| June 26, 2023
If you tried registering for the annual Giant Loop Ride earlier this year, you might’ve been disheartened to see those dreaded two words, “Sold Out!” on the company’s website. There is a very good reason for this because the secret has gotten out what a phenomenal weekend of riding motorcycles this is.
Story and Photos by Simon Cudby
This year’s edition of the Giant Loop Ride was their 12th annual. If you’re unfamiliar with the company Giant Loop, they offer accessories for all things off-roading, specifically adventure-style off-roading. Giant Loop got its start in 2008, selling a single saddlebag that you could only order online. Since then, Giant Loop has grown by leaps and bounds, offering many products to improve your life in the backcountry on your motorcycle. The company specializes in high-performance, adventure-proof motorcycle soft luggage, packing systems and camping gear.
Giant Loop is based in Bend, Oregon, and it’s not a coincidence that Oregon is home to some of the country’s best adventure and dual sport riding. Every year for the past 12, the folks at Giant Loop hosted its Giant Loop Ride out of Crane Hot Springs, which is in Eastern Oregon, and all street-legal motorcycles—sport, dual sport, scramblers, and adventure—are welcome as long as you book your spot early enough in advance, which you do through Giant Loop’s website. More than 400 participated this year.
The ride isn’t restricted to just off-road. Those who prefer a little more stability under their tires can choose pavement routes; participants have several route options—both paved and dirt—to choose from. This is not a guided tour, but they will give you plenty of route suggestions and GPS tracks, which are provided for free, of course. You can ride solo, but most people find a buddy or a group to team up with, which is highly recommended. And every rider is expected to be self-sufficient and equipped with all tools and supplies needed to be safe and comfortable. Plus, there are routes for every skill level.
The Giant Loop Ride has grown from two to three days. This year’s gathering went from Thursday through Sunday, with riding on Friday and Saturday (and Sunday optional). Crane Hot Springs is a property with several camping options, including dry camping, RV (with hookups), cabins and suites. You make your reservations via the Crystal Crane Hot Springs website. Do your lodging research early.
Sign-up for this year’s ride was $280. For an additional $150, you get breakfast and dinner. For the $280, though, you get two full days of riding, demos, a discount coupon for Giant Loop gear, on-site medical support, beverages (yes, coffee and local brew) and snacks, multimedia presentations, participation in games and contests, giveaways, and a bunch more. Various OEMs brought out demo bikes for this year’s event including Harley-Davidson, Royal Enfield, Ural, Triumph, Cake, Kove, Kawasaki, UBCO and Zero.
I was fortunate to attend this year’s Giant Loop Ride, held June 1-4, and now understand why it was sold out. For me, it was a 12-hour drive from California to get there, but it was worth every minute.
The ride was amazing. At one point, we traveled through the Steens Mountains to Alvord Dry Lake and encountered a little bit of everything along the way: snow, wet meadows, a thunderstorm, and many other cool things Mother Nature threw at us—all just adding to the adventure.
The weekend was rich with wildlife, too. We saw herds of antelopes and many healthy-looking coyotes roaming around, and there was various interesting-looking airborne wildlife to observe.
Over the weekend, we also explored King Mountain Lookout and the forest north of Burns, Oregon. Since it had rained the night before, we had to turn back and make new plans on the fly. The trail was just too slippery for our liking.
After all was said and done, we took advantage of the campground’s namesake—the hot springs!
Looking for a new place to explore on your adventure bike or street-legal what-have-you? The Giant Loop Ride is well worth researching. If you like what you see, I suggest you act fast, so you don’t see those dreaded two words, sold out, ’cause it will sell out again next year. CN
