ABOUT US
Finding Inspiration in Every Ride
In 2014 Steph Jeavons left the UK on a 4 year mission to ride around the world on her Honda CRF250L (Rhonda). Steph achieved her ambition of riding on all 7 continents and returned to Wales in 2018. In 2021 Steph set up her trail riding company MOTO Junkies and it was an immediate success. With the recent acquisition of a 20 acre site in the Snowdonia national park, MOTO Junkies now has its base, MotoCamp Wales, a haven for bikers, hikers, mountain bikers and lovers of the outdoors. We have a fleet of hire bikes (Honda CRFs), an on-site workshop, accommodation in lodges & glamping pods and room for tents and camper vans.
OUR STORY
MOTO Junkies has been created so Steph and her team can share the spirit of adventure with others who have a passion for the outdoors and 2 wheels.
MOTO Junkies is a team of dedicated motorcyclists who share their knowledge and experience to help riders build their skills on and off road and prepare them for their own adventures.
MEET THE TEAM
Steph Jeavons
Founder, Owner and Guide
Steph has been working in the motorcycle industry since 2009. She set up and ran Honda's off-road experience for 4 years where some of her more well-known customers included Victoria Pendleton, Jamie Whitham, Carl Fogerty, and John Mcguiness.
Steph then spent time working as a support driver for Nick Sanders expeditions, before setting off on her solo world trip.
Steph spent 4 years on the road and wrote for several motorcycle magazines during that time, including Overland Magazine, Ride, MCN, and many more, both in the UK and abroad. She came back to Wales having become the first person to circumnavigate the globe and ride on all seven continents.
Steph has since written a book about her life and travels - Home By Seven.
Pete'Bog' Jennings-Bates
General Manager
Pete, Steph and Steve all met in 2008 at a training weekend for Enduro Africa. Firm friendships were formed and cemented during the African ride and the three amigos have shared many more adventures since.
Pete was bitten by the off road bug and has been trail riding since 2008. In 2010 he took part in an enduro race (with Steph & Steve). Probably the daftest and hardest thing he has ever done. Pete has ridden on and off road in Europe, North and South Africa and Canada.
Pete has worked behind the scenes with Steph for many years and is very pleased to be part of the MOTO Junkies team. You will often find Pete in the kitchen cooking breakfast for everyone or (in his unofficial role as 'entertainments manager') hosting a quiz, cranking the karaoke up, doing a bit of table magic and very occasionally - sword swallowing.
Steve White
Workshop Manager and Guide
Smiley Steve is an awesome rider and mechanic to boot, and we are very happy to have him looking after our fleet of motorcycles in the workshop and our customers out on the trails.
Steve worked with Steph at Honda's off-road experience and earned his reputation as a reliable and dependable guy to have around. Steve has entered many enduro races on his weapon of choice - the good old Honda XR.
Steves riding skills along with his amazing field mechanic abilities make him one of the best guys you will meet to help prepare you for your next bike adventure.
For the past 3 years Steve has been living in Bolivia under the monika Los Andes Adventure Rider. Steve loved being immersed in the La Paz culture and explored South America extensively on his Africa Twin.
Gareth Freeman-Jones
Instructor and Guide
Before retiring from 30+ years in the police, Gareth managed the traffic department; riding police motorbikes with the associated training and exemptions enabled him to work with the local IAM and ROSPA advanced motorcyclists, and to deliver the national Bikesafe program to like-minded motorcyclists,
Training for trail riding wasn't about when Gareth started; he learnt through the school of trial and error with the associated aches and pains that came with it.
"To join Steph and the Moto Junkies team, delivering training and helping you grow and develop your trail riding skills, to equip you for your own adventures, is such a great opportunity. And they call this work (again)"
Darren Elliott
Instructor and Guide
Darren has been riding motorbikes for 41 years. He was a police motorcyclist for 15 years which saw him being involved in delivering BikeSafe/Saferider sessions and doing escort duties for royalty and VIPs. He is a member of the TRF and a keen green-laner. He has also planned and led multiple road and off-road trips to France, Spain and Portugal as well as riding across Iceland.
Darren is currently planning an overland trip from England to Mongolia and then riding the length of South America.
"For me, being part of the Moto Junkies team is being part of something special. There’s a real sense of community and the opportunity to meet others in different stages of their motorcycling is incredibly rewarding".
Jack Kemp
Instructor and Guide
One of Jack’s earliest memories is crashing a Puch Magnum X into a hedge, and he’s not stopped since!
Jack is the youngest member of the team. He is an awesome rider, instructor and guide and he is extremely handy with mechanics too. For a young guy our Jack packs a lot of punch.
Jack is a sociable creature and once the riding is done he will usually be found making friends over a beer. Occasionally he makes it to bed before sunrise.
Jack has been riding since he was very young. He regularly competes in enduros and rallys. If you are lucky enough to follow him through the trails you will get a real lesson in sublime bike control.
Sam Bates
Instructor and Guide
Sam is a 30 year old father of 3 little ladies and an ex professional Rugby player.
Sams riding history started way back at the tender age of 5 years old when his dad bought him his 1st bike. By 6 he was out on the track racing motocross. That continued to the age of 16.
In 2018 Sam started trail riding and later moved onto hare and hound racing, and then hard enduro.
Sams nickname, Thor, is very appropriate. He is a giant of a man, very handy to have around when you need a motorbike picking up!
Sam spends a lot of time riding with his Dad. His Partner, Jodie, rides too. It's a family thing.
And just wait till you hear him sing - this boy has got a hell of a voice.
Jonny Collins
Instructor and First Aid Instructor
Jonny has been riding motorcycles since he was 14, starting on a Fantic 200 trials bike, riding competitions until his early 20’s when he took to the dark side - sports bikes.
About 10 years ago Jonny got back into off road riding on a KTM before going back about 30 years in technology riding his beloved 1978 Yamaha DT175MX on the trails. Four years ago Jonny bought a leviathan of a bike an old BMW R1150GSA which he loads up and and has taken on some adventures, he goes off road as much as he dares on the monster.
As well as an instructor and guide at Moto Junkies, Jonny has been self employed for the last 21 years and is a British Cycling tutor delivering leadership training and is also a mountain first aid training provider.
‘It’s a real honour to join Moto Junkies and to be involved with such an amazing team where we can share ideas and best practices. I really enjoy meeting the clients and love training off road riding skills and guiding on the beautiful trails we have right from our base In Dolgellau. I look forward to meeting you’ Jonny
Kevin Hammond
Big bike instructor
Kevin has been riding bikes since he was six years old . As a young rider he was competing in Schoolboy Motocross/Trials/Enduro and kept it up through to the adults classes.
Kevin worked for ten years in the motorcycle trade and after that started riding Adventure bikes. He soon moved on to the BMW Off Road Skills team to compete in the GS challenge, leading team UK to South Africa and the win.
He then had four years as a BMW senior instructor and consequently met the Globebusters team. He has been traveling all over the world as a guide/van man and now specialises in training riders for Big bike adventures.