April 10–14, 2025 | Ellijay, GA to Everywhere and Back

Matt, Terry, me & Brian – New Iron Bridge near Blue Ridge GA

Every ride tells a story. Some are about the destination, others about the ride crew, but the Chattahoochee BDR-X? That one was about clutch survival, mudhole physics, and the fine art of passing a BMW midair.

Terry, Brian, Matt, and I—each aboard our KTM 690s—set out from Ellijay on April 10 for a five-day loop that mixed official BDR-X with a couple of rogue routes I stitched together. Let’s just say it didn’t disappoint.

Day 1: Cohutta Single Track

We kicked off in Ellijay, hitting Windy Gap, Milma, and Tibbs—classic Cohutta wilderness single tracks that don’t ask if you’re ready, followed by a day of forest service roads. Terry’s clutch decided to test him early, slipping more than a politician during election season, but he managed to ride the whole trip without grenading it. Impressive, considering the abuse we were handing out.

Day 2: Ruts, Falls, and a Toccoa Baptism

From Ellijay to Dahlonega, Old Bucktown Road had us grinning like idiots—rutted, raw, and fun as hell. We took a side jaunt up Amicalola Creek Road that turned into an almost-single-track challenge with a waterfall payoff. Lunch was at Van Zandt’s Grill and Grocery—an old-school gem on the Toccoa River, established in 1834 as a trading post and still slinging solid food and charm. Somewhere down Toccoa River Road, I baptized the bike in a mudhole deep enough to drown a small SUV. Full body submersion. We wrapped the day with a hotel laundry run and supper at Grapevine’s with our friends Andy and Joanne—good food and better company.

Day 3: Aerial Antics and GS Tag

We left Dahlonega for Franklin and found ourselves dueling with some BMW 900GS riders on Duncan Ridge. The slowest of the trio wasn’t thrilled when I passed him midair over a rocky section, but hey—never bring a GS to a 690 fight. Saw Appalachian Trail hikers at the Walasi-Yi Interpretive Center—first time I’ve ever stopped there despite years of passing by on street bikes.

Day 4: Wayah Bald and Tusquittee Scramble

From Franklin to Franklin. Wayah Bald delivered the best view of the trip—wide, quiet, and worth the gravel grind to get there. FS-711, Tusquittee Road, and Conleys Creek gave us a buffet of rocky climbs, off-camber narrows, and drop-offs steep enough to focus the mind. We wrapped it with supper at Graff’s Tavern, swapping stories and checking over Matt’s progressively harder-to-start 690.

Day 5: Charlie’s Creek and the Rain Chase

The final push back to Ellijay started with a tame Charlie’s Creek water crossing—followed by a not-so-tame one that had us scouting lines like engineers. The climb out was spicy—plenty of big bikes stopped, letting us pick our path and go. We grabbed a snack at Cooper’s Creek Store and one last break at the Iron Bridge Cafe before racing the incoming rain. We parked just as the sky opened up. Perfect timing.

Gear, Bikes, and Trail Tactics

All four of us ride KTM 690s outfitted with Lucioli inner tubes, letting us run as low as 4 PSI—a game changer in the mud. Steering dampers on all bikes helped keep the front ends tracking clean over rocks and roots. Terry and Brian, the two more experienced and skilled riders, led most of the time. Matt, ever the retired cop, rode sweep (for the most part)—steady, smart, and never in over his head. I handled route design and navigation, tossing in two extra days of challenge on top of the official BDR-X. As we loaded up, we met Cristiano who rode the Southeast BDR from Florida and was starting the BDR-X the following day. Cristiano joined us for supper, where he convinced Matt that tall dudes should ride KTM 890s rather than 690s – a week later, Matt owns one!

Final Take

The Chattahoochee BDR-X (plus a couple of spicy extras) delivered everything I want from a ride: great terrain, sketchy moments, and a solid crew to share it with. If you’re planning your own run at it, come ready for water crossings, elevation, and the kind of terrain that punishes hesitation. Also—bring friends who can fix your bike in the morning before the coffee kicks in. It helps.

Until the next one—keep it upright, keep it dirty, and remember: if you’re gonna pass a GS in midair, make sure someone sees it.