[RoadToNorden]

Hello everyone, I'm RoadToNorden a newbie rider in offroad.
First of all apologices for my not good level of english 😅
Finally I found this forum to share our opinions, routes and tricks with own machines.

Ride a demo bike in last days of december 2021. One hour later, I save one for me.
I purchase my Norden on early february.

No options are buyed.
But stock bike is not her final form

Rider:
My height is 1,8m, like 5,9 feet and 110kg/242lb


The day the adventure began

New, new. 500 meters on odometer

 

[RoadToNorden]

First kilometers enjoying coast of Garraf betwen Sitges and Barcelona

 

[RoadToNorden]

The same day I took my new Norden I put a screen protector

 

[RoadToNorden]

First off road, little route. My very first kilometers out of asphalt in my life

I search an easy route near home to test me in offroad. I carry a puncture repair kit, compressor, little first aid bag and water.
At the same time I premiere new Leatt 4.5 boots and Nexx WRL helmet.
The track was very easy and haved a big smile in my face Any accident, good weather, enjoy the journey and return home.

 

[RoadToNorden]

Day 3. Oh, no!

I lost the position of the bike when i'm turning using my legs and fell to the ground.
Results: Broken handward

But the day is was not finish.
Following the track I arrived at downhill road with rocks.
Remember was my 3th day in off road

Yes I know, you are waiting the consequences
Well, some scraches on side gas tank protectors. And little fissure

A day to forgot!

 

[HumVee]

First kilometers enjoying coast of Garraf betwen Sitges and Barcelona

This would be a great photo...if there was not a trash or recycling bin in the photo. Still, a lovely view out over the water...and your lovely Norden 901, of course!

 

[HumVee]

Thank you for sharing your experiences, @RoadToNorden! You've taken the route to adventure riding that I took...buy an expensive ADV bike and head off the pavement with no training and no prior experience. While this method has been adopted by many, it is an expensive way to go. I totaled two flagship ADV bikes (KTM 1290 Super Adventure and BMW R1200GS Adventure) before I wised up and purchased a small dual-sport bike to learn on. In my case, a Yamaha WR250R. I learned a lot more, with less expensive consequences, on the smaller bike. I suggest you get a small dual-sport bike to learn off-road skills on, and to take on the more off-road focused journeys. Save the Norden for the more pavement focused journeys, but where you can still enjoy some light off-pavement rides. Also, if you find an enduro training course and take it, you will learn proper skills from experienced riders instead of learning a bunch of bad habits that you will have to train yourself out of later....

 

[Black99s]

Road skills don't transfer to gravel roads very well.
Take an adventure course. Learn to steer with your feet when standing, hands always light on the bars, knees tight when appropriate, eyes up, elbows out.
Some simple exercises to practice and build confidence.

 

[RoadToNorden]

Thank you for sharing your experiences, @RoadToNorden! You've taken the route to adventure riding that I took...buy an expensive ADV bike and head off the pavement with no training and no prior experience. While this method has been adopted by many, it is an expensive way to go. I totaled two flagship ADV bikes (KTM 1290 Super Adventure and BMW R1200GS Adventure) before I wised up and purchased a small dual-sport bike to learn on. In my case, a Yamaha WR250R. I learned a lot more, with less expensive consequences, on the smaller bike. I suggest you get a small dual-sport bike to learn off-road skills on, and to take on the more off-road focused journeys. Save the Norden for the more pavement focused journeys, but where you can still enjoy some light off-pavement rides. Also, if you find an enduro training course and take it, you will learn proper skills from experienced riders instead of learning a bunch of bad habits that you will have to train yourself out of later....

Thank's for advice
I know have many forms to get knowledge
My form Is the hard way. My first motorbike, 10 years ago, was an BMW R65 from 1979. Oldie motorbike for a person who never ride (execept driving school) is not the best 😅 And second was an KTM 690 supermoto
In my first real travel with Norden. Couple weekends ago road in Monegros Desert, I ride 750km (466mi) with any problem.

