#adventure bike luggage

[advpulse]

The highly-versatile Mosko Nomad tank bag offers multiple organization layers, compartments and expansion options, complemented by a convenient hydration system that can be accessed on the fly while the bag is on your bike or back. Follow the link to check out how it performed!

[girlactionfigure]

With the kindness of strangers, they were able to escape.

“They were taken in by strangers, even housed in a barn along the route of their escape.”

They were refugees, fleeing for their safety, fleeing for their lives, trying to find a new life.

The war-torn country they were living in had been invaded, and they knew they had to get out.

Fortunately, according to the National Endowment for the Humanities, the couple were able to obtain Brazilian passports.

Others trying to escape to the United States, like Anne Frank and her family never made it that far, according to the History Channel, hindered by “American bias against accepting . . . refugees”, which halted most immigration from Europe.

But, first they had to get out.

“On May 10, 1940, Adolf Hitler sent three million troops through the Low Countries into France, according to the Smithsonian. “Parisians fled by the hundreds of thousands before the Germans captured their city on June 14. Among them a young couple, German Jews who had been living in Paris for just four years. They had waited too long. There wasn’t a car or a bicycle left in the city. The husband bought every spare part he could find and built two bikes from scratch. At 5:30 on the morning of June 12, they rode out of Paris with a monkey hidden in the basket.”

Although the couple had previously owned two marmoset monkeys, they did not have an actual live monkey in their basket.

Writer Sarah Stewart Taylor explains further, after the couple got aboard the train:

Hans Reyersbach and his wife, Margarete Waldstein “tried to remain calm as the official came through the train car packed with refugees fleeing Nazi-occupied France and asked for identity papers. When the official saw the stacks of papers inside Hans’s bag, he became immediately suspicious.

“But when Hans . . . pulled out a manuscript for a children’s book entitled ‘The Adventures of Fifi’ . . . the official smiled and passed them by.

“Nearly a year later, after a harrowing wartime escape and journey to the United States”, the couple were able to publish their book “about a mischievous and curious monkey who was always getting into trouble.”

Immigrants Hans Reyersbach and his wife, Margarete Waldstein, used pen names and changed the monkey’s name. Their pen names were H. A. and Margret Rey and the monkey’s name was changed per their publisher to reflect a more American name. “Curious George” would become “one of the most popular children’s books of the 20th century.”

This is a new story for the Peace Page.

~~~~~

According to Taylor, “The Reys were living in Paris when World War II began on September 1, 1939. As news of the Nazis’ advance through Belgium and Holland reached Paris, the Reys began to accept that, as German Jews, they were in danger and would have to leave their adopted country. They were able to secure updated Brazilian passports and collect what they would need for the trip.”

“The Reys boarded a train for Spain in Orleans, France on June 14, 1940, the day the Nazis marched into Paris. On June 23, they arrived in Lisbon. Three months later, after a stay in Rio de Janeiro to secure visas, the Reys arrived in New York. They would live the rest of their lives in their adopted country.”

“The Reys were taken in by strangers, even housed in a barn along the route of their escape. They arrived in New York with almost no money, with their main luggage gone,” according to Rivka Galchen of The New Yorker.

“Little was publicly known about the Reys’ wartime experiences until a 2005 book, ‘The Journey That Saved Curious George,’ written by Louise Borden and illustrated by Allan Drummond. A journal entry of H. A. Rey’s from 1940 included in that book tells us something of Hans’s temperament: Work was going “very slowly on account of events,” he noted, of the week the Nazis breached the French border. A letter of intent to publish ‘Curious George’ from the English publisher Chatto & Windus specifies plans to publish the book barring any international ‘incident involving force majeur.’ And later, a 1944 New Year’s card written from New York reads, ‘Let us think of the future; that’s where we shall spend the rest of our lives.’”

~~~~~

“So far 75 million copies of the Curious George books have been sold worldwide in over a dozen languages,” according to writer Jeff MacGregor.

“You can find the day-to-day, even hour-by-hour notations of their escape in Hans’ meticulous notebooks, saved at the University of Southern Mississippi, in a collection that bears the couple’s pen names: H. A. and Margret Rey.”

“A series of lectures and programs sponsored by the Rey Center and the New Hampshire Humanities Council has put the Reys and their work in the larger context of American history and children’s literature, focusing on U.S. immigration policy,” according to the National Endowment for the Humanities.

“The Wartime Escape: Margret and H. A. Rey’s Journey from France” has attracted a lot of national attention, says Audrey Eisenhauer, executive director of the Rey Center. “This has opened it up to the world,” says Louise Borden of the exhibit. “It has let people know about these perilous times and made them imagine a world without Curious George.”

~ jsr

"Small acts of kindness can make a big difference in someone's life."

