Books for and about Motorcycle Travel
 

I would like to start a thread on books. I have done a lot of reading as I travel vicariously through others and thought others might want to discuss them.

My top 3 favourite bike travel books (in no particular order):

Jupiter's Travels - Ted Simon
One Man Caravan - Robert Edison Fulton Jr
10 Years on 2 Wheels - Helge Pedersen

ChrisB

I didn't read Jupiter Travels until after I read several other books. It was a pleasent surprise. He does much more than just brag about how many miles he rode, but describes his interactions with different people and their culture.

10 Years was more of a book that inspired me to really try make a extended trip. Maybe it was the photos, I don't know.

I read Odyssey to Ushuia also. Actually one of the first ones because I am in New York and had similar plans. I was disappointed because there seemed to be nothing significant learned from the trip and the disintegration of the friendship in the end. Also, I really didn't care for his bosting about his sexual exploits. The difference on this subject in Jupiter's is just one example of how much better Jupiter's is as a traveloge.

ChrisB

'Jupiters Travels' is still a great book and having read it three or four times, I still find it inspirational. I like the way Ted comes across as normal bloke and not someone on a quest to find the meaning of life.

I read a great book a few years ago which I bought from a car boot called 'Motorcycle touring' It was by two guys, one Brit and a Kiwi I think. It was fairly old, from the late 70's and was their story of riding two Honda XL250's from NZ to the UK. Once in the UK they settled into jobs and bought a couple of larger machines, one was an XS750 and toured Europe. Unfortunately I have no idea who the book was published by or who the authors were.

I think the book to which you refer is Motorcycle Touring by Peter (The Bear) Thoeming and Peter Rae.
They rode 2 XL 250's from Oz to the Guiness factory in Dublin. Great excuse for a ride.
I think Peter Rae went on to become a freelance journalist, got involved with Jag cars and the BMF.

Yep thats the one. Great book, highly entertaining. Probably been out of print for years though.

At the moment I am halfway through "Investment Biker" by Jim Rogers. He did this RTW trip in 1990 on BMW road bikes - including across siberia & china. Very interesting commentary on social, political & economic situations as well as general biking / travel stuff.
His 2nd book "Adventure Capitalist" is still sitting on the shelf waiting for the 1st to be finished.

Great reading - recommended.

i'd have to disagree about mr rogers' book. i tried to read it but gave up half way through. what about the bit where his riding partner (wife/ girlfriend?) has a tantrum in russia somewhere? how does he solve it? buys her a new bike...

not my style (or budget)
cheers
ChrisB

Che Guevara's - The Motorcycle Diaries...

I have to agree with Chris. 'Ivestment Biker' is the best cure for insomnia I've ever tried to read.

Another book, which I did finish but didn't think much of, was 'Running with the moon' Can't remember why I thought that, just remember I did (early onset of senility)

Bon chance Bob

I enjoyed Ed Culberson's book on crossing the Darien Gap. It pretty much answered the question on why virtually no one dares to cross this inhospitable area.

A bit off the subject of motorcycling, but definately for those who love adventure travel, any of the books from Robert Young Pelton are fantastic. I just got the latest edition of "The World's Most Dangerous Places" and "The Hunter, The Hammer and Heaven" was also terrific. Reading RYPs books motivate me as well as anyone, he is one hell of an adventurer!

-Dave

I never had been on a motorcycle before I read "Running With The Moon" by Jonny Bealby. I was on the Trans-Siberian railway somewhere in the middle of the ulu and suddenly decided this was the way forward for my trip back to the UK.

A year later I was sitting on an Enfield Bullet in Delhi learning to ride or trying avoid death before heading back to the UK. The trip even proved to be as much of an adventure as the book suggested it would be. I guess it depends on your circumstances but for me this was an inspirational read.

As I'm in a cheap internet cafe and the rain is beating down, I will continue. "Investment Biker" was a strange one - a bit dull really and difficult to associate with the author.

Having said that, and being a bit controversial now, "Jupiters Travels" whilst a classic of its genre, seemed to get a bit lost in California and never really got into the meat and bones of the trans-Asia bit of the trip. How I would have loved to have found out about the ride across Afghanistan. Look forward to JT2.

With an interest in Bullet travel, I have to mention "Bullet up the Grand Trunk Road" by Jonathon Gregson and "Bitten by the Bullet" by Steve K (sorry forgotten his surname). First one is a very readable historical account of modern Indian history on a trip from Calcutta to Peshawar. Bit heavy going if you want to hear all about the bike though. Second one seemed more of a plug for Steve's tours. This is no bad thing though - I ran into one of Steve's groups in Rajastan and it looked like great fun.

Can I mention my least favourite bike book? Of course I can. "Triumph Around The World". Not sure what the motives are for not taking a map and expecting to be back home within one year. Carrying an illegal firearm too and getting shot in the head in Colombia. Hmmmmmmmmm


[This message has been edited by mattpope (edited 14 June 2004).]

I agree the JT get lost in places. I thought the last 1/4 was basically a rush to get home. Nevertheless, there are many great chapters and compared to the rest of the books it stands out IMHO.

I also agree the Peyton's DP series is very informative and motivating. In fact, I decided not to go to Colombia because he strongly advises against going.

A little off topic, but Blue Highways was a great read. I always thought of trying to retrace that trip on a motorcycle.

I read Jupiters travels many years ago when I was 18 and decided then that that was what I wanted to do and so far I have managed one trip to Australia from the UK and one to Capetown, just the Americas now to have done a RTW, albeit in 3 stages.
One book on motorcycle travel I would recommend is Sparing with Charlie by Christopher Hunt, very funny account of his travels in Vietnam by Russian 2 stroke

How about "Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance", it gets way of topic concerning bike travels, but it´s one of my all time favourites.

I picked up an motorcycle anthology, called "She's a Bad Motorcycle", and while most of the stories are in the outlaw biker genre, one story stood out so much that I actually called the publisher to try and find other titles by the same author, to no avail. The story is called "Girl on a Motorcycle" by Rachel Kushner. It's the story of how she was influenced by a former boyfriend to ride the Cabo 1000, an unofficial street race from Tijuana to Cabo, down the Baja peninsula. While she is obviouly venting some anger (well, a lot of anger) at her ex, it is a great look at the motorcycle lifestyle, from a womean's point of view, without glossing over some of the contradictions that go with it. If I knew she was just pissed off at her ex and not men in general, and knew how to find her, I might have to ask her to marry me, sight unseen.

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Andy Tiegs
www.tiegs.com

I've read many of the books out there. "Odyssey to Ushuaia" gives some insight as to what it is like to travel in a group. Three guys who meet on the internet argue their way thru South America. After reading that book, I am definately going solo <g>.

IMHO, It may not be the best written book, but the best story, hands down, is Dave Barr's "Riding the Edge". Very inspiring.

The best adventure story ever told, is the story of Shackleton expedition as chronicled in "Endurance" by Alfred Lansing

good thread

The Bikeriders by danny lyon, great photographs from 60's american bike gangs with their stories. Only could only get it as a soft cover here in Austraaalia.

Agree with Pedro "Zen" is a brilliant read.

I happen to see Bikeriders in a Barnes and Noble here in the U.S. Very interesting photos but not much text. Whitehorse Press has also started selling it.

I read Zen when I was in high school and think that is what planted the motorcycle bug in me. I still have the old paperback; need to read it again soon.


Has anyone read Terror on Two Wheels yet?

Pedro picked one of my favorites for describing being on the road and connecting with a bike. Zen and the art of motorcycle maint. I even had a old honda superhawk about the time that book came out.

Just finished reading "Two Wheels Through Terror" by Glen Heggstad. It recounts his trip from California to tip of South America & back again via Brazil. En-route he was kidnapped & held captive for 5 weeks by ELN rebels in Columbia. Once released, he refused to return home, had a bike shipped to Columbia & carried on with his journey.

He's currently travelling to Germany from Vladovostok, via Mongolia on an F650. An ongoing account of his travels, writing under the name of Striking Viking, can be read here:

http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=41699

[This message has been edited by Steve Pickford (edited 25 August 2004).]

OK, but how was the book. Many have taken great rides and written uninteresting books. If his book is like his thread at advrider, it wont be much of a read. I would hope for more given that this guy has cajones. Hopefully his advrider thread is just playing to the audience at the site.

Book was very good IMO. Glenn has an interesting style of writing, not too dissimilar to his thread on the Adv Riders site. I enjoyed the book & keeping myself updated with his thread.

Only problem with the book was that I tried to order a copy from the US supplier (guilty.com). Their online ordering system could not cope with a non-US postcode/zipcode. They responded to my first e-mail but never heard from them again until the book appeared out of the blue a month later. There was no indication of cost or postage charges attached, so I'll have to wait for the credit card bill to arrive.

Zen and The Art of.........is one of the greatest books ever written about life and living. It offers great insights on the rhythm of travelling and about life and why "we are where we are" as individuals and as a society.

Narcissus and Goldmund, by Herman Hesse. Nothing to do with motorbikes, but lots to do with the reasons for travelling.

Fantastic book.

on the topic of non bike books ive got to agree wýth the above post that alfred lansýngs book ENDURANCE about shakletons antartic adventure is one of the most inspiring travel narýtives ever writen. also the ÝCE MASTER by jenifer nýven is also a fantastic read similar to endurance...

[This message has been edited by futronix (edited 04 October 2004).]

