1. Perform a Deep Winter Inspection

Winter prep starts with understanding the condition of your bike before you dive into upgrades.

Checklist:

• Check the frame, welds, and mounts for corrosion or wear

• Scan tires for cracks, flat spots, or low tread

• Inspect cables and hoses for brittleness or damage

This foundational inspection helps you pinpoint what parts you’ll benefit from replacing or upgrading.

2. Upgrade Protection & Armor

Adventure bikes take hits — rocks, branches, and road debris are a given. Enhance your machine’s resilience with Touratech protection parts.

Great Touratech options:

• Radiator guards – safeguard your engine cases and radiators from heavy hits

• Skid plates – high-strength aluminum plates to protect the underside

• Crash bars – engineered to distribute impact if you go down

Not only do these upgrades protect your bike, they can also reduce repair costs and keep resale value high.

3. Improve Suspension for Your Next Ride

Cold weather is ideal for suspension work. Take this time to inspect and upgrade your forks and shocks if needed.

• Replace worn fork seals

• Service your shock — clean, lube, and evaluate condition

• Consider Touratech Suspension for better load handling and comfort

Smooth suspension equals better stability and confidence on every road.

4. Install Comfort & Ergonomic Upgrades

Your comfort matters — especially on long rides. Winter is the perfect time to test and install enhancements.

Recommended Touratech upgrades:

• Handlebar risers — for a more upright, comfortable position

• Handguards — protect your hands and levers from branches or flying debris

• Seat upgrades — options for all-day comfort in any conditions

These make riding more enjoyable and keep fatigue at bay.

5. Tune and Replace Critical Components

Fine-tuning improves performance and reliability.

• Fresh fluids: Brake, coolant, fork oil, and engine oil

• New filters: Air and oil filters for peak engine health

• Spark plugs: Replace if they’re worn or out of spec

Use this time to clean components thoroughly — dirt and grime build up fast on adventure rigs.

6) Are the release pucks any different?

6. Battery Care & Electrical Upgrades

Cold weather can be brutal on batteries. Make sure yours is ready to charge up for spring.

• Use a battery tender over the winter to maintain charge

• Check connections, terminals, and wiring

• Upgrade to a Touratech USB/Power port for easy gadget charging on the go

A healthy electrical system makes starts reliable and accessories easy to power.

7. Clean, Protect, and Store Smart

A clean bike is a happy bike. Spend a session washing and protecting components, then store with intention.

• Wash thoroughly, paying attention to chain, sprockets, and wheels

• Apply corrosion inhibitors to bare metal parts

• Store in a dry, covered place with a breathable cover

• Make sure your Tool Kit is updated and ready for roadside or trailside repairs or adjustments

Proper storage prevents rust and keeps seals supple.

8. Plan Your Spring Adventures

Winter prep isn’t just mechanical — it’s mental! Spend time planning your next big rides.

• Map routes and research terrain

• Choose gear and luggage (Touratech panniers are adventure classics)

• Upgrade your on-bike Navigation

• Create a packing checklist

Having a plan makes spring come faster — and gives you something to look forward to every day.

Winter Isn’t Wasted Time — It’s Preparation

The off-season doesn’t have to be downtime. With a little care, quality parts, and some thoughtful upgrades from Touratech, your motorcycle will be stronger, more comfortable, and ready to take on any adventure.

Let the trails warm up — but in the meantime, get to work.

Need to speak with a Touratech Adventure Expert? Call 1.800.491.2926 or go here to chat with us!

Stepping Outside the Comfort Zone

Excitement quickly mixed with nerves. This trip was going to stretch me in a few ways:

• Riding in a foreign country on unfamiliar terrain.
• Navigating airports and customs as an infrequent flier.
• Spending a week with strangers as a self-described introvert.

But motorcycles have always pushed me out of my comfort zones—from learning to ride, to meeting new people, to taking solo trips. I’ve learned that growth often hides just beyond fear. In fact, psychologists describe the process in stages: fear zone (butterflies, sweaty palms, doubt), learning zone (seeking skills and knowledge), and growth zone(gaining confidence, setting new goals). Signing up for this tour was my way of embracing that cycle.

Tackling the Travel

Travel logistics were my first hurdle. Thankfully, Shal and Emma made it simple with airport shuttles and packing tips. I chose flights with long layovers, which stretched the journey but gave me time to breathe, find my gates, and relax. By the time I landed in Belize, my travel worries had already begun to shrink.

