ARR RAW round-table discussions with motorcycle adventure travellers - featuring Grant Johnson, Sam Manicom, Shirley Hardy-Rix, Brian Rix, Michelle Lamphere and Jim Martin.

RAW LISTENER QUESTIONS: Have a question for the RAW panel? Send it to us here.

TOPIC: 7 Motorcycle Travel Myths Debunked

1. You need a big motorcycle for a long-distance or RTW trip, and it needs to be the perfect bike.

2. Long-distance motorcycle/RTW travel is expensive.

3. You should fully plan your trip in advance.

4. You need advanced riding skills, especially for off-road travel.

5. You must have strong motorcycle mechanical skills.

6. Solo travel is lonely.

7. Traveling alone or as a woman isn't safe.

LINKS:

SAM MANICOM:
Have you ever wondered what it would be like to travel across Asia? The inspirational storytellers of ‘The Moment Collectors ASIA’ share the sensations, surprises and delights of this stunning continent.

Connected by motorcycles and an insatiable curiosity, the stories shared by the 20 authors take you from the heat of the central Asian steppes to the snow-topped mountains of Nepal, from backroads India, to riding and exploring the history of Korea, from the forests of Burma to the extremes of eastern Siberia and much more.

The authors were tasked with sharing a moment from their travels throughout Asia which became priceless. A moment that had them thinking, ‘this is exactly why I’m out here!’ With superb writing they have done just that.

They take you travelling through some of the most magnificent landscapes in the world. You’ll experience stories from a wide range of cultures, and you’ll be introduced to genuine kindness. You’ll be riding asphalt, gravel, sand and mud in some of the most remote parts of the world, and to counter those big sky tales, you’ll be taken riding through the dense traffic of Asian cities. 

Within the stories shared you’ll be invited to a wedding, to drink vodka for breakfast and you’ll be a star on Russian TV. You’ll eat foods that range from taste bud delights to gut wrenching experiences which will have you laughing in sympathy. You’ll have fun with the authors, but you’ll almost certainly cringe at some of the tales. 

You’ll experience the challenge of your motorcycle breaking down, terminally at the start of your journey, and find out what ‘Plan B’ had in store. You’ll encounter tales of riding with no real plan but a direction, through to more detailed journeys where forward planning dreams are brought to life.

In keeping with The Moment Collectors – Twenty Travellers’ Tales from Around the World, some of these stories are from the hugely experienced world riders, and some adventures are from those relatively new to wandering and exploring on two wheels. Some of the authors are well known, and others are individuals or couples you may be meeting for the first time.

With the wonderfully varied storytelling styles, the foreword by world rider Elspeth Beard, 20 photos, and 70 illustrations, The Moment Collectors ASIA is rounded off with pages of contacts and useful links.

More news soon.

ADVMoto: ‘An excellent curation of 20 stories from 20 authors that happen to be as diverse as the continent itself. It’s a great book that’s highly entertaining. Some stories had me laughing, some had me in awe, but all were inspiring.’

Traverse: ‘The Moment Collectors Asia is an exciting read of 20 journeys, by 20 individuals, all with a similar life lesson. They  not only tell a story of travel, but inspire through personal journeys which show that a world often misunderstood is an adventure waiting to happen The Moment Collectors Asia is possibly the travel book of 2024.

Sam Manicom

Many Thanks to This Month’s Top Supporters!

Tony Robertson

Oren Sieff

Tim Laye

William Manley

John Ciribassi from Emmaus MotoTours