Try Dervla Murphy's 'Full Tilt' about her journey from her home in Ireland to India on a push bike. Written in 1966, with particular attention to Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Hindu Kush, she had a particularly high opinion of the Afghans and the Pakistanis. It would be interesting if she could go back now.
It's still in print, I bought mine last spring, you can bring it up no bother on Google.
John

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Johnefyn

Halfway through "Riding the Edge".

Good read but slightly amazed by some of his "tantrums" and what appears to be a lack of bike preparation i.e. no spare levers etc.

I realise we're lucky to have the Internet these days but Dave appears to have carried out very little in the way research prior to embarking on his epic trip.

For me, the best part so far is the amount of help he's received, quite often free of charge & normally from those with the least to give - very inspiring & uplifting IMO.

BTW, JSherm - good thread, long may it continue!

[This message has been edited by Steve Pickford (edited 07 October 2004).]

[This message has been edited by Steve Pickford (edited 02 November 2004).]

Does anyone have information on buying the book by one of the Ibarro brothers about his trip through S America. I know it is in Spanish, but I am interested in buying it.

Thanks

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Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/

Gregory Frazier has some good info and stories. He has ridden alot of different bikes in alot of different places...Cheers

Jacob, see the Meetings page for Mexico for Gerardo's contact info.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Somebody above said: Che Guevara's - The Motorcycle Diaries...

Haven't read the book, but just saw the film, in Spanish, with subtitles.

If you've been to South Am, it'll make you want to return there tomorrow.

If you haven't, it'll inspire you to go.

Also if you've ridden an Enfield Bullet in India, you'll empathise with Ernesto and him mate on their unreliable Norton.

The film also helps to get inside Che's head.

All IMHO of course,

ChrisB

Just read "Long Way Round", tale of Ewan McGregor & Charlie Boormans recent worldtrip.

Interesting but unlike several other books I've read recently, I did not feel as if I was there with them for most of the trip?

Their mechanical knowledge seemed extremely limited, perhaps as a result of having full 4x4 back up with personal tool chests & Digital Torque Wrenches & BMW mechanics flying out to repair/replace fried Servo/ABS boxes?

re: Che's Diary:

One of my biggest disappointments. I found it very boring except for a few select part. There are a couple of sections where you see Che coming to the realization that radical change is needed. Haven't seen the movie, but this could be a case where the movie is better than the book, because it is what Che sees throughout S.A. that transforms him.

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Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/

Just finished Road Fever by Tim Cahill on the recommendation from someone at a HU meeting. It's not a motorcycle book, but a high speed record breaking run from tierra del Fuego to Purdhoe Bay. A good read with lots of humor (especially about border crossings) and some insightful comments.


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Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/

The movie "The motorcycle diaries" is fantastic! I give it four stars. Che´s sidekick Alberto steals the show, he is hilarious. I highly recommend it. They got the bike right too, looks original and sounds right.

Note to all - we've added a stack of new books to our books pages. More to come too. If you're looking for motorcycle/travel books, that's the place to start. (Link on left, under Trip Planning) And of course, if you start looking through Amazon from one of our Amazon links, we get a small piece of whatever you buy, (all Amazon stuff, books, cds electronics etc!) and it doesn't cost you anything more, so we really appreciate it when you do!

Thanks!

Grant

Yes, go buy Danny Liska's "Two wheels to adventure" from his wife. An adventure like his probably is no longer possible in this age where pavement is considered progress.

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Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/

I read a great book by a woman describing her ride with her girlfriend from England to South Africa in the 1930s. They took a trailer and, if I recall, a sidecar too. Right across the Sahara, pushing it most of the way. Amazing acheivement.

It was from that era when the empire threw up rich British explorers determined to bring tea with milk, cucumber sandwiches and the Scottish Light Regiment to all parts of the globe. Terrific stuff.

As for the reference...hmmm

Simon is talking about Theresa Wallach and Florence Blenkiron, who rode a Panther through Africa in 1935. The book, Rugged Road, is available from Panther Publishing in the UK.

Google will find it all I'm sure.

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Grant Johnson

Seek, and ye shall find.
------------------------

One world, Two wheels.
www.HorizonsUnlimited.com

Hi all
As reding MCtravel books is one of my pleasures. i have got quite a lot of them. i made my list of the ten-best-inspiering MC travel books:
1)Ted Simon - jupiter travels
2)Robert Edison Fulton-one man caravan
3)Ed Culberson - obsessions die hard
4)Danny Liska - two wheels to adventure
5)Dave Barr - riding the edge
6)Ernasto Che Guevara- the motocycle diaries
7) Werner Bausenhart-all 4 books on his mc travels
8)Jonny Bealby - running with the moon
9)Neil Peart-ghost rider
10)Tereesa Wallach-the rugged road
just close to the be in that list:
- Noch Miyake-purple mountains
- E.mecgregor&C.Boorman(shadow writer)-long way round
- Keith thye-moto raid
- Andres Carlstein-odyssey to ushuaia
- Ted Simon - riding high
- Helge Pedersen-10 years on 2 wheels
*a good trip but somethig did't work with writing the story:
- Gim Rogers-investment biker
- Jerry Smith - into the heart of africa
- Piet W Boonstra- motorcycling stories
- Gary Paulsen - pilgrimage on a steel ride
my best useful books:
- Chris Scott - MAH books(just orderd 5th eddition)
- Dr.Gregory W Frazer - most of what he writes.
- Clement Salvadori

