 |
Two Wheels Good, Four Wheels Bad; the Motorbike Road Trip
Author: Andrew Regan   | Posted: 11-02-2008 | Comments: 0 | Views: 31 | Rating: (63)  (?) 
Ever since the internal combustion engine was invented, the road trip has offered a romantic allure for the traveller. But whereas journeying by car merely does the job, travelling by motorbike is associated with the most carefree of all road tripping experiences.
Travel by motorbike offers many things a car deprives us of; first and foremost a much stronger connection with the landscape through which you pass. Motorcyclists often speak fondly of the sounds and smells of the outside world that they enjoy as they pass. This is something that their car driving counterparts tend to miss out on, being confined to the insides of their vehicle.
Motorcyclists' tales of the road have often been shared with armchair travellers in the form of books, films and TV documentaries. One of the most famous motorbike trips to be enjoyed by the mainstream was undertaken by Argentinean-born revolutionary icon, Che Guevara. The image of Guevara's face is said to be the most reproduced image of all time, appearing as a fashion statement on posters, album covers and t-shirts which can be found in student's bedrooms the world over, even though many probably have little idea of Guevara's life and what he stood for.
Guevara wrote many books, but his best known publication, "The Motorcycle Diaries", details a young Guevara as he travels through South America with his friend Alberto Grando on a 1939 Norton 500 motor-cycle. It was the poverty and persecution that he witnessed during his travels that fuelled Guevara's desire to fight and die for the people of the lower classes.
A famous but fictional motorbike road trip story is told through the film "Easy Rider", which features two bikers travelling through the American south to experience the land and its people and explore the American dream. The story follows their adventures as they encounter hippies, narcotics and eventually meet their doom at the hands of red necks, during their search for spiritual freedom.
More recently, the TV series "The Long Way Round" followed the biking adventures of actors Ewan McGregor and Charlie Boorman. The show documented their trip from London to New York which took them across Europe, Ukraine, Russia, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Siberia and Canada. Viewers were able to share McGregor and Boorman's pain and pleasure, which included incredible scenery, amazing kindness and generosity of strangers, but also breakdowns, crashes, injuries, mosquito bites, and even being threatened at gunpoint. However, with a little help from the locals, and of course a good motorbike insurance policy, McGregor and Boorman survived the incredible journey intact; and the trip inspired the adventurous duo to embark on another biking adventure from John O Groats to South Africa two years later, which was also televised.
A road trip of any sort will always hold a romantic allure for the traveller, but it is a long journey by motorbike which is the ultimate expression of freedom on the road.
Rate this Article:
Current: 5 / 5 stars - 1 vote(s).
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/motorcycles-articles/two-wheels-good-four-wheels-bad-the-motorbike-road-trip-330324.html
About the Author:Andrew Regan is an online, freelance author from Scotland. He is a keen rugby player and enjoys travelling.
|
Submitting articles has become one of the most popular means of generating quality backlinks and targeted traffic to your website. Join us today - It's Free! |
|
Related Articles
Long Way Round, Long Way Down; What’s Next for Intrepid Actors?
By: Andrew Regan | 18/12/2007 | Travel
Actors Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman have completed two epic journeys on their motorbikes in the last three years, clocking up a total of 34,000 miles on their travels around the World, and all to highlight the work of UNICEF.
Car Insurance Buyers Confused by Price Comparison Website?
By: Christian Ward | 02/08/2008 | Insurance
It is traditionally known as 'car insurance', but could the recent increase in web-based comparison websites be making drivers confused? The Association of British Insurers classifies it as 'motor insurance', and the official body for compensating the victims of uninsured drivers is the 'Motor Insurers' Bureau' (MIB). Although a predominantly U.S. term, 'auto insurance' is also starting to appear in the UK.
Short History of Royal Enfield
By: Michael O'Brien | 29/11/2007 | Motorcycles
The pride of British manufacturing companies, Royal Enfield has established a reputation that dates back to the mid 1800’s. Like many early manufacturers of personal transportation, founder George Townsend focus on producing parts for existing bicycle designs, and by 1893 was producing and selling complete bicycles under the Enfield name.
Have Car, Will Travel: Vacations by Car
By: Levi Quinn | 15/10/2007 | Travel
With vacation season in full force, you may be planning a getaway of your own. Once you've figured out where you're going, you have to decide on how to get there. Some places require traveling by air; it's the only way to get there, so the decision is an easy one. If it's a location to which you can drive, however, you're faced with a choice: should you drive, or should you fly?
Reducing your Motorbike Insurance Premium
By: Shaun Parker | 26/05/2007 | Motorcycles
A good way to save on your motorbike insurance is to be aware of what influences the premium in the first place.
Swinton Acquires Budget Retail Branch Network
By: Swinton Group | 16/08/2006 | Insurance
Annual income now over £500m, with 442 branches and over 2m policies
Answer Apex Motocross Kidney Belt Review
By: Everett Sizemore | 09/02/2008 | Sports and Fitness
The Answer Apex Belt offers unmatched support and protection for today's most aggressive motocross rider. A stylish alternative to the typical kidney belt, it features an all-mesh fabric in the foundation which prevents chafing as well as tapered secondary elastic straps to provide maximum comfort.
