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  1. Best Budget Soft Luggage Bags for Your ADV/DS Bike

    Published in: Gear

    Best Budget ADV Luggage intro

    The adventure motorcycle segment has never been this hot and the market for adventure gear has been growing as a result of the increasing sales. At the core of this gear are luggage systems specifically designed for adventure and dual-sport riders. There are many adventure motorcycle luggage options on the market, but the truth is that most of them are expensive and might not be best for your specific riding goals and budget.

    Thus, it's crucial to know what kind of luggage solution works best for you beforehand. Factors like ergonomics, fall damage prevention, handling, and ride quality are all key to helping you decide what kind of luggage system is best for you. Ultimately though, many times it comes down to price, features and functionality.

    Broadly speaking, there are two major types of adventure luggage – soft and hard luggage systems. Between soft and hard luggage, soft luggage tends to be lighter, more afforable and some say "safer" for the rider dut to compressability (not getting stuck under a rigid box). Also there's a wide variety of soft luggage options from fender bags, handlebar bags, crash bar bags, tail bags to saddle bags, and so on. In this guide, we'll select some of our favorite adventure luggage options – based on different functions – all in the budget category. Plus, at the time of this writing, there are some great deals to be found! 

    As always, this is not meant to be a comprehensive list. If you've got a candidate you'dl like to add, let us know.

     

     • Motorcycle Fender Bags

    Rigg Gear RG 030 Enduro Front Fender Bag

    Starting from the front, most motorcycles come with a beak-style front fender. It could be made from fibre or metal depending on the bike you have, but it’s largely designed to do one job. That is, keep the mud out from your face. But that’s just not it. I find it an extremely nifty spot to strap some handy-dandy pieces of gear in a compact ‘fender bag’.

    Fender bags are a great way to counterbalance some of that weight that you add to the back of your bike. But of course, it goes without saying – you shouldn’t really weigh it down with hefty items. For fenders aren’t really designed to carry heavy loads.

    • Motorcycle Handlebar Bags

    TurkanaGear PelliPouch BarBag

    Next up, we move over to the handlebar of your ADV. If you already didn’t know this, the handlebar of your motorcycle is a great spot to strap on a thin bag for some of the smaller items that you might need easy access to when on the bike, like sunscreen, chapstick, hand wash, and a protein bar.

    These, like other pieces of luggage on this list, come in a few shapes and sizes. I’d recommend you stay away from anything too large and bulky to keep the weight addition to a minimum. After all, you don’t want to alter the feedback on your handlebars in any way.

    • Motorcycle Crash Bar Bags

    Givi GRT730 crash bar bag

    Crash bar luggage is another excellent budget-friendly solution for those who want to maximize storage without adding bulk. Ask me – I’ve had a pair since the day I got my Royal Enfield Himalayan, and I still have them on every ride. These small, waterproof bags mount directly onto the crash bars, utilizing otherwise wasted space near the engine.

    While they may not offer massive storage capacity, they’re perfect for carrying tools, rain gear, first aid kits, or snacks. One of the biggest advantages of crash bar bags is weight distribution. By keeping the weight low and close to the bike’s center, they help maintain balance and prevent top-heaviness, which can be an issue with other luggage options. Contents are more susceptible to damage in case of a drop, so please don't put anything fragile in a crash bar bag. 

    • Motorcycle Tank Bags

    Motorcycle tank bags are incredibly useful for adventure and touring riders because they offer quick, convenient access to essential items without compromising balance or comfort. Mounted securely on the fuel tank, they keep your gear within easy reach—think maps, phones, snacks, wallets, and tools—without needing to dismount or dig through larger luggage.

    Most tank bags also come with clear map windows or touchscreen-compatible pockets for navigation, and many are expandable or waterproof, making them versatile for changing conditions. Because they're centered on the bike, they maintain weight distribution better than tail-heavy solutions, and modern mounting systems make them easy to remove when you need to refuel or step away.

     

    • Motorcycle Tail Bags

    Nelson Rigg Hurricane Tailbag

    Tail luggage is one of the most versatile and common storage options for adventure riders. These can either be open for in the form of solid top cases or soft tail bags based on your preference. The best thing is you can mount it on the rear rack or pillion seat in case you’re riding without a pillion.

    They offer ample space for gear without requiring side racks or bulky attachments while being equally easy to install. While top cases can be bolted on, soft tail bags come with their own attachment systems that make it a breeze to strap them on or take them off.

     

    • Motorcycle Saddlebags

    rhino walk saddle bag

    Saddle or pannier luggage is perhaps the most go-to choice for adventure riders. That’s because this offers a blend of storage capacity, affordability,  durability and even some crash protection. Some will mount on a rack or stand-off while others hug the bike and are often called "rackless." 

