A case (groan) in point?

Regards, Mick

As a young lad I went to America in the late 70s and got myself a bike and went for a ride quite a long ride in a then strange country with a lot of hang ups about bikers, I never thought of myself then as one of this 'elite' band of adventure riders !, since then I have ridden for over nearly thirty years and travelled hear and there. I have had adventures - not all on the bike but many adventures all the same. I dont believe in judging anyone till I have known them - then maybe I will like them - maybe not, thats life but am i to asume that the elite of the 'Travellers' will judge me - is that cos my bike is clean, I Have short hair ( well nearlly none now), dont wear a funny hat, dont display proof of my travels all over my bike or home, or is it cos I saved and Treated myself to a new Bike (3 yrs ago) which will last me for maybe the rest of my biking time. I find can afford a little better than i put up with over the last twenty odd years and do a bit more now.
Please do not even get into this judging people by what they have or have not, some may be new to this travel lark and maybe there dream is not as big as yours -maybe they went to france for a weekend and to them that was the adventure of there life but remember - From little acorns grow large Oak trees, and this is the same for people and adventuring we all started somewhere. What we have, how much we earn and what we do is nobodys Business, We are and should remain a community of people with a common interest in bikes and Travel.

Adventure950 puts this topic into perspective. We have no right to judge who is "riff-raff" and who is not. For me, motorcycling has been with me for 20 years, although on and off. I have never desired to take a RTW trip, but rather several hundred miles.

Due to cost and other obligations (mainly cost) I have spent the princely sum of $1250 USD for a brand new Jetmoto 200cc enduro (Chinese made). I intend to ride it further and further on weekend jaunts throughout the desert southwest of Arizona, California, Baja, and Sonora, Mexico.

The potential good thing to look forward to regarding "riff raff" is that when and if these new riders grow tired of their steeds, there should be a wide selection available on the used market. I know that I'll be near the front of the line!

As Adventure950 put it,"from little acorns grow large oak trees"....i'm at the twig stage right now.Started riding at 4 years old(dad and grandad were lifelong bikers) and now aged 34 i'm venturing further and further every time.A few years ago i travelled around Scotland on a 250 MZ,then Ireland and Scotland again on a R65,then France,then the rest of europe,Slovenia and Croatia on a XL600LMF(last year).This year i've been abroad twice already,am going to Morocco and Sahara in the middle of August(!!!) to ride as much piste as possible.When i get home i'll have 3 days to clean the sand out of everything then it's out to France again for another 3 weeks.My first trip abroad was 2 years ago.Why?Because between the age of 4 and 32 i've spent all my money and time competing in just about every different sort of motorcycle sport there is(havn't tried ice racing yet 'coz we never get enough of it!).I've never been married,have no kids,don't smoke or drink like a fish(i've tried the pubs and clubs scene but find myself thinking about what to do next to the bike in the garage) or do drugs,i rent where i live and don't have more than £500 in the bank at any one time.I live for my bikes.But these last couple of years i've been getting tired of going round in ever faster circles and want to find something that leads me somewhere i've never been before.I get a huge amount of satisfaction from making my own stuff rather than buying it(could'nt afford it anyway) and have never owned ANY vehicle less than 6 years old.
My point here....there are some of us who have other reasons for not travelling the world.Had i saved all my dosh over the years i'd be very able to go off for a few years and see the globe,but i would'nt have the memories of the good races/trials/etc,that i do have.If i had travelled the world first and raced afterwards i probably would'nt be here now(it's amazing how little you break when you're young!).
So if you see a tall bloke without long hair(have got a beard tho) on a rather home made looking 21 year old XL600 at Ripley,be gentle please as i'm a bit fresh at all this.
Jon.

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Just going for a short ride on my bike....

I'm 23 and a little pissed right now (drunk, not annoyed). I've never been travelling before but as mentioned in previous posts... travelling seems to attract people from all walks of life.

I've just finished uni and long before then dreamed of disapearing off into the sunset. I'm looking at doing my first (hopefully not last trip next year).

I'm not travelling in a group and am hoping to do chaitable work while I'm over in India. All this talk of running over chickens and goats makes me kinda upset. I ran over a rabbit last year, does this make me a bad person? It jumped under my wheels. Nothing I could do

If I'd not have gone to uni maybe i'd have travelled more and I'd be able to say I was one of the travelling elite.

