Best bike for touring is the one you own. Use what you have, enjoy it for what it can do rather than feel bad for what the hype and lies from bike sales media tell you about what they want to sell you.

I was touring a few years back..speeding ticket on an A road, the ticket had my registration on it and stated that it was a 500cc motorcycle (the police did'nt put the make of the bike) It stated I was doing 95mph in a 60mph zone. I was fully loaded with box and panniers with a tent and sleeping bag on the seat behind me. I elected to go to court to "show" my evidence. Court date set and of I went with a smile on my face. One of the police officers was in the court. After they heard the polices version of events stating that I was driving eratically and at dangerous speeds, the court was looking at me as some sort of biker hoodlum (I am over 60 years old), I told the court that I have the evidence to prove I was not speeding at the time of the alledged offence. I showed photos of my bike fully loaded and that I had body cam footage if the court wished to view it on a dongle. After they saw the photos and realised that the bike a Royal Enfield 500cc Bullet was not capable fully loaded and even able to achieve that speed, my ticket was crushed, even better was the fall out as the court ordered the two police officers to be investigated and I got fully compensated and also I filed for an action against the police which paid for me to enjoy a few more tours. SO the bike hating police officers got a smack on the wrists and charged with falsifying evidence to a court which led to a whole lot of worms being opened up. Sometimes they just earn the hate ! I love touring on my old RE and now planning to pop up to Scotland.

When you tour by car you're watching a movie, When you travel by motorcycle you're IN the movie. No matter what you ride !!.

Its not the destination its the journey. Going on a slower bike down the backroads and soaking it is where the fun and romance is.

I've toured and camped with a 125 and It carried my tent and sleeping bag ... Freedom of the road. Go anywhere even where bikes can't normally go. With a small bike you can get off turn off the engine and push it along a footpath to avoid detours. Try that on a gs1250 with full panniers fully loaded

After 50 years of motorcycling and still doing it at nearly 67 my big advice is keep it simple in all aspects, just that keep it simple 😊😊😊

hitting the ‘avoid motorways’ option on my phone maps has changed my view literarily and figuratively of our countryside. biking on B roads on my Triumph Bobber is a dream.

I took my Classic 350 to France last year and thoroughly enjoyed it. I found that 110-130 miles a day was optimum for me. I have booked another trip to Northern Spain next month. I don't have a rigid itinerary, just a rough idea of where I'm going. I just book my accomodation on a day to day basis. I'm on my own. I tend not to ride in groups as I find egos start to take over the ride. Cheers to smaller capacity bikes... !

Chopped my GS in for an interceptor. I’ve done more with the interceptor in two months than I did with the GS in the past four years.

Back in the 1970's l toured all over the state of Florida on my Honda CM-185 Twin Star. On my learners permit I rode all over the state.l put 36,000+ miles on the bike in a 1 1/2 years l had the bike. After the Air Force l toured from coast to coast on my CX 500. I toured all over Europe ona1955 RE 350 G . Then l rode her all through the Middle East and Sub Saharan Africa. Never tour on a bike too big to pick up by yourself.

As a young engineering apprentice my daily transport was a 50cc Zundapp moped travelling from Grappenhall in Cheshire to Broadheath south Manchester. I also went camping on it riding from Grappenhall to Torquay on my own with a large ex army rucksack on my back supported by the bikes small rear rack. Now at 86 years young I ride a V7 Guzzi.

We sometimes conduct our lives in a way to impress others, even if that conduct doesn’t impress us! Crazy. Your video is a reminder of that. 👍

In 2014 my mate and I were touring on our motorcycles in Tasmania (Australia). We met a young Frenchman on his 125 Honda (posty bike). He told us that he left France and via many countries finally arrived in Australia. His aim was to circumnavigate Australia. He had a fair amount of luggage roughly tied together with ropes. He told us that his Honda didn't miss a beat. He put the bike through its paces along all sorts of rough roads. This is another example of a small bike being a great tourer. By the way, his petrol costs were minimal.

Good points and well made, as always. I resigned from the 'fully farkled GS brigade' more than a decade ago. Last year I travelled 1350 miles through France, over the Pyrenees and back via Bilbao on a 1972 Moto Guzzi 500cc single with 25bhp and a top speed of about 60mph - and camped for half the trip. It was relaxed, fun and stress-free. Setting off again next month, possibly on a my newest bike - that is only 48 years old. Old bikes are fun too.