    Unlike expensive hard panniers, soft saddlebags provide storage at a fraction of the cost while being lighter and easier to install. Many budget-friendly options feature weather-resistant materials, reinforced construction, and roll-top closures to keep belongings dry and secure. Not to forget, they are also more forgiving in the event of a fall, as they won’t dent or break like hard cases.

    • Final Thoughts

    No matter where your adventure takes you, having the right luggage can make all the difference. You don’t have to break the bank to equip your bike with reliable, functional storage solutions. Whether you're just starting out or looking to add practicality to your ride on a budget, the options above offer a solid mix of performance, durability, and value. Remember, the best luggage system is the one that fits your bike, your gear, and your ride style—without weighing you down.

    Utkarsh Sood PortraitHaving over 15 years of experience traveling and documenting his adventures, Utkarsh Sood lives and breathes all things motorcycle. His quest to travel, write, and create films pushed him to quit his fancy advertising job to live life on his own terms. Or so he thinks. When he is not writing about bikes, he's busy riding his trusted Royal Enfield Himalayan and creating content for his project 'Silence & Stories'.


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  2. Somewhere Else Tomorrow": Two Wheels, One World, Zero Money

    Published in: Rides

    Like the instantaneous flick of a switch, there’s often a catalyst nudging people off on their big adventure. For some, it’s a tragic event that sends them searching for deeper meaning. For others, it is their quest for purpose. For me, it was a common case of post-graduate burnout.

    Working hard to get a degree with little hope for a future outside of a hamster wheel wasn’t my idea of living. I couldn’t bear the thought of it. But with the looming specter of a grim tomorrow came a light bulb moment, “Why not just travel the world by motorcycle?” Who cared that my ex-student bank account couldn’t even get that dream out the door?

    I roped a buddy whose bank account exactly matched mine into going with me. All we’d have to do was work our way around the world. That’s when “2-1-0” was born: Twowheels, Oneworld, Zeromoney.

    Somewhere Else Tomorrow Two Wheels One World Zero Money Body image 1

    The plan was to start in Berlin, Germany, then travel east until we reached Berlin from the other direction, and that’s exactly what I did. More than a year later, I had succeeded in changing almost everything in my life. I was traveling the globe, vulnerable to the whim of the road, and away from the demands of the “fast-paced” life. It couldn’t get much better. But then, this journey of a lifetime threw me a curve.

    My bike broke down in one of the world’s least favorable places—Pakistan. There I was, only 40 miles from the Afghani border and an hour from where a French tourist was kidnapped only weeks earlier. And I was on my own, as my buddy had returned home months ago.

    At that moment I came to a big revelation. With only a few dollars in my pocket, and facing a potentially dangerous situation, I didn’t regret any of the decisions I had made. As far as life-transforming experiences go, the journey had just begun. Up to this point, my confidence had been growing—as a self-reliant rider and participant in the human condition. I had whittled down my adventure load to the sheer essentials.

    Somewhere Else Tomorrow Two Wheels One World Zero Money body image 2

    There was such a feeling of freedom to this forced simplification of life. When I couldn’t fix a problem myself, I seemed to always meet someone who could. Not only were these random encounters consistently positive, but I also learned something valuable every time.

    As I sat there trying to gather my wits, I reflected on how I realized this entire experience was for me. I had my first taste on the road when my buddy and I reached out for work after running out of gas with no money. Still strongly connected to the lives we were hoping to escape, we didn’t look for jobs immediately around us. No, we sent out email blasts and asked for paid work. Someone offering manual labor in London responded first.

    And even though taking this offer meant going off route, we went for it. For the next two months we worked around the clock fitting windows on a construction site, painting a bridge, printing banners and stickers and laying the neighbor’s floor. Although it made us feel self sufficient as we worked hard to put gas in our bikes, it was at times stressful. Ultimately, my buddy preferred the stress of the hamster wheel, but the freedom of the road was calling me.

    I was now faced with three obstacles to handle on my own: The unrest caused by the conflict between Kurds and Turks in eastern Turkey, the bloody demonstrations in Iran, and the suicide bombings and kidnappings in Pakistan—all lay on my route with no alternative way to go.

    The more I researched these places, the more I was frozen in my tracks. The people in Iran were unhappy with the outcome of the election. They felt they were betrayed, and peacefully demonstrated in all major cities to show their frustrations. However, the Iranian police and army responded rigorously.

    Somewhere Else Tomorrow Two Wheels One World Zero Money body image 3

    I read about people being shot in the streets and journalists ending up in jail. With my visa about to expire, I had to make a move soon. I was particularly worried about getting searched at the border because of the equipment I carried.

    I’m a filmmaker, and documenting this trip was important to me. Cameras, microphones and laptop aside, I was also carrying a satellite modem that enabled me to keep a daily blog. The last thing I wanted was to be arrested for being a “journalist.”

