My favorite little things

Cheap and awesome.

Small inflatable solar-powered light with a candlelight feature
This thing is awesome. Not only is it a great light, but it is also crucial for summer riding where fire bans are in place. Candlelight mode = instant good vibes. Stay away from cool/blue LED lights = bad vibes.

Bungee net
Just throw this on top of your gear. You are going to use it more than you think. Just make sure the rubber caps don’t fall off the hooks, that could be trouble. I super glue the caps in place and remove the unnecessary hooks.

Headlamp with red mode
Leave your headlamp in red mode while at camp. Unless you’re working on a bike, there’s no need to blind everyone at camp. The battery will also last much longer in this mode.

S-Biner clips
I have at least four of these on hand at all times. They carry everything from my keys to my crocs.

Small plastic spoon/fork
I have a nice titanium version of this, but I couldn’t find a place to store it without it causing potential damage, so plastic is the way to go. Now you can eat your yogurt, or sardine can from the gas station like a civilized human, not an animal slurping fish juice.

Crocs
I’ve tried many times to upgrade my moto shoes and have failed each time. Crocs are the way to go, hands down. Nothing else even compares. Sandals are great but offer little protection. Sneakers would be nice, but you have to keep them dry. The answer is simply Crocs; they’re easy to store—under a bungee net, wash and dry easily, comfortable, can be used with or without socks, fairly cheap, last forever, and you can hike a good distance if need be. Crocs, the official moto shoes.

Large-mouth disposable bottle
I usually strap a vitamin water bottle to my bungee and finish it by bedtime. The bottle that once held liquid will now hold liquid again by morning. Synergy.

Ziplock bags
Great for anything that could use some waterproofing, like a registration. Also great for oily foam air filters and loose earplugs.

Wipes
The new “cowboy shower.” Alcohol-free if you’re using it in this form. With alcohol if used to disinfect. Just don’t mix them up.

Rok straps
They nailed it with this design. A bungee strap with clips. I always have at least two of these across my luggage. Even if your luggage has all the straps and pockets, it’s great to have an additional set of straps that move with your system.

Personal pizza

Which motorcycle to take?

That depends on how many motorcycles you have and what type of adventure you aim to have. If you have one motorcycle, take that one—easy choice. If you have a few and managed to keep up with maintenance, that will require a bit of thinking.

Am I going solo or with friends? What kind of riding am I doing? What type of bikes are my friends riding? What is the skill level of the group? Are we camping or staying in hotels? How long is the ride? What do I need to bring? Do I need to test gear?

If I’m going solo and want to explore random trails in the mountains, I bring Old Reliable, my DRZ400. It’s a good size for areas that could be exponentially adventurous.

For group rides with mixed skill levels, I’ll get a gauge of what the group is going for and let that be the guide. Easy logging roads with a bar at the end of the ride. Most likely the Tiger 900 with all the comfort features

*Relaxed group rides are great for testing new gear.

For a proper BDR, I’m taking the T7. I built it for that purpose.

I don’t think the motorcycle makes the adventure, but it can play a big role.

It’s like crust on a pizza. It’s not always the most important part, but it’s the medium that carries the ingredients. Thin crust, deep dish, whatever Pagliacci uses that has the perfect crunch. It all adds to the adventure. If you have the option to build your own personal pizza, you should.

*PP&J (pepperoni, pineapple, jalapeño)

FYI, DIY

If you can ride a motorcycle, you can fix a motorcycle.

My personal motto is to give everything a try because if you are going to hire a professional to fix something, it might as well be properly broken.

You don’t have to be a mechanic to take your bike on an adventure, but having basic knowledge of how a motorcycle works can get you out of a jam.

If you know the order of events required for a motorcycle to work properly, you can isolate the part of the system that needs attention. In my line of work, this is called (signal flow). The basic concept is to start at the source and logically work your way through the system until you find the point where it stops working. This is a very simple concept to understand but difficult to implement properly. Most people start at the wrong place or jump around aimlessly, only to create more confusion. Think of the system as a multi-story house, with many rooms and many doors. If the source originates in the kitchen but needs to get to the basement, what doors does it need to open, what set of stairs does it need to take to get there? If it’s not making it to the basement, figure out what door is locked or what set of stairs is broken, then fix them.

I didn’t know how to turn a wrench for a big part of my riding journey. I changed the oil a few times a year, did zero forms of winterizing, bought new tires when I got a flat, wore the sprockets smooth, and only replaced the chain once it snapped. I was a bad rider on all accounts. Equal parts ignorance and laziness allowed this dangerous nonsense to continue for far too long. The thing that got me out of this neglectful habit was deciding to try motorcycle racing. Up until that point, a motorcycle was just a cool form of transportation, nothing else. Getting into racing opened a new pathway and approach to motorcycles.

They do not make a 1972 CB350 that is race-ready, you must build it. With the help of my friend Motor Jones, a cool, old-school motorcycle racer, I was able to take an old beat-up bike and completely transform it into a race bike. The process taught me about engines, suspension, frames, but mainly, it gave me the confidence to just go for it. Prior to this, I never would have split open an engine case, but once you do it, you realize that there is no magic keeping the engine together; it is just parts and good engineering that work together to create a system. If a part fails, you can usually fix it or replace it. This applies to the whole motorcycle. No wizardry, just an awesome machine that can take you on great adventures.

