The Art Behind the Visor: Icon Artist – Lukas Ketner

Given my resume marks out about five years as a storyboard and comic book artist, it’s nice to gain insight into how an artist like Icon’s Lukas Ketner found success in the motorcycle industry. From his penning of Icon’s “urban” helmet design and promotional materials you’d expect a tattooed badass, what you find in this video is rather different and insightful.

The Insider: Are Two-Strokes Plateable in BC and Alberta?

@Shuether on Twitter asked, “@NeilJohnston do you know if any of the KTM XC-W 2t series are plateable in AB or BC? The [Husky] WR300 is, so it would be an awesome trail weapon!” I didn’t have immediate knowledge of the issue so we quickly e-mailed the Insider for an answer.

2009 KTM 690 Enduro R Used Review – Besotted

The KTM 690 Enduro R should need no introduction; it has been around for a while hasn’t it? But, this particular Enduro R does merit a few words, because this is MY KTM 690 Enduro R, which is something entirely different. That’s because I test bikes, over 150 of them at last count, but when it came time to sign on the dotted line I chose the KTM 690 Enduro R. And it’s ruined me.

Multistrada 1200 S Long-Termer: Upgrades at 7500km

Against our better advertising sales judgement, we’ve been honest about the problems we’ve encountered with our Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring (MTS 1200). As an eternal optimist though, I’ve felt a swell of anticipation dropping the bike off to Vancouver Ducati BMW for a slew of recalls and upgrades. If there’s a major quirk or…

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Fish Lake, Long Form Journalism and the Amazon Kindle Singles Experiment

The first review of our first Amazon Kindle Single, “Last Chance to Ride: Fish Lake”, is in, and if the printer were working I’d frame it. An Amazon’s Kindle Single is a short eBook, and potentially the salvation of long-form journalism as magazine’s continue to slide into decline. How they work and the opportunities they offer both writers and readers are quite brilliant, and point to the future of independent journalism.

Alpinestars Frontier Gore-Tex Jacket and Apex Drystar Glove Review: In the Storm

The rain is falling in sheets as we pull out of San Luis Obispo, ditch the 101 and its stutter-step panic braking traffic, and head for the Pacific Coast Highway. Pre-Christmas 2010, these are the worst rains to lash California in recent memory. It’s the right day to break out the heavy weather gear, but in the name of science I’ve refused instead relying on Alpinestars’ Frontier Gore-Tex Jacket and Apex Drystar Gloves to resist the onslaught.

Ducati Launches “DUCATI COMMUNITY” Social Network

Allow me a moment of cynicism. Perhaps, I’ve reached a point of over-connection through my Twitter, FaceBook and ADVRider accounts, but do we really need another social network to divert our attention from riding? Ducati thinks so, and I’ll admit after a few days toying with DucatiCommunity.com, which runs on the Kontain social network platform,…

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Reconnecting With Canada: The North – Episode 1

The RWC: North team leave from Victoria BC, on their arctic journey. On the very first day they encounter more than they bargained for with a major snow storm. Then it’s the transition from mild temperatures and urban centres to hard packed snow and small communities.

Road to Ruins: Episode 1 – BMW R1200GS Adventure v. Ducati Multistrada 1200 S

BMW’s R1200GS Adventure is the gold standard in adventure touring bikes, but now it’s facing down challengers like the Ducati Multistrada 1200 S Touring. Is the road to ruins for the BMW paved by the likes of the Ducati? Join OneWheelDrive.Net as we conduct a we conduct a monumental comparison against a back drop of dead seas, dying towns, a makeshift community on an abandoned military base and 800 year-old cliff dwellings from the end of the Sinagua people, all on “The Road to Ruins”.

Reconnecting With Canada: The North – Prologue

The Reconnecting With Canada: North crew are heading, as you would expect, North. Unlike most motorcyclists they aren’t waiting for clear skies and warm days, they are doing the ride in winter. Join the team of riders Joe Lloyd and Paul Mondor and support drivers Jesse Clark and Flora Lloyd as they prepare the bikes for the trip.

How the Harper Government & Motorcycle Industry are Crushing Online Publishers

I finally believe the press that the Canadian motorcycle industry is swirling down the drain of an economic downturn. The symptoms of an ailing industry have increasingly affected Canadian online media as motorcycle companies close regional offices, as press fleets dwindle and tension over perceived damage to test bikes increases. For those of us publishing on the web exclusively, the situation has worsened, as Rob Harris of CMGOnline.com, points out in his editorial CMG Call to Arms, which reveals the massive cash injection of Canadian print publications are receiving from the Harper Government to assist their move from print to the web.