Now with 3300km on it ( 2050mi) I'm more confident when I ride in little techical zones. My use is roads, highways and good conditions offroad pavement.

About training offroad school. Yeah. Near home have TwinTrail. I choose "invest" the money who cost a training day in gasoline. Another time maybe not the best choice.

 

[RoadToNorden]

Road skills don't transfer to gravel roads very well.
Take an adventure course. Learn to steer with your feet when standing, hands always light on the bars, knees tight when appropriate, eyes up, elbows out.
Some simple exercises to practice and build confidence.

I ride with a friend, owner a Téneré 700cc and he told me my driving looked good for a benigner. And give me these same tips.
Look far, the weight balance in footpegs and how take slow turns.
I think I need more miles of experience. I started in offroad 2 month ago only

 

[RoadToNorden]

Discovering the Norden

After 2000km (1200mi) and a month and a half, now I'm more happier than first days

Note:
First service (1000km / 600mi) my local dealer charge me 199€ (215 USD) No problem or any thing to fix

Traveled along highways, small town roads, and easy offroad tracks, I have better feeling with this big bike
Better feeling but not the best fitting

Thinking about that I decided to buy three pieces to improve my driving experience

1. Foam over grips. More confort to my hands. Makes grips bigger

2. Lowering footpegs from SWmotech. 2 positions 15mm lower or stock. In images it's in lower

3. Rise the handlebar 20mm.

All 3 pieces makes a big difference. From the first kilometers I feel the bike good for road but not for driving standing.
My height is 1,8m (5,9ft)

 

[RoadToNorden]

Study and apply

After a month and a half with my Norden making kilometers, called a friend who Is a Yamaha Ténéré owner and have offroad skills to take a short sunday ride.

Easy trails most of the time. Good humidity. Not sunny, not very cloudy.

And time for Catalan breakfast (pork sausage with beans). Time used to talk about motorbikes and he give me some advices about offroad riding style.

 

[RoadToNorden]

First weekend exploring

With winter over, I prepare my first motorcycle trip. Do not expect great adventures, it is only a weekend.
But it is a weekend riding through "Los Monegros" one of the Spanish deserts and very popular among the offroad community.

But before I leave, I need to organize my luggage. Since I've never ridden a motorcycle and I'm pretty new to offroading, I wanted to go light.

I looked for rear rack options and found one on Aliexpress (in Spain we use this platform a lot) for €56 (USD60) with shipping included.

It is very similar to PerunMoto. With a good thickness and multiple holes to anchor whatever you can think of.

After this I found a 40 liter waterproof bag to carry:

• Clothing
• Air compressor
• First aid kit
• Puncture repair kit
• Sun hat
• Flip flops
• Off-road goggles
• Wet wipes
• Water and some endurance food

And that's it. Even if it is a desert, it is easy for a tow truck or ambulance to arrive. I hope I don't use them.

750km (466mi) from Barcelona to near Zaragoza and return.

Now some photos, I didn't really take many photos. In the future I hope to take a gopro camera.

 

[HumVee]

First weekend exploring

With winter over, I prepare my first motorcycle trip. Do not expect great adventures, it is only a weekend.
But it is a weekend riding through "Los Monegros" one of the Spanish deserts and very popular among the offroad community.

But before I leave, I need to organize my luggage. Since I've never ridden a motorcycle and I'm pretty new to offroading, I wanted to go light.

I looked for rear rack options and found one on Aliexpress (in Spain we use this platform a lot) for €56 (USD60) with shipping included.

It is very similar to PerunMoto. With a good thickness and multiple holes to anchor whatever you can think of.


After this I found a 40 liter waterproof bag to carry:

• Clothing
• Air compressor
• First aid kit
• Puncture repair kit
• Sun hat
• Flip flops
• Off-road goggles
• Wet wipes
• Water and some endurance food

And that's it. Even if it is a desert, it is easy for a tow truck or ambulance to arrive. I hope I don't use them.

