Unless your camping enthusiast friend or loved one is the kind of person who tries to camp totally tech-free, they’ll require a way to charge devices, power lights, and fans, and do anything else that requires electricity. But traditional gas-powered generators are noisy and smelly, ruining the pristine vibes of a camping excursion. Instead, the camper in your life will appreciate the quiet efficiency of an electric power station. It’s a simple concept — nothing more than a big battery with outlets and ports — that has transformative implications for their next camping trip. There’s also never been a better time to shop for electric generators. We’ve seen a wave of new products that aim to provide serious power with maximum portability.
If you want a gift that’s pure overkill, the Anker SOLIX F2000, has a 2,048 Wh capacity and outputs at 2,400 W. It can power a small household, yet it’s totally portable, with an extending handle and wheels. It can be connected to solar panels for totally renewable energy but also charges from an AC outlet. Around the outside are four regular outlets, a 30 Amp RV outlet, two cigarette lighter-style DC car outlets, two USB-C outlets, and two USB-A outlets.
For something that won’t break the bank quite as much, consider checking out the EcoFlow River 2 Pro, a power station the company rates with a 768Wh capacity and 800W of output. It’s still plenty of power for a camping expedition with four standard AC outlets, one DC outlet, three USB-A outlets, and a single 100W USB-C outlet. It’s also much lighter than the Anker, weighing 17.2 pounds.
What kind of traveler are you? Do you meticulously plan every detail or do you prefer to be spontaneous and see where the journey takes you?
However, in some cases, you may not have a choice due to time constraints or fixed appointments.
Dealing with unexpected events like road closures or heavy traffic can be very stressful, and it’s important to find a balance between reaching your destination on time and staying calm.
Amanda Zito, known for her travel and motorcycle camping videos on YouTube as As the Magpie Flies, has mastered the art of adapting to unexpected challenges during her bike travels.
Having a positive attitude is crucial, especially during the hectic holiday season when things often don’t go as planned. Whether in life or on the road, maintaining a calm and adaptable mindset is key.
Wishing you a wonderful time with your loved ones, despite any unexpected changes. You may even consider sharing this video with others to introduce them to the concept of relaxed motocamping in nature.
“I had to do something because Jonny (Walker) was just kind of running away with it,” said Hart. It was a big relief after winning the first moto. We got a new suspension setting for this week, and I almost instantly knew that this weekend was going to be good.” Photo Jack Jaxson
FMF/KTM’s Trystan Hart won the Idaho EnduroCross double header, taking the overall wins on both days in front of a sellout crowd at Hero’s Arena in Idaho Falls. Despite the wins, defending champ Jonny Walker still leads the overall championship standings.
Hart finished 1-2-1 and 1-2-2 over the two days, allowing him to close the gap in the championship standings. Hart and FactoryONE Sherco’s Cody Webb are now tied for second place with 92 points each.
FRIDAY
On Friday, Hart dominated with a 1-2-1 moto score. He mentioned that good starts were crucial and he managed to hold a good gap throughout the races.
Walker experienced some difficulties, as he finished second and fourth on the two days.
Walker went down in the third moto, but still came away with second overall for the night with a 2-4-3 score.
Webb had a successful night, finishing third overall with a 5-3-2 score.
Both Trystan Hart and Cody Webb had a great weekend in Idaho, and now fully in the hunt for the championship. Photo Jack JaxsonDespite several falls, Rockstar Energy Husqvarna’s Colton Haaker was fourth on Friday night after going 4-1-5, although his win in the second moto was flag-to-flag.
On Saturday, Hart continued his winning streak with a 1-2-2 score, securing his overall win. Haaker and Webb also had impressive performances, with Haaker winning the second moto and Webb dominating the third moto.
Colton Haaker is trending way up after the Idaho Double header. He’s having a bit of bad luck, but a moto win is good for the headspace. Photo Jack Jaxson
Webb expressed satisfaction with his consistent performance and mentioned that he is back in the hunt for the championship.
Although Walker still holds the point lead, he struggled with the track and finished fourth overall on both days.
