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Adventure Motorcycle Travel Blog & Adventure Stories
Welcome to the adventure motorcycle travel blog where you'll find adventure stories from throughout the world. All Adventure travel stories are welcome including adventure motorcycling, overland travel, air travel, foot, bicycle... If it's a cool adventure story then we want to hear it! Sign up to start your own adventure motorcycle travel blog, or start following your favorite adventure travel bloggers today!
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Review: Bilt Explorer Helmet
I needed a new helmet since my trusty Scorpion had long seen better days. and Being the price conscious fellow that I am, I gravitated immediately towards the Built Explorer dual sport helmet. Priced at $99 the DOT Approved helmet looked sturdy enough, and was even quite impressive aesthetically. The Explorer was lightweight and had a relatively thin profile, unlike Shark or Vcann helmets where the helmet is as wide as my shoulders.Minutes after buying the Built Explorer helmet, I jumped on the freeway (not literally of course) and immediately noticed how badly the helmet would get caught in the wind the moment I turned my head. It took me a week or two to train my neck muscles to be able to ignore the wind resistance. Now that's probably just my ignorance talking and maybe that's just the nature of any elongated dual sport helment compared to the streamline Scorpion EXO 700 that I graduated from. My biggest frustration however is the lens. Is simply doesn't have the same optical quality that my scorpion had. It's like buying a $10 pair of sunglasses versus a $200 pair of Maui Jim's. I realized that most people don't notice the difference. but I have.. sensitive eyes. If you don't know what I'm talking about, it would be like wearing someone else's prescription eyeglasses, but not near that bad. Like I said, most people would never notice. Lastly, the lens isn't anti-fog. as a result, It fog's very easily and very quickly during my morning rides. Now, All of that being said. this helmet really is an amazing buy for $99! I'll definitely keep using it as my summer helmet. and I'll be adding some spray-on anti fog for the colder days. I'm happy I bought it, and I'd recommend it to most anyone on a budget.The Pros:
MSRP is $99
Looks good
Thin Profile
Lightweight
The Cons:
Lens' are not anti-fog
Lens' slightly distort the light
Lots of wind resistance when turning head side to side
...
Why WestJet Beats the Competition in Customer Satisfaction
When you like a company, you like doing business with them. While most people have a distant affectation with the airline they use for travel, customers of WestJet demonstrate strong brand loyalty to the independent carrier. WestJet is the second largest airline in terms of volume of passengers in Canada behind the National airline Air Canada. How does WestJet continue to grow and expand both its routes and its customer service amenities in a global economy where most airlines are cutting back? They do it by focusing on customer service, and they do it better than everyone else.
It seems like a simple policy but it is one that is a hard act to follow for other airlines. There are a number of examples that demonstrate where WestJet goes against the grain and in its own direction when it comes to decisions that impact customers and the organizations profitability. Naturally business experts would say that if you take care of your customers, your business will grow. Why does it seem like it is an easy conclusion to come to, but one that very few airlines have been able to or willing to adopt for one reason or another? It is actually good news for WestJet who continues to shine as an example of exemplary customer service.
The Approachable Persona
WestJet makes an effort to remember that customers come first. How to do they show the human side of their organization? Customers comment that their personable and even humorous advertising that pokes fun at other airlines helps travelers remember that they are unique in the travel industry. WestJet wants to demonstrate how hard they work to make their customers happy either with economical pricing of airfare or with other innovative amenities such as ‘seatback’ television screens or tablet rentals on long haul flights, increased leg room and better food. These may seem like small things but to a traveler they mean a great deal and create added value to the flight when it is a comfortable and pleasant experience.
Expansion of Service
When other airlines are operating old, inefficient airplanes as part of their fleet and cutting back services to break even, WestJet differentiated itself from the pack and recognized early the trending uphill price of fuel and route operation. It quickly replaced its aging fleet with new fuel efficient planes as part of their strategy to keep airfare prices low and...
Saving on Vacation Travel
If you think you cannot afford to go for a vacation this year, we recommend you take a look at the price war that is going on between airlines right now. Depending on the destination, some of the prices of air travel have been falling so low that many airlines are reporting lower profits versus rising operation costs. What does this mean to the average traveller? It means that there hasn't been a better time to start booking travel and explore the world on a budget, using economy airfare.
In the past when you needed to book a ticket and you used a travel agent, you could be assured that the agent would be finding the best value for your money and flight deals. However when the airline industry moved to online customer direct booking the prevalence of cheap flights and their accessibility changed the way we schedule our travel.
