Author: N.J.

Motorcycle and automotive, travel and adventure writer, when I'm not being an alpha geek, coder, or technical project manager.

Social Spannering with Motomethod: An Old School Shop with a New Twist

Rolling into Vancouver on an around the world tour, my BMW F650GS was in a state; the suspension pre-load was broken, the bike was stalling, there was a mysterious loss of power, the water pump was due for replacing… the list wear and tear was long and growing. I needed a shop, and what I found was something much more useful and unique: Motomethod.

Reconnecting With Canada: Webisode 11 – Who’s Walking Who?

Joe & Flora enter the famous Charlevoix region. One of North America’s oldest holiday making spots, and for good reason! Then it’s off to visit Jordy at the Fairmont Le Manoir Richelieu before making their way along the St. Lawrence river into the Quebec Maritimes.

Baja: Tropic of Cancer – Crossing the Line

In the conclusion of the Baja: Tropic of Cancer series, Kevin and Neil reach their destination in Baja, Mexico. They also reach some conclusions about their long term Honda Varaderos.

Five Stunt Gloves Reviewed

Some things you love to death, wearing them relentlessly until the bitter end. So it was the case with my Five Stunt Gloves, but 65,000km of adventure and street riding have taken their toll. After a little under two seasons, the Fives are retired… I think. The Fives were recommended to me by Westcoast Superbike…

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KTM “Hard Adventure” 690 Enduro R Project – Range

At 206km the engine sputters, then dies on an uphill 18kms from the nearest gas in Tulameen. It’s not a shock or surprise, I’ve been waiting for the KTM 690 Enduro R to run dry for some time now. Exactly how long I’m unsure, the R’s the dash is resetting with every shut down of…

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2011 Yamaha FZ8 Review – 8 is the new 6

While the Yamaha’s Fazer family has been a European mainstay since 1998, it’s still relatively new in Canada. For 2011 Yamaha has delivered the FZ8, a bike that owes much to its bigger and more brutish sibling the FZ1, and surprisingly little to the defunct FZ6. That positions the bike to be novice and intermediate rider friendly, so it needs to be both frisky (or even occasionally ferocious) and friendly all at once.

Reconnecting with Canada: Webisode 8

Joe & Flora finish their Albertan visit at the Ukranian cultural village. Then it’s time to ride through Saskatchewan and it’s vast spaces. From there they visit Flin Flon Manitoba, and onward north to Thompson. Boasting painted wolves and an amazing nickel mine, Thompson entertains and educates the traveling duo.

Baja: Tropic of Cancer – Coco’s Corner

“You’re not a motorcyclist until you’ve been to Coco’s Corner.” We’ve picked up this Baja saying along the way, but I’m unclear as to where. It’s un-attributable, but battering the Varaderos over 40kms of washboard and gravel, snaking through canyons, and viewing western movie perfect cactus forests has proven the saying’s truth.

Reconnecting With Canada: Webisode 7 – The Albertan Way..

Joe & Flora explore Alberta in more detail. Stopping to gaze at grazers and stepping back to stream powered thrashers, they make their way to Lesser Slave Lake in time for Canada Day. Then it’s on to Alberta’s capitol for some touring.