As seen in The MCN motorcycle show: At the Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show, some of the most seasoned motorcycle adventurers in the world share this year’s hottest two-wheel destinations and essential travel advice.

Whether it’s a long weekend in the Peaks or organising the epic global trip of a lifetime, it’s essential to get advice from the people who’ve been there and done it. The Adventure Travel Stage, sponsored by Caberg, at this year’s Devitt MCN London Motorcycle show will be packed with experts who have first hand experience across a wide spectrum of two wheel travel so no matter what level your ambition or experience is, you’ll get the very best advice imaginable.

Here’s some of the fascinating experts who’ll be sharing their knowledge on the Adventure Travel Stage sponsored by Caberg, at the Devitt Insurance MCN London Motorcycle Show on February 17-19.

1. Vanessa Ruck

Otherwise known as ‘The Girl on a Bike’ Vanessa is an adventurer and presenter based in the UK. After a tragic accident on her pushbike followed by 7 years recovery, Vanessa discovered motorcycling and the thrill of exploring the world on them. From full blown desert rallies, to hard enduro and road touring, to knee down track days, and trials. If it’s got an engine and wheels, Vanessa will be excited.

As a force to be reckoned with, she’s a rider, racer and adventurer living with ongoing pain, and is determined to make the most of every day despite her past, and help others do the same. Vanessa will be joining us with her energetic real life experiences following her life changing story from accident to becoming a rider and international racer.

2. The Lightweight Adventurers

The Lightweight Adventurers started out in 2018, with just two regular blokes, filming for YouTube, what they loved doing…riding off road on their little Honda CRFs. With a combined 50 years in the military, both Marc and Jamie understand the value that being in a supportive community brings and with that in mind they started the Lightweight Adventurers, a group that aspires to bring people that think light, pack light and travel light, together.

They have traveled extensively through Europe and the UK racking up over 4000 miles in their last adventure to the deserts of Spain. They’ve even ridden to the Isle of Skye for a weekend from Lincoln, a 1700-mile round trip!  

3. Tiffany Coates

Tiffany is the world’s foremost female motorcycle adventurer having ridden over 300,000 miles, crossing every continent, some of them several times. She’s travelled just about everywhere including Timbuctoo, Outer Mongolia, Tibet, Madagascar and Borneo. On most of her journeys, Tiffany has ridden her trusty 1992 BMW R80GS nicknamed ‘Thelma’, a bike she rode to India on with just two months riding experience.

Tiffany is the world’s foremost female motorcycle adventurer having ridden over 300,000 miles, crossing every continent, some of them several times. She’s travelled just about everywhere including Timbuctoo, Outer Mongolia, Tibet, Madagascar and Borneo. On most of her journeys, Tiffany has ridden her trusty 1992 BMW R80GS nicknamed ‘Thelma’, a bike she rode to India on with just two months riding experience.

4. Sam Manicom

Motorcycle overlander and travel writer Sam Manicom was born in the Congo in Central West Africa where his parents worked. His family returned to the UK when he was 10, Sam has been travelling for most of his life. His first solo trip was age 16 by bicycle into Europe. His first major trip was a seat-of-the-pants 3 year backpacking voyage of discovery across Europe, India and Australia, which often saw him down to his last $10. What was needed, he earned along the way and this he says was a great learning experience.

Back in the UK, he decided that ‘growing up’ was what you were supposed to do and settled down into a career. But something was always missing. Wanting to do something completely different, Sam learned to ride a motorcycle and within 3 months of starting to ride, he set off to travel the length of Africa. This one-year trip turned into an 8-year around the world motorcycle adventure across 6 continents.

Sam now works full time in the world of adventure travel. He’s a keen advocate of motorcycle travel in particular and when not writing his books, magazine articles and conducting multimedia travel presentations within Europe and the USA, he’s very much involved with travel related organisations.

For the rest of the MCN motorcycle show article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Trail and Adventure Motorbike Podcast: An amazing start to season 4, we even find out what her real name is!  From a hospital bed to kicking ass and taking names in some of the world’s toughest enduro events.  Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you Vanessa Ruck.

Suuuper AnimeThe Suuuper Anime Podcast is a show that looks to entertain, inspire and inform you…Listen on: Apple Podcasts Spotify

Eye-Opening Moments PodcastEye-Opening Moments are stories of adversity, encounters, and perspectives.

For the rest of the podcasts article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The More bikes: The 1000 Dunas is a challenging cross-country race that calls for the utmost resolve, aptitude, and self-assurance to win. This route is centred on the principles of off-road riding, where excellent motorcycle handling and navigation are requirements.

All terrains and routes require the strongest of souls and an unmistakable amount of bravery. The raid has recently been completed by none other than Vanessa Ruck, aka ‘Girl on a Bike’ (@thegirlonabike) on a Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. Showing off her skills as a rider and how well the bike can perform in heats of immense pressure.

The Challenge

The Challenge

Born and raised in England, Vanessa is a go-getter with all sorts of dreams she wants to accomplish. After a car hit her on her bicycle in 2014 she was hospitalised and in need of some serious medical attention. Over the course of 13 months, 7 operations, full shoulder reconstruction, 6 hip surgeries and countless steroid injections she was undergoing training to progressively work back to where she was before. Six years on, she’s back on the bike but this time with a motor too! Now an advocate for motorcycling she rides everything from dirt bikes to Harley-Davidson® cruisers. A testament to the strength of a determined woman, Vanessa is a role model for millions worldwide.

Tiger 900 Rally Pro

The perfect bike selected for this journey was the Triumph Tiger 900 Rally Pro. A bike built for the occasion, Triumph has dedicated time, resources and effort to make this the ideal bike for off-road adventure. Packed with a class-leading specification the bike was designed to withstand the toughest of riding conditions off-road or on the tarmac. Powered by the powerful 900cc triple engine and equipped with state-of-the-art technology, the bike exceeds expectations in all areas. Not only does the bike come good to go as standard but there is a fantastic range of accessories and parts available within the Triumph genuine product catalogue and third-party alternatives too.

The Course

During this maximum intensity week, you’ll make a start from Granada (Spain) and make your way across the Mediterranean Sea via ferry from Motril to Nador. After that, you’ll ride through the land of the Berbers within the picturesque Atlas Mountains where you might even encounter snowfalls and flurries – perhaps even the first of the season. Once you’ve worked your way through the blizzard you’re descending down the mountain southbound into the desert terrain of Morocco to arrive at the peaks of the great dunes of Erg Chebbi. On the way back, you venture into more unexplored lands of the Morocco desert and into Merzouga, then Nador. It is here that your endurance and riding skill will be tested most. 

For the rest of the Laguna article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Web Bikeworld: From my interactions with the ‘Most Winningest Rider,’ Shayna Texter-Bauman, to watching Vanessa Ruck win after win in the toughest two-wheel competitions in the world.

As I continue my journey writing in the Powersports industry, I find myself running into some pretty amazing women. all the way to picking Amber Spencer’s brain on new innovative technologies in electric motorcycles, the lineup has been incredible. 

Couple the successes of these lovely ladies with the fact that the number of women on motorcycles has been increasing as of late, and we totally get why the Italian Motorcycle Federation (IMF), or Federazione Motociclistica Italiana (FMI) has created a whole new championship for women. 

The race calendar is slotted to begin in 2023, with the following rounds projected as the ladies – christened the ‘Campionato Italiano Velocità Femminile’ (CIV), or the ‘Italian Women’s Speed Championship’ – join other riders in the FIA World Endurance Championship (WEC):

Round 1: April 30, 2023 – Misano World Circuit ‘Marco Simoncelli’

Round 2: June 11, 2023  – Magione Autodromo dell’Umbria

Round 3: July 2, 2023 – Modena Racetrack

Round 4: September 3, 2023  – Mugello Circuit

Round 5: September 17, 2023  – Varano de’ Melegari ‘Riccardo Paletti’ Racetrack

Round 6: October 8, 2023 – Enzo and Dino Ferrari Imola International Racetrack

We look forward to seeing how things pan out for the new year; meantime, stay connected by subscribing to our newsletter, join the WBW crowd if those pesky ads are driving you crazy, and as always – stay safe on the twisties. 

For the rest of the Web Bikeworld article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Cross CountryAdv: Kickstart your rally bike build with our expert tips! Get ready to transform your bike for amateur rally racing and conquer the Hellas Rally Raid.