If you don't know much about finding flights online, there are a few pointers that can help you ensure that you are getting the best value for your money. We've put together a few tips to help you get started.
Tip #1: Always book your travel at least one month in advance wherever possible. By booking early you can take advantage of the early-bird discount when carriers are trying to fill the seats on a scheduled flight. The earlier you book the more money you will save on your flight.
Tip #2: Look for a Price Drop Guarantee. It is a great way to make sure that if the price of your ticket drops that you won't be stuck paying the higher price for your flight. While details vary according to services or carriers, all of them will refund the whole difference or a portion of it if your ticket goes on sale after you have purchased it.
Tip #3: Book domestic flights whenever possible. As soon as a flight becomes an International Flight (involving customs at the airport) the cost of your ticket goes up. Can you take a bus to a domestic airport? Travelling within domestic routes can save you as much as 30% or more on the cost of your ticket.
Think smart and think affordability when you book your flights. Choose economy class whenever possible and avoid fare increases due to last minute travel. Try to travel in off hours where possible to shave some extra cost...
Packing Your Carry-on for Success
This is my first post on this website, and I'm really excited to start writing about my travels! I have been doing cross-country traveling for the past nineteen years, and I've definitely accrued some knowledge along the way that's worth reading!
Today, we're discussing what to pack in your carry-on bag in order to have the best experience possible while flying. The first thing you'll want to consider is how long your flight is going to be. If it's a short flight and you're traveling solo or with other adults who have packed their own bags, then just pack the necessities:
GUMSeriously, I could explain all day why gum is necessary during flight. First, the chewing motion helps your inner ear adjust to the changes in altitude and pressure. This is important if you enjoy being able to hear and if you don't want your ears to ache from the pressure. Another reason why gum rocks is because you are in close proximity to others, and you never know how your breath is going to smell. Really, gum is just courteous. Plus, you can (politely) offer it to your neighbors without seeming rude to hint that they need it. I've also been on turbulent flights where people have gotten sick, and they ALWAYS appreciate a piece of gum after they're done throwing up. Gum is also a great way to make friends on your flight (and not just with the sickies with bad breath). So if you happen to be sitting next to the hottie from your dreams, offering that cutie a piece of gum can get you talking, and who knows where that might lead?
HOODIELayers are always a must when traveling, no matter your mode of travel, and airplanes are no exception. Hoodies are perfect for your carry-on because you can wear it if you get cold or your can use it as a pillow for sleeping. Especially during travel, spills are inevitable. In order to cover them up quickly, just throw on your stashed sweatshirt and you're all set! As far as sleeping goes, if you've got the window seat, you're a lucky duck who can wedge that rolled up sweatshirt next to the wall and snooze the flight away. If you're in the middle seat or next to the aisle, sleep doesn't have to be illusive for you either! Just ball up that hoodie and put...
Changing a BMW Air filter is Super easy on the 1150 GS (and other GS models). In fact, it's so easy that we almost didn't make the video in the first place. But we decided we better include it as part of our upcoming video series, "How to do a 25k mile maintenance on a BMW 115 GS".
Change your Air filer in 5 quick steps.
Take off the seat
Use a Philips screwdriver to remove the two screws holding on the Air Filter cap
Remove the old filter (Be careful not to knock dirt into the center/intake hole)
use a vacuum hose to suck up the remaining dirt.
Pop in the new air filter
Replace the Air filter cap and Seat
I told you that changing an Air filter on a BMW 1150 GS motorcycle was super easy!...
Photo Post: Riding the Pony Express Trail
I just wanted to do a quick photo post of the Pony Express Trail we rode a while back. It's actually an awesome little trail and perfect for those with a new adventure motorcycle who just want to get their feet a little dirty.
We stumbled on a guy that was out hunting for Geodes and his truck died. luckily we were able to jump him with our bikes.
There were some ruined leftovers from the old Pony Express station.
The nice thing about the trail is that there are a lot of side trails if you want to get more adventurous.
...
Long Distance Riding!!
I didn't grow up owning motorcycles or dirt bikes. I didn't know any avid bike riders. Heck I didn't even ride on the back of one until I was out of high school. That all changed when I met my husband.
I always thought bike riders were big tough and gruff men who carried chains and all were in gangs. I kinda had a narrow view when it came to motorcycle riders. So when I met my husband I laughed at him and told him there was no way he rode motorcycles. He is 6'3", 160 lbs and loved to dress up and look nice. He was the exact opposite of the stereotype I had pictured. And to blow my mind even more he introduced me to his parents, who both also rode bikes. So needless to say I had a lot to learn.
