BeyondthePavement-ADV

The Columbia & Western Rail Trail is one of BC's best kept secrets — 85 kilometres of abandoned Canadian Pacific Railway grade cutting through the Kootenays from Christina Lake to Castlegar. Riding the C&W on the R1250 GSA ("Rhyno"), we tackle hard-packed gravel, stunning canyon views, the infamous kilometre-long Bulldog Tunnel, and one locked gate that nearly ended us.

Whether you're on an ADV bike, mountain bike, or just love a great backcountry story — this one's worth your time.

🎥 Full video on YouTube

https://youtu.be/b_lvLjUrJN8

Ten years ago, Royal Enfield dropped a Himalayan on the world and a lot of people laughed. Nobody's laughing now.

The 450 is the best-selling ADV in its class in Brazil, selling strong across Europe and the UK — and is deep into testing a 750cc twin-cylinder Himalayan. Their Global Head of Product Strategy called it "without a shadow of a doubt, our most asked-for product." That's not spin. That's a company that actually listened.

I ride a GSA and I'm not shopping. But I watch the mid-size space closely — it's where most riders make their first real backcountry commitment. A capable bike at an approachable price gets more people onto trails, and that's a win for everyone.

Right now you've got the Yamaha T7, the KTM 890, and soon maybe a Himalayan 750 with genuine twin-cylinder grunt competing hard in this segment. If you want backcountry capability without GS money, the options have never been better.

The mid-size ADV war is on — and riders are the ones winning.

Are you running a mid-size, or did you go straight to the big bike? I'm genuinely curious where people landed on that decision.

Took the short way from Whistler to Harrison Mills on 173 km of remote BC forestry roads (no services, barely any signal), crossed a glacier-fed river, soaked up stunning backcountry, and finished with lunch at the legendary Sasquatch Inn.

If you've been looking for an excuse to get off the pavement in BC, this one's hard to beat.

🎥 Full video on YouTube
https://youtu.be/D0qauMUFkpk

Some days the trail just delivers. 🏔️

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/-ADV

Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route (IDBDR)
Backcountry Discovery Routes

BeyondThePavement is live across all platforms — adventure motorcycle riding, motocamping, and backcountry exploring across Western Canada and the Northwest USA.

First full series is up: 8 episodes documenting the Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route — 3,800+ km, camping, forest fires, and a few "what were we thinking" moments 😅

Big 2026 season on deck: Northern BC, Montana BDR, and presenting at the Touratech Rally West https://www.touratechrally.com in Plain, WA this June — the biggest ADV rally in North America.

If you're into adventure riding, hit follow and come along for the ride 🏍️🤘

📺 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/-ADV
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/beyondthepavementadv

Backcountry Discovery Routes, Touratech-USA,

Who you ride with matters — maybe more than the bike, the gear, or the route.
In this video, I share why choosing the right riding partners can make or break a multi-day adventure motorcycle trip. After spending 10 days on the Idaho Backcountry Discovery Route with Brad and Greg, I've got some strong opinions on what makes a great riding crew — and what to watch out for before you commit to a big trip with someone.
https://youtu.be/jUa5z62jEIs

What I pack for a multi-day motocamping adventure. Any guesses what the most important piece of kit is?"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kZpJRzREWSc

In this final episode, we tackle Sections 8 and 9 of the Idaho BDR — from the historic Brooks Hotel in Wallace, through Clark Fork and Sandpoint, to the Porthill border crossing into Canada. We finish the journey in Creston, BC, celebrating over dinner.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4jMR-XebRQg

Columbia & Western Rail Trail, awesome ride. We entered at Cristina Lake and went north to Castlegar.
Ride video to follow.