A relaxing ramble through rolling Maryland farmlands and the Blue Ridge Mountains with challenging curves and scenic vistas. The best times to go on this loop are May, June, September, and October.

This route includes some of the most breathtaking scenery in the northwest United States, from sweeping vistas atop Mt. Hood to the geological wonder that is the Columbia River Gorge. Spring, summer, and fall are all glorious seasons to experience this road trip.

My eyes snap open. I’m instantly awake as if some internal alarm has been tripped. Against the faint light entering the windows, I see a dark form standing over me. I lay motionless for several long seconds before throwing a roundhouse punch and hit … nothing.

Scanning my map, I quickly realize what an incredible motorcycling wonderland I’ve arrived at. There are not many locales where you can visit the ocean, the rain forest, the mountains, and the desert in a few hours. Oh, and did I mention that three national parks and one monument are also accessible within the ride? The fall daylight is warm and 
inviting, so it seems like a most opportune time to explore the Pacific Northwest.

“Some folks like to get away. Take a holiday from 
the neighborhood. Hop a flight to Miami Beach 
or to Hollywood. But I’m taking a Greyhound on the Hudson River Line. I’m in a New York state of mind.” From the song “New York State of Mind” by Billy Joel

Something’s wrong, I think as rain pours from the skies above Lake City, gateway to the high passes of Colorado’s San Juan Mountains. My eight companions are up there somewhere, riding big, fully loaded adventure bikes on four-wheel-drive roads that climb to almost 13,000 feet.

Under a veil of low morning fog, we quietly slide our motorcycles onto the pontoon and cross the Mekong River for the last time, exiting Laos and entering the most northern realm of the Kingdom of Thailand. After successfully getting the bikes off the float on the other side, without dumping them (or ourselves) into the river, we are riding the spine of the Daen Lao Mountain Range in stifling heat.

Motorcycle in Colombia? “You must be crazy,” my friends say. “We’ve already established that,” I retort. “You’ll have to come up with a more compelling reason to keep me from going.”

Honda has been churning out a slew of exciting new models lately. The new F6B makes a cruiser out of the flagship Gold Wing GL1800 by removing the trunk, trimming the windshield, and reshaping the seat and rear section.

The fact that KTM has been dominating the off-road circuit for years is evident by a sea of orange commonly seen along motocross tracks and trails across the country. With the all-new and versatile 1190 Adventure, the Austrian manufacturer brings the soul and character that defines its “Ready to Race” motto to the street.

Last season we attended a press event in Spain to give us a first impression of BMW’s two new maxi-scooters—the C 650 GT and the C 600 Sport (July/August ‘12 issue). We finally got an opportunity to test these scooters in the U.S., and our second look here includes full specs.