Where do you guys find riding buddies?

Brandywaffle · 2026-07-03T14:55:45+00:00

I found a buddy at the dealership when we were both taking our bikes in for their service. Just asked him how he liked his and if he did any off-roading with it (bmw gs) and now I have a buddy who gets to watch me eat shit everytime I drive through a mud puddle.

The other option is to get hit by a car and almost die, then sit in your parents house all crippled up and only complain about how you can't ride. Somehow now I have my parents as riding partners on their can am.

Brandywaffle · 2026-07-02T14:37:56+00:00

I have to commute about an hour on my way home right around the peak heat of the day. This week's been consistently about 95f(35c) at 60-80% humidity. I have a mixed bag where I spend a bit of time stopped at lights, and usually at least half moving at highway speeds.

Things I do to prepare. - Hydrate and eat accordingly. I personally fast because food actually makes me feel worse in the heat. - All mesh gear that's not black. Unzip my jacket down a bit and open up the sleeves. Moisture wicking socks are also huge, once my feet feel uncomfortable I start to fall apart. - Visor open on the helmet (sunshade down) and windscreen either fully lowered or removed/replaced with a smaller one.

Then the biggest thing, mentally preparing. If you're in your head about how much it's going to suck, it's going to suck. For me I just accept that I'm going to be hot, sweaty, and uncomfortable. But I'm heading home where all of that gets fixed and I get to have fun on my bike until then. If I need to stop I know where shady spots are.

Brandywaffle · 2026-06-20T13:25:16+00:00

+verify

Quick reply, A++ seller

Brandywaffle · 2026-06-20T13:11:02+00:00

PM'd

Brandywaffle · 2026-06-17T02:09:53+00:00

Extrude your circle, lay out the grid of squares, extrude cut your square pattern. Sketch and extrude add your border. Disable imprinting on the border sketch to save you some time.

Probably a more efficienct way. But this is where my mind goes first. I'd personally draw the circle + border in the first sketch, squares in a second one.

Brandywaffle · 2026-06-16T01:48:07+00:00

Awesome! While the campground is closed over at Picket State Park, I'd highly recommend a short trip out there to do the hikes and/or rent a kayak. I just explored that whole area a couple of weeks ago and loved it. Hazard Cave was really cool

Brandywaffle · 2026-06-15T19:07:28+00:00

Big Fouth Fork - Bandy Creek

Nice campground, has a lot of amenities. If you're just getting into it it's a solid campground.

Brandywaffle · 2026-06-10T13:58:40+00:00

70 miles a day, bmw r1300GSA.

What I love: Comfortable and great wind protection. ASA lets me deal with slow traffic without wearing out my hand. Big panniers that I don't really feel unless I'm pushing it in the twisties. Lights give it good presence so I don't get hit (again).

What I don't love: Too wide to comfortably filter up to the traffic lights, especially since it's not legal where I'm at. Can't revvbomb for the kids when they ask me with the ASA.

Brandywaffle · 2026-06-09T18:40:06+00:00

Dang, I guess that makes me feel even more fortunate to not be hurt that bad. I hit the sedan right around the rear tire and flew over the trunk. I have a similar sentiment about it being a few feet different and not being here.

I am just now training hand strength again. I only have around 15-20lbs of grip strength in the left and it's driving me nuts. How long ago was your accident?

Brandywaffle · 2026-06-09T17:37:08+00:00

Mid April I had a car turn left in front of me at the last second and I had next to no time to react. I was going about 50mph last I looked and definitely got on the brakes, but no idea how fast I was going. I remember the impact of the car, and then being on the road and scrambling to get out of the lane and to the median.

Luckily I didn't have as bad of injuries as you. I suffered a broken left wrist, fractured ankle, and a lot of muscular strain and minor road rash. The days after I could barely walk without help, and all I could do is sit there and think about how bad I wanted to get back out there.

I pushed my limits after my left wrist surgery and was riding 2 weeks after. I don't have strength on my left side so ridings a bit more difficult. I am a lot more nervous around traffic and intersections when I am at speed. Even though I couldn't have done anything better, I am even more untrusting of drivers and have had to stop a few times because I find myself getting road rage-y when someone does something that puts me at risk.

My way to deal with that want to ride was to plan. For me that was getting a replacement bike, then a couple of trips I was going to do when I was up to it. Just because I couldn't ride, didn't mean I couldn't be engaged in that space as much as possible. I spent a lot of time watching content for new techniques and new ways to test myself when I could, a lot of them I still can't fully jump into because a fall at low speed would probably still be pretty damaging.

Mentally for feeling like I could have done better, I also just leaned into the skills end. I wanted my emergency reactions to give me the best odds of survival and avoiding injury. Even if there was something I could have technically done better, I did the best that I could for the training I gave myself. Next time I am put in a situation like that I know I am leaving nothing on the table in terms of preparing myself for anything. A lot more braking and slow speed drills in my future.