Cody Webb: “It was a good weekend, I feel like I didn’t quite have that aggressiveness tonight, but I had the consistency, and I put myself in the right place at the right time, and now I’m back in the hunt.”
In the EX Women’s Pro division, Rachel Gutish won all four motos and showcased her technical skills.
In the overall standings, Walker remains in first place with 103 points, followed by Hart and Webb tied for second with 92 points each.
Are you someone who primarily rides on paved streets but is interested in off-road riding? If so, seasoned adventure riding instructor Bret Tkacs has some valuable advice for you. Tkacs, who is comfortable and familiar with riding on paved roads, shares a video where he provides guidance for first-time adventure riders like us.
One of the first things Tkacs mentions is that off-road riding often involves gravel roads. These roads may have tracks left by four-wheeled vehicles, making the surface more solid and packed compared to the loose stuff in the middle. However, regardless of the surface, it will still feel different from riding on a smooth, paved road. Therefore, it’s essential for street riders like us to get accustomed to how the bike feels on such surfaces.
Speed Up
Tkacs points out that riding too slow due to fear and unfamiliarity with the terrain can actually be detrimental to the bike’s stability. He suggests that dual sport bikes are happier and more stable when ridden within the 25-to-35 mile per hour speed range, rather than at speeds between five to 15 miles per hour. While slow speeds may seem tempting for beginners, they don’t contribute to a better riding experience. Tkacs reminds himself and us that going too slow won’t help improve our off-road skills.
During my experience riding Honda’s XR150L dual sport bike earlier in 2023, another journalist advised me with a simple yet effective phrase: “when in doubt, throttle out.” This advice may sound straightforward, but it proved to be helpful on multiple occasions. It’s important to find the right balance and avoid both excessive speed and excessive slowness.
Body Positioning and Attitude Count
While body positioning and attitude are important both on and off road, they differ slightly in off-road riding. Tkacs indicates that during your first off-road experience, it’s perfectly fine to sit down on the bike. Standing up on the foot pegs can be helpful in controlling the bike, but it’s not necessary if you’re still learning. The initial focus should be on adapting to how the bike moves and feels beneath you.
Body positioning becomes crucial in off-road riding. Unlike street riding where you lean and counterbalance in a specific way, off-road riding requires you to move the bike beneath you while keeping your body perpendicular to the ground. It may feel strange initially to push the bike away from you, but with practice, it will become more natural.
It’s completely normal to feel frustrated and angry while trying to learn something new. However, just like in street riding, having a negative mindset during off-road riding can lead to unfavorable outcomes. If you’re not in the right mindset, it’s best to take a break, relax, and refuel. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself; remember that off-road riding is meant to be enjoyable.
Other Important Notes
Tkacs also provides information on appropriate gear for off-road riding and highlights the most common injuries. Collarbone, rib, and foot/ankle injuries are among the most frequent. To avoid rib injuries, Tkacs advises adjusting body positioning and avoiding the habit of holding your arms as you would on a street bike.
When it comes to protecting your feet and ankles, choosing boots with good ankle protection and stiff soles is crucial. While motocross boots offer the highest level of protection, a solid pair of adventure touring boots is the minimum requirement. Speaking from personal experience, spraining an ankle due to insufficient ankle protection in street boots is something I strongly discourage.
Latest marketing campaign puts spotlight on a new modern family, that requires a new kind of vehicle
PLANO, Texas (Sept. 27, 2023) – For far too long, choosing a seat in an SUV has determined the quality of the journey. Passengers often compete for the best seat, fighting for a front-row USB plug or playing games to avoid a cramped third row. In its new marketing campaign for the first-ever 2024 TX, Lexus embraces a new family pecking order where everyone wins. Whether passengers prefer the front, back, or middle seat, the TX provides ample space, comfort, technology, and luxury.
Lexus customers have long requested a genuine three-row SUV, and with the introduction of the TX, the brand offers more than just transportation. It ensures a enjoyable journey for all.
