Tours

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In Pursuit of Wildness: The Carrizo Plain National Monument

A sleeping giant lies on the valley floor between the Temblor Range and the Caliente Range. That is where this story begins. In 1857, the strongest earthquake in California’s recorded history ripped through the San Andreas Fault, wrenching the western side of the Carrizo Plain National Monument 31 feet

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Riding Mopeds from Paris to Dakar

A motorcycle trip in Africa is always demanding, but on a moped like the Piaggio Ciao, it turns into an enormous challenge. That’s especially true when your journey takes you from Paris to Dakar in Senegal, covering almost 2,900 miles over 23 days in the summer. When preparing

Accommodations

Review: The Cotton House—Cleveland, MS

Located on the historic Cotton Row in downtown Cleveland, the Cotton House is a fixture on the Mississippi Blues Trail. If you’re planning to stay in Cleveland during your ride, the Cotton House is the place to be. The hotel sits close to all of the attractions you’ll

Mar/Apr '23 Premium Content

Getting High in Colorado

Riding in central Colorado is a treat, no matter the time of year, but doing it in the fall is something everyone should experience. The aspen trees are bunched in groves varying in thickness all over the mountains and they begin to explode into a wildfire of color in mid-September.

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North East Backcountry Discovery Route

We began this ride in Bennington, VT, which is located in the southwestern corner of the state. Our plan was to pick up the North East Backcountry Discovery Route (NEBDR) for four days of adventure, riding through Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine. Caleb and I woke early to get geared

Travel Guide

6 Unique General Store Lunch Stops in the Northeast

As any motorcyclist knows, there’s magic in discovering new backroads. A part of that magic is exploring the markets and general stores tucked away from the hustle of the city. They let us experience a little piece of the history of the general store—an important aspect of commerce

Mar/Apr '23

City Escape: New York City, New York

This scenic loop starts and ends in northern New Jersey, about 25 miles west of Manhattan. The route winds through the beautiful scenic lakes of Ringwood and Wawayanda state parks, then through the woods of Roosa Gap and Vernooy Kill state forests to the Ashokan reservoir. It continues on SR

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Fine Writing and Riding Instruments

There are certainly worse fates than to be lost in Italy on a Moto Guzzi. I’ve learned to not get too concerned about finding my way in foreign places. It always seems to work itself out. After all, it was mid-day and twilight was far off. I was safe

Accommodations

Review: Doffo Winery Cottage—Temecula, CA

The Doffo Winery is the place to be for anyone who enjoys fine wines and vintage motorcycles. Located in Temecula, CA, the winery is owned by Marcelo Doffo, a passionate winemaker and motorcycle collector. Over the years, Marcelo has acquired over 200 vintage two-wheel gems representing brands from all over

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Sölkpass & Radstädter Tauern: Ancient Alpine Trade Routes

It is a sunny day in late May and Austria has lifted the pandemic riding restrictions for those of us who live here. What better way to celebrate our long-awaited freedom than by tackling the highest pass in Styria—the wonderful Sölkpass between Stein an der Enns on the north

Mar/Apr '23 Premium Content

ZenMoto Part 1: Minnesota to Montana

It takes about an hour before I leave behind the exurbs of Minneapolis, MN. The riding is easy—lots of straight roads and not a lot of traffic or navigating. There is space in my head to scroll through the 50 million things that one thinks about on the first

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Maine: Exploring Lighthouses and Mountains

Hewn from bedrock and shaped by glaciers, Maine’s landscape is unique, from its rugged coastline dotted with lighthouses to its pristine lakes and deep woods. Maine has always attracted individualists and adventurers, from lumberjacks and hunters, to fisherman plying Georges Banks, and to Henry David Thoreau and motorcyclists. Lighting

Mar/Apr '23

Classic Roads: Washington SR-14

Historic Columbia River Gorge Highway Seen from high above, two-lane tarmac traces a serpentine path along the banks of a river that is both colossal and historic. The river flows into the Pacific Ocean through a deep, wide chasm of scoured volcanic rock, deposited over many millennia. Riders feel strong

