Moto Adventurer Unscripted: Real Conversations for Motorcyclists, Adventurers and Outdoor Explorers

Adventure motorcycle suspension can seem like black magic. What do all those clickers actually do? What is SAG? How do preload, compression damping, rebound damping, and spring rate affect the way your ADV motorcycle handles?
In this episode of Moto Adventure Unscripted, Drew and Mark break down adventure motorcycle suspension from the ground up and explain what riders actually need to know before spending money on suspension upgrades.
We start with the basics: what suspension is supposed to do, the difference between springs and damping, and how preload affects your motorcycle when you add a rider, passenger, or luggage. Drew and Mark explain SAG, static sag, rider sag, spring rate, compression damping, rebound damping, and suspension clickers in plain English.
From there, they tackle some of the most common ADV suspension problems and questions:
How to establish your motorcycle's factory suspension settings

How to tell when you actually need a different spring rate

Why adding more preload isn't always the answer

Why motorcycles dive under braking

Why suspension can feel harsh on gravel and rough terrain

How to adjust compression and rebound damping

Why you shouldn't simply copy someone else's suspension settings

When stock suspension is good enough—and when you've actually outgrown it

How often ADV motorcycle suspension needs to be serviced

The goal isn't to turn you into a suspension tuner. It's to help you understand what your motorcycle is doing, make sensible adjustments, and know when it's actually time to spend money.SUBSCRIBER SEGMENT
The subscriber hour goes deeper into suspension types, linkage and PDS systems, fork oil weight and oil height, high- and low-speed damping, valving and revalving, cartridge kits, shock upgrades, suspension servicing, and when it's worth sending your suspension to a professional tuner.
Two hours of suspension nerdiness, commercial-free for subscribers.
The ride doesn't end when the episode does. Subscribers get ad-free listening and access to the Bonus Loop, our exclusive extended discussion recorded after the main show wraps up. If you enjoy the podcast, come along for a few extra miles.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/motoadvr/subscribe
Enjoying the show? Want a copy of the show notes, transcripts, or just say thanks? Drop us your email and the episode number at:
https://buymeacoffee.com/motoadvr

What happens after the motorcycle crash?
In this episode of Moto Adventurer Unscripted, Tyler joins Drew and Mark to talk openly about a recent motorcycle crash, the injuries that followed, the recovery process, and what it actually feels like to get back on a motorcycle after a hard hit.
Tyler walks us through a high-side crash on wet, freshly paved asphalt in Arkansas, the decision to ride another 600 miles toward home, and eventually discovering he had three fractured ribs and a collapsed lung. We talk about motorcycle gear, helmet replacement, motorcycle repair costs, riding partners, and the lessons Tyler took away from the experience. Most importantly, we discuss the mental side of recovery, rebuilding confidence, and why Tyler was determined to get back on the motorcycle rather than let the crash change his relationship with riding.
We also tackle a question every experienced motorcyclist eventually faces: How does our approach to risk change as we get older and more experienced? Tyler, Mark, and Drew compare how their riding philosophies have evolved and why experience changes the way we evaluate speed, road conditions, fatigue, and the consequences of a mistake.

SUBSCRIBER-ONLY BONUS:

Subscribers get an additional hour of conversation covering Tyler’s motorcycle backstory, his KLR beginnings, rider aids, and how age and experience have changed his approach to risk and adventure riding.

Moto Adventurer Unscripted is a weekly podcast about adventure motorcycles, dual-sport riding, motorcycle travel, camping, navigation, gear, and the realities of exploring on two wheels.

The ride doesn't end when the episode does. Subscribers get ad-free listening and access to the Bonus Loop, our exclusive extended discussion recorded after the main show wraps up. If you enjoy the podcast, come along for a few extra miles.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/motoadvr/subscribe
Enjoying the show? Want a copy of the show notes, transcripts, or just say thanks? Drop us your email and the episode number at:
https://buymeacoffee.com/motoadvr