    My research was correct. Iran was in turmoil. But I was reminded that the media only portrays a fraction of the actual “news,” when they’re not skewing it altogether. I wanted to see a better, more complete picture of the world, so I got out there. And the result was that I had a wonderful time in Iran and enjoyed exchanges with some of the friendliest and most hospitable people I’ve ever met. As I moved on, I discovered the tensions were increasing as I approached Pakistan.

    My sister’s email with a news article about a recent kidnapping didn’t help. It was quite common during this time for local criminals and the Taliban to go after ransom money. Since Pakistan became an Islamic and Parliamentary Republic in 1956 no government has been able to make it through their four-year ruling period without being overthrown. Despite all this, there was no other way but through. In order to minimize all risks, I planned to transit through Pakistan in only four days.

    At the border, I met a motorcyclist from New Zealand going the other direction. He’d come from India and through Pakistan. His whole body shook as he told me he’d never go to Pakistan again. He hadn’t slept for days because of the constant sound of bombs going off at night. This wasn’t what I needed to hear, but it was too late to turn around.

    Somewhere Else Tomorrow Two Wheels One World Zero Money body image 4

    With my passport stamped, the bike’s documents processed, and money changed, off I went. I didn’t get far before a band of military vehicles encircled me. Apparently they believed they needed to escort me, “For your safety!” I wasn’t sure whether this should make me feel better or worse.

    The guys were friendly enough, and in their way—funny! The comedy show was not their pistols, machine guns and ammunition belts, but rather their counter-fit sunglasses, flip flops, and T-shirts with “No Fear” written on them.

    In the next moment, an unexpected situation unraveled before my eyes. Even my “posse” couldn’t protect me from it. In the middle of the Baluchistan desert, a stone’s throw from the Afghani border, the bike that I had owned for 15 years let me down for the first time. The drive shaft’s universal joint packed it in.

    I was stuck in the Pakistani desert with a bike that was in no way rideable. In hindsight, I’m grateful for this incident because if the bike hadn’t broken down there and then, I would have rushed through the country and failed to learn another important lesson. What happened next changed everything. And by “everything,” I mean the way I look at the world.

    The escort organized a truck to get me out of the desert and up to Quetta. I rode 12 hours on the back of the truck at the mercy of a bumpy road in 125°F heat. It was grueling. Just when physical misery demanded all of my attention, the truck swerved off the road when overtaking another.

    Somewhere Else Tomorrow Two Wheels One World Zero Money body image 5

    The lorry came to a full stop leaning at a dangerously steep angle off the left shoulder of the road. We were stuck until another truck came to the rescue and pulled us back onto the road.

    I was exhausted by the time I arrived in Islamabad, the capital of Pakistan. For a few days I wandered around town aimlessly—unsure what to do. On the search for a mechanic who might help me find parts, I stumbled upon a slum and was shell-shocked by the living conditions. Approached by a friendly father of four, I was invited into his home, which consisted of four brick walls without a roof. Over the course of a few days, his family and I became friends. I learned that all the people in this slum were Christians, and how tough it was to be a minority. He begged me to marry his underage daughter, so he would be eligible for moving his family into a European refugee camp. That must have been the lowest point of his desperation. This moment changed everything for me, and it has put things into perspective. I was broke, alone and stuck, but not as bad off as many people in the world. This put me at their eye-level, yet I remained privileged simply by means of the passport I carry.

    I had my breakdown to thank for all this. And once back home after two and a half years on the road, I had come to one of the most important conclusions of all. No matter what the journey offered up in tough situations, all I had to do was stay actively inactiveand let the Universe do the rest.

    Somewhere Else Tomorrow Two Wheels One World Zero Money body image 6

    Filmmaker and media-designer, Daniel Rintz, was born in East German. His journey from Berlin to New Zealand overland from 2008–2011 has been documented and made into the movie “Somewhere Else Tomorrow”—available from Open-Explorers.com. 

     


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  3. Riding Africa's Wild West: A Namibian Adventure

    Published in: Rides

    Namibian Adventure intro

    If there was ever a place to ride that sounded so wild, so beautiful, so outrageous that you find yourself feeling that it must be fictitious―that place could only be Namibia. It’s a country so remarkable and diverse that it takes the crown as not only one of the best motorcycle destinations in Africa, but possibly in the entire world.

     Before I arrived in Namibia, I’d heard a lot about it from friends, colleagues, and locals I’d met en route through the African continent. The conversations always went the same way: “Oh you’re heading south, make sure you leave enough time for Namibia. You’ll be blown away!” It was intriguing, especially considering most of these conversations took place over 2,000 miles and several countries away from Namibia. What made this place so special? Why were so many suggesting I hightail it across a continent to make certain I spent the lion’s share of my trip in one country? There was only one way to find out.

    Upon crossing the border from Botswana, there’s an immediate change in the air. The world’s second most sparsely-populated country is intersected by huge, well-maintained highways, which conveniently cut the country into several large sections and connect the major cities of Windhoek and Swakopmund. While well-maintained roads are seldom on a list of adventure riders’ demands, these highways make it easy to head into the wilderness for adventure. The road system is like a pipeline taking you from a resupply point in the city to the real treasures of Namibia.

