Ready to visit the exotic bazaars of Fez and Marrakech? Ride a camel on the dunes of the Sahara Desert? Ride the best roads in Morocco, including the Atlas and Rif mountains? Join Rider Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt and his brother, Paul, on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour, October 12-21, 2024.

This 10-day tour includes all the sights you always dreamed of visiting in Morocco. This route is for seasoned riders who want to enjoy rolling green hills, the snow-capped Atlas Mountains, and the mysterious sand dunes of the Sahara Desert all on well-maintained paved roads. You’ll explore casbahs, see oases, and have opportunities to buy hand-made rugs, drink mint tea, and ride a camel! In the evenings you’ll dine on delicious Moroccan cuisine like couscous and tagine.

The tour starts and ends in Málaga, Spain, where you’ll spend nights to kick off and conclude the tour. To get to Morocco, you’ll ride along the southern coast of Spain and take a ferry across the Mediterranean Sea.

The IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour is an authentic experience that will leave a lasting impression on you. There is limited space on this tour, so sign up now!

Register for the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour Facts

• Start / End: Málaga, Spain
• Total Distance: 1,432 miles / 2,306 km
• Daily Mileage: 160-220 miles / 250-350 km
• Riding Season: Autumn
• Total Time: 10 days
• Riding Days: 9 days
• Rest Days: 2 (Erfoud, Fez)
• Breakfast: 9 included breakfasts
• Dinners: 7 included dinners
• Hotel Overnights: 9 nights
• Highlights: Marrakech Djemaa el Fna Square, riding a camel in the Sahara Desert sand dunes, Fez medina tour, Atlas Mountains
• Accommodations: First-class 4- and 5-star hotels plus some Moroccan riads (palace homes converted into exotic boutique hotels). All IMTBike lodgings are hand-picked for their quality of service, local charm, and strategic locations.

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour Daily Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival at Málaga
• Day 2: Malaga – Rabat
• Day 3: Rabat – Marrakech
• Day 4: Marrakech – Ouarzazate
• Day 5: Ouarzazate – Todra Canyon – Erfoud
• Day 6: Erfoud rest day
• Day 7: Erfoud – Fez
• Day 8: Fez rest day
• Day 9: Fez – Ceuta
• Day 10: Ceuta – Málaga / Flight home

Read detailed daily itinerary for the Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour

IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour Pricing

Base Price: €3,910 (approx. $USD 4,242)

The base price of every tour is calculated for a single rider on a BMW G 310 R and sharing a double room. Passengers, single-room occupancy, and other BMW models incur additional charges.

Related: IMTBike Southern Spain Andalusia Tour Review

Included in Tour:

• Airport pickup on the first day of the tour
• Overnight accommodations in carefully selected 4- and 5-star hotels and boutique riads
• A delicious evening meal featuring Moroccan specialties
• Complete buffet breakfast every morning
• New model BMW motorcycle fully equipped with three BMW cases
• Tour handbook (normally about 70 pages – very comprehensive) and highlighted map
• Expert multilingual guide on a motorcycle
• Multilingual guide in support vehicle which will carry your luggage, any oversized purchases you make, or even a passenger or two
• Tour souvenirs

Related: IMTBike Essence of Northern Spain Tour Review

Not Included in Tour:

• Air ticket
• Lunches
• Gasoline
• Drinks
• Tolls
• Personal spending
• Tips

Ready for the adventure of a lifetime? Come ride with and get to know Rider Editor-in-Chief Greg Drevenstedt and his brother, Paul, who will be on the tour from beginning to end! Space is limited, so click on the link below to sign up for the tour.

Register for the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour

The post Join Rider EIC Greg Drevenstedt on the IMTBike Morocco Adventure Motorcycle Tour appeared first on Rider Magazine.

On Episode 71 of the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast, which is sponsored by Fly Racing, we talk about the Americade rally, which takes place May 29 to June 1 in Lake George, New York. The world’s largest all-brand rally has scenic rides, demo rides, entertainment, and events. Rider and American Rider sponsor the Bring It Bike Show, with daily winners in multiple categories and a people’s choice Best of Show. Bring your motorcycle and show it off! 

LINKS: Americade, Bring It Bike Show registration, FLY Racing, @flyracingUSA on Instagram

Related: 2023 Americade Bring It Bike Show Winners

You can check out Episode 71 on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Podbean, and YouTube or via the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast webpage. Please subscribe, leave us a 5-star rating, and tell your friends! Scroll down for a list of previous episodes.

