Jon Beck

Motorcycle Review Premium Content

Comparison: BMW R 1250 GS vs. R 1300 GS

Having ridden BMW GS models for more than 20 years, it’s difficult to overstate the massive number of changes in the 2024 R 1300 GS. More than redesigned, the legendary GS platform has been reimagined in the 1300. Rather than an attempt to improve on the engineering of previous

Accommodations

Review: Baywood Inn—Baywood Park, CA

Situated directly across from Morro Bay at the north end of the Sweet Springs Nature Preserve in California, the Baywood Inn Bed and Breakfast is a special lodging that entices travelers to stay for a longer time. The central outdoor courtyard is adjacent to the quiet El Moro Ave, with

City Escape

City Escape: Flagstaff, Arizona

Arizona has a historical, adventurous vibe woven through its desert and mountain landscapes. Semi-abandoned towns and small but thriving urban centers offer a feeling of discovery for travelers.  Admitted into the contiguous U.S. on February 14, 1912, Arizona holds the distinction of being America’s youngest state in the

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2024 Triumph Tiger 1200

Asking for directions in Scotland can be challenging. “Jist follaw thes road ‘til ye see a lairge sign fur th’ change-hoose ‘n’ caw left,” is the closest approximation I can give of the advice I received. Fortunately, a driver provided me with transportation from the airport to the hotel, and

Accommodations

Review: La Lomita Ranch—San Luis Obispo, CA

Sleeping in a stable might not sound luxurious, unless you’ve been to La Lomita Ranch in San Luis Obispo, CA. Originally constructed in the 1970s for a royal couple from the island of Mallorca, the swanky guest rooms were once the stables used to house livestock set to be

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2024 Triumph Tiger 900 GT Pro & Rally Pro

In 2020, Triumph’s Tiger 800 underwent a significant transformation to become the Tiger 900. For 2024, the bike ostensibly remains identical in mechanical appearance, although the manufacturer’s claim of the new model being a “significant update” is well-founded. Triumph’s use of a triple-cylinder powerplant is the most

Accommodations

Review: Viking Inn—Solvang, CA

Solvang is an exceptional theme park of a city in the heart of Central California’s wine country. Positioned exactly at the beginning of the downtown area, the Viking Inn is a welcoming spot from which to explore this unique town. Like Solvang itself, the Viking Inn was originally built

Motorcycle Review

Review: 2024 Honda Transalp XL750R

What magic did the 1980s possess that causes nostalgia for the age to be so prevalent? Notables, such as Harrison Ford and Jeff Bridges, have revived ‘80s characters, shows such as Stranger Things adopt the decade, and the list goes on. In 1986, Honda unveiled the first Transalp—the XL600V.

Accommodations

Review: Santa Barbara Inn—Santa Barbara, CA

Like an ambassador to the city, the Santa Barbara Inn puts on its best face to welcome visitors. From any direction, the ride there provides views ranging from manicured neighborhoods to wetland preserve areas and picturesque coastal views unlike any place else in California. Friendly staff greet you the moment

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Ducati’s Second Annual Giro Alpino

Overlooked by Mount Mansfield, Stowe is a recreation haven in northern Vermont. The town is likely packed with more miles of hiking and skiing trails than it has residents, considering its population of only around 600 people. An enormous fiery-red tractor trailer emblazoned with a huge white Ducati logo pulled

Accommodations

Review: Frazier View Motel—Frazier Park, CA

Like a Phoenix rising from the ashes, the Frazier View Motel in Frazier Park, CA, has recently been given new life under new management. Originally built by Romanian immigrants in 2014, it has always been a quality destination for travelers wanting a base from which to explore the rugged mountains

Accommodations

Review: Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn—Big Sur, CA

Truly unique by any standard, Deetjen’s Big Sur Inn provides a visceral look into the history of California. The establishment dates back to a tent beside Castro Canyon Creek in the 1930s. At that time, Helmuth and Helen Haight Deetjen were living there while constructing a barn with reclaimed

