Austin Vince article

[prooney377]

Chris for president. Seriously. And I'd recommend a trip to his web site too.

Well said, and eloquently put.

[special one]

I'm not sure telling people to sell their expensive machines and buy cheaper high mileage bikes is a good recommendation do you?
I wouldn't want to set off around Europe on a older high mileage bike and I've got some mechanical knowledge and experience.

It's ok saying my mate done it on this bike and I've done it on this bike with a million miles on it, it's means nothing to the next man on a different bike and circumstances.

IMO, that attitude about selling the expensive machine and buying a cheaper dog to travel on is no better than the marketing men or whoever telling us to buy the more expensive bikes, buy what you like and ride the damn thing and most of all have a good time and enjoy it.

[chrisuk]

I'm not sure telling people to sell their expensive machines and buy cheaper high mileage bikes is a good recommendation do you?
I wouldn't want to set off around Europe on a older high mileage bike and I've got some mechanical knowledge and experience.

It's ok saying my mate done it on this bike and I've done it on this bike with a million miles on it, it's means nothing to the next man on a different bike and circumstances.

IMO, that attitude about selling the expensive machine and buying a cheaper dog to travel on is no better than the marketing men or whoever telling us to buy the more expensive bikes, buy what you like and ride the damn thing and most of all have a good time and enjoy it.

Advice from people who have been there, done it and bought the t shirt means absolutely nothing....

I'll remember that in future. :silly:

Ps. Who said the bikes were high mileage? Not me. Dog? Woof woof!

[Bernard Smith]

I'm not sure telling people to sell their expensive machines and buy cheaper high mileage bikes is a good recommendation do you?
I wouldn't want to set off around Europe on a older high mileage bike and I've got some mechanical knowledge and experience.

It's ok saying my mate done it on this bike and I've done it on this bike with a million miles on it, it's means nothing to the next man on a different bike and circumstances.

IMO, that attitude about selling the expensive machine and buying a cheaper dog to travel on is no better than the marketing men or whoever telling us to buy the more expensive bikes, buy what you like and ride the damn thing and most of all have a good time and enjoy it.

Mmmm - various things really but, as with all of these things, it is just a set of thoughts based on personal experiences.

£14,000 will take you an awfully long way (new versus old bikes)- "I can't afford to travel around the world......." 'cos I spent it on the bike :whistle: .

Try not to think about the cost of a carnet on e.g. a new 1200GS.....serious ouch money.

If you break down on an older bike and you have to ship parts - the interruptions often are the journey and this is true.

But as you so rightly said - personal circumstances often dictates all.

[special one]

I'm not sure telling people to sell their expensive machines and buy cheaper high mileage bikes is a good recommendation do you?
I wouldn't want to set off around Europe on a older high mileage bike and I've got some mechanical knowledge and experience.

It's ok saying my mate done it on this bike and I've done it on this bike with a million miles on it, it's means nothing to the next man on a different bike and circumstances.

IMO, that attitude about selling the expensive machine and buying a cheaper dog to travel on is no better than the marketing men or whoever telling us to buy the more expensive bikes, buy what you like and ride the damn thing and most of all have a good time and enjoy it.

Advice from people who have been there, done it and bought the t shirt means absolutely nothing....

I'll remember that in future. :silly:

Ps. Who said the bikes were high mileage? Not me. Dog? Woof woof!

Yes and what worked for you doesn't mean will work for others does it? That attitude is exactly the same as the Ewan and Charlie brigade saying you need the whole touratech catalogue.
34000kms on a bike isn't low mileage btw and a £600 bike is gonna be a bit of a dog IMO.

My point is I wish people would stop trying to push their experiences and styles on other people, they might wanna do it differently, which is allowed.
Telling people to sell their bike and use the money to fund the trip won't work for everyone, apart from memories what would you have at the end? A cheap bike?
Personally I cannot afford the time or money to go off for months ATM, I'm self employed, no holiday pay here.

I've got a bike which I paid nearly £11.5k for, most people who spend this kind of money generally have a bit of disposable income so could probably fund a trip if they wanted to, selling the bike wouldn't be necessary, it would be the time thing.

I'm in awe of people that have 'been there and done it' and totally respect them, but as above, your set of circumstances might not suit everyone.

[Tonibe63]

Different strokes for different folks.
Some prefer the perceived reliability of spending lots of money on an expensive bike and actually have no plans to travel RTW.
Others are more interested in the 'journey' itself with the bike just being a tool for the job. Within this group some will go the sponsored route (often on newer bikes) whilst others will be self funding and be counting every penny (often on older bikes).