Finding My People

The anxiety about spending a week with new people melted away almost instantly. Despite our different ages, backgrounds, and riding experience, we connected right away—motorcycles will do that! We encouraged each other through challenges, celebrated wins, and built genuine friendships. I’m still in touch with many of them, proof that sometimes our fears are just stories we tell ourselves.

Riding, Learning, Growing

The biggest area of growth for me was riding. Muddy trails and Belizean traffic tested my skills, but with Shal’s coaching and Emma’s local knowledge, I felt supported the whole way. Each morning began with bike drills, and Shal sprinkled in tips about traction, line selection, and body positioning throughout the rides. We ended some evenings with group debriefs, reflecting on lessons learned.

By the end of the week, my confidence in challenging terrain had grown immensely. I also realized just how much I’d been relying on luck (and momentum!) rather than real skill. Now I have a list of techniques to practice at home—and a new hunger to keep improving.

Beyond the Bike

This wasn’t just a motorcycle tour—it was a Belizean adventure. Between the rides we:

• Swam beneath jungle waterfalls.
• Tubed down rivers I never imagined I’d float through.
• Explored Mayan ruins.
• Toured a cocoa farm.
• Learned about local plants and wildlife with Emma as our guide.

It was so much more than riding, eating, and sleeping. Calling it a “tour” feels too small. This was an adventure of a lifetime—one I’ll carry with me forever.

Final Thoughts

If you’ve ever wondered what’s waiting beyond your comfort zone, I can tell you: growth, friendship, skills, and memories that will last a lifetime. For me, Belize wasn’t just about motorcycles—it was about proving to myself that I could do hard things, and finding joy in the process.

So if you ever get the chance to ride Belize (or Belize + Guatemala) with Shal and Emma—take it. It might just change the way you see yourself.

For information on a similar tour, visit SheADV Events.

If you’re prepping for an adventure on your motorcycle let Touratech USA help you gear up yourself and your bike for the ride!

Right in the heart of the Sierra Nevada, near Mammoth, California, is one of the best ski resorts in the United States. And this is exactly where the Northern California BDR starts. This region has made headlines in recent years, especially with its breath-taking snow depths. Great for the skiers, but not for the planners of the Northern California  BDR, who had to wait for what felt like an eternity for the white splendour to melt at high altitudes. Now, however, the route is complete and officially open. High time to take on the full length of the route with our adventure bikes.

STRONG START

Just a few minutes’ drive outside of Mammoth, we already have flowing trails under our lugs on our way into the Inyo National Forest. Given the mountainous terrain, the trails are surprisingly sandy, taking some of us aback at first. The winding routes through sparse pine forests put a smile on our faces – while the occasional challenges significantly raise our adrenaline levels. Some sections have long hairpin bends that we would have expected to find on a motocross track rather than a forest road. Part of our group is Richie Few, an instructor from the BMW Performance Centre. I try to follow in his footsteps and use my helmet camera to capture the light-footed way he sweeps over the trails. Richie is a magician on his BMW R 1250 GS, and it looks so playful how he moves his 300-kilo load over the challenging terrain.

THE CONQUEST OF MT. PATTERSON

Adventure riders looking for riding challenges will get their money’s worth on the Northern California BDR. One particularly exciting section is the ride up Mt Patterson. Rugged would be an understatement for this section. The track is interspersed with rocks and deeply rutted by erosion gullies. There are also tight hairpin bends, enormous gradients – and thin air. We have already reached our limits several times with the large motorbikes during our summit assault when we finally pass the tree line. One last steep climb lies between us and the 3,558 metre summit, the highest point in the Sweetwater Mountains. We tackle the ascent individually and are finally able to park our bikes on the summit plateau. We enjoy the view in all directions and are a little amazed that we have conquered this summit on our adventure bikes. Not without envy, Ritchie says: “That’s not possible in South Carolina”.

“I’M GLAD IT WASN’T EVEN HARDER.”