    Valley of a Thousand Hills

    Arriving in Windhoek, I was immediately surprised by the capital city’s cleanliness and modernity. As a rider who often has little interest in big cities and concrete structures, even I had to admit it was an interesting place. A modern metropolis in the middle of a desert, it’s superbly structured and complete with a plethora of motorcycle shops and beer gardens pretty much everywhere you look. It was a welcome pit stop after months in the wilderness of Africa. Along with the coastal town of Swakopmund, it would become a unique starting point for a series of incredible adventures.

    Hand drawn map of Namibia

    After stocking up, I decided to explore the southern chunk of the country first. This area is often featured in National Geographic or on BBC nature documentaries. As I found out, this was for good reason. As you turn off the main road, the modern 21stcentury scenery quickly dissolves away, and the hustle and bustle of city life fades in an instant. In front of you are 1,000 miles of desert, mountains, salt pans and pretty much everything else that an adventure rider dreams about. The tarmac disappears, the sun beats down, and you’re soon melting in your motorcycle jacket.

    The scenery undergoes a tremendous change. It’s as if the place has been carefully drawn by an artist with an imagination that’s a little too wild to make it real. Over the course of the ride south, you are bombarded with a whole range of geography including vast desert plains, scenic mountain passes through chocolate hills, large rock formations, a thousand hill valleys, dried-up riverbeds, and national parks with wild roaming oryx. Then, you are treated to the sight of the second largest canyon on the globe.

    Spitzkoppe Mountain Range

    The entire region seems endless. Occasionally, through the infinite mixture of gravel and sand tracks, you see a roadhouse or a miniscule town with a few rusty derelict vehicles, a desert windmill, and a gas station, enabling you to fill up on petrol and supplies for the journey ahead. Even these small communities add to the experience; each looks straight from an old Western movie, complete with interestingly apt names such as the town of Solitaire or the Canyon Roadhouse. They are masterfully decorated with the colorful stickers of every traveler and biker to have passed through the area. It is an incredible place, but also a relentless one. The medley of gravel and sand roads, whilst initially pleasant and exciting, begins to wear you down with help from the extortionate summer heat to, forcing you to make camp and take shelter early in the day. All the more reason to relax, open a beer and enjoy the simple life of motorcycle camping. It truly is an adventure on its own, and once you finally reach the main road that marks the southern exit of the desert, you’re hit by conflicted feelings. The small happiness you feel knowing you can sit down and relax on your seat is immediately diminished by the vast sadness of being away from that visual masterpiece.

    After you head back north and restock supplies in the city of Windhoek, the coastal section of the country steps in to grab the reins of the adventure and firmly takes the spotlight. As if Namibia hadn’t already given you enough reason to max out your camera’s SD cards, you are greeted with the Namib Desert and the Skeleton Coast. Local bushmen call this vast, beautiful landscape “The Land God Made in Anger.” Portuguese sailors called it “The Gates of Hell.” Whale bones littered this windswept coast in the past, but now it’s home to the remnants of ships that veered too close to shore―and the rare desert lion, if you are unlucky enough to bump into one on the passage through.

    Namib Desest Dunes Skeleton Coast

    This is a popular sightseeing attraction for tourists and a wonderful backdrop for some beautiful off-road riding. The Namib Desert meets the coast head-on, towering above the ocean with sand dunes that would look more in place in a children’s cartoon than a real-life landscape. Motorcycles aren’t allowed in most Namibian national parks, but even the scenery outside of the boundaries is as spectacular as anything I have ever come across, and the gravel roads and sand trails dissect through the most beautiful of each of these natural monuments. Once again, one of Namibia’s well-kept cities provides a welcome break and pitstop from this haven. Stop in Swakopmund, and you can resupply and clean off the mud, sand, and salt before heading north into the journey’s final stage, into one of Africa’s last great wilderness destinations: Kaokoland.

    Latest Shipwreck to Appear on the Skeleton Coast

    The tracks north of Swakopmund take you through the Skeleton Coast National Park (where bikes are allowed to transit) and up into the northwest of Namibia. If the south and the coast of the country haven’t scratched your itch for adventure by now, this place really strives to go one step further. As you ride past the main road, the terrain becomes brutal all over again as the packed gravel and soft sand of the coastal roads make way for rocks and corrugations. I had plenty of photo opportunities, but several flat tires and a broken clutch cable served as massive inconveniences, reminding me this was not a place I wanted to be stranded. Keeping true with the north’s reputation as a wilderness location, the infrequent roadhouses and gas stations from the southern route are replaced with small local villages selling gasoline out of jerrycans and Coca-Colabottles. Once again, you’re greeted with an ever-changing medley of scenery, from desert plains, red rock mountains and then finally the slowly emerging greenery that straddles the legendary mountain passes and the famous Etosha salt plains of the north.

