Scooter Cannonball 2021 // Day 6: The Badlands & Black Hills in South Dakota

[@MMTIGER7]

I gotta say with all the craziness and sadness going on right now in the world. We need things like this even more! We need a break at times to take our minds off of the hardships and just watch a crazy guy ride a tiny bike across Beautiful landscapes. Thank you from the deepest part of my Heart

[@kartikshankar5790]

Yes wonderful thought. I totally agree with you Sir. This sort of a ride is definitely much needed and is a definite stress buster.

[@supersteve8305]

That zoom out of the map showing us where you were was a nice touch. I'm loving your series.

[@QuasiMotard]

Thanks for the feedback, Steve! I am editing our return trip videos now, so stay tuned! 😉👍 --QM

[@hondamonkeyboy]

Being in the UK I had never seen The Badlands on film before and the restricted views you were able to show us were incredible. Those canyons are awe inspiring.

[@sailor583]

You have to see the different bands of color of the rocks in the buttes.

[@slebdad]

That was a heck of a ride. Twists turns, hills, mountains. According to your reading you reached an elevation of 5460’. I have to say those Cubs are tough runners.

[@QuasiMotard]

Wait until you see Day 6 that I'm editing right now. We crossed over the Rockies at nearly 11000' on our highest summit. I think that I'll have the final cuts done tonight. If so, then I can encode it tonight and upload tomorrow morning! 😉👍 --QM

[@chipm2544]

Awesome ride you guys are having. You are killing it, my hat is off to you, especially on those scooters. I’m thoroughly enjoying this. I live in the FL panhandle & agree with your comment about that looking like beach dunes. Beautiful scenery you are riding through. Ride safe!

[@earlsmithson4749]

Quasi, I got to tell you my respect for your endurance is off the chart. I would require a little larger ride say a K1600 or it’s equivalent. I do thank you for taking us along on this butt buster.

[@papaballoon]

I keep forgetting to add my thanks for your work in putting this together! Fantastic. Thank you

[@QuasiMotard]

Thanks for watching and leaving feedback! It makes all the difference for smaller channels like mine, and particularly these niche videos that don't see widespread viewership. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@REZrblde]

I think so far i love this ride the most. That twisty turny forest at the end is perfect. The gravel washboard highway,not much,maybe id take a dirtbike or the CT125 thru there.

[@nigelbaldwin752]

Went for first ride on my new cub today, very different after four decades on large'medium bikes. My first bike was Raleigh Runabout 50cc with peddles and 2 stroke. Rural Wales in UK bit different from 'badlands' as twisty, narrow and VERY hilly. Love your videos,a diversion from so much bad in the world with people suffering. Thanks.

[@andreacerutti5090]

Grazie per questo tour che permette di vedere la terra americana. Prezioso!👍

[@MMTIGER7]

Always a good day when I get a notification saying Quasi posted a video! Love it man

[@randyyewell3755]

How true this statement is.

[@Scootphoria]

Been watching on my monitor. Today, I decided to use headphones. So much better. More clarity in your voice as well as the sound of the bikes. Lookin' forward to Wy!!

[@cubgsan]

Good day to you. It is a great Honda Cub touring video ! I ride on Cross Cub at Japan and enjoy touring and camping. Cub series is nice bike !! Have a nice day.

[@randyyewell3755]

What an adventure this is. Mad props to you and Adrian. You guys are machines. Cheers buddy.

[@CiBi1968]

Absolutely loving this series of videos Aaron. Can't wait for the next part . Totally amazed at how well the Cubs are coping with this but I guess that's why it's the most sold form of transport in the world. Any chance next time you have a run out that Adrian's audio can be added ? Also have you thought about just getting an old phone and putting an unlimited data sim in & constantly uploading to KZbin as you ride .Maybe a separate QuasiLive Channel? For those of us who want extra viewing, I personally could watch this for hours. Ride Safe . Chris

[@QuasiMotard]

