s maps and picked the most interesting looking route each day.

[@Dave-sw2dm]

@@BillyTyo , GPS Kevin is selling copies of the routes Sam made? Sam spent most of his life creating those routes. That is sad that someone would capitalize on that. So, basically you are not doing the TAT.

[@davebennett5069]

who talked you into cutting the part of the video with the under-between bucket bypass?

[@BillyTyo]

Too many negative comments, so I decided to cut it out

[@davebennett5069]

@@BillyTyo ah man, some people suck! Bunch of namby pambys. They'll never know the joy of riding through amazing mountain passes over a thousand miles from home, and overcoming a single obstacle that shouldn't have been an obstacle in the first place.

[@mattbarrois8675]

Don't be a snitch Dave

[@davebennett5069]

@@mattbarrois8675 snitch what? Who said anything?

[@mattsloop2736]

With the maintenance intervals of the 450L how did you manage those on your trip?

[@BillyTyo]

It wasn’t too bad, we changed the oil about once per week. We carried the tools we needed and stopped at motorcycle shops or auto parts stores and get the supplies we needed.

[@mattsloop2736]

@Billy Tyo did the valves need done during the trip?

[@BillyTyo]

@@mattsloop2736 We adjusted them before we left and they did not need adjusted during the trip

[@mattsloop2736]

@Billy Tyo awesome. I've been eying a used one near me with 600 miles and a lot of aftermarket stuff on it. I might have to go pick it up.

[@BillyTyo]

@@mattsloop2736 it’s a fun bike, great for dirt/gravel roads and light trails. Best aftermarket part is the vortex, really smooths out the power, especially at low speeds.

[@mattbarrois8675]

So what bike would you recommend running the TAT with between the crf300L, crf450L, klr650, or a street legal 2005 crf450r

[@BillyTyo]

I’d say whatever you are most comfortable on. I liked the 450L

[@mattbarrois8675]

@@BillyTyo well I keep tossing the idea of making my old race bike into something I can ride on the street but don't feel the reliability is there but the bike is ready to go win a gncc Been tossing around the idea of the 300L for a little while now because that price is hard to beat same goes for the klr But damnit I want a good excuse to just buy a 450L and rip the hell out of it wanna sell me yours?

[@BillyTyo]

@@mattbarrois8675 the 450L definitely is a fun bike, it has a lot more pep and much better suspension than the 300

[@mattbarrois8675]

@@BillyTyo so how bad are they stock I keep hearing that they are pretty much unrideable stock

[@BillyTyo]

@@mattbarrois8675 very bad, the Vortex ecu is a must

[@adampotter9151]

what month were you doing these passes

[@BillyTyo]

July

[@frankmiller7435]

I have done Cinnamon and Engineer but just never had the nerve to do Black Bear or Imogene.

[@BillyTyo]

@@frankmiller7435 Black Bear and Imogene are very challenging, but if you are comfortable on very rough terrain you would probably be ok

[@micpen22]

Your-ray not or-ae