When deciding whether to cross a river on your motorcycle, you should always take into account the depth of the water, the speed of the current and whether there are any unseen obstacles. A lot of riders have an aggressive approach to river crossings, which usually leads to trouble. Caution is always the best approach because the consequences of sinking your bike can be severe. You could spend over an hour de-watering your bike or you could even lose your bike down the river.

Watch what happens when the guy in this video decided to cross a river during a flash flood in Colorado. While others waited for the water level to subside, he decides to be brave and attempts the river crossing.  At first it doesn’t look too bad, but he quickly runs into trouble with nowhere to retreat.

Apparently the bike was found a few weeks later, but you can assume that it was a total loss if it sat under water for that long. He’s lucky he didn’t lose his life though. The next time you are considering whether or not to attempt a river crossing, just remember what can happen if you don’t use caution.

Also, check out these 5 Tips that will help you master the techniques of river crossings.

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.