Visit the Rider Magazine Insider Podcast webpage to check out previous episodes:

• Ep. 70: Paul Guillien and Ron West, Backcountry Discovery Routes
• Ep. 69: 2024 Adventure Bikes with Kevin Duke, Editor-in-Chief of American Rider
• Ep. 68: 2024 Motorcycles with Kevin Duke, Editor-in-Chief of American Rider
• Ep. 67: Ellie Cooper, author of Waiting for Mango Season
• Ep. 66: Motorcycle Cannonball team Jonas Zahn and Brenda Kuhl, PeglegSpeedShop
• Ep. 65: Tom Medema, RallyForRangers.org
• Ep. 64: Quinn Redeker, PoliceMotorTraining.com
• Ep. 63: Justin Bradshaw, REVER
• Ep. 62: Ed Conde, New England Riders
• Ep. 61: Steven Goode, Great American Scenic Byway Tour benefiting the Parkinson’s Foundation
• Ep. 60: Eric Trow, Stayin’ Safe
• Ep. 59: Nick Ienatsch, Yamaha Champions Riding School
• Ep. 58: Inna Thorn and Tim James, Backcountry Discovery Routes
• Ep. 57: Tim Card, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Fundraiser
• Ep. 56: Kyle Petty, Kyle Petty Charity Ride Across America
• Ep. 55: Guillermo Cornejo, Riders-Share.com
• Ep. 54: Kevin Duke, Editor-in-Chief of American Rider
• Ep. 53: Killboy, Killboy.com
• Ep. 52: Perry Steed, OperationPurpose.net
• Ep. 51: Forrest Hobbs, TransAmerica Trail “purist”
• Ep. 50: Dave Scott, Part 3 on the TransAmerica Trail
• Ep. 49: Gina ‘Brooklyn’ Neumann, Leather and Lace MC
• Ep. 48: Dave Scott on the TransAmerica Trail
• Ep. 47: Neale Bayly, motojournalist and philanthropist
• Ep. 46: Dave Scott, TransAmerica Trail Part 1
• Ep. 45: C. Jane Taylor, author of Spirit Traffic
• Ep. 44: Moshe K. Levy, Moto Mouth Moshe
• Ep. 43: Can Akkaya, Superbike-Coach.com
• Ep. 42: Andre LaPlante, MotoVentures
• Ep. 41: Scott A. Williams, writer and contributor to Rider
• Ep. 40: Chris Peterman, Director of Motorcycles at CFMOTO USA
• Ep. 39: Hayley Bell, Founder and President of Global Business Development for Women Riders World Relay
• Ep. 38: Eric Trow, Rider Contributing Editor and Stayin’ Safe Principal
• Ep. 37: Bill Dragoo, Dragoo Adventure Riding Training (DART)
• Ep. 36: Gordon McCall, Director of Motorsports for The Quail Motorcycle Gathering
• Ep. 35: Rennie Scaysbrook, Pikes Peak record holder, motorcycle journalist, and racer
• Ep. 34: Cat MacLeod of Leod Escapes Motorcycle “Track and Tour”
• Ep. 33: Inna Thorn and Tim James of Backcountry Discovery Routes
• Ep. 32: C. Jane Taylor, author of Spirit Traffic
• Ep. 31: Alan Wilzig, motorcycle collector and owner of Wilzig Racing Manor
• Ep. 30: Scott Moreno, founder and owner of IMTBike Motorcycle Tours and Rentals
• Ep. 29: Greg Rice, long-distance rider and Iron Butt Rally competitor
• Ep. 28: Brian Case, Director of the Barber Advanced Design Center at the Barber Vintage Motorsports Museum
• Ep. 27: Steven Goode, motorcyclist who completed the Great American Deli Schlep to support MAZON
• Ep. 26: Nancy Gerloff and Mark Augustyn, creators of Mimi and Moto: The Motorcycle Monkeys
• Ep. 25: Jess Stone, designer of the K9 Moto Cockpit and founder of Ruffly
• Ep. 24: Eddie Braun, Hollywood stuntman who completed Evel Knievel’s Snake River Canyon jump, and star of the film “Stuntman”
• Ep. 23: Ryan McFarland, founder and CEO of Strider Bikes and All Kids Bike advocate
• Ep. 22: Americade interview with Bill, Gini, and Christian Dutcher
• Ep. 21: Peter Starr, motorcycle filmmaker, author, and MotoStarr podcast host
• Ep. 20: Jon DelVecchio, founder of Street Skills and author of “Cornering Confidence”
• Ep. 19: Lauren Trantham, founder of Ride My Road
• Ep. 18: Keith Code, founder and director of California Superbike School
• Ep. 17: Valerie Thompson, world’s fastest female motorcycle racer
• Ep. 16: Wayne Rainey, president of MotoAmerica and a motorcycle racing legend
• Ep. 15: Longhaulpaul (Paul Pelland), Chasing the Cure: a million-mile motorcycle journey for MS
• Ep. 14: Andy Goldfine, Aerostich founder and Ride to Work Day advocate
• Ep. 13: Dr. Gregory W. Frazier, America’s #1 extreme motorcycle adventurer
• Ep. 12: Daniel Calderon, Curator of Exhibitions at SFO Museum
• Ep. 11: Peter Jones, Rider columnist and author of The Bad Editor
• Ep. 10: Christian Dutcher, Director of Americade and Touratech DirtDaze Rally
• Ep. 09: Melissa Holbrook Pierson, author of The Perfect Vehicle
• Ep. 08: Rainer Buck, CEO of Edelweiss Bike Travel
• Ep. 07: Michael Lock, CEO of AMA Pro Racing
• Ep. 06: Alonzo Bodden, motorcycle enthusiast and comedian
• Ep. 05: Paul D’Orleans, publisher of The Vintagent
• Ep. 04: Eric Trow, Rider columnist and owner, Stayin’ Safe Advanced Riding Training
• Ep. 03: Clement Salvadori, traveling motorcyclist and Rider contributor
• Ep. 02: Kevin Wing, world-class motorcycle photographer and Rider contributor
• Ep. 01: Robert Pandya and Discover the Ride at the Progressive International Motorcycle Shows

