This is a very good question that comes up every now and then. If you do a search you'll find previous discussion. It breaks down into four areas:

1) Retirement: The rider is retired and is living off of investments, a pension, etc. and no longer needs to work to finance their costs. I read one estimate on ADVrider that this probably accounts for 80% of the trip reports on that site.

2) Between jobs: Sometimes the rider has been laid off with a severance package, or has simply quit their job and is not eager to return to work.

3) Save, save, save: The rider scrimps and saves for a long time (years) while planning ahead for the trip.

4) Good fortune: There is also the occasional journeyer who has won a lottery, a legal settlement, had a huge payoff from an investment, etc.

Not very encouraging I know. Most of us are not going to meet (1) or (4) any time soon. With today's economy the thought of deliberately quitting a job (2) without a new one to go to right away doesn't seem very smart. Family obligations, mortgage payments, etc. it can be very difficult to meet (3). Hell, a couple of weeks ago I was thinking I had $1000 to spare for a short motorcycle trip next month... and then my car broke down, costing me about $950.

Yeah, I don't know what to say. Keep saving, keep putting money towards retirement, and keep buying lottery tickets.
:confused1:

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250