Triumph Motorcycles has launched a new “Riding Essentials” line to keep riders safe and dry. Their new packable gear helps you be seen while riding during these darker, wetter months. The primary focus for the Riding Essentials line design was to have the gear accessible to the rider. Items can be stored within reach at…
Klim—New and Redesigned Women’s Motorcycle Jackets
The female rider is no stranger to the difficulties of finding woman-designed motorcycle apparel. I’m always excited to see the industry is realizing the need for gear tailored to the female form, and Klim is one such manufacturer recognizing that need (though the jackets still focus on street riders, and not the ADV/off-roading ladies, but,…
Overland News of the Week
GoSun Brew If you think there are too many coffee gadgets available to us caffeine-loving, shaky-handed, hot-drink enthusiasts, I hate to break it to you, but you’re wrong. There are never enough coffee gadgets (wink, wink). And if you are one of those folks who like to brew coffee on the go, then say hello…
Riding Solo Episodes by Sterling Noren
Sterling Noren, adventure travel filmmaker, set off in July of 2020 on a BMW GS, riding solo throughout the western US. His 6,000-mile, 30-day journey is available for viewing on the Motorcycle Travel Channel. The Riding Solo series captures the widespread, stark beauty still prevalent in the US, even while it seems these places are…
Ensure Valuable Items are Theftproof On Your Motorcycle
When my husband, Dave, and I were planning our round-the-world trip, one of our biggest conundrums was how to ensure our valuable items were theftproof on our motorcycles when we weren’t there. Helmets, riding jackets, tank bags—we didn’t want to walk around with that stuff all day. For solo travelers, it’s even harder; they don’t…
Be Seen In These Darker Months, Day And Night
Sometimes we have to—or even want to—ride in the dark or at other low-light times of the day, which makes it hard to be seen. What can we do about it? Light up that machine! Before we get into some tips for being seen better while riding, let’s first look at some free or low-cost…
Mystic Myanmar on Dirt Bikes
To live in South Africa as an adventure biker has many advantages. It is a great place to get your motorcycle fitted out with state-of-the-art equipment, as well as a great starting point for an expedition to some of the wildest and most beautiful countries in Africa, such as Botswana, Zambia, Namibia, Tanzania, and Rwanda….
We Test the New V2 Bivy Stick Blue
Communication is one of the cornerstones of backcountry travel, as the ability to advise family and friends of our progress, call for assistance, or make an SOS during an emergency all helps provide us with confidence to travel further afield. During my travels in Southern Africa, it was helpful to know that the Bivy was…
New Gear and Firmware Updates from Sena
Sena Technologies has been in operation since 1998 and their communication devices are regarded as some of the best on the market for motorcycling (or any sport requiring a helmet with integrated communication). Perhaps it’s their approach to product design that has grown them such a loyal following. “We boldly lay our visions on the…
Rev’it Women’s Fullseason Riding Suit
One challenge I had as I prepped for a round-the-world motorcycle trip was deciding what riding suit to wear. Two suits—one for hot weather, one for cold—would have been ideal but was cost and space prohibitive. I liked the Rev’it options and bought the Sand jacket (the current model is called the Sand Urban jacket)…
Yakima Acquires Road Shower
As further evidence of the rapidly growing overland market, we are seeing larger (quality) camping and automotive brands acquire products that were niche just a few years ago. What better to pair with your roof tent and roof rack then a solar shower system? I have used the Road Showers in the field and they…
Classic Kit: The Motorcycle Jacket
From Lucky Lindy to James Dean, the motorcycle jacket is the hallmark of adventure.
Sena Momentum Bluetooth Helmet
The world’s first active noise control helmet.
The British Touring Jacket You’ve Always Wanted
I’ve wanted a Belstaff Tourist Trophy motorcycle jacket for a while. That classic, British, belt-waisted jacket made famous by just about every American actor who’s thrown a leg over a motorcycle. Most notably, Mr. McQueen (see: here). My good friend Andy has one, something he scored from a smelly thrift shop in the Pacific Northwest….
Field Tested: Klim Artemis
With an improving industry standard in women’s motorcycle apparel, I was excited when the senior product developer at Klim asked me to scrutinize a two-piece set of their latest offering for women, made by women, the Artemis. As a full-time location independent rider, I require a suit that employs excellent protection and day-long comfort in the saddle…
Triumph Tiger 1200 XCA Review
Review of the All-New 1200 Tiger XCA for Overland Travel For 2018, Triumph has freshened their lineup to reduce weight and improve trail performance for both Tiger models, with the most significant capability changes coming to the 1200. The Tiger lineup has traditionally been a 60/40 offering with a bias toward upright touring. However, the…
Field Tested: Speedway 50-liter Hybrid
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal, Summer 2018. Perfecting the duffle bag has long been the quest of purveyors of outdoor equipment. It must not only protect our clothes and a medley of gear, but also be durable enough to survive the rigors of real-world travel. During the past few decades, we’ve tasked…
Adventure Photographer: The Tank-Mounted Camera Bag
As a motorcyclist and photographer, I’ve often struggled with how to best carry my camera on the bike. For years I just plopped my DSLR into a tank bag but the constant vibrations resulted in the early demise of one lens and eventually a nice camera body. The most protective approach has been a tail-mounted…
Field Tested: Held Carese II Jacket, Torno II Pants
Whether you’ve come across Held or not, this German manufacturer has been in its stride for over 70 years, starting out as glove makers. Being one of the first to offer up textile motorcycle apparel back in 1991, the Held Carese II jacket and Torno II pants go all out to harness the latest fabric…
Ground Control to Major Tom: Sena 10U Helmet Communicator
For the sake of full disclosure, I am a bit late with this product review as the Sena 10U system has been available for the last year. I was so happy with my Sena 20S units that it took a new helmet to compel me to upgrade, but I’m glad I made the leap. The…