Hi, inmates! Welcome to Straightaway, a semi-regular interview feature on the world of motorcycling, but particularly adventure riding and travel. The moto scene is full of insiders who aren’t necessarily well-known to the public (because they don’t hype themselves), but they have unique, share-worthy experiences, insights and contributions to the world of riding. This series talks to those riders as well as some of the better-known faces in the industry!
This week, we’re talking to Jake Bolles. Jake is behind the Jake Rides Away channel on YouTube. It’s not a huge endeavor like the big-name West Coast moto-creators, with multiple updates per week, or high production values to shill products. It’s just a travelogue of the rides that Jake takes to escape from New York City. But during the COVID-19 lockdowns, it gave hundreds of thousands of people a chance to travel the US by motorcycle, virtually, through his Across America series. Unlike so many of these series which are big on self-promotion and feature big touring bikes, Jake’s series was built around a simple Triumph Bonneville, and showed us America, not his own life. For that reason, we thought it was worth getting to know him better—read on!
One of the great things about this channel is the lack of self-promotion, which allows the viewer to imagine themselves in the bike’s saddly…. but of course, Jake *does* have a face, and this is it… somewhat obscured by a moto helmet. Photo: Jake Bolles
ADVrider: First off: Who *are you*, and what drove you to motorcycles, motorcycle travel, and then sharing those experiences?
Jake Bolles: My name is Jake! I’m currently living in Brooklyn, NY and I work as a freelance audio engineer. Living in the city actually sparked my interest in riding, I was tired of relying on cramped subway cars and pricey taxis. I also wanted to be able to escape the city on a whim wherever I needed some air, a motorcycle seemed like the perfect solution. My neighbor also just happened to be an adventure rider, so hearing his stories whenever he came back inspired me to take more and more trips. I never planned on sharing these experiences to the world, just family and friends, but I’m so glad they have inspired a few others to get on two wheels.
ADVrider: How does your riding through rural America contrast with your day-to-day life in NYC?
Jake Bolles: It’s obviously a pretty stark difference. The best part about riding a motorcycle is slipping into that flow state where it’s just you, the road, and the wind. Everything else just gets left behind in the dust. But in the city, it’s a pretty stressful experience. You spend more time pulling the clutch than the throttle, rarely getting above 15 mph, worrying about cars and pedestrians and bikes and potholes, praying for a little breeze to take some of the heat, and just worrying about getting to your destination as quickly as possible. When I’m riding through rural America, I feel like I’m the best version of myself. I’m not stressed or cursing at red lights, I’ll gladly take the time to talk to a stranger at the pump, I’ll pull over to enjoy the view, I’ll laugh to myself while leaning into a turn. Knowing that side of riding makes owning a bike in the city worth it. One thing that is similar is the biker community. You’ll always find people to ride with or help you in a pinch whether in rural or urban areas.
ADVrider: Your Jake Rides Away channel has several videos telling about your two-wheeled getaways from New York City, to the Cabot Trail, to Iceland, and even a cross-America trip. And, some more local weekend stuff. What’s your favorite kind of motorcycle trip?
Jake Bolles: The long, sabbatical-like trips are incredible. But the more local weekend stuff is what I love. The “on a whim” spirit of a weekend trip is something that works so well with motorcycling. Throwing a quick pack together, taking your time on the ride, and just when you’re starting to get a little stiff, getting to your campsite and cracking open a beer by the fire. It’s low pressure and almost always just what the doctor ordered.
The Bonneville in the mountains. While so many YouTubers who focus on travel are basing their adventures of big-bore tourers, Jake doesn’t have a batwing fairing or mega-stereo. It’s just him, a lot of strapped-down luggage, and the road. Photo: Jake Bolles
ADVrider: As far as putting together a travel video, what works better; a long trip, or a short trip?
Jake Bolles: That’s a great question, I never really thought about that. Honestly, the easiest video I ever put together was the cross country series. And I’m not sure if that’s because of the fact that I had four subscribers then and just made it for myself and my friends, or because the footage was so straightforward and sequential. I definitely feel the pressure of getting more interesting footage as my audience grows, but I also enjoy putting it all together in an entertaining way.
ADVrider: Most people recommend a high-power touring bike for long-distance riding. How do you find your basic Bonneville shapes your experiences along the road?
Jake Bolles: I understand where they’re coming from, I’m sure it’s a lot more comfortable to use a touring bike. And it definitely depends on what kind of trip you’re doing, there is no chance my Bonneville would have made the Iceland trip. But at the end of the day, whatever bike you feel you have a connection to is the best bike for long distance, one that you know inside and out. My long trips feel a lot more personal when I’m using my bike, and now I sometimes just stare at it and think of it as a tired old travel companion and a trophy of all the physical and emotional hurdles I’ve ridden over. Also, seeing the confused look on peoples faces when I tell them where I drove from with all the gear never gets old.
ADVrider: If you wanted to replace it, what would you be looking for?
Jake Bolles: I’d never replace my Bonneville. But if I were on the search for a new bike I’d be looking at something that I could easily work on, didn’t have plastic all over it, had a comfortable upright riding position, a double seat for a bag, a friend, or wiggle room, low vibration, a good reliable reputation, and had a large variety of aftermarket parts to help it suit my specific needs.
ADVrider: Your east-to-west cross-America trip has far more views than anything else on your channel. What can you tell us about that trip—why did you go, what did you learn, and why did it resonate with millions of viewers?
Jake Bolles: I think I posted those videos in a time when we all needed an escape. I rode that trip in the fall, edited over the winter, and by the time spring hit, so did COVID. For the next year, most of the comments were describing how thankful people were for a reminder of the outside world, and I’m beyond honored to have given even a few people a minute of relief or hope. I also think we can all resonate with the spirit of adventure and that feeling you get when you have the courage to leave your comfort zone. I went on this trip because I caught that spirit and decided I needed to see my own country before I went anywhere else, a place that I have lived in all my life but have never seen most of. Seeing the country evolve over thousands of miles gave me an entirely new perspective than if I had just bounced around from place to place on a plane. I saw the landscapes change and the people and their communities and accents and demeanors change with it. It was honestly a beautiful, though small, sampling of humanity and it proved to me that no matter where you go and no matter how deep the mud is that you’re standing in, some stranger will always stand in it with you to help you out.
ADVrider: What’s your next big trip plan, or is that trip a long way off?
Jake Bolles: This probably isn’t the answer you’re looking for, but between you, me, and the readers, I’m planning a pretty big pivot for my life and the channel. I’ve found myself in a pretty interesting position with work and life and recently made the decision to move onto my sailboat. I’ll be sailing it from NYC to Maine this summer, so, that’ll be a pretty big adventure. I do plan on filming and posting it even though it’ll be a stretch from the usual videos. I’ll still have my Bonneville up in Maine and I can’t wait to explore the roads and beautiful camping spots up there… I think it’ll give me a chance to post a lot more content about both motorcycling and sailing. I’m blaming the bug I caught on my cross country trip that never let go. Spending as much time in nature and seeing new things is now a pretty big priority of mine and I think this will allow me to do that, and hopefully it’ll continue to inspire others to do the same. Besides all that, I do have a Switzerland motorcycle trip planned to a t on the back burner, and I’m really looking forward to the day when I can cross that off my list.