750km (466mi) from Barcelona to near Zaragoza and return.

Fantastic photos, RoadToNorden! What is the purpose of the brick tower in the canyon, do you know?

Your list is good for a day ride. Is cellular phone coverage available everywhere in Los Monegros desert region? If you find yourself often out of cellular phone communications range, you may wish to consider an emergency satellite communicator, like Garmin InReach (there are others). It is invaluable if you or someone you come across is injured - but it can also be used for non-emergency communication. You can text a friend and give your location if you have a mechanical breakdown and can't ride out on your own.

Alibaba and NiceCNC...these "amazingly lower price" products are copies of the hard work (conceptualization, prototyping, testing and production) of other companies. The designs are stolen and copied without any compensation to the designer. Sometimes, the use of improper materials may be a concern (especially things like handlebar mounts, levers and footpegs). Not all aluminum is the same. More importantly to me, these pirate manufacturers take away sales from the legitimate companies. At some point, what is the point for that company to keep designing new product for us riders? Everyone can do what they want, but I will support the company that came up with the design instead of the copycats.

 

[RoadToNorden]

Fantastic photos, RoadToNorden! What is the purpose of the brick tower in the canyon, do you know?

Your list is good for a day ride. Is cellular phone coverage available everywhere in Los Monegros desert region? If you find yourself often out of cellular phone communications range, you may wish to consider an emergency satellite communicator, like Garmin InReach (there are others). It is invaluable if you or someone you come across is injured - but it can also be used for non-emergency communication. You can text a friend and give your location if you have a mechanical breakdown and can't ride out on your own.

Alibaba and NiceCNC...these "amazingly lower price" products are copies of the hard work (conceptualization, prototyping, testing and production) of other companies. The designs are stolen and copied without any compensation to the designer. Sometimes, the use of improper materials may be a concern (especially things like handlebar mounts, levers and footpegs). Not all aluminum is the same. More importantly to me, these pirate manufacturers take away sales from the legitimate companies. At some point, what is the point for that company to keep designing new product for us riders? Everyone can do what they want, but I will support the company that came up with the design instead of the copycats.

That canyon is known as Foz de Zafrané, it is 2 kilometers long.
The tower in the middle of the canyon was a pillar of the mining railway. It measures 42 meters and was inaugurated in 1904 . It was abandoned in 1966.

Then and now

Pic from motostrail.com

This place is a few kilometers from Belchite.
Belchite was a town destroyed in the Spanish civil war that has remained intact and now serves to explain the consequences of the war. Very interesting.

Regarding telephone coverage, there is no problem. There are few places in Spain where you don't have coverage. Throughout the tour I noticed that of the 5 coverage "bars" I always had at least 2.

Yes, it is true that I am quite unaware about the danger of going alone in places not frequented. Also when I've gone hiking I haven't told anyone and I've also been lost in the mountains at times but they are places where you always find a path or sign. Here we do not have totally virgin places.

When I bought the rear rack on Aliexpress I think I didn't know there was a "legal" one.
In components that require safety, I buy known brands that are supposed to have high quality standards. Like the footrests that are from SW-motech.
Back protector Alpinestars, Leatt, Acerbis, Nexx, RevIt...

It must be frustrating to have a company that dedicates time to development and research and another blatantly copies you.
We should be more aware as buyers and companies harder to protect their products.

 

[L.A.Cicero]

RE: Day 3. Oh, no!

Hi RoadToNorden, don't feel too bad about the small fissure. I also got the same crack in my factory "skid plate" when I lost footing on a gravel side of the road and very gently put the bike down. I don't even have a photo of the bike on a nice rocky road yet. I recommend the AXS Touring skid plate. It has 8mm of thick plastic protection for rocks and drops. I was really happy that the side of the bike didn't even touch the ground. Only the handlebar and the right side of the gas tank. Will also add BarkBusters soon. Can't wait to get to ride in Spain someday, it looks incredible. Happy riding!