1,200 miles in 8 days

From Bengough, Saskatchewan, to Melbourne, Australia, our August 2016 Hotshots contest received photos from around the world. Adventure and dual sport riding was theme and Giant Loop sponsored the contest with a Zigzag Handlebar Bag.

Aaron Long of Tillamook, Oregon, was the winner with his panoramic shot of the Alvord Desert in Oregon. Via email, Long answered a few questions about his passion for dual sport bikes and the day this photo was taken:

How long have you been riding motorcycles?

If it counts, I’ve been on quads in the sand since I was like 10. The last few years I’ve moved to two wheels.

What do you currently ride?

I bounce around, depending on what I’m doing. My plated ’05 450 EXC for tight trails, the ’16 690 Enduro for trips and my old 400 EX for dunes and on the track.

What are some trips you’ve taken?

Hundreds of day trips, a good handful of overnight rides and our one big trip last June on the bikes was awesome.

What do you enjoy most about dual sport and adventure bikes?

There are not very many places you can’t go if your bike is street legal, so it makes your possibilities pretty open for adventures.

Tell us more about the trip this photo was taken on?

We started in Bend, Oregon, and rode to Crane, Oregon, for the Giant Loop organized ride for two days. After that, we headed south to the Alvord Desert where this photo was taken. We touched Nevada, then continued north for a few days till we got back to Bend. It was awesome—1,200 miles in eight days and some very worn-out tires.

What other hobbies do you enjoy?

Surfing and other motorsports. I kind of have way too many hobbies, but mostly my focus has been adventure riding the last few years.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

I’ll throw in some more photos of the June trip and other adventures. You can follow me on Instagram. I post photos of my trips and adventures on there.