Thanks for the feedback, Chris! I have been able to include group audio in the videos a few times, but the logistics during this trip were too difficult. I typically take an additional Cardo PackTalk Bold communicator that is joined with our group, and then I feed that audio output into a dedicated audio recorder. I sync that audio track during editing and adjust the levels to blend it with my camera's audio track. Unfortunately, I didn't have time to mess with that audio recorder during the Cannonball due to battery charging issues. I am trying a couple of different options to capture the communications directly with the helmet camera, which will drastically simplify my recording and editing workflow. I'm also actively researching mobile livestreaming options. The real trick is having sufficient data bandwidth to support the streams. Many of the rural highways that we travel have limited mobile connectivity and very poor data connections (if any). The GoPro cameras are hungry for data, so I plan to use a dedicated video encoder that employs a better streaming protocol (thinner on bandwidth) and should perform better for mobile streaming (same basic configuration that race teams use for streaming video and car telemetry from rally cars). I have definitely considered creating the "QuasiLive" channel for this steaming content. That content will be on my main channel first to attract viewers, and then I'll split it off to its own separate channel and ask existing viewers to subscribe there to build it up. My intention is to have scheduled weekly livestreams for shop and garage content, and then I will also stream the live "on the road" series when I travel. We'll see how it shapes up over the next few months. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@CiBi1968]

@@QuasiMotard Thanks for the reply Aaron, I especially enjoy the vids where you put the mapping & telemetry on the vids as it gives that little bit more insight into your journeys. I understand about the audio & lets see what comes in the future. I must admit I did think about cellphone coverage in some of the more rural areas and not sure how you would overcome that. While I was watching the trip and you kept mentioning Go-Pro batteries is there not a possibility to have them hardwired to bike for power & then transmit the footage to an SSD/Portable NAS hidden somewhere on the bike so you don't have to worry about capture sizes / Duration / Battery life ?. Anyway thanks for giving me my Scooter fix it keep me sane watching your escapades on the Cub/Trail/Ryker to name a few ... One day i'd like you to add a BMW C1 to your collection . You'd Love it ! Chris (Fellow Scooterist) BMW c1 & Burgman 650 + 3 other Bikes .... LOL!

[@CiBi1968]

@@QuasiMotard P.S When's the next episode dropping 😉

[@QuasiMotard]

@@CiBi1968 I have Days 7 & 8 in the editing station right now. I was hoping to finish cutting Day 7 and upload it over the weekend, but I ended up working both Saturday and Sunday. Gotta keep the real job going & the money flowing! 🤣👍 --QM

[@CiBi1968]

@@QuasiMotard Family & Finances come first .

[@devonbikefilms]

Enjoying your trip from here in the UK, looking forward to getting out on my Super Cub this weekend. Watching this one and already looking forward to the next installment.

[@ericsemple4820]

The road I hated was the pea gravel one in the Badlands Park. Almost lost it a few times. The traffic in the park was so heavy.

[@jthommo101]

Loved those badlands! Enjoying your trip vicariously from the couch...Did you get to see Rushmore up close?

[@papaballoon]

Just a comment on your "cornfield watering" on day 5. As a veteran of cycle touring.. particularly RAGBRAI (400+mile ride across iowa) that is what tall corn is FOR!

[@ApastronRetro]

Good Job, I upgraded my suspension and put bigger tires on. I wonder if this would help with the comfort? I sure do appreciate bigger tires, longseat, and my front and rear coil springs/shocks. Thanks for uploading my friend :)

[@shawn7233]

Wondering what bar end mirrors you are using. I'm on a Helix, and it was evidently designed for a thinner person than I. Great series BTW.

[@QuasiMotard]

Howdy, Shawn! We have the CRG Hindsight Lane Splitter mirrors on our Cubs, and they work very well. The view angle is considerably lower than a normal mirror position, but it works well on the Cub because the handlebars are too narrow for most mirror extensions/wideners to offer enough reach. The CRG's are a bit spendy, but they are very high quality. Here are the product links if you're interested: Qty 1: CRG Hindsight left mirror (Part number: HSLS-200-L): amzn.to/2SihYzt Qty 1: CRG Hindsight right mirror (Part number: HSLS-200-R): amzn.to/36qYjp7 Qty 2: CRG bar-end adapter (Part number: 0641-0013): amzn.to/2HJcgo2 Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@VeeDubJohn]

This is such a great series. Congratulations. I checked your finish on the website and must say you did very well!!

