Recently we visited the headquarters of RawHyde Adventures, the number one off-road adventure bike training program in the United States. During our visit, we got a chance to speak with the man behind RawHyde Adventures, Jim Hyde, who gave us a tour of their 120+ acre California facility called RawHyde Ranch.

RawHyde Ranch is a true off-road rider’s paradise with roughly 30 miles of trails that snake though the hilly property. It’s got a little of everything an Adventure Rider might encounter out in the wild, and enough to challenge riders of all skill levels. There are even a few custom-built training obstacles that look like something out of a theme park.

This moto teeter totter at the Ranch definitely got the pucker factor going.

Don’t let the gray hair fool you though. While riding with Jim, he never hesitated to demonstrate how to attack some of the gnarliest hill climbs and jumps available on the property; and all while riding his big BMW R1200GS Adventure with hard panniers and a heavy winch attached to the back.

Throughout the day, we picked Jim’s brain about different topics like his philosophy for training off-road adventure riders, what he looks for in his coaches, the true benefits of getting off the pavement and more. Jim also shared some great stories about the early days of RawHyde Adventures and how the company evolved into the world class operation it is today.

Jim Hyde gives us a demonstration of how to jump a big bike during our tour of RawHyde Ranch.

For more information on RawHyde Adventure’s off-road training programs and tours, go to rawhyde-offroad.com.

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.