Riding a motorcycle on a curated route for a few hours, as I did recently at the 2023 Honda XR150L launch, is an exciting introduction to a machine. Having one in your own garage is motorcycle heaven. Suddenly that run to the store requires a detour over a favorite twisty road—for the fourth time that…
KTM Adventure Rider Rally Arizona
KTM brings their 18th Annual Adventure Rider Rally to Page, Arizona, from October 13-15, 2023. Holding it near the Arizona Strip allows riders to choose from routes in both Northern Arizona and Southern Utah. Rally headquarters will be at the Lake Powell Resort in Page. Getting Started Pre-ride activities will start on October 12. KTM…
Threedom – Creating Cultural Connections from Ireland to India
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…
Overland News of the Week
Helinox HDB Collection If you’re looking for stylish and luxurious packable furniture for your outdoor adventure, then take a peek at the HDB Collection. A variety of chairs, chef tables, and high cots will ensure a comfortable vacation when camping, glamping, or some time away at the vacation home. The HDB Collection is comprised of…
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…
Unbreakable: Vasilisa Komarova’s Six-Year Journey to Justice
Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in Overland Journal’s Spring 2023 Issue. Illustrations by Wayne Watford. Editor’s Note: This article contains mature content that may be considered disturbing, particularly to victims of sexual assault or minors. Seven years ago, I was dispatched to London to deliver an enrichment program at the Apple Store in Covent Garden….
The “Goose” All-In-One Motorcycle Camping System is Trail and Road Ready
Fresh out of high school, I bought a Yamaha XS 1100 Special and hit the road in every direction as often as possible from my dull, mining company hometown. I soon learned that good gear made the difference between a good ride and a great ride, and had the bike not been stolen and had…
Ural Upgrades Gear Up Engine and Drivetrain for 2023
In the motorcycle world, there’s nothing quite like the Ural Gear Up. The Russian three-wheeled, side-car-ed, two-wheel drive ADV anarchist has soldiered across the globe through peacetime and wars both hot and cold since 1941, and very little about the bike has changed in the interim. But big shifts have been afoot at Ural. Currently…
Overland News of the Week
Danner Announces First Modern, Recraftable Hiking Boot First up in this week’s overland news is the Mountain 600 Leaf GTX which represents “a step forward in Danner’s mission to combine outdoor performance with a reduced carbon footprint.” The boot is available for both men and women and can be resoled and reconditioned via Danner’s Recrafting…
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…
Overland Expo PNW—July 7-9, 2023
I’ve always considered Oregon—especially the Eastern desert regions—to be an overlooked and underrated overlanding destination. Like all Western states, Oregon contains a huge variety of landscapes, and they belie the rain- and IPA-soaked Portlandia stereotypes. Nearly 53% of the state is public land, and there are many miles of dirt to explore, from Arch Rock…
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…
Outdoor Adventure X: A Mountain Festival Tailored for the Adventurer, June 17-18, 2023
We often encourage overland travelers to travel with a purpose, and what better purpose could there be than to turn to adventure to explore the great outdoors? The famed Snowbasin Resort in Huntsville, Utah, is set to be the stunning alpine location for Overland Expo’s cousin event, namely, the Outdoor Adventure X festival. This festival…
Honda Will Sell the Transalp Adventure Bike in America
The mid-size adventure motorcycle market has seen quite a few entrants in recent years, with welter-weight ADV bikes from nearly all the major manufacturers (and most of the small ones) available, save for one. That may be changing as it appears Honda will offer its XL750 Transalp adventure bike for sale in the US. Currently…
New Honda SCL500 Scrambler
With the new SCL500 Honda has found yet another home for its 471cc parallel-twin four-stroke, the motor that powers their Rebel 500, CB500X, CB500F and CBR500R models. This time it’s another take on the scrambler style so popular in the 70s and 80s. For those who aren’t familiar, scramblers are street motorcycles that have off-pavement…
VAHNA Motorcycle Film Festival – Submissions Now Open
VAHNA, a lushly illustrated and beautifully written print magazine that features motorcycle stories from all over the globe, has announced that submissions are open for the 2023 VAHNA Motorcycle Film Festival and competition presented by Triumph Motorcycles. The festival tour “[celebrates] the art of motorcycle cinematography [and] offers filmmakers a platform to showcase their unique…
Overland Expo West 2023—Top Gear
With hundreds of exhibitors setting up shop at Overland Expo West—by far the largest overland event in North America—the wave of products, gear, and upgrades, both well-proven and brand new, takes center stage. Many of us from the Overland Journal and Expedition Portal teams spent hours hiking the aisles of Expo’s vendor village, and we…
Overland Expo West 2023—Top Ten Rigs
April showers bring May rigs; at least, that’s how it works at Overland Expo West in Flagstaff, Arizona. The annual global overland event wrapped up last weekend, and owners and exhibitors of all stripes brought out the newest and most impressive hardware on the road. Two wheels or four, there’s something for everyone—from giant, world-trekking…
Overland Events and Rallies You Don’t Want to Miss This Summer
AMERICAN NORTHWEST Northwest Overland Rally When: June 15-18, 2023 Where: Leavenworth, WA The Northwest Overland Rally caters to keeners curious about anything from winching to photography, off-pavement driving skills, or seasoning your cast-iron pot. Join a wine-tasting, whiskey-sharing, or happy hour session before the evening’s lively campfire presentation and raffle. The event is intimate and…
Triumph Tiger Ultimate Overland Motorcycle 2023 Unveiled at Overland Expo West
Prepare yourselves bikers, Overland Expo has unveiled its highly anticipated Ultimate Overland Motorcycle 2023 at Overland Expo West, and it is a drool-worthy machine fully prepared for an RTW adventure. Based on the Triumph Tiger 1200 Rally Pro, the custom-built motorcycle was built to represent the pinnacle of overland adventure and incorporates components from top…