Sydney Blue Mountains Motorcycle Adventure - THE HARD WAY

GPX Route attached.
5 riders meet up for a social media born adventure ride listed as "This will be a harder ride" in the Sydney Blue Mountains, Australia.
There were 3 DRZ400E's and 2 KTM's, the ride slowly kept losing riders one by one from injuries, fatigue and bike failure.
This adventure ride also went through two freak news worthy storms that were not meant to be as severe as they were which produced flash flooding and extra hard riding conditions. This truly was the adventure ride that had it all.
For the GPX file and or If you like what I am doing and want to help support the channel, please throw a TIP my way:
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[@Peteslife]

You ain’t complaining by telling us how hot and exhausted you are it’s commentating and describing the situation. You have gone from the apprentice to the master helping and teaching others.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Yeah it was good to help the guys, I actually didn’t mind it. We were all on the same page which is important I think.

[@BrumbyRide]

Wonderful definitely you had a bit of everything

[@FeroxFury]

TIP for those watching: Clutch in, Drag the rear brake down hill climbs (65/35 rear/front), and STAND UP to allow you to maouvre the bike in and out of ruts and make tight turns. - Remember most of turning is learning, you need to be able to quickly change course when ruts and obstacles are present. - When you sit down, ruts and rock impacts goes directly through to you, knocking off your balance. if you are standing, this impact will move the bike but NOT YOU. Assuming those knees are functional. To allow you to stand up: you need to have your clutch set up to use with 1 finger so that you can grip bars and use clutch. You really need to keep a minimum speed as well, panic and front brake is the most common cause of crashing on descents. Practice makes perfect, stand up on as many obstacles as you can. Hope this helps!

[@_JoshJB_]

Heck of a ride! You keep throwing all these guys into the deep end, like actually 😂 Looked like a good time 🤙🏼🤙🏼

[@budget-adventure]

Ha ha yeah.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Mate that was self inflicted and he is the better rider so I take no fault at all. Lol. It was ten times harder than our cape trip. Go figure hey. 🫤

[@budget-adventure]

@@The_Apprentice_Adventurerwas going to ask how it compared. Obviously not as long, and it didn’t end with your bike being posted home but still looked like a hard slog even before it rained

[@Gazzatron51]

Honestly Lance, your off the cuff commentary is gold, so many classic one liners.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

@@Gazzatron51 yeah I feel I do my best when I wing it and speak as I go. More authentic I feel.

[@guyonacub4335]

It's official Alex is a youtube star Love the way you are happy to ride and help others- Respect

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

He sure is. There was plenty more footage of him laying on the ground living the dream.

[@Gazzatron51]

Pretty epic adventure that one. Had to laugh, "thought you were dead", but I'll get to the top of the hill and walk back down rather than stop to help urgently. Seriously though, you have great positity, great effort in assisting everyone, the apprentice is fast becoming the master.

[@nedshead5906]

I just recovered my stolen 2019 DR-Z400e, not the mint condition it was in but glad I got it back

[@memyselfandi9365]

Seing how many times you guys fell over makes me feel better, I'm 62 and brought a drz400 after 20 years of not riding... I fell off 3 times in similar terrain on my second ride..😅

[@CamperKev]

What a brilliant adventure. An epic ride. 53 minutes and 14 seconds of intriguing entertainment. After being through situations like those, it felt like I was there.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks mate. I could have made it 2 hours long. So much footage.

[@PhilipAllison-x4j]

Crazy tough ride that one. Leadership reminiscent of Ernest Shackleton. Well done to you all.

[@craigr3753]

Looks like a tiring but great weekend. A true adventure

[@brynkendrick8914]

Great video and I just loved your commentary.👍

[@SqueakyBoot]

Epic vid, yourself and JoshJB were the catalyst for me to choose a DRZ over so many other bikes, rock solid bike. Rock solid video style as well, always look forward to a new chapter/episode.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks mate. They truely are a great bike, just look after it and she’ll last a long while.

[@dirtbike_viking]

This looks fun. Might have to try that trail out Mittagong on Sunday. Thanks for sharing 👍

[@ejconquer3468]

Hey Lance. What a great vid. Nothing scripted. Just pure adventure riding. Love it. LMAO. Well done!

