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  • DoubleRFest Is Back: Two Legendary Tracks, One Epic Experience. 2025 Edition

    DoubleRFest Is Back: Two Legendary Tracks, One Epic Experience. 2025 Edition

    If you’re itching to twist the throttle on some of the most iconic tracks in the country, mark your calendar—DoubleRFest is back, and it’s packing serious heat.

    First stop: Circuit of The Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX this September. Yeah, that COTA—the one where F1 and MotoGP legends do their thing. You’ll get two full days of track time, dialing in your skills with coaching from BMW Brand Ambassador and all-around track wizard Nate Kern, plus special guests. On top of that, you’ll get to experience some adrenaline-pumping hot laps in BMW M cars—driven by pros, of course. To top it all off, there’s a group dinner so you can swap stories and bench race with fellow riders.

    Then, on October 6, the day after BMW Motorrad Days Americas, DoubleRFest heads to the legendary Barber Motorsports Park. This one’s more intimate—just 25 riders per group—which means more laps, more elbow room, and more personalized coaching with Nate and his crew. Barber is a rider’s dream: flowing corners, fast sections, and the kind of layout that begs for speed and precision.

    Bring your bike. Bring your edge.
    This isn’t just a track day—it’s an experience. Spots are limited and they’ll go quick.

    What is DoubleRFest?

    DoubleRFest isn’t your average track day—it’s a high-octane, rider-focused experience built by Nate Kern, a pro racer turned coach with two decades of BMW racing under his belt. Born out of Nate’s passion for giving back to the sport, DoubleRFest blends pro-level coaching, small riding groups, and a deep focus on safety, technique, and fun. Whether you’re a seasoned track junkie or just getting your feet wet, this event is all about learning to ride smoother, faster, and safer—while having an absolute blast doing it.


  • First Look: KTM’s 2026 690 Enduro R Gets Smarter, Stronger, and Sharper

    First Look: KTM’s 2026 690 Enduro R Gets Smarter, Stronger, and Sharper

    KTM is dialing things up for 2026 with a fresh update to the beloved 690 Enduro R—and it’s not just a facelift. From serious engine upgrades to cutting-edge tech, this new version looks set to bring even more firepower to the trails.

    Unveiled to the public during this year’s Adventure Bike Rider Festival, the updated 690 was teased in prototype form, and now KTM has shared more official details. According to the Austrian brand, dealers can expect to see the new models land early next year.

    At the heart of the beast is a reworked LC4 single-cylinder engine, with KTM claiming around half of its internals are either new or revised. While the exact torque figure hasn’t been confirmed yet, it’s expected to top the current model’s 54.2ft-lb, which already packed a solid punch.

    KTM_2026_690_Enduro_throttlecraze-2_throttlecraze.com

    Smarter Tech, More Control

    One of the headline additions for 2026 is a 4.2-inch full-color TFT dash, replacing the old LCD setup. That means riders can now enjoy smartphone pairing, access turn-by-turn navigation, take calls, and even stream music mid-ride. KTM’s also added a USB-C port to keep your gadgets charged on the go.

    And the electronics don’t stop there. The 2026 model gains cornering ABS, lean-sensitive traction control, and three selectable ride modes: Street, Sport, and an optional Rally mode for those who want to turn it up to 11 in the dirt.

    Chassis, Ergonomics, and Controls

    While KTM hasn’t completely reinvented the frame, they’ve tweaked the chassis for improved rigidity and rider feedback, making it even more confidence-inspiring off-road. Bodywork and ergonomics get minor updates too—think subtle refinements rather than wholesale changes.

    There’s also new switchgear across the bars, now with backlit buttons and a dedicated ABS-Off switch on the left cluster, streamlining off-road transitions.

    Final Thoughts

    With more torque, smarter tech, and that bulletproof LC4 heart reworked for modern riders, the 2026 KTM 690 Enduro R looks set to keep its crown in the high-performance dual-sport world. It’s not a ground-up revolution—but it doesn’t need to be. Sometimes evolution is exactly what the trail demands.


  • Public Land Sale Blocked by Senate—Victory for BDR Riders and Conservationists

    Public Land Sale Blocked by Senate—Victory for BDR Riders and Conservationists

    In a major win for outdoor and adventure communities, the U.S. Senate has halted a proposal that would have allowed the sale of up to 3.3 million acres of public land. On June 24, 2025, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled Senator Mike Lee’s land sale provision violated budget rules and removed it from the reconciliation bill. The proposal targeted Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and U.S. Forest Service lands in 11 Western states, sparking serious concerns among backcountry riders and conservationists.

    Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR), an organization dedicated to preserving motorized access to public lands, actively opposed the bill and mobilized its community. While the immediate threat has been paused, Senator Lee plans to reintroduce a smaller version in future legislation.

    BDR remains vigilant and continues to work with advocacy groups to protect recreational access. This recent outcome underscores the power of collective action in preserving the landscapes riders cherish.