    The desert plains kaokoland

    A vast feeling of isolation complements this spectacle. It feels like the marvelous stone statues of the Kaokoland Lone Men are the only other living souls in this landscape. These can become a mysterious treasure hunt in the desert; the figures are masterfully hidden amongst the most desolate and interesting landscapes, their locations known only to those willing to search in the wilderness.

    It’s something quite remarkable that so much scenery can be squeezed into a single country, and yet with all the wildness, and all the adventures to be had, you can still end the week with a cold Namibian beer in a 19th century German bier haus.

    By the time my visa had expired, and I had to move on, I finally understood why everyone had urged me to rush to this magnificent country. The diversity of Namibia ensures that a short stay could give you a taste of the country’s wonders, but you could easily spend a lifetime here and still want more. It truly is a paradise for motorcycling. You get beautiful scenery, incredible infrastructure, fantastic culture, and a variety in off-road riding so diverse that you find yourself thinking it must have been crafted deliberately. But, as in any great motorcycling adventure, this all comes in a rough and unforgiving package, one that constantly reminds you why you carry spares in your panniers and why you thumbed through that beaten-up Haynes manual for your motorcycle before setting off. As the Grand Tour so aptly stated after visiting this place, “Namibia, it is one beautiful bastard of a country!”

    Luke Phillips portraitLuke Phillips is a long-time adventure rider and ex-British army paratrooper from Stourbridge, England. In 2017 he quit his job, sold all his possessions, and has never looked back. He’s ridden his Rally Raid CB500x all over the world, with 150,000 km, six continents, and 47 countries ridden. Luke is currently riding through Africa, and you can join his journey on Instagram at @LukePhill17


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  4. Top 10 Favorite Adventure Motorcycle YouTube Channels (2025)

    Published in: Media

    10 Moto YouTubers Not to Miss Intro

    Are you passionate about dual-sport motorcycling and hungry for real-world riding inspiration, gear of bike reviews, and off-road travel tips? Whether you’re a seasoned ADV rider or just getting started with your first dual-sport bike, YouTube is full of incredible creators who bring the adventure to your screen.

    Dual-sport motorcycling isn’t just a hobby or passion for some—it’s a lifestyle. The best part? You’re not bound by roads—and that’s not just a figure of speech. With adventure and dual-sport motorcycles, you can forge your own path.

    In this article, we’ve rounded up 10 of our favorite English language adventure and dual-sport motorcycle YouTube channels to check out in 2025. Everyone looks for different content so these are not rated in any particular order. Please note this is not "The Most Popular" list. We just want to share our favorite channels that might not be on your subscribed list yet. These riders share everything from cross-country expeditions and gear breakdowns to riding tutorials and life on two wheels. It’s perfect for anyone dreaming of dusty trails, remote campsites, and the freedom of the open road. These creators offer tips, inspiration, and firsthand experiences to help you gear up for the road—or trail—ahead.

    Feel free to contact us let us k now your favorite adventure motorcycle Youtubers! In the meantime, let’s saddle up and tune in...

    • Big Rock Moto

    If you are looking to purchase your own dual-sport motorcycle, then you definitely need to visit Big Rock Moto's YouTube Channel. Ian, the owner of the channel has extensive experience riding different brands of bikes.

    He has owned more than 40 motorcycles and loves riding in the mountain regions of California. He loves riding and then reviewing bikes to give you his feedback on their performance.

    He also gives gadgets and tech reviews related to motorbikes that can help make your riding experience better.

    If you are planning on your first big purchase, check out his channel for all there is to know about dual-sport motorcycles.

    • Where They're From: United States
    • Number of Subscribers: Approximately 308K subscribers
    • Posting Frequency: New videos are typically posted once a week
    • ADVMoto Contributor: Yes ("Beyond the Bungee" in ADVMoto Sept/October 2023 issue)

    Big Rock Moto

    • Lavi and Ollie

    Lavi and Ollie are a YouTuber couple and Guinness World Record holders for being the youngest couple to travel around the globe on motorbikes.

    They finished the requirement to complete a world record on a Suzuki V-Strom 1050XT and rode off-road a lot and made sure to capture as much of the essence of outdoor travelling as possible. Even after setting their record, Lavi and Ollie haven’t slowed down – they’re still exploring new countries and sharing their adventures. It's also nice they organized their travels into chapters by continents.

    Their love for travel has garnered recognition in the biking communities, who often give a helping hand to them on the roads.

    • Where They're From: United Kingdom
    • Number of Subscribers: Approximately 82.4K subscribers
    • Posting Frequency: New videos are uploaded twice a week
    • ADVMoto Contributor: Not yet!

