Adventure Rider Radio Motorcycle Podcast. Travel Adventures, Bike Tech Tips

Not for all people, but quite often for many of us, when we leave on a trip, be it a few weeks, months or a year or more, we face emotional and financial hurdles. First we spend time planning, and we reach a point where we have crossed all our t’s and dotted all our i’s. We know exactly how things are going to go, where we will be and how much money we need, or so we think. Once on the road, some of us may feel homesick, or lost. We get lonely, financially strapped, worried or unsure about how this trip will pan out. These hurdles, if you persevere, are usually overcome as you fall in to a rhythm. And soon the road becomes your home, you meet new people and experience new cultures. You can find work on the road in different locations, or be self employed, writing articles, blogging or making films. Once you find your niche, your comfort zone is expanded and you begin to thrive. As you know from the many extended travel riders we have interviewed in the past, there are those who find they have a need to return

A new film has been released worldwide on National Geographic featuring Christophe Barriere-Varju from Multi-Award Winning film Dream Racer, and former Miss Australia and Miss Universe Australia, Laura Csortan. Two adventure bikers take on the journey of a lifetime travelling through Morocco, North Africa, on the trail of the ultimate biking challenge, the Dakar Rally. One rider, Christophe Barriere-Varju, has competed in the Dakar Rally four times. The other, Laura Csortan, has never set a wheel off road before. Starting in Marrakech, Morocco, they must make their way through mountains, gorges, rivers and deserts to reach the Moroccan Sahara. Christophe will be sharing his knowledge of what it takes to be an off-road adventurer whilst Laura will be pushing her biking skills to the limits and experiencing a journey like never before. Will they make it to their final destination of the Sahara Desert or will the journey of a lifetime be too much for an off-road novice? **Press Release supplied by Christophe Bar

With their three sons grown and moved out, Petra and Anders felt what they called boredom, that loss we all feel when we’ve worked and lived to raise our families, and then being needed comes to an end. So they came up with a plan to ride their motorcycles around the world. A lot of riders struggle moving their bikes around, loading them on to trailers or vehicles, into hotel lobbies around their garages or even just parking them. On this episode of Rider Skills, we discuss the mechanics behind handling your bike in these situations. More motorcycle travel episodes available on Adventure Rider Radio at adventureriderradio.com.  Want to help out? Rate and review us on iTunes or on your favourite podcast app, tell your family, friends, riding buddies or club about ARR. Check out our other show ARR RAW, round table talks about motorcycles and travel. Subscribe to both shows to listen to inspiring and interesting guests, learn from professional riding instructors and industry experts about all things motorcycl

Mary McGee - Legendary Motorcycle Racer Mary McGee is truly an inspirational rider, who has paved the way for many women competitors and riders alike. She started out racing cars in the 1950’s and then got in to motorcycle road racing, enduro, motocross and finally vintage racing in the 2000’s. She started racing long before it was acceptable for women, racing against men simply because there weren’t any women’s classes in racing. And when Mary received the FIM Woman Legend in 2012, she finally decided to get her street riding license, and signed up for a basic motorcycle riding class! Mary turns 80 years old this year, and when you hear her voice in this interview, she just doesn’t sound like your average octogenarian. She’s witty, spry and just sounds way younger than her years. It must be motorcycling that keeps her young, and if that’s the case, then we should all be doing it. Bravo Mary! You are one of our greatest mentors! Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mary.mcgee.3745?ref=br_rs Brad Barker - Operat

Sub-Frames with Grant Johnson Grant Johnson from Horizons Unlimited talks about motorcycle sub-frames. Why they break. How much weight you can put on your bike. How to calculate pay load. Staying within weight capacity. www.horizonsunlimited.com Gear Talk - Darien Jacket & AD1 Pants Review with Andy Goldfine A review of the Darien jacket and AD1 pants made by Aerostich. Jim Martin has been testing these products, off and on road, and gives a review of the riding gear. He also has a chat with Andy Goldfine, owner of Aerostich about how he got in to making motorcycle clothing. www.aerostich.com/arr Brought to You By: Max BMW MotorcyclesShop our Online Store featuring parts diagrams for every BMW model. Ordering parts and accessories has never been easier. Choose your bike, look at the diagrams and place your order. We have over 45,000 parts in-stock and our Parts Express team processes and ships orders six days a week via UPS, FedEx and USPS. www.maxbmw.com BestRest ProductsHome of the CyclePump Tire Inflat