The timely localisation of a forest fire has always been a crucial step in firefighting. Before the advent of satellite imagery and other technologies, this was done by placing a person in a small hut on a mountain who could determine the location of the fire based on a map and estimated distance. Some of these outposts are still manned in the summer months, but most are not. Nevertheless, many fire towers are well preserved and provide a great opportunity to survey the surrounding area in all directions. We visited most of the nearly a dozen towers along the route – and some of them offer the most difficult climbs I’ve ever tackled. When I get to the top of the Sierra Buttes, completely out of breath and surprised that I made it, I look at Ritchie and say, “Man, that was tough”. He grins and says, “I’m glad it wasn’t any harder.” I take this as a small token of appreciation for our driving performance.

UNCLE TOM’S CABIN

The weather changes and we find ourselves in cold rain and thick snow flurries north of Bear Valley. It’s a long, gruelling day and I’m grateful to have heated grips on my GS. Fortunately, this miserable day has a warm surprise in store. A nondescript, muddy road takes us a short distance off the main track before we set our sights on an ageing rural homestead with a few dilapidated outbuildings on a grassy wilderness. After parking the bikes, we find a place to sleep in the primitive wooden huts. Ritchie points to one of the buildings and says, “Look at that”. I seem to look confused, so he adds: “There’s a bar in there.” I say, “Yeah, right,” my voice dripping with sarcasm. Richie insists I come with him. When I open the door, I can’t believe my eyes. It’s a tiny saloon, heated by a wood-burning stove, with a ceiling littered with dollar notes that leave not a square inch uncovered.

Half a dozen people are drinking cold drinks in this warm oasis and two guys are playing music. As I struggle to comprehend this scene, I recognise the faces of the musicians. I mumble, “Holy shit, that’s Owen Balduf and Chris Wilson”. Many know Owen from his work at Long Beach BMW Motorcycles and Rawhyde Adventures, or from having serenaded many motorbike events with his electric violin. Chris is an accomplished musician and composer known for scoring Hollywood films such as Clueless and My Big Fat Greek Wedding. He has also written the soundtrack to recent BDR documentaries. Both have strapped their musical instruments to their adventure bikes and travelled here to surprise us. We hug and drink and dance as we enjoy this get-together.

The bartenders work on a voluntary basis to maintain the tradition of this special place. They tell us about the history and we learn that the name has nothing to do with the anti-slavery novel Uncle Tom’s Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. They even teach us the regulars’ dice game, which I play until I run out of one-dollar notes and head for my sleeping bag. What a night!

JOURNEY INTO THE PAST

Backcountry Discovery Routes provide deep insights into the state you are travelling through, and the Northern California BDR is no exception. This route is characterised by California’s mining history, which we experience impressively during our visit to the gold mining town of Bodie. Nestled between rolling hills of yellow grass lies a ghost town with 200 buildings left to decay. In the brief period from 1877 to 1882, Bodie was a bustling town with a population of almost 8,000. A local historian guides us through the site and tells us stories about life in this town. The walk through the remains of the Standard Gold Mill is particularly sobering and shows us the miserable conditions under which people here chased the dream of wealth.

ABOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA BDR

The Northern California BDR leads from Mammoth Lakes, CA to the Oregon border. It is divided into nine stages, is around 1,500 kilometres long and can be completed in six to ten days. The longest distance without refuelling is around 200 kilometres. There are motels and hotels in the towns along the route, some of which have a long and exciting history. Designated public campgrounds are located in the national forests and other towns along the route. In terms of riding, the Northern California BDR is in the mid-range of BDRs, but offers some ‘ALT Harder’ and three optional ‘ALT Expert’ sections, providing alternative routes for particularly experienced riders.

Gear up for your next adventure with Touratech USA

As I spend time getting to know Charley, he recalls being inspired by the Touratech catalogs in the early 2000’s. Inspiration that fueled his dreams of motorcycle adventure. It was not surprising that he and Ewan ended up partnering with Touratech for luggage and protection solutions for their BMW’s during their first Long Way TV show a few years later.

While nothing I’ve done can compare to the global impact that Charlie and Ewan’s TV shows have made, or had the effect that the Touratech catalog and subsequent, films and Travel Time magazines have made, I do feel good about my own efforts at Touratech-USA. For a decade and a half, we have built the Touratech Rally into the largest gathering of adventure motorcycles in the US. It features incredible riding, knowledge-sharing, and moto-centric entertainment. I’m also proud to have co-founded Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR), which has made a big impact on inspiring people to ride adventure motorcycles in the vast public wildlands of America.

