Adventure Rider Radio – Motorcycle Podcast

Adventure Rider Radio – Motorcycle Podcast

Adventure Rider Radio | Adventure Motorcycling

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Adventure Rider Radio is the original adventure motorcycle podcast, established in 2014 and now the world’s longest-running show dedicated to adventure motorcycling. It features in-depth conversations, real-world stories, and expert insight from the people who ride, explore, and shape the adventure motorcycling world. Hosted by Jim Martin and released weekly, the show brings you experienced riders, trainers, industry professionals, and long-distance travelers sharing hard-earned lessons about riding skills, motorcycle travel, trip planning, bike setup, gear, and the realities of life on two wheels. From remote expeditions to rider development and decision-making on the road, Adventure Rider Radio goes beyond surface-level talk to explore the thinking, preparation, and experience behind adventure motorcycling.

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Episodes (631)

The Motorcycle School of Life: David & Emy Woodburn

David Woodburn is from Australia, and he’s been doing trips on a motorcycle since he was 17 years old. In 1986 he met Emy in the Philippines, where they worked together doing volunteer work. They married, returned to Australia and managed to pull together enough money to buy a well used motorcycle. Soon Amy discovered she was pregnant, and their daughter, Mattea was born. Finding it difficult to find work, the loaded their motorcycle with a sidecar and started their journey in 1990. They travelled around Europe and Africa until Mattea was 11 years old, and ended up settling in Miami, Florida, which was the biggest culture shock for them. Now almost two decades later, they live in Georgia and run an independent workshop specializing in older BMW and British motorcycles. Music: Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.comMusic: Author: Audiobinger Song: Chill Mode http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E181 Dec 15, 2017 64 min

Where Do You Go When You Have Motorcycle Travel Questions?

20 Years of Horizons Unlimited: Grant & Susan Johnson This year marks the 20th anniversary of Horizons Unlimited, a resource for adventure travellers, especially motorcyclists. Founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson, their website, forum and events around the world, inspire people to follow their dreams and travel to far away places.Grant and Susan have touched so many people, making a huge difference in their lives, bringing like-minded people together. They’ve travelled extensively themselves, riding around the world 2-up. Through their experience and knowledge, they have created an invaluable resource for novice and experienced riders alike. A place where you can learn, ask questions, share information, help other riders, and tell your travel stories to people who are more than happy to hear about them.And after 20 years of being an integral part of the motorcycle community, we asked just a few of the many riders who have been inspired by Horizons Unlimited to tell their story about how they have been influenced by HU and Grant and Susan. It’s the least we can do, as we are so grateful to have found them, and to have had both of them on our shows, and Grant as a regular co-host on RAW.On behalf of all riders, travellers and adventurers who feel fortunate to have found you: Thank you, Grant and Susan!Horizons Unlimited: www.horizonsunlimited.com**Special thanks to our guests that shared their stories about Horizons Unlimited with Adventure Rider Radio:Ekke Kok & Audrey Allenspach-Kok: www.ekke-audrey.caHeike (and Filippo) Fania: www.2livethedream.comMaria and Alistair Robinson: www.franglais-riders.com (Maria is also an HU Facebook and website moderator.)Brent Carrol: https://www.facebook.com/LovingLivingAdventuring Show Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E180 Dec 08, 2017 85 min

Riding Motorcycles for Slower Travel | Tight Turning Made Easier

 Riding Motorcycles for Slower Travel | Tight Turning Made EasierIt’s commonly said that you need to slow down to see more while travelling, well how about speeding up to see more? Helen Lloyd has done just that. She’s an engineer in the UK who loves travel, writing and photography. And she’d spent much time travelling on a bicycle until she decided to get a motorcycle. After riding through Africa on her bicycle she returned years later on a Yamaha XT225, and she discovered that moving faster meant slowing down. She shares with us how motorcycle travel changed her experience of Africa.Website: http://www.helenstakeon.com Youtube Channel:  http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDlv93OHSPtrsTuEAP_GQhA ARR RIDER SKILLS: Turning Around on Your Motorcycle Everyone at some point runs in to the situation where they have to make a tight u-turn or turn around, in both high and low traction situations. Tight turns can be unnerving and dropping a bike is a strong possibility when attempting to turn your bike around. We discuss some simple methods using rider skills we’ve already talked about in previous episodes that help you turn around without coming to a complete stop and backing up. Instructor: Bret Tkacs from PSSOR Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E179 Dec 01, 2017 89 min