We can find all kinds of reasons and excuses to keep putting off a short road trip, let alone a trip to other countries. As we all know, work can be the stopper in trip planning. We have to make money to support our riding addictions after all! And what if you’re just not comfortable enough to ride on your own, would a group tour be just the thing for you? Or if you know nothing about bike repairs?  Even the biggest of problems has a solution, sometimes you have to jump through some hoops, make mistakes or just figure it out. While some obstacles can be intimidating or difficult, once you overcome them you may be surprised what you discover. In this episode we talk with Kinga Tanajewska and Brian Clarke about their adventure motorcycle trips and what they had to do to get there. Kinga Tanajewska - Combining Work & Adventure in Australia Kinga Tanajewska knew an interest of motorcycles at a young age, and rode street bikes since her teens when her parents bought her a motorcycle for graduation. She moved f

Skid Plates and Crash Bars - What Your Bike Needs - Chris "Teach" McNeil  No matter how much riding you've done or how experienced you are, there's always the possibility that your bike may go down. Be it from losing your footing while off-road riding or just from it toppling over for some random reason, you will want the best protection for your motorcycle. Motorcycle damage can be expensive, but there are after-market protection components available to minimize or prevent costly repairs, or perhaps even to keep from putting your bike out of commission.  For the past ten years, Chris "Teach" McNeil, a champion freestyle motorcycle athlete, has been performing around the world doing some pretty extreme stunt riding. And Chris has learned a thing or two about protecting a bike through the school of hard knocks! In carrying out the stunts he does, he's had his fair share of spills and as we all know, experience speaks volumes. On this episode Chris shares his knowledge of how to best safeguard your bike for whe

Counter Steering Explained at Last 79 year old David L. Hough has been riding motorcycles for more than 50 years. He and his wife, Diana, have travelled extensively by motorcycles in North & South America, central Europe, the UK, South Africa and New Zealand. While employed at The Boeing Company in Seattle for more than 36 years, he mostly commuted to work by motorcycle. Combining his travel and commuting experience, he became a highly skilled rider and continues to share his knowledge through various magazine publications and several books, including our favorite Proficient Motorcycling. David is a certified motorcycle safety instructor and has taught motorcycle training courses. He's been an influence in the development of courses by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and the Sidecar/Trike Education Program. An award winning author, David L. Hough was inducted in to the AMA Motorcycle Hall of Fame in 2009 in recognition of his lifetime efforts towards motorcycle safety. On this episode, David talks with J

In October 2014, Liz and her partner Con Feyen set out travel from Australia to London with a 12 month window planned for their trip. They had sold, stored or donated all their belongings, except for what they needed for the trip, and while it may seem scary to some people, they were excited about the freedom of being homeless and jobless and without “stuff”. Liz felt no trepidations about not being a very experienced motorcycle rider, and happily set out for London.   Well, after 16 months of riding, they arrived in Iran. Seems their schedule had gone on the wayside and London was not to be attained on this trip. And while at times the trip may have been harder than what Liz thought it would be, she feels she is better off for having done it. She says that “it is never too late to start something new, learn something new and to put yourself in vulnerable situations”. And even now, Liz and Con are planning their next adventure as she hones her skills back in Australia.   Blog: roostersoverland.com Facebook: r

After living in Australia for 12 years, Will & Kate were feeling homesick for the UK and decided it was time to go home. They could have just booked a flight and within the day been back home. But when opportunity knocks, why not open the door? Many people find it hard in their busy lives to take the time to go on an adventure. It seems to be a common thread where we all long for it, but don't seem able to pull it together. Will and Kate had already done some travelling, but not on their motorcycles, especially as Kate was a new rider and hadn't done any long rides as yet. This was their chance to turn a long move in to an amazing trip spanning across 20 countries and about 21,000 km. In two months, they planned their trip and then left Wollongong for Woolwich. They experienced many different cultures, and had varying receptions. They faced food and accommodation challenges. And although well planned, they still had stressful times, and dramatic moments. But, through and through, it was an escapade which

