Dan Predovich On Top of Haggerman Pass, CO

This photo was taken during the Big Dog Ride a few years ago.    

The Big Dog Ride is held each year in August.  The ride takes us off road up to some beautiful and breathtaking areas in the high country.  Dr. Greg Frazier is the founder of this event, a prolific writer and world traveler on his motorcycle.  Go to www.horizonsunlimited.com/bigdog/ for more information on this great event. 

The End of Another Great Day of Riding

The view from our ranch after the Foothills BMW 100,000 Ride

Off Road Harley-Davidson

  I understand from one of our viewers that John Ogden, Jr. built and rode this great motorcycle at the Big Dog Ride based out of a motel in Frisco, Colorado in 2011.  John is an Officer with the Christian Motorcyclist Association.  John is from Mena, Arkansas.  We would like to hear some details about this special H-D build if he would care to share details with us.  We have had great interest from viewers on both John's Harley and on the Big Dog ride. We would really like to have John give us detail on his build.  How he came up with the idea, bike concepts, parts used in the build, etc.  Also we would like his riding history and photos he might like to contribute to our blog.  John, send me your email address! 

  As an aside, you may want to check out the “Big Dog Ride” at http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/bigdog/.

  Anyway, the builder/rider acquired a Harley Davidson Sportster with the thought that a few changes would transform the HD into a hill climbing, mountain climbing, trail riding work of art.  By means of his imagination, his motorcycle mechanical handiwork combined with his great riding skill, he achieved his goal.  I did not see it, but I heard about his ascent of Red Cone and other tough Colorado high altitude mountain climbs.  If you look closely, you will notice front and rear wheels are not Sportster fare.  The front forks look more Kawasaki than Harley. 

  The auxiliary fuel tank mounted where a rear top case mightreside give a workman like approach to this piece of work.  Maybe another story to follow?  Stay tuned.  Again, I suggest you look at the Big Dog website.

  Note the front end, the tire size, front and rear.  A custom fairing, kickstand and gas tank bags add to the unique flavor of this off road machine.

  This view displays the custom sheepskin saddle cover, auxiliary tail gas tank and Vance & Hines exhaust.

  The rider of this interesting custom machine is a first class rider, mechanic and all around great guy.

BMW X Country on Weston Pass

  Weston Pass is an easy high country ride from Denver.  I rode my yellow and silver 2009 BMW X Country in the Big Dog 2011 Adventure Ride based at a motel in Frisco, Colorado in August of 2011.  

  Go to http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/bigdog/ for more information on one of the great western motorcycle adventure rides.

According to the BMW corporate website, the X Country was: “First introduced in 2007, the X Country was big part of BMW’s plans of enlarging its horizons and by this time we reckon it competes with the purpose of its initial creation.

But giving its pioneering role, the bike doesn’t have that much history as a BMW police bike, let’s say. In fact, it was just introduced in 2007 as the fuel-injected 652cc single-cylinder go anywhere, do everything kind of bike.  The muscular athlete, as it was presented, entered the Supermoto category with a black and gray paintjob, something that was about to change with the arrival of the 2009 model year.”

I traded in an aging Ducati 999 for the 2009 X Country.  The Ducati and I had become good friends on the now defunct Second Creek Race Track (now a housing development) west of the Denver International Airport.

  I spent a few years learning how to ride my Ducati fast with Mike Petiford of Go 4 It Racing Services:   http://www.go4itservices.com….great experience.

  Fast forward to the off road work with the X Country.  It is a very comfortable off road motorcycle, albeit not a high horsepower machine having less than exciting acceleration.          Everything is a trade off.  The X Country is not my preference in getting from point A (home) to point B (serious off road fun) if it is a long ride.  Once I arrive at point B, it is fun.  But I still own the X Country and love it.  Read further about the addition of a KTM 990 Adventure to supplement the X Country.

  Notice that my X Country 650 cc motorcycle is similar in size to the red and silver Kawasaki KLR 650 on the right.  Having owned both the KLR and the X Country, I prefer the X Country, if price is not a consideration.  The KLR is a better deal if price is important.  The KLR has more aftermarket options available since it has been around almost forever.  The X Country had a brief appearance on the motorcycle market.