Armed with a 2022 Royal Enfield Himalayan, some YouTube videos, and a recent dirt bike safety training course, I took on the Trans-America Trail, a route crossing the United States on mostly unpaved roads and trails. While I had extensive road bike experience, this would be my first time riding off-road for any distance since…
Redefined Sound :: Cardo’s Connect App 5.7 Update
This week saw great news for Cardo Freecom X and Spirit users, the new 5.7 Cardo Connect App update which promises to greatly improve listener experience. The best motorcycle Bluetooth headsets continue to get ample time in moto forums. There are as many impassioned arguments for either side as there are dedicated and loyal users….
Brat Class 2 E-bike Coming from Volcon
Volcon ePowersports, the first company to make all-electric off-road powersports machines, announces a new Class 2 electric bicycle they call the Brat. The single-syllable moniker follows the lead of their Stag UTV, and the fat-tired, two-wheeled, go-most-anywhere Volcon Grunt, reviewed by Scott Brady. Volcon states the Brat is built “for any adventure, on or off…
KTM 890 Adventure R Updates for 2023
The KTM 890 Adventure R, an already capable and popular motorcycle, is getting an overhaul for 2023. Why mess with success? According to KTM, it was to “further offroad excellence, dependability and suitability for whatever lies on the road ahead.” In other words, to make a good thing better. Improved Adventure Ride When the road…
Exploring America’s Swampiest State :: The Florida Adventure Trail
It took a lot of dirt to raise Jon Birkmire. A lot of water, too. As a child growing up in Florida, there’s hardly a river, beach, or dirt road he hasn’t explored in the peninsula state known for its abundance of coastline, swamps, alligators, and snakes. So ten years ago when he discovered Florida…
Colfax Design Works Project TOAD 65 Liter Drybag: A Fully Waterproof Duffel That Doubles as a Backpack
Colfax Design Works is a soft goods designer that creates durable products for diverse environments. All their products are made in the USA to lessen the carbon footprint. They make products for adventure travel, and their primary offering is the Project TOAD (tactical operations amphibious drybags) 65-liter drybag. I’ve been testing the TOAD drybag for…
Electric Adventure :: Zero’s 2023 DSR/X
In another month or so I’ll be staring at a mechanic’s bill for a 24,000-mile valve adjustment on my BMW F 750 GS. It won’t be pretty. I’ve learned to change my own oil, maintain my chain, and flush my brake fluid just to keep the labor bill in check. Considering motorcycle manufacturers have made…
Moto Guzzi :: 101 Years and Counting
In 2022, Moto Guzzi’s newly unveiled V100 Mandello with 115 horsepower and 77 pound-feet of torque is a certain far cry from your great grandfather’s original 8 horsepower Normale. After 101 years in the making, what else could one expect from one of Italy’s favorite motorcycle companies? To continue with its centennial celebration, on September…
Nomadix Puffer Blanket: An Ultra-versatile Blanket For Minimalist Overlanders and Travelers
“Own Less. Do More” is more a manifesto than just a tagline for Nomadix. They call their first and most popular product The Only Towel You Need. In short, it’s designed to work for everything you could possibly use a towel for. Nomadix’s original towel is lightweight, super-absorbent, odor and sand-resistant, and dries quickly. And…
Expo Gear You Will Want to Explore: Savvy Creations for Outdoor Comfort
Amid massive builds with habitat boxes, larger-than-life bumpers, rooftop tents, and overlanding gear at this year’s Overland Expo Mountain West in Loveland, Colorado, the displays of homegrown and sustainable-minded companies punctuated the landscape. These are the companies and products that always garner my attention for their creative ability to meet industry demands and emerging markets….
Ready for Dirt: Suzuki’s 2023 V-Strom 1050DE/Adventure
I am always surprised when my moto racing friend Deana Kelley says she regularly takes to the difficult parts of BDRs on her V-Strom. There are few adventures the Suzuki-made motorcycle can’t handle, but baby heads on a steep gravel cliff aren’t exactly what I envision when thinking about this nimble bike. I had always…
Scosche Powerup 600 Torch Portable Emergency Car Jumpstarter: For The Time When Your Vehicle Needs A Jump
Headquartered in Ventura County, California, Scosche is a family-owned company of outdoor enthusiasts that creates consumer technology for adventurers. They make vehicle accessories, car audio products, and other electronics, testing them in real-world scenarios to see how they’ll fare. I’ve been testing the Scosche Powerup 600 Torch portable emergency jumpstarter for the past month. I…
Making it Out Alive: Learn to save your own life or the one you love
Fieldcraft Survival and TacMed Solutions, companies providing industry-leading medical, simulation, and protection solutions for combat military personnel and first responders, collaborated on this comprehensive trauma kit, the MTK (Mobility Trauma Kit), with everyday mobility, off-roading, and overlanding in mind. The kit includes everything you could need in a life-threatening emergency: a tourniquet, modular bandages, combat…
Stopping the Bleed: Yes, it Can Happen to You
Kevin Henson has been answering calls to horrific accident scenes for at least 34 years. The trained paramedic and retired fire chief still grimaces a little when thinking about the worst accidents he’s attended. Many of them involved motorcycles. But there’s one item he never reached for in a trauma event: a first-aid kit. When…
Four Simple Moto Gadgets with Big Pay-Offs
FOBO Bike 2 Monitor your tire pressure continuously with this easy-to-use Bluetooth monitor, even while riding. The FOBO Bike 2 is compatible with most motorcycles and can detect slow or fast leaks, providing alerts on tire pressure changes. This tool is super easy to install. Mount the sensors onto your tire stems, download the app,…
Inflation Reduction Act Removes Electric Motorcycle Tax Incentives
Just under a year ago, industry professionals and consumers were hopeful to hear that incentives to buy electric motorcycles would be offered under the Build Back Better Act, passed by the U.S. House of Representatives in November. The incentive would offer substantial savings in purchasing electric motorcycle products as the federal government poises to replace…
Moto Dogs: Riding with Fido
Walter gets a little nervous when Reid Hobby isn’t around. The 4-year-old Deutsch Drahthaar doesn’t much like being without his human companion. “He’s a social dog,” Hobby says. “Actually, he’s like a leach. He’s the Robin to my Batman. He sticks to me like glue.” Walter has ridden shotgun in every vehicle Hobby has ever…
Bulbag USA: The best little bag on the planet
UkoalaBag has undoubtedly grown in popularity since its inception in 2013. The multi-pocketed pouch bag has become a favorite among outdoor enthusiasts because of its ability to carry a wide variety of essentials while being effortlessly strapped to the hip of its wearer. And now, with the release of Bulbag USA, the Georgia-based company is…
BMW: Still Time in 2022 to Ride & Improve Skills
BMW has a host of ideas help you improve skills, try out new bikes, and keep the adventure alive. Root for the USA at the upcoming GS Trophy competition or hit the road to a rally. Whatever you pick from their grab bag of options, motorcycles will be front and center. BMW Motorrad GS Trophy…
The Best of the Late Summer Moto Rallies
There’s still time to get in on late summer motorcycle rallies and rides and soak up the remnants of summer sun before the leaves turn golden and the weather cold, and the west has no shortage of great moto events to choose from. Four Corners Motorcycle Rally The Four Corners Motorcycle Rally is scheduled for…