“When heading to a sports practice with gear and kids, or taking a long ride to a weekend getaway, the TX will satisfy and delight the diverse needs of our customers,” said Vinay Shahani, vice president of Lexus marketing. “The arrival of the TX is a significant moment for Lexus, and our marketing campaign showcases a new era of three-row luxury, where every seat is crafted to feel like the best seat.”
Broadcast Spots
The marketing campaign features eight broadcast spots that highlight how every seat in the TX provides substantial space without compromising luxurious amenities. The spots have wide-reaching and targeted audiences.
In Team One’s spot, “Battle Out There,” a tired family returns to the airport after a long day of traveling. Their memories of bad seats fade away when they enter the spacious Lexus TX. The characters and their unique travel pain points are further explored in three 15-second spots: “Cargo,” “Captain’s Chair,” and “Interface.” These spots highlight the redemption the family members experience when they enter each row of the TX.
In Walton Isaacson’s spot, “The Road Best Traveled,” a Black family enjoys unexpected activities in unexpected ways with the help of the TX. In the agency’s second spot, “Cast of Characters,” a Hispanic family loves doing things together but in different ways. The TX’s ample space and innovative technology prove to be the perfect solution, allowing every passenger to shine.
In IW Group’s spot, “VVIPs,” stylish East Asian characters connect in their TX during an action thriller. In the agency’s second spot, “Here,” a family prepares for a big modern Asian Indian wedding, showcasing lively traditions and connections made possible by the TX.
Media Placements
The marketing campaign aims to position the TX as a central topic of conversation by appearing on various media platforms, including linear TV, streaming TV, audio, digital, programmatic, paid social, and print. Strategic partnerships will be formed with Billboard Music Awards, 100 Thieves, NTWRK, and others. TikTok, Instagram/Meta, and Pinterest will feature paid social ads.
Lexus is passionate about bold design, innovative technology, and exhilarating performance, enabling the luxury brand to create incredible experiences for its customers. With its beginnings in 1989, Lexus started with two luxury sedans and a commitment to pursue perfection. Since then, Lexus has expanded its lineup to cater to the needs of luxury customers in over 90 countries. In the United States, Lexus vehicles are available at 244 dealerships, offering a full range of luxury vehicles. As the leader in luxury hybrid vehicles, Lexus offers eight models equipped with Lexus Hybrid Drive. Additionally, Lexus provides nine F SPORT models, one F performance model, and one F model. Lexus is dedicated to being a visionary brand that anticipates the future needs of luxury customers.
Apple’s pricing controls make it unlikely to find significant sales on the newest iPhones immediately after their release, usually in September for the flagship and March for the iPhone SE. While there may be carrier promotions offering increased trade-in value or conditional bill credits, these won’t benefit those looking to buy the phone outright at a discount. So, when can you find significant iPhone discounts?
If you’re interested in the previous model year’s phone, its price usually drops after the announcement of the newest model. This also increases the chances of finding additional discounts during major holiday sale events like Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday, Memorial Day, Labor Day, and Amazon’s Prime Day.
Therefore, the best time to buy the current iPhone is typically during the winter through spring months, with Memorial Day being the most favorable holiday relative to Apple’s release cycle. While you may come across other sales for Prime Day and Labor Day, it is generally advisable to wait until the new model is released unless the discount is exceptionally high compared to Apple’s usual price drops year over year.
If you’re in search of a unique and emotionally inspiring American sportbike, then look no further than the 2009 Magpul Ronin 47. Crafted by Magpul engineers after American sportbike manufacturer Buell ceased operations, only 47 of these bikes were made.
The team acquired 50 Buell 1125R machines from dealers with excess inventory in 2010 and transformed them into the exceptional motorcycles you see today as part of the Magpul Ronin Project. Each of the 47 bikes was named after one of the 47 ronins from Japanese legends. This specific bike, number 37, takes its name from Oishi Nobukiyo, which is displayed on the bike’s details and the small wooden tool case that includes a multitool that came with the original purchase.