Helge Pedersen |10 Years on 2 Wheels

Back in 1982, Helge Pedersen bought one of the first BMW R80GS motorcycles to enter his home country, Norway. He sold everything he owned and soon found himself in South America crossing the Darien Gap, a feat which few attempt. Helge stayed on the road, living a vagabond lifestyle for 10 years. His story is an unusual and exciting one, with a wealth of information to inspire and guide motorcyclists around the world. About Helge Pederson: From 1982 to 1992, Helge Pedersen travelled around the world on a motorcycle, covering more than 250,000 miles through 77 countries. His book 10 Years on 2 Wheels reflects this adventurous journey. Working as a photojournalist, his work has been featured in many motorcycle, outdoor and news publications.In 1998, Helge founded GlobeRiders, LLC, organizing and leading motorcycle tours through more than 40 countries. He is also the producer of adventure and instructional documentary DVD’s, inspiring motorcycle travel, and seminars teaching motorcycle maintenance, repairs, and more.Website: http://www.globeriders.com Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E178 Nov 24, 2017 80 min

Road Trip Reflections | Rejuvenating Motorcycle Adventures

A chat with motorcycle author and publisher, Mike Fitterling about what adventure is and the rejuvenating qualities of riding a motorcycle. Northeast by Northwest: Two Restorative Journeys Mike Fitterling was dealing with depression and stress, a common issue with people around the world.  According to the World Health Organization, “depression is the leading cause of ill health and disability worldwide”. More than 300 million people suffer from depression, and in many countries there is little to no support available, and even in higher income countries, nearly 50% of people do not get treatment.Mike’s story is something that most people can connect with. At some point or another, we all have to deal with stressful situations, that may affect us more deeply than we think possible. And climbing out of that can be overwhelming.To deal with his depression, Mike decided a motorcycle trip was what was needed, he had to find a way to help himself. With a limited budget and time, he managed to take two motorcycle trips in the United States. Two adventures that helped change his life, bringing back his faith in human kind and the strength to live a happier life.Mike also shares his thoughts on adventure, travelling on a budget, using forums to plan accommodations, and more.Mike Fitterling is a publisher of motorcycle adventure books at www.roaddogpub.com. To read more about this story you can find his book called Northeast by Northwest: Two Restorative Journeys on his website. Source: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/news/releases/2017/world-health-day/en/ Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E177 Nov 17, 2017 59 min

The Five Steps To Protecting Yourself After A Motorcycle Crash

The Five Steps To Protecting Yourself After A Motorcycle Crash Part of riding a motorcycle is being prepared to handle all kinds of situations that may arise, and one of those is knowing how to deal with a motorcycle accident. Matt Danielson from The Motorcycle Law Group is an avid motorcyclist, as are the people who work there. He has some important tips on how to protect yourself after a crash. There are certain things you should know to do or say after an accident, and much of what you learn here can be applied to other situations as well.  Matt Danielson: The Motorcycle Law Group: www.motorcyclelawgroup.com MLG App: https://motorcyclelawgroup.com/download-mlg-app/ Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E176 Nov 09, 2017 64 min

Which Peg to Weight? | Sena SR10 Connecting 2 Way Radios

Rider Skills: Weighting Pegs When turning, which peg do you weight? Inside or outside? And which is correct? Do you steer with your feet? Bret Tkacs, riding instructor from PSSOR discusses the proper use of pegs for steering and controlling your adventure bike in the dirt. Sena Technologies: Chris Woodyard Bluetooth communication systems are fantastic for close range. But, for adventure riders when the trail gets dusty and you start to spread out, when the trails become hilly and more heavily treed, that’s where they fail. So, on this episode we find a way to connect longer range radios to our existing bluetooth systems. www.sena.com Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E175 Nov 03, 2017 49 min

