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.
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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."
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Yamaha Xmax 2014 125cc v-belt - Reliability advice after breaking down
Hi all,
I wanted to ask you something about the v-belt of the Xmax (scooter) and its reliability.
I left London at the beginning of September to a trip with my bike. The first problem happened just after crossing the Channel tunnel in France, the vbelt broken with 11000 miles and I replaced it in France (by a non original part, but a reliable brand anyway).
Today I am in Alabania, I've done about 2500 miles in 20 days with the bike with a very conservative riding I think. In the highway riding at a lorry speed (about 60 miles per hour and never more than 8000 rpm), doing breaks every hour, etc.
As I was saying, today the v-belt broke again and I now I am concerned that this is just bad luck or I am forcing the bike. We will replace it tomorrow, but considering that I have not been riding fast and doing brakes (as usual in a 125cc bike), I am concerned about it the feasibility of my trip.
It would be great if you could give me your view on this.
I don't know what the normal life span is of the v-belt, but if it breaks too soon, you might want to check on what's causing the excessive wear. Check the variator assembly and clutch assembly for unusual wear traces. Check the alignment and axle shaft.
Good luck with fixing it. It's part of the adventure
first piece of advice is to ask in a proper scooter forum
but since i live in a country where most two wheelers are scooters, here are my 2 cents:
scooter v-belts are a consumable and belt replacement should be done at no more than 10,000 miles, an original belt breaking after 11000 makes perfect sense, no bad luck involved here....
when doing the belt change you should also check the rollesr and springs, these often need replacement at that point
But i would only go with an original belt, not sure what a "reliable brand" is in your book.
After changing the belt in Albania I stopped in Athens and they said all was perfect with the clutch and variator, nothing unusual here. They pointed out that could be the heat generated that accelerates the wear of the belt.
However, I'm now in East Turkey. This belt we changed in Albania is 3800km and its width is within its limits so we changed it. I am sure that belt wouldn't have reached the 5000km.
The thing is, I've been riding quite slowly with this last belt and the fact that I had to change it under 4000km doesn't seem normal to me. I can't manage to find what it could be but I will check again in Tehran.
If all the problems with the bike are to change the belt 4000km I am happy with it
Mmmm, I think that's impossible but I'll check next time. Thanks!
Sent from my HTC One M8 using Tapatalk
If you read on the tube what he says,,,,,
"Squeeze two plates on clutch, (first thing I'm doing) . You'll notice belt dropping inside a bit. Push it even more in between plates of clutch. By doing that you make slack on belt and space to take it of on the variator"
I'll try! It's weird because I'm in a xmax forum and none ever mentioned something like this. It would be awesome because you need some special tools to remove the variator.
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...
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"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.