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One of the challenges involved with packing a motorcycle is making things accessible, while still being secure. Accessibility is what made me look for extra luggage, specifically tank panniers. My tank bag is typically full of camera gear, so I needed somewhere else to store things like a first aid kit, and a tire gauge that I didn’t want buried in the saddle bags. A friend of mine lives down the street from Wolfman, so for convenience reasons that was my choice (not to mention their reputation for quality). Turns out this was also a wise choice.

To celebrate the arrival of BMW's new G650GS Sertao, the guys at Touratech have just completed a bike build project, turning their Sertao into a round the world ready explorer.

The Sertao is the latest iteration in a long line of reliable 650cc single cylinder adventure bikes from BMW. The first of which was the F650GS Dakar, which had a 21-inch spoke front wheel, long-travel suspension and excellent fuel range. It was the choice of many motorcycle travelers including world record setting adventurer, Lisa Thomas, who has logged nearly 200,000 miles while visiting 73 countries over the last eight years.

Quite often when people are on a motorcycle trip instead of spending the night out under the stars in a tent, they often prefer to sleep in hotels. This isn't because we motorcycle adventurers aren't as hearty as our caged brethren, but rather because riding a motorcycle all day, (especially if in rough terrain), is more physically and mentally demanding then driving a vehicle with four wheels. By the time you get where you are going, taking the time and energy to set camp often just doesn't sound appealing. There's a few options for pop up motorcycle trailers, but they're not exactly common, and not at all practical for any sort of off-highway travel, especially on a smaller motorcycle, like many people prefer for adventure riding. As a general rule, we don't have the option to tow a trailer, or mount a roof top tent, so we have far fewer options available to us for luxurious long-term travel.

There is always a big argument between motorcyclists on the best option for luggage, specifically the side and rear cases. Most people go with the classic aluminum cases of one brand or another, while some go with plastic cases like Givi’s. But there are a few less common options out there as well. A particularly popular option for dirt bikers is soft luggage, but security is can be questionable. For my purposes, I chose Pelican Cases. You can buy full turnkey assemblies from Caribou Cases, using a couple different versions of Pelican and other similar brands. Being that I wind up doing most things on a budget, I opted to buy the cases myself and put together my own mounting system.

One of the great arguments involving motorcycle travel is luggage. It's nearly as bad as Ford vs. Chevy, only there are as many options for luggage as there are people using them. Regardless of your brand of choice, or preference for hard vs. soft luggage; you are likely going to have something in a bag strapped to the outside of your bike. This is where something like the Wolfy Gear Bag comes in handy. I don't have experience with this specific bag, but Wolfamn in general is well known for their exceptional quality soft luggage. Not only does this bag have an awesome name, but I have no doubt that it will hold up to heavy abuse just as well as my Wolfman Tank Panniers have. They've slid down the highway numerous times and they're still in perfect working order. On my (very) recent ride to Ushuaia I had chosen to save the money and use the Wal-Mart dry bags, which turned out to be a big mistake—I really wish I had these. There's many options, but I'm pretty sure one of these will be in my near future!

Haven't you ever just wanted to pack up, buy a Royal Enfield and head off into the Himalayas? These guys did!

Another great submission from the Expedition Portal Video Contest!

We've all been there, alone and on the road for a long, long while - you start to get a bit crazy; and then you start to dance on your motorcycle!

If a BMW GS is a little bit too tame for your style, and a KLR a little bit too practical - maybe you should be looking at a KTM. Especially this 2004 KTM 625 SXC LC4 that is literally adventure ready as it sits. Fly into LAX, and you could be on your adventure the same day. It's totally outfitted with a variety of spares and extras, including a fantastic Renazco seat, and an 3 additional fuel tanks so you can seriously fine tune the bike for whatever adventure you decide to take it on, whether it's flying through some twisties, or on a long-haul in the middle of the desert we're sure this KTM will get you there, and keep you entertained the entire way there. 

Sometimes I'm failing to see the great things we have for sale on our very own website in the For Sale and Wanted Section. Member tombodad just posted this rare 2003 Aprilia Caponord which he wants to sell, or trade - It has around 16,000 miles, and with an asking price of only $5000 obo it's not going to last long.

It even includes a set of factory Aprilia Hardbags and a Givi top case. We'd love to start seeing more Aprilia action in the dual sport world, they're hot bikes. If you're looking to get away from the usual this one is definitely worth checking out.

You can check it out on the forum here. [link]