Kit Palmer | May 3, 2024
Scot Harden, a long-time desert racer and two-wheel enthusiast, will tell you that trail riding is more than just a pastime. It’s a way of life, a chance to bond with your buddies who share your passion for dirt bike riding. One of Harden’s best friends, Casey Folks, felt the same way.
Scot Harden obviously enjoys hosting the Motion Pro Nevada 200 Trail Ride.
Photography by Miguel Santana and Kit Palmer
Harden and Folks became riding buddies way back when and rode together almost every weekend, but as life took hold and pulled them in different directions, their weekend trail rides together became harder and harder to come by. However, they agreed to set aside one weekend out of the year to go trail riding together—along with other good friends, of course—no matter what was going on in their lives at the time. That weekend would take precedence over all else. That was 40 years ago; essentially, it was the birth of the Nevada 200 Trail Ride.
Over the years, the Motion Pro Nevada 200 has evolved into a must-do event for all off-road motorcyclists. Often referred to as a “bucket-list” ride, it offers a unique and challenging experience that every dirt bike enthusiast should consider. This year, the event had a record 220 participants.
Dust was a factor this year. Next year, it could be snow. You never know with the Nevada 200.
Harden and Folks’ roots run deep in the desert sand, so it’s no surprise they chose the tiny scenic desert city of Caliente, known for its historic railroad depot and located seemingly in the middle of nowhere Nevada, to conduct their rides. Sadly, Folks passed away in 2017, but Harden continues to promote the ride in Casey’s memory while giving other off-roaders the opportunity to create their own memories and share them with their riding buddies.
“Our philosophy of the ride is to make it as fun off the bike as it is on the bike,” Harden said, “which is why we host special parties, bench-racing sessions, our crazy Easter egg hunts, and of course, our world-famous awards banquet where we make fun of people who do stupid stuff on the trail. The coveted ‘Whistledick Award’ is something riders cherish. Through the ride, we try very hard to create an atmosphere of fun and fellowship. As a result, people think of it as much more than just a riding experience.”
Near the end of each ride is a good time to slow down and enjoy the view.
These days, the Nevada 200 is held over three days: Friday (approximately 45 miles of trails), Saturday (approximately 90 miles), and Sunday (approximately 45 miles). Nearly every foot of the trail is technical. As scenic as the area might be, the Nevada 200 isn’t about sightseeing; instead, it’s all about the ride. More than 90 percent of the trail is single-track, with a heavy mix of loose rocks, sand, hard pack, small elevation changes and, unfortunately, dust, depending on what Mother Nature decides to do. There are no monster hill climbs to fear (yay!); at least, there weren’t any this year. Some of the trail is on open terrain, and some of it winds around trees and large bushes. The ride is indeed challenging but very doable for anyone who has at least a fair amount of off-roading experience and a yearning for adventure.
Harden leads the way up Joe Falls, one of the few “A” (hard) sections on the ride. Optional “C” routes bypass any questionable sections. Photo: Miguel Santana
Funny how Harden can even make an Easter Egg Hunt a competition.
Don’t be late to Harden’s daily riders’ meetings. Photo: Miguel Santana
The Motion Pro Nevada 200 is a trail ride, but you know what happens when you get more than one motorcycle rider on a trail at the same time. Yes, the pace can be a bit spirited. Harden, however, encourages everyone to go at their own speed. “It is not a race,” he says, but there are times when it’s best not to lollygag too much, just to stay on schedule.
Every year, you can expect to mingle and ride with some familiar faces, often true legends of the off-road motorcycling world. This year was no exception. Beta’s Rodney Smith, a five-time GNCC Champion, was on hand, as were multi-time ISDE gold medalist Fred Hoess, desert-racing legends Jack Johnson, Max Switzer and Anna Cody, and Alexander Smith, Malcolm’s son. And, of course, Harden, an AMA Hall of Famer, led the ride and made sure the entire event ran smoothly, which it did. Harden runs a tight ship! A few industry bigwigs also participated this year (for many of them, again), including Motion Pro’s Chris Carter, Seat Concepts’ Lendon Smith, Klim’s Mark Kincart and some of the folks from Rocky Mountain ATV/MC, all of whom have made significant contributions to the sport.
This year’s Nevada 200 Trail Ride had a record turnout. Photo: Miguel Santana
Alexander Smith entertained everyone with stories about him and his dad. Photo: Miguel Santana
“This year’s ride was special for a number of reasons, mainly because it was our 40th anniversary,” said Harden. “When I think back to the thousands of riders that have joined us over the years, it really is humbling. Not only was this our largest ride ever, with a lot of first-timers, but for some reason, we drew a huge number of very talented riders. The trail pace was off the chart. More like a race than a trail ride. Thank God I had legends like Rodney [Smith] and Fred [Hoess] blocking for me.”
Day two, the long day, is broken up by an awesome, on-trail lunch stop. Photo: Miguel Santana
For the first time, Harden also hosted the Nevada 200 Rally Experience, a three-day non-competitive GPS-navigated ride for dual-sport and large-displacement adventure motorcycles. It was held in the same area the weekend before the trail ride. And it only gets better. Harden is talking about hosting a Nevada 200-type trail ride in Idaho soon, so keep an eye out for that. CN
The hardest part of the ride is waiting for it to get started.
If you want more information about the Motion Pro Nevada 200 Trail Ride or the Rally Experience, visit harden-offroad.com
