HU Travellers Meeting California 2024

Spencer Hahn Alaska to Ushuaia / Korea to Morocco / Mongolia / Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia

SPENCER HAHN has loved solo motorcycle travel for over a decade, riding across five continents and 50+ countries. He attended his first Horizons Unlimited meeting as a novice rider with a dream and now hopes to inspire and encourage others to follow theirs, too!

1) Alaska to Ushuaia
Following the Panamerican Highway from the Arctic Ocean to the End of the World

Follow along the first half of Spencer's RTW journey from Indiana to Alaska, then south again through Central America, across the Darien Gap, and down through South America to Tierra del Fuego. Learn about trip prep, border logistics, sites to see, people to visit, and what to expect.

2) Korea to Morocco
East from the Pacific to the Atlantic

Follow the second half of Spencer's journey around the world on his motorcycle, starting at the Pacific Ocean and eastward to the Atlantic. He'll cross Siberia, Mongolia, Central Asia ("the 'Stans"), Southern Europe, and North Africa.

3) Mongolia
The land of the eternal blue sky

Soak up Spencer's three-month journey through the remote Mongolian outback, visiting ancient Buddhist temples, crossing the Gobi Desert, and living with goat herders along the way.

4) Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia
Southeast Asia on a shoestring

Spencer journeys across Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia on his $200 motorcycle. Learn what makes this trip so cheap, easy, and special.

Christoph Lüders, CLMT Blog Around Lake Victoria on a Rented Bike / Africa for Beginners: Morocco / Iceland: A Covid Escape / Namibia: Enduro Paradise

CHRISTOPH LÜDERS - About 10 years ago, he decided to work less and travel more. He got his motorcycle license and, since then, does several trips each year. He has ridden all over Europe, parts of Africa, and has just started last year with North America.

1) Around Lake Victoria on a Rented Bike
Renting a bike in Kenya for a trip through East Africa's backcountry

Tired of winter in the northern hemisphere? Ride in the African summer instead! I rode a rented a bike through Tanzania, Rwanda, Uganda, and back to Kenya using the less-traveled backroads in rural Africa for four weeks and 3,700 miles. I share not only the best photos to get an idea what to expect on a tour like this, but also some helpful information about bike rental, paperwork, lodging, border crossings, and more.

2) Africa for Beginners
What to expect and useful information about Morocco

Morocco is best suited for those who want to start exploring the African continent. From my several trips to this north African country, I'll show what to expect and how to go there, as well as useful tips for life on the road.

3) Iceland: A Covid Escape
Icelands glorious landscape experienced during COVID times

During the height of COVID, Iceland was one of the first countries to lift travel bans for Europeans. I had the chance to visit the country that was nearly empty of tourists and to experience their glorious nature undisturbed. I'll show the best photos and give some travel tips.

4) Namibia: Enduro Paradise
Offroad riding thru the namibian desert and all up to the remote Kaokoveld region

Like offroad riding? Then Namibia may be of interest for you. Namibia offers desert and remote areas to explore together with mostly good tourism infrastrucure. I'll show the ride from Walvisbay all the way up north into the remote Kaokoveld region that borders Angola.

Justin Gray, Mission Adventure [EXHIBITOR] Baja Trip Planning Practical planning for a successful trip

Justin spent many vacations travelling Baja on two wheels and started a tour company Mission Adventure to bring adventure tours and training to California, Nevada, Oregon, and Baja. He's here to help you plan your next/upcoming Baja adventure.

Check out the Mission Adventure trailer and demo bikes on-site.

JUSTIN GRAY has been in the motorcycle industry for 30 years as a Master BMW Technician. He started his tour company Mission Adventure three years ago and is adding Kove motorcycles to the fleet.

Mark Donham, Radio Man Rides the World Meaning of Life: A Motorcycle Perspective / Six-week Pre-Retirement Ride in New Zealand

1) Meaning of Life: A Motorcycle Perspective
Covering a personal RTW perspective and the new retirement chapter ahead

Had an epic motorcycle ride around the world back in 2010 that lasted for 2.5 years. Here I am a decade later and shifting my life into this new chapter of retirement. Will share my initial RTW stories, what I learned, and what is now my plan for an adventurous retirement, including more global motorcycle rides. I'm just a guy that rides a motorcycle ready to share my experiences in, hopefully, a fun and engaging way! Come find out what I have planned!

