Adventure Motorcycling Handbook: Worldwide Motorcycling Route & Planning Guide

by Chris Scott

The first thing we did was buy the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook
Ewan McGregor The Long Way Round

'Adventure motorcycling' is a term I'm credited with coining in the late 90s and has grown massively since the last edition of the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook. Now in it's third decade, the much revised and expanded AMH 6.1 catches up with all of it, covering among other things:

• planning, sponsorship, riding seasons, fuel prices
• bike choice and recommended models
• the gear: what you need, not what you can buy
• a section on road legal quad bikes from the Quad Squad
• Life on the Road: borders,comms, police trouble, satnav, filming and moto troubleshooting
• Comprehensive overland route outlines in Africa, Asia and Latin America - aka: the Adventure Motorcycling Zone • Contributions from among others: Lois Pryce, Walter Colebatch, Gaurav Jani, Grant Johnson and many other two-wheel adventurers.

Now with nearly 200 extra pages, AMH6.1 no longer assumes you're an experienced tourer who's decided to take off to the outer limits. Many AM riders are much like Ted Simon was in 1970s; individuals in search of adventure who choose a motorcycle.
Readers aren't expected to have an in-depth knowledge of mechanics, travel health or navigation, so there are fuller explanations of how things work and why certain choices are worthwhile, as well as a comprehensive listing on troubleshooting. This now makes AMH6 as much a take-with book as one to consult during the planning stage.

But I don't claim to know it all. No one can, so what really makes AMH special is that it features over 30 globetrotting contributors covering regions, topics or their specialist knowledge in detail.That - as well as some good jokes - is what helps make the Adventure Motorcycling Handbook the legendary book it's become after nearly 30 years in print.

AMH: everything you need to know, in one book.

Genres: Travel, Adventure, Motorcycle, Nonfiction, Motorcycling, Reference

400 pages, Paperback

First published October 16, 1996

About the author

After exploring the Sahara in 1980s, I wrote Desert Biking in 1993. That evolved into today's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook, now in its 6th edition. I also co-wrote several editions of Australia for Rough Guides and worked on other RG titles. Desert Travels, a Saharan travelogue came next, then Sahara Overland, Overlanders Handbook, and Morocco Overland, all for Trailblazer Guides. I also enjoy updating Trailblazer's British walking guides once in a while.
I recently reprinted Desert Travels alongside a new book: Adventures in Motorcycling, an urban motobiography paralleling the DT era of the 1980s, but telling a quite different story.

Reviews

[Carla King · Rating 5 out of 5]

What can you say about a book that gives you every shred of information you need to prepare yourself for a round-the-world motorcycle adventure except for Thank You!

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

A helpful starting point for planning your own adventure. Heavy on lists and practical tips. Takes a lot of the mystery out of the experience, which may be useful if that's what you're looking to do.

[Tyson Sommerville · Rating 5 out of 5]

a reference book that reads like a novel. must read for anyone interested in motorcycles.

[Michael (Mike) · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you are new to riding and want to head south of the border, I insist you read this book first. Then take some long distance rides here in the comfy US (or Europe) as practice before heading out to unknown lands and adventure, especially if you ride solo. Simple bike, means simple repairs, so ditch the idea of taking a high-tech bike for the ride. Comprende? I find most of what is written in the book to be applicable to my rides deep into Mexico from Houston.

[Rakesh Sridhar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read this book when I was planning to travel from UK to Mongolia solo on a motorcycle. Used it more like an instruction manual and checklist rather than a typical read-for-fun book. Covers most things one must know when traveling overland! Although there are 1000s of blogs covering overland travel these days, this book is a one-stop shop for all that you need to know.

[daniel smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

Bit's and pieces were quite useful for my bike trip around Inida. It served the purpose of making my appropriatly concerned about my safety.

[Oleksii · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great practical guide

[Pat Loughery · Rating 5 out of 5]

The best printed resource for motorcycle travel round the world. Read HUBB website also

[Darcie Erin · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finished it! Again! Eventually the library will just give it to me, right?

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Mind blowing! Packed full of facts, but told in an interesting and informative way, I could not put it down! It makes me want to ride off into the sunset!

[Todd · Rating 5 out of 5]

The definitive book about escaping it all.

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

The essential guide to adventure motorcycling anywhere in the world.