Adventure Rider Radio – Motorcycle Podcast

For more than a decade, Suzanne Jolly had dreamed of her ultimate motorcycle adventure. Her idea was to load her motorcycle onto a boat that would drop her in a remote, boat-access-only area on the British Columbia coast. Once there, she could explore the vast network of logging roads that crisscross the Coast Mountains and ride in an area that few have ever seen. Because the area is so remote, sh...

Ian Varley stepped off his boat in the UK, swung his leg over his motorcycle, and set off on a multi-country adventure. His gear was well thought out and organized, but his route was not yet locked down. Fast forward a few days, Ian wakes up in a foreign country, believing he is having a heart attack. This is where the trouble begins as he faces a life-threatening condition in an unfamiliar place....

This episode of Rider Skills with Clinton Smout focuses on a technique that doesn’t often get much attention. While experienced riders and instructors use it instinctively, it's rarely highlighted despite being essential for mastering great control. With just a bit of simple, low-risk practice, this skill can dramatically improve your riding and control without the risk of dropping your bike. Link...

Andy, Josh, Sean, and Marlin are riding buddies with a unique bond. Approximately every two years, they try to go on a major expedition. Their most recent adventure involved riding the length of the Silk Road, focusing on getting off-road as much as possible. While they ultimately did not complete the journey as planned, the trip led to a spectacular discovery. Links: Photos and links related to t...

Motorcycle riders often spend considerable time learning and perfecting their riding skills. Our popular segment on the show, Rider Skills, discusses various techniques and the importance of learning them and practicing them in real-world conditions. However, what's sometimes missing is the next step—real-world exposure. Ben Dragoo has developed a curriculum specifically designed to help train rid...

Irwin Kubilius set out for a solo ride into the desert, fully aware of the challenges ahead. With experience, skill, and preparation on his side, he emerged unscathed in the end. But in hindsight, we can pinpoint a series of seemingly harmless decisions that could have easily led to disaster if conditions were less than ideal. Links: Photos and links related to this episode can be found in the  sh...

Chad Horton and Rose Padilla were headed home after being on the road for over five years. They flew to Panama City for a 2 to 3-day layover but ended up waiting for 2 to 3 weeks due to a delay in DHL delivering their motorcycle and gear. Ultimately, DHL admitted that they had lost track of the crate containing the motorcycle and all their gear, leaving Chad and Rose stranded in Panama. They event...

Owen Clarke is a journalist and motorcyclist who mostly writes about action sports. He’s spent years traveling the globe, chasing stories and adventures. As an outdoor enthusiast, his journey often began with long drives on rough, remote roads—each mile taking a toll on his car and nerves. But then, everything changed. That was until Owen discovered the motorcycle. Not that he wasn’t already a rid...

In this episode of Rider Skills, we’ll explore the challenges of sand riding and introduce a new technique to help improve your confidence and skills on sandy terrain. Expert riding instructor, Clinton Smout, will share practical tips and advice to help you navigate sand more easily and become a better rider. Links: Photos and links related to this episode can be found in the  show notes on Advent...

In this episode of DEEP TROUBLE, Chris Hoerenz needed a break from work, so he and a friend decided to fly into Park City, Utah, for an adventure. The plan was to rent motorcycles from a company that Chris's friend had used before, which would also provide GPS tracks for their day trips. After picking up the bikes and looking at the GPS routes, they chose one that seemed to suit the day and rode o...

Moin Khan, from Pakistan, has been passionate about motorcycles since childhood.  While attending school in the United States, Moin was surprised by how little people knew about Pakistan, and much of what they did know seemed inaccurate. So, after finishing school, he decided to ride a motorcycle back to Pakistan, calling his journey ‘A Different Agenda’. His goal was to change perceptions about P...

In late 2023, after years of talking about it, Steve Robertson embarked on his solo ride from Ontario, Canada to Ushuaia, Argentina. He had never done a big international trip like this before, he didn’t speak any Spanish and knew the language barrier could be a challenge, but with a translation app in hand and his goals firmly set, he felt ready to go. On the eighth day of his trip, he had an acc...

Setting your 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 settings. However, with a new device that simplifies the proc...

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 where a heavy adventure bike was never meant to go. L...

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 SKILLS program will feature pro rider Clinton Smout f...

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 Americas and while on her trip she realized that...

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 five-day trek through mud, rivers, and jungle to...

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 and gradually moving to smaller ones that suit their...

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. Links: Photos and links related to this episode can be found in the  show notes on Adventure Rider Radio . Subscribe and never miss an episode: M...

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 parking lot, turning around on a road, or navigat...

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 and inspired a life guided by openness to the unknow...

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 were inseparable. Together, Tracy and her loyal can...

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 Clinton Smout, we will explore the essential elements...

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. Links: Photos and links related to this episode can be found in the  show notes on Adventure Rider Radio . Subscribe and never miss an episode: Make sure to subscribe so you...

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 explore the world, and after travelling for the past...