Adventure Rider Radio RAW
ARR RAW motorcycle podcast is an Adventure Rider Radio Network production. A monthly show featuring motorcycle travel talk that is completely unscripted RAW and personal.
Featuring Grant Johnson, Brian Rix, Shirley Hardy-Rix, Sam Manicom, Graham Field and Jim Martin
ARR RAW Round Table Discussions With Motorcycle Adventure Travellers brings together six of the most experienced voices in long-distance motorcycling. Designed for riders, travel fans and the touring-curious, these conversations dive deep into practical rider skills, trip planning, gear essentials, storytelling craft, and the mindset needed for life-changing journeys.
Why listen
Expert insights from award-winning and widely published motorcycle travellers and authors.
Actionable advice on route planning, bike setup, navigation, border crossings, and emergency preparedness.
Real-world lessons from decades of combined global travel across deserts, mountains, jungles and remote backroads.
Honest conversations about risks, failures, repairs, relationships on the road, and how to turn experiences into stories or books.
Topics covered
Rider skills & safety: advanced handling, off-road basics, fatigue management, and pre-ride checks.
Bike prep & tech: suspension setup, tire selection, luggage systems, electrical troubleshooting, and lightweight toolkits.
Trip planning: route research, seasonality, visas, permits, fuel planning, and ride pacing.
Navigation & comms: paper maps vs digital, satellite messengers, phone strategy, and keeping connected without killing your budget.
Border crossings & bureaucracy: documentation, carnet advice, local customs, and avoiding common pitfalls.
Emergency readiness: first aid, breakdown protocols, recovery gear, and insurance considerations.
Storytelling & publishing: turning travel into articles, podcast episodes, books, and building an audience for your adventures.
Relationships on the road: partnership dynamics, solo vs group travel, and managing expectations when miles and moods vary.
Ethics & cultural respect: low-impact travel, engagement with local communities, and responsible photography.
ARR RAW February 2018 Topics:
When you're on a trip, you still need to look after home responsibilities, how do you do that when far from home? Have you ever had an "aha moment", when you realize just why you're doing this crazy trip? And sometimes travel can be a bit much and you start thinking about getting back home, should you end your trip? And what about border crossings? Are they really that scary?
Border Crossings: Which countries are easiest to get in to, for people that are concerned about border crossings, the hassle, etc?
Keep Travelling or Go Home?: Did you ever have a moment where you thought, 'I just want to go home!'
Aha Moments: Describe a moment from a trip where that moment inspired you to think 'Yes! This is why I'm out doing this!'
Listener’s Question: Dealing With Normal Life While on an Adventure
Mike Samsen: How do you deal with all the details of so called "normal" life while on an extended trip...house rental, mail, bills, prescriptions, etc?
Links:
Tyson Clark & Sarah Goulopoulos - The Ride of Our Life:
Ted Talks - How to Speak That People Want to Listen - Julian Treasure: https://www.ted.com/talks/julian_treasure_how_to_speak_so_that_people_want_to_listen
Music:
A Day In The Sun by Per Kiilstofte https://machinimasound.com/music/a-day-in-the-sun Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)
Bensound Groovy Hip Hop - www.bensound.com