This year, BDR celebrates its 15-year anniversary. In that time, the non-profit organization has created 18 documentary films of route expeditions. With a staff of 4 employees, 9-person volunteer board and some 40 ambassadors, the organization currently provides the community with 20,000 miles curated adventure riding tracks that are available for free. The organization also offers planning resources on RideBDR.com and vigorously advocates for the interest of adventure riders.

So, it was a dream come true when Touratech brought me and Charley together to explore the Azores by motorcycles. Although, I have met Charley briefly at motorcycle shows over the years, as thousands of people have, he didn’t really know me. I also didn’t really know him other than from his TV shows that I have enjoyed over the years.

It’s completely surreal, a near out-of-body experience, when I first hear his voice crackle to life in my headset. It sounds so familiar, a voice I have heard hundreds of times over the last 20 years watching his TV shows, but in this moment, it was reality for me. We are just chatting away as I followed him on narrow urban streets leaving the city of Ponta Delgada, headed toward the North Coast. I feel like I’m Ewan, having a chat with Charley, in the headsets as we ride our BMWs to discover a new place for the first time. Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be on a real-life adventure with Charley Boorman.

They call it the ‘Hawaii of Europe’, but in reality, it’s more temperate than Hawaii with an average high temperature ranging from the low 60’s in winter to the high 70’s in the summer. It does have similar precipitation and a lush green landscape reminiscent of Hawaii. Also, no shortage of wind!

We are early in the season, taking this trip in the second week of March, which mother nature reminds us, can be on the cold side. Fortunately for us, we are also doing a photo shoot for the new Touratech riding gear which are perfectly suited for a wild ride with unpredictable and extreme weather. Charlie is wearing the Companero World 2 suit, and I am wearing the Companero Rambler 2. Both feature multiple layers for cold weather which we experienced with temperatures as low a 4-degrees celsius (39 degrees Fahrenheit). We also stay dry with our waterproof Gore-Tex Pro Shell outer layers in the deluge of rain that douses us every day. The heavily armored suits featuring CE level 2 protection would prove to keep us both safe as we hit the ground when the challenging terrain and extreme weather exceeded our riding talent on a few occasions.

The roads are a perfect combination of twisty lanes through breathtaking lush green landscapes punctuated by blue sea and foaming white waves crashing into black volcanic rock formations. Away from the coast, we slip onto remote dirt and two-track lanes which wind endlessly through forest preserves and towering mountain-top lookouts. Saõ Miguel is an active volcano, and the terrain is a direct result of that. The black and reddish gravel is of volcanic origin and typically provides confidence-inspiring traction. However, in places, the gravel has large stones, the size of golf balls, which are a hazard to keeping the front wheel under the bike. Charley’s R1300GSA loses an argument with a set of marble-like stones and low-sides in a corner. The crashbars do their job and we are able to keep riding.

The island also features smooth dirt tracks that are comprised of volcanic ash which is fun to ride until it gets wet. When a squall comes out of nowhere, which it often does here, the smooth dirt turns to slippery clay in an instant. It feels like riding on a greased pan. I was caught out by a shallow rut that I never even saw. My front tire begins to wash out, then my back tire hits the same slippery rut and slides out to the left, putting me on a collision course with a rock wall. My F900GS and helmet come to an abrupt stop against black volcanic rock. My Aventuro Carbon Pro helmet keeps me safe. I am not injured, but I have broken the tower that supports the windscreen and instrument cluster. We get out the CruzTOOLS RoadTech kit and use the zip ties and mechanic’s to wire to stabilize the loose tower before continuing the ride.

We are treated to iconic views as we ride the rugged dirt road that follows a ridge circumnavigating Sete Cidades, the most famous caldera on the island. To our right, we see breathtaking views of the Atlantic Ocean with its stormy white-cap waves and wind-driven foam. To our left is an impossibly-steep slope that has short green vegetation with a corrugated texture that almost looks like that of a ruffles potato chip. At the bottom of the green wall are the emerald waters of Lagoa Azul (Blue Lake) and Lagoa Verde (Green Lake). This is the place you see on the travel web sites and we can understand why. It’s a dramatic landscape that is breathtaking to experience in person. This caldera is the result of land collapsing into a void left by a retired magna chamber from a past volcanic cycle. There are several on the island and this one is magnificent because of its vast size and being perfectly framed by the ocean on 3 sides as it takes up nearly the entire west end of the island.

