Seeing this thread from before I was a member has caused a bit of clarity ... I have been a biker for most of my life, but now I'm becoming more of a traveller - my interest in the bike is lower priority than where it can get me.

I think a large part of that is being in a place where exploration is available despite my health problems, so I can do it in bite-size portions.

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FreeBSD fan since before it was cool ...

I hope the bloke in the car and 4x4 guy get on, they seem to be rather on their own!



Andy

You're getting there; finding new, to you, ways of travelling.


Yes, hence your poll was perplexing to me when I first read it, and it remains so, hence I haven't voted.
While it has generated a reasonable discussion it is far too restrictive to my own range of interests which amount to any form of getting from A to B.
For instance, I have absolutely no interest in bungee jumping because it is not a means of transport - but skiiing, trekking, snow shoeing, canoeing, sailing, 2 wheels, 4 wheels, flying by all sorts of airframes etc etc, just bring them on!

Overland, oversea, overair - all good for me!

Yes, the relatively low amount of input about 4x4 interests is a limitation of this particular website; there was a makeover recently, and I guess that has included some feedback from the 4 wheeler community (which was requested in an earlier thread) about what should be in that section; clearly though, the website remains specifically aimed at two wheeled motor transport - that could put off some people who when casting around in the internet for 4x4 information come across this site and move on, quickly - we have all done it when browsing for new information; first impressions count, sometimes with unfortunate results.

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Dave

Remembering back to when, and I still can, I first got a bike so that I could go where I wanted, when I wanted. So it was to be the means of travel.
But then I got hooked on them! What amazing things they are!
Now I still want to, and do, go places, but don't enjoy it half so much if I'm not on the bike.
If I hadn't got hooked on bikes, ( there have been over 40 of them) I'd probably have had more money to "travel" but I'd have just been one of millions in the queuse at airports.
So I have a bike to travel, but enjoying travel on the bike has become the main thing.
I don't care if anybody says I'm a biker or a motorcyclist, but I reckon anybody who says they are either of those to things, but don't use their bike to go places, is something else.

I narrowed the question because the site is mainly about motocycles and travelling.

The trigger to start this poll was this post: http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hubb/the-hu-bar/big-bike-little-bike-63679 Some really nice thoughts came out, just look at the 10 "likes"... Sure, I understand you, I was myself puzzled as well, it kind of feels like "excluding out something, why?", but it's only a question to make one think. I'm sure we all here have other interests... although I'm also sure these two (travel & biking) are in the top 5, at least. However, that's why I said: don't vote, don't have to put you in a box. It may happen one is not (or most are not) with any answer, which IMO is not bad, but the opposite.

Share that vision. For instance, I've lurked around quite a bit there, but never written (yet). It has great things, but I kind of feel it's not exactly my place. Here is more... humble, modest? I like that, I prefer low profile, although I agree they are quite complementary and both great.

I'd like that a lot, really, something to foster: we are all in the same boat, at least we could in HUBB (maybe not in ADV though). Personally, I've travelled much more (which does not mean a lot, but comparatively more) on 4 wheels than on 2. However, in my heart I belong more to biking, so I'm kind of that.

Same goes for cycling, it'd nice to have more of those guys here, they are the real heros IMHO. At least, we have Kayaker heading soon the Yukon...

It may depend on the thread of choice. I'm pretty much a lurker on the DR650 thread - good vibe with top guys and a library of knowledge over there

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bugsonmyboard.org
two wheeled wave hunting dispatches

Of course! I've read outstanding trip reports and great bike rebuilts.

This is a thought-provoking question and all the answers are very interesting. Ever since I first 'travelled' I've never felt I slotted into any pigeon hole or fitted in with any group.
I've never been a 'lifestyle' biker (to use a term already mentioned), or even, I think, 'a biker'.

So I'll start at the beginning with my earliest influences from parents and family.
My dad and at least 4 uncles were all motorcyclists of the ride-to-work kind, and to the seaside when the sun shone.
For that reason my dad and at least 2 uncles had sidecar outfits. No cars.

That got me onto a bicycle at a pretty early age, and I quickly built the ambition to copy the journeys my family often did on Dad's outfit. The main one being from home to my Grandparent's house, both the journey and destination being so enjoyable.

So one morning I determined to set off, on my first 'adventure' journey, having persuaded my close friend David to come along too on his bicycle.
This is where parental freedom No.1 came in. It was normal for me to wander off on a ride and not know where to or how far, so my parents seemed to accept they never knew either.
On this occasion I did know, but out of habit there was no need to tell them.

We were both about 11 years old, and I was confident I knew the route from the dozens of times I'd done it on Dad's sidecar outfit. We had no maps.

All was fine as we reached Charing Cross Station at the end of The Strand, about to enter Trafalgar Square. About 16 miles from home so far (Loughton), right through East London and the City.
In those days lots of big London road junctions had policemen permanently on point duty, and this was one such place.
The copper spotted us and came straight over, and in a very friendly way asked us where we were going.
"To my Grandma's," I proudly replied.
"Where's that?"
"Victoria," I said.
"Well, take lots of care as you turn down Whitehall!" he advised.

I was glad of that reminder. When I caught the first glimpse of Trafalgar Square I realised I couldn't quite remember for a moment which turning we needed. Now I knew.

A short while afterwards we arrived, and my Grandma was hugely surprised to see us (no phones at all in those days - what bliss!)
And I sensed parental freedom No.2 - she was definitely proud of our endeavour.
And we had a very nice visit.

