Every so often, I hatch a scheme to escape my everyday life and hit the road for a while, alone, on two wheels. This year that meant leaving my home in Seattle, to explore the stunning coastline, rugged mountains, and comically large trees of Northern California.
While we could have created a Kickstarter campaign or put feelers out for sponsorship money, that just didn’t feel right to us. This is our dream trip, an extended vacation if you will, so we didn’t feel it was right to ask for anyone to pay for it but ourselves. As for ways to save up enough money for a 4-month trip, here are a few of the things we did:
On September 13, the BMW Mottorad International GS Trophy concluded in Western Canada. Touratech outfitted each of the R1200GS Water Boxers in the event with skid plates, crash bars and other protective accessories and we tracked the event from start to finish.
A few years ago, some things happened that changed my life forever: I fell in love and married a girl who rode motorcycles, I left my career in aerospace and I got a job in the motorcycle industry. I’ve never been happier! My wife, Brayde and I make it a point to go on at least one ride a year and we’ve explored most of the Western United States, Canada, Northern Mexico, Baja and Europe in the last 4 years.
I ride a 2006 BMW R1200GS and Brayde rides a 2007 BMW F650GS. They’re perfectly matched bikes for traveling together and this fall we’re going to finally take one of our dream rides: Seattle to Tierra del Fuego.
Day 5 of the 2014 BMW Motorrad International GS Trophy was the first time the competition started and finished in the same place: Kootenay Lakeview Lodge. The ride was loop of approximately 200 km, offering what the competitors unanimously agreed was the best mix of riding so far this year.
Our friends Caludia & Mirko from 2ar.eu A motorcycle adventure for children in South America stopped by our Seattle showroom aboard their Touratech equipped Suzuki V-Strom 1000s!
Touratech employee Eric Archambault has been ridng in the Klim Badlands Pro suit for nearly two years and shares his experiences in this long term review. Eric’s writing is a wealth of information for anyone considering a new riding suit.
The team from Touratech-USA has spent the last few weekends scouting different off-road routes near Leavenworth, WA ahead of the 2014 Touratech Rally.
When Hank Arriazola (MotoHank) mentioned his dream of turning over 500,000 miles on his R1100GS somewhere in Africa, Touratech-USA offered to help make the dream come true by sponsoring his trip.
Touratech-USA Customer Service & Sales Representative, Eric Archambault, reviews Hilleberg’s Staika tent, one of the most sturdy all-season Expedition Grade motorcycle tents on the market. Follow the link to learn more.