Archives for category: - Motorcycles

Overland Expo, Flagstaff, AZ

May 14, 2013 //

In case you haven’t heard, Overland Expo 2013 will be taking place this weekend at Mormon Lake Lodge in Flagstaff, Arizona.

The 3-day event draws attendees from around the world who come to camp, check out exhibits from over 140 vendors, watch films, make connections, and take classes which run the gambit from driver training (4×4 and motorcycle), maintenance, planning and logistics, to safety & communication. The list is quiet comprehensive, and even includes region-specific roundtable table discussions on sub-Saharan Africa, or Mexico, for example.

Last year’s event drew over 5,000 people. Camping opens on Thursday May 16, and the event proper runs Friday to Sunday. Pack-up and head-out is on Monday.

Here are some quick links:

The event details
The schedule of classes
The FAQ

The map

Have fun!

Tags 4-wheel-drive, 4x4, adventure, driver, overland, Overland Expo, training, WCXC

Categories - 4x4 / SUV, - Campers, - Events, - Motorcycles, - Pictures, - Trucks, - United States, — Arizona, MEDIA, North America, PLACES, THINGS TO DO, VEHICLES

Motorcycling from Alaska to South America

May 8, 2013 //

In some ways motorcycles are the ideal overlanding platform. They’re inexpensive, sip fuel, can get through stalled traffic, or down the narrowest trail. In my experience, they’re two to three times faster over rough roads than 4x4s. And, as this beautiful video shows, they even work for very long distance travel.

Between 2010 and 2012 Alex Chacon, a recent BioMed graduate from the University of Texas, spent just over 500 days traveling up, down, and across the Americas, from Alaska to the Tip of South America, on his motorcycle, a 2007 KLR 650. It looks like it was a stunning trip. If you’d like to dig deeper, his YouTube channel covers his journey in twelve episodes.

Here’s more info on his KLR, the way he equipped it, and why he chose it over a BMW or KTM. He also set up a consulting service to assist other travels wanting to head south.

Update 5/14/2013: Here’s a WCXC post about the benefits of the KLR 650.

Tags adventure, Alaska to South America, KLR 650, KLR650, motorcycle, motorcycles, Texas, travel, video, WCXC

Categories - Armchair Travel, - Mexico, - Motorcycles, - United States, - Videos, — Alaska, — Texas, Central America, FEATURES, GEAR, MEDIA, North America, PLACES, South America, VEHICLES

Spotted: 1995 BMW R100GS PD Classic For Sale

February 21, 2013 //

I’ve always liked the classic good looks of the 80s and 90s BMW GS series motorcycles. If you’re a fan as well, and are in the market, there’s one on Expedition Portal at the moment. It’s a 1995, the last year made, has about 44k miles on the clock, and is for sale in Alaska for $7,500.

Links: 1995 BMW R100GS PD on Expo

Tags adventure, airhead, bmw, for sale, GS, how much, motorcycle, price, WCXC

Categories - Motorcycles, - Pictures, - Spotted:, FEATURES, MEDIA, VEHICLES

Winter Riding on a KTM 990 Adventure

February 16, 2013 //

The folks over at /DRIVE, and their RideApart team, have put together a video of some Colorado back-country winter riding on board a KTM 990 Adventure. It looked like it was a bit of a handful in the snow without studded tires.

Good video though and some amazing scenery.

Tags adventure, colorado, Drive, KTM 990 Adventure, off-road, off-roading, Ride, RideApart, travel, video, WCXC, winter

Categories - Armchair Travel, - Motorcycles, - United States, - Videos, — Colorado, FEATURES, MEDIA, North America, PLACES, VEHICLES

The Dakar is On

January 17, 2013 //

The Dakar Rally has been blasting across South America for more than a week now. If you’d like to follow the action, here’s a link to the official site: Dakar Rally 2013.