The Jon S. Randal Peace Page

[bikebound]

Today on BikeBound.com: 2010 Yamaha SR400 “Café Scrambler” from @tuchihumazu0930: "The SR400 has been my favorite bike since I was a kid. I've been riding this for over 10 years now. My taste in bikes is surprisingly consistent." The whole build started with a bespoke rear fender made by a friend. Other highlights include Öhlins forks, Brembo brakes, inline oil cooler, high-mount exhaust, spoked wheels with Metzeler Karoo 3 70/30 adventure tires, rear rack with leather luggage case, and that gorgeous 70s-inspired paint. Full story today on BikeBound.com! ⚡️Link in Bio⚡️ https://instagr.am/p/CnmSMKQusG8/

[journeyneverends]

September 16 to 19

Budapest to Krakow ( Almost )

Greetings from Ostrava Czech Republic

Dear little Mosey:

Sometimes when I wake up I never know what’s going to happen. That’s why it’s good to plan but be ready if things go differently.

The weather has been very very rainy. The rivers are swollen. I saw a great tree floating down the Danube River. The water was the color of chocolate.

I think the last letter was when we were leaving the Budapest train station in Hungary bound for Krakow Poland four hours away. It was supposed to have one stop.

It did indeed have one stop. There was a rumor was that a bus was to take passages around flooded parts of the tracks to the next station. There was much confusion. The storms were too great for even the big and powerful trains. It was still raining. These guys tried to find out the plan but everything was changing very quickly.

In the small crowded station people tried to get information but the lady only spoke in a strange language through a small hole behind some glass. I could tell it was starting to feel like a real adventure. The kind you didn’t know what could happen next.

Outside there was one bus but there were two buses worth of people and luggage. The driver also spoke in a language that no one understood. He was all wet. People were asking him questions but I don’t think he knew the answers. Even if he did they may not have understood. He was a big man with a white shirt on.

One couple, a man from Poland and a woman from Russia, had bikes like me. Everyone was standing in the rain when the first bus left.

Luckily we found we could get a taxi. But the driver didn’t like the idea of trying to put a bike in there much less three people and luggage. He spoke the Czech language too. But I was able to get him to think it was a good idea to put my bike, your great grand step mother and your step grandmother in the car. He even held an umbrella while I took the wheels off my bike. He got soaked too. It was all very refreshing.

Here is a picture of us in the car. I apologize but I always forget to take pictures when I’m in the middle of an adventure.

We decided to drive to the next bigger town which was about 100 miles away. But even some of the major highways were closed.

We got to the town and got a comfy little hotel. We gave the taxi driver some extra for all of his help. By the end of our ride we felt like friends.

It was an excellent adventure and I woke up in a country and town that I never thought I would visit. It may have been one of the best parts so far.

The next day we caught a bus and continued to Krakow. I was able to put my bike underneath.

It was a smooth and beautiful journey to a really neat old city.

Hope you are good little buddy.

Love you

[sorcharavenlock]

15. The Camping Trip, part 1.

It is early Friday morning. We've all taken a long weekend off so we have plenty of time to find the hermit.

Bonehilda disappeared the day after Loki summoned her, so he has to do the dishes himself.

"Come on, Loki, it's time to go!"

Nea drives us up to Granite Falls. Her car is packed with camping gear, supplies and Loki's luggage. So much luggage...

It starts raining as we arrive at Granite Falls.

Kitty and I set up camp.

The rain doesn't stop Loki and Nea from having a water balloon fight!

Loki misses...

Very mature, Nea!

Nea doesn't! (I'm sure she'll pay the price for that later!)

Kitty and I finish setting up camp.

Why does Loki need so much luggage? He's a ghost!

The weather keeps changing and the sun comes out for a while. Granite Falls is a big area to cover, so I rented mountain bikes for us.

After practising around the camp for a while, we head off.

We head to the information kiosk.

There is no convenient marker for "hermit" on the map.

Loki and Nea cycle around while Kitty and I try to decide where to look first.

"I really don't know. My sister and I used to look for the hermit, but we never found him," Kitty explains.

There's nothing for it but to keep exploring the woods.

We stop by the lake. "I sense nothing mystical or magical in nature here," Loki says. "We'll have to head deeper into the woods.

We decide to leave our bikes behind and continue on foot.

"I've seen Youtube videos about bears fishing before," Nea says to Kitty, "but this is the first time I've seen one use a fishing rod!"

Loki keeps a brisk pace, we have to run to keep up with him. Soon we are lagging behind.

"We should have brought rollerskates," I say to Kitty. We could have tied a rope around Loki's waist and just let him pull us along."

It is getting dark and the weather is getting worse...

So we head back to camp.

I barbeque some chicken skewers...

...while Loki lights the campfire.

After dinner, Loki entertains us with a story about his past adventures.

From the look on my face here, I don't believe a word he's saying!

We go to sleep early. perhaps the next day we'll find the hermit!

