Brandview / 

Utah's exciting new sport (and how you can join in on the fun)

Utah's exciting new sport (and how you can join in on the fun)

(Shutterstock)


Save Story
Leer en español

Estimated read time: 4-5 minutes

This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.

It’s no secret Utah is home to some of the best outdoor terrain in the world and every year, hundreds of Utahns take up adventure riding to explore it.

What is adventure riding?

According to Taylor Brody of Harrison Eurosports in Sandy, adventure riding is a sport that has taken the motorcycle world, both young and old, by storm.

“Adventure riding is fairly new due to innovations in motorcycles,” he said. “It’s taking off on a motorcycle that is designed to go long distances comfortably and exploring somewhere new on and off road. These trips can be short overnights in the mountains or lifelong journeys.”

In fact, Salt Lake City couple Kevin and Beth Young, also known as 2uptogether, have been adventure riding for the past 20 years. And according to an article written on the couple, their favorite road to ride is right here in Utah.

“Highway 12 from Torrey to Bryce Canyon is about as epic as it gets,” they said in the interview.

It isn’t just the Youngs who are experiencing the world on their bike. Groups like the Beehive Beemers, Adventure Rider, GS Riders of America Utah are having motorcycle adventures spanning the state and globe.

Why is the sport growing?

Adventure riding is growing in popularity for many reasons, but Vance Harrison, owner of Harrison Eurosports, says one of the main reasons is that it’s easier than ever to get the right motorcycle and gear for these rides.

“These bikes have large fuel tanks that can take you over 200 miles at a time. Now they even have features like cruise control, traction control, heated grips, fog lights, adjustable windscreens and more,” he said. “With the right tires and engine crash bars, you can take these bikes over treacherous trails and even if the bike falls over, you can still continue on without damage.”

Harrison says adventure riding is appealing to couples like the Youngs who see it as a way to have fun together; to individuals searching for a sense of self; or to those eager to explore the outdoors.

Courtesy of Harrison Eurosports
Courtesy of Harrison Eurosports

What makes Utah a great place to adventure ride?

The draw to our state, Harrison says, is the many miles of open road and off road, allowing for seemingly endless possibilities.

“Utah is an amazing place to own an adventure bike because of the quick access to amazing locations,” he said. “It’s easy to make a weekend trip to Moab, Zion, Yellowstone, or Colorado.”

Motorcycle site advpulse.com also mentioned places like Burr Trail Road between Torrey and Bryce, Valley of the Gods near Mexican Hat, Monument Valley and The Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument as top places to adventure ride in our home state.

Courtesy of Harrison Eurosports
Courtesy of Harrison Eurosports

How can you join in the adventure riding fun?

While adventure riding wouldn’t be enjoyable without miles of road and breathtaking scenery, it is made much more comfortable and can last longer with the right type of bike.

For beginners, Brody recommends the BMW G 650 GS, for intermediate riders the Triumph Tiger 800 or BMW F 800 GS is great option for those who plan to go off road. And finally the BMW R 1200 GS, Triumph Tiger Explorer and Ducati Multistrada Enduro are full-fledged adventure tourers that can tackle any journey.

For those looking to get started Harrison recommends to attend a Learn to Ride class, meet up with groups like the Utah Adventure Riders and join group rides like those put on by Harrison Eurosports. For those riders with their endorsement, Harrison has an expert staff who can give recommendations and allow test rides to help new and old riders find their perfect bike for the adventure ahead.

Related topics

Brandview
Harrison Eurosports

    STAY IN THE KNOW

    Get informative articles and interesting stories delivered to your inbox weekly. Subscribe to the KSL.com Trending 5.
    By subscribing, you acknowledge and agree to KSL.com's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

    KSL Weather Forecast