Ready for your very own rally bike build? As the winter has forced many of us to park the bikes for the cold season, it’s the perfect time to start a rally project. If you’re aiming for amateur rally classes and hoping to race Hellas Rally Raid or a similar rally, you’re more than capable of doing the rally bike build yourself. In essence, it’s about prepping your existing bike for a rally, and you can install most of the essential mods yourself.

In this post, we’ll touch on the most important rally bike build components and what to watch out for when working on your project bike.

Rally Bike Build: The Goal

First and foremost, you need the right plan for a rally bike build. Instead of focusing on getting a KTM 450 rally replica or obtaining the newest, shiniest farkles, think differently. Ask yourself: what will make your bike more durable, reliable, and suitable for the tough rally conditions and circumstances you’ll find yourself in during a race?

Next, think about what will give the function you need: navigation, fuel capacity, tires, mousses, and the like. Choose products and parts that are well-designed, tried and tested, not just known brands. If your budget is tight but you still want the Dakar-level quality and look, check out REBEL rally bike build products, especially their navigation kits – REBEL makes reliable, durable stuff that will last for Hellas and Africa Eco Race alike. Bonus point? Their roadbook holder mounts low on the handlebars, keeping the weight low, too.

Speaking of navigation: should you go paper or digital? While there is a big move toward digital roadbooks, we always recommend riders stick to the old, mechanical paper scroll method, and this isn’t just about the old Paris-Dakar nostalgia. Mechanic means two things – durable and reliable, and it’s much less likely to fail during a rally race when conditions are unpredictable and crashes, probably inevitable. Look for F2R or MigTec – this is what rally factory teams use at the Dakar, and for your trimpaster, ICO is still king. It’s still the #1 choice among factory teams, but if you want more features, personalization, and newer tech, check out the RNS.

Finally, think about what will give you more control, confidence, and safety. Suspension tuning and modification, steering damper (we love Scotts), and better footpegs may all contribute to that.

Building the Rally Bike for the Long Haul

When building rally bikes, people tend to forget one simple thing: your bike needs to be comfortable for long daily distances. You may have the best rally navigation tower, tires, and suspension, but things like handlebar vibration and noise add to the fatigue. Take a look at BRP or Xtrg handlebar mounts to minimize the vibration – your hands and arms will thank you after putting away hundreds of miles on rough terrain.

Equally, wind noise can be harmful, especially on those crazy distances, so think about a rally windshield. In addition, while it’s not exactly a bike mod, be sure to carry earplugs with you.

Next, think abut your feet. Racing a rally, you will be spending hours and hours standing up on your pegs. When riding off-road, you have dramatically less control of the bike while sitting and can’t see far enough ahead, so you’ll need to be standing. A lot. And much like with any small discomfort that seems insignificant for a day’s ride, it can quickly escalate into pain and pure torture during the long rally days. If you gear doesn’t fit well, chafing will soon turn into bleeding wounds.

If your footpegs are uncomfortable, your feet will be screaming with pain by Day Three. If you’ll be riding 200-300 kilometers a day – and that’s pretty standard at most rally races – you need wider, more comfortable footpegs.

Finally, think about your bum: when doing a rally bike build, a comfortable seat should also make it to your list of mods. Every rally has liaison stages – long stretches of tarmac or graded dirt roads – so you’ll inevitably get a sore bum if your seat is uncomfortable. So much so, in fact, that Vanessa Ruck confessed to using pillows strapped to her seat during the Morocco Desert Challenge. Avoid this by getting a better seat or, at the very least, a seat cover featuring quick-dry materials and gel or foam inserts.

For the rest of the Cross CountryAdv article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in RAF News [print]: AN INTREPID dirt bike rider who overcame life-changing injuries to compete at the top of extreme sport is the latest person to sign on at Cranwells Wall of Honour.

Since then, she’s bought a dirt bike and ridden all over the world only including Bolivia, Ukraine, Sardinia, Iceland, in the Red Bull Romaniacs enduro race and on a 1,500 km seven-day desert endurance test.
Married to an RAF engineer, she was invited to the Aircrew Survival, Evasion and Resistance Training Centre to tell students about the challenges she’s overcome.

