Adventure Rider Radio

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, she would need to take everything she required — bike, camping gear, and fuel — into the wilderness. However, her dream was put on the back burner when a brain injury turned her life upside down. After a long struggle with recovery, which included re-learning to ride a motorcycle, she decided to make her dream a reality by inviting a few other riders to join her in riding the hidden roads of the coast. 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: Subscribe so you never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: If you have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: If you know someone who would benefit from today’s episode, share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow.

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. 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: Subscribe so you never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: If you have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you enjoyed today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: If you know someone who would benefit from today’s episode, share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow.

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. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Thanks for listening!

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 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow.

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 riders preparing to compete in adventure motorcycle challenges like the GS Trophy. This episode explores how this training could potentially enhance riding skills. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow.

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 show notes on Adventure Rider Radio. Subscribe and never miss an episode: We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow.

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 eventually made it back home to LA. But what was it like to come back from such an incredible adventure to where they started? 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow.

Owen Clarke is a journalist 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 rider, but what he discovered in the motorcycle changed how he looks at his adventures in more ways than one. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Thank you for listening!

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 Adventure Rider Radio. Subscribe and never miss an episode: Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Thanks for listening!

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 off. With GPS tracks provided by a reliable source, what could possibly go wrong? 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.

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 Pakistan, one encounter at a time. In the end, Moin was amazed by how the journey unfolded and by the kindness of the people he met, which beautifully challenged his own assumptions. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.

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 accident in Mexico. He went down and was injured—unable to lift one arm—but fortunately, nothing was broken. So now Steve had a dilemma - he had saved up for this trip of a lifetime - should he end his adventure there, fly home, and leave the bike in Mexico, or should he try to keep going? 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.

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 process and allows you to do it solo, accurately adjusting your sag for varying loads is now easier than ever, significantly enhancing your ride. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.

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. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.

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 from SMART Adventures, providing professional instruction on how to climb hills on adventure motorcycles. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.

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 even though she was in different surroundings, her problems had come along with her. On a quest for change, Annette found what she was looking for on the road, and more importantly, she discovered how to hold on to it all after she returned home. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.

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 cross the Darien Gap. On their journey through this inhospitable terrain, they encountered thousands of migrants walking the same treacherous route in reverse, navigated dozens of harrowing miles through the tropical rainforest and in the end were reunited with their motorcycles in Colombia. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.

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 preferred style of global travel. In this episode, they talk extensively about their experiences travelling through Australia and Japan. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.

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: Make sure to subscribe so you never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.

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 navigating through trail conditions, it’s a fundamental skills set for both adventure riders and street riders. You’ll stop dropping your bike as much and feel more confident riding slowly on any type of terrain. It’ll allow you to use your adventure motorcycle in the way it’s designed for - to comfortably explore less-traveled areas - while also enhancing your overall riding abilities. 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 never miss an episode! We release new episodes every Thursday, packed with insights you won’t want to miss. Suggestions: Have a show idea or suggestion, send us an email. We'd love to hear from you! Leave a review: If you loved today’s episode, please take a moment to leave us a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favourite podcast app. Your feedback helps us reach more listeners and improve the show. Follow us on social media: Join our community on Facebook and Instagram. Support us: Please consider supporting us! Your support helps us keep the adventure going and brings you even more great content.  Share the podcast: Know someone who would benefit from today’s episode? Share it with them! Spreading the word helps our podcast grow. Join our newsletter: Stay up to date with our latest episodes by signing up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio. Get all the best content delivered straight to your inbox.