“Royal Enfield calling Honda. We thought you should know that we’ve just released U.S. pricing for the 2025 Himalayan 450. Our new ABS-equipped single will retail for $5799, $700 less than your CRF300L Rally with ABS. How do you feel about that?” “Hello, Enfield. Honda here. Sure, our 286cc single doesn’t have the horsepower or…
Feralosophy: A Ladies-Only Overlanding Experience is Coming This October
(feral-os-o-phy) (noun): In a wild state, especially after escape from captivity or domestication. Belief or doctrine. The Ozarks regularly appear on Expedition Portal and in Overland Journal for good reason. Overlanders frequent the forested mountains that stretch across five states, taking in springs, rushing waterfalls, lakes, caverns, and other karstic landforms. Add some off-pavement trails,…
Ducati DesertX Discovery Adventure Tourer
With the debut of the DesertX Discovery, Ducati acknowledges the difference between adventure riding and adventure touring. The former being a hurried transit through natural surroundings, the latter a measured journey to explore and enjoy nature. Though the heart of the original DesertX beats beneath its red and black livery, the Discovery provides creature comforts,…
BMW GS Trophy 2024 Goes to Namibia
The eighth running of the BMW International GS Trophy event takes place in Namibia this fall, with the riders aboard special R 1300 GS machines. BMW Motorrad is adding a host of extras to their R 1300 Style GS Trophy model, starting with the optional Enduro Package. The competitors will enjoy handguard extensions, handlebar risers,…
California-North BDR Film Goes Public
The CABDR-North (aka NorCal) BDR film, now available on YouTube, provides an end-to-end overview of the 13th BDR route created by Backcountry Discovery Routes. Like previous BDR films, this one gets down and dirty while also highlighting amazing scenery and seductive backroads. It also delves into the history and struggles of early settlers and shows…
New AdventureTracker Class to Race in Sturgis
There’s a new race in town. The AdventureTracker class from American Flat Track (AFT) debuts at the inaugural Sturgis TT on August 11, 2024. AMA Pro Racing recently announced the governing rules for Adventure machines. Production-based bikes with minimal modifications will be screaming through Sturgis in this first of its kind race. Will Your Bike…
Cross Country on E-Bike via 1903 Motorcycle Route
Riding cross-country on an electric bicycle sounds like quite an adventure, and it would be if you weren’t Jack Smith. After all, he’s done that trip numerous times. His first crossing was in 1976, on a skateboard and accompanied by two friends. “Wow”, you might say, until you hear that he did that three more…
Yamaha Volunteers Protect Public Lands
Yamaha takes seriously their responsibility to inform all motorized recreational vehicle (MRV) users of where they are welcome to ride, and where they aren’t. In doing so, they partner with non-profit organizations to prevent and mitigate damage to public lands. The company’s goal is to keep those lands accessible. Yamaha Heads to the Hills Yamaha’s…
Overland News of the Week
Storyteller Overland Acquires Taxa Outdoors In this week’s overland news, adventure lifestyle and adventure van manufacturer Storyteller Overland has acquired camping habitat and overlanding utility trailer brand Taxa Outdoors. Entrepreneur and former Global Brand President for Harley-Davidson Neil Grimmer will serve as the chief strategy officer of Storyteller Overland and CEO at Taxa. “With the…
Visit the Expedition Portal and Overland Journal Team at Overland Expo West 2024
Overland Expo certainly has come a long way since the event’s humble beginnings, with events hosted nationally, namely Overland Expo West, Pacific Northwest, Mountain West, and East. Overland Expo West is closest to home for most of the nomadic Overland International (Expedition Portal and Overland Journal) team, and we have a soft spot for the…
Honda NX650 Build, Italian Style
The Honda NX650 Dominator found a lukewarm reception in the U.S. and was discontinued here after just two years. Perhaps we just didn’t understand the appeal of the streety dual-sport. Across the pond the NX lasted 13 years and was deemed a sturdy machine for commuting and the occasional foray on country roads. Its reasonable…
Honda Reshuffles Its Adventure Lineup with the NX500
Honda is shaking up its adventure bike line with the introduction of the NX500—a mild update and rebrand for the long-standing CB500X. A promised reduction in weight, as well as claimed improvements to the chassis, suspension, engine, and electronics, should contribute to an improved on- and off-road package for the middle-weight moto. The NX500 is…
Yamaha Funds Public Lands Education
Yamaha’s Outdoor Access Initiative (Yamaha OAI) arm will be the exclusive motorized recreation sponsor of the outdoor recreation exhibit at the National Conservation Legacy Center (NCLC). The Center is part of the National Museum of Forest Service History (Museum), located in Missoula Montana. Yamaha OAI’s grant will help build a display highlighting the many ways…
Triumph 400 Singles for 2024
Triumph’s new 400 singles are ready to duke it out in the light-middleweight market. Sized right to encourage new riders and large enough to cross the continent, they’re also priced to be tempting. Very tempting: the Speed 400 roadster starts at $4995.00, with the dirt-ready Scrambler 400 X fetching $5595.00. Others in the 400cc arena…
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…
Harley-Davidson Pan America CVO Debuts for 2024
Harley-Davidson finds itself at yet another crossroads. Riding the first car on a perpetual financial roller coaster, H-D, through its own machinations as well as factors beyond its immediate control, always seems to be scrabbling for cash and grasping at an ever-diminishing market share. There’s no denying that in the abstract, the brand has staying…
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…
Overland News of the Week
Overland News: Guzzle Introduces 4-inch Stealth Flex Twist UV Water Filter We all love maximizing every inch of space in an overland vehicle, so products that are small but mighty are always a win. Offering the thinnest footprint in Guzzle’s Stealth point-of-use series, the Flex Twist takes up mere inches of space behind drawers or…
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…
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…