Adventure Rider Radio – Motorcycle Podcast

At 38, Stefanie Eickhorn bought her first motorcycle—never anticipating it would take her across continents or away from the structured German life in which she was raised. A decade later, she set off solo, riding from Portugal to the deserts of Saudi Arabia, the peaks of the Balkans, and deep into Africa. She has encountered war-altered routes, shifting borders, and the battle between control and...

In this BUCKET LIST episode, Maria Schumacher and Aidan Walsh talk about their experience riding in the Himalayas. Their journey offers compelling insights into adaptability and its role as a powerful tool in both travel and life, as they found India to be overwhelming and beautiful simultaneously. BUCKET LIST is an Adventure Rider Radio series that features destinations through riders' experience...

In late 2014, after losing his job and finding himself at a crossroads, Josh Kepkay decided to take a leap of faith. With $15,000 in the bank and no clear plan, he set off to travel the world. His journey began in Vietnam, where a motorcycle adventure to Sapa—despite never having ridden a bike before—ignited a lifelong passion within him. What started as a search for direction evolved into a life...

This is the first episode of a miniseries within our RIDER SKILLS series — Ride Ready Skills for Adventure. This miniseries presents a step-by-step program to equip you with the essential skills for your upcoming riding season or adventure. The episodes are arranged linearly, so you can follow along in order over the next three or four episodes, building your knowledge and preparing for some fun a...

In his mid-40s, Philipp Amann decided it was finally time for an off-road motorcycle adventure, despite the challenges of age, fitness, and relying on a 28-year-old BMW R1100GS. His first ride on the TET was a wild and humbling plunge into the deep end, but through grit, determination, and a passion for exploration, he transformed early blunders into triumphs. Along the way, he discovered the thri...

While solo riding the rugged White Rim Trail in Moab, Utah, James Simonowski faced an unexpected ordeal when a crash left him pinned beneath his motorcycle. Equipped with a Garmin inReach, a device he carried with the hope it would work in an emergency, James put it to the ultimate test. Links: Photos and links related to this episode can be found in the show notes on Adventure Rider Radio . Subsc...

As the year begins, many riders set New Year’s resolutions, often centred around sacrifice—cutting out indulgences, hitting the gym, or saving money by skipping small pleasures. All these resolutions centre around some sense of pain, which is why we often give up on our resolutions quickly. But what if your resolution fuelled your passion for two wheels instead? This year, aim for a win-win goal:...

In the premiere episode of BUCKET LIST, Sheonagh Ravensdale and Pat Thomson, who first connected through the Women’s International Motorcycle Association (WIMA), share their incredible journey of adventure. Thirty years after their initial meeting, they continue to explore the world together. One memorable trip took them to Korea, where they were both surprised and deeply impressed by the unique e...

Ante Dodig planned a motorcycle trip that would take him across Canada, up to Alaska, and all the way down to the southernmost tip of South America. This was his first foray into long-distance motorcycling, and while the trip didn’t unfold as he had envisioned, he said he would do it all over again, even knowing the outcome. Links: Photos and links related to this episode can be found in the show...

Backroad riding is the essence of adventure motorcycling — exploring remote places and pushing limits. It’s not an everyday experience for most riders, making preparation and caution crucial. In this RIDER SKILLS episode, Clinton Smout shares expert tips for tackling backroads safely, handling challenges, and avoiding common mistakes — your ultimate guide to backroad adventures. Links: Photos and...

On the 18th day of their adventure motorcycle journey along the Trans America Trail, Steve and Amanda Kleha faced an unexpected challenge in the Utah desert. A thin layer of water stretched across the dirt road ahead, seemingly harmless under the desert sun. Confident from weeks of riding, they decided to press forward. But what unfolded next would turn a routine day into a harrowing test of resil...

The Trans America Trail was the first major motorcycle adventure for Randy Gorrell and his son, Brady. The trip, intended to honor a promise, was filled with challenges. Brady, a newly licensed rider with no dirt experience, struggled on the rugged terrain, while Randy, despite his road expertise, found the TAT to be unlike anything he had ever experienced before. Overloaded bikes, failed comms, a...

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...