Bigguy Rides - 2014 S10 Travels - Finished Riding a Lap Around The World

[scott123007]

All my years of motorcycling, and I would have never thought of two things you did. One is to dig a hole under the front wheel to remove it, and the other is to bolt your windshield on upside down to lower it for travel. Brilliant!!

 

[Boris]

What are the plans for Europe?

 

[SilverBullet]

...
I decided to have my bike shipped out of Orlando, Florida and I needed my bike to them beginning of March...

Sounds like your using Knopf Tours, good choice. I've had my 2012 Tenere there since 2022. I just returned from my 4th month long ride. I'll be returning to Heidelberg May 2025, maybe we'll cross paths.

 

[Bigguy136]

What are the plans for Europe?

That is a great question. I thought I would be getting some details posted sooner but I have thousands of pics from 2022 (beginning of Europe section) and filtering thru them is taking more time than I planned. I will get the pic list smaller and get details posted soon....
To get a brief answer, I thought I would pull together my Garmin tracks and color code to help add clarity.
Here is what my RR is about. My 2017 travels were lost from not having enough memory in my GPS and with it not working and I never used it or kept track of my routes.
Cyan is 2018
Blue is 2019
Green is 2020
Magenta is 2021 to 2024
Horizons Unlimited have me as the 337th person to circumnavigate the world on a motorcycle since 1912
Motorcycle Circumnavigators of the World

 

[Bigguy136]

Sounds like your using Knopf Tours, good choice. I've had my 2012 Tenere there since 2022. I just returned from my 4th month long ride. I'll be returning to Heidelberg May 2025, maybe we'll cross paths.

Yes, Knopf did my transport to Germany. I heard they built a large, covered motorcycle storage area?
My Super Tenere is now home but I am going thru my new Tenere 700 for my next world ride plan so we might meet up spring/ summer 2025 with it. I will let you know if timing and shipping locations are close to you.

 

[Kruzzin5]

View attachment 115811

This would be my first 'real' border crossing. I got to the Mexico side and was able to get stamped out easily.
View attachment 115805
I kept my TIP (temporary vehicle import deposit) as I would need it on my return. People recommend to close TIP, get your money and then start a new one when returning just in case your motorcycle breaks down and you can't return to Mexico as you lose your money. No worries, I'm on a S10.
Another thing I learned is there is a 'no man's land' between borders. I left Mexico and had 2.5 miles before I got to Guatemala's border.
Pulling up to customs office, my tires were sprayed and then asked for money. Hmmm, all locals are riding motorcycles back and forth without the tire fumigation/ tourist shake down.
I brought in my bike papers and passport and hoped for the best. I was told I needed a PCR test. I didn't understand and I tried using my phone translator app but they refuse to let a phone be used. They wrote something on a piece of paper and gave it to me and pushed me out the door. I had a look of defeat on my face because I didn't understand what they said or what I needed to do. Outside there was a border guard that came over and with limited English, asked what was wrong. I showed him the paper and he said doctor and pointed back to Mexico. Said building on right. I turned back and saw a symbol for hospital but nobody was there. I went to next building (Mexico customs) as the lady there knew English. She said doctor was out but would be back soon. Great, maybe this will work.
With time to kill, I want looking around no man's land
View attachment 115806
View attachment 115807
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The doc returned, showed him the note and learned I needed a covid negative test. I expedited the test to 1 hour, got my paperwork and returned to customs. A few minutes later I was getting a new sticker installed on my windshield.
View attachment 115809

And with that, I was in Guatemala.
View attachment 115810

It looks like you crossed at La Mesilla, Guatemala. I crossed there last year and also had to get my bike fumigated. No Covid test required.

 

[SilverBullet]

Yes, Knopf did my transport to Germany. I heard they built a large, covered motorcycle storage area?
My Super Tenere is now home but I am going thru my new Tenere 700 for my next world ride plan so we might meet up spring/ summer 2025 with it. I will let you know if timing and shipping locations are close to you.

Yes he's continually building as space gets filled up.

I ride there the months of May and October. Kids in school, not many tourists, weather mild and plane tickets cheaper.

Sent from my SM-A326U using Tapatalk

 

[Bigguy136]

I'm very detailed with my bike. Some say obsessive.... The below are my notes of my initial valve check at 60,000 miles.