The post Americade and Bring It Bike Show | Ep. 71 Rider Magazine Insider Podcast appeared first on Rider Magazine.

BMW Motorrad unveiled the BMW R20 concept bike at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este show in Italy. The R20 features a classic roadster design paired with sophisticated components and a minimalist style, showcasing the air/oil-cooled Big Boxer engine as its centerpiece. 

The BMW R20 is an eye-catching motorcycle, with a “hotter than pink” pop of color on the aluminum tank. The bike has been designed to highlight the 2,000cc boxer engine, with its massive cylinders jutting out horizontally, and new components – cylinder head covers, belt cover, and oil cooler – were developed for this concept. 

Related: Paul Yaffe Creates Custom BMW R 18 One Eight “C” 

The bike’s double-loop main frame is made of chromoly steel tubes, and the R20 features a new dual-sided variant of BMW’s Paralever system. In this new variant, the swingarm is made of chromoly steel, and the strut is aluminum. The exposed driveshaft adopted from the R 18 has been shortened, and the bike rides on 17-inch wheels, with a spoked wheel up front and a black disc wheel in the rear. 

Related: BMW R 18 Roctane Review 

Suspension components are provided by Öhlins, the rake is 27.5 degrees, and the wheelbase is 61 inches. Radial-mounted ISR brakes feature a pair of 6-piston front calipers and a single 4-piston rear caliper. 

Adding to the R20’s sophisticated look, the taillight is integrated into the single seat upholstered with quilted black Alcantara and fine-grain leather, and the rear has a compact, uncluttered appearance. The LED headlight is surrounded by an aluminum ring with integrated daytime running light, with the main headlight appearing the float within the ring. 

“The R20 concept is a bold interpretation of the BMW Motorrad DNA,” says Alexander Buckan, head of design for BMW Motorrad. “It combines modern technical elements with a classic roadster design. Its oversized proportions and minimalistic aesthetic make it an unmistakable character.” 

Find more information about the R20 and other BMW models at the BMW Motorrad website. 

Check out more new bikes in Rider’s 2024 Motorcycle Buyers Guide  

The post BMW R20 Concept Unveiled  appeared first on Rider Magazine.

To commemorate their 10th year of partnership, Veterans Charity Ride and Indian Motorcycle are hosting a Memorial Day reunion to welcome returning VCR vets. The reunion takes place May 24-27 in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Veterans Charity Ride was founded by veteran Army Paratrooper Dave Frey and is a veteran-led, non-profit organization that provides motorcycle therapy to combat wounded veterans. VCR’s goal is to support vets as they transition to civilian life by offering camaraderie, motorcycle adventures, and other initiatives.

Related: Steed Rides Again for Veteran Suicide – This Time with a Crew

“It’s incredible to be entering our 10th year of motorcycle therapy, and undoubtedly we could not have achieved so much without the loyal support from our friends at Indian Motorcycle,” said Dave Frey, founder of Veterans Charity Ride. “While we celebrate 10 years with a Memorial Day reunion alongside our brothers and sisters who have joined us throughout our program, we are equally excited to stay on the throttle and welcome new veterans into the program and help in their rehabilitation just as we have so many already.”

Related: Veteran Hugh Smith Jr. and his ‘Milwaukee Packout’ Bike

Throughout Memorial Day weekend, participating vets will enjoy adventure activities supported by the National Ability Center in Park City. Vets will also go on motorcycle therapy rides and participate in team-building exercises.

Another VCR event is scheduled for June 8-16 in Moab, Utah, in celebration of Veteran Motorcycle Therapy Month. During this event, VCR will host a group of new and returning veterans with therapy rides, adventure activities, and small-group therapy sessions. They will also participate in the Indian-sponsored Durango Rendezvous event in Durango, Colordo.

“Over the past decade, Veterans Charity Ride has improved the lives of countless veterans, many of whom wouldn’t leave their house after their release from active duty,” said Aaron Jax, vice president for Indian Motorcycle. “Through its therapy program, which utilizes the freedom of the open road, the roar of the engine, and the connection between veterans, VCR has been incredibly successful in helping these vets find life after service, and we are honored to play a role in supporting such a great cause.”