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Central California: A Study In Contrast

Nature does not always define borders the way humans do. An imaginary line scrawled on some obscure document can define and separate societies, but Earth itself has more dramatic means of doing so. California is a case study in how, just below the surface, the planet resembles a butcher’s

Jan/Feb '20 Premium Content

California : A Light Bike Adventure Ride

The southwestern corner of the United States is arguably both an adventure bike paradise and an ideal testing ground. Seemingly endless deserts stretch in all directions, containing virtually every type of terrain imaginable. However, the difficulty of this terrain comes in large doses at times. Where the fuel range and

Nov/Dec '19 Premium Content

Nebraska: Hiding in Plain Sight

The most interesting stories can sometimes be found in the most unexpected places. Writing about a state whose slogan is “Honestly, it’s not for everyone” presents certain challenges. Almost entirely lacking obvious picture-postcard scenes or renowned destinations, Nebraska forces the traveler to look deeper at wherever they are. The

May/Jun '19

Review: 2019 Beta 500 RR-S

From The Land of Da Vinci, A Motorized Work of Art > It’s been said that the “best bike” is one that makes you want to turn the key each day. The Beta 500 RR-S definitely fits that category. A just-right exhaust note roars to life from a package

May/Jun '19 Premium Content

Penticton, British Columbia: Discovering the Undiscovered

The teacher in The Truman Show, who stated “Oh, you’re too late. There’s really nothing left to explore,” was incorrect. There is always something new to be discovered. Exploration can be as simple as visiting a place you’ve never been—perhaps venturing across the US-Canada border, as

Mar/Apr '19

Review: 2019 ZERO Motorcycles

First Impressions of the Latest in Electric Motorcycles It’s possible to sum up this bike review in three words: I want one. As someone who regularly shoots cameras that don’t use batteries, riding a motorcycle that runs exclusively on one is an interesting exercise. The Zero DSR is

Mar/Apr '19 Premium Content

Southern California: Spanish Galleons to Austrian Motorcycles

Familiarity doesn’t necessarily breed contempt, but it can breed ignorance. When traveling to far-flung adventurous lands, one’s attention is typically at peak levels—absorbing the sights and sounds, mental notes becoming etched into memory like words chiseled into stone. It’s easy to forget that your exotic destination

Sep/Oct '18

Comparison: 2018 KTM 1090 Adventure R / 1290 Super Adventure S

> Both of these adventurers suffer from an enviable identity crisis. Either one can roam into the other’s terrain and feel quite at home. The crossover gap between the two machines widens in direct proportion to the difficulty of the terrain. The KTM 1090 Adventure R Wants to be

Nov/Dec '17 Premium Content

The Azores: Little Adventure

Selecting a location roughly 75-percent smaller than Rhode Island to test a prototype adventure motorcycle would seem to be a less-than-ideal decision. However, just as one shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, never underestimate the level of excitement that can be found in a small space. Juggling Time

May/Jun '17 Premium Content

Southeast Australia

To experience as many different environments as possible, in only three weeks: this is our mission. What better place to attempt such a journey than Australia, a beautiful and largely unknown country with a population of only 24 million people. Aboard an R 1200 GS, I’m joined by a

Sep/Oct '16 Premium Content

Albania: Carving a Country of Contrast

There’s a man taking his bear for a walk. Traffic is a bit heavy and quite chaotic, but he doesn’t appear concerned. Drivers yield as if there is a codified rule of the road providing bears the right-of-way. This scene might seem unusual in Los Angeles or Munich,

Mar/Apr '16

Comparison: 1997, 1999, and 2016 Honda Africa Twin

> Looming nearly 6,300 feet above the French countryside, the brilliantly lit peak of Mont Ventoux draws closer. Rather than follow the incessantly curvy pavement towards the top, our small band of riders elects to veer off the famed Tour de France route onto unpaved roads. Steep drops, threatening