2) Six-week Pre-Retirement Ride in New Zealand
December 2023 to January 2024 ride around NZ

Getting ready for another major life shift into retirement. A six-week ride around New Zealand will do it! This presentation is a personal journey in the life I lead, and how I took a motorcycle ride around New Zealand. If you're interested in NZ, join me as I share my recent experiences and perspective.

MARK DONHAM is a traveler and motorcycling has provided him a wonderful way to travel, explore, and connect with others around the globe. Took a RTW trip back in 2010-2014 after the passing of his dear late wife Chris. It has been a huge blessing of connection with overlanders around the globe.

Lorraine Chittock BODA BABES RIDE! [Movie] Lorraine enlists two bike-loving babes to help deliver one bike to an award-winning ranger in Africa

This comedy/drama/road movie stars Tiffany Coates (who's ridden more miles on a motorcycle than any woman ever), Nicole Espinosa (motorcycle part designer), and adventurer/producer/editor Lorraine Chittock. The three women buy a used motorcycle in Uganda with the goal of delivering the bike to an award-winning wildlife ranger. Will these three motorcycle-loving babes make good on their promise? Watch the Boda Babes Ride!

LORRAINE CHITTOCK has flown from her current residence in Tanzania for the first phase of her world tour presenting BODA BABES RIDE! Horizons Unilmited California will be the first moto event of the tour! She's presented at HU South Africa, three times in California, once in Virginia, and once in Mexico. Previous adventures include crossing the Libyan Desert with 200 camels and driving an ex-surveillance van down to Ushuaia with two dogs. She first rode in 1976 on her dad's Bultaco before buying a 360 CB Honda, which she used for her first solo adventure across California at 18. The adventures never end!

Gene Sherman, AmboRV Critical Fitness & Food for Adventure Riders Your fitness and nutrition are critical to successful, long-term adventure riding

Adventure riding (and everyday life) is physically and mentally demanding. If our fitness or nutrition is neglected, bad things can and will happen. Strong, healthy, and properly fed humans withstand fatigue, are less injury prone, are more alert, are better riders, and are able to endure high stress situations.

I will cut through the BS that we are "fed" from the media, exercise experts, and fad diet people. I'll keep it simple and provide science-based solutions to the most effective exercises and eating habits. This critical information can be use before, during, and after you epic rides. I'll show you how to move from illness, to wellness, and then to fitness. Life-changing information in simple terms. I'll also share my most trusted sources for those who want to learn more.

GENE SHERMAN is a lifelong maker, inventor, author, teacher, public speaker, motorcycle rider, and Crossfit coach. His motorcycles have ranged from trials, to cruisers, and dual sports, but adventure bikes give him the most joy. He has ridden all over the southwestern U.S. and looks forward for his RTW trip in the future.

Chantil and Travis Gill, Viajar Moto How Much Does Full-Time Travel Cost? / 3.5 Years in Europe and North Africa

1) How Much Does Full-Time Travel Cost?
Full-time traveling in Europe was less expensive than living in a home and raising a family. We share how much it cost us.

Full-time traveling is expensive, right? Not exactly. Travis and Chantil recently finished a 3.5-year overland tour of Europe and north Africa where they spent far less than what it cost them to live in a house in the United States and raise their family. They will share the complete cost of full-time motorcycle touring, including: accommodations, food, fuel, maintenance, ferry/parking fees, entertainment, and miscellaneous expenses. They will share their strategies for saving, budgeting, and getting the most out of a travel budget.

2) 3.5 Years in Europe and North Africa
We started a motorcycle journey of a lifetime in March 2020. After 3.5 years, 85k miles, and 53 countries, we're still loving it!

Travis and Chantil relocated to Europe for work in 2017 with nothing more than their two adventure motorcycles loaded with gear. While at their job in Germany, they realized they just couldn't travel enough with their limited vacation time, so they did what we all want to do: quit to start full-time traveling. However, their start date of March 2020 was not ideal. Despite a world-wide pandemic and the restrictions of a 90-day travel visa, they managed to ride through nearly every European country and a bit of north Africa.

