The bikes and the rig that carry the whole thing
Three vehicles do the work here. A 2017 Honda CRF 250L for trails and dual sport riding, a 1972 Honda SL 125 as the long term project, and a 2018 Thor Axis 24.1 Class A motorhome that serves as base camp on longer trips. I do my own maintenance on all three.
Base camp on wheels.
Our base camp while we travel is a 2018 Thor Axis 24.1, a Class A motorhome that has taken us from Massachusetts to Texas and everywhere in between.
I do my own oil changes, troubleshoot the generator, and have learned more about RV repair than I ever expected. Starlink for internet, solar for power, ham radios for backup, and a Home Assistant setup that watches everything from temperature for the pets to battery levels.
Overbuilt? Maybe. But out here, prepared beats pretty.
The trail companion.
Dual sport | 249cc single cylinder | 34.4 inch seat height
This is the bike that started it all. Light enough to pick up when I drop it, and I have. Capable enough for gravel and single track, and forgiving enough to learn on.
It is not the fastest bike out there and it is not the most powerful. It is exactly what I needed to build confidence and fall in love with dual sport riding.
If you are thinking about starting adventure riding, this is the size I would point you at. Enough bike to get you anywhere, and not so much bike that it scares you off.
The vintage soul.
Vintage dual sport | 122cc single cylinder | over 50 years old
Fifty plus years old and still going. This one is not a daily rider, it is a piece of history I get to keep alive.
There is something about throwing a leg over a motorcycle older than I am. It is simple in a way nothing new is, and it does not need anything clever to work.
It is not fast and it is not practical, and I will still spend a Saturday getting it running again.
I did not start on a big adventure bike. I did not wait until I could afford the perfect machine. I started with what I could handle, learned on what I had, and kept going.
The 250 taught me that capability is built, not bought. The 125 reminds me that adventure has always existed, and we are just continuing the tradition.
You do not need an expensive bike to be a real rider. You need wheels, curiosity, and the willingness to learn. Everything else is detail.
