Explore every episode of the podcast ADV Cannonball
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Johan Ståhlberg Explains What Makes A Travel Image Work
A gun gets waved in bumper-to-bumper traffic, a rider escapes down the shoulder, and we are left asking the same question we keep circling back to: what does “safe” even mean when you ride long distances in the real world? We start with updates from the ADV Cannonball orbit, including a heavy, time-sensitive story tied to an active nonfiction research project, and how modern tools like AI research agents, photo metadata, and public records shape what we can prove. The death of Walter Lauridsen and the book You Are Family by Aaron Pufal.
From there we get into the friction points that riders keep hitting in 2026: electric motorcycle charging costs versus gas, and how automated systems are starting to police behaviour in ways that feel detached from reality. We connect an Iron Butt Association dispute to delivery platforms suspending riders for being “too fast”, and dig into what happens when algorithms replace context, common sense, and human review. We also talk Scooter Cannonball changes, why the competitive edge matters to some riders, and what gets lost when events get softened by liability fear.
Then we bring on Swedish adventure travel photographer and filmmaker Yuan Stollberg for a wide-ranging conversation on craft and travel. Yuan shares how he went from ski photography to motorcycles, offers practical smartphone photography advice (light, composition, and the rule of thirds), and tells stories from Texas to Pakistan, including rough roads in the Karakoram, welcoming locals, and the kind of humility travel forces on you when you see how other people live. We wrap with Patagonia travel logistics, weather hardships that create the real story, and balancing big trips with life at home as a new parent.
If you enjoy smart rally talk, adventure motorcycling culture, and travel storytelling with real edges, subscribe, share the episode, and leave us a review. What’s one moment from your rides that still doesn’t feel real?
2026 Results and Photos: https://www.advcannonball.com/2026-adv-cannonball-rally
The awards banquet is where the ADV Cannonball Rally stops being a route file and turns into real people, real bikes, and real stories. We’re on stage handing out finisher awards and specialty trophies while the crowd relives the kind of moments only an endurance adventure motorcycle rally can create: unexpected passengers, sketchy timing decisions, and yes, the running joke about how many times riders got pulled over for speeding.
We also give proper credit to the volunteers and organisers who keep a cross-country rally moving, then we dig into what the scoring means. Points are cumulative across events, which can change your future starting position, and we talk through what separates a clean points run from a chaotic one. On the trophy side, we break down the difference between the Checkpoint Crusher award for riders who dominate the paved checkpoints and the Rough Rider trophy for those who collect every off-road stage point, especially when the routes get harder and the mileage gets longer.
Along the way we drop a little “inside information” tease about 2027, hand out a navigation app door prize for getting lost, and honour the Cannonball Baker spirit before crowning the overall winner. If you love adventure motorcycling, GPS checkpoint navigation, and the mental game of long-distance riding, you’ll feel right at home with this one. Subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave a review, then tell us: which award would you chase next year?
2026 Results and Photos: https://www.advcannonball.com/2026-adv-cannonball-rally
Sixty-four people make it to the Monterey awards banquet, but the real story lives in the gap between signing up and rolling across the finish. We sit down right after two wild weeks on the road to unpack the 2026 ADV Cannonball Rally from the inside, including what surprised us, what failed, and what riders did when things went sideways and quitting would have been the easy option.
We start with a sharp detour into electric motorcycle reality, sparked by a LiveWire battery teardown that changes how we think about charging heat, battery cooling, and long-distance EV riding. From there we get personal: using AI tools to organize research and timelines for a new book project, and why “go ride while you can” lands differently when health news hits close to home. If you care about adventure riding, endurance motorcycling, or even just building better trip plans, there’s a lot here you can steal and apply.
Then we get into the meat of the ADV Cannonball rally recap: the 108 registered riders, the 75 who start, the 64 who show up at the end, and the mechanical patterns that kept repeating. We talk chain failures, tire swaps, the Pueblo maintenance pit stop, and why basic motorcycle maintenance and self-rescue skills matter more than internet bravado. You’ll hear the best stories from the route too: riders taking desert naps to stay safe, a scooter finisher who uses a U-Haul and a mechanic to claw back into the rally, and trail-side fixes that keep bikes alive when they should be done.
Stick around after our cruise-show chat because we also plan to add the full awards banquet recording to the end. If you enjoy the podcast, subscribe, share it with a riding buddy, and leave a review so more riders can find these ADV Cannonball lessons.
Day five hits with a question every adventure rider has wrestled with: when the rally feels like it’s dialled past the limit, do you keep chasing every checkpoint, or do you make the adult call and ride straight to the hotel? Rolling out of Moab toward Las Vegas, we talk honestly about fatigue, food, hydration, and the quiet danger of stacking big days with small sleep. We also dig into why finishing is always an accomplishment, but why certain rally awards only mean something if they stay truly difficult.
Then we get deep into the real make-or-break skill of an endurance motorcycle rally: navigation. We break down how riders are using GPX tracks, POIs, and checkpoints, and why throwing out the recommended route can turn “efficient” into a mess of one-way mountain trails, broken assumptions, and apps that refuse to route down a trail. You’ll hear exactly how extreme checkpoints and algorithm-driven shortcuts can strand even strong riders on the wrong side of a river, and why our best advice stays simple: practise with your setup until you’re fluent, because better late than lost is still the best strategy.
We close with the stories that make ADV rallies unforgettable: the Captain Chaos mechanical saga, the reality that there’s no perfect adventure motorcycle, and how packing choices and trail conditions can change your entire day. If you ride with GPS, chase waypoints, or just want smarter risk management on big trips, this one’s for you. Subscribe, share this with your riding buddy, and leave a review telling us your go-to navigation setup.
Day four on the ADV Cannonball is where the rally’s personality really shows: long highway miles, heavy heat, and the kind of messy, real-world problems you cannot simulate in a garage. We’re rolling west on Highway 70 watching riders stream past, swapping stories about surviving a 107 heat index, the weird calm of a “slab day,” and why traffic jams can be more dangerous than any dirt section when impatience takes over. One ugly run-in with a truck driver turns into a clear lesson on risk management and staying alive when the road gets tight.
The competition side is just as sharp. We talk about the Stig’s outrageous multi-tank setup on a KTM 1290, the advantage of skipping fuel stops, and how fast that plan can unravel when a chain breaks and someone has to bring an angle grinder to get the bike moving again. Even with inspections, missed checkpoints, and all the day’s drama, the standings come down to a jaw-dropping one minute and thirty-six seconds. Add early morning parking lot tyre changes, riders carrying spares, and a few heartbreaking DNFs, and you get a snapshot of endurance riding where preparation matters more than bravado.
We also dig into the practical tech: the GPS rally app runs flawlessly when riders follow the regulations, which leads to our blunt advice on dedicated devices, clear sky view, wireless charging, and why we keep leaning toward iPhone for reliability. Then we look ahead to Colorado and Utah, where extreme checkpoints actually become extreme, weather tracking becomes mandatory, and flash flood risk is real. We finish with a fuel-soaked lesson from the Kove 450 Rally and what it teaches about multi-tank bikes and calculating range on the fly. Subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave a review, then tell us: would you chase the extreme checkpoints or play it safe?
A coast-to-coast rally is won and lost long before the first checkpoint, and we are not shy about saying it. Taylor Lawson sits down with Aaron Pufal, fresh off setting a new electric motorcycle record from the Red Ball Garage in New York City to the Portofino Hotel in Redondo Beach in a little over 100 hours, to talk about what real preparation looks like for the 2026 ADV Cannonball Rally.
We get into the unglamorous stuff that keeps you riding: building a navigation plan a month out, practising GPX navigation until you can recover from app crashes and mid-route restarts, and making sure your setup works offline for remote off-road checkpoints. We also share the simplest save-your-day fallback: keep the hotel address handy so when your plan goes sideways you can still get to safety without a spiral.
From there we hit rules and strategy, including why the rally notice page matters, why start times change, and how Park Ferme can catch you if you do not read the regulations. We also talk bike setup like adults: fixing flats, choosing a tire plan that matches your goals and speed, packing layers for wild weather swings, and thinking through survival gear based on how far you are willing to push into the backcountry.
If you ride adventure motorcycles and you want a smarter, calmer, faster rally experience, this one is for you. Subscribe, share this with a friend who is rally-curious, and leave a review so more riders can find the ADV Cannonball Podcast.
An electric motorcycle cannonball sounds like a clean, futuristic flex until you meet the real enemies: charger gaps, unreliable stations, and a battery that slows its own fast charging when the heat soaks in. We sit down with Aaron Pufal and Karry Lebel right after their coast-to-coast run from the Red Ball Garage in Manhattan to the Portofino in Redondo Beach, where they set an officially recognised EV motorcycle cannonball time of 100 hours and 17 minutes, backed by witnesses, GPS tracking, and the cannonball community watching in real time.
We get into the decisions that made or broke the attempt: why “what’s the range?” is the wrong question, how they used A Better Route Planner (ABRP) to pick charging stops, and why they often charged to the minimum instead of topping up. Carrie breaks down how the route had to be recalculated again and again as heat, elevation, wind, and dead chargers changed the math. Aaron explains the surprising core problem on this LiveWire setup: thermal throttling, where repeated DC fast charging heats the battery and forces slower charge rates, turning a quick stop into a long wait.
You will also hear the human side: van life stress, comms that fail inside a metal cargo van, drafting for efficiency while dodging debris and bad roads, the rain-soaked moment where quitting felt reasonable, and the weird anticlimax of finally rolling into the finish line exhausted. If you love long-distance motorcycling, EV charging infrastructure, or any kind of endurance road trip problem-solving, this one is a masterclass in what “efficient” actually means on electric power.
Subscribe, share this with a friend who thinks EV road trips are easy, and leave a review so more riders can find the show. What part of an electric cannonball attempt would worry you most: charging reliability, battery heat, or sleep?
We bounce from beer-soaked banter and Swedish summer stories into the nuts and bolts of adventure riding, including suspension setup worries and the odd ethics of modern road culture. Then we sit down with Egle On The Road to trace how travel, rally racing, and service-minded community work can turn motorcycling into a life direction. • Swedish archipelago travel and the strange joy of slow miles • Rear shock spring upgrades on a loaded ADV bike and why the right tools matter • Nürburgring photo finds and workplace hazing stories from the road • Lane etiquette rage and the problem with dashcam-driven “citizen enforcement” • Egle’s Scoog Sweden experience and the community that shows up when you break down • Growing up in post-Soviet Lithuania and learning to dream past borders • Peru volunteering, learning to ride from scratch, and earning confidence the hard way • Dakar Rally reporting, rally raid reality, and why exhaustion becomes addictive • Little Big Rides and women-only off-road tours that build skill without the pressure • Ukraine fundraising, gifting a DR650 to a new mission, and serving in Lithuania’s Volunteer Armed Forces • Land’s End Observatory rideout pick and practical 2026 ADV Cannonball Rally check-in steps
A single phone call can rewrite your entire origin story. Tommy Davies grew up in the Welsh hills watching Gumball 3000 on DVD, studying the mission packs, the border drama, and the rolling circus of cars and characters. Then VinWiki's Ed Bolian rings him up with the question every fan secretly rehearses: do you want to do Gumball for real?
