List of long-distance motorcycle riders

Long-distance motorcyclists with Wikipedia articles, with tours in chronological order.

List of motorcycle riders and tours

Rider Date Motorcycle Route Distance Solo or supported? Notes
Bessie Stringfield (USA, 1911–1993) 1930s Harley-Davidson 8 trips across US Solo [1]
Robert Edison Fulton, Jr. (USA, 1909–2004) 1932–1933 (18 months) Douglas twin cylinders Hemispherical route through 22 countries. From London and across Central and Southeastern Europe, Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq (across the Northern Arabian Desert), British India, Southeast Asia, China, and Japan. 40,000 km (25,000 mi) Solo Travelogues: book, One Man Caravan,[2] and a film:The One Man Caravan of Robert E. Fulton, Jr. An Autofilmography[3]
John Gerber (USA, 1945–2010) 1966 (2 months) Vespa GS 160 single cylinder scooter Continental route through 8 countries. From Minneapolis, Minnesota to Panama and back through the USA, Mexico, British Honduras, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, and Panama. 11,000 mi (18,000 km) Solo Travelogues: blog South to Panama and Back[4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11]
John Gerber (USA, 1945–2010) 1971 (2 years) Vespa SS 180 single cylinder scooter Hemispherical route through 21 countries. From Menomonie, Wisconsin to Cape Horn through the USA, Mexico, British Honduras, Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Panama, Colombia, Venezuela, Dutch Guiana, Guyana, French Guiana, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador, and north through central America again. Gerber intended ride through Canada to reach Alaska, but his ride was cut short when he was hit by a car in Hayward, California. 25,000 mi (40,000 km) Solo Travelogues: blog South to Panama and Back[4][5][6][7][8]
John Gerber (USA, 1945–2010) 1978 (1 years) Vespa Rally 180 single cylinder scooter Circumnavigating through 23 countries. From Singapore to London through the Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Burma, India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Turkey, Greece, Italy, The Vatican, Switzerland, Germany, Belgium, Netherlands, France, and England. 20,000 mi (32,000 km) Solo Travelogues: blog South to Panama and Back[4][5][6][7][8]
David McGonigal (Australia, b.1950) 1970s (4 years) Yamaha RD350 Circumnavigating via Asia, Europe, North America. First World Tour[12]
Ted Simon (UK, b. 1931) 1973–1977 Triumph Tiger 500cc Circumnavigating. U.K. to Greece, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Pakistan, India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Australia, USA, Mexico, Central America, entire South America (except for Uruguay and Paraguay), Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, East Africa, South Africa (45 countries) 103,000 km (64,000 mi) Jupiter's Travels[13]
Emilio Scotto (Argentina, b. 1956) 1985–1995 1980 Honda Gold Wing GL1100 Circumnavigating. All of Europe, all of Africa, all of the Middle East, Central Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Australia, New Zealand, some Pacific islands, and all of North and South America (279 countries) 735,000 km (457,000 mi) Guinness record for the world’s longest motorcycle ride. Travelogue: The Longest Ride: My Ten-Year 500,000 Mile Motorcycle Journey[14][15]
Jim Rogers (USA, b. 1942), Tabitha Estabrook January 1991–November 1992 BMW (x2) Circumnavigating . Section 1: Ireland, across Europe, Russia (Europe and Siberia), Japan. Section 2: Japan, China, Karakoram Highway, Pakistan, Central Asia, Caucasus, Turkey, across Europe and back to Ireland. Section 3: Ireland, Southern Europe to Northern Africa, across the Sahara through Tamanrasset, Central and Southern Africa to Cape Town. Section 4: Australia and New Zealand. Section 5: Ushuaia, Patagonia, Chile, Peru, Columbia, Central America, Mexico, Eastern USA to New York, across Canada to Alaska, Pacific Coast to San Francisco (52 countries) 105,000 km (65,000 mi) Travelogue: Investment Biker.[16] Videos: The Long Ride, The Party's Over
Nick Sanders (UK) 1992 Royal Enfield Bullet Circumnavigating 61,200 km (38,000 mi)