    10 YouTubers Not to Miss Lavi Ollie

    • 2Up and Overloaded

    Run by Tim and Marisa Notier, 2Up and Overloaded channel documents their life on the road since 2017, when they sold everything to pursue full-time ADV travel.

    Riding a KTM 1190 Adventure, they share stunning scenery, travel reflections, and insights into life on two wheels. Although they don't always post videos on a weekly basis there's already a ton of content to check out. Plus,  they also run a companion website featuring their books and have been seen in ADVMoto's print editions!

    • Where They're From: United States
    • Number of Subscribers: Approximately 18K subscribers
    • Posting Frequency: New videos are typically posted every two weeks
    • ADVMoto Contributor: Yes (many ADVMoto  ride reports and features in print issues from 2018 to 2024. Featured articles: "A Couple’s Guide to Riding 2-Up", May/Jun 2023 Issue | "Angels and Demons: Riding Two-Up South Through Alaska", Jan/Feb 2024 Issue )

    10 Fav YouTubers 2 2Up and Overloaded

    • Backcountry Discovery Routes

    The Backcountry Discovery Routes or RideBDR (which is the name of their YouTube Channel) is an organization for bikers.

    Their primary mission is to secure and preserve off-road routes in the US for dual-sport motorbike riders. Most of their routes consist of dirt tracks that connect various regions in the country. They have been on the mission since 2010 and have secured dozens of off-road tracks that were undiscovered before. If you’re feeling adventurous, you can even download free routes from their website and upload them to your GPS for a real off-road challenge. They also run yearly screenings, video contests and host lots of events and fundraisers around the USA. 

    Also don't forget to check out good friend of the BDR and ADVMoto, John Putch's channel, Putch Films on YouTube. He brings a professional touch of comedy relief to the ADV world you don't wanna miss!

    • Where They're From: United States
    • Number of Subscribers: Approximately 44.9K subscribers
    • Posting Frequency: New videos are posted monthly, with additional content during special events or route launches
    • ADVMoto Contributor: Yes (BDR has consistently published ride reports in ADVMoto, both print and online. Featured article: "Expedition Ride! Northern California BDR", Fall 2024 Issue | "Big Adventures in the Beaver State: The New Oregon BDR", May/Jun 2023 Issue | "Back East in a Big Way: North East BDR", Mar/Apr 2020 Issue)

    Backcountry Discovery Route

    • On Her Bike

    Kinga Tanajewska is an Australian YouTuber, famously known as On Her Bike by beloved fans. She is on a mission to travel around the world on her BMW F800GS.

    On Her Bike

    Even before that, she was a free spirit who loved to ride motorbikes and travel. But she started off her YouTube dual-sport biker journey in 2014 and has travelled to multiple countries since then. Kinga has become an inspiration for women who want to solo travel on their dual-sport bikes!

    • Where They're From: Australia
    • Number of Subscribers: Approximately 318K subscribers
    • Posting Frequency: New videos are typically posted weekly and sometimes twice a week
    • ADVMoto Contributor: Yes (check out our ADVMoto Live! #27 below)
    {youtube}RvEJdUaplD4{/youtube}

    • Una Moto

    A veteran mountain biker, Eric has travelled the globe previously for his channel BCPovwhere he rode a mountain bicycle and showcased beautiful tracks.

    After turning over a new leaf due to personal life developments, he recently started Una Moto. It is a motorbike travel channel inspired by Long Way Round, the TV show starring Ewan McGregor and his friend Charlie Boorman.

    Una Moto is not only a dual-sport motorbike channel, but an exploration of Eric's own soul on his journey from Alaska to New Zealand.

    • Where They're From: Canada
    • Number of Subscribers: Approximately 47.2K subscribers
    • Posting Frequency: New videos are typically posted bi-weekly
    • ADVMoto Contributor: Not yet!

    Una Moto

    • The Girl On a Bike

    The Girl On a Bike, Vanessa Ruck, is the embodiment of the human spirit. She is a dual-sport motorcyclist who started this hobby as a means to rehab after a life-changing accident.

    She went through multiple surgeries and has shoulder and hip replacements. After her accident, she picked up the sport to overcome her fears and limits. Since then, she has won multiple awards in track races in the Middle East. She is also an award-winning and TEDx motivational speaker, inspiring people who went through similar experiences.  Even better yet, she recently had a baby and is exploring the world of adeventure as a mom! Go Vanessa!

    • Where They're From: United Kingdom
    • Number of Subscribers: Approximately 66.4K subscribers
    • Posting Frequency: New videos are typically posted weekly
    • ADVMoto Contributor: No (She was covered in "Moto Adventures in Belize: Women on Wheels vs. the Caribbean", Jul/Aug 2022 Issue)

    The Girl On a Bike

    • ADVMotoSkillz

    After buying your first dual-sport motorcycle, you will probably want a few tips and tricks on how to ride it safely.

    While taking a professional course is always the best option, not everyone has access to one. That’s where the ADVMotoSkillz channel comes in!