We talk through what that actually looks like on the ground, including the 2026 Gumball 3000 route from Miami to Amelia Island, New Orleans, and Austin, plus the parts nobody puts on posters: trying to keep a Bugatti Veyron cool in parade traffic, packing “light” when the trunk is basically a rumour, and navigating crowds, shuttles, crews, and nights that feel like a moving festival. Tommy also shares the surreal moments you can’t plan, from celebrity run-ins to seeing cannonball history echo through modern rally culture.
Around the interview, we get into our own endurance-rally world: motorcycle setup changes that make a difference, the reality of recording on the road, a brutally honest helmet experience, and why “self-rescue” is more than a slogan. We also sketch a Japan motorcycle trip blueprint with practical tips on rentals and the International Driving Permit Japan actually accepts, plus a reminder to travel like a good guest and respect local road rules.
If you love Gumball 3000, the cannonball run, adventure riding, and the logistics behind big rides, hit subscribe, share this with a friend who’d say yes to the Veyron, and leave a review so more rally nerds find us.
Thirty-two hours from New York to California on a motorcycle is the kind of number that sounds fake until you hear the choices behind it. We’re joined by Beau Earnest, the current transcontinental pavement record holder, to walk through what it takes to hold an 86+ mph average while juggling fuel range, comfort, verification, weather detours, and the constant reality that one mistake can erase your margin.
We talk gear and tactics without the fluff: why Beau chose the Yamaha FJR platform, how a high-mounted fuel cell changes handling and stop strategy, and what comfort mods actually matter when you’re living on the bike for more than a full day. Beau also explains how record attempts get verified in a world where GPX files can be faked, plus the behind-the-scenes value of spotters, live tracking, and building a clean trail of proof.
Then the story turns from pavement to gravel. Beau is jumping into the ADV Cannonball Rally, where navigation, weather, and a points game replace a single flat-out route. We dig into dirt prep, rule changes that force harder decisions, smart packing, charging reliability, and a navigation stack built around offline routing.
If you like high-stakes rides, practical planning, and honest lessons learned the hard way, subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave a review so more riders can find the show.
A nine-hour-and-change drive from John O’Groats to Land’s End sounds like pub talk until the police show up at your farm with a search warrant. We sit down with Tommy Davies to unpack the UK cannonball world, why record attempts live in a weird space between obsession and evidence, and how one headline can turn into Operation Haulage and a Crown Court trial with prison-level stakes.
Along the way, we get specific about the UK’s enforcement landscape, from average speed cameras to Home Office type approval, and why “burden of proof” becomes the real battleground when tech data doesn’t match what the prosecution expects. Tommy walks us through the raid, the seizure, the charges, the disclosure fights, the experts, and the moments in court where a fair judge forces the process to stay honest. It’s part motoring history, part courtroom drama, and part warning about how easy it is for public opinion to harden before facts are tested.
We also bring it back to our own backyard with ADV Cannonball Rally updates: how the points system works, what it takes to earn awards like Rough Rider and Checkpoint Crusher, why alumni love the banquet, and the big 2027 twist: a real closed-course dirt race stage with bonus points. If you’re into adventure motorcycle rallies, GPS checkpoint strategy, and the stories that make this community what it is, you’ll feel right at home.
Iran can feel like a headline, a warning label, a place you’re supposed to have an opinion about without ever meeting the people who live there. We wanted something better than that, so we sat down with world-renowned author and rider Lois Pryce to talk about what actually happens when you show up on a motorcycle with curiosity, humility, and a willingness to be changed.
Lois takes us from her BBC music department days and the moment she realized she needed out, through the early internet era of clunky travel blogging that accidentally launched a writing career. From there we go deep into Revolutionary Ride and the idea that motorcycle travel isn’t “taking on” a country, it’s being in it. We talk about fear versus imagination, how Western news framing sticks in your brain, and why the reality on the ground in places like Iran can be radically more human, more funny, and more generous than you expect. We also get practical about responsibility: how to tell travel stories with nuance, how to stay aware without becoming naive, and why posting the wrong thing online can turn into real risk.
Then we switch gears to the ADV Cannonball Rally world with Deanna, better known as Dutch Minion And Her Bike, who’s building waypoints and routes for the 2027 European rally. She explains how the Netherlands becomes a rider’s playground on dike roads and reclaimed land, how to design waypoint puzzles that force smart navigation, and what it takes to ride big miles year after year. If you’re into adventure riding, GPS navigation, route planning, and the culture that makes riders help riders, you’ll feel right at home.
If you enjoyed the mix of adventure, hard truths, and laugh-out-loud detours, subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave a review so more people can find the show.
200 miles an hour is loud, violent, and unforgiving, yet the best riders describe it as calm. We sit down with Isle of Man TT racer Marcus “Spartacus” Simpson and let him talk us through the Mountain Course the way he actually rides it: markers, gears, blind crests, jumps, cambers, and the kind of decisions that happen before you even arrive at the corner. Listening to a TT racer narrate a full lap from inside a car makes one thing painfully clear: what looks like chaos on video is often methodical precision built on repetition.
