Motorcycle Adventurers or Motorcycle Tourists. Discuss.

[Bernard Smith]

It's been really interesting reading all the opposing views. I'll tell you what sparked my question.

It used to irritate me when we came back from our wanderings as people used the word 'holiday' or 'tourist'.

"How was your holiday?"

This one used to wind me up something shocking..... I wasn't on 'holiday' you bugger, I was on an 'adventure' - I was swashbuckling around the world on a motorbike you gimpy git...... look at all that dust and rubbish, can't you see it? How would you like that well used torque wrench placed in a dark recess? Well use the word 'holiday' again and it will happen.....

Yet, it is also true that many writers - in their books - specifically display the same annoyance when local people ask them if they are a 'tourista' when their paths cross.

Sitting thinking about it recently as I came across it again in another 'travel' book, it dawned on me that in oh-so-many ways that, in reality, I was a tourist on a very long holiday. Now, it is not a popular way of describing such things and people do get very annoyed when I've told them that's all we are really.

Much as with many on here, it's only a matter of perception. In the great scheme of things it doesn't matter, the labels, the tags, even the bikes used.

To travel is wonderful in so many ways.

Enjoy them all in your own, and each others, way.

[IainD]

You stated it as though it were a fact ..its not its YOUR opinion.... Like I said this whole forum is getting hung up on the word ( odd really considering the forum name..surprised that those that dont think what most people do is an adventure , managed to find the forum?? after all, what were they looking for?? )

I am not in theleast bit sensitive..... You clearly have missed the debate point... that is that it means different things to different people and unless you are the editor of the OED thats how its likely to stay.................

As to your final point.. can you explain how, if there is no such thing, that Triumph and KTM both have adventure bikes in their range, and Triumph and Suzuki both use the word Adventure when describing a couple of their bikes??................thats because it is just a word.................not a religion............

Gedge,

Finally we agree, it is all opinion, and mine is as valid as yours, yet you seek to deny that any opinion other than "it means different things to different people" should exist. Don't see where I have stated anything as a fact, maybe the red mist descended on you and you miss-read?

Of course it (Adventure) means something different to everyone, yet to just proffer that blandly ends the conversation. You fail to quantify what it means to you, which in turn fails to move the debate forward. You don't give any parameters, you don't even offer any opinion, apart from that I must be some hard-core Adventure Nut trying to split the forum, which could not be further from the truth.

Wake up and smell the kopi Luwak, better still if you around Hull during the week or Glasgow at the weekends, lets go for a pint or three to discuss further!

Cheers :laugh:

[AndyB]

Let's try another approach;

The first time a 17 year old gets on a motorbike and heads off with their tent it's an adventure.
Next time they do the same trip it's not really an adventure so they save up and go to France for a few days and hey, it's an adventure again because it's all new to them and they've got different challenges to deal with.

Move on a year or two and Northern Europe has become a bit boring so they set their sights on what used to be the Balkans and off they go on the latest adventure. Assuming marriage or children don't put a stop to everything they carry on with all these natural progressions and finally end up sleeping in a ditch somewhere not even shown on maps but they've been doing this stuff for years so it's not really an adventure, it's just a run of the mill trip on a motorbike.

It's what the individual wants it to be.

[bimota]

[picos mestizo]

don't tell me .........you're lost in the "talking bollocks" part of the thread.
oh not quite.....the whole thread!!!!

[Old Git Ray]

don't tell me .........you're lost in the "talking bollocks" part of the thread.
oh not quite.....the whole thread!!!!

So by that I take it you mean that everyone that has posted is talking bollocks.

Nice... Thanks.

[picos mestizo]

don't tell me .........you're lost in the "talking bollocks" part of the thread.
oh not quite.....the whole thread!!!!

So by that I take it you mean that everyone that has posted is talking bollocks.

Nice... Thanks.

Something like that....normal winter banter.
Allright for you you're on the beach in the sun.
We're all vitamin D deficient & talking bollocks. :whistle:

[Elle]

I was swashbuckling around the world on a motorbike....

I see the resemblance

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[Bernard Smith]

I was swashbuckling around the world on a motorbike....

I see the resemblance

pirate.jpeg

Ahhh thank you Elle - at least I have the bandana..... (thumbs)

[yodagoat]

Have any of you guys read my blog?? I'm a tourist through and through. i just call myself an adventurer cos I'm a nob. :laugh: