River Crossings
This month we'll talk about how to cross rivers safely. During our rides in Costa Rica we cross many rivers. Sometimes they are deep and/or have strong currents, slippery rocks or deep, muddy bottoms.

The first step is to walk the river to get a feel for the bottom surface and determine the water depth.

If the water is less than knee high, the river is rideable. The trick here is to ride with the current across the river. Make your entrance and calculate your exit following a 45 degree angle downstream. Use first or second gear and be ready with the clutch, and your feet in case you need to dab. Keep the revs up; this is one place you don't want to stall.

If the water is above the knee, it's time to walk the bike. Put the bike between you and the current and have someone hold the tail of the bike. If the river is running extremely fast and/or deep, it's better to shut off the engine and just walk the bike through the river. You'll need at least 3 people for this. Again walk with the current; it's one less thing to fight against.

Good riding and don't hesitate to contact me via e-mail for more information and techniques!

-Larry Larrabure