Along the way, we get practical about riding and racing technique. Spartacus explains why the neutral zone (no throttle, no brake) makes the bike vague, why steady inputs keep stability on bumpy high-speed sections, and how breathing and heart-rate control can be the difference between smooth and blown apart. We also talk about the reality behind the highlight reels: normal jobs in the off-season, sponsorship that rarely means a salary, and why the TT still pulls people back even when the risks are obvious.
We wrap with community news and route planning for the ADV Cannonball Rally. There’s an update on scooter cannonball uncertainty and what modernization could look like, plus a rideout recommendation for Hurricane Ridge and Obstruction Point. Then we get into the big announcement: the 2027 Baja Edition moves fully to the USA, and the 2027 America rally goes Portland to Portland, from Maine to Oregon, with a mix of mud, slab days, mountain roads, and optional backcountry challenges.
Subscribe for more two-wheeled nonsense, share this with a rider who loves corner strategy, and leave a review so more people can find the show. What part of the TT story hits you hardest: the technique, the risk, or the sacrifice?
A coast-to-coast adventure rally sounds wild, but the real story is how regular riders turn a huge goal into a workable plan. We’re joined by three newcomers to the ADV Cannonball Rally who could not be more different on paper: Alex heading in on a Yamaha XMAX 300 scooter, Matt bringing long-distance experience on a Yamaha Tenere 700, and Jan travelling from Oslo, Norway to ride his BMW F800GS in the US. Their mix of nerves and excitement is exactly what first-timers feel before a long-distance motorcycle rally, and we get specific about what they’re doing to be ready.
We dig into the things that keep riders up at night: the strange new sound that might mean a mechanical failure, what to carry for basic roadside repairs, and how light you can pack without setting yourself up to suffer. We also talk tires and strategy across long pavement days followed by rougher off-road sections, including the real challenge of trying to schedule a tire swap mid-route when you roll into town late and dealerships close early. If you have ever debated tools vs weight, or wondered what “minimum viable kit” actually looks like, you will hear a few hard-earned perspectives.
Navigation is the other big pillar. Offline maps, backups, dead zones, and a key warning: default GPS routing can claim you’ve arrived while leaving you stuck on the wrong side of a river or ravine. For remote checkpoints, you may need to build your own track instead of trusting turn-by-turn directions. We round it out with safety planning like Garmin inReach satellite communication, layering for heat and potential high-altitude cold, and setting realistic goals whether you just want to finish or you want to chase awards.
If you got value from this, subscribe, share the episode with a riding buddy, and leave a review so more riders can find it. What is your number one piece of prep you would not skip before an adventure motorcycle trip?
The Isle of Man TT isn’t compelling because it’s polished. It’s compelling because it’s real public roads, real consequences, and a level of commitment that most of us can’t even imagine. We ride out to meet legendary motorcycle journalist and author Stuart Barker, then let him pull back the curtain on what the TT actually is: a 37.75-mile mountain course with hundreds of corners, brutal hazards, and a culture that refuses to pretend the dark parts don’t exist.
We talk about Barker’s career inside the racing world, why he believes honesty is a form of respect, and what he learned from interviewing riders and families who’ve lived through loss. Along the way, we break down road racing versus circuit racing, why the TT takes two weeks, how newcomers learn the course today, and why the event keeps drawing riders back even when prize money is modest and the risks are obvious.
Then we swing back to our own chaos: Europe route scouting for the 2027 ADV Cannonball Rally, rally app improvements, and the kind of practical navigation advice that saves your day when you’re cold, wet, and staring at a glitchy GPX track. We also give a clear warning about extreme checkpoints: they’re optional, they’re serious, and “self rescue” isn’t a slogan.
If you like motorcycle racing, adventure riding, and stories that don’t flinch, hit play. Subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave us a five-star review so the algorithm gods stop pretending we don’t exist.
GPX files sound boring until they’re the reason you miss a checkpoint, get rerouted onto a worse road, or spend your night untangling tracks on a tiny screen. We sit down with Rick Claus to talk navigation for the ADV Cannonball Rally, and we keep it practical: what to buy, what to avoid, and what to practise before you roll up to the start line.
We compare three real-world approaches to adventure motorcycle navigation. First, dedicated GPS hardware like the Garmin Zumo XT3 and Garmin Tread, where ruggedness and GPX handling are strong, but the software ecosystem can feel dated. Second, modern CarPlay and Android Auto head units like Chigee, which give you a bright screen and app flexibility while your phone stays safe in your pocket. Third, phone-only navigation apps, where the price is right but the single point of failure is hard to ignore on a multi-day rally.
We also get into the details that actually matter on the road: why you should turn off auto reroute on Garmin, why offline maps and offline routing can save your day, and why we like a layered setup with OnX Offroad or OsmAnd for navigation, plus Waze and Google Maps for alerts and fast fuel searches. We talk tracking and strategy too, including how rally apps cache data, how leaderboards change decision-making, and why we keep a Garmin inReach on our body for safety if things go sideways.
If you’re getting ready for the ADV Cannonball or any long-distance ADV ride, subscribe, share this with a riding buddy, and leave a review so more riders can find it. What navigation setup are you planning to run this year?
A 2008 Honda Goldwing dragging a custom 50-gallon fuel trailer just rewrote what “fast” looks like across a continent, and we cannot stop thinking about it. We unpack the new cannonball record, what made the attempt smart, and where the line sits between brilliant planning and outright chaos for long-distance motorcycle riding.