ADV Rider Stuck in Venezuela | Keeping Warm on Your Motorcycle

Hitting a Road Block on the Last Leg of His Trip Spencer James Conway has a goal of circumnavigating every continent, and his last adventure has been in South America. On October 7th he posted on Facebook that he was just two weeks away from completing his trip. When ARR host, Jim, spoke to Spencer, he was stuck at the border in Venezuela, unable to cross in to Colombia. His alternative? A 7000 km detour which will add two months to the trip. http://www.spencer-conway.com/ Brrrrr….Keeping the Chill Out and the Heat In On Your Bike In the Northern Hemisphere, we’re starting to experience some chilly weather, and dedicated motorcyclists like to push the season, riding until the snow flies. Weather can be unpredictable, starting off chilly, warming up and then cooling down again, all in one day. So, being prepared for cold weather this time of year is important. Some of you might be lucky and live in year round warm climates, or maybe it’s spring for you right now and you’re aching to get out and ride, cold or not. Either way, we’ve got some great tips from author and retired instructor, David Hough, Aerostich’s founder, Andy Goldfine and we also talked to Bryan Miller and John Sullivan, the owner’s of Hippo Hands. David L Hough - Author & Instructor David is a world traveller, a certified motorcycle safety instructor and the author of several books. He’s become a regular on Adventure Rider Radio, a valued source of information when it comes to riding motorcycles, including sidecars and trikes. When it comes to riding in the cold, after 36 years of commuting to work by motorcycle in Port Angeles, Washington, who better to give some tips on keeping warm? Andy Goldfine - Aerostich Founder Aerostich are manufacturers of rider gear in the United States, and they’ve been designing and manufacturing clothing for about 34 years. Andy Goldfine has some great tips on what to wear to keep warm. www.aerostich.com Bryan Miller & John Sullivan - Hippo Hands There are gloves and then there are Hippo Hands, motorcycle hand covers designed to keep your hands warm and dry. www.hippohands.com Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E174 Oct 27, 2017 88 min

How Goals Can Help You Overcome the Odds: Motorcycle Coach Ramey Stroud

Ramey "Coach" Stroud's story is one of perseverance and goals, where failure was not an option. Listening to him talk about overcoming what most would consider impossible, even medically, inspires that with the right mindset and vision, you can do anything. When a spinal injury left him paralyzed from the chest down, he didn't get his house ready to deal with his handicap for the rest of his life, he learned to walk and ride a motorcycle again. A story where the impossible becomes the possible. Defying the Odds: Coach Ramey Ramey “Coach” Stroud has been a champion motorcycle racer, skydiver, firefighter, scuba diver, ultra-marathoner, wilderness EMT, rodeo cowboy and adventurer. He has been recognized by the BMW Motorcycle Owner’s of America Foundation as their “Individual of the Year” for helping motorcycle riders gain new skills. He’s helped thousands of riders on five different continents and in so doing has received international honors for his training and safety programs. From the Nevada desert to the sands of Argentina, from Istanbul to South Africa, from Marrakech to the Ozark's, Coach has helped professional motorcycle racers bring home the gold and new riders get on the road to adventure. While it is clear that Coach Ramey loves adventure, his passion is teaching and he loves helping others achieve their potential.In 2003, a motorcycle race crash left Coach Ramey with a spinal cord injury leaving him paralyzed from the chest down. It took a year of daily exercise for him to just stand up from the wheelchair and then another year of hard work to crawl over onto the seat of a motorcycle and sidecar. After four years of intense rehabilitation he was walking with two canes and then the world was his. Since then he has ridden around the world on three wheels. He has returned to coaching racers and adventure riders. He has written a book for new riders. And he still rides hard at the age of 70. His next goal?The ALCAN5000 in 2018.Website: http://RideCoach.com Youtube Channel:  http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLkyioWNmXUktjwmm5aZu0RQ6tyr2FxlSM Show Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E173 Oct 19, 2017 77 min

Flexible Motorcycle Travel

Exercise Specialist, Thom Rieck, shares some simple exercises to help keep your body fit for motorcycle riding. Graham Field talks shares his thoughts on keeping your options open while you travel. And Bob Earl talks about Mule Pack Panniers, high-density polyethelene flexible motorcycle panniers. Exercises for Better Riding: Thom Rieck 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. He shares some simple exercises to do to keep you flexible for motorcycle riding.Website: trainwiththom.tumblr.com Mule Pack Panniers: Bob Earl - “molded from high-density polyethylene, the same material used to make whitewater kayaks and highway road barriers” - “a capacity of 28 liters the streamlined design is engineered to provide safe, dry, and secure storage for all manner of gear, as well as an extra layer of protection for you and your bike” - “Mule Pack's overlapping lid joint and marine grade EPDM gasket system keeps out rain and spray”  - “the contoured top of the Mule Pack adds strength and provides a more secure surface to strap on a tent, sleeping bag, or other items you need to carry” - “no paint or coating to worry about scratching or flaking off” - “hardware is marine grade stainless steel” - “bracket mounting system works with most of the popular side rack systems” -  “Securing and removing the Mule Pack is as simple as tightening or loosening two large hand knobs located inside the box. This feature along with lockable lid latches keeps your gear safe and secure.”Website: http://acmezoom.com/ Don’t Be So Rigid: Graham Field Graham Field is a motorcycle adventure author from the UK, now living in Bulgaria. The author of three books In Search of Greener Grass, Ureka and Different Natures. Books are available for individual purchase or as a replica pannier box set. Graham shares his ideas of not keeping a rigid schedule on the road, and how being flexible can enhance your trip.Website: http://grahamfield.co.uk/  Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E172 Oct 12, 2017 49 min