Intake in spec (.004-.006)
Exhaust tight. Should be .009 - .011.
#1 .008 #2 .005 #3 .008 #4 .005.
After adjustment .011, .011, .010, .011
Exhaust shims original 1.92, 1.94, 1.94, 1.89
Exhaust shims current 1.85, 1.80, 1.90, 1.75

I should be working on my Europe photo filtering so I can get more photos and details posted but.... I want to do some bike inspection also. I spent a few evenings cleaning the area before pulling my valve cover and very happy where the valves are at. I did my first adjustment at 60,000 miles and now with my bike home and 110,000 miles, I just checked the valves again.
Intake
.005, .005, .006, .005
Exhaust
.010, .010, .009, .010
I will get a new valve cover gasket installed and call the valves good for the rest of its life.

 

[Bigguy136]

May 2022


And time to begin my Europe part of my ride.
My first time being on an airplane was 2021 when I flew home from Florida after dropping off my motorcycle. I always felt that if I couldn't ride there, why go? That plan worked for 50 years of my life but it was time to expand my riding.
To minimize my anxiety of flying, flying overseas and going to another continent, I flew to Detroit and then one flight to Germany. No connecting flights in another country.
So far, so good


And something I couldn't believe was happening. A stamp from Germany in my passport. The trip is happening.


I went with Knopf to ship my motorcycle and he offers to pick you up at the airport. There is a charge but with so much of my world spinning out of control, I didn't want to also figure out public transportation to get to my motorcycle.

And when I got to Knopf, this is what I saw. All smiles now other than the SOB put me in the Harley room. WTF


Last fall, I shipped another front tire with my motorcycle after the damage I got in Florida. There is a small shop at Knopf and some tools to use but I had everything I needed and had my tire swapped in no time. I went to bed at 2:00PM and tried to sleep for 16 hours but no luck. 3:00AM and I was up for the day.

One thing I made over the winter was a power adapter. I brought my laptop with and wanted my charging hub for it, GoPros, phone, the list of electronics went on. The pins slide side to side and different size pins screw in depending on what country/ continent I'm in. Looking back, this plug has worked in 30+ countries/ 3 continents.


I used my early wake up time to start planning and in the morning, I was off.
I was really looking forward to the foods here and was quick to find some.


I had a lot to learn. In America, I just put my tent up wherever. Good plan. That is until some teens came by and tried talking to me. They were able to speak in English 'you own this property'. I shrugged, smiled and they left. I guess remote camping isn't as accepted as back home. I still slept great trying to get use to the time change.



More food


And more riding


My first week in Germany and my head was spinning and my smile was ear to ear. This is going to be a great summer.

 

[Bigguy136]

I came to Europe without a plan. I remember my 2018 riding season in Canada/ Alaska where I had every day planned and forcing myself to keep going to stay on schedule as it was raining. With the salt road mud grinding my brake pads until they were gone and having to turn around weeks early. I decided no more schedules except for a ferry or something. So where was I going? Still wasn't but I found myself going west. I told my friends I was going to spend the summer in Amsterdam red light district. I carry a Garmin satellite tracker and was going to Netherland. As I entered Netherland, I saw the Netherlands American Cemetary and Memorial. It was just before Memorial day and knew this would be a sign of where to go.
I got to the memorial and was looking around. I decided to pull my motorcycle in front to get a photo and a guy comes over and says to move as I'm just there getting a photo to post on social media. I made a comment that I rode a long way from the USA to get there. He looked at my license plate and couldn't believe I was an American. He then said he would take the photo for me.


He then said to follow him, got in his golf cart and went to a private parking area, had me get in the golf cart and gave me a personal tour for over 1 hour.


It was overwhelming to see so many crosses and to know this was just one of so many memorials. So many lost lives so I had the freedom to be riding my motorcycle today. I can't thank veterans (past and present) enough!!

Leaving, I decided it wanted to see Normandy.
In route to France, I was getting some treats.


With so many choices, I got these and went for outdoor dining. A taste was about all I cared for. Picked the strawberries off the top, threw the rest and hoped pastries would improve as I got closer to France. Spoiler alert, the pastries never improved.


