Motorcycle Misadventures

Trippin' On Two Wheels: A TV Series

I just got notice of this television show on motorcycle travel - Trippin' On Two Wheels - with episodes on Sicily and Scotland, with Spain and Quebec coming up. From the previews it looks like the emphasis is on riding fast and picking up women. If you've seen it, let me know what you think. Here's their official blurb:

Trippin’ on Two Wheels is a fast-paced series of four, 60-minute specials on Speed Channel about riding in exotic locations, and a father introducing his son to the exciting world of motorcycling.

The programs follow television personality, Dennis Gage, his teenage son, Sam, and motorcycle photojournalist, Neale Bayly, as they ride the latest motorcycles through exotic locations around the world. The series also chronicles Sam’s coming of age from a mere passenger on the back of his dad’s bike to riding world-class machines of his own; all as his proud but anxious father looks on.

The four-day missions are very loosely structured, and unforeseen circumstances provide some intense moments for the intrepid riders. The episodes were shot in Scotland, Sicily, Spain and Quebec. The routes taken focus on back roads and out-of-the-way places rather than typical tourist destinations.

Ride! Podcast Guest is Motorcycling Dr. "Doc Flash"

Adrian Blake's guest tomorrow (Wednesday at 8:30 pm EST) on his Ride! podcast is ‘Doc flash’ aka the Motorcycling Doctor, who I met by chance in a gas station in Marin. (See blog entry.) For years flash gordon, m.d., has dispensed practical medical advice, along with a good dose of humor, through his 'Medical Motorcycling' column in Motorcycle Consumer News. His book is a great read and, more than that, an essential reference guide for motorcyclists to absorb before we fall off our bikes. How to treat road rash? How to pop your shoulder back into its socket in an emergency? How to keep your teeth viable while you're on your way to the hospital? The doc's got all the techniques to make all those moments you never want to experience a better experience. Ride! will talk to the doc with the superhero name about Blood, Sweat & 2nd Gear: More Medicine for Motorcyclists, a collection of those columns. (Order the book, here.) Ride! is an Internet radio podcast hosted by Adrian Blake, a longtime motorcycle columnist, that will air tomorrow at 8:30 pm. EST.  Check it out live and participate, or hear it on the archive at your convenience. Here's where to go.

Still Difficult to Motorcycle Tour in China

I'm afraid that I must report that it's still nearly impossible to cross into China with your own vehicle. People have been trying various borders for years, with no luck. If you have a lot of money you might be able to work out a "tour" with a "guide" but that's not really why we do this thing we do, is it?

It is possible to buy a motorcycle in China, and cheaply, but you need a Chinese driver's license to ride it legally. You need to be a Chinese resident to get a drivers license, not to mention proper registration papers and all that, and you need to make sure that the bike has a legal license plate. Fakes abound. It's all very complicated.

If you're still interested in information about buying a motorcycle to ride in China, or exporting a CJ sidecar rig, check out this FAQ for details.

Thanks to Big Bill of ZMW Motorworks in Beijing for this great info.

Also of interest:

• The CJ750 Sidecar Community website
• Jim Bryant's CJ750 shop in Beijing (Frank's Classic Sidecars)
• My China Road dispatches

 

Daniel Todd Emerges Muddy After Long South American Motorcycle Journey

Today, long lost motorcycle misadventurer Daniel Todd reappears after completing a journey of about 18,000 kilometers in South America. The route took him through Colombia, Venezuela, Brazil, all three Guianas, back into northernmost point of Brazil, and then down the coast to Rio De Janeiro just in time for Carnival. No major mishaps to report -- just rain, mud, mosquitoes, breakdowns, border crossings, and tipsy dugout canoe rides across the rivers. English Guiana brought 1000 kilometers of jungle and lots of humongous mud holes. Nope, there is nothing like that sicking thud when your forks bottom out, your rims get bent, and the mud is so deep that the bike stands up by itself, says Daniel. Finally emerging onto tarmac he was pulled over by a cop who screamed at him in pidgin English for having mud on his license plate. To this, Daniel says he remembers riding away on wobbly rims, watching the cop shrink in the rear view mirror and asking himself, "Did I really just tell a policeman to kiss my ass?"

Look for more updates and a Motorcycle Misadventures podcast with Daniel Todd soon.

Read the 2004 post on Daniel's planned journey.

To contact Daniel please email him at danieltodd12 at hotmail.