Planning for an Adventure Ride

Adventure riding isn’t about perfection.
It’s about preparation, smart decisions, and leaving enough room for the unexpected.

Whether you’re heading out for a weekend in the bush or crossing the country solo, a good ADV ride starts long before the engine fires up.

At Nomad Moto we’ve spent thousands of hours riding Australia — deserts, mountains, river crossings, corrugations, mud, dust, and everything in between. Here’s the system we use before every ride.

1. PLAN THE ROUTE — BUT DON’T OVERPLAN IT

A good ADV route has flow.

Too much highway and you may as well take the car.
Too much hard terrain and you’ll burn yourself out by lunchtime.

Look for:

  • Dirt roads

  • Forestry trails

  • Fuel stops

  • Water crossings

  • Escape routes

  • Camping options

  • Weather changes

  • Remote sections without phone service

Always ask yourself:
“What happens if I crash or break down here?”

That one question changes how you ride.

2. KEEP THE BIKE LIGHT

This is where most riders get it wrong.

Heavy bikes become harder to control in sand, mud, ruts, and technical terrain. The more weight hanging off the rear of the bike, the worse it gets.

Carry what you need.
Leave the “just in case” junk at home.

Good luggage should:

  • Sit forward of the rear axle

  • Stay tight against the bike

  • Be waterproof

  • Compress down properly

  • Survive crashes

  • Mount fast without drama

That philosophy is exactly why we built the Strzelecki and Stockman systems at Nomad Moto.

NO BULK. RIDE FURTHER.

3. CHECK YOUR BIKE PROPERLY

Before every ADV ride:

  • Check tyres and pressures

  • Check chain tension

  • Inspect wheel bearings

  • Tighten bolts

  • Check spokes

  • Test lights

  • Check brake pads

  • Inspect luggage mounts

  • Carry spare tubes or puncture repair gear

A 5-minute garage check can save a 5-hour recovery.

4. PACK SMART

The lower and tighter the load, the better the bike handles.

Heavy Gear

Keep low:

  • Tools

  • Water

  • Fuel

  • Tubes

  • Spares

Light Gear

Store higher:

  • Sleeping gear

  • Clothes

  • Camp gear

And don’t forget:

  • Head torch

  • Zip ties

  • Tape

  • First aid kit

  • Power bank

  • Offline maps

5. DON’T TRUST THE WEATHER

ADV riding can go from perfect to chaos in an hour.

One minute:
Blue skies.

Next minute:
Cold rain, fog, slippery clay, flooded crossings.

Always carry:

  • Wet weather gear

  • Warm layer

  • Gloves

  • Emergency food

  • Extra water

Especially in Australia.

6. RIDE YOUR OWN RIDE

This matters more than people think.

A lot of crashes happen because riders try to keep up with faster riders or push beyond their comfort level.

Ride smooth.
Ride within your limits.
Finish the ride.

That’s the goal.

7. TELL SOMEONE WHERE YOU’RE GOING

If you’re riding remote:

  • Share your GPX route

  • Tell someone your destination

  • Set check-in times

  • Carry a GPS tracker or PLB

Especially if riding solo.

8. EXPECT THINGS TO GO WRONG

Because eventually they will.

You’ll:

  • Miss turns

  • Drop the bike

  • Hit rain

  • Break something

  • Get stuck

  • Run late

That’s adventure riding.

The stories usually come from the days that didn’t go to plan.

FINAL THOUGHT

Adventure riding isn’t about riding the biggest bike or carrying the most gear.

It’s about freedom.
Exploration.
Problem solving.
And seeing places most people never will.

Pack lighter.
Plan smarter.
Ride further.

See you out there.

— Kurt
Founder, Nomad Moto

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