From there, we get into the gritty stuff that actually changes outcomes in an ADV checkpoint rally. We talk tracker tactics, plus a public leaderboard update that now shows the age of each GPS fix so you can finally tell whether someone is truly close or just out of range. We also explain why we added optional extreme off-road checkpoints, how strategy works when you are not required to grab everything, and the safety basics we never want riders to skip: emergency water, tools, tyre repair, bivvy gear, and a satellite communicator.
Then we shift gears into community and storytelling. We head to the Toronto Motorcycle Film Festival screening in Victoria and chat with the festival’s founder about why a motorcycle film festival can unite riders who never normally mix. In the lobby, we run into a real Dakar rally bike and hear Don Hatton's story of desert damage, exhaustion, and the kind of anger you only feel after you have had to walk away from a machine at 4 a.m.
We close with ADV Cannonball Rally news, including the 2027 America’s Baja edition going live, 2026 rule updates like suspending park ferme before the final day, new signups, and a little biker music to send you back to the garage.
If you ride, dream, or just want better stories on two wheels, subscribe, share this drop with a riding buddy, and leave a review. What part of rally strategy do you want us to break down next?
We bring Chris Peloso and Hunter Wray to the Rountable to unpack what it really takes to win the ADV Cannonball Rally when points, planning, and chaos collide. We trade the polished version for the real one: tracker mind games, rule loopholes, hard lessons in the desert, and the thin line between smart strategy and dumb suffering.
• Planning months ahead and choosing the right bike for the job • Packing light as a performance advantage over long days • The moment the “not a race” myth ends • Winning time in corners through cumulative decisions • Points strategy versus first-to-finish pressure • The rule change that ends hotel backtracking • Using the Public Leaderboard for real-time route decisions • Turning the tracker off and the risks of missing checkpoints • Where we draw the line when chasing points • Heat, dehydration, and close calls at federal land checkpoints • Shortcuts gone wrong, including farm fields and railroad tracks • Improvised repairs on the road, including sheet metal screws • Respecting rivals and helping each other finish • Lessons learned for new riders, including training and knowing limits • Why Frank becomes the rider everyone watches and roots for
This episode was total fiction and generated by AI, it's not real.
We kick off a new Roundtable segment to help new riders get ready for a cross-country ADV rally without getting lost in hype. We talk mindset, bike prep, packing, navigation practice, and why chasing points with good judgement beats riding like a hero.
• Setting goals that match your real reasons for riding • Staying flexible when the plan falls apart on day one • Choosing a points strategy instead of chasing first to finish • Dealing with curveballs like rain, closures, and mechanical issues • Tire wear, tire plugs, and planning a mid-rally tire change • Packing lighter to reduce wobble, fatigue, and hassle at hotels • Training for back-to-back 600 to 700 mile days • Building a practice rally course with checkpoints at home • Following GPX tracks versus relying on turn-by-turn routing • Remembering that accuracy earns points more reliably than speed • Riding with others for safety, navigation checks, and support • Using local intel to avoid dangerous roads in bad weather
Keep posting questions because it gives us lots of great ideas on content.
We trade bike-season reality checks, garage fixes, and a brutally honest Cove 450 first ride that proves why “race bike” can be the wrong tool on public roads. Then we get three sharp perspectives on living bigger through motorcycles: Teapot One’s GSXR lap of the world, Brett Tkacs’s rider-first bike selection advice, and David Goldman’s Motorcycle Portraits exhibit with audio stories.
• Beer check and spring riding conditions across Victoria and Sweden • RECCO reflectors explained and why tariffs sting • T7 garage upgrades and why weight aloft matters • Cove 450 Rally street drawbacks, from mousse tyres to harsh mapping •Helmet venting problems and cold-weather visibility fixes • VW Buzz EV road trip tips, charging strategy, and ferry comfort • TeapotOne on riding 54 countries on a GSXR and raising £15,000 for charity • African realities, corruption, risk assessment, and why attitude changes outcomes • Bret Tkacs on choosing an adventure bike for a coast-to-coast ADV rally • Self-sufficiency baseline, bike recovery, fatigue management, and energy conservation • Why bolt-on protection can ruin a small bike’s advantages • David Goldman on Motorcycle Portraits, audio interviews and the Montreal show • Shipping a motorcycle by air, costs, stress points, and what to expect • ADV Cannonball updates, practice tokens, Mile Crusher class, and Baja insurance notes
We chase a simple question that gets complicated fast: what actually keeps you riding when a normal-looking road turns greasy and you go down.
Between MC culture hot takes, rally housekeeping, and two brutal crash stories, we come away with practical lessons on gear, rescue planning, and humility.
• A cautionary tale about dogs and discarded cannabis roaches in public areas • Robert’s speeding-ticket paperwork update and why it’s safe to return to the US • Finisher medal upgrades and a tribute to Trans-America Trail founder Sam Correro • A straight-shooting clip on Harley attitude, sport bike respect, and the wave • Riding gear talk on boots, pants, and what armour can and cannot do • Chad Werner on Motorcycle Relief Project support, Whale And Wayne Weekend growth, and riding all 10 BDRs • Chad’s Alaska crash on slick road treatment and a Black Hawk evacuation • Andy Man Cam’s Spain crash on the TET and a severe spiral fracture from a foot dab • Why your phone and Garmin inReach belong on your body, not the bike • a clear breakdown of lower-leg protection options, from pads to full knee braces • ADV Cannonball Rally soft parc fermé rule tweak to close a scoring loophole
🎙️ The boys crack open some craft IPAs 🍻 and dive into another wide-ranging episode of motorcycle-adjacent chaos. Aaron celebrates a fleeting #1 Amazon ranking for his book Chasing Legends, shares an update on his flooded apartment saga (spoiler: it got worse), and reveals his motorcycle has arrived safely in London, shipped for £1,500 all-in. Taylor's 16-year-old son takes second place at a Swedish battle of the bands, proving the Lawson legacy of "number two" runs deep.
