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justinhughes54.com
A shadowy flight into the dangerous world of a nerdy writer, editor, van lifer, motorcycle rider, ham radio geek, and all-around weirdo. Writer at Jalopnik, ADVRider, and elsewhere. a.k.a. Smokey Da Van, Knerd Rider.
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"It was not a good day when my Honda PC800's hydraulic clutch, which used glycol brake fluid, sprang a leak all over the bike's rare unobtainium bodywork." It destroyed the support for the left engine vent, which I had to zip-tie into place from that point on. #motosky

So say we all!

We're getting dangerously close to this point in LA.

I haven’t seen all-dressed chips since leaving New England. Yesterday I found them at Walmart in Arkansas! I had to get some, not just for myself but also to share a taste of the north with my southern family. They actually liked it. 😊

Beta's sales are booming, despite several factors working against it.

I suppose "lifetime" transmission fluid really will last the life of the car if you never change it, drastically shortening the car's lifetime.

Leave it to Tesla to reinvent the wheel in a way so bad it's costing lives.

I’ll just leave this here.

A cold air intake might add a little horsepower sometimes, but I mainly do it for the sound it makes.

I like planes, too.

Not to worry, I'm still writing about motorcycles. #motosky

Guilty as charged.

My first publication at Jalopnik! (Not my first article. These things sometimes come out in a different order than they are created.)

I haven't posted much lately. Been busy getting up to speed at Jalopnik in addition to all my other work. But it's going well, and my first stories will start being published on Sunday. 🙂

Just saying…

I wish my prediction hadn’t been so accurate so soon. 🙁

A bit over 10 years ago, I thought to myself, "I wonder if I could write something good enough to get published on Jalopnik?" I honed my skills in the Oppositelock community and started occasionally getting posts reshared to the front page of Jalopnik, back when they did that. 🧵

Do you like Itchy Boots? You'll like her book. Don't know Itchy Boots? You'll still like her book. #motosky #advrider

Me too.

(also I like attention)

During my 2022 visit to Mt. St. Helens, I parked my camper van at the visitor center and rode my apocalypse-ready KLR650 out to Johnston Ridge. The ranger I talked to first thought that was a great idea. #motosky

Mt. St. Helens blew its top 45 years ago today. This picture is from my visit three years ago. If I’d been standing here when it blew, the pyroclastic flow would’ve taken me out.

This seems worth repeating.

Hells Librarians🔥 #LibrarySky #ReadToLive

This is what driving a Polaris Slingshot through the Arkansas Dragon is like. Full review to come on ADVRider (and perhaps beyond…?)

This, right here, is why Itchy Boots canceled her US book tour. Of all the sketchy places she’s been, the US is where she doesn’t feel safe, because of this. It’s not paranoia if it’s actually happening.

I've been pretty quiet here lately. All is well, just busy. Been trying to write up a bunch of reviews before starting a new gig next week. 🙂 I'm not giving up any of my current work, but I'm also jumping back into the auto-writing game. Pic for tax, a cat robbing my camper van's solar power.

Here's how I had the opportunity to not only meet but also sit inside one of my childhood heroes, KITT from Knight Rider.

I met one of my heroes today.

Just saw the SE BDR movie. Looks like yet another epic route! Goes live on YouTube on June 4. #motosky #ridebdr

Here’s the damage after we hit a stupid vulture. 😮 None at all, maybe moved my spotlight a little. It was more of a glancing blow as it flew low across our path, and I was hard on the brakes when i saw it coming. We didn’t even knock it out of the sky so I imagine it’s not hurt too bad. #motosky