Whenever we’re discussing our favourite countries for a motorcycle adventure here at ABR, South Africa is frequently mentioned as one of the best. It has what we consider the holy trinity for a great motorcycle adventure: jaw-dropping scenery, brilliant roads, and fascinating culture. But there are also a few other factors which, when added together, make it one of the best destinations for adventure bike riding. If you’re already convinced, check out Africa Twin Adventures. They’re experts on riding in South Africa and offer guided and bespoke tours of the country. Otherwise, read on to ..read more

The North of England is one of the best areas in the country for adventure bikers. Stunning twisting roads over moorland plateaus, mountain passes, coastal rides, and plenty of greenlaning opportunities. It’s got it all. If Northern adventure bikers weren’t lucky enough already, life has just got even better, because Iron City Motorcycles has expanded its dealership network to include more of the hottest adventure bikes on the market. Iron City Motorcycles started in Gateshead as a Harley-Davidson dealership, but has expanded to Newcastle and Leeds, adding more and more manufacturers to its po ..read more

Bigger, bolder, better? BMW has finally unveiled the R 1300 GS Adventure at the Motorrad Days festival, held this year in Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany. It was the Adventure version of the R 1150 GS that was broadcast into people’s living rooms in the Long Way Round, and for many, it’s the essential version of the big GS. So, when the standard R 1300 GS was revealed last year, we knew that it was only a matter of time until we saw an Adventure model, and it’s finally here. As you’d expect, it’s filled with additions designed to elevate the bike into the ultimate round-the-world tourer ..read more

Can you believe it? It feels like we wait all year, and then in a flash the ABR Festival has happened, and we have to wait another 12 months for the next one. But we sure do cram a year’s worth of motorcycling entertainment into the four days of the festival, and this year’s event was the biggest, and I think we can all agree, best yet. There was so much to see and do around the magnificent grounds of Ragley Hall, from the rocking bands at the Bikerheadz Stage, the 40km of fantastic riding around the on-site trails, Adam Riemann and Chris Birch appearing together to tear up the GoPro Display A ..read more

It could have been so much worse. One moment I was happily chugging along a dusty trail between Lo Manthang and Ghami, high in Nepal’s Mustang Valley, the next I was flying over the handlebars of my Royal Enfield. Like a slow-motion sequence from an action film, I can remember putting out my hands to break my fall as I cartwheeled through the air before hitting the ground and continuing into an ungainly barrel roll, finally coming to a halt in a sitting position. Behind me, the trusty Enfield was upside down, miraculously resting upright on the bars and rear seat with both wheels still gently ..read more

Adventure bikes may claim to be descended from rally racing stock, but in reality, 90% of their genes come from the tarmac. That fact is reflected in the fact that most owners spend the majority of their time on the road, and many never stray from the blacktop at all. And that’s no bad thing. We’re big believers here at ABR in the fact you don’t need to ride off road to have an adventure. So why are adventure bikes so popular with people who mainly ride on the road? It’s because they’re comfortable, exciting, versatile, capable, robust, and great to live with. Plus, they’re more than ready to ..read more

When I think back to my most memorable tours, they have a few things in common. I’ll ride on exhilarating roads, see incredible sights I wouldn’t get to see at home, eat some fantastic food, and enjoy experiencing a different culture. Throw in a ferry (everything feels more adventurous when a ferry is involved), a group of good mates, and even a motorway stint or two to make you appreciate the twistier moments, and you’ve got the makings of a fantastic time away on two wheels. My thinking is that you need at least a week off work and a ferry ticket to Calais to achieve this. But this route I’v ..read more

James Oxley is handed the keys to the 2024 Harley-Davidson CVO Road Glide to begin life with his new long-term review bike. Regular readers of Adventure Biker Rider will know I’ve undergone something of a motorcycling awakening over the past few months, having had my eyes opened to the wonderful world of bagger touring. And while I’ve got no intention of turning my back on adventure bikes anytime soon, I’m happy to tell anyone who will listen that I’ve relished broadening my motorcycling horizons, and I’d highly recommend you give it a go to. The change came upon me last November when I spent ..read more

Since the early ’90s, the full-sized BMW GS has had a smaller and often overshadowed sibling. Originally released as the F 650 (with the wonderfully naff name Funduro), it was the first single-cylinder, chain-driven bike BMW had made in decades, and it became its best-selling model in Europe soon after its release. So, while its bigger brother might receive more attention, the F series of GS motorcycle’s has been a key bike for BMW for three decades. And as the big boxer-engined GS evolved, so too did the F series. Now, for 2024, BMW has released the new F 800 GS and the F 900 GS alongside the ..read more

Chinese upstarts Kove have been making waves in the rally scene over the last two years, entering three of the company’s 450 Rally bikes in the 2023 Dakar Rally, all of which successfully finished the race without a hitch. It’s impressive enough to finish one of the world’s most mechanically gruelling rallies without a fault, but even more impressive is the fact that these bikes are available direct to the consumer starting from £8,500 for the standard model, raising to £13,500 for the Rally Pro. And now, Kove is bringing its wider adventure range to the UK, with the 800X Pro and 510X models b ..read more