The art of adventure motorcycle touring

The world is fast becoming a very small place, and there are very few places on this planet that has not yet been discovered, and for that matter not being tainted by man’s presence. The population explosion seen on certain continents has not helped to alleviate this problem, and more people are now inhabiting more places on earth than ever before.

I am pretty sure that for partly this reason, travellers have started to hop around the globe in an ever- increasing frenzy, in the hope of seeing a place or experience something before it is too late.

To tour on a motorcycle and to experience our planet in a responsible manner whilst having empathy with our surroundings is an art form. There is a difference between just getting from point A to B, and actually touring and experiencing the journey between these two points. To do all this with a certain amount of finesse, whilst leaving things the way they were before you got there, as if you were never there. Now that is art. Carving your name into a tree does not make you an artist, only a vandal who will constantly remind others that there is yet another idiot walking the face of this earth… You decide where you fit in.

Motorcycle touring has become an increasingly popular activity over the last few years, and more and more people are taking on this very exciting and rewarding past time. It is something that can be done solitary, in the company of friends or with a loved one. It is also something which you can carry on doing well into your old age, provided that you did so in a responsible and sensible way. Safe riders become old riders. Motorcycles tend to give you a lot more freedom and are more versatile than their 4-wheel counterparts. Setting out on a motorcycle is also a lot more fun, and do supply a heightened feeling of adventure. Never mind the added saving in fuel bills! Various forms of motorcycling is practical and rewarding, but nothing quite gives you the same thrill than to head of in a direction, and doing the touring thing. It is positively addictive, and you can understand why some motorcyclists just carry on doing it for years. I for one know exactly what I will do if I have to hit the Lotto.

Whether you go on a Round the World trip, or just take a short stint down to Cape Town, the thrills and adventure aspect can be the same, and equally rewarding. Whilst a Round the World trip nowadays would not elicit the same response as say Ted Simon’s did back in 1969, it is still a great adventure, and to not plan it properly will most definitely land you into trouble.

Pre- trip Planning and

preparation - Local

Any journey longer than a breakfast run should be planned, and although most modern motorcycles are far more reliable than what they were twenty or thirty years ago, you should still consider things such as maintenance, route planning and accommodation. Some manufacturers like BMW even offer Roadside assistance on their newer machines, but this unfortunately stops the moment you cross the Limpopo. If your have a breakdown, you want to be at least somewhat prepared. Jumping on your bike, and searching for accommodation at sunset can sometimes be part of the adventure, but there is nothing more frustrating than to get to a small sleepy town to find that all accommodation is booked because of some event you were not aware of.

Some establishments still ban motorcyclists from their premises, partly because of ignorance or because of previous bad experiences with hooligans who tried to dismantle the place.  Remember that you are the face of motorcycling, and that you represent a massive community of like minded souls who are often the scorn of fellow motorists who has had a bad experience with some thug on the roads.