[@jeffvndeperre1262]

Seen a couple of your vids now but this video made me subscribe , your always helping and encouraging the other guys and never complaining , that tells me your a good person. keep riding and stay safe 💪

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks for tuning in. Yeah I have a blast on these overnighters where I try to make the ride about the group and not myself. It’s all good fun.

[@nathan7880drz]

The drz 400e are absolutely brilliant bikes so much fun

[@alanreilly9056]

Hi Guys, I live in the Blue Mountains myself and I went for a ride on my Suzuki DR650 on the same day, as you guys were just in front of me from say from Mount Boyce to Mt.Victoria where you all pulled in for fuel, I remember the guy ( Alex I think ) with the "P" plate on the back of his jacket Great Video mate and what an adventure!

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

It’s a small world. You should have tagged along. Hopefully you didn’t get smashed by the storms that day.

[@whatsstefon]

What a sensational ride mate. Great to see the mighty machine back on the dirt track. What a torrential final push with the weather, the water and the challenges ending the ride. Sensational stuff mate.

[@anthonya7066]

What an entertaining adventure, great to watch. Glad you stayed to help Juan.

[@ShadowVonChadwick]

What a great camp spot.

[@florme6494]

Wow, I was on the edge of my seat especially at the end. Epic.

[@adamsrcsandadventure700]

Awesome vid and tracks 👍 love a good ride like that, has it all 💯I'm from SA and wish we had places like this to ride.

[@Mikebravo91]

i could imagine how exausting it would be just getting your self around especialy on the tractor being the weight it is, plus extra, then your assisting the lads, i subbed. keen to see more :D

[@Mark-vx5dt]

Binging your channel right now mate haha! These videos are so good. Proper, real adventure riding. Australia looks like a holy grail for this kind of riding. Love your positive attitude and outlook on life. Cheers from Canada

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks for watching mate. I reckon you guys would have some good riding in Canada as well.

[@andrewquinn3339]

Yeah! Epic ....You're a legend yourself, you don't just give advice, but you get in and help! As an adventure rider myself, you can wear every sort of adventure jacket and pants for protection when you come off, when it rains, to be waterproof just buy cheap plastic over pants and jacket!

[@jasonlonon4198]

Standing on climbs makes all the difference. Your mates need to get outta the saddle. Looks like great trails.

[@alexferguson5419]

One of your best Lance. Keep getting out there

[@zakkyummms]

That's pretty gnarly for a new rider.

[@maxbrettargh232]

It must be 15 years since I did those trails and crossed the Kowmung on a bike. Good on Dave Wilson coming out to pick up Jan. The Wilson boys helped me out and mates of trouble a few times. Excellent vid by the way. I felt like I was there

[@Katrinaknight-nl1mb]

Sorry but the Wilson family haven’t owned Lithgow Bike Stop since Nov 2019. The wonderful mechanic who came to the rescue is Francis one of the great Mechanics at Lithgow Bike Stop

[@ride4adventure]

Epic for sure as far as overnight rides go. It was a tough as it gets and great job capturing it.

[@souhailshamaissem7564]

Top video mate. Good to see Australian contents on you tube.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks legend. We have a great country for riding.

[@robpinter5431]

Gosh it looked like so much fun, sorry I did not get the invite in time to have a bike swim.....

[@williamarango5289]

Welcome back ,from Coral Springs FL USA .❤️❤️

[@BrettWilliamson]

We were at the top of that hill climb in our 4WD club before Christmas and decided not to go down. Looking at that track on your footage, I am glad we didn't.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Yeah it was a doozie. I reckon you would have done it though. Maybe just slow going. Great track.

[@LeftisF]

Great video Lance, I was exhausted also hearing you taking breaths haha! Greetings from Greece! Stay safe!!!

[@petervanzon4765]

Great video mate. Best one yet. It seemed a bit like the Apprentice adventurer... and his apprentices. Good comradery and hectic fun times.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

That’s why you need to buy a bike and start riding again. I’ll look after you 😉

[@matthewmarsh7857]

That was Epic!. Your camera doesn't do the terrain justice bur your commentary certainly does . I've been caught out in the bush in a similar situation and character building is an understatement lol. The luxury of a hot shower at the end of a day like that is pure bliss ....

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

@@matthewmarsh7857 yeah it helps filming others when off my bike to show the terrain a bit better. It was an epic ride this one.

[@Terran_tino]

Top video m8, lov ur work! I did the wet ride home yesterday so totally feelin it at the end there! Thx for sharing!

