Chris Birch - What Works, What Doesn’t, And How To Select The Moto Gear That’s Right For You

When it comes to adventure riding gear, the options are endless—mesh, laminated, vented, lightweight, heavy-duty. With so many choices, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. What matters in riding gear? How much protection is enough? And what trade-offs should you be aware of? To get clarity, we turned to Chris Birch. A lifelong motorcyclist who’s raced local dirt tracks in New Zealand, competed on the world stage in hard enduro, and now travels the globe on adventure bikes, Chris has seen it all. In this episode, he shares hard-earned insights on what works, what doesn’t, and how to choose the gear that’s right for you.When it comes to adventure riding gear, the options are endless—mesh, laminated, vented, lightweight, heavy-duty. With so many choices, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. What matters in riding gear? How much protection is enough? And what trade-offs should you be aware of? To get clarity, we turned to Chris Birch. A lifelong motorcyclist who’s raced local dirt tracks in New Zealand, competed on the world stage in hard enduro, and now travels the globe on adventure bikes, Chris has seen it all. In this episode, he shares hard-earned insights on what works, what doesn’t, and how to choose the gear that’s right for you.

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

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Fifteen years on the road—and no major disasters. Elsebie and Michnus Olivier of PikiPiki Overland share how they’ve dodged mechanical meltdowns, sketchy border crossings, and costly mistakes while traveling by motorcycle —including one tense moment in Sudan that could have gone very wrong. Is it luck… or a skill you can learn?

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode:
We release new episodes of ARR every week on Thursday and of RAW on the 21st of every month—full of inspiring stories, expert advice, and insight from the world of adventure motorcycling. Hit subscribe so you never miss out!

💡 Got an Idea?
Have a guest suggestion or topic you’d love us to cover? We’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email through our website.

⭐️ Leave a Review:
Enjoying the show? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app goes a long way in helping others discover the show.

📱 Follow Us:
Join our growing community on Facebook and Instagram. Let’s stay connected!

🙌 Support the Show:
Love what we do? Help keep the adventure alive by supporting us. Your contribution allows us to keep bringing you great content week after week.

📤 Share the Show:
Know someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! Word of mouth helps us grow and reach more riders around the world.

📬 Join Our Newsletter:
Be the first to hear about new episodes, bonus content, and more! Sign up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio.

🙏 Thanks for Listening!
We truly appreciate you being part of our adventure community. Until next time—ride safe and keep exploring!

Elisa Rosales lay on her back, head spinning, gasping for air. Her bike lay a few feet away, right where she had dropped it. Darkness pressed at the edges of her vision, and she fought the pull to let go, to drift into sleep. The ground beneath her was cold; she was cold. This was her first motorcycle adventure. She and her husband had set out from Argentina, bound for Arizona, but that destination felt impossibly far from where she now lay in the Andes, at nearly 16,000 feet. And the hardest part of the journey was only beginning.

🔗 Show Notes & Links:
Find photos, links, and resources related to this episode on our website at Adventure Rider Radio.

🎧 Subscribe & Never Miss an Episode:
We release new episodes of ARR every week on Thursday and of RAW on the 21st of every month—full of inspiring stories, expert advice, and insight from the world of adventure motorcycling. Hit subscribe so you never miss out!

💡 Got an Idea?
Have a guest suggestion or topic you’d love us to cover? We’d love to hear from you! Drop us an email through our website.

⭐️ Leave a Review:
Enjoying the show? A 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or your favorite podcast app goes a long way in helping others discover the show.

📱 Follow Us:
Join our growing community on Facebook and Instagram. Let’s stay connected!

🙌 Support the Show:
Love what we do? Help keep the adventure alive by supporting us. Your contribution allows us to keep bringing you great content week after week.

📤 Share the Show:
Know someone who would enjoy this episode? Share it with them! Word of mouth helps us grow and reach more riders around the world.

📬 Join Our Newsletter:
Be the first to hear about new episodes, bonus content, and more! Sign up for our newsletter at Adventure Rider Radio.

🙏 Thanks for Listening!
We truly appreciate you being part of our adventure community. Until next time—ride safe and keep exploring!