Just out of curiosity... and with a smile...

Is there a difference between backpacking on 2 wheels and Adventure Motorcycling?

Sometimes I get the feeling that some riders are elevating them selves to explorers and adventure-riders, while the rest (me being one of them) are not hardcore enough, and our new, expensive shining BMW,s or whatever is a thorn in their eye. And our dreams about doing Africa from north to south should remain just that... a dream. So we dont ruin their image or steal some of the glory.

Or is it just me...

P.S.
I,m not on Lariam. Not yet anyway :-)

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Dizzie

The mainthing is that you are happy with the way you are dooing it, not what people call it.
So just enjoy

Yngve

I asked a similar question on the HUBB a while ago. Since then I have come to believe that it’s all a matter of opinion. Don’t be too concerned about such things, rather be glad that we all are different and do things in different ways.

I want to ride around the world but I refuse to be eaten up by the fact that I haven’t gotten round to it yet.
What did Bobby McFerrin say before he killed himself? “Don’t worry. Be happy”

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BMW R1200GS
Suzuki TL1000S
Suzuki GSX750R
Honda MBX50

No there ain't. We're all tourists wether we like it or not! We may have sexy looking motorbikes and cool looking motocross clothes but we still queue up in Boots to buy suncream and Immodium like everybody else!
matt

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

So what's wrong with backpacking?
Thats how I got around until I discovered the joys of motorbiking.


I've come to the conclusion that it doesn't matter how you travel (1st class/backpack/4x4/weekend breaks/walking/cycling/hiking/biking) or what your reasons are for it, as long as you do it for your own enjoyment/fulfillment.

I think it just eats some people up because they feel that their 'uniqueness' is being eroded. That's for them to deal with, not you.

I agree Geoff, the fact is traveling is not a new invention or unique to people of the last few centurys. According to anthropologists modern man first came into existance in Africa and travelled the planet nomadically before finding a piece of land and taking root there, and thousands of years before them the Neandatals were who were found to have lived in europe were also suposed to have originated from Africa, niether of these races of people had motorbikes or rucksacks, just an instinct to travel and explore.

So if someone looks down there nose at you because they have had more experiances than you, seen more countries or have a tattier looking bike than you, just remember he/she does not own the patent on travelling, it is what it is,to whoever does it, for whatever reason they want it to be. Your not doing it for them, your doing it for yourself

Maverick Bubble

Backpacking on 2 wheels = adventure motorcycling™ IMO. Did I cook up the phrase to describe overland moto travel? Maybe, but it was only a sales ploy: 'AM™ Handbook' sounds a lot more sexy than the 'Two Wheel Backpacking Handbook'! So does 'KTM, Adventure', 'adventure cheeseburger', etc.

Some like it hardcore, some take it easy, some want it easy but have a hard time and some say it's hard when it's easy. We're all just two-wheel travellers (having an adventure...™)

Nevertheless, I must say I have experienced an irritation/envy in the Sahara among 4WDs when you happen to occupy the same part of the desert and ruin their fantasy - but bikers are usually thrilled to see eachother. Don't know if that is what you meant

Ch®

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Morocco Overland 4 (2025) • Trans Morocco Trail

Interestingly I've recently had a couple of debates about this, including one with Geoff who's commented above, and I do admit to having something of a rant about our, and I stress our, activity becoming 'backpacking on 2 wheels'.

When asked to explain myself, I couldn't. I guess that in Geoff's words I felt the uniqueness was being eroded. In no way can I claim to be an expert at 'overlanding' or to be 'one of the first' to head off to some other continent. Even if this was the case, my rant was probably unfounded.

Expedition? Can you call traversing a long lonely desert or mountain track an expedition when locals use it every day?Adventure? Well you could argue that any trip on your bike is something of an adventure. It all depends on the viewpoint of whoever's taking the trip.

I guess 'overlanding' is becoming more popular, just like so-called backpacking or taking a gap year. But why shouldn't it? It's your trip, however you want to label it. Just try to enjoy it.

We travel by mororcycle rather than backpack....but we have the appropriate Lonely Planet books in our saddlebags.
What then does that make us??????????

I tell you what, if you think motorcycle touring/adventure motorcycling/backpacking on 2 wheels etc. is becoming diluted by the number of people doing it, aspiring to it, etc. that its been hijacked by the popularist media, that the very soul of the activity is being eroded by people who do not fully understand it, then you should have tried being a snowboarder over the last 15 years!
matt

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http://adventure-writing.blogspot.com

http://scotlandnepal.blogspot.com/

*Disclaimer* - I am not saying my bike is better than your bike. I am not saying my way is better than your way. I am not mocking your religion/politics/other belief system. When reading my post imagine me sitting behind a frothing pint of ale, smiling and offering you a bag of peanuts. This is the sentiment in which my post is made. Please accept it as such!

Having followed some of the classic overland routes around the world and stayed at the odd backpacker gaff on the way, I've come to think of "backpackers" as the rather annoying subset of "travellers" who get pissed everywhere and demonstrate a serious lack of cultural sensitivity.

Don't get me wrong, I'm always up for a few pints myself and have been known to exceed decent consumption but at least I am ashamed and appologetic if I make an idiot of myself.

I think it is fair to say that "travellers" is a good catchall expression that lumps together "backpackers" and "overlanders" and that of course includes people in huge luxurious motorhomes through to people with penny farthings - yes we met one in Eastern Turkey.

As for how to define an "adventure motorcyclist", there's a mystery. Rush hour traffic in Britain can be more dangerous than any other motorcycle experience. Camping in the desert is a more peaceful and safe option compared with staying in any major city. Anyone who puffs themselves up by proclaiming to be an "adventure motorcyclist" and belittles anyone else is plainly a buffoon. We've all been out there and seen that different parts of the world have different behaviours and we find that interesting and elevating. We need to look inwards sometimes and see the differences within our own cultures and celebrate them for giving the world such wonderful diversity.

Then again, you can take the drunken louts in the dormitory and shoot em!

Inconsistent, moi?

Bobby McFerrin is still alive. ; I know, but just want to clear it up.

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"courage is the art of being the only one who knows you're scared to death"

So, you describe yourself as traveller, not adventure motorcyclist, backpacker or anything else for that matter. Good call! Keep on travelling.

My 2 penny worth.

The guys at work back home think what I am doing is adventurous. I think that I am just travelling from New York to Colombia where I finished, I camped, I stayed at Youth hostels, motels and hotels. I read Lonely Planet and Footprints. I had a backpack strapped to my motorbike.

I think it is just travel by a different medium than buses. Have met the 'high class backpackers' who fly to their next destination and skip the local buses.

Everybody has a diff agenda, a diff time frame, a diff goal from a trip.

Let em do it their way, you do it your way and see the parts of the world than you want to see and in the way you want to experience it.

Just my thoughts

Paul

I think we are all travellers, just from time to time the means changes.

we probably all use feet, boats, bikes, 4wheels, and aeroplanes from time to time. For most maybe the bike is just the preferred option...