IS XTADV RIGHT FOR YOU?
You don't have to be an expert. You have to be willing to learn.
You've ridden motorcycles for years. Maybe decades.
You've travelled thousands of kilometres, explored remote places, and developed a healthy respect for what a motorcycle can do.
But riding a large adventure motorcycle off-road is different.
Perhaps you've struggled with loose gravel, steep descents, tight turns, or the feeling that your motorcycle is getting away from you.
Perhaps you've watched other riders make difficult terrain look effortless and wondered what they know that you don't.
That's why we created XTADV.
XTADV is a five-day, immersive off-road motorcycle education experience in British Columbia, Canada. It's designed to help adventure riders develop the skills, confidence, and judgment to become more capable riders.
And you don't need to arrive with those skills. That's what we're here to teach.
WHO COMES TO XTADV?
Our participants are generally experienced motorcyclists who want to become better off-road riders.
Most are between 45 and 70 years old.
Some have spent decades riding motorcycles but have relatively little off-road experience. Others have already travelled extensively on adventure motorcycles and want to improve their technical abilities.
Some arrive confident. Others arrive apprehensive.
They share something important: a willingness to learn.
You don't need to be the fastest rider, the strongest rider, or the most adventurous person in the group.
You need to be curious, coachable, and prepared to challenge yourself.
Watch the video!
WHAT IF I'M AFRAID OF FALLING?
Fear is a normal part of learning to ride motorcycles off-road.
It can also interfere with learning.
When riders become tense, their movements become less fluid, their attention narrows, and they can struggle to apply skills they already understand intellectually.
Our approach recognizes that learning is both physical and psychological.
We work to create an environment where riders can ask questions, make mistakes, and develop confidence without embarrassment.
We don't believe that intimidating students makes them better riders.
We believe good instruction, appropriate challenges, and meaningful repetition do.
You'll be challenged during XTADV.
But the purpose of that challenge is education, not entertainment at your expense.
do i need to be young and athletic?
No.
Many of our students are in their 50s, 60s, and beyond.
You don't need the fitness of a professional athlete. However, XTADV is an active, physically demanding program.
You'll spend significant time standing on the motorcycle, practising balance and control, moving your body, and riding on uneven terrain.
You should be in reasonably good physical condition and comfortable participating in several consecutive days of motorcycle training.
If you have concerns about your fitness, an existing injury, or your ability to participate, contact us before applying.
We'd rather have an informed conversation than have you arrive uncertain about what to expect.
WHAT IF I'M TRAVELLING ALONE?
You're in good company.
Many XTADV participants arrive without knowing anyone else.
Motorcycling might bring people together, but the shared learning experience is what builds the relationships.
You'll spend five days with a small group of riders who are working through many of the same challenges.
You'll practise together, make mistakes together, celebrate improvements, and share stories at the end of the day.
At Traction eRag, we believe off-road motorcycling is a team sport.
Helping another rider succeed is part of the experience.
And with groups limited to 12 participants, you'll have an opportunity to get to know the people you're riding with.
WHAT WILL I ACTUALLY LEARN?
XTADV is built around a progressive motorcycle education curriculum
Depending on the program level, training can include:
Standing balance and body position
Clutch, throttle, and brake control
Traction management
Cornering on loose surfaces
Hill climbs and controlled descents
Technical terrain and obstacle negotiation
Motorcycle recovery and problem-solving
Practical skills for real-world adventure riding
The emphasis isn't simply on completing an exercise.
It's on understanding what makes the technique work, practising it repeatedly, and learning when to apply it.
Our goal is to help you leave with skills that remain useful long after your five days at the ranch are over.
WHY DO WE TRAIN ON SMALLER MOTORCYCLES?
If you own a large adventure motorcycle, you might wonder why we don't simply teach everything on your own machine.
There's a good reason.
Large adventure motorcycles are heavy, powerful, and expensive to drop. Those characteristics can make learning new off-road skills unnecessarily intimidating and dangerous.
At XTADV, the motorcycle is the classroom.
We use lightweight Honda off-road motorcycles to help riders isolate and develop fundamental skills without the added complications of managing a large machine.