[@tstartrekdude]

I alsked myself the same thing you did at 25:00 , what is that stuff made of? It is sandstone, mudstone and granite as a base, but on top is a big thick layer of ash. Three mega volcanos in the west, Yellow Stone, Long Valley Caldera in Califonia, Valles Caldera New Mexico and a bunch of smaller GreatBasin eruptions completely covered that area with ash. Looking at the huge caldera's on google maps is really cool.

[@cresshead]

Fantastic episode, some outstanding scenery re badlands. Re washboard section - do you thingk when they reccied the section it was graded and good but since then got washboarded out?

[@QuasiMotard]

I think that was probably the case with many of the gravel and off-road sections that we encountered. The event organizer(s) used Google Maps and Google Earth to select many of the paths, but those satellite pictures are usually very outdated. We had locals in some of those areas ask us where we were headed, and they warned us not to travel some of the roads ahead because they hadn't been maintained in many years. One old-timer said, "You guys must be f***ing crazy... trucks didn't even take that road!" 🤣👍 --QM

[@ka509]

I have been loving the shit out of this trip. Thx!

[@ttinc2067]

👍 👍 👍 awesome ride !

[@adrianb6073]

Awesome videos! What a blur of a trip!

[@ArsonHammockHanger]

I remember saying the same things under my breath on those washboards.

[@bradmullins229]

I have really enjoyed these videos, thank you for sharing. I understand how much effort it takes to edit and upload. -Brad

[@wynandsteyn3666]

Small bikes for the win!

[@andreacerutti5090]

Ciao Aron, anno record per le moto in Italia, ci sentiamo dopo la tempesta atomica, qui vicino c'è un pazzo che minaccia tutti quanti. A presto!😤🤕

[@roywalls5595]

Thanks for the videoes for scooter cannonball run! QM

[@TheJasminacovington]

I came across your videos and I am loving them. I have an 2004 Aprilia Mojito Custom 150. I recently took a road trip to visit my family and everyone thought I was crazy. I see your videos and others like it where others are riding 50cc and it just confirms that I am not crazy! I like the feeling of riding my scooter. I want to take more road trips but I need to find back road routes. Don’t know if I can keep up with traffic on I-75 on my scooter. Any advice? Thanks in advance

[@carlosquintanilla7817]

You’ve probably been asked this many times: what camera do you use? I’m particularly interested in whatever shows your speed, elevation, GPS info. Helmet mounted? Great content! Enjoying it very much.

[@QuasiMotard]

Howdy, Carlos! Yes, I receive a lot of questions & comments on my recording configuration. My helmet and microphone setup can be seen in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/epDPk6CCmcqhfrc . The only change since that video was the addition of the Ulanzi Vlogging case to hold the GoPro Hero and audio adapters together in a single mount. The Ulanzi case also has a slip-off rear door that is much easier to open/close than the original GoPro cage. Now the mandatory battery swap every 30-40 minutes is a simple affair. The Ulanzi case is mounted on a MotoRadds helmet chin mount. The microphone is one from an old Cardo Scala G9 kit that was left over from an upgrade, and it has the requisite 3.5mm plug; that is plugged into the camera via the GoPro audio adapter. The microphone was the biggest surprise of this setup... it worked on the first try and it has surprisingly good audio quality. I use Adobe Premiere Pro to edit and publish these videos. Adobe has audio normalization and noise reduction tools that help to improve the raw audio and remove some of the wind noise. However, most of the audio quality is due to the Cardo microphone and the quiet Schuberth C3 Pro helmet. Here are links to the equipment used in my vlogging setup: GoPro Hero7 Black: amzn.to/33GRX3m GoPro Hero5+ audio adapter: amzn.to/36LpUBO Purple Panda microphone: amzn.to/34zLNkB (can be used in place of the Cardo mic) MotoRadds GoPro helmet chin mount: amzn.to/3jCAz5f Ulanzi V2 GoPro vlogging case: amzn.to/3lq62Ih GoPro J-hook buckle mount: amzn.to/2IjuCMM Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@tedwalker1370]

The dirt road from Hell. You said it was hot while going through the bad lands but didn't say what the temperature was. Curious. What was the temperature?

