St. George, Utah · The Open Road

Adventure
Touring
Lifestyle

"It's more about the travel to the destination than the destination itself."

4
Bikes in the Garage
250–300
Miles Per Day
∞
Roads Left to Ride
Scroll
The Philosophy

Rhythm,
Flow &
Good Company

"Adventure touring means spending time with your good buddies — riding at a pace through twisties on and off-road with a nice rhythm and flow, with a destination that's interesting."


The fun is the conversation through the intercoms — commenting on the scenery, beautiful sunsets, debating where to take coffee or lunch. In the evening we recount the day's ride, usually 250 to 300 miles of open desert, high mountain passes, or canyon roads.

Whether we're heading to Borrego Springs to meet up with our California amigos — all skilled riders both on road and off — or threading the high passes of Colorado, the formula never changes: a tight group of skilled riders, a loose plan, and the open road.

The Machines

The Garage

Four bikes. Four personalities. One for every kind of adventure — from continent-crossing expeditions to gnarly single-track deep in the desert.

KTM 1290 Super Adventure R
KTM
1290 Super
Adventure R
The flagship. Tech-loaded, powerful, and bred for long-distance adventure. High-speed dirt roads, desert crossings, and two-up touring with Kathy.
KTM 790 Adventure
KTM
790
Adventure
The sweet spot. Light enough to get technical, capable enough for all-day riding. The go-to machine when the trails get interesting.
KTM 640 Adventure
KTM
640
Adventure
The classic. Legendary single-cylinder thumper — lean, flickable, and honest. For tight trails and old-school adventure riding the way it was meant to be.
GasGas EC450F
GasGas
EC 450F
The dirt weapon. Pure enduro machine — no compromises, no creature comforts. When the terrain gets serious, this is the tool for the job.
Where We Ride

Favorite
Destinations

🏜️
Southern California
Borrego Springs
Desert canyons, sweeping washes, and palm-lined oases. Our California amigos know every line through the Anza-Borrego desert — one of the best riding regions in the Southwest.
🌵
California / Nevada
The Mojave
Big open spaces, old mining roads, and the kind of silence that clears your head. The Mojave rewards riders who know where to look — and we do.
🏔️
Colorado
High Passes
Million Dollar Highway, Ophir Pass, Engineer Mountain — Colorado's high passes demand respect and reward you with views that stop you cold. Thin air, big miles, unforgettable riding.
🦬
Montana
Beartooth Pass
Arguably the finest motorcycle road in America. At nearly 11,000 feet, the switchbacks above Red Lodge are a pilgrimage every serious rider must make.
🌲
Idaho
Lolo Pass · Lewis & Clark Hwy
Following the Lewis and Clark Highway through the Bitterroot Mountains — dense forest, wild rivers, and history carved into every mile of Hwy 12.
🌊
Baja California
Baja Peninsula
The peninsula that started it all. Boojum cactus, desert bivouacs, Pacific sunsets, and the spirit of Baja that never leaves you. Hola, Baja.
On the Road

