Dave in Portugal – REV’IT on the Trails
Earlier this month Machinehead Moto co-founder Dave headed to Portugal to train with Desert Rose Riding Academy.
The trip was part of his preparation for the upcoming Sand Raiders Rally, where riders take on long days of navigation, sand riding and endurance across Morocco.
Training took place in the mountains around Monchique, an area known for steep, technical enduro terrain.
If you caught the clips we shared on Instagram, you’ll know this wasn’t smooth rally practice.
Monchique throws a bit of everything at you — rocky climbs, loose shale, deep ruts and tight single track through the trees. The kind of terrain where you’re constantly moving around the bike, picking lines and trying to keep traction as the ground shifts under the tyres.
It’s demanding riding. Exactly the sort of environment that quickly shows whether gear actually works.
Testing the REV’IT Pol Tarres Adventure Range
While Dave was out there we also took the opportunity to shoot some photos of the new REV’IT adventure gear developed in collaboration with Pol Tarres.
Tarres is known for pushing adventure bikes far beyond where most riders would normally take them — steep climbs, technical terrain and proper off-road riding that demands gear capable of moving with the rider.
Which made the Monchique mountains a pretty fitting place to test it.
REV’IT later shared some of the images from the shoot — which was a nice moment for us and a reminder that the gear we choose for the shop is always grounded in real riding.
Not studio shoots.
Not catalogue copy.
Just riders putting our gear through its paces.
The range itself is designed with demanding off-road riding in mind — lightweight construction, ventilation and mobility for riders who spend long days standing on the pegs and moving around the bike.
Why It Earned a Place at Machinehead
One of the things we try to do at Machinehead is test gear in the environments it was actually designed for.
Off-road riding puts very different demands on clothing compared with road touring.
You need:
• More movement
• More ventilation
• Lightweight protection
• Gear that works just as well standing up as it does sitting down
Dave’s verdict from Portugal was simple:
“It works exactly how it should off-road.”
Which is exactly what we want to hear.
Next Stop: Loseley Park
The next step is testing the gear closer to our home at Loseley Park trails.
We’ll be putting the REV’IT adventure range through its paces again during our Loseley Park off-road days this April, where riders get the chance to train and ride on the trails just behind the workshop.
It’s the same philosophy we use across the shop.
Ride it.
Test it.
Then decide if it deserves a place on the rails.
Explore the Range
If you're curious about the REV’IT gear developed with Pol Tarres, you can explore the REV’IT range here.
Photography: Roberto Garagarza
London-based photographer and enduro rider capturing motorcycles, travel and adventure.
www.robertogaragarza.com