[@lamos8691]

Killa Video! Inspiring to get us off the couch and onto the trails. Looks like hard work but must feel great to survive that 2 days of riding. Legends 👍

[@4bnewb969]

putting the ‘A’ into Adventure!

[@Ragnar-Ultra]

This is AWESOME!

[@lizdg3892]

Really enjoyed this one. That is amazing country. You have some riding chops! And you’re looking after everyone to boot. Definitely learn a lot when riding with more skilled riders. I have to admit I LOL on your description of the rain water making its way to the nether regions. Good laugh. 🎉😊

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks mate. Yeah she was one hell of a ride. Loved every minute of it. Met some good blokes to. 👍

[@mrmu9877]

I'm gunna have a nap now....even I'm exhausted after watching that!!

[@lukeallan5372]

thoroughly enjoyed that. i like the water crossings

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks for tuning in mate. 👍

[@lowend5566]

First! This will be my evening entertainment. Love your vids Lance.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Enjoy mate. It’s a long one but full of action.

[@geordiefulton524]

Would be interested on coming on next ride looks like to much fun to miss out on and hate doing it alone

[@Andrew-vz3qk]

i reckon it must be bad luck going on a big group ride on adventure bikes, and even worse luck when someone is filming cause these kinds of videos often end with dead bikes and injuries. great video, looked like a good trip, will definitely check out the GPX file. these blokes need to get onto Adam Reiman or Chris Birch riding lessons on youtube / Chris Birch's 'say no to slow' series cause there is definitely something they could learn or some drills to get them standing on the pegs more and keeping their bikes shiny side up.

[@Blake_Seven]

You missed the " you can't park here mate" moment so many times. Love the videos. Have you done Flinders rangers yet?

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Hahaha No not yet, I have done the Gammon Ranges but still need to do a dedicated Flinders ride. Its coming.

[@Angstvormirr]

Only just Subbed, but enjoying the content mate, good stuff

[@cranedaddy678]

That looked like some serious fun man!

[@AusMoto]

Loved it mate, some of those hills you guys tackled looked bloody gnarly, and that's on GoPro, can only imagine what they looked like in person!

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Yeah it was a top ride. Our time will come soon enough 🤙

[@paddy380]

That was bloody narly what a ride!

[@bretleversha]

Another entertaining adventure, safe riding

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks for the TIP. Much appreciated. 👍

[@iancameron5536]

Real hard core stuff! Want to make sure your life insurance is all up to date before you set out, magnificent scenery though, almost makes it worth the pain!!!!

[@thepyrofarmer]

I take my hat off to you guys, I tackle similar terrain on my WR450 but I’m not loaded up like you guys. I would struggle with the extra gear also. Lance, you certainly picked an interesting track. 👍

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Mate I just picked most of the tracks from my lounge room and hoped for the best. Lol.

[@kevingreen_boating]

Hard core...and cool! Too much for my Tenere and me! Good on u mate!

[@jeffthomas-s1h]

Unfortunately, heading out to the Great Western Highway through Rydal was a poor choice. Had you had headed South towards Hampton, you both could have rolled down Magpie Hollow Drive to again the GWH, and been 5 minutes from Lithgow Bike Stop!! Have ridden many of those trails myself, and always enjoy the Kowmung River areas....

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Good to know that. The maps wanted to take us that way but I thought it may have been to hilly.

[@paulbarrs]

The last time I went through the Bue Mountains it was on a 1250 Bandit, and I sure wasn't crazy enough to try goat tracks like you guys did. Epic! Loved the video :)

[@nathan7880drz]

Hey dude absolutely awesome video enjoy your content cheers for sharing 👌👍

[@mazdar100]

Excellent vid, Lance. Not sure if you’re one to fully share the tracks taken, but would be great to know, even if via a PM….cheers and beers..

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks mate, flick me a message on insta and I’ll send them over. My first ever GPX file I saved.

[@radadventure2606]

What a ride!

[@whatupg1]

Just found your channel mate, Love your attitude. I live on the north side of Sydney and your the type of dude I would like to ride with. Positive vibes to you champ!

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks for tuning in mate. Jump on my insta account. Sometimes I throw up a group ride invite. If free just tag along 👍

[@babar69110]

helping all guys, going up down hills with gears and boots is totally exhausting ! Your attitude should be an example for all riders !