We meet with a local geologist who has been studying the volcanos of the Azores for nearly 40 years. As we stand with him, high on a look-out at Pico do Ferro, he points out several calderas as he explains how the landscapes and geothermal features have been formed by volcanic activity over the years. He explains that the earthquake we woke up to the other morning was a 5.2 in magnitude and located about 30 kilometers from where we are standing. Earthquakes are taken very seriously here because of past tragedies, the most notable of which, occurred in the year 1522, when an earthquake and resulting mudslide buried and killed an estimated 5,000 residents. We part ways on an ominous note, as the geologist reminds us that this place is an active volcano that could erupt at any time.

Saõ Miguel features scores of sleepy sea-side villages with clusters of buildings constructed with white walls and terracotta roofs. As we roll through them, we can just sense the calm. Time seems to stand still here. Island life at its finest. The locals are laid back and have a gentle vibe. Much like the dairy cows they care for. Even in the capital city of Ponta Delgada things feel mellow. The people we interact with are pleasant and friendly. It feels very safe and welcoming. The most distinguishing of palates will be delighted with the culinary gifts of the Azores. With a very active fishery, the seafood is as fresh as it gets, the cheese is award winning, and the 500-year tradition of the Azores native Ramo Grande beef, are a highlight of our dining experience.

We see more dairy cows than people as we explore the island. Outside of the main city of Ponta Delgada, most men are wearing knee-high rubber boots. A clear indication that they work in the wet and muddy pastures of a dairy farm. Most of the farms are small family-owned operations with 20 to 100 Holstien-Friesian dairy cows. We don’t see large barns because most of the milking is done with mobile machines which allow the cows stay out in the fields. The cows are almost entirely pasture fed which is not standard in most parts of the world. The quality of life for the cows is considered quite good by dairy farming standards. Grazing pastures make up approximately 40% of Saõ Miguel by area. We see stunning seaside plots of land with million-dollar views, where a person might ordinarily expect to see luxury homes or golf courses in another part of the world. Here, the most gorgeous ocean-view landscapes are not for the rich and famous. They are reserved for the black-and-white-spotted dairy cows. These gentle giants live in idyllic cow paradise and are the heart and soul of Saõ Miguel.

The Island is completely exposed to the ferocity of the Atlantic Ocean, and this week a storm is raging. We ride through intermittent rain showers driven by gale-force winds. The island has many incredible vantage points which they call miradouros. We battle the wind as we ride a narrow dirt two-track road up to the miradoura at Pico da Cruz. We park the bikes and stagger toward the windward edge. Standing on the precipice, with our arms out, we lean into the wind while the gusts support the weight of our bodies. We lean forward at nearly 45-degree angles to the ground floating on the wind like a base jumper with a squirrel suit. Upon return to our bikes, we are shocked to see they have been blown flat to the ground. A short time later, I ride around a corner to find another motorcyclist in distress. He’s waiving furiously to get my attention as he lays on the ground with his bike. I squat down, grab the rear wheel with both hands, and lift the back of his bike up to release his right leg that was pinned under the swing arm. He tells me that he was blown over by a wind gust and has been laying there, trapped, for several minutes. This place is wild!

 While I expected warm weather and more sunshine, the reality ended up being much cooler. A few of the summit lookouts had temperatures of 40 degrees with piercing wind. Then 30 minutes later we’d be eating lunch in the sunshine in a quaint seaside village shedding our layers and enjoying the pleasant weather. Charley jokes about how we’ve experienced 4 seasons in the same hour in the Azores. Although we didn’t get the typical mild weather, we did get to fully experience the power of the Atlantic Ocean and see the wild side of the Azores. We felt alive out there and have stories that we’ll not soon forget. As for riding with Charley, he is exactly the same guy in-person that he is on tv. I enjoyed his quick wit, British humor, and zest for exploring on 2-wheels.

