TCX Airtech Gore-Tex Touring Boots

Few things are as undesirable and unpleasant as cold, wet feet. A delightful springtime ride can turn into your own personal hell if you get caught in a rainstorm with porous footwear. No one in their right mind would wear tennis shoes (without socks!) on a motorcycle, but even dedicated riding boots can leave your footsies all purple and shriveled up after a deluge. [Read more]

Around the World the Hard Way – Mondo Enduro DVD

Ready for your big adventure?  Have you seen enough of Ewan and Charlie going the Long Way here or there that you want to hop in the saddle and leave your cares behind in a cloud of dust? Well, there’s no better place to start planning a big trip than in front of your TV with the Mondo Enduro DVD. This is the story of seven Brits who decided to ride around the world by the longest route in the shortest amount of time on Suzuki DR350s. This is not a Ewan and Charlie adventure by any means. No film crew, no trucks, no satellite phone or FedEx’d parts. This is seven normal guys with small bikes, a few tools, and some camping gear pitting themselves against an aggressive schedule and the great unknown. [Read more]

Fab Fitments for V Stars

Big Bike Parts introduces its all-new Show Chrome Accessories ABS Chrome Belt Cover for the Yamaha V Star 950 and V Star 1300. This unique design is enhanced with a contoured shape running front to rear to cover the belt, adds length to protect the belt more fully, widens the belt cover for extra protection and adds great styling. Chrome Belt Cover, Part Number 63-202, $109.95. [Read more]

Boredom Remedy

It was confirmed when I opened the letter; I own a boring car. The insurance bill came in a full 1/3 lower despite that fact that the new Subaru Outback replaced a Jeep Wrangler that was two years old and cost 2/3 what it did. Apparently even the rates adjusters doze off when they look at damage claims for what is still listed as a wagon on the charts. The desire for a single vehicle to replace my two cars with one led me to the Outback. I even ended up owning a non-committal charcoal gray color. Yawn. [Read more]

Favorite Ride: Tracing the Big Easy to the Dragon, Part 3

Deals Gap Motorcycle Resort

After leaving the coal mine, I eventually found pavement again and my tires felt glued to the road. I was rewarded with a coiling, freshly surfaced road that went down the side of a mountain. I headed towards my ultimate destination: the Dragon. Also known as the Tail of the Dragon or Deal’s Gap, it is one of motorcycling’s holy sites. The moto-faithful come from around the world to experience this 11-mile stretch of Hwy 129, which has 318 curves, or a curve every 182 feet. Sadly, excess speed and poor judgment lead to one or two fatalities each year on the Dragon. [Read more]

Favorite Ride: Tracing the Big Easy to the Dragon, Part 2

Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee.

Leaving Nashville, my next destination was Red Boiling Springs, a small town in east Tennessee that was a popular wellness destination in early 1900s. The springs produce four types of water–black, red, free stone and double and twist–that are different in mineral content and were considered cures for various ailments. A flood in 1969 wiped out much of the town, and a sleepy community is all that remains. My reservation was at Armour’s Hotel, built in 1924. As the only guest in an old hotel in a deserted town, I felt once again like I had left the known world behind. The quiet isolation was restorative, and the steam bath, hot soak in a claw foot tub and deep tissue massage provided a stress-relief trifecta. The next morning I sat alone in the cavernous dining room and savored a huge country breakfast spread. [Read more]

Favorite Ride: Tracing the Big Easy to the Dragon, Part 1

Southern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway in Natchez, Mississippi.

(Prologue: This trip took place in June of 2005. I was living in New Orleans at the time, running a small home-based  market research business with my wife.)