I am a cyclist and biker. I came to cycling late after getting too many injuries running. Best tour I ever did was the Pyrenees on my road bike. All the famous climbs, passes between Spain/Andora/ France (took a diversion on a whim to the Spanish Basque Country) On my own in a Landrover and small mountain tent. No camp sites booked . No itinerary. Woke up and decided over breakfast what to do. Stay another day or move on. Cycled 8 hours a day. At cycling speed, and height similar to a motorbike, you take in so much more of what’s around you and you have an amazing sense of achievement after climbing a couple of famous cols. I have now transferred this outlook to motorcycling. Nothing booked. No route planned. If you have a tent and a small gas stove you are good. I now live in central France. Motorway cruise to the mountains (Honda vfr 800 mk1 Crossrunner , smallest bike I have ever had) and just go where the wind takes me. Cycling has taught me a lot about how to slow down time….

One of my favourite stories was a couple riding from Britain to what was then Yugoslavia, on an elderly Velocette. Another was a chap going round the world on a 125 Vespa. Adventure is a state of mind, not engine displacement.

Humongous mileage rides are simply a form of sadomasochism on a motorcycle. 100 -200 miles a day is a nice distance if you take in the scenery and stop for food etc .

What Ewan and Charley did on the BMWs wasn't 'touring', it was an expedition. Thre is a big difference...

I just want to stay off main roads and explore the unspoilt parts of Suffolk, Norfolk and Lincolnshire.

"Because a small easy to handle motorcycle that's not particularly fast, frees you up to just enjoy yourself" -- that's so true. I currently have four bikes at my disposal: a Honda VTR1000 road rocket, a BMW R65 daily commuter, a KTM 300 hard enduro, and a Tomos APN 6 moped. The Tomos sat neglected in the shed for years as I didn't think much of it next to all the other options. This spring, however, something pulled me towards fixing up the little thing just enough so I can go for a quick spin around the block. Then as soon as I was on my way I had the biggest smile in a long while, enjoying myself immensely, riding back and forth through all the local trails we used to ride as kids, taking every turn there is, stopping without hesitation for anything that seemed interesting to observe. If I was on my KTM I'd just fly past all of it in a few minutes, whereas on a small incapable bike it felt like a true adventure.

In 1971 and in my senior year of college, I went to England with two fraternity brothers and purchased a new triumph 650 Bonneville. We traveled here for 70 days and had a forever memorable journey. The only downside was the lack of reliability of the brand new Bonneville, which was horrible. Luckily, I had some experience wrenching as a motorcycle mechanic and was able to keep the bike on the road and running. I currently own a 2018 T1 20 which is light years ahead of the technology and the reliability of the old Bonneville. This one doesn’t leak, lol

Back in the mid 70s I did a one week trip on my Honda XL125 trail bike from Essex down to Cornwall for the weekend at my parents, then up to climb Mount Snowdon in North Wales and then down to Eastbourne on the South Coast because I was seeing a girl there at the time. 1300mls in the week with my tent and stuff strapped on the back. So long as you stay away from motorways you can tour on anything. My longest days ride still remains from Dunvegan on the Isle of Sky to Essex, over 600mls on a CB200 with my girlfriend on the back! Now though when I tour on my old BMW R100RS, as you say, I will generally aim for 150-200mls a day sticking to pottering along back roads with plenty of stops for coffee & cake or sightseeing and simply enjoy the journey, not how far you’ve travelled 👍

Just got back from a nearly 2000 mile trip across the Pyrenees on my 1966 350cc Triumph, had an amazing time. Just go on Your bike whatever it is... love your channel.

As a younger man, I once did a five week, five thousand mile tour around Europe (from U.K.). It was summer, before going to university, so I’d ended my rented room in a house & dumped my meagre possessions at the house of the parents of a mate. I felt very free for that tour. No pillion, toured with a pal, who had his girlfriend on the pillion. I carried more of the camping gear. It was very laid back and we kept plans loose. I rode a Suzuki GT380B which was then four years old. My pal was on a Honda 250 Superdream, which was a couple of years newer. I don’t recall anything bad happening or any fallings out. My most recent tour did involve trailering the bike oop north and a few days rideouts in Bomber County. I can’t ride the distance from Kent to N Lincs any more. Medical limitations. But I can enjoy 100 mile gentle day tours with friends from all over U.K.

The best part of The Long Way Round will always be when the camera man's GS breaks down beyond repair, and he is then forced to replace it with a small, cheap, light russian bike. And soon after is shown easily gliding over bits of sand as the two stars get bogged down in their BMW's.

I toured around Europe for 4 weeks in 1978 on a Yamaha RD200 with a friend on an MZ250. We went to France, Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco Cote D'Azure and Provence before losing each other on the way home going through Lyon. We took turns leading as we had one set of maps and shared a tent as we were camping and didn't have room for a tent each. So I was left with a bag of tent poles and no map to get back from Lyon. We had an approximate route but no schedule which meant a steady pace and stop when you like. I've done many group trips since then and understand what you mean about the haste to cover big miles, missing all the pleasure of the tour to get to the destination.