To learn more or to donate to Veterans Charity Ride, visit the VCR website.

The post Veterans Charity Ride and Indian Motorcycle to Host Memorial Day Reunion appeared first on Rider Magazine.

As we gear up to head to Lake George, New York, for the 41st Americade rally (May 29-June 1), we are excited to host the second annual Bring It Bike Show alongside our sibling publication American Rider. Like the Americade rally itself, last year the inaugural show brought out all sorts of bikes. The one ridden by Hugh Smith Jr. definitely made an impression – so much so that we chose it as the lead image for the online story we published featuring the winners of the 2023 Bring it Bike Show.

Related: Join Rider Magazine at Americade 2024

Dubbed “Milwaukee Packout,” it’s an eye-catching bike, a 2006 Yamaha Road Star outfitted with Milwaukee Packout toolboxes as side cases and a Milwaukee battery-powered miter saw on the back. However, it wasn’t just the bike that caught our attention; it was Smith’s story. He is a Marine Corps veteran who uses his motorcycle as a work vehicle to help build housing for female veterans with children.

Last year’s Best of Show bike was selected by popular vote during Americade’s Industry Meet & Mingle party. Nearly 100 votes were tabulated, and Keith Youngblood’s 1969 Triumph TR6R hardtail bobber, which won the Best European category on Day 2 of the Bring It Bike Show, earned the grand prize. Smith’s bike came in second place, but his story pulled so many heartstrings at the party that Americade’s executive director, Christian Dutcher, graciously dug into his pocket to gift Smith with $200 for a special award.

After the 2023 show ended, we reached out to Smith to get to know a little more about the man and the mission.

Americade Bring It Bike Show Hero: ‘Who are you, wearing my eagle, globe, and anchor?’

Hugh Smith Sr. was a U.S. diplomat, and as a result, the younger Smith grew up at embassies around the world surrounded by Marine security guards. Before his days as a diplomat, Smith’s father was an MVP soccer player at New York University, which was impressive for a young Black immigrant in the 1960s. Smith said as part of the “Jr. thing,” he was always trying to live up to his father’s accomplishments. For him, it was training to be an all-star wrestler, a goal he worked toward while moving around.

“It was something I could train for and do independently,” he said. “I spent most of my time around the Marine security guards, lifting weights.”

He said that as a teenager stationed in Italy, he and the Marines would run the Spanish Steps, a steep, 95-foot slope comprising 138 steps.

Smith saw his goal accomplished a few years later at Wesleyan University, becoming the school’s first all-American wrestler in about a dozen years. However, with this mission realized, college “didn’t make sense.”

“I love to read. I love to travel. I love to learn from people in the environment. If we’re going to build a house, let’s go build a house. Let’s not read a book about it,” he said, adding that when it came to getting a degree, there was “nothing on paper that I could say, ‘Yes, that’s me.’”

After this realization, he decided he wanted to learn more about living off the grid and took an interest in wilderness education, which led him to Outward Bound. It was here that he discovered how much he enjoyed working with kids, especially the at-risk population.

“I saw the hope and excitement as their eyes lit up, especially the truant youths, when someone finally listed or they were able to open up,” he said.

In 1999, Smith enlisted in the Marine Corps, joining the Infantry. It was here that he got his first taste of motorcycles when a guy in his unit taught him to ride a Suzuki Katana. While out riding one day and pushing the limits, he experienced a speed wobble, but instead of feeling scared, it exhilarated Smith.

“It shook me,” he said. “It was the first time I felt exposed and vulnerable, and I remember thinking, ‘I better pay attention. I’ve got to be in control.’ I fell in love with it. And then the freedom to be able to just take off and be open like that was amazing.” 

Smith served six years and two deployments in the Marines; however, once again he wasn’t getting the experience he had hoped for.

“I loved my time in the Corps,” he said. “I never thought I would leave. I tried to qualify and do as much as I could, but unfortunately, my contract kept me with my unit. I was trapped. As much as I had been promoted, I felt stifled.”

Smith decided to leave the Corps when his contract was finished. He ended up in upstate New York, but he felt lost. He fell back on construction, primarily framing, and went through a rough patch, alternating between drinking heavily and trying unsuccessfully to quit.

At one point, he made the decision to move out of upstate New York, selling his van and buying a Honda Shadow 1100 Sabre.

Smith was out and about in town when he saw a group of people wearing the Marine Corps insignia.

“I tapped one of them on the shoulder and said, ‘Who are you, wearing my eagle, globe, and anchor?’” he said, adding that because he hadn’t grown up in the U.S. and was still relatively new to the motorcycling world, he didn’t know about motorcycle clubs.

Turns out he had met the Lake George chapter of the Leathernecks Motorcycle Club, whose members are active and veteran Marines, a group that Smith said literally saved his life.