Yoni

OOPS
Sorry for bad grammer and tiping to quick:
Crhris Scott's AMH (and not as written http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif)
Y.

book : "une demoiselle sur une moto"
author : anne france dautheville
editor : flamarion
other book : "Et j'ai suivi le vent ..."

a beautiful and clever french girl riding the world in the 70's with a real adventurer spirit, a bit philosophical / intellectual ...

for the cover and comments on the book :
http://www.forum-auto.com/sqlforum/s...et55895-70.htm

see under for more details (in french sorry) :
translation link : http://www.google.com/language_tools?hl=en


"Votre Web Scribe se demande parfois ce qu'est devenue Anne-France DAUTHEVILLE, frèle et charmante jeune fille, qui se lança dans un rallye mondial au guidon d'une bicylindre 850 GUZZI, qui pesait bien trois fois son propre poids ... !
Eh bien, elle en vint à bout, et en écrivit les péripéties dans un livre intitulé "Une Demoiselle sur une Moto", publiée chez Flammarion.
Puis, peu de temps après, plus sagement montée sur une petite 125 Japonaise, elle récidiva, et nous offrit: "Et j'ai suivi le vent ... " (Un titre qui a toujours fait rêver mon côté marin breton à voile)
Depuis Anne-France DAUTHEVILLE a écrit bien d'autres livres tous aussi succulents, qui ne roulent plus à moto, mais qui méritent eux aussi les heures que vous passerez à les lire."

other old books, mainly in french :
http://www.editions-palmier.fr/Libra...yages-moto.htm

Some more titles
 

Guys, Please find below, some more titles of Motorcycling / travel related books that I have collected.

Some are already mentioned in the posts above and some are new.

Hope this is useful.

Thanks
Red Bull

Here is the list of books you requested:

1. 4WD driving skills : a manual for on and off road travel
by Widman, Vic.
Call #: 629.22042
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Pub Date: 2001.

2. Africa by road : 4WD, motorbike, bicycle, truck
by Shackell, Charlie.
Call #: 916.0433
Publisher: Bradt Travel Guides ; Globe Pequot Press,
Pub Date: c2001.



7. Flying blind, flying safe : the former Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Transportation tells you everything you need to know to travel safer by air
by Schiavo, Mary.
Call #: 363.12/456/0973
Publisher: Avon Books,
Pub Date: c1998.

8. France : on the road
Call #: 914.40484
Publisher: AA,
Pub Date: 2000.

11. Half way 'round (talking book) a travel diary
by Radford, Drew.
Call #: 910.944
Publisher: ABC Enterprises,
Pub Date: c2002.

13. Have wheels will travel (H)
by Mazer, Anne
Publisher: Scholastic
Pub Date: 2004

14. Inspiring adventures overseas : special interest travel
by Armstrong, Kate
Call #: 338.4791
Publisher: Global Exchange,
Pub Date: 2002.


15. Kashmir, Ladakh & Zanskar, a travel survival kit
by Schettler, Margret
Call #: 915.4604
Publisher: Lonely Planet
Pub Date: 1985

16. Lonely Planet Unpacked again Travel disaster stories by Tony Wheeler and other Lonely Planet writers.
by Wheeler, Tony, 1946-
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications,
Pub Date: 2001.

17. Lonely Planet unpacked : travel disaster stories
Call #: A823.010803
Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications,
Pub Date: 1999.

18. The Marshall travel atlas of mysterious places : a guide to the world's most awe-inspiring riddles
Call #: 930.1
Publisher: Marshall,
Pub Date: 1997.

21. No shitting in the toilet : the travel guide for when you've really lost it
by Moore, Peter, 1962-
Call #: 910.207
Publisher: Bantam,
Pub Date: c2001.

23. Not so funny when it happened : the best of travel humor and misadventure
Call #: 910
Publisher: Travelers' Tales,
Pub Date: 2000.

27. Road trip USA : Cross-Country Adventures on America's Two-Lane Highways
by Jensen, Jamie.
Call #: 917.364
Publisher: Moon Publications,
Pub Date: 1996.

29. There's no toilet paper- on the road less traveled : the best of travel humor and misadventure
Call #: 910.4
Publisher: Travelers' Tales,
Pub Date: c1998.

