The California Backcountry Discovery Route - BDR

The California Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR) is a stunning off road motorcycle route that takes riders through some of the most beautiful and rugged landscapes in the state. Spanning over 800 miles, the route starts in the northernmost point of California, near the Oregon border, and ends in the southernmost point near the Mexico border. Along the way, riders will experience a diverse array of terrains and environments, from lush forests to arid deserts, rugged mountains to rolling hills.

Riding long stretches of off road trails can be intimidating especially when you are new to riding adventure motorcycles. Make sure to spend some time on getting comfortable on your bike and learning the fundamentals of off road riding before taking on big adventures like the CABDR.

The BDR was first conceptualized in 2006 by a group of motorcycle enthusiasts who wanted to create a route that would showcase the best of what California has to offer. They spent countless hours researching and mapping out the best roads and trails, and in 2007, the first California BDR was officially established. Since then, the route has become a popular destination for adventure riders from all over the world, and is considered one of the best motorcycle routes in the world.

One of the things that makes the California BDR so unique is the diversity of landscapes it traverses. Riders will start out in the lush forests of the Pacific Northwest, where towering redwoods and Douglas firs provide a canopy overhead. As they make their way south, the terrain changes dramatically, transitioning into the arid deserts of the Central Valley. Here, riders will encounter cacti, Joshua trees, and other desert plants, and will have the opportunity to see some of California's iconic wildlife, such as bighorn sheep and golden eagles.

As riders continue south, they will enter the Sierra Nevada mountains, where they will be treated to breathtaking views of snow-capped peaks, alpine meadows, and crystal-clear lakes. This section of the BDR is considered one of the most challenging, as the road climbs to elevations over 10,000 feet, with tight switchbacks and steep grades. But for those who are up to the challenge, the rewards are well worth it.

As riders leave the Sierra Nevada and make their way into Southern California, the landscape changes yet again, with the route passing through rolling hills and vast open spaces. This is the perfect place to stretch your legs and open up the throttle, as the roads here are wide and winding, and the scenery is absolutely stunning.

Having your motorcycle and equipment prepared is one of the key ingredients for a successful BDR trip.

One of the things that makes the California BDR so special is the people you will meet along the way. From the locals who live in the small towns dotting the route, to the other riders you will encounter on the road, everyone is friendly and welcoming. Along the way, you will have the opportunity to stop at local restaurants, bars, and hotels, where you can sample some of California's delicious food and drink, and meet other riders who are also on the BDR.

Another thing that makes the BDR so appealing is its accessibility. Unlike many other motorcycle routes, the BDR is designed to be ridden on a wide range of bikes, from big adventure bikes to smaller dual-sport motorcycles. The route is well-maintained, with plenty of gas stations and other amenities along the way, so riders don't have to worry about being stranded in the middle of nowhere.

Our adventure motorcycle training curriculum will prepare you for every type of terrain that you will come across on your BDR adventure.

However, the BDR is not without its challenges. The route is long and demanding, and requires a good level of fitness and riding skill. Riders should also be prepared for the changing weather conditions, as the route passes through a wide range of environments, from hot deserts to cold mountain passes. And, because the BDR is not a closed course, riders will have to be mindful of other vehicles, such as cars and trucks, and watch out for wild animals.

Overall, the California Backcountry Discovery Route is an unforgettable motorcycle adventure that takes riders through some of the most beautiful and stunning landscapes in the state. With over 800 miles of diverse terrain, riders will experience everything from lush forests to arid deserts, rugged mountains to rolling hills. Whether you're a seasoned adventure rider or just looking for an exciting motorcycle trip, the BDR has something to offer everyone. It's a journey that will leave an indelible mark in the minds of riders and they'll forever cherish the memories made. And the experience will make them want to ride it again, in the future. So, pack your bags, and get ready for an adventure of a lifetime on the California BDR!

If you are interested in setting off for your first BDR adventure but you don’t feel quite ready yet, consider signing up for one of our Adventure Motorcyle classes. You will learn all of the necessary fundamental off road riding techniques that will help you along the way when riding in challenging terrain.

Enduro School San Diego

Our San Diego based Enduro and Dual Sport courses are getting busier every year. If you have been wondering what to expect or what you learn at one of these full day Enduro training sessions you will find all the answers here.

