For most riders of big and bulky adventure bikes, their idea of an “adventure ride” is typically a quick stroll to the nearest Starbucks for a Sunday cup of coffee, or maybe a quick ride to Tagaytay, Subic, or Clark for breakfast.
For those who are a bit adventurous, their idea of an adventure ride could involve some river crossings, old logging roads, and even an overnighter deep in the jungle, like these guys who rode their adventure bikes from General Nakar, Quezon, to Dingalan, Aurora.
No words can express the fulfillment after completing such an adventure ride. “One for the books” as they say.
But, to take it to a whole new level, the guys at FJ Moto Enduro – a motorcycle accessories and apparel shop in Marikina owned by Joseph Aranas – created the FJ Moto Mountaincross Series 2022. Basically, the race focuses on off-road riding, with categories tailor-fitted for the enduro and other off-road-biased motorcycles.
What sets this race series apart from the other races is the inclusion of an ADV bike category so that adventure bike enthusiasts can test their limits by riding their big machines in the mountains.
ADV bike category – the highlight of the event
As mentioned above, the FJ Moto Mountaincross Series has categories that are mostly for off-road motorcycles and their riders e.g.: Open Enduro, Local Enduro, Master Class, etc.
However, for the first time in Philippine racing history, large ADV bikes and their riders have a venue to test their limits through their own category. While riding off-road in small dirtbikes is quite easy, it’s another story if you’re riding a big, heavy, and most of the time expensive ADV bike off-road.
The FJ Moto Mountaincross Series had already concluded its first two outings in Montalban, Rizal, and Magallanes, Cavite. For those who are riding off-road in those areas, you should be able to attest that the off-beaten tracks in those mountainous places are quite challenging, especially when riding on an ADV bike.
Taking ADV riding to a new level, those who competed rode through sand, rocks, rivers, and mud – pushing their limits as a rider and at the same time getting to know that their bike can do more than just being an expressways stroller.
The finals
The 3rd and final leg of the FJ Moto Mountaincross Series will conclude at the beautiful town of General Nakar, Quezon. General Nakar, is about a 3-4 hour drive from Manila through Marilaque and is the largest municipality in Luzon in terms of land area.
Though the town center is quite small, the vast Sierra Madre Mountain range that dominates the land area of Gen. Nakar makes it an ideal spot for off-roading enthusiasts.
On March 13, 2022, the champions of the series will be crowned and will inspire adventure bike riders to get out from their comfort zone and start discovering their bike’s full potential.
