MotorcycleJazz - Tour of Idaho FAQ

The Tour of Idaho FAQ

We make the Tour more decipherable and user friendly - one insensitive smackdown at a time.

Warning - some useful insight may actually be gleaned between the taunts!

Got a question? Go to our reader forum and post it there for a respectful response, visit the route description page for a blow by blow description of the Tour or email Turbo for inclusion in the FAQ below - and gird your loins.

Q: Hey - I can't open your gpx files in my ________ program. What gives?

A: All of our gpx files were created in National Geographic TOPO, ver 4.0. The National Geographic software creates gpx files consisting of a series of waypoints that it connects together to form a route. Unfortunately ".gpx" is far from a standard file format and other proprietary GPS software platforms can't/won't interpret files created by competing vendors. What are you gonna do? There are several freeware programs available on the web that will convert from between various formats (we like gpsbabel) and we've had good luck with them. The files provided will, however, open in Google Earth, as advertised, without hassle.

C: That is so uncool - everyone I know uses _______ and if you don't you must be a bunch of yokels.

A: Whoa, dood - check out the cerebellum on Geekboy! Why yes we are (yokels) and thank you very much for noticing. One thing tho - in Idaho GPS contests have two parts: the part where you blow us away with your superior knowledge of GPS tech followed by the part where we make you take the battery out and eat it.

Q: Can I do the Tour on my _____, _____, or _____ 500+ lb dual sport without messing up the wax job?

A: How the heck should we know? It ultimately depends on if you can ride the damned thing, doesn't it? In point of fact the Tour has been done on bikes as small as a YZ250F and as large as a DR650S dual sport (though the guy on the DR had some major cujones). We think that the average pilot of a BMW R1200GS will wish that they were on a Honda XR650R much of the time (especially the first couple of days) unless they happen to be Johnny Campbell in which case it won't matter in the least bit.

Have a look at the maps. Notice that the Tour of Idaho goes right to the tops of several impressively tall mountains. For most mortals we'd recommend large displacement dirt bikes with lights (the XR650R is nearly the perfect bike for the Tour). Slap a plate on the back and a trail sticker on the plastic somewhere and you should be good to go. Make sure that whatever you ride has either a large gas tank or a sturdy rack to bolt fuel jugs onto (or invest in comfy boots). We've indicated in the route description the places we think that riders on dual sports or large bikes may have some trouble (about 10 - 20% of the route). You can ride around these sections but not without missing out on the essential character of the Tour.

Q: Is the Tour a camping along the way kind of deal or can I stay in motels?

A: As long as you can make the recommended daily mileage accomodos are not a problem. If you fail to make your daily nut due to indolence, mechanical failure, getting lost or any number of calamities you may end up sleeping under your bike with the engine running to keep warm. It's very cold, btw, everywhere along the Tour after dark even in the middle of summer.

Q: Is the Tour self-supported or can we use a chase vehicle?

A: Not easily. It would be possible for the first couple of days without a lot of miles on the chase vehicle but after that it would be difficult. Consult an Idaho road map.

Q: Do I need a trail sticker if my bike is legally licensed?

A: The short answer is yes. There is a longer, more nuanced answer but the short answer is probably the best.

Q: How good are your time/distance estimates? Some days are over 300 miles. That seems like a lot.

A: They are great - for us. But your distance traveled per unit time may vary with skill, inclination or trail conditions. We pretty much put the hammer down every time we get on a bike (Shoup to Elk City in 4 hours with snow on the road). If you like to ride at any reasonable clip and don't stop a lot you'll do just fine. If you need to commune with nature around every corner and be photographed beside every pine tree in Idaho then things will take longer - in which case we recommend that you check out Trail Tech and Ricky Stator who make the bodacious headlights you'll need.

C: I did the __________ part of the Tour and I didn't see any of the stuff you guys said to watch out for. It was also way easier than you said. Where are you guys getting your information on trail conditions? I didn't post to complain - it's just that I am way cooler than you guys will ever be. I eat nothing but nuts, berries and elk droppings AND I am faster than even that lame poser Johnny Campbell. I also have a thing about fat motorcycle guys in their forties. Did I mention that I was cool?

A: We think that narcissism is a wonderful form of self-expression but please, no confessionals here. If you are conflicted about your weight cut back on the elk burgers or try a wrap. As for the rest, well, may we suggest Lasik?