2014 - The Year on Adventure Rider Radio

We reflect on 2014 by playing some audio from previous episode and providing some insight into the sounds. Some great nuggets on this episode.

Food and motorcycles. What do the two have in common? Well, listen to Allan Karl’s story about his search for truth and his dream of exploring the world. Of how he linked food and motorcycles together as he travelled solo through five continents for three years on his motorcycle. After facing a crossroads in his personal life and selling everything he owns, he rode his BMW 62,000 miles through 35 countries, experiencing both highs and lows during his adventure. He then chronicles his journey in his new book “Forks: A Quest for Culture, Cuisine and Connection”. Host, Jim Martin, asks Allan to explain how he came about writing a book about motorcycles and food. Believe it or not, there is a connection. 

A determined woman with no long distance riding experience, who realized her dream of riding across North America on a Triumph Bonneville. With no money and no time, and no way to get her beloved motorbike across the Atlantic Ocean, she dreamed and planned for four years to realize her adventure of riding on the ‘roads less travelled’ across the United States. In 2012, with just a T100 for company, she travelled over 9000 km in the hottest summer on record. In a book she never planned to write, Zoe shares her incredible experiences in her book “Bonneville Go or Bust - on the roads less travelled”. 

Meet Jolandie Rust, affectionately known as Jo, who inadvertently became the first woman to circumnavigate the entire African continent riding solo on a motorcycle. Really, it wasn’t her original plan, but circumstances changed her goals, just a bit. From pedal power to motor power, Jo tells a story about overcoming fears and living her dream. Starting out on her bicycle, she got part way through her trip before she was the victim of an armed robbery. She returned home, but not feeling defeated she was able to purchase a used BMW F650GS Dakar, learned to ride and then Jo began her journey again andtravelled over 45,000 km through 28 countries in just 18 months. But, she hasn’t stopped there. She is now training for her next challenge… well tune in to hear all about it. An inspiring story of determination and perseverance, join show host Jim Martin, as Jo regales us about her many adventures in Africa.

On this episode of Adventure Rider Radio we speak with Don Parsons about his style of motorbike travel with a pickup, trailer and of course his motorcycle as well as the tremendous benefits of using local forums for trip planning.

In the second segment of the show Jonathon Gibson talks about riding his 1969 Royal Enfield from Sydney to London and how the “maintenance heavy” bike makes for an overall richer experience.

Brian Rix has been riding motorcycles since he was young on his father’s farm near Victoria in Australia, mustering sheep during his school holidays on a motorbike. Passionate about travel, he dreamed of travelling around the world on a motorcycle. Lucky for Brian, his wife Shirley Hardy-Rix enjoyed riding pillion and agreed to go along for the ride. 

So in 2003, Brian, a career policeman and Shirley, who had her own media business, took time off from their normal middle class life and fulfilled their lifelong ambition of motorcycling around the world on a BMW 1150GS. In one year, they traversed 27 countries and rode more than 56,000 kilometres.

And then in 2011, Brian and Shirley, both now retired, shipped their 2008 BMW 1200GS Adventure to Santiago, South America and rode from the bottom of South America to the top of North America, then through Western Europe and Southern Africa, visiting 5 countries altogether and covering over 80,000 kilometres. All in 16 months. 

They have shared their adventures by writing two books, “Two for the Road” and “Circle to Circle”, an inspiration for anyone who wants to experience the world by motorcycle, especially happy couples riding pillion.

Nick Sanders is known for his endurance long distance motorcycle adventures, and also as the fastest rider in the world. He’s done solo trips racing across the world in search of travel records covering more than 4,000,000 miles without a single accident. On this episode, Nick discusses his own techniques for log distance riding and some much deeper subjects about the ride.

Daniel Rintz was born in East Germany at a time when world travel was impossible for his family, but as he entered his teen years the wall fell and Daniels world fell wide open for adventure. Rintz missed nothing in this experience and embraced travel whole heartedly and is now riding adventure motorcycle around the world with Joey, the love of his life.

Bill Hooykaas and Greg Powell with their Two Ways Down presentation from this year's HUBB meet in Ontario, Canada

ARR host Jim Martin and adventure rider and photographer Brent Henry discuss their experience and things to consider when traveling with a group and solo.

Seven friends go chasing breadcrumbs through the worlds most desolate and remote location - the Sahara Desert.
Missing just one of the food and fuel caches buried by Beast of Burden at random GPS points could mean death. On top of all that - they filmed the entire trip for the movie - Mondo Sahara.

Austin talks about why this group of friends would do something like this.

Simon Pavey goes back to Dakar for 2015. Simon talks about his life as the owner of Off Road Skills - the official BMW training centre for the UK.