“They were a group of really good people who took the time to get to know me,” he said. “They took care of me. No one else could put up with me.”

Americade Bring It Bike Show Hero: ‘Something with the riding’

Even with these new associations, it wasn’t an overnight transition for Smith. He continued to struggle for several years until finally, around four years ago, he built “Milwaukee Packout” with the help of Brandon Hamblin, owner of Twitchy’s Speed Shop, and decided to put it to good use. Even during the bad times, he had always tried to give back, through coaching, charity work, and donating – “some of the only times I would be sober” – but in January 2021, he quit drinking and decided to turn his life around.

“So many better veterans than I am have quit or given up – or committed suicide or are still out there drinking and lost because they didn’t have a Marine who was willing to put up with them,” he said. “The VA couldn’t put up with me, not friends, my folks, family. Nobody could, but there was something there with the Leathernecks. Especially something with the riding; we were together but still off on our own.”

Disappointed in seeing larger charitable drives like Toys for Tots distributing donations to other areas, Smith and other Leathernecks started grassroots efforts to keep the donations and the support for veterans in their own community. What started as simply giving food, toys, and other donations to local veteran families expanded when Smith learned about the Foreverly House, which was going to be built next to the Guardian House, the latter of which was already well-known for being the only VA-funded transitional housing for female veterans in New York and only 1 of 7 such residences in the country at the time.

The Foreverly House would be unique in that it would be the first of its kind for veteran mothers and their dependents. Smith wanted to be a part of it.

“Literally 10 years earlier, I was a homeless vet at the VA in their 30-day in-patient program with a bed waiting for me, and now I was able to be the guy who owned a company that had five guys putting the roof on top of Foreverly House.”

Smith said he was able to get half of the materials donated, and he further donated 90% of the labor.

His next steps include continuing to grow his business, Grunt Works Design, which connects veterans – especially homeless veterans – with local businesses willing to offer training. There are a wide variety of possibilities, but recognizing the importance of the trades in developing self-sufficiency, this is largely where he is focusing for now. 

“I want to bring together other veterans who the system has given up on. I want them to keep going and to give them a useful talent,” he said. “I want to bring them into building the houses – not a donation, but give me the tools, teach me how to do for myself, let me work with others who speak the way I do, and let me see the fruits of my labor at the end of the day.”

Given the design of “Milwaukee Packout,” Smith has reached out to the tool company and made contact with a local representative, a relationship he hopes to grow.

He has also gone back to school and is currently about halfway through the New York State Code Enforcement program, so he’ll have qualifications beyond carpentry and can help certify some of these building projects. He wants to see – and be a part of – more projects like the Foreverly House.

He said that while it’s the only one of its kind currently, “it can’t always be the only one of its kind.”

“You see one, do one, and teach one,” he said. “The Foreverly House is something that should be taught. It should be laid out as a blueprint and duplicated and not just championed as ‘Yes, we’ve done a wonderful thing.’” 

These plans won’t be easy. Smith admits his story is still developing, and he was a little hesitant to tell that story when we reached out. He still struggles with self-confidence and says he often feels like a “second-class citizen.” He has had a hard time finding a place where he feels like he belongs, largely because he was told by so many during his recovery that he didn’t fit in. But he circled back to the support and camaraderie of the Leathernecks.

“Those gentlemen kept me around long enough until something clicked, and then something else clicked, and then something else. I don’t know if it’s all clicked yet, but I did give a little. And hopefully it will help.”

Smith wants to accomplish more, but we are already impressed with what he’s done and wish him the best of luck with the next chapter in his story.

The post Americade Bring It Bike Show Hero: Hugh Smith Jr. and his ‘Milwaukee Packout’ Bike appeared first on Rider Magazine.

When choosing a motorcycle tire, what do you look for? The answer varies from person to person. For my street riding, I prioritize longevity, grip, and price. Due to its versatility and reliability, Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S22 tires have been my trusted companion on the streets, during spirited canyon rides, and even on the racetrack. Given my extensive experience with the S22, I was excited to try the new Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 tires.

Building on the solid foundation of the S22, Bridgestone’s goals in developing the S23 were “improved handling precision, maximum stability, and incredible grip, even in wet conditions” as well as better mileage. The S23 tires maintain the same shape and MS-Belt construction as the S22 but feature new compounds and a new tread pattern.

The updated compounds offer increased grip thanks to additional carbon and a newly developed “grip improver” that makes it easier for the tire to follow the road surface. The front shoulder and rear edge of the S23 also has optimized resin components for better grip at high lean angles.

Compared to the S22, the new tread pattern has a higher land-sea ratio (more rubber, fewer grooves) and higher pattern stiffness, contributing to improved handling, dry/wet traction, and feedback. Bridgestone’s proprietary Pulse Groove technology was added to the rear tire, improving water drainage and grip in wet conditions.