Defence SERE Training Officer Mark Fairhead said: “Vanessa embodies our unbroken spirit ethos – her, dedication and commitment, not to her personal recovery both physical and mental, has been exceptional”

FIGHT BACK: RAF wife Vanessa Ruck overcame devastating injuries after a serious traffic accident to become an international dirt bike competitor.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys, and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The More bikes: Another year has passed, and Fast Bikes has had another fantastic year. A reminder of some of the fun things we did on our YouTube channel is provided below.

Way back in February, we wrapped up our R1 project series with this video on getting the most out of your engine, featuring BSB champ Taz Mackenzie. Taz even credits his BSB win to Fast Bikes editor Bruce…

Next up we sent Tim Neave along to the brilliant Snetterton Circuit for a few quick laps around the track. Filming the whole thing, Tim walks us through all his tips and tricks for how to tackle the track, so if you’re heading to Snetterton in the new year, this is a must-watch!

Then in August we met up with YouTube’s own The Girl on A Bike, Vanessa Ruck, and pushed her out of her off-road comfort zone for her first ever track day experience at Donnington Park on a Kawasaki 650.

In September, we teamed up with Michelin Tyres on a mission to find out Ultimate Used Sportsbike. We pitted the 2012 BMW HP4 Carbon, 2010 Ducati 1198S and 2013’s MV’s F4 RR against each other in an extensive road and track test. But which was the best? You’ll have to watch and find out!

And then October rolled around and it was time for the big one: Naked Sportsbike of the Year. Bruce and John test and rate the Seven Sexiest Supernakeds on the market to find their ultimate favourite. But with so much to discuss, it’s not a simple decision. Make yourself a brew, sit back, and get into it.

We’ll have plenty more fast-paced videos for you in 2023, so make sure you’re subscribed so as not to miss a single one!

For the rest of the morebikes article see here.

For the rest of the fastbikesmag article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

As seen in The Bournemouth: VANESSA Ruck, a British motorcycle rider and Bournemouth graduate have completed the 1000 Dunas Raid in Morocco, making her the first female to ever finish on a standard production large-capacity adventure bike.

Battling dry riverbeds, sand, camel grass, dunes, and long distances over rough terrain every day, Ruck finished the seven-day rally with teammate Aled Price, but it was not all smooth sailing.

“Most people were there on more typical smaller rally bikes. I was part of a very small group of nutters on large motorcycles”, Ruck said.

“The terrain was incredibly challenging at times and recovering a bike over three times your body weight in soft sand presents a real struggle. We had a section of small, uneven dunes covered in camel grass where Aled and I were in full survival mode.

“We got more and more tired, so it was teamwork to recover the bikes until the unthinkable happened, Aled’s clutch burned out. The bike was dead.

“I was left with no choice but to continue through the dunes and remaining 180km day alone.”

She added: “As I pulled away, leaving him to be rescued, I knew I was riding for my life. Just one mistake, one drop in the deep sand could be game over.

“My heart was racing and it took every bit of determination, strength and fight to make it through.

“Being alone in a desert on a bike like that… that was brutal, and the heat, and fatigue and fear builds very quickly.”

The 1000 Dunas starts in Granada, Spain, takes riders across the Moroccan desert to Merzouga, then loops back to Granada for the finish covering over 1,500km.

It is a seven-day rally that is not timed but is designed to give riders the opportunity to test their roadbook navigation skills, their endurance, and their bikes.

Riders are ranked according to navigation accuracy and whether they finish each stage, and Ruck finished eighth out of 11 Hard Trail finishers.

For the rest of the Bournemouthecho article see here.

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.

Our year 9 pupils heard a motivational speech from Vanessa Ruck when she visited.

After being hit by a car while cycling in 2014, Vanessa’s world was turned upside down. Motorcycles weren’t a part of her life before the accident but have been instrumental in her recovery. She’s a rider, racer, and adventurer living which chronic pain, and is determined to make the most of every day despite her past, and help others do the same.

A few comments from the students as the talk made them feel motivated:
• “The way she spoke about her experience and the time it took her to complete her goals, she
never gave up. It was inspiring”
• “It was very real and honest”

If you’re new to my page – it’s more than just dirt bike riding, Harleys and racing, I’m on a mission to prove that nothing is impossible if you want it bad enough. See more about my story plus read about my life changing accident, which started it all.

You can find me Vanessa, The Girl On A Bike over on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube, and www.thegirlonabike.com.