I’m a day tourist who rides a 411 Himalayan. I chose this bike not for off road but simply as it’s comfortable. I’ll cover maybe 125 miles per ride but stop at half a dozen points of interest on route. Great video pal.

Austin Vince did it first in 1995/96 riding sensible Suzuki DR350's and with no back up vehicles and film crew in tow (Mondo Enduro) Back in the 1970's we all toured with what we had and had a great time

In 1966,my buddy Mike and I did several tours two-up on my Honda S90. The longest one being from Nu Mine, PA to Bristol, PA, 331 miles, then to Washington, D.C., 174 miles, then back home to Nu Mine, 237 miles, and a total of 742 miles. We did the initial leg of the trip to Bristol in one day, riding for a total of 14 hours and 15 minutes. Part of the reason it took us so long was towards the end of the day our butts were so sore that we were stop and getting off of the bike every 15 minutes. We spent a week in Bristol visiting relatives, and another week in D.C. doing the same. One of my best tours ever, and we had some adventures along the way!

Stuart,what on earth were you thinking !!! That poor bike being shaken to bits !!! My teeth were chattering…you could have met a convoy of 4 wd vehicles coming the other way !!! Was it a bye way or rupp, 1 or 2 iffy moments in their as well,1000 miles taken off your tyres,fork seals crying in disbelief,rear shocks screaming in agony. Loved every inch of it,you could have stopped for a picnic as well,and to stall the bike was unforgivable 😜🤣🤣🤣🤣❤️

Here in Australia distances are somewhat greater than the UK, most of my Outback rides on my Husky 650, covering distance 300-600klm per day - alone - stopping to enjoy the vast spaces - currently a 400, again alone - Australia is a truly Awesome country - any motorcycle is perfect

Great video Stuart........ Back in early 70's (Age 17) , on a 2 week break from work. I rode my bsa 250cc C15 and my mate was on his 200cc tiger cub, on a 700 mile tour, from Kent, through Devon, to Lands End in Cornwall, then back again. We both just had tiny ridge tents, basic gas stove kit and few tools to fix the bikes. Highlights of the trip.... Great slow ride touring, scenic views, visiting towns, villages and beaches like Newquay, where we hired plywood surf boards lol ! Plus a few memorable events on the way...... It was raining hard and we rode past a long queue of stationary cars, straight into a 2 foot deep, flooded dip in the road. Took 2 days to dry the tents and sleeping bags out! Another day....Set up camp at Newquay, had a few beers, could hear loud music (Like a music festival), about a mile inland. We had to paddle across a muddy river estuary, that flows out to the sea. The tide was out, so got to the other side ok. The music stopped before we reached the event, so turned back to find the sea tide had come in. It was dark and the estuary was flooded. We had to sleep on the bank over night with no tents, food or beer! Only had one breakdown, my bsa would not rev, just spluttered and cut out. Checked the obvious like is there petrol in the tank, spark at the plug, points gap, cleaned out carb, same problem. Then we started moving parts one at a time, from my mates bike, to mine... points, condenser, carb etc. Turned out to be the ignition coil breaking down under load. Went into into town on the back of my mates bike and purchased a new coil. Like you say .... Motorcycle touring, a lot different in recent years.

I've toured on all types of bikes from a Harley roadking to a yamaha fs1e, but my most enjoyable tour was taking my MZ251 to the Arctic circle in northern Norway from the South of England, a great trip with just enough adventure.

Thanks for the great video and reminder. I'm a 1200GS rider, which I fell into completely accidentally when I was looking to switch from a sport-bike to something more capable of handling the unpaved and fire roads I encountered in Colorado. I got tired of finding the end of the tarmac and having to turn round. I was looking for a smaller dual sport but happened upon a very inexpensive used 1200gs that I didn't even want to try at first... but once I rode it I was sold. I was completely oblivious to the Long-way-round effect at the time, though I quickly learned about all of that. I have to say I felt like a bystander - watching a strange thing happen that I wasn't a part of. I'm much more of a mellow tourer and the other folks I encountered on these bikes seemed to have that long-distance, high-speed legs in mind. I'm glad I enjoy solo rides, as I'm not the speed-demon iron-butt that seem to inhabit these bikes... I'm just some guy who wanted to see what was over there, beyond where my street-bike could go. Thanks again for sharing this. I hope many many people see it.