Bridgestone’s testing has shown faster dry and wet lap times, shorter braking distances, and improved mileage for the S23 compared to the S22.

For a real-world test of the new Hypersport S23s, Bridgestone hosted a press launch in Encinitas, California. There was a variety of sporty motorcycles on hand, allowing me to evaluate the tires on several motorcycles, including the Suzuki GSX-S1000, Indian FTR1200, and Buell Hammerhead 1190.

Related: Suzuki GSX-S1000 Road Test Review

Starting our ride on city streets and backroads aboard the S23-shod Suzuki, a sense of familiarity washed over me. The transition from the S22 to its successor felt seamless, like greeting an old friend. As we navigated the initial turns, the inherent stability afforded by the S23 became immediately evident, instilling confidence in every lean and maneuver.

On our way to lunch in the mountain town of Julian, I put the S23s through their paces, eager to gauge their responsiveness and grip. Despite my deliberate attempts to upset the tires, they maintained their hold on the road surface. Even when I pushed the limits, accelerating out of corners a little too fast, the S23s exhibited reassuring grip even as the TC light flashed, indicating some rear wheel slip.

After lunch, we descended from the mountains to the desert on the tightly winding roads of Banner Grade (CA Route 78), a perfect playground to test the tires’ responsiveness in the sort of twisties where most riders will put them to use. Negotiating each curve, I found my confidence bolstered by the stability and predictability of the S23s.

The ultimate test awaited us as Keith Culver, an instructor from Yamaha Champions Riding School, led our group down Engineers Road, a narrow, unpainted byway full of abrupt transitions and tight technical corners. Despite the demanding terrain, I was impressed by the front tire’s ability to maintain grip under hard, downhill braking.

On the sunny day of our test, we didn’t have an opportunity to evaluate the wet handling characteristics of the S23s. Nor did we evaluate them on a racetrack. For what it’s worth, the Yamaha Champions Riding School runs S23s on its fleet of Yamaha sportbikes.

Related: A Cruiser Guy Goes to Yamaha ChampSchool

After a full day of thrashing three different bikes shod with Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 tires, I can confidently say that they exceed the excellent standards set by the S22s. They offer confident grip, reassuring stability, and outstanding handling on a variety of roads. The ZR17 tires are available in one front (120/70) and five rear (160/60, 180/55, 190/50, 190/55, and 200/55) sizes starting at $249.49.

The post Bridgestone Battlax Hypersport S23 Tire Review appeared first on Rider Magazine.

The MV Agusta Enduro Veloce marks the Italian brand’s entrance into the adventure-touring market, competing against bikes like the Ducati Multistrada V2, Triumph Tiger 900, and BMW F 900 GS. The Enduro Veloce is powered by a 931cc inline-Triple that delivers 124 hp and 75.2 lb-ft of torque. It has 8.3 inches of wheel travel front and rear, 9 inches of ground clearance, a 34.3-inch seat height, and Brembo brakes, as well as a sophisticated electronics suite.

To test the Enduro Veloce, we traveled to the Mediterranean island of Sardinia, where we logged miles on the island’s best routes to get a taste of what the Enduro Veloce has to offer. By the end of the day, we were impressed with the bike’s nimble handling, engine performance, and artistry.

Read our full review of the 2024 MV Agusta Enduro Veloce

2024 MV Agusta Enduro Veloce Specs

• Base Price: $22,998
• Warranty: 4 yrs., unltd. miles
• Website: MVAgusta.com
• Engine Type: Liquid-cooled, transverse inline-Triple, DOHC w/ 4 valves per cyl.
• Displacement: 931cc
• Bore x Stroke: 81.0 x 60.2mm
• Horsepower: 124 hp @ 10,000 rpm (factory claim)
• Torque: 75.2 lb-ft @ 7,000 rpm (factory claim)
• Transmission: 6-speed, hydraulically actuated slip/assist wet clutch
• Final Drive: Chain
• Frame: High-tensile steel double cradle
• Wheelbase: 63.4 in.
• Rake/Trail: 27 degrees/4.6 in.
• Seat Height: 33.5/34.3 in.
• Suspension, Front: 48mm inverted fork, fully adj., 8.3 in. travel
• Rear: Single shock, fully adj., 8.3 in. travel
• Brakes, Front: Dual 320mm discs w/ 4-piston radial monoblock calipers & ABS
• Rear: Single 265mm disc w/ 2-piston caliper & ABS
• Wheels, Front: Spoked tubeless, 21 x 2.15 in.
• Rear: Spoked tubeless, 18 x 4.0 in.
• Tires, Front: 90/90-21
• Rear: 150/70-18
• Ground Clearance: 9.1 in.
• Dry Weight: 494 lb (factory claim)
• Fuel Capacity: 5.3 gal.

Gear Up

• Helmet: Arai XD-4
• Jacket: Klim Latitude
• Gloves: Klim Baja S4 Gloves
• Pants: Klim Latitude
• Boots: Spidi XPD X-Trail Outdry

The post 2024 MV Agusta Enduro Veloce Video Review appeared first on Rider Magazine.

