Indholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2014 i Overland Journal

What I need in the backcountry are products that are 100 percent reliable. I’m not the type of person who feels the need to have every bell and whistle on the planet, nor do I believe that a higher price is necessarily indicative of higher quality (although Wal-Mart-cheap items are often exactly that, cheap…crap). My Coleman stove is 30 years old, has been sand blasted and repainted, and still works fine. It fits my needs so why send it to the landfill? However, I am willing to pony up sufficient sums of dinero to acquire the best gear available when necessary. I hold the same philosophy when it comes to modifying my vehicles. I may listen to an inexpensive stereo but I won’t buy a sub-standard recovery strap. What I…

Great equipment doesn’t need to let you know it’s there. It was late May of 2013 in Sedona, Arizona, and I was whipping down a dusty two-track on the just-released BMW R1200GS. Not only was I riding the latest in hardware, but I was also wearing Aether’s newest offering, the Skyline Motorcycle Jacket. Though I was fully aware I was riding a 500-pound motorcycle, the jacket faded into the background, and that’s a good thing. Great equipment doesn’t need to let you know it’s there. Since that day I have logged more than 10,000 miles with the Skyline. I live in Los Angeles, and though it’s a city of seven million people, I have access to some amazing landscapes in the Southwest—from wide-open deserts to twisty-mountain roads. It was in…

“Look at that truck! That’s the real deal. A right-hand drive Toyota Land Cruiser…maybe they will be our neighbors?” These were my enthusiastic words to my wife, Beth, when an expedition-ready HZJ75 entered our nearly full campground near Sequim, Washington. When we returned from running errands, South Africans Nick and Lillian de Clercq had indeed occupied the last available site next to ours. Introducing myself with a smile, handshake, and a copy of Overland Journal, we spent the evening sharing travel and truck tales. They were just a few weeks into a two-year trek through the Americas and their Land Cruiser was anything but a mall crawler. I knew it would be a fitting subject for the Journal, so when they passed through Nevada a few months later I met…

Moses’ Belizean Ceviche Serves: 4 | Cooking time: 30 minutes Equipment: A sharp knife and two mixing bowls 1 onion 2 tomatoes 1 carrot 1 cucumber ½ a green bell pepper 1 habanero pepper ¼ cup cilantro Juice of six limes 1 pound fresh conch or other seafood Salt and pepper Belize is an easy country for Pan-American overlanders to miss. It’s tiny and out of the way, but in our opinion, worth the detour. Belize offers experiences and flavors much more Caribbean in nature than the rest of Latin America, and is a welcome change from the hectic streets of Guatemala and speed bump strewn highways of Mexico. We learned to make this recipe while staying at a hole-in-the-wall hostel on the island of Caye Caulker. It was one…

I was enjoying my gin and tonic when a chill shot through my spine, raising the hair on the back of my neck and sending a quiver throughout my body. “Allen, is that you?” It was sometime between dusk and dawn. We were sound asleep in our roof top tents, camped at the edge of the dry Hoarusib River, Namibia. It must have been closer to dawn, as our small fire from the previous night was exhausted. I awakened to the sound of something rustling around down below. I lay there for a few seconds with a gazillion thoughts running through my African rookie mind. Lion? Elephant? There was a few seconds of dead silence before I called out, “Allen, is that you?” His response was a curt, “no.” I…

With its advanced design and premium materials, the Evasion Evolution is in a league of its own. Twenty years is a long time to develop, test, and refine a product line, but that’s how long James Baroud has spent creating what many believe are the finest hard-shell roof top tents in the world. A native of France and an avid over-lander, he felt that many of the roof top tents on the market were simply inadequate. They were either too delicate to endure the rigors of true overland travel, or lacked the features and appointments overlanders deserved. The culmination of his experience on the road, and the manifestation of his vision, the Evasion Evolution roof top tent is nothing short of exceptional. Constructed of fiberglass-fortified polyester with a high-gloss finish,…

This winter marked my second opportunity to attend the Progressive International Motorcycle Show (IMS) in Long Beach, California, keeping me abreast of the latest offerings in the moto world. Though a cold snap blanketed much of the West (single-digit temperatures and several inches of snow were present at my home in northern Nevada), I arrived in Long Beach to fog and 55°F, which felt motorcycle friendly to a guy who grew up riding along the coast. Freeway congestion aside, it’s difficult to argue against Southern California being a cultural motorcycle mecca, and the IMS show worked like a magnet in a parts washer to attract two-wheeled enthusiasts of all genres. While manufacturers like Ural and Indian were on hand to present their latest retro-modern offerings, BMW, KTM, Triumph, and Yamaha…

The F800GS was launched in 2008 to significant anticipation and applause. With a 21-inch front wheel, upside-down forks with over 9-inches of travel, and legendary BMW design and build quality, it was an exciting new model on paper. Unfortunately, the momentum slowed as the model suffered from a range of recalls and reliability issues. On Road On the highway the F800GS is pleasant to ride, with sufficient power to pass and cruise at the legal limit. Power delivery and handling are more refined than the previous variant and the brakes received a major upgrade. Though this model is great for commuting, proving to be nimble and responsive around town, I would describe the 800’s road manner as adequate, but ultimately uninspiring. The other issue we discovered was pronounced head shake,…