I once had a friend who's father had a house in France, we went touring? Well it turned out to be all about" where he wanted to go" he was boss, "I don't want to go there" was a phrase we all heard on many occasions. His attitude was it was his holiday and we were with him!! He was and is as far as I know still the same. I'm not a friend of his any longer. He still has his sheep he goes to the same destination every year with? Personally the regimented travel to the same destination in a day 550 miles in 9 hours isn't fun, it's stressful. So I haven't been touring for years, however I have had some epic days out, I've done 523 miles on a stress free ride to Sheffield and back on a Suzuki Burgman 400, I've been for a ride to Bristol and back in a day on a Triumph T100 all from Brighton on the south coast, and I've delivered a valuable record box set to Kent. All those tours have been lovely tour days out at my pace and I've taken some lovely pictures on my journeys. Due to my wife not wanting to come out on the bike with me because she worries if anything happens to us our 10 year old daughter may not be looked after because she's type 1 diabetic, I only ever ride alone these days. I miss my wife being with me. Maybe one day I'll get an outfit so we can all go together? You can tour on anything, only limit is your imagination, I'm sure if people can do it on a bicycle you can do it on s 50cc. Great video Stuart, telling as always THE WAY IT IS.Thank you.

April 23rd 2024 went to France covered 3,189.6 miles on a yamaha Tricity 300 ( restricted licence (79) tikes lol) Just started to ride again at 64 after a 41 year gap. Really enjoyed it all on me lonesome. Average 88 mpg

When I tour in the UK on my '96 CBR 600, I generally stay in Travelodges on the cheapest deals I can get. All my "gear", (three T shirts, three pairs of socks and shreddies and a toothbrush), is stashed away in the seat cowls in Aldi bags. Nothing externally on the bike. No panniers, tank bag, tail pack or backpack.

I was feeling quite chuffed with myself taking my first long trip from home in Scotland to the relations' in Yorkshire (260 miles in the day) on my recently purchased Meteor 350. Every other bike I saw was in the GS mode and I felt like some kind of small capacity rebel. Coming down the A68 through Northumberland, though, I encountered another bike heading north. It was a yellow Yamaha 90 step-through with custom panniers and top box clearly heading off on their hols. Aye, mate, I thought, hats off and you win that one.

Good video! I have theory that a lot of older riders give up riding because their big tour bikes (Gold Wings, Electra Glides, etc.) are too physically taxing. If they would switch to lighter sub-500-pound motorcycle, they would continue enjoy touring and riding.

Back in the early seventies my friend bought a Honda CB 360 and rode it across America, NY to California and back. Camping along the way. He was young, single and took his time to see everything he could. It took months and I don’t recall that he had any serious difficulties.

Totally agree with all that. 250 to 500 will do anything you want it to.

There's a guy and his friend on the hunter page currently touring to Greece and back on their hunters

Very sound practical advice. When me and the wife were courting back in the day, I had a Honda CB 250 (1971)and we went everywhere on that bike. Lake district being a regular weekend runout. Never a problem . As you say, dont need speed machines when touring . Slow and steady gets you there in one piece. Still enjoy it today at 70.

Best touring bike I ever owned was a 1982 Honda Silverwing. I'd love to see a modern updated version.

Uncle Stu is soooo right.... I've been riding motorcycles all my life. Mainly bikes with a lot of power. I have been riding the RE classic 500 for 5 years now. I actually have to conclude that I have only been riding a motorcycle for 5 years now because this classic with 27 hp brings the joy. What a awesome way to ride a motorcycle. The 500 Mule . You see much more and you experience much more. It was about driving fast, now with the RE it's about having fun. Dear people, try a Royal Enfield, and you will understand what I mean.

The thing that I always remembered for the Long Way Round was when the cameraman’s bike broke in I believe it was Mongolia. They bought him a small cc, I believe Russian bike and he loved it and found it so much easier than the GS over the rough terrain due to its light weight and low rise height. I am 46 and have a 2016 Classic 500 that I have had from new, I can’t see myself parting with it and I enjoy planning trips that avoid long hauls on motorways etc and see so much more.

I only started motoring this year (@48 - and yeah, wish I started long ago!), and happily tour 100miles with wild camping a night on a 125. When I pass test, will prolly get a CB500f or x. I think that size will be perfect for what I need.

In the mid 70's, my girlfriend and I, set off from Yorkshire on my Honda 175, with limited funds and camping gear. Over a period of 3 weeks, we covered 3000 miles, getting as far as the Mediterranean on the Southern coast of France. It wasnt a big bike, or an "Adventure" bike, but we had the adventure of our lives up to that point. Im on a few bike forums and regularly see posts from idiots who think "Tours" can only be done on expensive, complicated and large capacity bikes. They really haven't got a clue as to what biking is all about.

