It's OK Dodger, I AM kind! This article is not about slagging anything off, it's a discussion about different philosophies to our hobby/way of life. It is not fuelled by an agenda - everyone can do what makes them happy as far as I am concerned - but lately I am seeing a move towards more lo-fi travelling and that is of interest to me, so I assume it will be of interest to the readers of the mag. Let's hope so!

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www.loisontheloose.com

Hey Lois, when you say that you see a move towards more lo-fi traveling, what is the basis of comparison you look at?

I mean, is it the same amount of folks, who have traveled in the past in one way and now choose a low-cost, simpler approach?

Or, has the number of overland motorcycle travelers increased, thus added to the pool of people and the tendency of new-comers is going low-cost, simpler?

Are you looking at demographic changes over the years, i.e. age, income class, etc.?

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Thomas

"Hey, ...I'm just ridin' shotgun"

It's probably a bit of both but most notably I am hearing people who bought a big bike and lots of kit/gadgets for the their first trip come back saying they will be taking a smaller bike and less stuff on their next trip. Have also noticed a move away from technology - people choosing to take less electronic gear that needs charging or that ends up breaking and needs fixing. In other words, just simplifying the experience.

This is not some scientific study, I hasten to add! Just my observations from people I meet at bike shows, my talks, on the road, by email etc.

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www.loisontheloose.com

Less is more! Given those parameters, to a certain degree, I would fall into that category as well. I have definitely cut back on a lot of stuff compared to previous trips. I have changed to less, but higher quality and functionality.

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Thomas

"Hey, ...I'm just ridin' shotgun"

There is the technology cycle involved here:

1980's: You go into the then Soviet Union, people at home expect intermitant post cards and the Post Resant system works given enough time.Phone calls require a trip to a government department, no one expects you to make one except maybe from a hospital bed or police cell.

Late 20th/early 21st Century: People at home expect e-mails and frequent phone calls. In the rough end of Kazakhstan you might find a cafe or friendly business with dial up or a phone that will call outside the country, but having your sat phone and lap top makes things easier.

2011: Every McDonalds between London and Tokyo has wifi that your mobile will link with. The local newsagents sell pay and go's.

Only during the spread of technology do you need to carry as much stuff. Same can be said for bikes, there can't be many mechanics in the world now who havn't seen a fuel pump, but that's another topic.

Andy

There's been a wealth of responses so far, and I dare say my responses will, therefore, add little. But I have 15 mins to spare so why not?

Adventure motocycling now has a higher profile, and so more people have taken notice. Some like the look, some like the lifestyle, some like both. As a result companies are making more and lots of it costs £$€. Those who lack the money or prefer to channel it elsewhere will need to adapt what they have. So the difference between what one person buys and what one person builds becomes very obvious.

Lois' basic question was, as I understood it, is overlanding by bike moving toward a more simplistic way of doing things.

IMO, no.

As has been said, the adventure segment has grown incredibly and so now there is a whole gammet of styles and approaches.

"Back to Basics/DIY" is only one of those and, I think, has always been there.
It is probably the oldest form simply because those who fancied overlanding way back when, lacked the marketed products and infrastructure we have now: so what choice was there but to make and make do?

This "keep it simple" approach has simply been overshadowed by the big money machine that has picked up such momentum.

Perhaps now it is just getting more coverage, as the novelty to many of Adventure biking wanes, and some publish their journeys whilst others make a point of distancing themselves from the more mainstream approach, fearful of being tarnished by association!

Personally, I hope to build my own bike for the job as it seems every option out there compromises what I want, so I will be doing the DIY bit more. Similarly, I am no engineer so it will be "kept basic" by necessity, not choice!

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

I've forgotten the name of the book but in the 50's someone in the UK who was having trouble adjusting to life being les exciting since WW2 ended converted his series I Landrover into an amphibious one from scratch, then sailed it to South America, drove all over the place, then sailed it back. That's the very best DIY adventure I have ever heard of by a clear mile, and was done over 60 years ago.
Maybe it's not the spirit or ethos that is growing, just the ability to find out about other peoples trips has got so much better (dare I say it the ability to blow ones own trumpet has gone up!!). Without places like HU I would only have managed to bore a handful of friends and family with my 'tales of daring do', normally starting with 'when I was in backwoodistan' and loud groans from all present