BDR to open a route in the Deep South
In August of 2024, I had the opportunity to ride a section of the famed BDR (Backcountry Discovery Routes) outside Salt Lake City, Utah with Royal Enfield. We traversed a few sections that were a bit too technical for my limited off-road skills, but much of what we rode on that short trip was easy and super fun to navigate, as well as breathtakingly beautiful. I’m mostly a pavement guy, but the enjoyment I had riding that section of the BDR left me thirsty for more. The milder sections, that is.
Riding a section of the Utah BDR last August. Epic. Photo by Royal Enfield.
Now in its 15th year, most of the great and more well-known BDR routes are out west, from Texas and South Dakota westward, with the exception of Montana. But here in the Southeast, the home of Road Dirt, we’ve not had the opportunity to experience the BDR rides like our western brothers and sisters. That is about to change, with the development of the soon-to-be publicly announced South East Backcountry Discovery Route (SEBDR). Finally, some BDR close to home.
Triumph Motorcycles has announced a partnership with this newest section of the BDR, and in some beautiful promotional material, they showcase various sections of the ride with a Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Triumph and BDR shot a pair of Tiger 900s in the beautiful colors of last autumn, and the shots only made several of us want to ride it even more. The route and the bike.
It’s a great collaboration, given Triumph Motorcycles’ commitment to the ADV segment with their Tiger and Scrambler models, as well as Triumph’s North American headquarters being located in the Atlanta area. The moto brand is committed to supporting BDR as they develop and expand more routes across the U.S., as well as provide valuable motorcycle travel resources that can benefit riders and rural communities alike. More on those later.
BDR is debuting a new film they’ve shot of the new South East section, which will premiere Saturday, March 1, 2025 in Roswell, Georgia. We will be there. They shot the photos and footage with a pair of Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pros, and Triumph shared a few shots with us as a teaser for both the route and the bikes. We are effectively teased, and we think you will be too.
The BDR folks are also planning to provide some free resources on their website following the premiere, in the form of GPS tracks, digital maps, a FAQ section, and other travel resources (we’re guessing restaurants, lodging, ranger stations, etc). Inna Thorne, the Executive Director of BDR, declared, “As BDR celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2025, we look forward to collaborating with Triumph to create more routes and protect riding opportunities for future generations.”
Adam VanderVeen of Triumph Americas remarked, “We’re honored to partner with Backcountry Discovery Routes and proud to support their mission of preserving off-road riding opportunities for the adventure motorcycling community. BDR plays a vital role in inspiring and enabling riders to explore some of the most remote and beautiful regions of the country, fostering a stronger connection between riders and the backcountry. At Triumph, we’re committed to engineering motorcycles that can withstand the toughest challenges, and the Tiger 900 Rally Pro is built with exactly this kind of demanding adventure in mind. The Adventure motorcycle category continues to grow, largely because of the efforts from organizations like BDR which curate unforgettable riding experiences, and we’re excited to play a part in the BDR coming to the backyard of our American headquarters in Atlanta with the new BDRSE route.”
Backcountry Discovery Routes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving off-highway riding opportunities for adventure motorcyclists. Now in their 15th year, the addition of their forthcoming South East route will be the BDR’s 14th cross-state route. It’s an epic 1300-mile journey through the diverse and beautiful landscapes of the southeastern United States. Starting at the Gulf of Mexico in Florida, the route travels across the Florida panhandle then winds its way through the Appalachian Mountains in NE Alabama, through North Georgia, east Tennessee and North Carolina, before concluding in Damascus, Virginia, where it connects to the Mid-Atlantic BDR.
Kirk Lakeman is the architect of the SEBDR, and offered these thoughts- “I’m thrilled to share the SEBDR with riders who want to experience the South in a special BDR way. Traveling from the Gulf to Southern Virginia, some of my favorite parts of the route include the white sands of the Florida panhandle, the rolling cotton fields in southern Alabama, the rugged trails of the Talladega and Chattahoochee National Forests, and the heart of the Great Smoky Mountains. This fun and flowing route offers a little bit of everything and is accessible to riders with moderate off-pavement experience.”
One of the unique challenges in creating the SEBDR was navigating the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, which caused severe damage to so many communities and roads along the route. During filming, the team was unable to complete the final 300 miles of the proposed route. But since then, BDR scouts have verified that the majority of the final leg is rideable as originally planned. The recovering local communities will benefit greatly from the economic boost that BDR motorcycle travel will bring, helping to support their rebuilding efforts. All the more reason to plan a trip on it this year.
The SEBDR marks a significant milestone for BDR, completing the East Coast Trilogy– three interconnected eastern BDRs that create an unforgettable route from the Gulf of Mexico to the Canadian border. The forthcoming documentary will showcase the BDR team, special guests from Triumph Motorcycles, Edelweiss Bike Travel, and local BDR scouts as they navigate the unique challenges and scenic landscapes of the all-new route. And then, it will be our turn to take our spins down the southern trails. We hope to see you somewhere along the route this year.
For more on the BDR, click here:
For more on the Triumph lineup of adventure motorcycles, click here:
*All BDR/Triumph photos by Ely Wood
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