The next morning, I stopped here for breakfast


I went in and a few heads turned and I could see I was a few classes down on the social scale. I was brought to a lower lever small seating area with nobody else around. Then the owner came over and helped me decide what to get. It turned out, the owner also travelled and one thing he wished was he could get a plate of all local specialties. And with that, he brought me a plate of food and told me the history behind each item. After we started talking about all of his breads and I showed him some photos of my breads.
This was already posted (out of order). The plate on the right was all of the local specialties.

I was beginning to see my daily riding hours needed to be cut back as I was having many great encounters with wonderful people.

 

[Bigguy136]

I went to the Normandy memorial just before Memorial weekend. I had no idea of the what and when but quickly realized that mid-day was going to be hours of waiting in stop and go. A group of bikes were lane splitting as they went past and I followed. I didn't know the laws or what was acceptable but we were going past what would be hours of waiting.
Most of the parking was full but the bikes kept going towards the front. As always, there is always room for a bike.
It was overwhelming the amount of people and things going on. One thing I have to deal with is a damaged left leg from a motorcycle accident in 1993. Long walks and standing are something I try to avoid. What I was seeing was hours of standing and wasn't something I could do.
I didn't have a SIM card/ working phone. I was using off-line MAPS.ME and turned off toll way from navigation. Tolls were something I also didn't understand, wouldn't be able to read instructions or if my visa card would work. With my navigation, I started going south for nothing more than I decided not to go to the Nordic countries. I figured I had been to Alaska and Canada so going south would be all new to me.

I was enjoying the feeling of being lost but not being lost. Riding, eating and camping in a place I couldn't communicate with anyone.


I got gas and a group of riders saw my license plate. As luck would have it, there was one guy who spoke limited English.


I was getting into northern Spain and temps were rising. I remember pulling over a bit early when I found this shaded spot.


And my usual breakfast. A relaxing morning, coffee and oatmeal just makes the perfect start to any day when camping.


And a snack during the day.


The heat was getting towards 100°F and I started looking for hotels with A/C. I asked for parking for my motorcycle. They said no problem, pull into the lobby.
UMMM, I'm not on a scooter and the 2nd door didn't open.


A/C, shower and food. What more could you ask for?

 

[Bigguy136]

I continued south thru Spain towards Tarifa. I was wearing full Klim Badlands Pro. Great for riding the Arctic but I was dying in the heat. I had all vents open and was standing a lot. I noticed nobody stands in Europe and a few people motioned to sit down as I think it's illegal but have a USA plated bike so I kept standing and getting any air thru my gear I could. I hoped the police would look the other way. I was seeing 105°F daily. I have two water packs mounted to the front crash bars filled with 3L of water in each and camelbak bite valves so I could get water every 5 minutes.
I got to the southern tip of Spain and went to get a ferry ticket for the afternoon but I needed a covid test. A quick scramble, pay extra for 1 hour expedite, get results, ferry ticket and I was on a boat going to Africa.



My head was spinning. A small town Schmuck with a 1 time experience crossing into Guatemala a year prior has got to Europe and now crossed the Strait of Gibraltar and entered a new continent.

My first view exiting border control.


As soon as I started riding, I saw a sign to convert money and pulled in. After that, there was a cell phone store next door. I figured I better start getting a sim card as I felt even more remote than I did when in Europe.
Motorcycle insurance is required and now had a working phone to find a place. And that became going there, they can't but tell you who does and so on until you finally get that piece of paper that you can't read, can't understand the person talking to you but there was a start and end date on the paper and I gave them money. Fingers crossed....

I went with my plan of staying at a nicer hotel on first night whenever going to a new country. I found a pace for $40 US and it was more than double the other places. This should have all the support staff if I need or have questions. They spoke okay English and gave me a lot of info about how to approach Morocco.

The hotel had a restaurant and I had dinner there.


Olives are very popular but I never found a love for them. They are okay but that is about it.





For the first time, I started t feel a purpose for this trip other than just riding and camping. Having a working phone, I put a spot on my map for hotel and started walking around, meeting the locals and experiencing their life.
I didn't understand the game but enjoyed watching for some time. Everyone I was meeting was warm and wonderful. I was beginning to see my idea of this trip changing for the better.

 

[Rusty Needles]

Just finished all 8 pages. Amazing! I did a 4k mile solo trip around the western US in 2015. Now that I have the S10 I’m getting that itch again. Can’t wait read more!