[adventuressclubamericas]

Adventuresses Like Phryne

Last month, we talked about the Van Buren sisters and their legendary transcontinental motorcycle trip in 1916. As impressive as their feat was, they weren’t the first women to cross the US by motorcycle. 

That distinction belongs to Adventuresses Effie and Avis Hotchkiss, who did it in 1915. 

Effie Hotchkiss was a young woman ahead of her time. She learned to ride and fix motorcycles when she was 16. At 18, she was working on Wall Street, something almost unheard of at the time. 

But she still craved adventure – she wanted to be the first woman to cross the US on a bike. The 1915 World’s Fair in San Francisco gave her that chance. On May 2, 1915, she set off from Brooklyn on her Harley-Davidson 11-F with her mother, Avis, in the sidecar. 

“We merely wanted to see America and considered that the three-speed Harley-Davidson for myself, and sidecar for mother and the luggage best suited for the job.” Effie said. 

The roads were challenging, to say the least, often little more than dirt paths – until the rain came, and they became mud pits. The roads took their toll on the duo’s tires. They would eventually run out of replacement inner-tubes and had to resort to cutting and rolling up a blanket to repair a flat. 

In spite of the conditions, Avis never lost confidence in her daughter. "I do not fear breakdowns. For Effie, being a most careful driver, is a good mechanic and does her own repairing with her own tools." 

She was also a good shot, which proved necessary for their less than friendly encounters with coyotes and rattlesnakes. 

The pair reached San Francisco and the Fair in August 1915. They made their way to the beach and poured the jar of Atlantic seawater they’d carried from New York into the Pacific Ocean. Then, they turned around and drove home.

They completed their 9,000-mile adventure in October 1915. In 2022, 107 years after the trip, Effie Hotchkiss was inducted into the American Motorcycle Association’s Hall of Fame.

#adventuress #adventuresses #AdventuressesWeLove #motorcycle #harley #harley-davidson

[chaletnz]

Bolivia: Death Road Bike Ride

Since it seemed like the "thing to do" while in La Paz, Bolivia - I'd signed myself up for the Death Road downhill bike ride without expecting too much. I met up with the group in central La Paz to have breakfast at Cafe del Mundo which was some bread with jam, a bowl of fruit, juice, smoothie, and a cappuccino. Our guides Gustavo and Marco introduced themselves and our driver Guillermo as we drove out of the city and up towards our starting point for the ride. The group was just six tourists; myself and a couple from Wellington, a guy from Canada, and a French lady/German man couple. Once at the start we were assigned our bikes - mine was the horse with no name, and given our helmets, gloves and protective pants and jackets. We had a short practice ride on the bikes over to the toilets and then we started down the sealed road. At the first viewpoint Marco took photos of us all and Gustavo told us there was a dead dog on the road ahead "so try not to look at it, try not to smell it". Wonderful. The road was wide and traffic avoided us so the first 30km or so on this sealed road was great, not a worry at all! Gustavo told us to get low on the handlebars so that we could go faster but I was already going so fast just from the gravity that I didn't need to. We reached a point where the road went into a tunnel, and bikes aren't allowed to ride there so we took our first sip of the off-road adventure and rode down a gravelly section alongside the tunnel where I almost ate it as my wheel skidded out from under me but managed to recover. The next section was uphill for about 9km so we rode up in the van to where the entrance sign is for Death Road. After taking our photos with it we rode the first 2km down to a little village with a viewpoint. The French lady was freaking out a bit by this point as we started to see the fog clearing and the tiny road 3m wide snaking around these huge mountains with a drop of hundreds of metres below came into view. The guides convinced her to keep going and we rode on, about 2km each time and then regrouping. Each section we biked, Gustavo would give us a warning like "be careful this is the most dangerous section" or "watch out for the waterfall, tourists have died going over the side right there" so of course we weren't nervous at all... The most recent death being a month ago also didn't sit well. On the last section before our snack break Gustavo pointed out again the "most dangerous section" where 4 tourists had died going over the side by going left instead of right at a pile of rocks on the road. As I passed the pile I wondered how on earth anyone could think there was enough room to go left there! We took a break for a sandwich, chips and coke and then carried on to a little cafeteria building on the hillside where some of the group did the zipline. I bought an ice cream and removed a few layers as it was starting to warm up a lot. From here we had to do a bit of uphill, but then it levelled out and carried on downhill where we reached a huge landslide. The van couldn't follow us anymore and had to go all the way back and take another road down to the bottom. We carried our bikes through the landslide section and then continued on through some dusty dry roads as temperatures heated up the closer we got to sea level. We splashed through some shallow rivers and came to a stop at a village on a bridge, then Guillermo drove us to La Senda Verde where our pasta lunch was waiting for us, as well as a couple boisterous dogs, and a fluffy cat that fell asleep on some luggage. The rest of the group went on a short tour of the sanctuary and then we left to drive back to La Paz. As we climbed in elevation again the conditions turned very foggy and it was impossible to see the road. Guillermo frantically wiped the windscreen with a cloth so he could see the centreline road marking that guided us for about half an hour since we couldn't see a thing. Despite the heavy fog, drivers continue to pass us and narrowly miss oncoming traffic. Somehow we made it back in one piece, and lived to tell the tale!