Later in the day she asked me, "Does David's mum and dad know where he is?"
That puzzled me - how was I supposed to know? My mum and dad didn't know where I was - as usual.
Well, back home during the afternoon David's parents had been round to see mine. They weren't happy that no one knew where we were, and had asked the police for help.
My dad took a guess at our destination and a local Victoria policeman had been round while we played in the basement.
"I think your parents are a bit angry not knowing where you are!" my Grandma told David. She said that with the same surprise that I felt, that anyone should worry about where we'd got to. I suppose it ran in the family..... Parental freedom No.3.

So later on, to pacify David's worried parents, my dad arrived on his Panther outfit. He too seemed proud of what we'd done. He installed us in the sidecar, strapped our bicycles onto the top, and returned us safely home.
I was very disappointed not to be cycling home, my Grandma was too and gave me a knowing wink. Parental freedom No.4.
Next day my mum explained: "David's in big trouble with his mum and dad. Just because you ride about everywhere all day, you mustn't assume that your friends can as well without their parents knowing!"

I've remembered that "adventure" bike ride ever since, and learned that everyone travels differently.
So that leads me to tick 'traveller on a bike'.


Well, I have 4 bikes between 250cc and 1000cc, and a bicycle (and a car).
At times in the last 15 years I've thought "the bikes are too fast for travelling, I'll use the bicycle". So I've cycled a bit around Europe and N. America.
Now I realise, as well as all the wheels, I have 2 feet, and sometimes think "the bicycle is too fast for travelling" and find myself walking now a lot more than I ever used to.

So, it's back to the old chestnut I think, is there a balance between 'seeing' and 'travelling'? And the use of big engines or little ones......

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TTR250 - London to Cape Town

McCrankpin, that was a really nice story.

You own 4 bikes and are probably more passionate about bikes than many people who consider themselves hardcore bikers, but still you see yourself more as a "traveller on a bike". I find it really intesting. I mean, some people can put more passion in several of their interests than other people can do in their single passion. Some people here are keen photographers, who may consider photography as one of their passions, but probably they may be better photographers that others who consider photography as their main/single passion (is that understandable, I cannot find synomims to avoid repeting "photograph-stemmed" words!)

The reason why I asked about the size of the bike in the 1st post was, as many may have suspected, that I personally feel that "more bikers" tend to go for bigger bikes, since riding is their bigger passion and they may provide more fun, while "more travelers" may go for smaller ones, since cheaper means more money/time/slower pace to see sights while they travel. But, of course, as you wisely stated, there's bike/engine size for each kind of trip. And all of us here have both biker and traveller souls.

Traveler on a bike.

I don't have a hard-on for bikes. I mean, I like them and think that I may purchase one in the future...but I don't have to have one. I don't care to talk about them or mull over the merits of one compared to another.

I bought a bike for this trip because of lessons learned in the military. Get transportation. I've done the backpacking thing before and couldn't STAND waiting around for a bus or collectivo and then find out that I couldn't go where I wanted.

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West Virginia University 2006
Beta Theta Pi - Beta Psi
Ride Report: TAT...and Beyond

you should start another thread "whats a biker"
i for one would be very interested in all replys as varied as they might be.

Why don't you start it?

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TBS.com

Traveller, by whatever means fits best.
I guess I have this need to see around the next corner, what its like to be there.

My roadtrips have always been on 4wheels, (except western France on a pushbike,) just cos its been easier that way, but I can see how 2 could be more fun. The 4 wheels covers ground, carries food and provides a place to sleep but its the journey that I'm there for not the driving.

I like to travel on foot, I get to some beautiful places, sometimes I could be the first person ever to have stood there (or thats how it feels) and theres time to look around and really see..but not so practical for really big distances!
For work each summer I walk 1200km and around 120000m of vertical gain/descent, its amazing how much ground you can cover, with time..

On ski or snowshoes, better than foot in the snow, beautiful, enjoyable, something magic sometimes making your own track, frost crystals sparkling..you get to places you never could by machine, the world looks pristine, silent

I've done short trips by snowmobile and 4WD both also a lot of fun in their own way too.

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I just have to go till the sides of the road touch in the distance, then I can stop travelling and settle down

I see the bike as another tool to enable me to travel when I get the chance. Each mode of transport has it's own set of pro's and cons.

With plane transport you can get there very quickly but see nothing of the way there. Also now days the rigmarole with airport security makes the whole experience very unpleasant unless you go by private plane.

Train transport you get to see a lot more of the route but you can not stop to look around you, it is much cheaper outside the UK especially in asia. It is also far more convenient. you can take more with you and that includes a bike for not much extra costs.

Boat transport is nice too but you are limited to water.......... How ever a river cruise can be fun. (more interesting scenery)

Car transport you come and go as you please, you try to choose an appropriate car but there are always compromises ;-) you do get to see a lot of what you travel through but you are a bit removed. You also have the benefit of weather protection and may be a/c too!

Bike transport you come and go as you please, you try to choose an appropriate bike but there are always compromises ;-) you get to see a even more of what you travel through, you are so close you can even smell it, feel it and get wet too!

But the bottom line line is you Travel, and if you are luck you get to meet wonderful people from different cultures, learn a little and become a bit more tolerant of other cultures too.

so me I am just happy exploring the world any way I can! but I do prefer the freedom that comes with my own transport.

Depends. I don't travel to go anywhere specific. Just for the ride, and move about every day. Just did a 1 week 3000 km trip with my son as pillion. we stayed in a different place every night. I guess that makes me a biker as its not about the travel, but the ride.

Then again, I don't fit the biker image. I don't belong to any MC clubs, detest group rides or making a spectacle of myself my bike groups, bike venues, or ridiculous clothing. I love bikes, but not the bike scene. The whole thing of clothing, tattoos, long hair etc seems ridiculous to me. what does it have to do with riding a bike? And why do I need marshals, road captains, colours, vests, rules and regs etc to go ride my bike? I avoid places such people go and I don't want to be associated with it.