Investment Biker,

Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World by Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman

Trans - America's Guinness World Record - Miles Ahead

Into Africa by Sam Manicom

Alaska by Motorcycle by Gregory W. Frazier

Up Top Down Under, Cape York Adventure movie DVD

Adventure Motorcycling Handbook (5th Ed) - Chris Scott

Africa: Against the Clock on a Motorcycle by Werner Bausenhart

American Motorcyclist Association Ride Guide to America - American Motorcyclist Association

Against the Wind by Ron Ayres
Against the Clock by Ron Ayres

Away From My Desk: A Round - the - World Detour from the Rat Race, the Tech Wreck, and the Traffic Jam of Life in America by Rif K. Haffar

Blood, Sweat & Gears: Ramblings on Motorcycling and Medicine flash Gordon, MD

The Biker Code: Wisdom for the Ride Stuart Miller and Geoffrey Moss

The Bikeriders by Danny Lyon

Bikes of Burden by Hans Kemp

Bitten by the Bullet by Steve Krzystyniak, Karen Goa, and Steve Krzstynia

Bullet Up the Grand Trunk Road by Jonathan Gregson

Chasing Che: A Motorcycle Journey in Search of the Guevara Legend by Patrick Symmes

Desert Travels, Motorcycle Journeys in the Sahara and West Africa by Chris Scott

8 Around the Americas on a Motorcycle Werner Bausenhart

Europe by Motorcycle by Gregory W. Frazier

How to Tour Europe by Motorcycle: An Adventurers Guide by Phil Philcox and Beverly Boe

Flaming Iguanas: An Illustrated All-Girl Road Novel Thing by Erika Lopez

Four Legs, Two Wheels, Half a Brain by Maxwell Gardiner

Full Tilt by Dervla Murphy

Golden Triangle Rider

Going the extra mile by Ron Ayres

Good Vibrations by Tom Cunliffe

Great American Motorcycle Tours by Gary McKechnie

Great Escapes: A Guide To Motorcycle Touring in New Zealand by Peter Mitchell

Hear Me Roar: Women, Motorcycles and the Rapture of the Road, New Ed. by Ann Ferrar

Hell's Angels: A Strange and Terrible Saga by Hunter S. Thompson

Hog Fever by Richard La Plante

In the Long Run: A Hopeful World Odyssey by Tom Smith

Into the Den of the Bear and the Lair of the Dragon on a Motorcycle by Werner Bausenhart

Into the Heart of Africa by Jerry Smith

Investment Biker: Around the World With Jim Rogers

Jupiter's Travels, Four Years Around the World on a Triumph Ted simon

La Ropa Sucia [Dirty Laundry]: A Motorcycle Adventure through Mexico by Owen L. Riess

Life is a Road The soul is a motorcycle by Daniel Meyer

Long Way Round: Chasing Shadows Across the World by Ewan McGregor, Charley Boorman

Mi Moto Fidel : Motorcycling Through Castro's Cuba by Christopher P. Baker

Mondo Enduro, by Austin Vince and crew

Motorcycle Camping Made Easy by Bob Woofter

Motorcycle Therapy: A Canadian Adventure in Central America by Jeremy Kroeker

Motoraid By Keith Thye

Motorcycle Arizona by Frank Del Monte, Dennis Scully

Motorcycling in Australia by Peter Thoeming

Motorcycle Guide to Route 66 by Kirk Woodward

Motorcycle Journeys Through the Alps and Corsica by John Hermann

Motorcycle Journeys Through the Appalachians by Dale Coyner

Motorcycle Journeys Through Baja by Clement Salvadori

Motorcycle Journeys Through California by Clement Salvadori

Motorcycle Journeys Through New England: You Don't Have to Get Lost to Find the Good Roads by Martin C. Berke

Motorcycle Journeys Through Southern Mexico by Neal Davis, Lisa Dionne (Editor)

Motorcycle Touring and Travel: A Handbook of Travel by Motorcycle, Second Ed. by Bill Stermer

Motorcycle Vagabonding in Japan by Guy De La Rupelle,

Motorcycling Stories by Piet Boonstra

The Mouse And The Motorcycle by Beverly Cleary

A Guide for Using The Mouse and the Motorcycle in the Classroom by Deborah Hayes

From Nordkapp to Cape York on a Motorcycle by Werner Bausenhart

Obsessions Die Hard: Motorcycling the Pan American Highway's Jungle Gap by Ed Culberson

Odyssey to Ushuaia: A Motorcycling Adventure from New York to Tierra del Fuego by Andres Carlstein

One Man Caravan by Robert E. Fulton Jr

One Year on the Road, Cinq Continents en Moto, by Manou Emringer and Ellen Spencer, in English and French

The Perfect Vehicle: What It is about Motorcycles by Melissa Holbrook Pierson

Pilgrimage on a Steel Ride: AMemoir About Men and Motorcycles by Gary Paulsen

Purple Mountains : America from a Motorcycle by Notch Miyake

Ride Like The Wind (DVD)

