Damian (Demon) Rowley spent 35 years riding motorcycles professionally in London—first as a courier, then as one of Virgin’s elite “limo bike” riders, trusted to ferry celebrities and executives through the city’s relentless traffic. With over half a million miles behind him, Damian shares the toll of crashes, injuries, and burnout, as well as the moment he realized he needed a change. At 50, he walked away from security, ended a long relationship, and set out solo on a KTM 690 to ride the world. His story isn’t just about motorcycles—it’s about reinvention, confronting fear, and discovering personal growth when the safety nets are gone.

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

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Chris Birch - What Works, What Doesn’t, And How To Select The Moto Gear That’s Right For You

When it comes to adventure riding gear, the options are endless—mesh, laminated, vented, lightweight, heavy-duty. With so many choices, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. What matters in riding gear? How much protection is enough? And what trade-offs should you be aware of? To get clarity, we turned to Chris Birch. A lifelong motorcyclist who’s raced local dirt tracks in New Zealand, competed on the world stage in hard enduro, and now travels the globe on adventure bikes, Chris has seen it all. In this episode, he shares hard-earned insights on what works, what doesn’t, and how to choose the gear that’s right for you.When it comes to adventure riding gear, the options are endless—mesh, laminated, vented, lightweight, heavy-duty. With so many choices, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. What matters in riding gear? How much protection is enough? And what trade-offs should you be aware of? To get clarity, we turned to Chris Birch. A lifelong motorcyclist who’s raced local dirt tracks in New Zealand, competed on the world stage in hard enduro, and now travels the globe on adventure bikes, Chris has seen it all. In this episode, he shares hard-earned insights on what works, what doesn’t, and how to choose the gear that’s right for you.

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

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Fifteen years on the road—and no major disasters. Elsebie and Michnus Olivier of PikiPiki Overland share how they’ve dodged mechanical meltdowns, sketchy border crossings, and costly mistakes while traveling by motorcycle —including one tense moment in Sudan that could have gone very wrong. Is it luck… or a skill you can learn?

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

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Elisa Rosales lay on her back, head spinning, gasping for air. Her bike lay a few feet away, right where she had dropped it. Darkness pressed at the edges of her vision, and she fought the pull to let go, to drift into sleep. The ground beneath her was cold; she was cold. This was her first motorcycle adventure. She and her husband had set out from Argentina, bound for Arizona, but that destination felt impossibly far from where she now lay in the Andes, at nearly 16,000 feet. And the hardest part of the journey was only beginning.

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

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This episode is a follow-up to our recent episode, Abandoned on the Dalton, which featured rider Shilo Crane on a journey from Georgia to Alaska to raise awareness for mental health. That story took a turn when Shilo said he was left behind by his riding partner on the remote Dalton Highway, forcing him to continue the trip alone. But shortly after that episode aired, we heard from the other rider—Corey Speck—who says it was he who was abandoned. What unfolds in this episode may sound like a rebuttal, a clash of perspectives, or a story about hurt feelings and fractured friendships. But as you listen, you might find something more profound—maybe even a story of discovery.

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode:
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In this Rider Skills episode with chief instructor Clinton Smout from SMART Performance Centre, we break down the process of navigating obstacles into three simple, easy-to-remember principles—something that’s never been done before. By the end of the episode, you’ll be equipped to assess any obstacle, develop a solid plan, and make confident decisions—even when the terrain gets tough.

Clinton Smout - SMART Adventure Programs/SMART Performance Centre:
Clinton Smout is the highly regarded chief motorcycle instructor and founder of SMART Adventures in Ontario, Canada. With his extensive experience and expertise in motorcycling, Clinton has become a prominent figure in motorcycle education and safety. He is known for his passionate approach to teaching, emphasizing the importance of proper riding techniques, road awareness, and safety precautions. Through SMART Adventures, Clinton has helped numerous individuals enhance their motorcycling skills, whether they are beginners looking to learn the basics or experienced riders aiming to refine their techniques. His dedication to promoting safe and responsible motorcycling has made him a respected authority in the Canadian community.

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode:
We release new episodes of ARR every week on Thursday and of RAW on the 21st of every month—full of inspiring stories, expert advice, and insight from the world of adventure motorcycling. Hit subscribe so you never miss out!

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In the mountains of northern India, surrounded by snow, altitude, and uncertain roads, James Thomas and two other riders pressed on—confident they could make it through. But what unfolded wasn’t just a story of rough terrain or questionable GPS directions. It was about something much more familiar to most of us than we might admit: a mental trap known as cognitive narrowing, where pressure and focus cloud judgment until we can’t see what’s right in front of us. What happens when that focus becomes so tight, so singular, that we stop processing the cues telling us to stop—or turn around?

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode:
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The mission was simple: ride motorcycles from Georgia to Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, to raise funds and awareness for mental health among veterans and first responders. Two military men set off as a team, just like they had served—watching each other’s backs and pushing through the miles together. But halfway through, everything changes. The team breaks. Shilo Crane is left to ride alone. And what happens after that… may be the most revealing part of the adventure.

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode:
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Damian Monkhorst, an Australian rider, loves twisty roads and staying off the tourist track. When an online motorcycle forum connected him with riders in the United States, including Andy Morley, he knew he wanted to experience it for himself. From the other side of the world, he made a bold move—buying a bike and having it waiting for him when he arrived. But once he got there, the adventure wasn’t quite what he expected—neither the ride nor the people.

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode:
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On this episode, we go beyond the usual explanations of freedom and thrill to explore how riding a motorcycle doesn’t just feel different—it engages our brains in a uniquely powerful way. Cognitive scientist Mark Changizi believes that riding may be the one activity that truly fits how our brains evolved, creating a seamless connection between humans and machines.

Mark Changizi is a cognitive scientist and theorist known for exploring why we think, feel, and see the way we do. His research has led to discoveries about colour vision, visual illusions, emotions, language, and even why fingers get pruney in water. He has published several books, co-founded VINO Optics to develop vein-enhancing glasses, and his work has been featured on TED, Brain Games, and Head Games.

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode:
We release new episodes of ARR every week on Thursday and of RAW on the 21st of every month—full of inspiring stories, expert advice, and insight from the world of adventure motorcycling. Hit subscribe so you never miss out!

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