The original idea for this movie was just to show the world how bored and tired we were of road and traffic regulations, as well as all conventionalism propagated by selfish politicians that the only thing they really care about, is to leave their seat with deep pockets and a big grin. Also we wanted to show some love & respect to the awesome people that have helped us jump into the world of off road riding and showed us how its done.
But later with the deliberate burn of all the forests surrounding our schools, bars, houses and our studio, we realized it was time to rise the volume and join the fight to preserve our lives. Motorcycles have a horrible image around the world because we don’t obey, but we are among the most sustainable communities I know. We suffer the elements in our face though love and respect them. We don’t take them for granted! Of course most idiots will think that it is us, off roaders and other people that pursue their freedom in the wildlife, that are responsible for the loss of our ecosystems. Now, policymakers will try to ban motorcycles, bicycles or people walking their dog in our forests so that they can continue making money with the future of our children, unwatched.
At El Solitario we understand the need to evolve to keep it real, but human evolution has become a path of destruction. Our world is being looted and vandalized by greed and a ferocious excess of human population. Our immediate answer was to scape civilization and blend into one of the most remote and least populated areas of the country. Still human stupidity caught up with us and brought its destructive ethos along, burning our habitat. No we know that we shall do what we can to stop this. And if we need to get political and radicalize our activism on the way, so be it. This vital journey we embarked 8 years ago was intended to leave a positive imprint in our world and so we it will be!
Project Dirt Wolves, is a logical consequence of a change of paradigm for El Solitario, that kicked off with E.S. Desert Wolves. Once we got a taste of the off road life, in the African Sahara, we understood there was no way back. We still love our vintage and one-off machines, but with the escalation of road & traffic regulations they’ve become outlawed and the hassles of riding them in the open roads makes it not fun. Motorcycles have no future amigos…
So how to age recklessly, remain emotionally immature and have fun without getting arrested? Ride dirt bikes! As the letters KTM stand for, you will Keep Throwing Money every year to hurt yourself, then come home smelly, dirty, exhausted, and miserable because as usual you failed in your ongoing battle with gravity on a motorbike.
The E.S. Dirt Wolves started life as a pair of 2017 KTM EXC350/F which we modified to make overnight rides in the safest possible way. Off road riding at your 40s is a risky endeavour, so protection and functionality are the top priorities when you are set to design the perfect ride. Unlike we used to do, when designing custom bikes, when you leave the conforts of asphalt, form must follow function 100%. Even the subtlest change can make a huge difference on your performance so you need to be cautious and follow a strict plan.
As Adventure Oz says, there is no evidence of motorcycles in the after life, so we’ve decided to ride every day like if it was the last! With this clear in mind, we grabbed paper and pencil and jotted the following wishes: We want to get so lost that even the GPS quits in a puff of smoke. We want to jump into rivers, so cold, that your balls disappear for months. Also want to drink whisky around the fire, while camping under the stars. These were our plans and these are the motorcycles we designed for the task.
REKLUSE rear brake at the left hand
YOSHIMURA titanium exhaust pipe
Acerbis 16 liter Gas Tank
E.S. Custom machined Triple Trees
E.S. Custom Wolf seat cover
KTM swing arm protector & skid plate
Dunlop Geomax Enduro S with Dunlop Mousses inside
Special thanks to Alpinestars, SHOEI & The Dyneema Project for taking care of our bodies and Anca for their endless support
Below you can see a sneak peek of what the making of Dirt Wolf looked like
See you on the dirt
13 Responses
Great!
Where is and what is the name of the forest you are talking about?
Nice video and great voice-over baritone but way too much bad philosophy blah blah, it feels really contrived and forced, trying too hard to be righteous. I’ve been following you number of years now and you used to be genuine and against the grain, now you’ve reached a certain industry notoriety and are becoming the victims of your own success; remember The Clash? You use big words in your video and then you show 12 corporate logos, do you know if your Corp partners are ecologically sound? Let’s face it, we’ve fucked up, now let’s do some damage control but let’s not be posers and let’s have fun, grab your fancy ruby helmet and just go ride and have a smile on your face. Everything else is just a show, a circus in which you’re performing. Sincerely, Marcel
I am very sorry to see that you haven’t found your spot on this planet but please don’t project your frustration against us. Posers? 12 corporate logos? WTF! You think the motorcycle industry is responsible for the pillage of our planet? We, The Motorcycle Industry, are just lovely losers and our place on this rampage is just a voyeuristic one. We get wet when it rains and break bones when we fall. We are connected! You can put your Ruby helmet and ride some traffic lights for fun and then criticize me, and I am happy for you. I choose my SHOEI and put myself to the test every day I can. I don’t like you Marcel, and it is people like you bailing on your peers that are facilitating the REAL hazardous motherfuckers to ban our lifestyle.
