P104
FEATURE I M O T O R CYC L E A D V E N T U R E R I D I N G
A L O N G F O R T H E R I D E
Sometimes, you might not even know you're in
a rut until something much better comes along,
which is what happened to me. Recently, Yamaha
invited me to go on an adventure ride with some
of its crew in the Colorado Rockies. Afterward, I
realized that I had forgotten just how much fun
real ADV riding is and how doing something dif
-
ferent can get you pumped up about riding again.
Sure,
I've ridden my share of ADV bikes, but it's
been years since I've gone on a true adventure
ride.
Yamaha clarified that this would be a ride, not
a bike test. Yes, we'd be riding the company's
premier ADV bike, the Tenere 700 (aka T7), but the
invite was more about just getting away, going rid
-
ing with friends and people with similar interests,
and
experiencing adventure riding the way it's
supposed to be than it was about the T7; at least,
that's how I treated it. Turns out, Yamaha did, too.
Not once did anyone in blue try to convince
me how great the T7 is, nor did we discuss
front-wheel travel, frame geometry or electronics
You don't always know what's around the corner when you're far off the beaten path, but when you have
no choice but to keep going, ADV bikes are willing and usually able.
PHOTO: ADAM WAHEED