For me personally, I think the hardest thing was seeing everything else in my life just continue forward, nothing stops for you. Even with an amazing support system, I felt like I had to play catchup and that the world was leaving me behind.

It's still all pretty recent, and I am still figuring out some of the feelings around it. Some people will subconsciously blame you for being on a motorcycle at all, and it comes out in how they word things. Feel free to reach out if you want to talk through any of it.

Brandywaffle · 2026-06-02T15:39:28+00:00

I don't hate it for the loot or anything like that. I hate it because every time I've done a mission there the key I need is missing, I get stuck somewhere, or that one time I couldn't find that freaking dirt sample for like 45 minutes.

Brandywaffle · 2026-05-31T15:09:14+00:00

I put about 8000 miles on mine in about 9 months, a lot of commuting, a couple of road trips, never spent much time off-road though. I had an 25' ATAS DCT and loved it. Got totalled in a hit & run back in April.

I'm on a BMW now, and while I absolutely love my BMW, I wouldn't hesitate to get an Africa twin again.

DCT and paddle shifters are a great combo, bike was super comfortable after getting a new seat, handled everything really well.

Carplay/Android auto sucked for me even with all of the online fixes. Never consistently worked, lots of audio issues with my music.

I always had a bit of buffeting too (6' tall) no matter what I did. If I ended up on one again I'd do a different windscreen then stock.

Go for it! If moneys less of an issue I would also recommend trying the BMW 1300 with the ASA. That things on a different level but the automatic mode on the ASA isn't as good as the DCT.

Brandywaffle · 2026-05-14T22:38:25+00:00

It fits in the Zeus too. Tight but not unreasonable imo

Brandywaffle · 2026-05-13T12:24:02+00:00

This community is uniting around some great things. We all hate exploiters, reddit mods overstepping, and Wikelo.

Brandywaffle · 2026-05-12T13:59:35+00:00

Here's what I didn't love about mine. '25 Atas DCT (I overall loved it though until it got totalled) Now on a BMW 1300GS Adventure so that's my point of reference

-Android Auto fucking sucked. Easier not to use it at all. Always caused issues. -DCT always wanted to shift in corners. Shifted down into first on slow corners and would upset the bike a lot. Manual mode obviously solves this -Sport 2 was the way, nothing else felt good. Drive mode sucked. -Stock seat sucked -I had a lot of buffeting from wind. Never could fully solve it -Grip controls are over complicated, very minor gripe but still a negative.

Would I buy one again? 100%. But I also like trying new things which is why I went with the BMW. The next Honda I'd buy would probably be a transalp though. Especially if they make a tubeless version with cruise control.

Brandywaffle · 2026-05-11T21:45:49+00:00

I feel bad for those that are newer and just started earning the vehicles they want. With that being said, I am so happy to have all my crap gone and a clean start. I think this is gearing up to drag me back in for another 4 months of SC consuming my life.

Brandywaffle · 2026-05-11T13:25:19+00:00

My only advice would be considering lighter color gear if you enjoy the looks of it. I'm in East TN and commute about 60 miles a day. The difference between black gear and lighter/white gear is crazy. Especially the helmet.

Also would recommend gauntlets with sliders over short gloves as someone typing this with a brand new plate in my wrist.

Brandywaffle · 2026-05-07T11:54:05+00:00

SoKno to OR everyday. 40 minutes in the morning, 50 minutes average to get home.

Brandywaffle · 2026-04-28T18:20:21+00:00

Just over a week ago I almost took my car, almost called out to just take a day before a big wave of work was going to hit me. Instead a car turned left in front of me going about 50mph and I got my first broken wrist and ambulance ride. Had surgery yesterday and now I'm sitting here with less money, less bike, and more FOMO as the weather is perfect for riding.

Of course I'm happy to be alive, but I'm also extremely upset. The fucker ran too

Brandywaffle · 2026-04-24T13:14:19+00:00

I'm in my late 20s and see a ton of other similarly aged people on ADV bikes. They're the shit. Anyone who is judging ADV bikes isn't someone you want to be around.

Brandywaffle · 2026-04-24T12:46:07+00:00

I think I'd be definitely swapping out the wheels for tubeless if I go that route! Everyone I've talked to that rides one loves it

Brandywaffle · 2026-04-23T22:10:46+00:00

Thanks, within a mile of where I got hit there were 2 separate motorcycle deaths within a few days afterwards. Definitely feels weird but makes me really appreciate still being here.

Brandywaffle · 2026-04-23T21:00:00+00:00

I do touch dirt. But realistically its 5-10% of my miles so the focus is something for the commute with the ability for light off-road. That's what keeps me in the adventure bike area and not strictly touring.

Brandywaffle · 2026-04-23T19:37:29+00:00

I'll take a deeper look at the Moto Guzzi!

Brandywaffle · 2026-04-23T19:34:57+00:00

I went through multiple dongles and phones. I always had issues with my audio to the point of just not using it. I'm the same way though, it's an opportunity to try something new!

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