To follow along during the riding and filming of the documentary through our daily travelogues and web video-diaries, visit the Travelogues page of our website.

 

"I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference."

— Robert Frost

 

Two brothers on THE “Off-Road” Road-Trip across America!

This July, James and Steven Beatty will ride their motorcycles across America on the "Trans-America Trail" (www.transamtrail.com), from Jellico, Tennessee, nestled in the Appalachian Mountains - to Port Orford, Oregon, on the Pacific Coast. The Trans-American Trail covers 5,000 miles of dirt roads, 4x4-trails and a few single-track trails thrown in for good measure.

• Road Less Traveled is a modern day recounting of westward expansion. Starting in the Appalachian Mountains, crossing the Ozarks and the Great Plains, climbing the Rockies, and surviving the Western deserts before arriving in the beautiful Northwest.

• Road Less Traveled will carry an audience with the human story of the Beatty Boys on the most thrilling adventure of their lives... Riding their motorcycles through 5,000 miles of dirt across America.

• This film is virtually guaranteed to grab the attention of all motorcyclists and adventurers alike.

• The motorcycling market generates millions of dollars a year in the U.S. market alone.

• Ultimately, Road Less Traveled can be edited down to a 2-hour feature or expanded and made into a mini-series for cable networks.

To conquer a 5,000 mile off-road trail through America’s rarely seen countryside.

To be invited home for Dinner in every Small Town along the way.

Steven Beatty grew up somewhat in the shadow of his older brother. He hung out in the pits while James raced motocross and "Hare Scrambles". He didn't take to motorcycles as quickly as his brother, but he was faster to let people know what he was thinking and feeling. Steven Beatty grew up as the "life of the party", quick to compliment and quick to stand up for what he believed in. And when it came to the ladies, Steven always knew what to say: leaving his brother looking back thinking, “Why couldn’t I do that?”
His passion for motorcycling was truly realized in high school when he made his first short documentary film: “Get Out ‘n’ Ride!” It was the smash hit of his senior year.

Nowadays, Steven is a bad-ass Chinese Kenpo Karate Expert, (2nd Degree Brown Belt) and an accomplished off-road motorcyclist. He’s currently attending Jr. College to prepare for his Bachelor’s Degree at Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri.

James Beatty was practically born on the gas tank of a dirt bike. His childhood heroes were Bob Hannah, Jeff Ward, and Rick Johnson. His favorite movie; On Any Sunday. It wasn’t long after he started riding that he became involved in racing motorcycles... and race he did. But when college became a priority, his time with the dirt bikes was reserved for summers. While in college James found another interest in addition to motorcycles - this time with the video camera. He graduated with the Broadcast Journalism Award from Principia College, Elsah, IL and then spent two years working for the NBC news affiliate, KSDK News Channel 5, St. Louis, Missouri.

After seeing too many horrific scenes up close and personal as part of a news team, a passion began to grow inside of James - a passion to tell stories that inspire and encourage instead of reporting the cold, ugly truths of life in a newscast.

He was accepted into film school for his Masters Degree and was awarded the Talent Scholarship to Chapman University, Orange, California. After a MFA, four short films, two commercials, and two years of working in the industry, James is now ready to return to his passion of off-road motorcycling in a big way... by documenting the Trans-American Trail!

This adventure will be the first the Beatty brothers have taken together since the passing of their father, Skip Beatty, in January of 2003. With nine years separating Steven and James, they’ve had little riding time together. James went off to college, and then grad school as Steven was coming into his own as a rider. This 35-day adventure across America on the Trans-America Trail will be the most riding they have ever done together - a true test of their mental endurance, their physical endurance and their ability to find a good meal in Small Town, U.S.A… and ultimately, it will test their brotherly love.

Come join the Beatty Boys as they cross America
on the road less traveled – the off-road adventure of a lifetime!

"A large volume of adventures may be grasped within this little span of life, by him who interests his heart in everything".

— Laurence Sterne

Michael Murray
Camera Operator/Bike-cams/Website Designer/Motorcyclist
www.motorcycletraveldvds.com