They will share some of the highlights and challenges of full-time traveling over their last 3.5 years through 53 countries. They will discuss how to get insurance for a U.S. registered motorcycle, strategies for navigating the 90-day Schengen travel restrictions, and five tips for having a successful motorcycle adventure.

CHANTIL and TRAVIS GILL attended HU California 2015 where they were inspired to travel sooner than later. Since then, they've ridden most through Europe and a bit of north Africa over the past 3.5 years of full-time motorcycle overlanding. They share their adventures via UPSHIFT magazine and viajarMOTO.

John Button Colombia, COVID... What Could Go Wrong? Our story of riding through Colombia, one of the few countries open to non-nationals during COVID

Colombia is the best country in South America for motorcyclists. I have planned for years to ride there. During the COVID lock down, there were few places outside the USA open to visitors. Colombia was among the few. My wife and I took advantage to ride the country for about two weeks in January of 2021. Come join me to hear about our challenges and fun, and learn ideas to prepare for your ride in Colombia. Spoiler alert, it really is the best country to ride in South America!

JOHN BUTTON is a life-long rider since the age of eight, enjoying both on and off-road. Having ridden to every U.S. state and ten Canadian provinces, he's seen a lot of North America. Visiting other countries is his focus now, which, so far, has included Canada, Australia, Colombia, and Mexico. Living so close has enabled 30-plus trips to Mexico, mostly focused on the Baja peninsula.

Fred Walti, The Restless Traveller 60 Days Through 10 European Countries / Is There A Use-By Date for Motorcycling?

1) 60 Days Through 10 European Countries
Part travelogue, part practical guide

We had no plan and lots of time. My wife and I spent 60 days last summer riding through France, Switzerland, Italy, Croatia, Slovenia, Bosnia, Austria, Germany, Belgium, Amsterdam and England on a rented BMW. This wasn't our first rodeo, but it was the first time we went on an extended trip at our age (over 70), which makes it a different ballgame. Along the way we went to the Belgium Formula1 at SPA and the Goodwood Revival, two events that I would highly recommend for car/bike lovers. Not quite as good as the Isle of Man TT, but really good. In addition to a travelogue, there will be a fair amount of practical advice on renting a m/c, how to pack, how to figure each day's trip (we had no plans beforehand), what to look out for and what to look for.

2) Is There A Use-By Date for Motorcycling?
Getting older sucks, but does that mean we can't ride?

This question that I keep thinking about is, Am I just too old to ride a motorcycle anymore? Should I find something else to do? The question is nothing new as you'll, but here it is again. After all, motorcycling isn't like golf, if you hit it out of bounds you don't just take a Mulligan. Chances are, there's a more serious price to pay. Yet, for those of us who ride, it's a passion that's hard to shake off for too many reasons to explain here. I've been riding since I was 15 and its still a central part of my life. This session is for "more mature" riders who have/are contemplating this question. There might be a few slides, but most of it with be interactive with all of us sharing our experience and thoughts. BTW, my answer to this question is no.

FRED WALTI (the "speed dating version", according to him): Boy motorcycle racer, adult AdMan, Internet Titan, serial entrepreneur,and founding CEO of the most successful cleantech incubator in the world. He raced on the banks of Daytona and has travelled to 52 countries, mostly on a motorcycle.

Craig Haggart Fly+Ride Mini Adventures / Smaller Bikes for ADV Riding / How NOT to Ship a Bike to Panama

CRAIG HAGGART operates an electron accelerator in Palo Alto, California, and enjoys minor adventures like riding a Ninja 250 to Baja, moto-camping in the southwest on a CBR600 sport bike, racing a 1966 Honda CB160, riding in Costa Rica and Nicaragua on rented bikes, and, of course, volunteering at Horizons Unlimited California.

1) Fly+Ride Mini Adventures

It's a common dream to ditch everything and go on a round-the-world ride, but that dream just isn't practical for many of us due to career and family commitments. There is an option, however, for scratching that adventure-ride itch: fly somewhere and ride a rented bike for a few weeks! The focus here will be on Latin America, but if you have recent experience with other destinations, please feel free to join in and share any practical details that might help fellow riders.

