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!
With an HU blog, you'll get a lot more readers than in some obscure corner of the web, it's all set to go, no setup required, and it's free! Start your Travel Story Blog right now!
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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T-shirts 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.
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World Map Sticker for PanniersShow your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
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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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Hi, I have a 2009 Yamaha XT660x ( the supermotard model) which I have recently retired from use as my motorcycle courier work bike. I've had it since 2014, when it had 7000 miles on the clock. It has now done 139,000 miles. Yes, 139,000.....
Engine is untouched, not rebuilt, other than a new set of clutch plates in 2020 at 125,000 miles. Serviced by myself, just oil and filters, plugs etc. It runs really sweet, doesn't even burn oil.
I was wondering if anyone out there can beat that milage on a single cylinder motorcycle..
I've just got rid of my KLR 650 with 285,000 km (about 180,000 miles) on it - ok with some work on it along the way but the bottom end was basically original. I know of several KLRs with significantly higher mileages so I think your bike counts as a youngster and I'm sure has lots more miles left in it.
As an aside it amazes me how low many people's expectations are for a bikes longevity. If the oil is changed regularly, a bit of general maintenance done and it is ridden reasonably most bikes of any reputable make will last far longer than people expect. It is only our consumer economy / constant update mentality (plus the 10 year window on parts availability) that causes most bikes to be scrapped.
Hi Martin, 180,000 miles is very good.
I agree with what you say about expectations. Many motorcycles are leisure vehicles, used on sunny days, so only do a few thousand miles a year. So after a few years with 10 or 20 thousand miles on the clock they are traded in for the latest model. Cars are expected to do 100,000 to 200,000 miles, so why not motorcycles.
Oil changes, filters, occasional fixes. I also think the way you ride a motorcycle. I have seen and heard a few similar bikes to mine, with far lower milage, but they sounded so rough, rattling, worn out. Seems their mates often had sports bikes, so were thrashed to keep up with the faster sports bikes. Single cylinder bikes don't like to be thrashed, don't like silly high speed.
I have a few single cylinder motorcycles (1976 Yamaha TT500, 1988 XT600 Tenere) and have owned many in the past, XR350, DR350, KLR 600 and 650. So I know their limitations, keep the speed down, don't thrash them or the engine.
Nice one.
I didn’t realise there was a market for motorcycle couriers these days with all the different types of digital communication.
I’m not a mechanic but my theory for bike longevity is to use it on a regular basis. My wife and I are all year round riders, with one car between us. I average around 12K and she 6K miles on our bikes. My last bike did 180K and my current one’s got 60K on the clock and just about run in I recon - definitely riding better than ever.
My wife sold her last bike with 50K on the clock and now has 40K on this one.
We don’t fettle with them or even wash them that much just service them according to the manufacturer’s recommendations and ride them, they don’t sit in the garage for more than a week - I realise this is not possible in all parts of the world.
They are twins, however, so congratulations on reaching those figures on a single.
I know someone with well over 200k miles on a single - an MZ 250 ! Even his spare one is pushing 100k (and both are probably well over that by now as I haven’t seen him for a few years). No magic to it, just regular use and a willingness to stick with the same bike.
I remember seeing a high milage MZ250 ( a blue one with top box) at the Popham bike show/ jumble a few years ago. It looked well used, a bit scruffy, but in a good way. I looked like it was a touring bike. I can't remember what the milage is, but it was high, perhaps the odometer had clicked back to 0 once it has reached 99,999 miles.
So yeah, even a humble MZ can do the miles.
As to motorcycle courier work. I packed that in in October last year. The fun had gone, the money was dreadful.
The XT660x is now retired. I've put it under cover in my garage. Not too sure what to do with it, I do have a few other motorcycles.
A trader offered me £500 for it, high mileage does reduce the value. But to me it is worth more than that.
I'll keep it for now. Keep the battery charged ( it is still the original battery) and start it up every now and then.
The XT660x is now retired. I've put it under cover in my garage. Not too sure what to do with it, I do have a few other motorcycles.
A trader offered me £500 for it, high mileage does reduce the value. But to me it is worth more than that.
I'll keep it for now. Keep the battery charged ( it is still the original battery) and start it up every now and then.
I have an old Land Rover like that - well over 200k miles but runs well and is reliable. We buy any Car offered £750 by email, which will become £250 when you bring it along (‘it’s the condition mate, we didn’t know it was this bad’ and all the rest of the sales spiel). So we’re keeping it for the time being. In fact we’re away for a few days in it at the moment as we could chuck a couple of muddy bikes in the back and not worry. If it fails the MOT in Nov (which it won’t) we’ll have got our 250 quid’s worth in the meantime.
Hi, even a failed MOT Land Rover will be worth far more than £250-£750, even as parts. So yes hang onto it.
200,000 miles is nothing for a Landy, a few dents and scuffs (and mud) is what they do best.
I have put well over 400000 miles on my 1993 BMW R100GS PD. Still on the original bottom end. I bought it with 14500 miles on it back in 1995. But it doesn’t qualify I guess since it is not a single
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You look at where you're going and where you are and it never makes sense, but then you look back at where you've been and a pattern seems to emerge. (Pirsig)
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.
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...
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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.