The Ride in Pictures

Burr Trail Utah
Burr Trail · Utah
Map reading on the trail
Where are we? · Map check on the trail
Changing a flat on the trail
Part of the adventure · Changing a flat
Getting the flat fixed
All hands on deck · Flat repair crew
Favorite chef in Creede, Colorado
Favorite chef · Creede, Colorado
Roadrunner in the Mojave
Desert wildlife · Roadrunner, Mojave
Fun in Las Vegas
Night stop · Las Vegas
Rod Bush President KTM
Rod Bush · President KTM · Childhood friend
Joe Malcolm Smith and son Alexander
Joe, Malcolm Smith & son Alexander
Dakar team with Malcolm Smith Death Valley
Dakar team · Malcolm Smith · Death Valley 2004
USA Dakar Team Joe Team Manager
USA Dakar Team · Joe, Team Manager
Marc Coma Dakar Champion Africa
Marc Coma · Dakar Champion · Africa
Joe Barker Dakar Africa
Joe Barker · Dakar · Africa 2006
Joe Barker ISDT Trophy Team
ISDT Trophy Team · Joe Barker
Joe 1973 Gold Medal 125 Penton KTM
1973 Gold Medal · 125 Penton/KTM · jose'
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Joe Barker canyon rim selfie
Joe · Canyon rim · KTM gear
Dakar 2006 finish Senegal KTM team
Dakar 2006 finish · KTM team · Senegal
Joe Barker Dakar Team Manager 2006
Joe Barker · Dakar Team Manager · 2006
Three moto amigos coffee before dawn
Three moto amigos · Coffee before dawn
1973 Penton USA classic enduro bike
1973 Penton USA #67 · Classic enduro
Red rock canyon dirt road Southern Utah
Red rock canyon dirt road · Southern Utah
Joe Flechsig cold Dakar bivouac
Cold night at the bivouac · Dakar
Red Bull tent Death Valley bivouac 2004
Red Bull tent · Death Valley bivouac · 2004
Baja crew palapa lunch 2022
Baja crew · Palapa lunch · 2022
Morning bike lineup Baja
Morning bike lineup · Baja
Riding crew St George 2026
Riding crew · St. George · 2026
Fall aspens gravel road mountain Utah
Fall aspens · Gravel road · Mountain Utah
Chris Blais Red Bull KTM Baja
Chris Blais · Red Bull KTM · Baja
Stanley Stomp Cascade Idaho 2025
Stanley Stomp · Cascade, Idaho · 2025
Three adventure bikes Burr Trail Utah
Three bikes · Burr Trail · Utah
California moto crew American Rustic stop
California crew · American Rustic · Road stop
Moto amigos breakfast California 2025
Moto amigos · Breakfast · California 2025
Four riders around campfire at dusk
Camp posse · Fire · End of a good day
Classic Penton MX race action 1970s
Penton MX · Early days · The beginning
Five riders in gear Colorado mountain stop 2026
Colorado crew · Mountain pass stop · 2026
Four KTMs parked Crested Butte street at dusk
KTM fleet · Crested Butte · Espresso stop
Custom Honda trail bike with knobby tires
Custom Honda trail bike · Because why not
Three Cuban women with cigars Havana
Havana · Three ladies · Big cigars
Cuba route map Havana to Santiago
Cuba · Havana to Santiago · The route
Two riders at Bearclaw Poppy trailhead Utah
Dan & Rick · Bearclaw Poppy · St. George
Rider with loaded KTM 1290 at date ranch desert
Loaded KTM 1290 · Date ranch stop · Desert
Siesta Motel neon sign You Made It Now Siesta
Siesta Motel · Mojave · "You Made It Now Siesta"
Two riders relaxing at date ranch Death Valley
Break time · Date ranch · Death Valley
Rider at Elephant Rock Baja giant boulder
Elephant Rock · Baja · One of a kind
Wide shot Elephant Rock Baja desert riders
Elephant Rock · Boojum cactus · Deep Baja
Elvis Presley on Harley Davidson classic photo
The King · Two wheels · Always
Ocotillo and cactus at Entrada St George at dusk
Ocotillo & prickly pear · Entrada · Home
Rider on mountain road through golden aspens Colorado
Into the gold · Colorado fall · Perfect day
Panoramic Colorado valley two bikes golden aspens
Colorado panorama · Fall colors · Two bikes
Rider in full gear standing atop granite cliff Fish Lake
Top of the world · Fish Lake Cliff · Utah
KTM 690 Enduro with flat tire on red dirt trail Blaine
Blain fixes a flat · Red dirt · Part of the deal
Joe with armed African soldiers Red Bull KTM Dakar
Joe & the guards · Red Bull KTM #9 · Africa
Joe surrounded by Baja kids with loaded KTM
Joe & the Baja kids · KTM · Always a crowd