Riding the Edge by Dave Barr and Mike Wourms Paperback - 50

Riding High by Ted Simon

Riding the World by Gregory Frazier

Road Magic Part I
Road Magic Part II
Road Magic Part III by Susan Foss

Rugged Road by Theresa Wallach

Running with the Moon by Jonny Bealby

Setting Free the Bears by John Irving

She's a Bad Motorcycle: Writers on Riding by Geno Zanetti

Sorebums Rattling Around Asia by Simon McCarthy and Georgie Simmonds

Sparring with Charlie by Christopher Hunt

Storm : A Motorcycle Journey of Love, Endurance and Transform - ation by Allen Noren

Sudan : The Bradt Travel Guide (Bradt Travel Guide) by Paul Clammer

The Tao of the Ride: Motorcycles and the Mechanics of the Soul by Garri Garripoli

Terra Circa by Austin Vince and crew.

10 Years on 2 Wheels: 77 Countries, 250,000 Miles by Helge Peders

Three - Wheeling Through Africa by James C. Wilson

Triumph Around the World by Robbie Marshall

Two for the Road by Shirley Hardy-Rix and Brian Rix

Two Wheels Through Terror by Glen Heggstad

Two Wheels to Adventure by Danny Liska

Two Wheels to Panama by William Carroll

Up Top Down Under,Cape York Adventure movie DVD

Upper Mississippi Valley by Motorcycle by Kay Fellows

Fielding's Southern Vietnam on Two Wheels : The Ups & Downs of Solo Motorcycling Through Exotica by Wink Dulles

Vroom with a View by Peter Moore

Way to Go: Two of the World's Great Motorcycle Journeys by Geoff Hill

World Understanding on Two Wheels An introduction to Overland Travel by Paul Pratt

Purple Mountains — America From a Motorcycle

Running with the Moon: A Boy's Own Adventure - Riding a Motorbike Through Africa by Jonny Bealby

Long Rider: A Tale of Just Passin' Through - Dr. Edmonds+

Zero To Sixty: The Motorcycle Journey of a Lifetime, by Gary Paulson

Storm : A Motorcycle Journey of Love, Endurance and Transformation, by Allen Noren

The Rugged Road: The remarkable story of the first women to cross the Sahara by Motorcycle (in 1934)
Melissa Holbrook Pierson: The Perfect Vehicle: What it is about motorcycles

motorcycle Yoga by Miles Davis

It's All Good
 

By Andrew Daddo 2006
In 1991 Andrew and his new found mate Ray rode from New York to LA. This book chronicles the journey in memory of Ray who later died in a workplace accident.
Makes a good read about the adventure and experiences along the way.
http://www.hachette.com.au/books/0733620760.html

Glen

The Truth about Motorcycle Travel!
 

Hi, I'm the writer of most of the above book. It was actually about travelling in Europe (written by Peter Rae) and a trip by my friend Charlie and myself from Australia to the Guinness brewery in Dublin. I then did a bit of other travelling with my wife-to-be and finished the trip by myself, crossing America and returning to Oz.
I will be republishing my section of the book some time in 2007. It will be called 'The King of Every Kingdom'.
Meanwhile, I edit Australian Road Rider magazine and sell my other books: 'Motorcycling in Australia' and 'On the Road Again'. Feel free to get in touch at the.bear@optusnet.com.au .

not about bikes and can't remember who it is by but 'The bone man of Benares' had a bigger impact on me than any other travel book I have read. funny but also tragic, it goes deep into the psychology of travel. if it doesn't bring a tear to your eye you really are a heartless bxxxxxx!!

also the perfect vehicle by melissa holbrook peterson. about her love of motorcycling, guzzies in particular and the occassional man! a companion story for women, an eye opener for men.

then of course there is 'me, dad and the Plymouth to Dakar' my own book about me not quite killing my dad on the pdc!! it's available through my ebay shop at
http://stores.ebay.co.uk/Captain-Mog...3aFQ3aSTQQtZkm

I agree with your assessment of Jupiters Travels and think it is on a higher level, so to say, than a book like Odyssey to Ushuaia.
BUT... I really enjoyed Odyssey to Ushuaia. Maybe it helps that I am a 23yo male and can relate to his current (at the time he traveled) position in life, but it was an easy read that was entertaining and displayed a lot of the day to day stuff that goes on as well as a little bit of culture and some technical traveling topics such as border crossings. I love the deepness of Ted Simon, but also appreciate the more light hearted style of Odyssey.
Long Way Round annoyed me at points because of the seemingly constant whining, but I never really got that feeling from Odyssey.

I liked the Motorcycle Diaries OK, but I actually think I prefer the movie. The book did become boring to me at several points.