Basic signal flow:

Problem

- Bike will not start.

Troubleshooting procedure:

- Is the key/ignition switched to the on position? Easy fix.

- Do the headlights turn on or flicker? Dim lights mean the battery is weak.

- Is the battery charged? Use a multimeter to check for voltage but especially the amps.

- Is the fuel pump working? There’s usually a clicking sound next to the tank when you turn the key.

- Is there a fuse for the ignition system and is it blown? There are usually a couple of spares in the fuse box.

- Is there a fuel valve/petcock, and is it on? Can’t start an engine without fuel.

- Still no luck? Sell it and buy a new bike. This bike is a pile and the new DRZ looks badass.

- Actually… you forgot about the start button. It needs to be set to the ON position.

Apply this method of thinking next time you’re in a bind, you might be able to keep the fun going or save a few bucks.

It’s just metal and stuff

Riding with friends

Go with the flow

When it comes to riding with buddies, specially on long trips like the BDRs, you have to be mindful of their time and yours. Some people like to plan everything down to the minute, others barely plan. I tend to go with the flow. Sometimes I tag along for the ride and only care about what time to wake up, other times I plan the routes, stops and lead the way. Finding the balance of when to lead and when to follow is a key part in enjoying long trips with friends. Everyone should be able to “ride their own ride”. Following doesn’t necessarily mean riding in the back; it just means you’re not the person in charge of where the adventure is going during that time. If you’re riding with friends I recommend having a loose expectation and creating a mindset for the adventure. Do this as a group so that everyone is on the same page. This is useful to keep things on track and to bring spirits up when things don’t go as planned. Some of my past mindsets have been; enjoy the ride, no matter what, this is what we are doing, explore, relax, technique.

Adventure riding is not a science, plans will change, things will go wrong, injuries might happen. Some of my treasured memories include terrible riding and broken bones. On the other hand, some of my favorite memories also include epic hill climbs and amazing views; riding a motorcycle alongside wild horses is about as good as it gets in my book.

When your riding with friends, you cannot be selfish. Work as a team, respect each others skills and boundaries. Push each other to go further, but also know when to call it a day.

Friends

GAS

Gear Acquisition Syndrome

If you have a passion for anything, you will eventually suffer from this. It usually starts with an extra set of gloves, a spare pair of goggles, maybe your jacket isn’t as warm as you wanted so you buy the newer model and before you know it you end up with a pile of jackets, a bin full of goggles, and enough tools to arm a couple of shops.

For me it started with trying to save money. I couldn’t afford nice gear so I would buy used or bottom of the line brands. I quickly found that this route leads to a lot of returns and gear causing more issues than they solved. You will get lucky every once in a while and score a sweet deal, but usually people sell things that didn’t cut it. I’m not a gear snob so I’m for whatever gets you riding and exploring, but after years of trying to make things work on the cheap, I’m realizing that “buy once, cry once” might be a better way to go.

Motorcycle gear is pretty cool and who doesn’t like cool things? I definitely do. I can never have enough pocket knives or flashlights. On the other hand, for motorcycle gear I prefer to only have the things I really need and the things that will work while on my travels. The only thoughts I want floating in my head while riding are about technique and my surroundings. Everything else can be dormant until needed, but once it’s needed it has to function!

Managing gear can be fun for some people, but I don’t want to think about it. I like to put effort into planning things once and moving on. Once I build a kit I try to leave it alone unless I see that something isn’t working.

Gear is never going to stop evolving, it’s only going to get better and cooler. Having said that, there is a point of diminishing returns on investing in new gear. Investing money, investing time, investing effort in general, effort that could be used to practice technique or to read about properly setting your suspension.

To elevate gas I recommend the following:

Save and get the nicer gear. You will ride longer and better if you’re not soaking wet and freezing.
Buy the nicer tool. It will last longer and you’ll have less stripped bolts and nuts.
Only add as needed. Spend a bit more time on the bike and really figure out what you need.
Less time on the web and scrolling through videos. Use that time to read the manual.
Ride more! Can’t buy shit if you’re out riding.

Gear Junkie

I do not work at the airport

TLC

Stigmatism, rain, fog, refraction, cold hands, anxiety, worn out gear; a recipe for a bad ride.

I can spend a day in the woods riding tricky terrain without experiencing real fear of injury or death, but every time I get caught in harsh weather—especially at night, I find myself gripping the handlebars more than I should.

Living in the Pacific Northwest you get used to being wet and cold. Quality gear helps, but it doesn’t give you special powers, like seeing through a foggy visor or scratched-up goggles. What does help, is caring for your gear so it functions properly. For some reason, I treat my motorcycle gear like I work at the airport. I set my helmet on any surface that’s somewhat stable. I toss the goggles in my bag with zero protection. I rarely clean or lubricate the zippers on my bags, pants or jackets. It’s no surprise that my visor fogs up, my goggles are scratched, and my zippers get stuck. I worry more about my cheap sunglasses than my riding goggles. That needs to change.

What do I do now?

I installed a helmet hook on my bike. I keep my goggles in a case and clean them with the proper cloth. I also wash and lubricate my zippers with silicon spray. All simple fixes make for better rides.

Simply put. Take care of your gear and your gear will take care of you.

It’s ok.