Adventure or Extreme Motorcycling?

[Tony P]

Without detracting from Ted Simon and all before, the modern term Adventure Motorcycling should reasonably belong to the brothers Vince, et all, from 15 years ago. But it is generally credited to Chris Scott in his books using this in the title. His introduction starts “What is Adventure Motorcycling? As far as I am concerned it involves a challenging unsupported journey into the wilderness or a significantly strange country”.

Since then interest has increased exponentially as a result of increasing restlessness, leisure time, image and the publicity of the odd celebrity trying a hand (or wheel) at it. This has led to Joe Public’s usual response being “Oh, like those two actors” when talking about any trip beyond tarmac.

Not only have numbers of participants increased but also firms supplying vehicles, equipment, clothing, stories via DVD, books or downloads, etc. - all using the expression Adventure Motorcycling. It is around us everywhere, yet not fully deserved any more if considering the original concept.

The expression Adventure Motorcycling is becoming too broad and diluted a term. It is now generally far removed from Chris’s description and used by travellers, posers and suppliers alike to present or describe almost any journey that involves going outside of the M25. I suspect the greatest percentage of equipment never goes far from where it is sold, probably the Home Counties of England, other that a run down the A7 to the sun - or for the really adventurous, the alternative N7.

Should we leave the expression Adventure Motorcycling to where it is now mostly used, the marketing and posers, and those truer to the original idea of “unsupported journeys into the wilderness” start to use another term?

How about kicking off with the suggestion of "Extreme Motorcycling"?