Well time went on and me and my husband got married. He had educated me on the "bike world" and I soon learned he was not just a motorcycle rider, but he lived and breathed motorcycles. He had taken me on a few short rides before marriage but I did not know what I was getting into when I agreed to the biggest trip of my life. The plan was for me to fly out to New York City to visit my sister. My husband would then ride his bike from Utah and meet me there. We would then ride home together. As intimidating as that ride sounded I was super excited.
So we did it. I flew out to New York and waited for him to arrive. He took 3 days to get there, which was 3 days of non-stop riding. He was exhausted when he finally reached New York. Good thing we scheduled in a couple days of rest before our journey home.
When the time came to ride home and we got all the bags packed it finally hit me what we were going to be doing. Little did I know the fun that was awaiting us. My wonderful husband tried to make my ride as comfortable and perfect as he could. He knew if this trip didn't go well he may never get me on a bike again. We did not have a back rest on the back of his BMW GS 1150 and so he put a cutting board inside one of the bags with a pillow against...
How To Travel With Babies
When I married a motorcycle rider I did not realize how much my traveling life would change. The first couple years were amazing, packed with adventures. We took the motorcycle everywhere from the Flaming George in Utah to California, Seattle and even to New York and back. It was a blast. Life has since changed after adding our beautiful daughter to the mix. Needless to say it has complicated our travel plans. My husband has not lost his desire to ride the bike on all of our vacations, but there is no way for us all to go without adding a car to the plans. So most of the time I am the one who drives the baby transporter (the car) as my husband rides his bike in front of us. I know he would gladly take turns driving the car, but unfortunately I do not know how to drive a motorcycle.
This method may seem okay, but believe me when I say, traveling with a baby is not fun or easy. Here is some advice when traveling with babies.
1st- Never Rush
I will never forget my first trip with my daughter. She was only 2 months old and we were traveling to Yellowstone. I was a new mom still getting used to sleeping patterns, feeding times and all that jazz. We had planned ahead and bought a hotel room online along the way. Unfortunately we did not calculate how long it would take us traveling with a baby. I knew we were in trouble when it took us 5 hours to travel to Logan, UT, which is normally only a 2 hour drive. We left late in the afternoon/evening thinking we would have plenty of time. Well with stopping to feed, change dirty diapers and countess other dilemmas, we did not reach our hotel until 1:00 a.m. This was a problem! Not only were we all stressed about getting to our hotel, we were not resting long enough while stopping to let our baby enjoy being out of the car seat and relax. So because we did not allow ourselves enough time to travel with interruptions we were stressed, tired, the babies were stressed and crying, which made for a awful day. So always allow plenty of time to travel so you can all enjoy the ride.
2nd-Travel During Nap Time
Along with allowing yourself enough time to...
My First Time…Adventure Riding
I have to admit, I am a total newb when it comes to off-road motorcycle adventure riding. I bought my first dual-sport bike from a guy who bought it from an insurance auction. Word to the wise, if you do this, make sure you have a good mechanic look at it first. My first bike was a 2005 BMW 1200 GS with an enormous Adventure Tank on it. With the tank full, it was extremely top heavy and when it wanted to go down, most of the time, I just let it go. Luckily it came with crash bars. When I first bought the bike, I was going through chemotherapy and radiation treatments because I had caught a touch of the brain cancer. I was determined not to let that slow me down though and one day decided I would take my bike on a little ride up in the mountains. How hard could it be, right?
Well, turns out that riding a big bike like that in the dirt and rocks can be a little intimidating, especially with street tires. Then add to that the fact that I was a lot weaker than I wanted to admit from the chemo and radiation treatments. Then add to that some unexpected weather. It started out with some clouds rolling in and I figured I would be off the mountain before it got nasty. Wrong! It had been raining off and on over the past week and I was riding a dirt road that had been converted to a giant mud hole. It was a disaster. It started with me dropping the bike in the first big mud hole I came to and after a lot of cursing and sweating, I finally picked it up. I got on and tried riding it out and immediately dropped it again. Uggh! I was exhausted already, and after taking a big rest and eating some food I waded into the mud hole to try to pick it up again. This time, I was just too tired and in the end, had to swallow my pride and call my oldest son, Michael to see if he would be so kind as to ride his 1150 GS up the mountain and rescue his father. Luckily I was at an elevation on the mountain that I was able to get a cell signal and luckily Mike was...