    The channel is all about helping new riders learn helpful survival skills when they are riding off-track on their motorbike.

    This channel is perfect for new riders looking to learn essential off-road survival skills. From safely lifting your bike after a fall (without injuring yourself) to mastering the best posture for riding off-track, ADVMotoSkillz covers it all.

    The ADVMotoSkillzchannel should not be substituted for professional off-road motorbiking courses. But it is always good to pick up a skill or two before you head out for an adventure.

    • Where They're From: United States
    • Number of Subscribers: Approximately 42.7K subscribers
    • Posting Frequency: New videos are typically posted once a month (the channel is currently inactive)
    • ADVMoto Contributor: Yes (in many recent print issue "Tune-Ups". Featured article: "Sandy Patches on the Road: Strategies for Adventure Bikes", Spring 2025 Issue | "Navigating Trails: Top Tips for Selecting Your Riding Line Offroad", Summer 2024 Issue)  

    ADVMotoSkillz

    • Dork in the Road

    Dork in the Road is another helpful channel if you want some inspiration for riding motorbikes.

    Not only that, the channel also provides helpful product reviews that will make your life easier when you are on a motorbike adventure.

    Although not a professional, his personal opinions are highly valued amongst the dual-sport motorbike community as being helpful.

    But take the reviews with a grain of salt, as something that might not be perfect in his opinion might suit your needs better.

    • Where They're From: United States
    • Number of Subscribers: Approximately 139K subscribers
    • Posting Frequency: New videos are posted twice a week
    • ADVMoto Contributor: Not yet!

    Dork in the Road

    • Motorcycle Travel Channel

    Lastly, we have the Motorcycle Travel Channel by Sterling Noren. Noren started off professionally as a videographer and editor back in 1984. He’s  been making videos professionally since, but now he has started following his passion of motorbiking and van camping. in addition to his channel videos, be sure to check out some of his many BDR films and Beyond the Border - Riding Solo in Mexico.

    His channel has all of these videos about solo motorbiking adventures and can be a useful source of information for those who want to go on a journey by themselves.

    • Where They're From: United States (Seattle, Washington)
    • Number of Subscribers: Approximately 84.1K subscribers
    • Posting Frequency: New videos are typically posted monthly
    • ADVMoto Contributor: No (He was covered in "Industry Profile: Behind the Lens at Noren Films", Mar/Apr 2015 issue)

    Motorcycle Travel Channel


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  5. Lucky "Break" on the Trans-Labrador Highway

    Published in: Rides

    Lucky

    As the dust clears, I try to find my bearings and do a self-assessment. I’ve just finished skidding to a stop on a gravel road on the edge of nowhere. My Kawasaki KLR650 is lying on its left side about eight feet ahead in the middle of the road, but luckily is in no danger with the lack of traffic in Labrador. I feel okay—other than the adrenaline overload.

    This open stretch of the Trans-Labrador Highway (TLH) is on a plateau and the strong gusts of wind combine with the crushed rock road surface to make the riding challenging. The road was freshly graded but deeply corrugated over the last 30–40 miles. And, when a strong gust blew from my right, I counterbalanced just before the wind suddenly dropped. Compensating instantly turned into overcompensating, which triggered several seconds of tank slapping before down I went. That’s it. But that’s all it takes.

    Removing my helmet, I take off my gloves and check myself over. Nothing seems wrong, but when I move to stand up something isn’t right. My left leg feels strange and doesn’t respond  normally. Instinctively I don’t move it and don’t try to get up. I know it’s broken and needs medical attention. There’s a satellite phone strapped to the back of my bike and, if I can get to it, I can call for help.

    The tank bag is stocked with an emergency blanket for the cold, and an air horn that will hopefully scare bears away. All this runs through my head in less than a minute as I watch my riding partner’s dust trail disappear over the hill. Brian will be back. In the meantime I need to figure out what to do.

    Lucky Break on the Trans Labrador Highway body image 2

    Just over two weeks before, we took off from my home in western South Dakota for a one-year ride. I’d left a 20-plus year career and was taking some time off to get out and play. My job had been my focus for many years, and I reasoned that I hadn’t made enough time to relax and enjoy life. Although I’d been mainly riding cruisers for years, I had purchased my first dual-sport that may have been at least partially responsible for this line of thinking. So, following the clichéd, “If I can do it, anyone can,” of many riders before me, and after two years of preparations, I sold my house, packed up my gear and hit the road for points unknown.

    I had ridden over 3,200 miles to get to this point, about 100 miles southeast of Goose Bay on the TLH. This 240-mile section, Phase Three, is the newest, having opened in December 2009. Part of the new road which lies between Goose Bay and Port Hope-Simpson, it is the longest stretch without services or towns. For the last 700 miles (around the Manic-5 Dam) we had seen few towns or fuel stations. S.O.S. phone booths were located approximately every 70 miles, and satellite phones are provided free of charge to travelers. Signs warn of scarce services—indications of the remoteness of this part of the world, and the seriousness with which one must prepare to ride the TLH.

