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!
Make a DifferenceTips 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!
We're not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown a hobby into a full time job and a labour of love.
When you decide to become a Member, it helps directly support the site. You get additional privileges on the HUBB, access to the Members Private Store, and more. Of course, you get our sincere thanks, good karma and knowing you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. :-)
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T-shirts, Calendars, Stickers
T-shirts Cotton or synth sweat-wicking t-shirts with the cool Horizons Unlimited graphic on the front and a snappy slogan (changing every year) on the back.
Calendars Featuring the 13 winning photos from the Horizons Unlimited annual motorcycle travel photo contest!
World Map Sticker for PanniersShow your route on your panniers. Great conversation starter when you meet people on the road!
Travel BooksMotorcycle and travel books to inspire and inform you!
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."
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We reach a dedicated, worldwide group of real travellers, and are the only website focusing exclusively on long distance motorcycle travellers.
If you sell motorcycles or motorcycle accessories, riding gear, camping equipment and clothing, transport motorcycles, organize motorcycle tours, or have motorcycles to rent, you should be advertising with us!
I have been a lurker for a while and used this site as a great resource. I am an amateur bike builder from Aberdeen, Scotland and have been building a 1989 Yamaha TT600. It had headgasket issues so after a few attempts getting it sorted and not having any time to work on my actual project bike, I ended up turning the TT600 into my project. I took it to the bike shed show in london earlier this year:
The bike has a lot of goodies on it (partly due to it being accepted to the bike show and going to be shown in front of thousands of people).
I have been trying to tune the bike to the carburettor velocity stacks I had 3D printed. I know that these bikes run a lot better with the airbox but that option has since sailed.
The bike has been tuned with a 6 sigma jet kit and colourtune plug to try and dial in some of the settings. I have had the carbs in and out the bike about 8 times today making minor adjustments.
Current symptoms can be seen below in the video. The bike seems to bog down after about 1/4 throttle. I cant tell whether it's too lean or too rich...the colour tune suggests its rich but it doesn't make sense in my mind as the velocity stacks should be sucking in air....
Current settings:
Pilot Jet - 50 (from sigma kit)
Main - 140
secondary man - Stock (can't remember the settings)
Needle height - 4th Clip from pointy end on both
Fuel screw - 2.5 turns out (tuned to colour tune)
I have done quite a bit of trial and errors. so far my list includes:
Checking and confirming float height
Ultrasound bath the carbs and confirming orofice clear
checked choke and diaphragm are OK condition
checked for vacuum leaks on inlets and around the carb
checked valve settings are OK (this helped a bit)
various iterations of float jets and needle heights as well as fuel air mixture.
IF anyone can point me in the direction of where to go next that would me much appreciated.
or if you have any questions about my bike, i am more than happy to speak
Not sure if it will really help you but the stock needle settings for that model were 3rd clip from top on primary and secondary. Did you start with stock settings and end up at 2nd clip from top to try and lean it out?? In general I have found with free flowing muffler on my XT's, I have gone 4th clip from top to richen it slightly and works well. You say yours is 4th clip from pointy end/ or 2nd clip from top which would make it leaner than stock but I have no idea of the effect of the velocity stack so ???
Not sure if it will really help you but the stock needle settings for that model were 3rd clip from top on primary and secondary. Did you start with stock settings and end up at 2nd clip from top to try and lean it out?? In general I have found with free flowing muffler on my XT's, I have gone 4th clip from top to richen it slightly and works well. You say yours is 4th clip from pointy end/ or 2nd clip from top which would make it leaner than stock but I have no idea of the effect of the velocity stack so ???
Thanks man, there’s a lot on my website, www.remotorcycled.com. Yeah having slept on it and looking back at the colour tune videos I am wondering whether moving the clip to a leaner setting was the right thing to do. It’s like the velocity stack is fine until the throttle is open to a point then it sucks like crazy. Will try a few other things tonight (got a few other main jet sizes)
Well turbo somehow I dont think he will be observing any life tips given by an obviously grumpy old fart. The bike may not be everyones cup of tea but I can certainly appreciate what has been achieved here. Looking at his website shows he has given the build a hell of a go and done it all to a very high level. More than what most who ride and work on their own bikes have ever attempted or achieved. Most of what I know when it comes to automotive stuff was gained by a lot of research and just giving it a go and quite often learning the hard way. Exactly what is happening here. I dont understand the anger. Why not just assist?
I wasnt calling anybody names, so no need to give me an old fart designation either even if it can be a positive as you'll see bellow.
If you ever looked at my posts, I always help people putting their bikes right.
If you dont see a problem with people first "building" and then realizing they dont know how to make the bike run, fine. We just have different points of view.
Im just like you, learned everything i know the hard way, BUT also learned so much from watching and listening to true grumpy old fart mechanics how things are done, it was amazing how much they knew. The only way to learn their tricks was sitting next to them and doing exactly as they said, they would get mad if you didnt. You dont do as I say? go home! And life tips were always part of the "lesson".
I am still thankful of having those grumpy, farting, old masters teach me all what they did. Am i one already? I will take it as a badge of honor.
Well turbo somehow I dont think he will be observing any life tips given by an obviously grumpy old fart. The bike may not be everyones cup of tea but I can certainly appreciate what has been achieved here. Looking at his website shows he has given the build a hell of a go and done it all to a very high level. More than what most who ride and work on their own bikes have ever attempted or achieved. Most of what I know when it comes to automotive stuff was gained by a lot of research and just giving it a go and quite often learning the hard way. Exactly what is happening here. I dont understand the anger. Why not just assist?
Thanks for the feedback, and I appreciate you looking at my site. I have used this as a project to learn and cannot believe how much I have picked up. I agree entirely on the best way to learn is to get stuck in.
I have no idea what your first post was Turboguzzi. It would be amazing to have a grumpy old fart mechanic to learn things off, if you know of any in Aberdeen then point me in their direction. In the meantime I'll go back to the garage and try to figure out where I'm going wrong, I clearly have some learning to do as I have spent too much time "building" instead of...well I don't really know what your point is.
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.