Mondo Enduro: Around the World Adventure on Two Wheels 40 Countries in 405 Days

by Austin E. Vince (Editor)

In 1995, seven young British chaps set off from London on Suzuki DR350 motorcycles for a journey that would take them across Europe and Asia to the far eastern edge of Siberia, then from Anchorage, Alaska to Santiago, Chile, followed by South Africa, and finally back home to London. They called themselves "Mondo Enduro" and this book is the trip log they kept throughout their journey.

What sets this group apart from many long-distance travelers is their unpretentiousness, their refreshingly low-tech approach, their gusto, and their marvelous upbeat attitude. Their little successes become triumphs, their setbacks are just aggravations, today's scenery or tonight's tasty meal is the "best yet". They marvel at people calling their motorcycle journey an epic undertaking, when to them its just a year-long holiday. However, the flip and casual veneer of Mondo Enduro belies the inner strength of the team members as they meet and surmount extraordinary challenges that come their way.

Genres: Nonfiction

480 pages, Hardcover

First published February 9, 2006

Reviews

[Alastair · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written in straight diary form by a bunch of average blokes whose least compelling skill might be writing, this is not going to be everyone's cup of tea.

But for those who dream of extended and challenging tours that enrich and develop one's perspective on life, this is a must-read. I read this many years ago, and it stays with me today, bringing hope to my dark and grey moments as a professional worker bee.

[Greg · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a rough cut book, clearly an amateur venture, but engaging and interesting nonetheless. The adventures of the friends and brothers of Mondo Enduro on their global motorcycle adventure tour are compelling. Tellingly, the Mondo Enduro adventures were likely one of the inspirations for Ewan McGregor's and Charlie Boorman's own global moto adventures.

Taken directly from the travel journals of the men who participated in the adventure, Mondo Enduro> details their daily travels and experiences in three major parts:

1. London to Magadan (Siberia),
2. Alaska to Chile, and
3. South Africa back to their homes in London

The total distance they covered was over 44,000 miles in a little over one year. They were almost completely unsponsored, only occasionally obtaining small concessions of parts or gear from Suzuki and a few other companies. They had no day-to-day backup, no "sag wagon," no support net to catch them if they ran into trouble. Indeed, even with substantial support, the McGregor-Boorman team avoided the 392 mile section of the Zilov Gap, the Siberian tundra and swamp through which the Mondo Enduro team slowly manhandled their own bikes. They made mistakes along the way, but rarely seemed to lose their positive, can-do attitudes, and managed to overcome everything to complete their journey. Mostly, they slept outside along the way, ate what they could find, and enjoyed the kindness of strangers for occasional accommodations or meals along the way.

If you enjoy motorcycle adventure travel, or just adventure travel in general, this would be a worthwhile and anjoyable addition to your personal library.

[Nigel · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent. Its informative, interesting, moving a few times, very humorous and entertaining, does a good job (for a books that's not intended to) of analysing human nature and I will miss it. If you like motorcycles then I thoroughly recommend it.

[Paulr · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good adventure, slow at times an long but interesting. If you like adv moto books you'll like this.