AltRider will soon be providing parts and accessories for Adventure Motorcycles

Adventure Touring riders and riding is our main focus, with a lineup of bolt-on accessories designed and built in the USA. AltRider also offers 100s of other moto-centric products from trusted companies like Proxxon, Coast and GiantLoop.
Check out our line up of products at the AltRider website.

Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Beaches, Bikes, and Babies


Starting a business really doesn’t allow you to take months off to go on vacation. So, with several days off for Christmas and New Year’s we took advantage and headed down to sunny Puerto Vallarta to spend the holidays with family from across the country. No vacation that we at AltRider take is complete without a motorcycle adventure.



Before we left, Jeremy searched the forums for people to ride with and places to rent but got little back (unlike our South African journey). So we started our search in town for ANY type of motorcycle we could rent. We ended up with a late model Honda XR250. We admit there were some interesting changes Honda has made to this classic dirt bike: it now has 6 gears and no kick start, electric start only (not great). Otherwise it’s the same machine outfitted with driving lights so it’s street legal (unfortunate for us Americans this great little bike isn’t available as a street legal model). While small, it comfortably fit two of us. If you’re headed down there go see Miles at coolrentals.com.mx.


As for the riding, we sailed down the cobblestone streets (even when wet), through the winding hills (with barely visible speed bumps), and passed many a vehicle (far surpassing the intended passenger capacity limit). It must be admitted that the rider had a bit more fun than the freaked-out passenger (that’d be Brianna… yes, this was a part of the inspiration way back when to get her license). One of the best little trips on the bike was to a restaurant south of town called Le Kliff – where we enjoyed a nice dinner while overlooking the ocean from different “cliffs”.


Jeremy did get to have his own adventure, solo. He did take to the beach, kicking up sand and getting the crazy-gringo comments and looks. Later he was the entertaining uncle that rode wheelies down the street while the rest of the family watched from taxis. His four year old niece was most impressed by this.



Jeremy also ran into a group of adventure riders, several on KLR’s, one on a BMW and one KTM LC4. They had all met while on the road down there. Who knows, maybe we will run into them again…this community is big, but there are still a lot of connections.


4 comments:

  1. Why on earth would you include a picture of 2 people on an adventure bike in inappropriate riding gear in your newsletter? Really? Shorts and flip-flops - with a bandaged foot, no less?

    AltRider just lost credibility in my eyes. How can I take an enthusiast organization seriously that doesn't take riding seriously? You are in a position to be role models for riders, and leaders. Your display of a disregard for safety is irresponsible and offensive, to me.

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  2. Strange seeing two guys on a XR250 under a story about a guy and a girl adventure (girl supposedly - Brianna). Not sure what to make of this story but I am a long time adventure rider and enjoy reading all motorcycle adventures. Just show the girl next time.

    Thanks for sharing

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  3. To JayF:
    The guy is my dad, actually. I thought it was funny, so I took a pic. I am always behind the camera. I need to get more people to take pics on vacation aside from me!
    Thanks,
    Brianna

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  4. To Sarah:
    Your point is taken. They were literally riding down a driveway, but I agree this isn't safe nor sanctioned by the AltRider team. We hope to regain credibility by not showing images such as this in future. We are sorry we offended you.
    We are, however, excited to get comments!
    Hopefully next time they are for praise.
    Thanks,
    Brianna (VP, AltRider)

    ReplyDelete