Trips on Bikes
I started driving little 50 cc Mofas back in Germany when I was 15 years old which I tend to customize early on. When I got my car and bike drivers licence in April 1982, just after I turned 18, I was in the market for a bigger bike.
During the decades that followed I went on smaller and bigger bike trips, on smaller and bigger bikes, either owned or rented, depending on time, the bike and money.
Germany - I took my Ducati SS 750 and a customized cafe racer style Ducati GT 860 on a number of trips to the Netherlands, central and southern Germany, into the Black Forest, the Elm just outside my choosen home town of Braunschweig or the Harz mountains close by.
Thailand - Quite frequently and during short vacations wile working and living on the island of Koh Tao I rented a Honda Shadow 600 or Honda XLR 250 on the Island of Koh Samui, a Yamaha Virago in Phuket or a Yamaha TTR 250 in Koh Tao. I then explored the surounding areas for days and weeks on end.
Malaysia - My frequent visits to the island of Penang resulted always in the renting of a Honda 50 scooter and the exploration of the island.
Indonesia - A visit to the Archepilago just south of Singapore gave me the oportunity to rent a Yamaha 150 and explore the countryside for a couple of weeks.
Zanzibar - A three month stay on the island in 1990 gave me the chance to explore Zanzibar on a Vespa 150.
A visit to the island of Zanzibar in July 2005 gave me the oporunity to revisit some of the areas and tours I did in 1990 on a rented Honda XLR 250.
Florida - I did buy a Kawasaki ZRX 1100 in Florida in April of 2006 to do some tours and finaly drive it south to Mexico. Florida is a beautifull state, I particular like the central and northern part of it. A number of trips where made to the Gulf and Atlantic coast. The area surrounding Lake City, Gainesville and High Springs where thouroughly explored.
Mexico - As I bought the Harley Davidson 1200 Sportster in Cancun I thought I might do some town cruising on it but thankfully she took me on a nice 1100 kilometer ride through the northern and central Yucatan peninsula, besides the town cruising in Valladolid, Cancun, Puerto Morelos, Puerto Aventuras, Tulum and mostly off course in Playa del Carmen.
The purchase of the KTM 640 Adventure in the city of Chihuahua, located in northern Mexico resulted in a trip in itself, the drive back to Playa del Carmen took four days and 3300 kilometers. Frequent day and weekend trips followed to Punta Allen, a nice dirt road leading to a small fishing village, or very frequent racing stints on the fast gravel roads surrounding Playa del Carmen, Tulum and Puerto Morelos.
Central America February and March 2007 - A three week 6500 kilometer long trip with me on my KTM 640 Adventure and my brother on his Kawasaki KLR 650 led us from Playa del Carmen to Bacalar lagoon into Belize just crossing on our way to Guatemala enjoying Tikal, into El Salvador, Honduras, Nicaragua and Costa Rica to visit the Volvano Arenal area. The return trip led us back through Nicaragua once more, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala and into Mexico to visit Chiapas and then back home to Playa del Carmen.
U.S.A. and Mexico March 2008 - First weekend of March I was visiting Daytona Beach to have a look at the Daytona Bike Week. Awesome. Never seen so many bike in one place. We where camping at the Moonshine campgrounds, walking and driving over Main Street, visiting the Iron Horse Saloon just to name a few. After Bike Week I went over to Texas and into New Mexico, lost a day in Texas to rain and another one to rear wheel bearings that needed to be changed. My 45th birthday I passed while walking around Carlsbad Cavern cave, great cave, awesome. The trip went on to Copper Canyon in northern Mexico where I got snowed in for a day in Creel. Leaving for the warmth I opted for the Pacific coast following to the Puerto Vallarta area to visit friends in Sayulita, enjoying the ride along the coastal road until Acapulco where I crossed over to the Gulf Coast, Veracruz and on along the Gulf Coast passing Ciudad del Carmen, Campeche, Merida and finally reaching Playa exactly four weeks after I started the trip with 8500 kilometers / 5150 miles put on the bike. The Kawasaki ZRX 1100 gave me a stress free performance and besides the bearings I got a tiny oil leak, a rock into the radiator resulting in a tiny leak, a worn rear tire and a streched out chain. Awesome trip.
Below are some images from various bike trips I took over the last couple of years
Guatemala, Lago Atitlan during Costa Rica bike trip