[whatsjenniupto]

Calm at the Boca do Inferno 

If there is one area in which Portugal is lacking, it would be in the concept of left luggage lockers. There are very, very few places in the country that even have lockers. Of that limited number, some were "out of order" forcing a reconfiguring of plans and all were ridiculously expensive. This was not Central Europe where I could toss a backpack in for a couple euro. 6,50€ every time I needed to be backpack free for a few hours.  

But I didn't know that at the time. I decided to do a quick stop in Cascais on the way to Sintra. I could take a train out to Cascais along the river and then a bus up to Sintra. Simple. I only wanted to see two things in Cascais anyway: Praça 5 de Outubro (main square with amazing tile work) and the Boca do Inferno.  

The square was close to the train station as were the other random things I located in Cascais. Boca do Inferno? That's a 2km walk. One way. And I didn't want to do it with my big backpack. So I was relieved that Cascais is one of the few locations where lockers could be found. A tiny well of lockers off to the side of the train station, next to what I would discover was basically the only grocery store in Cascais. Seriously, no idea where people shop in this city. I walked through three different options and they were souvenir shops. All I wanted was some drinkable yogurt, deli meat, and cheese. Pack in some protein after walking 4km.  

I digress. Luggage tucked away, I ran across the street to double check bus times to Sintra and then walked down to the square before heading out to Hell's Mouth (Boca do Inferno).  

I put all my Czech speed walking skills to good use and quickly made it out to the arch. The entire walk was along a beautiful bike path that stretches quite a bit further up the coast.

Now, I had looked up tides for when I would be up in Nazaré, but I hadn't connected the dots on how if three days from now, shortly after noon is low tide, today, just before noon will be low tide. A very, very calm low tide.

My misty morning walk in Alfama ended earlier than anticipated, moving my entire schedule up a bit. Having made it to my main destination, I knew I had time for adventure. The whole way out to Boca do Inferno, I kept seeing stairs cut down to the cliffs over the ocean. If there are stairs, clearly people are meant to use them. And as one who loves jumping out of windows and finding her own path (China, Montenegro, Arizona), I wanted to climb down these stairs and head out to the cliffs over the ocean. I mean, they took the time to make the stairs. Clearly they should be used.

Boca seen. Stairs and cliffs explored. Protein located at the train station grocery store. I realized I could grab an earlier bus to Sintra which meant more time to explore Quinta da Regaleira. I collected everything and dashed across the street to the bus station.

5 minutes til the bus comes.  

Ok. It should come now.  

Ok. 5 min ago it was supposed to come.  

I eyed all the bus numbers coming into the station and saw the alternate option to Sintra. I was planning on taking the shorter 30min bus through the mountains rather than the longer 60min bus along the coast. But if the coast bus is here and I'm 2 hours ahead of schedule.... 

I made a beeline for the bus, hopped on, and paid for my coastal tour out to Sintra.  

[oh-a-very-toxic-octopus]

Hello. It snowed on us as we crossed the mountains, which provided a climax to one of the most prolonged extreme cold experiences of my life (second/equal perhaps to the time we forgot mountain passes were closed for winter in Japan, so we had to retrace our steps 60 miles in the dark, and possibly also a half-hour in Iceland when the wind slammed us almost off our bikes and we had to hide in a ditch) but we powered through and made it to the port last night.

Portimão -> Santander in a beach buggy over two days in February wearing four pairs of trousers, an array of fleeces and a Zara coat. Witness me.

Clearly we have paid our dues to the weather god, because the crossing was perfectly calm. Some ferry process pics:

Luggage in height-restricted mode to fit on the ferry.

The ferry!

A cool thing we queued alongside.

The Galicia is a bit shinier inside than the Pont Avon, the ship we sailed out on.

Spacious rooms?? A TV with more films than you could possibly watch in the 28-hour crossing???

Views over the side while we were waiting to disembark. We talked to a load of people while queuing to board and again as we were all milling about on the car deck waiting to leave.

By some bizarre coincidence, we met a couple we'd talked to for a long time at the Adventure Overland Show — awesome people who spend a load of time on the waterways. They'd been hanging out in Spain. Maybe we'll see them again at the next show. I'm still blown away by the unlikely odds of such a meeting.

[bikeit]

Biking Eastern Taiwan

I'd heard over the years that Taiwan's East Coast is beautiful and a popular place to cycle, and that you can rent bikes at one Giant store and return them at another, making a one way rental bike tour reasonable.

