After a long, hard day in the saddle, all we want to do is to pitch our tent within the grassy compound of a random farmyard, but our host is having none of that. “This my house!” says Krystof in broken English, pointing proudly to his nondescript house behind us with a rusted pitchfork. “You…
Get your tickets to THE BIG THING 2026!
Honda XR150L First Ride
The wait is over: Honda’s 2023 XR150L dual-sport motorcycle has hit American shores. Honda introduced the friendly, inexpensive dual-sport at a late-June press launch in Solvang, California. Expedition Portal was there to ride the XR and report on it. Honda Comes Through with the XR150L First announced back in March, this beginner-friendly bike is aimed…
South Dakota’s Black Hills: A Land of History and Heartache
Editor’s Note: This South Dakota article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Small and isolated, South Dakota’s Black Hills seemed the ideal place for a self-imposed writing retreat. I’ve been working on a book for years and hadn’t so much as typed a single letter in the manuscript for over four months. I…
R1250 GS Ultimate Edition
Motorcycles like the BMW R 1250 GS Ultimate Edition only come around every 100 years or so. This year BMW Motorrad marks a century of building motorcycles and chose the R 1250 GS to carry the banner…in the United Kingdom. Sorry Yanks, this beauty is only for those across the pond. We do get two…
Women’s Motorcycle Show Returns June 17
Whack a piñata, play on the Hot Wheels track, or wander through the impressive collection of motorcycle vendors. Where? At the 8th Women’s Motorcycle Show. It returns to Los Angeles in June, bringing a full day of motos, plus live music and plenty to see and do. Though it’s put on by women, for women,…
Field Tested :: Rev’It Storm WB Jacket
A Lightweight Wind Cheater Rev’It pursues new fabrics and clothing technologies like many of us seek the next challenging backroad or stunning campsite. Their Storm WB (for wind barrier) jacket is no exception. Rev’It combines Hydratex WindBarrier fabric for water-resistance, moisture wicking, and breathability, with Exkin Air insulation panels for warmth. Though designed as a…
Honda Trail125 :: New Color, New Engine
Honda continues to reveal new and updated motorcycles for the overlander. Joining the XR150L and CRF300LS models we reported earlier is the popular Trail125. Not only will it show up in a sage-y Pearl Organic Green instead of the classic red, but the 2023 125 sports a new engine. Even easier to ride than the…
Giant Loop 12th Annual Ride, June 1-4
Giant Loop’s annual ride returns for its twelfth year, June 1-4. Join the fun at Crane Hot Springs, Oregon, where Giant Loop has reserved the entire site. There are 600 riders already confirmed to attend. No wonder the Giant Loop Ride has become the largest dual sport and adventure motorcycle rally event in the state,…
Aether Rides Again – 6th Annual Rally May 5-7
Aether is back in Town–Pioneertown, that is–for their 6th annual rally. Within spitting distance of Joshua Tree National Park, the venue offers both motel and camping accommodations in the wide-open spaces. You may have seen last year’s rally on Expedition Portal. Ticket prices include all food, beverages, group rides, sponsor activations, campfires, and other amenities…
Hatfield-McCoy Trails Partners with onX Offroad
OnX Offoad Shows the Way Navigating the Hatfield-McCoy Trail (HMT) System, with its over 1000 miles trails will soon be easier. Navigation app developer onX Offroad and Hatfield-McCoy are partnering up to improve the user experience in the forests of West Virginia. Adding the Hatfield-McCoy to onX Offroad’s 600,000-plus miles of mapping data will improve…
Video of the Week :: Return to Namibia
If you listened to the Overland Journal Podcast recently or saw Joe Fleming’s stunning photo essay from his moto adventure in Southern Africa just a few weeks ago, you probably have a little Africa travel itch you need to scratch. I know I do. It’s almost impossible to take a bad photograph in Namibia, and…
The Cold Start Off-Road Riding Clinic Returns to Baja California This May
Back for its second run, and with a focus on ADV 101 skills, the Cold Start Off-Road Riding Clinic and Culinary Experience will take place from May 5 to 11, 2023, in Baja, California. Leaving from Ensenada, the 5-day ride hugs the coast to San Quintin and includes workshops on packing and planning for a…
The Bubble Run :: South Africa’s Only Traditional Motorcycle Run
If you’ve ever flipped up a kickstand in South Africa, you know it’s one of the absolute best destinations for adventure motorcycling. The diversity of landscapes and scenery, the wildlife, the melting pot of cultures, and especially the riding community make this incredible country at the bottom of the world a must-do on your moto…
Touratech-USA Presents: Riding Solo AZ to BC
Touratech-USA Announces a New Sterling Noren Film Grab some popcorn, get comfortable, and enjoy the ride. Sterling Noren is about to take you to Canada as no one else has. The noted filmmaker and adventure traveler has teamed with Touratech-USA on another off-pavement motorcycle travel film. Riding Solo AZ to BC follows the 2020 release…
Honda Unveils Two New 2023 Dual-Sports
Honda’s dual-sport theme for 2023 appears to be accessibility. They’re showing off two new models with low seat heights to tempt new riders, smaller riders, or those who just like to have their feet flat on the ground. Small, Light, Easy to Ride Honda’s introduction of the new XR150L dual-sport is big news for small…
Overlanding with Pets – An interview with The Pack Track
Riding a motorcycle around the world is thrilling, challenging, and liberating, and you are guaranteed an adventure full of opportunities to venture off the beaten track. Add a partner and three dogs to the mix, and you are guaranteed a journey overflowing with unique experiences. Australian couple Stu and Janell have been riding around the…
Photo Essay :: Riding Through the Land God Made in Anger
The San people of Namibia refer to their homeland as “the land God made in anger.” It is an environment where rains may come only every 20 or 30 years, and temperatures soar in the oldest desert in the world. To some, that may serve as a warning to stay away. For adventure seekers looking…
Sinje Gottwald Completes First Unassisted Electric Motorcycle Crossing of Africa
Traveling 13,000 kilometers from Spain to South Africa, Cake B2B Account Manager Sinje Gottwald has completed the longest-distance ride on an electric motorcycle. Her 124-day journey on the Cake Kalk AP spanned the West Coast of Africa, including through deep sand in Morocco and over muddy and waterlogged jungle tracks in Guinea Bissau. The feat…
KTM 390 Adventure :: 2023 Updates
As the smallest adventure bike in KTM’s lineup you might think the 390 Adventure would get overlooked for updates. No worries–the Austrian company is not one to let a design, or a look, get stale. Unlike with the 890 Adventure, KTM hasn’t pulled out the stops for upgrades, but have paid enough attention to the…
KLIM 2023 Gear :: Badlands Returns
KLIM’s 2023 launch of high-end riding gear begins with new garments, continues with new helmets and goggles, and includes updated designs for existing lines. Badlands Merits Top Protection Rating Of all their new and improved gear, KLIM is proudest of their Badlands Pro A3 jacket (from $1455) and pant (from $942), the only AAA CE-rated…