Joe Barker portrait Baja XIV hoodie red rock
Joe Barker · Baja XIV · Ready to ride
Joe studying roadbook on ground Tunisia Dakar
Joe studies the roadbook · Tunisia · Dakar prep
Joe and Kellon with Red Bull KTM 21 in dunes Tunisia 2005
Joe & Kellon · Red Bull KTM · Dakar 2005 · Tunisia
Joe with two kids on red BMW GS in driveway
Next generation · Red BMW GS · The early years
Joe at ISDE Parc Ferme New Zealand world flags
ISDE Parc Fermé · New Zealand · World flags flying
Joe on satellite phone headlamp Dakar bivouac night
Sat phone · Dakar bivouac · 2am logistics
John Penton Story book cover painting Tom Fritz
The John Penton Story · Where it all started
John Wayne on Honda dirt bike classic black and white
The Duke on a Honda · Even cowboys ride
Kathy with Lee Iacocca daughter
Kathy with Lee Iacocca's daughter · Rock star company
Kellon at Dakar bivouac airport camp KTM Red Bull gear
Kellon · Dakar bivouac · Airport camp · Game face
Navajo Bridge Lee Ferry panoramic Arizona
Navajo Bridge · Lee's Ferry · Arizona
Man in red shirt with Great Dane Baja casita
Scooby Jack · Baja host · Best guard dog
Joe and Malcolm Smith in chest protectors Baja palapa
Joe & Malcolm · Baja palapa · Post-ride debrief
Malcolm Smith and young woman MSR gear mountain race
Malcolm Smith & Ashley · Race day · Mountains
Malcolm Smith and Joe at Malcolm booth with poster
Malcolm & Joe · Malcolm Smith Motorsports · Legends
Joe in KTM orange with elderly Mexican woman at ranch
Mama Espinosa & Joe · Baja ranch · Old friends
Shredded inner tube held open showing massive blowout Utah red desert
The offending tube · Blain · When the desert bites back
Panoramic tropical sunset over lagoon with mountains reflecting in water
Grand lagoon sunset · Mountains, palms, and perfect light
Scott and Joe in KTM gear smiling at beachside table with sunset
Scott & Joe · By the sea · KTM orange and smiles
Scorpion on cracked desert floor at night
Desert scorpion · Utah nights · Watch your boots
Cowboy on horseback herding hundreds of sheep across mountain road
Mountain traffic jam · Sheep drive · Western style
Friends silhouetted on patio watching brilliant orange and red desert sunset
Sinagua patio · Desert sunset · Good company
Joshua tree with red rocks and desert blooms under dramatic cloudy sky
Joshua tree · Sinagua · Desert in bloom
Man with Monster Energy hat and HRC hoodie giving thumbs up on airplane
Skyler · Dakar 2026 bound · Thumbs up at 35,000 ft
Gopher snake coiled on dirt trail
Trail gopher snake · Utah · Nature's speed bump
Three riders celebrating on rusted junk car wreck in Baja desert with mountains
T-Boss Tours crew · Baja junk car · Classic photo stop
Malcolm Smith in blue and white moto gear arms crossed portrait
The Great Malcolm Smith · A living legend of off-road
Woman in leather jacket on Moto Guzzi V7 black and white photo
Moto Guzzi V7 · Leather and cool · The moto life
Rider in red suit with BMW GS motorcycle thumbs up Palm Desert
TR rockin' the BMW GS · Palm Desert · Ready to roll
Red Bull KTM rider #21 sideways on dune in Tunisia Dakar prep
Chris Blais · Tunisia · Dakar prep · Full send on the dunes
Two adventure motorcycles riding through hand-carved rock tunnel Fish Lake Utah
Rock tunnel · Fish Lake · One of Utah's coolest trail features
Six Rockstar Energy umbrella girls in pink at motocross race
Rockstar umbrella girls · Race day · The glamour side of moto
Three riders with KTM adventure bikes lined up under trees Utah
Utah ride buds · KTMs lined up · Another great day ahead
Porsche Club of America Las Vegas Region logo
Porsche Club of America · Las Vegas Region · Viva!
∞
The Simple Truth

Every Mile
Is the Point

At the end of the day — whether we've crossed a high Colorado pass in the morning, lunched in a small mountain town, and made camp by evening — it's never about where we ended up. It's the rhythm of the road, the easy conversation between riders on the intercoms, and the shared look when something beautiful appears around a corner that nobody expected.

That's adventure touring. That's the life.

— jose'