Brian Shaney

Classic Roads Premium Content

Classic Roads: California’s Angeles Crest Highway

Traveling just north of the hustle and bustle of Los Angeles and Pasadena, you’ll enter the Angeles National Forest, a sparsely developed area that’s home to one particularly fantastic ribbon of tarmac—The Angeles Crest Highway (aka California State Route 2). Completed in 1956, this two-lane marvel climbs,

Destinations

Destination: Pagosa Springs, Colorado

This picturesque community, situated 35 miles north of the New Mexico border, serves as an ideal location for looped explorations. The San Juan River flows through the city’s center, where you’ll find the Pagosa Hot Springs, touted as the “World’s Deepest Geothermal Hot Spring.” Its name originates

Product Review

Review: Biltwell Gringo S Full-Face Helmet

Southern California-based Biltwell has been in the business of producing stylish motorcycle riding gear as well as parts and accessories for over a decade now, and the retro-inspired Gringo S [https://imp.i104546.net/Jr6b0a] is one of the company's staple products. Reminiscent of the original Bell Star (circa the

Camping Gear

Product Review: Helinox Lite Cot

Get Off the Ground with the Helinox Lite Cot Designed with portability in mind, the Helinox Lite Cot weighs in at just under three pounds and measures 20.5x5x5 inches when packed. It is small enough to fit into most full-size panniers, or as in my case, to be strapped

Jan/Feb '21

Phoenix, Arizona Shamrock Tour®

Touring the Valley of the Sun It’s been six years since Kris and I decided to relocate from Michigan to Arizona. The impromptu move was brought about by a job opportunity for Kris and my “restless leg syndrome” (meaning my inability to stay in one place for too long)

Sep/Oct '20 Premium Content

Utah: Mission: Possible

It may come as a surprise to learn that in at least one Utah county it apparently is illegal to hire trombone players to play on the street to advertise an auction, or that Jell-O is the official state snack. Did you know that Utah often ranks as the second

Jul/Aug '20 Premium Content

Etna, California Shamrock Tour®

“How long have you been delivering supplies up here?” I ask. “Oh, about 20 years now,” replies Roger. Cora jumps in, eager to add more to the story. “Roger was a logger up in these mountains before that.” “Yeah, that’s true,” Roger says. “But I wasn’t gonna make

Jul/Aug '20

Review: 2020 BMW F 900 R/XR

Not-So-Identical Twins > Since the introduction of its first motorbike, the R32 in 1923, BMW has been known for designing and manufacturing quality machines. With the extremely popular GS being its core business, in November the brand unveiled a pair of new middleweight street machines, the F 900 R and the

Sep/Oct '19

Review: 2019 Kawasaki Versys 1000 SE LT+

Since Kawasaki first brought the Versys 1000 to market in 2012, the bike has seen a few changes. With the 2019 SE LT+ model, the Japanese manufacturer is upping the ante across the board, offering improved performance, new suspension, more aggressive styling, and loads of high-tech wizardry. What’s New

Jul/Aug '19 Premium Content

Colorado: A Himalayan in the Rockies

An early fall ride through the Rocky Mountains is one of those irresistible and unforgettable trips: mile after mile of stunning scenery, remote and pristine environments, high mountain passes, wildlife at any turn, interesting towns, and twisting and curving roads. I had the pleasure of taking such a ride last

May/Jun '19 Premium Content

Gallup, New Mexico Shamrock Tour®: Heartland of the Ancients

Northwest New Mexico is home to several of the state’s 23 Native American tribes: the Navajo, Jicarilla Apache, Acoma, and Zuni are among those who reside in the region. Despite westward expansion in the late 1800s and the federal government’s efforts to “Americanize” the native people, Indian culture

Jul/Aug '18

Review 2018 Triumph Speedmaster

A New Kind of Old School > The Speedmaster of old was originally launched in 2002 and powered by a 790cc air-cooled twin. This year, the newly redesigned bike has gotten a complete makeover, at the heart of which is a massive 1200cc liquid-cooled powerplant. At first sight, the bike appears

