What defines a good adventure bike rider?

[Hardy de Kock]

I am busy with research on a very difficult topic.

When is someone a good adventure rider?

What I am trying to find out is the following - There are no podium finishes or winner's trophies in the sport of adventure bike riding and therefor very few measurable factors with which one could distinguish between an average and a good adventure rider. I am not even sure one could call it a sport instead of a culture.

What are the trademarks of someone who we would call a fantastic adventure rider and how much of a roll does his/her riding skills play in this.
What other factors would come into play?

Mechanical aptitude?
Stamina?
Preparation?
Attention to detail of the landscape, fauna and flora, people, cultures and all things new on an adventure ride?
Survival skills?
Fitness level?
All round nice person?
General knowledge?

The ability to think outside of the box (Eberhard)
To be able to adapt on short notice (Eberhard)
To be able to keep yourself company (Eberhard)
Patience (Eberhard)
To have a strong faith (Eberhard)
Packing Skills (Omninorm)
Aptitude for riding a variety of terrain and environments. (Omninorm)
Navigation skills. (Omninorm)
Positive and effective adaptability towards a group environment? (Sheepman)
an Adventuress SPIRIT (lowflya)


Please give me your opinions on the above, and feel free to add whatever you feel is relevant. I will add to the original post as suggestions is made.

I will reveal my full intention with this post later.

[eberhard]

The ability to think outside of the box
To be able to adapt on short notice
To be able to keep yourself company
Patience
To have a strong faith

[Omninorm]

Add Packing skills

[Hardy de Kock]

The ability to think outside of the box
To be able to adapt on short notice
To be able to keep yourself company
Patience
To have a strong faith

Very true - added to the list

[Hardy de Kock]

Add Packing skills

Too true - added to the list

[Sheepman]

If he / she is required to ride in a group environment, the ability to function effectively and accommodating within such an environment 

[Hardy de Kock]

If he / she is required to ride in a group environment, the ability to function effectively and accommodating within such an environment

In other words - positive and effective adaptability towards a group environment?

[Sheepman]

If he / she is required to ride in a group environment, the ability to function effectively and accommodating within such an environment

In other words - positive and effective adaptability towards a group environment?

Absolutely 

[Omninorm]

Well...I think riding skills do play a huge part but it depends what we are talking about here.
One finds sometimes a person is a great rider in say dirt...but they suck in sand, and on tar they may be bad in traffic or nervous in those situations.
An adventure rider generally needs to ride a multitude of different terrain: Sand, Tar, City, Rocks, Dirt highways, then as well as all this - navigate well. The navigation goes from Pre Trip planning to actual navigation as well.

[Hardy de Kock]

Well...I think riding skills do play a huge part but it depends what we are talking about here.
One finds sometimes a person is a great rider in say dirt...but they suck in sand, and on tar they may be bad in traffic or nervous in those situations.
An adventure rider generally needs to ride a multitude of different terrain: Sand, Tar, City, Rocks, Dirt highways, then as well as all this - navigate well. The navigation goes from Pre Trip planning to actual navigation as well.

Excellent post this - thanks. Can you sum it up, as my english does not allow it. Would love define riding skills as per your post.

[Omninorm]

Well...I think riding skills do play a huge part but it depends what we are talking about here.
One finds sometimes a person is a great rider in say dirt...but they suck in sand, and on tar they may be bad in traffic or nervous in those situations.
An adventure rider generally needs to ride a multitude of different terrain: Sand, Tar, City, Rocks, Dirt highways, then as well as all this - navigate well. The navigation goes from Pre Trip planning to actual navigation as well.

Excellent post this - thanks. Can you sum it up, as my english does not allow it. Would love define riding skills as per your post.

  I can try but I also suck. 

Aptitude for riding a variety of terrain and environments.
Navigation skills.

??

[lowflya]

First and foremost .....an Adventurest SPIRIT, someone who goes off the beaten track and is prepared to put his "Whatever skills/  abilities" to the TEST. The ride report makes all adventure bike riders wish that they had the Guts/ time/ budget to do something similar. The rest of the attributes as already mentioned are a bonus. IMHO

[eberhard]

Well...I think riding skills do play a huge part but it depends what we are talking about here.
One finds sometimes a person is a great rider in say dirt...but they suck in sand, and on tar they may be bad in traffic or nervous in those situations.
An adventure rider generally needs to ride a multitude of different terrain: Sand, Tar, City, Rocks, Dirt highways, then as well as all this - navigate well. The navigation goes from Pre Trip planning to actual navigation as well.

With respect, but I view it differently. Or otherwise, I would put it differently:

Good riding skills can and normally are easily acquired along the way. Where you have the right aptitude you will see it through and learn and improve (obviously taking for granted that you have at least certain basics under control).  You never start off as a Valentino Rossi for instance, and normally those types don’t go on to become around the world adventure riders. This I have personally seen, where inexperienced riders, as in the absence of many miles behind them or professional training, but with grit, perseverance, common sense and determination achieved more and rode more rough roads than most riders who had gone on so called advanced and advanced advanced training courses. You must have IT in you.

Where there is a will, there is a way.

[Hardy de Kock]

Will try to create a poll to clean up my mess.

[shanti]

the ability to genuinely and happily interact with local people no matter their social standing

[eberhard]

the ability to genuinely and happily interact with local people no matter their social standing

With or without payment involved?

[shanti]

the ability to genuinely and happily interact with local people no matter their social standing

With or without payment involved?

dunno mate but personally I don't whip out my wallet when asking for directions - do you ?

[eberhard]

the ability to genuinely and happily interact with local people no matter their social standing

With or without payment involved?

dunno mate but personally I don't whip out my wallet when asking for directions - do you ?

Sorry, my mistake. I didn’t know you had asking for directions in mind.  What do you whip out then?

[m0lt3n]

I like your initial summary already Hardy.

I think firstly it must be a person willing to leave his comfort zone. someone to actually go on trips with unknown factors.
and then also, someone with mechanical sympathy, while you should be pushing your bike you should also know where is the limits as it must take you home as well.

[Dux]

Patience , especially when riding in groups of varying skill and speed levels .
Being level headed to be able to handle difficult or stressful situations without falling apart .
Riding skills as in being able to ride a wide variety of terrain , not necessary being the fastest at everything but being competent on all , and also being able to ride economically to conserve energy and maintain concentration .
Technical abilities would help , but more so being able to think outside the box to repair certain things , McGyver type mindset .
The bottom line is that an adventure rider needs to be be lots of things .