Featured Interview: Adam Lewis – Ride Through Japan The heart of this episode is a fantastic conversation with Adam Lewis, creator of the YouTube series Project 47. Born in Tennessee, raised in Australia, and a 26-year resident of Japan, Adam is solo moto-camping his way through all 47 Japanese prefectures, filming stunning rural roads, connecting with locals in fluent conversational Japanese, and telling Japan's story in a way even Japanese viewers are celebrating. He shares how his wife's cancer battle inspired a "life is now" philosophy, his upcoming six-month ride to finish the remaining 35 prefectures on a loaned Harley Pan America, and why the best of Japan is found on the forgotten mountain roads far from the tourist crowds.
Also in this episode:
Real estate disclosure horror stories (buyer beware!)
In this episode of the ADV Cannonball Podcast, the conversation kicks off with a wildly improbable real estate saga that ends in a perfectly timed disaster and a very lucky escape. From there, the talk flows naturally into motorcycles, gear, and the realities of adventure riding, including jackets, boots, helmets, navigation tech, and what actually works when conditions turn ugly.
The episode builds toward a feature interview with Kerry Lebel, who rode all the way to the Arctic Ocean, sharing first-hand insight into fuel planning, weather extremes, camping in remote regions, wildlife encounters, and lessons learned the hard way. Equal parts storytelling, practical advice, and unapologetic rambling, this episode delivers the kind of experience-based wisdom and humor that defines life on two wheels.
Host Taylor Lawson and co-host Aaron Pufal kick back for a casual crew episode covering cannonball rally updates, book news, beer reviews, and plenty of laughs.
🍺 Beers of the Episode: Backcountry Brewing Trailbreaker Hazy Pale Ale & Stigberget Albatross NEIPA (7%)
Topics Covered:
Podcast Rankings: The show is teetering on dropping to #3 in world adventure motorcycling podcasts — listeners, hit that share button!
Chasing Legends on the Podcast Trail – Aaron's book update: print and ebook versions ~15 days out. Audiobook narrated by a Tennessee voice actor performing unique accents for each subject — expected mid-April. Taylor performs a live reading of his foreword, revealing the thread connecting legends like Ted Simon, Sam Manacom, and Claudio von Planta — many of whom ended up in jail on their journeys.
Rally App Updates: Improved GPS tracker with age-of-fix indicators (red/yellow/gray), clickable rider dots showing name and number, and a public leaderboard for competitor strategy. Pro tip: Use an iPhone with MagSafe charging for the most stable experience.
New Signups: Bush from Pembroke Pines, FL (T7) for 2026 Americas; Michael Waller from Draper, VA (BMW 1200R) riding for Stop Soldier Suicide; Thomas Jørgensen and René Bo from Team Vikings with GPS (Denmark) for 2027 Europe.
Rideout: The Jonquil Motel in Bisbee, AZ — owned by Sterling Noreen, a hub for ADV riding with annual rallies and legendary off-road routes.
Upcoming Episodes: Carrie's Arctic Ocean ride debrief, plus interviews with Adam (Ride Through Japan), Bruce (Teapot One), Eagle on the Road, and the legendary Stewie MK — currently riding home from the Africa Eco Race through Mauritania and Morocco.
Kove 450 Talk & Alibaba discovery — factory-direct bikes for ~$3K and Aaron's custom build plans.
Original Music: Aaron debuts "Cheap .38," a blues murder ballad.
In this interview, we sit down with author and motorcycle enthusiast Ted Kettler, who recently penned the book The Road Most Traveled. Ted is a lifelong rider, host of the long-running "Motorcycle Men" podcast, and someone who’s no stranger to epic journeys on two wheels. His latest adventure takes readers along for his ride from New Jersey to the Florida Keys, offering a candid and humorous look at the highs, lows, and life lessons learned while riding one of America’s busiest highways on a 2003 Harley-Davidson Heritage Classic.
In our chat, Ted talks about what inspired the trip, what it took to prepare the bike, the surprises and challenges along the route, and why riding a motorcycle changes everything about the travel experience. He also shares tips for new riders thinking about their own long-distance adventures, insight into the writing process, and even a preview of his upcoming book about riding to the legendary Sturgis Motorcycle Rally. Whether you’re an avid rider itching for some inspiration or someone with a love for the open road, this conversation is full of relatable stories, valuable advice, and the spirit of motorcycling.
After the interview we talk about the soft launch of the 2027 European ADV Cannonball Rally.
Host Taylor Lawson joins co-host Aaron Pufal for rally updates, field notes from a Swedish motorcycle show, and a special interview with Mercedes from Crankshaft Culture on her trip to the Dakar Rally.
Motorcycle Mässen Field Notes: Taylor camped in sub-zero temps at the Jönköping motorcycle exhibition (35,000 attendees). He caught up with Robert Bollinger, who shared details on his upcoming Pakistan Himalaya ride on CF Moto 450s and confirmed plans for the 2027 Europe ADV Cannonball. Robert's 2025 Cannonball video has hit 170K+ views and is driving serious interest in the rally.