[@QuasiMotard]

The temperature varied up and down a bit, but the average was around 98°F most of the day. It was brutal when we were riding slow behind traffic and on that 40+ mile stretch of dirt Hell. We were definitely ready for that day to be finished. Our tour through South Dakota sucked. I'm editing Day 7 now, and that was much better. I'll try to get that episode out tonight or tomorrow. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@ontherebel11]

Present! Happy Friday quasi! 😁

[@jamesmcdaniel5259]

Serious glutital fortitude indeed

[@TheKernables]

Getting caught up on all these now but I’m really surprised that you only have 10,000 miles on the cub😅

[@QuasiMotard]

My Cub is currently sitting at about 15500 miles. The Scooter Cannonball accounts for about 9800 miles of that total. 😉👍 --QM

[@TheKernables]

@@QuasiMotard getting it! I figured you would have had 10-20k on it before this haha

[@TRCAdventures]

great series of videos! what an amazing ride, I need to look in to doing this, I think 2023 is the next event?! also Q: what do you use to display all the info on the screen alt, speed, map compass, that is super cool!

[@QuasiMotard]

Thanks for the feedback! The next SCBR is in 2023. You should sign up on the forum ( forum.scoitercwnnonball.com) and start reading through the discussions to help prepare! The application that I'm using for the data overlays is called Telemetry Extractor ( goprotelemetryextractor.com/). It's a bit pricey at $300 USD, but it is very flexible and produces very good results. The gauges and dashboards are totally customizable, so it takes a bit of fiddling to create a good layout that isn't too cluttered. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@TRCAdventures]

@@QuasiMotard Thanks I'm looking over the instruction manual now, looks like there is a bit of work to get it the way you want, it sure looks great in your videos! thanks for sharing, definitely looking in to running it in 2023

[@QuasiMotard]

If you want the layout files, just send me an email at [e-mail]. I'll send a few of the layouts to you so you have a starting point. I played with all of the different gauges and display formats for each one before I finally settled on this design. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@TRCAdventures]

@@QuasiMotard thanks for the offer! I try to keep my set-up as simple as possible, so I don't get overwhelmed by editing, I started using some 360 footage, but that's taking two people to capture what I want and quite a bit more editing, so I rarely use it, I need to think about this one. Thanks

[@roywalls5595]

I wish I can do that but not good health plus I see two Doctor every three months blood test & right knee shot!! QM

[@knowone6214]

sounds like that drive chain is shot........ump ump ump ump ump

[@QuasiMotard]

Yep, that chain was SHOT! Adrian's Cub was doing the same thing when we left Houston, so he was dealing with that nonsense for nearly 2500 miles! He swapped his chain before we left Bar Harbor to start the SCBR. I thought that I might be able to nurse mine along until Eureka, CA, but it was toast... had to be swapped before the start of Day 7. 😉👍 --QM

[@jssherrard]

Out of curiosity, how are you getting the speed, altitude, and compass info into your video?

[@QuasiMotard]

The telemetry data for the heads-up display is recorded by my GoPro Hero11 camera (and my Garmin Zumo GPS when I'm riding with it). The gauge overlay is generated using a third-party program called Telemetry Overlay: goprotelemetryextractor.com/ I stitch everything together with Adobe Premiere Pro to create the final videos. Creating the overlays is a lot of extra work, but I think the end results are worth the effort. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@jssherrard]

@@QuasiMotard Thank you for that! I ride a Honda PCX-150 and would love to use this overlay on my GoPro footage. Contemplating the Scooter Cannonball, but I don't have a support team. Which I would need because I am not a good mechanic! LOL!

[@บีสุราษ-ล2ฮ]

I love it

[@terrellredfoot1351]

Quasi what feature are you using to display the speed, tilt, compass, etc?

