Biking Around The World

May 9, 2020 admin Adventure, Your Adventure 38

YOUR ADVENTURE

 A dreamer. An adventurer to the core.
Biking around the world…
Hi, my name is Col Manoj Keshwar, fondly called as Mike.
I left army to pursue my adventure dreams of biking the world.
Passion for motorcycling germinated 30 years back when I was a young Lieutenant. That was the time I bought my first motorcycle, a Kawasaki.  After I left Army, an idea came to mind to cover 25 countries in 25 years which I named as DREAM 25.
I have biked 19 countries in just 5 years. And lot more to be covered in coming years.

Something everyone dreams and only the chosen few have the courage to do.

Motorcycles I used.
I rode variety of models from BMW 1200 GS to Grand Turismo to Africa Twin. I have also been on less capacity motorcycles like KTM Duke 390, Royal Enfield Classic and Himalayan. As far as they are on two wheels, I like to ride every one of them. My favorite is Africa Twin.
I did the Long Distance Riders association called the Full Throttle after I left Army. This needs to cover 1000 miles (1610 km) in 24 hours. I did that on one of the busiest route in India, from Delhi to Varanasi and back. I did the record on a Ducati Monster and a Kawasaki 650.
Tips for bike enthusiasts in India.
 I am little worried about the biking culture in India. You must enjoy powerful bikes with a lot of responsibility and the best way is to be safe. Wear all the equipment all the time, use good machine, respect the power and follow traffic rules. The rest of the world gives license from 100 cc to 400 cc to the litre class. It’s not like getting up from bed and going for riding. Motorcycling grows on you with time and you have to be mature enough to understand it.
About Viktorianz.

What would make my life worth having been lived?
Something that fulfills my dream and makes a decent business sense? Something I would be excited to work on day in, day out, and in my dreams? Something that does not sound and feels like WORK?

I have been fond of outdoors and was missing it badly – motorcycling expeditions, trekking mountains, or playing golf in various courses gave me happiness… I had this childhood dream to see the World on Motorcycle and maybe climb the beautiful mountains around the world.

This was the thought that lent the spark – at 44 years of age I had at least 25 years of motorcycling left in me – and if I ride one country a year on a bike, in 25 years I would have 25 countries done – and that would be a life, well lived.

This spark of an idea was called “DREAM 25”. And so came up the idea for my business run on passion – that I would raise a Road Expeditions Company, that would provide people with a platform to live a DREAM 25. This business was to be called Viktorianz inspired by the Victoria Cross Regiment that I was fortunate to serve.I was not sure where it would go, but, we launched Viktorianz – as an Active Holidays Company. We had our first couple of international record making rides and treks within the first year. We launched Motorcycle Expedition into North Thailand in May 2013 and Everest Base Camp Treks in October 2013 – which to date are our most subscribed and popular active holidays.

Viktorianz has grown steadily over last 5 years from Scotland to New Zealand – with 19 international destinations to offer for road trips, 6 destinations for trekking and 3 destinations for Golf trips. It has helped over 1000+ riders live their riding dreams across the globe. Its a dream rolling forward at its own pace.

We have read in our history books about Indians of 19th and 20th centuries taking ships to London and then affluent Indians post Independence boarding a flight to London. All that is now passe – in the connected world of today, you can actually start a bike or SUV just outside of your home in India, and ride all the way to London. That has become possible recently – after the borders in many parts of uncharted Asia and erstwhile USSR dominated Central Asia and Eastern Europe have opened to tourism.

This is the mother of all road trips – will exit India at Moreh Border in Manipur, pass through unexplored Myanmar, sophisticated Thailand & enchanting Laos, to traverse the massive West Chinese landmass – that very few have had opportunity to explore. We then wade through the enigmatic Stans of Central Asia, enter the unexplored Southern Russia to reach the megacity – Moscow. Ride then enters Baltic Eastern Europe at Latvia and roll on to Poland, Germany, Holland, Belgium & France – to sail the English Channel from Calais to the famed white cliffs of Dover. And finally we drive to the World City of London.

You can contact Mike at https://www.viktorianz.com

Watch in one minute our epic 50 day road trip from India to London. A dream ride across Asian and European landscapes – 20,000 Kms, 17 Countries, to reach London.

THIS POST IS COVERED UNDER ‘YOUR ADVENTURE’ INSPIRATIONAL STORY.

38 Comments

  11. When I was younger I was dreaming to have a bike. Now, I can only enjoy such adventures in great posts like yours.

    Reply

  18. Great dream and great trip! There are always lot of amazing experiences in every travel and adventure. Keep capturing those moments!

    Reply

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