Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Throttle Jockey: High desert getaway

Some pals and I are heading to Southeast Oregon this weekend to do some riding, a trip we look forward to taking at least once and sometimes twice each year.

Recommended Videos

Southeast Oregon is known locally by several names, most notably as The Big Empty and the Oregon Outback, and those are fitting monikers for this vast, dry, seemingly barren corner of the state. As such, the off-road riding opportunities are just about as vast, which is great, but you can get very and possibly fatally lost unless you have a knowledgeable guide along on the ride. A cell phone won’t save you here.

This is an area where it can hit 110 today and snow tomorrow. In June. It is one of the last remnants of the American Frontier that’s pretty much the same now as it was when the (truly) brave Pioneers pushed their wagons across the wide desert floor and finally through soaring mountain passes. Average elevation is about 4,000 above sea level, and it’s quite possible to roll through the open high desert areas thinking all is well and then suddenly drop into a 70-foot volcanic crevasse. Signs? There ain’t many signs.

Fortunately, our group includes Dave, whose well-kept outpost in a literal one-stoplight town out yonder serves as a launching point for our journeys into the forbidden zone (or the really just-nobody-there-zone). Where we ride may as well be the deserts of Mauritania on the fringes of the Sahara. It’s one of the little pockets of land on Earth still largely unoccupied. And Dave knows the area inside and out.

Dave’s itinerary includes hot springs, rocks covered in ancient Native American hieroglyphics, speeding across dry lake beds, eating at well-loved restaurants in the middle of cattle country (don’t even bother trying to follow your regular diet), and trail riding on jeep track, single track and even some no track as we pick our way across miles of high desert. Good times.

Our mounts for the offroad excursion range from my somewhat portly but competent Suzuki DR650 (up top) to Dave’s burly 1970s Honda XL500R (below) to our friend Bryan’s tip-top KTM 500 EXC that we all not-so-secretly lust after. A few other dirt-capable bikes are in the mix as well.

SE-Oregon-DaveWheelie
Image used with permission by copyright holder

Off-road riding requires a different set of skills from road riding. It’s a workout, for one, as you spend a lot of the time out of the seat, soaking up bumps with your legs and arms. There will be some sore quads at night, but it’s worth it. And Dave’s home-stilled whiskey helps take the edge off (because: Oregon).

To really enjoy a dirt session like this, learning to slide the bike (back wheel, typically) is a skill worth acquiring, as is a bit of wheeling to pop over a small obstacle. I admit I am no off-road master, but with some tips from some of the guys on this ride who do a lot of dirt riding, I can keep up, usually. And it is great fun.

Being prepared for this kind of riding is important, both in technique and gear. Leg guards, gloves, boots and a sturdy jacket are mandatory. It’s a good idea to pack tools beyond what came with the bike as well. And maybe a signaling mirror as well. You never know.

But between the group, most any breakdown can be dealt with, and we’re all pretty careful. Usually.

It’s always a great trip, and I’ll be back next week with some photos of this year’s offroad fun.

SE-Oregon-main940full
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Bill Roberson
Former Former Digital Trends Contributor, The Manual
Please reach out to The Manual editorial staff with any questions or comments about Bill’s work.
Beginner’s guide to cigar shapes and sizes — and why they matter
Why your cigar choice says more about you than your watch (and how to pick the perfect one)
A collection of cigars

Walking into a cigar shop and facing what seems like a million options is enough to make anyone panic. Cigars stacked everywhere, each with a strange name, size, and a slightly different shape from the last one. If you haven't done this before, it's tempting to just grab something, anything, and run!But hold on a second. Those shapes actually matter. They aren't just there to look fancy or make things confusing. The size and shape change the whole experience of smoking that cigar – how it tastes, burns, and feels. It's kind of like how driving a tiny sports car is way different than driving a big truck. Both get you where you're going, but the experience along the way is not the same.

What are cigar vitolas?

Read more
The writer of one of Netflix’s biggest drama is taking on James Bond next
We still don't know who will star in this new installment.
James Bond at a casino

The news that Denis Villeneuve would be taking on the next James Bond film was certainly exciting for many, and as we continue to speculate about who might take over as 007, we're also learning more about who else will be working behind the scenes on the film.

We now know that Steven Knight, the writer behind Peaky Blinders, will be writing the next Bond movie. While Knight is best known for his work on TV, which includes Peaky Blinders and the recent Stephen Graham series A Thousand Blows, he's also the writer behind Spencer and Maria.

Read more
Every new Game of Thrones spinoff explained
George R.R. Martin's television world continues to grow
Matt Smith starring in House of the Dragon

When it first aired on HBO in the early 2010s, Game of Thrones dazzled audiences with revolutionary special effects and terrific acting in a unique fantasy world. Based on author George R.R. Martin's series of novels, the universe depicts the battles between several different noble families as they try to climb to the top of the continent of Westeros, both politically and figuratively. The war scenes, family drama, and massive number of characters helped make the story feel fresh and new every time a new episode aired.

As Martin's attention shifted to television and away from his books, fans have looked to the TV series to finish some of the stories he couldn't finish on the page. Game of Thrones left fans wanting more, despite its poorly received finale, and a plethora of spinoffs are on the way. House of the Dragon already has two seasons completed, and there are several others in the coming years to look forward to.
House of the Dragon
House of the Dragon finished its second season in 2024. The show chronicles the heated family dynamics of the Targaryen empire almost two centuries before the events of Game of Thrones. The third season should pick up the civil war between Queen Rhaenyra's forces and King Aegon's after a slow-building conflict throughout the second act.

Read more