Setting your motorcycle suspension sag is crucial for your bike's handling and safety, not just to keep your tires in contact with the ground or to compensate for added weight. Renowned adventure rider Chris Birch highlights the importance of getting this adjustment right. Traditionally, measuring sag has been tedious, often resulting in incorrect …

On this episode of DEEP TROUBLE, Griffin Jory is on a multi-day ride with friends in the mountains when he decides to go on a solo day ride that should see him back at camp in time for dinner. However, as the sun sets and the stars come out, Griffin is exhausted and can hardly think straight. He finds himself alone in the wilderness, in a place whe…

Determining the best line for climbing a hill and figuring out how fast is fast enough can be difficult. Understanding when to ease off the throttle and knowing what to do if the climb cannot be completed is crucial. Riders of heavy adventure motorcycles may question whether it is worth attempting the hill at all. This week, our exclusive RIDER SKI…

At 31 years old, Annette Birkmann left her career as a lawyer in Denmark, sold all her possessions, and set off to pursue her lifelong dream of riding a motorcycle. When she arrived in Buenos Aires, Argentina she bought her first bike and spent eight months working in a motorcycle workshop. She then headed out on a solo year-long journey across the…

The Darien Gap is one of the most dangerous routes in the Americas. It’s a remote, lawless expanse of mountainous rainforest that spans Colombia and Panama. After Jess and Greg Stone from Go Ruffly finished training their new puppy, Whimsy, to ride on a motorcycle, they headed 20,000 km south, shipped their bikes from Panama and endured a gruelling…

Agnieszka (Aga) Macura and Yan Giovannoni come from widely different backgrounds. Yet, both were fortunate to grow up in families passionate about travel, instilling a love for exploration from an early age. They met while travelling and have since learned and adapted many things, most notably their motorcycle choices, starting with larger bikes an…

On this episode of DEEP TROUBLE a border crossing gone wrong - leading to a whirlwind of trouble and deceit caught up in an organized criminal ring at the border in Panama. What went wrong, and how they were forced into a hasty escape to save themselves. Photos and links related to this episode can be found in the show notes. Adventure Rider Radio …

This segment of Rider Skills could arguably be one of the most important riding skills you’ll ever learn, yet it’s fairly easy to master and comes with massive benefits. In about an hour, if done correctly, you’ll notice huge improvements in your ability to maneuver and control your motorcycle both on and off-road at slow speeds. Whether it's in a …

Michnus and Elsebie Olivier have been travelling for 14 years, riding their DR650’s across many miles, spending countless nights under unfamiliar skies and crossing numerous borders. Their journey has taught them invaluable lessons and continues to reshape their worldview. It has fostered a deeper appreciation for diverse cultures and landscapes an…

Tracy Charles had planned to work until retirement, purchase a Winnebago, and travel across North America with her husband. However, tragedy struck, altering her course. She soon found herself riding a motorcycle solo on an open journey around the world. It was during this adventure that she encountered a dog that made it clear to Tracy that they w…

Understanding the underlying reasons for why we perform certain actions is crucial in building a strong skill set. When you know the ‘why’, you won't need to rely on remembering the steps because they will become obvious. When riding a motorcycle, there's often no time to remember to think about each skill. In this episode of Rider Skills with Clin…

In this exclusive episode of DEEP TROUBLE, Rhett Halpin from Yakima, Washington, and his friends were out for just a few-hour ride when a decision to check out an unknown trail quickly traps them into a race against the clock. TRAIL TECH: Spencer Hill serves as the marketing manager for Trail Tech. He’s an expert on GPS devices, especially the Voya…

Travis and Chantil Gill have been travelling full-time on two motorcycles for over four years and plan to continue for the foreseeable future. Their journey wasn't a last-minute decision, they had been planning it for years. Over that time, they developed unique methods to save money while still having fun and raising a family. Their goal was to ex…

Tom Gould and Lauren Board are each riding 125cc Honda motorcycles on a trip from the UK to Cape Town, South Africa without a definite deadline. Their trip is loosely planned, it is their first major expedition, and they have already faced numerous challenges. When our host, Jim Martin, spoke with them, they were nursing hundreds of insect bites an…

Specialized safety gear, like Leatt's ADV-specific equipment, is vital for adventure riders tackling diverse terrains and weather conditions. These riders face unique challenges, from rocky trails to long hours in varied climates. As adventure riding grows in popularity, it's crucial to understand the specific safety needs of this community. ADV ri…

Clinton Smout from SMART Adventures returns to ARR’s exclusive Rider Skills to talk about one of the most feared riding conditions we encounter on the street, especially for street riders - gravel. He talks about why gravel is feared, if it should be and what you can do about it to make riding gravel easy and even fun. Photos and links related to t…

In this episode of DEEP TROUBLE, a group of riders set off to the Cross Pennsylvania Adventure Trail expecting a fun and relatively easy ride. As they start their journey, they are surprised by the beautiful scenery, interesting attractions, and the remoteness they experience while riding through miles of game trails. Everything seems perfect until…

Ted Simon is a well-known figure in the adventure motorcycle travel community. He rode his motorcycle around the world in the early 1970s, documenting his journey for a newspaper and later writing the book Jupiter’s Travels. The book became hugely popular and is still selling briskly almost five decades later. Ted recently turned 93 years old, and …

The topic of large and small adventure motorcycles is often approached with a "large vs small" angle, as if there is a definitive answer to the question of which is better. However, just as there is no one-size-fits-all solution for footwear, there is no perfect bike that suits everyone for all occasions. In this episode, we will discuss large and …

Ready for another big adventure, Dustin Nere reunited with a good friend at the Delhi airport for a 2-month adventure in the Himalayas. Apart from booking flights, reserving a hotel for the first few nights, and reserving bikes in Dehradun, they had no real plan. They knew of only a couple of notable places that Dustin had read about, and they hope…

When 62 year old Don Nelson from Colorado walked into a motorcycle dealership for a casual look around, little did he know what was about to happen. After the salesman offered for him to test ride a bike, Don found himself making an impulsive decision—he bought a Triumph Bonneville on the spot. Despite not having ridden a motorcycle in over 40 year…

In this episode of DEEP TROUBLE, we talk with James McCormick who went on what he calls, a ‘leap of faith ride’ in Baja, somewhere he had ridden many times before. This time he and his friend chose to explore a more remote area and everything seemed to be going smoothly until they were well past halfway into the ride, when suddenly the road they ha…

Proactive off-road awareness is a crucial safety step which allows riders to anticipate and respond to hazards effectively. Being in tune with the environment enables riders to navigate unpredictable obstacles such as rocks, roots, or uneven terrain, reducing the risk of accidents or injuries. And to talk about that we have SMART instructor, Clinto…

When planning a motorcycle adventure, it’s important not to forget essential items that could impact your trip. You’ll double-check your tools, riding, camping, and cooking gear, and ensure that any necessary maintenance has been done. However, there’s one crucial component that’s often overlooked—think of it as a safety net for when you’re on the …

Africa is a top pick for motorcycle riders seeking adventure, but many see it as a tough destination for only experienced travelers. Is it too risky for beginners? Do you need special skills? What's there to see? In this episode, we'll explore these questions with an expert in Southern African motorcycle travel. Photos and links related to this epi…