Neil Johnston

LoneRider Motorcycle Tent Review – A Garage with a Tent Attached

Expeditionary base camp in scale, the LoneRider MotoTent isn’t for those who pack light, but there’s a lot of heavy weather advantages to a garage with a tent attached.

One Day Expedition: Indian Arm

Outdoor enthusiasts rebel and circumvent a government “wall” blocking access to crown land in a failed attempt to protect transplanted Roosevelt Elk. The result is the opening of the Indian River Forest Service Road, an excellent and challenging One Day Expedition out of Squamish, BC.

2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring – Touring Mode and Returning Rider Therapy

The Multistrada 1200 S Touring sublimely tips into a series of corners for another strafing run of the camera. I’ve been on the road a week, scheduling in rides as part of my recovery from a broken collarbone, and the Ducati has been a brilliant physical therapist – egging me on to push a little more with every corner.

2013 Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring – Urban Mode or What the Doctor Ordered

Ducati’s marketing says the Multistrada 1200 S Touring is four bikes in one, and each mode matches a riding progression in my recovery from this spring’s broken collarbone. Seems a good excuse for a series of mini-reviews covering the Urban, Touring, Sport and (maybe) Enduro modes as I reacquaint myself with riding.

Must Do Destination: Carson Valley / Lake Tahoe Adventure Motorcycle Ride & Rendezvous

OneWheelDrive.Net Photographer Kevin Miklossy heads to Nevada’s Carson Valley for a pre-ride of the second year of the Carson Valley / Lake Tahoe Adventure Motorcycle Ride and Rendezvous, and finds a “must do” event and some exceptional riding.

OutDrive.ca 2013 Ford Explorer Sport Review – A Family Express to More Interesting Parenting

With a collarbone still mending and unable to ride Neil, pretends to be a family man and reviews the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport for OutDrive.ca… “In the canyon turns the 2013 Ford Explorer Sport, a huge dreadnaught-class piece of American muscle and swank, is making gains on the motorcycle ahead. Here, I conclude that this performance SUV will never grace the cover of better parenting magazines – this is family hauling weaponized.”
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Review: Macna Alpine Pants versus the Desert

Mid-day riding the Bradshaw Trail and Red Canyon just south-east of Palm Springs, and I’m struck by a “hot weather” realization, the Macna Alpine Pants I’ve paired with the Geo jacket have vents. Not just vents, but 3D mesh vents mid-thigh. Hitting 50+ kph in the sand washes, standing there is a lovely cooling vortex sweeping my thighs and around to my buttocks.

Broken – 3: Turbulence

“We’ve canceled beverage service for this flight due to turbulence”, the pilot announces. For the duration of the flight the twin-turbo prop is batted around by the wind like a cat toying with a mouse. My broken left clavicle moves in ways that are wrong… I should have made a more concerted effort to find the painkillers back in SeaTac.

Analysis: BMW Motorrad Signs Cooperation Agreement with India’s TVS Motor Company Staging Entry into Under 500cc Motorcycle Segment

A number of eyebrows were raised when BMW sold Husqvarna to Stefan Pierre of KTM, a mere five years after BMW acquired the Italian dirtbike mark from MV Agusta. BMW’s move makes sense in light of today’s announcement of a long-term cooperation agreement with India’s TVS Motor Company, positioning BMW for reentry into the sub-500cc market.

Broken – 2: Ambulance

Perhaps you consider yourself jeopardy friendly, a risk taker, an extremist? If so might I suggest a new undertaking, because no matter how hardcore you are, you are squat compared to a volunteer Mexican ambulance driver.

Broken – 1: Snapped

“There’s some ruts,” comes Kevin’s voice over the Interphone F5 communicator. We’ve done the tough stuff, and right now we are riding from the Panaderia to the beach with a brown bag of fresh baked goods for breakfast. I divert my attention from Kevin riding ahead to the road directly in front of me. I look up, and it all goes wrong.

Touratech Test – 2013 BMW R1200GS

Well, actually Touratech CEO and adventure rider, Herbert Schwarz, talks a lot about Touratech accessories and very little about the bike, so we’ll just jump the video to that good bit.