Not every bad ride is because of the bike, the weather, or the trail. Sometimes it’s you. ADV riding demands technique and mindset, but bad habits creep in quietly.

Before long, what should be an epic ride feels like a grind. The good news: most of these habits can be fixed fast. Here’s what to watch for—and how to turn it around before your next trip.

Let’s get this out of the way: we all love a good riding video. A drone shot of a bike carving through switchbacks? Awesome. A well-edited tour vlog with killer music? Inspiring.

But somewhere between the gear flexes and the over-polished trip recaps, something’s gotten lost.

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We've said it before, and we'll say it again: adventure gear is outrageously expensive. That's particularly true if you're drooling over top-shelf adventure helmets, which can run anywhere from $700-$900 nowadays.

You’ve got the right bike, the right gear, and the right attitude—but if you can’t read the terrain, you’re riding blind. And while no one’s born with trail vision, the best ADV riders seem to spot trouble a mile away.

That’s because they’ve trained their eyes (and brains) to interpret every slope, rut, and shadow for what it really is: either a smooth pass or a trap waiting to body slam your bike into the dirt.

Some riders break the rules. Others break the limits of what’s possible. These record-breaking and trailblazing motorcyclists have pushed boundaries in speed, endurance, and sheer courage — often without becoming household names.

Their stories range from land speed legends to fearless firsts that changed the face of motorcycling forever.

At RIDE Adventures, our instructors aren't just teachers; they are dedicated students of the craft.

They are constantly in the field, testing gear, refining systems, and pushing their limits to bring the most current and hard-won knowledge back to our clients.

Let’s get one thing straight: ADV and dual sport are not the same thing. They’re different bikes, different styles of riding, and frankly, different mentalities.

But somewhere along the way, the lines started to blur, and now a lot of riders are making choices (and comments) that don’t match the machines they’re on.

We've been testing budget ADV motorcycle gear all year to see what's actually worth buying in 2025. Here's our recommendation for the perfect head-to-toe kit. 

There’s a certain type of rider who believes you’re not a real ADV rider unless you’re wrangling 600+ pounds of German or Austrian engineering through knee-deep ruts.

If you’re on a smaller bike? Clearly you’re still in beginner mode, right?

Our review of the new 2025 Yamaha Tenere 700: Is a higher tech T7 really what adventure riders want, or do added electronics just make for added weight? Here's our take after a few months in the saddle.