Lessons are often learned the hard way, which, in my case, includes screwing up, getting stuck, carjacked, impounded, detained, delayed, and generally mired in the throes of adventure. Even the worst scenarios had a silver lining (maybe not the carjacking) as my awareness grew, and I adjusted my traveling operating system. During my travels, I…
The Noobs Rally 2024: Uniting at the Ultimate Adventure for Rookie Riders
Images: Finn Joseph, Jason Spafford, and Joel Paez Venturing into the heart of Death Valley’s Panamint Springs, the beginner-friendly Noobs Rally from March 20 to 24 welcomed a diverse crowd of dual-sport, dirt-riding, and adventure enthusiasts for fun-forging camaraderie and skill-building. Hosted annually by Joel Paez (NSFW), the community gathering marked its 17th year in “denoobing less…
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…
Iraqi Escapade
Photography by Kira Hak On a cool January night, we sat tucked into a small shelter made of piled stones and tried to warm ourselves beside a stubborn fire. This part was supposed to be the relaxing bit after a long day’s ride. Dinner was almost ready when an odd flashlight pattern was revealed in…
ADV Moto Tires :: Ridden and Reviewed – UPDATED
Real World ADV Tire Ratings Editor’s note: this article was updated on April 23, 2024 to include Motoz tires. Choosing the right ADV tires for an adventure ride is a crap shoot unless you know the exact conditions you’ll encounter. Do you start with an aggressive tread and leave half of it on the highway…
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…
Overland News of the Week
Pol Tarrés Sets Motorcycle World Altitude Record In this week’s, Overland News of the Week, we celebrate Pol Tarrés’ most recent accomplishment. Two years after making history and setting an altitude world record on a Yamaha Ténéré 700, Pol Tarrés recently revisited Chile, surpassing his achievement. Not only did he break his previous record, but…
e-Bike Buyers Guide
The electric bike, or e-bike as it is commonly called, is a relatively new concept for most consumers; however, a rudimentary design of the electric bike was first patented as early as 1895 by American inventor Ogden Bolton Jr. For many years, there were several attempts to market the electric bike, but only in the…
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Spring
Lead photo courtesy of Weird Wild West SOUTHWEST USA Adventure Van Expo When: April 13-24, 2024 Where: Scottsdale, Arizona The Adventure Van Expo series returns for 2024 with a packed schedule of events, including the first of the season in Scottsdale, Arizona. Lively music, food trucks, vendors, and camping converge in this all-ages celebration of…
Field Tested :: AltRider T7 Center Stand and Crash Bars
AltRider Center Stand AltRider’s motto could easily be, “find a need and fill it.” From a Ténéré 700 perspective, they’ve created better crash bars, an adjustable kick stand, three-position lowering links, and several other key items. Their latest effort for the Ténéré is an all-aluminum center stand. The OEM stand on my T7 is fully…
Small Bike Adventure Tour – Part 2
Back in the Saddle (continued from Part 1) A locally sourced breakfast at the Cuyama Buckhorn prepped us for a long day in the saddle. Back on 166, we made tracks for Cerro Noroeste Road to start a 2,000-foot climb to the enclave of Pine Mountain Club. The small bikes were willing, but taxed. With…
Small Bike Adventure Tour – Part 1
Small bike adventure touring may sound cringeworthy to some riders, but that’s how I began exploring the backcountry while in high school. Schlepping my camping gear in a Kelty frame pack was an adventure in itself. Many years and miles later, and with Honda’s XR150L test bike in my garage, I was curious to see…
Unparalleled Connectivity with the Cardo PackTalk Edge :: Field Tested
Kick-starting a journey through the wild terrains of the States demands more than two trusty bikes; as a full-time rider couple, we call for seamless contact. That’s where the Cardo PackTalk Edge slots in. Installing the units and pairing them to our devices was straightforward, and the slim, rugged, and waterproof design has a stack…
Ride That Monkey :: One Young Man’s RTW Journey on a Mini Moto
Having spent a fair amount of time in Portugal, I can confidently relate two things about the Portuguese people. Firstly, they are generally wonderful with great humanity, compassion, and culture. Secondly, the Portuguese are incredibly proud of their history, punching far above their weight to become one of the greatest nations of explorers that have…
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…