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Destinations Premium Content

Beware the Boogeymen of Boogertown, NC

Destinations

Wild West’s Illegal Den of Sin—Deadwood, SD

Many old Wild West towns had a—shall we say—seedy reputation. But you’d be hard-pressed to find a more wretched hive of scum and villainy as Deadwood, SD. The city’s outlaw status began immediately with its founding in the mid-1870s. Deadwood was an illegal town. It was

Classic Roads Premium Content

The Devil's Stairs—Wicked Fun in North Carolina

There won’t be a stairway to heaven over where we’re going. You’ll still have a great ride, though. North Carolina has a deservedly great reputation as a motorcycling destination, and the Devil’s Stairs takes you on some of the most sinfully fun of them all. All

Classic Roads

Kancamagus Highway

The White Mountains are one of the most beautiful and scenic regions in the entire northeastern U.S. Motoring down the Kancamagus Highway puts you right in the middle of it all. The Kancamagus Highway is known by many names, including the Kancamagus Scenic Byway, New Hampshire SR 112 (its

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

Shop Talk Premium Content

Motorcycle Drive Systems Explained

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

The Boys of Summer, Part 3: Illinois to Washington

Although baseball is a beloved pastime on the East Coast, the age-old American sport is merely an echo that travels gently toward the Pacific Ocean. There are no obstructions along its path, so it might resonate with the people trapped in the noise. After Wrigley and Guaranteed Rate fields (the

City Escape Premium Content

City Escape: Allentown, PA

Pennsylvania may not be the best-known riding destination in America, but it’s one of my favorites. Over the years, I’ve been to virtually every corner of the state. Pennsylvania just ticks most of my motorcycle touring boxes— curvy backroads, historical locations, off-the-beaten-path destinations, and interesting terrain in terms

Travel Guide

8 Best Places for a Fall Color Ride Near the Smokies

The Smoky Mountains are covered in deciduous trees. Their dense canopies are already gorgeous in the summer, but once fall comes around, the mountains burst into flame. Figuratively speaking, that is. No matter where you go in the Smokies in the fall, you’re bound to see some stunning leaves.

Travel Guide

Unplugged and Unreachable: Visit These 9 US Destinations in America Without Cell Reception

Are you sick and tired of phone calls? Would you rather chuck your phone out the window than answer another text or email? It sounds like you need to unplug for a while—and fortunately many places in the U.S. are still beyond the reach of cell and Wi-Fi

Destinations Premium Content

In Pursuit of Wildness: Pinnacles National Park

Once upon a time, it was called Pinnacles National Monument, but today it is America’s newest national park. That’s where this story begins. Graduating from San Jose State, getting married, and landing my first permanent job with the National Park Service all within one week was a miracle.

City Escape Premium Content

City Escape: Bemidji, MN

Bemidji, MN, claims to be the birthplace of Paul Bunyan. This City Escape will convince you he hails from northern Minnesota. It’s easy to picture Paul chopping down trees with a single swipe of his ax among the forests and lakes you’ll see along the ride. Starting at

Classic Roads Premium Content

The Waterfront Jewel of America—Great Lakes Seaway Trail

A beautiful waterscape is one of the best backdrops for a laidback motorcycling outing. The Great Lakes Seaway Trail serves both good times and water views in spades. This National Scenic Byway (also known by its previous official name, Seaway Trail) is a series of designated roads in Pennsylvania and

Columns Premium Content

BMW R 20 Concept Motorcycle at Villa d’Este

After a long absence, BMW Motorrad has presented a concept motorcycle at the stage of the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d’Este. In addition to the big boxer engine, the brightly-colored tank was the focus of the R 20 roadster Every summer, the park of Villa d'Este

Events Premium Content

Balancing Off-Road Expertise: The Jimmy Lewis Approach

Beneath the vast sky of the American West, a diverging two-wheeled journey unfolds—a tale of lessons learned from the sturdy embrace of a BMW F650 GS to the agile prowess of a KTM 500 EXC-F. With five years stretching the horizon between these two rides, I have plateaued in

Events Premium Content

Quail Motorcycle Gathering

David Coffey and I met en route to The Quail Motorcycle Gathering a decade ago and have attended it together every year since. This year, we added another David: My younger brother, a lifelong motorcyclist whose birthday was approaching and who knew nothing about the Carmel Valley motorcycle experience except

Shop Talk Premium Content

Should You Warm Up Your Bike Before Riding?

Many of us are in the habit of irritating our neighbors by warming up our engines before we leave for a ride. Much like an athlete warming up before competition, it only makes sense that our engines require the same treatment. Allowing the engine components to heat up and oil

Columns

Interview with Alexander Buckan—BMW’s New Head of Design

Alexander Buckan—born 1974 in Erfurt, Germany—took over the direction of the BMW Motorrad Design from Edgar Heinrich on January 1, 2024. After working at Mercedes-Benz and a freelancer, he joined the motorcycle department in Munich in 2003. I sat down to chat with the fresh head designer to

Reader Ride Premium Content

Three Texans, Four Strokes, Five States

I’ve really gone and done it this time. Idaho is not an easy feat to pull off from Central Texas. I had mulled over various scenarios—shipping, flying, staging, renting, begging, borrowing. I even tried to talk myself out of it and pick a different trip that was easier

Classic Roads

Ride into the Green at Michigan’s Tunnel of Trees

Michigan is famous for its trees, sporting lusciously full canopies of leaves. Taking your motorcycle to the Tunnel of Trees lets you ride right into the midst of the greenery. The Tunnel of Trees Scenic Heritage Route—also known as SR 119 or locally as M-119—is a narrow paved

Columns

Pen to Production—Interview with KTM Designer Gerald Kiska

Austrian designer Gerald Kiska has been responsible for designing KTM models for more than three decades. Since Husqvarna and Gas Gas joined the same group, his portfolio has extended to these brands as well. Kiska has never been afraid to provoke with his designs. I sat to chat with him

Letter from the Editor Premium Content

Planes, Trains, and Motorcycles—A Letter From Florian

Traveling to attend new motorcycle press launches often requires some serious travel. I don’t know many people willing to fly halfway around the world to ride a motorcycle for a day. My usual rule is that I want to stay at a location at least twice as long as

Roundtrip Tour Premium Content

Costa Rica: Cruisers in Paradise

The Great Getaway is BMW Motorrad’s organized trip to locations chosen specifically for the R 18 cruiser. With tours in Portugal, Costa Rica, and Oregon, BMW is partnering with local tour companies to lead these trips. These aren’t intense ride-rinse-repeat type tours (which can be great) but rather

Classic Roads

Ride the Highest Pass in the Eastern Alps—Stelvio Pass, Italy

The Stelvio Pass is one of the most challenging and exhilarating motorcycle roads in the world to ride. It’s absolutely worth a trip to Italy just to wrassle with this beast. At 9,045 feet, Stelvio Pass is the highest paved mountain pass in the Eastern Alps and the

Destinations Premium Content

The Little Alien Town—Rachel, NV

What would you expect to find in the remote desert of Nevada? Perhaps sand, stones, and shrubs—with a little green man peeking out from between them. That’s what might await you in the tiny town of Rachel, one of the country’s UFO capitals. Just for the record,