Ryker Rally for long Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) trips?

[bikemechanic53]

I've been searching the forums to see if others have ridden Ryker Rallys on long dirt road trips. Can't find any threads.

I'm considering a 2022 Ryker Rally for week long western states dirt road trips. These are BDR trips, as shown on ridebdr.com.

Only problem I see is the lack of ground clearance (5").

Does anyone have experience on dirt roads, sand conditions, and/or multi day back country trips?

[SportsterDoc]

The first photo is of the road from highway 73 (Williams - Perkinsville, AZ) to Drake AZ, then on to highway 89.

1. The road got rough fairly soon, but no issues with clearance (400 mm front shocks), even when it transitioned to a forest service road.

2. Traction up steep hills can be an issue. Once I had to back up and take another approach. **

3. The transmission air filter should be checked (and probably blown off from back-side) frequently. It sucks 4X the air as the engine air filter. Avoid following someone else, as their dust will be more than that created by the Ryker.

4. Cover your gear, as I did later in the Point Imperial, North Rim of Grand Canyon photo. My jacket and bag were filthy after only a few miles.

5. I did not wash the Ryker that night, as I stayed with a friend off a dirt road in Prescott, AZ. But I did wash it the next day before going to my daughter's in Clarkdale, AZ.

33-Perkinsville road to Drake 14 Sep 2020.jpg

51-Grand Canyon North Rim Point Imperial 18 Sep 2020.jpg

56-Cape Royal Road 18 Sep 2020.jpg

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...Arizona-photos

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...t-storage-quot

** I stopped at a bakery on Utah highway 12, close to highway 89 junction, coming back from Bryce Canyon.
The parking lot was smooth riverbed type stones.
The incline to the paved highway was moderate, but I could not go up from a start...had to go at an angle, even in ECO mode.
Not had problems on a gravel shoulder, previously, but the smooth stones were an issue.

Up any type of incline in pea gravel would be a challenge. Below photo of rest area along NV highway 6, coming from Extraterrestrial Highway, is a pea gravel example.

26-Highway 6 rest area 24 Aug 2018.jpg

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...ew#post1546601


Post 29: https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...er#post1566884

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...er#post1518099

https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...ge#post1520573

[ARtraveler]

We use our Kawi Mule for the dirt backroads. Higher clearance, selective 4 wheel drive, etc. A better match for us.

[SportsterDoc]

We use our Kawi Mule for the dirt backroads...

Much, much better for rough roads, but would it be street legal to access those roads?

There are other options if no need for 3 or 4 wheel stability.

2- Leaving Mormon Well Road 17 Jan 2017.jpg

2-Red Rock Canyon Loop summit 29 Sep 2017.jpg

There are other forum members with more off road experience on a Ryker than I, but the Ryker sections have been rather quiet.

[SportsterDoc]

If I were to have used the Ryker more off-road, a much more aggressive rear tire would be warranted and a good supply of air filters (same for trans as engine).
However, the Rally rear may suffice.

OTOH, only one traction issue in 6K+ miles, May-Oct 2020:

[canamryder]

I think the name Rally is misleading. It's not to be used as an ATV. It's not designed to go over rough (back country) terrain. The advertisements I've seen of the Rally's is that they are being used on fairly, not too rough, gravel surfaces, not back country, try to get lost areas. Reminds me of comparing a Gravel bicycle to a Mountain bike. You don't ever want to descend a mountain trail on a gravel bike, unless you have a death wish. Maybe the name Rally should be renamed to the Ryker FM (farm to market) or something much better than that...can't think of anything at the moment.

[ARtraveler]

Much, much better for rough roads, but would it be street legal to access those roads?

There are other options if no need for 3 or 4 wheel stability.

2- Leaving Mormon Well Road 17 Jan 2017.jpg

2-Red Rock Canyon Loop summit 29 Sep 2017.jpg

There are other forum members with more off road experience on a Ryker than I, but the Ryker sections have been rather quiet.

Street legal, no. Top speed is about 28 mph. No turn signals on ours. We live far enough out that many, many Mule type vehicle is driven from farm to farm. Have not seen or heard of anyone stopped or hassled by the police. We have a county sheriff living at the head of one of the dirt roads and he sees us all the time coming off the paved access road. There is an actual license for the vehicle, but most here do not have it. I do have full coverage insurance on mine though. Just in case.

To get from A to B out on some roads, trailering is recommended if you have to travel regular highways.

[SportsterDoc]

I think the name Rally is misleading. It's not to be used as an ATV. It's not designed to go over rough (back country) terrain. The advertisements I've seen of the Rally's is that they are being used on fairly, not too rough, gravel surfaces, not back country, try to get lost areas...

Fair assessment

[bikemechanic53]

SportsterDoc, thanks for the good info. Traction is not something I had considered. However, I cannot find any tires for the Ryker that are dirt oriented. Only street tires.

Does anyone know of sources for knobby tires in the Ryker sizes?

