The EarthRider Trail Rating System

A work in progress, this rating system applies only to the unpaved sections of our rides. Any rating system by it’s nature is quite subjective. Different riders excel at different aspects of riding: What is easy for one rider may be nearly impossible for another, who in turn may be capable of other nifty riding tricks the original rider can only dream of. Furthermore, simply changing speed on a given section of trail can radically change how difficult it is to keep the metal bits from touching the ground.

That said, The R1-9 rating system is exemplified as follows:

R1

John Clark, BMW R1150GSBasically, pavement without the pavement.

Phil Wren, BMW F650It is almost impossible to find an unpaved road of any significant length without at least one R2+ section.

R2

Arne Anselm, BMW R100GSR1 with substantial loos surface material or line restrictions.

Doug Ford, BMW F650GS DakarR1 with mild inclines / curves.

R3

Rachel Main, Kawasaki Super Sherpa, Eric Wetherbee, Suzuki DR650Smooth single-track with minimal obstacles and fairly open turns.

Nick Sinclair, Suzuki DL650 V-Strom, Jerome Smith, BMW F800GSSlightly loose terrain with whoop-de-doos.

R4

Jim Janssen, KTM 950 AdventureSignificantly rocky terrain requiring at least a modicum of concern for line selection.

Blake "Towstrap" Hill, BMW R1200GSA, Laura Smith, Honda CRF230L Narrow single-track with obstacles requiring at least minimal course adjustment, or with turns / inclines that are "somewhat" steep / sharp (end of vid approaches R5).

R5

Dan "Lunchtime" Taylor, Suzuki DRZ400, Don "So Cool" Gordon, BMW R1200GS, Paul "Captain America" Beck, BMW R1200GSExtensive shallow sand with slight curves. This level of ability makes a huge amount of terrain available to you.

Calvin Morrison, KTM 950 Adventure, Naor Post, Kawasaki KLX 650Narrow, slightly rough / curvy single-track also requiring strict line control.

R6

Wayne "Crazyhourse" Tidwell, BMW R1200GSASix+ inches of snow on R2 or R3.

Chris Craig, BMW R100, Bruce Schubert, BMW R1200GSExtensive mid-depth sand / shallow but FINE sand, with turns.

R7

Peter Neuper, BMW R1200GSA, Neil Reynolds, Honda XR650L, Steve "Rudolph" DeCosta, KTM 690 EnduroShort sections of steep terrain with obstacles both loose & embeded, as well as curves & / or limited viable lines.

"Dak the Daring" (no rider in shot)Curving single-track with obstacles, steep enough to warrant the addition of concrete pavers (without the pavers, R8 or more).

R8

"Rudolph", "Captain America", Bruce Schubert, "So Cool"Clay-based mud often over hard-pack (dogpaddling it may not be too hard; RIDING it is about R8).

Terry "FUBAR" Eannetta, KTM 950 AdventureCrossing trackless, obstacle-infested (but more or less flat) wastes (rating decreases the more you get to use your feet).

R9

Tony Lovegren, KTM 950 Adventure

Remember; rating systems are by nature subjective. Check back now & then for updates / modifications.

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