Anybody who enters the Adventure bike scene will eventually realise what they want from a bike and what they want to do with it through mags, shows and internet forums. This could be commuting to work on an upright bike with camping at the weekends or it could be a RTW once in a lifetime trip. Either way it's their choice and they will, within time, tailor their bike choice to suit their personal circumstances.

The important thing is that there are choices, the more you get in to the scene the more you realise this and whatever you choose to do there is lots of factual information out there for you to research (you just have to seperate it from opinions presented as facts).

Whatever bike you have and whatever you choose to do with it is your choice BUT that shouldn't narrow your mind about what others want/choose to do.

There is no right or wrong ............. just different opinions.

[special one]

Different strokes for different folks.
Some prefer the perceived reliability of spending lots of money on an expensive bike and actually have no plans to travel RTW.
Others are more interested in the 'journey' itself with the bike just being a tool for the job. Within this group some will go the sponsored route (often on newer bikes) whilst others will be self funding and be counting every penny (often on older bikes).

Anybody who enters the Adventure bike scene will eventually realise what they want from a bike and what they want to do with it through mags, shows and internet forums. This could be commuting to work on an upright bike with camping at the weekends or it could be a RTW once in a lifetime trip. Either way it's their choice and they will, within time, tailor their bike choice to suit their personal circumstances.

The important thing is that there are choices, the more you get in to the scene the more you realise this and whatever you choose to do there is lots of factual information out there for you to research (you just have to seperate it from opinions presented as facts).

Whatever bike you have and whatever you choose to do with it is your choice BUT that shouldn't narrow your mind about what others want/choose to do.

There is no right or wrong ............. just different opinions.

Couldn't agree more.

[Bernard Smith]

...... apart from memories what would you have at the end? A cheap bike?

Sentence one - I surrender :whistle: - different worlds are talking here and that's fine......

Sentence two - they all (generally) end up cheap. It's only a matter of time.

But I wouldn't say people are 'pushing' opinions on others.

As ChrisUK said, it is a matter of sharing thoughts and experiences and that, after all, is why people buy both bike books and magazines; reading about others EXPERIENCES and OPINIONS. That is all the content is really. It isn't the word of God (whoever they are). It is actually the very nature of this site; to talk bollox really.

Discussion, argument, opinion and verbal bollox - yep, welcome to the world of Adventure Travel.......

[haggis]

Sadly, I haven't managed to look at the article as I'm still awaiting a copy of the printed thing here in Australia.

I have to agree with the horses for courses comments above. Nathan did it on a postie bike, some guy is on a scooter somewhere and I reckon Lois's choice of a TTR250 to Iran a good one.

My attitude is, you will not make a wrong choice, you will fit into whatever you have to do. However, I did like Austins comment on a HUBB video "you will never never wish you have a bigger, heavier bike". I thought great idea, then I promptly ignored it.

My choice of Tiger 1050 was because I already one and liked it, cheaper on carnet as it was 5 years old and low mileage, some guy did RTW on a R1, others have done similar so reckoned if they can it on a sports bike, I can. Plus I do like to have a blast on good roads, good roads meaning winding stuff.

A lot of people discuss and analyse what gear, what bike etc. That to me was part of the whole experience, just receiving via post a $10 camping cup or similar from ebay, reminded me that I was now setting of on this adventure/trip or whatever you want to call it. It was part of the experience, the anticipation made me feel good.

Yet as it turned out, this was the lesson I had to learn, to travel light. Yes someone would have said this already several times, but that is the lesson I had to learn myself. I don't feel bad about it, I enjoyed buying a portable kitchen sink and a coffee grinder - dont laugh!

Just as a point of interest, I was at a BMW meeting (how did that happen ?)thing to hear an American guy talk about his RTW trip. Most questions directed at him were in relation to what gear, what bike, what clothes etc. Very little was aimed at his journey despite being really interesting. Reminded me of showing holiday snaps to family.

Having filmed my own stuff across the world, I can really appreciate the work and skill that goes into making TV decent entertaining stuff. I won't mention how bloody long it takes to edit and my stuff may be crap by comparison but LWR approached it from professional film making point of view. I have my own theories about some possible directed scenes but who cares, it was entertaining. In the same way I appreciate Austins work as well for different reasons. One thing I learned too,I'm never never never never ever filming another unless someone else edits.

Maybe I've waffled a bit here, off topic perhaps, but work was boring the arse off me.

Steven
Perth to Perth

[redbikejohn]

Not read this whole thing but ..... is it really that easy to leave a job you've been in over 20 years and mortgage to go rtw!? It must be I suppose as plenty of people seem to but too much for me - I'll stick to a week away here and there. Does that me less of a man? I think not.