Dreaming of a motorcycle trip to distant climes? This section will help you to plan your trip, whether it's to the next state, country or all the way around the world! Start here!
The Achievable Dream 5-part series - the definitive video guide for planning your motorcycle adventure. Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
You could just get on a plane with your credit card and passport and buy or rent everything you need when you get there. That includes the bike, riding gear, etc. etc.
Gear Up! is a 2-DVD set, 6 hours! Which bike is right for me? How do I prepare the bike? What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers! "will save you a fortune!"
See the trailer here!
So you've done it - got inspired, planned your trip, packed your stuff and you're on the road! This section is about staying healthy, happy and secure on your motorcycle adventure. And crossing borders, war zones or oceans!
Tire Changing!
Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
With an HU blog, you'll get a lot more readers than in some obscure corner of the web, it's all set to go, no setup required, and it's free! Start your Travel Story Blog right now!
800+ HU Communities in over 115 countries! People who want to meet travellers - yes that's YOU - and can provide local assistance, and may be your new best friends!
Make a Difference Tips on fundraising or donating time and energy to a cause.
After the big trip - Was the trip the best - or worst - thing you ever did?
Resources and Links
Horizons Unlimited Presents!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
"It has me all fired up to go out on my own adventure!" See the trailer here!
Meet people who don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride your bike to South America or across Asia! They will encourage you, share their experiences and advice on how to do it!
We're not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown a hobby into a full time job and a labour of love.
When you decide to become a Member, it helps directly support the site. You get additional privileges on the HUBB, access to the Members Private Store, and more. Of course, you get our sincere thanks, good karma and knowing you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. :-)
All contributions are greatly appreciated and acknowledged.
T-shirts, Calendars, Stickers
T-shirts Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
World Map Sticker for PanniersShow your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Travel BooksMotorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
Videos - Watch and Learn!
Horizons Unlimited presents!
Achievable Dream The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
"The series is 'free' because the tips and advice will save much more than you spend on buying the DVD's."
Road Heroes"Inspiring and hilarious!" (only on DVD)
Advertisers- Horizons Unlimited is well-established as the first source of reliable, unbiased information on all aspects of adventure motorcycle travel.
We reach a dedicated, worldwide group of real travellers, and are the only website focusing exclusively on long distance motorcycle travellers.
If you sell motorcycles or motorcycle accessories, riding gear, camping equipment and clothing, transport motorcycles, organize motorcycle tours, or have motorcycles to rent, you should be advertising with us!
While we're on Decathlon products and a bit related, I guess. I'd also recommend their cheapest poncho, which packs down into its own tiny stuffsack. As emergency protection when it suddenly comes on to rain it's far easier than a waterproof jacket and far smaller to carry. And it gets used as a groundsheet, bike cover, and even a toilet tent (don't ask).
Well worth the investment I reckon, just don't try riding with one.
Quick way to acheive the tie down point anywhere on the tarp is to place a smooth 'marble' sized pebble or similar on the inside, then tie a guy round it on the outside. Won't rip the fabric either...
My Decathlon tarp has seven guying points, four at the corners, two halfway along opposing sides and one from the centre, the first couple of times I experimented with it the thing blew down (mind you the wind was blowing tents down at the time) I have now resorted to some serious awning pegs and the thing will stay up, my most successful configuration so far has been to set up the tarp ridge tent fashion and then to set up my Blacks octane tunnel tent as far underneath as possible, with the tarp covering the doorway at least, this allows entry and egress from the tent without rain getting in and provides a reasonably sheltered area for cooking,getting into bike gear, my next modification will be to replace the corner guys with shockcord to hopefully make the thing easier to erect.
i would sew several webbing loops along each edge for versatility, and sewn on webbing doesnt pull at the fabric like eyelets do
Luckily I have a 50m roll of 20mm black webbing
So now I have 5 anchor points along each side (inc the orignal eyelets) to stake it down. Also I`ve made up some additional sling straps should I ever need to wrap around a tree
Quick way to acheive the tie down point anywhere on the tarp is to place a smooth 'marble' sized pebble or similar on the inside, then tie a guy round it on the outside. Won't rip the fabric either...
That's what I do. There used to be a product called "Visclamps" (I think), which provided rubber balls to substitute for pebbles, plus metal rings to slide over the fabric bunched around the rubber balls. You then tied rope off to the metal rings; cheap, flexible and effective. The instructions described their use as "similar to the way garters hold up stocking tops," which always puzzled me because I came of age during the time of panty hose!
In any case, pebbles and rope does less damage and is stronger than inserting grommets, which will tend to rip, shred, tear and pull out under stress. And you can use it on any sort of fabric structure, for any reason, anywhere. Worth remembering.
Here's a modern version of the old Visclamps: Grip Clips Tarp and Fabric Fasteners Product List & Ordering One of the beauties of this type of system is that when (not if) one of your grommets rips out it is easy to create a new attachment. You can basically put on an attachment point anywhere you need one, which helps when pitching. For years I camped with nothing but a clear poly tarp and some visclamps or other attachment devices. Now I prefer better bug protection.
Just a quick heads up - Blacks are having a sale on camping gear, 20% off the online price. Get another 10% off by entering the promo code "thanks10". Got a tarp with poles for £10.79 :-
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's thelist of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
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"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia
"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA
"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada
"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa
"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia
"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany
Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books availablefrom the author or as eBooks and audio books
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.