Effectively covering off-road races isn’t as simple as shooting motocross. There’s a comparatively huge area to cover and you’ve got to be able to get to where the action is…and go fast enough to stay out of the way. When riders stumble into the pits complaining about, “…an impossible hill way back before the start of the enduro test…” you need to be able to jot down directions and get there, no matter what. Of course it’d be nice to ride a shiny new race bike to those locations, but at the same time a photographer needs something that’s easy to start, comfortable, lightweight and finds traction like a mountain goat.  Here’s three different photo-mule formulas the www.offroadmotorcycles.ca photographers have come up with.

Affectionately known as “Da’ Foo Fighter”, Dan’s little dual-sport bike has become his favourite tool. It has shuffled him around like Sir Edmond Hillary’s trusty Sherpa guides at off-road races from coast to coast. Yes it’s low and it’s slow, but this little bike can go anywhere and make it fun! Dopey little foo-foo has survived everything from trail riding in the Rockies with Shane Watts to playing with the Pros in Quebec to foo-foo class motocross to thousands of kilometres of milk runs. Dan even let Chris VanHove ride it once…and that’s sick!

Bike: 2007 Yamaha XT225

Forks: Modified with Gold Valves and .48kg springs by Cycle Improvements/MX Tech

Shock: Custom-built Cogent Dynamics Moab shock, heavy motocross valving, ½ longer than stock to raise ground clearance, 6.8kg spring

Bars: Moose Racing CR-Hi with riser mounts, Moose Racing handguards, AME grips, quick-turn YZ250F throttle assembly.

Footpegs: Fastway adjustable, with custom mounts

Wheels: Stock. Scrap-bin race tires with custom sidewall modifications…

Engine: Re-jetted carb, bunch of holes drilled in the airbox, FMF Powercore 4 muffler, stock gearing and dinky little 428 chain.

Plastics: UFO headlight/numberplate/signal combo, UFO taillight/signal combo, YZ450 rear fender, UFO folding dual-sport mirror, Clarke 4 Gallon fuel tank

Alexandra, of Photos by Alex fame, rides a really trick ’07 KTM 250XCF-W. You might have seen her bombing around at the Labelle CEC with her load of camera gear. She says her bike’s name is Myles, but she can’t say exactly why. When it’s not being used for photo work she uses her KTM to play ride on her secret motocross track and trails…except when her brother borrows it to take to Motopark.

Bike: 2007 KTM 250XCF-W

Engine: Stock, FMF exhaust

Suspension: Lowered 2” front and rear by Cycle Improvements/MX Tech

Wheels: Hand-me-down Kenda tires from her uncle Keith

Looks: Factory Backing numbers, Factory Effex graphics and a whole bunch of Offroadmotorcycles.ca stickers

Kertis is a great photographer and rider from out West. He found his GasGas 300 in the classified ads for 3000 bucks but was able to grind the guy down to 2500. It was the first time he’d ever even seen a Gasser! He started his racing career with this bike and eventually used it to win a Vet AM title. He keeps thinking he should buy a new bike one of these days, but his trusty GasGas just keeps running. Kertis digs the six-speed tranny, silky-smooth power delivery and easy to pull juice clutch.

Bike: 2003 GasGas EC300

Engine: Messico pipe, custom log-dented around the downtubes. Then fixed. Then smashed again. Pro-Circuit silencer. Bent up radiators he says, “…blow my mind that they still hold coolant!”

Bars: Pro-Tapers, bent. “Everyone notices but me!”

Tires: Yes. Motoz Enduro S/T front and rear –or-Michelin X11 Trials rear for rocks

Suspension: Stock Ohlins and, “…spindly little WP forks.”

Other neat stuff: Homemade skid pate, held on with great big Zip Ties.