[@ShonkyProductions]

Great video and great ride. I think I recognised a few places there... Did you visit Sunny Corner in your travels?

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks mate. No not quite Sunny Corner. But the drowned bike was Marrangaroo NP just down the road.

[@jefftaswelder9154]

Darn-it , what a ride mate 🤣 deff had it all 🤔😂 glad everything worked out ok-ish 😁👌 cant beat a DRZ for reliability , good old school work horse 😉👍 keep well and stay safe-ish young sir 😉🍺

[@TLE1977A]

Lance in beast recovery mode.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Haha it was a mission that’s for sure.

[@painsrides]

Wow!! chills and thrills start to finish... Too bad it had to end with break down.

[@n.tfisho6491]

G'day new subscriber here great content and very enjoyable! Can I ask a question? I want to buy a dual sport and am considering a drz400. My question is, how does the drz go on the road? Is it happy, and is it comfortable to sit on 110 for long periods? I want to ride from Victoria to Darwin and across to Queensland and up the Cape and back to Victoria, doing dirt tracks and bush riding as much as possible along the way but will be doing the Stuart hwy up to Darwin. Cheers

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Yeah mate it will be perfect for it. You just need to change your gearing from 14-47 to 15-44 so the bike can manage the higher prolonged speeds. That’s what most DRZ riders will do to make the bike more road friendly.

[@n.tfisho6491]

@The_Apprentice_Adventurer great information just what I wanted to know. Thanks for your reply 👍

[@PissTakeProduction]

Had to chip in do the exhaust with a full Yoshimura system. Let's the engine open up and breath. You can get up to 145kph and Motoz tyres are an excellent combination. Regards Paz

[@n.tfisho6491]

@PissTakeProduction That's great to know 👍 thanks for your help. Much appreciated 👍

[@TwoWheelerSparky]

Haha another classic day in the real Aussie Bush 👌

[@markjacobs3956]

Take note. When you are riding with your feet off the pegs it's a mechanical bull.

[@bushybill7189]

If the fella on the KTM 625 see's this, what gearing are you running mate? Cheers. Another great video Lance. That's my old stomping ground out there. Abercrombie River is beautiful. I only ever did that track though in my 4WD. It would have been awesome fun on a bike.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Mate I asked for you. He is running a 16/42. 👍

[@bushybill7189]

@@The_Apprentice_Adventurer cheers Lance.

[@bonzi5448]

Epic ride mate, I wouldn't take the GSA on it though!!. Just one question, what app are you running for navi? It looks the goods. Thanks

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Yeah I’m with you. I wouldn’t take a big bike out there. I’m using the EploreOZ Traveller app. Aussie owned and operated.

[@bonzi5448]

David and Michelle (EO) would be happy to hear about that! Its a great app, thankyou and keep on running up and down those hills mate@@The_Apprentice_Adventurer

[@thelonewolf666]

another great ride mate--- ill never come with you hahaha

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

@@thelonewolf666 haha don’t be like that. We eventually all get home one way or another.

[@mentalhealthescapes]

Amazing adventure. Do you happen to have any nav/gpx files - would love to go exploring.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Mate flick me a message on Facebook and I’ll be able to get them to you. 👍

[@herbshirt6073]

Did a bit of adventuring at myself on the weekend. Lying here with a broken collarbone to tell the tail. I have a KTM 390 adventure. Do you think that would handle the trip like this? It's surprisingly capable, but I think the overnight pack weight would make things difficult on the hills.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Ah bummer mate. That’s no good. For sure. As long as you have the right tyres, the bike will do it no problems, just as long as your confident yourself.

[@GrapplingwithReality]

Absolute legend

[@GrapplingwithReality]

Hey Lance, was going back and looking at some of your build videos for inspiration. Are you still running D606s? Been seeing a lot about the Motoz Rallz tires lately and trying to figure out what set to get once I burn my knobbies down in the spring. Cheers!

[@keithkirby1685]

Great ride great content ,however some of the could have been reduced by putting most of your gear on your back and very little on the bike making the bike much easier to handle in the off road .

[@shieldsymusic]

Yeah, you're no apprentice. That's a character building ride for sure!!

[@baz1502]

Nice video mate. What area in the blue mountains? Are you near sunny corner?

