I know there have been numerous strides in refinement since what became the Defender was released in 1983. Through the various gearboxes, engines, and interior modifications it has always retained it’s utilitarian DNA. Sure, a 2012 Defender 110 when compared to a 110 from 1983 would certainly seem better equipped and much improved, but it was never to the point of luxury. There was always a specific purpose for the older brother in the Land Rover line - and it was being a simple, purposeful 4x4. The luxurious duties were always reserved for the Range Rover.

Some would argue that this is the bike that really started the dual-sport craze. Named after the Elsinore Grand Prix - the MT250 was one of the first bikes designed by Honda for the dirt, not merely a street motorcycle modified for the dirt.

It appears to be in great shape for it's age, and with just over 7,000 miles, This could be a great vintage motorcycle to fill your curiosity of the dual sport world.

It's available on eBay Motors here. [link]

“What do you think Johno?”

Paul and Leigh both stared at me intently, as if I was some authority on trusting strange men in the Iraqi countryside in the middle of the night.

I weighed up the risks.

“Okay,” I said, looking up, “let’s do it”

Sulaymaniyah Bazaar

We had spent the day in the British Embassy, based in a Five Star Hotel on the outskirts of Erbil, making the most (some would say abusing) the restaurant, Wi-Fi and bathrooms. Unfortunately we had been kicked out as darkness fell due to Embassy rules that only allowed Embassy staff to stay overnight and the fact that the cost of an actual hotel room could have kept us in Ronaldo’s place for two weeks.

via West County Explorers Club: This is a flashback post that I wrote before WCXC, back in 2006. :)

Last summer I decided to take my 170,000-mile, 1986 Isuzu Trooper for a month-long, solo road trip from California to British Columbia and back. I was looking forward to the thrill of the open road, clear-blue water, wildlife, and remote wilderness, so I prepared well, packing my tent, my gear, and a month’s worth of food into the Trooper in case I got stranded and needed to wait for the Mounties, a passing husky team, or whoever handles that sort of thing in Canada. I’m glad I did. Despite a snag or two, I learned a few things and returned to tell the tale. Not everything in the wild is so lucky.

After about three months of working at Overland Journal, I decided my current set of wheels - a Toyota Celica, just wasn't cutting it anymore. It wasn’t that it was a particularly bad vehicle, in fact I became quite affectionate for the little red car. Being around a plethora of 4x4’s all day meant that my eyes occasionally wandered off into the distance and caused me to start reminiscing about the 4x4’s I owned in my past.

Looking to sport the coolest pair of MAXTRAX [link] around? All while helping Team X Elles race in the 2012 Rallye Aiche De Gazelles? 

MAXTRAX donated a special pink version of their vehicle extraction device - with all of the proceeds going to help the X Elles.

They're available on eBay here [link]

Don't forget to check out the X Elles on their website either! [link]

Rovers North

Located a few miles outside of Burlington, Vermont, Rovers North has been providing replacement parts for Land Rovers since the company was founded in 1979 by Mark LeTourney. They are the main supplier of parts from Land Rover UK to enthusiasts and professionals in North America and the Caribbean. 

We left St Petersburg with two extra passengers, our couchsuring host Sacha and her friend Anna. They were joining us for the ride to Novgorov, a medium sized town on the way to Moscow. After finally breaking free from the horrendous traffic outside the city we started to really get a feel for the Russian style of driving. Maximum speed must be maintained so not to lose your road position, yet the huge, deep and frequent pot holes need to be avoided. Both lanes are used by all to avoid the potholes, yet three cars can easily overtake at the same time. Making poor time, we arrived into Novgorov just in time to drop the girls off at the bus station for their trip back again! After a genuinely heartfelt farewell in a McDonalds (free WiFi…), we then spent the next two and a half hours trying to find a somewhere to stay. We eventually found a hotel (the first paid-for accommodation of the trip) that had space, although it was housing the national under 15s basketball tournament. Fighting our way through freakishly tall children in the lobby, we eventually negotiated a good price and settled down to rearrange our route after the recent events in Libya.

[Johno: We went for a nightcap and Leigh and I found it particularly funny that the guy in the bar took so much effort to explain to Paul that the girls were all under fifteen...]