Want to become a better adventure rider without waiting for your next big trip or paying for a training course? Your driveway, backyard, field, or even an empty parking lot can become an ADV motorcycle training ground.
In this episode of Moto Adventurer Unscripted, Drew and Mark break down practical adventure motorcycle skills and drills you can practice close to home. We talk emergency braking and rear-wheel lockups, learning how your ABS and rider modes actually behave, mastering clutch and throttle control, walking and maneuvering a heavy ADV motorcycle, getting comfortable riding while standing, and practicing full-lock turns and figure eights in surprisingly small spaces. We also get into hill starts and stops, body position, slow-speed motorcycle control, using the rear brake and clutch together, practicing on grass and gravel, and ways to build a simple backyard enduro course with logs, rocks, lumber, cones, and whatever else you have lying around.
The bigger question is simple: If you want to become a better adventure motorcycle rider, is riding more enough—or do you actually need to practice?
In the subscriber section, we go further with Elephant/J-turn techniques for turning a big adventure bike around in tight spaces, balance and vision drills, line selection, additional advanced ADV skills, and some behind-the-scenes Red River Scramble route reconnaissance.
Whether you're new to adventure riding or an experienced ADV rider looking to sharpen your off-road motorcycle skills, these are exercises you can work on a few minutes at a time—without ever leaving home.
The ride doesn't end when the episode does. Subscribers get ad-free listening and access to the Bonus Loop, our exclusive extended discussion recorded after the main show wraps up. If you enjoy the podcast, come along for a few extra miles.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/motoadvr/subscribe
Enjoying the show? Want a copy of the show notes, transcripts, or just say thanks? Drop us your email and the episode number at:
https://buymeacoffee.com/motoadvr

Want to become a better adventure rider without waiting for your next big trip or paying for a training course? Your driveway, backyard, field, or even an empty parking lot can become an ADV motorcycle training ground.
In this episode of Moto Adventurer Unscripted, Drew and Mark break down practical adventure motorcycle skills and drills you can practice close to home. We talk emergency braking and rear-wheel lockups, learning how your ABS and rider modes actually behave, mastering clutch and throttle control, walking and maneuvering a heavy ADV motorcycle, getting comfortable riding while standing, and practicing full-lock turns and figure eights in surprisingly small spaces. We also get into hill starts and stops, body position, slow-speed motorcycle control, using the rear brake and clutch together, practicing on grass and gravel, and ways to build a simple backyard enduro course with logs, rocks, lumber, cones, and whatever else you have lying around.
The bigger question is simple: If you want to become a better adventure motorcycle rider, is riding more enough—or do you actually need to practice?
In the subscriber section, we go further with Elephant/J-turn techniques for turning a big adventure bike around in tight spaces, balance and vision drills, line selection, additional advanced ADV skills, and some behind-the-scenes Red River Scramble route reconnaissance.
Whether you're new to adventure riding or an experienced ADV rider looking to sharpen your off-road motorcycle skills, these are exercises you can work on a few minutes at a time—without ever leaving home.
The ride doesn't end when the episode does. Subscribers get ad-free listening and access to the Bonus Loop, our exclusive extended discussion recorded after the main show wraps up. If you enjoy the podcast, come along for a few extra miles.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/motoadvr/subscribe
Enjoying the show? Want a copy of the show notes, transcripts, or just say thanks? Drop us your email and the episode number at:
https://buymeacoffee.com/motoadvr

Red River Scramble is back for 2026, and we're breaking down everything you need to know before you point your motorcycle toward Red River Gorge, Kentucky.
Drew and Mark take you inside this grassroots, choose-your-own-adventure motorcycle rally—from what the Scramble is all about to where to stay, what to expect at Lago Linda Hideaway, how to meet other riders, and what kind of riding you'll find throughout the region.
We'll break down the different route difficulty levels, from scenic gravel and easy adventure riding to intermediate terrain, advanced ADV routes, and dedicated dual-sport trails. We also talk about the Dango Death March, changing trail conditions, wet clay, water crossings, and how to choose routes that match your skill level.
Whether you're a Red River Scramble veteran, a first-time attendee, or just looking for an excuse to ride the backroads of Eastern Kentucky, this episode will help you prepare for the 2026 Scramble.
Red River Scramble 2026: October 1–4 in Red River Gorge, Kentucky.
In this episode:
What the Red River Scramble is and why it's different

Camping, RVs, cabins, and other accommodations

What to expect at Lago Linda Hideaway

How to meet people if you're attending solo

Red River Gorge riding, attractions, and routes

Route difficulty levels and terrain

Mud, clay, water crossings, and changing trail conditions

How to choose routes that match your skill level

Subscriber Bonus: We go behind the scenes of the Scramble with the Pumpkin Hollow story, route reconnaissance, hidden sticker caches, the Dango Death March, rally logistics, and what it takes to organize an adventure motorcycle event.The Red River Scramble is less about organized activities and more about one thing: getting out into the woods and having an adventure.

The ride doesn't end when the episode does. Subscribers get ad-free listening and access to the Bonus Loop, our exclusive extended discussion recorded after the main show wraps up. If you enjoy the podcast, come along for a few extra miles.
https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/motoadvr/subscribe
Enjoying the show? Want a copy of the show notes, transcripts, or just say thanks? Drop us your email and the episode number at:
https://buymeacoffee.com/motoadvr