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!
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!
Make a Difference Tips on fundraising or donating time and energy to a cause.
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.
"The series is 'free' because the tips and advice will save much more than you spend on buying the DVD's."
Road Heroes"Inspiring and hilarious!" (only on DVD)
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I did a 20,000 mile service on a kids Suzuki GSX-S 125 yesterday. Valve clearance check. This kid is a food delivery rider and rides this thing like he stole it. Cold starts, red-lining, zero craps given.
100% in perfect spec. The top end looked new. The motor is quiet, crisp and tight. It purrs away in perfect balance.
That's a £4000 bike. Brand new.
A Royal Enfield sounds and feels like a Skeleton pleasuring himself in a biscuit tin. The techs I know who have worked on the R.E tell me of valves needing regular attention and head gaskets leaking. That is either poor assembly or poor manufacturing of components. Neither I want anything to do with.
I did a 20,000 mile service on a kids Suzuki GSX-S 125 yesterday. Valve clearance check. This kid is a food delivery rider and rides this thing like he stole it. Cold starts, red-lining, zero craps given.
100% in perfect spec. The top end looked new. The motor is quiet, crisp and tight. It purrs away in perfect balance.
That's a £4000 bike. Brand new.
A Royal Enfield sounds and feels like a Skeleton pleasuring himself in a biscuit tin. The techs I know who have worked on the R.E tell me of valves needing regular attention and head gaskets leaking. That is either poor assembly or poor manufacturing of components. Neither I want anything to do with.
No comparison whatsoever.
Skeleton and a biscuit tin I've never heard that before. Thanks Ted you've just made me laugh out loud!!!
A Royal Enfield sounds and feels like a Skeleton pleasuring himself in a biscuit tin. The techs I know who have worked on the R.E tell me of valves needing regular attention and head gaskets leaking. That is either poor assembly or poor manufacturing of components. Neither I want anything to do with.
Hi Ted
What sort of Enfield was it that they were working on? When I went for a test ride on one of the "new" models - the Interceptor 650 - it was really smooth and was pretty well silent valve wise (well compared to my old airhead BMW most things are quiet, but I have developed an ear for valve noises). When I have seen the Himalayan running out and about they have been pretty quiet too, not just demonstrators either.
__________________
You will have to do without pocket handkerchiefs, and a great many other things, before we reach our journey's end, Bilbo Baggins. You were born to the rolling hills and little rivers of the Shire, but home is now behind you. The world is ahead.
What sort of Enfield was it that they were working on? When I went for a test ride on one of the "new" models - the Interceptor 650 - it was really smooth and was pretty well silent valve wise (well compared to my old airhead BMW most things are quiet, but I have developed an ear for valve noises). When I have seen the Himalayan running out and about they have been pretty quiet too, not just demonstrators either.
These won't have been new ones. But not the early frame snappers.
I don't think they've had valve problems per se. They just need adjustment a lot. And head gaskets have been known to leak.
I've had very little to do with them mechanically wise. I've ridden a few and could not understand why anyone would fall in love with one. It feels like something out of the 80's.
These bikes cost under £2000 BRAND new in India. You just can not make anything of quality for that price.
They are firmly in the category of "Cheap Asian shit" in my book.
That doesn't mean you can't buy one and ride it around the world. Many people do just that with even worse bikes.
Just manage your expectations.
With no disrespect to their owners, many people who rant and rave about them do so with very little experience or no other bikes to compare it against.
These won't have been new ones. But not the early frame snappers.
I don't think they've had valve problems per se. They just need adjustment a lot. And head gaskets have been known to leak.
I've had very little to do with them mechanically wise. I've ridden a few and could not understand why anyone would fall in love with one. It feels like something out of the 80's.
These bikes cost under £2000 BRAND new in India. You just can not make anything of quality for that price.
They are firmly in the category of "Cheap Asian shit" in my book.
That doesn't mean you can't buy one and ride it around the world. Many people do just that with even worse bikes.
Just manage your expectations.
With no disrespect to their owners, many people who rant and rave about them do so with very little experience or no other bikes to compare it against.
"Have very little experience or no other bikes to compare them to",
Price and geography have nothing to do with anything is this globalised world. Triumphs are made in Thailand from Chinese parts. BMW engines are made in China from Chinese parts, or Germany from Chinese parts using Polish and Rumanian labour. No one casts anything in mass numbers outside China or India and even forgings will use metal from these places unless its way above automotive spec.
They all charge more in Europe because if they went with £2000 they'd have lower margins and lower sales because of the crazy assumption anything they sell for less must have cost them less.
On this logic, are Honda parts that sell for less in the USA lower quality?
I'm no Enfield fan, my 500 EFI was too similar to by Iron barrel 5 speed, but I think you have to look at product not brands. One day the Chinese will make a decent bike. This is where brands might be useful, they won't call it an AJS or Norton.
Location: Back into the hamster wheel again, in Oslo - Norway. Did a 5 year RTW trip/250 k kms, 2014-2019
Posts: 1,559
Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
These won't have been new ones. But not the early frame snappers.
I don't think they've had valve problems per se. They just need adjustment a lot. And head gaskets have been known to leak.
I've had very little to do with them mechanically wise. I've ridden a few and could not understand why anyone would fall in love with one. It feels like something out of the 80's.
These bikes cost under £2000 BRAND new in India. You just can not make anything of quality for that price.
They are firmly in the category of "Cheap Asian shit" in my book.
That doesn't mean you can't buy one and ride it around the world. Many people do just that with even worse bikes.
Just manage your expectations.
With no disrespect to their owners, many people who rant and rave about them do so with very little experience or no other bikes to compare it against.
Valve clearance check (and adjustment every 5000 kms) on the Himalayan versus every 24 000 kms on the 500X - so indeed a lot more hassle with the valves on the Himalayan compared to the Honda. Basically 5 times as often.
From my understanding the Honda has shims but the Himalayan has screw adjustment of the valves which makes it easier to check and adjust the tappets on the Himalayan (maybe Ted can elaborate on this...?) - but still a lot more work and hassle with the Himalayan.
The Himalayan is tank off, screw out a cover then feeler gauges, spanner and screwdriver. Call it an hour the first time 30 minutes after that. My 1973 Honda has a very similar system.
The CB500 has the tray with the coils in the way after the tank is off and the head cover has to come off after that. Took me three hours. I was OK, nothing to adjust, but if you did have one out you need to remove, measure (add a micrometer to your tool kit?) and order a shim. The removal has the easy if scary looking Honda system of pulling the follower shaft. The shims are a standard size, so a workshop will have a set to exchange, at home you'd be waiting for the Postie. I would not want to do this in the car park of the Holiday Inn Express in Marakech, but then again I'd be pushed to do 16000 miles and not pass a Honda dealer or my own workshop.
It's the shaft versus chain argument all over again, do you want to do a simple job often or a big one less often.
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)
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 Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes.
(ONLY US RESIDENTS and currently has a limit of 60 days.)
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Every book a diary
Every chapter a day
Every day a journey
Refreshingly honest and compelling tales: the hights and lows of a life on the road. Solo, unsupported, budget journeys of discovery.
Authentic, engaging and evocative travel memoirs, overland, around the world and through life.
All 8 books availablefrom the author or as eBooks and audio books
Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!
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.
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