Tauck River Cruises - Adventure Motorcycling

There is no turning back, but once the bug has bitten. Many riders will tell you that some of the best (and quite possibly the worst) experiences of their lives were a direct result of their relationship with motorcycles. If you ride long enough you will experience most of them. Motorcycling is truly a sport of emotions. HEPA-filtered cockpit can, and feel of the wind on your body make you feel alive in a way that no climate controlled, sites, the smells. As it truly is, you get to experience the world directly. There is a sense of immediacy that is not present when sitting in the driver's seat of a car. There is no other feeling in the world that can compare to the sheer joy of exploring the world from the back of a motorcycle.

They are always open to new experiences and are comfortable with not knowing exactly where the trail may lead. True adventure riders understand and embrace this knowledge. "life" is what ACTUALLY happens when things (inevitably) don't go according to plan, unfortunately for us. Politically correct and utterly secure package, neat, so much of modern "life" revolves around trying to mold our own destiny into a nice. But taking it anyway, it's about not knowing how the ride is going to turn out. Motorcycling is purely about adventure, for me.

They take time to think through the problems they are likely to encounter and find creative solutions. They take great pride in practicing the skills that will keep them alive on the road. Most take wearing all of the appropriate safety gear on every ride quite seriously. These riders are not generally risk takers, however, oddly enough.

Few vehicles can match the versatility of these motorcycles. The smaller bikes are well suited for solo travel and many of the larger machines are easily capable of comfortable two up riding. They range in engine size from 650cc to 1200cc giving them more than enough power to carry the equipment necessary to live on the road indefinitely, generally. The limiting factor for capability is usually the rider and not the machine, as with most bikes. Paved or otherwise, these beasts are able to tackle practically any road on any continent. Adventure tourers represent an important niche in the two-wheeled world, but smaller and more off road friendly than large touring bikes, larger and more road worthy than dirt bikes. This makes them ideally suited for long term travel to out-of-the-way places. This class of bikes has a unique combination of abilities that allow it to perform well in a wide variety of situations. One type of bike stands out above the rest: the Adventure Touring Motorcycle, whatever that may be, for the rider that wants to experience all that the world has to offer.

The Internet is a wonderful resource for this type of travel. It is also worthwhile to keep in mind that many people have done this before you. None of these items are inherently difficult when taken a piece at a time, although preparing for a trip like this might seem like an insurmountable task. And shipping the bike across oceans are all things to be considered for international travel, repairs on the road, visas, bike documentation, insurance, languages, currencies. It is not uncommon for riders to spend several years preparing for a big trip. Planning becomes a critical part of the process, for the latter. Multi-continent ride, a trip can mean anything from a spontaneous weekend jaunt to a multi-year. At any given time there are adventure riders in most every country on the planet. Wherever they want! Where do adventure motorcyclists go, so?

A bit of research and proper gear selection will go a long way towards a comfortable night's sleep. But the consequences of poor planning can be much greater than those of choosing the wrong hotel, successful bike camping is not difficult. Camping lets you experience the natural environment of your chosen destination, in the same way the bike lets you experience the ride directly. Few activities are as suited to each other as motorcycling and camping. But the bread-and-butter of adventure accommodations is camping, ) Hotels can provide a much needed break from the road with shower and laundry facilities. Most trips involve some combination of hotel and camping (and possibly the occasional couch crashing with a newly acquired friend. Lodging on the road can range from five star hotels to sleeping under the stars.

An adventure motorcycle will take them anywhere they want to go, for those that are willing to make the most of whatever life hands them and then ask for more. And it can be the cause of unfathomable frustration, it can be the ticket to some of the most wonderful places on earth. And problem solving, camping, exploring, riding, adventure motorcycling is a unique mix of planning.

See you on the road less traveled!