Mercedes at Dakar: Crankshaft Culture's Mercedes shares her bucket-list trip covering Defender's maiden voyage in the revamped W2RC stock class. Three Defender D7XR teams competed — a Lithuanian driver took 1st, Americans Sarah Price & Sean Berriman grabbed 2nd, and 14-time champ Stéphane Peterhansel placed 4th. She breaks down the differences between amateur TSD rallying and professional rally raid, the massive Bivouac support operation, and Defender's three-year W2RC commitment with plans to bring race-proven tech back to production vehicles.
New Rally Classes for 2026/2027: Two classes introduced — Pro Class ("Wing Nuts") for first-to-arrive competitors, and Mile Crusher Class for adventure-focused riders. This expands capacity and streamlines morning starts for larger fields.
Kove 450 Partnership: Kove is partnering for 2026 Americas.
2027 Europe Route Preview: Backbone route published — Tarifa, Spain to Skagen, Denmark. 5,000km base with 1,000+ optional miles via checkpoints. Features beach riding, French farmland stages, and an awards banquet at a Danish hotel and casino. Sign-ups opening imminently.
Book Update: Chasing Legends on the Podcast Trail headed to the typesetter — expected mid-February.
Logistics: HaulBikes offering trailer service from the finish line. Discounted Hilton hotel rooms filling fast — book now.
New Signups (Americas 2026): Drew (Gillette, WY – 1300 GSA), Kurt Frazi (Antonito, CO – 1200 GSA, Team Cincinnati), Hilo Mania (Atlanta, GA – Himalayan 450), Timothy Maynard (Huntley, IL – KTM 1290 SAS), and Axel (Frankfurt, Germany – wait list, 1250 GSA).
Host Taylor Lawson and co-host Aaron Puffall crack open drinks for a wide-ranging cruise episode covering a major book announcement, GPS app upgrades, 2027 Europe rally planning, and the logistics of running a coast-to-coast motorcycle rally from a Sprinter van.
🍺 Drinks: Ölön Double IPA & a Dark and Stormy
Book Announcement – Chasing Legends on the Podcast Trail: Aaron reveals his upcoming nonfiction book — a deep-dive companion to the podcast's legendary interviews. Each chapter revisits a guest (Ted Simon, Austin Vince, Charlie Boorman, Sam Manacom, and more), unpacking missed connections, linking common threads between subjects, and exploring stories left on the table.
GPS Checkpoint Rally App Updates: Major improvements detailed — color-coded GPS fix age indicators (red/yellow/gray) for real-time rider tracking; strobe flash on checkpoint achievement; persistent screen-on when app is in foreground; improved token security for lost/replaced phones; current point standings on home screen; public leaderboard now shows individual checkpoint achievements with timestamps.
2026 Americas Rally Planning: Taylor officially commits to attending the full rally, helping with check-in and daily podcasting from the support van. Plans include loading a bike in the Sprinter van for photography runs and rider interviews at checkpoints. Pacific Coast Highway has reopened
2027 Europe Rally Preview: Day zero set for September 1, 2027 in Tarifa, Spain, finishing in Denmark. Aaron scouting awards banquet venues including a spot in Le Mans, France, plus a biker club after-party with camping.
Kove 450 Partnership: Kove providing a 450 Rally for 2026. Aaron designing custom livery. Bike will travel in the support van for off-road checkpoint runs and photography.
Aaron's Rideouts – UK Edition: New entries added, including Ace Cafe London, The Bike Shed, Caffeine and Machine, Baffle House, Super Sausage Cafeteria, Pen Y Garth Cafe, The Chequered Flag, Yonderman Cafe (Peak District), and Victoria Bikers Club.
Music: Aaron's original biker music now available on all streaming platforms — search "Aaron Pufal."
New Signups (2026 Americas): Jeff from Westminster, MD (joining Team De
This week's Ride Out motorcycle destination is Josie's Hideout Saloon - MAP HERE
Host Taylor Lawson and co-host Aaron Pufal ring in the new year with holiday recaps, a feature interview with Ed March of C90 Adventures, major route announcements, and a massive wave of new signups.
Interview – Ed March, C90 Adventures: The legendary YouTuber joins to discuss 125,000+ miles of global adventure on a six-horsepower Honda C90. Ed shares how Top Gear and Austin Vince inspired him, his unique filming style born from pretending he's on video calls with friends, and the 21-hour editing process behind each episode. He recounts winter riding through Canada and Alaska with girlfriend Rachel, camping at -40°, the viral India truck crash clip, and his engineering-driven pivot to ridiculous vehicles — including an amphibious mini Jeep, tank-track conversions, and 700-mile lawnmower adventures. His takeaway: humans are universally good, the motorcycle is more dangerous than any person, and kindness makes the best content.
Route Announcements:
2027 Europe: Tarifa, Spain → Skagen, Denmark. ~8 days with off-road through Spain, France & Danish beach riding.
2027 Americas: Cabo, Mexico → Texas coast via Baja. Convoy from Tijuana with sweep vehicle for Mexico. Baja 1000 routes included.
New Segment – Aaron's Rideouts: Josie's Hideout, San Diego — a legendary 1936 biker bar in the foothills. Permanent link in show notes updated weekly.
Rally News: 2026 Americas sold out at 70 entries; wait list open. PCH reroute if highway reopens 30 days prior. HaulBikes tractor trailer at finish. Rally jerseys available for participants. Master points standings published.