I'd never quite found the excuse + motivation to plan a trip there, so had that filed away in the "some day" mental list. Then a few months ago a friend reached out saying he wanted to bike in Taiwan and would I be interested? I said yes, and before I knew it we were riding twisty roads down gorgeous Taroko gorge after gorging on breakfast dumplings...

The route we took started partway up the gorge (we got a van ride up with our bikes the previous night, and I'm glad we did-- the hills would have been manageable, but there was a lot of traffic including tour buses on narrow windy roads along a cliff, so biking up could have been unpleasant). From there, we went down to the coast, then cut inland on the remote-feeling 193 through the East Rift Valley (very lush, few cars), before climbing up the coastal mountain range on the 30, through a tunnel, and then riding along the coast to Taitung. About 270 km / 180 miles over four days.

This is the general route we took, though it's a messy file, auto-traced from a raw GPS recording, so don't count on all the cues or details being correct: https://ridewithgps.com/routes/42626006

The roads were almost universally smooth pavement, generally flat with some rolling hills, sometimes with a wide bike lane / shoulder, and other times sharing mostly-quiet country roads with scooters and cars:

We decided to make this a hybrid hike/bike trip to try to really experience this part of Taiwan-- most days we'd get up early and do a ~2 hour hike at dawn, then have a leisurely breakfast before riding for about 4-5 hours (6-7 when you include stops for lunch, museums, and beaches), getting to our destination hotel in the late afternoon. Riding only ~40-50 mildly hilly miles each day gave us the flexibility to not worry about beating sunset or having to hurry, though the hottest day still felt fairly challenging by the end.

In general the food was excellent, ranging from succulent steamed dumplings with a lot of ginger, to probably the best bao I've had in my life, to a range of great greens and vegetables. Even the onigiri at the 7-Elevens were great (my favorite flavor was "chicken rice"):

These incredible bao were ~$1 at 纏記舊街東河包子, a roadside restaurant in Donghe. The left one is 酸菜包 (the second bun from the left on their menu), and tasted like it included pork, pickled mustard greens, and ground peanuts. The right one is black sesame.

The weather was decent-- we did this ride at the beginning of April, which is about the latest in the spring I'd want to do it-- it was very humid, and the hottest day was ~85F but felt much hotter in the direct sun. We also had one day where we rode in intermittent rain all day-- but once your socks are soaked, they can't get any wetter...

This was also a new style of touring for me-- a "semi-supported, but self-guided" tour by Grasshopper Adventures. They gave us maps of recommended routes, pre-booked all our hotels, arranged the bike rentals, and arranged a driver or cab to transport our luggage from one hotel to the next each morning while we rode (as well as the van ride up Taroko gorge to start), so we didn't have to carry all our belongings on-bike, while also being available for remote support.

But there was no tour guide riding with us, so we had to do our own navigation and minor repairs-- which meant we got to take whatever side detours, hikes, or stops we wanted without holding up a larger group. I liked this compromise-- it let me jump into the trip with much less advance planning...

Looking back at my notebook, some notes-to-self for the next tour:

It was nice to ride 40-50 mile days and have down time in the afternoon to just lounge and read or wander the town

Consider a loose rain poncho instead of raincoat when riding in hot + humid weather

7-Elevens in Taiwan are amazingly well-stocked, and widespread in most areas: don't need to bring snacks from home, but...

If it's hot in a more remote area, carry 3 bottles of water (on the East Rift Valley day we found minimal places to refill before lunch, two bottles was not enough)

Check I'm buying the salty snacks (I bought a bag of unknown-flavor potato chips without translating the label, figuring it would be a fun surprise... and they turned out to be the special salt-free chips...)

Carry a handkerchief-- while I carried some backup TP/soap/sanitizer, many public restrooms had no way to dry your hands, and many of the street food stalls provided a few wispy tissue-like napkins.

Schedule your to hit major tourist sites or scenic driving routes on weekdays, for lighter traffic. I've learned this before, and thought we had that well-planned by being in Taroko Gorge mid-week. But it turned out it was the last day of a holiday (Grave Sweeping Day) so there was more traffic than usual.

Google Translate on images works remarkably well for Chinese text (signs, menus, directions) these days-- not speaking the language was a challenge, but google translate at least made most restaurant menus and roadside warning signs manageable.

Overall, it was a great experience (and good group of laid-back folks to travel with, who were also interested in making lots of sightseeing or roadside snack stand stops along the way-- travel goals compatibility is important!)

