Having spent a fair amount of time in Portugal, I can confidently relate two things about the Portuguese people. Firstly, they are generally wonderful with great humanity, compassion, and culture. Secondly, the Portuguese are incredibly proud of their history, punching far above their weight to become one of the greatest nations of explorers that have…
Triumph Tiger 1200 Updates for 2024
The 2024 Tiger 1200 line received several key updates designed to refine their already capable motorcycles. The new Triumph Tigers are easier to to ride off-road, more comfortable for eating pavement miles, better in the corners, and friendlier to their riders. The bikes in question are the Rally and GT Explorer models, the only two…
BDR NorCal Revealed
BDR NorCal has arrived. This is the news we’ve been waiting for since Backcountry Discovery Routes teased the new route in November 2023. On February 17, 2024, the organization screened the feature-length film for this BDR. The BDR folks also revealed the route on their website, made GPX files available and put maps in the…
Mosko Moto Dusty Lizard Campout Rocks Moab
The Dusty Lizard Campout by Mosko Moto scuttles into Moab, Utah, this April 19-21. It’s time to gear up, set the GPS, and prep your ADV machine for a spring trip to the canyon country. Red rocks, great rides, good food, and loads of fun await attendees at this event. Where? Area-BFE may sound like…
The Highest Road in the World :: Video of the Week
Lead photo by Spenser Robert At 19,300 feet, Umling La is the world’s highest paved road and motorable mountain pass. Located in Ladakh, India, the pass requires a 1,000-mile journey from Delhi, consisting of traffic jams, washed-out roads, and, eventually, the risk of altitude sickness. For Zack Courts and Spurgeon Dunbar of Team CTXP, this…
F Series BMW GS Models for 2024
BMW’s F series adventure bike line features all new machines for 2024. It includes an F 800 GS, F 900 GS, and F 900 Adventure (GSA). They get a new powerplant and a whole lot more. When the F 800 GS debuted in 2018, its lesser sibling was the F 700 GS. They shared the…
CABDR-North Video Released
Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) is about to announce the layout of their latest creation, the Northern California BDR, or CABDR-North. The new route completes a continuous BDR from Mexico to Canada. The reveal happens on Saturday, February 17, when their feature-length film premieres in Sacramento, California. Meantime, whet your curiosity on the trailer. Watch as…
Triumph Scrambler 1200 Models for 2024
Triumph is fielding two Scrambler 1200 models in 2024. The 1200 XE returns with upgrades and the 1200 X debuts as a more accessible model in both cost and ergonomics. The fraternal twins both run Triumph’s 1200cc Bonneville engine in a re-tuned state to deliver maximum power at lower rpm. Its claimed 89 horsepower are…
Wim Dussel’s 1950s Photo Collection Brings Global Scooter Travel To Life
Photography by Wim Dussel (1920-2004), courtesy of the International Institute of Social History Dutch photojournalist Wim Dussel had a gift for capturing the simple moments of everyday life, revealing their true beauty. He gravitated toward markets, schools, streets, and the daily hustle and bustle of work—scenes so ordinary that, as travelers, we often don’t bother…
Taking the Slow Road From Arizona to Oregon
Photos by Eva Rupert and Bill Dragoo Traveling by motorcycle during the summer months is a game of chance for those of us who live in the desert. The days are hot, and the storms seem to come out of nowhere. We plot our routes through the high country whenever possible, pack our rain gear…
Field Tested :: Giant Loop Adventure Gear
Giant Loop has been creating innovative motorcycle luggage since 2008 when they hit the trail with their original horseshoe-shaped bag. Beginning with the Great Basin model, GL has used Rugged Bomb Shell vinyl-coated polyester with great success. The 8-liter Fandango tank bag and Pannier Pockets reviewed here are both constructed from it. As you’ll see,…
790 Adventure Returns to KTM Lineup for 2024
KTM’s 790 Adventure has returned from the grave for 2024, but this is no Zombie-cycle. Changes to several areas breathe new life into the retired machine, improving its overall performance while making it easier to enjoy and easier on the planet. Spoiler: $10,990 buys a lot of motorcycle. KTM Motor Mods Known for its quick…
Backcountry Discovery Routes Teases NorCal BDR
The Southern California Backcountry Discovery Route has a reputation for being one of the most arduous on BDR’s roster. Its 820 miles offer plenty of variable conditions and technical tests to challenge adventure riders from the Mexican border all the way to the central Sierra Nevada. Recently, BDR teased an all-new route for the Golden…
Better Safe Than Sorry: Transitioning Toward Moto Rider Safety
When I began adventuring through some of the 700,000 kilometers of dirt roads in South Africa, it’s safe to say I didn’t have the right kit for the job. Transitioning into dirt riding, I made do with what I had at the time with gear used for my 1994 Harley Dyna. My first true off-road…
Lost in the Pacific with a Motorbike :: Video of the Week
When the road ends in Panama, overland travelers typically work around the conundrum of the Darién Gap by shipping trucks and cars or strapping motos to the deck of sailboats bound for Colombia. Dylan Wickrama, however, had another idea: to build a raft out of his motorcycle and sail 700 kilometers across the Pacific. As…
2024 Stelvio from Moto Guzzi
Stelvio Pass is famous as a challenging Italian road over the Eastern Alps. The 2024 Moto Guzzi Stelvio is a new, tech-laden adventure motorcycle that looks to be an excellent mount for carving the pass’s 48 tight turns and cresting its 9,045-foot summit. It features Guzzi’s latest liquid-cooled 90-degree, transverse V-twin motor, which delivers a…
Touratech Gear for BMW R 1300 GS
Touratech plans to leave no BMW GS undressed. As any GS owner will tell you, the German accessory company has something for everyone. And they just announced 23 accessories for the 2024 R 1300 GS. Some are brand new for this bike or re-configured, some are existing universal items. R 1300 GS Only When BMW…
BDR Special Edition Ducati Desert X Up For Grabs
Win an adventure-ready Ducati DesertX while supporting Backcountry Discovery Routes. This “Cross Continent Special Edition” has been tricked-out by over a dozen accessory companies. Wolfman Motorcycle Luggage, Scotts steering dampers, and Black Dog Cycle Works have all contributed their specialized adventure products to this one-of-a-kind motorcycle. NorCal BDR Beckons This year’s drawing celebrates the upcoming…
Ducati DesertX Rally
Ducati’s DesertX Rally motorcycle is their most hardcore adventure bike yet. With any more capability, it would have to be considered a race machine. Coming on the heels of the 2023 DesertX, the 2024 Rally is a beefed up version of an already capable machine. Desmo Power At the Rally’s heart is the same DVT…
2024 BMW R 1300 GS Debut
BMW’s new R 1300 GS is ready to ride, and there’s no mistaking it with anything else. It may have a few nuts and bolts in common with their previous flagship, the R 1250 GS, but that and the propeller badge would be it. Sleek new looks put it in a class by itself. Christof…