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'm heading to Romania in a couple of weeks and I know I can look online for these things (and I will). I also know that there is a lot of up to date advice out their on the HUBB.
In fact I went to a talk at the HUBBUK at the weekend and the guy there (Andrzej?) answered some of my questions but, like and idiot, I forgot to ask him everything.
So this is my plan...
1. Money. My plan is to take cash and change it when I'm there and use a Visa card when I can. I assume there are plenty of places which take Visa cards and cash points I can use in towns etc.
2. I was thinking of taking a tent but with two of us on a bike I'm happy to ditch the tent and all the luggage that entails if I can find cheap accommodation. Andrzej said we could get a bed for under 10 Euros. If true then the tent stays in the UK.
(1) Lots of VISA friendly cash machines in every town and village of any size at all. But expect to actually pay in cash,or get funny looks. Romania is still a cash economy (and for their sake hopefully will stay that way!!) despite having gone insane and joined the EU.
(2) There are cheap beds to be had everywhere that is rural and people are lovely. Just be aware that they may be a little harder to find in the tourist draw areas in season.
Bring the tent though because free camping is everywhere and in beautiful locations in the rural parts.
While i accept alot of people dont like to preplan Booking .com has some well cheap offers for towns/cities in Rumania . Worth thinking about if you can find a wifi hotspot . We managed to book a three star in Predeal for a ridiculous amount
Thanks for the comments. I rarely travel without a tent, but as I said if it is quite cheap to find a bed, it makes it a lot easier with two of us on the bike.
I forgot to mention that my plan is to ride from the UK to Budapest in Hungary (via Slovenia for some scenery) over about 5-7 days. My wife will fly out to Budapest and we have three weeks to tour Romania and back to Budapest. I then have a week to get back to the UK on my own.
[QUOTEI forgot to mention that my plan is to ride from the UK to Budapest in Hungary (via Slovenia for some scenery) over about 5-7 days. My wife will fly out to Budapest and we have three weeks to tour Romania and back to Budapest. I then have a week to get back to the UK on my own.
Any comments about this plan?? QUOTE]
Hi Lonesome George, plan sounds good & doable. Was at the German HU meet & went on to Romania, I love the country been a few times there. watch out for speeding, they are strict in towns & villages. They have up to date electronic equipement. Cheap accommodation is readily available, as are cashpoints/hole in the wall. Bikes are exempt from toll tax. Certain places have a little problem with pickpocket children, but def. not a prob. if you take care.
Slovakia is also nice.
I do Amsterdam Budapest in a two day run, go a lot that way You will have to pay toll in Hungary, you can buy an electronic vignette on the border & at every petrol station, you may have to show you registration paper. Also if you come back through Austria you will need a sticker (toll), also available on the Austrian Hungarian border
Bed & breakies in Germany between 40 & 50 Euro per night (for two)
A week to get home is defiantly cool, gives you chance to look around, some nice places on your route.
Ride safe & have fun ... keep the rubber side down
Vince
We found no difficulties in getting money transferred in any of the countries we visited- however keeping hold of it was another story
We chose to "tarp" it - so cant help on that front.
I was really concerned about Romania- but it turned out to be really great, along with Bulgaria- I would definitely return.
I traveld 2010 to Romania.
Always we found a cheap guesthouse.
If ist is to expensive go to the next.
We stayed one night, breakfast, two s and one meal for round ~16€/person
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.