Where do You Rate on the Scale? Novice to Expert Skill Levels Explained | Setting Your Motorcycle Suspension Preload

Do you know where you are on the ADV Skills Level chart? You should, because it affects your choices, outfitting and how you describe yourself when deciding if a rough section is for you. ARR’s Rider Skills instructor has come up with a rating chart for adventure riders to explain what a novice to experienced rider is. And Ted Porter from the Beemer Shop in California gives the low-down on how to set your adventure motorcycle suspension preload.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 motorcycle.Get an ARR sticker(postage included) with a $10 donation. Link on our website.Adventure Rider Radio is now the most listened to motorcycle podcast in the world, and we thank you for your support!   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E171 Oct 06, 2017 93 min

An African Adventure & Tips on Getting Your Motorcycle in to Africa

Daniel Rintz is a filmmaker, photographer and adventure motorcyclist from Dresden, Germany. Born in East Germany at a time when world travel was impossible for his family, Daniel’s whole world opened up when the Berlin wall fell and he embraced the opportunity to travel. Since then, he’s explored by bicycle, train and automobile, but motorcycling remains his passion.In 2008, with a rough plan and no money, Daniel and his friend left East Germany for an around the world motorcycle adventure. With no safety net, they planned to work to finance their trip as they went along. In 2010, while in Asia, Daniel met Josephine (Joey) Flohr who was on a backpacking trip. She joined Daniel in his passion for motorcycling and they have been doing trips together ever since.Daniel and Joey have recently completed a 3 year motorcycle adventure, and are putting together a film about their journeys, a sequel to Daniel’s first film “Somewhere Else Tomorrow”.In this episode, he shares some great tips on making money on the road, travelling in Africa, and more.Visit their website at www.open-explorers.com to learn more about Daniel and Joey, and their movies.To help support their new movie go to https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/open-explorers-new-movie-freedom-africa#/ Getting Your Motorcycle to Africa: African Overlanders, Duncan Johnson Duncan Johnson has motorcycled the East and West coasts of Africa, and along with his family, runs African Overlanders. They offer a vast amount of services including motorcycle and other shipping, accommodations and storage. They also offer 4x4 buy back services, where you can purchase a vehicle and at the end of your trip, you sell it back to them.Duncan has some great tips on getting your motorcycle in to Africa, so tune in and learn what’s involved.http://www.africanoverlanders.com/ http://discoverafrica4x4.com/ Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E170 Sep 29, 2017 91 min

Cool, Comfort or Crash: How Effective is Your Motorcycle Jacket? | Where Do You Put Your Helmet?

When buying a motorcycle jacket - do you shop for style, comfort or crash protection? And what is crash protection really? Is there a certifying body that say the garment will save you? So many questions but we will get some answers on this episode, so that the next time you find yourself in front of the jacket rack, you have a clue what you really want. With David Hough. Motorcycle author and journalist Dr. Gregory Frazier completed his sixth trip around the world not long ago. So where does a guy that travels this much hang his hat (read helmet)? And for that matter, where should you hang yours when you park your bike? Well, this may seem like a simple task, but Dr. Frazier has a few stories about riders that have learned through the school of hard knocks about what can happen to a misplaced helmet. We aren't talk about scratches. :) Dr. Gregory Frazier has done several motorcycle trips around the world, he’s been shot at, spent time in jail and has had some incredible wildlife encounters. He’s a journalist and photographer and his work has been published in many motorcycle publications.Website: http://horizonsunlimited.com/gregfrazier/ David L.Hough - 80 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 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 Jim Martin about counter steering, a much difficult concept to explain and grasp. A necessary skill when it comes to riding, David enlightens us on how it's done.Email: [email protected] David L. Hough's books: http://www.amazon.com/David-L.-Hough/e/B001JOWE2I Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E169 Sep 22, 2017 65 min

Motorcycle Chronicles: Why Taking Photographs and Recording Your Trip is so Important

