News — Reviews

ORBEA OCCAM M10 REVIEW Words by Robert Johnston Photos by Adam Lievesley After Orbea released their re-vamped Rallon platform with plentiful media acclaim, it was inevitable that the shorter travel, all-mountain conquering Occam would see a similar treatment. The separate Occam TR and AM models were consolidated into one; combining aspects from each, and the learnings from the development of the Rallon. The result is this 140mm travel, asymmetrical framed 29er intended for a rider seeking “the best bike for the widest range of conditions”. Orbea supplied the M10 model of the Occam for three months of testing; during which...

Teravail Kessel Tires Review Words & Photos by Rob “The Rake” Dunnet I have always said, if I was rich enough to have a full-time mechanic, I would have them install fresh tires on my bikes after about five rides. I am assuming that if I had a full-time mechanic, then I’d also be rich enough to buy tires in bulk. There is something about those first couple of days on fresh tires that make all riders smile. And I was looking forward to that smile after mounting up my new Teravail Kessel tires. After my experience with the Teravail...

Just 2 hours after purchasing our travel trailer, we sat at an RV resort scratching our heads. That’s when we realized the dealer locked our keys inside. Only minutes later, the park manager arrived on the scene, plucked a ring of keys from his pocket, and after two tries, swung our door wide open. I was pleased — but not happy. That’s when I learned nearly every employee of an RV dealership carries a master key capable of unlocking any coach. It doesn’t work with the deadbolt, but that didn’t make me feel much better. Because our RV serves as...

Just 2 hours after purchasing our travel trailer, we sat at an RV resort scratching our heads. That’s when we realized the dealer locked our keys inside. Only minutes later, the park manager arrived on the scene, plucked a ring of keys from his pocket, and after two tries, swung our door wide open. I was pleased — but not happy. That’s when I learned nearly every employee of an RV dealership carries a master key capable of unlocking any coach. It doesn’t work with the deadbolt, but that didn’t make me feel much better. Because our RV serves as...

Overlanding by motorcycle requires planning and packing for inevitable mechanical issues. Unlike four-wheeled vehicles, packing space is severely limited on a motorcycle. A tool roll is an amazingly space-efficient method of hauling the necessary tools for trailside repairs. The Velomacchi Speedway Tool Roll ($75) does it in a compact form factor that complies with the limited dimensions of bike luggage. I’ve been testing a unit for several months on adventure and dual sport rides in California, Colorado, and Baja Mexico. The Velomacchi Speedway Tool Roll stores, organizes, and keeps tools clean in a compact manner. It helps keep both tools and...