A road bike will have taller gearing than a dirt bike but you should be in at least second gear for all but the steepest climbs or really technical trials type obstacles. the chain flapping about shouldn't be too much of a problem, better too slack than too tight but be careful as a road bike won't ...

I'm not a fan of the modern GS but have to say that for the LWR the 1150 adv was probably the better option compared to the KTM 640. The LWD was just a marketing exercise on behalf of BMW and the 1200GS sales figures show that it worked. Contentious comment: The BMW R1200GS put 'Adventure Motorcycli...

I generally prefer maps but GPS is handy for track logging when off roading with inaccurate/incomplete maps and for finding street addresses in unfamiliar towns. Possibly useful for following someones track log. It all depends if it matters if you get lost or not. If I'm out trying to log a new off ...

An adventure is defined as an exciting or unusual experience; it may also be a bold, usually risky undertaking, with an uncertain outcome. I'm sure many of us have had 'adventures' whilst trying to work out what we're really looking for; many of mine I would'nt want to repeat (breaking down on a 35...

Wouldn't it be nice if someone came up with a bike that truely avoided the need to run two bikes. I think that it will be the 650+ singles that will be developed to fill this role with the KTM 690 engine being the best available at the moment but it still doesn't quite cut it as a motorway mile munc...

The perfect adventure bike is the top of the pyramid, down one side of the pyramid you have bikes with less and less adventure capability until you arrive at the bottom which is the full blown Gold Wing type tourer. On the opposite side you have bikes with less and less road going potential until at...

From an outsiders point of view (ex TRF member years ago ,I talk to a lot of Trail riders/TRF members who come riding here in France) TRF doesn't really cater for adventure riders on big bikes, they seem to think they are more akin to 4x4s. With the enduro riders the TRF has a 'pipe and slippers' im...

If you think the bike's dirty you should've seen the rider (fell off in a big mud hole)

A bit staged but not Photoshopped.

Chateau de Hautefort

Qualified as an electronics engineer, worked in Military radio development then moved onto working for an oil exploration outfit (in electronics) in the Libyan desert. Got a really good job with Marconi/GEC travelling all over the world supporting a first generation television standards converter an...