General Information:

Often referred to as the ‘Hawaii of Europe’ the Azores are a 9-island archipelago in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, which are an autonomous territory of Portugal. Located 870 miles west of Lisbon and about 1,200 miles southeast of Newfoundland, the climate of the islands is mild year-round. Daytime high temperatures normally fluctuate between 16° and 25°C (61° and 77°F) depending on season. The main industries are agriculture, dairy farming, livestock, fishing, and tourism. The islands have volcanic origins and are located at the intersection of three of the world’s major tectonic plates. The islands boast dramatic coastal landscapes as well as stunning geological wonders, many of which continue to be active volcanos. The vegetation is lush and green with weather that tends to be wet and cloudy. When the sun does emerge from the clouds, the colors of the island and its waters are breathtaking.

Getting there:

Major European cities like London, Paris, Frankfurt, Barcelona, and Amsterdam offer direct flights to Azores. From the USA, direct flights are available from Boston, New York, and Oakland. While each island does have an airport for inter-island travel the only ones that connect to the outside world are João Paulo II (on São Miguel Island), followed by Lajes Airport (Terceira Island) and Horta Airport (Faial Island). Seasonal ferry service runs between some of the islands but not all. We stayed on Saõ Miguel for our adventure.

Getting around:

Both cars and motorcycles are available for rent on Saõ Miguel. Personal motorcycles can be shipped to the Saõ Miguel with freight forwarders. Touratech Portugal organizes ADV Rallye events on the island which include both accommodations and bike shipping (from Lisbon) in addition to organized rides, and incredible island cuisine.

Life on the Islands:

You will be hard pressed to find a place with seafood that is more fresh and delectable. Bounty of the sea dominates most restaurant menus here. The thriving dairy industry produces award winning cheese and incredible steaks from the native Ramo Grande cattle lineage which is a delicacy. The region is also known for producing pineapple, orange, banana, taro, and sweet potato. Bars, restaurants, and coffee shops are plentiful. The locals tend to be quiet and seem accepting of visitors.

You can see the Azores Untamed Film in its entirety here.

Are you planning an adventure on two wheels? Whether it’s a weekend trip with friends or a ride through the Azores, Touratech USA has all of the accessories, luggage and gear you need. 

A one-of-a-kind cookbook designed with motorcycle travel in mind.

This a great new book from Touratech Rally presenter, Amanda Zito. It features over 70 single-serving recipes that are easy to multiply as needed. Written and tested to prep and cook at camp. Whether you’re a seasoned motorcycle camper or a newbie looking to ditch the canned soup, this cookbook is a valuable resource.

• Easy, Single-Serving Recipes The recipes are designed for one person, but can easily be doubled or tripled for groups. This eliminates the hassle of figuring out how much food to bring and cuts down on leftover food waste.
• Icons for Every Recipe So you can tell at a glance if the recipe is one pot, one skillet or both.  As well as icons for quick recipes, challenge recipes, vegetarian and vegan friendly recipes.
• No Cooler Required Most recipes can be prepared on a single-burner stove, eliminating the need for a bulky cooler. This is a major perk for motorcycle campers, who are limited on space. The few recipes that require a cooler to maintain a safe food temperature, are labeled, and only need a small lunch cooler.
• No ‘At Home‘ Prep Required The majority of the recipes use whole food ingredients and require no prep work at home, making them ideal for spontaneous getaways. Simply grab the ingredients from the grocery store and head straight to camp.
• Color Photos for EVERY Recipe So even if the name of the recipe seems unfamiliar, you have an idea of what you’re getting yourself into.
• Full Educational Introduction Including information like all the different kinds of stoves, cookware, water storage and filtering, food and forest safety, substitutions, cooking oils information, cleaning up at camp, and cooler tips if you choose to carry one.

Get more info here!

The Touratech Rally began in 2012 as a small customer-appreciation weekend that involved riding, camping and sharing good times around the campfire. With this simple formula, and a whole lot of fun, it’s grown into the largest gathering of Adventure Motorcycle enthusiasts in the country.

It happens the last full weekend in June every year. Full weekend means that if the weekend starts in June and ends in July, we rallied the week before.

While the core of the event has stayed the same, each year we find new ways to pack in even more fun activities & experiences:

• Enjoy rides where you will explore twisty mountain dirt roads with breathtaking vistas in the heart of the Cascade Mountains. We’ll offer at least eight different route options on Friday and Saturday. The routes are designed to have something for everyone. ​

•Factory DEMO Rides are available!

• Learn tips and tricks from adventure experts during onsite clinics and classes or take inspiration from presentations by fascinating motorcycle travelers. • Improve your off-road skills with a rider-training course taught by world-class instructors. Four different riding schools will be offering on-site training classes for an extra fee. • Test-ride the latest models of adventure motorcycles from factory demo trucks.