Also, exclsuive off-road riding tips straight from the master himself for Adventure Rider Radio listeners.

Simon discusses workiing with Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on Long Way Round.

Jeremy Kroeker lives in Canmore Alberta but travelers the world and has a unique and light hearted way of relating to it. Jeremy talks about his two books on his moto journeys and his view of the world.

Adventure Rider Radio host Jim Martin stops by the Ontario, Canada Horizons Unlimited Travelers Meeting to see what happens behind closed doors - and open ones at that. 

Grant Johnson from Horizons Unlimited has the scoop on how to handle border crossings, muggers, fixers, bribes, cons and other border problems with some insider "secrets" on getting through the border with as little trouble as possible.

Crossing borders by motorcycle can be fun an interesting using Grant's methods and advice.

Jason Spafford and Lisa Morris are really just getting going on their motorcycle adventure. After a month on a ship getting to South America (not a cruise ship) they arrive and find that newbie rider Lisa Morris has what it takes to keep getting up and riding on. 

Heres the second part of Simon and Lisa Thomas talking about adventure travel, 11 years on the road, broken bridges and a broken neck, best motorcycle tires for their trip, motorcycle choice, panniers and much more. After eleven years on the road Simon and Lisa have wealth of information on overland motorcycle travel for us. Don't miss this one.

Motorcycle adventurer, award winning photographer, public speaker, documentary film maker Ryan Pyle circumnavigates China. Documenting the trip on video for a later developed television series he and his brother Colin earn a Guinness World Record for the trip. Ryan talks about the experience, riding in China, the China motorcycle scene and living in Shanghai. There's a good chance that you'll find yourself looking to ride in China after this interview.

Graham Field is an adventure motorcyclist and author from the UK with some very unique ideas for life, including ocumenting every day. Not just when he does one of his epic trips but every day. Graham also financed a trip with an unconvential source that you wont believe but should try.

ARR's Jim Martin and Sam Manicom continue from Part 1 with stories, tips and recommendations. Listen to Part 1 if you haven't yet.

Also, in this episode we hear an excerpt from Sam's new audio version of Into Africa read by the author himself.

Grant Johnson has also travelled the world but is likely best know for being the founder of Horizons Unlimited with his wife Susan. Grant and Susan help organize and host HU meets all over the world and at some of those meets, along with all the other demonstrations and informational talks, Grant does his demo on setting your bike up perfectly for you.

Next we have Sam Manicom whom spent eight years traveling the globe on his R90GS BMW motorcycle. He suffered through breakdowns, jail, court, ailments, injuries and had the time of his life doing it.

Sam talks about his travels, retails us with incredible stories, talk about bike mods - what worked and what didn't and far more.

When you have riden a motorcycle for 11 years through seventy eight countries and over five hundred thousand kilometres you learn a lot about what it takes to do what you are doing. Lisa and Simon Thomas are a first hand wealth of knowledge for motorcycle adventurers and have more than a lifetime of experience - 22 years combined ADV rider experience! Thats incredible. But to talk to them, you'll hear a couple of true mates each with a sharp sense of humour and an easy laugh ready to share what they have learned.

The HUBB for overland travel is Horizons Unlimited and Grant Johnson is "the man" behind the scenes as well as in the scene.

Grant is a world traveller himself and has become an expert in the field of motorcycle travel through his own experience and through the input from the thousands of people that have helped the website grow to over one hundred and fourteen thousand pages!

Soft luggage, waterproofing system for any bags that is 100% water tight!

Keeping track of wheel bearing temperatures without a thermometer and why you should care and how to make the BEST earbuds for motorcycling ever - in your own home on the cheap.

It's all in the bag baby and that's not my bag! Here are some tech tips - how to keep your gear dry in any bag, how to monitor those ever important wheel bearing temps and why you should care...

Austin talks about his round the world trip which culminated in the film, Mondo Enduro. He also discusses his philosophy behind using only small displacement bikes on his trips, what worked and what didn't work for him and his motley crew on this well documented adventure.

Adventure Rider Radio host Jim Martin talks about trip planning with world motorcycle adventurer and author Rene Cormier.

What is motorcycle adventure? With special guests Dave Barr, Dr. Greg Frazier and Richard Jeynes we talk adventure - what is it, how does it qualify as an adventure, and what does it take to achieve it? And Richard Jeynes shares some great off-road riding techniques that he teaches at his Triumph off-road school in the UK.

Two experienced motorcyclists, Dr Greg Frazier and Carla King share tips about packing and camping for adventure motorcycle trips. And world renowned author, Ted Simon, has some great tips and thoughts about the necessity, or not, of knowing the language of the countries you're traveling through.