Create bucket list motorcycle adventure routes by converting your Google maps to GPX files in minutes.
Friends, we’ve uploaded a super-simple tutorial to Youtube so that you can convert Google Maps directions to gpx. We spent a bit of time discussing the highlights of the tutorial on this episode of the adventure motorcycle podcast.
The tragic passing of Kobe Bryant shocked the world yesterday. My thoughts were shared briefly. But to summarize, he transcended the sport and pop culture throughout his career. The man was a global icon, looked up to by so many.
Ricky Brabec became the first American to ever win Dakar. We also heard that he opted to not re-sign with Honda prior to the event. Think Ricky might make a few extra dollars as a free agent and Dakar champion?
The man behind the brand, Jason Gearld, returned to the show and delivered. A veteran of this motorcycle podcast, he’s been a fan favorite of listeners since episodes 32 & 36.
Phoenix Handlebars
After helping to build some of the biggest brands in the industry, Jason Gearld decided it was time to try something on his own. He rolled the entrepreneurial dice in 2016 and founded Phoenix Handlebars. A brand built around Jason’ values & passion for the sport. A brand for the everyday dude who loves to rip with his buddies and crack open a few cold ones at the end of the day.
Despite his passion for the sport, Jason mentions some shortcomings during the podcast. Regarding industry trades shows; he is no longer seeing the turnout from vendors and dealers that once was. Is social media to blame?
Entirely possible.
It has never been easier to spread your message, build your brand and sell your products.
Jason Gearld the Man
A committed family man, Jason balances times between the American and entrepreneurial dreams. Nevertheless, striking that balance can be difficult at times. He acknowledges, managing social media accounts alone, can be a tremendous burden on free time.
Jason creates every piece of content on his site & social media accounts. The attention to detail is always apparent. And his love of motorcycles oozes from every single post.
Who knew content wrapped around handlebars could be so interesting?
on the next episode
Next time on the motorcycle adventures podcast we will discuss the most common question I receive from listeners.
“How do you create the breathtaking routes you ride?”
Guys, it’s super simple. 2 pieces of software. One of which, you’re going to be very familiar with.
Remember friends, don’t forget to rate, review, and subscribe to this podcast!
Rick from Dualsport Advocate drops by the moto podcast to discuss his passion for the dual sport life and photography.
Weekend Warrior
Rick’s story is something we can all relate to.
He works hard during the week to provide for his family. But when the weekend rolls around, he likes to get out and explore the back country on dual sport rides.
Armed with a camera and sense for adventure, Rick joins his SoCal buddies on a search for some amazing trails.
And from the sounds of it, the riding is pretty good in his neck of the woods. In fact, Rick is quick to point out that there is no riding “season” in his area. When the weather is warm, he can ride in the mountains. Cooler weather coupled with moisture provides excellent riding the in low-lying areas.
Dare we say, the best of both worlds? Envious.
PHOTOGRAPHY
No interview would be complete without discussing a bit of photography. Who doesn’t love to ride their motorcycle in beautiful areas & snapping the occasional pic? Rick is no exception.
When asked about video, he mentioned that he prefer stills.
Fair enough.
Working with video can be a huge undertaking when you considering time, storage, software, etc.
KTM 500
Rick chose the KTM 500 to do all of his back country exploring in SoCal. A solid choice no doubt; we both agreed that this may be the most versatile dual sport bike on the planet.
From the open desert to single track trails, the KTM 500 is hard to rival. On the pavement though, neither of us would pick it as our fave. Rick himself is considering a KTM 790 for rides that have more pavement and dirt roads. He was quick to point out that he would be keeping his 500 regardless.
Carrie Barton details her 10-day dual sport ride on the Tour of Idaho.
Imagine a 10 day, 1500-mile ride dominated by single track. Now imagine having to navigate the entire way without missing a beat. Better yet, picture yourself not really knowing what is going to be in store.
