Anytime Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) announces another project, I can’t wait to get on my F 800 GS and go there. So far, I’ve ridden four of the BDR’s 10 routes and hope to add more, including Wyoming, which the BDR team has declared their next project for 2022. Highlights of the WYBDR are three…
Harley Davidson Reveals the Pan America Off-road Bike
When you think of Harley Davison motorcycles, do you imagine mud, sand, and mountain roads? Do you think of straight-lining up a sandy slope, or drifting a dirt corner? No? Well, you should because Harley Davidson just added Adventure Touring to their website, where you’ll find the newly revealed Pan America 1250. If you are…
How Good Are You Really?
Photo: Christina Tkacs It’s been a long day. The sun is sinking low, and camp is still 30 miles away. One rider drags behind, struggling to keep pace. Fortunately, the ride leader is counting heads at every turn, but tension mounts as darkness approaches. If you ride off road, chances are you’ve been “that…
Snow Bikes—Your New Favorite Winter Toy?
Snowbiking is fast attracting the action sports herd with companies like Red Bull holding freeride and moto-cross style events worldwide. Athletes and recreationists alike are only too happy to test the seemingly unlimited possibilities of this rising winter star. So what is a snow bike? Think about a snowmobile and a dirt bike spending a…
Filson Debuts Alcan Moto Collection
A new line of motorcycle apparel has hit the industry, and it’s pretty darn hot. Filson, an established outdoor outfitter since 1897, has launched their first-ever moto collection using toned-down, natural-looking fabrics that blend in well with the outdoors. The Alcan Collection consists of pants and jackets, along with helmets and gloves. You’ll also find…
A Fine Line
Leaving is hell, especially on dreary, dismal days, which only rush the hemorrhaging of bleeding hearts and heighten the tension of departure. “The traveler’s guilty pleasure is staying home,” wrote Paul Theroux, and those words came to me as I stood looking out at the dripping leaves and grey sky of morning. It had been…
The Overland Journal Podcast: Episode 36, The Best Overland Gear of 2020
Join Matt and Scott as they discuss the overland industry challenges and opportunities of 2020, along with their favorite overlanding equipment, 4WDs, and motorcycles.
Overland News of the Week
Mac’s Tie Downs Monkey Face Mac’s Tie Downs’ latest offering is a nifty little device called the Monkey Face, designed to make securing cargo even simpler for folks with stake pockets. The .375-inch laser-cut steel tie-down interface is welded to a .1875-inch square steel tube (which secures in stake pockets with an included linchpin), and…
Ending the Year at the Sabie Bubble Run
For the past six years, South African motorcyclists have been making the annual pilgrimage from Johannesburg to the small town of Sabie for the Sabie Bubble Run, South Africa’s only traditional motorcycle run. The motorcycle run started in 2014 when three friends set out from Johannesburg on their motorcycles for a weekend of riding and…
Field Tested :: Nocs Provisions Standard Issue 8 x 25 Binoculars
Nocs Provisions Standard Issue 8 x 25 Binoculars Fuss and bother are two elements I can live without when it comes to gear, and these binoculars from Nocs Provisions, lovingly conceived in San Francisco’s Citadel of Excitement, fit the bill. First off, they come in a small, recycled cardboard box put together without glue—easy to…
2021 Yokohama Sonora Rally Postponed
The cancellation or postponing of events is common news these days, but organizers are doing what they can to work around COVID-19 restrictions. The 2021 Yokohama Sonora Rally is one of many who have been forced to reschedule. The event, normally scheduled in March, will be moved back to May 9-14. From presenters Method Race…
Riding Full Circle: The U-Turn
A long and unexpected delay during a round-the-world journey
Alloy Versus Spoked Wheels on Motorcycles
Up until the late 1960s, most motorcycles came with wire-spoked wheels. That all changed in the ’70s when one-piece alloy wheels hit the market. Nowadays, you’ll find alloys on the majority of modern motorcycles on the road. So what’s the difference? You’ll always see exceptions, but for the most part, alloys, or cast wheels, will…
Overland News of the Week
Ötzi Adventure Gear Spark Flatpack Portable Grill Bringing the barbecue along on off-road adventures can present a bit of a dilemma if you have limited space. But with Otzi’s flatpack portable grill and 9- by 9-inch footprint (when packed flat), there’s no reason to leave it behind. The Spark is made of precision-cut pieces of…
CAKE Develops New “Kalk AP” Electric Anti-Poaching Bike
Swedish electric dirt bike company CAKE, which is on a mission to bring sustainable electric transportation to the world, has partnered with Goal Zero and the Southern African Wildlife College to take on poachers with their new Kalk AP or “anti-poaching” bush bike. Based on the original Kalk platform, the CAKE product team has collaborated…
Garmin inReach Explorer Satellite Communication
Product Review—Garmin inReach Satellite Communication First off, a disclaimer: my husband and I used Garmin inReach Explorer Satellite Communication during a round-the-world motorcycle trip that lasted 708 days. DeLorme inReach (bought out by Garmin in 2016) gave us two Explorer devices—one we received on loan; the other we paid for at a 50-percent discount. The company…
Long-awaited 2022 KLR650 Motorcycle Released!
Many adventure moto riders will argue a KLR650 is the best choice for a round-the-world motorcycle: you’re likely to find Kawasaki parts in most countries, and few manufacturers can compete with the KLR’s low price. Not that any of us want our round-the-world steeds stolen, but if your KLR is highjacked, you’re only out about…
The Armchair Adventure Festival 2021
For almost a year now, many of us have been dreaming of when or where our next adventure might be. While most of us spend time wondering if we have the money and time to travel, this past year has been different in that respect. Even with money and time, travel itineraries were severely limited…
Sena’s New 3S Plus Boom and 3S Plus Universal Has Arrived
Digital communication for riders is vital. Nothing is worse than hearing “failure to connect” when your riding partner is going down the wrong side of the road in a left-side-drive country. Or when they can’t tell you to merge right in time for the next exit. I know—not everybody likes to fidget with gadgetry on…
Overland Classified :: Vintage 1973 BMW R75/5 Toaster
Vintage 1973 BMW R75/5 Toaster 94,798 miles $6,000 There lives in many a motorcyclist’s heart the desire for a vintage motorcycle, and this impeccable-looking 1973 BMW Toaster looks like a fun, eye-catching town ride! As there aren’t any specs in the ad found here, let’s go over some of the finer points on…