Body position. Energy Conservation. Balance. Clutch control. Throttle management. Braking. Traction.
As those skills improve, we progressively introduce more challenging exercises and riding environments.
The objective isn't to make you a better small-motorcycle rider.
It's to make you a more capable adventure motorcyclist.
WHO IS XTADV NOT FOR?
XTADV isn't for everyone.
It's not designed for someone who has never ridden a motorcycle or who is still learning basic motorcycle operation.
It's not a racing school, a high-speed competition, or an opportunity to demonstrate how much better you are than other riders.
And it's not a guided motorcycle vacation where education is an occasional activity between scenic rides.
XTADV is a motorcycle education program.
You'll be expected to listen to instructors, follow safety procedures, practise unfamiliar skills, and contribute positively to the learning environment.
If that sounds appealing, you'll probably enjoy yourself here.
“There’s no ‘pin-it’ talk; they want you to learn the basics like throttle control, clutch control, body positioning in a safe-but-still adventurous environment.
A lot of adventure bikes might push beyond their local Starbucks if their owners had built these skills the safe and proper way.”
READ THE COMPLETE ADVRider article.
Curriculum
Our teaching focuses on progressive learning, building each concept onto the next, combined with a host of entertaining games designed to develop your skills.
Unlocking these skills will allow you to achieve your full riding potential, enhancing your skills for a lifetime on two-wheels.
We will cover:
Bike setup for off-road use
Default body position
Weight distribution
Energy conservation techniques
Static balance
Full lock turns
Head position
Braking techniques (basic and advanced)
Turn initiation
Basic and advanced cornering
Weight/deweight
Unloading the front wheel
Basic obstacle crossing techniques
180 turns in small spaces
Hill climbs and descents
Trail riding
Skill based games and challenges!
The Traction eRag crew provides a supportive learning environment packed with knowledge, good people and great fun!
“Shannon considers mistakes essential. Competence, he told us, comes from failing repeatedly, understanding what went wrong, and trying again. In pep talk after pep talk, he and his coaches asked us to picture the boundaries of our comfort zones, then aim just beyond their edges. They called the fears waiting there our dragons, and every rider had different ones to slay.”
FIVE DAYS THAT COULD CHANGE THE WAY YOU RIDE
There's something satisfying about learning to do something that previously seemed impossible.
A controlled descent that once frightened you.
A tight turn that no longer feels intimidating.
A motorcycle that suddenly feels more manageable because you understand what it's doing beneath you.
Those moments don't happen by accident.
They happen through good instruction, practice, and a willingness to keep learning.
That's what XTADV is about.
You don't need to arrive as the rider you want to become.
You just need to be ready to start.
Ready to find out more?
“I had high hopes when I first realized I needed some training and then was lucky enough to find you. You have far exceeded my expectations. You have a special family delivering a product that is very much wanted and needed. Thank you!”
What You Need To Know
Our events sell out quickly. You may need time to discuss your participation with work, family, girlfriend or parole officer but regardless, we will need a deposit to hold your spot.
Our events have limited participants, no more than 12 per week. You won’t get lost in a large group.
Location
The Traction eRag World Headquarters, nestled in the tree-covered hill tops 20 minutes away from the desert landscape of Kamloops, British Columbia.
You will be staying in heated accommodation, either basic cabins or safari tents. You’ll be warm, dry, comfortable and off the ground. Pillows and mattress provided, bring a sleeping bag — you’ll be ultra comfortable. The camp has flush toilets and hot showers with the best view in the world.
We are in a remote location, but this is Canada – a first-world country, with close access to world-class health care, transportation infrastructure and food safety. You will be spending your vacation on a dirt bike seat, not a toilet seat.
There is a Place for You.
We understand how intimidating riding with an unknown group can be. Don’t worry, you will find like-minded people at each shoulder. Nobody is a pro rider, we have designed these rides for people who want to have fun. Most folks who attend XTADV are between 45 to 70 years old, and most are solo travellers.
“I alway recommend people get training, and this is some of the best. Every morning your bike is ready to go, this amazing meal gets set down in front of you, you ride and come back and the bathrooms are clean – It’s like Disneyland.”