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks, we went through Jenolan, Abercrombie, Hamptons and Manangarroo

[@peterpiper-v5i]

definitely enduro bike country

[@dominic9279]

Hey man love your rides.. my son and I are in bathurst and wondering whether you'd like to go riding with us, us being the followers though 😅

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

@@dominic9279 thanks for tuning in mate. For sure, my problem is being time poor but when I do a random ride I post it on Facebook and insta. Jump on there so you can see when I’m doing a shout out for riders.

[@dominic9279]

@@The_Apprentice_Adventurer will do

[@homevillegarage947]

I wanna ride with this unit ! 👍

[@retiredwaterdoctor]

4 bike go into the woods...1 comes home....SALLY is the girl....those KTM won't run on water...not like the DRZ and KLR's....great ride...tough conditions....

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

I know. I left home solo and rode home solo. Crazy bloody ride. The more I look back on it the more I realise how hard it was.

[@theruffiankj4164]

Those guys are lucky they had you along. “Apprentice “ is a bit of a misnomer! From an old-school thumperite (dr 650) who rides backcountry dirt in Southern Africa…

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

They were legends, no complaining and rock solid attitudes about it all. Happy to help. Thanks mate.

[@roybatty2030]

Imagine picking up BMW pig, fully loaded, time after time. It's not like those TV shows with a 20 strong back up team, who will cook you a bacon sandwich while your BMW is being picked up and cleaned for you

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Spot on mate.

[@dirtbike_viking]

Dropped my T7 out on the trails 40minutes into my first ride out on it. Was by self and tho it wasn't terrible to pickup it wasn't fun either 😅

[@feralbeemers]

✊🏼

[@coreyharper7643]

🌴 RAWSUMNiSS 🐢 🌴

[@ericdawson3425]

Free bike wash on the way home

[@budget-adventure]

Mother Nature threw it all at you mate. It’s a problem I’ve faced before asking online if anyone wants to go for a hard 4wd trip and people turn up in a stock triton with road tyres and zero idea. You need to be careful is something serious happened your liable. And although the guys were great it was clear some hadn’t don that type of hard riding before.

[@jasonhookham7550]

great video do you have a gpx file of your route ?

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Thanks for watching. Should be in the description section.

[@patriziocarnevale6252]

Ciao , che garmin usi? Grazie

[@ausktm790adventures2]

After Glen Chee Rd, what trail was those crazy hills?

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

That first one was Waterfords Rd. Much harder than anticipated.

[@scottclark1975]

What camera you using mate. ? You did well picking the lads bikes up.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

This was my first video using a new GoPro 12. Also filmed in 4K for the first time.

[@scottclark1975]

@@The_Apprentice_Adventurer ok. Did you have the microphone attached to ? Or just got chin strap and talking with just the camera. ?

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

@@scottclark1975 I run the media mod and a plug in Lavalier mic which sits next to my cheek in the helmet.

[@scottclark1975]

cheers mate. Due for an update so hence the questions. @@The_Apprentice_Adventurer

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

@@scottclark1975 no dramas mate. I must say the GoPro 9 I have never liked. Always gave me dramas and I was close to changing brands. I didn’t change brands though due to all the GoPro specific items I had. So i decided to give the newer GoPro a go and so far I have had not one problem. So pretty happy with it.

[@roybatty2030]

Imagine that trail on one of those BMW monsters, no chance.

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Yeah not for me either. It’s possible but you’d need to be a top bloody rider.

[@cliff1551]

2:26 hey you going through buggayaa mountains

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

I don’t think so. That was the east entrance of Jenolan state forest.

[@MrDanjacs]

Dis you guys not let your tyre pressures down or something?

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

We sure did.

[@Wayne-Kerr_Rudy-Zarzoff]

What's the name of the tar and dirt road at the start of the video ?

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

Coxs River Rd mate.

[@Wayne-Kerr_Rudy-Zarzoff]

@@The_Apprentice_Adventurer cheers. I will have to check it out

[@Sean85Laney]

What kind of tires are you guys riding

[@The_Apprentice_Adventurer]

I have 606s. Not sure about the other blokes though sorry.

[@stevenloynds3691]

No offence to the boys, I can see the fun in group rides but can see why riding solo to some is preferred if they can't find riders to the same skill set it can be a real buz kill looking out and helping when ya just wanna ride.

[@manfrengensen]

Fuck that was awesome. Thanks Lance!