Our curriculum is based on Daniel Sedlak’s 25 years of racing experience. With a a 10 year professional career in Motocross and Enduro that took him all around the world he has a good feel about the fundamentals that are needed to make a good Enduro rider. All of our instructors have worked with this curriculum for multiple years which allows us to provide a great quality training across the different groups of riders. Everyone of our Enduro School has two groups of riders. Group 1 is for riders that are new to riding off road and look to learn the fundamentals and group two is for more advanced riders/ racers that are looking to build up their confidence and speed.

All of our Enduro trainings are limited to 15 riders total to allow for two groups of 7 to 8 riders in a training session.

Our training are consists of five specifically build trails that each focus on different Enduro skill sets. Both groups get to train on all 5 trails just at different times throughout the day. Initially we start out on some very basic training loops in order to warm up and focus on the fundamental body position that will make it easier for you to rider more technical terrain later. The goal here is for the riders to be able to fully focus on improving their form and position on the bike without having to stress about the terrain. This loop also allows us to take a look at everyones bike and suspension set up. Often we are able to spot little set up improvements that will help settle your Enduro bike into the trail a lot better.

All of our Enduro trails have options to be more or less challenging depending on the Enduro skills we want to focus on.

We keep a training rhythm of 45 minutes on the trail followed by a 15 minute water break before we move on to the next training loop. This allows everyone to get plenty of seat time to focus on the various techniques that we teach

WHO IS THIS COURSE FOR?

You might say , well I’m not a racer I don’t need the training. Most of our clients aren’t racers. The majority of riders that join our training events are recreational Enduro and Dual Sport riders that are looking to improve their skills, grow their confidence and become better, more efficient riders. After a full day of training and riding on some great trails you will leave with improved riding technique and 15 new riding buddies that you can meet up with again in the future. We make our training accessible to all riders. We have participants that rider a Suzuki DRZ 400 or a KAWASAKI KLX and we have participants that ride a Six Day Edition KTM Enduro bike. We gurantee that we will have the right group for you to improve your riding in a low pressure environment.

Enjoy our private trails while you sharpen your skills and become a better rider.

Interested in joining us? Check out our upcoming classes here and sign up for one of our courses.

Adventure Bike School California

Adventure motorcycles are a great way to go and explore the world off the beaten path. From exploring the back country roads of your State, taking on a BDR or riding your bike across continents, the opportunities are endless. Every good adventure needs a certain amount of preparation and taking your Adventure bike out is no difference. A lot of riders that take the Sedlak Offroad School ADV courses have limited off road experience and come form a street riding background. Learning the fundamentals of off road riding is crucial especially when you are riding a 550 lbs bike. Being able to control the bike safely and use the weight of the machine to your advantage instead of “wrestling” it through sandy section and rocky roads will not only give you more confidence it will also safe of you a lot of energy enabling you to ride further.

Our half day ADV course is a great starting point to improve your riding instantly. We break our sessions down into three important fundamental techniques:

1. Body Position. We teach you how to properly position your feet on the foot pegs for maximum leverage and control. Controlling the your motorcycle from the first point of contact (foot peg) will be a game changer for every rider. Furthermore we will work on bringing you upper body forward on the bike and working efficiently with your arms.

2. Clutch, Brake and Throttle control. Riding off road can be intimidating at first because of the lack of traction and grip. We teach you how to properly apply your clutch and throttle to gain traction and control. Once you are picking up speed you need to be able to stop. We created several braking drills that will help you feel in total control of your ADV bike at all times.

3. Controlling your bike standing up. Riding standing up sounds pretty simple and it is as long is you are comfortable on solid surface. Naturally you loose a little confidence when you are approaching a new section. Most riders compromise their position on the motorcycle approaching challenging section which puts them in a bad spot before they even get into tricky terrain. Our stand up drills will provide you the tools needed to master tricky sand washes and rocky river crossings.

If you are interested in our ADV trainings here in San Diego or would like for us to organize a group training for your club or group of friends feel free to reach out to us info@sedlakoffroadschool.com and we are happy to provide you with all the information needed. To book a 1 day class you can find more information here: www.sedlakoffroadschool.com/book-your-event/adventure-bike-training. Sedlak Offroad School founder Daniel Sedlak has discovered the world on two wheels from riding the Himalayas in Nepal to crossing the jungles of Cambodia. Daniel has experience on a wide range of ADV bikes from BMW to KTM, Yamaha, Ducati, Triumph and more. He build our ADV curriculum based on his 25 years of racing and adventure riding experience. His influence from Enduro and Rally racing will give your training an extra boost.