Launching the Tiger 800 XC in 2010, Triumph was a latecomer to the adventure motorcycle segment. It’s a strong performer with a 94-horsepower triple engine, 21-inch front wheel, and 8.7-inches of front suspension travel, combined with a wet clutch and comfortable standing position. The overall design and appearance is modern yet classy, and appealing enough that we chose an 800 XC for our 2014 project bike. On Road It is easy to discount the Tiger for compromising on street performance, but the actual experience sings a different tune. It hits 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds (within a blink of the Super Ténéré and the much more powerful Triumph 1200), and felt more like a supermoto than a dual-sport—it was a blast to ride on the street. I picked up the…

I believe this evaluation, which included 16 different assessments over an 18-month period, allowed for all attributes of a legitimate dual-sport to be analyzed. Units were tested in stock form as well as with nearly identical modified configurations (there were small variations in skid plate manufacture and tire type due to size constraints). However, despite these controls, motorcycle comparisons are highly subjective, and it is important to understand expectations. While I have noted on-road comfort, these impressions had limited weight on my final conclusions. On Road On the highway the BMW R1200GS, with its wide seat, cruise control, and adjustable windscreen, is the most comfortable and refined. If your travels are primarily on pavement the BMW 1200 is an easy choice. The KTM is also class-leading on pavement, but for…

Bubacarr Jallow slips on his helmet and gloves as he prepares for his commute, a short ride over narrow sand tracks to a rural village. It is there that Bubacarr, a community health nurse in The Gambia, West Africa, will care for a dangerously malnourished child. He sits with the child’s mother under a tree outside their home and explains how to administer the 14-day supply of high-calorie food he will be leaving. Before heading to his next stop he promises to return in two weeks. Though the journey from his office takes less than 30 minutes, he knows that fulfilling his promise would not be possible without a reliable motorcycle. Transportation has long been a major challenge for health care providers in remote areas of the world. Visits are…

There’s something about stepping off a plane after a trip and setting foot on the soil of my native land…it’s an intangible that is hard to define. It may be the emotions raised by being home, seeing Old Glory, or reflecting on the sacrifices of the countless souls whom have insured the liberties I enjoy. We in America are not alone with our liberties; dozens of nations around the globe are free from the tyranny of dictator-led governments, and each is beholden to soldiers and patriots who have risked life and limb. I recently had the honor of meeting a few of these selfless benefactors of freedom while en route to the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station, Antarctica, with the Expeditions 7 team. We were one of two expeditions on the…

As we would expect of Eezi-Awn, the quality of the materials and execution of design are unsurpassed. One of the more useful additions to any overland vehicle, an awning can provide welcome respite from inclement weather or an escape from punishing sunlight. Their negligible weight and diminutive size make them all the more attractive, though there are a few negatives to overcome…most commonly price and the complexity of setup. With the release of the new Eezi-Awn Shade 2.0 Bag Awning, even those two reservations are readily dismissed. At a touch over 18 pounds and with a sleek stowed size of just 84 by 3 by 5 inches, the Shade 2.0 occupies minimal space along the roofline and is ideal for most overland vehicles. Its heavy-duty anodized aluminum framework facilitates easy…

If you’re wondering where the Ennedi Desert is, that’s okay, most people have no idea. In fact, I didn’t either until a few days before I boarded a plane bound for N’Djamena…another question mark. The Ennedi is in the northeast corner of Chad, Africa. To get there you fly to the capital city of N’Djamena, source a couple of Land Cruisers, drive north about 50 kilometers on a narrow two-lane highway (one of the country’s few paved roads), and at what seems like a very arbitrary point, make a right. The rest is simple: fire up the GPS and drive northeast—for four days—into the heart of the north central Sahara Desert. It was long, hot, and dusty, and we’d not see another paved road for nearly a month. I ended…

For over 30 years the BMW GS has been the standard in adventure motorcycles, striking a critical balance between comfort, touring, and off-pavement performance. It is generally loved and respected around the globe, and for good reason. The Overland Journal staff has spent a lot of time with the new water-cooled GS, and put thousands of dirt and pavement miles on a stock unit. On Road Without question the R1200GS is the most refined touring-worthy motorcycle in this test. The new motor is smoother than the previous model and the additional 25 horsepower adds to its cruising prowess. The seat is excellent and ergonomics are supremely comfortable, enhanced by the adjustable windscreen, wide bars, cruise control, and integrated navigation control. Though rider position is fairly upright the GS feels supremely…

On initial release the 1200 XC raised more than a few eyebrows, and no doubt caused many a frown in Germany and Austria. It was a promising adventure bike with a 19-inch wire-spoked front wheel, shaft drive, wet clutch, and 135 horsepower. On Road The Explorer XC is a road-biased adventure tourer, complete with a wide, dished (and heated) saddle, cruise control, tall windscreen, and a sport-bike rider position. The 1,215cc 3-cylinder motor is smooth and strong, and pulls hard from idle up to the 9,500 rpm redline. An air-cooled alternator provides 950 watts of 12-volt power, enough for even the most gadget-obsessed adventurer. During several months with the Explorer I found it to be comfortable as a commuter with good day-to-day ergonomics. However, on longer trips the high peg…

Capitalizing on its close proximity to Europe, morocco recognized long ago the economic benefits of tourism. Though the entry process may seem prolonged and quite chaotic if you’re doing it for the first time, visitors are welcomed and not subject to ridiculous entry or visa requirements. Getting There and Around U.S. citizens do not require a visa for a visit of less than 90 days. If you are entering the country with a vehicle, all you will need are your passport, vehicle title, and proof of vehicle insurance that covers you while in morocco. It may be possible to arrange this with your insurance company, or you can get it at most ports of entry. You will also need an immigration card (usually obtained on the ferry you arrive on)…