Apex Belt Features:
- Two adult sizes
-...
Five Top Safety Tips for Long Distance Driving
By: Carolyn Gibson | 08/11/2007 | Travel Tips
Long distance driving should be fun, safe, and exciting. Here are the top tips to consider before you take that long trip down Route 66!
Latest Motorcycles Articles
The Garmin Zumo 550 Motorcycle Gps. Motorcycle Navigation at It's Finest
By: Peter Clark | 04/09/2008
In the past navigation wasn't so easy for the motorcycle rider. But with motorcycle GPS like the Garmin Zumo 550 motorcycle navigation just got a whole lot easier.
How To Save Money On Gas Mileage
By: Roger Kelley | 04/09/2008
However, a motorcycle may use any one of three different types of fuel. There's the alcohol burning engine which is less efficient than gasoline burning. It can be used in combination with gasoline. Then there's the diesel-fuel based engine. It has efficiency of burning 50% compare to gasoline. Lastly, there's the gasoline burning engine which is the most popular among all types of automotives.
Wyked Illuzionz Announces New Motorcycle LED Product – Magical Wizard Lights
By: Wyked Illuzionz | 02/09/2008
Magical Wizard Lights, new color-changing LED Lights for Motorcycles
Gas Prices Raise Scooter Demand
By: Mark Cummings | 02/09/2008
With gas prices hovering around the $4.00 a gallon mark, more and more people are buying scooters and mopeds to cut down on fuel costs. It’s just not the students and young adults desiring these - higher gas prices have blue-collar and white-collar workers acquiring these as a cheaper form of transportation. And that has dealers like this one scrambling to keep up with the ever-decreasing inventory.
One such dealer says he’s been advised to scoop up as many as he can from the manufacturers.
Easy Do-it-yourself Steps to Make Your Moped Run More Smoothly
By: Mark Cummings | 02/09/2008
You don’t have to be Mr. Goodwrench to perform routine maintenance or even small repairs on your moped.
As a matter of fact, by following these simple steps you yourself can easily make your moped run smoother and more efficient…it could even result in your moped running up to 10 MPH faster than before!
Wax Coating Your Chopper Motorcycle
By: daveclark | 02/09/2008
Avoid the use of spray wax coating on your motorcycle, as it is too thin as compare to liquid and paste waxes. It is recommended to have two medium applications of wax rather than a single heavy one
Harley Davidson History
By: Ron | 31/08/2008
The history of the toughest motorcycle ever built, Harley Davidson
Motorcycle Rentals In Las Vegas: The Other Side Of Wild
By: Paul Fitzgerald | 29/08/2008
It's crazy out here in Sin City, with all its hotel resorts, adult entertainment and gambling. Outrageous stuff happens every time here in Vegas. But if you want to experience a different kind of wild, why don't you get yourself some black leather, rent a motorcycle, and realize those biker dreams.
More from Andrew Regan
Is Bulgaria the Best Property Investment in Europe?
By: Andrew Regan | 26/02/2008 | Real Estate
British investors are heading east to find the best property buys, and Bulgaria is proving to be massively popular, offering high capital growth and great rental returns; not to mention stunning alpine ski resorts and golden beaches.
London Gears Up for 15th Annual Jazz Festival
By: Andrew Regan | 26/02/2008 | Music
From small jazz clubs to concert halls, the London Jazz Festival has been at the forefront of presenting both home-grown and international talent at a variety of venues for 15 years; with this year’s event set to be the biggest yet.
Effective Guerrilla Marketing is Limited Only by Imagination
By: Andrew Regan | 26/02/2008 | Viral Marketing
Guerrilla marketing can be one of the most effective weapons in a company’s arsenal, and if deployed correctly can generate a massive impact that will lead to an increase in business.
Tips on Business Culture in Dubai
By: Andrew Regan | 21/02/2008 | Ask an Expert
Before going to Dubai on business, or indeed for pleasure, it is important that a visitor has an appreciation of the culture of the country, and that they do as little as possible to offend.
Lollapalooza Gets Set to Raise the Temperature This Summer
By: Andrew Regan | 21/02/2008 | Music
Since 1990, the Lollapalooza touring festival has been the United States’ finest proponent of cutting edge artists and ground breaking new alternative acts playing alongside musical legends, with the 2008 event scheduled to be no exception.
Plucky Pedro Put Benidorm on the Map
By: Andrew Regan | 21/02/2008 | Destinations
Before Benidorm could become a popular holiday destination young Pedro Zaragoza knew he would have to persuade Spanish Dictator General Franco to agree to overturn a ban on bikinis, so in 1953 he got on his bike and went to Madrid to address the General.
Celebrity Spotting in London
By: Andrew Regan | 21/02/2008 | Art and Entertainment
London, one of the world’s largest cities, proves a magnet to tourists and celebrities alike due to the sheer number of exciting activities and experiences to be enjoyed in England’s capital.
Formula One: From Humble Beginnings to Billion Dollar Business
By: Andrew Regan | 20/02/2008 | Cars
Since Formula One first sprouted its roots in the European Grand Prix Motor Racing of the 1920s and 30s, it has become one of the biggest and most expensive sports in the world.
|
|
Automotive 