Social media has become a popular source of how we share our life, including our travels or adventures. And through social media, we share our photos and usually include a write up to show what we’re doing, where we’ve been. And if we want to get back to basics, well photography has been around for a long time, and looking at a photo can you put you right in to the picture, you can imagine the sounds and smells, and it gives us insight in to things we might otherwise never get to see. And journal keeping, be it on a blog or by written word, has the same effects on us, except we use our imagination to picture where the author is.Both are incredible ways to share stories, and for us to look back on where we’ve been, to refresh the memories from long ago. In this episode we talk to Tim Burke, who documents his journeys through photography and we have a flashback to an interview with Graham Field, who is an avid daily diary keeper. Every Picture Tells a Story: Tim Burke Tim Burke is from Seattle, Washington and in April he quit his job, sold off his belongings and shipped his motorcycle to London to do a trip around Europe. At first, it was about the motorcycle adventure, but very quickly he grew to love photography and it became a large focus of the trip. His photographs have been featured in some motorcycle branding catalogues, magazines and social feeds. For Tim, photography on the road is a way of sharing his experiences with other people. He has some great tips on travelling on a motorcycle with photography equipment, and he also shares his story on how he got to where he is.www.fb.com/timburkephoto www.instagram.com/timburkephoto Graham Field - How he Documents His Life We decided to share part of this episode which ran in August, 2014 where Graham Field tells how he has kept track of his life, and he also reads some of his diary to us. He’s the author of three entertaining motorcycle adventure travel books and you can find them on his website at www.grahamfield.co.uk. Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E168 Sep 14, 2017 111 min

Changing it Up: Motorcycles & Truck Overlanding Adventure | Comeback of the Parallel Twin

A story of a RTW motorcycle trip that morphs in to a two-wheeled adventure of the camper kind, and Zac Kurylyk from Canada Moto Guides shares his thoughts on what he calls the comeback of the parallel twin. Two-Wheeled Adventures of the Camper Kind Alan Curtis (Curt )and Lyn Williams have been riding motorcycles since they were teenagers, so when Curt was coming up with ideas for an adventure, including sailing around the world, it was a natural choice for them to go on a motorbike adventure . First the plan was to ride to the UK, but three years later they are still travelling the world. And now they have converted an Isuzu NPR diesel truck in to a camper home and are continuing their travels around Canada, the United States and in to South America. An overland motorcycle adventure on board their rv truck conversion.Website: http://www.twoxtw.com/ Parallel Twin vs Thumper Zac Kurylyk, the managing editor at Canada Moto Guide shares his ideas about how he sees a surge happening with twin parallel engines in the adventure riding industry. Read his article on this topic in Canada Moto Guide magazine:  https://canadamotoguide.com/2017/07/13/parallel-universe-the-surprising-comeback-of-parallel-twins/Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.comMusic by https://www.bensound.com/ | Song: Jazzy Frenchy ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E167 Sep 07, 2017 77 min

Rider Skills: Group Riding Without the Dust & Danger

On this episode we talk about group riding dynamics for motorcyclists. Two methods of keeping your group riding together without eating each other’s dust or following dangerously close. Both these methods allow you to keep track of the entire group while you ride and other tips, including how to handle yourself when riding with a group.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 motorcycle.Get an ARR sticker(postage included) with a $10 donation. Link on our website.Adventure Rider Radio is now the most listened to motorcycle podcast in the world, and we thank you for your support!  ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E166 Sep 01, 2017 63 min

Lone Rider: Globe-Trotting Before the Internet

What would it be like if you couldn't just turn on your computer and ask google all the questions you want to help plan your trip? Everything from planning and packing, to routing and picking your destinations. All the answers at your fingertips. And what if in the 1980's it was so against the norm for someone to set out on a long distance motorcycle trip, let alone a woman? Would you still have the nerve to ride around the world?Elspeth Beard has just published a book this summer, the one that we talked about in an interview with her last year. We'll remind you that it's the story of a 23 year old woman who in 1982 set off on a solo motorcycle trip around the world. Something relatively unheard of in those days, for both women and men. In fact, on her trip she only met two other motorcycle adventurers in the 2 1/2 years she was on the road.  Broken-hearted, she wasn't doing well in school and decided to embark on this trip to prove herself. Ridiculed by the editor and his "chauvinist colleagues" at a popular motorcycle magazine in London, she was only all that more determined to achieve her goal.  After years away, she returned home, wiser and with the knowledge that she could do anything she set out to do. But, publishing a book at the time seemed like a dead end road, as no one was interested in her story. And after storing away all her notes, audio files and memories for almost 35 years, she finally wrote the book that she wanted to all those years ago. And here we have it, Lone Rider - The First British Woman to Motorcycle Around the World. Elspeth Beard has shared some of her audio files with Adventure Rider Radio, the sound of her younger voice all those years ago that she recorded to share with her parents. And, we also talk to someone who was in a position to either empower or disempower her while she was on this trip, something Elspeth wasn't aware of at the time that we created this episode for you, our listener. The author of Lone Rider, Elspeth Beard, is an avid motorcyclist and award-winning architect living in a converted water tower in southeast England. To this day, she still rides her trusty BMW R 60/6. Elspeth's book is available on Amazon. Hear more about Elspeth at http://www.adventureriderradio.com/adventure-rider-radio-episodes/2016/9/1/elspeth-beard-first-british-woman-to-motorcycle-around-the-world?rq=elspeth%20beard Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E165 Aug 24, 2017 72 min