This video struck a massive chord with me, and it’s right on the money ! I myself have found myself subject to someone else’s over zealous mile munching conquest, and you are so right about how it made me feel. These days I follow my own path, and I also enjoy touring on my Monkey Bike and Super Cub. I may not cover the same huge miles, but the enjoyment I get from loading up and touring on a tiny little bike, and spending next to nothing on fuel, is through the roof. 👍

Whenever I think of touring and see loaded GS/KTM/Africa Twins etc I think of Ted Simon touring around the world on his Bonneville decades ago. I look at their aluminum paniers full of stuff they don't need just to fill them up and wonder what on earth they are taking that I don't maybe we're looking at this 'the wrong way round' perhaps they need a 'GS' to carry the aluminum paniers and their contents..🤔

I just bought a ‘23 Bonnie T120 in chrome for work commuting and taking solo touring trips on. Your video is making me second guess my purchase haha but I love her and can’t wait to get traveling. My 600 mile service is scheduled for next week so I’ll be hitting the open road soon! Enjoying your videos. No issues with subscription here. Enjoy your weekend! 🍻

My second post on this....just on way home this morning and spotted an L plated 125....panniers...tank bag... the lot....heading east on the A30! Reminded me of my travels back in the 70s on my CZ 175 or my Suzuki TS 185!!...great days....

I’m 75 and have over 100,000 great miles on my BMW 1200GS. Camping, touring, exploring all solo however I did take my wife with me to the Arctic Ocean once. I just bought an Interceptor 650 that I turned into a capable scrambler/Adventurer, it’s the smallest bike I’d ever consider for touring. Keep up the good work.

I made my first solo camping trip in 1973. No one knew where I was. 1973 backpacking gear. Went from Charleston SC ( I was in the Navy stationed ther) to the NC Mountains. I rode a 1972 Yamaha 350cc two stroke. R5C model. Predecessor to the famous RD 350. Trip was a lot of fun until it started raining.

The smaller the bike, the less clutter you take, the less motorways, more small roads, more milage range, cheaper, easier and safer handling off road. Moto camping is just brilliant. Now you can buy physically big comfortable cruisers 125's 250's 350's very cheap.

Saw a video on KZfaq a south African couple on Chinese 250cc cruisers, they traveled from Jo, burg to Alexandria in Egypt traveling through bush and deserts through mud tracks and over rocky paths with minimum wear and tear to their motorcycles, once they got to Alexandria put their bikes on a boat took them back home and used them as commuter bikes for about 5 years. A great video but it shows you don't need those big tourers to have an adventure.

I would agree that the "long way" series put a somewhat unrealistic expectation on what motorcycle touring might be, but I'll also say that it also opened up a lot of motorcycle riders to motorcycle touring in general. In the States, touring was largely old men jumping on their Harleys and Goldwings and cruising for a few days on perfect roads mostly toward destinations where the ladies are known to be less than modest... After the series gained popularity, it opened up touring and adventure touring to many different bikes along many different types of roads (much of what you commented on). I think it's different here in the States as well also because big BMW gs's aren't overly popular (I couldn't tell you the last time I've actually seen one). I've toured on an old Suzuki dr650, KTM Duke 790, and a Moto Guzzi v7. I might have never had the idea of jumping on a motorcycle with a sleeping bag and tent without the series. Pros and cons my friend...

G'day Stu, thoroughly enjoyed this video on touring as I did the previous touring video on the Classic 350. I bought a Himalayan 411 last year and have clocked 26,000 touring klms on it and it has been a pleasure punting through the countryside, across the high country in Victoria, around Tasmania, over to Adelaide, up to Belyando Crossing on to Bowen and back down to Horsham. Stopping for photos along the way, catching up with old friends and just cruising along. No pillion but the the load of gear carried makes it hard to get seated at times. Handles gravel roads with ease and just brings a smile to my face at the thought of our next adventure. There's a lot to be said for just trundling along. I have been down so many roads just to see where they will take me. As with my Continental GT, the Himalayan brings back the magic to motorcycling and based on your videos and the comments of others, so too would the Classic 350s.

Cracking video Stuart... and so true. Nothing beats a bimble on a sub 500 bike through the countryside.

The book by Simon Gandolfi: Old Man on a Bike about his adventures on a Honda 125 exploring South America really aligned with my thoughts about riding. I enjoy being in the moment, enjoying exploring and seeing and feeling where I am, rather than trying to get to the next destination. Even a 125 will do 50mph

Riding in the rain until soaked through and freezing cold is great fun. It gets even better when a camping site is found in the dark and putting the tent up in the rain is always great for a laugh. I always like the part where we get to sit in the dark wet tent looking through the bags for a torch that might still work, with no hope of getting warm or dry. Finding the squashed meat pies and tins of coke which cost a furtune from the motorway services many hours eailier never fails to get the party started. What a wonderful evening it turns out to be as we wriggle fully clothed into our damp sleeping bags ready for a wonderful sleepless night rolling about on those hard lumps that always happen to be exactly where we put the tent up. Who wants to stay at home and sleep in a nice warm bed when you can go toring on a motorcycle and have an unforgettable experience.

My first tour was on my first bike in 1978; a Suzuki GT250B 2 Stroke. I ventured West to Pembrokeshire and with all the short trips around when I got there I must have done about 300+ miles. It was a great experience for me then. So, yes ! I agree with what you are saying here. Great video.

