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!
On the Road! is 5.5 hours of the tips and advice you need to cross borders, break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
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 DifferenceTips 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 gratefully 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.
Calendars Featuring the 13 winning photos from the Horizons Unlimited annual motorcycle travel photo contest!
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."
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!
I concur. It was pitched at the right level and with enough facilities to separate and elevate it above proper on the road travel! (Mind you the first challenge was to find the place) Well done to all the organisers and helpers - Splendid effort, thank-you!
It was my first such HU "do" and i don't do groups of people well, so spent a lot of time smoking my pipe. (I can't be the only pipe-smoker surely?)
I have some ideas for improvements but no criticisms whatsoever. One idea would be for newbies such as myself to make themselves obvious. That way we could bolster each other's courage in the face of lots of multi-stickered, metal- panniered "bikes of many miles". Perhaps a big board for posting ideas, meetings to discuss possible trips and so on?
Last thought. For such a group of independent, self-reliant and able, nigh on unique people to get together, it pays testament to our triumph of hope through adversity. Hmmm. More baccy called for to ponder that one!
See you again i hope. Anyone ever around the Malverns area, get in touch, crash, whatever.
+1 on everything Ted said, Back of Beyond, the Ale was £2.50 a pint, the Cider was only £2. Having said that Cider was the most deceptively fearsome bowel bashing drink I have ever tasted and I have tasted most ales and ciders from the northern hemisphere!
All in all a fantastic weekend and I would have put my name down for next year on the spot if I could have done so. Small enough to be cosy and large enough to be diverse without getting lost amongst a myriad of talks that you cant find enough time to fit in. Given the choice between this one and Ripley I would rather come to this one. This in no way implies any critiscism of Ripley it is fantastic but I feel it is a victim of its own success, too big for me at least
Great to see so many of the people I have met at other meets and to catch up on the gossip and find out who has gone where. To the one or two detractors, bring your own food and use the indoor toilets and showers in the barn.
Finally to everyone from the organisers to the volunteers a big thank you from me.
This feedback is fabulous people. Thanks so much. It’s all being taken on board, and from the positive side of stuff it’s just so amazing to hear all these great things about the weekend. If this can become an annual event we’ll be sure to reference this thread as much as possible to make the changes that you want.
I wanted to say a few words about the food. First, that I am really very sorry that there was any kind of dissatisfaction. We ummed and arrrrhed about doing food, and decided, what the hell, lets give it a go - none of us having cooked for in excess of 100 people before. So we gave it a go because we wanted to make the event as good as it could possibly be. There was nothing professional about the set up, and we tried our best.
Everything was cooked from scratch by us; fresh and home-made. I am sorry that perhaps the portions were not big enough, or you felt it was over-priced, or perhaps it didn’t even taste that great. We will change all that we can. I can only say it was a huge learning experience, and a tremendous amount of hard work.
Perhaps in hindsight we took on way too much. All I can say is everyone that prepared, cooked and cleaned in the kitchen had the most honourable intentions, and worked damn hard.
All the volunteers that helped out over the whole weekend were absolutely amazing – so willing to help out, and always happy! From an organisers perspective, when you are panicking about everything going well for everyone, it makes a world of difference to have fabulous people always asking if you need help. The event would have failed on the day if it wasn’t for those people – and you know who you are! So, thank you.
Right, well I’m off. Gabe and I have 9 days to prepare pretty much everything for our motorcycle adventure.
Wow, what a great weekend, loved it all...
choice and range of talks, lots of places to just sit and chat, huge camping area so that we could spread out a bit, the showers were nicer than the ones at Ripley, great bar, fantastic team of volunteer helpers who seemed to be on duty at all hours. I also really liked the quirkiness of the venue.
As my bike is in Mexico I had no transport- many thanks to Mark Manley for the lift from the A303 on the way up and also many thanks to Paul who gave me a lift on his VStrom down to Plymouth - much appreciated, especially as he has never taken a pillion before I did promise to be still and not fidget.
Gabe and Char, you did a fantastic job and both deserve medals.
Have a great time on your trip to India.
See you all next year at a repeat of this year's event
What a fantastic meet. I really enjoyed the slower pace and having a moment to stop and talk properly to people for more than a passing moment.
The talks, as ever, we rather good - well most of them were, one was a bit dodgy but that's because the presenter was drunk.
Gab and Char you did a wonderful job - I can't believe this was your first time organising something on this scale - I know how much work is involved and it's a bit like watching a swan swim a calm river.... it's looks wonderful above the surface but no one has a clue how much paddling is going on underneath!
Hope your trip goes with a blast and we look forward to seeing your talk when you return.
Thanks again to everyone that made this event happen :-)
m
P.S Ted.... I tried to find you........ we seemed to have missed each other. Shame that.
Well I enjoyed that, even the part where I whizzed into Bristol to get a "missing" cable was fun. I was just about to get ticketed by a parking warden lady, when I pointed out that Santa Claus was getting in a jeep across the road, as he drove off the spare tyre cover had Santa Claus written on it, so that was proof. The warden chuckled and didn't ticket me, in fact she insisted I park up on the pavement. That just doesn't happen in a car does it?
Anyway, to the technically competent guys who helped "thanks". To the hardy few whose adventurous nature took them from the snug comfort of Tiffany's presentation to the cold extremes of the shearing shed, I extend a hearty thanks and hope that the presentation taught you a lesson (it certainly taught me one). And to the organisers and fellow attendees, my warmest thanks go to you all for making this such a seriously and sometimes not so seriously great time.
The coincidence of a shared Tom and Dom was too much, so here's a clip for you Dom.
Adventure biking doesn't have to mean taking a year off work and saving £25k. In this presentation I explore the amazing possibilities of short adventures to Eastern Europe, The Balkans, North Africa and Russia - not to mention the USA and how you can travel the world, 3 weeks at a time. Thrown in are some stories of my adventures and how much it all costs.
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.
Virginia: April 24-27 Queensland is back! May 2-5 Ecuador June 13-15 Germany Summer: May 29-June 1 CanWest: July 10-13 Switzerland: Date TBC Ecuador: Date TBC Romania: Date TBC Austria: Sept. 11-14 California: September 18-21 France: September 19-21 Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2
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)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
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 travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"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
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.
helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
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!
break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
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!
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.'
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.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
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.
12Likes
? surely ???
Had a Fantastic Time
I did promise to be still and not fidget.
. Especially useful for the road from Moyale to Isiolo.
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