Hello good folks!
I have been looking around here for a while and since yesterday, I am a member.
I am 36 years old, male, ride an Africa Twin, come from Germany, live in Sweden and work in Norway : )
My love to ride on 2 wheels could not stop me from taking a very expensive drivers license for an 80cc and the question was never if I should take the license for a motorbike but if I should drop the one for the car.
In 1995, when I was still riding my father´s bike, my brother died in an accident with his Honda 600 CBR. This kind of changed my life, I took over his role in many ways, even his job. All of a sudden I was the oldest of now three children..But somehow I could not stand to buy my Africa Twin half a year after his death.
It took 6 years until I broke out of this self-made prison and flew to British Columbia. I had always been attracted by Canada and Norway.
But, as life plays, I was persuaded to come home after 3months and started a new company with a former colleague.
To make it short: after 3 years with this company and the on-going feeling that I should take care of my family...I "escaped" to Sweden and worked as a doghandler. I took a new education up there and worked as a guide in Sweden and Norway (Spitsbergen). Then I started to work with youngsters having drug problems. This is what I still do, at least for one more week. On the 23rd of may, I will leave this work with the possibility to return in the beginning of december. As I feel right now, I won´t.
That´s where the bike comes in again: Somewhere deep inside there is a desire to go back to BC and ride a bike, maybe up to Alaska and down to Ushuaia, maybe just across Canada..
Sitting here (visiting my parents) with the feeling that I have to do that now or never, in the same time hearing my parents yell because of nothing and knowing that it would break my mother´s heart if anything happened to me, I have got a hard time focusing on the project. I start to wonder if the trip itself is what has been waiting for me since 1995 and that it could be sort of a healing to do it or if I have to get some help instead of "running away"
I know that this forum is not meant to be a psychological trashcan, but maybe someone out there has experienced similar things. Maybe it is just all about fear and that could be a common problem before such a trip, all alone.

I would be glad for any comments! I will not be angry if you call me crazy. : )
Cheers and take care!
Tobi

Hi Tobi,
welcome to the HUBB,
You have some big decisions to make i wish i could advise but i think only you have the answers,
Best of luck,
Dave,

Hi Tobi and welcome to HUBB.

My mother's only brother died in a motorcycle accident when he was on the way to visit her (she was healing of a hard disease). Difficult to explain the impact that it caused to her and her family, due to the circumstances, my grandparents never recovered.

My dad's father crashed with a Norton and was in coma, almost dying as well. He banned bikes for my father absolutely. My father bought one anyway while his dad did not know it and had a really hard time (he's got a terrible balance and almost crashed as well), so sold it.

Then me, since early I was forbidden to ride(go as a pillion on anyone's bike when I started doing it. I was forced to promise it, since they knew I would respect what I would promise. But I was in love with it, I knew that, but lacked any funds as well. And when I had money, I just travelled (backpacked).

My girlfriend's (now wife) father is a crazy biker who has had many accidents, so she was totally against (would never ride with me; wouldn't sleep whenever I were away on the bike, etc). Another front to fight against.

Some years ago I said ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. If anyone disagrees, go and F*** YOU, it's my life, I won't accept any more emotional blackmail. I passed the test with a screwrecently placed in my thumb, I could not touch the clutch due to the pain, so rushing like crazy between the cones.

YOU KNOW SOMETHING? I should have done it MUCH EARLIER.

So go ahead with your plans. It's your life. Just ride safely, carefully.

Safe trips then,

Esteban

PS: I just came back from a trip in South Afrlica with my wife as a pillion. And I've ridden with her on two bikes as well other times. And my relationship with my parents hasn't changed at all.

Destiny wanted me to buy a newer Africa Twin last night : )
So now I just have to get the baby to Canada and happy wheels will role: )!
Thank you very much.
Esteban, I will come back to you later, am in a hurry...

Cheers, Toby

Welcome to the H.U.

__________________
3mountainsadventure

Esteban, I have not forgotten you but it is not easy to keep the control over all posts and threads in different forums trying to find some answers to finally take decisions...
Your story is tough and indeed comparable to mine. You shall know that your answer encouraged me and there is no doubt any more that I am going to do that trip (well, almost none : ) ), just details.
Where are you now? Do I remember right that u were the one with the GS 650 that was heading to Europe?
Have a good time wherever u are! Always safe trips!

Cheers, Toby

Not me, but congrats for the Africa Twin.

Thanks!
But I will not take her over, am looking for a bike to buy in AK, BC or WA.

Cheers, Toby