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!
We're not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown a hobby into a full time job and a labour of love.
When you decide to become a Member, it helps directly support the site. You get additional privileges on the HUBB, access to the Members Private Store, and more. Of course, you get our sincere thanks, good karma and knowing you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. :-)
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T-shirts, Calendars, Stickers
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.
Calendars Featuring the 13 winning photos from the Horizons Unlimited annual motorcycle travel photo contest!
World Map Sticker for PanniersShow your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Travel BooksMotorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
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."
Advertisers- Horizons Unlimited is well-established as the first source of reliable, unbiased information on all aspects of adventure motorcycle travel.
We reach a dedicated, worldwide group of real travellers, and are the only website focusing exclusively on long distance motorcycle travellers.
If you sell motorcycles or motorcycle accessories, riding gear, camping equipment and clothing, transport motorcycles, organize motorcycle tours, or have motorcycles to rent, you should be advertising with us!
Mezo, might be so in Australia, but in Europe the Tenere 700 is selling very well, number 6 in italian hit parade, number 11 in france, number 9 in germany, just as some examples.... as ADV goes, the TN700 is even with the honda AT and trails of course the king of overkill, the 1250GS. Sounds like a success to me...
guess it was not launched like that because most buyers of ADV might just do some fireroads at most and are happy with the base model.
we here in HU are a different breed of course
The Rally is also more expensive, so caters for a smaller niche.
not so well known, but TN700 is made in France with motors shipped over from Japan as its a very Euro oriented model.... people around here still have "Dakar fever"...
So shipping it to AU is already adding cost, an even costlier version was a no go?
I need to ask (and betray my ignorance): is there anything at all special about this edition? It has a skid plate and radiator guard, "off road grips," and a "dedicated seat," but it doesn't appear to be much of an actual rally bike; more evocative than substantial.
I need to ask (and betray my ignorance): is there anything at all special about this edition? It has a skid plate and radiator guard, "off road grips," and a "dedicated seat," but it doesn't appear to be much of an actual rally bike; more evocative than substantial.
So....?
Yep that`s about it in a nutshell, would have been nice if it had a bigger tank.
My point is why didn't they launch the bike like this in the first place?
Agree, but many out there like eye candy too... Just look at that poser tool called R Nine T Urban GS... special retro editions are all the rage now, little investment for the mfg in some make-up to reap big price hikes
My XT660Z was blue with a yellow flash, so I fitted it with yellow handguards. Would have looked good on the T700 Rally.
My reasons for buying the KTM 790S were (1) light weight, (2) tubeless tyres, (3) fuel range, though perhaps the latter two are not desirable on a rally edition bike?
I plan to never own another bike with tubed tyres. My next adventure travel bike could be a Husqvarna 701LR with tubeless wheels. 500-700cc is the sweet spot for me.
__________________ "For sheer delight there is nothing like altitude; it gives one the thrill of adventure
and enlarges the world in which you live," Irving Mather (1892-1966)
in italy TN700 is a tad under 10K, the ktm 790 13K.... +30% diff is meaningful to some people... BTW sales numbers are about X3 for the yam favor here....
good luck with your KTM, seen & heard too many stories about their relaibility to even considering, including from a friend who worked at a national importer. great bikes when they work, hope your turns out fine, really.
The bash plate will prob be the upgraded one Yamaha introduced before lockdown , not sure what was changed on it but there was a dealer update regarding them . Good luck re a test ride , we dont have a demo where i work as they sell like hot cakes so no need . As for reliability I'm struggling to think of one coming back to workshops with a fault
Mezo, might be so in Australia, but in Europe the Tenere 700 is selling very well
The T700 is the current best selling bike in Australia. Between January and March official numbers say they sold 347 700's. Then lockdown started and since then bike sales have gone through the roof in Australia according to the media.
I think right now Yamaha have sold more T700's in Australia than KTM have sold 790's since launch.
The T700 seems to of hit the sweet spot with price and the lack of electronics seen as a plus when in the bush/desert. There's also a bit of suspension work going on in Australia so even $1k on getting suspension setup and it's still priced well.
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...
"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia
"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK
"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.