Steph Jeavons - Riding out of your Comfort Zone From the Ace Cafe in London, to where we caught up with her in Kelowna, British Columbia, and beyond, Steph Jeavons is travelling the world solo on a Honda CRF 250L. She had a dream to do an extended trip around the world, and realized that aspiration on March 23, 2014. She's been on the road for 2 years and ridden over 50,000 miles in 40 countries and has plans to travel for another year, across Canada and Africa before returning home to the UK. Steph tells us what it was like when she actually left the Ace Cafe and shares her experiences and impressions, the expected and unexpected, on this incredible journey. An insightful story of how riding out of your comfort zone makes you grow.   Twitter: onewomanonemoto Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/onestephbeyond/ Website: http://www.onestephbeyond.com Youtube: http://www.youtube.com/stephjeavons   Brought to You By:   Max BMW Motorcycles Shop our Online Store featuring parts diagrams for every BMW model. Ordering

Alex Jackson - Riding in South Africa & Linda Bootherstone Bick - Into Africa With a Smile   Alex Jackson - "South Africa - A World in One Country" Alex gives an account of what it's like to travel in South Africa, how easy it is to go on your own or take a guided tour. He talks about what the weather is like at different times of the year, the scenery, what to expect with viewing wildlife, and more. He took his first trip to South Africa in 1998 and is about to take his 50th trip there. Having developed a passion for moto travel in South Africa he runs Kaapstad Motorcycle Tours, guiding trips and sharing his enthusiasm for this country. With all the experience he has in South Africa, he has a wealth of information to share about this magical country for those of you thinking of going there. Twitter: KaapstadTours Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alex.j.jackson.africa.explorer Website: www.kaapstadmat.com Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCMM49Tqy1XgSsIIOIHTkL9Q   Linda Bootherstone Bick - Into

Carl Reese - Endurance Rider & Record Setter You’ve probably heard of the Cannonball Baker or Cannonball Run. In 1933 Erwin George “Cannon Ball” Baker drove from New York City to Los Angeles in a Graham-Paige model 57 Blue Streak 8 in 53.5 hours. No one broke that record for 40 years. Car and Driver writer Brock Yates and editor Steve Smith organized the Cannonball Baker Sea-to-Shining-Sea Memorial Trophy Dash, which took place 5 times between 1971 and 1979. It was an illegal road race from coast to coast to celebrate the United States Interstate Highway System and to protest strict traffic laws which were coming in to effect at that time. The first run was not a competitive race, as there was only one team running in a 1971 Dodge Custom Sportsman van. But by the time they were running the last race it was known as a wild race. They ran everything from Ferraris to pick-up trucks. It was mostly a secret event, with few witnesses. As more and more people have tried to rush to break Cannonball Baker’s time,

Proof Positive - Motorcycle Riding Good for the Soul Anyone who rides a motorcycle can probably tell you that riding a motorcycle isn’t just a form of transportation, it’s an experience. When you return from a motorcycle ride, you are energized and happy. Many motorcyclists refer to riding as their therapy. Feel bad? Need to sort out a problem? Ride. It works. Motorcycle riding releases endorphins which improve moods. Simple as that.    Studies show that riding motorcycles, both on and off-road, have both physical and mental health benefits.    In 2010, Tohoku University in Japan jointly with Yamaha conducted research in to the relationship between brain stimulation and riding motorcycles. Researchers measured brain activity to confirm whether riding a motorcycle activates the PFC, the prefrontal cortex. The PFC has been  linked to a persons planning behaviours, personality development, decision making and social behaviour. Then they examined the effect of using a motorcycle daily. They found that the bilater

Rally Raid’s Honda CB500X Adventure Bike On this episode we talk about the Rally Raid conversion kit that transforms what is basically a street bike, the Honda CB500X, into what may the ultimate mid-weight adventure bike. The end result seems to impress everyone that comes across it and a quick look at some of the videos on this page have to impress you. With the heart of the beast being an ultra reliable Honda twin cylinder 471cc fuel injected power plant you are melding the Honda reliability with some incredibly well designed suspension pieces manufactured by Rally Raid and Tractive Suspension. Hidden nuggets include a two piston fork that has both high speed and low speed dampening, which is unheard of elsewhere. “I can confirm that there is no other twin cylinder adventure bike on the market that even comes close to the all-round ability and confidence inspiring handling both on- and off-road that this bike now delivers with the Rally Raid Products upgrades,” says Morgan. “The best analogy I can think of