[bikemechanic53]

Also SportsterDoc, when you mentioned 400mm shocks, were you talking about the RFY shocks on ebay?

[SportsterDoc]

This thread has the shock info
https://www.spyderlovers.com/forums/...to-13-000-feet

I posted my rather limited experience with rough road travel on the Ryker, but did not intend to imply that I recommended it for that use, although it can be done, with caution.

BTW, My Perkinsville Road to Arizona highway 89 ride was done with stock shocks, so post 2 was not correct.

[SportsterDoc]

In normal mode (the base 900 does not have sport mode), twisting the throttle can break the rear tire loose on clean dry asphalt at speeds up to about 35 mph. The 900 has great torque, instant acceleration, but rear traction can be marginal.

Keeping the transmission air filter clean is critical to belt life (10,000 mile replacement intervals).

[SportsterDoc]

I very much enjoyed my Ryker experience, riding it about 1,000 miles per month, as has been my experience on all my recent"bikes", but sold it for the following reasons:
1. Very high RPMs at high speed cruising.
2. Only 33 MPG, explained by high RPMs with the CVT transmission
3. Avoiding potholes with a three-track is more challenging than with a single track.

However if Can-Am comes out with a Ryker with a clutch and multiple speed transmission, I would probably buy another one... Cornering, especially with the 400 mm aftermarket shocks, is phenomenal.

[SportsterDoc]

BTW, the highway twitchiness commonly associated with riding a Ryker for the first time, is greatly diminished / eliminated with the 400 mm aftermarket shocks.

When learning to corner aggressively, the advice is to lean to the inside of the turn to avoid the feeling of being thrown off the seat from centrifugal force; however, I have found that simply squeezing the tank with the knees is more than adequate.

IMHO, a Ryker will out-corner a motorcycle going through a single lane traffic circle, probably because of the quick right then quick left maneuver.

[BLUEKNIGHT911]

SportsterDoc, thanks for the good info. Traction is not something I had considered. However, I cannot find any tires for the Ryker that are dirt oriented. Only street tires.

Does anyone know of sources for knobby tires in the Ryker sizes?

Look for a SNOW tire with an open tread design, it should provide as much traction as you would need and would be good on pavement ( at a lot less cost ) ...... jmho .... good luck .... Mike

[chris56]

I don`t see a problem with backcountry roads - we ride a lot of them here in the Austrian Alps (24 Tmiles now)

the new 2022 Rally has now longer shocks front & rear ..(BRP has learned from us)

inside the front fenders is a crazy large cable-clip - there is only a little space between the tire and the fender that would destroy the cable if you catch a stone ..
(happend to me - I don`t know if they changed this problem now)

I use on the front 165/50 R16 tires (instead of 145/60) more grip and better brakes .. there are a lot of different tires in this size available also for snow

the Rally has a 15" wheel on the back - for the 16" of the standard Ryker you would get much more different tires

for longer tours I would install higher and wider handlebars or turn the original 180° up ..

rest is perfect !!

[SportsterDoc]

Look for a SNOW tire with an open tread design, it should provide as much traction as you would need and would be good on pavement ( at a lot less cost ) ...... jmho .... good luck .... Mike

Yes, automotive tire

[SportsterDoc]

...inside the front fenders is a crazy large cable-clip - there is only a little space between the tire and the fender that would destroy the cable if you catch a stone...

Came off right side on mine, twice. The second time I drilled into the plastic tab, removed the clip and cable tied the wiring to the tab.

[SportsterDoc]

I suppose it all depends on the roads. There is one section of forest service road near our (former) ranch that is a challenge even in a high clearance 4WD in low range.
The last 3/4 mile to our ranch is listed on maps as a Jeep trail.
I did get my 2012 Bonneville up it, but only did it once!

Ryker not advisable for creek crossings, unless verified VERY shallow.

Partridge Creek 13 Mar 2010.jpg

[bikemechanic53]

Thanks everyone for your thoughts on this issue. It appears that the Rally is more a marketing exercise than a practical off-road vehicle. It would need far more ground clearance and off-road rear tires to be useable for many dirt roads. The problem with the BDR roads, since they are mainly through BLM lands and ranches, is that they change with the seasons and road work. What may be fine one day may be rutted and unrideable (by a Ryker) after a rainstorm.

[SportsterDoc]

Good that you researched!

[Beginner]

I live in the boondocks and you should see the number of those side by sides flying down the roads in my state. I can tell when it is about 2:00 am, about 11-14 of them will be flying down the road bumper to bumper at around 70-75 when the bar closes in the summer. It is so commonplace a VFW put in a gravel parking lot for them. The state police aren't allowed to chase them, so they do what they want. They tend to be, in my area, very rude and discourteous drivers. I've had several whip me the bird when they pulled out in front of me as if I did something wrong driving my licensed truck down the road. I'm so tired of it, especially the super loud ones late at night racing down the roads. At least several fatalities occur every year, but it hasn't put a dent in the population.