Wow, that’s quite the violent response, mostly rude actually, seems you can not take an ounce of constructive criticism, that’s fine, it’s a democracy and everyone is entitled to some big words and hot air. I think you misunderstood me overall, I’m just saying it’s corporations running and destroying the planet so maybe even the ones you promote, no?
Anyhow, I won’t lower myself to your anger, be safe and healthy and never stop questioning. Cheers.
Marcel,
you seem again a little confused by the clarity of my response. I am not angry and our site is not a democracy. This is our house and we dictate our own rules. At El Solitario we don’t have any obscure economical interests, underlying our cause, and we do what we do moved by our passion for riding and we don’t give a fuck about anything else. I know this might sound like a a cliche but believe me in our case it is not and therefore we take things VERY personally. Of course we can take constructive criticism but if you decide to insult us we will fight back.
Hope that one day you might come to reason and leave all this nonsense behind
Ill be very happy and welcome you back if that happens
DB
Love the bike . One major problem though . At least here in the US we are at a place in history where the so called wilderness has more damn traffic than the paved roads leading to it . Clogged to the max with hikers , bikers , M/C’s ATV’s and 4WD’s ! Seriously ! Here in Colorado by 6 am all the trailhead parking lots are full .. people are fighting [ literally ] for each and every spot that opens up … and if you do get on the trail … you’ll be damn lucky to see the trail beneath you as you navigate what has become a mobile obstacle course … never mind the scenery !
Its gotten to the point where more solitude can be found in downtown Vail Aspen or Telluride than in the surrounding mountains and landscapes
So enjoy it while you can mi amigos .. cause if we’re any example of whats heading your way … you won’t be able to for long . I’ll sign off with the words of American poet / author / farmer and environmentalist Wendell Berry ;
” I’ve come to the earth itself ,sadly abused by the stupidity only humans are capable of , but . as ever , itself . Free . A bargain . Get it while it lasts “
HNY my dear!!!
I totally agree with you. We are too many humans on this planet. Luckily enough even in the USA there are amazing places where you will struggle to find other humans. Here in Galicia and Portugal we have plenty of free land to ride, feel free and get lost although in other parts of Spain Enduro riding has already been banned. Cant wait for the e-bikes, to get more range and stealthly regain those terrains 😉
Hee hee .. quite the argy bargy above with señor Marcel . If you haven’t already you should take a look at the s**t storm flying over at bikeexif about the article and your bikes . Damn ! .. Oh well .. as those of us from or previously hailing ( moi ) from NJ put it …
” Fuck em if they can’t take a joke ”
( the implication is not to imply that what you’re saying or doing is a joke … but that its a joke that they don’t get it .. what can I say US and NJ idioms in particular are … eclectic and obscure to say the least )
As for regaining those lost terrains . Not to put a damper on things but having been a part of Mt Biking’s first wave in the 80’s as an active member of NORBA from day one … if history is anything to go by here in the US .. once its gone … its gone . In fact if anything they just keep taking more away .
But here’s the dirt little secret . Most of that terrain lost for Mt Bikes was due to irresponsible and inconsiderate **shole riders … and though we did our best to self police .. it was to no avail .. and the powers that be ( in this case the wealthy equestrian and hiking set ) prevailed … taking more away each and every year .
But hey … I’m here … you’re there … and you aint us ( a good thing of late in my never humble opinion ) .. so maybe things’ll work out differently for y’all
FYI if’n you’re ever Colorado way .. I gots a loverly bottle of Stranahans from before the corporate take over just waiting to be shared … along with a cuppa awful fine coffee .. or three ……… 😎
Va bene .. eco … basta .. ciao
Amazing video. Really inspiring. Coming from a small overpopulated and therefore overregulated country we are not fortunate enough to take ur dirt bikes out of civilization. For in my country there is no being outside civilization. Cannot wait to plan a trip to Galicia.
Greetings from your friend from Switzerland, a vegan motorcyclist
we are very fortunate
What have you done to achive the plastic designs? I´m looking for a program or a company or something similar to make my own design. ty
contact pedidos@vikdesigns.com de nuestra parte
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