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!
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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!
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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."
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Which Bike?Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
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In my isolated state I’ve been pondering overland bike choices and my particular preferences. I’m currently riding a BMW XChallenge which i love, but i always have that worry about a flat battery. (Yes i know you can get jumper things but that’s missing the point). My retired overland bikes include a BMW r100gs and a Yamaha 1vj Tenere, both of which had a kick (which was used frequently) and electric start. (As did the original KTM 620/640 adventure). This got me to thinking how great it would be to have a modern(ish) EFI bike, but with kick and electric start. Is there such a thing? If not, is there any particular reason? Cheers.
Karl.
I don’t think you could produce enough power from a kick to power up the EFI system - fuel pump & ecu to get the engine to start. Have you ever tried to push start a fuel injected bike with a dead battery - it ain’t easy
I miss kick start as well, but they're going away from it.
You can get enduro EFI bikes still with kick start and electric starter
like ktm 500 exc-f, yamaha SR400 - only kick start.
Anyway, you can still bump start your EFI bike in case flat battery.
Bullet EFI's start fine on the kicker, but practically it's only any use where you have enough power for the pump and injector but not quite enough for the starter motor as well. A small window of opportunity IMHO.
A bigger battery would serve just as well and never be a source of an oil leak or catch your trouser leg.
Found something marginally annoying with the CB500 yesterday. Where the voltage drops at any point the Engine Management light comes on. It stays on until you key off and start without the voltage dropping. This would hide any actual faults. I wonder what a Honda dealer charges for charging? All those panicky weekend riders who'll assume the EM light means ECU failure and go directly to the very expensive coffee boutique
When I want to start it like a proper rider I wheel the CL350 out
Found something marginally annoying with the CB500 yesterday. Where the voltage drops at any point the Engine Management light comes on. It stays on until you key off and start without the voltage dropping. This would hide any actual faults. I wonder what a Honda dealer charges for charging? All those panicky weekend riders who'll assume the EM light means ECU failure and go directly to the very expensive coffee boutique
Andy
Who'd be a bike dealer these days I think they're being hit with a perfect storm of social and technological change that undermines their business model. Have a look at this article that advrider published recently -
It doesn't surprise me and, having been royally ripped off by many of them over the years, I won't be crying when some of them shut their doors, but longer term it does have implications for our 'way of life'. All bar one of the big 'coffee boutique' dealers round here have shut down and the one that's left is targeting the hyper enthusiast market - race rep Ducatis + go faster add on bits / £2k leathers etc.
There are still a number of one man in a shed businesses on small trading estates doing servicing / repairs etc - a bit like it used to be before corporate image became everything, but none of those are selling new bikes, just fixing existing ones. I wonder whether 10yrs down the road we'll be seeing a bike world where you buy new on the internet and take it to a bloke in overalls on a farm / under the arches somewhere rather than a 'service manager' in a sharp suit. Probably not in all cases but I certainly have a DNA level dislike of the big corporate branded dealers.
I can diagnose truck and trailer faults from my dining room table now. The owners get charged £'s a month regardless of if they breakdown or not. The model of sales is indeed changing and its based on Apple rent-a-phone.
The level of knowledge at dealers of these vehicles is truly appalling because they've spent years paying peanuts and getting monkeys as a result. Why would a kid with the brains to diagnose a DCT gearbox or variable valve timing allow himself to have the pay and social status of hammer monkeys who strip drain plug threads? The remote model moves this kid to an office.
As for the selling side, who ever walked into a dealer, drank their coffee, listened to the suited lizard and bought the bike he's had stuck on the showroom floor for a year? You do your homework online and walk into the dealers with a list. Click to buy and get free delivery works better. If they can see everyone clicking on GS's in blue and white they can cut the production of low riders in baby poo yellow rather than trying to push dealers to shift them.
Bullet EFI's start fine on the kicker, but practically it's only any use where you have enough power for the pump and injector but not quite enough for the starter motor as well. A small window of opportunity IMHO.
cheap modification by adding a strong capacitor make EFI start even with no battery at all. Tested.
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
Posts: 1,524
If the battery is totally empty I guess its hard or maybe even impossible (?) to start an EFI bike. But if the battery is low as it doesnt hold enough power to turn the engine around but one still gets lights in the dash and the fuelpump primes - then it isnt a problem. Well at least I jump-started my EFI Tenere several times when the battery was low, so low it didnt turn the engine around - but I still had lights in the dash. Easy - no it wasnt as it required quite some downhill and or pushing power - but possible. Did it several times...
for info. when the Honda CRF450R first went EFi it had a battery-less kick-start - using some sort of a capacitor presumably (ie. you prime it with an initial kick to prime the fuel injector, then kick again to fire the engine) - the current CRF450R is now e-start only and has and small (Li-ion) battery.
The new CT125 also has a kick-starter along with e-start, but that is not to say the kick-start side has the battery-less capacitor (although it would be a good idea on a 'utility' style bike), since it also has a regular battery of course.
So it's certainly possible, though not widespread.
Back in the annals of history the Norton Commando had a big capacitor for kickstarting with a flat battery. It didn't work particularly well, and when you junked the points and fitted an electronic ignition like any sane person would do, it didn't work at all, because the system needed 10V to generate a spark.
Didn’t know you couldn’t jump start a fuel injected bike - I’ve tow started a few bikes but not for a while so I guess they were carb.
You can. It's just really hard. And it depends on why its not running.
If you've run out of fuel and got a half dead battery, then you're unlikely to get fuel back to the injectors before your battery dies. Hence why the powerstart helps there.
If you just have a dodgy battery but your fuel lines are primed as they always should be then you can often jump start.
We've had to Push-jumpstart a 1200GS in work before. It was a nightmare and took four of us and a long carpark. You're not doing that on your own in the middle of the desert.
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
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"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.
helps answer the question - Why Go? Inspirational stories by veteran travellers Greg Frazier (5 times RTW), Peter and Kay Forwood (193 countries), Tiffany Coates (Mongolia Mayhem) and Rene Cormier (University of Gravel Roads).
Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
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!
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!
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!
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.'
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.
Show your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Motorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
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.
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