[@QuasiMotard]

The application that I'm using for the data overlays is called Telemetry Extractor ( goprotelemetryextractor.com/ ). It's a bit pricey at $300 USD, but it is very flexible and it produces very good results. The gauges and dashboards are totally customizable, so it takes a bit of fiddling to create a good layout that isn't too cluttered. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@MadsWorld34]

still waiting on day 7 8 9 and 10 and what numbers was your bikes

[@QuasiMotard]

Howdy, Glen! Adrian was #173 and he placed 15th overall. I was #107 and finished 17th overall, both with perfect scorecards. We only had 37 out of 73 scooters complete the Run, and only 15 of the finishers had perfect score cards. I think we might have been the ONLY bikes that didn't have ANY mechanical problems or failures during the event (only burned through consumables, tires, and 1 chain each). You can check the stats here if you're interested: follow.scootercannonballrun.com/ . Cheers! 😉👍

[@Chris-ts8oh]

It's been a while I forgot which Indian tribe lived out there in SD?

[@coryk.9025]

Just wondering if your scooter battery dies, is it safe to jumpstart it with a car, or carry extra batteries, thx!

[@QuasiMotard]

Sure, either option is fine. All modern motorcycles and scooters have 12V electrical systems, so you can jump start from a car if needed. I usually carry a small lithium jump-start battery pack with me as a backup plan. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@coryk.9025]

@@QuasiMotard awesome thx!

[@dynamicvideoservices5377]

What are you using for the HUD? Very Cool !

[@QuasiMotard]

The overlay software is called GoPro Telemetry Extractor ( goprotelemetryextractor.com/ ). It's a very powerful tool that works much better than GoPro's Quik application for overlaying gauge data. Telemetry Extractor also allos joining of multiple files and synchronization of multiple data sources, which aren't possible with GoPro's Quik app. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@dynamicvideoservices5377]

@@QuasiMotard Thanks! It adds another level to your videos. Will need to check that out on my GoPro. Really enjoying your daily journals. I hope to make the next one but those gravel roads.... Yikes !

[@QuasiMotard]

@@dynamicvideoservices5377 I'm encoding Day 8 right now, and it should be uploaded later tonight. That was another day of Gravel Hell. We survived it, but a few other riders didn't. The road into 9 Mile Canyon was brutal! 😉👍 --QM

[@dynamicvideoservices5377]

@@QuasiMotard I checked out the software. Impressive for $99. Looks like the Hondas did pretty well. I have a 2006 Honda Reflex 249cc. Thanks for providing so much background on the other riders as well. You provide a realistic picture of what it really takes. The most miles/day for me was ~400 mostly highway. 10 days of that is hard to imagine. Thanks again.

[@Chris-ts8oh]

That's wheat !

[@Lloyd-mo]

chapeziuos??

[@joeprine1543]

Just got me a new CT125. Seat sucks. My question is if the Cub and the Trail have the same engine how come the Cub is faster

[@QuasiMotard]

Howdy, Joe, and congrats on your new CT125! 👏 The SC is geared "higher" with a 14/36T ratio; the CT is geared "lower" with a 14/39T ratio. That gives the CT more torque for pulling up hills and rough terrain. The CT's intake has also been tuned for a bit more midrange and less top end power to suit trail and off-road riding. Cheers! 😉👍 --QM

[@joeprine1543]

@@QuasiMotard Thanks Quasi. Love what you do. I'm a experience rider that got bored riding the big bikes and this is making me feel like a kid again. I just turn 69 going on 17. Lol

[@MadsWorld34]

would you do this run on a monkey or a trail 125

[@QuasiMotard]

That's a good question! I considered doing the SCBR on my Trail 125, but the long highway stretches would have been very sketchy at only 45-50 MPH. The Monkey might be a decent ride, but it doesn't qualify for this event because it's a motorcycle. I think that the Super Cub will be great for the 2023 SCBR if we upgrade the suspension and install a mild big-bore kit to give just a little more power for the highway runs. 😉👍 --QM

[@MadsWorld34]

@@QuasiMotard thanks because the reason i'm asking is because i can not find a honda trail anywhere. and if a monkey cant do it i dont want one. so it leaves the cub i guess. and i really love the 2022 cub black color and there are 3 with in 50 miles of me.

[@Chris-ts8oh]

SD Brock Lesnars old home state

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

Umm.. 35 mph or less on those roads would just kill my enthusiasm .. Sorry to say .. I could not last 2 hours

[@QuasiMotard]

The Scooter Cannonball was an endurance challenge on a while new level. Monumental patience, determination, and gluteal fortitude were needed to finish that event. 😉👍 --QM