V-strom masters 16 km of dirt road in Latvia
Took my newly purchased (https://www.reddit.com/r/Vstrom/comments/1t6fayb/any\_reason\_not\_to\_buy\_a\_demo\_bike\_at\_a\_local/) V-Strom 800 on my first ever multi-day trip from Berlin to Tartu.
On Day 3 I unexpectedly ran into a long stretch of dirt road at about 11 a.m. Since it had rained throughout the morning the condition was muddy with rather deep puddles of water and soaked ruts.
This was on the P 88 road between Vekumnieki and Kegums in Latvia. I checked after and found that P roads are state regional roads, a significant part of them are apparently not paved.
When I entered the road I thought it was just going to be a few meters of what looked like a construction site. I have no experience in off-road riding and my V-Strom 800 RE is not made for it either. Consequently, I decided to move straight on rather than stopping or attempting a u-turn in the mud an risking to drop the 240 kg (plus luggage) machine. I ended up riding 16 km mostly through forested territory.
I encountered two types of road signs for speed limits, 50 and 80 km/h. I only felt comfortable to do about 30 km/h and on some dryer stretches maybe 50 km/h. I was passed by large lorries running at full speed and also encountered two or three normal passenger vehicles also going much faster.
The most challenging parts to me were narrow, uneven corners and the bit where I had to take a left turn into another muddy road at a crossing.
At some point I felt comfortable enough to stop in a not so bad patch and take pictures.
I was relieved when finally the road ended in a paved street. I even found a patrol station with a to car wash near by.
Later that day I ran into two further dirt roads, both of which were in a much better condition and shorter, maybe 10 km each. Apart from that I found the Latvian roads to be quite good.