This is precisely the situation Carrie found herself in, August of 2019 when she became the first woman to officially complete the Tour of Idaho (TOI).
She had an idea of what to expect. But Idaho threw everything at her and her riding partners.
Tons of amazing single track. Long, grueling days. Scorching heat & chilling cold.
Water crossings. Incidents with bear spray. Critical navigation.
But what drove Carrie to take on such a big challenge? How long did it take her to prepare for the TOI and would she do it again? You’ll have to listen to catch all of the details.
But some people are just cut out for for large scale adventure.
Bertrand De Oliveria is one of those people.
Tune in to this episode to get a little background on his life and his thoughts on travel. At the time of this recording, Bertrand had also picked up a brand new KTM 790 Adventure R. To the best of our knowledge, he was one of the first to take this motorcycle on a long motorcycle adventure.
ALASKA MOTORCYCLE TOURS
Interesting in a guided ride from New Mexico to Prudhoe Bay in 2020?
Shoot us an email.
Want to become a confident adv rider in just 3 days?
After 15 months riding through Europe and the Americas, Raul & Verena stop by the show to discuss riding the Pan American Highway by Motorcycle.
KTM 790 Adventure R Review
Oct 10, 2019
Show notes
KTM 790 Adventure R REview
After 2000 miles of riding the KTM 790 Adventure R in the back country, we weigh in on its off-road worthiness.
Idaho BDR Tips
Oct 03, 2019
Show notes
IDAHO BDR TIPS
We hope these Idaho BDR tips make your ride more enjoyable!
TIP #1
Don’t be afraid to deviate from the main route.
Idaho is special. Capturing all of its glory in one ride, on one route, impossible. However, you can add other points of interest to your ride.
Don’t be afraid to go off-route to chase down fire lookouts, waterfalls, whatever.
Better accommodations can also be found by adding a few miles to the end of any day.
TIP #2
Prepare for all weather conditions.
This isn’t Colorado. You won’t be ascending 12000′ peaks. In fact, you won’t even clear 9,000 feet.
That doesn’t mean you the weather won’t get the best of you, though. In 2019, our first 4 days were littered with heavy rain. Temps were in the low 40s.
How did we combat this?
Good gear. Gore-Tex riding jackets and pants. Warm gloves. Layers.
You may be blessed with excellent conditions but in the event you aren’t, you’ll be thankful you prepared.
TIP #3
Good tires make for a good time.
50/50 adventure bike tires won’t cut it. Unless of course, its dry.
You’ll find that roads in the lower portion of the Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route don’t have a lot of rock in them. Heavy precipitation can make for slick or muddy conditions.
Our recommendation?
Try the Goldentyre GT723 tires. We’ve ridden the route on a KTM 500 and on a KTM 790 Adventure R with these adventure tires & they work great!
TIP #4
Navigate with GPS tracks.
The tracks are free from the RIDE BDR site and they’re flawless.
Use the Idaho BDR map as a supplement.
TIP #5
Utilize lodging.
Camping is fun but there are some great places to stay along the route. More importantly, spending our money in small towns will ensure businesses stay open in these remote areas.
MORE IDAHO BDR TIPS
Ride the Magruder Corridor section by itself
Visit the Florence cemetery
The Baum Shelter in Warren has great food
Ride with a guide! We will be hosting two adventure motorcycle tours in Idaho. We’d love for you to join us!
Get More ADV Riding Tips
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Episode 041: Crushing Miles
Jul 23, 2019
Show notes
Friends and listeners, expect the same kind of show & content every week with one caveat.
We have a co-host! His name is Garrett Ortiz (he’s been a guest on two shows already). Garrett is a die hard Beta rider and of course, I love my KTM machines.
I would expect a fair amount of good humor, back & forth, and plenty of stories from the back country, tips, thoughts, etc.!
Episode 040: Secret Trails
Jun 01, 2019
Show notes
Secret Trails. Do they still exist?
Garrett Ortiz stops by to debate the sharing of sacred spots through social media.
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