The Ups & Downs of a Well Planned Group Trip: Cartegena to Ushuaia

Journey to the End of the World - Expedition 65 If a little is good wouldn’t a lot be better? When a group of experienced travellers plan a trip from Cartegena to Ushuaia they made sure they had fully equipped bikes, an extensive support system and contact network, even a support van and trailer equipped with a generator to charge accessories. As the story goes, Jim Hyde, of RawHyde Adventures had an epiphany while guiding a trip in South America. He was stopped with his group of clients with only about 30 minutes to spare before rushing off to their evening destination. While the clients busied themselves with various selfies and bike shots, Jim realized that when he visits these incredible world destinations, he is almost always on a tight schedule, with minutes to soak up this world class sight and move on. It hit him there and then that he needed to do a trip, where there was more time for places like these along the way. So he came up with an idea to run an expedition where a group of riders would all pitch in to organize and do a trip the length of South America.  A dozen riders were hand picked for the adventure, and the group went about planning and organizing a trip they would call Expedition 65. It was to be an adventure unlike a guided trip, where the riders are a team of like minded individuals that work together. With all these people planning and organizing you could be forgiven for imagining that it all worked and the trip went off without a hitch, but of course it didn’t happen that way. Problems with overloading, breakdowns, missing paperwork for border crossings, an overloaded support van incapable of carrying a broken bike and disagreements over the arduous and time consuming effort of making a film of the trip added challenges to the trip.  In the end, the trials and tribulations fade, friendships were solidified, comfort zones were expanded, a movie was made and an incredible coffee table book was produced showcasing the adventure day by day… When it comes to planning, due diligence is expected, but is meticulous planning better or a problem in itself? Colin Evans: Author of Journey to the End of the World "Though he may have come late to biking, Colin Evans has fallen hard for it, with an enviable collection of iconic sportbikes and a very worn-out BMW R1200GS to show for it. He has ridden and written about his adventures on four continents to entertain and annoy his friends (colindotpdx.tumblr.com) and currently resides in Portland with his wife Rosine and daughter Claire." ~~ Octane Press Alfonse Palaima: Journey to the End of the World Photographer "When he's not in Los Angeles hiding from society, Alfonse is collecting passport stamps. Photography and travel are his biggest passions, and motorcycles always get him to the next location. Rounding the world one region at a time, Alfonse has racked up hundreds of bylines while crossing 23 countries and six continents as an industry journalist with 14 years under his belt. Follow his journeys at MotoInsider.com or at Octane Press." ~~ Octane Press Journey to the End of the World: The Expedition 65 Adventure Motorcycle Ride from Colombia to Ushuaia is available from Octane Press or anywhere books are sold. Show Sponsors: Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear PSSOR Motobriiz IMS Products Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com Music by Wepa Kevin MacLeod (incompetech.com) Licensed under Creative Commons: By Attribution 3.0 License http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/ ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E164 Aug 17, 2017 80 min

