Around the world on two wheels - your chance...

by Andy Dukes

Who wouldn't envy the life of a motorcycle overlander? Riding across continents, discovering new cultures, seeing, smelling and feeling the world around you and being able to stop whenever you choose to take in the amazing experience that freedom on two wheels brings. Now here's a thought: instead of reading about other travellers' life-changing journeys, how about experiencing your own trip of a lifetime by riding around the world in 2009? After all, if Ewan and Charley can do it - then so can you.

A motorcycle touring company has launched the first luxury around the world motorcycle tour and will be taking a group of riders on F800GS BMWs to places they've always dreamed of next year. Discovery Moto Tours' `around the world challenge' is inviting riders to find out more about themselves - and the world around them - by travelling 37,500 km (23,500 miles) through 27 countries in 18 weeks. The team of approximately 20 bikers is expected to come from all walks of life with a variety of riding experience.

The plan is to set off from London next year and travel east. The tour consists of four main stages: London to Istanbul, Turkey; Istanbul to Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia; Ulaanbaatar to Magadan, Far Eastern Russia; then fly to Anchorage, Alaska and ride on to New York City, USA. Although most participants are expected to ride all the way around the world, there will be opportunities for some to leave and others to join at each of these stages.

Just some of the numerous highlights of this trip will include crossing three continents; passing through the Swiss Alps and Poland's Tatras mountains; riding across Central Asia's largest desert, the Kara Kum; travelling along the Silk Road; touring through the Sharin Canyons of eastern Kazakhstan; experiencing the rolling expanses and beauty of Mongolia, far eastern Russia including Lake Baikal (so deep and long it holds 20 per cent of the world's fresh water) and journeying on the infamous `Road of Bones'; visiting the Hardy ice fields in Alaska; seeing Canada's grizzly bears, caribou and moose; riding through the Rocky Mountains to the Dakota Badlands, past Mount Rushmore and the must-see Niagara Falls, before finally seeing the Manhattan skyline on entering New York City.

According to Discovery Moto Tours' Mike O'Neill, the trip is open to all kinds of riders and anyone can apply, as long as they come equipped with an open mind, are determined to enjoy themselves and are fully prepared for a life-changing two-wheeled experience.

"The reason for doing this trip is that we are responding to the requests of our clients from other motorcycle tours, who now want bigger adventures without necessarily having to `rough it'. We're get people from all walks of life such as doctors, engineers, architects, builders, company directors, and early retirees looking for adventure. It makes the tour very interesting having such a diverse mix of backgrounds. The people who we expect to join this tour will have a positive outlook on life and a need to explore. I'm looking forward to travelling with like-minded people as it makes for lively and interesting dinner conversation!"

Mike hopes that some people will use this challenge as a way to raise money for a charity or simply just to discover things about the world and themselves. Anyone can apply to join the tour and all will have to undergo a training program several months before the tour starts. here will also be off-road training provided, but in reality, those with a sense of adventure, who can keep cool under pressure and possess a good sense of humour, will be the ideal candidates.

The tour will be travelling with extensive back-up support. Two high-specification support vehicles, carrying spare bikes, parts and equipment, will follow the adventurers across each continent. The experienced team is medically and mechanically trained with further back-up organised via local `fixers' and language specialists. Though riders can take their own bikes, Discovery Moto Tours will be providing BMW's latest sensation - the F800GS - as Mike believes that this lightweight bike that was designed specifically for long-distance touring is the perfect machine for this expedition.

"We use the big BMW boxers on our normal tours, but we felt that the F800GS is well suited to this type of expedition. Its twin engine is nice and smooth and it is just a lovely bike to ride. When you consider that around 12,000 kilometres of this tour will be on mud and gravel tracks, it's important to feel comfortable on your machine. The F800GS only weighs about 175 kilos and when you stand up to ride on the pegs, its narrow frame makes it feel like an enduro bike. It's also extremely well balanced and with the 21-inch wheel at the front, is easy to `pop-up' over pot-holes and other obstacles.

Furthermore, the bike is also extremely economical to run, with very low fuel consumption, so this makes a big difference in costs over nearly 40,000 kilometres."

Mike will also offer the lower F 650 GS as an option, as those of shorter stature will find this bike easier to ride. Offering just two types of machine simplifies the logistics, as it makes carrying spare parts much easier and leaves more room in the support vehicles for people's luggage, as they are not expected to have to take this on their own motorcycles.

Many of the riders that have already indicated an interest in a trip of this nature admit to having been inspired by Ewan and Charley's Long Way Round exploits. However, Mike is determined not to follow in the two actors' wheel tracks, as he believes that this once-in-a-lifetime journey should allow time for seeing as many of the sights as possible.

"Our around the world tour is a bit different to the Long Way Round, which was basically the quickest way possible of circumnavigating the globe. We've researched the whole route and want to visit as many of the interesting places along the way as time allows, without adding too many extra kilometres! As such, there will be many extra excursions along the route, which will include glacier and whale watching in Alaska, learning traditional Mongolian skills and visiting a number of UNICEF-funded projects."

The burning question is how much will all of this cost? Surprisingly, not as much as you might think. The price tag for this experience is 29,995, which includes the use of a brand new especially tour-prepared BMW F800GS, all fuel, the best accommodation in each area, all paperwork including visas, ferry crossings, tips, and all excursions including hire of private planes. Riders will also have several pre-tour briefings, be given an off-road riding skills course, as well as have a personalised fitness schedule and the opportunity to meet fellow members during the preparation. It's not a bad price to pay for 126 days and 37,500 kilometres of unforgettable experiences in 27 countries.

For full information about the around the world challenge and other luxury adventures visit the www.discoverymototours.com website, where comprehensive details on every stage of the trip are available and you can contact the organisers directly with any additional questions you may have. The trip leaves next June, so will you be on it.?

This feature originally appeared in October 2008 - Updated: 10/23/08

Updated on: 10/23/08 at 10:56 CDT