How to Change Fuel Filter & Pump on BMW 1150GS Motorcycle
This video shows how to change the Fuel Filter and Fuel pump on your BMW 1150 GS. Essentially the instructions are the same on any big bore boxer engine that BMW has made in the last 15 years. This video is part of an ongoing series that shows how to do a complete 25k mile maintenance on your Adventure motorcycle. The basic instructions on how to replace your fuel filter or gas pump on your BMW 1150 GS are: Drain the tank of gas Remove the seat Remove the tank Mark the position of the metal plate on the underside of the tank and then remove it Pull the gas filter and fuel pump from the tank Cut off the clamps that hold the hoses to the Fuel Filter or pump Pull off the old fuel filter or pump and replace it with the new one Attach new stainless steel hose clamps Replace Metal Plate with the attached Fule Filter and Pump Put the tank back on the bike Reconnect the Fuel hoses Replace the seat and you are done! ...
How to Get Free Scuba Diving in Cozumel Mexico
Mexico is a country that everyone needs to visit. And most people have. Cozumel Mexico in the Yucatan is one of the most popular destinations in the country, largely because of it’s crystal clear water, white sandy beaches and ancient indigenous pyramids, which are freaking awesome to see. But you know what's even better than the ocean view in Cozumel? Free Cozumel Scuba Diving!
We decided to forgo Christmas presents and put our money into a family scuba diving trip to Cozumel. Unfortunately we skipped the motorcycles for air travel and in exchange we got over a week of additional playtime in the Caribbean. Upon arrival in the airport, we were bombarded with mega-resort employees roaming the airport and offering 3 days of free scuba diving complete with a boat and an underwater tour. And all we had to do was eat a free breakfast and listen to an hour-long time share presentation. Why would anyone turn that down?! We soon found out.
The next morning we got to the resort at around 9am, met our tour guide who showed us around the resort and all of it’s amenities and sure enough we were treated to a free breakfast fit for an Aztec emperor. We were shown the rooms and given the pitch and with only 15 minutes left to go in our hour-long presentation we were pretty happy with our chosen path to free scuba diving. That was until the tour ended and they sat us in a giant room for the close.
We politely listen to and subsequently denied our tour guide’s sales pitch. Knowing this was part of the deal, and having warned her when we arrived, we thanked her for her effort and asked where we needed to go to pick up our free scuba diving vouchers. She left the table with a promise to return with them, instead she returned with a “Closer”. We listened to him, denied him, and asked again for our free Scuba Diving vouchers. He left and return with another “closer”.
This process repeated itself for 3 hours and 5 closers, each one getting ruder and more pushy. Meanwhile we are getting more and more frustrated and visibly annoyed at our inability to leave the never ending pitch. It was like we were handcuffed to table in a huge room full of 300 other tourists who were handcuffed...
This is the first of 5 How-To Video we put together to give instruction on doing a complete 25k mile maintenance on your BMW GS. This video shows you how to change the oil on your BMW R 1150GS. Although this shows the oil change on a 2004 R1150GS it's pretty much the same instructions for any big bore BMW Boxer engine including the R 1100 and the R 1200. Below are the basic steps. How to do an Oil Change on a BMW 1150 GS: Remove the Skid plate on the bottom of your engine Remove the drain plug Remove the Oil Filter with a BMW specific oil wrench Allow used oil to drain into an oil container Replace the crush ring on the drain plug with a new one Put the Drain Plug back in Rub new oil on the rubber gasket of the new Oil Filter (don't use the old filter) Put the new Oil filter back on. Remove the oil cap on the top side of the left engine head Pour in the recommended amount of oil (3.96 quarts for a 2004 1150 GS) Replace the Oil cap and you're done! ...
Arizona to Idaho Offroad - Part 3
Day Three: By this time, we had rack up a good amount of time in the dirt. So much so that we were eagerly awaiting the climb towards Moab's La Sal Peak. Which was a high and forested area that stuck out unnaturally among the deserts red rocks and arches.
After happily loading up a bag of gear that crept away from us the night before, we left the only motel of the trip and headed towards the Sand Flats park entrance. Upon arrival the bored park ranger mumbled off one of his routine questions, "Where are you going?". Expecting our reply to contain the name of a local campground, we told him Idaho. He instantly got really excited and as most people do along, started asking a lot of questions and checking out our route while the line of cars behind us started piling up.
He quickly told us that the upcoming section of dirt road we wanted to travel was closed of in at least 2 different places due to construction and the road having just washed out. About then was when the angry line of cars behind us started laying on their horns. so we pulled over and made the decision to skip the section of trail from Moab to highway 128 since we didn't want to spend the time and then be forced to turn around.