My tired brain was emitting fight-or-flight messages. Escape. Get away. Work was murder and stress enveloped me like a chalk outline. Go now, before it’s too late. Fighting was not an option, so I took flight on the road, away from the gravy-thick humidity and third world streets of New Orleans. Alone and without a schedule, I went in search of freedom and endorphins on some of America’s great motorcycling roads. [Read more]

The Dangers and Thrills of Africa on a Bike

The security of solo motorcycle travel in Africa is crucial. To stay safe and limit opportunities for theft and robberies I came up with a few strategies that I continually adjust as conditions and situations require. Because I carry soft motorcycle luggage and a locked waterproof bag, I try to keep the bike’s luggage in sight. While there are times when I don’t, so far I’m fortunate to have avoided mishaps. Most important has been the assessment of conditions and anticipation of tricky situations. I try to constantly stay aware and assess whether I’m in a country that is less safe (Zimbabwe), in an area that is less secure, at a time of day that is more prone to problems and if there any suspicious characters around.

While I came across a solo Russian BMW rider who fought off two robbery attempts on his crossing of Africa, most stories I heard and my own experiences have been fantastic and positive. The African people have been overwhelmingly helpful and honest. When they see an orange, strange-looking KTM approaching, they smile with wide open mouths, give me thumbs-up, requests for wheelies, air kisses and various other expressions of joy. It feels like the moment a circus comes to their village and I’m the ringleader. These are the moments that take the journey from being great to being superb and give me an extra boost of energy as I push the occasional 600- and 700-kilometer day ride.

The author keeps an eye out for wildlife while riding in Africa.

The primary danger of riding many of the Southern Africa’s roads is animals. Botswana’s roads, for example, perform double duty as the country’s pastures. There are cows, donkeys, goats, hogs and–every 20 to 40 kilometers–a cattle grates to cross. One advantage of riding a single-cylinder bike is that it makes a loud, unfamiliar noise that scares these animals from hundreds of feet away. On rare occasions I have had to use my horn, or come to a complete stop.

Amazing landscapes and wild game can be seen just riding Africa’s roads, especially those adjacent or running through national parks and game reserves. While riding a 300-kilometer stretch through northeast Botswana, the wild animals by the road were not donkeys, but wild elephants and 500-pound Oryx antelopes. By end of the day I had counted 20 elephants, some grazing within 15 feet from the road. When they heard the unfamiliar “ta-ta-ta-ta” sound of the KTM engine many of them flared their ears and did an about turn into defensive positions. An Oryx, startled by the bike, ran alongside me at 55 kmh for about two minutes before jumping onto the road in front of me, and eventually crossing to the other side and continuing its gallop.

Southern Africa’s roads are in mostly good shape, and often deserted. In Namibia, Botswana and South Africa’s Karoo region an hour or two would pass without seeing another vehicle. Africa’s road network is changing quickly. Chinese road construction companies and Chinese laborers can be seen from Mozambique to Lesotho to Botswana, laying asphalt as part of China’s development aid to the continent.

As of early February, after nine weeks and 9,000 kilometers in Africa, I have traversed nine countries: South Africa, Swaziland, Mozambique, Lesotho, Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Malawi.

To read and see more about this project and donate to the Riders for Health organization, please visit www.AfricaHeartbeat.com or its Facebook fan page.

Designing Rider

Jody Levitan here, art director for Rider magazine, where you can usually find me at my computer designing layouts and doing my best to create a more enjoyable reading experience with a visual story as well. I’m also the most novice rider on staff and in May it will be three years since I’ve taken the MSF class and fulfilled my childhood dream of riding and therefore ending my rider envy for the rest of the staff. [Read more]

Race Tech Dual-sport Suspension Upgrades

Race Tech Fork Emulator Gold Valve Kit

BETTER BOUNCERS. The venerable Kawasaki KLR650 has taken many adventure riders around the world. Tough as nails and within everyone’s budget, it’s hard to beat. But the stock suspension leaves much to be desired. Race Tech offers Fork Emulator Gold Valve Kits, HP Fork Springs, G3-S Custom Shocks, lowering kits, as well as various suspension maintenance parts and tools. [Read more]

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