[merrillsafricabikeadventure]

I am embarking on yet another bicycle adventure as I continue celebrating my “major milestone” birthday year. Hey, I figure that I’m only young once and might as well do these things while I’m able to. My ever-suffering spouse tolerates these adventures with a smile. The plan is to cycle from Livingstone, Zambia (north side of Victoria Falls) thru Zambia, Botswana, and Namibia to Cape Town, South Africa. The total distance is approximately 2000 miles with 53,000 ft of elevation gain. There are 25 days of riding with 5 rest days. I’m going with a Toronto-based commercial bike tour company called TDA Global Cycling. They specialize in epic adventure rides and are the company that lead my rides across India a few years ago and South America in October 2022. I’m riding only the last third of the tour but many others in the group started in January in Cairo and have already pedaled 4000 miles. This tour is classified as a “fully supported” ride which means they plan the routes, carry all my luggage, prepare 3 meals a day, and provide support on the roads. We will be camping the entire time. I hope those lions are not hungry. I’ve brought along my heavy steel Surly gravel bike- it’s basic and easy to fix when the nearest bike shop could be hundreds of miles away. Approximately 25% of the route will not be paved- I’m hoping that it’s gravel and not sand but the pictures I’ve seen of Namibia show endless sand dunes 😬.

[advpulse]

Mosko Moto crammed a ton of features into their latest compact Adventure Bike Tank Bag, then gave it a unique mounting orientation for even more versatility. Follow the link to see how it performed!

[bicycletouringsblog]

What Kind of Long Distance Bikes is Best For Bicycle Touring

Bicycle touring is one of the most exciting adventure activities and it is gaining immense popularity. For those looking for a bike that can handle long-distance rides, the best option is a Long Distance Bike. These Bikes are designed for long-distance touring and offer features such as comfortable riding position, higher handlebars, wider tires, and racks for carrying your luggage. The frame and components are also designed to be strong, durable, and able to hold up against the elements. These bikes are ideal for long-distance touring and can take you through multiple countries and hundreds of miles. The best part is that they are affordable and can be customized with additional components like fenders, racks, and lights to suit your needs. So, if you want to experience the thrill of riding a bike across the country, a Long Distance Bike is a perfect choice!

[bikebound]

BAAK to Adventure: Triumph Scrambler 1200 “Aventures” by @baakmotocyclettes / @baakusa — a project / kit that adds wind protection, luggage, and 2.6 extra gallons of fuel capacity -- while remaining fully reversible! “Our team saw the opportunity to take the 1200 Scrambler where it was not meant to go and develop its potential as a hybrid Scrambler / Adventure bike, creating something Triumph doesn’t have in its catalog.” Highlights include a 6.6-gallon tank, 18L luggage, lightweight decatted exhaust, aluminum bodywork, polycarbonate Margard® windshield, and a pair of dual LED lights that pay homage to the Paris Dakar rally bikes of the 1980s. Full story today on BikeBound.com! ⚡️Link in Bio⚡️ https://instagr.am/p/CkN77UPuMFq/

[bsauto9876-5]

How Do Himalayan Bike Accessories Improve Performance?

The Royal Enfield Himalayan is a popular adventure motorcycle designed for rugged terrains and long-distance travel. Its performance is already remarkable, but with the right Himalayan bike accessories, riders can enhance both their biking experience and overall performance. Accessories play a significant role in improving the motorcycle’s comfort, safety, and efficiency, making them essential for those who want to get the most out of their ride.

In this article, we will explore how specific Himalayan bike accessories can improve your riding performance and why these enhancements are a must for any adventure enthusiast. Whether you’re looking to boost endurance, increase comfort, or ensure safety on unpredictable trails, the right accessories can make all the difference.

 1. Improved Protection with Crash Guards and Bash Plates

When riding off-road, your bike is exposed to rocks, dirt, and other potential hazards that can damage vital components. Crash guards and bash plates are designed to shield the engine and other essential parts from impacts during falls or collisions. 

Crash guards provide lateral protection, reducing the chances of severe damage to the engine, fuel tank, and frame during a fall. Bash plates, mounted beneath the engine, protect against debris that could damage the bike’s underbody. With these accessories in place, riders can push their limits on challenging terrains without worrying about costly repairs.

 2. Enhanced Comfort with Seat Upgrades

Long rides can be physically demanding, especially on rough surfaces. A comfortable seat is crucial for reducing fatigue and improving a rider's endurance. Aftermarket seats are often designed with better ergonomics, superior cushioning, and advanced materials that distribute weight more evenly.

By upgrading to a more comfortable seat, riders can enjoy longer journeys with less strain on their back and legs, leading to improved focus and overall performance on the road. This accessory is indispensable for anyone planning to spend hours on their Himalayan.

 3. Increased Visibility with Auxiliary Lights

Auxiliary lights provide additional brightness that enhances the rider’s vision and ensures that the bike is visible to others on the road.

Adding LED fog lights or spotlights to your Himalayan allows for better performance in low-visibility situations, such as foggy weather, during night rides, or in dimly lit trails. This added illumination reduces the risk of accidents, allowing for faster, safer navigation through challenging environments.