More info on the 2025 Alcan 5000 Summer Rally in Andy's article on Gear Junky and OVR.
Host Taylor Lawson and co-host Aaron Pufal deliver a packed holiday episode featuring two Alcan 5000 Rally interviews, route announcements, app updates, and festive original music.
🍺 Drinks: Voodoo Ranger Imperial IPA & a dangerously large Dark and Stormy
🎵 Original Music: "Here Comes Farkle Claus" & "Death B4 DNF"
Interview – Andy & Mercedes (Crankshaft Culture) | Alcan 5000 Summer Rally: The husband-wife team took a bone-stock 2026 Honda Passport TrailSport Elite to 1st in class (2S) and 2nd overall — using only a kitchen timer and kid's calculator in the Seat of Pants class. They discuss road conditions (worse in summer than winter), helping stranded travelers on the Dempster Highway, and tips for TSD newcomers: stay on route, don't stress the math, just have fun.
Interview – Martin Walker | Alcan 5000 on a BMW Airhead: Martin shares three rallies' worth of experience competing solo on a custom-built BMW airhead, including a crash on Blackwater Road, roadside repairs at a Harley shop, and the challenge of navigating TSD sections alone on a motorcycle. He won motorcycles in 2022 and has signed up for the 2026 summer rally to the Arctic Ocean.
Rally News & App Updates:
GPS checkpoint rally app remains free for other organizers; now used by adventure meets, bicycle rallies, and even yacht clubs
Token security bug fixed for lost/replaced phones
Push messaging feature for real-time course changes
Shout-out to Ingvar (Twin Pegs) — offered lodging in Norway and scout riding for 2027 Europe
Mulholland Snake in California reopened after three years
PCH reroute for 2026 Americas if highway opens 30 days prior
HaulBikes tractor trailer at every Americas finish; Iron Man Turner offering shipping to start line
Rally jerseys now available for registered participants
We embark on an exciting motorcycle trip to the Himalayas in India. Along the way, we engage in conversations with the Royal Mavericks of Delhi and gain valuable insights from our Cary friend who lost his passport.
A full two hours recapping the 2025 motorcycle rally! Audio from the field, original music, 2026 & 2027 announcements, and 2025 ADV motorcycle rally awards!
Swiss filmmaker Claudio von Planta is best known work as the cameraman who accompanied Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on their Long Way Round motorcycle journey eastward from London to New York in 2004, Long Way Down from Scotland to South Africa in 2007, and Long Way Up from Ushuaia to Los Angeles in 2019.
The intro was recorded live in Shrinagar, Himalayas, India.
Let’s add Mark’s new novel to the Motorcycle Book Club and discuss this new work of American biker fiction.
We're off to India and Tokyo this week!
Running On Empty takes readers on a gripping, fictionalized motorcycle journey through a vividly real America. As the main characters flee both an organized crime syndicate and the police, they ride through many of the country’s most iconic motorcycling destinations. The level of detail in the narrative suggests the author has ridden every mile himself—and perhaps even spent some time on the run. The story resonates with the universal fear of how a few bad choices—our own or those of people close to us—can spiral out of control. At its heart, the book delivers a raw, unflinching exploration of religious cults in America, shining a light on the dark secrets hidden in its quietest corners. For any motorcyclist craving a high-octane escape, this novel offers the perfect ride—one filled with danger, freedom, and the kind of adventure that feels just one decision away.
Special thanks to the sponsor of this episode NICECNC
Mercedes and Andy Lilienthal from Crankshaft Culture drove the entire TransAmerica Trail in a Subaru! We talk about their journey, build, and preparation in detail. We also discuss the Alcan 5000 Rally and the 2024 Baltic Sea Circle Rally.
Danny McGee is the filmmaker behind the YouTube ADV series Southbound. We talk about the journey and making of Episodes 1 and 2. Their adventure motorcycle trip starts in LA, and they travel off-road through the Baja, mainland Mexico, El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua, and Panama. We also discuss setting up their DR650s, camping, and filming along the way.
Saskia Caspari @habiadventures rode her G650GS to Dakar and just kept going. Join us for a conversation with this inspiring and intrepid adventure rider.
Formerly the face of the YouTube channel, Nomad Sweden, Robert talks about breaking out onto his own platform. Robert also announces that he will be competing in the 2025 ADV Cannonball Rally!
Sam Manicom and Aaron Pufal meet at the iconic Ace Cafe for a chat about Sam's volume of work. We discuss **Into Africa**, **Under Asian Skies**, **Distant Suns**, **Tortillas to Totems**, **The Moment Collectors**, and **The Moment Collectors ASIA**.
Sam can be heard often on the Adventure Rider Radio Raw show, check it out!
Recorded live in-studio near Windsor Castle, England. This episode features Austin Vince, a legendary traveler, storyteller, filmmaker, rally master, film festival organizer, musician, math teacher, and an all-around great guy. We discuss topics such as Mondo Enduro, Tera Circa, Mondo Sahara, Mega Mondo, the Road of Bones, the Zilov Gap, the Old Summer Road, the VINCE rally, and the art of teaching IT effectively, aka fake it till you make it.
We travel to Spain to talk with Lyndon Poskitt of Races to Places, Darkar Malle Moto legend. We then fly to Yorkshire, England, to meet with Lyndon's father, Robin Poskitt.
Aaron also visits Ted Simon's Triumph Tiger 100 and the Coventry Transport Museum.
https://lyndonposkittracing.com/
Motorcycle Film Club https://www.advcannonball.com/aarons-motorcycle-film-club