Dave Barr (USA, b. 1952) 1994–1996 Harley-Davidson Circumnavigating. Section 1: USA, Canada, Mexico, Central America, Southern America (Atlanticantic loop) to Ushuaia, Chile, Southern and Central Africa, North Africa (across the Sahara through Tamanrasset), Central and Northern Europe (winter time), Russia (Europe and Siberia in winter time), Mongolia (winter time), China, Southeast Asia. Section 2: Australia (about 40 countries) 155,000 km (96,000 mi) Rode without the use of his legs. Travelogue: Riding the Edge, Riding the Ice[17]
Austin Vince, Gerald Vince, Chas Penty, Bill Penty, Clive Greenhough, Nick Stubley, Mark Friend, Louis Bloom 1995–1996 Suzuki DR350 Circumnavigating. London, through Central Asia, Kazakhstan and Siberia to Magadan across the difficult Road of Bones to Magadan, then from Alaska to Chile, and finally from Cape Town through Africa and the Middle East back to London 65,000 km (40,000 mi) TV series and book: Mondo Enduro[18]
Benka Pulko (Slovenia, b. 1967) June 1997–December 2002 BMW F650 Circumnavigating. Europe, Russia, Egypt, Middle East (including Saudi Arabia), South Asia, Southeast Asia, South America, North America, Australia (75 countries) 180,015 km (111,856 mi) Guinness Record for the longest distance and duration solo motorcycle ride by a woman. First motorcyclist to ride in Antarctica. First woman to ride solo across Saudi Arabia.[19]
David McGonigal 1997–1999 BMW R1100RT Circumnavigating . Section 1: Australia, Chile, Antarctica, Ushuaia, South America to Alaska. Section 2: Australia, Vladivostok, Siberia, Mongolia, Russia (Europe), Europe, Morocco, back to Europe. Section 3: New Zealand, Pacific islands. 114,063 km (70,875 mi) The First Seven-Continent Motorcycle[20]
Nick Sanders June 1997 Triumph Circumnavigating 32,070 km (19,930 mi) Record for circumnavigating the Earth on a motorcycle in 31 days and 20 hours.[21] Travelogue: Fastest Man Around the World.
Nick Sanders 1998– Yamaha YZF-R1 Circumnavigating. Seven complete world tours Books: Anatomy of an Adventurer, Parallel Coast, Parallel World–Around the Globe on an R1, Loneliness of the Long-Distance Biker, Fastest Man Around the World, Journey Beyond Reason, Biker Britain, Timbuktu–In Search of the Dakar Rally and Timbuktu[22]
Ted Simon 2001–2004 BMW R80G/S Circumnavigating. 48 countries in North America, Asia, Europe, Africa, South America, Australasia 88,000 km (55,000 mi) Dreaming of Jupiter[23]
Simon and Monika Newbound (UK) May 2002–October 2003 BMW R1150GS, BMW F650GS Circumnavigating. All of Europe, Turkey, Caucasus, Iran, Russia (Europe and Siberia), Mongolia, China, USA, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Haiti 189,000 km (117,000 mi) Solo Guinness Endurance Record. Crossed the USA 5 times and the Arctic circle 3 times.[24]
Kevin Sanders (UK, b.1964), Julia Sanders (UK) (passenger) June 2002 BMW R1150GS Circumnavigating . Alaska to Florida across Canada and the USA, Europe to Turkey, Iran, Dubai, Australia, New Zealand, and back to Alaska (12 countries) 31,319 km (19,461 mi) Guinness Record for the fastest circumnavigation of the world by motorcycle, in 19 days 8 hours and 25 minutes.
Kevin Sanders (UK, b.1964), Julia Sanders (UK) (passenger) August–September 2003 BMW R1150GS Adventure Hemispherical. Prudhoe Bay, Alaska, across the USA, Mexico, Central America, Columbia, Ecuador, Peru, Chile and Argentina (Ushuaia) (13 countries) 27,200 km (16,900 mi) Guinness Record for the fastest trans-American motorcycle ride, in 35 days. TV series: The Ride: Alaska to Patagonia (National Geographic, 2005).
Ewan McGregor (UK, b. 1971),
Charley Boorman (UK, b. 1966)		 April–July 2004 BMW R1150GS Adventure Circumnavigating. UK, France, Belgium, Germany, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, USA, Canada, ending in New York (12 countries) 30,396 km (18,887 mi) Truck and crew This 2004 circumnavigating route is to be added to the rider's 2007 hemispherical route across Europe and Africa. Documentary TV series & book: Long Way Round
Ewan McGregor (UK, b. 1971),
Charley Boorman (UK, b. 1966)		 May–August 2007 BMW R1200GS Adventure Hemispherical. UK, France, Italy, Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Kenya, Uganda, Rwanda, Tanzania, Malawi, Zambia, Botswana, Namibia, South Africa (17 countries) 19,500 km (12,100 mi) Truck and crew Documentary TV series: Long Way Down

