Dreaming of a motorcycle trip to distant climes? This section will help you to plan your trip, whether it's to the next state, country or all the way around the world! Start here!
The Achievable Dream 5-part series - the definitive video guide for planning your motorcycle adventure. Get Ready! covers planning, paperwork, medical and many other topics! "Inspirational and Awesome!" See the trailer here!
You could just get on a plane with your credit card and passport and buy or rent everything you need when you get there. That includes the bike, riding gear, etc. etc.
Gear Up! is a 2-DVD set, 6 hours! Which bike is right for me? How do I prepare the bike? What stuff do I need - riding gear, clothing, camping gear, first aid kit, tires, maps and GPS? What don't I need? How do I pack it all in? Lots of opinions from over 150 travellers! "will save you a fortune!"See the trailer here!
So you've done it - got inspired, planned your trip, packed your stuff and you're on the road! This section is about staying healthy, happy and secure on your motorcycle adventure. And crossing borders, war zones or oceans!
On the Road! is 5.5 hours of the tips and advice you need to cross borders, break down language barriers, overcome culture shock, ship the bike and deal with breakdowns and emergencies."Just makes me want to pack up and go!" See the trailer here!
Tire Changing!Grant demystifies the black art of Tire Changing and Repair to help you STAY on the road! "Very informative and practical." See the trailer here!
With an HU blog, you'll get a lot more readers than in some obscure corner of the web, it's all set to go, no setup required, and it's free! Start your Travel Story Blog right now!
800+ HU Communities in over 115 countries! People who want to meet travellers - yes that's YOU - and can provide local assistance, and may be your new best friends!
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After the big trip - Was the trip the best - or worst - thing you ever did?
Resources and Links
Horizons Unlimited Presents!
Ladies on the Loose! For the first time ever, a motorcycle travel DVD made for women, by women! These intrepid women share their tips to help you plan your own motorcycle adventure. They also answer the women-only questions, and entertain you with amazing tales from the road! Presented by Lois Pryce, veteran solo traveller through South America and Africa and author of 'Lois on the Loose', and 'Red Tape and White Knuckles.'
"It has me all fired up to go out on my own adventure!" See the trailer here!
Meet people who don't think you're crazy for wanting to ride your bike to South America or across Asia! They will encourage you, share their experiences and advice on how to do it!
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Videos - Watch and Learn!
Horizons Unlimited presents!
Achievable Dream The definitive guide to planning your motorcycle adventure! This insanely ambitious 2-year project has produced an informative and entertaining 5-part, 18 hour video series. "The ultimate round the world rider's how-to!" MCN UK.
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I am planing to go to Uyuni and watch a little bit of the Dakar Rallye 2018 here in Bolivia.
My idea is to arrive on the 13.01. and camp somewhere outside the town. Then on the 14.01. try to find a good spot to watch the participants somewhere near Uyuni. And on the 15.01. ride to Tupiza.
If you want to meet up, lets meet on the 13.01. between 4-5pm at the clocktower (no I dont have a gps).
Or on the 14.01. between 4-5pm at the same clocktower.
Or on the 15.01. around 10am at the clocktower.
The clocktower is in the center and maybe we cant get to it with the bikes, but you will recognise a smelly biker (me), sitting somewhere with his cheek full of coca. I am riding a black DR650.
Send me a pm and I send you my phone number (sms only).
Hey Mika. My wife and I are I San Pedro de Atacama right now. We were thinking of watching in Uyuni, but we were told the vehicles just fly through and it's better to watch in Tupiza. However, if we are in Uyuni, we will reach out to you.
In 2016 I watched the Dakar at Uyuni and Turpiza. Luckily after watching the race on the edge of the Salar (Day 6), me and a friend headed straight for Turpiza and camped the night and saw the race the next morning (Day 7).
Luckily we did, because the next morning (day 7) the liaison route for the competitors towards Turpiza was the only road, so it was closed to all other traffic. In fact the road was closed at sunset the night before. They were pretty much closing the road behind us as we passed on day 6.
Luckily we did, because the next morning (day 7) the liaison route for the competitors towards Turpiza was the only road, so it was closed to all other traffic. In fact the road was closed at sunset the night before. They were pretty much closing the road behind us as we passed on day 6.
Thanks Chris, very good advise. So this means leaving Uyuni 14th in the afternoon ...
Just for info for the Uyuni section and everywhere else over the Dakar fortnight:
Uyuni town will be really busy and lots of streets closed in the centre. There's a huge Dakar bivouac (part of an army base?) on the edge of town. In 2016 the race went around the edge of the Salar anti clockwise. We camped the night before in the middle of the Salar.
Either on the Dakar app or on the website they tell you where "official" spectator points are with gps coordinates and when they pass by. Often the first bikes are ahead of "schedule".
Just be aware that often the only access (dirt) road is the liason or race track. You can only leave the view location after all competitors and the sweeper trucks have passed and the route is open by the police again. What was an easy graded dirt road then looks very different The race trucks and cars especially, carve it up very badly. Fine if you know how to ride, but maybe less so if you're a dirt novice on a faux adventure heavy bomber with road tyres and the kitchen sink bolted on the back
Also consider long delays at borders if all the competitors/ backup crews / organisors are crossing before you.
I followed the race in 2016 from Uyuni to the podium in Rosario. Pictures and videos in my RR in the link in the signature below (page 4 onwards).
My experience in Argentina 2013, Fambila and Tucaman stages.
Tucaman - Once the course was released we rode into the desert the night before and camped next to the course. I got photos like this one, standing just off the course.
Fiambala - I parked my bike and walked a mile or more into the desert, far from the "spectator view area." The spectator zone had police that keep you back from the course. Screw that.
I was so close to the racers I had to have my camera cleaned a few weeks later to remove the dirt and dust that was jamming up leaf lens cover. =)
Pick your spot thoughtfully
1) Don't position yourself in a potential "impact zone", an area where a race might accidentally leave the course.
2) Determine which way the wind is blowing and place yourself upwind to minimize the dusty fallout from the racers flying by.
When traveling on the liaison route from Rioja (bivouac) to the Fiambala stage start, I rode along side with racers. I was really cool. I guess things are run differently in Argentina. Perhaps the liason road is closed now a days... The funnest thing, young kids would cheer when they saw me on the liaison route. I felt like a fake Beatle.
__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.
Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's thelist of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now, and add your information if we didn't find you.
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...
2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.
"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)
Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.
Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.
Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!
What others say about HU...
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Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.
You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.