 4. Improved Luggage Capacity with Saddle Bags and Panniers

For long-distance travelers, carrying essential gear is a must. Saddle bags, panniers, and top cases allow riders to carry more luggage without compromising balance or performance. These accessories are designed to distribute weight evenly and provide easy access to your belongings, making them indispensable for adventure riders.

With the right luggage setup, riders can carry everything from tools and spare parts to camping gear, which enables them to go on extended trips without worrying about storage limitations. This significantly enhances the bike's utility and makes it a more practical choice for long journeys.

 5. Upgraded Suspension for Better Handling

The Himalayan is designed for adventure, but upgrading its suspension system can lead to a noticeable improvement in handling and comfort, especially when riding on rough terrains. Aftermarket suspension systems offer better damping and rebound control, which translates to smoother rides and better traction.

This upgrade allows the bike to absorb shocks more efficiently, reducing the strain on both the rider and the machine. Improved suspension results in better cornering, enhanced stability, and increased confidence on tricky paths.

 6. Better Grip with Handlebar Risers and Grips

Handlebar risers and better grips can drastically improve a rider’s control over the bike. By adjusting the handlebar height, riders can adopt a more comfortable posture, which helps in reducing strain on the wrists, shoulders, and back.

Additionally, high-quality grips provide better control, especially when tackling difficult terrains. This enhanced control leads to more precise handling, improving the bike's overall performance, particularly during long rides or off-road adventures.

 7. Protective Accessories for Electronic Devices

Riders often rely on GPS devices, smartphones, or action cameras while exploring unknown paths. Protecting these electronic devices is crucial during rough rides. Waterproof phone mounts, GPS holders, and camera protectors allow riders to access their devices safely without exposing them to the elements. As a result, performance improves through better planning and decision-making on the go.

 Conclusion

Himalayan bike accessories not only enhance the aesthetic appeal of the motorcycle but also significantly improve its performance, safety, and comfort. Whether you are an off-road enthusiast or a long-distance traveler, investing in the right accessories will ensure a better, safer, and more enjoyable ride. From improved protection with crash guards to enhanced comfort with ergonomic seats, each accessory plays a critical role in elevating the Himalayan’s capabilities. 

When looking to purchase these accessories, explore reputable bike accessories online stores that offer high-quality products tailored for adventure motorcycles like the Himalayan. Investing in these improvements will ensure that your bike performs optimally, no matter where your next adventure takes you.

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Unleash Your KTM: The Definitive Guide to 390X, 390 Rally, and Duke/RC Series Accessories

KTM's heritage of the raw performance and rugged strength turned its motorcycles into perfect adventurers both for riders and urban warriors. Whether you get your KTM Adventure 390X ready or have a riding fun with your Duke 125, accessories play the key for you to elevate your ride. It includes the best accessories to a wide range of KTM models such as the Adventure 390X, Adventure 390 Rally, Duke 125, Duke 200, Duke 250, Duke 390, RC 200, and RC 390.

Adventure 390X Accessories: Defeat the Unknown

The KTM Adventure 390X is a bike built for free spirits and adventurous souls who would love to roam and discover unexplored. However, no matter how capable the bike is, there are a few Adventure 390X accessories that can make your adventures truly worthwhile.

1. Crash Guards

Crash guards become a foregone necessity on an adventure tourer. They make sure your motorbike's engine and body work are not dented in nasty falls, but they also ensure peace of mind while riding over stony trails or grueling off-road courses. The crash guards should preferably be made of strong, rust-resistant material designed specifically for the Adventure 390X for an exact fit.

2. Luggage Solutions

For long trips, one needs to have good luggage space. The KTM 390 Adventure X doesn't fall behind in this regard. Side panniers or a top case will be a great investment for all your gear. You should go for the very light, water-resistant versions for safekeeping of your gear.

3. Adventure Lighting Kit

Better visibility is very important while riding in unexplored terrain, and LED auxiliary lights are a great way to increase your visibility during nighttime rides, especially in low-light conditions with high lumens and long-range illumination.

4. Skid Plate

Absolutely ruggedly strong, the skid plate protects the bottom of your 390X. Strong aluminum or top-quality plastic, a skid plate keeps those often-vulnerable parts of the bike safe from the impact of the plethora of rocks, debris, and other hazards that find their way onto the trails of off-road adventures.

Adventure 390 Rally Accessories: Take Your Riding to Extremes

This is a beast for off-road challenges in the KTM Adventure 390 Rally. The ride is factory-prepped, ready for big adventures, although these Adventure 390 Rally Accessories take rally rides to another level.

1. Rally Windscreen

It is definitely rally windscreen that will make all the difference in case of those interminable races or long-distance off-road expeditions. Rally windscreen ensures less wind buffeting, and you stay comfortable during extended rides.