The Ronin features a 1,125cc Rotax Helicon V-twin engine paired with a six-speed gearbox. The bike has a belt drive system clearly visible in the photos. Ronin utilized the Buell 1125R’s frame and swingarm but added a cast aluminum girder fork in the front and adjustable Penske monoshocks in the front and rear.
20Photos
Additional notable features of the Ronin include 17-inch alloy wheels, a ZTL perimeter front brake disc, carbon fiber fenders and airbox, bar-end turn signals and mirrors, a ceramic-coated exhaust system, a black solo saddle, and an RFID key and immobilizer.
The seller purchased this bike new and has been the sole owner ever since. It has only been ridden 1,700 miles, all by the seller. The annual service work, primarily oil changes, was performed by John Schwaig of Ronin Motorworks.
Originally purchased in Ohio, this bike currently holds a clean Ohio title. It is located in Denver, Colorado, where Ronin is also situated, but can be shipped to the winning bidder. As of August 1, 2023, the current bid on Bring a Trailer is $37,000. The auction is set to conclude on Thursday, August 3, 2023, at 1:28 p.m. Eastern Time.
Although the Pixel Fold is a Google phone, it is important to note that it is the first generation of its kind. This means that there may be some hardware issues. Unfortunately, there have already been reports of poor quality, with most of the problems related to the inner foldable screen. One buyer complained on Reddit that their inner foldable screen broke after just one day of use. Another customer voiced their frustration on Reddit about a pink line appearing on the screen after only a few hours of use. There was also a Reddit post mentioning the peeling of the protective cover of the inner foldable screen after approximately five hours of use.
Not sure if I got a lemon review unit, but the hinge is making a cracking/clicking sound every time I unfold the Pixel Fold.
Google is replacing it, but I really hope it’s not widespread on devices shipping to consumers pic.twitter.com/iXwCdlnoC9
Ron Amadeo from ArsTechnica experienced a malfunction with his review unit’s screen within a few days, and Raymond Wong from Inverse mentioned on Twitter that the hinge parts produced a crackling sound. In addition, there have been numerous complaints on Reddit about erratic or delayed shipments of Pixel Fold orders. Although Google has not yet made an official statement about the faulty Pixel Fold units, it may be wise to wait a few weeks and assess the experiences of a broader audience before spending $1,800 on the phone.
The BMW Group has teamed up with AirConsole, a gaming platform, to introduce a unique in-car gaming experience for the first time in the new BMW 5 Series. Passengers and drivers can enjoy playing casual games while the vehicle is stationary, waiting for the vehicle to charge or a meeting to start, for instance. The AirConsole app will be introduced in other BMW vehicles, but the new BMW 5 Series will be the first. The BMW i5 with a unique gaming design created by the BMW Group Design will be unveiled exclusively for the new BMW 5 Series launch.
The in-car gaming experience is easy with the smartphone acting as the controller and the BMW Curved Display. Starting the AirConsole app in the vehicle and scanning a QR code on the Curved Display intuitively establishes the connection between the smartphone and car. Multiple players can go straight into playing, and the app can support participation from rear passengers as well. Players can play alone, jointly, or in competition mode.
AirConsole offers casual games that are easy to understand and control, including racing, sports, quizzes, music quizzes, simulation, strategy, jump-and-run, and puzzle games, with about 15 titles available for the market introduction of the new BMW 5 Series saloon. Examples of the games available at launch include “Go Kart Go”, “Golazo”, “Music Guess,” and “Overcooked”.
To mark the launch of in-car gaming, the BMW Group presents a BMW i5 with a unique gaming wrap that honours the 8-bit era of computer games, with large pixels serving as a symbol for the gaming experience and a nod to the various games available on AirConsole. The design captures the essence of the in-car gaming solution of AirConsole, where users leverage their smartphones as controllers to access all gameplay options.
Other BMW models from the mid-range and luxury segments will gradually get the AirConsole app. BMW Operating System 8.5 updating via Remote Software Upgrade will be set up for BMW 7 Series made after 07/22 and BMW iX made after 03/23, as well as BMW X5, BMW X6, BMW X7, BMW XM, BMW X5 M, BMW X6 M produced after 04/23.
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