So I picked up the rig from Chuck on the 1st and I’ve put a couple thousand miles on it so far. I have to say, I’m loving it. It sure is a hell of an upgrade from my Ural. Cruising at 85 instead of 55 really makes a big difference on the long days.
I left Chuck’s in the afternoon and headed down to the Willamette National Forest for the night and camped right near a lovely river. I’ve never been to the PNW before this trip, and I’ve definitely fallen in love with it.
The next day, I headed through southern Idaho and NE Nevada, in to Utah, where I promptly got my dumb ass stuck in some sand. Unfortunately, all of my recovery gear is still with my Ural, so I was not able to get myself unstuck. Luckily, I have very good roadside assistance and they were able to send out a guy with a jeep to winch me out. Unluckily, it took about 6 hours for him to get to me, so I wound up making camp for the night while I waited. Damn nice view, in the end.
Next day, I rode a bit around NW Colorado and then up in to Wyoming to make camp.
Today was my longest day on the machine, so far: about 750 miles up through Wyoming and South Dakota in to North Dakota to get the rest of my tools and a few other important things off of the Ural. Later this week I’ll be heading to Montana, then Washington and back to Oregon for a bit, then… who knows?
Cory @ckaseman, very nice pictures. Need more pictures of the 2018 Honda Africa Twin w/DCT trans & Ural sidecar rig itself, just so we can see all that you are playing with whilst you do 750+ miles on long distance days, or 20 miles on sand digging days.
I believe that I clearly told you, do NOT enter the Sahara Desert. 
Overall, are you now getting a feel for the rig ??????
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
Sounds like a perfect start to some epic adventures. 🤩
Hold my keyboard and watch this! 🙃
Once I got some advice to keep it in sport 2/3 it was smooth sailing the whole way. I’m pretty sure the only reason I got stuck is because I forgot to turn off traction control. I almost made it out and then the power cut off and it sank straight down. But I will probably stay out of the sand for a while.
Traction control can be very annoying and a liability.
My Guzzi just stops when it shuts the engine.
Took a while to catch on to what was happening.
Sand can also mean tire pressure dropping to get floatation etc.
It's a different skill set.
If Cory had memorized the online Owners Manual, he would remember there is a button on the dash...upper right....for riding in gravel/sand.
Cory, look at your dash....question everything on the dash...then look each item up in the online Owners Manual.
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
I don’t think the g button turns off traction control, you have to do that with the little switch on the left control cluster. But Honda is weirdly ambiguous about exactly what it does. I haven’t really played with it too much. Also, I’m more the type to only break out the user manual AFTER I get myself in to some kind of trouble. Who wants to do homework when you could be riding instead?
I don’t think the g button turns off traction control, you have to do that with the little switch on the left control cluster. But Honda is weirdly ambiguous about exactly what it does. I haven’t really played with it too much. Also, I’m more the type to only break out the user manual AFTER I get myself in to some kind of trouble. Who wants to do homework when you could be riding instead?
Cory, that's correct, the Traction Control has to be "controlled " by the left cluster switches.
That G button is the Gravel....Get Out Of Sand....button.
Try it....you'll like it.
AND....you had months and months to read the Operation Manual before you got your hands on this rig. 
Two Million Mile Rider
Exploring the World in Comfort
@ckaseman traction control stops all the fun. I leave it off about anytime I am off pavement. I think there is an aftermarket dongle to make it not come back on when you turn the engine on, but I have not looked it up, yet
Still debating the usefulness of the G button. I think it gives closer to instant throttle response, instead of a slight delay. Useful for initiating powerslides, but not much else for an effect.
If i remember, I air down to 25 psi or thereabouts for sand. I usually remember about the time I am looking for some sagebrush to wrap a winch line around.
I think you got a great rig, glad to see you out enjoying it. Hit me up when you make it back to AZ, and we can go play in the sand!
That is probably one of the only advantages of the Beemer GS with the Pro ride modes.. In Enduro Pro the intrusion of the nanny state is some what programable and stays put once told to.. Plus it is switchable on the fly.
Great rig by the way. Saw Chuck's post on the book of Face.