Great advice, thanks for posting! Just for fun on one of my trips I checked how far I was from home after 3 'days' of riding - 4h. :- ). Smiled all 600 miles...

wise words, mister Fillingham, trully wise words !!! really nice documentary.....hope to see more, coming from you and your travels !

I'm doing my first bigger trip in July from Hungary down to Croatia, back trough Bosnia (so I reckon it would count as a tour) on my Hunter. All I need is a dufflebag on the rack and on we go, don't care about anything else. I don't need an Africa Twin to do that. To be fair I did change the handlebar because the stock one was killing my back and neck, but now I can do a few hundred Ks in a couple of hours without a problem. I absolutely cannot wait for my first adventure.

I love small bikes. The problem with the US is major highways and interstate highways a difficult to avoid. If your bike can’t go 140 kph you’re liable to get run over on those roads. I have a KLX250 but I never ride to somewhere on it. The trip always starts with trailering it.

Just sat down with my Taylor's Harrogate Yorkshire tea which means l now have a hairy chest like a CocoCoir doormat!...I'm now set for a gruelling days Biking. Here in Spain my friend and l are always being passed by 'Blokes' riding Adventure style behemoths. However like the story about the Tortoise and the Hare we catch them up at the next watering hole before they've they've had time to removed all the Goretex...

My favourite adventure memory was a trip from Glasgow to the Swiss Alps via Dover (last year of the hover crafts I think), then Paris and various other towns eneoute, 2 up with girlfriend & camping gear on a 200cc Vespa. Flywheel side crankcase seal failed in South of France so had to rebuild engine in campsite. I avoided motorways where possible to experience the landscape. Was in my late 20s at the time, with boundless enthusiasm on my side. I'll never forget it.

I'm an old fart/new rider. We did a 600 mile round trip with the one buddy I travel with. SoCal coast through back roads. I was on my BV 400 scoot. That thing has plenty of storage and comfort. In fact, I just bought a Triumph Speed 400 and intend to keep my BV for longer trips. My friend is on a 07 Triumph T100. Great video as usual!

Stuart, that was the BEST rant I have ever listened to! You affirmed everything I had been saying for years. I started off in 1980 with a Yamaha XT250 when I became of age to ride on the roads. I rode it everywhere including around the mountains of British Columbia, not always camping but usually on day trips from whatever place we started from. Goldbridge was my favourite spot to start from at my uncle's cabin. North Americans are such megalomaniacs. They all want 2.0 litre Harleys as some kind of status ego trip. I saw Ewen and Charlie's movies finding them disturbingly entertaining all the while wondering why they rode such monstrous machines that they could barely handle through the rough terrain. There was a scene where one of their cameramen acquired a small Russian bike and was doing just fine through Siberia. I got a good chuckle out of that. Previously to watching these movies I fell into owning a 1970 Triumph T100 500cc machine as a collector piece. I immediately fell in love with the lightweight, handling and (believe it or not) reliability of this little motorcycle. It's no good on the major highways but then who wants to ride there. The wind and big trucks blow you around and the scenery is boring. Motorcycling is for the winding back country roads and mountain paths. Life is too short to speed through it, take your time, enjoy it. Also, I love that RE classic 500 single in this video. I just missed buying one at the Vancouver bike show in 2019. But then I'd be riding my old T100s less!

Your comment about a small capacity bike just as good for touring as a 1000cc+ bike is spot on. In the early 90's I was made redundant & for the first time ever no job meant no mortgage payments. So I became a motorcycle courier just to fill the gap until I found another "proper" job. 16 weeks & 34,000 miles later my 1984 Honda VT500E finally became a weekend toy again. It was an awesome bike & it never let me down. It was nothing flashy or exciting but it was an amazing workhorse! 😃

You have a new sub. This rolled up on my feed and I thought it sounded interesting and it was so spot on with my experience the last few years. The fellas I ride with are go,go,go guys and they have the scars to prove it. In 2021 I rolled off the side of a mountain doing the Silverton loop on Colorado BDR luckily no major harm came my way. In 2022 I followed them on the Wyoming BDR it a 4wd vehicle. Best decision I ever made. I took my time seeing the sights and enjoyed it much more than I thought I would. IN 2020 on of the riders broke his leg on the Colorado BDR, I was not on that ride due to a work issue. This year, 2 weeks ago I couldn't go due to my child having very serious health issues. A replacement rider that took my place broke both of his legs on the Arizona BDR. I am in my late 50's and nice groomed gravel roads are just the right adventure for me anymore.

Hey Stuart, great edit and 100% agree with your thinking. Absolutely thoroughly enjoy riding a smaller bike for touring. I think as you get older logic and practicality overrides ego and wanting to fit in. Keep up the great work. Mike - Cape Town.

