How many carry a dirtbike along with your rig?
- Thread starter Lost2beFound
- Start date
Member III
Advocate III
Not a dirt bike or dual sport, but a rugged ebike that'll go anywhere I've needed in the last couple years.
Hell of a lot less expensive new, hell of a lot less noisy (so I see a LOT more wildlife), and hell of a lot easier to load/unload.
I can easily put it into the back of the van by myself without a ramp. A lot less to go wrong, too; extremely low-maintenance. Can charge it up right from my trailer's deep cycle batts and inverter.
I ride the hell out of this thing in the desert, in the snow, on the beaches, and in the woods. Great and easy city bike, too, that you can ride up over curbs into parks, lock up on a sidewalk outside a store, go a lot of places you can't with a gas bike.
I bought it mainly as backup/rescue vehicle in case my van breaks down, so I could ride out literally in a tenth of the time I could walk out. Critical in the desert. Then I realized how great a scout vehicle it is, especially when traveling solo. I pop the bike out, ride several miles ahead to see if I can make it with van and trailer. Also realized how much of a pack mule it is and have hauled groceries (I have a fold out milk-crate sized basket that fits the rear rack), loads of firewood as seen below, hauled trash, etc.
I realize the appeal of being able to tear around and go faster on a gas-fueled dirtbike, and have ridden myself in the past, though for overall adventuring, backcountry trails, and travel cross-country in general, I ride and use this way more than I would a regular dirtbike, especially 'cause it's so quiet.
Honestly one of the two best investments I've made for adventuring. The other is my trailer.
All images below are clickable to more of a description, some with more images, though not all just about the bike.
Scouting a trail in the desert.
.. 
..
This bike goes with me everywhere, on every adventure, urban or backcountry.
Pack Mule
Easily stowed in the van. I usually loosen and turn the handlebars sideways if I'm going to leave it in there long.
Road
.
roaddude.com
Hell of a lot less expensive new, hell of a lot less noisy (so I see a LOT more wildlife), and hell of a lot easier to load/unload.
I can easily put it into the back of the van by myself without a ramp. A lot less to go wrong, too; extremely low-maintenance. Can charge it up right from my trailer's deep cycle batts and inverter.
I ride the hell out of this thing in the desert, in the snow, on the beaches, and in the woods. Great and easy city bike, too, that you can ride up over curbs into parks, lock up on a sidewalk outside a store, go a lot of places you can't with a gas bike.
I bought it mainly as backup/rescue vehicle in case my van breaks down, so I could ride out literally in a tenth of the time I could walk out. Critical in the desert. Then I realized how great a scout vehicle it is, especially when traveling solo. I pop the bike out, ride several miles ahead to see if I can make it with van and trailer. Also realized how much of a pack mule it is and have hauled groceries (I have a fold out milk-crate sized basket that fits the rear rack), loads of firewood as seen below, hauled trash, etc.
I realize the appeal of being able to tear around and go faster on a gas-fueled dirtbike, and have ridden myself in the past, though for overall adventuring, backcountry trails, and travel cross-country in general, I ride and use this way more than I would a regular dirtbike, especially 'cause it's so quiet.
Honestly one of the two best investments I've made for adventuring. The other is my trailer.
All images below are clickable to more of a description, some with more images, though not all just about the bike.
Scouting a trail in the desert.
.. ..This bike goes with me everywhere, on every adventure, urban or backcountry.
Pack Mule
Easily stowed in the van. I usually loosen and turn the handlebars sideways if I'm going to leave it in there long.
Road
.
Roaddude - On the Road In North America - ROADDUDE
Roaddude - Traveling Photographer/Writer/Artist On the Road In North America. Gear, reviews, people, places, and culture.
roaddude.com
Explorer I
Awesome thread! @Road a buddy of mine that I used to ride dirt bikes with is all into his overpowered e-bike now and that has my attention. I think you are onto something!
I used to travel a lot with an XR650L on a MotoTote trailer hitch on the back of a Tundra - worked really well but did lighten the front end of the truck significantly which could be weird in certain situations. I won't even do it on the back of the Wrangler JKU that I now drive, but am looking at trailers.
Wandered out into the sun today and that reminded me that some motors needed to be run, pulled the XR and the kart out and they both started right up. Think the kart has some old fuel and ran a little rough, that will give me something to do in the shop. Took professor doggy along for the kart ride. Yes I have taken the kart overlanding so it counts ;)
I used to travel a lot with an XR650L on a MotoTote trailer hitch on the back of a Tundra - worked really well but did lighten the front end of the truck significantly which could be weird in certain situations. I won't even do it on the back of the Wrangler JKU that I now drive, but am looking at trailers.
Wandered out into the sun today and that reminded me that some motors needed to be run, pulled the XR and the kart out and they both started right up. Think the kart has some old fuel and ran a little rough, that will give me something to do in the shop. Took professor doggy along for the kart ride. Yes I have taken the kart overlanding so it counts ;)
Advocate II
I have before but I ride a KLR 650 so it's a bit to big to haul that way. I have a 1000 pound carrier and it does work.
Explorer I
Explorer I
Haul which way? Hitch? I hauled the XR650L around for years that way and it worked.
Advocate II
Enthusiast II
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