Photography by Kira Hak To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2026 issue, this article is part of that celebration. Calm, steady breaths accompanied my evening survey as I looked out at a vast…
Category Archives: Motorcycle
Off the Map: Essential Paper Maps for Overlanding
My first proper job in the mid-1990s was as a salesperson working out of a major city. Prospective clients were scattered across the urban center, the surrounding suburbs, and as far as the platinum-rich west, often a half-day’s drive away. Each morning began with cold calls and confirmed appointments, followed by time spent at my…
Clean, Safe Water: Filters and Purifiers for Overland Travel
Photography by Brian Slobe To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2009 issue, this article is part of that celebration. “Filthy water cannot be washed.” –West African proverb While the proverb’s lesson probably had…
Kawasaki Announces 2027 KLE650 ABS, Starting at $8,799
Recently, we reported on Kawasaki’s 2027 KLR650 ABS, a motorcycle with a long history of global adventure travel and a dedicated following. Now Kawasaki has announced the 2027 KLE650 ABS and KLE650 SE ABS, introducing a 649 cc parallel-twin adventure motorcycle with standard electronic cruise control, traction control, and selectable ABS. Compared with the enduring…
Testing the Ice: A Moto-adventuring Trio and a 1993 Ural Sidecar Take on the Arctic
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2015 issue, this article is part of that celebration. There are two basic prerequisites for a motorbike trip: a motorbike and the ability to ride one. We…
Exploring the North Rim’s Back Roads on a Royal Enfield
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Gear 2011 issue, this article is part of that celebration. “On that?” The ranger in the North Rim Ranger Station stopped filling in my backcountry camping permit and…
Triumph’s Big ADV Bikes Get Big Upgrades :: Tiger 1200 Preview
Triumph’s flagship ADV mount, the venerable Tiger, has sometimes lagged behind some of its competition from BMW and Ducati in the technology and amenities department: No longer. Triumph has announced the 2027 launch of its fully redesigned Tiger 1200 lineup, including four sub-models: the GT Pro, the Rally Pro, the GT Explorer, and the Rally…
The Omidvar Brothers: Iranian Overlanding Pioneers Who Circled the Globe
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Summer 2015 issue, this article is part of that celebration. We have celebrated many overlanding pioneers and the significant treks they have accomplished: Robert Fulton Jr., Theresa Wallach,…
Overland News of the Week, October 23, 2026
Jeep Named Official 4×4 of Moab Jeep and the City of Moab have announced a two-year partnership covering trail stewardship, community funding, and local events. Approved by Moab City Council and beginning in October 2026, the agreement names Jeep the city’s Official 4×4. Jeep will provide annual funding, sponsor events, and support trail maintenance intended…
Classic Kit: The Brunton Pocket Transit
To honor the 20-year anniversary of Overland Journal, we are revisiting special heritage content in the upcoming 100th issue of the magazine. Originally published in Overland Journal’s Winter 2009 issue, this article is part of that celebration. It is well to observe the force and virtue and consequences of discoveries; and these are to be…
Kawasaki Adds $7,699 KLR650 DF ABS to Its 2027 Adventure Lineup
The Kawasaki KLR is, in the world of adventure vehicles, akin to the classic Land Rover Defender: widely loved, capable, simple, and iconic. Kawasaki seems to take an “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” approach to the KLR, and the latest addition follows that philosophy. The company has expanded its 2027 KLR650 lineup with…
Field Tested: Gnara x Livsn EcoTrek Overalls
The Gnara x Livsn EcoTrek Overalls are one of those rare pieces of outdoor clothing that feel genuinely designed for women who actually spend time outside. For a pair of technical, utilitarian overalls, they’re surprisingly comfortable, and I wear mine constantly, much to my husband’s disdain. He says I always look comfortable, but also like…
2027 BMW F 450 GS Brings Twin-cylinder Adventure Riding to a $6,995 Platform
BMW Motorrad has confirmed US pricing and launch timing for the 2027 F 450 GS, with dealer arrivals expected in the first quarter of 2027. Starting at $6,995 before destination charges, the 420 cc parallel-twin brings a smaller-displacement option to the GS family while retaining electronic rider aids and equipment associated with BMW’s larger adventure…
Overland News of the Week, October 9, 2026
Vintage Rides Iron Horse Nomad Trails Documentary Film Coming Soon Each year, Vintage Rides brings the vision of motorcycle travel to life by producing an original documentary film centered on heartfelt stories of adventure. In the latest edition (launching October 15), Vintage Rides tour leader Johann Rousselot arrives in Kyrgyzstan and sets off alone on…
EP326 | From India to Australia (and Beyond) with Moto Trailblazer Candida Louis
Overland Journal Podcast host Ashley Giordano speaks with Candida Louis, an adventure tourer, motorcycle guide, and the first Indian woman to ride solo across all 28 states of India and from India to Australia. Louis shares how she transitioned from finance to professional riding, leading 57 tours. She discusses completing a 32,000-kilometer solo journey across…
Shopping With Purpose: Practical Tips for Finding Meaningful Travel Mementos
Photos by Richard Giordano All I wanted was a pack of Japanese sheet masks. A seemingly simple task, but as I entered Don Quijote’s brightly lit shopfront, welcomed by the store’s familiar jingle, I was met by the crush of people akin to the nearby Shibuya Scramble Crossing. Shoulder to shoulder with my fellow shoppers,…
EP325 | Principles of Overlanding: App Navigation with Chris Cordes
Overland Journal Podcast host Scott Brady discusses the core principles of overlanding navigation with Chris Cordes, highlighting primary, secondary, contingency, and emergency backups. They compare three main app categories: turn-by-turn tools like Google Maps, reference/layer apps like iOverlander and Tracks4Africa, and hybrid discipline-specific platforms such as onX and Gaia. While Google excels at everyday routing…
Gear Callout: Laundry at Camp
I haven’t owned a washing machine since 2018, when we sold our first house on wheels, a 40-foot diesel motorhome. Through the intervening years, as my family’s movable homes have shrunk in size, my appreciation for modern appliances has deepened. Some days at camp, when I’m playing catch-up, I relate to Mary Lois Walker Morris,…
10 Things to Know About Overlanding Mongolia
Photography by Richard Giordano Summer is an exciting time in Mongolia. City dwellers flock to the countryside to enjoy the annual Naadam Festival, a celebration centered around wrestling, horse racing, and archery competitions. Nomads move to their summer gers (yurts), where green grass and warmer temperatures are enjoyed by multi-generational families and their meandering livestock….
2027 KTM 690 Rally Brings Rally-Raid Design to a Long-distance Adventure Platform
KTM has introduced the 2027 KTM 690 Rally, a single-cylinder adventure motorcycle developed for long-distance travel and technical off-road riding. Drawing visual and functional inspiration from the company’s rally-raid competition machines, the 690 Rally combines substantial fuel capacity, adjustable suspension, off-road electronics, and narrow bodywork intended to improve rider control. However, questions remain about how…