Riding Back Roads in America: Gravel & Gnarly Trails

  If you're travelling to or live in the United States, and you're looking for a long distance motorcycle adventure utilizing mainly back roads and trails, the Trans-America Trail may be just what you're looking for. On the website, it says that dual-sport motorcycle is required for the more challenging sections, and the best time to do the entire trail is probably late June in to early September, to avoid snow in some of the states. The TAT maps and roll charts have been designed to ride only from East to West, no matter where your starting point is. Fuel stops are fairly regular, motel locations are marked on the maps, and if you're camping you might want to do your research ahead of time if using a roll chart, as they're not marked on there. A GPS is not required to do the TAT, as the roll chart is used with your odometer, but the GPS is a great back up. Make sure you plan well in advance, as you'll have to purchase your maps and roll charts on the TAT website, and allow enough time for delivery. While waiting for it all to arrive, you can start packing and making travel arrangements. In this week's episode we talk to British rally racer, Jenny Morgan and Brad Barker, from The Ride of my Life. Jenny rode the TAT a couple of times, first on a Yamaha Tenere 660 and then the CBX500 with the Rally Raid package. When we spoke to Brad, he was riding the TAT and offering a challenge to The Ride of My Life followers, which include some prizes.  Trans-America Trail: www.transamtrail.com Jenny Morgan:  Jenny Morgan is a British rally racer who rode the Trans America Trail (TAT) on a 50 day trip, covering more than 12,000 miles from the west to east coast and back again on the Trans-America Trail. Website: www.jennydakar.com ADV Rider Forum: http://advrider.com/index.php?threads/trans-am-500-the-seven-year-itch.1061450/ Brad Barker: Brad Barker is the producer of The Ride of My Life YouTube videos and website, with the goal of discovering the good stuff, exploring and riding to different places in the world, and to impact lives in a positive way.  Website: www.therideofmylife.net Show Sponsors: Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz IMS Products MotoBird Adventures Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com Music: http://www.bensound.com/royalty-free-music   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E163 Aug 10, 2017 78 min

Dirt Travels 2 Up | Rider Skills: Faster Braking

  Beth and Kevin Young, 2uptogether, are so passionate about sharing adventures with each other that they ride 2 up, even in the dirt. The've been riding for 19 years, and are advocates for short adventures, close to home. Saying that motorcycle riding has made them closer, Beth & Kevin share their experiences with photographs on social media, hoping to inspire other couples to ride together.  Twitter: 2uptogether Facebook: www.facebook.com/2uptogether Website: http://www.2uptogether.com Youtube Channel: http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCw1iOZraIRbM0VYpUg7PCeg Rider Skills with Bret Tkacs Skills Development Activity: Threshold braking The average experienced rider with or without training stops around at about 70% of the capability of his/her motorcycle and roughly 30% further than the average car. Since most training standards are nearly 40% below the motorcycles capability attending traditional rider training does not help you reach the maximum braking capability your motorcycle offers.  The numbers I have put on the chart below are rounded off to make things simple and are not exact. During guided training your speed should be measured with radar and then adjustments made for brake application.  However in the absence of a school like this in your area this will give you a much better estimate of your ability than the scoring you may have received during any conventional motorcycle training using stopwatch/distance standards. Bret Tkacs~ Motorcycle Skills Expert Setup: 1. Mark off a braking area up to 50’ (15 meters) with chalk on good asphalt or pavement. 2. Make your “begin braking here” point with an easy to see marker such as a bottle or large cone. 3. Check your speedometer accuracy against a GPS or phone app (speedometers or commonly 10% optimistic on speed giving you the impression you stop better than you do) 4. Practice steady approach speeds (each speed on the chart. 5. Have a fellow rider observe you as you practice braking at your “begin braking here” point to ensure you do not begin slowing or braking early. The Drill: 1. Approach the “begin braking here” point at the speed on the chart, do not slow or brake before the point. 2. When the markers disappear from your peripheral view then begin braking stopping in the shortest distance you safety can. 3. Put down your side stand and take the distance to the leading edge of your tire and compare it against the chart. 4. Do not move up to the next speed until you are relaxed and consistent at the lower speeds. 5. To get a truly accurate measure or to safely learn to brake from speeds higher the listed below it is recommended to work with professional instructors training in this type of skill development such as Puget Sound Safety’s; Advanced Street Skills program (pssnw.com) Show Sponsors Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz PSSOR IMS Products In Association With: Good Adventure Company Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E162 Aug 04, 2017 107 min

Finding Your Way: Motorcycle GPS, Smartphone APPS & Paper Maps

What's your preference? A motorcycle GPS or smartphone APP? Perhaps you're someone who still likes traditional paper maps. We've talked to Cesar Palacios from Garmin, Guido van Eijsden, APP developer of Scenic and Sam Manicom, world moto traveler, adventurer and author, and got some great information to help you make an informed decision. Motorcycle GPS: Cesar Palacios, Media Relations Associate from Garmin International. Website: http://www.garmin.com/ Smartphone APPS: Guido van Eijsden, developer of motorcycle navigation app, SCENIC. Website: www.motomappers.com http://www.motomappers.com/blog/iphone-motorcycle-gps-8-things-to-consider/ http://www.motomappers.com/blog/best-motorcycle-apps-gps-navigation-ride-tracking/  https://itunes.apple.com/app/id1089668246 (App store URL) Paper Maps: Sam Manicom - Author of motorcycle adventure books: Into Africa, Under Asian Skies, Distant Suns & Tortillas to Totems - www.sam-manicom.com Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E161 Jul 28, 2017 65 min