May/Jun '18

Review: 2018 Royal Enfield Himalayan

A Brand New, Old School Adventure Bike > Like many others, I’ve been drooling over photos of the Royal Enfield Himalayan since they first began circulating around the internet a couple of years ago. A retro-styled, middle-weight adventure bike off-the-shelf. Did they make this just for me? How did they

Mar/Apr '18 Premium Content

Pagosa Springs, Colorado Shamrock Tour®: Riding “Naked” in the Rocky Mountain State

With an abundance to see and do, Colorado is a tourist mecca for good reason. While many flock to explore the beauty and rugged wilderness (whether hiking, rafting or mountain biking), we made plans to visit some of the old mining and railroad towns that sprouted up in the mid

Jul/Aug '17 Premium Content

Costa Rica: Call of the Wild

Arriving in Costa Rica a day early, Kris and I decide to take a walking tour of San José, the small country’s bustling capital. A first, chance encounter with the legendary Pan-American Highway stops us in our tracks. Standing curbside at the busy roadway with no crosswalks or signals,

Jul/Aug '17

City Escape: Ann Arbor, Michigan

> Enjoy a relaxing ride through small towns and farmland to the northwest before dipping south into the Irish Hills, which got its name from the Irish immigrants who settled there in the 1800s. Some of the best scenery and roads in southeastern and central Michigan are incorporated in the route.

Jan/Feb '17 Premium Content

Kanab, Utah Shamrock Tour: The Greatest Earth on Show®

It’s a beautiful late spring morning as Kris and I prepare for the first of four days exploring southwestern Utah. It’s no secret the state has some of the most fantastic scenery and roads this side of anywhere, and we are more than eager to get underway. Jurassic

Nov/Dec '16 Premium Content

Continental Divide, Part 2: Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico

Our route out of Rawlins, WY, takes us through the city’s center before turning south and heading out of town. It is a great day for riding, with mostly clear skies and cool temperatures, as we enter the Medicine Bow National Forest. Not far from the Colorado border we

Sep/Oct '16 Premium Content

Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming: Continental Divide, Part 1

A rugged adventure awaits those who seek it. Remote mountain passes, picturesque views, and diverse, often challenging, terrain—where every mile is a feast for the senses—can all be found on a cross-country journey along the Continental Divide. Our tour starts on a sunny July morning just a couple

May/Jun '15 Premium Content

Sedona, Arizona Shamrock Tour®: Mountains High and Valleys Low

I wake to a beautiful fall morning, and standing on the terrace of my room at the Matterhorn Inn, I am afforded a spectacular panoramic view of the red rock formations that characterize this city. I wanted to explore Sedona and the surrounding area by motorbike since I first passed

Mar/Apr '14 Premium Content

Big Bend, Texas: Into the Great Wide Open

We wake to sunny skies, a forecast in the mid-70s, and our bikes are ready to go. As I pull on my boots, my pulse quickens. I sense that this is going to be a great day for riding. Stepping outside, I find it hard to believe that it’s

Nov/Dec '13 Premium Content

Lake Erie Circle Tour, Canada: Our Neighbors to the North

Crossing the Peace Bridge into Ontario is a mostly benign experience. I present my passport and answer a few questions: “Citizenship?” “How long will you be in Canada?” “Do you have any weapons?” Wait, what? Do I have any weapons? Well, I guess I am an American, and this is

Sep/Oct '13 Premium Content

Lake Erie, Circle Tour - U.S.: A Tale of Two Worlds

Detroit. The name alone conjures up images of cars rolling off assembly lines, factories belching smoke, Henry Ford, General Motors, and Chrysler. In a word, industry. First settled in 1701, Detroit (aka: Motor City) is one of the oldest metropolitan areas in the Midwest. Along with holding responsibility for the

May/Jun '12 Premium Content

Reader Ride - Tennessee: Dual Sport Waltz