    Lucky Break on the Trans Labrador Highway body image 1

    Just when the reality of my situation begins to sink in, and as I ponder the obstacle of getting to the sat phone, a man walks up, seemingly out of nowhere, and asks if I’m all right. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police are the first on the scene. Seriously?! How lucky can a girl be? The relief I feel is immediate and for the first time I relax just a bit from being in hyper-alert survival mode. The officer retrieves several emergency blankets from his car and calls an ambulance. He asks if my injuries require a helicopter evacuation or if I can wait for an ambulance to drive out from Goose Bay. I tell him that I don’t think the fracture is compound, and that a helicopter isn’t necessary.

    Lucky Break on the Trans Labrador Highway body image 4

    A cargo truck arrives from the direction I’d been heading. As the driver and the officer move my bike from the middle of the road to the shoulder, the damage looks minimal except for my left pannier, which took the brunt of the fall. A few minutes later, and just as Brian returns, a pickup pulls in behind the cargo truck and two Fisheries and Oceans Canada officers assist. The strong, gusty crosswind that played a role in my crash at least keeps the blackflies away, but now, as the adrenaline spiking slows, I’m beginning to feel the cold—causing concern that I may go into shock.

    Even with all my gear, liners and several emergency blankets, I’m chilled and shaking. The men build a windbreak and cover me with their coats to keep me as sheltered as possible. We wait over two hours for the ambulance to arrive and then it’s another two-hour drive back to Goose Bay over the bumpy gravel road to the nearest hospital.

    The X-rays reveal I have broken both my left tibia and fibula in spiral fractures. Surgery is needed, which means I’ll have to be flown to St. John’s, Newfoundland, to the nearest orthopedic surgeon. An air ambulance is requested for the following day as I settle into a room for the night.

    Lucky Break on the Trans Labrador Highway body image 5

    The driver of the cargo truck offers to haul the KLR back to Goose Bay and store it until I can make necessary arrangements. Brian rides from the accident site more than 100 miles back to town and arrives shortly after my ambulance. I give him the latest news and we make a quick plan for communications and logistics, and discuss posting a request for help on a local ADV Rider forum, which Brian takes care of after leaving me in a morphine-induced sleep.

    Within days, we have all kinds of offers from local people—to haul and store my bike, even for Brian and me to stay in local homes until I am able to travel again. The response and support are absolutely overwhelming.

    After surgery, which involves a titanium rod and screws, I spend a few days in the hospital before Brian arrives. We debate returning home to South Dakota for recovery, but I am only too aware that I’ll have to return at some point to retrieve my bike to continue this journey. Ten weeks in Newfoundland sounds better than going home on crutches only to return a few weeks later, anyway. So, after discussing my recovery timeline with the doctor, we decide to stay in Newfoundland until the leg heals sufficiently to get back on the road.

    In the meantime, we’re invited to move in with a local rider, whose generosity and hospitality go beyond words. Adding to that, the cargo truck driver stores my bike for a couple of weeks, keeping all my gear safe. Another Goose Bay rider then hauls my bike over 1,000 miles to St. John’s, delivering it to the home of another rider who keeps the bike for me while allowing full use of his shop and tools—not to mention taking us on several daytrips around Newfoundland. All this while yet another kind soul gives us use of his beach cabin so that I may still enjoy summer while recuperating! Need I say more? This Canadian network of biker brethren becomes my refuge.

    Lucky Break on the Trans Labrador Highway body image 3

    In this way my accident is serendipitous—and so marked by the friends made and the opportunities to experience more of Newfoundland and Labrador than I would ever have if the original planned route and schedule had not been interrupted.

    I’m consider myself an adventurer/traveler who rides, more than a typical rider. Cultures, people, music, food and landscapes are more important to me than trail difficulties, miles logged, ride reports and mechanics.

    Yet, this accident forced me to spend time in a land I would otherwise not have gotten to know as well, and helped me to see the way I want to travel—at a slower pace, with less schedule and more spontaneity, less self-contained and more connected. Soaking in the places I visit and meeting fellow riders are the new preferences I’ve uncovered through this experience. And, I’m reminded to help other riders whenever I can, to participate in forums, national and local, even when I am not on the road.

    “Paying it forward” has always been my nature, especially with regard to fellow riders, but now I’m even more conscious of finding opportunities to do so.

    Helping others is a way of life in Newfoundland and Labrador, a necessity for survival in this harsh land that’s still being refined after hundreds of years. They have a saying here, “There are no strangers, only friends you haven’t met yet.” The people here have been incredibly kind, and I will forever be grateful for their help and friendship.

    Lucky Break on the Trans Labrador Highway body image 6

    You can read more about my adventures at SturgisChick.com.


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