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Itchy Boots - Kalahari to S America to Alaska to Africa to Asia

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Hope she gets better soon.
And score one for the incredible competency of the doctors.
Really justifies their demigod egos.

Get well soon Itchy Boots.
 
gixxerjasen said:
I'm thinking a lighter, not heavier, bike for her.
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That would require her to get a bike sub 300lbs, that's not a very long list and would require a much more expensive bike with much higher service intervals like a KTM 500 or a bike with far less features and capabilities like a KLX300.
 
She's already run a CRF250L which isn't light, but comes in very close to the CRF300L and the KLX300. I don't see her going back that direction. In the process she's gotten some rides in on lighter bikes and has really enjoyed them, but she hasn't had the opportunity to ride them fully loaded. She's also gotten to try a few larger ADV bikes and she's giggled on them, she really hasn't taken to them, and certainly doesn't want to be lifting them in the wild. Also, the KTM500 service intervals aren't so bad if you are touring and not racing them, there's plenty of examples of folks riding them around the world without incident. Not sure which way she'll go but everything I've seen so far of what she's ridden points to a lighter bike in the next season. At least, that's my personal feeling, if she's buying her own bike.

However, as much as she's loved her Hondas, she doesn't seem to even be on Honda's radar at all. Royal Enfield loved having her on their brand and I'm sure misses her influence greatly. After them coaxing her into riding their prototype in India this past season, I could see them coming in full steam ahead to make her their ambassador and giving her something like the new 450. That won't be lighter, but it would be free with possibly some support for it along the way.
 
gixxerjasen said:
She's already run a CRF250L which isn't light, but comes in very close to the CRF300L and the KLX300. I don't see her going back that direction. In the process she's gotten some rides in on lighter bikes and has really enjoyed them, but she hasn't had the opportunity to ride them fully loaded. She's also gotten to try a few larger ADV bikes and she's giggled on them, she really hasn't taken to them, and certainly doesn't want to be lifting them in the wild. Also, the KTM500 service intervals aren't so bad if you are touring and not racing them, there's plenty of examples of folks riding them around the world without incident. Not sure which way she'll go but everything I've seen so far of what she's ridden points to a lighter bike in the next season. At least, that's my personal feeling, if she's buying her own bike.

However, as much as she's loved her Hondas, she doesn't seem to even be on Honda's radar at all. Royal Enfield loved having her on their brand and I'm sure misses her influence greatly. After them coaxing her into riding their prototype in India this past season, I could see them coming in full steam ahead to make her their ambassador and giving her something like the new 450. That won't be lighter, but it would be free with possibly some support for it along the way.
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I run a 500 in such a fashion and you're doing well to get 1500-2000 miles from it between OCI's. While that's more than enough for how I use the bike (dual sport weekend rides and 1-2 BDR's annually) I am not sure she'd want to be doing oil changes every few weeks, but who knows?! I understand why Honda doesn't seem to care, they don't need her, they sell themselves and get a lot bigger return from channels who focus on reviews and race day podiums. I could see RE hooking her up as well as they are a much smaller company that could use the exposure and are really trying to push new models to like minded riders in her audience. Either way, given her build/stature, strength and past injuries I too would expect her to keep the next bike sub 400lbs which does open up some great possibilities.
 
The more I've thought about it the more I'm willing to go to Vegas and bet on the RE being her next bike. With all they did for her in the past, especially swapping her bike for her, I bet they were sad to see her move to Honda. She was still spending her own money but had moved up the ranks to get RevIt to sponsor her, and she picked up the 500 to ride around during Covid, and then because of Covid, she ran to Africa as soon as it opened with zero plan but to pick up a bike when she got there and the Honda fit her needs and price. The Rally was the natural progression, especially since she'd now ridden the Honda and compared it to the then current model Himalayan so it was a no brainer.

With them inviting her to ride the prototype on her channel, and them putting it into production this year, it really seems like they'd have dangled a bike in front of her to get her back, and they will likely make her a brand ambassador. Based on some of the places she might end up riding, being on an RE might mean better support when she needs it, and if she's an ambassador, it's likely her bike will be taken care of through the dealership network to make sure their bike is never a failure point in her adventures.
 
I was surprised at how much I enjoyed the Southern Africa series. This one not so much. It was better in the very beginning. Still, it's all been enjoyable, just not the best series she's done.
 
I know some folks have not enjoyed this series at all. I'm not one of them, but I'd definitely rate it at the bottom of her list of seasons. I still enjoyed it though, just not as much as the others.
 
Being a female I hope she gets a bone density test. Does anyone know her age?

I hope she heals well. Wonder how much time she will really take off from riding ?
 
She is 36 and her birthday is June 30. If google is correct.
 
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