Mar/Apr '23 Premium Content

Chile: Rewards and Just Desserts

With 10,000 miles clocked on the odometer since kick-starting our trip in South America five months ago, I’d stopped seeing it as an extended vacation. Traveling had become a way of life for Jason and me. The honeymoon period wasn’t over—it was a new chapter, having

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Classic Roads: Storm King NY SR 218

About 50 miles north of New York City, along the Hudson River, Storm King Mountain rises abruptly to lofty heights above the river’s west bank. Geologists tell us that this striking granite formation is several hundred million years old. The mountain’s evocative name was coined by writer Nathaniel

Destinations

Stop Along The Oregon Trail in The Dalles, OR

Yesterday & Today Although indigenous people inhabited the Columbia River area for millennia and the Lewis and Clark expedition camped here, The Dalles owes its beginning and name to French-speaking Hudson Bay Company fur traders. The word dalle roughly translates to English as a “large tile” or “flagstone,” and dalles

Accommodations

Review: The Itty Bitty Inn—North Bend, OR

Before departing Southern California for an extended coastal trip, I did some random searching for possible hotels along my planned route. One in particular caught my attention—the Itty Bitty Inn in North Bend, OR. Comprising just five rooms, this old-school roadside motel has a bizarre and infectious charm. That

Mar/Apr '23 Premium Content

Hot Springs, North Carolina Shamrock Tour®

I was wrapping up another season of selling pumpkins and staring down the barrel of an open calendar when the Yamaha Ténéré 700 began to take on a life of its own from the bits and pieces I was adding to it for the trip. October is the month to

Mar/Apr '23 Premium Content

City Escape: Vancouver, British Columbia

The Sea-to-Sky Highway is one of those famous motorcycling roads that you have to ride at least twice. Once to revel in the sweeping bends and smooth surface, and then again to soak up the spectacular views over the turquoise-blue waters of Howe Sound and the majestic pine forests reaching

Travel Guide

5 Great Motorcycle Rides in California

California boasts many fantastic motorcycle-friendly roads. Motorcyclists can enjoy riding year round with mild winters and limited rainfall. Here are five great rides in northern California. You can find the GPS files and map at the bottom of this article. Pacific Coast Highway (SR 1)—San Simeon to Carmel Whether

Destinations

Destination: Rome, GA

Resting on seven hills, with the Etowah, Oostanaula, and Coosa Rivers running among them, Rome’s topographical layout is believed to have inspired early European-American settlers to name their city after the capital of Italy. Owing to the location’s geographic advantages, earlier inhabitants were the Creek people, who were

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Lost Sierra

It was the most exciting newspaper story I’d read in a long time—a group of outdoor enthusiasts had gathered sufficient capital and government support to begin carving 600 miles of multi-use, single-track trails through the Lost Sierra. To me, this was catnip. I already had a friend connected

Destinations

In Pursuit of Wildness: Cabrillo National Monument

The Pacific Ocean is jaw-droppingly beautiful as I ride my motorcycle along Highway 1 from Monterey, CA, toward San Diego. It’s easy to allow your imagination to run free along each curve on this scenic highway, envisioning sailing ships exploring new lands. Albert Einstein said that “imagination is more

Destinations

In Pursuit of Wildness: Petrified Forest National Park

I’m on historic US Route 66 heading east for a small village nestled next to the Rio Grande in New Mexico called La Joya. Each year, I make this journey across the wild west, past little communities and towns with interesting names: Newberry Springs, Oatman, Cool Springs, Valentine, Peach

Travel Guide

Americana: Round Barns

Riding cross-country in rural America, you may have happened upon round barns with conical roofs and wondered, “Why?” Several scientific theories suggest that round shapes are more calming and pleasing to the observer’s eyes than shapes with corners, which may explain why you noticed and remembered those barns in