  Danell Lynn - Motorcycle Wanderlust   Danell Lynn is a motorbike adventure rider that has travelled around the world doing humanitarian work. She, shares her creative side to help children with healing through art, donates her children’s books to schools, and quilts to those in need. Danell has recently been awarded the Guinness World Record for Longest Journey by Motorcycle in a Single Country. A solo trip through 50 states in one year. Certainly, a person who gives so freely of herself to others is deserving of being awarded such an accomplishment!   Twitter: danelllynn Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/danell.lynn Website: www.DanellLynn.com https://danelllynn.wordpress.com Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/user/danelllynn   New Movie Coming - A Story Worth Living   Said to be an inspirational documentary where six novice riders try to find the answers to some of life’s deepest questions. A father, his three sons and two friends, travel through some of Colorado’s roughest and toughest terrain on this tho

Steve Mason - Llamas, Bananas and Bears From Argentina to Alaska, a ride that Steve and his two Scottish friends shared as part of a reunion after more than 20 years apart. An epic adventure, he shares some great tips discovered by doing the trip and talks about his experiences. Website: www.thelongwayup.weebly.com Books: Ride to the Midnight Sun & Llamas, Bananas and Bears available on Amazon.   Rider Skills - Riding In Sand - Bret Tkacs Improve and master your riding techniques with some great tips from Bret Tkacs from Puget Sound Safety Off Road. Bret is a skilled expert and this episode’s instructor. Website: www.pssor.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/pssor/   Overland Junction - Iain Harper An innovative resource for charting motorcycle motorcycle adventures and planning new ones. Website: www.overlandjunction.com   Brought to You By: Max BMW Motorcycles Shop our Online Store featuring parts diagrams for every BMW model. Ordering parts and accessories has never been easier. Choose your bike, look at th

Anyone who is in to adventuring in the wilderness will at some time find themselves in remote locations with no communication to the rest of the world. When in the back of beyond, you still have loved ones to consider at home and a responsibility to them and yourself to seek help if something goes wrong. Depending on where you are, you may not readily have outside help available.  Fortunately, there is a solution to a dilemma or emergency, there is a way to call for help… from above.  In many locations in the world, there are devices available that make it so that you can have crisis services available, or at the very least you can make contact with someone that can get you help.  We speak with representatives from Spot and inReach. We also get the take on these products from a retail location at GPS Central and with someone who uses these products regularly on his motorcycle at VRideTV.   Spot: www.findmespot.ca Company Representative: Jim Mandala   inReach Canada: www.inreachcanada.com Company Representativ

  After putting almost a million miles on a motorbike as a courier in London, Geoff Thomas decided to pack it in, and in April, 2008, embarked on a motorcycle to travel the world. He took along with him the ashes of his parents to be delivered to his brother in California, while en route. On his return to England in November, 2008, he found that his rented apartment in Essex had burnt down, with all his belongings in it. Left only with his motorcycle and what was packed on it, he just decided to just keep on riding. To save on shipping costs, Geoff keeps a Triumph Tiger 955i in Europe, a Kawasaki KLR 650 in North America and a Tiger Retro 100 in South East Asia, where he also volunteers. Having, what Geoff says is a chronic allergy to most forms of work, he gets by on just $8000 US a year, and says he’s never felt richer.    Twitter: geoffgthomas Facebook: Geoff G Thomas Website: www.poorcirculation.blogspot.com Youtube Channel: www.youtube.com/channel/UCG8YIiyKQ1qYZRXWKZfqkCw Book: ‘Ashes to Bonnville’ - Poo

Thom Rieck is an Exercise Specialist at the Mayo Clinic Healthy Living Program. He’s a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist, Certified Personal Trainer and PEAK Pilates Instructor. He has been working as a personal trainer for over 10 years and he’s also an avid motorcyclist.    Tom has been riding since the age of 2, believe it or not, when his father took him out on his ’74 Honda CB 250 in a car seat. He now rides a 1995 BMW K75S, all on his own.   Thom is currently working on a book called “Strength and Fitness for the Motorcyclist”. As an expert in exercise and the effects on the body, who is more qualified to give advice on staying fit to get the most out of riding a motorcycle? Thom says that motorcycles are designed to withstand city commuting, long trips and rough terrain, yet it is our bodies that can limit our riding endurance. His goal is to share his knowledge and experience to become your own personal trainer. He gives great advice about mobility, flexibility, cardiovascular and resista