Why We Stand

Ouray, CO, “Little Switzerland.” Vehicles roll through town packed with overlanding gear, and dual-sport motorcycles parade the streets with their colorful jockeys aboard. Smack in the middle of this melee rides a group of Space Rangers on loaded, knobby-tired beasts, some with cylinders protruding from the sides like proud iron rhinos. The riders are standing as though their bottoms are too tender to touch the plush saddles beneath them. Why would they do that?

It’s a mystery to many who ride skinny bikes with more than a foot of suspension travel; however, if the bike’s name includes Adventure, GS, AT or Ténéré, the ratio of weight to suspension travel alone would be reason enough to stand when the going gets rough. But these guys are on a smooth road. What’s up?