So we backtracked to highway and followed the small road along the Colorado River for about 20 miles before we met up with where our original trailhead would have taken us. we continued about another 10 miles to the start of the next trailhead which was mixed with gravel and probably 15 crossings of a dry river bed that was filled with notoriously deep sand. This section of dirt that would soon connect us to I-70 was also a mining and ranching ground at one time.
This trail also happened to take us through the old Smith Cabin. Newlyweds Wayne and Betty Smith chose this spot in 1933 to setup a ranch. However they were later forced out after artificial seismic activity (Drilling for wells, and mining) ended up closing off their natural spring.
We continued through equal patches of sand and hard packed clay, through a surprisingly empty and cool landscape until we reached the river. This was really more of a creek, but because the soil around it was so muddy it was extremely thick and deep...
Arizona to Idaho Offroad - Part 2
Day two was one of the funner days on the trail. The terrain on this day involved riding through Moab, which to those unfamiliar with the area is considered the off-road mecca throughout the United States. Our biggest task of the day was to tackle an area called Lockhart Basin which, according to Top Gear, is the area's holy grail for difficult terrain. Oh ya, and that's difficult for 4-Wheel vehicles. We preferred to conquer it on two.
We start with a hearty breakfast of oatmeal and Jerky. Followed by screaming obscenities into the empty forest and laughing like immature school children. With that out the way we head off towards Monticello. We dodge more cows and eat more dust as we climb up and down winding dirt roads that cling against steep mountainsides complete with daunting cliffs on the left, deathly drop-offs to the right and amazing scenery on both sides. The second day was the same as the first, we stayed in front of a quick moving rain storm that chased us all day. Luckily we stayed dry, warm and cheery.
We refueled in Monticello and headed to the Lockhart Basin trailhead which winds its way through red buttes and along the Colorado River. The trail started out easy. Sandy but not very technical, that changed a quarter of the way in as we started running into steep climbs that required a careful combination of finesse and brute power. The trail quickly turned into a game to see which of the many head-sized, unsecured boulders would be the best one to ride across. The route became both very technical and incredibly fun. The climbs and descents on loose rock demanded precision, but it was the rocky steps that put left their mark on the bottom of my skid plate. Because the drops from step to step were so big, sometimes the best technique was to gun it just before the drop to lighten the front wheel and try to bring both wheels to the ground simultaneously. This section of trail was one of the greatest moments of the ride. Until Josh's bike stopped running.
Not only did his bike stop running, it stopped in the worst possible place. Apart from the fact that we were miles away from any one, no tow truck could dream of getting to us, and there was no way of pushing the bike...
Arizona to Idaho Offroad - Part 1
Earlier this summer we heard rumors of a series of dirt trails that had been strung together and spanned the entire state of Utah. Called the Utah Backcountry Discovery Route (UTBDR) the path was put together by a group of Adventure Motorcycle Riders together with Butler Maps. It reached from the Arizona border near Mexican Hat to Bear Lake, Idaho and was touted as a six day journey. With daydreams of adventure, camping and river crossings, I planned the trip or the first week in September then rounded up a rag-tag team of misfits who were carefully selected for their unique skills and abilities... But then they all cancelled. So It was down to Josh, myself and our two BMW 1150 GS'.
Knowing my time off work was scarce, I sped up our timeline line and became determined to finish the trail in 5 days. Josh wanted to cut the adventure even shorter and shoot for 4 days citing something about being a nerd and not wanting to skip school or an upcoming test. So on August 30th he packed his pocket protector, I brought the map and we headed south to Arizona to start the fun.
During the entire ride down to Mexican Hat, as I'm rocking out to Reba and Hanson. I can't help but get more and more excited about all the dirt we're going to be riding through. Pretty soon my wishes are granted and we hit our first patch it on the Moki Dugway (A.K.A. the Road of Death). My excitement, combined with the fatigue caused me to almost instantly lay my bike down during the first 50 yards of the decent. Realizing where we were and how late it was, we wisely decided to turn around and camp our first night at the top of the giant mesa and attempt the road again in the morning.
When we woke, we scoped out my fall from the night before only to find that I was extremely lucky to have gone down on the left side of the road. 500 feet below me on the right side lay 2 busted cars and a trailer. Hoping this wasn't a precurser of things to come we got to the bottom and filled up with gas in Mexican Hat. Then began our trip through monument valley where 15 minutes into the ride the vibrations knocked out one of Josh's spare gas canisters...