Jan Marc Staelens

Jan Marc “JM” Staelens, Ph.D., is a lifelong adventurer whose unparalleled passion for motorcycling has shaped every twist and turn of his remarkable career. With a deep-seated drive to explore the world from the seat of a bike combined with careers in technical fields, Foreign Affairs, academia, and his own companies, JM brings incredible technical acumen with a knack for storytelling and getting lost on two wheels.

Afflicted with two-wheeled wanderlust born from an innate curiosity for what’s beyond the horizon, JM pursued an international career spanning Europe, Africa, Australia, North America, and Asia. An unconditional requirement for accepting overseas assignments was the opportunities for motorcycling the location offered, leading JM to turn down a promising career opportunity on Wall Street, much to his father’s disappointment.

JM greatly enjoys exploring faraway places on a motorcycle. Nothing lifts his spirit more than riding gnarly trails into a remote mountain range or desolate desert and rolling out his sleeping bag next to his bike for a blissful night under the stars. If not out riding, JM enjoys reading, mountain biking, tinkering with motorcycles, and writing for motorcycle magazines including ADVMoto Magazine and GearJunkie. 

Although a veteran of intercontinental bike trips, he keeps adding far-flung destinations to his bucket list. JM considers himself fortunate to share his love for motorcycling with his wife and adult kids, who all ride too. To facilitate living their passion, the family keeps a motorcycle fleet at their base camps in Belgium, Thailand, Portugal, and California. 

You can find more about JM on his LinkedIn.