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…
Dumb or Dumber? A Half-Life Man Learns to Ride
(Great Falls, Montana)—My home state of Montana is famous for its instantly recognizable landmarks and unique history. From the rapidly disappearing glaciers of Glacier National Park (see them while you still can!) to the Little Bighorn Battlefield, where a confederation of Plains Indians routed a hapless group of US Army soldiers led by an overconfident…
Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway
Editor’s Note: Colorado’s Million Dollar Highway was originally published in Overland Journal’s Fall 2023 Issue. They say the Million Dollar Highway begins and ends between the Colorado mountain towns of Silverton and Ouray, but traverse it, and you’ll also discover a plethora of dirt road hideaways laced with abundant scenery, lakes and streams, ample camping…
Grandriders Circumnavigate Taiwan by Motorcycle :: Video of the Week
In Go Grandriders, 17 senior citizens embark on a 13-day, 1,178-kilometer ride by 125cc scooters and small motorcycles around Taiwan. With an average age of 81, the octogenarians take to one of Taiwan’s most dangerous roads: the Su-Hua Highway. Weaving amongst roaring cargo trucks and behind packed tour buses, the group enjoys lush cliffside scenery…
Ural Gear Up Expedition :: New for 2023
Ural, king of the 2WD sidecar motorcycles, announces their top tier Gear Up Expedition model. The company modestly calls it “a fully equipped, go anywhere, do anything machine that can tackle nearly any situation on or off the road.” The Better Equipped Ural The Expedition comes straight from the factory with everything a rider and…
BMW Motorrad Days Americas
BMW will host the first BMW Motorrad Days Americas during the Barber Vintage Festival in Leeds, Alabama, from October 6-8 this year. Join them to celebrate BMW’s first century of motorcycle manufacturing. BMW Centenary It’s been a 101 years since BMW chief designer Max Friz put the first full-scale BMW motorcycle on the drawing board….
AltRider ADV Moto Products :: Field Tested
AltRider produces a wide range of rugged adventure bike accessories. Reviewed below are three of their products that I’ve tested on my Yamaha Ténéré 700. I chose them because they solve real-world problems for adventure enthusiasts, and are available for several other motorcycles. My T7 also wears AltRider’s crash bars, which Heather Lea highlighted in…
Dusty Lizard Campout by Mosko Moto
Mosko Moto is calling all Reptilian riders to meet at their Dusty Lizard Campout Event near Park City, Utah. Bring your own dust and eat plenty more while riding a planned Adventure or Dualsport route, or create your own ride. Where and When The Mosko event site is 17 miles east of Park City in…
Triumph Tiger 900 Aragón Editions
Triumph is offering two special Tiger 900 Aragón editions to commemorate Iván Cervantes’ decisive victory at the 2022 Baja Aragón race. Cervantes won the Trail category of the 280-mile contest by over an hour on a Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Proven Triumph Performance The Trail and Maxi-Trail categories at the Baja Aragón were created in…