Or maybe if I'd have worked more I'd be a fashion eilte person and it would be the chino jeans and golf clubs that defined me as being elite (probably not), but who knows.

Anyway, in the mean time wish all of you the best of luck with your travels and who knows we may meet on our travels.

Btw if your looking for a bike fit to travel the world on I'd go for something like an Aprillia RS250. Its got loads of power for a small bike, comfy and should last atleast 125,000 between rebuilds.......

On further inspection I think the RS250 "might" be a slight liability...

The world has become overly concerned about safety, and societys attempt at trying to eliminate virtually all risk what so ever is making people more and more paranoid by the day... and when cars safety standards do quantum leaps between every gnew generation of cars, and motorcycles barely change, the relative perceived risk is going to be greater, keeping the riff raff in the cages... or if on a bike, safely parked outside a local café.

In my opinion, if the person is willing to deal with all the "risks" and discomforts of riding long days and spending more than a weekend away on their bike, great! If somebody don't have the means or energy to deal with all the logistical nightmares of going it on their own, but prefer to join a tour and have a better preparation/riding ratio, they do have a point. We just get pissed because others are doing the same stuff as us but without the effort, undermining our cred and the magic of our acchievments.

I got news for you, pioners have paved the way so that world travel of any kind is easier. Books have been written, internet sites and bulletin boards are flourishing, clubs have been established, tour operations are popping up all over the place, pavement has been put down, etc. Travelling anyware has become easier, and is becoming easier by the day, and everyone is doing it, and will do it more and more as more of the world becomes accessible. The problem for us adventurers is that there are very few frontiers left to discover. Those that come after us take many things in place for granted and don't understand the acchievements of those before... or simply don't care... "...in the old days it was up hills both ways... blah, blah, blah", and very few would want the old days back. Even most of us appreciate things such as cell phones, internet, etc., making our travels easier.

Although there is satisfaction in overcoming challenges, the unknown and being among the first pioneers, the most important thing is to go.

But if the attention is so important, cover your bike in stickers, maps, dents, scratches, etc., thats what I do.

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Blog: www.bamakobyvespa.no
My Youtube Channel

Your definately right there. Kinda makes you wish that you were one of the first. But I guess the world is only so big and can only be discovered once.

I might try and find some really crap countries that no-one wants to go to and do it on a golf buggy just so I can say I was the first.....

To be honest I'm plannin on going to India some time next year and know that thousands have done it before me. I dont really care though, for me I just want to live MY dream and hopefully do more such trips in the future.

I guess it would be more impressive if I walked to India but thats really not on my agenda.

Try a RTW on a tuk-tuk
Sure it's never been done before but think about it! They're tough, can carry a hell a lot of weight and are simple engines. Can go on forever!

http://www.math.uio.no/~fredrigl/tec...tuk/?sfgdata=4

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

I read about a couple of chicks riding a Tuk-Tuk from Thailand to Europe somewhere... but if you hurry you might be the first to go rtw on a Tuk Tuk

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Blog: www.bamakobyvespa.no
My Youtube Channel

I have only done one real trip, and it was only a couple of months and only to Morroco and europe, but it opened my eyes and i am hooked on long holidays to distant places.

i think we should be careful about pidgeon holing people. if folk want to ride about on big trailies and think they are adventure riders from the Dakar races, let them, only if you actualy go and partake in the great world do you have the memories.

lol, yeah I heard about the girls going round the world on a tuk tuk

I was kinda jokin about the golf buggy (and the RS250

It'd be nice to be the first to do it on some strange wacky veihcle but I'm going accross to India to do voluntary work and thought it would make more sense to ride there cause i've always wanted to do some propper riding.

I gather that its paved roads all/most the way so I'm thinking a Kaw GT550 might be easy enough for that distance. That or fly over there, buy an Enfield and ride back.....

Have to agree with you;I always thought that "adventure biking " need someone who was a free thinker;not prejudiced against anyone.
I also believe that only those of the right mind set will suceed in it.

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"Crashing's just proof that you're trying"

Very well put "Stefano" in your post #10 reply. Nuff said..... Here's a hankie for you luckystryker to wipe your tears and blow your nose on after you stop boo-hooing the destruction of "your" "adventure motorcycling??". And by the way, where do you fit in? riff or raff? Smitty

how about a secret handshake? i mean to id the hardcore..