Great video Stuart. As an avid motorcycle tourer and older, experienced rider I whole heartedly agree with all the points you made here. Absolutely loved the views as well. Your point on not being too ambitious about the distances covered on a day were is something made very clear on a recent tour my wife and I did in the UK with a popular motorcycle touring company where it was akin to a whirlwind, huge miles per day at the expense of missing lots of places we are now planning on seeing when we return to do a tour in the same places but at a more leisurely pace. I'll be going back through your past vids and keeping an eye out for more content from you mate. Cheers from down under.

I was all over the country on several of my motorbikes. The first time I went touring, I was 16 years old and I hadn't even passed my test, so was riding a 175 Honda. Away from home for a week with just a tent, sleeping bag and stove. I went to Cornwall a few years later on a 350 Suzuki two stroke, and again later on a 550 Suzuki when I did the Lands End to John O' Groats run, but most of my touring was on my BSA A65T

I’m envious of those beautiful country lanes you’re driving on in this episode. I agree with your overall thoughts on touring. For us over here in Texas, unfortunately all the land is privately owned. This forces us onto high-speed motorways. Still, and all, there are many spectacular motorcycle drives her in Texas. I’m struggling to get my riding pals together to make some nearby tours, a couple hundred miles or so. Everyone’s so busy these days. Happy Trails!

I like how you explained your definition of what touring is all about. I agree with you that a tour can be as brief as a 50 miles, or more. Touring should never have to be a grueling, unpleasant riding experience. For example, I've sometimes ridden 200 miles in a day with multiple stops. To drink my coffee, grab a meal, maybe meet new people, and at the end of the day look back at how wonderful the ride was and the experiences had. It was fun watching you ride on those dirt roads at a relaxed comfortable speed to enjoy your beautiful outdoor surroundings.

Just stumbled across this video. Very thought provoking. I have organised a few tours over the years with a group of friends. We often did big miles (we’re in Australia, so big distances between stops sometimes) but always tried to finish early enough for a good meal and a few drinks in a comfortable lodging). After a few trips, we did actually fall out. I’ve gone from touring on a Hayabusa to a BMW R1250RS, and did a solo trip over a few days - but I’m really warming to the idea of something like a Royal Enfield and shorter trips closer to home.

Back in the seventies and earlier eighties I toured Europe on a B40 and later on a Norton 850. The B40 has gone 😢 but the Norton is still in my possession and lives in it own heated and carpeted workshop with the last bike I bought, a Ducati 900.

Stuart, you’ve nailed it. What you’ve described is absolutely right. I’m in Cambodia at the moment and I’m planning a tour on a Royal Enfield - they exist. The very conditions of the locality means you don’t eat up miles on a motorway and I plan a very leisurely trip around Cambodia, Laos and North Vietnam. If I do 20 miles in a day or 200, then that’s touring.

I hole heartedly agree, we have had the same experience . The most enjoyable time we have had was when using a smaller motorcycle 👍

I love touring on my Classic 350 , and on my own, going wherever I want on the journey, stopping wherever I want, and deviating from my original chosen route if I see one of those " I wonder what's up there lanes" can't beat it, but my missus now has her own 125cc bike and tags along as well, she loves finally being on her own bike , and it cruises along at 55mph as easily as my classic. I have a Vstrom in the garage that me and my missus have done sixty odd thousand miles on together over the years, but it gets used less lately since we're enjoying the smaller bikes so much, but we'll never part with it as we've had some great trips on it . Great factual truthful video Stuart, Cheers Mel 🍻

Hello from Ireland Love this video well done never have I heard such truer words spoken.

Touring has become nothing more than a mad dash there and back. Most people decide they head off to break dance with the local non reflectives in Outer Botswana during their two week annual leave break. Doesn't matter if they're on a bike or towing a wobble box,they've only got a limited time to do it so every day is 10 hours averaging 100 kmh. That's the biggest problem.

Currently touring Northern Spain for the 5th time on a Triumph Street Triple. This one is the 765RS. It's a super bike for solo tours with no camping. Handles really well when loaded with my luggage and handles like a track day weapon with no luggage. Perfect for a good ripsnorting blast through the mountain passes of the Pyrenees.

I have done several tours abroad on both 200 and 225cc two stroke lambrettas, the longest being a trip of 2500 mile round trip to southern Poland. Riding vintage machines is anything but relaxing but it is an adventure and an enjoyable challenge. Never fails to amuse me when the guys on the big bikes ask, me when we are strapping our machines down on the ferry, where have you been. Their face is always a picture when they realise we have gone as far if not further than them.

