From MTB to ADV Rider: Tips for ADV Women

“Face the Danger”

Those three words are quite powerful. They don’t belong to me—they belong to Klaus, a Swiss ski instructor from a training video some good friends once gave me.

Klaus was right. If you want to become a better skier, you have to turn your body and face down the steepest part of the slope to gain control—the one direction your mind tells you not to go.

That lesson has everything to do with adventure riding. This is my story of facing the danger, of how I started as an ADV woman riding. I hope that maybe some of it will sound familiar to you.

The Dream: From Pedals to Throttles

For years, I rode and raced the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. As I was pedaling for endless hours, I’d often come across dual-sport motorcycle riders on the same trails.

With nothing but time to ponder, I wondered what it would be like to not have to pedal every single hill, and maybe even carry a few luxury items.

"How awesome would it be to have a throttle and a motor to explore with?"

I watched the ADV riders, talked to them, researched motorcycles, and learned everything I could. I was ready. I figured I could take my knowledge of lightweight bikepacking and apply it to a motorcycle.

I could enjoy the Great Divide and countless other dirt routes in a whole new way.

The Reality Check: Overcoming the Fear of a Heavy Motorcycle

The first thing I did was purchase what I thought was the perfect motorcycle for a Great Divide ride: a BMW 650GS. I decked it all out for the dirt.

The catch? I bought it without ever having touched one. When I went to pick it up from the dealer, I wasn't even sure I’d be able to ride it home the 200 miles.

I was skirting the fine line between “Facing The Danger” and a “Stupid Thing To Do.” Personally, I tend to believe the “Stupid Things To Do” make my life much richer. I made it home safely that day.

Once the shiny new BMW was home, I was faced with a reality I had never considered: the weight. I went from riding a 22lb mountain bike for over 20 years to a 400lb motorcycle overnight, and I had zero motorcycle training.

A new fear entered my life. I barely rode the bike, treating it so cautiously and never taking it anywhere I couldn’t easily turn around. The worries took over:

• What if I drop it? How will I ever pick it up alone?

• I will never be able to handle this over rough terrain, it’s just too big and heavy!

• How do you change a tire and a chain? I have to be self-sufficient out there!

All of these fears were stopping me from enjoying the motorcycle for the one reason I bought it: to ride. The BMW sat in my garage for a long time, while I just hoped one day it would all work out.

The Turning Point: My “Learning Ride”

As adults, we know things don’t just happen—you make them happen. That strong urge to explore long dirt routes has never left me. Finally, enough was enough.

I packed up that 650 with all my gear and went out for my first real “learning ride.” Just me, my motorcycle, and my fear of it. It was time to truly FACE THE DANGER.

I rode for five days straight on as much dirt as I could find. I lived off that bike, I got lost, I got stuck, and yes, I even dropped it. But I figured everything out and made it home in one piece with a giant smile on my face.

I gained a new confidence and fell completely in LOVE with that 650! It was one of the best trips of my life, simply because I challenged myself and overcame the fears that held me back.

The Realization: Finding My Perfect Moto

My journey didn’t stop there. I eventually sold that BMW 650GS, then went to a Yamaha WR250R, then a Honda CRF300L, and now a Husqvarna 350FE.

I finally figured out that I enjoyed the smaller dual-sport motorcycles, not the larger ADV bikes everyone was telling me I needed.

My little Husky has over 12,000 miles on it in just nine months. I have ridden many BDRs, through deserts, and all over the US, Alaska, and Canada. I can’t get enough, because I found the perfect motorcycle for me.

There is no right or wrong bike. The right bike for you is the one that gets you excited to go riding. It’s the one that inspires confidence and makes you want to keep learning and improving. Listen to yourself!

My Three Biggest Lessons

Looking back, there are a few things I would have done differently that would have saved me a lot of time and anxiety.

1. Get Formal Training. My biggest regret was not getting professional training from the start. I was using my mountain biking skills to teach myself, and while that helped, it wasn't enough. Learning the proper techniques for handling a bike’s weight from an expert is the fastest way to build real confidence.
   
   
2. Find Your Community. I rode solo from the very beginning because I didn’t know anyone else who rode motorcycles. I now know how valuable it is to find a community of other riders to learn from and share adventures with.
   
   
3. Trust Yourself. I ignored my instincts when others were telling me about picking the “right” motorcycle. It's great to listen to experienced riders, but put more emphasis on what you feel comfortable with. For me, coming from decades of riding mountain bikes, a smaller dual-sport was the answer.
   
   

My path to becoming a strong ADV rider started later in my life and proves that anyone can do anything if you just try. It’s not about being fearless; it’s about acknowledging your fear and doing it anyway.

Whatever your fear is—a solo journey, starting a new business, or trying a new food—FACE THE DANGER. Don’t let it hold you back. Period.

I never write and share anything very personal on social media, and I ponder that maybe I shouldn’t share this, but then a friend quickly reminds me to FACE THE DANGER and share it!