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Thoughts from the Road

Opinion columns, ponderings, musings and questions from motorcycle travellers around the world. Have a read and join the discussion.  

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Motorcycle Travellers’ Columns

Discussion columns for motorcycle travellers. Have a read and share your thoughts in the comments.

Max
  • 2 Comments

Maxime Berberat: From Biker to Traveller

“Riding gear, camping gear, spare parts, motorcycle-specific undergarments and a few practical clothes, documents, electronics, toiletries - check! I was ready for my year-long motorcycle trip from Europe to Southeast Asia. Or so I thought. Having never ridden outside Europe (or for more than…”
Bikepanniersandpassports
  • One Comment

Nick and Bec Simmonds: Colombia – It’s Not What You Think!

“Growing up you hear terrible things on the news about certain countries and somehow these mental warnings stick in the far recesses of your brain. So, when it occurred to us that to ride our motorcycles from one end of the Americas to the other…”
Nomad Katia
  • 8 Comments

Katia Alvim: Trapped in a Traveller’s Comfort Zone

“What is the definition for long-term travel? For some, it’s a few months and for others it’s years. But, no matter the length, at some point in your journey you'll find a spot that will hold you like a spell. It could be a campground…”
Ray Ulrich
  • 4 Comments

Ray Urlich: RTW 25 Years in the Making

“In 1996 my head blew apart after reading Jim Roger’s “Investment Biker”. I knew then that wild and far was how I wanted to ride as opposed to 300km down a pit straight (I did, however, become a MotoGP fan about 20 years later though)…”
John Salim
  • 3 Comments

John Salim: Positive Thinking on the Road

“Like with most motorcycle travellers, I Googled the countries I wanted to visit before leaving on my round the world trip. And the internet is full of horror stories, so is the news and government announcements. Even once you close your laptop and get on..”
Bikepanniersandpassports
  • 2 Comments

Nick and Bec Simmonds: Bike Boots and the Sweet Smell of Success

“Adventure boots are a substantial investment, so they have to a) do the right job (protection), and b) last as long as possible. One of the main differences between your long-distance adventure boots and other footwear is that you are going to be wearing…”
Mike Taylor Mad or Nomad Author
  • 4 Comments

Mike Taylor: Do You Really Need Electronics on Motorcycles?

“Picture the scene. You’re riding along one of the most scenic, amazing roads you’ve ever been on. It’s sublime. You feel one with the world. Zen like. You know what would make it better? A phone call from some scammer inquiring about your computer security...”
Sam Manicom Author
  • 12 Comments

Sam Manicom: The Beauty of Maps over GPS

"When they were first becoming a thing I couldn’t help calculating the number of fuel miles I could ride for the cost of a GPS. I struggled with that. I could probably have ridden the length of Africa and back up. And anyway, maps are fantastic! Add a compass and…”
  • 9 Comments

Kenneth Robertsen: Coffee and Motorcycles

“Whenever I meet interesting people on my travels, I like to sit down, make us a cup of coffee and get to know them. Just like having a motorcycle there when you meet fellow bikers, having coffee there is a great ice breaker, and it allows us to…”
Mike Taylor Mad or Nomad Author
  • 4 Comments

Mike Taylor: Old vs New Bikes

“I’m in a very lucky position. I’ve managed to buy two brand new bikes in my lifetime and I currently have four bikes in my shed. Getting to ride many different bikes, old and new, has shown me a few things. Modern bikes are the safest bikes have ever been…”
Kiwi on a Bike
  • 9 Comments

Matthew Helliwell: Why Small Bikes are Better

"Small: of little importance/ a size that is less than normal. Society has bashed these words into us since childhood - that small is not worthy. Well, the world is changing and, with it, so are small bike adventures. Just look at the new bikes coming out. Big motorcycle…"
Deepak Kamath Mad or Nomad Column (1)
  • 3 Comments

Deepak Kamath: Chasing the Big Dreams

“If you don't go far enough, how would you find your limit? I’d like to find my limit.” ~ Hubert Kriegel. If you don’t know him, you should! Gifted were those few moments when I got to meet Hubert and we stayed in touch over emails and exchanged stories and…”
Rihards Grunte Motorcycle Travel Column
  • 4 Comments

Rihards Grunte: Solo versus Group Travel

“Since the beginning, man has travelled in groups to survive and overcome obstacles and threats, but now most of us try to get out and go solo, why is that? Perhaps, it’s the strong DNA within us from ancient times when boys embarked on solo journeys...”
Lawrence Bransby Motorcycle Travel Column
  • 2 Comments

Lawrence Bransby: The Kindness of Strangers

“The vast majority of the people who inhabit this world are kind. When one day you break down (and, trust me, you will) no matter where you are, someone will stop by and offer help. Sometimes it might take a while, but it will happen. And, in my experience…”
Sam Manicom Author
  • 8 Comments

Sam Manicom: Motorcycle Travel According to Covid

“There’s a stack of doom and gloom about the effects of Covid on the future of travel, but I’m very optimistic. As the Thais say, ‘Same-same, but different.’ This is the mind-set we need to have, not wallow negatively in a pit of things we can’t do, the same…”