I've also read " Mi Moto Fidel". I think the person who recommended it to me hyped it up too much. It was good and entertaining, but didn't stand above anything else that I have read. It did give me a lot of interesting information about Cuba, though, and is probably what made me go out and by The Motorcycle Diaries.

I'll just throw it out there that, while not a book, Erin and Chris Ratay's travelogue ( www.ultimatejourney.com ) is what I stumbled upon that originally gave me the moto travel bug 3-4 years ago.

Burt Munro
 

"One Good Run, The Legend Of Burt Munro" by Tim Hanna
A good read about the dogged determination of stubborn Bert to make his old 1920 Indian Scout "Munro Special" the fastest in the world. This New Zealander had many crashes, engine rebuilds, and trips to the salt at Bonneville USA always trying for that one good run. Burt Munro's life inspired the hit movie "The Worlds Fastest Indian" starring Anthony Hopkins.

Published by Penguin Books www.penguin.co.nz cost was $29.99 AUD

Go get a copy

Enjoy the read
Glen

Ian Mutch - Lowrider
 

A 3000 mile solo trip across Europe to reach Israel on a poorly customized and badly maintained hard tail Triumph chop. He also wrote Looking for America, a ride across the states on a Harley.

AMH Short stories.
 

I really enjoyed reading the Adventure Motorcyling handbook. Not just for the techical info but I really enjoyed the short storys of other peoples adventures at the back. I even bought both editions for the new stories.

Would be great if someone would publish a book full of short travelogues like in the back of the AMH.

Hello,

I'm suprised not to have seen the Mondo Enduro book/diaries mentioned here (or have I missed it?). I finished the book a few weeks ago and for me it was probably the best book I have ever read, not just the best bike/travelling book. It is the group diaries from on the road and I felt like I was on the journey with them...normal people on normal budgets.

I started to re-read Long Way Round after but I have given up. Although I have defended it in posts before, it just seemed like there was nothing but bickering between the team (of about 10!) and also as if someone had just typed up the script from their tv series rather than Ewan and Charlie bothering to write it themselves.

I have just ordered 'Running with the Moon: A Boy's Own Adventure - Riding a Motorbike Through Africa' by Jonny Bealby from Amazon so will see how I get on with that...


15/02/2007...unfortunately I have nearly finished Jonny Bealby's book now - an excellent read.

Two for the Road - Shirley Hardy Pix and Brian PIX
 

Two for the Road - Shirley Hardy Rix and Brian RiX
is the book that I am reading now, It follows a Melbourne couple's jorney ona BMW GS from UK to Melbourne on the typical overland route
Europe> east Eurpe> Turkey > Iran > PAK > Ind > SE Asia > Singapore> Australia.

So far the book has been an interesting read, I was up till 2:00 am last night reading the same , very interesting but its more or less a simple travelogue describing places and people and the tourist spots they visited. I mean thats what I should ideally expect from a trip log / book like this but then I would think this is on the same level as other trip logs.

after reading these posts , I am now Looking forward to get my hands on the > Jupiter's travels, ordered it 3 weeks ago from a Melbourne Book shop , still waiting fo rdelivery and the guys said it might take another 3 - 4 weeks. pathetic :-(

Off the Rails- Across Siberia by Bicycle (Moscow to Bejing)
 

This was a book that I read before the current one and I loved it ,
simply superb. 2 Aussie blokes Cycling their way across the length of Russia and China. Their long and difficult journey that too on 2 simple bicycles.

The book is very well written , atleast reading it you can feel the pain and the difficulty of such a long journey. The pleasure of interactions with helpful and kind strangers . I think the judge of wether a book is good is to see wether it rouses your emotions , do you feel a part of whatever you are reading.

And in that sense the Off the Rails is really good, though it has a fair bit of bitching and fighting between the two, but on such a long journey this is bound to happen. The book overall is very very readable.
They also have a TV documentary Off the Rails> http://www.abc.net.au/documentaries/...fftherails.htm
http://timcopejourneys.com/index.pl?page=4

Ridin with Rilke
 

Just a shout out for a 'newer' MC book written by Ted Bishop who reports on his BMW trip (and subsequent accident) connecting with libraries, rare boks, and even the occasional rare person - it's a great read focussing on his miles in Western Canada and US.

more books
 

Special mention of Anne-France DAutheville

"une demoiselle sur un moto" She set off in 1973 from Paris to Afganistan on a moto Guzzi.
Also in 1982 she went solo 6 months around south America on a 250cc Honda. Book called "La piste de l´or"
Unfortunately only in French! Very well written and a very interesting Lady. Shame it was never translated in english, she certainly would be much more known in the moto travellers world! She deverse it!