References

  1. ^ Ferrar, Ann (1996), "Bessie Stringfield; Inducted: 2002", Motorcycle Hall of Fame (American Motorcyclist Association), http://www.motorcyclemuseum.org/halloffame/detail.aspx?RacerID=277, retrieved 2011-04-24 
  2. ^ Fulton, Robert Edison Jr., (1937).–One Man Caravan.–New York, New York: Harcourt, Brace & Co.–(Reprint: North Conway, N.H.: Whitehorse Press. 1996. ISBN 1884313051)
  3. ^ Martin, Douglas.–New York/Region:"Robert E. Fulton Jr., an Intrepid Inventor, Is Dead at 95".–New York Times.–May 11, 2004.–Retrieved: 2008-06-15
  4. ^ a b c John Gerber (2010-08-10). "John Gerber's adventures in scootering". http://scootouring.blogspot.com/. 
  5. ^ a b c Norrie Kerr (2010-06-29). "John Gerber RIP". http://www.scootering.com/news/john-gerber-rip. 
  6. ^ a b c Norrie Kerr (2008-10). 318 bend in just 11 miles. Scooter Trade & Industry. p. 6. 
  7. ^ a b c Elizabeth Ryan. "'Meep-meep': Scooter lovers embrace the goofiness". Chattanooga Times Free-Press. http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2008/jul/26/chattanooga-meep-meep-scooter-lovers-embrace-goofi/?local. 
  8. ^ a b c John Gerber (Winter 2004/5). "An American Story". Veteran Vespa Club Journal. p. 209. 
  9. ^ Sloan, Karen (18 July 2005), "Vintage Italian motor scooters are hot items", The Day (New London) (New London, Connecticut: Columbia News Service): E5, http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=HREiAAAAIBAJ&sjid=5XIFAAAAIBAJ&pg=1562,3577963&hl=en, retrieved 2011-05-29 
  10. ^ Doten, Patti (11 September 1999), "The Gentle Cycle; With their quirkey charm, scotters prove that bigger isn't always better [sic]" (ProQuest), Boston Globe: F.1 
  11. ^ "John Gerber (obituary)", Boston Globe, 8 July 2010, http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/bostonglobe/obituary.aspx?n=john-gerber&pid=143970625&fhid=4541, retrieved 2011-05-29 
  12. ^ McGongal, David. "World Motorcycle Tour: Riding Around the World, Again". http://www.davidmcgonigal.com.au/_worldmotortour/nav_R_wmt_again.html. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  13. ^ Simon, Ted (1980). Jupiter's Travels. Penguin Books. ISBN 0140054103. 
  14. ^ Glenday, Craig (2009). Guinness World Records 2009. Random House. p. 176. ISBN 9780553592566. http://books.google.com/?id=aHYt0RNSDfgC&pg=PA176&lpg=PA176. 
  15. ^ Stermer, Bill (2006). Streetbikes: Everything You Need to Know. MotorBooks/MBI Publishing Company. p. 31. ISBN 9780760323625. http://books.google.com/?id=NMokiWY6E00C&lpg=PA31. 
  16. ^ Rogers, Jim (August 1995). 'Investment Biker: Around the World with Jim Rogers. Adams Media Corporation. ISBN 1-55850-529-6. 
  17. ^ Riding the Edge / Riding the Ice
  18. ^ Mondo Enduro
  19. ^ Benka Pulko's Journey
  20. ^ McGongal, David. "World Motorcycle Tour: Australian's Antarctic Motorcycling". http://www.davidmcgonigal.com.au/_worldmotortour/nav_R_wmt_first.html. Retrieved 24 April 2011. 
  21. ^ Fastest Man Around the World
  22. ^ http://www.nicksanders.com/publications.htm
  23. ^ Simon, Ted (2007). Dreaming of Jupiter. Sphere. ISBN 1847441815. 
  24. ^ Spirits of Adventure