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ADV VideosAdventure Motorcycle Movie Top Pick – Portland to Dakar

Adventure Motorcycle Movie Top Pick – Portland to Dakar

An entertaining and humorous short Adventure Bike film from Icon

Published on 08.18.2013

The adventure motorcycle movie “The Raiden Files – Portland to Dakar” was released over a year ago, but is still one of the most entertaining Adventure Motorcycle Movies produced so far.  The 30-minute film was produced by Icon Motorsports and offers a little bit of everything from wheelies, jumps, drifting, and stunting.  The riders travel through deep snow, dry desert, muddy rain forests and huge dunes on a quest to test their Icon Gear to the limits.

The film is humorous and entertaining with narration and acting by comedian Alonzo Bodden.  Amazing stunts and off-road riding are performed by professional stunt riders Ernie Vigil and Kris Higdon.  The movie takes you on a fantastic journey from urban Portland, through the high rain forests of Costa Rica, snowy passes of Argentina and to the barren deserts of Chile.

You have to suspend logic for awhile though as the riders take a helicopter from Portland to Costa Rica to a place called the Pantalian Mountains.   It turns out all of the locations mentioned in the film are fictitious and in actuality, everything was filmed in the State of Oregon.  But hey, this is supposed to be a comedy right?


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We think this is a special film because of the top-notch production, excellent riding and enticing scenery.  This type of short movie exemplifies great marketing.  Icon entertains the audience throughout the film while simultaneously promoting products from several different brands (Icon, Triumph, Ohlins, AltRider, etc.). Triumph may have benefited the most from the film, as the professional riders make their big 800XC’s look as agile and easy to handle as a motocross bike.  Hopefully, people read the disclaimers though and do not try these antics at home on their 800XC’s.

With this film, Icon has introduced a new urban style of fashion to the Adventure Touring segment that appeals to younger riders.  This could hint at a major shift in the classic image of an Adventure Rider as a middle-aged man on a BMW with matching BMW textile riding suit.  Maybe we will see more riders in their 20’s entering the Adventure Touring segment, bringing a new style and adrenaline to the sport.

“The Raiden Files  – Portland to Dakar” is definitely a must see Adventure Motorcycle Movie for all Adventure Riders.

Author: Rob Dabney

Rob Dabney started a lifelong obsession with motorcycles at the age of 15 when he purchased his first bike – a 1982 Honda MB5. Through his 20’s and 30’s he competed in off-road desert races, including the Baja 250, 500 and 1000. Eventually, his proclivity for exploration led him to dual sport and adventure riding. Rob’s never-ending quest to discover what’s around the next bend has taken him on Adventures in Latin America, Africa, Europe, Asia, and throughout the American West. As a moto journalist, he enjoys inspiring others to seek adventure across horizons both near and far.

Author: Rob Dabney
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Now This is How You Crash Test New ADV Gear! - ADV Pulse
March 10, 2016 11:08 am

[…] Raiden is known for producing some pretty spectacular adventure riding videos that include a lot of crash scenes, but we have to admit their latest video featured the nastiest […]

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