    BDR Press Release


    BDR Statement on Public Land Legislation and Access Concerns

    Update: June 24, 2025

    Public Lands Sell-Off Halted—for Now

    On June 24, 2025, Senate Parliamentarian Elizabeth MacDonough ruled that Senator Mike Lee’s proposal to sell up to 3.3 million acres of public land violated Senate rules (the Byrd rule) and could not remain in the budget reconciliation bill.

    This provision—which targeted BLM and Forest Service lands across 11 Western states—has been removed from the current reconciliation package. It’s a significant victory that prevents the immediate threat to many of the backcountry roads and trails that BDR riders cherish.

    This success proves that rider voices—and the voices of outdoor communities—can make a real impact. However, Senator Lee has acknowledged plans to reintroduce a scaled-down version of the sale in future legislation.

    BDR is actively working with advocacy partners and monitoring upcoming legislative changes.

    Thank you to everyone who spoke up—your voices helped safeguard the lands we explore and ride on.

    June 15, 2025

    To the BDR Community,

    We are aware of the recent legislation introduced by Senator Mike Lee that would require the Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service to identify and sell between 0.5% and 0.75% of federal lands—estimated at 2 to 3 million acres across 11 Western states—including Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming—over the next five years. The stated goal of the bill is to increase land available for housing in growing Western communities, where affordability and availability are increasingly pressing issues.

    BDR’s mission is to create, preserve, and protect off-highway motorized access to public lands. As such, our focus in reviewing any proposed land policy is clear:
    Will this expand or restrict access to public lands in the backcountry for BDR riders?

    While the bill does include several built-in protections—such as exclusions for national parks, national monuments, recreation areas, wilderness, and areas with existing rights-of-way—we remain concerned about the broad scope and the potential for unintended impacts on recreational access.

    The concern is not theoretical. Many BDR and BDR-X routes rely on access to BLM and Forest Service lands that could be affected by this policy. Though the bill emphasizes a public input process and prioritization of parcels adjacent to existing development, until a clear and detailed map of the affected parcels is made public, there remains uncertainty around which areas could be impacted.

    We recognize the need to address housing challenges in rural gateway communities. These same communities are often essential partners in supporting BDR riders—providing fuel, lodging, food, and emergency services. Strong rural communities benefit all of us who enjoy backcountry riding.

    However, it’s critical that solutions to housing shortages do not come at the expense of long-term access to our shared public lands.

    We are currently reviewing the full language of the bill and have been in communication with partner organizations to better understand its implications. We are also encouraging legislators and policymakers to ensure that motorized recreation access is explicitly protected in any land disposal efforts.

    We appreciate the thoughtful concern from many in our community who have reached out to ask where BDR stands. We believe it is essential to approach these issues with accuracy, clarity, and a strong collective voice, and we are committed to sharing more as the situation evolves.

    For those seeking a deeper dive into this issue, we encourage you to review this detailed breakdown from the Utah Public Lands Alliance:
    Understanding the Lee Amendment – A Balanced Look at the Public Lands Sale Bill

    We will continue to monitor this and any future proposals that affect access to the backcountry routes we’re dedicated to protecting.

    Thank you for your support!

    Public Land Sale (Temporarily) Blocked—Here’s How You Can Help Protect BDR Trails

    Step 1

    Dial your Elected Official’s phone number.

    • You can call the U.S. Capitol switchboard at (202) 224-3121 to connect to your legislators in Washington D.C.

    • You can find your Senators’ contact information HERE.

    • You can find your Representatives’ contact information HERE.

    Step 2

    When the answering machine or person picks up, use the message below to guide your comments.

    Step 3

    Hello, my name is [insert name].

    I’m calling to urge you to oppose any proposals in the budget reconciliation process that would mandate the sale or privatization of America’s public lands.

    As someone who relies on these lands for outdoor recreation—whether it’s motorcycling, hiking, hunting, or camping—I’m deeply concerned about losing access.  These lands are vital to outdoor recreation, tourism, and access to America’s backcountry.

    Please protect public access and reject any provision that would authorize the selloff or transfer of federal public land. Our public lands must remain in public hands.

    Thank you!

    Step 4

    Hang Up.


    What is BDR?

    Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) is a non-profit organization founded in 2010 with a mission to create, preserve, and protect off-highway adventure riding routes on public lands across the United States. BDR develops detailed GPS tracks, maps, and travel resources to support riders exploring remote regions responsibly.

    With routes spanning states like Colorado, Utah, and Arizona, BDR promotes tourism in rural communities while advocating for sustainable access to trails and wilderness areas. Over the years, BDR has become a leading voice in the outdoor motorized recreation space—helping protect the freedom to explore America’s backcountry.

    Today, BDR continues to influence land policy and rally rider communities to safeguard the trails and lands that fuel their passion.


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