I'm just reading "Zen and the art of Motorcycle Maintenance", and I'm loving it. I've been getting bags under my eyes for the past few days because I've started reading it once I finish everything else (about midnight), and i read for about an hour or so, until I *really* have to leave it aside, and catch some sleep! It's on my desk in front of me right now.. roll on 5:30pm, because I'll be reading it on the tube home! :)

Books
 

Got in my hands a copy of Geoff Hills "Way to go" and I have to admit that Jupiters Travels was put aside for a while. Could not stop reading about Geoffs journeys.
Dave Barrs both books are great too!:thumbup1:

For Love and a Beetle - A tale of two journeys.
 

For Love and a Beetle - A tale of two journeys.
by Hodge, Ivan and McGovern, Petronella


Hundreds of people have done the overland journey from UK to India via the Europe> east Europe> Turkey > Iran > PAK > Ind > SE Asia > Singapore> Australia.

So what makes this journey special? Well many things,

1) Firstly this is the second time for the couple they did the same journey in the same Beetle in 1961, when it was newly bought in the UK and sold to his mother in Newzeland,
and again in 1996 when they shipped their old Beetle back to UK and repeated the journey from UK to India Overland.
2) They are both in their Sixties and so to speak on their Second Honeymoon.
3) They are doing a journey which is perhaps a legendary distance for a vehicle 35 years old.

The book is interspersed alternatingly with their recordings of the 1961 trip and with their current travel experience. We get to see the how the same places have changed in the past 35 years , they have attempted to travel along the exact route that they traveled on 35 years ago.

My Favourite in this book is a page with 2 Photos which shows Ivan Hodge in Turkey with a watch tower and his beetle in the back ground one taken in 1961 and the other in 1996.
The caption below the first photo reads:

The Beetle, My sweater , and a camel tower, Iran 1961
The second photo reads
Same Beetle, Same sweater , and a the same camel tower, Iran 1996.

The only difference in the photos is that Ivan and the tower show some effects of Old age , the tower being a bit weathered and Ivan with his old age paunch.

If nothing else this book should surely be read to see the spirit of adventure in a 60 year old couple having the guts to travel around the world.

Iv just finished reading LOIS ON THE LOOSE...

Bloody fantastic.. Im gonna rate it in my top 3 books !!

Amazon.co.uk: Lois on the Loose: Books: Lois Pryce

Less than a fiver too !! :eek3:

another decent book....
 

Another good book that deserves a mention is 'Smith & Son' - an account of father and son trip across Africa on a pair of Triumph Tiger cubs.

The unabridged audio version as read by Michael Kramer is fantastic. I couldn't stand listening to the Laurence Pressman narration.

The Bone man of Benares is by Terry Tarnoff, who did the hippy trail thing back in the '70s I think. Truly fabulous despite the lack of bikes. I'm halfway through "Mondo Enduro" and it's brilliant! Really don't-want-it-to-end-good.
I got it to pass the time while I recover from surgery and I'm almost scared to read it in case I split my stiches laughing!
I didn't think "Lois on the Loose" was available yet? Of to Amazon then, the excerpts in the AMH were hilarious.

Greg Frazier's M/Cycle Touring
 

This is an interesting book if you're a beginner - if youre more experienced you'll like reading it but wont learn much. The price is way too high in the UK; I bought it and found it wasn't worth the £16. I should have spent the money on petrol instead. Chris Scott's Adventure M/Cycling is a much better buy.

Despite his travels, Greg says that laws in other countries like Venezuela are based on Napoleonic laws where you are guilty till proved innocent. I refute this. There is an occasional patronising thread throughout, but he has a good attitude to bike travel, and is healthily immune to the hysterical "latest model" mania which is so current.

It is a US book, so there is a lot of space given to those lumbering giant rolling armchairs of bikes which are so common there.

The Ghost of Scootertrash Past
 

I haven't sen this one mentioned. It's by an collage English proffessor that ride BMW's mostly around North America. Not so much a trip report as a lifelong rememerance.
Not for the politiclly correct movement.

+1 A good read.

Lois on the Loose
 

Just finished it. Absolutely brilliant, witty and entertaining. One of the best motorcycle travel books I've read. Ranks alongside Jupiters Travels, Mondo Enduro and Out of Africa.

The Longest Ride anyone?
 

Just enjoyed Lois' book also - hope it does well for her.

Has anyone read
The Longest Ride: My Ten-Year 500,000 Mile Motorcycle Journey
by Emilio Scotto?

(on amazon.com)

Sort of Danny Liska on a Gold Wing - looks kind of interesting.

Chris S

I didnt know it was published - I only saw a bit (perhaps it was an extract)which had been automatically translated - it was quite amazing, but through the crazy translation, a good text tried to shine through.

Thanks Vincent - I'll buy her book and enjoy her travels as I work on my French. What a great way to learn a language.

Hi
 

I read the book Lois on the loose, its fantastic. Really witty and shows the differences in cultures with humor.
Deffenetly recomendable.
It's also the reason I found this fantastic site, there is a link to it on her Homepage.