Or should I say
Willkommen!
Quick Links: Blog – Rides – Gear – About – 690 – 950
Why the funny title for a website?
Are you going to write everything auf Deutsch?
Very simply, a very long time ago I had the inkling to get an Adventure bike.
At the time there were only two options to choose from, the BMW GS1200 or the KTM 950. If you know bikes, you know they are very different from each other. The BMW is much more road going while the KTM is geared more for the dirt. As I was sitting in my office dreaming I started thing of the vanity plate I would get. (all my vehicles have vanity plates). I started thinking of cool puns but they were all taken. That’s when this idea hit me…
It was available! So I bought it without even having a bike yet.
In German AUF means ON or IN but is pronounced much like OFF.
OFF / ON seemed perfect for a teutonic dual sport bike.
Of course the domain name was available too, so I bought that too.
I headed out on a 10 day trip zig zagging across the southwest with some buddies. We rode a whole lot of road, some highway and yes, a bunch of dirt! I rode a borrowed 2006 Kawasaki KLR 650 (thanks Tom!) and figured this would be the best way to document the trip.
I now have the bike I always wanted, it’s a 2006 KTM 950 Adventure.
UPDATE: I’m longing for something lighter, smaller and easier to pick up after dropping. The Honda CRF250L Rally might just be that bike, but we shall see.
UPDATE II: I’ve always been on 2 wheels. My bicycling hasn’t shown up here yet but it is going to be now. When I say bicycling, I’ve been riding both Road and Mountain for a while now but I’m looking at adding “BikePacking” to the mix (think backpacking but with a bike). I started a page to help me better decipher what I need at AufRoad.com/Terra but blog post are coming too!
UPDATE III: I’ve been wanting to do more Backcountry Discovery Ride stuff. Dirt trails that cross and entire state with minimal paved road riding. While I love my 950, my new 690 Enduro is going to be even better suited for that.
UPDATE IV: While I had big bicycling plans for 2020, it all fell apart due to a combination of COVID and my hurting my knee. I may not be able to do much bicycling in the future. Ugh! Oh and I got a new plate ordered for the 690. It’s perfect!
Head on over to the blog to check out the latest posts.
The Bay Area Adventure Rally
It was a great idea – toss out 10 different waypoints, give everyone 4 weeks to hit at least 4 to enter a contest and give away some prizes. Here’s what we did.
What to Pack on a BDR Trip
Here’s a run down on what to pack for a typical BDR trip and more importantly why.
I’m selling my 2006 KTM 950 Adventure!
The time has come to sell my beloved 2006 KTM 950 Adventure.
ASV Clutch Lever for the 690
Just a quick update on my clutch lever – installing ASV! They are high quality, smooth operation, expensive but I would say totally worth it. Nice Job ASV!
Oberon Clutch Slave Cylinder
Trying to get a better clutch release and fix an oil leak, I replaced the stock clutch slave with an Oberon. I also found out that the aftermarket levers on the bike had a bunch of play.
LAB2V 2023
A very long summary of our LA to Barstow to Vegas adventure for 2023. It didn’t turn out like we had planned but nothing rarely does.
Tour de Fresno 2023
A ride report on the Inaugural Tour de Fresno – which didn’t go all exactly as planned. The good news is that Mark is going to be just fine and we should all be better prepared moving forward. Also – I found a bunch of new great roads to ride!
Being Better Prepared
A recent ride with an accident has had me thinking about how to ride with others and be better prepared – just in case. I identified three things that could make a difference.
Follow Me
I may have fixed the things my faulty brain caused before. Maybe – the jacket on the freeway, the oil leak and putting the front tire on backwards – keyword: Maybe
New Helmet, New Paint, Who Dis?
It took a while but I finally got around to painting my new helmet. It’s now a 3 year old Bell MX-9 that just came out of the box. Here’s that story on that!
Unfollow Me
You shouldn’t trust me and you certainly shouldn’t do what I do. To be perfectly safe, you should just unfollow me right now. Here’s why.
Replacing the Shock Lower Bearing
Luckily, when I found a little play in my 2014 KTM 690Enduro’s Swing Arm, it was a simple fix and only the lower shock bearings. Here’s how.
Setting My Rear Sag
I set my rear sag. That’s not something I’ll probably be saying again anytime soon, but for today, it’s true. I set my rear sag.
The Father’s Day Lost Coast Ride
4 days of great riding, a few horrible cocktails, and some great fun roads I had not been on. I like the Lost Coast a lot!
The Summer of Mike has been Cancelled
Not a pity party, just the facts. Here’s why “The Summer of Mike” has been cancelled. Obvious Seinfeld references included!
The Mosko Moto Reckless 80 Franken-Fix
After both Mosko Moto and a local Shoe Tailor let me down it was up to me to fix my torn strap on my Reckless 80s. Here’s my barbaric fix.
Adding a Rottweiler Performance Intake System to my 690
I blame Tomm for everything I can. In this case he challenged my manhood and put the idea into my head. So now I have a Rottweiler Intake and soon I’ll have a little more storage too!
Continue Reading Adding a Rottweiler Performance Intake System to my 690
GPS Mount on the 690: Option 3
When all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail. A reader, much smarter than I, posed an alternate solution to my Gammin GPS Mount. Check it out!
Adding a Centech AP-1 Auxiliary Fuse Panel to my 690
Explain a Fuse Block to me like I was a 3rd grader! I added a Centech Fuse Block to the bike and now run all my accessories through it
Continue Reading Adding a Centech AP-1 Auxiliary Fuse Panel to my 690
Adding a Garmin Zumo XT: Attempt #2
It took a few tries but I think I have the mount where I like it, and structurally strong enough to last. Here’s what I did.
- The Bay Area Adventure Rally - April 16, 2024
- What to Pack on a BDR Trip - March 4, 2024
- I’m selling my 2006 KTM 950 Adventure! - February 16, 2024