The name says it all: The Lost Coast. You might think California is played out and too crowded, but America’s third largest state still has plenty of remote terrain to explore, and lots of places to lose yourself—especially on two wheels. The tucked-away corner of the Golden State’s northern shoreline known as the Lost Coast is one of those slices of California that remains a little out of touch with the modern world, and it’s well worth making the long journey to get there. Backcountry Discovery Routes and Aprilia have teamed up to make it just a little easier with the launch of the new Lost Coast BDR-X
This new route combines rugged coastal tracks, twisting mountain roads, and the quiet charm of Mendocino, Trinity and Humboldt Counties. With dramatic ocean views, moderate technical sections, and a figure-eight layout that makes planning flexible, the Lost Coast BDR-X is designed for riders of a wide range of skill levels and is expected to become one of the most scenic additions to the BDR collection.
Jocelin Snow, Aprilia Ambassador, Route Architect, and BDR Board Member says, “The Lost Coast is unlike anywhere else in California. It’s remote, raw, and absolutely breathtaking. This new BDR-X brings riders closer to the wild coastal spirit while also supporting the small towns that make this region so special.” BDR’s latest short route blends challenging dirt sections with scenic pavement along California’s famously untamed shoreline. Riders will experience dramatic ocean vistas, sleepy mountain towns, groves of mighty redwoods, and undulating ridge roads across NorCal. The route’s figure-eight design allows riders to tailor the trip to their experience level, and the 550-mile length and shorter time factor makes a BDR-X doable in a long weekend.
Aprilia stepped up to provide Tuareg 660 and Tuareg 660 Rally ADV bikes for both route development and the film team. The film features an all-women cast and the Lost Coast BDR-X is the first Backcountry Discovery Route whose lead Route Architect is a woman. The Lost Coast BDR-X is unique also for its exciting beach-riding segments (be sure to give your bike a thorough scrub-down post-ride to keep rust at bay) and its coastline-hugging route—firsts for any BDR.

BDR will celebrate the launch with a live film premiere and community event on Saturday, December 13, from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM, hosted at Scuderia West Motorcycle Dealership, 1070 Maryland Street at Pier 70 in San Francisco, CA. The full Lost Coast BDR-X film will premiere during the event and will be live-streamed for riders everywhere. Free GPS tracks, printed map and travel resources will be available on the route page December 13th.
Visit the BDR website to find a full schedule for the route launch event .
Read more: Expedition Portal Exclusive :: Sneak Peek at the Montana Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR)
Images: Olivier de Vaulx for Backcountry Discovery Routes
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