The KTM Adventure Rider Rally invites ADV riders of any brand to come to Deadwood, South Dakota, for four days of adventure riding and KTM motorcycle demos.

The rally is based out of The Lodge in Deadwood and will take place Oct. 10-13, 2024. Participants can expect rides featuring extensive double-track trails, red dirt/clay, rocky sections, snaking turns, mountain climbs, and valleys. Landmarks in the region include Devil’s Tower, Spearfish Canyon, the Black Hills, and more.

Routes include various loops suitable for different skill levels, so all adventure riders will be able to enjoy the event. Ride groups will consist of two to four riders of similar skill level. If you’re bringing your buddies, you can register to be placed in the same ride group.

The first day of the event, Oct. 10, is the demo day, on which participants can try out KTM models from the list below. The pre-event dinner on Thursday night is also included in the cost of registration.

KTM Demo Models:

• KTM 1390 Super Duke R Evo
• KTM 1290 Super Duke GT
• KTM 890 SMT
• KTM 990 Duke
• KTM 790 Duke
• KTM 390 Duke
• KTM 1290 Super Adventure R
• KTM 1290 Super Adventure S
• KTM 890 Adventure R
• KTM 790 Adventure
• KTM 390 Adventure
• KTM 690 Enduro R
• KTM 690 SMC R
• KTM 500 EXC-F
• KTM 350 EXC-F

The next two days are ride days when participants will enjoy riding with their ride group. On Saturday, participants can recount the tales of their adventures during the included Awards Dinner. There will also be shorter rides and games on Sunday. Throughout the event, some KTM ambassadors and athletes will be present, including Marvin Musquin, Ryan Dungey, and Taylor Robert.

Registration is now open, but space is limited, so it’s recommended to register early. Registration includes an event t-shirt and hat, the pre-event dinner, breakfast from Friday to Sunday, and the Awards Dinner on Saturday. Registration costs $350, and there’s a “meals only” package for $175 for those traveling with participants. Visit the KTM website to register.

See all of Rider‘s KTM coverage here.

The post KTM Adventure Rider Rally to Take Place Oct. 10-13 appeared first on Rider Magazine.

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Additional stories in the June issue of Rider:

• 2024 KTM Dukes | First Ride
• 2024 Suzuki GSX-8R | First Ride
• 2024 Triumph Speed 400 and Scrambler 400 X | First Ride
• Summer Buyers Guide
• Great American Scenic Byways Tour | On the Road
• Upper Delaware River Watershed | Favorite Ride
• Moto Fashion | Rider Rewind
• And more!

The post June 2024 appeared first on Rider Magazine.

Just because his first mission is complete doesn’t mean the battle is over for Perry Steed. In May 2022, the former Army paratrooper set out on his first Ride for Light, hitting 48 states on his BMW R 1200 GS and carrying the ashes of two brothers in arms. His goal was to raise awareness for the issue of veteran suicide. Two years later, Steed is taking a second Ride for Light, but this time, he’s kicking it up a notch, taking the show on the road – or more appropriately, making the road into a show.

Related: Veteran Takes a 15,000-mile ‘Ride for Light’

The 2024 Ride for Light will still be under the banner of Operation: Purpose, the 501(c)(3) that Steed set up to foster and nurture a community of veterans in Wilmington, North Carolina, which has a large military population. However, the ride itself is more about the larger epidemic of veteran suicide. And this time, Steed won’t be riding alone.

“We’re a blended crew this year,” he told me. “I’ve got my battle buddy who I actually grew up with. He and I joined the Army within a couple of days of each other. We had the same job, went through basic training and AIT (advanced individual training) together, and were at Fort Bragg together.”

Steed said Bruce Knobloch came to see him the night Steed’s oldest child was born, but after that the two men lost track of each other for almost 19 years until reconnecting this past summer.

Knobloch has been a motorcycle enthusiast for 20 years. When the two met up after all those years and the 2022 Ride for Light came up in conversation, Knobloch told Steed that he would’ve gone along if he had known about it.

“I told him, ‘Well, I’m doing it again.’”

The other addition to the crew is cinematographer Jason Conyers.

“When I got back from my 2022 ride, I joined the American Legion and became a Legion Rider because they really showed up and supported me,” Steed said, adding that one of the Legion Riders he met was Conyers, who was out of the Navy and had a film studies degree. “I was telling him what I was wanting to do, and he’s like, ‘Well, I’ll go with you, and I’ll document the whole thing.’”

Steed tapped some of his other resources, including a film studies professor at the University of Colorado and an art director for North Carolina PBS, who told him that once a documentary gets on one PBS station, the other states will pick it up.

“Of course, I gotta be censored a little bit,” Steed said. “I can’t just let it fly, but that’s fine.”

