ADV Riding Resources
Whether you are preparing for your first off-road ride, working toward in-person training, or simply trying to ride better on your own timeline, this page collects the most useful educational resources Bret has produced across three decades of teaching. Video playlists are organized by topic so you can start where you need to. The podcast covers longer-form conversation and guest interviews. Written articles go deeper on gear, technique, and rider mindset. And if you have a specific question about boot selection or bike choice, the AI-powered guides at the bottom can help narrow things down.
WHAT YOU WILL TAKE AWAY
Riders who work through these materials consistently report having a clearer understanding of why certain techniques work and others fail, a more honest sense of their own skill level, and significantly less fear in terrain that previously felt overwhelming because they understand why the motorcycle is responding the way it does. These resources are structured education from Bret, who teaches the same material in person during his adventure training courses.
IN-DEPTH RESEARCH
Warning – these are not quick-read articles that will give you a definite answer. Each article below represents the kind of research that most riders never think to do and most instructors never bother to publish.
Choosing the right adventure motorcycle involves dozens of variables that forum threads rarely address honestly; Bret’s bike selection guide works through them systematically with a detailed comparison framework and a custom AI tool trained to ask you the right questions.
The tire guide goes further than any published review: Bret physically ink-marked tires to calculate the exact percentage of tread dedicated to road versus off-road performance, cutting through marketing language with measured data.
The boots guide combines an in-depth podcast episode with a custom AI tool built around the criteria that actually matter for rider safety and control off-pavement.
If you want a quick answer, these pages are probably not for you. If you want to understand the subject well enough to make a genuinely informed decision, start here.
Choosing an ADV bike doesn’t have to be difficult. Search the forums and you’ll see this question frequently. Selecting an adventure motorcycle is one of the most significant purchasing decisions you will make as a rider, second only to safety gear (if you know me, I mean boots). Adventure bikes must function across varied environments: paved highways, gravel roads, technical trails, and everything between, and depending on where you want to go, you are often far from mechanical support or dealer networks. Read more.
One of the most common questions I’m confronted with by both experienced and new adventure riders is “which tires should I use?”
The short answer is: if you plan to ride off-pavement, a 50/50 tire or better may provide a traction advantage. Yes, you can mix bias and radial tires on a motorcycle. No, bigger is not better off-road. Yes, 50/50 tires will wear faster than more street focused tires. Yes 50/50+ tires will be louder on pavement and may ‘feel’ less stable. Most importantly, remember you must always give something up to gain something else, so there is no single tire that is perfect in all situations. Read more.
Adventure riding boots are one of the most misunderstood pieces of motorcycle gear, yet they play a critical role in rider safety, control, and confidence. When choosing motorcycle boots for adventure riding, many riders focus on comfort and walkability, overlooking how proper motorcycle footwear affects fatigue, stability, and injury prevention—especially off-road. In this article, I break down what truly matters in adventure riding boots, how off-road motorcycle boots differ from so-called “adventure” options, and why the right boot can make you a better, safer rider both on and off the pavement. Read more.
VIDEOS ABOUT RIDING
BEGINNER ADV RIDING
Learn the core principles that separate adventure riding from street riding, including balance, traction management, body position, and rider mindset. This section focuses on foundational skills every ADV rider needs before tackling more technical terrain, longer routes, or formal training.
ADV RIDING FUNDAMENTALS
Build the foundation for safe and confident off-pavement riding
RIDING TECHNIQUES
Explore specific riding techniques used in adventure motorcycle training, including braking on low traction, cornering off-pavement, hill management, obstacle negotiation, and body positioning. These lessons emphasize repeatable skills you can practice independently or apply during in-person training.
MOTORCYCLE SETUP
Most riders accept their motorcycle exactly as it came from the dealer and then adapt their riding to compensate. Proper setup has measurable effects on how the motorcycle handles, how quickly a rider fatigues, and how much control is available in technical terrain. These videos walk through the adjustments that matter most for adventure riding, why they matter, and how to evaluate whether your current setup is working for or against you.
MOTORCYCLE SETUP AND SUSPENSION
Set up your motorcycle to work with you, not against you
RIDER PSYCHOLOGY
Adventure riding isn’t just physical, it’s also psychological. This section addresses fear management, risk assessment, decision-making under pressure, and how rider psychology influences skill development. Learn how to recognize limits, manage stress, and ride with intention rather than reaction.
RIDER PSYCHOLOGY AND DECISION MAKING
Understand how mindset, stress, and confidence affect performance
GEAR & EQUIPMENT
Gear selection in adventure riding is rarely straightforward, because the marketing language around helmets, suits, gloves, boots, and luggage systems is designed to sell rather than inform. These videos cut through that. The goal is not to tell you what to buy but to give you the framework to evaluate any gear against the conditions you actually ride in.
CHOOSING THE RIGHT GEAR AND EQUIPMENT
Choose gear based on real-world function, not marketing
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