• Meet moto-venders with goods and services geared towards you and win raffle prizes from Touratech and other companies.

• Enjoy evening campfires and hang out with Touratech staff and friends on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. • Show off your mad bike-handling skills and take home the coveted trophy in our annual Slow Race or ADV Challenge competitions. The most fun might just be spectating the competition with friends.

• Park your bike and pitch a tent in the grassy camping area onsite, or reserve space in the RV lot, rent a nearby cabin with friends, or book a room in Leavenworth.

• Most people ride to the event, but there is no shame in hauling out the toys on a trailer, you’ll just have to park it in the RV lot. Well, perhaps there is a little shame.

• We won’t feed you, but the on-site food trucks and restaurant across the street will… and their food is delicious. You can also grab cold beverages, ice, and basic provisions at the grocery or hardware store located right there.

• You can gas up your motorcycle just a stone’s throw from the event. Plan to do it before 8 pm when they close so you are ready to ride the routes in the morning.

www.touratechrally.com

1300cc boxer completely liquid-cooled

Let’s start by looking into the heart of the R1300GS: the famous boxer engine. Here you can expect some details that have been proven in previous iterations, but also some new technology being included in this new generation. The ShiftCam variable valve timing introduced in 2018 can be considered a given. To ensure the thermal stability of the 1300 boxer, BMW seems to have heavily modified both the oil and cooling circuits. MOTORRAD magazine speculates, for example, that the “precision cooling” introduced with the R1200GS (K50) in 2013 will be replaced by complete liquid cooling on the boxer, which is presumably exactly 1300 cubic centimeters in size. This would also mean that the cylinders of the R1300GS would be surrounded by a liquid jacket. A solution that also seems plausible in light of stricter noise regulations.

The BMW developers seem to have made massive changes to the boxer’s oil circuit. From an oil viewpoint glass visible on the side next to the “hero’s chest”, the Stuttgart journalists conclude that a switch has been made to semi-dry sump lubrication in order to combat oil foaming that can be caused by the pressure pulsations of the Boxer.

The performance data of the R1300GS is expected to be accurate to the speculation because it come from a publication of the Swiss Federal Office for Roads (ASTRA), which is responsible for the regulatory approvals. According to this, the 1300GS will have a peak output of 145.5 hp at 7,750 rpm and a powerful torque of 109.9 ft-lb at 6,500 rpm.

Frame with light metal elements

Regarding the 1300cc boxer, and as much as the prototype photos of the R1300GS already reveal, it can be said that it will be integrated as a supporting element in a completely redesigned frame. The previous tube frame construction made of steel is giving way to a composite one that consists at least in part of cast light alloy components, as can be seen in the photos published by MOTORRAD.

Whether and how much the aluminum frame will reduce the weight of the R1300GS is the subject of much debate. The specialists from the online medium 1000PS estimate 243 kg (535 pounds) total weight, which would correspond to the value of the Ducati Multistrada V4.

At first glance, the paralever of the R1300GS is even more striking than the new frame. The swingarm appears more complex than on previous GS generations and shorter at the same time. The latter feature fits coherently into the overall concept of the new GS, which appears more compact overall and less massive. It’s likely that better off-road capability was a high priority for the development team on the R1300GS as well. This is underscored by the fact that a significant proportion of the spy shots published so far were taken during off-road tests. This bodes well for US riders who are more likely to venture off pavement than our European friends. With BMW’s recent support of Backcountry Discovery Routes, this all seems to make sense. They know we like to ride off-road and are trying to keep their flagship bike well-suited to what we like to do with our ADV bikes. It is certain that the telelever will continue to serve as the front wheel guide on the R1300GS, making it the king of the ADV class for street touring. The absence of brake dive on the asphalt is something riders grow to love and struggle to give up once we’ve had a taste of it.

As far as the suspension is concerned, a new generation of the Dynamic ESA electronic chassis can be expected. The always well-informed editors of MOTORRAD magazine speculate that in the future not only the damping but also the spring preload can be adjusted while riding. This would also make it possible to lower the seat height before stopping, as is already offered by the Harley-Davidson Pan America in the “Special” version with the Adaptive Ride Height (ARH) system.