The 2024 Ride for Light began taking shape. There was just one glitch. On the 2022 Ride for Light, Steed had taken several opportunities to ride his GS off-road. This was something he wanted to do even more for the 2024 ride. When it came to Knobloch, Steed said if there was anyone in the high school yearbook with the caption “Least likely to own a Harley-Davidson,” it would’ve been Knobloch, yet that’s all he had owned since. He recently traded a CVO Street Glide for a Pan America. 

However, Conyers had a Low Rider.

“I told him, ‘You ain’t going with me on that bike.’”

Unsure what to do, Steed got on a call with a guy he met through some restoration work Steed had done on a 1961 BMW R50S. He told Steed “consider me a friend” and offered up business advice.

“I needed someone who was not close to me that I could run some of this shit by, because everything I say, people are like ‘Yeah, man, that’s a great idea.’ I know not all my ideas are great, and I need someone who will tell me, ‘That’s freakin’ stupid.’”

During the phone call with Sean Slovenski, Steed explained Operation: Purpose and the Ride for Light, and in a stroke of good fortune, Slovenski donated two bikes: a 2010 BMW R 1200 GS with just 15,000 miles on it and a 2009 BMW R 1200 RT.

“He said, ‘Do whatever you want with the bikes,’” Steed said, adding that Slovenski recognized that the RT didn’t necessarily fit with the trip. Slovenski told Steed he could sell it to help fund the trip and that Conyers could ride the GS.

Related: Perry Steed | Ep. 52 Rider Magazine Insider Podcast

With the bikes lined up, the trio set a launch date for May 18 from Beaufort, South Carolina, after they attend an event with Operation Patriots FOB, a veterans and first responders support group.

Steed told me the plans for the ride with a mix of excitement and reverence for the places they’ll be riding and visiting.

They’ll start with the South Carolina Adventure Route – or SCAR.

“We’re gonna ride part of that from Beaufort up to Suches, Georgia, and then we’ll head backcountry through Tennessee and Kentucky to get up to Louisville,” he said, adding that the good thing about the SCAR for someone without a lot of off-road riding experience like Conyers is that it’s mostly just two-lane road. “There’s some dirt and gravel, but nothing crazy.”

However, he said the real exciting part will be the BLM land out West.

“You know, really getting off the beaten path, out to where there’s no lights, no light pollution, and it’s just us out there. Three guys, talking smack and eating and sleeping under the stars.”

As for their on-road plans, Steed said they intend to visit a variety of places, from veterans cemeteries to a speaking engagement at an American Legion nursing home in Minnesota to the location of a large parcel of land that is being turned into a veterans retreat by a family who lost their son to suicide.

As with the first trip, they’ll be carrying the ashes of veterans.

“There’s a really horrible statistic that I want to lay on you that will blow your mind,” Steed told me. “There’s over 3,000 unclaimed veteran remains every year. A lot of these guys – very often Vietnam vets – through whatever happens, when they die, no one is able to locate the next of kin.”

Steed said there is a nonprofit organization in Wilmington called Veterans Memorial Reef that takes ashes and inters them in an artificial reef 5 miles offshore.

“I told them I would pick up whatever I can carry along the ride. So I’m leaving room on my bike for that.”

But as Steed said in 2022, this isn’t a trip about death. It’s a trip about life, so along the way, they’ll make “buddy checks” with as many other veterans as possible, spreading hope, love, and camaraderie.  

That’s the most important aspect of the ride, and Steed said even if they don’t end up making a documentary, he just wants to get these two other guys out on road.

When I first connected with Steed in 2022, he was already a couple months into his ride and had stopped in Mexican Hat, a small town in southeastern Utah that was a favorite place of his father-in-law, an important figure in Steed’s life.

When I called him this time around to talk about Ride for Light 2024, he said that just the night before, he had been replaying in his head that conversation we had almost two years ago.

“I was thinking about where I was at. I see constant reminders when I’m in my office, these little mementos from my trip, and I remember exactly where I was.”

Steed said that Conyers has been fortunate in that he’s done a few cross-country trips – but not Knobloch.

“Every veteran needs to see and experience what they fought to preserve,” he said. “I need to get these guys out on the road…and get myself back out there too.”

To learn more about the Ride for Light 2024 or to donate to the cause, visit the Operation: Purpose website or follow on Facebook.

Resources:

If you or someone you know is in danger because of suicidal thoughts or actions, call 911 immediately. Suicide is an emergency that requires help by trained medical professionals and should always be treated seriously.

Nationwide suicide hotlines, 1-800-SUICIDE (1-800-784-2433) and 1-800-273-TALK (8255), have counselors available 24/7. Other resources include Suicide.org, the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, and the American Association of Suicidology. All provide comprehensive information and help on the issue of suicide, from prevention to treatment to coping with loss.

The post Steed Rides Again for Veteran Suicide – This Time with a Crew appeared first on Rider Magazine.