2) Smaller Bikes for ADV Riding

Most of us have probably heard the truism that nobody comes home from an adventure ride saying, "I wish I'd ridden a larger bike." While that might not match everyone's experience, it is clear that lots of people do amazing trips on small -- sometimes VERY small -- motorcycles. If you've ever wondered about the practicality of doing a bit of adventure riding on a bike that you could actually pick up if it falls over, please join this discussion about the pros and cons of preparing and riding smaller bikes for travel. If you have personal experience to share, all the better -- audience participation is gladly encouraged!

3) How NOT to Ship a Bike to Panama
As they say, adventure starts when your plans go awry

I've always wanted to ride from my home near San Francisco, California, to the end of the road in Yaviza, Panama, but never had enough time to make the trip there and back. So for my big 65th birthday, I tried to arrange shipping my Honda CB500 to Panama and riding it home. The bike, however, never made it beyond Florida. I ended up unloading the bike from its crate in a Miami warehouse, then riding to Guanajuato, Mexico, over to Mazatlan, and up the eastern coast of the Sea of Cortez, and back home. Shipping to Panama may not have worked out, but riding in Mexico was excellent!

Rob Day, Adventure Motorcycle Professionals (AdvMotoPros.com) Off-Road Skills Training - Learn to Ride Like the Pros

Rob Day of Adventure Motorcycle Professionals (AdvMotoPros.com) will be offering basic clinics for adventure riders at this event for only $69/rider, a $200 value you won't want to miss!

Rob began riding adventure motorcycles in 2012. This led to a much deeper involvement in the adventure community, and in 2018 he left his 20-year career with Fox Sports to pursue this passion full time. He has ridden several Backcountry Discovery Routes including the CABDR-S, COBDR, IDBDR (twice), and parts of the WABDR, ORBDR, AZBDR. He has also ridden in central Mexico and Colombia twice.
Rob spent seven years with a private company as a Senior Coach and Tour Leader, starting in 2015. During that time, he trained hundreds of riders and led many tours. These included the Continental Divide, Death Valley, Baja, and others. He takes great care to ensure his clients enjoy their trips and arrive safely at each destination.
Rob is also a member of U.S. Motorcycle Coaching Association with certifications for dirt and street. Membership includes a federal-level background check, and additional First-Aid/CPR endorsements for cardiac, concussion, and heat related injuries.
Rob is also a state-certified Total Control Training Inc. basic and intermediate riding instructor, and Harley-Davidson certified Riding Academy instructor. He recently received a commendation from the California Highway Patrol for his continued efforts reducing motorcycle accidents and fatalities while working as the Chief Instructor for Bartels' Riding Academy.
Along with his extensive expertise with BMW's R1200/1250 GS platforms, Rob is also a Harley-Davidson Pan America product specialist and has been involved with this project since before the bike was available to the public. He was a Lead Coach at the Pan America Experience in 2021 in the Mojave Desert, and his team managed the success of the Pan America press launch. They also trained Harley-Davidson corporate and dealership personnel how to ride these machines off road throughout 2021.
Rob continues this work as an independent contractor for Harley-Davidson, traveling to events around the country including the Tennessee Motorcycles and Music Revival, and the 120th Anniversary Homecoming Celebration in Milwaukee. He also travels to different regions providing training in local adventure communities for dealerships in those areas. At the current time, no single person has trained more riders on the Pan America than Rob has.
Rob's safety record is unparalleled in this industry, something he is very proud of.
He also loves to make training fun, and loves to share that fun with his students. He has a knack for getting even the most anxious students to relax and enjoy themselves. Relaxation is the key to adventure riding, and laughter is often the first step to get there!

The drills we will be working on are:

• Safely lifting a dropped bike
• Riding standing and weight shifting on the footpegs
• Using the clutch friction zone
• Relaxed, slow speed balance and control
• Braking, including skidding
• Slow speed turning and counterbalancing

Sign up EARLY, when you register, as we expect to be fully booked for these classes!

If you have ALREADY registered for California 2024, and would like to add a training class, go HERE to register for training.