Has the Internet Made You Cluelessly Modify Your Motorcycle For The Worst? | Rider Skills: Conserving Energy

In this week’s episode Jim and Warren Milner discuss how information on the internet, may incorrectly encourage or influence your decisions when it comes to motorcycle modifications. Also, on Rider Skills we talk about energy conservation when riding. 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 motorcycle. Get an ARR sticker(postage included) with a $10 donation. Link on our website. Have a comment? Go to the episode show notes on our website and have your say at the bottom of the page. Adventure Rider Radio is now the most listened to motorcycle podcast in the world, and we thank you for your support!   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E160 Jul 20, 2017 103 min

Motorcycle Vibrations - Where They Come From & How to Reduce Them

There are many possible causes for why your motorcycle is vibrating, and David Hough, author of Proficient Motorcycling, and Walt Fulton join Jim Martin to offer their knowledge and experience with vibration issues.  David L. Hough: David has been riding motorcycles for more than 50 years. He's 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 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. Walt Fulton: Owner and Head Instructor of Streetmasters Motorcycle Training Workshops in Corona, California. "A former three-time winner at Daytona and team racer for Harley-Davidson, Kawasaki and Suzuki, he was a featured rider in the documentary "On Any Sunday." He is a BMW Legends racer, a professional motorcycle accident reconstruction expert, motorcycle journalist and a private riding instructor. He has worked as an editor for Cycle Guide, Cycle World and Motorcyclist magazines and a contributor and the performance tester for Motorcycle Consumer News. He has logged over a million miles on the road and track." ~~Source: http://www.streetmasters.info/about_us/index.html Dealing with handlebar vibration? Check out our episode with Cole Townsend from Fasst Company:  http://www.adventureriderradio.com/adventure-rider-radio-episodes/2017/1/19/custom-fitting-your-bike-to-your-size-motorcycle-handlebars-women-adv-riders?rq=cole%20townsend Show Sponsors: Max BMWBestRest ProductsGreen Chile Adventure GearMotobriizPSSORIMS ProductsMotobird Adventures Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E159 Jul 13, 2017 63 min

Time is of the Essence

When Ginamarie Austin tired of looking at the back of her husband on a bike, she decided to get her own bike. Being of small stature, they settled on a TW200 and both Ginamarie and her husband Russ fell in love with these bikes and soon became part of a community of TW200 riders, going on short adventures. After a couple of years of health related family commitments, Ginamarie and Russ went on a trip on their TW200's, enjoying back road riding and adventure travel at a slower pace than the big bikes, a well deserved holiday. On returning from their trip, both Gina and Russ were ill, Gina recovered but when Russ didn't it was discovered that he had Stage IV lung cancer. Russ asked Ginamarie to fulfill their dreams of an extended motorcycle trip, something they had been planning to do on retirement.  In a matter of weeks, Ginamarie lost Russ to cancer. She tells an inspiring story of her commitment to Russ, reminding us of the things that really matter. Her motorcycle adventure, which she planned for herself and to honour her husband's memory, turned out to be something altogether different than what she thought it would be. Ginamarie Austin's Blog:  http://www.twowheelstwofeet.com Show Sponsors Max BMWBestRest ProductsGreen Chile Adventure GearPSSORIMS ProductsMotobriiz Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E158 Jul 07, 2017 81 min

LED Motorcycle Lights: What You Need to Know

Tips and information on everything you need to know for equipping your motorcycle with brighter lights. Choosing either quality auxiliary lights or DOT approved headlamps for your motorcycle can make an incredible difference when you need extra lighting. What is the difference between a high quality and low quality LED light? Find out this and more on this episode. Clearwater Lights: Glenn Stasky Website: https://www.clearwaterlights.com/ Custom Dynamics: Dave Pribula Website: https://www.customdynamics.com/ Show Sponsors Max BMW BestRest Products Green Chile Adventure Gear Motobriiz IMS Products Music by Jason Shaw at www.audionautix.com   ★ Support this podcast on Patreon ★

E157 Jun 29, 2017 56 min