2. Off-road Tires

A serious off-road tyre has the most notable effect if you really take the off-road trail riding. More tread deep off-road tyres, which are especially built for the rough unlevelled surface, would provide better grip and control.

3. Suspension Upgrade Kit

The upgrade in the suspension with a high-performance shock absorber kit designed for the Adventure 390 Rally may be expected to improve handling in rocky or bumpy conditions. Adjustable suspension setups may actually be dialed in to suit your riding style and that of terrain conditions.

4. GPS Mounts and Navigation

You can't get lost in the wilderness when you have reliable navigation. Get a tough and rugged GPS mount specifically designed for your rally bike that can be mounted easily and then virtually forget about it and ride away.

Duke 125 Accessories: A Street Warrior's Delight

The KTM Duke 125 is a bare and waif-like machine built for the city terrain. To make it your ultimate street ride, accessorize with the following must-have Duke 125 Accessories.

1. Tank Pad

A tank pad will save your bike's paint during those congested city runs. For protection, think about a set of solid, rubberized sliders.

2. Frame Sliders

A frame slider may become your best friend when you do have a tumble or accident. Generally, these parts take the initial hit during a fall, which helps save those precious parts from major scratches and dents.

3. Aftermarket Exhaust

For those who need a bit more noise and performance, an aftermarket exhaust not only boosts its power but also adds a sporty sound to the Duke 125 to suit its aggressive looking profile.

Duke 200 Accessories: Riding on All Roads with Ease

The Duke 200 is geared to be taken for ride on the roads, whether in the city limits or on highways. You will want to customize the bike with Duke 200 Accessories to bring out the best in both worlds.

1. Handlebar Risers

Handlebar risers: The gains in comfort from handlebar risers are immense. They are ideal for taller riders or those who love a more laid-back posturing, taking tension off the wrists and back. You can raise your handlebar.

2. Wind Deflector

A small, adjustable wind deflector helps make highway commuting easier by deflecting wind away from your upper body, allowing smoother, quieter rides at higher speeds.

Duke 250 Accessories: Improving Performance and Style

Other possibilities for improvement with thoughtful add-ons: with more power and added capability, the Duke 250 can be made better with these thoughtful Duke 250 Accessories.

1. Performance Air Filter

Upgrade the air filter to a high-flow one to make it achieve some efficiency and power delivery from its engine. Brands like K&N and BMC create performance filters specifically for the Duke 250.

Brake Lever Guards Safety during cut-through traffic or through tight spaces, they save your levers from accidental bumps and ensure full control of the bike.

Duke 390 Accessories To Maximize Power and Handling

The 390 Duke is a monster power that can be kit-ted for the track and road. Here are the best Duke 390 accessories to elevate your Duke 390 experience.

1. Quick Shifter

Install a quick shifter to be having yourself smooth seamless gear changes without clutching and add that performance edge that'll make the Duke 390 ride fun on twisties or the track.

2. Radiator Guard

A radiator guard is a critical often-overlooked accessory. This simply protects the bike's radiator from debris and damage, saves costly repairs further along the line.

3. Tail Tidy Kit

Achieve a cleaner, aggro-ridden rear-end look by getting a tail tidy kit that can exchange a bulky stock fender for a sleeker one. This will surely improve the aspect of your Duke 390.

KTM RC 200 Accessories: The Perfect Track Experience Refiner

The KTM RC 200 is one for those who want to satisfy their impetus on performance and accuracy. These KTM RC 200 accessories will fine-tune that capability of your KTM RC 200.

1. Clip-On Handlebars

Stock handlebars swap to clip-on for better ergonomics and control on the track. These deliver more aggressive, forward leaning posture that may be useful for racing.

2. Performance Brake Pads

Enhance braking system and get better stopping power at higher temperatures, protect against brake overheating on spirited rides or track days.

RC 390 Accessories: Unlock Unbridled Sportbike Potential

From KTM, the RC 390 is their flagship sportbike, and with the right RC 390 Accessories, you can unleash its full potential.

1. Race Fairing

A race fairing helps reduce drag; therefore, you get better aerodynamics when operating at high speeds. Choose lightweight, strong materials like fiberglass or carbon fiber.

2. Lap Timer

If track performance will make you serious about your lap timing, you should opt for a lap timer. It helps track your progress and improves lap times.

3. Rearset Footpegs

For riders who wish to drop the seat height even further, add rear set footpegs. These will raise the riding position but increase the lean angle and control when entering corners.

Final Thoughts: Outfitting Your KTM for Every Adventure

Be it the tough Adventure 390X ripping into the wild or carving the city streets on a Duke 125, the right accessories make all the difference in performance, comfort, and style. From crash guards to luggage solutions to performance upgrades to ergonomic tweaks, the options are virtually endless. Choose accessories that align with your riding style and goals, and you'll find a bike perfectly tailored for your next journey.