Now and Then
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)|January - February 2022
The Dakar Rally is changing whether we like it or not
By Ricky Brabec, Photography by Justin W. Coffey and Rally Zone
Now and Then

For many race fans, the Dakar Rally is more than just a name. Dakar is a dream, a livelihood, and a test to everyone who participates. Come January, it will be 43 years and counting since the race’s inception, and the rules are still changing. The regulations are intended to better the experience, making it safer and more approachable, while finding new ways to challenge competitors. That said, there are still many reservations from the community about what the industry is turning into. But what is that exactly?

From its beginning, the Dakar Rally set high standards for how we define “rally raid.” It’s the pinnacle of off-road motorsports for most pilots. Over the years, there have been both good and bad changes to the Dakar, and rally raid as a whole. In racing, the organization has to follow guidelines in order to keep participants safe while still enticing them to challenge themselves and their machines at the event.

Thanks to a 2021 rule change, racers must now use airbag-equipped, potentially life-saving suits. The road books are now distributed just 20 minutes before the start of each stage— which should promote fair competition between well-funded teams and those on shoestring budgets. There are more speed-controlled zones, and the ASO is working to limit top speeds. It’s an initiative hotly debated among the pro athletes who believe this would make it more difficult for the top racers to break from the pack with their raw speed and talent under certain conditions. As the sport continues to evolve, issues like these will continue.

Denne historien er fra January - February 2022-utgaven av Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto).

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Denne historien er fra January - February 2022-utgaven av Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto).

Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.

FLERE HISTORIER FRA ADVENTURE MOTORCYCLE (ADVMOTO)Se alt
Stuant Gregory IS IT AN ADDICTION?
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Stuant Gregory IS IT AN ADDICTION?

Five-Time Dakar Malle Moto racer

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4 mins  |
January - February 2024
INTO THE MUD
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

INTO THE MUD

Strategies for Successful Off-Road Riding

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3 mins  |
January - February 2024
CHASING PEAKS IN THE HIMALAYAS
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

CHASING PEAKS IN THE HIMALAYAS

It was 2:00 a.m. on my fourth day in India. My eyes blinked open in the dark of a hotel room in Drass, a town in the Himalayas on the Indian side of the border. Yesterday was our first day riding on a six-day trip through the Himalayas, and my brain could not process everything I'd seen and experienced.

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5 mins  |
January - February 2024
Angels and Demons RIDING TWO-UP SOUTH THROUGH ALASKA
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Angels and Demons RIDING TWO-UP SOUTH THROUGH ALASKA

A not-so-warm welcome as we entered Hatchers Pass from Willow to Palmer, Alaska.

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6 mins  |
January - February 2024
EXPLORING THE THRILLING WORLD OF RALLY RAID
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

EXPLORING THE THRILLING WORLD OF RALLY RAID

A GUIDE TO GETTING STARTED

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7 mins  |
January - February 2024
MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

MOTORCYCLE MAINTENANCE

LESSONS LEARNED ON THE ROAD

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5 mins  |
January - February 2024
White Desert
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

White Desert

Riding Across the Frozen Landscape of Siberia

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3 mins  |
July - August 2023
Kitti and Martha Forget Black Dog CYCLE WORKS
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Kitti and Martha Forget Black Dog CYCLE WORKS

How do you start something from nothing? That’s what Kurt and Martha Forgét did when they created Black Dog Cycle Works (BDCW) out of their garage 16 years ago

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4 mins  |
July - August 2023
Essential GROUP RIDING Tips
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

Essential GROUP RIDING Tips

FOR ADVENTURE RIDERS (ON OR OFF THE ROAD)

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6 mins  |
July - August 2023
MAKING MEMORIES
Adventure Motorcycle (ADVMoto)

MAKING MEMORIES

Kevin and I initially met in the Marines. We have been riding together for a few years, and riding BDRs the entire time. Our first attempt at a BDR was in Utah, where we were completely unprepared and significantly ignorant of our capabilities. It led to some interesting moments conquering Lockhart Basin where we developed our backcountry motto: “Less Gear and More Water.” We document our rides on our YouTube channel, “Be Gone for Good.”

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5 mins  |
July - August 2023