Some good advise. I was lucky enough to travel with some more experienced riders when I first started taking longer trips. I was surprised at how frequently they stopped to take breaks, as I would have normally pushed on to get to the destination. We ended up seeing some great sites and arrived at our destination without much fatigue as a result of those breaks. It's funny, but I was working for a BMW dealer at the time that series came out, and it did help sell al lot of bikes. One of my favorite moments in the series was when the cameraman Claudio's bike broke down, and he had to switch to a locally procured 125cc(IIRC) bike. He was having fun on it while they were bogged down trying to get their big bikes through the mud.

I remember from the movie The long way around, that the camara guy, if forget his name, his bike broke down and he ended up on some small Russian bike. He commented that it was so much easier to ride and I recall his attitude improved as a result. Thank you for bringing a new perspective on touring. Cheers.

Love it! I think I needed to hear this. I got back into riding last year, have now clocked over 10k miles in 1 year, between 2 motorcycles a 750 and a 400 (373). I love riding the 373, it small, easy and fun to ride. But somehow we keep getting bombarded with messages from every side that we need a bigger motorcycle. Lately I've been riding the Honda NC750x, it is also an easy bike to ride. But I've been meaning to see how far I can take the little bike. I intend to take slow trip on the small bike around my area and go on some slightly far off hills.

Many years ago in Whitley Bay, I had the pleasure of meeting the motorcycle adventure, Austin Vince, he was giving a talk on his MC adventures. Namely, Mondo Enduro 1995-96 (2003 film) round the world ( longest route/shortest time ) on used Suzuki DR 350's with his friends. Also, in 2002 riding Terra Circa through the Zilov Gap and around the world again. According to Austin, when the film the Long Way Round was conceived he was approached for his advice on touring the world on a motorcycle, by those involved in making the film. His advice was to use a reliable, lightweight and durable motorcycle to cover poor terrain that could be repaired with basic tools, the Suzuki DR 350 or something similar. However, although he gave them his time and advice, the info on the type of MC was never taken. Needless to say, he never got a mention in the credits and in the film you'll see those heavy Beemers stuck in the mud and hauled across rivers by an army of helpers and TV crew. 😂

Great foundational video. Out in the US there is an obsession with backdoor rout discovery off road tours. These are multi day off road generally hard off bike trails that people take large capacity ADV bikes when they are generally made for KTM and other style dual sport /trail bikes. We also have the iron butt challenge that rewards you for doing 1k miles in 1 day. Looking at these types of videos I originally got a KLR650 and instantly regretted it, too tall and heavy for me as a new rider. I eventually ended up with a nicely modified Himalayan 411. These days I tour around my state visiting various state parks, taking the back country roads and just enjoying the scenery. I am so totally at peace and relaxed when I am riding, it is totally sublime.

Another perfect video, Stuart !! I did many travels in a GS 1200 and nowadays, I do exactly the same, in a much more relaxed pace and enjoying it much more .... in a T120 .... I totally got your point. Thanks for providing such insights .... Cheers

I must have missed some great places in the rush to get to the next booked hotel. I vow never to book again.

Thanks for the video and the views of beautiful North Yorkshire along with the sound words of wisdom!

Thank you for that video it substantiated the types of tours I do. I am on tour in the summer, the first day and last day are about 325 mile days. The rest are about 100 - 150 mile days. All trying to avoid the motorways as much as possible. Most weekends, I do tours of about 175 to 200 miles in total (not per day). That way I get to see the sights and enjoy the countryside. Much more enjoyable than blatting down the motorway to get somewhere fast

I've just subscribed and love Stuarts approach. His comments, I totally agree with , relax, take your time, and enjoy!

Started out touring round the dales ( I live near you on the south bank) and up to Brid on a 125 and 250. As per now I take a lot of photos. So the journey would often mean several stops to take pics, feet up and chill. No "one continuous journey" as you put it. So I enjoyed the day at a sensible pace feeling relaxed at the destination. Moved up to 4 cylinder shaft bikes, going a little further, but looking back, the faster pace and longer distances made the day no more enjoyable.

Great to be able to see the lovely countryside you were riding through due to the nice leisurely speed you were doing 😊

Totally agree, as I am the owner of a 1250GS, and after two incidents involving a broken foot and a wrecked shoulder primarily due to the weight of the bike and because the bike is top heavy particularly when fully loaded. It is going to replaced by something smaller.

Thanks for so ably expressing what I've intuitively felt for so long. There are things I'd long forgotten like deciding on a base further afield such as a camp-site or B&B and exploring the locality from there. Also, thanks for the suggestion of trailering the bike to such a destination base, something I might seriously consider, given that I have debilitating osteoarthritis in both shoulders which makes long distance riding impossible. For my purposes, my little Hunter 350 fitted with chunky, scrambler style Metzler Karoo Streets is ideal. I'm still exploring all the hidden nooks and crannies of my own home turf on the wild peninsulas of West Cork, Ireland, but I may soon like to do similar short forays to acquaint myself with other parts of Ireland.