Future adventure traveler with no bike (ugh)
 

Hey all-
I'm interested in motorcycle adventure touring and starting off by reading some basic information about the sport.
I've looked around this website and it's awesome but it seems so specific for a beginner like me that the information has seemingly become more random and scattered the more I look into it, again though- because it's specific and I'm just a newbie.
What's the best single resource which can help outline the elemental premises of tours such as planning methods or stages/phases? After having read the site, I have a vague idea of what's needed but I'm also interested in how the trip is planned.
In terms of enjoying myself, I rode for about 10 years (Harley) in the Air Force and I could roll with unforeseen changes during the journey but trip planning was always priority 1 for me (fuel stations, etc...) and it allowed me to relax and have a good time.
Motorcycle adventure touring is surely a different ball of wax. Anybody willing to give me a clue where to start reading up on it?
I know.... I know... a bike would help.:oops2: but as a current broke grad. student my funds are, shall we say; :thumbdown: and as for the future; as a librarian, the fundage will continue to be- uh, endangered.
Sincerely,
a broked scholar. :smartass:
:stupid:

I'd never even been on a motorbike when I decided to go on an averland adventure. I didn't know any other bikers so went on my own and got most of the info from this site. I also got a copy of Chris Scotts Adventure Motorcycling Handbook which was a great investment, highly recommended!

Get a cheap bike and start making weekend and holiday camping trips to get some hands on experience
Attend a HU meeting and talk to a lot of people
Read travel stories (on this site, in books, magazine's etc)

Good luck

Yes - get a cheap bike and do it
 

I am a great fan of libraries and the information you can get from them - and also of course from the web. But the best way to learn is to mix doing with reading and planning. So get a small cheap bike and do short trips - find out what works for you. Small bikes have so many advantages - they obviously use less fuel etc but also they carry less so you will get less caught up with what is the latest equipment you need. So get out there do it and have fun (and then share your adventures with us). Good luck.

Hello Book Detective and :welcome: to the madness. As mentioned before, there is no one-stop guide for beginners of adventure travel. It is a very individual activity. HU is a fantastic resource for specifics on overland (international) travel.

Also, besides jumping in with both feed and doing local trips to find out what works best for you, read up on the numerous ride reports on this and other sites. Another site with an excellent Ride Report section is Adventure Rider Motorcycle Forum

Best of luck and don't be shy to fire away with your question. Folks on here, in general, are very helpful :wink3:.

:welcome: to the HUBB.

You're in the right place. Don't be daunted by the amount of information or your perceived lack of experience. We all started somewhere just like you.

Ask lots of questions and if you have an idea where you want to go then start with that. A continent or culture or just something foreign (and I don't mean Canada :-) :mchappy:

PS please fill out your profile so that others can see who you are (rather than a web robot) and help answer your questions more specifically.

:welcome:

I've recently become very interested in Motorbike travel, and have only been riding for 2 1/2 Years. I found this site (and others) quite daunting at first, although it does get much easier! I bought some of the "Achievable Dream" DVD series, and found that this was a really good way to find my feet; what sort of travel am I most interested in, what should I take, where should I go, etc . . .

Turbocharger is right - let us know where you are and we can be more specific. I'm going to a HU meet this summer for the first time (Ripley, UK) and already can't wait. This seemed to be an excellent way to meet other like minded souls and gain some insight into what my family think is slight madness!

Other sites (Adventure rider, UKGser - depending on the bike you might like, etc) are also a good idea, but so are magazines - a cheap(ish) way of expanding your horizons.

Whatever you choose to do, and however you do it, welcome and have fun!:D