Episode 012: Scott Lee | Colorado Motorcycle Adventures

On the show today we kick off the 2023 season by catching up with Quinn Cody, a 4-time Baja 1000 Champion, a Dakar Rally Racer and top 10 finisher and a KTM R&D guru, who helps shape KTM motorcycles for the American market. A Californian through and through, Quinn grew up exploring the mountains near his home and trying to keep up with his older sister, Anna, a bad-ass racer in her own right. We talk with Quinn about racing and wrecking, how he was on the ground floor for the development and launch of the KTM 790 ADV and how he competed at the Red Bull Romaniacs, the world’s toughest Enduro race, on a KTM 1090 ADV.

On the show today, we catch up with Scott Lee of Colorado Motorcycle Adventures. Starting with a 1972 Honda Mini Trail 50 to a fleet of Adventure bikes, Scott eats, drinks and sleeps motorcycles. From that lifelong love of all things with two wheels and an engine came Colorado Motorcycle Adventures ("CMA"), the premier adventure rental and tour company in the Mountain West. Scott started CMA with the idea of offering superior motorcycles, unparalleled customer service and most importantly, the opportunity for adventure to those who want to see and experience the United States in a way that only motorcycles can provide.We talk with Scott about how he took the leap from full-time advertising exec to CEO of Colorado Motorcycle Adventures; how Mt. Vernon, Illinois may be the ADV and music capital of the world; and how Scott's favorite one-day advanced trail ride, the "717 Stinger" got its name. Stick around, I think you'll enjoy this episode.

On the show today we catch up with Sterling Noren (pronounced Nor-een) and Eva Rupert. Sterling and Eva are exceptionally accomplished individuals who together make one of Adventure Motorcycling's best dynamic duos. Sterling is a co-founding member of Backcountry Discovery Routes (BDR) and has produced and filmed every BDR movie since 2010. his other notable adventure films include "Expedition 65", which chronicles an ADV journey through South America. He's also got a decade's worth of Globe Rider films that span the world. When Sterling's not making epic ADV movies, you can catch Eva and him on YouTube at: Motorcycle Travel Channel.Not to be outdone, Eva Rupert is an Event Planner and currently the Motorcycle Community Ambassador for Overland Expo. She's an accomplished ADV rider, a rock climber, a primitive survival expert who has appeared on Discovery Channel's "Naked and Afraid" not once but three times - and survived to the end each time! She's also one hell of a mixologist. We talk with Sterling and Eva about what makes them tick, why they love ADV riding and how the BDR and Las Vegas turned a chance meeting into a life of pure adventure. Make sure you stay tuned to the end to hear Eva's pro tip on making an Old Fashioned - her best bet for your ADV campfire cocktail.

On the show we catch up with Chris Parker of Rottweiler Performance. Chris, along with co-owner wife Mariel and their dedicated team draw from a rich history in highly competitive motorsports to create precision-made aftermarket performance parts for the KTM and Husqvarna motorcycles. The Rottweiler team's motto is "Unleash the Beast" - and if you've ever added one of their products  to your motorcycle, you know that tag line is a perfect fit for this fast growing company. From its humble beginnings in a 1,300 square foot shop selling one-off parts by word of mouth to ADV Rider members to a manufacturer and global distributor of world class products, Rottweiler Performance has carved out a big niche for itself in the adventure motorcycle world.We talk to Chris about how he got into the performance motorsports game, how his relationship with KTM has evolved over the years and how he came up with the name "Rottweiler". Enjoy the episode.

On the show today, we catch up with Ian Schoenleber of Big Rock Moto. If you ride adventure motorcycles and aren't a subscriber to Ian's YouTube channel, you are missing out on some of the most informative, insightful, and thorough adventure motorcycle content out there. We talk with Ian about how he became a full-time YouTuber, what he likes in the small, middleweight, and large ADV motorcycle categories, and talk through some of his favorite aftermarket accessories.  Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, Terry and I catch up with Simon Cudby who has photographed and ridden with some of the best adventure riders on the planet. From Chris Birch to Quinn Cody, Simon is known for his mind-blowing action shots that have graced more than 175 magazine covers. He's shot for such companies as KTM, Fox Racing, MSR and Alpinestars, just to name a few and was the co-founder of UpShift Online. More recently, Simon was part of the team that filmed, photographed and rode the Wyoming BDR and his new project Offroad Underground is filled with awe-inspiring Adventure riding photography. Chances are, if you've ever flipped through a magazine covering motocross or adventure riding, you've seen Simon's work.

Nestled in the Lisbon Valley of Southeast Utah, the 3 Step Hideaway is a dual-sport and ADV rider's dream. Located directly on the TransAmerica Trail (TAT) and just 14 miles from the Utah Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR), the off-the-grid, rustic frontier lodge is a phenomenal stopover or basecamp for every adventure rider. Playing host to several 3-day annual rally's and offering hundreds of miles of trails through BLM land right from the front door, owners Scott and Julie Stevenson will make you feel like family. They've owned the 3 Step Hideaway since 2013 and in this episode, Scott tells us how he went from masonry contractor to owner of one of the most unique off-road B&B's in the country. Enjoy the episode!

In this episode, we catch up with adventure seeker, photographer, and author Mathew Sturtevant and his equally impressive riding and life partner, Gabriella Kiss. Mathew's new book, The Topography of Fear has just been released and on the show, we talk about his struggles with anxiety and how he used 2 wheels and the Trans-America Trail (TAT) to help him overcome and wrestle with some of his biggest fears. Mathew's book can be purchased at www.thetopographyoffear.com.  Be sure to stay tuned to the end of the episode for the Epilogue to hear  the crazy story of how through our discussion on this podcast we realized we had actually met Gabriella more than 3 years ago on the trail of the Washington Backcountry Discovery Route (BDR).Links to Mathew's book and picture of Mathew, Gabriella, and their adventures and more information about  Adventure Motorcycle USA can be found at www.adventuremotorcycle.com

In this episode, we catch up with Nathan Jenkins a serious Adventure Rider who grew up in a hippie commune in the hills of Northwest Arkansas. Nathan is an unofficial ambassador for Arkansas adventure riding and can point you to every good trail, creek crossing, and café in the State. He can tell you about every good piece of adventure gear, technology, and upgrade out there and probably buys and sells more motorcycles each month than some dealerships.  If you haven’t hooked up your rear tire into some Arkansas dirt, you’re certainly missing some of the best dual-sport and adventure riding in the country. We talk to Nathan about growing up on motorcycles, some of the best spots for Adventure riders, and pin him down in a rapid-fire “best of” list. Enjoy the episode.

In this episode of the Adventure Motorcycle USA podcast, I sit down with Tiernan Turner and Matt Kendall, best friends who paired their love of adventure travel and film-making and set out on Suzuki DRZ400 Supermoto's to ride 10,000 miles from the US to Brazil to attend the world-famous Carnival. Their award-winning documentary Ride Report: 10,000 Miles to Rio, isn't new, but perfectly captures the fact that you don't have the be the best rider or the most accomplished adventurer to set out on an epic journey. Hear their tails from the trail and how a two and a half month adventure motorcycle journey changed how they tackle problems in their everyday lives. Enjoy the episode.http://www.adventuremotorcycleusa.com/